Do's and Don'ts for Decoraring
3. Double Down on Rugs Don’t hesitate to layer rugs to bump up the texture in a space. For a winning combination, pair a neutral-colored rug that has lots of texture with a patterned one. For example, the designer of this room used a natural-fiber rug to add more warmth to the white-and-gray seating area, layered with a smaller patterned rug for a hit of color. Alternatively, lay a high-texture accent rug on top of a patterned area rug.
8. Using Too Many Different Materials — or Not Enough Finding the right balance for the types and number of materials in an open-plan room is tricky, and it’s something a lot of people get wrong, says Anna-Carin McNamara, interior architect and principal at Anna.Carin Design. They’ll often use too many different materials and finishes in an open-plan space, making the area look busy; or they may not use enough, which can leave the room feeling dull and flat. You want an open-plan space to feel simple and cohesive in its aesthetic, but interesting too. Solution: Space planning is the key. Spend time getting the setup right and visualizing how the room will work and look before you decorate, McNamara says. Start with a plan, then an elevation or a three-dimensional model. When it comes to the right number of finishes for an open-plan room, it’s generally wise to use no fewer than three and no more than five. And remember, when choosing finishes it’s important to create a balanced look. If, for example, you have a lot of hard materials, such as stone, in the kitchen, balance them out with curves and warm materials, such as wood, in the dining and living areas. Tip: Don’t plan for ...
Just up the stairs from the main level, the media room has a dark wall, rich textures and jewel tones. The paneled wall behind the television was originally a glossy stained honey oak, which the Laings painted white. After Scott bought, in Kristin’s words, “the biggest TV he could find,” she repainted the wall a charcoal color to make it blend in. “The TV looked enormous before and now it’s kind of camouflaged,” she says. Sconces provide backlighting when the family watches TV.
All together now. A well-trimmed room is something special. Its baseboard, casings and crown all relate to each other in their style, proportions, sizing and finish. In this example, the baseboard appears to follow the 7 percent guideline: The casings are about half the size of the baseboard, and the crown looks to be just slightly smaller than the baseboard. There's no doubt that the trim for this room was conceived as part of the overall design.
7. Soften your lighting. Learn to appreciate natural light and use it more. Even when the light starts to fade in the evening, consider sometimes lighting candles instead of flicking on the overheads. And speaking of overheads, if you haven’t done so yet, swap out all of your regular light switches for dimmers — it makes a world of difference to be able to control the glow.
6. Use fewer but more meaningful decorations. Instead of binging on inexpensive finds, aim to reduce your decor items to include only the ones that you truly love and that hold meaning for you. A few beautiful objects carefully displayed can be so inspiring — reducing allows you to appreciate what you have even more.
1. Clear surfaces daily. Clutter is visual distraction. Every time your eyes land on a stack of papers, a tangle of jewelry or a pile of laundry, some small part of your mind is at work thinking about dealing with said items. If you want a calmer experience at home, a good way to begin is by making it routine to clear all the surfaces in your house daily. When your eye can skim across clean, clear surfaces throughout your home, it also becomes easier to stay focused on the present moment.
Porch. A spacious wraparound porch captures the coastal South Carolina atmosphere. “The vibe is easy-breeziness, through and through,” says Bishop. Sofa and chairs: Kingsley Bates; indoor-outdoor rug: Mali Camel, Dash & Albert: picnic table: Brooks Custom Woodworks; porch lights: Barn Light Electric
For Bold Colors, Use Accessories Accessories are a less expensive way to introduce dramatic colors than purchasing a couch or rug in the same tone, and they’re also easier to swap out should you tire of a color. Limiting bold colors to accessories also helps you avoid the shocking effect that can happen when a dramatic shade is painted on all four walls. “The key is finding a way to inject the color that makes rooms interesting and exciting without feeling like you need to escape,” Ott says. Bright color is good when you want to highlight a piece worthy of notice.
