Help me with a home style/decor!

[cjcouple]

So I have zero style sense.  I mean it, I am just terrible at putting things together and selecting a theme of sorts.  I dont even know where to look and what looks good together?  It's awful. I try looking on pinterest and I see lots of thing i like but I can't figure out how to use them as inspiration  

I live in a condo and have been here for 3 years and have another year on our lease at least. Not sure if we will renew.  Anyway, the walls are pretty bare and I dont ahve a lot of furniture. I could probably use a few accent pieces.  There is also a LOT of wall space to fill.  

So, help please!!
Show or tell me about your home
Tell me where you shop
Do you find a piece of decor and try to use that for inspiration for the rest of the room?
what room is easier to start with?
any tips you can help me with? 
any accent pieces you love?

I don't even think I have the best layout in my living room. It's long and rectangular so its hard to layout. ugh - I just want to love where I live


 

[Deleted]

Well, I like a nice bright and uncluttered space so that makes it easy because I have a less is more thing going (and hence less decor lol) so that simplifies things.

For home items, like decor, I love Home Goods, even Target, and Ross.

I like to use a color scheme. For example, my dining room set is very neutral so I decided to do pops of color by way of a runner, accent candles in stands and seasonal decor (minimal). I change out the colors seasonally, right now for summer I s turquoise.

For me, the easiest room to start with is the dining room. I was able to change out the light fixture for a chandelier, come up with simple decor, dropped a nice rug, and done. Bathrooms are a good start too. It's the rooms that can get cluttered-bedrooms office etc that are tough and I'm still figuring things out.

I try to avoid Pinterest actually lol because it's overwhelming with decor ideas and I tend to like a less cluttered look. My mil is someone who has boatloads of tchotchkes and every wall is loaded up with stuff but it's nms.

[momin2013]

LOL, I think @itsbritt might be my design twin!

I also like nice bright open spaces with very little clutter. I also tend toward having neutrals for walls/floors/furniture, then having accent pieces as pops of colour.

I have found an "inspiration" piece and used it as a theme for the room. For example, for our living room we found a huge zebra print to go over the fireplace (accent wall), then got a zebra carpet to coordinate. Because the room was pretty neutral (our main house colour is BM revere pewter, floors are grey hardwood and trim is white), I went with black/white/red accents. My favourite piece besides the zebra picture is a red leather recliner that we got. We also added a red vase on the mantle, and red accent pillows on the couch.

For our bedroom, we also found a picture we loved (for over the bed), and sort of worked the colours/feel around it. It's a seaside/beachy picture, so we went with soft blues/greys for the walls/duvet cover, and all white for the floor/curtains/trim.

So basically I find we do usually find a piece we really love and use it as inspiration. We've found most of our art/accent pieces at places like Pier One Imports, and other stores similar to your Home Goods (we have Home Sense in Canada).

The one thing I DON'T like at all is clutter/a bunch of smaller thing s(i.e. I am personally not a fan of like a whole bunch of small photos in a collage on a wall); I always prefer fewer large pieces as opposed to many small ones.

[cjcouple]

I am the same way. I like space but I think I have too much space. I literally have couch, chair and ottoman, tv on stand. thats it. Well and curtains on window and 3 small wall hangings and a lot of open wall space. It needs something more. I actually was thinking of adding a fake fireplace and "maybe" a slim wall table or end table. That will depend on what is left for space. I may not need that. There is a small area at the landing on the stars that might be nice to add a small table to.

My kitchen is ok but is a collection ground. I was thinking of doing a small area to organize the top landing where we come up from outside. Anyway I want something with a couple baskets or cubbies, hooks for boys backpack, coats, hats gloves, boots. Right now they are just dumped on a mat! coats end up on floor and hats have shoes on them so they get dirty. But I dont want a tacky one. I want it to look nice but be functional.

[momin2013]

We had a coordinating deacon's bench and cubby made for our entryway a few years ago and it has been a lifesaver to keeping that area from looking cluttered. There are tons of hall trees out there that really would do a great job; maybe keep an eye out for something like that? I don't think they look tacky at all.

If you're feeling like you have too much space I'd definitely look for a larger piece that will fill in a lot of space at once, rather than just adding random things to "fill the room up". Like a large piece of art/something else cool for over the couch, for example. The fireplace idea could work; have you thought of maybe an electric fireplace? They have these really cool modern ones (they're long and slim, and run horizontal instead of vertical) that I think really add something to a room...

