Search Results for: design chat

Design Chat: Office Organization & Decorating Ideas

January 19, 2016

Hello friends. Sorry for the lack of blog posts the last few days. I’ve been attending the Atlanta Gift and Home Furnishings show for the last week and just couldn’t find time to sit at the computer and finish up the blog post I had planned for the week. The show is over, I’ve caught up on some rest and I’m ready to jump back in the saddle again.

Today I’m bringing you the first Design Chat post of the year and I’m addressing a comment left by Liz about decorating her office space. In addition to decorating ideas, Liz wanted tips on organizing her workspace without sacrificing style. I know many of you are dealing with office space issues too, so here’s some design advice and decorating inspiration that I hope will help.

Decorating an office space, whether in the home or out, can be challenging. You’re trying to strike a balance between functional and organized with inspirational and pretty. When it comes to organization in your office here are the things you want to address:

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE–disorganization happens when you don’t have an easy and accessible place to store every day items. Add style by using decorative containers to hold office supplies. And when shopping for containers, don’t just shop the office supply area, look for unique containers in the kitchen and bath department, at craft stores and even in home decor stores.

tip: go vertical where possible to maximize every inch of your office space

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(if anyone knows the source for this glass vase trio please let me know)

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DECORATE WITH FURNITURE THAT WORKS IN MULTIPLE WAYS–a divided bookcase is one of the best pieces of furniture you can use in a home office. Each cubby can hold different items and items can be organized in baskets, boxes, jars or other containers adding to the decor of your space.

tip: keep smaller objects organized in baskets and bins and use larger items for display and visual impact

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tip: painted file cabinets (an easy DIY) can be used in place of a side table or console table while offering you loads of storage space

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USE EVERY AVAILABLE INCH OF SPACE–when you look around your office space, keep your eyes open for unexpected areas where you can incorporate storage and organization. Hang wire shelving or cork boards on the inside of closet doors and place lidded baskets or a small file cabinets under your desk.

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CREATE ORGANIZATION THAT’S MOBILE–many times a home office has limited space so getting creative with how and where you store supplies is necessary. Rolling carts can be used to hold desk accessories and offices supplies, and can be pulled out when needed and stored in a closet when not in use. Magazine files, baskets and bowls can hold items on the cart and make it easy to move those items to your desk surface when you’re working.

tip: rolling carts are idea for wireless printers and other office machinery

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CREATE COHESION WITH COLOR–there are lots of ways you can organize papers, files and supplies but using a color system not only adds to the style of your office but can help you create a storage system that’s easy to manage.

Identify a specific color for different categories of products like receipts, office tools, paper or computer/camera accessories.

tip: pick a color theme that energizes and makes you happy so you’ll feel good when you’re working in your office

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PUT A LABEL ON IT— labels will make finding things in your office easy and make putting things back a breeze. Use a label maker or print labels on sticker paper so that the style, font and color is consistent throughout your office. Consistency=order and visual beauty.

tip: label holders with handles work great on magazine files, cabinet doors, filing cabinets and baskets

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MAKE YOUR SPACE PRETTY & INSPIRATIONAL: include decorative elements that are pretty, inspirational and remind you of your goals and wishes. Decorative clipboards are my go-to office accessory and not only serve as wall decor but are functional when I need a writing surface outside my office.

tip: make your own decorative clipboards using craft supplies or shop decorative clipboards here.

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Now that you have some tools to help you get organized, let’s take a look at some of my favorite office spaces around the web…

Office Space Inspiration:

This compact office space does not lace style or personality. The gold accents create a theme and even the extra side chair become a stylish way to store books.

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I’ve shown this image on the blog before and it continues to be one of my all-time favorite office spaces. The cabinet along with the shelving provide major storage and display space, and the baskets and boxes add the stylish organization every office needs.

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This office space has a defined style that oozes creativity. I love the idea of using wallpaper (or even giftwrap) to define and personalize your office.

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So are you ready to decorate and organize your office space in style? If so, you can shop some of my favorite office accessories below…

Shop my favorite office accessories:

glass display box $19-99-$34.99/ fjalla file box $3.99 / white clipboard $9.99 / acrylic tape dispenser $9.99 /hanging storage file box $16.99 / industrial ladder shelf $129 / kvarnvik storage boxes $16.99 set / gold rim stainless steel scissors $16.99 / fjalla magazine file $4.99-2-pack / multi-colored binder $5.99

chevron file folders $11.99 / pilar pencil cup $12.95 / antique brass accordion file storage $44.99 / adhesive book plates $3.99 / 3 shelf metal utility cart $36.30 / metal cabinet label holders—awesome prices

Once you get the key components of your office organization in place, you can go about making it pretty so you’ll love going to work.

