From the Floors Up

Decor – Taking Advantage of Vertical Wall Space

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Now that televisions can be mounted to the wall, furniture layouts in living and family rooms have changed. Gone are the days where the television and entertainment centers took up a large bit of floor space. Along with changing the layout of the rooms, wall mounted televisions have changed how we approach vertical wall space.

 

Flat screens mounted on the wall draw the eye to the wall and therefore the vertical space surrounding the TV. Taking advantage of this space can mean adding extra storage, as seen here, or creating a focal wall with the television at the center.  Framing a flat screen with a shelving unit or bookcase like this one also helps the flat screen blend into the space better. A wall unit or built-in bookcase can be done in a wood to coordinate with your furniture or floors, or painted to match the wall or molding color.

 

Vertical storage space can be used for books, movies, CDS, games and other family room entertainment essentials. Games and toys can be stored in baskets that fit into the storage unit or bookshelf.  Moving storage up off the floor and onto the wall frees up the space for the furniture and better flow in the room. Decluttering the floor and keeping small items in boxes and baskets is a good way to get organized.

 

Taking advantage of vertical space is especially useful in smaller rooms and apartments. When floor space is at a premium, placing the television on the wall and surrounding it with storage can make the space more organized and functional.

 

Girls Room – Cottage Style

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All kid’s rooms should be spaces where little ones can seek comfort and expand their imagination. A cottage style room is a perfect fit for a girl who isn’t quite a princess but isn’t quite a tomboy either. Classic cottage style can also grow up with your little girl as she goes from playing with dolls to having friends for sleepovers. The timeless quality of cottage style means the room will not look too young or outdated in a few years.

 

This lovely cottage bedroom features wide plank wood floors that have been painted white. Painting wood floors can save older floors that might need refinishing. Rough spots can be hidden with area rugs, which also provide a soft surface for impromptu doll tea parties and forts.

 

Simple things like an extra sheet or curtain can be turned into inspired play pieces. A white curtain works in this cottage style bedroom that is filled with shades of white on the floor and walls. A few floral accents in the floor cushions add a touch of shabby chic style. Subtle striped Roman shades add a little bit of pattern and a splash of pale colors to the windows.

 

White painted wood furniture is a good investment that can work in a toddler’s room as well as it does in a teenager’s room. White furniture can also be sanded and painted at a later time if so desired. Keeping the furniture white allows the wall colors and accent colors to change and grow as your child’s tastes and personality do.

Decorating In Monochrome

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In the current design trends we’re seeing a lot of bold color and patterns on textiles, rugs and walls. This doesn’t mean that neutrals and monochrome décor is out of style. Today’s design world embraces all styles and color palettes.  We’re lucky that the trend in interior design right now is towards personal expression and not copy cat design.

 

If you prefer soft colors and neutrals, monochrome decorating may be for you. In a monochrome room the walls, floor, curtains and furniture will all be close in color.  What color you choose is up to you. You could do a crisp white monochrome room, all taupes and greiges, or even soft, whispery hues of pastels.

 

This counter and stool demonstrates that a monochrome palette can still be sophisticated without big bold color or complex patterns. The three stools have a slight variation in color but are all the same tone.  The grey, taupe and pale green all work together as almost the same color because they all have undertones of grey and are the same saturation of color. Having a variation in the monochrome color used in the room, whether it be shades of white or grey, gives depth to the monochrome palette.

 

The three colors all seamlessly work with the floor color, in this case a pale stone color. The floor could be carpet or stone, or even a whitewashed wood to suit the monochrome palette set by the stools. Similar color on the island or bar continues the palette set by the floor and stools.

Design Solutions: Small Side Tables

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Small side tables are wonderful pieces of furniture that can add a place to set a cup of coffee or book in a living room. These tables are often set next to a chair or sofa in the living room. Because of their small size they are easily portable and can be shifted around the room.

 

Very small side tables are called candle stands and can hold no more than a candlestick or maybe a narrow lamp and a glass.  These diminutive tables can be squeezed into a small space that a larger end table cannot.

 

Placing them next to an armchair or sofa makes a convenient surface for a drink or magazine when the coffee table is just out of reach.  Placed between two chairs the small side table helps create a seating area that would work in a bay window or across from a sofa in the living room.  Using an area rug to anchor a seating area, like in the image, helps pull all the elements together. The side table can be on the rug or just beyond the border of the rug.

 

Small side tables can also be used as bedside tables. If they have a lower shelf or drawer it is even better as this provides a bit of storage next to the bed. These tables provide a place for a lamp, a glass of water and an alarm clock—the bedside essentials.  You can flank the bed with a pair of tables or two different side tables in similar woods or painted in the same color.

Design Element: Animal Print

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“Lions and tigers and bears… oh my.” In the design world this quote is more aptly put “leopards and zebras and cows.”  Animal prints have been longstanding design elements that have become classic patterns. As with any pattern or design, these patterns come in and out of fashion.  Cowhide, zebra and leopard seem to take turns being the “it” pattern when it comes to both fashion and design.

 

What makes these patterns real classics is that when used in small doses, they can work in both traditional and contemporary spaces. A zebra skin rug, the darling of shelter magazines a few years ago, is a much stronger design statement than a needlepoint pillow in a zebra pattern. Playing with size and scale can make these animal prints feel bold or refined. Where they are used also affects the power of their impact.  A pillow or rug in animal print becomes an accent. A sofa or wall covered in animal print is more of a statement. When working with animal prints it is all a matter of scale.

 

This black and white living room is centered by a classic zebra skin rug. Unlike many other African animals, zebras are not endangered. The rug’s bold pattern is the only pattern in the room so the eye is drawn to it. Using only black and white furniture creates a strong graphic look to the room that feels very contemporary. If you paired a zebra rug or cowhide rug with more traditional furnishings you would achieve a very different result.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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