How to Decorate a Coffee Table Stylishly

Decorating a room stylishly shouldn’t stop at choosing a nice interior design theme. Nor should it just be because you have a natural stone floor finish, hung beautiful artwork, applied stucco on a focal wall, installed signature pendant lights, and added tribal accent chairs to enhance the expensive sofa set. Interior styling goes beyond that.

(Image created by author on viryabo@polyvore)

It includes decorating certain furniture: coffee tables, bookcases, display stands, mantelpieces, etc, with decorative stuff like tiny jade carvings, memorabilia, chess boards, framed family photos, miniatures, giant seashells, driftwood, and other knick-knack collections that result in the entire room screaming STYLE.

Of them all, one piece of furniture that deserves thoughtful styling is the coffee table, aka the centre table.

Decorating the Coffee Table

Decorating a coffee table to give it a wow factor isn’t hard. But it takes thoughtful planning, especially if you are home proud and love to show off your art of interior styling.

For starters, centre tables should make great focal points in living rooms. 

Additionally:

• They must serve much more than what their name implies.
• They should contain items that evoke admirable conversations.
• Every item of the ensemble should look good, both individually and collectively.
• The arrangement must include verticals and horizontals.
• The total items placed on its surface must add up to odd numbers (best practice).
• A mix of natural elements with man-made forms is a good one.

(Image created by author on viryabo@polyvore)

Examples of what you can place on your coffee table are:

1. Flower vase with fresh (or faux) flowers.
2. Driftwood.
3. Handmade art or carvings.
4. Family keepsakes.
5. Scented candles.
6. Tabletop water features.
7. Plant terrariums.
8. Set of exquisite boxes (beaded, painted, leathered, upholstered, etc).
9. Decorative trays with shells, beads, pebbles, coloured stones, etc.
10. Mini chess, backgammon, and mancala game boards.
11. A tray or basket filled with their own decorations, to break up the table surface.
12. An eye-catching sculpture (adds height and drama to the table’s surface).
13. Metal figurines.
14. Decorative hourglass.
15. A pretty fish bowl with three exotic fishes.
16. Tabletop decorative globe.
17. Stylish vintage-inspired table clocks.
18. Bowl of assorted candies.
19. Aromatherapy burners.
20. Tabletop lighting feature.
21. A low stack of books (five max).

And more. From the sleek and cute to the classic, minimalist, and ethnic, coffee table decorations are meant to add aesthetics to your living room and bring a satisfactory smile to your face.

How to Arrange the Decor Collection

How you display your collection is not really an art in itself. Usually, the eye shows what looks right(ish) or what doesn’t look so good.

The important thing is to pay attention to:

• Scale
• Size
• Form (shape)
• Colors

Ensure that whatever the combination of elements and features are, they must be a mix of vertical and horizontal pieces. The mix gives results of a more balanced look that’s better on the eye, and more pleasing to the senses.

Finally, you don’t have to dig deep into your pocket to decorate your coffee table like a professional home-stylist. So, give your centre table some extra flair. Decorate it creatively!

Nothing looks more unpleasant than a ‘naked’ coffee table.

Coffee Table Styling Ideas (Video)

See also:

How to Style Your Dull, Plain Sofa

How to Decorate Your Home with Accent Chairs

7 Ways to Change Your Living Room from Drab to Uplifting
Decorating Ideas for the Family Living Room

How to Decorate a Console Table 

Tips:

• If you look around the house, you WILL find décor items you can use.

• Switch decorations around from time to time for a fresh look.

How to Create Different Zones Within a Room

Creating different zones within a room makes it a beautiful and fascinating space that provides two or more functions. Zones may not be visually demarcated, but they must flow and meld into each other. And achieving this effect is what professional interior designers do best as space planners.

Space Planning: More Than Creating Rooms Within a Shell

There is more to planning interiors than carving out rooms; living, dining, bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, hallways, etc. Space planning also involves zoning. Making a room multi-functional.

Two zones within a bedroom.
(Image created by author viryabo@polyvore.com)

Zones in Interior Spaces

Whether an interior space is open plan and needs to serve more than one purpose (studio apartment) or one large room that was initially meant to serve one function (sitting room), any room or space within a home can be adapted to serve more than two functions. When this layout is created, it is referred to as zoning.

