Emphasis: The Eyes Have It

The second principle of design is emphasis, which is “the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention, usually denoted by one area standing out by contrasting it with other areas.  The emphasized area will be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc.”  Good home design has emphasis on something in each room or each area of a room that can be deemed important or special.  Your emphasis is your pop, your focal point.  So what do you choose to focus on?

Tables are easy, because your emphasis is typically on what you put in the middle.  A floral arrangement on a foyer table draws the eye in and adds a splash of color and life to your entryway.  A seasonal centerpiece shows emphasis through its size and height, and it usually incorporates pops of color or decorative items that take center stage. 

Wall art shows emphasis by either being a large, singular focal point, such as a mirror or painting over a mantel.  Or, it shows emphasis by being made up of a collection of smaller pieces that come together to create a unified whole that is the main focus of one wall or area of a room, like a collage of similarly framed photos, decorative canvases, or framed art. 

The emphasis of a solid couch can be the bold fabric choice in the throw pillows at each end, just as the emphasis of an inviting bed can be the arrangement of shams, sleeping pillows, and throw pillows atop a billowy comforter.  Your focal point can also swing high and low by being a grand lighting fixture in an entryway or in a bright printed runner out in front of a neutral washing machine and dryer. 

The phrase “a wondering eye” takes on a different meaning when you plan out your visually appealing focal points of each room.  What do you want to garner attention?  Use color, different dimensions, and a shift in size to catch some glances and compliments alike.  Look from surface to surface, wall to wall, and decide what needs to be the main attraction, and then give it the platform it deserves by letting it shine while its background becomes the supporting cast.  After all, when it comes to what’s emphasized, the eyes definitely have it.    

This marks DesignInMind’s 100^th column! 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 29th.

Principles of Design: Tipping the Scales of Balance

It feels like a fresh time for a new column series.  So we will spend the next few weeks reviewing the principles of design and how we can incorporate each into our living spaces.  Those principles are balance, emphasis, movement, pattern, proportion, repetition, rhythm, variety, and unity.  So put your thinking caps on and pull out that notebook and pencil.  School is in session. 

Balance is defined as “the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space.”  Balance gives a space stability.  There are three main types of balance in design: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.  Symmetrical balance is my favorite, and it simply means that what you do on one side, you copy on the other, creating two equal halves.  Asymmetrical balance has two sides that are different, but they still look balanced.  Radial balance can be depicted in a tire – everything is arranged evenly around a center point.    

When you consider balance in home design and decorating, furniture and large accessories are major factors.  A room with a lot of furniture on one side and sparse on the other can look odd because it lacks balance.  Walls with artwork that lacks some continuity can disturb the visual balance.  Instead, visualize that legal scale in your mind - the one that teeters back and forth as weight is added to each side - when you arrange pieces of furniture, position lamps and small tables, and hang up wall art.  Decide which path you want to take – parts of a room that are equal, close, or that radiate out from a central point. 

For symmetrical balance, think of an arrangement that allows your seating to mirror each other, placing couches, love seats, and occasional chairs in a copycat fashion across from each other.  If you hang a large mirror on one main wall, add something of similar size to the wall opposite it.  If a sofa table has a lamp on it, add a matching one to the other end.  For asymmetrical arrangements, you can be less matchy-matchy but still balance that scale in your own way; it does not have to be about exact proportions, but an overall feeling of evenness.  Think of this when you spread a color or a textured fabric throughout a room.  For radial symmetry, let your placement generate out from a fireplace or entertainment center and be less angular and a little more curved instead.  In wall art placement, hang a larger center piece and other framed items around it.

When you peer into a room, an overall feeling of welcoming balance and purpose should greet you.  Visual weight in a room or on your walls pulls a lot of weight when it comes to how complete a space is perceived to be.  So get to sliding those furniture legs and accessories around and tip the scales of balance in your creative favor.  Next week’s principle: Emphasis.     

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 22nd.

Tackling Those Taxing Projects

Just about every home has those hot spots that we tend to avoid like the plague when it comes to the thought of “tidying up a bit” . . . especially when what we really need is a complete overhaul.  You know what I’m talking about.  I bet with wide eyes and pursed lips, you have some places in mind that hit a little too close to your home.   