Happy Decorating!

Design Chat–Space Planning & Decorating a Narrow Room–Vol. 5

November 12, 2015

Hello. I’m back with the 5th installment of Design Chat. This time I’m addressing a question from another reader named Cassandra regarding her long, narrow living room.

Here’s what Cassandra asked…

“I have a long and narrow room. Fireplace on one end where I plan to put the TV above. And the entry hall directly across from the fireplace. I hate the look of over crowding but need extra seats for company. Tips?”

Well, since I don’t have a picture of Cassandra’s actually space, I’m imagining it to look a little something like the image below.

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Before I get into decorating tips for long, narrow rooms, let’s look at two of the most common issues with a space like this.

The first issue is how to maximize the floor space with the furniture layout while keeping traffic lanes open and creating an inviting space. The other issue that’s common is how to create seating that works for 2 as easily as it does for 20.

Let’s look at solutions…

BREAK UP THE SPACE. Sometimes the best way to deal with a long, narrow space is to divide it into two seating groups. That will allow you to fill the space without giving up normal-size furniture. It also will give you the opportunity to customize each area for a different activity or level of intimacy.

via design by Carrera and Fauquié

DOUBLE UP ON SEATING. A long living room often demands more than one sofa. The scheme works because the two opposing sofas are placed against the walls/windows which keeps the room open and accessible. Side chairs placed at an angle provide additional seating without closing off the entrance to the room.

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Another option when using two sofas is to place them back to back within the room and use accent seating to create separate sitting areas arranged around each sofa.

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ADD ACCENT PIECES. An easy way to supplement seating in a long, narrow living room is with ottomans and benches which can be pulled up when guests want to join the conversation. These occasional pieces can also serve as accent tables with the addition of books or trays to create a level surface area.

Style At Home

FIND PIECES THAT CAN SERVE TWO PURPOSES. Think about replacing a traditional coffee table with oversized upholstered ottomans that can be separated and used as additional seating when needed.

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STORE EXTRA SEATING IN OPEN AREAS. If your coffee table will support it, store a couple of small stools underneath it. The stools add to the decorative look of the room but can be pulled out quickly and easily when you need more seating for guests.

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Decorating a long, narrow living room takes some creativity and many times it’s looking beyond a traditional furniture layout and maximizing the space with two areas and decorating with pieces that will work for you in multiple ways.

More design tips for long, narrow rooms:

♦ pay attention to the scale of furniture in the room. Furniture that is too large will make the room feel overcrowded and furniture that is too small will make the room feel even more narrow.

♦ take the focus on the length of the room by maximizing the height with tall bookcases, bold wall decor and curtains hung high up.

♦ paint the room a neutral color so they eye move effortlessly around the space

♦ or paint one of the side walls in an accent color which will create a feeling of expansiveness within the room

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If you have a design challenge and need some suggestions on how to solve it, just leave a comment and I’ll address it in a future installment of Design Chat.

Design Chat: Styling Super Sized Sectional Sofas

October 12, 2015

Happy Monday friends!

I’m back with another Design Chat session. We’re talking sectional sofas again (they appear to be a design challenge for many folks) but this time it’s all about the most ideal way to arrange pillows and what style of coffee is best for an extra large sofa.

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Here’s what Casandra asked…

“Shelly, I have a leather sectional that is 12′ on one side and 8′ on the other. It is perfect dimension for our room, but I am struggling with the accessories. Placing the pillows as suggested looks off balance and no coffee table is nearly as long as the long side of the sofa. Any tips?”

The pillow placement that Casandra is referencing in her question came from the styling suggestions I shared in the Design Guide below. The design guide post, which has been pinned over 2500 times outlines the do’s and don’t to styling a traditional sectional. I didn’t go into styling an oversized sofa like the one that Casandra has so we’ll talk about that today.

Design Guide: Styling A Sectional Sofa

Sectional sofas come in many different sizes and can even be custom-made to fit your room dimensions. The most important tip I would share when it some to dealing with an extra-large sectional is to pay attention to the proportions of the accessories and furniture that surround it. Accessories and furniture that are too small will make the room and sitting arrangement feel off balanced and if all the pieces in the room are too large, the room will be overpowering and uncomfortable.

DON’T: Don’t place to many pillows on the sofa and definitely don’t line them up like soldiers. The pillows should accent the sectional and provide additional visual interest, color and/or texture.

