Posts Tagged ‘free design advice’
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Design Question
My daughter wants to redecorate her room. My dilemma is that the bedroom is small. The dimensions are 11′ high ceilings, in a 13′ x 11′ room. One wall has sliding glass doors that lead out to the pool (we live in FL) which she rarely uses. Another wall has the room entrance and a large four panel louvered door closet, which basically leaves two walls with a corner in between to place her bed, dressers, desk etc. We have used in the past probably every possible configuration we can think of, so I was looking for some help or new ideas.
The furniture pieces involved currently are a dresser with a mirror, a lingerie dresser, an oversized night table, a corner desk, and a wrought iron full size bed. All the furniture is white. The walls currently are chocolate brown. Can we place the bed in front of the sliders? Or is that a just not done? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Design Answer
Arranging furniture in a small bedroom can be tricky, but not impossible if you follow a few general guidelines.
- When redecorating a bedroom, the first thing to do is to decide what the focal point of the room will be. Typically in a bedroom, it is the bed. For a cohesive bedroom interior design, the other furnishings should be arranged around the focal point. Once you have chosen the room’s focal point, you can then decide how to arrange the furniture.
- Start with the largest bedroom furniture piece in the room, which in this case from the great detailed description you gave will be your daughter’s bed. Choose the wall that will best accommodate the bed.
- Make sure that your daughter will be able to move around each piece of furniture easily without bumping into something else. Ensure that doors and drawers can be opened and closed without impeding the room’s traffic flow.
There are no rules about using the sliders as a “wall” for the bed. As long as it is not one of the house’s escape exits in the event of an emergency, there’s no reason that the bed cannot be placed in from of the sliding doors.
If your daughter doesn’t use the sliding doors, another option is to put the corner desk in the corner formed by the glass doors and the wall, and then place the bed on an angle in the corner that was occupied by the desk. Sometimes placing the bed on an angle in a small space opens up the room by altering the focal point. See if this little trick will work in your daughter’s bedroom.
Hope this is helpful in giving you a workable solution. Thanks for writing in. Come back next Monday when we tackle another interior design question. Keep sending me those emails and don’t forget to include pictures if you can.
Tags: Bedroom Furniture, bedroom interior design, free design advice, furniture arranging, teen bedroom ideas, youth bedroom furniture
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, How To & DIY Furniture | No Comments »
Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Design Question
Hi, I have a master bedroom that I just don’t know what to do with. The main problem is choosing color for the walls. My husband and I have a great master bath which is relaxing and soothing in color (light blue) but I am stumped on color for the bedroom. I feel if I could just get some ideas on color than the rest will fall into place. I want a relaxing/romantic feel for our bedroom. I have attached two pics. I tried to show that we have a vaulted ceiling as well.
Any suggestions are most appreciated. Thanks!
Design Answer
.Especially a bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, the instinct is to paint the entire room white or some other neutral color like beige, light tan, cream or gray because these colors on ceiling give the illusion of more space. You don’t have to stick to neutrals, but it would be wise to pick a softer shade since a richer color on both the ceiling and the walls has a tendency to make the space feel claustrophobic or too dark.
You like the color in the master bath; I would start there. See if you can find a varying shade of the blue in your bathroom that would suit your bedroom. You also said that you would like to give your bedroom a romantic feel, which typically means softer tints of purple, such as lavender or lilac or deeper shades of pink like rose.
Another trick for helping you to decide what paint color to choose, is to start “backwards.” Go shopping for new bedding or select a favorite bedding set. Pick out some colors that you like and search for comparable paint chips at your local hardware store. It doesn’t have to be a bedding set; you can take your color inspiration from a colorful print or painting; a treasured memento or an upholstered accent chair. I love the curtains; blue is actually a complementary color (the color directly opposite on the color wheel) of gold.
Once you have a specific color in mind, don’t forget to take the room’s natural and artificial light into consideration. You will want to invest in a little paint sample you can actually apply to the wall and see if you like the color you have chosen in all types of light from the sun coming into the room (if the room faces east) in the morning to how it looks in early evening and then again how the color appears in the room when a lamp is lit or the overhead light is on.
