Purchasing living room furniture
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As
with all major purchases, it’s a good idea to ask
yourself questions about how your room will be used.
How many people would I like to seat comfortably in
this room? Will it be a family room used by young kids?
What kind of feeling am I looking for? Modern?
Traditional?
Once you have answered some questions it’s time to narrow your ideas down to choices that work for your needs. As a general rule, I mostly end up suggesting that people purchase a three-seater sofa and two comfortable chairs. This is the absolute easiest way to arrange furniture in a living room and a very efficient way of seating people. You can pull up extra chairs from your dining room or get some upholstered cubes. If you have a love seat or even worse, two love seats, would two people (not a couple) at a party want to share a love seat? No!
Another option for great seating is a sectional. These are more informal and are great for seating many people, comfortably. Before you go shopping, measure your space, you can even draw a quick plan of the room, that way you can show the sales person what scale you are looking for, and also think of height of the back, in case the sofa will be placed in the middle and not against a wall. Keep in mind that a high back sofa with a skirt and tufted arms and back will take up a lot more visual space in a room than a sofa or chair with slim arms, no skirt and a tight back. Remember, all the pieces should be of similar scale, i.e. you don’t’ buy a huge sofa and tiny sleek chairs, that usually gets a room off balance. Look for a sofa with low armrests; it just is more comfortable if you want to lie down.
Remember, you get what you pay for. If you want your living room furniture to last for ten years or more, you need to invest in high quality. Furniture made in North America has been acclimatized to our weather and is often of highest quality. If you like white or light colored sofas, look for ones with removable covers you can wash. One last tip: if the piece is borderline too soft… stay away, it will only get softer.
Once you have answered some questions it’s time to narrow your ideas down to choices that work for your needs. As a general rule, I mostly end up suggesting that people purchase a three-seater sofa and two comfortable chairs. This is the absolute easiest way to arrange furniture in a living room and a very efficient way of seating people. You can pull up extra chairs from your dining room or get some upholstered cubes. If you have a love seat or even worse, two love seats, would two people (not a couple) at a party want to share a love seat? No!
Another option for great seating is a sectional. These are more informal and are great for seating many people, comfortably. Before you go shopping, measure your space, you can even draw a quick plan of the room, that way you can show the sales person what scale you are looking for, and also think of height of the back, in case the sofa will be placed in the middle and not against a wall. Keep in mind that a high back sofa with a skirt and tufted arms and back will take up a lot more visual space in a room than a sofa or chair with slim arms, no skirt and a tight back. Remember, all the pieces should be of similar scale, i.e. you don’t’ buy a huge sofa and tiny sleek chairs, that usually gets a room off balance. Look for a sofa with low armrests; it just is more comfortable if you want to lie down.
Remember, you get what you pay for. If you want your living room furniture to last for ten years or more, you need to invest in high quality. Furniture made in North America has been acclimatized to our weather and is often of highest quality. If you like white or light colored sofas, look for ones with removable covers you can wash. One last tip: if the piece is borderline too soft… stay away, it will only get softer.
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Holiday decorating
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Every
year in November, I marvel at the Christmas trees and
fireplace mantels in the decorating magazines. They
always seem to pick a theme, such as all silver or gold
with one colour or all green and red, or just neutral
white snowflakes. Yes, it looks divine, but sometimes
it can look a bit too ‘made up’. Christmas
décor needs to be authentic, natural and from the heart
and it needs to make you feel warm and cozy, inside and
out. Decorating is also about traditions, however, but
if you stick to your traditions too firmly, you may not
be able to let your imagination flow to create the
décor you really want.
Weather fake or real, the Christmas tree is a favorite holiday decoration project. The tree has so many possibilities, from themed décor such choosing just two or three colors for the ornaments or choosing all types of angels, snowflakes, children’s crafts or pure simplicity with only one type of ornament for the entire tree. My favorite color theme is the green-red-brown theme with natural elements. For example, making your own gingerbread ornaments, gingerbread persons, stars, hearts, snowflakes, pine cones etc. If you choose the gingerbread ornaments (my kids love this tradition), before baking, make a small hole in the cookie and after your gingerbread has been decorated and baked, you can use a red silk ribbon to hang it in your tree. To continue on the natural theme, hang dried apple slices, fresh cranberries and popcorn on a string as garlands, large pine cones or bundles of cinnamon sticks tied with a ribbon. A tradition I always carry forward is sticking an orange full of cloves, in a pattern, then tying a red ribbon around the orange and hanging it from my dining room chandelier. It smells wonderful. Christmas is also about lots of candles, a soft white light to bring light in the darkness. And that is why I never use coloured lights, they don’t look anything like candlelight. Both inside and outside… white lights.
