Design Tips

Design tips

Having trouble deciding what size furniture to buy for your living room? Sofa and loveseat or a sectional, one chair or two, and then there are occasional tables!

Size and Layout

Of course you need to evaluate your needs first, but here are some pointers:

  • Don't forget to make sure the pieces will actually fit in the space. Try outlining the dimensions of the furniture on the floor with blue painter's tape. If you measure accurately, you'll avoid buying anything that won't fit in your room.
  • After you know the layout of the furniture, make sure that any larger pieces have a clear path into the room. They need to fit through the doorways and be able to turn any corners or maneuver any staircases.
  • Also, think about scale. Don't overpower a small space or under fill a great room.

Your salesperson can help you work through all of this. An interior designer can also be of assistance with these projects. Don't feel like you have to figure it out all on your own!

Color 101

While it can be a challenge, choosing a color scheme is simpler than you might think.

Color sets the tone for the atmosphere of a space. Predominantly light, cool colors give a space an airy, open feeling. But don't ignore deep, dark colors for making walls and ceilings "disappear." Cool colors (blues, blue-violets, and blue-greens) recede and can evoke a calming effect. Warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) stand out more and create excitement. There's even a psychology behind color. Red/burgundy and yellow can increase appetites (think about the color schemes in fast food restaurants). Soft greens, spa colors, and blues relax and invite rest. Soft golds and yellows stimulate the memory.

Colors can be associated with places too. Maybe you love to travel to Italy, so paint your walls an earthy gold and use a terra cotta and deep rust for accents. If you like to vacation in the Caribbean, try combinations of light blue and green with some splashes of a fun teal, green, or orange. Find some point of inspiration and run with it!

There are a lot of resources you can go to for inspiration. Flip through some magazines and tear out the pictures of rooms that make you happy! Try using a color wheel and researching the various color schemes. Colors directly opposite each other are called Complementary colors (red and green, yellow and violet, blue and orange). You can use them to create a subtle contrast or a bold energy. A monochromatic color scheme uses various tints and shades of the same color. This can be overwhelming or incredibly calming, depending on the color you pick (red vs. neutrals). And don't forget you can use neutrals (beige, cream, grey, black, brown) with any color scheme.

Whatever you do, be consistent throughout open and adjoining spaces. You want the atmosphere in your home to flow.