Gentle Readers, have you ever walked into an ugly room, looked around, thrown up your hands and asked aloud, to no one in particular, “Where do I begin?”
Well, wonder no more. Sidle on over here. Closer…
Start with the rug.
That’s right: start with the rug. Whether you’re working with the one you have or it’s on your wish list, START WITH THE RUG.
Here’s the ideal order of things:
1. Rug
2. Window treatments if they’re going to involve fabric.
3. Sofa
4. Upholstered chair(s)
5. Coffee table
6. Other non-upholstered chairs, other tables
7. Then, and ONLY then, paint colors.
That’s the list if you have a completely blank slate and an equally blank check. Never happens. And I’m not factoring in things like wallpaper, art, lighting, your great-auntie’s hot pink vase…all things that could throw a wrench into the works.
But if you’re floundering, this should help you get started. I hate inertia.
Finally, regarding the “paint color last” thing…obviously you’ll be thinking “yellow,” or “light green” as you put the room together, but don’t choose the exact shade until the other things are chosen and you’ve had a chance to put those swatches on the walls.
So, in sum, let me hear you say it, loud and proud: Where do you start?
With the RUG!
Nice work, people. Nice work.
Mila rug from Anthropologie. 2. Prada-inspired drapes from Domino (may it rest in peace.) 3. No attribution – sorry about that. 4. Designersguild.com 5. Decorpad.com 6. Livingetc.com 7. House Beautiful. Photos 2-7 have been compiled by the fabulous XJavierX on Flickr. I don’t know who this guy is, but he is a genius.
