Coffee tables are more than just functional pieces of furniture; they are central to the design and ambiance of living spaces. Whether your taste leans towards minimalist, rustic, or contemporary, this central table serves as a canvas for personal expression and practical utility. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the nuances of coffee table styling, offering tips, ideas, and inspiration to transform this seemingly simple piece into a focal point of your home décor.

Understanding the Coffee Table

The coffee table has evolved from its humble beginnings as a tea-serving table in Victorian times to a versatile centerpiece in modern living rooms. Typically positioned in the center of seating arrangements, its purpose extends beyond holding coffee mugs to providing a surface for books, décor items, and occasional meals. Choosing the right table involves considering not only its size and shape but also how it complements the overall aesthetic of your living space. Contact us for a huge selection of amazing coffee tables.

Selecting the Perfect Coffee Table

When selecting the perfect table, several factors come into play:

Size and Proportion: The size of your living room and the seating arrangement dictate the dimensions of your table. It should be proportional to the surrounding furniture, neither too large nor too small.

Material and Finish: Coffee tables come in various materials such as wood, glass, metal, and even acrylic. The choice of material impacts both the aesthetic and durability of the piece. Consider how the material complements other furnishings and your lifestyle. For a table with natural elements look at Palecek

Style and Design: From sleek modern designs to classic, ornate pieces, coffee tables are available in a myriad of styles. Choose a design that harmonizes with your existing décor or serves as a statement piece to anchor the room.

Styling Your Coffee Table

Once you’ve chosen the perfect table, the next step is styling it to reflect your personality and enhance the ambiance of your living space. Here are some expert tips and creative ideas for coffee table styling:

1. Layering and Balance
Achieving balance is key to creating an aesthetically pleasing arrangement on your coffee table. Start with a foundational piece such as a decorative tray or a stack of books. Layer items of varying heights and textures to add visual interest without overcrowding the table.

2. Mixing Materials and Textures
Incorporate a mix of materials and textures to add depth to your coffee table display. Combine smooth ceramics with rough-textured natural elements like wood or woven baskets. This contrast creates a dynamic visual appeal.

3. Greenery and Natural Elements
Introducing greenery such as small potted plants or succulents brings life and freshness to your coffee table. Choose low-maintenance plants that thrive indoors and complement your chosen décor style.

4. Personal Touches
Display personal items such as family photos, travel souvenirs, or heirlooms to personalize your table. These items not only add sentimental value but also serve as conversation starters.

5. Functional Décor
Select décor items that serve a dual purpose, such as decorative boxes or trays that can also hold remote controls or coasters. This ensures that your coffee table remains both stylish and functional.

6. Seasonal and Occasional Changes
Refresh your coffee table décor seasonally or for special occasions. Swap out items like candles, seasonal florals, or themed decoration to reflect the changing seasons or upcoming holidays.

Coffee Table Styling Ideas

Minimalist Elegance
For a minimalist look, opt for a sleek, low-profile coffee table with clean lines. Style with a single art book, a minimalist vase with a single stem, and a small sculpture or geometric decor item for a contemporary touch.

Rustic Charm
Embrace rustic charm with a wooden table featuring natural grain and texture. Decorate with a woven tray filled with candles, a stack of vintage books tied with twine, and a small bowl of pinecones or dried flowers for a cozy, country-inspired feel.

Modern Chic
Choose a glass or acrylic table for a modern, airy look. Style with a metallic tray holding a few curated objects such as metallic sculptures, a small cluster of candles in varying heights, and a decorative bowl with polished stones or beads.

Eclectic Mix
Mix and match styles and eras by combining a vintage coffee table with eclectic decor items. Pair an antique trunk coffee table with an assortment of global artifacts, vintage postcards under a glass tabletop, and a mix of mismatched candles in colorful holders.

The coffee table is more than just a piece of furniture — it’s an opportunity to showcase your personal style and creativity. Whether you prefer a minimalist aesthetic, rustic charm, modern chic, or an eclectic mix, there are endless ways to style your coffee table to suit your taste and enhance your living space. By carefully selecting the right coffee table and curating a thoughtful arrangement of décor items, you can transform this functional piece into a captivating centerpiece that ties your room together.

Your local interior designers can help you consider all the factors in selecting the style of coffee table and the styling for the surface, all to top off your room design in a way that makes your room more beautiful and reflective of your personality and lifestyle.

Contact us or call (407) 902-3011 today

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The post The Art of the Coffee Table:<br>Styling Tips and Ideas appeared first on Orlando Interior Designers | Golson Designs.