Zones within interior rooms must be:

1. Functional.
2. Purposeful.
3. Visibly appealing.
4. Arranged to complement each other.

The arrangement works much better when there is ample floor space. But that does not mean it cannot work for smaller rooms. For instance, the open floor plan of a studio apartment must contain different zones:

• Living area.
• Dining area.
• Home office (if you work from home).
• Pet corner.
• Music home studio.

In a smaller space, like the kitchen, for example, zones will be limited to about two, maybe three, maximum:

• Kitchen area (food preparation and cooking).
• Breakfast counter (or nook) or dining counter.
• Utility area (clothes washing and drying).

You don’t want more than these. Too many zones within a small space become meaningless and cluttered.

Ways to Create Areas Within a Room

Each area should seat one or more people, so you can create furniture groupings for each zone.

• Zone #1 - A living area with a sofa, coffee table, an accent chair and a floor lamp.
• Zone #2 - A second seating area with two armchairs, a table, and a table lamp.
• Zone #3 - Work-at-home station with multi-function desk and chair. Great for under-staircase areas.
• Zone #4 - Pets corner, with pet furniture/bed.

Another effective way to create zones is to add a false floor (multi-level). Different floor levels give the feel of two rooms within one. For instance, a raised dining area (distinctively) separates the living from the dining area.

(Image created by author viryabo@polyvore.com)

How to Demarcate Zones

Zones can have a free-flow walk-through. They can also be separated with high or low no-back bookcases, consoles, display units, stands, and troughed or potted plants. These can serve as partitions and dividers.

Lighting can visually demarcate zones as well. This works particularly well at night, where you can light up one, two, or all zones, depending on the mood desired. Using a combination of pendant lights, tables, and floor lamps is best. The result is an amazing ambience.

Zones with free-flow walk-throughs can strategically place sectional rugs to demarcate the different areas. The rugs must vary in texture, size, and shape, while colours must complement each other.

Altogether, your zones must not be designed to clash with each other. Each must complement the other, side by side, within an interior space.

How To Create Designated Zones In An Open-Concept Main Floor (Video)

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Soft Window Treatments - Basics of Window Dressing

There are endless creative ideas for window treatments for your home décor projects, but the basic types fall under three categories:

• Soft window treatments
• Hard window dressing
• Combination (a blend of soft and hard window dressing)

However, this article is about soft window treatments and the basic types that many of us may be familiar with.

Its name and the description say it all; they are soft window dressings, and the materials used for them are generally fabrics and other forms of textiles that range from the soft, sheer, light-weight materials like satin, silk, voile, and fine lace, to the more resilient, textured, and heavy-weight fabrics like damask, velvet, and brocade.

6 Types of  Soft Window Treatments

The treatment types include:

• Curtains
• Drapes
• Swags (and tails)
• Valances
• Sliding fabric panels
• Shades

Of them all, drapes are the most popularly used as window decor.

Types of Soft Window Treatments

  

Curtains are window dressings that are made with lightweight, sheer, and translucent fabrics, which include silk, cotton, voile, and organza. They are less expensive to make than drapes and usually require less material to produce.

These kinds of treatments are rarely lined, so they don’t give as much privacy as drapery, but only when used alone. But many homeowners use them paired with blinds or shutters. Curtains on their own are great to use if you live many floors up a high-rise building or in an area where you don’t need that much privacy.

Drapes are made from heavier-weight fabrics and are generally floor-length. They can be made for purely decorative reasons, in which case they’ll swoop to the sides, held with tie-backs, and remain stationary.

Drapery, however, is made more for functional purposes than aesthetics - open for light during the day, closed for privacy at night, and keeps the room warm in winter. You need lots of material to make drapes.

Shades are probably the next preferred style of soft window treatments made from fabric. This type of window treatment is generally made with one piece of fabric that can be raised up or lowered down.

Many homeowners love them for their simple but stylish looks, insulating attributes, and functionality, providing both privacy and light control. And because they are made of fabric, they serve as a good option if you love blinds but prefer ones made with some textile that complements the room’s décor, for example, Roman shades.

Valances, swags, and tails are purely decorative window dressings and only cover the top (and sides) of a window. They are good for adding extra aesthetics and colour complements or contrasts to an interior space.

Sliding fabric panels are modern types of window treatments. Not only are they sleek, clean, and simple-lined, but they also cost much less than traditional style window dressings.

Once you have chosen your treatment style, the next critical step is knowing how high and wide to hang it correctly.  


