Studio 5 : Online Design Tools

What a fun opportunity to step outside the studio to help Halli and show her some of my favorite online resources.  We had a lot of fun together and I'll be excited to see what Halli does with her space going forward!  Click here to redirect to the Studio 5 website or you can read my article below and watch the clip here.




Once you start having fun with these online tools... here are my suggestions as you get started. These tools are to have fun with, but if you want to get anywhere in terms of really helping your spaces, keep these things in mind.

Online design tools can only take you so far.  For a kickstart.. here are the five things I think every room needs :

1. Good lighting 
Lamps are a MUST on every room I design. A combination of table and floor lamps and hard-wired lights with dimming capabilities are the only way to go. No one wants to rely only on overhead lights.  The only way to achieve that moody feeling is with incandescent lights.

2. Area rugs
Area rugs are a great way to finish off a space.  If you are dealing with old, boring carpet or tile flooring that you aren't going to replace, use an area rug to add a layer and great pattern or color to a space. MAKE sure you don't under scale the rug.  It will look like a postage stamp and be more distracting than helpful.

3. Art
Art is a great way to personalize and ground your space. Remember, most people err on the side of hanging art and pictures too high! Bring them down into the space where they can relate to your other pieces (sofa, console table, etc).

4. Greenery
These pieces add life! Every room needs fresh plants or something green. They can also add a great sculptural quality to your space as well which appeals to me.

5. Drapery
This is the ultimate finishing touch! Drapes are often the last-thought-of element and one that can't be substituted in any other way.  Vertical panels add a sense of luxury and texture that beautifies a space.