Biophilic interior design, where nature and natural elements take center stage in our homes and workplaces, is the leading trend we’ve seen at the recent High Point N.C. Home Furnishings Market. It’s about connecting people and nature within the home environment. Biophilic design elements play a therapeutic role as they are thought of as calming, uplifting, and anxiety-reducing. Designs should include hues that mimic natural occurrences by bringing nature into the home. This can be in the form of rounded walls, curved furniture, skylights, natural elements and colors.

Biophilic uses outdoor inspirations as gigantic mood boards that allow you to select from a multitude of colors, materials, shapes, and patterns. Think lush plants, warm wood, cool stone, and water and light features. Not only does it look beautiful, but it also has been proven to boost our moods, increase productivity, and reduce stress levels.

Nature’s calming influence

The emphasis on Biophilic is based on the growing appreciation for nature and its calming influence on our lives. People are seeking more comfort and coziness at home in the form of painted nooks, moody wallpaper, warm wood tones, and rich, colorful upholstery. There is a rise of soft, warm nuances that are spirit-lifting and dopamine-enhancing. We want spaces that bring nostalgic moments to mind, fond recollections from our past that elicit a sense of warmth, comfort, and longing.

A symphony of color

We are seeing a cheerful bouquet of colors which will continue. Blues and greens, of course, are obvious colors for connecting with nature. Adding to those two popular colors are pink and yellow undertones. For a calming, relaxed, and welcoming interior, earthy or nature-inspired tones are taking over. Hues such as ochre, tan, taupe, light pinks, and light greys are taking over bedroom and dining room schemes.

Classic floral and lattice patterns are mingled with textural solids and delicate small-scale patterns for ease of layering. The color palettes explore a variety of inviting tones including buttercup yellows, corals, sage greens, clean blues, and earthy neutrals.

If you are looking for a Biophilic color palette try out Sherwin Williams’s collection: Emerald Designer Editionor Behr’s BioNature Collection

More emphasis on details

Intricate details enhance a room and make it utterly unique and interesting. They are indicators of quality, identity, functionality, and care. They tell stories and create memories. Like jewelry for your wardrobe, intricate details are the final piece of a room’s design. There is a definite trend to focus more on detail in selecting furnishings.

Texture also adds detail to a room’s design. In fabrics we see mohair, dimensional and mixed yarn boucle to add a softer personality to the design. There is also continued interest in Chenille, and shearling. In metals, we see burnished bronze and brown-based metals versus yellow or silver -based metals. In ironworks, there is a more hand-forged look. In stone, a more honed feeling, with softer raw edges. In wood, there continues to be raised grains and wire-bushed looks which creates a feeling of being close to the material. In natural materials, there is a move from split rattan to rush weaving and rush seating. In glass, we are seeing more ombre’, some opalescence, and more color. Tinted, milked frosted, and ombre are the story whether through urns and vases or tabletop.

Soft lines and more farmhouse

This year, designers and homeowners alike are leaning toward furniture and home elements that embrace soft lines. Spaces continue to have curvilinear shapes and a cocooning environment. In a turbulent world, we look for our homes to be our safe-haven or refuge. Cozy, comfortable living rooms or family rooms are on trend. Curved lines represent the fluid movement of water. Furniture designers have spotted the opportunity to bring people back together; a curved sofa, for example, can do that.

Yes, Farmhouse Design is still popular.

Today’s farmhouse design takes the comfortable, relaxed farmhouse style and adds modern touches such as smooth lines, glossy accents, and neutral color schemes. It’s less rustic, more sophisticated and uses contemporary design elements like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and sleek lighting. It is often characterized by using natural materials, such as wood, stone, and metal, as well as vintage and distressed furniture.

The key to these trends is the focus on calm, comfort, and connection.

If you’re interested in incorporating Biophilic design into your home, we are here to help!

Contact us or call (407) 902-3011.

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Get ready with a trumpet fanfare! The Pantone Color of the Year for 2024 is …

PEACH FUZZ. Yes, Peach Fuzz it is. Pantone 13—1023

“In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.” That’s from Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute

Peach Fuzz, claims the Pantone website, “captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. It’s a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul.”

Hotel lobby courtesy of Pantone.

While Pantone may be THE Color of the Year, there are others.

Benjamin Moore

Our partner Benjamin Moore has proclaimed Blue Nova as its 2024 Color of the Year, described as “violet and blue coming together in an elevated, sumptuous hue.”

Blue Nova by Benjamin Moore.

Add these paint manufacturer’s 2024 picks to the kaleidoscope

• Persimmon by HGTV Home & Sherwin-Williams
• Ironside by Dutch Boy
• Cracked Pepper by Behr
• Renew Blue by Valspar
• Limitless by Glidden
• Upward by Sherwin-Williams

Cracked Pepper by Behr.

How did all this start anyway?

We found an article at ArchitecturalDigest.com titled Here’s How Color of the Year Mania Came to Be.

