With the new year, I am ready to refresh my living room as well as add some warmth and comfort to combat the dreary winter days and nights. What are some of the essential elements I should focus on when working to revive this space in my home?
"The very best way to revamp a room, and add much-needed warmth in these cold months, is with paint," says Little Rock designer Tobi Fairley, whose work is often featured in national publications.
• Color it cozy. "You can change the mood and 'feeling' of a room with just a bit of added color," she explains. "For example, a warm yellow gives a room a happy feeling and makes it seem cozier, or you can go with a warm-tone taupe if you don't want the color to be too bright."
The designer suggests choosing colors that don't have "cool" tones to them, like blue undertones, but instead select colors that lean toward the creamier and warmer hues.
• Light and bright. "Lighting up a room is also a great way to brighten those dark winter months at home," Fairley says. "I like to provide plenty of lamps in a room for reading, studying, or needlework, and I like to choose the 'warm bulbs' that give off a slightly more yellow light." Look for lamps that also have glass bases or brightly colored bases. These particular decor features will help reflect the available light and will brighten the room.
"I also love to use mirrors in a room to help bounce and reflect light," she says. Fairley suggests placing a mirror behind or near a lamp to brighten a darker room in the winter. "There are some gorgeous mirrors on the market that have beautiful frames -- you can find one for any style and at almost any price point."
• Snug underfoot. In the spaces Fairley designs, she always includes a room-size rug which, she says, anchors the room and gives a more cohesive look to the decor.
"It also provides much-needed warmth on the floor," she says. For those who can't afford large room-size rugs, she offers creative, less expensive solutions to achieving the same result. Two options she suggests are using two smaller rugs and asking a rug retailer to stitch them
together or buying a large piece of carpet and having the edges bound.
• The difference is in the details. "The easiest way to revamp a room is through your accessories," she says. "And I love to use things that are unique to a room or to the people living there." Fairley says decorating and accenting a person's living spaces with items such as original art, objects bought on travels around the world, personal collections, and vintage finds really give rooms their own personality.
"Also think about unique pillows and textiles like throws," she says. "They add color and style to a room, and are also great for cozy winter nights."
-- Linda S. Haymes
Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We'll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:
lhaymes@arkansasonline.com
HomeStyle on 01/23/2016