Let's face it: Some of us don't have to troll thrift shops or antique stores for vintage furniture. We have some in our very own homes. Whether we're looking for older styles or have them at hand, there's more to mixing old and new than simply moving pieces into a room. With forethought and planning, mixing recycled and new pieces can bring vitality to your decor.
First, decide what happens in the room: Is it the place where the kids plop down and play? Or is it a respite for reading? Paige Rien, owner of Rien With An Eye for Design (paigerien.com), says planning is the first step toward a successful decor. Knowing the function of the room will help determine where to place furniture. Don't exhaust yourself moving around furniture waiting for the right "look" to come into view.
"Sit down and brainstorm. I think all design begins on paper," says Rien, who has been featured on HGTV's "Hidden Potential."
Next, look for design inspirations. If you want to be cutting edge, browse the international editions of shelter magazines. They "speak" a different aesthetic language that might be fun to translate in your space.
"They may be a year or two ahead of us in the trends," says Jeff Schlarb of Green Couch Interior Design (greencouch.com)
But go beyond copying a look, Rien says. Brainstorm to determine your likes and dislikes. "Going within is really important," she says
Settle on a theme, create a floor plan
The theme helps pull all the everything together, while the floor plan makes sure the room is balanced. A theme can be a topic, like travel, or it can be a color.
Color is the tool Rien uses to ensure her home decor is unified. One of her rooms, for example, features red: "I'm not going to put an orange painting in that room."
The floor plan keeps the room from being too empty, or too full. Save heartache and backache by measuring the space and the furniture, Schlarb says.
"Don't get an 95-inch sofa, when the space is only 88 inches," Schlarb says.
Concentrate on mixing, not matching.Although furniture stores tout complete sets, designers variety spices up a decor. Kelly Porter, a designer and writer for Sherwin Williams Co., loves to combine a new dining room table with old chairs.
"Gone are the days of matching dining sets," says Porter, of Porter Designs (porterhousedesigns.com) near Washington D. C. Her favorite sources are flea markets, thrift stores and Craigslist. Once she gets the chairs she needs, Porter refreshes them with a coat or two of paint. White is the safest choice, but Porter recommends going bold.
"Vibrant colors such as turquoise, red or orange really add drama, and you don't even have to paint all the chairs with the same color," Porter says. "Mix it up. It's all about personal expression."
Be adventuresome: Don't be afraid to repaint or restain, or go even further with decoupage or intentionally distressing the surface.
"You can attach a mirror to a table top," Rien says. "You can have something stripped."
The DIY Network (diynetwork.com) is a great place to browse for furniture makeovers. Furniture can also be upholstered, although finding a good upholsterer can be difficult. "It's a dying art today," Rien says. "People just buy new stuff."
Learn when to let go
Admit defeat when necessary. If you can't afford to repair a piece, or it's beyond fixing, then trash it. If the piece doesn't fit in your life, donate it, or give to a friend. Don't feel obliged to hang on to furniture. If you're like many Americans, you probably have more furniture than you need.
"Americans tend tooverbuy and overfurnish," Rien says.
Remember the aim isn't to have a house full of furniture. Your goal is to create a lovely, comfortable environment. "Everybody deserves to have a well-put together home," Schlarb says. "It's fantastic when everything is put together."