“In the 1957 romantic comedy Funny Face, Kay Thompson — playing a larger-than-life fashion editor inspired by Diana Vreeland–leads a musical number in which she marshals her staff (and presumably the world at large) to “think pink!” Bolts of Pepto Bismol–colored fabric unfurl across her carpeted office floor as she tells her junior editors to “bury the beige.” As it turns out, Funny Face was right on schedule. In real life, pink was all the rage, dousing everything from a 1957 Ford Thunderbird to a 1957 RCA Whirlpool electric range. The parallel underscored a uniquely 20th-century phenomenon—that colors themselves could have moments.”

Isn’t that funny since this is still the season of Barbie pink?

More from that article: “It can be tempting to think of color trends mere whim, or—when a trend really takes off—as a lucky stroke of creative genius. But as that other esteemed fictional fashion editor, Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, famously schooled her hapless assistant Andy, the colors of consumer products are never an accident. They are deliberately chosen, work their way through retail networks high and low, and end up tinting the wardrobes of even those who claim to be indifferent to fashion.”

The Pantone Color System has been the standard for color matching since 1963. In 1999, the Pantone Color Institute created the Pantone Color of the Year educational program to engage the design community and color enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around color. The Pantone website states: “We wanted to draw attention to the relationship between culture and color. We wanted to highlight to our audience how what is taking place in our global culture is expressed and reflected through the language of color. This thought process rings just as true today as it did back in 1999. That’s one of the major reasons why, each year, so many around the world look forward to our Pantone Color of the Year announcement.”

Pantone may not have been the first, though. Pratt & Lambert, a paint manufacturer geared to the interior design market, claims their program dates to 1996.

How does all this help you?

First: It does stimulate some fun conversation and debate, even if it’s only about: How in the world do they come up with those names?

Second: It fosters creativity. Most of us don’t want to be boring with our interiors. Colors of the year make us think beyond the basic red, blue, yellow, green, or black and white, or even beige.

Third: It helps us learn about different paint brands and what they offer.

Renew blue by Valspar.

Color plays an important role in how interior decorating affects mental health. Color moves us. Color can set a mood and create a conversation. The website colorpsychology.org puts it this way: “It can excite or soothe your mood, raise or lower your blood pressure, even whet your appetite! Whether it’s innate or learned, it’s undeniable that color has a vital impact on how we go about our lives.”

So take your pick and make 2024 more colorful. If you would like help from our color consultants contact us or call (407) 902-3011.

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We are dedicated to lifestyle decorating with a central focus on enhancing well-being within our client’s living spaces. Recently, the interior design community has embraced the Danish term “hygge” (pronounced hyoo-guh), which encapsulates a design philosophy rooted in fostering contentment and overall well-being through thoughtful space planning and decoration.

It’s no surprise that hygge has found a place in the world of interior design, as our homes play a pivotal role in our comfort and happiness. While each individual’s lifestyle may lead to their unique interpretation of hygge, there are several common themes that everyone can incorporate into their own living spaces.

THINK ABOUT COMFORT HYGGE STYLE

First and foremost, think about comfort. What elements make you feel at ease? Is it the inviting touch of soft textures, the luxury of lounging on a plush sofa, or the soothing presence of neutral colors and earthy tones? Consider what’s underfoot and the appeal of throw pillows that cradle your back or head. When the temperature drops, do you reach for a cherished blanket, an heirloom Afghan, or a quilt that evokes fond memories? Does your furry friend have a cozy spot by your side?

LET YOUR LIGHTING SET THE MOOD

Now, let’s talk lighting. What kind of illumination sets the perfect mood for you? Is it the warm and intimate glow of candles, the mesmerizing flicker of a real or simulated fire, or the flexibility of a dimmer switch? Don’t forget the subtle influence of scents, which can also contribute to the ambiance.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH NATURE

Nature can be a powerful source of comfort. How do greenery and plants affect your space and your mood? Consider incorporating plants, whether they’re hanging from the ceiling or adorning your shelves. Additionally, images of nature as wall art can introduce a sense of tranquility and connection to the outdoors. Don’t forget wood. Even the most contemporary of rooms warms up when elements of wood are introduced. You don’t have to go full hunting-camp look to experience the effect of hygge.

DON’T FORGET YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE

Outdoor spaces, too, can benefit from thinking hygge. Make that deck or patio the perfect space to say “Let’s eat outside” or “Let’s have happy hour outside.” Elements of fire, wood, lighting, and textures all can add to the coziness of your outdoor space.

Incorporating these elements into your home’s design will help you achieve a hygge-inspired interior that’s tailored to your unique tastes and needs. In the end, it’s all about creating a space where you can truly relax and find contentment, because your home should be your sanctuary.

