SOMETIMES in decorating, the room will dictate which style is best suited to it. That is to say, the walls will 'talk' to you and guide you toward the best decorating style for the space.
Our feature photograph is a good example of what I'm getting at. Even when empty, this unique attic space with its angled ceiling, beams and rough hewn surfaces has a rustic feel to it. In this example, choosing a decor style that compliments the bare bones of this room just makes sense.
Within your chosen style are a myriad of decor options that will offer you the flexibility to infuse your own sense of style into the space. In our sample room, for instance, rustic includes everything from vintage trunks to fine china. Just because you're following a style outline doesn't mean you can't think outside the box.
Our feature room boasts rustic touches like the old steamer trunks and woolen plaid blankets. These are juxtaposing delicate china platters and old sports trophies. This room is a bit of a catch-all, but it works. Old prints and team photographs add to the charm of the room, but are also mixed in with framed butterflies and sheet music. The varying styles and sizes of frames on the wall make for a very interesting display, which is in keeping with the unique wall space on which they are displayed. While the general theme is vintage and rustic, the scope of accessories reaches beyond the typical invisible borders of a themed decor.
The walls in this space are talking. They are calling out for vintage touches, texture and country charm. The open beams, with their unique angles and painted finishes are saying 'this space needs touches that are as unique as I am. No run-of-the-mill matchy furniture or accessories here please.'
These walls need to envelope a room that is charming, casual and inviting. It needs to be filled with found treasures, architectural finds, vintage items and a bit of family history.
This attic space is actually a bathroom with a unique decor style and layout. In keeping with a rustic theme, an understated dark wooden sink vanity and storage cabinet were selected. The clear shower stall is barely noticeable, as is the low-profile toilet. The designers of this room let the architecture take centre stage choosing bathroom fixtures that are stylish but discreet. This room doesn't shout out 'bathroom', which allows more freedom in the decorating arena. They have forgone 'bathroomy' accessories for general room accessories allowing the personality of the room to take shape.
What are your walls saying?
If you're not sure which way to go with your decorating style in a specific room, see if it will give you any hints. Oversized windows with mullions may inspire a French bistro style, for instance. If those windows look out onto a garden, perhaps an English tea room style decor is warranted. If the room gets a lot of natural daylight, then a botanical theme with lots of lush houseplants might be the answer. If the room is a plain square box with a door and a window, then the walls have nothing to say and you are free to do as you please, which can be fun too.
Sometimes the space you're working in will give you hints about the direction in which to go. Will you listen?
connieoliver@shaw.ca