However, there are solid ways to tackle those taxing projects (pun definitely intended) without giving up a whole season to accomplish them.  Well, if you work efficiently, that is.  Let’s start where the monsters lie: under the bed.  Don’t let it be an abyss of lost socks, luggage, broken toy parts, and – Heaven forbid – misplaced snacking paraphernalia.  Instead, set up a “drawer” system by only using under-the-bed storage for items that can be housed in long, plastic 58 quart containers with double-sided lids that open on each end.  They slide easily on carpeted floors and keep items together, clean, and neat; and nothing gets lost in the middle because everything can be easily slid out from under the bed. 

Closets are another project that can cause daily frustration, and yet be left to their own devices because a makeover seems so overwhelming.  Yet, there is hope.  Stick to these principles: pare down, part with, and position correctly.  Identifying the excess that is not worn or used is half the battle; free your space.  Remove those items by way of donation or resale.  And store the remainder in a logical way for how it’s used and the space you have.  Incorporate bins, baskets, containers, hooks, and even additional shelving to use your closet space to the max so everything is organized and easy to retrieve.

The garage can turn into a full storage room and leave its owners’ cars in the driveway or on the street just to satisfy its voracity for becoming a major catch-all.  Minimize this possibility by going vertical.  Use your garage wall space right up to the ceiling if needed.  Bring in free-standing shelving units to hold labeled plastic containers to store seasonal decorations and outdoor gear of all sorts.  Install custom wall units and cabinets that provide shelving, hooks, bins, and a perfectly-spaced place for every tool, gadget, and piece of sporting equipment you own.  Use the perimeter for storage and free up those prime parking spaces.

Big?  Messy?  Overwhelming?  Yes, home projects can be all of those things.  But don’t let the size of the mess dictate your actions and cause you to stand quietly by and just get by in your own space.  Own it.  Show it who’s the boss.  Take your problem projects from taxing to tackled.  Then soak in the victory. 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 15th. 

More than Hop: Hope in Easter

I could take an Easter design column in a few directions.  I could talk about the use and impact of pastel colors.  Or I could tell you more about livening up your home with spring as the theme.  Or I could even put a cheeky twist on the Easter message and discuss home projects you could accomplish in three days.  But I could also just tell it like it is. 

 We acknowledged the design in God’s plan at Christmas.  And the true message of Easter is no different.  We could let a hopping Easter Bunny be the only focus of the day, or we could celebrate the ultimate hope we have this Easter.  Because Christ died for us, we have the opportunity to be saved.  Jesus suffered and died an unimaginable death on a wooden cross.  But the cross did not keep Him.  He rose from death to give us life.  He chose us.  The Lord loves each and every one of us more than I can fathom.  And He gave up everything to bridge the gap between us and God.  The design that unfolded all those many years ago continues to change lives as people come to know the Lord as their Savior and ruler of their lives. 

This Easter Sunday, my hope is that those who have accepted Christ’s gift of salvation relish this opportunity to celebrate His victory over death and find refreshment in their relationship with Him at this, the start of spring.  And for those who want to know more about Jesus and the free gift of salvation He offers, know that when you seek Him, you find Him.  I love that symbolism in the Easter egg hunts that will take place in countless yards today; Christ is right there, ready to be found by His people.  Talk to a Christian minister or friend or family member and find the answers to the questions you may have about what a relationship with Jesus really looks like.

It is that relationship, that acceptance, which is the ultimate design for our lives.  May you and your family have a truly Happy Easter.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 8th.

Fool-Proof Ways to Love the Design You're In

Buyers’ remorse can strike at the heart of many; you make a purchase, large or small, and then doubt begins to creep in, and you’re not sure of your choice.  Loving what you choose to showcase in your home, whether in the grand pieces or the tiny details, can be helped along with a little mindset adjusting. 

First, make it personal.  Sure, something displayed in your friend’s home looked great at the time.  But your attempt to mimic it has left you feeling less than thrilled.  Perhaps that could be because you do not have a connection to that design item or overall style.  When you select décor - from paint colors to furniture to accessories - that have a story behind them for you and your family, that connection adds to your enjoyment.

