~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DecoDreams
Your Guide to Creating Beautiful Spaces, FAST!
-----------------
April 16, 2003
Issue #004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE MISSION...DecoDreams is the home-decorating-made-
easy.com e-zine that delivers interior decorating tips, ideas, and solutions to enhance all rooms of your home. Staying on top of what's hot in decorating has never been so easy or fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DON'T FORGET Your Friends!...If you like DecoDreams, please do a friend and me a huge favor and "pass it along"...
...or ask them to subscribe by visiting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DecoDreams
Your Guide to Creating Beautiful Spaces, FAST!
-----------------
April 16, 2003
Issue #004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE MISSION...DecoDreams is the home-decorating-made-
easy.com e-zine that delivers interior decorating tips, ideas, and solutions to enhance all rooms of your home. Staying on top of what's hot in decorating has never been so easy or fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DON'T FORGET Your Friends!...If you like DecoDreams, please do a friend and me a huge favor and "pass it along"...
...or ask them to subscribe by visiting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DecoDreams
Your Guide to Creating Beautiful Spaces, FAST!
-----------------
April 16, 2003
Issue #004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE MISSION...DecoDreams is the home-decorating-made-
easy.com e-zine that delivers interior decorating tips, ideas, and solutions to enhance all rooms of your home. Staying on top of what's hot in decorating has never been so easy or fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DON'T FORGET Your Friends!...If you like DecoDreams, please do a friend and me a huge favor and "pass it along"...
...or ask them to subscribe by visiting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DecoDreams
Your Guide to Creating Beautiful Spaces, FAST!
-----------------
April 16, 2003
Issue #004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE MISSION...DecoDreams is the home-decorating-made-
easy.com e-zine that delivers interior decorating tips, ideas, and solutions to enhance all rooms of your home. Staying on top of what's hot in decorating has never been so easy or fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DON'T FORGET Your Friends!...If you like DecoDreams, please do a friend and me a huge favor and "pass it along"...
...or ask them to subscribe by visiting
Home Decorating Made Easy.com
Home Decorating Made Easy.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***********************ACKNOWLEDGEMENT********************
Diversity of creative ideas has always been the hallmark
of home decorating. That's why I've asked designer, artist, educator and writer, Marney Makridakis, to share her own unique brand of decorating advice in our "Ask the Decorator" column. I think you'll enjoy her wit and original insights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***********************ACKNOWLEDGEMENT********************
Diversity of creative ideas has always been the hallmark
of home decorating. That's why I've asked designer, artist, educator and writer, Marney Makridakis, to share her own unique brand of decorating advice in our "Ask the Decorator" column. I think you'll enjoy her wit and original insights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***********************ACKNOWLEDGEMENT********************
Diversity of creative ideas has always been the hallmark
of home decorating. That's why I've asked designer, artist, educator and writer, Marney Makridakis, to share her own unique brand of decorating advice in our "Ask the Decorator" column. I think you'll enjoy her wit and original insights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***********************ACKNOWLEDGEMENT********************
Diversity of creative ideas has always been the hallmark
of home decorating. That's why I've asked designer, artist, educator and writer, Marney Makridakis, to share her own unique brand of decorating advice in our "Ask the Decorator" column. I think you'll enjoy her wit and original insights.
Submit your questions to Marney by clicking here.
Submit your questions to Marney by clicking here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> TABLE OF CONTENTS
o News
1) The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
o Featured Article
1) Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
o Turning Ideas Into Action!
1) Ask the Decorator
- The DecoDiva Answers Your Question On Dealing With Multiple Focal Point Areas In A Room
o Today's Quote
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-News--
---1---
-News--
The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
Hi
I hope you're starting to shake off the last traces of winter and are getting into the swing of spring. Ahhh, this is one of my favorite times of the year.
The bright sun.....longer days...lunch near the surf (I live in Florida)...what could be better than that?!! :-) But I digress...
In this month's issue of DecoDreams, Marney and I are going to bring some clarity to focal points and arranging your furniture around them. So, if you've been a little hazy about the where's and what's of this topic, you'll enjoy the feature article.
But before we dive into the exciting details, I want to update you about our new eBooks. The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection has just been released and it is available to DecoDreams subscribers at a special introductory price for the next 7 days until April 23, 2003.
Trust me, you'll never see this special price again. Pre-launch feedback has been nothing but gaga! With, over 1000 helpful photos/images and 700 pages, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. So, if you'd like to take advantage, just visit this URL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> TABLE OF CONTENTS
o News
1) The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
o Featured Article
1) Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
o Turning Ideas Into Action!