Further reading:

Home Décor Fabrics by the Yard Online

How to Clean Bamboo Window Shades

How to Clean Honeycomb Window Blinds

7 Ways to Change Your Living Room from Drab to Refreshing


(Images created by Viryabo@Polyvore)

How to Accessorize a Dining Room

How many of us pay much attention to our dining room? We have the dining table and chairs, all set up nice and tidy. There is nothing wrong with that, except it looks dull and boring. We need to pay a bit more attention to aesthetics so the room doesn’t appear stark and ‘naked’.

There are a good number of ways to style a dining area and give it some interest, but it first starts with the size of the set and its relationship to the shape and volume of the area.

You don’t want to fit a six-seater set into a space that’s better off with a four-chair set, and you don’t want to place a round table in a rectangular floor space, either.

For a fairly square-shaped room or space, a round table dining set or a square-shaped four-seater works best. A narrow dining area looks best when furnished with a rectangular table. However, these are not strict rules because, in some instances, configurations vary. Dining sets placed in wide bay window areas and oddly shaped dining rooms.

Ways to Style a Dining Room

The way a dining room is styled is always a reflection of the homeowner's personal style, but even if you don’t possess interior decorating skills, you can still beautify your dining room in such a way that it will be transformed from the ordinary to the totally appealing.

Décor items, including other furnishings that you can add to enhance your eating area, are:

Area rugs – They are not only good for defining the dining area, especially in open-plan layouts, but they visibly enhance the space by softening and lifting it up from a hard floor finish. For round top tables, a round rug works best, and for a rectangular table, a rectangular one works best. It is important to use the right size area rug, not too large and not too small. The size of the dining set will determine the size of the rug that works best.

It’s good to ensure that the rug connects the furniture pieces – table and chairs - and the chairs must slide in and out ON the rug. The back legs of your chair must not go over the edge of the rug.

Lighting - Install a decorative light fixture over the dining table, a pendant light(s) if you have a high ceiling or a flush-mounted light if you have a low ceiling. You can install a chandelier if you love the traditional. Ideas include fitting pendant lights in a row over a rectangular tabletop or in a central cluster for a modern look over a round-top table.

Centrepiece – This can be a vase with fresh or artificial flowers. It can also be a couple of candelabras or a dried plant arrangement. Other ideas include a decorative platter of fresh fruits and berries, a decorative glass bowl of shells, smooth pebbles, dried figs, and the like.

 

Tabletop water fountains, a dish with floating scented candles, or a fishbowl with goldfish are other great ideas. However, ensure the centrepiece isn't too high and doesn't take up too much space on the table. It's only meant to enhance, not crowd!

Table setting – You don’t have to have a get-together before you set up your dining table. Soften the table with linen. So, if you like tablecloths, go for it, but if you don’t, you can set the table with colour-coordinated placemats. Remember to include plates, cutlery/rings, pretty cloth napkins, salt & pepper shakers, etc...

Slipcovers for chairs – If the dining chairs are old-fashioned, drab, or plain, instead of going out to buy new chairs, you can cover them with slipcovers. Not only do they convey an elegant, casual look to dining rooms, but they also make a dining room more inviting and user-friendly. Good thing . . . most slipcovers can easily be thrown in the wash in case of stains and spills.

 

Souvenirs and mementoes – You can display family relics, souvenirs, or other heirlooms. These can be placed on the sideboard, corner cabinet, or on the wall in a cluster. This works well in traditional dining room settings, but there is no reason why cherished pieces cannot be displayed in modern settings.

Banquette – for smaller dining spaces, introducing built-in banquette seats is a great idea. It not only adds extra seating space, but the space under the seat can also serve as storage. It’s good to tie it together with the dining chairs by using the same fabric as the chairs to upholster it.

Accent with Patterns – There is nothing as effective as bold patterns if you want to add some drama to a room. You can add some surprising elegance and style to a dining room by including lively patterns in attractive prints. For instance, bold zebra print (black and white) upholstery on area rugs or dining chairs will make an otherwise subdued room look attractive and inviting.

Choose a Great Pattern and Colour Scheme

After all is said and done, you need to play up a great pattern and colour scheme. Just as the colour gold adds a stylish feel to an outfit, so do the warm tones of brushed gold tableware add finesse and sparkle to a set dining table, so choose your favourite colours and play them up in an attractive way.

Ensure you add textural depth as well. For example, you can get creative and mix the dining chair upholstery fabrics with patterned upholstery cushions on the front and a coordinating solid colour on the back of the chairs.

