Posted in Country Style, Cottage Style, Livingrooms, Fireplaces, Candles, Lighting |
Warming up my livingroom?
September 20th, 2006
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Full question:
I have some things I want to resolve in my front room: How to make it feel warmer and more inviting. A struggle that I have is that I have a fireplace (that is off center) and a huge upright piano. There is only one wall to put the piano and so the dark maroon couch sits directly in front of the piano under the window. There is no ceiling light in the room so I rely on hallogen lamps.
I do like the huge mirror I have over the fireplace. I do have a few fica trees, a nice retangular picture that is over the piano and a entry way table (kind of short but is nice and oblong with two levels to it). I have various plants also in there, some on the fireplace near the entry way and two on the entry way table.
I’ve thought about trying to find some fabric to add throw pillows to the couch to try to tie some of the main solid colors together in the room. (by the way, I have drapes that have a nice beige background with blue, yellow and maroon flowers and have blue sheers with it). I’ve thought about moving the piano as close as I could to the doorway to the kitchen, creating a larger corner area where the lazy boy sits. If I was really ambitious and could talk DH into it, I would build bookshelves on either side of the fireplace.
My answer:
Consider a candelabra for the top of the piano. You can “make” something by buying different size and shaped brass or clear glass candlesticks (got mine at Goodwill over time) and using the same color, shape and size candles in them. Burn the candles down some so you have no pointed tips and a little dripping down the side. Stagger the heights of the candles. If you have kidlings, and you don’t want to use candles, just set the candles up, burn them a little and never light them again. Set them all on a picture frame, a mirror or a tray, and waa laa!
Not your style? How about great books with interesting bookends?
Or photos on picture easels. Make copies of sheet music and use for the “mats” in your photos. (Or just tear the pages out of music books). Paint the frames all in the same color - I read recently that every room should have a touch of black. Someone smarter than me said it (don’t remember who) so just suggesting black frames. Set this collection on a frame, mirror or tray.
Since you brought up lighting, consider using white minilights in some of the plants/trees you have in the room. I have them in the plants/trees in my livingroom and library and I LOVE the ambience they create. If you can place them so they reflect off any of the mirrors you already have and like, it adds to the “feel”.
Would you consider adorning your mirror in any way?
Your fabric idea would definitely work. You can also find great scarves to cover pillows with. Using two, just tie a knot in all four corners - quick and easy.
Lastly, you can really get the same look of built-in bookcases if you find two of those “assemble it yourself” ones and then paint them to match your room.
And consider something IN your fireplace (if you don’t use it, of course). You could put a candlescape, a plant with minilights, or an urn.
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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