Often my first conversation with a homeowner begins like this: Me: “So, tell me more about your decorating project and how I may help?” Homeowner: “Well, I have some things in the room, but I just need some help pulling it all together.” Me: “Well, you have called the right place. As an interior decorator, I specialize in pulling it all together.”
The thing is, depending on your perspective, “pulling it all together” can mean very different things. As an interior decorator, for me it means looking at the big picture to ensure that all the design elements in the room: furniture, flooring, window treatments, artwork and accessories, work together to create just the right mix of aesthetically pleasing proportion, scale, color and balance. A homeowner might envision a decorator moving their existing furniture around and miraculously transforming their space to look larger, more light filled and model home perfect! Of course, it is unlikely that rearranging furniture alone will truly transform your space. However, there are some very simple things that you can do to help pull your space together.
Sofas, chairs and other seating arrangements in your living or family room are important, but are you paying enough attention to the ottomans and coffee tables? Styling these items is a great way to bring your space together aesthetically, while also providing additional functionality, i.e. having a place to store throws and accent pillows or the perfect place to set a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
If you are in the process of rearranging your living space, consider paying closer attention to your coffee tables and ottomans. These pieces of furniture can add the touch of style and comfort that you’ve been craving.
Coffee Tables
There’s no getting around the fact that the coffee table belongs near furniture. After all, its main objective is to offer a convenient place to hold beverages, books and gorgeous accessories to display in your living space. If you need help decorating the surface of your coffee table, consider the following tips by lifestyle blog Decorating Your Small Space:
- Grab something square. To add foundation to your arrangement, use something square like a tray or book.
- Add some height. Give your coffee table some height and dimension with a vase of flowers or candle sticks.
- Give it some life.Add a plant or other natural accessory to make the space more lively.
- Use different shapes. Add something round or of an irregular shape to grab attention.
Remember: You can always switch up the coffee table decor. Just keep these tips in mind when you’re coming up with a new arrangement.
Ottomans
There’s nothing quite like sitting back in your favorite chair after a long, busy day of work – but an ottoman to rest your feet would make this lounge space much more cozy and inviting. While usually used as a place to kick up your feet, ottomans aren’t subject to that – you can use it for storage or even as a substitute for the coffee table if you want to take a non-traditional route.
“An ottoman is often an underappreciated living room staple,” wrote Kristin Flanagan of Architectural Digest. “The piece of furniture is actually a multipurpose gem: It can be used as a cocktail table substitute, a decorative footstool for a sofa, or space-saving storage.”
Decorate your ottoman just as you would accessorize your coffee table.
Placement of your ottoman should be based on how you plan on using it. Arrange this staple piece of furniture near your seated areas if you’ll utilize the ottoman as a footrest. If you plan on using it to store living room accessories, the ottoman can go virtually anywhere – next to the sofa, in the corner of the room or adjacent to the entertainment system. If you’re using the ottoman as more of a statement piece, place it between your seating arrangement to mimic a coffee table. From there, you can style it as you please – add a tray for holding your beverages, books and other accessories, or keep it comfortable and drape your favorite throw blanket over the top.