Restrict the Edgiest Colors to Enclosed Rooms Rooms out of the sightline of other rooms are good places for going wild. Master bedrooms, powder rooms, kids rooms and any other room encapsulated by four walls are great places to indulge, says Carl Mattison, an Atlanta-based designer. “If you turn the corner and go into a little powder bathroom, which you don’t go in all the time, who cares? Paint it black!” It works, Mattison says, “because it’s its own little box.”
Another option, Ott says, is to select one or two colors and then use variations of it. If the main color is blue, you might select a gray-blue, a pure blue and a navy paint as you move from room to room. The same concept can be used for decorative accessories. For wall paint, you can ask the paint store to create a “tint” of a particular color, perhaps knocking down the main color by 50 percent, which the mixer will do by adding white. “They can create a lighter or darker version of it,” Ott says. “That’s a good way to unite without putting the same color everywhere.” “I also tell people if they’re going to do their wall in this color, go two or three shades lighter for your ceiling so it doesn’t look like a sore thumb because you painted it white,” says Keith Wardlaw of Plus Modern Design in Kansas City, Missouri. Paint decks can also be a good inspiration source for finding colors that work well together.
Pay Attention to Sightlines San Francisco interior designer and color expert Jennifer Ott frequently works with clients who want more variety in their wall colors. When that is the case, she suggests considering sightlines. When you’re standing in the living room, what other rooms will you see? If you have a view into the kitchen, the dining room and the foyer, then the colors for those spaces need to work well together. “It can start to look really wacky if you have a different color scheme in each room,” Ott says.
Put Paint Samples Right on the Wall Once you’ve chosen your three or four final colors, it’s time to test them. All three of our experts agree: It’s better to paint the wall than those sample boards the paint store sells. This is not just because it’s more economical. “You need to paint at least a 1-by-1-foot square on all four walls,” Wardlaw says. “You paint on the wall because that’s exactly where it’s going. You’re painting over a previous color. I feel a board doesn’t saturate in the same way.” Mattison recommends painting an even larger area — at least 3 feet by 3 feet — for each sample color. Porter advises placing the paint samples side by side on the wall. “They should still be lined up because one would still need to compare and choose based on the process of elimination,” she says. Again, if this is overwhelming for your eye, you could consider looking at them apart. It’s also important to make sure the sample can you purchase has the finish that you’re planning to use (matte, eggshell, satin, high gloss) because that can also change the way a color reads. Many stores sell the sample-size cans only in the matte finish. You may want to consider buying a full quart to...
Choose No More Than Four Colors Finally, it’s time to visit the paint store. Pick several shades and don’t worry about choosing among them while you’re in the store, likely under fluorescent lights. Instead, bring them home. Then it’s time to winnow them down. “Say you come home with eight shades of blue,” Porter says. “Lay all the swatches out and compare them to each other. You will start to see the subtle differences between each color. Some of the blues lean toward green or aqua. Some are a denim shade. Some have a funky undertone that you just don’t like at all.” Porter and Mattison recommend weeding out the shades you don’t like until you have no more than three options left. Wardlaw says four shades are OK. You can tack the color chips to the wall of the room you’ll be painting, or use a sheet of paper as a neutral background. Keep in mind as you make your comparisons (whether on the wall or paper) that the paint chips will appear a bit darker on a light background, and lighter on a dark background, Porter says. “Often, after comparing the paint chips to each other, it will be pretty clear which color is going to work,” she says. If you still aren’t comfortable with t...
The way colors read on your computer screen or mobile device probably won’t read the same way in your room, where they’ll be affected by the amount of light and even the landscaping that the light is coming through. Use digital photos for general color and style ideas, and “tone and value inspiration — meaning light or dark or medium,” Mattison says. It’s also important to look for rooms that are of a similar size and shape to the one that you’ll be painting; that way, the effect will be more similar.
To make sure you get what you want, Carl Mattison of Atlanta-based Carl Mattison Design suggests enlisting the help of a friend to test your color perception. “Take a couple colors and ask your friend, ‘What do you see in this color?’” Mattison says. This can tell you whether the way you’re seeing a color is the way someone else will see it. “Have someone else tell you if it’s a cold gray, or is it a warm gray,” he says. And if you’re not sure you’re seeing what they’re seeing, ask them why they describe the color in that way. This exercise can help you avoid blind spots that could derail your color intentions. Keep in mind that if you’re starting from a blank slate, a cool gray or a warm gray might suit you equally. But if you already have furniture and accessories in warmer hues, you may want to choose a warmer tone that complements what you already have.
