How to create a spacious lounge

As the living space is where you’re most likely to spend the majority of your free time, it pays to adorn you lounge in such a way that maximizes your space.

Obviously pushing walls back isn’t an option, and if building an extension is too far-fetched for your budget, here are three of tricks you can perform to make the most of your living room’s diminutive dimensions:

With a feature wall

When executed correctly, a feature – or statement – wall can add inches to your room.

Whatever colour scheme you have in mind, it is worth bearing in mind that cool colours recede and warm colours advance. For example, if your room is narrow, you can trick the eye into thinking it is wider by painting the widest walls dark and the narrower walls a lighter shade.

The same applies to wallpaper, so why not choose a dark, plain paint for your widest wall and light, intricately-patterned wallpaper for your shorter wall?

And don’t forget, you can also widen a narrow room by painting horizontal stripes if you wish to play with a number of colours.

Make room with a mirror

The paint job done, it’s time to move on to making the most of your homeware and accessories. By implementing a focal point, and angling your mirror towards it, this creates the illusion of depth within your room.

If you have a few free walls to play with, try to place a large mirror near to you window as this will catch, and accentuate, the natural light. Taking this on board, add glass-topped tables instead of chunky wood ones, as this will add to the amount of visual floor space; enlarging your lounge.

Space-savvy seating

As the main event of your lounge, your sofa should only be as big as the room you put it in. Instead of a wide-armed, large-backed monstrosity, opt for a chic sofa with simple lines and neat tailoring. Or one with open arms and exposed legs is even better, still.

Scale the seating to suit the size of your room and, if possible, try to match the colour of your sofa to the wall as much as possible.  It’s a bizarre trick of the eye, but it works!

Complimenting your paint job with a fabric sofa, such as those available at sofa specialists Oldrids & Downtown, is guaranteed to add texture and interest to the room’s décor. Placing the sofa against the wall will enhance the (albeit minimal) open space you may have available, too.

Making the Most of Your Living Room Space

Does it ever feel like your living room gets smaller every year? As the kids get bigger and the family accumulates more “stuff” it just seems sometimes like your house is shrinking. But before you start looking to knock out a wall, follow some of these tips to maximize the space you’ve got.

 

1. Find Functional Furniture

Look for furniture that can multitask. Use end tables to strategically hold lamps or accent pieces but also as a means of storage with shelves or drawers underneath. You can also place magazine bins or baskets underneath open tables. Similarly, look for ottomans or couches that can double for additional storage spaces to keep kids’ toys and television remote controls out of site.

 

2. Don’t Add On, Build In

Rather than adding more furniture or shelves to a room, think about building into the space you already have. Built-in cabinets can add dimension to a small room and double as both a display space or for added storage. A recessed day-bed or window seat can eliminate the need for added couches or chairs while still allowing for plenty of seating options.

 

3. Think Big

Sometimes there is the idea that if the room is small, you need to fill it with small furniture. However, several small pieces can make a room feel cramped. Opt instead for one or two larger pieces that serve as a main focal point and keep the room feeling clean and clutter-free.

 

4. Go Vertical

Rather than several shorter shelves or tables, choose taller pieces that take advantage of the height of the room. Look for tall book shelves and store your “already read” books on the uppermost shelves. Add a hutch with drawers and shelves to your desk or workspace rather than cabinets that take up more floor space and look for shelving with an extra tier or two to hold those picture frames and accent pieces you accumulated over the years.

 

5. Find Your Own Nook

If you haven’t a separate office or den, avoid making the living room your workspace. Not only is it important mentally not to work where you rest, but you’ll find the room will quickly fill with extra office clutter. Instead, find an unused corner to create a workspace all your own where papers, computers, books and other office supplies can be kept. Utilizing space by a window will allow you to use the natural light and keeping your desk facing away from a television will keep you from getting distracted.

Bath and Bodyworks Teams up with Matthew Robbins

Two things I love are candles and Bath & Bodyworks. It is no surprise that I love Bath & Bodyworks candles. I remember when they first started selling candles. I was working there and when they opened up White Barn Company part my heart melted. I was addicted. I had all kinds of candles. They used to sell candles in my favorite scents. I could light a candle and use the lotion and be lost in a land of Juniper Breeze. I still have some of those candles that I have had for 8 plus years. My mom said that she was lighting my Bartlett Pear candle. She said she would replace it and I said that's not possible because they don't make it anymore. I don't think she ended up lighting it. I have had many different candles from Bath & Bodyworks through the years. My current favorite scent is Fresh Bamboo. I cried when they stopped selling it. If they would have warned me, somehow. They could have emailed or tweeted I would have gone crazy and bought a lifetime supply. They ended up bringing it back and I got a couple candles. I even gave my mom one.  She loves Fresh Bamboo too. I look forward to when Bath & Bodyworks comes out with new scents each season. I can't wait to smell the spring ones. Yesterday I received a flyer in the mail with some coupons.

