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Decorate Your Mantel For Christmas: Tips & Techniques

November 23, 2015

Hello friends. I hope everyone had a great weekend. After spending the end of last week decorating for a client, I was happy to see the weekend come. I did some Christmas decor shopping for a another client, hung out with my brother and got all of my holiday linens pressed. Anyone else out there hate ironing as much as I do? All in all, it was a good weekend and I was able to squeeze in some of my own Christmas decorating.

Speaking of decorating, today’s post is all about decorating your mantel for Christmas. It’s part tips & techniques and part inspiration. Enjoy!

One of the exciting parts of my design business is decorating homes for Christmas. Just about every home I decorate has a mantel or two and even though every one of them has a different style and design, I use the same techniques when decorating them for Christmas.

Here are my tips for decorating your mantel like a pro:

…

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.

What To Do Now To Prepare For Christmas

November 9, 2015

Hello friends! Where is the time going? Today I’m tapping into my inner girl scout and sharing a post about being prepared. And while this is a post about getting ready for Christmas, it’s not meant to take the focus off of Thanksgiving and what that holiday means. Instead my goal is to help you get a jump of Christmas so that once Thanksgiving has passed you can usher in the Christmas season with less stress and anxiety and enjoy it to the fullest.

By nature I’m a preparer and organizer. I don’t function well without order in my life, a daily to-do list, and a cup of tea in the morning. So, these tips are just as much for you as they are for me. With only 7 weeks before Christmas, nows the time to start making that list and checking it twice!

#1 Pull out your holiday decor and assess what you have. Stores have been stocked with Christmas decor for weeks (and in some cases months) and items are selling fast. Now is the time to take inventory of what Christmas decor you have and what items you need to purchase. This is especially key when it comes to Christmas lights because there never seem to be enough white Christmas lights to go around.

#2 Determine your holiday decor theme. Once you’ve looked through your Christmas decor, determine what your decorating theme will be this year. You may have a traditional look that you want to continue with or you may want to change things up a bit. Whatever look you want, now is the time to get a picture in your head so when you start to decorate you’ll know exactly the look you want.

# 3 Schedule time to buy, set-up and decorate the tree. Decorating a Christmas tree is a task so block out time on your calendar for decorating so you don’t feel rushed. If you buy a live tree, plan the date when you’ll go purchase the tree and then make sure the area where it will go is clear and free for when you bring it home.

# 4 Plan your gift list. All of the major retailers and online stores have begun to promote their holiday gift guides. Gift guides show you the hottest items of the season so take note because they can be a great starting point in helping you create your own gift list. If you’ve got electronics and toys on your list, it’s also a great time to start price shopping to find the best deals.

# 5 Buy (or make) your Christmas cards. I was in Target the other day and they have the cutest Christmas cards. Just like gift wrap and Christmas lights, the weeks before Thanksgiving is when Christmas cards start flying off the shelf. Head to the store in the next week to get your cards so you don’t miss out on the best designs. Or you can be totally insane like me and try to fit handmade cards onto the to-do list!

# 6 Create a giftwrap station (or at least pull together your holiday wrapping materials). I love to wrap gifts so creating a gift wrap stations is something I love to do. Fill a basket with holiday wrapping essentials so everyone in the family can easily access the items. Here’s what items should be included in your giftwrap station: assorted size boxes, tissue paper, wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, tags, embellishments, scissors

**my favorite sources for holiday wrap this year: Giftwrap Wonderland, Sugar Paper LA and Paper Source

#7 Ready the guest room. There’s always lots to do to prepare for the holidays and it’s the little things that often get overlooked. If you have guests coming for Christmas, spend a couple of hours getting the guest room prepared. Check out my guest room ready post to help you welcome your guests in style.

# 8 Set the table. I know this won’t work if you use your dining table everyday but I know for many folks the dinning room only gets used on special occasions. If you fall into that category, plan ahead and get the table ready for your holiday dinner. Iron the linens, pull out the china and create your place settings. A few days before Christmas, create the centerpiece and you’ll be all set.

# 9 Plan you menu & buy cooking staples. Cooking is not one of my favorite things to do and I get really cranky when I decide to cook and find I’m missing a staple like baking soda or spices. Now is the time to loosely plan your holiday menu and purchase all of the staples you’ll need so you have them on hand.

and with all that preparation you be able to…

# 10 Enjoy the season! Taking time to prepare for the busy holiday season will pay off in big ways because you’ll be able to relax, enjoy a hot toddy and watch your favorite Christmas movies without stress.

Design Details: FIVE Rooms I Love and the reasons why

October 23, 2015

It’s my job to dissect the details of a room to evaluate why the design, layout, furnishing or even the details work. To give you a little insight into my design thought process, today I’m sharing 5 rooms that caught my attention and the reasons why I love each space.

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Creating a comfortable and stylish living space directly off the kitchen can pose some challenges. You want the two spaces to feel connected yet have their own identity. And you also want there to be some common threads with the color palettes between the two spaces.

I love this living space below because it shares the same wall color as the kitchen which creates that sense of unity. And I also love how the wall facing into the living space was painted a soft accent color which helps define where one room starts and the other ends.