Envision the Feeling You Want So you’ve decided to paint your room blue. How do you narrow down which blue? It can be helpful to think about the feeling that you want to create in the room, Wardlaw says. If you’re seeking a cozier feel, choose a blue on the darker end. If you’re going for a more serene vibe, a lighter, perhaps sea blue may be better. As you’re drawn to shades of blue, pay attention to whether you prefer blues that tend toward lavender, green or pure hues. Knowing the undertones of the shade you’re selecting is useful when looking for trim and accessories.
Whatever you do, don’t just head straight to the paint store to browse through the paint chips, or you risk being majorly overwhelmed. Of course, if you’ve already done this, you’re not alone. “People will actually hire a painter without knowing what colors they want to use yet,” says Kelly Porter, a D.C.-based interior designer and Houzz contributor. “Even before you go to the paint store, you really want to narrow down the colors. Even before you pick up the swatches.” But how do you narrow down a color in the first place? Keith Wardlaw of Plus Modern Design in Kansas City, Missouri, suggests that you shop your wardrobe. “I tell clients, No. 1, to look in their closet and see what colors they wear often,” he says. “They’re going to gravitate toward certain colors that look well on them. Obviously, what better way to look great in the interior than if you paint what you look great in?”
Whatever you do, don’t just head straight to the paint store to browse through the paint chips, or you risk being majorly overwhelmed. Of course, if you’ve already done this, you’re not alone. “People will actually hire a painter without knowing what colors they want to use yet,” says Kelly Porter, a D.C.-based interior designer and Houzz contributor. “Even before you go to the paint store, you really want to narrow down the colors. Even before you pick up the swatches.” But how do you narrow down a color in the first place? Keith Wardlaw of Plus Modern Design in Kansas City, Missouri, suggests that you shop your wardrobe. “I tell clients, No. 1, to look in their closet and see what colors they wear often,” he says. “They’re going to gravitate toward certain colors that look well on them. Obviously, what better way to look great in the interior than if you paint what you look great in?”
Pick a Flow-Through Paint One simple way to create a cohesive feel is to use a consistent paint color on the walls of connecting spaces. “Particularly in homes that have more of an open floor plan, it’s best to choose one color that is going to serve as your main color or your neutral,” says Kelly Porter, an interior designer based in Washington, D.C. “That doesn’t mean it has to be beige or white or gray. But the foyer, the hallways and that main connector room should all be the same color because you want that to have dominant color in your space.”
Essential: Milk Paint In Colonial America, paint mixed with milk was a popular choice for dressing walls and furnishings, and it gave a special, soft matte finish. These days, actual milk paint is often prized for being environmentally friendly, but even when the real thing isn’t being used, the matte finish and muted colors make great inspiration for farmhouse style. Matte finishes give a softer sheen that is friendly to imperfections, but they aren’t always easy to wipe clean, so make sure to choose a “washable matte” or something similar. To match this surprisingly happy blue-green hue, try Sherwin-Williams’ Waterscape.
There’s an endless array of colors and finishes available on the market, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding an industrial-style light that fits your needs and budget. Choose a color that complements the other elements in your space. In this mudroom, the black shade of the ceiling light echoes the black pulls on the upper built-in cabinetry.
Cabinetry For around a bar. Corrugated metal paneling isn’t only for cladding wall and ceiling surfaces. With its durability and easy maintenance (you just need to wipe it with water), it makes a great kitchen cabinet facing. With cabinet fronts, the tricky part is how to fasten and treat the edge of the material. On this kitchen island, trim seals the exposed edges. Kirkland notes that fasteners and trim are a “fun element, because you can match the metal or choose a contrasting color for a great accent.”
“Whenever anyone is asked — homeowners, friends, family — what their favorite part of the house is, I’d say that nine times out of 10 it is the reclaimed wood,” Piskula says. Getting the stain on the wood just right took a couple of tries. The winning look came from a warm brown stain base with an antiqued gray wash.
