DOES YOUR HOME REFLECT YOUR LIFESTYLE?

Written by Cynthia Aiken

Does your home truly reflect who you are, what you love, and the way you really live? Your home is a reflection of your personal lifestyle. Whether you entertain friends for formal dinner parties, or you’re a family raising small kids or you possibly live with man’s best friend, your home should live easily to match whatever your lifestyle may be. Decorate your home to match the way you live. If your love of gardening is at the top of your list of things you enjoy, you may want to have a wonderful outdoor room, just off your main indoor living area. This calls for durable fabrics and finishes that hold up to the elements of outdoor living. Different areas of your home get different types of use. For example, you may want to veto linen fabric for a sofa in a high-traffic family room or silk in an everyday dining spot. Instead, upholster the sofa in a sturdy cotton blend that will stand up to stains, spills and hard wear.

If you still have small children under foot, consider the ease of living with durable fabrics and floor coverings for the daily wear of small children. Furnishings covered in durable fabrics are a must. Mellow tones can be very forgiving. It is wise to select a sturdy childproof French Country cocktail table, as this will get lots of wear and tear. Distressed woods are perfect to live with while raising a family. A good solution is a pine table that looks better with age the more dings and dints it acquires. Choose a table with drawers for storage and easy access to the things kids love to use daily, this also gives easy cleanup in a hurry.  

If your four legged best friend shares your home, you may want to choose rugs or carpets in deeper tones to make living with pets more enjoyable.  Patterned oriental rugs or carpet in tones of straw are the perfect color choices for durability. Add slipcovers and cushions with washable covers so you and Rover won’t be afraid to put your feet up.  I once had a client with two four legged kids who were blonde cocker spaniels. These four legged babies were the love of their lives and had the run of the house, so when we selected new sofas, we selected a light caramel color to match the dogs. Since the sofas were the dog’s favorite place to lounge, I suggested ordering extra sofa fabric edging with bullion fringe to create a large throw for protection which could be thrown in the wash. When guests arrived, no one ever knew they were sitting on the dog beds. Fabrics are like people, they have distinct personalities, some refined, some easygoing.  Does your home live the way you do? Don’t fight the lifestyle you have. You’ll enjoy your home so much more if you decorate in a style that fits the way you live.

Weather the Elements…..I love a room with the sun pouring through the windows. I feel closed in when all the windows are covered to protect furnishings from the sun. Instead choose fabrics that will stand up to the elements. New synthetic materials simulate the look and feel of natural fibers, but they weather the elements beautifully. If you have a sunroom filled with windows, choose a fabric that will hold up to fading. Faded hues are a perfect solution for rooms filled with sunlight. You can choose a color for the walls or just design a room around tones of ivory using the artwork of nature as your only color. Ivory slipcovers accented with colorful pillows create a perfect fresh air style and a solution for fading. I always use ivory, never use white for upholstery. Ivory has a natural feel; white is too stark, creating an unnatural and unwelcoming feel to a room. We even have choices for outdoor rugs made of fabrics designed for the outdoor elements; these are great solutions for a room filled with sunlight.

I like to live in a place where you can put your feet up, and you don’t have to just tiptoe around. The minute you walk into a room, you immediately know if you feel welcomed. If there is one thing I like to achieve in a design project, it is to create a room that welcomes you in and a space that is easy to live in. If these things are achieved, you will always love your home, and your guests will enjoy visiting. The ultimate compliment is for your guests to say, ”This room just feels good.”         

Email me at caiken1@alltel.net if you would like to discuss a decorating idea or dilemma.  This is another in my series of home INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS from your Atlanta Interior Designer; I hope that you use them to help you create a home that reflects your lifestyle.