Before we moved into our little Cape I never actually saw it in person. My husband flew out and bought it without me seeing it. We are still married- so you know he did a pretty good. There really wasn’t a lot to choose from in the area we were wanting to live. Before we moved I sold A LOT of stuff or gave it away. Two sectionals, two large dining tables, king bed and a crazy amount more and I replaced it all just on a smaller scale. I ordered new furniture to arrive at the new house or to be driven with the rest of our stuff across the states. I tried my best to draw everything out and make sure it would all fit without really having that accurate of measurements or even stepping foot in the house. I have learned a lot through this process. One being that you need to buy things specifically FOR THE HOUSE not just because you like it. It lead me to realize that there are two questions you should ask yourself when designing a room.
I work with clients all the time and it is so easy for me to say what works and what doesn’t because I am not emotionally attached to their furniture or accessories.
Now I don’t think I get emotionally attached to everything. More along the lines of- since I have it and I like it I should use it. I am not a waster. I eat leftovers.
It is better to evaluate each piece before you bring it into a space and ask yourself-
“Is this the BEST thing for this space?” or “Do I really LOVE it?”
If you can’t answer YES! To one of those questions it should not go in your new designed space.
For example. I brought the below pink rug with us from our old home. I did love like the pink rug itself. But it really was not the best thing for the space. It was slightly too big for our daughters new bedroom. The rug would bunch up in spots and around the molding. And I was getting a little bored with it. But I just kept using it. Well, because I had it. To bandaid it and try to make the pink rug work I brought up the cream rug from my sons nursery and layered it over the pink one. It did help to break up the pink. It didn’t really solve the problem of the pink rug being too big.
(Find pink rug HERE and cream rug HERE).
Finally I decided to do what I really wanted to do and move the rug we had in our front room to our daughters room and sell the pink rug.
The result- I LOVE it! I knew I would. Lesson learned. Don’t make something work just because you have it. I could have easily sold the pink rug (because it is really cute) and gotten the right thing for the room.
(You can find the double hanging chair HERE and my rug HERE).
I bet you could look at most pieces in your home and ask yourself those two important design questions and know if something is right for the space. For example that pink dresser is a big “YES” when I ask myself “do I really love it?” I would make that pink dresser work somewhere in our home because I do love it so much.
I guess that leads me to the changes I am making to my front room.
I did buy this blue sofa specifically for this room and this cape. I have loved it. I get asked often where I bought the blue sofa. (You can find similar HERE). I think if we had a bigger house I would still keep this sofa. With the rug move and the bigger issue of the two chairs in this room are just too big for how we use the room, This is a PERFECT example of buying the right thing for your home. One chair would have been great. But I really needed wanted a pair so I bought a pair. They would have worked if the big white sideboard wasn’t in here- but let’s face it that big boy can only fit in this room and we need all the storage it offers. But we do not need two big chairs.
So I want to do just one chair or maybe two but one a lot smaller. And a longer sofa. And a new rug and…
Well take a look for yourself at my design plan for our front room.
Arched Floor Lamp – Linen Sofa – Pink Pillow – Fringe Pillow – Mid Century Wood Chair – Baskets
White Kidney Pillow – Wood Occasional Table – Blue Jar – Jute Rug – White Clock
Remember to ask yourself those two questions before designing a room.
And you can enter to win a gift card and some design help on my last post HERE!
And I wrote a post about picking the right size rug for your room HERE – what I learned NOT to do from HGTV Fixer Upper!
I totally agree with you about the two questions! We all buy things for the spacse we live in and when you move, some things just don’t work. But when it’s something you love (and was expensive), you try to find a place. We have a beautiful (large) solid wood entertainment center that was bought for a previous home with very high ceilings. Even though our current living room is much larger, it felt too big and bulky and wasn’t needed anymore for the TV. It didn’t matter how I arranged the furniture, I just didn’t like it and was so frustrated. Finally, I moved it into the foyer where it sat for a month but I immediately loved the way the LR felt without it. I realized it would work in our office but we had to wait for help to finish moving it because it was too tall to fit through the door going into the office and had to be taken apart. So worth it, even though the office is much smaller it looks great and stores a lot of stuff.