Additionally, find the right blend for you between timeless and trendy.  The latest-and-greatest can be very fitting when you will be assured of your selection.  What you want to avoid is running out and buying a trend-setting piece and then, even just months down the line, stewing in that “what was I thinking?” feeling.  Determine where your comfort level falls on the pendulum between classic things that will work seemingly forever and new styles steaming up runways and galleries the world over . . . for today.  Stick to shopping in that feel-good range.

Lastly, just make it work for your space.  Doctor it up.  Mix it in with a current collection of yours.  Change the room it’s in.  Make it a focal point to give it purpose.  Let it blend into the background but yet not go wasted.  Once you’ve committed to a purchase, or you simply cannot or will not return it, use it to the max to get the most bang for your buck. 

 Happiness is a mindset.  Determine to love the space you live in, and follow hard after that goal.  Be confident when you make a new purchase or just rearrange your available décor pieces in your home.  Whether you roll it on the walls, hang it on a nail, or set it on a shelf, fool-proof your way to loving the design elements you surround yourself with and never doubt that you do have style, and you have every right to make it your own.            

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star April 1st. 

  

The Organized Move

There is an art to moving.  Some pack up and move maybe once in a lifetime.  Others are well versed at the repeated use of cardboard boxes, packing tape, and the need to “lift with your legs.”  As with many things, there are steps you can take to make the grand task of moving easier on you and your family.

First, have a plan.  Throwing a mix of things into boxes just because they seem to fit can make for some head-scratching unpacking.  Prioritizing how you pack up and load out can streamline the process of unloading and unpacking. 

Use a lettered priority system, along with a detailed box labeling system.  Tape a white piece of paper to each box top.  Mark a large letter in the corner of the paper to immediately indicate the priority of the box from “A” to “D.”  Write the details of the box contents on the page for easy hunting.  “A’s” are your top-priority, need-right-away items.  Pack an “A” box for each room.  The kitchen “A” box has one of each basic for everyone that can be unpacked right away for the first quick and easy meal in your new place.  This includes a plate, glass, and set of silverware for each person, plus paper napkins, paper towels, soap, kitchen shears, a couple of dish towels, and your essential appliances like the coffee maker and maybe the toaster.  Each bedroom “A” box has a pillow, set of sheets, a blanket, and towels for each person in that room.  An “A” box for cleaning supplies helps you locate the supplies you will need right away to get settled, which includes hand soaps and shower gel for each bathroom. 

“B” boxes are the remaining quantities of the limited items you put in your “A” boxes: kitchenware, small appliances, more towels, bathroom rugs, shower curtains, pillows, blankets, comforters, and lamps.  “C” boxes are the next step down in priority, which includes wall art, decorative pieces, extra linens, and non-everyday kitchen items like bakeware and serving pieces.  “D” boxes are things that may stay in storage in your garage, like keepsakes, tools, and lawn care products. 

When you pack out your original home, you pack from “D” to “A” for your own convenience in what you use from the least to the most.  When you unpack in your new place, you unpack from “A” to “D.”  When your boxes are clearly labeled and have proper details written on each box top page, you can find just about anything quickly and easily.  When you have unpacked and thrown away the box top pages, you can break down the cardboard boxes and store at least some of them flat to be used in the future, and they are not written on.  That makes reuse much easier. 

Use this tested-and-approved system of mine for an organized move that gets you out of one place and into a new spot in a most simplified way.  Now you just need to enlist the help of others who know to “lift with their legs” . . .     

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 25th.

      

Spring Forward . . . In Little Steps

Adding some seasonal flair to your space can be done in little elements that combine to put a substantial spring stamp of approval in your home.  When you are shopping for some pieces to hop right into place to give you that blossom-and-bloom feeling, keep an eye out for the following trendy items. 

A glass drink dispenser takes lemonade to the next level.  Don’t wait for a party to mix up a pitcher of a flavored drink, accompanied with floating slices of fruit.  Drink dispensers keep things cool on a kitchen counter or a buffet.  To serve some glasses of your thirst quenching beverage at your next get-together, use a brightly colored melamine serving tray.  This inexpensive tray can be a pop of color on a coffee table or foyer table.  Beyond food service, they can hold mail, keys, or small office supplies on a desk.

