Su Casa -- Ask Cristina
I Cant' Get Rid of It!
First published in Latina Style magazine. ©Cristina Acosta
Dear Cristina,
“I have some antiques
from my abuelos (grandparents) that have a lot of
sentimental
value. I want to put them in my living room with my new
furniture, but I’m not sure how to get the antiques and
my new things to look good together. Can you help with some
ideas that will make my living room furnishings look eclectic
instead of just mismatched?”
T. Roybal
Sometimes, you just can't bring yourself to get rid of
something. Especially a piece that has sentimental value and is
from a deceased relative. It connects directly with your
heart. Before you consign it to the back of the closet, try
blending the piece with the rest of your decor.
By taking the loving care and attention to display these pieces well, you are not only honoring your ancestors, you are honoring the heart and soul of your family. Making the connection between your emotional and spiritual feelings and the design of your living space takes more than good intentions you need to get organized.
The difference between an eclectic collection of beautiful things and a chaotic mishmash of stuff is how you’ve organized it. Figuring out how to blend together a variety of styles into a great look can be a challenge. Begin by looking at all of your furnishings and accessories for similarities that the new and the antique share. Ask yourself a few questions:
What themes are present? See if you can find common design
themes the antiques and your new furnishings share such as
elegance, simplicity, spirituality or rusticity.
Can you find common colors between your new things and the
antiques? What are the overall colors of the pieces? One
of the easiest ways to unify a variety of décor items
and furnishings is with color. If you have a set of shelves
lined with baskets, painting the wall behind the shelves a rich
vibrant accent color that is present in the baskets, like
terracotta red or gold will visually organize the variety of
shapes and sizes into a fascinating collection.
Do you have a variety of sizes and shapes? Group small items
like a collection of antique pottery and household tools
together to create an attractive still life. Put a large
piece of furniture in a prominent location to show it
off. A fabulous antique mirror teamed with a modern side
table in the entry hall is both practical and
beautiful.
Now that you’ve figured out themes and identified colors that will unify everything, how do you make it work? The trick is to pretend you are a photographer and look at every part of the room as though it could become a beautiful photograph. If it helps, snap some digital pictures as you move things around. Often seeing a picture of your room will give you a sense of what is or isn’t working.
Take your time and play with a variety of arrangements.
If you don’t have room to display everything, rotate your
collection seasonally and accent it with fresh flowers and
plants. Taking the time to enjoy the things you love
fills your eyes and soul with beauty.
Cristina Acosta is a color consultant, home décor
designer, author and artist. Author of Paint Happy! (Northlight Books) and
contributor to a variety of home décor magazines. Contact Cristina for color consulting for your home or
business.