I hope this has been helpful. Thanks for writing in. Stay tuned next Monday when we tackle another interior design question. And don’t forget to keep sending me those emails!
Tags: bedroom design ideas, bedroom paint colors, free design advice, interior painting, paint color choice, painting a bedroom, room paint colors
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, How To & DIY Furniture | 1 Comment »
Monday, July 26th, 2010
Design Question
Dear Heather B,
We have a large flat screen in our lounge with a long cabinet below. I would like to put up a painting of some sorts above or some artwork on either side. I have attached a recent photo (taken during the world cup) which was the only one I could find at such short notice.
My husband says it will be distracting and the wall colour, which is different to the rest of the wall colours is enough. But to me the wall just looks too bare and needs some life…
Let me know what you think… take me out of my misery 
Design Answer
That’s a great accent wall colour. Well-chosen and thoughtfully placed artwork shouldn’t be distracting: the only time it is would be is when pictures are hung incorrectly; too many pictures are grouped together; or the picture frames selected are too “busy.” It’s such a great space; there are several things you could do with this wall to make it more appealing (hopefully to the both of you).
Option #1: Put two wall sconces, one on either side of the television. It will give you the option of using not having to use the overhead ceiling light all of the time. The mirrored accents of the AF Lighting Candice Olson Hollace 6 Inch Wall Bracket Light create visual interest without taking up a lot of space.
Option #2: Place a set of wall sculptures like the Infinity Instruments Wall Art Reflection Tree Decor Piece and the Infinity Instruments Wall Art Autumn Memories Decor Piece on either side of the plasma TV. It will provide a decorative element while creating a sense of movement in the room. This might sound like it will create the distraction your husband would like to avoid, but walls are “boring” when they are “stagnant.”
Option #3: Hang a larger sized picture on only one side of the television. Another variation is to hang a set of three or four small sized pictures above the TV.
Thanks for writing in. Stay tuned next Monday when we tackle another interior design question. And don’t forget to keep sending me those emails!
Tags: free design advice, hanging pictures, home décor, living room design ideas, pictures, wall art
Posted in Family Room Furniture & Design Ideas, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, How To & DIY Furniture, Living Room Furniture & Design | No Comments »
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Design Question
Hi Heather, I have just moved to a studio apartment in the city and I’m tight on space. As you walk in the door, to the right is the kitchenette and to the left is the bathroom. Straight ahead is the bedroom area and it’s all in one space. The furniture I have is a double bed, wooden chest, a bedside table and lamp, a computer desk and chair, a small table for 2 along with a bamboo mat.
I want a Japanese style because of the lack of space in the unit as its size is of two normal sized bedrooms. Can you help me with any ideas?
Design Answer
The first trick to decorating a small space is to think cozy instead of small. You don’t want too much furniture in the space, because that will make it cramped. But you can err on the side of caution, too, but having not enough of the “right” kind of furniture; by that I mean the right number and right type of furniture pieces that will make you comfortable and your home welcoming.
The second trick to decorating a studio apartment is to choose furniture that is in scale. Many people make the mistake of thinking “small” instead of compact. When buying bedroom furniture or living room furniture for small spaces think dual purpose like a futon, which can double as a sofa and a bed; entertainment center, dresser or armoire, as focal points in the room. Make sure that you have enough room to move around each piece of furniture; that you will have enough room to pull out your desk chair when sitting at the computer; opening drawers; or accessing cabinets, etc.
More Tips for Decorating Small Spaces
Japanese style is a great choice for studio apartments, because lines are simple, walls are typically unadorned and colors are earth tones or soothing neutrals.
Add a large framed mirror directly opposite either the window or the door; this will help to make the space appear larger.
Select furniture that includes some type of open design like chairs with ladder backs; headboards with a lattice or openwork pattern; open style bookcases or storage shelving units; or tables with glass tops. By selecting furniture that isn’t “solid” (as in dense) looking will also help to make your living space look larger.
Thanks for writing in. Stay tuned next Monday when we tackle another interior design question. And don’t forget to keep sending me those emails!