1) Ask the Decorator
- The DecoDiva Answers Your Question On Dealing With Multiple Focal Point Areas In A Room
o Today's Quote
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-News--
---1---
-News--
The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
Hi
I hope you're starting to shake off the last traces of winter and are getting into the swing of spring. Ahhh, this is one of my favorite times of the year.
The bright sun.....longer days...lunch near the surf (I live in Florida)...what could be better than that?!! :-) But I digress...
In this month's issue of DecoDreams, Marney and I are going to bring some clarity to focal points and arranging your furniture around them. So, if you've been a little hazy about the where's and what's of this topic, you'll enjoy the feature article.
But before we dive into the exciting details, I want to update you about our new eBooks. The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection has just been released and it is available to DecoDreams subscribers at a special introductory price for the next 7 days until April 23, 2003.
Trust me, you'll never see this special price again. Pre-launch feedback has been nothing but gaga! With, over 1000 helpful photos/images and 700 pages, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. So, if you'd like to take advantage, just visit this URL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> TABLE OF CONTENTS
o News
1) The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
o Featured Article
1) Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
o Turning Ideas Into Action!
1) Ask the Decorator
- The DecoDiva Answers Your Question On Dealing With Multiple Focal Point Areas In A Room
o Today's Quote
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-News--
---1---
-News--
The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
Hi
I hope you're starting to shake off the last traces of winter and are getting into the swing of spring. Ahhh, this is one of my favorite times of the year.
The bright sun.....longer days...lunch near the surf (I live in Florida)...what could be better than that?!! :-) But I digress...
In this month's issue of DecoDreams, Marney and I are going to bring some clarity to focal points and arranging your furniture around them. So, if you've been a little hazy about the where's and what's of this topic, you'll enjoy the feature article.
But before we dive into the exciting details, I want to update you about our new eBooks. The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection has just been released and it is available to DecoDreams subscribers at a special introductory price for the next 7 days until April 23, 2003.
Trust me, you'll never see this special price again. Pre-launch feedback has been nothing but gaga! With, over 1000 helpful photos/images and 700 pages, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. So, if you'd like to take advantage, just visit this URL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> TABLE OF CONTENTS
o News
1) The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
o Featured Article
1) Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
o Turning Ideas Into Action!
1) Ask the Decorator
- The DecoDiva Answers Your Question On Dealing With Multiple Focal Point Areas In A Room
o Today's Quote
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-News--
---1---
-News--
The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection Launches
Hi
I hope you're starting to shake off the last traces of winter and are getting into the swing of spring. Ahhh, this is one of my favorite times of the year.
The bright sun.....longer days...lunch near the surf (I live in Florida)...what could be better than that?!! :-) But I digress...
In this month's issue of DecoDreams, Marney and I are going to bring some clarity to focal points and arranging your furniture around them. So, if you've been a little hazy about the where's and what's of this topic, you'll enjoy the feature article.
But before we dive into the exciting details, I want to update you about our new eBooks. The Awaken Your Interior Designer! Collection has just been released and it is available to DecoDreams subscribers at a special introductory price for the next 7 days until April 23, 2003.
Trust me, you'll never see this special price again. Pre-launch feedback has been nothing but gaga! With, over 1000 helpful photos/images and 700 pages, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. So, if you'd like to take advantage, just visit this URL
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/interior-design-books.html
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com/interior-design-books.html
And now, let's tackle the touchy topic of focal points.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURED ARTICLE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------
---1---
-------
Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
The term “focal point” is one of the most commonly misunderstood terms in home decorating.
We all know we’re supposed to have one in our rooms, but there is much confusion about what a focal point actually is, and how to use it to effectively master the concept of emphasis in a room.
The focal point of a room is the one place that the eye is automatically drawn to when entering or standing in the room.
A common misconception is that the focal point has to be something that is inherent in the room’s structure, such as a fireplace or window. Actually, anything can be a focal point.
Usually, large items are natural focal points (furniture, a large sculpture, windows, fireplaces, entertainment centers), but small objects can be focal points as well.
For example, a painting or even a small handcrafted artifact could serve as the focal point, with the right lighting and furniture arrangement.
Since furniture pieces are generally the largest objects in a room, furniture arrangement is an important strategy for creating the right focus. The placement of furniture pieces channels direction to the focal point.
Since the fireplace is a focal point in many living rooms, let’s use that as an example.
There are two popular furniture configurations that allow the fireplace to take “center stage” The first is the “H-shape”, in which any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) are placed across from one another, with a large coffee table in the center.
