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Mini Makeover: Tammy's Tiny Living Room

Mar 06, 2013

Every single item counts in a tiny room. Take this room, for example. Tammy's living room is 9 feet by 10-1/2 feet. Minus a few square feet where the wall is angled. That's small for any room, let alone a room where the family gathers, and where everyone enters the house.

 

Tammy is ready to clear it out and start over. She only asked to keep the flooring, the round rug she currently has in the space, and a framed photo.

 

 

 

 

The major challenge here is the traffic flow. With a main entry door, a kitchen access, and a bedroom door in a space this tiny, it leaves few options for setting up a relaxing seating area. Here's how to do it.

 

 

SPACE & COLOR PLAN

(Click any image to enlarge.)

 

 

The strategies at work in this space & decor plan are:

1. Maintain a clear, T-shaped traffic pattern.
2. Maximize remaining space for seating.
3. Add warmth and beauty with the use of color and texture.
4. Choose pieces with size and shape more suited to the available space.

 

Start off with a 63" loveseat under the windows. The Bailey Loveseat in Basketweave Beige from Home Decorators has simple lines and an inviting look. Finish off the seating area with a Rebecca Leather Swivel Chair in Textured Burnt Orange from Grandin Road. This leather chair is very compact but comfy, and the swivel allows you to angle it in any direction without it looking "off" near the angled wall. Next to the chair, the Stanton Dunbrook floor lamp with a built-in table surface maximizes function in a small space. Your round rug ties it together. Add a small storage ottoman with a grassy texture for tucking away books and games, and for extra kid seating.

 

Keep the path from the main door to the kitchen open. I'm recommending the handsome Martha Stewart Larsson demilune table that takes up little space but gives you somewhere to set things when entering. The rounded shape means you won't catch clothing on it as you pass. Place a mirror next to this table, and a matching one on the angled wall to reflect light and give the room a sense of space. Try these from the Firefly Home Collection at Bellacor.

 

As far as the fridge goes, if you can afford to replace it, I would recommend a compact model that is both shallower and narrower than standard, like this one from LG as shown on the plan. Then, to keep the room looking like a living room and not a kitchen, add a drape along this wall, floor to ceiling, and suspended from a rod mounted to the ceiling. Lastly, replace the existing drapes with inexpensive matchstick shades. These will stay out of the way and warm up the space a bit.

 

The color plan will warm up the room, too. I used your rug as a starting point and chose a glowing, deep cream for the walls: Sherwin-Williams Interactive Cream (SW6113). Paint the ceilings a couple shades lighter in the lovely Biscuit (SW6112). You could also paint doors and trim in this color for a spacious, monochromatic look. The rest of the colors for the space are warm and spicy, with hits of leaf green, black, and deep orange.

 

 

MINI INSPIRATION BOARD

(links in text above)

 

 

Tammy, thanks for letting me share your room with my readers. Please send "after" photos! —Diane Kolak

 

Do you need help pulling a room together on a budget with pieces you already own, or a few new things? A Mini Makeover can help. For $175, I deliver a quick-and-easy decorating plan here on my blog that includes a space plan, color plan, and basic ideas for key pieces. Email me to get started.

TAGS: living room room design plan edecor edecorating tiny small living room 9x10 budget online design plan diane kolak dwelement

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Mini Makeover: Joanna's Outer Space

Feb 25, 2013

Joanna writes from Florida:

 

 

Below is Joanna's living room now. It's really big, which presents a typical challenge for new homeowners who crave space but then are unsure how to fill it as they adjust their budgets to a new mortgage.

 

 

Joanna,

Rooms like this, with a very dominant fireplace and also a TV (throw in a wall of windows), are always difficult. Your initial instincts are good. Floating furniture in the middle and creating an arrangement that faces both the centered fireplace and the TV works, but you still have a lot of unused space at the outer edges. I'm suggesting a space plan that is a bit more open and expanded, and also suggest a new function for one end of the room. 

 

 

 

 

SPACE & DECOR PLAN

The main strategies I've used in this space & decor plan are:

1. Fill space with existing seating.
2. Suggest inexpensive new pieces to solve scale issues with TV wall and unused space at opposite end.
3. Suggest additional pieces to update the look and bring personality to the room.

 

Currently you have the long sofa perpendicular to the fireplace and the loveseat parallel; flip this arrangement so that the long sofa is against the long wall opposite the fireplace. Move the L-shaped arrangement close to this wall but not directly against it— leave 6-8 inches of space behind the sofa. We're moving the traffic pattern through the seating arrangment instead of behind it. This fills space and makes the room look more well proportioned. Your existing chair moves near the corner of the fireplace to define the other side of this arrangement.