Last year I spent some time in Scandinavia in the dark month of January. I asked my friend who lives there why everyone had a candle burning outside their front door, every night? She said, for no special reason, just to lighten up the darkness of winter. I loved this ‘new’ tradition. It was a silent greeting of light, to anyone who passed by.
No matter how you decide to decorate, do it with purpose and intention. Take photos of what you create, your room, and look at the pictures as if you never saw this living space before. What do you notice, what do you love and what bugs you…. Remember to only use décor that you love and make you feel good. If something has a negative memory or is broken, bad energy will surround it. Good riddance.
Here are some things to do for holiday decorating:
Weather fake or real, the Christmas tree is a favorite holiday decoration project. The tree has so many possibilities, from themed décor such choosing just two or three colors for the ornaments or choosing all types of angels, snowflakes, children’s crafts or pure simplicity with only one type of ornament for the entire tree. My favorite color theme is the green-red-brown theme with natural elements. For example, making your own gingerbread ornaments, gingerbread persons, stars, hearts, snowflakes, pine cones etc. If you choose the gingerbread ornaments (my kids love this tradition), before baking, make a small hole in the cookie and after your gingerbread has been decorated and baked, you can use a red silk ribbon to hang it in your tree. To continue on the natural theme, hang dried apple slices, fresh cranberries and popcorn on a string as garlands, large pine cones or bundles of cinnamon sticks tied with a ribbon. A tradition I always carry forward is sticking an orange full of cloves, in a pattern, then tying a red ribbon around the orange and hanging it from my dining room chandelier. It smells wonderful. Christmas is also about lots of candles, a soft white light to bring light in the darkness. And that is why I never use coloured lights, they don’t look anything like candlelight. Both inside and outside… white lights.
Last year I spent some time in Scandinavia in the dark month of January. I asked my friend who lives there why everyone had a candle burning outside their front door, every night? She said, for no special reason, just to lighten up the darkness of winter. I loved this ‘new’ tradition. It was a silent greeting of light, to anyone who passed by.
No matter how you decide to decorate, do it with purpose and intention. Take photos of what you create, your room, and look at the pictures as if you never saw this living space before. What do you notice, what do you love and what bugs you…. Remember to only use décor that you love and make you feel good. If something has a negative memory or is broken, bad energy will surround it. Good riddance.
Here are some things to do for holiday decorating:
- - Discard or give away any ornaments or decoration you don’t love.
- - The trend again this year seems to be themes of colors with gold but mostly silver. Pick up an accent color from your home and continue this theme for your holiday décor. For example, if your cushions on your sofa are green, look for green ornaments and décor, then add a splash of sparkle, like silver.
- Arrange your Christmas decorations in groups or themes, creating vignettes. In other words, don’t scatter little ornaments here and there in your home. Look for areas, tables, consoles to turn into special displays.
- When you buy new items, buy at least two or three to have impact. For example, are you buying miniature trees or poinsettias or thick candles for your mantel or table? If so, buy two, rather three or more; a grouping makes a statement.
- Do look for a focal point, perhaps your tree or your mantel, but maybe not both side by side (you can find your focal point by closing your eyes while standing at the door to your room, and the first thing you see should be your focal point).
- Place your Christmas tree away from heat sources such as vents or fireplaces so that it does not dry out so fast, but place your tree where you can admire it the most.
- Hide your tree stand with fabric, maybe burlap, a tree skirt or a big fun bucket or pot.
- Use a timer for your lights to save energy and use white lights to mimic candles.
- Do put candles or ornaments (electric) in your windows toward the street.
- Look for natural decorations: a big bowl of pine cones, sugared fruit, red apples in a large bowl with holly or cedar branches.
- Greenery, greenery, greenery. If you have to cut branches from your tree (to make it fit in the stand), use the branches in arrangements, or lay them on your mantel. Ask the tree vendors for branches to use in arrangements.
- Arrange long branches of greenery in large vases, IKEA or HomeSense has some great big glass vases that can be used as fruit bowls, candle holders or for arrangements.
- Let your kids have their own decorations and little tree (fake) in their room to decorate as they wish.
- Make your guest bedroom inviting with select decorations.
- Don’t forget to add a Christmas touch to your bathrooms, perhaps a bowl of scented pinecones.
- Decorate your front hall and outside your door with fresh greenery, make the entrance into your home the best it can be. Use lights on timers.
- For special nights, or every evening if you like, light a candle (tea light) in a safe enclosed lantern outside your home.
