Design Chat: Sectional Styling & A Family Room Refresh

June 16, 2017

I continue to get emails from people who have read my blog post or found my pin How To Style A Sectional Sofa. I wrote the original blog in 2014 and there are over 25,000 re-pins on Pinterest. And when I wrote the post, I didn’t realize so many people are challenged with decorating around a sectional sofa.

My most recent email was from MJ who is looking to update her family room. She wants to trade in her current sofa and loveseat for a new sectional with chaise. And she wants to replace the recliner with two accent chairs. Here’s how MJ posed her design challenge to me…

“Hello, I came across your article on Pinterest and was hoping to get your advice. I have attached two pics of my great room as I want to purchase a new sectional (would love a chaise), but with a corner fireplace, I am not sure how or if that would even work. Also get confused on how to determine if I need a right arm facing or left arm facing chaise. One picture shows the wall across from the stairs where the chaise portion of a sectional would be placed with the longer sofa portion obviously along the area across from stairway. My plan is to purchase two complementary accent chairs to be placed in front of window wall. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Here are the photos of MJ’s family room now. As you can see, MJ’s family room is not large and the brown/beige color palette that takes it cues from the carpet and wall color.

After studying the room layout, I created an inspiration board and outlined a few suggestions that will help MJ execute a new look for her home.

The Inspiration

Family Room Refresh: Design Suggestions

FIND FURNITURE THAT FITS: With the size of MJ’s family room, a large sectional will fit with ease. I recommend a left arm sectional which will position the sectional on the long wall opposite the TV. Selecting the right size sectional will allow for side tables and lamps on each end creating a cozy sitting arrangement.

tip: When looking at sectionals, left facing and right facing refers to the arm placement when looking at the sectional sofa head on (not when sitting on it).

CREATE A COLOR STORY: The foundation of every room is its color palette. The current color scheme in MJ’s family room is somewhat flat. The main color in the room is brown with a little deviation in tones form one brown to another. What I recommend is combining more shades and variation of tan and brown which will give the room depth, dimension and visual interest. Since the sectional will be the largest piece in the room, a lighter color fabric will provide a contrast against the walls and carpet.

PUMP UP THE COLOR: I also recommend pumping up the use of accent colors in the room. Right now the only significant accent color is the teal lamp shades o n the table lamps. Using the teal as the accent color I would bring in more of this color with patterned pillows and drapes. Curtains will add softness to the room and define and create a focal point around the windows.

tip: when adding patternwork to a room, combine patterns in different in scale so they don’t fight with each other and each individual design stands out.

tip: hang your drapery rod as high as possible to maximize the visual effect of taller ceilings and a more open space.

MIX UP THE MATERIALS AND FINISHES: Another way to add depth and dimension to a room is by using pieces that are made of different materials and/or finishes. My suggestion is to replace with wood side tables with tables made of iron and glass. The glass will not take up any visual space and the iron will keep the tables from looking whimsy. For additional contrast, I’d place a painted wood accent table between the chairs in front of the window. Painted furniture will introduce even more color and another finish in the room.

ADD STYLE WITH SHAPE: Having little to no variation in the shape of furniture within a room is a common decorating mistake. Having too many elements in one shape (i.e. square or rectangular) can result in a room that feels heavy and overloaded. A combination of square, round and other shapes creates visual interest and movement for the eye. In MJ’s room I’ve suggested round side tables to add that needed contrast.

PERSONALIZE YOUR STYLE: In addition to new furniture and a pumped up color palette, here are the other suggestions I had for MJ…

Hang the mirror over the mantel versus leaning it. Hanging the mirror will balance the fireplace and create separation between the mantel and the mirror.
Hang a larger piece of artwork on the long wall facing the TV. A larger piece of art will add color, visual interest and create a secondary focal point within the room.
Replace the lamps with a style that has more substance and shape. Your lamp base and shade should feel proportion to the scale of the furniture in the room Lamps are also an easy way to introduce more color into a room. Note how the lamp shade color in my recommended style picks up the lighter neutral in the pillows and curtains.
Upsize the TV cabinet with a larger piece. The current TV console is a bit small and makes the entire TV arrangement feel diminutive. A larger tv cabinet will work better with the scale of the fireplace and furniture within the room.
Paint the inside of the front door an accent color. Painting MJ’s door will add so much visual interest within the entire entrance/family room space. And the color will visually link the two areas together. The inspiration photo for the door is below.

One other thing I wanted to point out is that while MJ’s room could benefit from a patterned area rug, I wouldn’t recommend it because of the plush wall to wall carpeting. It’s fine to layer a rug over a low pile carpet with plush carpeting an area rug tends to crawl.

Do you have a design challenge? Leave me a comment and your space just might be featured here on ConfettiStyle.

SHOP THE INSPIRATION BOARD:

Sectional Sofa // Round Pedestal Table // Floral Pillow // Teal Velvet Pillow // Plaid Tattersall Pillow

Abstract Art // Brown Accent Chair // Glass Table Lamps

Geometric Blackout Curtains // Round Glass and Iron Side Table // Black TV Cabinet

Design Chat: Arranging Artwork For Impact & Style

January 26, 2017

One of the things I enjoy most about writing this blog is sharing design tips and helping you solve your design dilemmas. Last year I started a series called Design Chat series where I answer your design questions and provide decorating tips and inspiration. I’m excited to continue the series in 2017 and today I addressing a design challenge that Jennette has.