The coffee table acts as the center of the “H”, and isAnd now, let's tackle the touchy topic of focal points.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURED ARTICLE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------
---1---
-------
Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
The term “focal point” is one of the most commonly misunderstood terms in home decorating.
We all know we’re supposed to have one in our rooms, but there is much confusion about what a focal point actually is, and how to use it to effectively master the concept of emphasis in a room.
The focal point of a room is the one place that the eye is automatically drawn to when entering or standing in the room.
A common misconception is that the focal point has to be something that is inherent in the room’s structure, such as a fireplace or window. Actually, anything can be a focal point.
Usually, large items are natural focal points (furniture, a large sculpture, windows, fireplaces, entertainment centers), but small objects can be focal points as well.
For example, a painting or even a small handcrafted artifact could serve as the focal point, with the right lighting and furniture arrangement.
Since furniture pieces are generally the largest objects in a room, furniture arrangement is an important strategy for creating the right focus. The placement of furniture pieces channels direction to the focal point.
Since the fireplace is a focal point in many living rooms, let’s use that as an example.
There are two popular furniture configurations that allow the fireplace to take “center stage” The first is the “H-shape”, in which any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) are placed across from one another, with a large coffee table in the center.
The coffee table acts as the center of the “H”, and is placed in alignment with the fireplace.
The H-shape is pleasing because it is symmetrical, and it automatically adds air and space to a room, while allowing the fireplace to shine as the focal point.
The popular “L-shape” furniture configuration is great for casual rooms and is a way to maintain the focal point of the fireplace while making the environment more conducive to socializing.
The “L-shape” consists of any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) in an L-shape, with a coffee table or ottoman in the middle. Place the “L” facing the fireplace to highlight it.
While furniture can be directed toward a focal point in order to draw attention toward it, there is a misconception that furniture must always face the focal point. This is not always the case. The living room shown here is a perfect example.
r> placed in alignment with the fireplace.
The H-shape is pleasing because it is symmetrical, and it automatically adds air and space to a room, while allowing the fireplace to shine as the focal point.
The popular “L-shape” furniture configuration is great for casual rooms and is a way to maintain the focal point of the fireplace while making the environment more conducive to socializing.
The “L-shape” consists of any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) in an L-shape, with a coffee table or ottoman in the middle. Place the “L” facing the fireplace to highlight it.
While furniture can be directed toward a focal point in order to draw attention toward it, there is a misconception that furniture must always face the focal point. This is not always the case. The living room shown here is a perfect example.
And now, let's tackle the touchy topic of focal points.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURED ARTICLE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------
---1---
-------
Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
The term “focal point” is one of the most commonly misunderstood terms in home decorating.
We all know we’re supposed to have one in our rooms, but there is much confusion about what a focal point actually is, and how to use it to effectively master the concept of emphasis in a room.
The focal point of a room is the one place that the eye is automatically drawn to when entering or standing in the room.
A common misconception is that the focal point has to be something that is inherent in the room’s structure, such as a fireplace or window. Actually, anything can be a focal point.
Usually, large items are natural focal points (furniture, a large sculpture, windows, fireplaces, entertainment centers), but small objects can be focal points as well.
For example, a painting or even a small handcrafted artifact could serve as the focal point, with the right lighting and furniture arrangement.
Since furniture pieces are generally the largest objects in a room, furniture arrangement is an important strategy for creating the right focus. The placement of furniture pieces channels direction to the focal point.
Since the fireplace is a focal point in many living rooms, let’s use that as an example.
There are two popular furniture configurations that allow the fireplace to take “center stage” The first is the “H-shape”, in which any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) are placed across from one another, with a large coffee table in the center.
The coffee table acts as the center of the “H”, and isAnd now, let's tackle the touchy topic of focal points.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURED ARTICLE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------
---1---
-------
Demystifying Focal Points Once And For All!
The term “focal point” is one of the most commonly misunderstood terms in home decorating.
We all know we’re supposed to have one in our rooms, but there is much confusion about what a focal point actually is, and how to use it to effectively master the concept of emphasis in a room.
The focal point of a room is the one place that the eye is automatically drawn to when entering or standing in the room.
A common misconception is that the focal point has to be something that is inherent in the room’s structure, such as a fireplace or window. Actually, anything can be a focal point.
Usually, large items are natural focal points (furniture, a large sculpture, windows, fireplaces, entertainment centers), but small objects can be focal points as well.
For example, a painting or even a small handcrafted artifact could serve as the focal point, with the right lighting and furniture arrangement.
