Holiday Decorating

228768856043230234_elGGUVz4_b

Decorating the house for the holidays is one way to bring a festive spirit to the season.  There are many obvious places most of us tend to focus our decorating efforts…the tree, the outdoors, a mantle, the dining room table.  One room typically gets neglected – the kitchen.

The kitchen is our hub as the holidays are filled with lots of entertaining.  We host gift exchanges, throw cocktail parties,  invite dinner guests and call friends in for coffee during the season.  We spend lots of time in the kitchen baking goodies, planning menus and gathering with friends and family.  The kitchen needs to have some fun decorations, too!

72550243968024624_SXaBOuEF_b

Decorate cabinets with wreaths or Holiday photo cards you’ve received.  Windows are a great place to hang garland and lights.  Chandeliers, or even pot racks, are perfect for dangling ornaments with decorative ribbon.  A grouping of glass canisters and cake stands filled with edible treats is a true crowd pleaser!

Enjoy this Holiday season with your friends and family and make sure your kitchen has a few special decorative surprises for everyone to enjoy!

Wall Art

Some of the best surfaces to accessorize in a room are the walls.  We love to create galleries of framed artwork.  When grouped together the framed art can achieve the look of one larger piece of art.

230176230924983120_COEmOHHw_c

There are a few simple rules to keep in mind when creating a grouping like the one pictured.  The use of similar frames and matting for each piece creates visual continuity.  A grouping works best if all of the subject matter is similar.   For example, a collection of all family photos going up your stairwell creates a beautiful gallery.  A grouping of all your favorite travel moments or interesting architectural details or black and white cityscapes would create just the right visual harmony for this type of wall art grouping.

Remember to think outside of the box.  Not all art needs to be framed.  A collection of wrapped canvas artwork has a stunning 3-D quality when grouped together on a wall.

If you keep these simple rules in mind, then your are bound to create a masterpiece!

We found this inspirational photo at blog.foundstyle.net.

Furniture Focus

Having a piece of furniture that demands attention can add visual interest and create a focal point in any room.   The focal point is the place where your eye is drawn to in design.  Most people enjoy visually interesting spaces but need a place to “rest” their eyes.  Providing a focal point is helpful to everyone experiencing a space.

simple-living-room-design2

Check out this gorgeous room!  There are so many amazing details vying for your attention that your eye quickly finds solace in the perfectly scaled and colored sofa.  The yellow fabric adds the right amount of drama to the space without competing with all the other beautiful decor.  This sofa has enough gumption of its own to be a focal point and to not get lost in all the adornments surrounding it.

Using a piece of furniture as the focal point in your design is often a great way to anchor your space!