- For a fun piece, place a string of lights in a large bowl (they now come battery powered). You can add greenery or pretty shiny decorative balls to the bowl.
- Do keep apple cider spices simmering on your stove for a lovely scent.
Hanging art and collections
//
On a recent shopping trip I marveled at all the choices
available of things we can hang on our walls. From wire
art, candles, baskets, drawings and kimonos to huge
reproductions of paintings mounted on canvas. But it is
perhaps not always obvious that we can hang other items
(other than framed pictures or paintings) on the wall,
such as interesting collections.
Collections
Just as in accessorizing (grouping collections of at least three together) you would also hang a collection of items on walls. For example, I used to own several antique duck decoys. At one point they were placed on the floor or on shelves (where they were lost). Then I got the idea to hang them up in a group on the wall in our entryway. The ducks were now more visible and a became a great conversation piece as people were coming or leaving the house.
I am also fond of interesting antique items hung on a wall such as these decorative spinning wheel distaffs, made by Finnish men traditionally as a gift to his fiancé.
Other interesting things I have seen on walls are collection of straw hats, a variety of wall clocks, bags, antique weapons or tools, a collection of antique keys and a wall of travel memorabilia. The key here is the word “collection”. A collection of similar items will have impact. A single lonely item on the wall is often lost, or gives the appearance that you just did not know what to do with it, so you hung it on an empty wall. Make what you hang on the walls have impact and have meaning. But don’t allow it to compete with other things in the room or nearby walls, or no one will see it. Less truly is more, especially when displaying art or collections. A collection also has more impact if the colours are unified. For example, if you have a wall of photo frames, you should choose one colour for the frame, for example black, even though you may have different types of frames.
Hanging collections and art
There are many rules around hanging art on the wall, but once you get the idea, or the knowledge about what to look for, it all makes sense. The most common mistakes, when hanging art are: hanging art too high, the art is too big for the wall, the art is too small for the wall, there is too much art on the walls. Often I see two very different pieces hanging on walls that make a corner (corner crowding) and because the art is so close together, they void each other out. You can’t enjoy either piece.
When you sit on the sofa in your living room, the art should be hung at eye level so that you don’t look up or down. When you walk in your front door and see a wall with art on it, this art should be at eye level. However, if you are hanging a piece of art above a lower table in your entryway, this piece of art needs to be hung closer to the table, rather than at eye level.
Other ideas:
Leaning art or several pieces of art on a mantel, console or on a shelf. Remember, you don’t have to hang all the art that you own. Instead, rotate your art. It’s ok to store some for retrieval during another season. There should always be one wall in a room that is bare, where you can rest your eye. If a wall is narrower than 36” the wall should be art free. If you hang different size art in a row, you need to line up either the bottom or the top edge of the art, I prefer the bottom usually. Usually the art is hung 2-4” apart.
Happy hanging and collecting.
Collections
Just as in accessorizing (grouping collections of at least three together) you would also hang a collection of items on walls. For example, I used to own several antique duck decoys. At one point they were placed on the floor or on shelves (where they were lost). Then I got the idea to hang them up in a group on the wall in our entryway. The ducks were now more visible and a became a great conversation piece as people were coming or leaving the house.
I am also fond of interesting antique items hung on a wall such as these decorative spinning wheel distaffs, made by Finnish men traditionally as a gift to his fiancé.
Other interesting things I have seen on walls are collection of straw hats, a variety of wall clocks, bags, antique weapons or tools, a collection of antique keys and a wall of travel memorabilia. The key here is the word “collection”. A collection of similar items will have impact. A single lonely item on the wall is often lost, or gives the appearance that you just did not know what to do with it, so you hung it on an empty wall. Make what you hang on the walls have impact and have meaning. But don’t allow it to compete with other things in the room or nearby walls, or no one will see it. Less truly is more, especially when displaying art or collections. A collection also has more impact if the colours are unified. For example, if you have a wall of photo frames, you should choose one colour for the frame, for example black, even though you may have different types of frames.
Hanging collections and art
There are many rules around hanging art on the wall, but once you get the idea, or the knowledge about what to look for, it all makes sense. The most common mistakes, when hanging art are: hanging art too high, the art is too big for the wall, the art is too small for the wall, there is too much art on the walls. Often I see two very different pieces hanging on walls that make a corner (corner crowding) and because the art is so close together, they void each other out. You can’t enjoy either piece.
When you sit on the sofa in your living room, the art should be hung at eye level so that you don’t look up or down. When you walk in your front door and see a wall with art on it, this art should be at eye level. However, if you are hanging a piece of art above a lower table in your entryway, this piece of art needs to be hung closer to the table, rather than at eye level.