Since furniture pieces are generally the largest objects in a room, furniture arrangement is an important strategy for creating the right focus. The placement of furniture pieces channels direction to the focal point.
Since the fireplace is a focal point in many living rooms, let’s use that as an example.
There are two popular furniture configurations that allow the fireplace to take “center stage” The first is the “H-shape”, in which any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) are placed across from one another, with a large coffee table in the center.
The coffee table acts as the center of the “H”, and is placed in alignment with the fireplace.
The H-shape is pleasing because it is symmetrical, and it automatically adds air and space to a room, while allowing the fireplace to shine as the focal point.
The popular “L-shape” furniture configuration is great for casual rooms and is a way to maintain the focal point of the fireplace while making the environment more conducive to socializing.
The “L-shape” consists of any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) in an L-shape, with a coffee table or ottoman in the middle. Place the “L” facing the fireplace to highlight it.
While furniture can be directed toward a focal point in order to draw attention toward it, there is a misconception that furniture must always face the focal point. This is not always the case. The living room shown here is a perfect example.
r> placed in alignment with the fireplace.
The H-shape is pleasing because it is symmetrical, and it automatically adds air and space to a room, while allowing the fireplace to shine as the focal point.
The popular “L-shape” furniture configuration is great for casual rooms and is a way to maintain the focal point of the fireplace while making the environment more conducive to socializing.
The “L-shape” consists of any combination of a sofa, loveseat, or chair(s) in an L-shape, with a coffee table or ottoman in the middle. Place the “L” facing the fireplace to highlight it.
While furniture can be directed toward a focal point in order to draw attention toward it, there is a misconception that furniture must always face the focal point. This is not always the case. The living room shown here is a perfect example.
The homeowners wanted the large bay window to be the focal point of the room.
They were not constricted by thinking that the furniture had to face toward the window. Instead, they created a semi-circle arrangement, facing away.
The pale colors of the furniture combine with the natural light from outdoors to draw attention to the window and its lovely view.
Another misconception is that you must use all of your furniture at, toward, or near the focal point.
On the contrary, a room is more harmonious when the furniture is balanced throughout the room. So the question becomes, what do I do with the rest of the furniture after I’ve arranged some of it around my focal point?
Before I go any further, I must emphasize that the most important consideration concerning furniture placement is practicality.
A room with impeccable balance and composition means nothing if a family can’t live in it. A room – whether it’s a kitchen, bedroom, office, or living room – needs to be designed with the key tasks in mind that are performed in the room.
And not just what tasks are performed, but when they are performed as well.
For example, you should determine if the room is mostly used in the morning, or at night. Are there tasks that need special lighting?
For example, if you enjoy reading in the room in the mornings, it would be natural to create a reading nook with a chair by a window.
On the other hand, if you enjoy reading in the room at night, you would need to arrange a chair and lamp near your chair so that you have adequate lighting for that task.
But lighting is just one consideration...
You’ll also want to ask yourself other questions, such as, how many people are usually in this room at once, and is there adequate seating for them? Do I need a special task area, such as a tableThe homeowners wanted the large bay window to be the focal point of the room.
They were not constricted by thinking that the furniture had to face toward the window. Instead, they created a semi-circle arrangement, facing away.
The pale colors of the furniture combine with the natural light from outdoors to draw attention to the window and its lovely view.
Another misconception is that you must use all of your furniture at, toward, or near the focal point.
On the contrary, a room is more harmonious when the furniture is balanced throughout the room. So the question becomes, what do I do with the rest of the furniture after I’ve arranged some of it around my focal point?
Before I go any further, I must emphasize that the most important consideration concerning furniture placement is practicality.
A room with impeccable balance and composition means nothing if a family can’t live in it. A room – whether it’s a kitchen, bedroom, office, or living room – needs to be designed with the key tasks in mind that are performed in the room.
And not just what tasks are performed, but when they are performed as well.
For example, you should determine if the room is mostly used in the morning, or at night. Are there tasks that need special lighting?
For example, if you enjoy reading in the room in the mornings, it would be natural to create a reading nook with a chair by a window.
On the other hand, if you enjoy reading in the room at night, you would need to arrange a chair and lamp near your chair so that you have adequate lighting for that task.
But lighting is just one consideration...
You’ll also want to ask yourself other questions, such as, how many people are usually in this room at once, and is there adequate seating for them? Do I need a special task area, such as a table for doing paperwork?
Will we be eating or drinking in this room, and if so, are there places to put drinks and food items? And the like.