Tags: apartment living, Bedroom Furniture, decorating ideas, decorating small spaces, free design advice, Japanese style, living room furniture, studio apartments
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, How To & DIY Furniture, Living Room Furniture & Design | No Comments »
Monday, July 5th, 2010
Design Question
This headboard was an oak color. I repainted it white and put a beige color overtop. I am not pleased with the results. It looks like it’s been painted white with beige rubbed on. I would like a more unique finish. Was thinking it may look better just white with the color on the edges sanded off. Can you suggest a color or technique for this style? I have a whole suite I would like to do, so I would like to appreciate it for a few years. Thank you
Design Answer
It actually didn’t turn out too badly but I can see why you would be reluctant to paint an entire bedroom set in this way. There are several things you can consider trying.
Option #1 – Repainting it White
Painting it all white with the shade of white you used originally and then lightly sanding the edges, the crown molding and maybe random areas of the posts will give the headboard a distressed or antiqued look. Actually you could use the sanding technique on any color you chose to give the headboard and the other pieces in your bedroom suite a distressed finish.
Option #2 – Glazed Finish
Because the headboard has a charming old world look that could be adapted to several décor styles including country, French country and even traditional, you could use a glazing technique that would give it the appearance on an heirloom found in a rural cottage. To get the desired effect you will need to use three paint colors: base color, glaze color and an accent color. Since you already have purchased paint, I suggest that you use those two; then you only have to purchase an accent color and a clear glaze. The accent color should be a color that matches or complements one that is already in the room. For example, you may have a shade of blue you like that appears in the pattern of your curtains or your comforter. Here’s how to get the look I have in mind:
- Apply two coats of the white paint (or whatever color you choose for the base coat) to the headboard.
- Let dry thoroughly between each coat.
- Lightly sand the headboard. When finished sanding, wipe down with a damp cloth to remove dust.
- To create the glaze mix two parts of your beige paint (or whatever other color you decide to use) with one part glaze. Using a rag, apply the glaze to the headboard in small, circular motions. Try not to go over the same place twice. Make sure it’s dry before going on to the next step.
- Paint the edges of the furniture piece with your accent color. You can also highlight the crown molding of the headboard or the edges of the drawer fronts of a dresser or night stand.
- Using your accent color, for an added country charm, stencil a floral motif on the footboard (if the bed has one; you only mentioned the headboard) and on the drawer fronts and/or sides of the case goods of your bedroom suite.
- To protect you handiwork, apply one to two coats of a clear finish.
Option #3 – Glazed and Distressed
To give your headboard a distressed appearance, follow the above steps 1 through 5.
You will need extra-fine steel wool and finishing wax.
Before steps 6 and 7, take the extra-fine steel wool and dip it into the finishing wax. Rub gently in a circular motion to give the surface a distressed look that is smooth.
Thanks for writing in. Hope this has been helpful. Let me know how it turns out. Keep sending me your design questions and pictures.
Tags: Bedroom Furniture, bedroom sets, DIY headboard, free design advice, free interior design advice, headboard, headboards, paint color choice
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, How To & DIY Furniture | 1 Comment »
Monday, June 28th, 2010
Design Question
My girlfriend and I are decorating our new apartment. We are currently shopping for new living room furniture. We both like this gray couch, which means the rest of the furniture will be mostly gray. So I want “shocking” walls. My choice is red; I thought it would make a good background for the gray living room furniture. My girlfriend wants to paint the room blue; actually more of a pastel teal. I don’t want blue of any shade and she thinks that the red would be too dark. Which is the right color we should be picking? How do we settle this so that we can both live the color choice?
Design Answer
You’re right – since you are both living in the space, you will need to agree on a color that will be pleasing to you both. In your situation, however, it’s not really an issue of which shade is right or wrong, because both the red and the blue/teal would be good candidates for matching with the furniture you have chosen.
In my opinion, what is a more important consideration is the overall effect you both would like to achieve. Since colors fall into two basic categories – warm colors (reds, lavenders, pinks) and cool colors (blues, greens) – you will want to decide which vibe would best work in the space. Because the sofa and other living room furniture is a neutral shade (gray) you won’t have to worry about matching the furniture color to the walls. The good thing about cool colors is that, unlike warm shades such as red or orange, you don’t have to worry about them overpowering the other décor elements in the room.