Design details to love: layered rugs, potted plants on the mantle, a mix of pillows and that wood covered oven hook!

LilyPadCottage

Even though you can’t see this entire room in this photo, you definitely know that it’s a fantastic space. What gives most rooms its personality is the mix of decor, textiles and finishes used to decorate it. This living space feels right, warm, personal, collected and inviting because of the design details used throughout.

Design details to love: Animal prints (every room needs one), collected grouping of objects on the table, neutral background with pops of color and a gallery wall that’s interesting!

Driven By Decor

Even the smallest spaces in your home can have a powerful design statement. Foyer spaces should draw guests into the home while setting the tone for the homes design style. This foyer space feels so personal because of the collection of framed photos and treasures on the table. Don’t be afraid to use lots of items to make an impact–repeating shapes and materials will tie it all together.

Design details to love: Glass cloches (a great way to display collectibles), wood on wood (different wood tones make it work), gallery wall frames in the same color story but in different shapes and sizes (harmonious but interesting)

CasaSugar

Colorful rooms have been trending for a few years now and they are most successful when the room has a neutral or white base like this one. The room also works because colors are repeated which creates the common thread within the decor.

Design details to love: Two coffee tables (glass keeps the space visually uncluttered), books arranged by color and touches of black (another thing every room needs)! Oh, that sofa color is pretty amazing too.

DecorPad

Bedrooms don’t have to be bland or even cost a fortune to decorate. I love this room because of the soft color palette which in my opinion doesn’t feel too masculine or feminine. I also love the layers that have been created with the furniture, textiles, rug and accessories.

Design details to love: Desk lamps on the nightstand (use what works), a cowhide rug layered over an area rug (cowhides feel elegant), console tables instead of traditional night stands (use baskets underneath if you need storage), a dynamic accent wall (this one was created with tape) and pop of pink.

The Nester

When it comes to dissecting the design details in your home, look for the elements that bring you joy and that make your home feel good.

Happy Friday!

Decorative Ingredients for Styling a Console Table

October 20, 2015

Shelterness

There are countless ways you can approach styling a console table. You can keep it simple and classic or you can create an eclectic decorative statement with multiple decorative accessory items. Whatever the approach, there are a few tried and true components that every console table should have.

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LAMPS–a pair of lamps is one of the most popular design ingredients for styling a console table. Matching lamps provide symmetry as well as ambient lighting within a room and will give a larger console table the visual weight it needs up top.

tip: for a more eclectic look, use a single lamp on one side of the table and a grouping of accessories to balance it on the other side.

Best of Both Worlds–Fun and Frugality

PERSONAL TOUCHES–console tables give you the perfect platform for displaying personal items in your home. Assemble a grouping of collectibles, display family photos and decorate with pieces that have meaning to you and your family.

tip: place accessories in groups of three for a more harmonious feel (i.e.: orchid+books+clock and bird+two bowling pins)

Apartment Therapy

MIRRORS–in place of traditional artwork, try a mirror or two over the console table. Mirrors will enhance any natural light coming into the space and is an ideal wall decor solution in a foyer or hallway.

tip: in most cases, the size of the mirror should allow it to hang within the dimensions of the table, not extend beyond the edge of the table

Lonny

BASKETS–baskets are one of the best accessories you can use when styling your console table. Baskets add texture, fill the void under the table and help keep clutter under control.

Style Me Pretty–Emily Gilbert Photography

OTTOMANS–I love placing ottomans or stools under an open-bottom console table. Ottomans add visual weight and impact in addition softening the lines of the table.

Linda Benson Interiors

DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES–it’s a given that your console table should have accessories on it but which accessories you choose can make or break the overall design impact of you console. My top three accessories items for console tables are VASES, FLORALS & FRAMES. Don’t be shy with your accessory statement and mix and match colors, finishes and styles to give your table that personal touch.

tip: create a color theme with the furnishings and decorative elements you use to style your table

Decorpad

BOOKS–you can never go wrong with books when styling a console table. Use books to fill shelves, elevate decorative objects and add color.

Domaine Home

ARTWORK–the artwork you hang over a console table can really help define the space and the overall look for the table vignette. A collection of art can be just as dynamic as a single large piece and decorative objects added into the arrangement can provide added visual interest.

tip: use uniform spacing between the art pieces so the arrangement reads as a single grouping versus individual elements

Pottery Barn

Are you inspired? I know I am.

I’ve got a beautiful wood console table that I’m considering painting black so I decided to pull together an inspiration board to help me visualize the look. If you see something you like, you can shop the board below.

SHOP THIS BOARD:

Crystal Column Lamp–Lamps Plus / Faceted Metal Vase–West Elm / Rosewood Porcelain Ceramic Vase–Ballard Design

Nate Berkus Metal Feather Ball–Target / Rossington Console Table–Wayfair / Silk Orchid–Overstock

Kelsey Umbrella Stand–Wayfair / Safavieh Heritage Black and Ivory Rug–Wayfair

You don’t have to use all of these elements when styling your table but a combination of 2 or 3 will definitely help you create a table with style.

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.

via

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.

via

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.

via

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.

via

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.

via

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.

via

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!

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.

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