[nicolewi]

I LOVE TJ Maxx/Home Goods. Also Target. I have gotten a lot of canvas wall art at World Market.

I think you could find your basket/cubbies/shelves/hooks stuff at Target.

We don't have Ikea close, but that would be good, too.

I got this little cabinet at Pier One and it's nice for storing stuff in a small space. It's not very deep. Not enough for storing your hats, gloves, etc, but could be good for a little extra living room space where you wanted some kind of slim table.
www.pier1.com/holtom-chestnut-brown-cabinet-/2673005.html#q=storage%2520cabinet&start=1

If you wanted to do something in your living room, I'd get some kind of wall art (bigger than you think you need; maybe even make a gallery wall?), coordinating throw pillows that pull out colors from the art, and maybe a coordinating rug if you want to go all out (even if it's on top of carpet). A blanket throw thing could work, too. Oh, and maybe some new lamps (TJ MAxx/Home Goods or Target).

You could also get new towels for your bathroom that kind of coordinate if you have a neutral bath and want to tie it together with the living room.

A new bedding set is a huge change in a bedroom, so if you're tired of your bedroom, consider that.

[cjcouple]

Jul 14, 2017 10:13:54 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

We had a coordinating deacon's bench and cubby made for our entryway a few years ago and it has been a lifesaver to keeping that area from looking cluttered. There are tons of hall trees out there that really would do a great job; maybe keep an eye out for something like that? I don't think they look tacky at all.

If you're feeling like you have too much space I'd definitely look for a larger piece that will fill in a lot of space at once, rather than just adding random things to "fill the room up". Like a large piece of art/something else cool for over the couch, for example. The fireplace idea could work; have you thought of maybe an electric fireplace? They have these really cool modern ones (they're long and slim, and run horizontal instead of vertical) that I think really add something to a room...

yes that was my thought. My lack of style is coming into play though. The room is basically white walls with white molding/windows etc.  Carpet is tan//creamish. Do I go with white freplace?  I prefer a dark wood but it doesnt fit my current condo.  I could always sell it later or paint myself if we move.  

[momin2013]

I think it depends on the overall style of the room, and what you'd like to accomplish. I trend somewhat towards modern, so I personally would go with metal finishes/black as opposed to wood. Do you have other wood in the room, like in any of your furniture? If so, you could go with the same colour wood, or to go more modern, go with a white/black/metal one instead.

[cjcouple]

No other wood. I hAve a Black tv stand but am willing to change that if needed. it was just a cheap one.

[momin2013]

Honestly, I would get something you really LOVE, rather than getting something to just fill a space. I wouldn't be in a hurry, but rather just start looking when you're out at home décor stores, and when something jumps out at you that love and think will work, get it and go from there.

Our living room was pretty bare for awhile until one day we happened upon the giant zebra picture, which I feel in love with. Once we put that up in the room, the other pieces/accent colours were easy and really just fell into place. Same went for the beach scene picture in our bedroom; I really fell in love with it (like, I wanted to BE in the picture, lol), and once we had that up on the wall it really dictated the colours and theme for the rest of the room.

[auroraloo]

Pictures would help

[cjcouple]

Jul 14, 2017 11:10:50 GMT -5 auroraloo said:

Pictures would help

I'm at work but will see if I can find some old ones on my cell.  

[cjcouple]

How do I resize the images?  Saying they are too large.  

[cjcouple]

The pics are not great anyway.

[cjcouple]

ok, I found an empty real estate listng for my condos. My unit is opposite of this.  stairs are on left. Not right. and my walls are more of an eggshell colors.

[cjcouple]

This is basically my couch. Only instead of it being a sectional it is a couch and large chair ottoman

www.cozycountryliving.com/my-big-living-room-reveal/ 

[cjcouple]

So the top of those stairs along wall is where I will get a small unit for kids stuff (no room at bottom)

The wall opposite the stairs in living room is very long and open! That is really what needs something.

[momin2013]

So I'm thinking either the couch or tv would go on the long wall opposite the stairs (not sure if that's what you have?)

If the couch were on that wall I'd do a large piece of art (or maybe three large pieces) over it. If the tv is on that long wall, I'd maybe look for a furniture unit for the tv that's more substantial, instead of having it on a smaller stand?

You definitely need a throw and/or accent pillows on that couch, since it looks like the walls/carpet/couch are pretty similar in colour?

You could also do a larger floor lamp (you know the kind that sort of overhang the chair that's in front of them) if you want to fill in a corner...