Since it isn’t really a matter of whether or not the wall color will or will not go with the furniture, discuss with your girlfriend the kind of mood you would like to create in your living space. If it ends up that you are still on two separate pages in terms of the exact vibe you both would like for the living room, you’ll have to do some negotiating.
Thanks for writing in. Let me know how it turns out! Send pictures! Good luck.
Tags: color palette, free design advice, free interior decorating advice, free interior design advice, Interior Paint Colors, paint colors
Posted in Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas | No Comments »
Monday, June 14th, 2010
Design Question
I am currently in the process of redoing the family room, since it’s just a mishmash of mismatched furniture with a large plasma TV on the end wall. Because it was previously painted not even two years ago, we’re not planning on doing it again. So the color of the walls are light blue. Same thing concerning the carpet; it’s still new enough that we won’t be replacing it. It’s a soft cream color. I want a contemporary look for the family room, something casual but still smart looking. With light blue walls and cream colored carpet, which would look better, white or dark brown furniture?
Design Answer
The short answer is either white or a darker brown like espresso or chocolate will work perfectly well in a room with light blue walls and a cream colored carpet.
The longer answer is that both choices have their pros and cons. Some people would shy away from choosing white furniture for a family room because it can be easily stained; especially white furniture that has white or lighter colored upholstered seating or accompanying accent cushions. However, white furniture can look smart, especially contemporary style living room furniture. It has the added advantage of being able to go with virtually any other color. White furniture can be a great backdrop for accent pillows of different colors. Or you can implement a standard contemporary color scheme by starting with white basics and accessorizing with black fabrics and other decorative items.
White in a room, whether it’s on the walls or it is the color you have chosen for your family room or living room furniture also has the advantage of opening up the space and making it seem roomier. This is a plus if the room you are redecorating is small to begin with.
On the other hand, choosing furniture with finishes that include chocolate, java or cappuccino will give your family room a much more sophisticated look and feel. Particularly in a room that has an area rug or carpet in a light shade, darker colored furniture will create a pleasing contrast, while adding warmth.
Tags: Family Room Furniture, free design advice, free interior decorating advice, Interior Paint Color, living room furniture, paint color
Posted in Family Room Furniture & Design Ideas, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, Living Room Furniture & Design | No Comments »
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Design Question
My husband has two children (12 and 15) from his previous marriage. When my stepchildren come to stay for the weekend, one sleeps on the sofa downstairs in the family room and the younger one sleeps in the guest room on the main floor. It’s not a good arrangement. I would like to do something about it but don’t really know what would be best. Do you have any suggestions as to how we can create a space that will work better for both the kids and us?
Design Answer
Even though it might be “just for the weekend,” it is difficult for children to belong essentially to two separate households. It can be disorienting, uncomfortable or a little strange. You do, however, have two things working in your favor – you have a second bedroom and you have a family room. With these two components, there are several things you can do, any one of which will help you create a permanent place in your home for your stepchildren that will be accommodating, welcoming and most of all theirs.
The first thing for you to consider is eliminating the guest bedroom and renaming it “the boys” room. When your stepchildren come to stay with you for the weekend, they should plan on sharing. Putting them in the same room rather than having them sleep in two separate places will perhaps make dealing with a second household a bit easier.
Take the opportunity to do this redecorating project as a “team.” When converting your guest room into your stepsons’ room, don’t do it without them. Let them choose the color for the walls. When it comes time to accessorize the room, take them shopping; let them help you select the bedding, curtains, area rug, etc.
Measure the room to see how much actual space you will have to work with. What teenager or young boy doesn’t like a bunk bed? If they will be the only ones using it on a regular basis, bunks beds would be a good option, especially if it is a smaller sized room. Should you do have need of a guest room and there is space for twin beds they would a better choice in terms of functioning as the boys’ room when they are there and as a guest room when they are not. Twin beds would also allow you to establish definitive areas for each child – you could dress the bed in complementary bedding rather than matching bedding, further distinguishing each boy’s “place” in the room.
In the family room, if there are already bookshelves or some type of storage unit, rearrange the shelves so that your stepsons can store some of their belongings such as movies, games, etc. If there is room in the bedroom, consider adding a bookcase or cubby storage to encourage them to leave some of their possessions so that they don’t have to tote these types of things back and forth between houses. It will also help make it homier and more welcoming.
