Feb
Each of us has likely had the experience of going to the residence of a friend or family member that is nice but cold and austere. Within our own private spaces, we all know what we like and what we dislike when it comes to interior decor. Unfortunately, most of us fall short when it comes to successfully blending warm with form and function.
There are many reasons why even a well thought out interior decorating plan can go wrong and result in a single room or an entire home that is austere; lacking warmth and personality. If you know the potential pitfalls beforehand, you can use your new knowledge to make certain your newly decorated home is overflowing with function, character and a place you will be proud to entertain family and friends.
Color
The biggest error that amateur decorators make that results in a cold room is selecting the wrong color palette, or steering clear of color altogether. When you move into a new family home, the walls are white because they are neutral which allows the potential buyer to see themselves living in the space. Neutral builders paint is also the cheapest alternative for homebuilders. It is not supposed to stay in your new family home for the long term.
You must exercise caution with the ‘shades’ of white that you choose for your rooms (and yes, there are hundreds of shades of white). There are warm tones and cool tones. Warmer white tones can make a home look cozy (think cottage chic) and cool tones make a space look cold and harsh. White tones should be used sparingly.
Warm colors are more effective to enhance the coziness in a room and add energy and character. Which colors you select will highly depend on your preferences and tastes, your home furnishings and decorating accessories and the level of light that the space gets. A space with restricted natural light is better suited for lighter shades that will absorb whatever light does fill the room and reflect it around the room. A room with lots of windows, skylights and other sources of light can handle deeper, darker and richer colors such as deep plum, navy blue, deep yellow and wine red.
Furniture Selection
Without question, your furnishings and accessories are the ‘bling’ for your space. These pieces set the overall tone for the room, from contemporary or Tuscan to traditional or Georgian. Choosing pieces that work in harmony with your space is important. For example, Georgian or other vintage pieces that are ornate and heavily upholstered can stick out like a sore thumb in a modern loft. The same can be said for trying to make Knolls style pieces work in a Victorian traditional bungalow.
If you want to turn your residence from house to family home, select pieces that you love and ensure they work well in the space they are being situated. Feel free to mix it up a little; eclectic furniture arrangements often result in a inviting and energetic setting that you, your family and visitors will enjoy spending time.
Scale is Critical
The first rule to keep in mind: everything seems smaller in a retail outlet or furniture store. Once you get it to your house, that overstuffed sofa set may dominate your space and look totally out of place. Before you start your interior decor project, get to know your home and the rooms you are redoing. Take careful measurements of the entire space including width, length and ceiling height. Spaces with low ceiling height (such as a basement) need smaller furniture than a family room that may have high 14 foot ceilings.
If you have furnishings in the room now, take full measurements and write everything down. Then really look at what you have now and decide if the scale (the size of the furniture compared to the size of the space) is too small, too big or just right. This will help you tremendously when you head out shop for new furniture.
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