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DO: The living room below shows the ideal way pillows should be placed on a large sectional. Pillows are grouped in clusters to accent/frame the sofa at the ends and in the middle.

Lillian August for the 2012 Hampton Designer Showhouse via Blulabel Bungalow

DO: Use pillows in a mx of patterns and colors to play off accent colors used throughout the room–the pillows should become part of the overall design of the room and not stand out like a sore thumb.

House Beautiful

DO: Pillows don’t have to all be the same size or shape–in fact a mix of sizes and shapes will add even more visual interest. Because a sectional sofa is a large rectangular shape and sits in a rectangular or square room, I’d suggest mixing in a round and/or oblong shaped pillow for visual contrast or even trying a larger size pillows mixed with smaller sizes on the ends of the sofa.

The yellow pillow in the center of the sofa below draws attention there and takes it off the ends of the sofa.

Bassett

DO: You might also want to group more pillows in the center verses on the ends which will add visual weight to the center of the sofa and help balance each arm of the sofa.

Bassett

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Now let’s talk coffee tables…

DO: I’d suggest a square coffee table. Trying to find a rectangular table that fits the dimensions of a large sectional sofa probably won’t happen and in many cases it could give the sofa an unbalanced feel. The bulk and girth of a square coffee table is a better balance against a large sectional and its overall dimensions.

Decor Pad

DO: When placing a square table in front of the sofa, don’t try to make it a perfect balance to both arms of the sofa. Place it where it’s a comfortable fit in front of the longest section of the sofa or place it so that it sits in the middle.

HouseBeauty

DO: Another option is a round coffee table. Just like with pillows, introducing a round shape into the room provides a contract to the straight lines of the sofa and takes the focus off the table being a different scale than the sectional.

Georgianadesign

Balance and scale are two of the most important design principles when it comes to decorating your home. When working with furniture that is oversized, those elements become even more important to achieving a look that not only feels good but that looks good too.

Casandra, I hope these tips help!

cover image via Bassett Furniture

Design Chat: Foyers–Vol. 3

October 2, 2015

image source unknown

I’m back with another installment of Design Chat. This time I’m answering a question from Katie regarding her foyer.

“Shelly, I am struggling with how to decorate my foyer. The space is rather small and once inside the door, the dining room opens up on the right and there is a wall on the left which is about 8 feet long. I’ve tried different furniture pieces and nothing seems right or is balanced against the dining room opening and furniture. Can you give me some tips and ideas on how to decorate a foyer.” –Katie

I asked Katie a couple of questions to get a better understanding of her space and the image above represents the general layout of Katie’s foyer.

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The Design Tips:

Foyers come in all shapes and sizes and can be challenging find the right combination of furniture, wall decor, accessories and lighting to fit the space. Although challenging, there are a few design guidelines I can share to help Katie and anyone else decorating their foyer:

♦ Foyers often serve as a decorative spaces while at the same time needing to have some functional aspects (drop zone for keys, mail etc.) to the design so keep that in mind when selecting furniture, accessories and lighting.

♦ Select furniture that fits the scale of the space. Since there is a long wall that you want to place furniture on, select a piece that fills at least 50 to 75% of the wall space. Small scale furniture on a long wall will look wimpy.

♦ Lighting is always a great addition to any foyer space even if it will be used just for ambient light. Wall sconces are a nice alternative to tabletop lamps and don’t forget to put your lighting on a dimmer to control the light intensity within the space.

♦ Rugs will help ground your foyer and create a landing spot for guest as they enter and exit your home.

♦ Mirrors are a smart wall decor choice especially if your foyer doesn’t get a lot of natural light. Mirrors will magnify any light coming into the foyer giving it a brighter appearance.

♦ If the foyer is a main entrance and exit point for the home and there is room for seating, a chair or two flanking a console table or cabinet is a nice addition. Chairs ccreate an additional layer of design, color and pattern.

♦ If the overall foyer space lacks architectural details (chair rail, wainscoting) consider wallpaper, a paint treatment or decorative molding to add interest to the wall and serve as a backdrop to your furniture and decor.

The Inspiration:

Furniture with artistic details like this cabinet will add a lot of drama to a foyer. And notice the accessories–although they are not symmetrical, the groupings on each side of the cabinet balance each other.

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Open console tables keep a small foyer from feeling over-crowded and the space under the table is ideal for a bench or ottomans which can also be used for additional seating in other parts of the home. The size of the artwork is proportionate to the size of the table and the lamps are in scale with the overall arrangement.