Add some visual height to the room with vertical stripes to emphasise it. Floor-to-ceiling curtains will make the space feel light and airy.

Further Reading:

7 Ways to Turn Your Living Room from Drab to Refreshing

How to Turn Your Bathroom Into a Home Spa

How to Develop an Interior Design Concept

10 Ways to Add Charm to Your Bedroom 

(Images . . . created by Viryabo@Polyvore)

How to Design an Efficient Kitchen: The 5 Layouts That Always Work

A kitchen that looks beautiful but functions badly is one of the most frustrating rooms to live in, but the good news is that kitchen design is not as complicated as most people assume.

These five kitchen layouts below cover virtually every kitchen configuration, and understanding them will help you plan a space that is practical, comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable to cook in, regardless of your budget.

What Makes a Kitchen Layout Work

Before choosing a layout, you need to understand one principle: the work triangle, which is the relationship between the three primary workstations in any kitchen: food preparation, cooking, and washing.

An efficient kitchen keeps these three points close enough to minimize unnecessary movement but spread enough that two people can work without getting in each other's way.

Every layout below, except the in-line design, is built around this principle. The deciding factor for which layout suits your home is the shape, size, and volume of the room, so measure the space carefully before committing to any configuration.

For a deeper look at the principles behind kitchen planning, see 10 Kitchen Remodelling and Makeover Ideas

1. In-Line Kitchen Layouts

The in-line layout, also called a single-line kitchen, places all cabinets and appliances along one wall. It is the most space-efficient option and works well in narrow kitchens, studio flats, and rooms that double as corridors. Older homes frequently feature this configuration, and it is best suited to single users or households that cook simple meals.

The limitation is counter space. Strategic placement of wall-mounted cabinets above the worktop can compensate, but an in-line kitchen will always have less preparation surface than any other layout.

2. Galley Kitchen Layout

A galley layout runs two parallel rows of units facing each other, like two in-line kitchens placed opposite one another. This configuration is highly efficient for solo cooking because everything is within a few steps, and it creates a natural work triangle when the sink, hob, and refrigerator are distributed across both walls.

The minimum clearance between the two facing units is 120cm (approximately 4 feet). Any less than this and the kitchen becomes difficult to navigate, particularly when oven or dishwasher doors are open. The one drawback is that galley kitchens can feel cramped when more than one person is working in them.

3. L-Shaped Kitchen Layout

The L-shaped layout takes the in-line configuration and turns it at a right angle, placing units along two adjoining walls. This is one of the most versatile kitchen layouts available because it works in both small and large kitchens, adapts well to irregular room shapes, and leaves the remaining floor space open.

In larger kitchens, the open corner created by the L-shape is an ideal location for a dining table or breakfast area. A low counter or breakfast bar can be used to visually separate the kitchen zone from the eating area without closing the space off entirely.

4. U-Shaped Kitchen Layout

The U-shaped layout runs units along three walls, creating a wraparound configuration that maximises storage and worktop space. It is the preferred choice for serious home cooks because the work triangle is compact and every surface is within easy reach.

The minimum clearance for a U-shaped kitchen is 240cm (approximately 8 feet) between the two parallel walls. In a renovation project, this layout offers excellent return on investment because the additional storage and preparation space it creates adds practical value to the home. If you are working to a tight budget, there are also ways to upgrade your kitchen without spending a fortune.

5. Island Kitchen Layout

An island kitchen is essentially a U-shaped layout with a freestanding unit placed in the centre of the space. The island serves as an additional preparation surface and is positioned equidistant from the surrounding cabinets and appliances, making it a highly functional hub for food preparation.

Islands can incorporate a hob, sink, or seating area depending on the size of the room. As a general guide, allow at least 100cm of clear space on all sides of the island to ensure comfortable movement around it. Island units are available as fixed installations or on castors for flexibility.

Which Layout Is Right for Your Kitchen?

Almost every kitchen in existence is a variation of one of these five configurations. The shape of your room will narrow the options quickly. Narrow rooms suit in-line or galley layouts, corner rooms suit L-shapes, and larger square or rectangular kitchens open up U-shape and island possibilities.

If you are planning a renovation and want to go further than the basic layout, most home improvement retailers offer free planning consultations when you purchase from them. For a more tailored result, an independent kitchen designer can take your measurements and proposed layout and refine it into a fully workable scheme.

(Images . . . Created by Viryabo@Polyvore)

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