Bella Donna Moden

When you first bought your home, that super large open area commonly called the “Great Room” probably seemed to be brimming with possibilities. Chances are, you didn’t know for sure how you would arrange your furniture in it, but with such potential, surely you’d figure it out! After all, they don’t call them a “great” room for nothing, right?

Still perplexed? You are not alone. Large, undefined spaces are tricky to make work. But not impossible. Here are some practical guidelines to help you make your Great Room great!

Plan

• List all activities that will take place in that room (homework, play, entertaining, dining, TV viewing, computer work, etc) and prioritize.
• Measure everything, and create a layout of your room (include windows, doors, outlets) on graph paper, including your furniture.
• Identify which pieces you absolutely want to keep in the room (furniture, rugs, art, etc). Don’t be shy about bringing in pieces with other rooms.
• Take your style and color cues from the pieces you’ve selected for the room.
• Don’t forget to take lots of “before” pictures!

Color

• To make the room cozy but not overwhelming, opt for a neutral base color and use artwork and splashes of accent colors to spice it up. It’s much easier to change accessories to suit your color moods than to paint a very big wall!
• Consider painting one wall a stronger color as a focal point or to square off a longer room.
• Don’t be afraid to use bold color in accessories and furniture. A room of this stature can handle it. Surround yourself with colors you love.

Arrange

• Divide and conquer! Create separate zones based on functionality, especially if the room is long.
• Allow for traffic patterns and a comfortable conversational area. While sectional sofas are tempting in such a large space, consider the traffic needs of the room. Do you really want to have to walk around it every time?
• Since you probably don’t have much wall space to work with you will need to float your furniture. Use angles to soften a room and anchor functional spaces with area rugs.
• Be mindful of vertical balancing as well as horizontal balancing. You don’t want the room to feel lopsided or lack variety in heights. You’ve got height to work with, take advantage of it!
• Doors posing a problem? Make sure you allow enough space for easy access. Add an indoor/outdoor mat to keep tracked-in dirt to a minimum.

Windows

• Great rooms often come with lots of great big windows. Window treatments aren’t just for style (although they can make a wonderful impact). You may need to manage how much sun the room gets, not only for comfort, but to protect your furniture as well. Do you need privacy? Insulation from cold? Buffer sound? With a great room, the more fabric you put up, the quieter it is.
• Avoid hard surface window treatments in such a large room. They give a colder look to large space, and won’t absorb sound.
• Sun beating up your furniture? Consider having your windows tinted to cut out nearly all the damaging UV rays. Check out http://www.gilafilms.com for more information.
• What to do with a sliding or French door? Functionality is priority with this one! Consider a light-weight textured weave fabric, and hang it high. Pull it over to the non-opening side. Use drapery rings with clips to make it easy to open and close. This will add height to the room, add a softening element, and allow for privacy or insulation when needed.
• For more ideas and to order custom panels, visit http://www.smithandnoble.com. Their site also features a handy gallery tool with a search feature to find ideas by room, type of window, and style.

Lighting

• Add a mix of up-lighting, accent lighting and task lighting to match the functions you’ve outlined for the room.
• Now let’s get practical about unsightly electrical cords! Funny how you never see electrical cords in a magazine photo shoot! But here in the real world, we need to hide ugly cords and keep from tripping over them. If you don’t have conveniently placed floor plugs, you can either make it less ugly with a cord cover if it’s not covering a traffic route, or use a product like “Wiremold” – a cord protector that flattens the cord along the floor and comes in brown, beige and gray. And please, no duct tape!

Accessories and Art

• To fill a large wall space, how about hanging a loved quilt or tapestry, or a series of coordinating art, or wrought iron grates, or a collection of mirrors? On a budget? How about framing a fantastic piece of fabric with a large, bold print? There is no lack of ideas! Just use what you love, and make sure it is of proper scale for the space.
• When it comes to accessories, less is more! Not only does it look better, but it just feels better and is easier to keep clean! Rather than display all your accessories at one time, split them into seasons and rotate them into play for a fresh look.
• Don’t forget accent tables. Inevitably you will need a place to set a cold one from time to time!
• Use textured fabrics – more durable and they soften the acoustics of the room. Plus throws and pillows really add splash and personality to a room.
• Don’t forget to add at least one living element such as a ficus tree or palm. Avoid clusters of small plants. They’re more work and it will look cluttered.
• Room still not right? If you’ve exhausted your options from what you already own, consider purchasing a few key pieces to tie it all together. Start by reading design magazines to find inspiration!

Maintainability

• Keep frequently used items w/in reach – such as blankets, remotes, office supplies, toys.
• Keep a basket (or two) for items left in room that belong elsewhere.
• Chances are you’re not the only one enjoying your great room. Establish “Great Room Rules” for the family and stick to them!

Need help developing your redesign plan? Consider hiring a professional Interior Decorator who specializes in Interior Redesign to give you an objective viewpoint and help you put together your redesign plan. Interior Decorators are not expensive. Their expertise typically costs anywhere from $75 – $125 per hour, and most offer half or full-day packages and shopping services.

So get started today, and make that great room as great as it can be. After all it’s your home, only better.

Susan Smith is owner of Rooms That Work, and helps home dwellers redesign their living spaces in the Farmington Valley area of Connecticut. Visit http://www.roomsthatwork.com for more information, or http://www.homedigz.com to catch up on the latest blog. It’s your home, only better.

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