I loved the previous rug in your LR but it looks so nice in your girls bedroom and I really like the selections for your LR. It’s too bad you can’t find another place for the big sideboard because it would really open up your space. Good luck and look forward to seeing the redo.
See! You totally get it!
I know. I have thought about selling the sideboard- but it is just a really great piece that I know I will regret selling and we need the storage. So we will just have to shift a thing or two:)
Thanks so much and have a good week!
Don’t sell the sideboard! I thought about selling my entertainment center because I was so frustrated trying to make it fit. But I love it and it’s a great quality. It’s funny how I was convinced it was too big for our office but decided I had to try it in there anyway and it worked…..was so glad I persisted and didn’t sell it. Seems to me that whenever one thing is wrong in a room, that’s what my eye is drawn to – even when I love everything else.
Looking forward to seeing your new updated room.
Thank you! My husband was just saying to sell the sideboard. I won’t. It is a really unique piece that I haven’t seen anywhere else.
Thanks for your advice!
I love your current LR, and I love these new pieces you picked out. What’s so great about your blog is that you post about real life concerns and issues that we all face at one point or another – storage , the right size pillows, and this post are just 3 examples!
I love your home. The pieces you buy seem to be so versatile. They can be moved around your entire home and find a place, whether it be pillows or a rug or a side table. . I love that. I’m totally in love with your current living room so I can’t wait to see the changes. They’re spot on beautiful, as always!!!
Also– are you selling your couch?!? I’d be tempted to drive to Conn. from NC with a UHaul!
Yes I am:) Let me know if you are interested!
I’d be interested in anything you are selling!! But especially your couch. You are welcome to email me any details – [email protected] Thank you!
ok will do! I am selling my sofa:)
I love the look of one long cushion! But if you order a sofa online, how can you know if the cushions will be comfortable? And without seeing it in person and sitting on it? I have always wondered about this! thanks…
I read reviews and compare the size to what I currently have to know if the seat depth will be comparable and comfortable. Also knowing what it is made out of helps a lot. I will share what I think when I get it!
O.k. SOOOOO I would LOVE to know where you got the white chair with the blue fabric on the back. I’m guessing anthro, but please let me know. I LOVE it! I’d love some design help in my hu-mungo family room. It has a shiplap ceiling, shiplap fireplace, and it’s a sunken living room with so much potential, but I just can’t seem to get it right, so I would love to enter your contest.I live in MA and love New England Style. 🙂
Oh, and I almost forgot! Your blog is amazing and I love everything you post! It is so kind of you to share your talents among your family moments. I find your blog so inspiring, so whatever you decide to post I am game from healthy tips (I’m a runner too), to decor-style (used to own a repurposed furniture design shop) and children’s books (I’m also an elementary teacher)
Thanks! Those chairs were just from a local furniture shop. They totally look anthro! I appreciate your kind comment- thank you so much!
I have always had a hard time getting rid of things (selling or giving away) that I felt I should use. But I have gotten better with it in the last 1-2 years. I have sold/donated some things that worked in our first house, but don’ t meet our current needs as well.
When we bought this house, we did what you did- we bought our new living room furniture BEFORE we moved in. I realized after 2 years or so that I hated it. It was actually REALLY comfortable, and fit the room nicely, but we still needed more seating and I wanted to lighten the palate up. Reupholstering would lighten up, but not solve the problem of wanting more seating. We really wanted a sectional, so we made it happen. But I tried to use the furniture I hated in another room in our house because we could NOT sell it. I still hated it (looks wise). I finally bit the bullet and donated it to a local homeless shelter. I was mad not being able to sell it, but it was driving me nuts and I knew it would be such a blessing to them. Why was I holding onto it? I was lucky to be able to do that, and I had to realize that.
Love your living room as is, but your new design plan is just lovely! 🙂
That is such a blessing to someone that you donated it- I am sure it is being loved. But I know what you mean in wanting to be able to sell it and not feel like it is such a waste!
Thanks for your comment!