Tips for Arranging a Space

Picking decor and a color scheme for your home are the first steps to its design. Then you have to figure out how to arrange your furniture and other items to fit the space.

Everyone has knick knacks they cherish, artwork they want to display or beautiful items they would like to show off. But you also don't want to just stick something on a wall or place it on a table. There are certain methods and key elements to decorating. Keep these in mind when styling your home and you will be on your way to a well designed space in no time.

Pay Attention to Color
Try to stick within your color scheme when you accessorize. Bringing in a new color or two is fine as long as it blends well with the room. You can either let your accessories pop or mesh into the scheme of the space.

{Keep items within the same color scheme}

Group Like Items
This especially works for collections. If you have a nice array of bottles or vases, group them together for more impact. Always do this in odd numbers. In this case, three is the magic number. You can also display a collection or a group of similar items in one space such as a bookshelf or table. If you have a few things that are slightly different in color, place the darker item towards the back if the size allows.

{A set of six framed pieces adds a nice even tone for a room. Not to mention, adds height. Also, take note of the ocean themed items that are grouped together. This helps the room make sense}

{Grouping items in threes will always turn out successful}

Take Note of Size
Be aware of the size of an item and the space it is in. If you have a large vase or vessel on the floor be cautious of what is around it. You don't want too many large items together because it will look crowded. So place something thinner, taller or smaller alongside it. Remember to let color play a part as well.

{Sometimes just placing one large item in a space is enough. Those hard to reach spaces on top of cabinets is the perfect place to display something special}

Let Their Be Light
Place objects that are clear or see through by windows or where there's a good amount of light. Not only will they make an impact but add some sparkle to the room as well.

{To brighten up a dark space add a mirror to reflect light and don't crowd it with accessories}

The Stacking Effect
To test the space, sit down and take a look around. You should see some sort of stacking effect take place. From the floor to the tops of the furniture to the ceiling. Check the height of objects to make sure nothing is competing with each other. What you want is an even feel to the design where everything has its place.

{This is a perfect example of the stacking effect. From the coffee table, the chairs, then the table in the back. Your eye flows around the room. And with the help of various sized framed artwork and decorative lighting, the overall space seems complete}

You should also do the test standing up. The key is to always have objects eye level as well as a few below and above. You want the room to be interesting, not flat.

Good luck on all your decorating adventures!

The Natural Palette

Recently I have been working with color expert Kate Smith which has inspired me to think more about color. Since nature is where I get most of my inspiration from I wanted to share some tips on how to use the natural palette in your home.

Analyzing a space is a smart thing to do once in awhile. I recommend you do it every six months or so. Tastes change and so does your life. Adjusting your space to your everyday is how you will get the most out of it. If you aren't benefiting from your home than something is wrong.

A place to chill out should be reminiscent of what you love. What makes you truly relax? You should be able to clear your mind and be totally comfortable. For me, nature is my true love. So I take colors from Mother Earth and bring them inside my home. This means using neutrals such as blues, grays, browns, greens and colors from fruits and veggies. Natural tones in nature is what helps me sit back and relax. I find that most people feel the same.


{Seeing nature as a whole is truly breathtaking. From the sky to the water, you will find inspiration from every angle}

Now, this natural palette isn't just an inspiration for color but also how to use it. If you look outside the Earth seems so perfect. Trees have brown bark to ground the green and many other lighter colors in their leaves. The sky is all sorts of gorgeous blues, whites and grays while the ground presents more greens and browns. This is a free lesson in how to coordinate and arrange the colors in your home. So, mirroring nature in your space is a great way for successful design to shine. Put the sky on your walls so the room feels airy. Depending on the tone of the color, the trim can be crisp or slightly blend in for a softer look. Antique whites, creams and light grays work well. 


{Look closer to find various tones and hues of color on trees during different seasons as well as notice all the different colors in the leaves}


{The colors of autumn are a true inspiration for spaces to feel warm but relaxing}

Flooring should ground the room and provide the necessary weight for all other elements to feel natural. You don't have to necessarily have really dark floors, but they should be a darker color that the walls so their is some type of contrast. The more texture there is, the more warm the space will feel. Eco-friendly options such as bamboo, cork, cement, brick and stone play very well in a space like this. Adding a rug will bring even more comfort and warmth.

Your furniture should also help weigh down the space. Having pieces appear as they are floating can somewhat look out of place. You want a consistent feel to the room. For a more spacious design stick with darker toned pieces that aren't heavy. Maybe they have open shelving or thin legs, either way it will work. If you want or need more heavier furniture that is fine too. Just take note of size and the proportion to the other pieces in the room.


{A great example of how texture in natural elements can bring so much to a space. See all the various gray tones from the Earth}

Your accessories are the details that bring the whole room together. From the window treatments and lighting to smaller decorative items such as vases, trinkets and books. Pops of color bring a whimsy and fun feel to the room so look to the seasons for inspiration. The details on your furniture play a big part as well. Handles, knobs and special engraving can sometimes make or break a space. If you are incorporating grays in the room I suggest colder metals like silver. Warmer highlights such as golds and brass, go well with autumn colors like red and orange.


{Light wood tones and soft colors make this bathroom calm and soothing. Silver blends nicely with the colors of the room}

Color is so important when creating a space. Especially, one that is meant for relaxation and comfort. Feeling like you are at a park when in fact you are sitting on your couch reading a book, is a successful result to great design. Everything should accent each other and blend in a natural way, as if the room was meant to look the way it does. So sit back, take a look around and discover the power of color in your home. Creating a space that empowers, inspires and keeps you calm when the day is rough truly makes all the difference. I can guarantee you will be smiling more often.

Negative Space

When designing your home, there are a lot of factors you must take into consideration. One of them is negative space. This is one of most important elements and yet most don't understand it. All of the free open areas that lie around tables and rugs and in between furniture and accessories can make or break a room. There is one thing to remember: your decor needs to breathe and so do you!

If you feel suffocated in a room, there are a few things that are going on. One, the furniture is too big for the space. Two, everything is too close to each other or three, there are too many things in the room. All of these are easy to fix. Make sure when you're buying furniture you take measurements, not just of the furniture itself, but of the room too. Don't forget the floor to ceiling height as well. Also, take into consideration the other pieces you plan on including in the space.




{Tip: When hanging artwork or framed photos on the wall make sure there is a good amount of space in between them. Here I hung up a number of small pieces together but because they are set up in a structured way and have at least 1.5 to 2 inches in between them, they don't look like a mess}

Always leave a good amount of space around furniture and large accessories such as lamps, stools, vases, etc. This includes the coffee table from the couch! Ten to twelve inches should be enough. People should be able to get up and walk around with ease but be close enough to reach cups and other things on the table.





Don't clutter a room with lots of stuff. This never looks good! You could have a lot of beautiful things in a space, but if there are too many it will all look like junk. Who wants that! Start with the necessities and then slowly add finishing touches and pops of style.








{Tip: When you want to create an area that shows off a collection or a number of plants like this, group items and furniture that resemble each other. Whether in color, texture or material, doing this will give a well thought out cohesive look instead of stuff you just piled together}

Also, try not to go to have too much space or your home will look bare. Fill it with beautiful things that make you happy but don't take over the space. Everything in the room should look like it belongs together with a couple of pops of sparkle. You want to live in a well rounded designed space that reflects who you are with effortless style.

Follow these tips and keep them in mind when redesigning or planning on designing a new space. Remember, the negative space is just as important as the space you're filling. It's where you're most of the time and being able to live and breathe effortlessly will make all the difference.