Decorating Dilemma Help Needed!
Amanda at Serenity Now is hosting a Decorating Dilemmas Party!!
I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get some help!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve decorated my house in a country style, more on the primitive country side, than the “cutesy” country. My family built country furniture and had a business selling it and country home decor. So for 15 years, it’s what I had access to – I loved it, and still do……..but I’m slowing growing tired of some of it.
I love most of my furniture, most all of my wood furniture was built by my Dad and brother (except for the oak pieces) You can read a post about a lot of my furniture in this post.
I would like to clean up the “clutter” and darkness of some of my decor, like I did with my new office last year (see my office here) I want to keep all of the painted furniture (that was all made by my family), a few of those pieces I don’t mind painting – like my coffee table and end table.
So, here’s my first challenge………my family room. I would love some feedback on how to start making some changes (that wont break the bank)
I don’t want to paint (we painted the whole house just a few years ago)- I’d like fitted slipcovers for the couches – but not in the budget at the moment *I should not my mom gave us these couches and PB slipcovers – but they’re not fitted and we use these way too much for the non-fitted slipcovers (I put them on the couch in the basement)
- I’m willing to paint the coffee table and end table or look for new ones (I can move these to the basement
- need to update that picture wall
- new window treatments
- I’d like to move that roll top desk out and get a sofa table
- need new lamps!!!!
- get rid of the Americana theme
- I want to get rid of this big double shelf and all the little stuff on it- what can I put there?
- I would like a new TV cabinet or armoire
- the TV needs to stay in this corner—because the hubby likes to watch it while we eat (ugh)
- I want ideas for what to put on the walls!
- RUG?
This is not in the family room, but in the next room – I would like to take this shelf down as well, but don’t know what to replace it with………
Be sure to head over to Amanda’s party to help other’s in need or post about your own dilemmas!!
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I wish I lived next door, I love redecorating and get asked to go to friends homes and tell them what I think. I loved #9 advise really great pointers. It's a lot of work, but clearing the room and making sure you "Love" every piece you bring in is another direction to go it. Your office photos look great, I'm sure this will look equally nice. Can't wait to see the after photos.
I wish I lived next door, I love redecorating and get asked to go to friends homes and tell them what I think. I loved #9 advise really great pointers. It's a lot of work, but clearing the room and making sure you "Love" every piece you bring in is another direction to go it. Your office photos look great, I'm sure this will look equally nice. Can't wait to see the after photos.
I'm challenged in the area of decor, but if you choose to sell any of your prim stuff, give me a yell! 🙂
I'm challenged in the area of decor, but if you choose to sell any of your prim stuff, give me a yell! 🙂
Since you asked for ideas, I hope any of these might be to your liking:
Take everything off the walls and start with a blank slate. Without the smaller accessories, the room should feel lighter.
Would you consider bringing in the green cabinet that houses your husband's things in your bedroom and use it to house the TV, omponents, and games? It should pick up on the colors of your couches, and hide some of the wires, etc.
I agree with you to remove the desk, perhaps put the chair and a different end table & lamp there.
Center the large couch on the wall where it is, and flank it with matching bookshelves. Place a board across the top of them to unify the units, and give you more display space and height. Place about 5 or so of your picture frames w/black and white photos in them above your couch, or a large piece of art, or whatever you want.
Use lighter, solid colored pillows on your
sofas. Straight panel drapes on either side of the window. A large mirror to reflect light above the loveseat.
If you are tired of your kitchen chairs, I would put them away for awhile, and look at thrift shops and garage sales until you could find some chairs with simple lines you could paint to match your table. You might want to remove the brown wood cabinet by your table and put your pretty pantry there.
I hope any of these ideas would be useful–it's fun to shop the house and use what you have in new places–good luck!
Since you asked for ideas, I hope any of these might be to your liking:
Take everything off the walls and start with a blank slate. Without the smaller accessories, the room should feel lighter.
Would you consider bringing in the green cabinet that houses your husband's things in your bedroom and use it to house the TV, omponents, and games? It should pick up on the colors of your couches, and hide some of the wires, etc.
I agree with you to remove the desk, perhaps put the chair and a different end table & lamp there.
Center the large couch on the wall where it is, and flank it with matching bookshelves. Place a board across the top of them to unify the units, and give you more display space and height. Place about 5 or so of your picture frames w/black and white photos in them above your couch, or a large piece of art, or whatever you want.
Use lighter, solid colored pillows on your
sofas. Straight panel drapes on either side of the window. A large mirror to reflect light above the loveseat.
If you are tired of your kitchen chairs, I would put them away for awhile, and look at thrift shops and garage sales until you could find some chairs with simple lines you could paint to match your table. You might want to remove the brown wood cabinet by your table and put your pretty pantry there.
I hope any of these ideas would be useful–it's fun to shop the house and use what you have in new places–good luck!
I would take all the decorations down for a week or so – than think of the ones you really *miss*. You have a lot going on in there. I love country style as well, but I think a habit a lot of us country girls fall into it just having too much stuff everywhere, such that nothing is really showcased. If you buy anything new, I would look for a much larger scale to balance some of your smaller things.
Some random ideas:
Look on craig's list for a nice chunky, rustic armoire for your tv. So many people are selling them around where I live because those big flat screens don't fit in them! I see them a lot of the thrift stores too. That would be perfect in your room! I would paint the red cabinet and coffee table an antique white and distress. That would lighten up the space a bit, and compliment the wall color.
I like the idea of the picture display over the couch (I have something like it too) but I think yours is a bit too high, and maybe you want to change the scale to make it not seem as cluttered. Maybe use 6 big 11 x 14 frames to fill the same space.
Can't wait to see what you come up with! Your office looks wonderful! 🙂
I would take all the decorations down for a week or so – than think of the ones you really *miss*. You have a lot going on in there. I love country style as well, but I think a habit a lot of us country girls fall into it just having too much stuff everywhere, such that nothing is really showcased. If you buy anything new, I would look for a much larger scale to balance some of your smaller things.
Some random ideas:
Look on craig's list for a nice chunky, rustic armoire for your tv. So many people are selling them around where I live because those big flat screens don't fit in them! I see them a lot of the thrift stores too. That would be perfect in your room! I would paint the red cabinet and coffee table an antique white and distress. That would lighten up the space a bit, and compliment the wall color.
I like the idea of the picture display over the couch (I have something like it too) but I think yours is a bit too high, and maybe you want to change the scale to make it not seem as cluttered. Maybe use 6 big 11 x 14 frames to fill the same space.
Can't wait to see what you come up with! Your office looks wonderful! 🙂
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