 

I suggest buying a slim storage ottoman to add function and color to this arrangement. Shown: the Angelo Home Kent Storage Bench in Kiwi Green. Also look for a square end table (around 32"x32", easy to find used) that can tie the seating together. An 8x10 rug defines the seating space and really makes the fireplace more of a focal point than the TV. I suggest the Seismic wool rug from CB2. This rug will cover much of the carpeting for now and give you a cozy feel after you change the flooring.

 

Probably the most important piece to buy is a new, larger media unit for the TV and its various components. The current cabinet is too small visually and offers no way to conceal the extras. The Bestå line from Ikea will give you the storage you need, tidy up the pieces, and offer a way to stylishly conceal the TV when it isn't in use. Place it toward the right end of the wall so it's in line with the seating. Don't worry about centering in this case. I chose the white/birch color combo to bring in some warmth and texture. Consider this same wood finish for the end table.

 

The opposite end of the room needs a defined use to prevent it from looking unfinished. I would suggest a small play table for Clara (age 2), and a dresser. Dressers are excellent ways to fill space, and they're easy to find on a tight budget. They're also fun to paint and decorate to your taste. A large dresser (at least 6 feet long) will give that large wall some visual interest and add a lot of storage for toys or books. It's also a handy surface for drinks or snacks when entertaining, and it will function just as well if you decide to bring in a dining table as you mentioned.

 

Another update that will really freshen up the room is a new ceiling fan. I chose a fan without a light kit, because overhead lighting is never flattering to a room or its occupants. Skipping the light also saves money: this sleek model from Hampton Bay makes a big impact for $90. Your lighting should come from lamps: one on the end table, and a floor lamp on each side of the fireplace. The floor lamps should match, but have some fun with the table lamp.

 

Lastly, consider replacing the vertical blinds with inexpensive solar roller shades that you can cut to fit your windows. They're effective and unobtrusive, and look more current than blinds.

 

 

 

COLOR PLAN

 

 

 

Because you're working with gray carpeting and black furniture, and you're in Florida where bold color makes sense, I put together a fresh palette of blue-greens and chartreuse to liven things up and keep the black from becoming too heavy and dominant in the room. For starters, paint the walls and ceiling. I recommend a clear, pale aqua for walls: Sherwin-Williams Dewy (SW6469). Your ceilings are very high. Waterscape (SW6470) on ceilings will bring them down a bit visually and add a ton of personality to a room this big. Make sure you paint vent covers to match the walls and the beam to match the ceiling.

 

The rug is the other major player in developing the color palette. It introduces a medium blue-green and a deep teal. It also brings in eye-catching pattern and texture. I've suggested some new throw pillows (also from CB2) to modernize the sofas. The chartreuse ottoman brings in an unexpected element. Look for other accessories in this color, too (lamps, pottery, art, etc.).

 

Clara's play table and chairs in crisp white are from Land of Nod, but this is another piece that would be very easy to find used and freshen with a few coats of white paint. I suggest a crisp, cool white like Extra White (SW7006). For the dresser, medium cool gray will add balance and sophistication. Try Gray Matters  (SW7066).

 

Lastly, there's one thing in this room that is really keeping it from looking crisp and fresh: the brick on the fireplace. Go ahead and paint it white. It will look so much more current. Use a fluffy roller designed for rough surfaces and a glossy, durable paint. You'll probably want to repaint the mantel as well so they match. Extra White is a good choice for this.

 

Joanna, thanks for letting me share your room with my readers. Please send "after" photos! —Diane Kolak

 

Do you need help pulling a room together on a budget with pieces you already own? A Mini Makeover can help. For $175, I deliver a quick-and-easy decorating plan here on my blog.

TAGS: living room room design plan edecor edecorating bright fresh crisp budget online design plan diane kolak dwelement

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Mini Makeover: Kelley's Tricky Traditional Living Room

Feb 19, 2013

Kelley in Virginia has a real space-planning dilemma:

 

 

Here's how Kelley's living room looks now. She wants to use it to host adult company, but also wants her small kids to be comfortable. The rug and TV must stay, but other pieces are up for switching. The whole space is roughly 11' x 18'

 

 

 

Kelley, my first thought is that the room lacks balance. The furniture looks as though it's placed where it fits, but without regard to flow. The odd corner doesn't help, of course. You do have quite a few wood tones, but your color scheme overall is very pleasing, and because you want to keep the rug, I think you should stick with this general direction. You mentioned disliking the heavy feel of the furniture, so I'm suggesting some changes in that area. I also feel there are too many pieces in the room, so some of it has to go.

