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.
September 17, 2009
Where do I start? The living room checklist
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21 Gentle Readers have this to say::
Don't say that too loud ;) what about the people that are moving in and have to paint or die. . . someone has to help those people and it's going to be you and me!!
Absolutely! We're up to the challenge! Thanks for commenting, Maria :)
Hmm, sounds like someone I know talking about her own recently denuded living room.
Well, I have the rug. The window treatments won't be fabric. I'm at the couch step and I have inertia!
I like posts like this with instructions. Very helpful for those without the decorating gene.
Mikka, I have no idea what you're talking about. ;)
That sounds so counter-intuitive for a person without decorating gene like me! I was planning on painting my nude living room this weekend! :(
Annie - is it possible to both agree and disagree at the same time??? :)
I think when we look at a room from a technical standpoint, the rug is absolutely the first item to be chosen. It usually covers a lot of decorating ground (no pun intended), and can make a big statement - if you want it to.
But when we create a room from an emotional place - and this is where I believe design should start in any home - I'd much rather begin with something the homeowner loves...then go from there. If you are dying for turquoise walls, go for it! Then let everything else fall into place. Granted, it's important to find the RIGHT shade of turquoise, and maybe have an idea of what direction you might want to take the rest of the room, but that's what wonderful blogs like yours are for! Generating and sharing ideas and images and giving your readers the confidence and enthusiasm to make their homes their own!!
Great tips! Especially the point about choosing the paint color last. We tell our clients the same thing. It's MUCH easier to choose from thousands of paint colors to match an upholstery fabric or rug color than it is to match a sofa fabric to a particular paint color.
ah, if only i had followed your advice that i also preach to my clients. Alas, we were stranded in our new digs for over a month before our furniture and other earthly possessions arrived, and with nothing else to do, who can resist painting a completely empty space without the hassle of furniture? I succumbed, and selected a lovely pumpkin for my dining room, without a single piece around which to base it. Now, i am paying the consequences!
any suggestions, now that we must work backwards?
Kelly, yes, we can! Because I totally agree with you: start with something you love. But if you don't have that, or you're really starting from scratch...this is an idealized, blank slate list. I really appreciate the comment!
Rachel, LOVE that design dilemma - and your pumpkin dining room! I left you some feedback on your blog - it's an interesting case, Gentle Readers! http://tinyurl.com/m8tlhe
As always, Rachel, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Wish you were here - party for Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar tonight at My Notting Hill's house. Should be fun, but have been in bed w/ a cold all day. Must rally but not infect others. Hmmm...
WHERE WERE YOU in the 90s??
Great post! Just happened upon your blog...Love it!
thanks for the suggestions for my design dilemma- i appreciate your ideas!
darn it, i'm missing a party? how is it that i never met you when i lived in B'more? next time i'm in your neck of the woods, we simply MUST meet for coffee!
hope you are feeling better...
I agree, although I have always started with fabric. My theory personally has been to always start with the "most expensive" part first..which for me is USUALLY all that darn fabric I want to have everywhere! =) Then color match paint to the fabric.
Such great advice, Annie! And we love that Quadrille Chinoiserie on the sofa. So great meeting you!
Thanks, Eddie! And right back atcha - great to meet you and Jaithan!
Rachel H - I do agree. If the post had been more in-depth, I definitely would have said something along those lines! Thank you.
Thanks for the comments, all! I really appreciate it.
Perfect advice! I have freaked out more than a few people by suggesting that they WAIT to paint until they have chosen the major elements of the space. What? Wait? But we have to paint NOW!... as they're moving in or remodeling and the room is empty, which does make it easier to DO but not easier to choose the right color!
Great post! Found you on all the blogs that recapped Eddie Ross's trip to DC. I'll be back for more when time allows.
This is wonderful and helpful, thank you! I have a question: why do you choose the window treatments before the sofa? Shouldn't the sofa come first since it would be easier to find window treatments?
Tracy - Welcome! Glad you liked this, and look forward to seeing you in the future!
Gem - great question. I say choose the rug first because a) it's so darn big/a big part of the room's overall scheme, and b) because it may have a pattern.
I respectfully disagree that it's easier to find window treatments than a sofa :) I'm talking about fabric window treatments; if you're having them made, there are a bazillion fabrics out there!
From there, I often suggest a sofa that's a solid color or texture rather than a bold pattern, because it will hold up better over time. And that should be easier to find than a fabric that you absolutely love.
Does that make sense, Gem? Please let me know - I really appreciate the question!
I was just wondering "Where should I start?" and your blog popped up! Beautiful post and fabulous information!
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