Two Things to Avoid When Designing a Room

When designing a room, it’s important to balance your furniture on the architecture of the space in order to avoid wonkiness.  In answer to your question, “wonkiness” is a very technical design term.  Ok, not really, but it’s a problem that we explored very specifically at my recent Furniture Arrangement Workshop at Merridian Home Furnishings here in Nashville.

 furniture floorplan

 

You should avoid wonkiness if you can, but sometimes it can be a challenge in a space with lots of architectural problems like the dreaded corner fireplace, rooms with vaulted ceilings and odd angles, and spaces with lots of openings and half-walls.

off balanced furniture arrangementWonky Furniture Arrangement 

 

Another thing to avoid when designing a room is choosing a paint color straight from a paint fandeck without testing it with larger samples on a product like SmallWall.  At the workshop, I demonstrated how to use SmallWall paint board samples of your wall color when shopping for upholstery and fabrics for that room.  If you don’t bring a large sample of your wall color when picking out new fabrics for a space, you are woefully unprepared to make the right choices!

choosing fabrics

 Choosing Just the Right Fabrics

 

At the Furniture Arranging Workshop, my friends at SmallWall provided all the attendees with a few samples so they would be prepared to make the right paint color choices.  

SmallWall3

 Small Wall

 

Besides the great swag bags and door prizes they provided attendees, Merridian Home Furnishings offered an awesome coffee table to the attendee who’s favorite Merridian find got the most “likes” on The Decorologist Facebook page.  And the winner of the Merridian Ragan coffee table is . . . 

merridian ragan coffee table

 Merridian’s Ragan Coffee Table

 

 

Melissa Allen from Brentwood!  Melissa just happens to part of my favorite local Realtor team, and she always makes sure to attend my events.  I guess it paid off, right? Congratulations, Melissa – you can pick up your coffee table from Merridian on Franklin Road during business hours within the next couple of weeks.  After attending this workshop, I’m sure you’ll put your new coffee table in just the right place!

Please go by and “like” the sponsors of my latest workshop to stay informed about the great products from Merridian and SmallWall!

14 Comments

  1. Tanya Dobbs

    The seemed like pure advertising with very little useful information.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Sorry, Tanya. I provide this blog and all the info on it for FREE to anyone who wants to read it, but I have to make a living just like you do.

      Reply
      • Shannon

        Kristie – I had never heard of Small Wall until now. Thanks so much for the information!

        Reply
  2. Patricia

    Wonkieness.. I love it! Except for the half wall, I have every challenge you mentioned in my great room and have never been happy with the furniture arrangement. Do you do virtual consultations? If so, let me know the best way to get a quote. 🙂

    Reply
  3. ceil tarwater

    Hey Kristie B. Unfortunatetly, I have ALL the ‘wonky’ room angles that you described in your article regarding odd spaces and furniture placement. I’ve done my best but, do you know anyone in the Atlanta, GA. area (that’s as great as you!) that you could refer me to for further personal assistance?

    Reply
  4. Karen

    Yeah, Melissa!

    Reply
  5. Paula Van Hoogen

    I was trying to remember that word, Kristie! Thanks….I love it–it so perfectly describes the feeling of awkwardness in a room that no one “designed”. Why don’t builders ask homeowners (I was going to
    say women, but there are plenty of savvy designing men out there!) how a house will actually LIVE??? Alas, sometimes a lemon does become the best flavor of lemonade…..thanks to your class I think I can now go and conquer an octogonal house I will try & stage for a friend!
    PS: the drive home, along the Ocoee River was sooo beautiful—come on over!!!

    Reply
  6. Jil Sonia McDonald

    Hadn’t heard of small wall before – that looks like such a helpful and useful product.
    And… thanks for confirming the use of the word ‘wonkiness’ , I use it all the time!
    xo

    Reply
  7. Melissa Allen

    ‘Wonkiness’ has been forever added to my vocabulary, cool word!! Thank you Kristie for being you and sharing your magic, I appreciate you 🙂 And yes I’m pretty excited about the coffee table… I thought that all the posts and shares and likes from that evening and contest were completely awesome!!

    Reply
  8. Jennifer

    Thank you for “advertising” Small Wall. I have always felt silly going in to fabric stores with a tiny paint chip and often considered using a piece of foam core or something, but never took the extra step to do so. Apologies on behalf of snarky previous commenter. It’s a great idea.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Thanks, Jennifer! Small Wall provided samples for the attendees to my workshop, but they didn’t pay me to advertise for them. They really have an awesome product, and I use them all the time! Thanks for commenting 🙂

      Reply
  9. Donna Frasca

    Wonkiness! Love making up words but I can definitely relate to it. Oh and I use Small Wall all the time for my clients and have been for a while. I say it’s the best paint sample board out there. They don’t pay me either to promote but just believe in the product and, my clients love it to!

    Reply
  10. Kelly

    Love that table Kristie! Lucky winner! Great advice to carry around paint sample when shopping.

    Reply
  11. Kitchen Renovations Brisbane

    How long does it take for the cabinets of kitchens to complete? How long does this process take?

    Reply

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