Contact GOLSON DESIGNS or call (407) 902-3011 and tell us about your style or how you would like to incorporate Hygge into your home.

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Having a great home office designer is important for several reasons, as they can greatly enhance the functionality, aesthetics, and overall effectiveness of your home workspace.

WORKING REMOTELY

“Remote work isn’t going away—and executives know it.” That headline in the Harvard Business Review (August 2023) suggests that the demand for home office space will stay strong. For further evidence, consider this Fortune.com headline: “Smucker’s return-to-office plan is a full embrace of remote workers.”

Whether you’re transforming a cozy corner, revamping an unused bedroom, creating an office within a spacious multi-purpose area, or looking to make a bold statement, we offer a range of inspiring ideas and solutions. Our home office designers will create your space to work with your specific needs.

DARK ELEGANCE

The award-winning space below was a transformation of a guest bedroom into a gentleman’s casual home office with a masculine feel. Ivory hues contrast softly alongside bold black walls and well-lit functional bookshelves.

Hand-crafted accessories fill each shelf designed with organic stones from European artisans. Each is a great layering accent mixing in a multitude of interior styles. This space emits a casual elegance, making it rooted in true curb appeal.

FLORAL WALLPAPER MAKES A STATEMENT

The home office below is a dramatic colorful change from the previous homeowners’ dark brown walls. It was “love at first sight” when the client saw the Garden Party mural. Two sophisticated chairs in bold green velvet with a touch of luxurious gold legs add glam. To further dazzle the room and address the need for storage, two credenzas were added in dreamy white with soft golden champagne geometric overlays. Yes, your home office can be vibrant, playful and feminine.

HOME OFFICE DESIGNERS TRANSFORM THIS BASEMENT

The home office below is part of a basement transformation into a multiuse room. A Sputnik light fixture compensates for the lack of windows and adds interest with a sophisticated vibe. Modern metal and glass barn doors create separation from the rest of the room while still allowing maximum light into the office.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

If you only have a small niche to work with, utilize an open wall (below left) and if you love books make a statement (below right.) If you have a home library or a room with extensive bookshelves, you can incorporate a home office within this space using a desk and ergonomic chair that blend seamlessly with the surroundings.

DUAL PURPOSE HOME OFFICE

If you often have guests over, think about integrating your home office with a guest room. Opt for a fold-out chair bed or a wall-mounted Murphy bed, as shown below, which can be conveniently hidden away when your guests depart. Make certain that the space offers comfortable sleeping accommodations for guests and well-lit work areas with plentiful storage.

IS YOUR OFFICE IN THE ENTRYWAY?

Coordinating the aesthetics of your office with the entryway can be challenging. Balancing functionality, style, and welcoming design can be complicated. If your home office is also right there as you enter the home, consider making it a fabulous décor statement like the office below designed as a surprise for the homeowner.

We want to help you get the right design for your new home office so contact local home office designers Golson Designs or call directly (407) 902-3011.

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Wallpaper is a transformative element that can completely redefine your interior space. Its popularity lies in its unique ability to incorporate a myriad of designs, textures, and colors that paint simply cannot achieve. With remarkable durability, ease of installation, and the potential for personal expression, wallpaper offers a cost-effective and stylish solution to interior decoration.

ADD SOME FLAIR

Wallpaper brings an added layer of sophistication, drama, or whimsy to a room, depending on your choice. Furthermore, the innovative features available in modern wallpapers, such as soundproofing or thermal insulation, add functional benefits to their aesthetic appeal. Embracing wallpaper in your home is a fantastic way to elevate and personalize your living space.

MAKE A STATEMENT

Wallpaper, with roots dating back to the 16th century, has seen significant evolution. Patterns have become bolder and larger, whole wall murals have gained popularity, and a variety of textures can be added, either through faux patterns or materials like grass cloth and glass bead.

STRAIGHT FROM HOLLYWOOD

Last month, in an Associated Press article by Kim Cook, she wrote that “In the Emmy-nominated opening credits of HBO’s ‘The White Lotus,’ wall-paper-like images told a story: The tropical prints started off innocuously enough, but then turned ominous. Fruit started rotting, fish got tangled in seaweed, and a sense of foreboding set the whole premise of an exotic paradise on its edge. The artist, Lezio Lopes, has said he was trying to evoke the design and themes of the shows resort suites.”

Cook continued “It’s a surreal example of a current trend in décor–wallpapers that combine art and narrative qualities to set the mood of a room. Some take us to wild places in nature, others to wild worlds born in artists’ imaginations. They go way beyond your nice stripe or simple floral.”

