STYLING – this simple little word makes the difference between a beautiful outfit that gets noticed and a boring, black dress that looks void of personality. Same thing applies to a room. It needs attention to the details to make it stand up and be noticed. And it’s not as difficult as it might sound.
THERE’S ONLY 1 RULE YOU NEED TO REMEMBER – EVERY ROOM IS MADE UP OF LAYERS
FIRST LAYER – This is where the basics are considered. Large furniture pieces like sofas, dining tables, storage cabinets, etc.
Pay attention to the lines of the furniture (are the sofa arms squared off or rounded, is your coffee table square lines or round). If it’s all straight lines you’ll need to soften that up in some of the upcoming layering.
This homeowner started with just the sectional and some simple sheers on the windows.
tip – no matter how much you love the look of wood, it’s easy to go overboard and inadvertently create a cold room. Consider glass, marble and metal for small tables to add interest. Extra bonus for those with small rooms because glass and metallic surfaces have a lighter appearance.
Also take note of colour, pattern and texture of materials being used. Your wood floor has a colour and that needs to be included in the overall plan.
Too much gray in the fabrics of sofa and chairs may need to be brightened up with artwork and accessories. So while this layer seems simple, there are lots of little things to consider.
SECOND LAYER – Things that lie flat against walls or floors such as carpets, window coverings and artwork. This is also where lighting is addressed.
this eclectic room didn’t have much room for artwork so the area carpet became a strong feature. A cowhide was layered on top of bold stripe.
tip – overhead lighting can be the perfect spot for adding that extra pizazz in a room, especially for people who like to keep accessories to a minimum. If that’s you, go big and go bold with the lighting.
THIRD LAYER – The “soft stuff” which means accessories, toss pillows and any other decorative pieces that you need. Think of this layer as the jewelry on your outfit.
tip – use a variety of textures here to create interest. Think about some natural elements for rough, prickly or jagged textures.
Lots of color, texture, and pattern was used to create the bold look in this room.
And that is how easy it can be to add personality to a room.
This is the last post in the blog series we’ve been writing about the simple steps to pull your room together all by yourself. In case you missed any or if you’d like to read them from the beginning: Creating an Inspiration Board, How to Plan a Room Design (with bonus checklist), Simple ways to Create a Room with Soul, What Does it Cost to Furnish a Room and lastly, How To Shop Like a Pro.
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