Décor dilemma
THE CHALLENGE
Teresa Tiedje asks via Facebook We moved into our house a couple of months ago and we really need help with decorating our open-plan living and dining room. It’s a small space and it looks cluttered. Our entrance hall is at the back of the living room and this prevents us from placing any furniture against the wall to create extra space. We haven’t bought any furniture yet, so we’re using old chairs as well as a patio set. We’d like to paint and we’re keen on browns and a natural stone look. Any advice?
THE SOLUTION
Stylist and photographer Margaux Tait of mylifestyled.co.za
offers the following advice We all struggle with clutter from time to time and the biggest mistake people make is to use furniture that’s too big for the space or too many pieces that end up compromising the flow. I have a few trusted ways of sorting out a cluttered space in no time…
1 THE PALETTE Opt for light stone hues such as Salisbury Stones 5 or Natural Hessian from Dulux’s warm neutrals range. A light grey, such as Dulux Dusted Moss 3, would also look great in your space. Paint all the walls to create a uniform look between the two areas; this will blend the space visually and give it a welcoming, light and airy feel. If you like, you can introduce a pop of bold colour like cobalt blue or a metallic touch with a bit of copper; both will work well with light stone and grey.
A light colour palette works best with different textures that create depth and interest, so bear that in mind when shopping for items to feather your nest. Also use a glossy paint on certain furniture pieces or the ceiling to optimise the reflection of light and add another layer of interest.
2 FURNITURE PLACEMENT Did you know that if you pull your furniture away from the wall, you create the illusion of greater space? Even a few inches will do the trick. Bear in mind that wooden furniture pieces also introduce colour; if you have too many different types in the same space, it can look cluttered. Rather, paint a few items or keep to two types of wood at most; I suggest light wood for this space due to its small size.
Instead of using lots of different chairs and sofas, consider a smaller L-shaped corner couch in front of the fireplace with ottomans as additional seating. At the dining table, you could use benches with chairs at the head and end to make the most of the space. Large colourful rugs in both areas will brighten up the look; they must be big enough to fit under a grouping of furniture pieces to anchor the setting.
3 WALL ART Instead of lots of small artworks, display a few select pieces in a larger format to add depth. Displaying art above eye level helps create the illusion of height.
4 MULTIPURPOSE Use less furniture and make it work harder by opting for multipurpose designs. Consider a coffee table that has magazine storage built in or an ottoman that can also store throws or scatters, for example.
5 FOCUS! Textured wallpaper in a similar colour to the walls will create an interesting focal point behind the dining room table.
6 LOOK UP Use interesting, elongated shelving and tall plants to further create the illusion of height. A long pendant suspended from the ceiling is also a good idea. Then create layered lighting by pairing pendants with standing lamps and table lamps to create a soft, romantic ambience.
7 WINDOWS Not having a curtain in front of the window will declutter the space instantly. If the room gets lots of sunlight and becomes too hot in summer, use block-out blinds that you can roll down when necessary. >>