Every time I hear Julie Andrews sing "My Favorite Things," I swear I'm tempted to rewrite it with things that I like: my favorite design tips. I am not good with rhymes, so I won't go there, but I will share some of my favorites.
Your home is not a museum, so mix your styles freely. If you layer a space with color, texture and an array of styles, your decor choices will feel personal and have a much longer life. Accessories are an affordable way to make sure a space doesn't get locked into one period or thematic look.
While we are on the subject of mixing, all-matching wood tones can look too perfect. Mixing wood shades and finishes makes a room more interesting and personal, as if it took shape over time. Consider refinishing your vintage furnishings. Don't be afraid to paint a vintage piece. Don't let every piece of furniture be brown.
Against popular opinion, I also say mixing the seating at your dining table makes for an interesting room-scape. Having eight identical chairs in your dining area is rather expected. If this is too much for you to bear, at least consider different host chairs. By the way, the most durable fabric for dining chairs is leather or vinyl, especially if you want white, off-white or some other light color.
Skirted furniture finishes a room. Too many chair and table legs can make a room unstable. A skirted sofa will make it feel "grounded." A well-furnished room should have a balanced mix of skirted pieces, legs and casegoods. Also, one pair of throw pillows always looks skimpy. Use two pairs, in contrasting patterns, colors and textures.
It's OK to skip the sofa. There is no rule that says a living room even has to have a sofa: Four armchairs can do the trick, or three loveseats, or two chaises... You get the picture. You can always put the sofa in the family room, a bedroom or a cozy library.
Tiny rooms are great for drama. Put a large-scale printed fabric or wallpaper on the walls and even the ceiling. It's easier, safer and less expensive to be dramatic in a small space. You might tire of a bold print in the main living area, but it can make a smaller, less-used room an exciting space to spend time in. Small-scale furniture only makes a small room appear smaller. Try a few large pieces, and your room will feel like it grew.
Another trick for a small room is to go dark with color. Painting walls in a dark color achieves the opposite of what you'd expect: It makes a small room feel bigger. Make sure you love the color so you won't have any regrets three months into your decor scheme. If you are a novice at decorating, stick to white walls. White always works. Best of all, you'll never get tired of a white room.
Wallpaper is an easy way to make an impact. Yes, it is somewhat permanent, so make a commitment to a print or pattern your love.
The best way to makeover sliding closet doors is to wallpaper them so that they blend into the walls. You won't regret this, especially if you have many doors facing a hallway.
Some decorators hold that a rug anchors a space, and it's true. But that doesn't mean they're required. Removing carpets can really open up a room. Bare floors can be just as beautiful, especially in wood or stone. It also makes cleaning up easy, particularly in a kitchen that doesn't have a rug in front of the sink. And along these lines, why not use a real rug in the bathroom instead of a bathmat? Most rugs are made to withstand a lot more wear than the occasional wet foot. It's a rug for heaven's sake!
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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