 

Here's the plan. Read on for the design strategy and details on my solution for your awkward heating duct.

 

 

 

 

SPACE PLAN

The main strategies I've used in this space plan are:

1. Solve architectural problems by using built-ins and a little visual trickery. This also adds storage.
2. Create balance by introducing more symmetry.
3. Lighten the feel of the space by reducing furniture pieces and replacing the sofa with a leggier model.
4. Re-route the traffic pattern around the seating area.

 

The foundation of the new space plan is an investment in custom built-ins on the end wall that has the heating duct. I suggest building a cabinet on the right side that is the same size as the heating duct. Then duplicate the look of this cabinet with a faux door over the heating duct on the left. This creates symmetry on the wall and changes the focus of the room. The TV should be placed in the middle, over a shallower media console that's 24" high. (Components can be stored here.) Because this center space is shallower (see space plan), you could consider adding bifold doors or even a pretty drape to conceal the TV when you'd rather not have it be the focus of the room. This unit should be painted white to match existing trim. Here's a rough sketch of how it comes together:

 

 

Now we have a symmetrical focal wall that will dictate the arrangement of furniture. Place the sofa facing the TV unit. I show a new sofa, the Rowe Bleeker Sectional (2-seat end plus left-seated chaise). This sofa is traditional but casual, and the legs lift it off the floor to give the room a lighter feel. The chaise end tucks nicely into the window niche but its low height keeps the view open. If budget is a concern, your existing sofa and ottoman will work in this arrangement as well. Do not be concerned with centering the sofa or rug in the room. Off-setting it as shown creates an ideal traffic pattern and also works to create a little energy by throwing off the symmetry.

 

One of your existing toile chairs will fit nicely in the corner by the duct. Next to it, place a small, round accent table. (You could use the one I see in your family room by the French doors.) In the middle, a 36-inch round upholstered ottoman works for propping feet or, with a tray, as a coffee table. Consider leather for kid-friendly durability. This option from Horchow is quite pricey, but use it as inspiration.

 

To create an inviting look from the foyer, place your existing desk behind the sofa, or look for a beautiful console table. At either end, place matching floor lamps to fill out the length of the sofa and bring additional light into the room. Make sure these lamps are interesting but delicate, so that they don't block too much of the view of the room beyond. I suggest the Murray Feiss Caliper Firenze Floor Lamp. These lamps are very delicate but sturdy, and they have beautifully simple shades. They're also oval instead of round, which helps them fill the space without projecting into the traffic space too much.

 

Against the wall behind the sofa, I suggest a shallow bank of built-in bookcases or a very large piece of art. Art is very personal, and I always encourage clients to take their time to find something they love, preferably from a local artist. I suggest a modern or abstract print or painting to introduce some stylistic tension into the room.

 

 

COLOR PLAN

 

Your existing rug is beautiful, and the wall color works very well with it. If you're looking for a change, I could see painting the walls darker for a couple of reasons. First, it will set this room apart from neighboring spaces, which appear to all be the same or very similar color. This will become more important after the built-ins are constructed because it will look similar to the family room's built-ins. Second, it will enhance this small room's cozy, inviting feeling.

 

Sherwin-Williams Likeable Sand (SW6059) is a rosy beige that will complement the rug and the toile chair. It's distinctly different from the other spaces but still neutral. I've shown other colors to fill out the palette including a dark and light taupe with green undertones, a warm cream, two shades of butterscotch, and crisp white. You can use this as a guide as you shop for new furniture and accessories.

 

Kelley, thanks for letting me share your room with my readers. Please send "after" photos! —Diane Kolak

 

Do you need help pulling a room together on a budget with pieces you already own? A Mini Makeover can help. For $175, I deliver a quick-and-easy decorating plan here on my blog.

TAGS: living room sitting room design plan edecor edecorating neutral gray taupe silver transitional look online design plan diane kolak

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Mini Makeover: Jenny's Pretty, Practical Living Room

Jan 25, 2013

Mini Makeovers are popular lately! This one comes from Jenny in Arvada, Colorado: 

 

Here's how Jenny's living room looks now. The whole space is roughly 15' x 17'

 

 

Jenny, you have quite a challenge here with this room that gets so much use by so many little people! The room is a good size, so you have several options for configuring additional seating. I'm recommending a plan that will give you the most flexibility and the most bang for your buck immediately, without resorting to cheap furniture that won't last more than a few years under this kind of heavy use.

 

Families with young kids sometimes make the mistake of buying inexpensive new furniture, thinking that it will last until the kids get older, at which time it can be replaced. Often, though, that kind of furniture ends up looking worn and miserable after a few months and stays that way for years, dragging down the entire room.