Once these key determinations are made, I think the easiest way to balance furniture in a room is to create several “inner rooms”, each one serving a specific purpose.
As previously mentioned, you should arrange furniture around your focal point, first. Then, start with your chairs.
If you have several to use in the room, you can break them up into different areas to provide more options for seating, as well as a more interesting arrangement. Try placing two at a drape table, one at a desk, and two behind a console table.
As you arrange your furniture, there are two things you should watch out for. First, make sure that your focal point is maintained.
~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
If a large picture window is your focal point, and you create a reading nook as an “inner room” on the other side of the room with a loveseat upholstered in a very bold pattern, this might take attention away from the window. ~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
I’d suggest, instead, using the boldly-patterned loveseat in front of the window, coupling it with a lively, coordinating window treatment to ensure the focus is where you want it to be.
The second thing to be aware of as you arrange your furniture is to keep your eye out for negative spaces, or “holes” in the room.
If you have large gaps in the floor plan, you should consider adding another inner room. It can be as simple as adding several plants and grouping them in that area, to create an organic-themed “inner room”.
Keep stepping back to look at the whole room from a distance. Walk in from the various entrances at different times the day.
Stay flexible. When the right arrangement hits, trust yourself… for doing paperwork?
Will we be eating or drinking in this room, and if so, are there places to put drinks and food items? And the like.
Once these key determinations are made, I think the easiest way to balance furniture in a room is to create several “inner rooms”, each one serving a specific purpose.
As previously mentioned, you should arrange furniture around your focal point, first. Then, start with your chairs.
If you have several to use in the room, you can break them up into different areas to provide more options for seating, as well as a more interesting arrangement. Try placing two at a drape table, one at a desk, and two behind a console table.
As you arrange your furniture, there are two things you should watch out for. First, make sure that your focal point is maintained.
~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
If a large picture window is your focal point, and you create a reading nook as an “inner room” on the other side of the room with a loveseat upholstered in a very bold pattern, this might take attention away from the window. ~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
I’d suggest, instead, using the boldly-patterned loveseat in front of the window, coupling it with a lively, coordinating window treatment to ensure the focus is where you want it to be.
The second thing to be aware of as you arrange your furniture is to keep your eye out for negative spaces, or “holes” in the room.
If you have large gaps in the floor plan, you should consider adding another inner room. It can be as simple as adding several plants and grouping them in that area, to create an organic-themed “inner room”.
Keep stepping back to look at the whole room from a distance. Walk in from the various entrances at different times the day.
Stay flexible. When the right arrangement hits, trust yourself…you’ll know it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------
---1---
-------
Ask the Decorator
DecoDiva, Marney Makridakis, Answers Your Decorating
Questions
Q. I have a large living room with too many focal points, and am stumped about furniture arrangement.
One end of the room has a large window, a large fireplace, and a built-in TV cabinet, each on one of the three walls at that end of the room. If I position the furniture focusing on one, it is impossible to see the others.
The short wall at one end has a fireplace with bricks to the ceiling. On one of the long walls at the fireplace end, there is a built-in bookcase and entertainment center, which contains the TV.
Across the room from the TV is a large window which looks out into the woods behind our house – a nice view.
The other end of the room is basically an 8’-wide traffic corridor, open to the hall on one side, with the other side open to the dining room with sliding glass doors to the deck.
A. The first thing you need to do is choose one of these three spots to be the one focal point of the room, and then create “inner rooms” from there. I would suggest the fireplace, since it is already in the center of the room.
I’d start with creating an arrangement in front of the fireplace.
But since the room has other attractions, I’d make the seating open out to the room, instead of being focused directly to the fireplace.
To do this, I’d create a modified “H” shape by placing a sofa directly across from the fireplace (#1 in the diagram below) and placing two slipper chairs just in front of the fireplace, facing in at a slight angle (#2 and #3).
Place a coffee table (#4) in the middle of the confiyou’ll know it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------
---1---
-------
Ask the Decorator
DecoDiva, Marney Makridakis, Answers Your Decorating
Questions
Q. I have a large living room with too many focal points, and am stumped about furniture arrangement.
One end of the room has a large window, a large fireplace, and a built-in TV cabinet, each on one of the three walls at that end of the room. If I position the furniture focusing on one, it is impossible to see the others.
The short wall at one end has a fireplace with bricks to the ceiling. On one of the long walls at the fireplace end, there is a built-in bookcase and entertainment center, which contains the TV.
Across the room from the TV is a large window which looks out into the woods behind our house – a nice view.
