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As the air
begins to crisp, and the colors around us turn from the bright hot
yellows and blues of summer to the warm earth tones of autumn, this is
the perfect time to redecorate your nest. Creating the perfect nook for
winter reading, or that ideal conversation grouping for sharing spiced
tea or mulled wine with your closest friends is so much easier than you
might think. Too often, we group our furniture in a way which will
accommodate the largest number of guests at once, but which leave our
spaces looking open and cold. Don’t be afraid to create several
smaller areas in one room -- really, how often do we entertain the
masses, compared to having a quiet conversation with our best friend, or
a group of our closest neighbors over for coffee and chat? You can
always open up the chairs and sofas to accommodate that annual holiday
gathering, but will likely use your room far more by allowing it to
cater to your own quiet and cozy moods on a daily basis. One of the
most effective ways to begin is to pull an easy chair into a 90 degree
angle to another chair or love seat. Allow no more than 2 inches between
the arms of each. There is an immediate intimacy created when seating is
placed in such close proximity to each other. Can’t you already
imagine leaning across the arm to confide a deep secret? Keep side
tables and lighting on the outside of this corner group so that nothing
comes between the two of you. Another option for the intimate seating
group is to have two easy chairs facing one another, with only a small
table between. This setting excludes all but the two people having a
direct and close conversation. By changing out the chairs for 2 love
seats, or by placing four chairs facing easy other with the same small
table in the center, you have now created an intimate space for four… To create
your own private reading nook, any corner of the room will work. An
architectural niche would be a perfect spot, but even a few extra feet
on a stair landing can be used for this quiet spot. Create a cozy
setting by pulling the most comfortable easy chair you own into the
designated spot, with a small table beside the chair to hold a couple
books or magazines and a beverage, and either a bright reading table
lamp or floor lamp. Resist the thought of adding another chair to the
mix -- this is your own little oasis! A small CD or IPOD player tucked
behind the chair, or under a table skirt will provide the added ambiance
of instrumental music softly underscoring your reading. A small fountain
nearby would also add a pleasant amount of background noise to soothe
the soul, and help transport you into the world of your favorite new
novel, or your daily journal entry. Creating
just the right grouping or quiet spot for the longer autumn and winter
days ahead is easier than you think, and possible using just what you
already own! When you’re looking for a quick change in your favorite room’s appearance, look no further than a quick change-up of your accessory pieces. Far too often, we convince ourselves that making a change involves a labor-intensive process of moving heavy furniture, or painting walls. Perhaps you’ve been fantasizing about swapping out that armchair in the den for the one in the basement, but just haven’t had the energy or manpower to pull it off. In reality, all that you need to create a totally new look is an hour-long game of “round robin.” Select the room that you are likely to spend the most time in (quite often, that’s the room that will seem the most stale to you anyway). Clear all of the accessories off every surface in this room, and relocate to a safe space in an adjacent room. If you’re working in a family or great room, perhaps the kitchen counters or dining table in the next room. The first rule is that every moveable piece (including those that rest on the floor) must leave the room momentarily! (Now don’t cheat -- if the items don’t entirely leave the room, you won’t be able to see the space in a new light). Once you have all small items out of the room, re-introduce them back into the space, one piece at a time. The second rule is that no item can return to the same surface that it formerly rested on -- if the small bust of Mozart used to be on the mantle, it must now find a new home on the sideboard, or in the bookcase. Try to remember the rule of odds, and group or nestle your accessories in collections of 3 or 5. And be certain to leave plenty of empty (negative) space between these groupings, so the eye can rest on each group and enjoy individual pieces as well as the shape of the grouping itself, before moving on to another grouping. Of course, larger pieces can stand alone, especially to visually balance a group of smaller items at the opposite end of the table, shelf or mantle. Remember to have fun -- this is the safest form of redecorating a room, because you can always move things around again when you tire of the new arrangement. You will likely be surprised at just how fresh and new your room will feel, without anything new added -- save a new viewpoint!
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the greater Ann Arbor area:
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