Design Chat: Decorating Her First Home

September 26, 2018

I’m back with another installment of my Design Chat series. This time around I’m helping Krystian who recently purchased her first home and needs some help with space planning and decorating. Here’s the message I received…

Hello Shelly! Good morning! I found an article you’ve written online a couple of years ago. Although it’s older, it is still relevant to me. I recently bought a home, I’m younger and horrible at decorating. I have a brown sectional, yet I’m trying to lighten things up. What accent color can I use to lighten things up other than teal or coral? I feel these would darken things. I can’t afford to change the couch right now, so I have to work with what I have. I’m looking at a lighter colored area rug, but I’m not sure on how to position it. Would you be able to offer help? Would it go under the couch at all, or just in front? I’m really confused, all of the rule of thumbs seem a bit overwhelming! Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I asked Krystian to send me a few photos of her home so that I could see what she was working with.

THE LIVING ROOM NOW:

When you enter the house you walk directly into the living room. The space is open with no walls or architectural details to define it. In a space like this, the furniture and rug will that will do that.

There are three large walls within the room which make it possible for several different furniture arrangements.

With only two small windows to provide natural lighting, the colors used in the room need to brighten and enliven the space.

There is one small challenge when it comes to decorating this space. The location of the cable jack and the large wall vent that limits what you can put on that wall.

After looking over the photos and tossing around ideas, I outlined two design plans for Krystian.

This first plan uses the existing sectional and adds in new furniture pieces to finish off the space. To add more storage and display space to the room, I recommended a console table on the wall between the windows and another on the wall to the left inside the front door.

I’m also suggesting a set of bookcases, a new tv cabinet and table lamps to enhance the lighting throughout the room.

DESIGN PLAN #1

The second plan replaces the sectional with a sofa and a pair of accent chairs. It also orients the furniture so that the sofa is on the largest wall in the room. As with plan 1, this plan also includes a console table for storage, a new tv cabinet and side tables.

DESIGN PLAN #2

To address Krystian’s concern about the room being dark, I selected decor and accessories that will brighten the room. Here’s a look at the decor plan I created.

AREA RUG: I choose an area rug with a neutral background ad colorful pattern. Patternwork and color create visual movement and in turn give the impression that a room is larger than is actually is.

When it comes to selecting the right size rug, it’s always best to tape off the size on your floor to determine what will work best. Ideally you want the front legs of furniture pieces to sit on rug. In Krystian’s room, I recommend either a 6′ x 9′ or a 8′ x 10′. A large rug will help define the sitting area and anchor the living room.

PILLOWS: A good rule of thumb when buying accent pillows is to pull colors from the area rug or artwork. Krystian can remove some of the brown and tan pillows on the sofa and replace them with more colorful options.

COFFEE TABLE: A round coffee table is best for this room and will provide a contrast to the square and rectangular furniture pieces. A glass top will make the room feel more open.

CURTAINS: Ivory curtain panels will add soften and another light and bright element to the room. Framing the window with curtains will actually make the windows look larger.

CONSOLE TABLES: I’m recommending console tables in two different finishes and styles. The iron and wood table has an open base which will add to the openness of the room. The sectioned console will be great under the TV to hold electronics and decor. Adding a few baskets to the shelves will bring texture into the room.

ARTWORK: Colorful artwork is one the best ways to add interest and personality to a room. The colors in the floral artwork tie back to the colors in the rug and pillows. And the artwork will create a focal point within the room.

LIGHTING: Krystian’s living room can benefit from additional lighting so I’m recommending a couple of table lamps. Ivory ceramic lamps incorporate another material into the room and ties into the other ivory elements in the space.

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Krystian has a great living room space to work with. Using one of these space plans along with adding color and personality through decor will give Krystian the space she’s dreaming of.

FYI–Knowing that budget is important to Krystian as she decorates her first home, I shopped Wayfair for all of the decor. Wayfair is one of my favorite sources for stylish and budget-friendly furniture and accessories.

