The Carpeteria Blog

Imagine sitting at that beautiful piano to play on a nice afternoon. If you are a pianist, you will discover a problem immediately. This piano faces toward the window, leaving the sheet music in shadow rather than having the outside light fall on it.

Would you rather play at night? None of the lamps are close enough to give enough light to read music. Reading music requires as much light or more than what’s needed to read a book. While lovely, it’s clear that no one in this home plays.

Part two of what’s wrong with this picture comes from the window treatments. At the left, the window covering is a simple drape of fabric with some trim. The bow window, however, seems to have inspired someone to overdo. The same fabric and trim is overwhelmed by the rosettes at the window frames and the doubtful display of fabric in the middle of the window. You get the feeling that someone picked up one of those 101 window treatments books and lost their head.

If you clean up the windows, possibly eliminate that ruffled throw pillow on the sofa to the left and replace the flowered rug with one big enough to encompass the conversation area, you have a lovely room – as long as you don’t expect anyone to play that piano.

Do you desire a girly bedroom, office or den? A place where you can feel beautiful and surrounded by beauty? Are you afraid you may go overboard with pink and floral; resulting in a room that looks like your grandmother’s living room? Below are guidelines to follow to create your perfect feminine retreat.

Start by selecting your wall color. A fresh pink rose, or lilac purple are beautiful feminine colors. The wall color will set the tone for your room. Not sure what color you want? Look through magazines and really observe the pictures of rooms that attract you. Remember what you like about the room on the pages. Take a closer look at the wall colors in the pictures. Choosing a color can be overwhelming for most, especially if you are going out on a limb. An empty freshly painted space can create anxiousness for most people. Keep in mind that once the furnishings and accessories are added, the end result will most likely be a pleasing one. Also remember paint color is the easiest thing to change. If you want to play it safe, choose a softer/lighter shade of a flirty color.

Select furniture with simplistic lines and sexy curves. A tailored look will achieve turning your feminine room into reality. Stay away from anything highly ornamental. Elaborate decoration will become overwhelming and busy. Make your furnishing selections based on your mood towards the item. This is your special room. You should love everything about it, right down to the hardware on your desk.

Fabrics within the space should be simplistically beautiful. Keep drapery straightforward; this is where you really want tailored style to come into play. For upholstery choose fabrics that feel comfortable and supple. Add a fun girly print fabric to a desk or occasional chair. Mostly select neutral fabrics that feel supple and have interesting textures. Pillows require the least amount of fabric. If you are going to splurge, do so by selecting luxurious accent pillows. A round bolster pillow looks great and can also be used as an armrest or lumbar pillow.

When selecting accessories think quality, not quantity. Add a couple of glitzy pieces, such as an acrylic lamp or a crystal vase. Throw down a neutral cozy rug, higher the pile the better (referring to the fiber/yarn height). Fresh flowers should always accompany a feminine room. Orchids are great because of the availability in color. They are also easy to keep alive. Keep all of your senses cheerful. Add a candle in your favorite scent. The soft glow of candlelight will provide a soothing, restful glow.

Designing the perfect feminine sanctuary doesn’t have to be hard. Actually it can be quite effortless as long as you listen to your instincts and choose items with love!