Rearrange for Quick and Easy Impact

by Susan Jensen Smith on July 4, 2010

Got a sad, blah room in need of a quick pick-me-up? Good news…there are two ways to jump-start the energy in a room without spending a lot of time or money.

  1. Paint it
  2. Rearrange it

Painting is inexpensive, can be done in a day, and naturally “cleans up” a room while giving great color impact. Yea! Rearranging does the same thing, but here’s where it edges out painting…it’s FREE and can be done in about an hour! Woot woot!

So if you only have an hour or so, get out your tape measure and Moving Men discs and stir things up! Need ideas and inspiration? Check out HGTV’s Rearranging 101. Oh, and yes…number’s 4, 10 and 12 are my work {insert big cheesy grin here}! :)

While we’re on the subject, I had previously published an article entitled “Easy Measurement Formulas for Comfortable Design” – sort of a design-by-the-numbers guide. For your convenience, here are the highlights:

Furniture Arrangement

  • Allow 2′ for walkways, and try not to force walkways through a conversational space.
  • Leave 14″ to 18″ between the sofa and the coffee table.
  • Reserve 2′ behind dining and desk chairs, and allow sufficient space for drawers to be opened.
  • The conversation zone should be contained within an 8′ diameter.
  • The distance from the TV to seating should be three times the size of the screen. For example, to watch TV on a 32″ screen comfortably, allow 8′ between the TV and the seating area.

Hanging Art

  • Most people hang art too high. While the normal advice is to hang art so that the “normal” eye level (5′ 7″ to 5′ 10″) hits it one-third from the top of the art piece. However, you should also consider the type of room and how the art will be viewed. For example, hang living room art lower to appeal to seated guests, foyer art higher for standing guests, and kids rooms art a bit lower.
  • Bottom line – use common sense, and when in doubt, hang it a little bit lower than you think you should.

Hanging Lights

  • The sum of the length and depth of a room (in feet) equals the ideal width of your light fixture in inches. For example, a hanging chandelier in a 14′ x 12′ dining room should be 26″ wide. A hanging pendant in a 10′ x 10′ foyer should be 20″ wide.
  • When hanging a light over a dining room or kitchen table, the bottom of the light should be 28″ to 32″ above a dining or kitchen table. Hang it lower for contemporary designs or intimate settings, and higher for larger tables.

Hanging Curtain Panels

  • Your goal is to hang them so that the bottom of the panel lands right above the window sill, or go all the way to the floor (not in-between!).
  • The higher you hang your panels, the taller the room will feel.
  • Hang them about 3″ beyond either side of the window. This makes the window appear larger, and allows for more natural light to enter the room when the panels are open.
  • Double Rods are great if you’re hanging sheers behind panels. Just make sure the sheers are the same length as the panels.

Area Rugs

  • When placing an area rug in a dining room, measure your table, and then add 24″ to 30″ all around (or about 4′ to 5′ in total length and width). This makes it easier for guests to move their chairs around. Consider casters on the bottom of the chairs to help them move more smoothly.
  • When using a room-sized rug on hardwood flooring, leave at least 8″ of exposed hardwood showing around all edges of the rug.
  • If you’re using an area rug in a sitting area, make sure it is anchored by the front legs of the furniture, and not floating in the middle of the room.

Now remember, these are guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules. Do what works for you! Still not getting the results you want? Go with plan B and PAINT!

How have you shaken up a sad little room?

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Rethink Pink

by Susan Jensen Smith on June 24, 2010

Pink is a beautiful, joyful hue that has been engrained in our minds as a “little girl color” – much as a dad’s favorite sports team becomes his son’s favorite teams. Do you think pink is most little girls’ favorite color because they organically love it, or because they caught on pretty early that it’s the “team” color that represents little girls?

