SPRUCE UP YOUR ‘SPACES’
Maximising on style and comfort in your living room
WHAT DOES your living room say about you? If it’s not aligned with a colour scheme, a theme or your personality, then it is time for a style intervention. Living has enlisted the expertise of Janelle Pantry, creative director of Spaces Limited, to share tips on fashioning the main room to your discerning taste.
Pantry explained that no two living spaces are ever the same, because the living room should reflect the individual or the residents. Whether you have a love for travel, a passion for the arts, or you’re a book nerd — your space should ultimately showcase who you are and what you love,” she said in a recent interview.
Bearing that in mind, if you are living life out loud, then the main room could reflect this through bold colour palette indoors. Are you usually one to work long hours each day? Then let your living room radiate relaxation or nodes of serenity. The truth is, we’re spending more time at home than usual due to the global pandemic. So it makes sense to maximise on comfort. Now is the perfect time to give the space the love it deserves.
COOL WAYS TO SPICE UP LIVING ROOM
There are a few, cool ways you can spice up your living room. First thing, work with a colour scheme. That, Pantry highlighted, is an essential tool for decorating that will assist you with achieving a harmonious and cohesive look ,“It is important that the colours chosen for your paint selection, upholstery, soft furnishings and accessories all coordinate.”
The most popular colour schemes include monochromatic, colour used as variations of the same hue; complementary, which consists of two contrasting colours on the colour wheel, like yellow and purple; and analogous, colour combos that are side by side in the colour wheel, for example, blue and green.
For wall play, art, she says, can actually inspire the space or stand as the piece tying the style arrangement together. When selecting art, Pantry recommends going back to the drawing board and considering the colour scheme. Determine from early if you’re leaning more towards abstract, contemporary or modern art.
On the matter of comfort, we asked if throw pillows are a requisite for sofas. The décor expert responded that they are a must for her, as long as it is executed correctly. “I love that throw pillows provide enormous flexibility. They are one of the easiest ways to change up the look of your room. Throw pillows are also small, perfect for adding a pop of colour or a fun pattern, and inexpensive,” said Pantry. She also encourages those interested in patterns and textures to have fun with the mix-and-match process, and use the colour scheme as a general guide.
She has a few refreshing insights for nature lovers, too. Indoor greenery is growing into a new trend, and Pantry believes it has staying power. The concept is not only aesthetically appealing, but it is also good for your health. Certain indoor plants, such as the snake plant, help to improve air quality. Also, some top indoor plants that are relatively low maintenance, help one to achieve the bohemian trend. These include the aforementioned snake plant, monstera, aloe vera and dracaena.
Another top living room upgrade tip Pantry provides consists of changing light fixtures and bulbs, considering a focal feature wall using wallpaper, investing in a new rug and changing your paint colour. Don’t forget, finding the correct rug size is important.
• Spaces is on Instagram, @spacesjamaica.
‘It is important that the colours chosen for your paint selection, upholstery, soft furnishings and accessories all coordinate.’