Once you have your dream home, you may be wondering how to get started decorating. Consider starting with the more complex and activity-filled rooms, such as the living room, kitchen, and dining room.
Before you start shopping for new furniture and placing all your things neatly, you should take some time to relax in your new home and learn how you will really live in it. Faith Phillips, vice president of Retail Store Experience for La-Z-Boy, recommends having a whole house plan.
“Determine what the focal point is in each room: the flow of traffic; the purpose or use of the room, "says Phillips. "Many rooms today have to serve as multi-functional (rooms), like a family room with a small homework station or a second bedroom that serves as a guest room and home office."
Room
The living room is usually the default focal point of a home. Due to all the activity in this space, the living room needs to be designed with the utmost care.
Seating
"Keep in mind that you want to have multiple seating options: a place to watch TV, space for entertainment, and if space allows, even a quiet corner with a comfortable chair with a small table and a reading lamp," he says. Lindsay Pennington, an interior designer from Los Angeles.
“I think every living room should have at least one upholstered ottoman. They double as extra seating, add texture and dimension, and are a much more comfortable place to put your feet up than a wood or metal coffee table, ”says Pennington.
Colors and Patterns
To make sure your living room design is on par, you may want to take note of new design trends.
"Colors are making a comeback, gold is making a comeback, and so are patterns," says Lori Miller, interior designer and Huntington, New York CEO of Lori Girl Creations. “You have to take into account the style of the house, the size of the rooms and personal taste. Large and oversized sofas will never work in a 10 by 12 room and the correct colors vary according to the type of light provided in each room. "
Pieces to Join the Room
As trends come and go, you should always implement pieces in your living room. The pieces to tie the room together are solid, in neutral tones and act as a flexible background to change the art and accessories. For example, a beige sofa always goes well with pillows of different colors and textures.
Pennington adds: "Don't forget a soft, comfortable and sizeable blanket (solid, no print) for the inevitable guest staying or the dreaded day when you will fall ill and fall asleep in front of the television."
Kitchen
No matter what your design master plan is, you need to incorporate design continuity from room to room. Phillips says this is very important to keep in mind.
"This means using a lot of the same colors and finishes," says Phillips. “This is why people love to go to model homes, because one room flows into the next and the house feels 'together.' Have a room painted red, the adjacent room painted purple, the hallway painted green, etc. cohesive and discordant effect ”.
Colors White and Bold
If you were to search for “dream kitchen” on Pinterest, you will probably see a lot of photos of crystal white kitchens. This trend is classic and timeless. If you really want to make this essential room stand out, you should consider integrating some eye-catching and colorful pieces as well.
“If your kitchen feels dated and needs a makeover, I suggest painting all cabinets and walls white or off-white for a bright, unified look,” says Pennington. “Most countertop materials look great with white cabinets and it's always in style with stainless steel appliances, sinks and faucets. Although, I love having lower cabinets or an island painted in a contrasting color, like gray, red or blue. "
Personal touches
Even though the kitchens are mostly functional rooms, there's no reason why you shouldn't add a little spice to it. Pennington suggests lining your kitchen drawers and splurging on new cookware.
"Since few people will see the inside of your kitchen drawers, consider lining them with fun or patterned paper to add character," says Pennington. Splurge on some new plates or some new glasses for entertaining and everyday use. Your friends don't want to drink red wine from mismatched or collected coffee mugs from their college days. It's also time to ditch your plastic kitchen utensils and buy some made of wood and stainless steel. Or invest in a Le Creuset Dutch oven in a fun color that will last a lifetime. "
Dinning room
The key to getting the most out of your dining room is to design it to be versatile with contemporary furniture.
Multipurpose space
When you're not formally entertaining guests, you should be able to use your dining room in other ways.
"Set up a reading nook or children's play area in one corner or add shelving to house your collection to ensure traffic through this room," says Pennington. "I love a simple wooden table in a dining room, which can serve as a dining surface, a work surface, a place to pay bills, or even a children's craft space."
Pennington also suggests placing a large cabinet or buffet in your dining room.
“You can store placemats, napkins, extra silverware, candles, and table decorations behind closed drawers to use only when you need them,” says Pennington. “With a lamp on top, you can also use the surface as a serving buffet. Truly a multipurpose piece of furniture ”.
Contemporary Furniture
The trend of using contemporary home furnishings, such as recycled wood and recycled pieces, can be especially innovative in a dining room.
"Contemporary furniture is still popular, as does gray as the number 1 neutral," says Phillips. “I was at the World Market this week and saw a lot of blue showing, all shades from soft sky blue to a beautiful navy blue. The rustic and recovered finishes in wooden pieces also continue to be very popular ”.
Miller also suggests using recycled and reclaimed furniture pieces.
"Pre-fab wall panels, using old storage boxes to create the shell of a house, recycled glass, solar panels, cork and bamboo flooring, just to name a few," says Miller. “Restoration Hardware created the trend for nails, washed barn wood, and so on. Add some of these items to your décor. "
The most important part of designing each room in your home is to incorporate those pieces that have sentimental value or that have been passed down through your family. After all, the home expresses the owner's personality and values, reflecting the most important things that make a home a home.
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