Tags: decorating for kids, decorating ideas, free design advice, interior decorating, kids bedroom, kids bedroom furniture, stepchildren
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas, Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas | No Comments »
Monday, May 31st, 2010
Design Question
Please, I need your professional advice. I have been living in my house for over 8 years and never had the opportunity to paint it. My husband and I went to the store to choose a paint color. We bought “Sand Motif” (Behr) for our living room but when we painted the walls, it was very dark. We chose white for the “trim”.
We did not expect the color to be that dark but we could not change it. We went back to the store and bought the “Russian White” for our family room and chose the “Antique White RM” (CIL) for our kitchen. We have not chosen our stairwell color yet.
I do not like the “Sand Motif” due to the color. Could you please help me to choose a good color for our furniture; a color that will brighten the family room? Thanks
Design Answer
I’m sorry to hear that the color ended up to be not to your liking. I’m assuming that the white that you have chosen as the color for the trim isn’t brightening up the room enough for you. Other than repainting the entire area, there are some things you can try.
Since you have not yet chosen the paint for the stairwell, why not select a lighter shade that will complement the sand motif color? Then paint two of the living room walls the color that you will be using for the stairwell. The other two sand motif walls will be your accent color.
Do you have enough of the Russian White or the white paint you used for the trim in the living room leftover? If yes, and either one of the whites matches the sand motif, then you might consider repainting two of the walls in the lighter shade and leaving the darker one as an accent color.
As for living room furniture, especially the sofa or the coffee table, again choose a color that is complementary to the sand motif. A complementary color is the color that is directly opposite on the color wheel. For example the complementary color for red is green. Since the living room wall color has green tones, you will want to look for living room furniture that has a light cherry or oak finish. Pine furniture with hints of rose would also be a good choice. The same applies to any window treatments, an area rug or accent pillows you add to the room; select fabric and accessories that complement the sand motif. You can also make the furniture “lighter” by choosing less solid pieces such tables with glass tops or bookcases with open shelves.
Hope this is helpful in giving you a workable solution. Thanks for writing in. Come back next Monday when we tackle another interior design question. Keep sending me those emails and don’t forget to include pictures if you can.
Tags: free design advice, free interior design advice, Interior Paint Colors, paint color, paint color ideas, paint colors
Posted in Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, How To & DIY Furniture | No Comments »
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Design Question
I have recently moved into a studio apartment and I am having some trouble arranging the space to create a sense of privacy. When you walk in, the first thing you see is my bed. I really hate that. I’d like to be able to hide the bed from view. Any suggestions? Thanks a bunch!
Design Answer
From your question, I’m assuming that the bed cannot be moved. If by chance it can, switch it to one of the walls on either side of the door, furthest away from the entrance as possible. If that is not an option, there are some other things that you can do.
The most important thing to keep in mind when “dividing up” a studio apartment is that it retains its functionality and esthetic appeal. In other words, anything you do to create privacy in the space should not:
- affect traffic flow
- chop up the space, making it visually unappealing
- make the space look cramped or feel cluttered
Using a divider is the easiest way to create a sense of privacy in a studio apartment. Room dividers “mark” out and separate the individual areas of a studio living space. They also have the added advantage of being portable – you can simply fold them up and store them away when you wish to open up the area. Some types of portable screens are on wheels.
For something a little more “permanent,” bookcases work well as dividers. If this idea is appealing to you, make sure that the bookcase you select has a finished back – sometimes manufacturers don’t finish that backs of living room furniture pieces that aren’t expected to be seen like entertainment centers, bookcases or other kinds of storage units. However, when using bookcases as room dividers, be careful not to block out any light source. Choose something like the Modloft Pearl Bookcase that has no back and will let some light filter throughout the living space.
I hope this has been helpful. Thanks for writing in. Keep sending me your design questions, and especially if you’re asking for advice regarding wall color, tips on rearranging a specific room etc., include pictures if you can.
Tags: bookcases, decorating small apartments, decorating tips, free design advice, furniture arranging, interior design advice, room dividers, studio apartment
Posted in Home Decor and Design Ideas, Home Decor Design Ideas, Living Room Furniture & Design | No Comments »
