Interior Design Tips to Help You Furnish Your Space

After you have planned out on paper what you would like your space to look like (check out my previous post on Floor Planning), it is time to go shopping. Do not be afraid to browse the stores. Remember to be confidant and completely happy in your purchases. Just as in a car salesroom, do not let a sales person talk you into something that you do not like or you know will not fit in your space. This task can be intimidating and confusing when working within a budget and handed so many stores and choices.

Stay calm and make your shopping trip into a fun adventure. Take it slow. Visit a few stores before making your final decisions. Many stores will have swatches of fabric and finishes for you to borrow and bring home to help make your choices. If the frustration of shopping by yourself becomes overwhelming, and it is within your budget, you might choose a personal shopper to help narrow down your choices. Make sure that your shopper specializes in Interior Decors (check out websites like weberlifedesign.comfor suggestions).

Rooms should look inviting. Do not be afraid to create a couple of seating areas in a large room. You should pull furniture away from wall. A square sectional should not be hidden in the corner of the room. Try to create a path to an exit. You can use a desk and chair instead of a console table behind a sofa for dual purpose. An interesting bench can be used as a coffee table in a tight area. Ottomans with trays, instead of coffee tables, create coziness and extra seating when having guests. Mix shapes. Add a round coffee table for softness. If there are young children, add a pretty antique painted children’s rocker which will be pretty accent and can also be used. Instead of an end table you can use a wood play table with a couple of child chairs around it for craft time or homework. Create the look of built in library or china cabinet using units from IKEA.

When buying furniture you do not have to match. Be aware if you want to buy a piece to match existing furniture finishes. Such as, if you are looking for a new cherry piece be cautious. You might find that the new item you buy is actually pine stained to look like cherry. When placed in your room it will look cheap. Coordinating different woods can work well. If you have a set in maple buy a piece in walnut to contrast. Be aware that more than two woods can be overkill. You do not want the different woods to look too close in color or else it will appear like a design mistake.

It is nicer and more professional when pieces coordinate instead of matching. Let us say that you need a coffee table and two end tables. Buy one end table and coffee table that match in wood. Then find another end table in metal and glass that will have a base that is similar to the wood design. Your room will take on a designer look. Stone tables work well in family rooms. You do not have to worry about wet glass rings as with wood or streaking a glass top. Stone is durable. Old trunks can be fun for tables too. Look in stores like Homegoods for furniture bargains. You can use outdoor furniture inside. For a kitchen buy a small metal bistro table with two chairs for your dining area. Look in Department store outlets for a one of a kind piece. Sometimes you can strike a bargain on an ottoman that you can take home and have recovered. Shop at online stores like Overstock or JC Penney’s clearance section. Target has some good buys on upholstered chairs in fun fabrics that look like they were purchased from a much higher end store. Be open minded and you will find interesting pieces.

A sofa does not need to be identical to a loveseat, just as you do not have to always buy the pants with the matching jacket. Furnishings need to coordinate just as your fashions do. The last time you probably wore a matching shirt and shorts set was when your parent dressed you as a child. So, just as you do not want your appearance to look immature, you do not want your abode to look like it was purchased right off the sales floor. You need to make it look your own. So coordinate your fabrics to bring together your seating.

Make sure that everything blends together and flows gracefully and remember, never be afraid to dance!

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