Tips for mixing and matching

Q: I am starting a search for new living room furniture --

upholstery, in particular. I’ve seen many groupings that I like, but

do all of the seating pieces have to match?

A: If it’s variety you’re looking for, you’re in luck. Today’s

decorating mantra seems to be mix -- don’t match. You might start

with a mid-sized sofa and ottoman in a soft, romantic floral. Then

team it with a pair of chairs in a solid color and perhaps another

chair in a complementary fabric. The patterns you select should all

have two or three colors in common, which helps to establish a

cohesive scheme. The result will be a room that looks like it evolved

lovingly over the years.

Q: I love the look of patterned carpet, but I’m not sure how to

incorporate it into my room. Are there any specific guidelines?

A: Some of today’s best-dressed rooms feature patterned carpet.

While co-coordinating a patterned carpet with other prints poses more

of a challenge than its solid color counterpart, the process isn’t

difficult. Simply keep these points in mind: Because carpet will

undoubtedly be the pattern used in the largest quantity, let it serve

as a springboard for your overall color scheme. Make sure that all of

the patterns in your room have at least one color in common. This is

key to the continuity in a multiple-patterned scheme. For balance,

vary the scale of your motifs. The carpet should have the smallest

scale print, while armchairs might feature medium-sized patterns.

Finally, an oversized floral on a sofa can complete the balancing

act.

Q: My husband and I like to put our feet up and relax while

watching television, but the cocktail table that’s part of our

seating area doesn’t lend itself to that. How can I make this a more

comfortable sitting spot and still have a place to set snacks?

A: One of today’s most flexible furnishings is the ottoman, a

piece that will fit perfectly in your family room. Simply exchange

your current table for an ottoman of a similar size. Be careful to

select the fabric so that it co-ordinates with your existing

upholstered pieces. This piece of furniture can provide the kind of

feet-up comfort you’re looking for, plus it can easily accommodate a

tray for snacks and beverages. Or, you can choose a storage ottoman

which opens up to hide your precious treasures and leaves them within

arms reach. By selecting an ottoman that’s set on caster, you’ll have

the ability to move it to various parts of the room -wherever and

whenever the need for extra seating space arises.

Call Decorating Den Interiors at (714) 960-2211.