Furniture Shopping and Color Schemes

By Loretta Slater-Ramsay

Home decorating can be fun or frustrating, depending on how you go about it. Most of us want to live in attractive and comfortable surroundings, but can feel overwhelmed by the prospect of choosing styles, colors and furniture. Here are some easy-to-follow guidelines that will help you create the right home environment for you.

Furniture Shopping and Color Schemes

It's shopping time. Styles of furniture and colors are the next items to consider. This part of the project can be the most fun. I call this phase of the project 'legwork'. There are a multitude of fabrics, furniture and accessories to choose from. You will need to start visiting various stories to get an overall feel for what's out there. I suggest you make at least four to five visits, spending a half-day or evening each just to look.

Everything will great at first, but may not be right for you. You will find that after three or four trips you will be able to focus more on the piece or pieces you need.

If buying a loveseat is your first priority, don't become distracted by all the other types of furniture available. Shop around, and narrow your choices down to two or three loveseats. Find out the sizes available in the choices you have made, and see if the store will provide you with a picture or a photocopy of the loveseat.

Next, look at the fabrics available for that loveseat. Many people are not aware that they can order furniture in a variety of fabric choices rather than the fabric displayed on the floor sample.

Borrow the fabric samples, take them home and place them in the room where the loveseat is to go. Look at the samples in different times of the day and evening. Lighting changes from morning through evening will affect the colors and you may not like the colors once the lamps are turned on.

How do the colors in your fabric samples work with the colors already in your room? If you are planning to change the carpet at some point, don't use it as a major factor in determining what fabric to choose. Instead, place a white or beige sheet on the floor and then put the fabric samples on the sheet. After three or four days you will have a feel for which fabric you like best. If none of the fabrics have a positive effect on you - try some more samples.

This process of bringing samples home works whether it is paint, wallpaper, drapery fabrics or furniture fabrics. It will also help you discover and develop your own personal tastes. Be sure to take your time and don't rush into decisions you may regret later.

Furniture

There are a variety of styles and stain vanishes available, so take the time to find the style that suits you, and pick a stain finish that works with everything. Most table series provide four to six different end tables and two to four coffee tables, so you can mix and match.

If you find a series you like, ask to look at the catalogue to see what choices are available. Again, ordering instead of buying floor selections is always an alternative for achieving exactly the look you desire.

When choosing furniture, here are some factors to consider:

Watch the actual size of the pieces. Rooms are not usually large enough to handle oversized pieces.

Establish your continuity factors. Some of the pieces should have similar characteristics such as wood stain, style of legs, and some repetition of color, same type of pattern or coordinating patterns.

When doing your floor plan remember the traffic routes, especially with conversational areas (the seating arrangements in the living or family room). You don't want to have a major traffic route through this area if possible. A traffic route is the area used to get in and out of a room.

Leave some empty areas. It will show off the areas you have done. We don't need to completely fill rooms - it is much more pleasing and relaxing to look at some empty spaces.

Avoid hasty purchases. If you are not sure about an item, leave the room empty until you are sure.

Colors

Color schemes can be the most interesting as well as the most challenging aspects of the home environment. Questions you should be asking yourself include:

Which colors do you like? This is where you have to do your legwork again. Explore the world of color - try different combinations. Play with the colors for a while, bringing home lots of samples. After a time you will know what you like and don't like.

Watch your lighting. The lighting in stores is usually florescent which can change the actual color. Take samples home and evaluate them in the room.

Take samples shopping. If you want to work with a present color, or have already purchased some furniture pieces, take those samples with you when shopping for new pieces. That will save you a lot of confusion when matching colors.

Assess where you want your color. Do you want a solid color on the main seating piece or a small pattern? In this case, you would need a stronger pattern and/or color on your chairs. In any room the colors and patterns need to work together to enhance the overall décor.

Do you have existing colors you want to work with? Try to keep paint samples, carpet samples, and wallpaper samples for each room in a file. It is very difficult even for an interior designer to choose from memory. You can use the arm cover from your furniture, for example. Always take your samples with you. Try not to look at color combinations that won't work in your home - it will just confuse you.

Your home should have a main overall color that is repeated in some manner throughout the whole house. Whether it is the carpet color, wall color, or a specific color in large or small amounts, it is a basic element of a well planned home. You can use different accent colors for variety once the main color has been established.

Patterns come in all shapes, sizes and color combinations. The larger the sample, the better - it will give you a more realistic view of the pattern. Some patterns repeat themselves a lot, which are easier to use. If you have some concerns about whether a pattern is going to work, it would be better to order one meter and pay for it than an entire sofa or chair that you decide you don't like. That way you can have a good look at it before you make a major purchase.

Remember, the size of a pattern has to work with the wall and/or seating. Smaller patterns make a piece or wall look larger, whereas large patterns make areas look smaller. There are always exceptions to the rule, but generally these guidelines will help you achieve a warm and comfortable environment.

Take your time when planning the décor of your home. It can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Be sure to develop a long-term plan and budget, do your research and follow your own guidelines with every new purchase. Most of all, take time to discover and develop your own personal tastes, and you will be rewarded with a home that is unique reflection of you and your family's lifestyle and tastes.

Loretta Slater-Ramsey A.D.I.D. is a designer / project manager with 25 years of experience, covering all disciplines of design with expertise in residential, show homes, office, light commercial, retail and new home customer selections. With a proven track record & professional attitude, Loretta takes pride on carefully guiding her clients through a step-by-step creative process - to achieve total customer satisfaction. Contact Loretta at: thecreativedesigner@hotmail.com