ALWAYS IN FASHION

Although wallpaper has been around a long time, it is making a significant comeback. Here are some things to consider:

WHAT TO DO

• Seek professional advice: Wallpaper selection can be overwhelming due to the variety available.
• Remember the room’s function: The purpose of a room should influence the wallpaper choice. Serene patterns suit bedrooms, while vibrant ones may suit living areas.
• Start with an accent wall: If unsure about wallpaper, start with an accent wall for an added focal point.
• Consider the ceiling: Wallpaper on the ceiling can add an unexpected touch of drama.
• Test a sample: Ensure the chosen wallpaper complements the room under different light conditions.
• Discuss style: Discuss your stylistic preferences with a designer who can help align your wallpaper choice with the overall room style.
• Explore peel and stick options: This is ideal for rooms like a child’s that might need more frequent changes.

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Overuse bold patterns: Bold patterns can overwhelm the space and create visual chaos.
• Neglect furniture: Ensure wallpaper complements rather than clashes with your furniture.
• DIY if unsure: Wallpaper installation can be tricky, so consider a professional for a seamless finish.

At GOLSON DESIGNS we excel at navigating the extensive world of wallpaper options. Our professional designers are dedicated to understanding your vision and style, guiding you towards the ideal wallpaper selection that seamlessly aligns with your décor goals. Let us partner with you in this exciting journey of transformation.

Contact us or call directly (407) 902-3011

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Decorating your home is an exciting venture, whether you have a creative streak or not. It’s a chance to showcase your personality and unique aesthetic. But, more than that, it’s also an opportunity to help protect the environment. How so? The answer is sustainable interior design.

There’s a vast array of décor and design/architectural principles you can implement in your home that not only appear attractive and pleasant to the eye, but also benefit the planet! Sustainable interior design is the perfect way to create your dream home while doing your part for the environment. From faucets and light fixtures to windows and walls, there are almost countless means of making your home gorgeous and green. Let’s take a look.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN?

In essence, sustainable interior design is an environmentally-conscious architectural and design style that focuses on using materials and construction methods that lessen a building’s impact on the environment. Sustainable interior design and sustainable architecture are also centered on improving the health and wellbeing of the people who live, work or play in a green building through its eco-friendly design.

Natural stone is minimally harmful to the environment and can last centuries.

Although sustainable design and green design may seem synonymous, they’re not entirely the same. Green design is all about reducing harm in the present and near future. By contrast, sustainable design looks at long-term consequences. As the name suggests, this design style uses elements that will continue to minimize negative impact on the environment for years, decades or even centuries to come.

It’s not just about building a structure — it’s also about building a future for the earth’s inhabitants. In a little while, we’ll take a closer look at the core principles underlying sustainable design and how to incorporate them when designing your home’s interior. But before we get to that, let’s discuss why sustainable interior design is so important.

Wool dryer balls are a natural fabric softener. They are reusable, reducing wrinkles and static.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

We all know that sustainable practices are critical to the planet’s wellbeing. From using public transport to buying environmentally friendly cleaning products, there are so many important ways we can reduce our impact on the environment. The best place to start as normal, everyday people is with the buildings we create and use. Utilizing sustainable interior design is vital for two main reasons: keeping the environment and us healthy.

The Environment’s Health

Sustainable design helps preserve our natural habitat by reducing our carbon footprint. Never heard that term? Don’t worry! In a nutshell, it’s the amount of greenhouse gasses we produce. These include carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere and increase temperatures across the world. Keeping the global climate stable is essential for preventing natural disasters and allowing us to grow the food we all need to survive.

Unfortunately, so much of our garbage ends up in the wilderness and the oceans, which can have terrible consequences for wildlife and the quality of our natural resources like soil and water. Sustainable design also helps reduce the amount of waste we produce, which is key to preventing pollution.

Our Health

Sustainable design keeps us healthy, too! It helps improve indoor air quality. The right materials prevent potentially dangerous toxins and dust particles from floating around the air and making us sick. By purchasing sustainable interior design décor and products, we can also reduce the noise in our living environment, which is all-important for psychological wellbeing. By using as much natural light as possible, we can reduce stress and increase productivity, too. This is especially helpful for those of us who work from home!

HOW TO DESIGN WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND

So, how do you go about actually implementing sustainable interior design? It’s helpful to start with the “Five Rs of sustainability,” which are the basic principles that underlie how to live sustainably:

Refuse: Say “no” to environmentally unfriendly products by buying only those that are recyclable and ethically produced.
Reduce: Use the minimum amount of required materials and resources to minimize your impact on the environment.
Reuse: Avoid single-use products (especially plastics) by using metal or wooden alternatives wherever possible.
Recycle: This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Make an effort to dispose of your trash responsibly by using recycling bins.
Repurpose: Utilize your purchases in different ways once they’ve served their original purpose.

