Design Dilemmas - A Living Room Mistake
There’s an old expression, If I had a dime for every time I have heard of this living room design mistake then I’d be a very rich lady. Well, I am not rich because no one has given me a dime with their interior design regrets but I want to address them anyway because well, you know - "if I had a dime...”
Here’s what happens. I get chatting with someone and we do the usual polite small talk… “What do you do?” And I tell someone I am an interior designer. Well 3 times out of 5 it prompts someone to tell me about a regret they have with a design project or renovation. (I’ll tell you about the other 2 out of 5 times in another blog)
Here’s is the problem I hear most often when I tell people I am an interior designer.
“I don’t like the furniture I chose for my living room design it’s too big/too small/too orange”
What a shame! So I am curious - Have you ever bought furniture that looked great in the shop but not so much when you go it home?
To stop you from buying furniture that's not right for your space - I’m going to give you a few ideas. My ideas are usually quick and efficient because I don’t want you to spend all your free time trying to learn something new (like downloading an app and designing the space like a trained designer, however I do provide a link below if you are super motivated. Oh, and by the way if you try it, I would love to see how you get on with it!)
So here's 3 ways to get the right furniture for your living room design.
Just to let you know - I like 3! I always provide 3 solutions to a problem, 3 design options for a room, and 3 price points etc. I’m sure you get it! So here’s 3 solutions for home renovators who find themselves facing this interior design dilemma.
Client 1: The DIY Doer Upper
Determined to go it alone? Ok then, you can do this! All furniture you order will have the dimensions in store and on the website (unless you are buying second-hand, then measure it).
Buy yourself some masking or painters tape and a tape measurer. Tape off the areas of the room where you think you want to place the furniture and make sure you are using the correct dimensions. Walk around the space with your taped areas for a few days. Make sure you treat those taped-off areas like pieces of furniture and walk around them. If you are trying this with a dining area make sure you tape out the areas where the chairs would be pulled out….nothing worse than realising you can’t walk by a dining area chair when someone is sitting in it.
Some furniture stores have programs or design studios that will help you. Here are a couple examples the UK:
A living room design featuring furniture from Swoon Editions
Before you start with one of these free services, remember they will only help you with the furniture they sell so you won’t necessarily be helped with mixing and matching other furniture items. As I mentioned, there are also free design apps that let you play around with your space planning. Here’s one free app to try.
However if you’re not used to looking at floor plans or 3D models, I recommend the tape method.
It also works great trying out different rug sizes in your room before you buy…oh, and for visualising art, photos, and shelving on a wall before you start drilling holes.
Client 2: A Savvy Shopper
Not ready to go it alone and not ready to commit to the full design experience? There is a middle ground. While I think there is still a stigma that only wealthy people can hire interior designers, the market is changing. Interior design is a creative industry that can benefit anyone with the right access. Go online and find an interior designer that offers a solution to your design problem.
E-Design by Carrie Cotton Design
I offer these services. This fee will save you a lot of time and potentially wasted efforts. Sometimes designers (me!) will even offer you their design discount at a furniture store so it’s like getting the space plan for free. How great is that!
Client 3: No Regrets, I’m Hiring an Expert to Walk Me Through This
Hire a designer and go through the process. If you are looking for a functional and sophisticated living room design, hire a specialist. You will not regret this decision. An interior designer will evaluate your space, understand your taste and preferences, and create a space that’s really an extension of your personality. Not all designers are the same…and I don’t want you to be unhappy with hiring one. My tip is to call a few designers, get a sense of what they offer or maybe just tell them what you are after.
Accent chairs in a living room design by Carrie Cotton Design
Many designers (including me) offer low-cost packages that do the space planning and furniture selection leaving you with a bespoke shopping list of things to buy on your own time. OR you could sit back and have a designer come in and design the entire space and coordinate the details. Just be clear on your timeline and budget and see all the details in writing before you start. Remember if a designer doesn’t feel right to you, move on, and find another. I would suggest talking to at least 3 (because you know how I feel about 3).
Have you already made this design mistake? Don’t worry it’s fixable.
I will address fixing this living room design mistake in my next blog!! Sign up below so you don’t miss out.
I read all my emails, each and every one…please contact me anytime and maybe I can help you or at the very least I can discuss it on my blog.
