Furniture is a tricky thing. It can fade into the background, create an exciting focal point or absolutely ruin an otherwise acceptable layout. As much as I love home decor, I hate picking out furniture. Finding something with charm that also fits and complements a room is a difficult task. Oftentimes, those of us without the means to redesign spaces from top to bottom have to make concessions as far as furnishings are concerned.
Having to make old furniture work or picking out an new suite both present their own challenges. Check out these tips for making things work no matter which end of the spectrum you find yourself on:
- Pay attention to style. All good design concerns itself with style. If a large piece doesn’t mesh with the rest of the area, it can be distracting and unattractive. For instance, it would be unwise to try to cram a chinese bed into a room full of country or patriotic decor. Some discordant features, such as over-embellished legs, can be hidden with slipcovers and creative placement, but you should try to avoid using such tactics by choosing elements with a congruent style.
- Think about scale. One of the most common mistakes a home decorators and seasoned professionals make is picking things that are not to scale within the room. This problem usually begins with a fantastic find (”Who thought I would happen upon the perfect coat rack for my front hall?”) or five (”Well I can’t pass up this Bald Head Light replica! It goes with my lighthouse decor.”) and ends with you trying to convince your family members that it’s okay you’ve blocked the front door. Good design should not make a room cluttered or impossible to navigate, but encourage the flow of traffic though the home. Consider the footprint available for the piece you are looking for before you head off to the home furnishings store and bring a tape measure. In some tricky situations, it is even possible to choose something that is too small for the room, so visualize and measure before making a decision.
- Refinish and reupholster. Don’t be intimidated by these projects. Once you learn how to use a sewing machine and a can of stain, you can cut your project budget in half by rehabbing dumpster and antique store finds. Start by gathering inspiration from online success stories . You’ll find that basic carpentry is possible even for the most inept among us. You might even become skilled enough to start crafting your own wildlife furniture .
Of course, these pointers are only the beginning of good furniture design. If you’re looking for more tips on smart home decor choices, check out my painting and DIY ideas.