The other end of the room is basically an 8’-wide traffic corridor, open to the hall on one side, with the other side open to the dining room with sliding glass doors to the deck.
A. The first thing you need to do is choose one of these three spots to be the one focal point of the room, and then create “inner rooms” from there. I would suggest the fireplace, since it is already in the center of the room.
I’d start with creating an arrangement in front of the fireplace.
But since the room has other attractions, I’d make the seating open out to the room, instead of being focused directly to the fireplace.
To do this, I’d create a modified “H” shape by placing a sofa directly across from the fireplace (#1 in the diagram below) and placing two slipper chairs just in front of the fireplace, facing in at a slight angle (#2 and #3).
Place a coffee table (#4) in the middle of the configuration to finish the “H” shape and make it compatible for socializing. The slipper chairs are faced outward so people seated in them can enjoy the window and the entertainment center.guration to finish the “H” shape and make it compatible for socializing. The slipper chairs are faced outward so people seated in them can enjoy the window and the entertainment center.
The homeowners wanted the large bay window to be the focal point of the room.
They were not constricted by thinking that the furniture had to face toward the window. Instead, they created a semi-circle arrangement, facing away.
The pale colors of the furniture combine with the natural light from outdoors to draw attention to the window and its lovely view.
Another misconception is that you must use all of your furniture at, toward, or near the focal point.
On the contrary, a room is more harmonious when the furniture is balanced throughout the room. So the question becomes, what do I do with the rest of the furniture after I’ve arranged some of it around my focal point?
Before I go any further, I must emphasize that the most important consideration concerning furniture placement is practicality.
A room with impeccable balance and composition means nothing if a family can’t live in it. A room – whether it’s a kitchen, bedroom, office, or living room – needs to be designed with the key tasks in mind that are performed in the room.
And not just what tasks are performed, but when they are performed as well.
For example, you should determine if the room is mostly used in the morning, or at night. Are there tasks that need special lighting?
For example, if you enjoy reading in the room in the mornings, it would be natural to create a reading nook with a chair by a window.
On the other hand, if you enjoy reading in the room at night, you would need to arrange a chair and lamp near your chair so that you have adequate lighting for that task.
But lighting is just one consideration...
You’ll also want to ask yourself other questions, such as, how many people are usually in this room at once, and is there adequate seating for them? Do I need a special task area, such as a tableThe homeowners wanted the large bay window to be the focal point of the room.
They were not constricted by thinking that the furniture had to face toward the window. Instead, they created a semi-circle arrangement, facing away.
The pale colors of the furniture combine with the natural light from outdoors to draw attention to the window and its lovely view.
Another misconception is that you must use all of your furniture at, toward, or near the focal point.
On the contrary, a room is more harmonious when the furniture is balanced throughout the room. So the question becomes, what do I do with the rest of the furniture after I’ve arranged some of it around my focal point?
Before I go any further, I must emphasize that the most important consideration concerning furniture placement is practicality.
A room with impeccable balance and composition means nothing if a family can’t live in it. A room – whether it’s a kitchen, bedroom, office, or living room – needs to be designed with the key tasks in mind that are performed in the room.
And not just what tasks are performed, but when they are performed as well.
For example, you should determine if the room is mostly used in the morning, or at night. Are there tasks that need special lighting?
For example, if you enjoy reading in the room in the mornings, it would be natural to create a reading nook with a chair by a window.
On the other hand, if you enjoy reading in the room at night, you would need to arrange a chair and lamp near your chair so that you have adequate lighting for that task.
But lighting is just one consideration...
You’ll also want to ask yourself other questions, such as, how many people are usually in this room at once, and is there adequate seating for them? Do I need a special task area, such as a table for doing paperwork?
Will we be eating or drinking in this room, and if so, are there places to put drinks and food items? And the like.
Once these key determinations are made, I think the easiest way to balance furniture in a room is to create several “inner rooms”, each one serving a specific purpose.
As previously mentioned, you should arrange furniture around your focal point, first. Then, start with your chairs.
If you have several to use in the room, you can break them up into different areas to provide more options for seating, as well as a more interesting arrangement. Try placing two at a drape table, one at a desk, and two behind a console table.
As you arrange your furniture, there are two things you should watch out for. First, make sure that your focal point is maintained.
~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
If a large picture window is your focal point, and you create a reading nook as an “inner room” on the other side of the room with a loveseat upholstered in a very bold pattern, this might take attention away from the window. ~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
I’d suggest, instead, using the boldly-patterned loveseat in front of the window, coupling it with a lively, coordinating window treatment to ensure the focus is where you want it to be.