 

So here's the plan. Read on for the design strategy. (Click to enlarge any image.)

  

 

 

SPACE PLAN

 

 

 

The main strategies I've used in this space plan are:

1. Make the window more of a focal point in the room. You mentioned that you wish it were larger. Giving it some space will create the feeling of a larger window, and allow more light to reflect off the hardwood floors.
2. Create balance by establishing pairs and using symmetry.
3. Think about ways to make pieces do double-duty as both seating and storage, or storage and display surface, or seating and little-kid's doodling surface…

 

Keep your existing sofa. You said the sofa is comfortable, but you don't like the color or fabric. Instead of spending thousands on new seating, invest in new slipcovers. Meanwhile, look around for a used sofa that has similar size and lines as your existing sofa. This shouldn't be too hard because the existing Crate & Barrel sofa is a very classic style. Look for rolled arms and a similar cushion configuration. You'll be open to major bargains because you won't be concerned with the fabric's color or condition… You'll be dressing it in a new slipcover identical to the one on your old sofa. This gives you double the seating and a pair of sofas that set up beautiful balance in the room.

 

Here's a sofa that would work very well, about an hour away from you. Clean but dated upholstery is a big plus in your case… that means it's only $75!

 

The place to splurge is on a new glider chair, an item that you require and that will get a lot of use. The Crate & Barrel Bayside Swivel Glider (shown in Bedrock in first plan, Spruce in second color plan below) gives you the ability to face the seating arrangement or the dining room, which could come in handy when the older kids are busy at the table. It, too, is slipcovered for easy cleaning.

 

Place your existing stepped storage for Legos at the end of one sofa, where it can be used as an end table when needed. Between the sofas, a pair of storage ottomans are very flexible. Stow toys or books inside, and move them around the room to serve as seats or foot rests. With the addition of  trays they become coffee tables. Add a drawing board to make a fun activity surface for small kids. I'm also suggesting a pair of pouf seats that the kids will enjoy sitting on, or using as pillows for lounging on the floor. These poufs also bring in some texture and shape interest.

 

Keep your ladder bookshelf and buy another one just like it. You asked for more ways to display family photos, and I think these are a good solution, as opposed to hanging photos on the wall. Remember that pairs generate balance, and placing these on  either side of the window will add some structure to the space.

 

The reason I advise against photos on your only available wall space is because here, a large mirror will give a cleaner look and also reflect more light into the room. This antiquey mirror (hung horizontally) has the casual look you like and mimics a window with its paned design. Beneath the mirror and behind one sofa, a narrow console table provides another surface for displaying smaller photos in easel-backed frames. It's also a good place to set a drink out of the way of tiny hands.

 

One last pair: two matching floor lamps will finish off the most visible wall in the room and give you needed task and ambient lighting. The Rowley Floor Lamp from Home Decorators Collection blends with your existing chandelier over the entry but goes in a sleeker direction. Lastly, I'd add an 18" round end table with a small storage drawer between the sofa and glider. 

 

COLOR PLAN

 

So, you aren't ready to change the wall color or drapes, but if you reach that point, I've created an alternate color plan that involves a new rug. Of course, you could choose to do all of this right off the bat without changing your wall color and it would work reasonably well, but a cleaner, cooler color on walls would be best.

 

Here you see the Argonne Rug from Home Decorators in bright coral, pale gray slipcovers, the C&B glider in Spruce, and a lighter version of that color on slipcovers over the storage ottomans. (Or you could go for a fun print here.) Wood is also lighter in this plan with a white painted console table and a pale driftwood-colored end table. Hits of black work just as well here, so no need to change the lamps or the bookshelves. To pull this all together, I would recommend Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams (SW 6204) on the walls.

 

 

 

 

Jenny, thanks for letting me share your room with my readers. Please send "after" photos! —Diane Kolak

 

Do you need help pulling a room together on a budget with pieces you already own? A Mini Makeover can help. For $175, I deliver a quick-and-easy deocrating plan here on my blog.

TAGS: living room sitting room design plan edecor edecorating neutral gray taupe silver transitional look online design plan diane kolak

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Mini Makeover: Alyson's Thrifty Mix

Jan 17, 2013

Time for a double Mini Makeover! This one comes from Alyson in Minnesota: 

 

Here's how Alyson's living room and dining room look now. The whole space is roughly 13' x 29'.