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Baskets under a console table provide the perfect spot to drop gloves, shoes or even a handbag. And the texture it provides is an added bonus.

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Another alternative to a table or cabinet in the foyer is a bench. A bench creates a cozy feel and can function as a spot to place bags upon entering the house.

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The Solution:

So for Katie, here’s the recommendation for her foyer:

♦ fill the narrow wall space near the door with a grouping of three art pieces

♦ create a furniture and decor vignette on the long wall

♦ add an area rug for color, pattern and softness

image source unknown

If you are challenged with decorating your foyer, I hope these tips help.

If you have a design challenge, leave a question/comment and I’ll answer your challenge in a future edition of Design Chat.

Design Chat with ConfettiStyle–Vol. 2

August 4, 2015

Thanks to everyone who’s submitted a question of the Design Chat series. Keep them coming.

In today’s installment of Design Chat I’m addressing a question from Sheila related to her sectional sofa. Here’s what Sheila asked…

“We have a Large sectional sofa. It has been in the same position for 11 years. I like to rearrange things, this is the first time I have not rearranged!! So I divided it… Much to my husband disapproval . I have one complete couch four seats with arms, and the other part is three seats with a corner. I have them facing each other. I love how it looks! Makes our large living room look cozy, and don’t feel the need to shout to have a conversation. If I could I would attach a picture…. But not sure how on this new device!
What are your thoughts? Thank you in advance.”
Sheila

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Well, based on Sheila’s question and some of the other questions I’ve received, finding the right decorating solution involving a sofa is a big challenge. And when you have a sectional, the challenge can be even greater.

Before I answer Sheila’s question, let me address the pros and cons of a sectional sofa.

PRO: Sectional sofas can be really functional in large rooms when lots of seating is needed, especially for TV viewing. And you can find or order just about any configuration in a sectional that you need so creating a custom layout to fit your space is easy to do.

PRO: Becasue sectional sofas are made up of different sections, it’s easy to move the pieces apart to accommodate guest or a party set-up.

PRO: Sectional sofas are good for small rooms since they can be pushed up against a wall and into corners while keeping the center of the room open.

PRO: Sectional sofas can be less expensive than buying a sofa and multiple chairs to fill a room.

CON: Sectional sofas don’t give you a ton of re-arranging options. If you like to rearrange your furniture often, know that you probably won’t be able to do so with a sectional. It will probably only work ONE WAY due to TV viewing, door openings etc.

CON: If you ever want to re-upholster your sectional it will be considerably more expensive to re-cover vs a traditional sofa.

CON: Picking the right color of fabric for your sectional is key because there is so much fabric making an impact in your room so picking the wrong color could become a major eye-sore.

via Crate and Barrel

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So now to answer Sheila’s question…I think separating your sectional is a great idea! Not only does it create a more intimate seating and conversation area but splitting up the sectional will give your room a less boxy feel and make it feel larger like you noted. Also, splitting up your sectional could allow you to bring in additional side tables which would actually make the area more functional for guest. A few other things to keep in mind…

♦ To maintain the lounge feel that the sectional had when it was all one piece, consider adding an ottoman or footstool so your husband can prop his legs up.

♦ If you have the two sectional pieces flanking a TV or fireplace wall, it will actually create a much more dynamic focal point within the room.

♦ Make sure you have the right size rug under the furniture to anchor the seating area and the room.

♦ You can get creative with the pillows on the two sectional pieces as long as you have a few common pillows on each side.

So Sheila, separating your sectional sofa gets my vote.

Here are a few inspirational photos is case the hubby needs more convincing.

via CB2

via Basset Furniture

via Wayfair

via Domaine Home

Munger Interiors via DecorPad

For more tips on styling your sectional, you can view my sectional design guide post here:

If you have a design question you’d like to me give input on, you can email me at shelly.confettistyle@gmail.com.

Design Chat with ConfettiStyle!

July 8, 2015

I hope your week is going well. The Atlanta Gift and Home Furnishings market is happening this week and I’m headed down there to see the new trends to check out the new product introductions. I’ll be sharing highlights on Instagram so follow along there and I’ll also have a full recap of market next week here on the blog so stay tuned.

Today’s post is the start of something new. Last week Ann posted a question on the blog and I decided it was the perfect question to launch my Design Chat series. This new series is where I’ll answer your design questions and offer up suggestions to solve your design challenge. I’m hoping to post a Design Chat question once a month but if the questions start rolling in I’ll post more often so send your questions my way.