With two daughters, we’ve had our share of pink rooms in our home. My older daughter loved pink, but “grew out of it” (whatever that means) as shown here. My younger daughter, however, associates strongly with the hue as shown here. As for me, I like pink, but doubt I’d ever convince my husband to live in it. Doesn’t mean I can’t try and sneak in a few accents. ;)

Most grownups shy away from using pink in their homes because of these preconceived ideas that have been shoved down our throats by society! But for the confident and expressive souls who dare to view their world from rose colored glasses – it’s a wonderful way to add soothing warmth to their homes.

Plus, it fits in nicely with Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends for 2011, as explained here.

Love pink but not sure how to use it? Here are some colors that pair nicely with this blushing beauty:

  • Green is a lovely complimentary color to pink. There’s a reason that pink and green owned the preppie era of the 80’s. Safe, but lovely.
  • Yellow and blue also play nicely with pink. Experiment with various shades to find the combination that works for you.
  • With bolder pinks, how about a side of tangerine or violet? Tempered with white it could be gorgeous!
  • Since pink is simply a lighter shade of red, consider a monochromatic color scheme in that family. Think Valentines!
  • Pink can be toned down with a dark neutral such as brown or black. White makes a great partner as well.
  • Which shade is right for you? Pink can range from pale pastel/almost white to bold fuchsia, and numerous nuances in-between. Any of these beauties speak to you?

Selections courtesy of House Beautiful

Take a tour with me through some amazing pink rooms that just might change your subconscious mind about the color pink. No rose colored glasses necessary here!

The most common place you’ll find pink is in a bedroom. Here’s a lovely, eclectic room with a great sense of expression. How could you not love that pink canopy!

Photosource: Flickr

Love bold pink but want to tone it down? Whitewash it!

Photosource: Southern Living

But are you bold enough to make your living room blush? Interesting to note that the blues, greens, yellows and blues play nicely with the pink and tone’s it down a bit.

Photosource: House Beautiful

Here’s a great example of pink as an accent. The red/pink in the curtains tone down the girly-factor a bit. What do you think about the pastel pink cabinet? I love it. It’s a bold move and adds softness to the room.

Photosource: Country Living

Here’s a great example of playful pink for grownups! Love the high ceilings, valiant shade of pink and the lighting in the dining room is amazing!

Photosource: Apartment Therapy

Could you see yourself enjoying tea and scones in this dining room? What about steak and potatoes? The nautical feel of the stripes tones down the girl vibe a bit, and the hanging pendant is fabulous.

Photo Source: Coastal Living

I’ve been dreaming of a beach blue kitchen {sigh…some day} – but this pink and white kitchen caught my eye – might those be the appliances I blogged about here? I really think the mixer adds the finishing touch! The blue plays nicely in this room as well. I really like this one!

Photo Source: Coastal Living

And what pink dwelling would be complete without this fabulous porch? A simple addition of pink and white stripped pillows makes enough of a statement. Even without the view, it’s lovely!

Photo Source: Coastal Living

Even if I can’t gain consensus to pink-a-fy my home, I’ve got my eye on this little beauty for the summer! Just needs a basket on the front and I’m good to go! ;)

So if you like pink…go for it! No apologies! Express yourself with confidence.

So have I convinced you? What’s holding you back? :)

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What To Wear!

May 23, 2010

Every day I go in my closet to get dressed, and ask myself that question. But I don’t always get an easy answer.  Now if I’m only wearing 20% of my wardrobe (the norm), then I’m wasting a lot of time looking at the other 80% in pursuit of what to wear! What a waste [...]

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Designing Trendy Tween Rooms for Girls

May 9, 2010

Got a Tween? Yea, it’s (mostly) a girl thing.
If she is too old for bunk beds and trundles, then it’s time to ban the bunnies and butterflies from her room. The key is to be adaptable! She’s going to change her mind many times.
What is a “Tween?” This Tween Definition from the Urban Dictionary really [...]

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Decorating Blues!

