A Designer’s Guideline Fit for Every Room

As an Interior Designer I am often asked, “What are the basic steps to updating or decorating a room?”. Let me start by saying that in the last several years, fashion and design “Rules” have been pushed, bent, and in some cases thrown out completely. White no longer is confined to Labor Day, pattern on pattern and tone on tone is chic, and mixing metals is not only approved but encouraged. Of course there is a certain finesse to skillfully putting these things together and that’s where my job comes into play. So if the “rules” are more lax and in some cases don’t even apply anymore, where does one begin to design or update a room? After years of working with different styles, generations, and spaces, I’ve come up with a few basic guidelines I feel make every space aesthetically pleasing, functionally comfortable, and always warm and inviting.

Balance

A good foundation of any room starts with balance and this begins with furniture placement. Let’s start with symmetry. Symmetry is the first thing my eye notices if absent in a room. When I talk about symmetry in a space, I’m referring to the balance of numbers. For example, placing two end tables on both sides of a sofa or bed. Typically a bed or sofa is the largest piece in the room so anchoring it with the right size matching end tables and lamps instantly makes a room look polished. Another example of good symmetry with numbers in a space is having a well balanced ratio of singles and pairs. For a living room, if the space allows, I love to have one pair of matching chairs on one side and another pair of two different His and Her chairs on the other. This gives the room interest and balance. Another design tip I love to incorporate is to combine a larger coffee table with two smaller tables or ottomans which is not only pleasing to the eye, but gives everyone a place to set a drink or a place to sit when entertaining a large group.

Another important part of the balance formula is to have a good mixture of textures and shapes. Wood and acrylic, silver and gold, solids and prints, the juxtaposition of classic and trendy and depth and light really can make a room sing. It’s also important to select a variety of shapes for a room. For example, if you have a round coffee table, select some square side tables. The goal is to create a room that combines different pieces that work together to make one look at the space as a whole in it’s warmth and lovely aesthetic.

Rugs

Selecting a rug can be daunting. Not only are you working with endless options, but one also has to take into consideration functionality if working with a high traffic room, small children and pets. For this I have an answer that is functional, timeless, and a great price point: Seagrass. This natural fiber option instantly brightens any room and is truly classic. Bedroom, living room, dining room, it looks great wherever placed. Seagrass is what I categorize as a, “Warm Neutral” and creates the perfect base layer to build on for any style. My favorite way to style Seagrass is to layer it with a smaller Oushak rug. This is where you can add your color and texture. For example, I love to layer a Seagrass rug with a small Oushak rug underneath the coffee table in a living room that compliments the space’s color palette. This adds a polished collected look that adds warmth to any space.

Investment Pieces

One of the most common questions asked when designing a room is, “What pieces should I invest my money in?”. Taking into consideration longevity, aesthetics, and sentiment, my answer to this question is the following: Lighting, drapery, an antique piece, and upholstery. Let’s start with lighting. One of the easiest ways to instantly update a room is with your lamps and overhead lighting. Lighting is what I like to think of as the jewelry of a room and one of the most fun accessories to select. We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s all in the lighting” and with interior design, it most certainly is true. Interior lighting creates a warm ambiance and sets the stage for the room’s atmosphere.

Next on the list of places to invest in is drapery. Drapery is the framework of a room and is a great place invest money when decorating as window treatments are strictly “eye candy” and there is no fear of wear and tear. Whether it be beautiful sheers, or bold and bright prints, this is an important but fun place to express your personal style and bring a room together in it’s entirety.

Now let’s talk antiques. My personal favorite. This to me is truly what can set a room a part and brings memories and sentiment into a home. Whether it be a beloved antique piece of your great grandmothers or a French antique found in your favorite local antique store, this element of a room is what makes a space truly special. I love to hear the traditions and memories associated with antiques and the true individuality it brings. Multiple people can have the same style sofa, but no one is going to have your great aunt’s china cabinet passed down for three generations. These pieces to me are what make a home truly special.

Lastly, let’s discuss upholstery. When selecting fabric for your beloved furniture, aesthetics and functionality are equally important here. Quality fabric will last you years and is an important place of investment as you certainly don’t want to frequently recover a sofa, headboard, or dining room chairs. Quality is key here and not the place to cut corners financially. In addition to functionality, fabric selection in a room is what brings a space to life. Personal tastes in colors and patterns are expressed here and such a fun part in the decorating process.

Personal Touches

While every home needs the same basics, it’s the personal items, collections, and display of memories that make a house a home. Invest your money on pieces that mean the most! Art, antiques, family photos, these things are what make your home stand the test of time in it’s individuality. One of my most favorite parts of my job is the relationships built with my client’s and finding out what is special to them. I love to creatively display pieces that daily remind my clients of sweet memories and traditions. Looking around my home, I have art from overseas travels, pictures of children, grandchildren, and generations before me, antiques from mine and my husbands family, photography by my daughter, and proud hunting displays from many a hunting trips taken by my husband and son. These are the things collected over the years that make my house my home. Everyone has sweet memories and traditions unique to them and their family. The most important guideline to follow when decorating your home is to fill your home with what you love!