Your people, your experiences. Sometimes it’s helpful to actually be able to see the faces of those you love on the walls, taped to the fridge, cluttering your nightstand. Photos of places you’ve been, adventures you’ve been on, the things and experiences you love can have a positive effect too. Put them up where you can see them, because there is great comfort in our personal histories.
White. White is really one of the most asked-about colors. The perfect white is sought after for cabinets and trim. Undertones in white paint are important and can really shift a palette. My favorite pure white is White Dove OC-17, by Benjamin Moore. This white, shown here in this gorgeous kitchen, is crisp with no undertones. It looks great against any color.
Beige. A basic beige is a must-have for my paint arsenal. I love beige all through the house punctuated with bold color and other neutrals. Loved for its versatility, beige is also a great choice as a backdrop for an art collection. This elegant entry is painted in Sherwin-Williams' Accessible Beige SW7036.
10. Don't stop until you layer. Designers use layering and repetition of elements and motifs to achieve a professional look. Most people get the concept of layering when it comes to fashion. In design it isn't much different. Pick something you love, like this patterned headboard, then repeat the color or the pattern. The artistry lies in stopping before the look becomes too matchy (it always helps to toss in something unexpected to achieve this). Subtlety is key. Drapery, wallpaper, pillows, throws, bedding, accessories — all are great options for layering in a bedroom. You be the judge as to how much is enough.
9. Don't forget the details that make a piece special. I sometimes find the hardest things for my clients to understand is that the details make the design. Nailheads, custom pillows, millwork trim and inlaid floors create a custom look that's drop-dead gorgeous in the space here. Once you train your eye to notice the details, you'll see that a chair with a beautiful turned leg carved by a skilled craftsperson is different than a mass-produced machine-made piece. Custom details are evident in professional work. Contrast piecing or piping on a pillow, or welting, nailheads or trim on a chair. Details, details, details make the result special.
8. Avoid being too matchy. Don't match textiles and furniture — relate them. A designer's task is to create a collected look. Look for a collection of pieces with something in common, such as style, motif, color, history, material or mood.
7. Don't skimp on drapery. More is more in this department. Professionals use fabric yardage that's two and a half to three times the width of the window for fully functional drapes. With fixed side panels (for show only), you can get away with fabric twice as wide as the window. Don't skimp.
6. Don't isolate rooms. Create flow from one room to the next by visually linking adjacent spaces. Repeat a pattern or carry an accent color or another visual element (such as a leg detaiI) from one room to another.
5. Don't skimp on area rug size. An area rug defines a grouping of furniture. Buy one large enough to lie under at least the front legs of each piece of furniture in your grouping. 11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
. Don't sacrifice lighting to trim your budget. The mistake I see most often is light fixtures that are too small or that don't dress the room properly. Use appropriately scaled, relevant lighting. Lighting, more than any other element, asserts style, much like a chosen piece of jewelry defines the style of a little black dress. Don't be afraid to inject personality with a statement piece.
3. Don't use a good-enough paint color. Paint color makes or breaks the look of a room. If it's poorly matched, the result will be weak at best. It takes experience and a trained eye to correctly read undertones. Consult a pro on this one to set your results ahead of the crowd.
2. Don't buy small, cheap throw pillows with solid forms. Pillows should be generous, overstuffed and formable, like these. Use soft, plush, down-filled pillows that can take a shape. There are great synthetic fill options, too. Use the classic "designer's chop" to determine if they will shape up: a quick karate chop to the top edge to break up the pillow's blockiness. Get rid of any dead pillows that sit like a lump. Say goodbye to postage-stamp-size pillows and matchy-matchy ones that came with the furniture. Instead, overstuff an 18-inch pillow cover with a 20-inch insert for a professional look.
1. Don't push the furniture against the wall. You will have a much more interesting space if you allow breathing room around your pieces of furniture, as we see here. Allow the furniture to float in the room, away from the walls. This will help create a conversation grouping. The optimal distance for conversational seating is 4 to 8 feet. This is the Goldilocks zone.
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