Can you all help me decorate my living room?
I need ideas. Please help it will be greatly appreciated. ❣
31-35, F
I need ideas. Please help it will be greatly appreciated. ❣
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I love it best when a room expresses the tastes and interests of who lives there -- as if inviting a new friend home is the most wonderful way for them to start getting to know you.
1. Measure the space, including all windows, doors, indents, projections, fireplace, hearth, height of the ceiling, and positions of light switches and electric wall sockets.
2. On graph paper, make a plan to scale, and elevation drawings for each wall.
3. Inventory what furniture and other items that you already have and would love to live with.
Do you already have a few favorite decorative items? Maybe photos of people, pets, places, events or things you love or which reflect your interests or hobbies? What colors & textures are they? where might they fit best (proportions & positioning within the space)? Waste bin? Cushions?
4. Make three lists in order of a) needs, b). wants and c). desires:
a) Needs are essential to a healthy life, e.g. space to exercise (dance, yoga, exercise machine) and to move around and through furnishings; security (locks on windows); privacy; good ventilation, prevention of mold, (easy access to window, aircon, fan); no off-gassing of carcinogenic chemicals from new synthetics, some types of paint; keeping cool enough in summer, warm enough in winter; office desk if you work from home, etc.
b) Wants make life easier, more comfortable, e.g. comfy couch that might convert into guest bed, armchairs for guests, dining table that doubles for crafts, entertaining guests, etc.
c) Desires are totally unnecessary -- but they can bring great joy, e.g. pot plants, exquisitely crafted wooden bowl, ceramic vase, Tiffany lamp, fish tank, Persian carpet, books, etc.
What colors for walls would bring you the most joy? What colors, textures and themes? If you're not sure, grab a whole bunch of color patches from a paint shop, bring them home and test them in the lightest, shadiest and middling places at different times of day and night. Consider how the color of the lighting will change the apparent colors (you can get warm yellow LEDs which are much cheaper to run and better for approaching sleep in the evening. The usual blue-white light LEDs stimulate alertness, good for conversations and work.
5. Consider your habits and lifestyle - bearing in mind how many friends you might invite for a gathering and the kind of hospitality you might offer, e.g. casual, formal, barely-at-home, eating upright on chairs around dining table; eating on armchairs/couch around coffee table; all on cushions and carpet/mats on floor (mid to far Eastern style), etc.
Lighting: fade up or down ceiling light, low mood lights, reading lamps near favorite spots, timer controls for security when out.
Temperature control: positions for ceiling or floor fans, heating, air-con, ease of opening window.
Privacy: vertical or horizontal blinds, light & heavy curtains, whether curtains act as insulation.
Do you need shelves for storage? Do you need bedding or furniture for a pet?
6. What's your budget?
If limited, what can you get second hand or from charity shops?
What needs to be done first and what can wait till you've saved a bit?
Do you have friends who might like to help with the work in return for lunch or dinner?
7. Nesting is fun - so it doesn't have to be done all at once. It can be a slowly evolving thing that
creates memories. And its memories that most help to make a place feel like home.
1. Measure the space, including all windows, doors, indents, projections, fireplace, hearth, height of the ceiling, and positions of light switches and electric wall sockets.
2. On graph paper, make a plan to scale, and elevation drawings for each wall.
3. Inventory what furniture and other items that you already have and would love to live with.
Do you already have a few favorite decorative items? Maybe photos of people, pets, places, events or things you love or which reflect your interests or hobbies? What colors & textures are they? where might they fit best (proportions & positioning within the space)? Waste bin? Cushions?
4. Make three lists in order of a) needs, b). wants and c). desires:
a) Needs are essential to a healthy life, e.g. space to exercise (dance, yoga, exercise machine) and to move around and through furnishings; security (locks on windows); privacy; good ventilation, prevention of mold, (easy access to window, aircon, fan); no off-gassing of carcinogenic chemicals from new synthetics, some types of paint; keeping cool enough in summer, warm enough in winter; office desk if you work from home, etc.
b) Wants make life easier, more comfortable, e.g. comfy couch that might convert into guest bed, armchairs for guests, dining table that doubles for crafts, entertaining guests, etc.
c) Desires are totally unnecessary -- but they can bring great joy, e.g. pot plants, exquisitely crafted wooden bowl, ceramic vase, Tiffany lamp, fish tank, Persian carpet, books, etc.
What colors for walls would bring you the most joy? What colors, textures and themes? If you're not sure, grab a whole bunch of color patches from a paint shop, bring them home and test them in the lightest, shadiest and middling places at different times of day and night. Consider how the color of the lighting will change the apparent colors (you can get warm yellow LEDs which are much cheaper to run and better for approaching sleep in the evening. The usual blue-white light LEDs stimulate alertness, good for conversations and work.
5. Consider your habits and lifestyle - bearing in mind how many friends you might invite for a gathering and the kind of hospitality you might offer, e.g. casual, formal, barely-at-home, eating upright on chairs around dining table; eating on armchairs/couch around coffee table; all on cushions and carpet/mats on floor (mid to far Eastern style), etc.
Lighting: fade up or down ceiling light, low mood lights, reading lamps near favorite spots, timer controls for security when out.
Temperature control: positions for ceiling or floor fans, heating, air-con, ease of opening window.
Privacy: vertical or horizontal blinds, light & heavy curtains, whether curtains act as insulation.
Do you need shelves for storage? Do you need bedding or furniture for a pet?
6. What's your budget?
If limited, what can you get second hand or from charity shops?
What needs to be done first and what can wait till you've saved a bit?
Do you have friends who might like to help with the work in return for lunch or dinner?
7. Nesting is fun - so it doesn't have to be done all at once. It can be a slowly evolving thing that
creates memories. And its memories that most help to make a place feel like home.