The following concepts underpin the main pillars of sustainable interior design:

Energy efficiency

Because most of the world’s electricity is still generated by burning coal, energy is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Sustainable interior design aims to reduce energy consumption.

Waste reduction

Our natural resources are limited, and sustainable design seeks to make a little go a long way. It focuses on using the smallest amount of materials to insulate, build and decorate a building.

Maximized space

Making the most of the space you have goes hand in hand with energy efficiency and waste reduction. This is achieved by consciously and cleverly choosing materials and pieces (particularly furniture) that ensure a little goes a long way.

Exquisite, perfectly balanced faucets from KOHLER.

Water conservation

Although 70% of our planet is covered by water, less than 2% of it is safe to consume. Sustainable design works to decrease the amount of water we use to preserve this precious resource.

Healthy environment

As we mentioned earlier, sustainable design also promotes healthy living by making smart choices about temperature regulation, ventilation and products when designing an interior.

Longevity

Sustainable design is focused on using extremely durable high quality materials that last longer. In this way, you lessen your need to toss out old items and buy new ones, which supports waste reduction.

ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS & PRODUCTS

Picking materials and products that are recycled or recyclable and have a low environmental impact is the easiest way to achieve sustainability when designing your interior.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN EXAMPLES

Now that you’re familiar with why sustainability is so crucial and what it aims to achieve, how can you accomplish sustainable interior design in your own home?

Here are a few tips and tricks to make your home more energy efficient:

• Maximize the amount of natural light in your home by installing glass sliding doors and even skylights.
• Opt for compact fluorescent light bulbs, LEDs and halogens when you do need to use electricity to light a room.
• Utilize renewable energy sources like solar power if possible.
• Paint your walls light colors to help decrease the need for artificial lighting.
• Use lined draperies, carpets and blinds to improve insulation and thermal comfort, thereby reducing the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home.
• Arrange your furniture in heat and energy-saving configurations by opening up spaces around air vents to improve circulation.
• Install smart thermostats that heat up or cool down a room based on outside temperatures so you don’t have to do it manually. Some include sensors that switch off heating or cooling entirely when people aren’t in the room.

TO REDUCE WASTE

Choose linen, furniture and other decorative items made from recycled waste or materials that can be recycled when they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Pick products made from materials that are good for the environment. These include:

• Responsibly produced or reclaimed wood.
• Sustainably made natural fabrics like cotton, leather and wool.
• Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint.
• Recycled plastic, steel and glass.
• Materials such as hemp, cork, straw, jute and felt.
• Natural stone.
• Purchase adjustable and mobile furniture and modular flooring that can be reassembled and easily moved as necessary. This eliminates the need to buy new pieces.
• Buy products with easy-to-clean surfaces as they require fewer cleaning products (detergents are often harmful to the environment).
• Install water-conserving toilets and taps.

Palecek are known for their modern style and sustainable attitude to their business.

TO BUY RESPONSIBILY

• Select wooden pieces that are made from quickly renewable plants such as bamboo or those that have an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®) label on them.
• Look for locally-produced products. Items produced internationally require long-distance shipping which pollutes the environment.
• Shop at antique and secondhand stores. Not only are many of these items rare and charming, but they also minimize the need to produce new goods. Plus, you know they’ll last a long time!

As you can see, following sustainable interior design guidelines is actually really simple. All it requires is a tiny bit of care and consideration! If you’d like to make your home more environmentally sustainable but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in luck! We are here to help.

After you get in touch with us, we’ll schedule a meeting either at your home or over the phone, whichever you prefer. As we chat, we’ll get a sense of your design vision and your home’s current setup. Then, we’ll begin planning to make your dreams of sustainability and flair a reality.

Ready to have a discussion about introducing responsible decorating to your space?

Contact Golson Designs or call directly (407) 902-3011.

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ADD WHIMSY TO YOUR SPACE WITH A CHAISE LOUNGE

A new interior design trend is on the rise, and it’s making a splash: color, color, color. Gone are the designs completely focused on minimalism and colorless space. Welcome to a new era of bright hues and bold tints.

One great method for transitioning more color into your space is through a beautiful chaise lounge or sectional. By choosing the right placement and shade, their funky forms and often radiant styles can take any room from plain to lively.

Take a peek at the following tips to get your home ready for a new colorful year of interior décor.

WHERE CAN A CHAISE LOUNGE LIVE IN MY HOME?

Before picking the perfect style of chaise lounge for your home, you must decide where the furniture piece will live. It can go in many different areas, but some rooms may work better than others. Here’s some inspiration to get you started.

Make a Reading Nook

What better way to spend your time than to curl up with a good book or magazine? Carve out a corner of your room to place your chaise lounge, and accompany it with a tall bookshelf, side table, lamp, throw blanket and any other essential book nook elements.

