Designing your perfect space
Designing a space that reflects your personal style and meets your functional needs can be a daunting task. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to refresh an existing room, creating a well-designed space requires careful planning and consideration of various factors such as layout, color palette, furniture selection, and lighting.
Creating Multi-Functional Zones
Creating distinct zones within a space is key to designing multi-functional areas. Delineate different zones using area rugs in various shapes, colors, patterns or textures to visually separate and ground each space. Forming individual seating clusters with furniture is an effective way to divide a room and allow for simultaneous activities like virtual meetings, work, and entertainment. If space is limited, decorative screens, distinctive light fixtures, varied ceiling styles or finishes like coffered or crown molding can create visual separation while maintaining flow by repeating colors and textures. Zoning helps establish boundaries design-wise, while multipurpose furniture embraces the dual use of the space.
Incorporating Personal Touches
Incorporating personal touches into your space is a wonderful way to make it feel uniquely yours. Display travel mementos like photos, postcards, or souvenirs to evoke fond memories of your adventures. Showcase artwork that resonates with you emotionally, whether it's a painting you fell in love with or your child's framed drawing. Bring in natural elements gathered from outdoor excursions, such as driftwood, stones, or seashells, carefully arranged to create an intriguing focal point. Infuse your personality through throw pillows, blankets, or curtains in fabrics and colors that speak to your style. Don't be afraid to add pops of vibrant color through furniture pieces like a striking armchair to energize the room. Curate accessories that reflect your interests, such as vintage finds or handcrafted items, to give your space character.
Maximizing Small Areas
When working with a small space, there are several clever strategies to make it feel larger and more functional. Opting for exposed-leg furniture and armless chairs creates a more open feel. Mounting your TV on the wall saves valuable floor space compared to bulky entertainment centers. Hanging oversized artwork makes the room appear grander, with the frame ideally taking up two-thirds or more of the wall. Keeping the color palette light and neutral, and incorporating mirrors, helps brighten the space and reflect light. Built-in bookcases or floating shelves provide storage without consuming floor area, while multipurpose pieces like storage ottomans offer seating and organization. Finally, choosing a large area rug that extends under furniture draws the eye wider and makes the room feel more expansive.