I saw an ad recently in Architectural
Digest for Linge Roset furniture. The headline was “Staying Home is the New
Going Out to a Fancy Place”. I thought what a great ad! In these rough economic times, we are all modifying
the way we spend and for a lot of us that means cutting back on how often we go
out to a restaurant or club. We’re staying home and entertaining at home more
than we have in recent times. It is reminiscent of Mid-Century America where
cocktail parties and bridge clubs were a weekly occurrence. We are embracing
the lifestyle, enjoying shows set in those times and even decorating our homes
with the look of that era, 1950’s-1960’s America. So with that in mind, many of
us are choosing to stay home and spend money on making our homes more comfortable
and cozy. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Begin by
deciding how much you want to spend on design changes. Look at your space and
determine the function of the room and the mood you want for the space. Look at
the furniture arrangement and determine if it is working for you. Determine
what is working for you and what is not working. Do you have enough seating? Do
you have adequate surfaces for food and drinks? Will you need extra tables when
entertaining? How about lighting? You should have adequate task and ambient
lighting in the room. How about style? Are you happy with the style or do you
want a complete new look? Maybe you want to add or change wall colors. Paint
can transform the mood of a room instantly. If your budget allows, add a new
piece of furniture like a sofa for more seating and a style update. If you
can’t afford new furnishings add new pillows in fun colors and patterns. Add
carefully chosen unique accessories with a similar look or color to tie the
room together. In place of greenery or plants try filling glass vases with real
branches to add a pretty, natural look to a room. Add new area rugs to define
your seating areas and add color and texture to the room. Speaking of
Mid-Century design, a new fun idea is to add some vintage pieces to the room. How
about a 50’s style bar you can pull out from the wall when entertaining and then
put back along the wall as a console/sofa table to display some accessories,
books or additional lighting. Check out
local antique and resale stores to find authentic pieces that will work for
your space. Frames are a trendy way to decorate your walls. Use different
styles and group them together with photos, artwork, mirrors, other interesting
items or even display them empty. Interesting, pretty, unique or distressed
frames become art in themselves when grouped together. Accessorize with care
and thought.
Be careful
to keep the space uncluttered and welcoming. You want to create a space that is
comfortable for you and your family to enjoy as well as entertain in with your
family and friends. Start with your plan, follow some simple design rules and
be creative. Don’t be afraid to add
vintage touches to the space and not be all matchy-matchy. Your space will be
more interesting and welcoming. As always if in doubt, call an Interior Designer
for some advice before you begin your project.
For
In-Home consultation call 951-956-0661 or visit their website
ranchointeriordesign.com
