Design Question #3: Design Refresh, where to start & what to prioritize
This month’s design question comes from a fellow mom on The Hill who has been struggling to update her living room. She’s also named Heather, so I instantly love her! Follow these links if you’d like to see previous design Q + A: Painting a Boy's Room + Adding a Board & Batten Feature Wall
Below is Heather’s question:
Not sure if my question is better for a design question or a formal consultation. Our house, especially the living room, definitely needs an upgrade, but I’m not sure where to start and what to prioritize. I started a Pinterest page but can’t visualize what would actually make sense in the space. Eg, what size of art would make sense over the couch? Would new slipcovers help? New paint? Does it make sense to buy a sectional? Could the bookshelf be more integrated?
For background, we’ve owned our 2 bedroom Hill home for 4 years and still have old/hand me down furniture, so definitely Interested in ideas for new console, bookcase, pillows, art, etc. But also have a 6 month old and almost 4 year old and will probably need to move in about 3 years so probably not practical to buy investment pieces at this point and don’t want to deal with built ins or anything too complicated.
Thanks!
Heather
Heather, thank you so much for your design questions. I'll do my best to answer all of them here, but if you still have some lingering questions I'd be happy to set up a formal one time consultation where we can go over things in more detail in person.
I want to start by saying you are not alone when it comes to Pinterest paralysis! There are so many great ideas out there, but they can be overwhelming. And what looks great in one house, may not look great in another. After a while we see too many ideas and don't know where to start. But this is why I'm here! So, let's dig into your questions.
Design: Heather DiSabella Interior Design, Photography: Reema Desai Boldes
First, I'd like to start with some general design advice that can be applied to any size project:
The first place to start is budget. Often times when I talk with clients they don't know what their budget is and that's very normal. I encourage you to sit down and make a list of all the items in your space, then in a second column write down how much you can spend on each piece. Some items may be $0 and that's ok too. We want this to be as realistic as possible. I’ve included a copy of the worksheet I share with my clients below. The list should include everything you see in the room: furniture pieces, area rugs, lighting, window treatments, artwork and accessories (like pillows and decorative accents). In addition, are you thinking about a paint refresh or perhaps some overhead light fixture changes? Add those in your list also and include handyman costs as well. These numbers start to add up, but when you see the total you can start to edit as your budget allows and create a priority list of what to tackle first. By creating a real budget for your project you will see a shift in your mind about how you're going to tackle the work. Your thinking will shift from 'I really want to make changes' to 'I am going to make changes and this is how'. By writing everything down you're creating action steps in how to achieve the space you really want.
After a budget is established, create a master plan. Take each of the items on your budget list and write down the sizes you will need for each item (ie. couch: 96" long, artwork: 30"x40", etc.) Again, writing down these details will help you to narrow in on the specifics for each piece. At the end of this exercise you will have a clear list of everything you need in your space. Using this list, you can begin sourcing the products you need and avoid the distractions of the pieces that won't fit in your space. This is a great time to start a pinterest board and start saving all your items into it. Save 2-3 options for each item and soon you will have a nice collage of pieces that will all work in your space. Then you can start to visualize how these pieces will look and feel together.
Design: Heather DiSabella Interior Design, Photography: Reema Desai Boldes
Now, onto your specific space & questions:
Seating
The current seating configuration looks a bit choppy and disjointed. These couches look like they have seen better days, so if your budget allows updating your seating will go a long way here. Design tip: Furniture begins to depreciate after 7 years. You could easily fit an 'L' shaped sectional here, or you could do a couch with a chaise and a comfy lounge chair in the corner. Some companies are offering reversible chaise sectionals which make them very attractive to families who are thinking about moving in the future.
Area Rug
The rug you have now is too small for the space, and this is unknowingly making the room feel smaller than it actually is. Ideally, we want the rug to extend underneath the legs of the couches. Rugs should be about 18"-24" smaller than the overall size of the room. If a new large rug isn't in the budget, than you can layer the existing rug with a new sisal or natural weave beneath it and still achieve the flooring expansion.
Design: Heather DiSabella Interior Design, Photography: Reema Desai Boldes
Artwork
I see two issues here. Scale and mounting height. As a designer, I'm very rarely concerned about the artwork itself. Artwork is personal and taste varies so drastically. What I'm concerned about is the size and scale of the pieces. What I'd like to see is one larger piece over the couch. In general, the artwork should be about 1/2 - 2/3 in scale to the length of the couch. For example, if you have an 80" long sofa, then your artwork should be roughly 40"-50" long. This could mean one large piece or a grouping of artwork (gallery wall) that creates this same length. This will make a big impact and create a true focal point in the room. The second issue here is mounting height. It looks like all of your prints are mounted at different heights throughout the room. When artwork is appropriately scaled it should all be mounted at eye level, regardless of size. How we do this is find the horizontal center line of each piece, then mount that horizontal center line at average eye level, which is roughly 65" (or 5'-5") above the floor.
Accent Tables
Another thing that will help to pull this room together is the addition of accent tables. I'd like to see one on either end of the new sectional or new couch. Then we can replace the standing torch lamp with a pair of new table lamps. You can also add a coffee table to the middle of the space to really pull the room together and give it a more purposeful look. If you're like me, then you probably used to have one, but then got rid of it so the kids have space to play. But, it's time to reclaim your space back! There are tons of options out there that are great for families, including storage tables and soft leather ottomans that double as tables.
Design: Heather DiSabella Interior Design, Photography: Reema Desai Boldes
Console Table
It looks like this table could be bigger and include some closed doors to hide things. It appears like you are using this to store bags and perhaps as a drop zone when you come into the house. I'd suggest getting a longer piece that can hold more and perhaps be more functional for you.
Bookshelf
This piece could also be updated. It looks like you're using it as a combination of book storage and some display space. This is creating a bit of visual clutter. My question to you is: Do you need this in here? Can the books be stored elsewhere? If you buy a more functional console table, can some of these items be stored in there? It looks like this is the first thing you see when you walk into the house, in which case, I'd rather see a beautiful tree (live or faux) in this corner. Or maybe you invest in some pretty storage baskets for blankets or toys here.
This is ALOT of information to digest, so please reach out if you have any further questions. I hope this is helpful! And please send photos of your updates!
All the best,
Heather