The second thing to be aware of as you arrange your furniture is to keep your eye out for negative spaces, or “holes” in the room.
If you have large gaps in the floor plan, you should consider adding another inner room. It can be as simple as adding several plants and grouping them in that area, to create an organic-themed “inner room”.
Keep stepping back to look at the whole room from a distance. Walk in from the various entrances at different times the day.
Stay flexible. When the right arrangement hits, trust yourself… for doing paperwork?
Will we be eating or drinking in this room, and if so, are there places to put drinks and food items? And the like.
Once these key determinations are made, I think the easiest way to balance furniture in a room is to create several “inner rooms”, each one serving a specific purpose.
As previously mentioned, you should arrange furniture around your focal point, first. Then, start with your chairs.
If you have several to use in the room, you can break them up into different areas to provide more options for seating, as well as a more interesting arrangement. Try placing two at a drape table, one at a desk, and two behind a console table.
As you arrange your furniture, there are two things you should watch out for. First, make sure that your focal point is maintained.
~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
If a large picture window is your focal point, and you create a reading nook as an “inner room” on the other side of the room with a loveseat upholstered in a very bold pattern, this might take attention away from the window. ~~~~~~~Important Note~~~~~~
I’d suggest, instead, using the boldly-patterned loveseat in front of the window, coupling it with a lively, coordinating window treatment to ensure the focus is where you want it to be.
The second thing to be aware of as you arrange your furniture is to keep your eye out for negative spaces, or “holes” in the room.
If you have large gaps in the floor plan, you should consider adding another inner room. It can be as simple as adding several plants and grouping them in that area, to create an organic-themed “inner room”.
Keep stepping back to look at the whole room from a distance. Walk in from the various entrances at different times the day.
Stay flexible. When the right arrangement hits, trust yourself…you’ll know it!
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Ask the Decorator
DecoDiva, Marney Makridakis, Answers Your Decorating
Questions
Q. I have a large living room with too many focal points, and am stumped about furniture arrangement.
One end of the room has a large window, a large fireplace, and a built-in TV cabinet, each on one of the three walls at that end of the room. If I position the furniture focusing on one, it is impossible to see the others.
The short wall at one end has a fireplace with bricks to the ceiling. On one of the long walls at the fireplace end, there is a built-in bookcase and entertainment center, which contains the TV.
Across the room from the TV is a large window which looks out into the woods behind our house – a nice view.
The other end of the room is basically an 8’-wide traffic corridor, open to the hall on one side, with the other side open to the dining room with sliding glass doors to the deck.
A. The first thing you need to do is choose one of these three spots to be the one focal point of the room, and then create “inner rooms” from there. I would suggest the fireplace, since it is already in the center of the room.
I’d start with creating an arrangement in front of the fireplace.
But since the room has other attractions, I’d make the seating open out to the room, instead of being focused directly to the fireplace.
To do this, I’d create a modified “H” shape by placing a sofa directly across from the fireplace (#1 in the diagram below) and placing two slipper chairs just in front of the fireplace, facing in at a slight angle (#2 and #3).
Place a coffee table (#4) in the middle of the confiyou’ll know it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------
---1---
-------
Ask the Decorator
DecoDiva, Marney Makridakis, Answers Your Decorating
Questions
Q. I have a large living room with too many focal points, and am stumped about furniture arrangement.
One end of the room has a large window, a large fireplace, and a built-in TV cabinet, each on one of the three walls at that end of the room. If I position the furniture focusing on one, it is impossible to see the others.
The short wall at one end has a fireplace with bricks to the ceiling. On one of the long walls at the fireplace end, there is a built-in bookcase and entertainment center, which contains the TV.
Across the room from the TV is a large window which looks out into the woods behind our house – a nice view.
The other end of the room is basically an 8’-wide traffic corridor, open to the hall on one side, with the other side open to the dining room with sliding glass doors to the deck.
A. The first thing you need to do is choose one of these three spots to be the one focal point of the room, and then create “inner rooms” from there. I would suggest the fireplace, since it is already in the center of the room.
I’d start with creating an arrangement in front of the fireplace.
But since the room has other attractions, I’d make the seating open out to the room, instead of being focused directly to the fireplace.
To do this, I’d create a modified “H” shape by placing a sofa directly across from the fireplace (#1 in the diagram below) and placing two slipper chairs just in front of the fireplace, facing in at a slight angle (#2 and #3).