Go beyond your usual style comfort zone and spring for two bold-printed throw pillows for your couch.  A 20”x20” square on each end that stands out from your couch will draw rave reviews into summer.  Add the quintessential floral arrangement to a living room end table or bedside table.  Wrap a palm frond around the inside of a medium-sized square or rectangular glass vase, and top it off with a collection of seasonal blooms in pink, white, or yellow.  To make it really last, pick the most realistic silk flowers you can find. 

Take the formality out of your grandmother’s candle sticks, and opt for chunky, contemporary versions instead.  Whether you find the perfect bright hues on a store shelf or take garage sale finds and dress them up with glossy spray paint, add a hot accessory collection staggered down the center of your dining room table for a party or your everyday weeknight dinners.  Another easy update for your table is cloth napkins at each table setting.  You can find happy spring florals or colorful geometric prints to dress up your dining experience without footing a hefty bill.   

You don’t have to go big and expensive in order to create an airy, spring-forward feeling in your home.  It really is in the details.  And when you add them up, you can have little touches in bloom in every room.                  

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 18th.  

Spring Cleaning Your Way to a Fresh Start

Spring Cleaning can illicit visions of aprons, pink rubber gloves, and feather dusters a plenty.  At least that’s how I like to picture myself in cleaning mode.  Taking the time to roll up our sleeves and do some of that heavy-duty cleaning and organizing that does not make the regular maintenance list can be tasking, but it can also be very rewarding.  Nothing says spring like a new level of fresh and clean.

Go past the usuals – the dusting, vacuuming, mopping, bathroom cleaning.  Consider these areas to really put the elbow grease to in order to start anew this March:

Window treatments – Blinds could use a thorough wiping down, and curtain panels could use a spin in the washer and dryer if the fabric allows.  Give the windows themselves the wax-on-wax-off treatment as well.

Up High and Down Low – Clean ceiling fan blades and ceiling air events.  Dust the tops of high pieces of furniture like armoires and entertainment centers.  Use the brush attachment with your vacuum cleaner hose and go over the baseboards in each room.  Rugs could also use a shampooing.

Behind and Underneath – Move large furniture pieces (with some help) like dressers, beds, and couches to clean their backs, along the wall and baseboard, and underneath.  Vacuum hose attachments greatly aid this task as well. 

 Spring Cleaning can also be a great time to cast off some of the excess and strive for more organized, paired-down spaces.  Go through closets and dresser drawers to remove clothing and accessories that never saw the light of day this winter, and send them off to a resale shop or donation center.  Here are some categories that could use a good look:

Jewelry – Assess what you do and do not wear, and remove the pieces that consistently get overlooked.  This will help your jewelry storage method look tidy and ready to wear.

Shoes – We love our boots and heels, but we can literally walk the soles right off of them.  Inspect your footwear for sets that have seen better days.  Shop for next fall’s replacements at today’s after-winter sales. 

The Works – For the cleaner serious about clearing out, go through it all: undies, socks, hosiery, slips, pajamas, swimwear, scarves, belts, and exercise wear.  If you’re not wearing it, it’s just taking up space that could be used to house new purchases this season. 

 Even one weekend’s worth of work can make a big impact on your home.  And then you could sit back with a tall glass of lemonade and drink in the feeling of being totally ready for a true spring break.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 11th.

The Hostess Diary: A Little Shower and Wedding Etiquette

Designing and preplanning go hand-in-hand.  To have the polished event you desire, the right prep steps can get you well on your way.  As we enter spring, events of the bridal and baby shower as well as wedding variety abound.  To start right as a hostess and as a guest, know the rules that call the shots today.  Etiquette is not a thing of the past.  If you need a refresher about what applies, you’ve come to the right place. 

When hosting a shower, invitations need to go in the mail 3 weeks prior to the event.  This allows time for guests to have them in their hand with more than 2 weeks notice.  When mailing wedding invitations, the current rule of thumb is mailing your invitations 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding.  Four weeks, which is done on occasion, is cutting it close.  One rule to not overlook is if a guest is invited to a bridal or couples shower, they are to also receive an invitation to the wedding.  Inviting someone to a shower, which elicits a gift, and not invite them to the wedding, is considered poor form.        

