First, Start with an INSPIRATION piece and use that to carry your style through the rest of the room. Grounding yourself with the piece will allow the style and theme to easily flow.
- Be cautious not to buy things just to buy - Buy because you LOVE something and HAVE to have it
- Think about what you'd like your room to say or represent? If you can answer this you will have a more cohesive look.
- Start with neutral basics, walls and furniture. Choose interesting textures and patterns to enhance what your room says. Keeping your basics neutral will allow you to quickly and easily change the style with just a piece or two making a big impact on a small budget. This method will also allow you to flow from season to season easily with just updating a few accessories.
- Choosing different sizes of similar objects and placing them in groupings around the room will help to add symmetry. Try odd combinations for an eye pleasing focal point.
- Invest in quality pieces rather than to just fill your space. It may mean only choosing one large statement item instead of several smaller things, but you will appreciate the items more and they will last longer.
- Lastly, refresh and enhance the room's style with color. Color is going to be very important especially since we started with the neutral backdrop. If your statement piece is also neutral be sure to add a few smaller pieces to give your room that 'pop'.
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| In this room you can see the neutral pieces dominate, but pay close attention to the bold orange and burnt reds that compliment the space in the textiles. |
Updating with color is an easy way to brighten or change the mood of any room. Bringing color into a room can be done in a variety of ways. Refresh the look of a room by adding colorful pillows, throws or a large, bold striking piece. It doesn't take much to change your room or define your space by picking something that you absolutely love and working the colors from it into your space in subtle ways.
Color Tips-
1) Begin with a neutral palette, then add color with furnishings or accessories. This is a good way to
test the look and feel of a color scheme in a space. Neutrals don't have to be pale; they simply have
to dominate the space and serve as a backdrop.
2) A great way to brighten up a room and change a look seasonally or over time is to simply sprinkle the
room with colorful textiles, accessories and botanical pieces.
3) Sometimes it is best to pick just one or two places to highlight color, creating brilliant focal points and
allowing the rest of the space to be neutral, ensuring that color will have the impact you want.
4) Make a small room seem larger by using light, cool tones. Darker tones make a room seem smaller.
5) Make a larger room seem cozier with warm tones and richly colored accessories- and don't forget floor
coverings which offer opportunities to tie in your colors.
Choosing Color-
Choosing color is almost always more of an emotional decision than a logical one. The way we feel about color is instinctive. It is the reaction we have to warm reds or cool blues, lights or darks, a lot of color or a little, that gives us a first impression of any space. Explore the possibilities! There are no rules for selecting the colors that make you feel at home- the only rule to follow here is choose colors you love.
-Active colors like reds, oranges and yellows are energetic, warm and inviting; bright colors lend a room a sense of enthusiasm and energy.
-Passive colors like blues and indigos, greens and purples are calmer and come across as classic and authoritative.
-Neutral colors like whites, taupes, beiges, browns and grays temper other hues, or can be used alone for a soothing palette. Muted colors create ideal backdrops for colorful accessories.
Special Touches-
1) Entertaining essentials in bright hues add instant warmth to dining tables. Choose glassware,
dinnerware such as the Villa Stoneware and table linens in your favorite colors, or mix and match
colors for more eclectic place settings.
2) Accessories like frames, vases, clock or more are great vehicles for introducing touches of color. Arrange them on a dresser or side table with a stack of favorite books for instant personality.