Place a coffee table (#4) in the middle of the configuration to finish the “H” shape and make it compatible for socializing. The slipper chairs are faced outward so people seated in them can enjoy the window and the entertainment center.guration to finish the “H” shape and make it compatible for socializing. The slipper chairs are faced outward so people seated in them can enjoy the window and the entertainment center.
To create an “inner room” for the entertainment center, I would use several chairs on swivels (#5, #6, #7).
This way, the chairs can face the entertainment center as an “inner room” for watching television, and they can also turn around to face toward the center of the room when you are entertaining.
Creating a window nook as an “inner room” sounds ideal for your lovely view of the woods.
I would situate a sofa loveseat (#8), easy chair (#9), and coffee table (#10) in an “L” shape around the window. Within such a large room, it is nice to have a cozy spot that feels warm and inviting.
I hope this is helpful! Good luck to you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***************** TODAY'S QUOTE ***************************
"The most wasted day of all is that during which we have not laughed."
-Sebastian R. N. Chamfort
***********************************************************
***********************************************************
Wishing you all the best,
Michael J. Holland - President
Home Decorating Made Easy
Copyright © 2003
P.S. Don't forget your fr*ee chapters of Awaken Your Interior Designer. You'll get 72 pages, filled with lots of ideas and photos to put you on the right decorating path.Click here to download your copy right away ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To create an “inner room” for the entertainment center, I would use several chairs on swivels (#5, #6, #7).
This way, the chairs can face the entertainment center as an “inner room” for watching television, and they can also turn around to face toward the center of the room when you are entertaining.
Creating a window nook as an “inner room” sounds ideal for your lovely view of the woods.
I would situate a sofa loveseat (#8), easy chair (#9), and coffee table (#10) in an “L” shape around the window. Within such a large room, it is nice to have a cozy spot that feels warm and inviting.
I hope this is helpful! Good luck to you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***************** TODAY'S QUOTE ***************************
"The most wasted day of all is that during which we have not laughed."
-Sebastian R. N. Chamfort
***********************************************************
***********************************************************
Wishing you all the best,
Michael J. Holland - President
Home Decorating Made Easy
Copyright © 2003
P.S. Don't forget your fr*ee chapters of Awaken Your Interior Designer. You'll get 72 pages, filled with lots of ideas and photos to put you on the right decorating path.Click here to download your copy right away ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To create an “inner room” for the entertainment center, I would use several chairs on swivels (#5, #6, #7).
This way, the chairs can face the entertainment center as an “inner room” for watching television, and they can also turn around to face toward the center of the room when you are entertaining.
Creating a window nook as an “inner room” sounds ideal for your lovely view of the woods.
I would situate a sofa loveseat (#8), easy chair (#9), and coffee table (#10) in an “L” shape around the window. Within such a large room, it is nice to have a cozy spot that feels warm and inviting.
I hope this is helpful! Good luck to you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***************** TODAY'S QUOTE ***************************
"The most wasted day of all is that during which we have not laughed."
-Sebastian R. N. Chamfort
***********************************************************
***********************************************************
Wishing you all the best,
Michael J. Holland - President
Home Decorating Made Easy
Copyright © 2003
P.S. Don't forget your fr*ee chapters of Awaken Your Interior Designer. You'll get 72 pages, filled with lots of ideas and photos to put you on the right decorating path.Click here to download your copy right away ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To create an “inner room” for the entertainment center, I would use several chairs on swivels (#5, #6, #7).
This way, the chairs can face the entertainment center as an “inner room” for watching television, and they can also turn around to face toward the center of the room when you are entertaining.
Creating a window nook as an “inner room” sounds ideal for your lovely view of the woods.
I would situate a sofa loveseat (#8), easy chair (#9), and coffee table (#10) in an “L” shape around the window. Within such a large room, it is nice to have a cozy spot that feels warm and inviting.
I hope this is helpful! Good luck to you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***************** TODAY'S QUOTE ***************************
"The most wasted day of all is that during which we have not laughed."
-Sebastian R. N. Chamfort
***********************************************************
***********************************************************
Wishing you all the best,
Michael J. Holland - President
Home Decorating Made Easy
Copyright © 2003
P.S. Don't forget your fr*ee chapters of Awaken Your Interior Designer. You'll get 72 pages, filled with lots of ideas and photos to put you on the right decorating path.Click here to download your copy right away ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click here to download your copy of "From Passion to Cash: How to Make Money with Your Love of Decorating and Crafts. You have lots of options for achieving a part-time or full-time income.
Click here to download your copy of "From Passion to Cash: How to Make Money with Your Love of Decorating and Crafts. You have lots of options for achieving a part-time or full-time income.
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