Other ideas:
Leaning art or several pieces of art on a mantel, console or on a shelf. Remember, you don’t have to hang all the art that you own. Instead, rotate your art. It’s ok to store some for retrieval during another season. There should always be one wall in a room that is bare, where you can rest your eye. If a wall is narrower than 36” the wall should be art free. If you hang different size art in a row, you need to line up either the bottom or the top edge of the art, I prefer the bottom usually. Usually the art is hung 2-4” apart.
Happy hanging and collecting.
Summer is here
//
Outside
decorating
Summer is here and it's time to think of the backyard, which is an extension of your living room or dining room. Decide on a color scheme, even for your yard. Make it comfortable and inviting, just like your home inside. A great base for a back yard, upon which you can build a cozy ‘room’ is a covered area built out of wood. Within this ‘room’ it is easy to hang lanterns, plants, ornaments, curtains, birdfeeders etc. This type of gazebo structure can be attached to your home or separate, but it is a great place to grow things like hops that will grow rapidly and cover this area in greenery.
Inside decorating rules still apply
Create conversation areas; places you can sit and chat comfortably. It can be a sitting group like a sofa and two chairs with comfy cushions. Use grass type area rugs to make it cozy, and if it is an area protected from the weather, use cotton area rugs. Add a chandelier with candles or a few lanterns. When you buy items to decorate, like storm lanterns, buy at least two to give balance. A collection, rather than just one, of most things, looks abundant instead of cluttered. If you like baskets or straw hats, hang a collection outside on a protected wall for example. Use curtains if possible to separate areas and give shade or protect from wind. Hang mirrors and ornaments on bare walls, including the garage wall. Plant fast growing greenery to cover pillars or walls. When planting flowers in a pot, stick to similar colors and flowers in one pot, and keep it simple. Keep a few pots with fresh herbs to have easy access to herbs for your cooking. I usually bring them inside when the nights get cold to extend my “fresh herb garden season.”
Always have easy storage for your cushions and tablecloths to handily put away when weather is bad.
Sometimes we loose sight of what an area actually looks like because we see it everyday and we don't notice when too much accumulates. Take a photograph of your yard to identify bare or cluttered areas that don’t fit the “living room picture”. Ie, hide storage, garbage and composting areas behind fences or plants. Keep your yard airy and clean.
For the kids: lot’s of things to hang in like ropes, swings, hammocks, hanging chairs and anything to climb on is key, but create kids areas in the shade. Make their own little living room area equipped with good storage for their toys and bikes. Easy access is key.
Happy summer decorating everyone!
Summer is here and it's time to think of the backyard, which is an extension of your living room or dining room. Decide on a color scheme, even for your yard. Make it comfortable and inviting, just like your home inside. A great base for a back yard, upon which you can build a cozy ‘room’ is a covered area built out of wood. Within this ‘room’ it is easy to hang lanterns, plants, ornaments, curtains, birdfeeders etc. This type of gazebo structure can be attached to your home or separate, but it is a great place to grow things like hops that will grow rapidly and cover this area in greenery.
Inside decorating rules still apply
Create conversation areas; places you can sit and chat comfortably. It can be a sitting group like a sofa and two chairs with comfy cushions. Use grass type area rugs to make it cozy, and if it is an area protected from the weather, use cotton area rugs. Add a chandelier with candles or a few lanterns. When you buy items to decorate, like storm lanterns, buy at least two to give balance. A collection, rather than just one, of most things, looks abundant instead of cluttered. If you like baskets or straw hats, hang a collection outside on a protected wall for example. Use curtains if possible to separate areas and give shade or protect from wind. Hang mirrors and ornaments on bare walls, including the garage wall. Plant fast growing greenery to cover pillars or walls. When planting flowers in a pot, stick to similar colors and flowers in one pot, and keep it simple. Keep a few pots with fresh herbs to have easy access to herbs for your cooking. I usually bring them inside when the nights get cold to extend my “fresh herb garden season.”
Always have easy storage for your cushions and tablecloths to handily put away when weather is bad.
Sometimes we loose sight of what an area actually looks like because we see it everyday and we don't notice when too much accumulates. Take a photograph of your yard to identify bare or cluttered areas that don’t fit the “living room picture”. Ie, hide storage, garbage and composting areas behind fences or plants. Keep your yard airy and clean.
For the kids: lot’s of things to hang in like ropes, swings, hammocks, hanging chairs and anything to climb on is key, but create kids areas in the shade. Make their own little living room area equipped with good storage for their toys and bikes. Easy access is key.
Happy summer decorating everyone!