 

 

Alyson, you definitely need a direction for this space, as well as better distribution of items throughout the space. The living room is crowded, but there's a lot of unused space in the dining room. Given your tight budget, my main focus is helping you better use pieces you already own. But I'm also showing you a few pieces you might want to purchase. With a little patience, you can find all of these things at thrift or consignment stores or on Craigslist. Focus on the quality of the construction and the lines. Finishes and fabrics can be updated. So here we go…

 

(Click to enlarge any image.)

  

 

SPACE PLAN

The main goal here is to help you streamline the living room. First, move both the tall and short bookcases to the dining room. We'll come back to those later. Remove the smallest bookcase and coffee table, maybe to another room. The oversized chair must go. It's not giving you enough benefit for the amount of space it requires, and it looks dated. It's not worth slipcovering. I suggest selling it and putting that money toward a smaller replacement chair. Look for something 38"x38" max. A rounded tub or barrel chair would work well, and these are plentiful at second-hand stores. Behind that chair, place the Crate & Barrel floor lamp you just bought on Craigslist. Consider finishing off that area with a small round side table, about 18˝ in diameter, and a storage ottoman instead of a coffee table. This can be used as extra seating when needed.

 

Now let's reverse the entire orientation of the room to give you a better entry area. Move the TV to the opposite corner, next to the window. Do not angle the stand; only angle the TV to keep things looking neat. I suggest a swivel TV base to allow you to easily change the angle for gaming, which can happen in the large, unused space between the rooms. This is really a generously sized area that isn't suitable for furniture, so take advantage of it.

 

The sofa moves to the middle of the room, facing the window and TV. Behind it, we define an entry "alley" using a 14-foot-long runner and a narrow bench. (Here's an inspiration bench, but I know you can find something for much less. Just make sure it's narrow.) Shoe storage moves behind the closet door with the help of an over-door shoe rack that holds 36 pairs. Between the doors, hang your 30˝ round mirror and beneath that, a shallow shelf that can hold keys, mail and the like.

 

Another idea that would give you more display space and make the room look more inviting is a freestanding radiator cover. I know you rent, but this does not have to be a permanent built-in piece. It can be built to enclose the radiator but then used as a bench or window seat when you move. A simple design like the one below could be hired out fairly inexpensively. Make it from paintable MDF to save money on materials.

 

 

Now, the dining room. This space is really underutilized right now. You mentioned that you were searching for some sort of bar. I think you should use your short bookcase as a bar. Buy one more bookcase similar to or matching the tall bookcase (make sure dimensions are the same or very close), then paint everything a medium warm gray (such as Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray, SW7017) to complement but not match your dining set. This diagram shows how you can set up three bookcases to make a pretty impressive bar and display setup. Some of your books will need to move elsewhere, but this gives you display space for the many small items you want to use. It also gives you a space for a pair of tall, slim buffet lamps that will give off much more pleasing light than your overhead fixture.

 

 

 

Regarding your accessories… You have a lot of small items. Sprinkling these throughout the space is going to look very cluttered and random. Instead, establish display areas and limit groups of small items to these areas. The bookshelves will be your primary display space. You could also use the radiator cover for a few carefully chosen pieces, if you want.

 

Bring some life to your dining room by hanging your collection of black-and-white photos and art on the back wall of the dining room. Start by hanging the large mirror with ledge in the middle. Then work outward and fill the wall with frames. Guidelines for a successful gallery wall: use frames of the same color and keep the distance between frames consistent.

 

 

 

 

COLOR PLAN

 

 

You asked for a neutral color scheme with hits of more intense color. And since we're keeping your olive sofa for the time being, I developed a color palette that works with it but takes everything in a fresher, slightly film noir-ish direction. If you can paint the walls, give them a little personality with Sedate Gray (SW 6169) by Sherwin-Williams. This green-based gray will give your sofa a reason for being and look great with your dining set. Black, white, and warm gray will be fairly dominant with your gallery wall.

 

The accent colors are somewhat inspired by popular colors of the 1940s. They're saturated, but in a smoky way… not too crazy-bright. The reddish-golden tan will tie with the woodwork you must keep. Hits of deep burgundy, smoky purple, and subdued teal are all good ways to add color interest.

 

I would suggest recovering the seats on your dining chairs. This is a very easy job on those types of chairs. All you need is the right fabric, a screwdriver, and a staple gun. I suggest this sophisticated black-and-gray pattern from one of my favorite discount fabric sources, New Toto. 

 

Alyson, thank you for sharing your room redo with my readers. Can't wait to see the "after" photos! —Diane Kolak

 

Do you need help pulling a room together on a budget with pieces you already own? A Mini Makeover can help. For $175, I deliver a quick-and-easy deocrating plan here on my blog.

TAGS: living room sitting room design plan edecor edecorating neutral gray taupe silver transitional look online design plan diane kolak

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