Switch Up Your Home Office

Do you work from home? If so, your at-home office space may need a colorful and comfortable addition. Sitting at your desk all day can get boring. Switch up your options by adding a chaise lounge where you work. Be both productive and relaxed with this stylish setup, and implement some much-needed interest in the room where you spend a good deal of your time.

Fill Empty Space

One of the fabulous things about a small sectional is that it can fit essentially anywhere in your home. If you have a blank space in front of your window or beside your fireplace, a stand-alone chaise lounge may complete the room.

Perfect Your Walk-in Closet

Is your master closet looking a bit bleak? Placing a chaise lounge in the middle of your clothing space can really put the finishing touches on the area you pick your outfit out every morning. Make it your designated area for putting on shoes or sit comfortably while you contemplate what to wear — either way, a chaise lounge, an upholstered bench or a custom sofa can also make your walk-in closet extra glamorous.

CHOOSING A STYLE OF SECTIONAL

You have lots of options when it comes to the style of your chaise lounge or sectional. Which one ignites joy in you? The typical layout of a sectional is a sofa with one end seat as a chaise to put your feet up. As sectionals, by their very name, are made in sections, ask your interior decorator for a personalized layout that fits your space.

Chair
This type of furniture has a seat back like a comfortable reclining chair but has a distinct seat contour to support your legs. This luxurious, cushioned sectional may also have an adjustable back that can increase or decrease the angle of elevation, depending on your model.

Bench Sofa
This bench-style sofa can be transformed into many different forms. Similar to a daybed, this chaise lounge has an un-cushioned back and may have high ends on either side. This wide seat can be a wonderful addition to a living room or bedroom.

Traditional Sectional
This is the closest version of a chaise lounge to a sofa. Typically a traditional sectional has a few short seats with cushioned backs and one long seat to prop your legs and feet up on. Perfect for a living room or family room, this comfortable choice is great for seating more than one person.

There are several subcategories of chaise lounges within each of these styles, and it’s your decision what works best for your home. Want a French-inspired piece? Contemporary and modern? Curved? Straight? If you’re unsure, maybe it’s time to contact us for a little help.

Call Golson Designs today (407) 902-3011 if you want to get a project started or you have questions about working with an interior designer.

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The post Should I get a Chaise Lounge? appeared first on Orlando Interior Designers | Golson Designs.

You might have many beautiful spaces in your living room, but few sections are looked at as much as the wall that holds your TV. Try as you might to direct focus elsewhere, your television is always the main attraction in your living space. From Sunday football sessions to movie nights with the kids, your entertainment room is centered around the screen.

This isn’t a negative fact – it just means that the wall that holds your TV is noticed more than you might think. With that being said, that particular part of your room might be the last place you consider decorating. Why bother when the television already draws everyone’s attention? Find out why your TV wall is important, and discover how to spruce it up in time for your next Netflix binge!

Why your TV wall matters

As previously mentioned, your television is most likely the main show in your living room. That makes it an important aspect of your home’s overall design. The problem is, your TV can be distracting if the wall around it isn’t designed well.

You might have experienced frustration with figuring out how to lay out your living room, and deciding which wall your television will call home is a big part of that.

TV placement

The first thing to take into consideration when designing your living room is where the TV will go. This might not seem important in the overall scheme of things, but it can make or break your living space. You have a couple of options (namely a wall mount TV or TV stand), and both can work well in many home styles.

Here are some tips to follow to find the right place for your television:

• Pay attention to where the windows and doors are. Ideally, you’ll want to place your TV away from high-traffic areas and avoid sunlight that can cause a glare on your TV screen.
• Choose a wall that is big enough to host your TV. Modern televisions are big and can take up a lot of space. It’s best to find a wall that won’t seem crowded or too small to fit the screen.
• It might seem obvious, but make sure to pick a wall that has ample power supply for the TV and any other extra systems that might need to be plugged in.

When it’s time to actually place your television in a designated spot, you can either wall mount it or set it on an entertainment center or large piece of furniture.

TV wall mount

With a TV that’s mounted to the wall, height is everything. Since you’ll be watching the TV while sitting on the sectional, you don’t want to strain your neck by looking too far up or down. The common rule is that a 42″ TV should be mounted about 56 inches from the floor to the center of the screen, a 55″ TV should be 61 inches, a 65″ and a 70″ should be about 67 inches and so on. Basically, the larger the screen, the higher the television needs to be placed on the wall.

TV stand

If you don’t want to mount your television, then a TV stand is the solution for you. The entertainment center you choose should be based on the furniture you already have and should hold the television at a comfortable height for viewing. Avoid trendy furniture that will lose its charm after a few years.