The use of “Save the Date” cards after an engagement is announced gives your wedding guests months of notice in most cases, and this practice is still optional.  For smaller family weddings, you may bypass a “Save the Date.”  For larger-scale weddings with guests traveling from a distance, a “Save the Date” can help your invited guests plan ahead with plenty of notice.  Some couples are foregoing a “Save the Date” card and setting up wedding websites instead, sharing all their wedding and guest travel and accommodations information online.     

Registries help brides-to-be and expectant mommies receive gifts from thoughtful family and friends that they are sure to use and enjoy because they had a hand in their selection.   How you share registry information is something to handle only one way: correctly.  Registry information is to be printed on shower invitations.  Showers are centered on bringing the recipient a gift.  Weddings are centered on celebrating the marriage of a couple.  And though it is customary to bring a gift to a wedding, registry information should NOT be included on a wedding invitation or added in a wedding invitation mailing in the form of a small insert.  Wedding guests know to ask close family members where the couple is registered; it should not glare at them from a wedding invite.    

Knowing the rules that reign over the behind-the-scenes of celebratory events can smooth the process for hosts and guests alike.  Plan accordingly, and you set yourself up for a successful event to be enjoyed by all who take part.      

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 4th.

Making a Comeback

Many trends from days gone by usually find their way back around again.  Whether you were on board the first time or not, here are some comeback categories to consider for your home’s style today.

Wallpaper – Wallpaper is back in smaller doses than before but in bigger, bolder patterns.  What used to cover wall-to-wall, room-to-room, in a variety of muted, small-print patterns has now been updated to accent walls and one-room-at-a-time in patterns that have one overall geometric design on a large scale.  The shades have gone the way of brighter or darker tones of contemporary colors.

Paisley – Paisley prints were once all the rage, and then they fell out of the loop for some time.  Now, paisley patterns are seen on clothing, wall art, and upholstery fabrics alike.  The scale has gotten larger, the design more simplified, and the uses add a whimsical, chic touch to a variety of applications.

The 50s Kitchen Colors – Olive green has been given a facelift and is now going by “sage.”  Aqua and red is a current popular color combo that used to pepper diners and grandmas’ kitchen alike.  These two show up together and seperately in cabinetry, dining furniture, and upholstery fabrics, too.  Brighter pastels like yellow, orange, and coral can offer a summery glow in wall shades, upholstery, and painted furniture pieces.

Some Greats from the Outdoors – Retro patterns and prints in abstract versions of leaves, raindrops, and florals are infused into today’s table linens, bedding, and fabric seating.  Owls, very popular graphics in the 70s, are seen on invitations, logos, and other girly designs again.

Mauve – Muted mauve shades, which are rosy-gray pink in color, are being found in accessories like lamp bases, ceramics, dishes, and other décor items.  They are paired in modern fashion with whites, creams, and champagne shades to provide a feminine, elegant touch.    

Looking back can be a good thing.  Take what you like from decades gone by, and give it a fresh twist to fully bring it into today’s designs.  You might just enjoy a touch of the past on what makes your house the home it is in your present.    

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 26th. 

Easy Ways to Lighten and Brighten

As we prepare to cast off the wintery touches around our homes, such as they are here in the South, there is no time like the present to begin preparing for a lighter, brighter feel for spring. 

Trade in your flannel, fleece, or simply heavier bedding for fresh white sheets that are t-shirt soft to the touch.  Swap a down-filled comforter for a light weight blanket between your sheets and bedspread.  These two quick changes can take a bed from a chilly weather retreat to a soothing spot for the warmer nights ahead.

Give a home office or living area a mini makeover by replacing a cumbersome bookcase and any other large shelf unit not built in with floating shelves instead.  When properly installed, floating shelves can be just as handy for shelving storage, but they open up your wall space, keeping more of your wall color visible and making books, photos, and accessories more of an airy display.  As a bonus, they can blend seamlessly with your existing wood tones, as they come in a variety of finishes, including glossy white.

