Decorating Dilemmas is a weekly column in which our stylists answer your design questions, so you can tackle your home decorating project with complete confidence.
Dear How to Decorate,
I’m trying to keep my family room feeling comfortable and coastal. I want to walk in, sink into the sofa, and relax, but I don’t know what to add to complete the room!
I have a seagrass chair with white cushion that will go in the corner between the fireplace and the media center. I’ve also ordered a navy rug. I want my accent color to be cobalt blue.
Help!
Kathy
Dear Kathy,
Thank you for submitting your Decorating Dilemma to us! It looks like you have such a beautiful home to work with! You have a nice foundation in your family room with the hardwood floors and neutral sectional and we definitely agree that it’s all the accessories, art and final touches that really bring a room to life and make it feel complete.
Let’s start with a couple of additional furniture pieces that we suggest. Because your ceilings are so high we feel you need a tall piece in the space. We think our Salerno Cabinet would perfectly balance out the television console you currently have and can be placed on the wall opposite it. Behind your sectional as you enter from the foyer is a great place for our Benedetta Console console table. Up top it can hold a pair of Suzanne Kasler Gourd Lamps in French Blue and down below can be your collection of blue vases or our Blue & White Chinoiserie vases. Another idea of inspiration is to add a couple of large accessories to your television console. Our Giant Clam Shell, your blue vases, adorned with one or two palm fronds to add height will be perfect!
Think about your walls, we would ideally like to suggest bumping the t.v. and console to the left so it’s a bit more centered. The seagrass chair that you ordered for the corner can be positioned closer to the fireplace to become part of the seating group. On each side of the t.v,, consider hanging an artwork pairing like our Sea Breeze art. We wouldn’t want to leave your television screen without accessories, so top it off with our Solaine Sunburst Mirror. This grouping will perfectly balance out the wall while continuing your coastal vibe.
Another favorite coastal piece of art is the Delicate Heron Art which you can hang to the left of the Salerno cabinet to balance out your palm tree. Now for the real focal point … your fireplace! We’d love to see a couple pieces of art leaning on the mantel for a more relaxed feeling. Try our Swept Art! It comes in different sizes. A smaller piece can lean against a larger one, and Preserved Boxwood Topiaries can flank the art creating softness and balance.
Our Birch Log Bundles tucked in your fireplace rounds out the look when it’s not in use. Bring in a couple of our Amalfi Lanterns on the hearth to really add visual interest. Beside, a little black is always good in a room to keep you grounded.
Pillows are an easy way of adding color and texture to a space. We suggest layering a few more colorful pillows on the sofa in different shades of blue – and even chartreuse – as an accent.
Your home is already full of great architectural design and character so have fun filling it with accent pieces you love! We hope our ideas will give you inspiration to turn your room into the cozy and well designed space that you desire!
Happy Decorating!
The Design Team
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