Hillsby Saffron Area Rug

Camber Round Coffee Table

Navy Knot Cotton Throw Pillow

Elliott Knit Throw Pillow

Edwards Velvet Lumbar Pillow

Miltiades Table Lamp

Rena Console Table (wood and iron)

Salinas TV Stand (multi-section)

Solid Room Darkening Curtain Panels

French Cottage Bouquet Floral Art

Round Minerva Accent Mirror

***this post is not sponsored by Wayfair. I’m just sharing one of my favorite resources and wanted to show you how you can create a beautiful space using their products.

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 Guide: 5 Rules of Space Planning

May 15, 2017

Have you ever struggled with creating the best furniture layout for your home? Well, you’re not alone. So many people struggle with how to arrange their furniture so that it looks good and works with the way the family lives.

In my latest Design Guide post, I’m sharing the 5 Rules of Space Planning. These are the rules and guidelines you’ll want to use to create a pleasing arrangement for your furniture and decor.

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Don’t Hug The Walls

One of the most common mistakes people make when decorating their homes is to push all the furniture to the walls. The thought is that by keeping the center of the room open, the room will feel larger. I hate to burst the bubble but the opposite it true. When you push all the furniture against at the walls, a room actually feels disconnected and unwelcoming. Make better use of the space and create a cozy vibe by arranging furniture within the room instead of against it.

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Create A Layout With Function In Mind

A truly great space is one that functions well for you and your family. Before you begin decorating, analyze how you plan to live in and use the room so that you can arrange the furniture and decor to support that. As you being space planning, think about how each area of a room and each furniture piece will be used.

Caitlin Creer Interiors

Create Pathways In and Out

You’ll want about 30 inches to 36 inches of walkway between pieces.This is what you need to be comfortable, without knocking into furniture and bumping into walls. Any type of furniture with doors or drawers also needs three feet of space to open properly. And keep in mind how you access a seating area within a room. Where possible you want to have more than one way to enter and exit.

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Create Conversation Areas

There is nothing less intimate than a gathering of people within a room and them having to yell to have a conversation. Arrange furniture so there are cozy groupings where conversations can easily happen and people can easily engage with each other. There should be no more than 10 feet and no less than 3 feet between people seated around the room to optimize intimate conversation and everyone’s personal space.

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Create Balance

An easy way to create balance within a room is to find the center point of the space. In some cases, this isn’t necessarily the middle of the room but most of the time it will be. Generally, this is where the coffee table or center table should sit. Arrange furniture around the center point to create a good flow and visually pleasing balance within the room. If your home has a very long, or very large living room, consider having two center points with two separate furniture groupings.

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These guidelines will help you get started with space planning but you should adjust your decorating according to your own tastes and preferences. Use these rules to get started, but don’t be afraid to break them and go with your instincts if something feels right to you.

For more helpful decorating tips, read Key Measurement to Know When Decorating Your Home!

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Design Guide: 10 Components To A Beautiful Home

March 16, 2017

Every designer you ask will have a list of key components they think are essential to the design and function of a beautiful home. And while my list may differ from others, I think all designers would agree that each of the items on my list contributes in one way or another to how a home looks and feels.

#1 A STYLE BLUEPRINT

I meet clients all the time that don’t have a good handle (or vision) of their design style. They know if they like an item or not but they can articulate clearly the overall look for a room or the mood they want a room to have. Once you define your design style you’ll be able to envision the decor of your home, down to the details.

Defining your style encompasses many different elements, from the colors and materials you like to the style of furniture and accessories that appeal to you. And don’t worry, defining your style doesn’t happen over night. Your style can change throughout the years just like you do.

One of the ways that I have my clients convey their style to me is by going through design magazines and tagging anything that appeals to them. Then I have them jot down a word or two telling me what they like about the image they tagged. The word ‘cozy’ on a room photo with warm colors may convey the colors they like. The word ‘clean’ may be associated with a room that is streamline and clutter free which tells me a lot about how they want to a room to look and feel. Once you have a stack of tagged images you can look through them and begin to see the common threads in the design style that appeals to you.