Now that you’ve developed a design plan for your home and learned about laying out the rooms, it’s time to consider layout cohesiveness. Let’s not forget that rooms connect to each other. Having cohesiveness and transitioning from one room to the other is important. Design and decorate within the context of all of your rooms. You want flow.

Traffic flow

You want to avoid filling a room and having it look and feel overcrowded. Space makes a room feel bigger along with the ease of walking through a room and having space for life’s happenings.

Let the light shine in

Lighting is key to the overall feel of your room. You need to consider any built-in lights like pot lights, if there is a ceiling fan, the location and size of windows and having lamps strategically positioned throughout the room. Combining ambient and task lights – whether you use floor lamps, table lamps or wall lights/sconces – can bring to room to life. A natural tie-in to lighting is the use of dimmers, so you can adapt the lighting level to your mood.

Furniture style

The style of the house, the function, and what the wear and tear will be of the room should suit your personality. Designing for longevity means selecting timeless pieces that will stay in style for years. It’s far cheaper to swap out accessories to spruce up a room or to embrace seasonal changes with accents or accent pieces. Having that special piece, whether it’s a beloved antique item, a striking chair, chaise or artwork can bring that joie de vivre to you and your home.

Last but not least, accessorize!

There is a fine balance between too much or too little based on your design. You want to select pieces that coordinate with your décor, while being mindful of scale, location, colour, texture and quantity.

• Scale is important as you don’t want it to overpower an area but complement it. Location ties in with scale as you don’t want items that interfere with visual connections and conversation. Items may look pretty when you enter the room, but if you constantly have to move  them out of the way to talk, you may wish to rethink the item or its location.
• Colour of accessories can present an opportunity to introduce a pattern or vibrancy to your room without a big commitment. It can be in the way of a toss cushion or throw, vases, trays, candles, baskets, etc.
• Texture of accessories can bring luxuriousness or playful components to your room. A velvet pillow, sheepskin or silk throw, knobby cotton blanket or a leather piece in way of a pillow, stool or picture frame can add interest.
• Quantity of accessories in a room is important. It’s the difference of having a room look unfinished or overdone. You need to consider the whole room. However, if you split your room into quadrants or areas, then this may help. For example, in a living room, you may start with your couch and coffee table as these pieces anchor your room. If your room has a fireplace mantle, this should be included as one of your anchor pieces.

Look at the room from all angles and seating levels to take it all in. The beauty about accessories is they can be moved or repurposed to another room. If you love the accessory, don’t worry, it will likely fit somewhere in your place.