Add a cheery welcome mat and new potted plants to your front entry.  Exchange a large piece of wall art for a light-reflecting mirror on a prominent wall or over the mantel.  Replace dark lamp shades with white drums or even a brighter pop of color like turquoise or yellow in appropriate rooms.  Put the chenille throw away, and give your side chairs or sofa a couple of bright printed pillows instead.  Arrange a small collection of bud vases on a buffet or foyer table with single stems in each for a spring touch.  If a bathroom sports towels in navy, maroon, hunter green, or other dark shades, consider easy-clean white to add a breezy spa touch to the space.  Pair that with a bright white shower curtain and some white pillar candles for the countertop, and you have lightened the space on a small budget. 

 Small changes can lighten and brighten areas of your home without a heavy investment.  Simple replacements can take your space from one season to the next without altering your big furniture pieces.  Bright colors and accents of clean white are always fresh for spring, and simplified, rejuvenated spaces can just be a warm weekend project away.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 19th.

Show Your Home Some Love

With just two days remaining before Valentine’s Day, visions of red and pink and rose petals may be dancing in your head.  This is a time to celebrate love, and it doesn’t take Cupid to remind us of the ways in which we give a nod to the design inspirations from this heart-filled holiday.

We may have always been taught that red and pink just do not go together.  However, that design principle has taken a back seat to their comingling in recent years.  From clothing store advertisements to a mix of pillows on a modern showroom couch, those leaning toward the girly side of style are pairing these two love shades together for an eye catching focal point.  An easy way to add these pops of color in your home, even just for a season, is in kitchen cup towels, accent pillows, chenille blankets, throw rugs, coffee mugs, dessert plates, and wall art.

From a little girl’s room to a teenage girl’s space, red and pink shades together can add a bold graphic print to bedding, towels, and window panels.  A hallway or entryway lacking in its own personality can be jazzed up with a dark red runner that extends down the middle of the floor to catch dirt as well as eyes.  To add curb appeal to your home, a bold front door painted in lipstick red can be what sets your front stoop apart from the neighbors. 

Flowers are not a holiday-only affair.  Using fresh flowers periodically in a small arrangement on a foyer table, buffet, or nightstand throughout the spring is a way to add softness and fragrance to a room.  Red velvet cupcakes, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate dipped strawberries are three desserts that are sure to satisfy a sweet tooth.  A small glass bowl of candy pieces can be a casual touch in the family room.  Ribbons and bows can wrap up more than gift boxes; wrap random sections of grosgrain ribbon in varying widths in your choice of styles around a blank white canvas and secure the ends to the back for a simple custom wall hanging.       

The whimsical dashes of love-inspired shades and Valentine-reminiscent design influences can show your home just how much you adore it as the place that holds more than your life; it holds your heart as well.       

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 12th.

A Laundry Room Makeover

A laundry room.  What a luxury.  Some are blessed with one, and some do their laundry in a small space or the garage.  But whatever the area, the way you utilize the space around a washer and dryer just may help remove the word “chore” from this vital household task.

One key to smoothing out the wrinkles in laundry day is to maximize the space you have and have the right tools right at your disposal.  In a small space, like the pass-through between the garage and the hallway or kitchen, you could make your laundry area feel bigger without changing its size.  Paint the limited wall space in a brighter shade than the walls that border it.  Give your baseboards, trim, and door frames a fresh coat of bright white, glossy trim paint for a clean look. 

If you have basic cabinets mounted over your machines, consider removing the cabinet doors.  Paint the cabinets a bright white, which will help them blend with your likely-white appliances.  But paint the back of the cabinets the same as your wall color, giving the cabinets a suspended cubby system feel.  For some flair, you could wallpaper the back of the cabinets with a bold and bright geometric print instead. 

Now the next thing to consider is the visual appeal of what you ordinarily keep in those upper cabinets.  By removing the doors, you put your supplies on display, which can ruin the look or decoratively add to it.  Detergent, laundry additive, and fabric softener can be put in glass apothecary jars with drink dispenser spigots.  Stain treatment sticks, mesh laundry bags, dryer softener sheets, and other small laundry supplies can be put in woven milk crate baskets for an attractive, streamlined storage and organization solution. 