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Most of the questions I receive on the blog come with no photos so I’m taking the information I receive and using that to visual the space. Ann’s description was pretty straight forward so I think I have a good idea of her challenge and the layout of the area she is working with.

This was Ann’s question…

“We have a long sectional couch that is floating away from the wall in our living room. Behind it is a 2-story wall of windows. Would you place a console table behind the sofa or up against the window wall? Does the console need to be the entire length of the sectional? It’s pretty long, so would you do multiple console tables? I was thinking of putting stools underneath it for extra seating and people would still be facing the TV/fireplace, just sitting behind the couch. It’s about 5′ between the back of the sectional and the wall of windows, and it’s wasted space right now – any other ideas on how we could style it and make it more usable?”

I envision the space to look something like this…

via basset furniture

There are several options for this design challenge:

OPTION #1–place a large console table or even a desk behind the sectional length that faces the fireplace and TV which will fill that area and create a functional zone.

Stools could be nested under the table or two accent chairs could be used so the space could function as a desk surface. The chairs or stools could be moved into the room when additional seating is needed and the table surface could be used to serve food or drinks from when entertaining.

via better homes and gardens / decor pad

via design manifest

via mix and chic

OPTION #2–place a console table behind the sectional piece that sits in front of the window. With 5′ between the back of the sofa and the windows, you would want a table that has a depth between 24″ and 28″ so that a walkway is maintained between the table and the windows.

Lamps could be used on the table as long as there are floor outlets to prevent the cords from running across to the window wall. Also, if the windows don’t have curtains and the lights are on at night, the exposure to the room will be wide open.

via Liz Marie Blog

Or, you could decorate the table with a grouping of accessories. If you go the accessory route, larger accessory items would be best to balance the scale of the two-story windows.

via pottery barn / pottery barn

OPTION #3–place furniture behind both ends of the sectional. In this case the two pieces do not have to be match. A console table could be used behind one side of the sectional and a chest behind the other which would provide additional storage.

via apartment therapy

A couple other suggestions and tips:

♦ The console table does not have to be the same length as the sofa–in fact I’d have a little breathing room at each end of the sofa. If you find a table that you love but it is shorter than desired, try placing baskets or even small accent chairs at each end of the table to ‘visually’ elongate it.

via decor pad

♦ If you don’t already, consider drapes between the windows to soften the window area.

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There are several ways to approach any design dilemma but the bottom line should be to go with the solution that works best for your lifestyle and your decor.

Ann, I hope this answers your question and gives you some ideas to play around with.

For more tips, check out my post on How To Style A Sectional Sofa

The New Ballard Designs Store | Atlanta

July 23, 2018

Last Friday I popped into the new Ballard Designs store here in Atlanta. The store recently moved to a new location and more than doubled their space.

For years, Ballard Designs has been a great design resource for accent furniture, decorative accessories, tabletop items and linens. Over the years I’d pop into their store to find accessories for a project or the perfect pillow to finish off a bedding assemble. The array of products makes it easy to find that perfect finishing touch.

Walking into their new store was absolutely breathtaking and was like seeing the page of the catalog come to life. The expanded store space has a bright and open feel that really shows off the products. There were beautiful at every turn and even the smallest design element like a coffee table book was styled as part of a beautiful lifestyle vignette. As I walked though the store I snapped lots of pictures of things that inspired me.

Ballard Designs | Atlanta

**Modern Mix is one of my all-time favorite design books. If you don’t have a Ballard Designs near you, you can pick up a copy here.

Twine in a bow!! Such a simple but chic decorative accent.

One of my favorite parts of the store was the outdoor living area which showcased Ballard’s outdoor furniture and decor. It’s so nice to be able to see these pieces in person and get a real feel for the scale, details and quality.

In addition to furniture and decor, the store also has wallpaper, fabric and drapery hardware for sale. And there is an on-site monogram station where you can have a Jute Tote bag personalized.

I know I’ll be making the trek to the Ballard Designs store more often and can’t wait to see the store all decked our during the holidays.

For those of you in the Atlanta area, here’s the new store location:

The Works at Chattahoochee
1235 Chattahoochee Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30318

Best of ConfettiStyle: Design Guides

September 7, 2016

One of my missions on the blog is to share design advice and decorating tips to help you decorate your home in style. A few years ago I started a series called Design Guide which covers a range of topics related to design and decorating. Today’s Best of ConfettiStyle post highlights many of the design guides I’ve written so far. I hope these design guides give you the information and confidence you need to make your decor dreams come true.

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