For a client’s historic Tidewater home, we “shopped” her home finding a distinctive tribal rug stashed in a closet and ethnic pillow in the study to pair with two new ones.
Once the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over, you may find yourself eager for an interior change of scenery. The start of a new year is an ideal time for cleaning out, rearranging and refreshing your home.
Less is More.
Consider giving away or selling items you no longer love. Your Granny’s upholstered wing chair may have followed you from home to home, but does it really fit with your more relaxed lifestyle? Clearing out long-time possessions can be difficult at first but seeing how much better your room looks without them makes it easier.
Determine what will go where.
A quick, easy way to visualize a new furniture arrangement is by marking the layout with painters’ tape. To make the most of your space for entertaining, aim for a U-shaped conversation area. Be careful not to place too many heavy pieces on one side of the room or put all the furnishings against the walls. Lastly, think about flow. Make sure you can walk through the room unobstructed by furniture.
Trade spaces with existing pieces.
Anyone who’s ever watched a design program on TV knows the value of shopping your home’s existing furniture, rugs, artwork and accessories to make your space feel new again. Freshen your living room by moving small tables from other rooms to create a new set of end tables for your sofa. Then you can move your leftover end tables to a guest room for bedside convenience. Lighting is another easy way to refresh a room. Lamps can be shifted from room to room if you’re mindful of height and scale.
Surround the changes with a few trendy additions to make the changes pop.
Never underestimate the power of color and print. One simple way to achieve a new look is the addition of colorful throw pillows in an ethnic, animal or tribal print. To bring in a bit of nature during the winter, try adding a bold vase with a branch or two of split leaf philodendron. You may want to consider two of the major trends for 2019—curvaceous shapes and natural light woods—by finding small accent tables in interesting shapes and materials.
Ann Carpenter Designs in Irvington works closely with clients to create an overall design plan that reflects the needs and desires of the homeowner.