Once your TV is placed or mounted, the wall design becomes the top priority, but how can you decorate a wall that is already dominated by a screen? Continue reading for TV wall ideas.

Decorating your TV wall

When decorating your TV wall, you have many design options. You can choose to have the television be the main attraction or you can blend it into the room or minimize its presence. Use the following ideas as inspiration for your space:

Wallpaper an accent wall

Whether you want the TV to stand out or assimilate in, wallpapering your TV wall is a great place to start. Pay attention to the color(s) of the existing walls and choose a hue that will complement them and the overall space. To lessen the impact of the screen’s size and give your living room a modern, chic feel, you can also try painting the wall with a dark neutral color like charcoal or navy blue. This can make the giant black screen seem less jarring.

Custom wallpaper in the wall niche by Vahallan available to the trade only.

Create a gallery wall

Arranging wall décor around your television can give the appearance that your flat screen is just another work of art. Pick out multiple prints or paintings to give an eclectic look, or choose simple, neutral pieces that harmonize the wall design. If you want to take this concept a step further, add a frame around your television.

Use your fireplace

If your home has a fireplace in your living room, it can be a great spot to hang your television above. Then, use the mantle to adorn candles, books, pictures or any other home décor that can bring new life to your living room.

Put your shelves to good use

For living rooms that have built-in shelves, set up your TV in the middle of them to naturally add to and accentuate the beautiful interior design your home already has. If your TV wall has no shelves, try mounting some on either side of the television, and then set various items of interest that boast fun textures and prints. This can be a great way to include color on a wall that might not currently have any.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to decorating your TV wall, but there are still design mistakes that you should steer clear of.

Common TV wall design mistakes

A beautiful wall design can incorporate your TV perfectly and make the whole entertainment space cohesive. But, one bad decision can make your living room look cluttered or uncomfortable. Avoid these common TV wall design mistakes to ensure the space is ready for your next movie night.

Too much wall art

Putting art on the wall that holds your television is a great way to add color and interest to your living room, but having too many pieces can make your space look overly busy. When hanging up paintings or pictures, it’s best to evenly space out each item and avoid mixing too many hues or patterns. Keep in mind that the TV should also have a few inches or more of space around the perimeter of its screen to avoid a design that looks cramped.

Tilted wall mount

As helpful as a wall-mounted TV is for viewing purposes, having a tilted screen can be very jarring. Using a swivel or a tilt mount is much better suited for a sports bar, not your beautiful living room. If you’re having trouble seeing your screen properly, try changing the height of the mount to be more suitable for your family.

Cornering your TV

Unless your living room was blessed with a perfect un-cramped space, putting your TV in the corner of the room is generally not a great idea. As previously mentioned, your television is probably pretty big, and it needs adequate space for it not to look like an afterthought. Try placing the screen toward the center of a wall or above a fireplace to avoid messing with your room’s flow. On top of that, avoid putting your entertainment center in front of windows.

If you got stressed while looking through this list of design mistakes to avoid, maybe it’s time to reach out to our interior designers for more TV wall ideas.

Call (407) 902-3011 today or contact us.

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The post TV Wall Ideas that Steal the Show appeared first on Orlando Interior Designers | Golson Designs.

After decades of floral patterns being plowed under in interior design, florals are blooming again in many spaces. Wallcoverings, upholstery, draperies, and bedding have all returned to showing floral patterns. Why you ask?

In a recent Wall Street Journal article cleverly titled “Fleur to Ceiling,” writer Yelena Moroz Alpert, suggested that “after decades as pattern non grata, floral motifs are budding again in interior design—letting the Covid-weary and technology fatigued bring ‘nature’ indoors.”

The late Mario Buatta, legendary interior decorator selected in Architectural Digest’s Top 100, loved floral chintz fabrics so much he became known as The Prince of Chintz. He was a good friend of Decorating Den Interiors and used to attend many events in New York and around the country. He would be heralding today’s return of flower power in spaces.

Floral wallcoverings or draperies on one wall can provide both a gorgeous focal point along with a contrast to other non-patterned décor like the rug and wallpaper above. Or using floral draperies (below) that when closed will provide a vibrant floral backdrop to this modern dining room.

One of our wallcovering suppliers reports they had a more than 200% growth in floral wallcovering sales in the last two years. We saw more and more florals in upholstered furnishing as went through the most recent Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C.

The Covid home-boundness certainly made us reconsider our home environment. Florals create a welcoming and cozy feeling. Who doesn’t like to look out the window in the morning and see new flowers in bloom?  Many of us have returned to the workplace. Why not come home to a bouquet of flowers? Florals are blooming again in interior design! We’ll be glad to assist you.

Make an appointment with Golson Designs or call now (407) 902-3011.

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