Here’s the comment and question Jennette sent to me…

“Shelly, I found your blog in spring 2016 while searching how to style a sectional sofa on Pinterest. I love your design tips! Right now my design dilemma is how to hang art on a long, odd wall when there is already one picture over a chair.”

Artwork can be one of the most challenging aspects of decorating your home. Once you’ve identified the type of artwork you want, you then need to come up with a plan for a dynamic wall statement.

As you can see in Jennette’s family room, she originally hung the artwork over the chair to anchor that seating area. While this isn’t bad, the rest of the wall is left blank and feels somewhat disconnected.

Here are my suggestions to pull the room together…

My suggestion for Jennette would be to create a gallery wall arrangement on that wall using the piece of artwork she owns as the centerpiece. A collection of framed pieces will create a focal point on that wall and anchor the space in total.

I also recommend a few other changes…

1) add a tall plant in the corner to add height and color. The small stool would move to the opposite side of the tv cabinet.

2) replace the double arm floor lamp with a fun table lamp.

3) add a cushion to the top of the bench and maybe even lean a couple of pillows on top.

4) a larger cabinet under the TV to give that wall more impact and to feel more proportionate with the TV.

On the opposite side of the room where the sofa sits, here’s what I recommend…

Hang candle sconces on each side of the mirror to give the wall over the sofa more impact. And remove the wall mounted light and position the double arm floor lamp next to the side table.

And my product picks for Jeanette’s room…

candle sconce // table lamp // fabric for cushion // black cabinet // plant basket

Overall, Jennette’s family room has a great foundation. With a few tweaks and additions, I think she’ll have the space she desires.

Looking for tips on creating a gallery wall arrangement, read my blog post here.

◊◊◊

If you’ve got a design challenge, email me and we’ll chat!

Design Chat: What Size Area Rug Do You Need?

May 19, 2016

Hi friends. The focus of this Design Chat post is area rugs. Quite often I get questions from readers who are challenged with what size area rug to get for their living/family room.

The most recent question came from Rocio who was having a hard time with a rug for her family room. Here’s the question Rocio posed to me…

“Hi Shelly, I have a sectional it measure 9 feet by 7 feet for the chaise part of sofa. I have no clue on what size area rug I need to buy. I do have a rectangular coffee table/ottoman in front and just order 2 Moroccan poufs. Do I need to place the poufs on the rug? Please help!!!! Thank you so much! Rocio”

♦♦♦

SELECTING THE RIGHT SIZE AREA RUG

Many times the shape and size of a room will dictate the size of rug the room needs. Other times the size and scale of furniture will influence which rug is best for the space. Selection the right size rug boils down to a few simple things:

The rug (size, placement and color) should like its part of the overall design plan of the room. The rug will serve as one of the key focal points within a room.
The rug should anchor the seating area and help create a sense of coziness.
3. The rug should not overpower a room or the furniture that surround it but should enhance the space.

Here’s a visual graphic I created that with tips on selecting the right size rug.

♦♦♦

After providing a few tips and suggestions to Rocio, she purchased a rug and sent me a photo of the design and color she selected. Given the small footprint of the room, this rug size works well to anchor the sectional and not impede into the dining area to the left or the area to the right. And since design is all about the details, here are some additional suggestions I have for Rocio to really pull this space together:

♦ Add a couple of pillows to the sofa at will bring in more color and pattern work.

♦ Replace the grey throw with a lighter color to highlight the lighter color in the rug.

♦ Add a side table on the short end of the sectional. A table with a metallic finish would relate to the material on the metallic poufs.

♦ Hang curtain panels on the window to anchor the eating area and add additional softness to the room.

And I quickly pulled together an inspiration board to illustrate the ideas.

SHOP THIS DESIGN:

Blue Ikat Pillow / Gold Metallic Leopard Pillow / Navy Velvet Pillow / Gold End Table / Woven Throw / Navy Curtain Panels

Gold Metallic Pouf / Navy Velvet Ottoman

Until next time…

Design Chat: The Perfect Pillow Formula

February 29, 2016

image via BHG

Happy Monday friends. I’ve got another round of my Design Chat series for you today and I’m answering a question about selecting and styling pillows for your sofa.

Deziree is having trouble selecting pillows for her living room sofa and posed the following question to me…

” I have had the hardest time styling my living room. I have purchased probably 8 sets of curtains, multiple pillows, hand-made covers, and I still have not finished it. My walls are a grey taupe and my sectional is tan and I currently have natural ivory off white linen curtains. I would love help with picking pillow colors, patterns, shapes and amounts for my sectional. Any suggestion”?

I’ve gotten this question on more than one occasion from readers and I hope the tips I’m sharing will help you if you’re struggling with your pillow decor.

…

Read the Post

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.

via

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.

via

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.

via

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.

via

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.

via

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

via

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 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.

♦♦♦

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.

via

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