April 6, 2010

What goes with your favorite pair of blue jeans?  Just about anything!
Perhaps that’s why blue is such a popular design trend in our homes! It’s a more lively neutral that plays well with others.
When it comes to bringing blue inside your home, there are SO many options for pairing other colors with your favorite blue [...]

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Playful Decorative Accessories

March 27, 2010

Why be so serious? Your home should make you smile!
If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that (to some degree) we tend decorate our homes to impress others. But most of what you do with your home décor should be an expression of YOU.  And accessories are the perfect way to infuse some personality into [...]

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The Power of Color in a Playroom Nook

March 5, 2010

Awhile back I shared a wonderful meditation nook I discovered on a “girls spa weekend” in North Carolina (see post here).  Simply put, it was a bed placed at the end of a hall for guests to relax in while in-between treatments. Of course the vibrant drapes and oodles of comfy pillows added to the [...]

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Thanks for listening – 100th Post!

February 28, 2010

February may be a short month, but that’s no excuse for waiting til the 11th hour to squeak in a post! Yes I’ve been busy (isn’t everyone?), but that’s not why it’s taken me so long to post.  Actually I have several reasons:

This is my 100th post, and yes…I felt the pressure to make it [...]

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Laundry Space from Drab to Fab

January 29, 2010

Thanks to everyone who lovingly nagged encouraged me to keep my word that I would redesign my hard-working laundry room closet!
I’m happy to report that just two weeks after I posted my embarrassing laundry closet in “My Laundry Closet Needs a Makeover”, I’ve transformed my closet from drab to fab – or at least fab [...]

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My Laundry Closet Needs a Makeover

January 15, 2010

My laundry room is just an upstairs closet off the main hall.   But it’s also the only “room” in my home that I haven’t at least painted!
I actually started this project over a year ago by adding “Laundry Room Flair” with cute knobs, writing on the wall and a fun switch plate cover.  In fact [...]

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Painting Wood Floors

December 31, 2009

Looking to make a BIG change?  Ready to stir things up a bit?  How about painting your floor?
For me, this fits the category of “I’d love to do it, but don’t think I can gain spousal consent.”  Yes, it’s a bigger job than painting a wall, or even a ceiling.  But if your wood floors [...]

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Holiday Inspiration (and blog party!)

December 3, 2009

In the spirit of efficiency, I’d like to shamelessly highlight some of my favorite holiday posts from last year – both here at yourhomeonlybetter.com and at the HomeGoods Openhouse blog.
While it may appear that I’m being lazy, put I actually discovered that when I switched blogging platforms early this year I lost many images from [...]

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Choosing Paint Is Like Buying Toothpaste

November 20, 2009

Have you noticed that when you go to the store to buy toothpaste, there are so many choices that it’s overwhelming?
Do you want whitening, tartar control, fluoride, sensitive, gel or paste, sparkles, or one of my favorite…”pro-health night toothpaste” (huh?).  And the price points are varied as well, anywhere from $2 to $5 – quite [...]

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Color Trends for 2011

November 4, 2009

Last week I attended Benjamin Moore’s ColorPulse™ 2011 web conference to get a sneak peak into upcoming color trends.
I sort of envisioned a crystal ball with lights of predictive color flashing out of it.  Or perhaps a group of creative souls around a conference table at OPI discussing what to call this season’s nail polish [...]

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Creative Uses for a Faux Mantle

October 27, 2009

I have a project in my mind that I’ve not had the opportunity to do just yet.  If ever we finish the basement, my vision is to create a faux fireplace focal point and avoid the “box with cheap carpeting” look.  But it’s got to be fun and kid-friendly.
My original idea was inspired by this [...]

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Confessions of a Curious Driver

October 20, 2009

For the past year or two I’ve taken notice of a blue colonial on my street that I pass daily. I’m not sure if it was the house itself, or the perpetual renovation action around it. Dumpsters out front, various contractor trucks coming and going.
And seriously, this wonderment went on for a long time. [...]

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