A retired couple was downsizing from a large house and asked me to help decorate the living room in an apartment they were renting. They weren’t taking any of their old furniture.
The apartment came with beige carpeting and was painted an off white, a blank slate. After discussing their entertaining style and decorating taste, we decided to purchase a sofa and love seat first. Once we chose that we would be able to choose all the other furniture easily.
Sofas are not something you should buy online because comfort is the most important thing along with the look, and it is necessary to see and sit on them in person. We went to several stores and found the perfect sofa and love seat at Crate and Barrel. It was a simple sleek design. We chose a dark tweedy blue/gray. This would look great in the living room because it would contrast nicely and compliment the beige carpeting.
After the sofas were delivered we purchased a coffee table and 2 end tables. This we did online. Given the size of the sofas a 3 ft. square coffee table seemed the perfect size. A glass top would make the room look more spacious.
Between the 2 sofas we chose to put an oval glass top table. Choosing a different shape from the coffee table made it special and added interest.
Then we purchased 3 stacking tables with colorful slate tops. Stacking tables makes entertaining easy, and that was a practical and good decision. The natural slate colors on the tops of the tables add a bit of color, too.
Speaking of color, the client had a decorative pillow passed down in the family. It had beautiful embroidery and red in color. It added the right amount of pizzazz to a quiet, calm, and sophisticated room. Then we added a few more throw pillows to liven up the room a bit more.
The finishing touch to any room is hanging art. This always make a room personal. The client had an antique brass oil lamp called a Judenstern that we hung over the oval table. Then we chose a few pieces of art and created an exciting wall arrangement featuring the client’s favorite art.
The couple was thrilled with their new room and are ready to entertain.
Blue and Beige Living Room
