Our feature photo, courtesy of Benjamin Moore Paints, boasts a room with personality galore. If this room could speak it would say "I'm stylish, luxurious, current and inviting".
How do you get a room to sing its own praises? You have to start with doing the unexpected. Let's dissect this space and see how it's done.
Unexpected paint treatment
You can paint your walls in the usual manner but look at what a difference using a unique technique can make. The two soft wall colours combine to make a striking palette. Capping off the room with soft grey gives this room immediate charm. The simple choice to use two colours instead of just one can make all the difference in the world when it comes to giving a room personality. Painting the ceiling is a great way to change the dynamics of a space. If this room was painted only in the yellow with a white ceiling, for example, it wouldn't have the same allure. It would be a nice, forgettable space.
Adding the chair rail and other trim, which separates the paint colours, adds architectural interest and a sense of luxury. It doesn't take a lot of money or time to include these small touches. Trim on other elements, like cabinet doors, can also be used to enhance a room or plain furniture.
The dining chairs are scrumptious and definitely add lots of style to this space. Don't despair if you haven't got the budget for costly dining chairs. Use your imagination to update what you have just like I did when I painted my dining chairs with turquoise chalk paint. You may be able to recover fabric seats, paint your chairs or purchase affordable chair covers to get the look you want. Chairs don't have to match either. Keep your eye open for deals on stylish chairs at thrift shops and so on. You may be able to create an ensemble that works for you.
I simply love the bright purple accent colour in this room. It's really unexpected, youthful and chic. This is where your personality can be brought into your décor. Maybe you're more of a zebra print person who would add this element to your personal space. Perhaps you prefer a colour like berry red or hot pink. This is the time to play with colour and change it on a whim or seasonally as desired. In our sample photo, all you have to update are the flowers and table runner to give the room a new look.
Accessorizing
It doesn't take a lot of stuff to give a room style. A few key pieces in the right scale can go a long way to giving your room a great look. Think oversized floor vase with tall reeds, a freestanding sculpture, a trio of colourful paintings, large scale black and white prints and so on. Any of these versus a bunch of small tchotchkes is going to be more current and eye-catching. Our feature room only has an accent table with tall flowering plants on it and a small painting. Less is more.
Tactile elements
Textures and soft elements are what make a room physically inviting. The dining chairs in our feature space, for instance, appear to be comfortable and attractive. As well, the soft, floor length draperies are reminiscent of a warm blanket. The area rug offers warmth and softness for the feet. If you removed these elements and put in wooden dining chairs the room might feel cold and uninviting. One certainly would not want to linger over a long meal in these conditions.
Treat yourself to soothing elements that make you want to stay in a room and be enveloped by comfort.
If your décor is lacking in personality, add the traits you'd want to see in a friend or family member. Comforting, stylish, spontaneous, carefree, fun, current, friendly, colourful and inviting.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