Everyone knows how great the scents are but did you know that Bath & Bodyworks White Barn Candle Company sells candle decorations. The candles are in beautiful jars with silver lids but sometimes you wanna add something special.

Bath & Body Works partnered with celebrity event designer, Matthew Robbins, to create some fun spring décor ideas as well as provide a few tips and tricks. From setting a table for Easter brunch to a casual get together with friends, the new Bath & Body Works White Barn Candle Collection and Accessories are sure to bring the scents and colors of spring into your home.

Candles: $20 at bathandbodyworks.com
Accessories: $5.50-$44.50 at bathandbodyworks.com

For more information please visit Bath & Bodyworks

I am working with Bath and Bodyworks on this post. I am receiving some samples of the products. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I Need New Rugs

One of the things that stick out in my memory about my Grandma Rose is that she had all of these little rugs in her house. I remember pretending that the ground or carpet was lava or water and jumping from rug to another. I would even carry one with me and use it in those really sticky situations when there was a huge gap between rugs. It was a lot of fun and a great game to play with my sister and the occasional cousin. All my cousins are older than I am some quite a bit older, but they would always take time to play with me, their adorable youngest cousin. Now that I am an adult when I see rugs I think of my grandma, especially when they are the same type of rug that she once had. She had two different types of rugs in her house.

Every time, I see a rug I think of my grandma. I also would like to buy some Jute Rugs for the laminate floors in my house. We have rugs at the doors but I would love to get something more decorative. I love Bamboo Rugs.I think a bamboo rug would look really nice with the green colors in my house. Maybe one in front of the sink in the downstairs bathroom since it is painted a pretty shade of green. I think I want to decorate my home with some new rugs and décor.

What kinds of things do you use to decorate your home? Do you like rugs? Did you used to play the game where you used to pretend the carpet or floor was something dangerous? I look forward to your stories.

Fandangling Review and Giveaway

One thing parents buy when they are awaiting their new bundle of joy is a crib mobile. Most babies like to stare up at it and watch it go around. It is mesmerizing to them. The only bad thing about a traditional mobile is when your baby can pull themselves up; you have to take the mobile down. It becomes a safety hazard. Noah had an adorable little duck mobile that he would love to watch but when he got old enough the ducks had to come down. It was kind of sad for me because he had loved it since birth. Anne Zacharias, a mother of two came up with a brilliant idea, a mobile you attach to a ceiling fan named Fandangling. You don’t have to take mobile away anymore. Older children can also have mobiles in their rooms. They are really cool and can be soothing for a toddler.

Noah has a sea creature theme in his room. His room is painted light blue that matches his Sea Creature border perfectly. He has pictures of sea creatures and a sea creature quilt on his wall. His room is really cute so when I had the opportunity to try out a Fandangling mobile I was really happy to see that they had one called Underwater Adventure – Blue that has little stuffed dolphins and turtles.

The day we received the Underwater Adventure – Blue Fandangling, Noah wanted to play with it. He thought they were his newest stuffed toys. I tried to explain to him that they are for his ceiling fan. He didn’t totally get it until he saw it in motion. Noah loves his new dolphins and turtles. He watches them go round and says round and round, round and round. He definitely thinks it is really cool. He doesn’t remember his crib mobile of course and he loves to watch things spin. He will turn on his ceiling fan in the middle of the night to watch it go around. We occasionally make the light in the dining room spin around and so Fandangling is perfect. I hope you check out Fandangling’s website and order some of the cutest ceiling fan mobiles for your little bundles of joy.

Fandangling also donates 10% to multiple charities some of them are Animal Friends, ACEP and Build. I love this statement on their website: At Fandangling, We believe that Giving Back can truly make a difference in people’s lives.
I also have a coupon code to share with you guys. The coupon code is worth 20% off. The code is FANDANGLING10.

Thank you to Fandangling for sending me a complimentary mobile for my son to try out and providing one for the giveaway.

I have a giveaway for you. One (1) reader will win a Fandangling mobile of their choice.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Fandangling’s website and tell me which one you would like to own

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This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada Only

This giveaway will end on March 21,2010 at 11:59 PM EST.