 

 

Ditch the plastic laundry bins for a traditional woven laundry basket with fabric liner for hauling your clean clothes.  This looks more appealing sitting on top of the dryer than the plastic version.  Use an area rug or runner in front of the washer and dryer to cushion your frequent steps and to add a homey touch.  Utilize a mounted rod to hang clothes fresh out of the dryer.  Capitalize on a kitchen island or other designated folding surface nearby to have a work space that works for you. 

 

 

A few changes can take a blahh laundry area and turn it into a room with some visual appeal.  The task may be the same, but making the atmosphere more pleasing certainly can’t hurt that ongoing cycle that is wash-dry-fold-or-hang-and-put-away.                   

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star February 5th.

What To Do When Space Lacks Full Function

All indoor space is prime real estate.  It’s what you do with it that really counts.  Utilizing the underutilized maximizes your square footage and can create more function where there was once blank space. 

A home office is on the wish list of many future home buyers.  Yet a room set aside for work and technology is not always an option.  When you still need a designated place for that work space, think smaller.  Some linen and hallway closets are not living up to their full potential, but instead hold more storage-related items, coats that never see a cold day, or sheets and towels that do not get used.  By cleaning out those shelves and adding document cases for paperwork storage, bins for office supplies, and a home base for a laptop, you just added a functional space, minus the need for more square feet.

The layout and design of some homes leaves little areas that seemingly serve little purpose.  Wider areas of hallways, cutouts in a room, landings, and some bay windows can all make you wonder just what to put there.  Consider incorporating what is referred to as a reading nook: a stand-alone chair with a floor lamp or small table and lamp.  Set apart from a main living room seating arrangement, a reading nook can be cozy and inviting and can add additional colors and dimension to a room.  With room for a small bookcase, you also add new surfaces for storing books and magazine files and displaying a collection or decorative pieces. 

In small living spaces, offering a multi-functional guest space can let an area do double duty when needed.  A chair and a half can double as a comfy pullout bed in a tighter space for a single overnight guest.  Additionally, using a room as half home office and half guest room can be accomplished easily with the right furniture and arrangement.             

Look around and see what space is lacking function in your home.  A little rearranging or adding a few small furniture pieces can create a whole new room or new purpose where there once was none.   

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 29th.  

From the Ground Up: Roles of Rugs

Whether you are trying to catch dirt before it crosses your threshold or soften your steps while standing at the bathroom sink, rugs play some pretty important roles across the floors in your home.  Ensuring they are functional, attractive, and well-fitted for their spaces just takes a little knowhow and planning.

Area rugs in living room seating areas and under dining room tables can be costly but well worth the investment, since large rugs are not items changed out very often.  Choose a rug that blends well with the surrounding flooring.  It does not have the match it of course, but should be either another shade of a neutral at its base or a pop of color that highlights the seating arrangement.  Whether you stay neutral or choose a bolder color, consider the longevity of its staying power should you decide to change any furniture pieces.

When sizing large rugs, consider that the edges should be under each piece of furniture in your seating area.  A rug that simply grounds your coffee table and then is not large enough to extend under your couch and chairs is too small, and thus will not act as the appealing unifier it should be that anchors your furniture in a cozy, inviting fashion.  At a dining table, each chair should be able to be pushed back for dinner guests to get in and out and still have the back chair legs on the rug.  This creates the most unified look.  Plus, the frequent movement of chair legs could otherwise damage or scuff floor surfaces beyond the rug area.

For small rugs in entryways, at the kitchen sink, and in the bathrooms at the sinks and toilet base, think about the backing.  If your rug backing tends to be dried out, damaged, and crumbly when washed and dried, you would likely be better off with a more modern small rug that has no backing.  Instead, many rug options now are rugs on both sides that perhaps just have two different textures.  This way, you can machine wash them frequently enough for them to be fluffy, fresh, and clean and still in good condition. 

Just because they let you walk all over them doesn’t mean your home’s rugs don’t need a little TLC when choosing and maintaining them.  After all, quality interior design usually starts from the ground up.     

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 22nd.