Renovating a room should be fun & stress-free.  For me, decorating a room is like styling clothes – sometimes it takes a while to find the right piece but I love the excitement of the hunt!  I’ve put together a few questions that help make (re)decorating a room a little easier:

1. What am I using this space for?
2. What is my color scheme/accent color?
3. Am I incorporating a pattern with my rug, curtains and/or furniture?

When my husband & I moved into our new house this summer the room I was most eager to get my hands on was the Morning Room.  I wanted this room to be inviting and comfortable.  A place where we could sit and watch the sun rise & set, drink wine, discuss our day & entertain guests.

Since this room was going to be a place to relax & unwind we chose a calming color scheme of blue & grey.  The first step in our transformation was changing the paint color from a burnt orange to a tranquil blue called Jubilee (Sherwin Williams) – this made a huge difference!  If you can’t decide on a color scheme, take direction from one of the largest patterns in the room.  Maybe you have an oriental rug that you plan on keeping in your living room that could become the feature of your color story.

It’s important to stay flexible when looking for furniture.  I originally planned on incorporating a pattern with the two accent chairs, but couldn’t find any that I loved and ended up with a patterned Fretwork rug instead.  With the accent chairs and storage bench both being grey I realized I needed a pop of color – I chose yellow!  Blue & yellow are complementary colors on the color wheel and should technically be used in more formal areas of the house, but as with fashion I like to bend the “rules” with decor as well.  Don’t be afraid to mix patterns either.  I’m still on the hunt for a floral-patterned love seat or oversized chair to add to the Morning Room!

Whether you’re renovating your living room or adding decor to your bedroom, find a theme or color story that you love and run with it.  You’re the one that has to live with it, so make sure you’re happy!