The art of “un-designing” your space
I had a client today ask me to designer her space so it didn’t look like a designer had done the work. She wanted the space to feel relaxed, eclectic and lived in. I thought, huh, then. why did you hire a designer? Then I thought, that’s exactly why you should hire a designer! It truly was a light bulb moment. The key to nonchalant decorating is to make it look easy and natural, even if you've put thought into the design. It's about creating a space that feels comfortable and reflects your personality without feeling overly staged or formal. Here are a few designer secrets on “un-designing” your space.
1.) Embrace the clutter
I know this is the opposite of what people usually say, and it’s true, that if you have excessive clutter it wreaks havoc on your mental health. Avoid excessive clutter, but allow for some items to be casually placed around the room, giving it a lived-in feel. A small amount of “stuff” is real life! Add some baskets, trays, bowls to contain the clutter, but don’t try to be perfect. Embrace life and let your keys sit out in a beautiful bowl and gather your tchotchkes. and place them in a coffee table tray.
Kitchen Design by Will Johnson Building Company, Furnishings by Bartone Interiors
2.) Casual and Asymetrical layout
Creating a balanced, but asymmetrical space can be tricky, but well worth the extra effort. This screams eclectic, lived in and a non-challant attitude towards your home decor. Arrange furniture and decor in a way that feels natural and functional rather than overly staged. Allow for comfortable traffic flow and use furniture for its intended purpose. If you don’t need an item and think you just need to “fill” a space….don’t.
When planning an astymmetrical living room floorplan I will use a sofa, two side tables that are a similar height but not the same shape. Just like mixing patterns (in step 4) you want to mix the shape of your furniture. I often pair one round tierd table with a square table on the opposite side of the sofa. I LOVE mixing lounge chairs that have different fabrics and shapes to add even more interest. If this sounds too scary, try adding an occassional chair in the corner that is completely different from the other upholstered pieces in the room. Baby steps!
Asymmetrical layouts are part of Biophilic design and work because they imitate nature, which we all inherently have a strong connection.
3.) Incorporate vintage and eclectic pieces
Mix in vintage pieces and eclectic “found” pieces of furniture, artwork and accessories. If you love it, buy it, and we’ll work it into the space! These pieces can add character and a sense of history to your space or bring to light joyful memories of an especially great vacation. Embrace sustainability by using upcycled or repurposed furniture and decor items, giving them new life while also reducing waste.
This Den utilizes a vintage rocker we recovered in a larger botanical stitched tone on tone pattern with a modern, small scale linear pattern on the ottoman. The table is the client’s and is also an antique. The wingback chair is another family heirloom and we covered it in a nuetral textured solid.
The custom drapery was done in another linear, more contemporary pattern with vibrant orange embroidery.
4.) Mix Styles and Patterns
Pick several styles you love and mix them together to create your own unique look. Combine different furniture styles, textures, and patterns. Don't worry too much about perfect coordination; the goal is to create an eclectic and lived-in look. When pairing items in a space, balance your selections by pulling a variety of patterns types and scales. For example, mix a thin ticking stripe with a larger floral pattern. The scale is different and one pattern is linear, the other organic.
The wallpaper in this home office is a large botanical pattern mixed with a medium scale linear stripe on the window treatment. The ceiling has a small star pattern and the tackboard is a textured solid, while the leather task chair is a smooth touch, both physically and visually!
5.) Personalize Your Space
Make sure your space reflects you, your interests and what you want family and friends to know about you! Include personal items, artwork, and mementos that can be used as a launching pad for the stories you want to share! This can be done by displaying family photos, kids art work or smaller items you collected while traveling. The beautiful oil painting in this photo was created by the home owner’s father.
