WHY, OH WHY, DO PEOPLE DO THIS TO THEMSELVES????? Nancy from Montgomery, Alabama, said I could share this photo and be totally honest. So, here goes...Nancy, a lovely woman from the south, has emailed me several times asking for assistance with her "great" room. Uhm, Nanc....
this aint no great room, L
ady! Nancy actually got me to thinking about our personal spaces; living rooms, great rooms and any room where we choose to gather. Why do so many people buy hideous furniture just to fill a room they'll never spend time in? Advice I offer to anyone looking to buy furniture for a room or renovate a space...ask yourselves, how do you really use that space? What do you do in it? How much time do you spend in it? THEN, decorate FOR your expectations. Most living rooms in cookie-cutter homes are never, EVER lived in. The furniture looks like Grandma gave it to you, the carpet has never been walked on and the plastic plants have dust that's older than your children. Why have the space if you don't use it? A living room in one of our houses had a round coffee table and four mismatched, weathered leather chairs around it (wow, say that ten times). It was comfortable. We wanted to spend time there. THAT is how a space, ANY space in your home should feel. So, Nancy, back to you...the ONLY problem I see in this room is placement of furniture. Because I know you told me you don't use the table and chairs, I would place the sofa that's in front of the window where the table is,
facing the window. Open those curtains and enjoy the view. Put that table on craigslist or ebay (do ebay classifieds because it's local) and buy a smaller table for two chairs. Place that in the window area for morning coffee or evening cocktails. Hang your artwork at eye level and centered on the wall. Race over to walmart for an end of season outdoor rug (she told me she has dogs) and place it in the center to anchor the furniture to the room. Then, sit back, relax and enjoy...
