Decorating Tips

Marlaine Bennett

Jump To:

1. How to make your home more cozy.
2. 10 ways to make your rooms more functional.
3. Incorporating natural elements into your home.
4. Professional Design Tips for Proper Placement.
5. Guidelines to lamps, bulbs and lampshades.

1. Winter is here: Some ideas for getting “cozy” in your home:

“Cozy” is the operative word for the winter months especially in Canada! It means comfort, warmth & security but it’s more than just physical warmth- it’s a need for emotional comfort as well. Our lives feel more content when we can say “aaahh, it’s good to come home”. We all have our own ideas about what makes us feel cozy but we can pin point some of those preferences by thinking about things like personal style, colour, choice of fabrics & furniture placement. We take in information through our 5 senses (sight, sound, scent, taste & touch) which inevitably influence how we decorate and enjoy our rooms.

Arrange furniture to encourage conversation and togetherness. Most of us value family and friends so we make them a priority. In large open spaces, rearrange furniture to create intimate seating areas. Use an area rug to anchor the room grouping. Items such as screens, tall plants or trees (real or quality faux ones) create visual boundaries to keep the area somewhat confined from the rest of the room. Add touches of items you find beautiful or meaningful to you like artwork, a treasure from a trip or a special photograph of a friend or family member. These things just make us feel good to look at them.
Add heat without fire! An electric fireplace can be a focal point in the room if a wood or gas fireplace isn’t an option. The choices available are excellent including corner models, several different wood or stone finishes, ones with granite tops and “flames” that emit crackling sounds like a real fire. An alternative could be to place a grouping of candles in a fireplace with a mirror behind or on a tray in various shapes and sizes. All one color is very attractive. New on the market are Realite candles (available at Bennett’s) that are battery operated (with option of a 5 hour timer setting) and appear as though there is a real flame. Safe and easy to use these are a real hit for mothers with small children and seniors.
Light up your life. There are many lamp options but some that help make an area cozy are lights with dimmer switches for soft evening ambience. Also, floor lamps like torchierres or floor lamps with “up-lighting” to glow against the ceiling or floor spot lights to shine upwards in a tree or plant in a corner. Small strands of twinkly lights wrapped in a tree or plant during the holidays is very pretty and soft looking. They look inviting over a doorway or around a window too. In table and floor lamps, it looks warm to have lower watt bulbs or compact fluorescents which save money on electrical bills too.
Fabric choices galore. In the winter add or change your accessories to add a touch of warmth, weight, and a tactile experience with heavier, furry or fleecy touches of fabric. Eg. pillows and rugs made of fur or sheepskin. Soft throws for the bed or sofa in rich color tones, natural fibers like angora or wool and soft manmade materials like fleece or faux fur; they say “snuggle in me right now”. Another trick is to layer fabric. Draperies can have side panels or valances added over existing basics. Tablecloths, runners and placemats dramatically change the look of a dining room or kitchen table. Add a seasonal centerpiece and voila - a new look. Slipovers can hide spring and summer fabrics on pillows, sofas, chairs and ottomans. They can also be used to cover light fabrics on dining room chairs.
Sense of smell. Don’t ignore this all important factor in helping change the “feeling” in your home. We’ve all heard that memories are triggered by scents and few people would have an objection to natural scents emanating from a simmering pot of apples or natural herbs and spices (like cinnamon sticks and cloves), warming on the stove. Fresh cut pine or spruce boughs in a large vase emit a lovely smell as well. If people are not allergic there are scented candles with lovely fragrances like “grandma’s pantry, mulberry, or evergreen” for aromatherapy!
Is music in the air? Don’t discount the power of sound. We are always tuned in to our environment so use your favorite music to enrich your living experience. There are CD’s available that have “music” captured from our natural world like babbling brooks and waterfalls, birds chirping or wind and rain. What a great stress reliever after a busy day.

We can draw upon good memories by igniting our senses and by taking a few minutes to visualize our version of cozy. The question then becomes, “Does this feel good?” If it does, then it is right for you.

2. Making rooms more functional:

No matter whether you live in a small one room condo or something much larger, you can create a space that is pretty and practical. Whatever you do keep it SIMPLE.

Use vertical space to the maximum: Take advantage of wall space by adding tall bookcases, cabinets or shelves. Getting odd items off the floor and hidden away makes a home look more tidy and organized as everything will have its place.
Keep traffic paths clear: Create an efficient layout so that you avoid bumping into furniture. Take a look where the most direct paths are to each commonly used zone e.g. kitchen or living room. Leave enough room to walk around each piece of furniture. Look at things like magazines and newspapers which tend to build into piles and get in the way!
Control clutter: These may seem obvious but it’s a daily regimen that will help you form a good habit to keep daily items under control. Get rid of items you no longer need or use, deal with paperwork as it comes in, file important papers in labeled folders or boxes and return everything to its original place when you are done with it. One of the areas that are really important is in the kitchen so cleanup doesn’t get overwhelming!
Add storage: Store like items together- such as cleaning products or bathroom supplies, in labeled boxes or plastic bins. Many stores now carry wicker baskets for storing items in a laundry room or bathroom. There are many storage options available like over-the-door racks for shoes or shelving units to store seasonal or extra clothing. Options for closet organizers are plentiful that maximize space for hanging women’s shirts & skirts and men’s shirts and pants on 2 tiers saving valuable space. Sometimes a coat rack will offer that extra needed space for hanging outerwear or shower robes.
Create an office, sewing or reading area: If you don’t have the luxury of a separate office or study, add a desk or sewing area in a corner of a bedroom or living room. (Preferably under a window to take advantage of natural light). There are computer units available that look like wardrobes but when open have all the spaces planned out for a computer, shelves and a filing drawer behind closed doors- all neat and tidy!
Create an office, sewing or reading area: If you don’t have the luxury of a separate office or study, add a desk or sewing area in a corner of a bedroom or living room. (Preferably under a window to take advantage of natural light). There are computer units available that look like wardrobes but when open have all the spaces planned out for a computer, shelves and a filing drawer behind closed doors- all neat and tidy!
Use a room for what it was intended: Try to keep most of the children’s toys in their bedrooms or playroom and out of the living room (of course there are times when they want to be where you are). Do paperwork or homework in the home office or den – not the dining room. Move crafts, sewing, or woodworking projects out of the kitchen and down to the bedroom, crafts room, or area that can have these projects on the go where it’s easy to put it all away in tote boxes or hidden away.
Store items in the rooms in which they are used: So often we walk extra steps to put things away when we could make room or reorganize to have space in the room where the activity takes place. Try to keep table linens in the dining room, magazines & newspapers in a pretty wooden box in the kitchen or in a functional holder beside the sofa in the living room, dish towels in the kitchen and detergent in the laundry room. Some people even try to keep the sheets or comforter sets for each bed in the bedroom closet or the sheets for the sofa bed in the downstairs recreation room in the nearest closet.
Multi-functional furniture: There are furnishings such as coffee tables that come with shelves, drawers, and even swing-out side tables or under the table seats. The seats can be used for playing games at the table, seating extra guests or more table space for serving food. Some even have side sliding tops with storage below, lift tops for eating at instead of at the dining or kitchen table or narrow designs with a magazine rack at the back. Wardrobes are very flexible because they can be for clothing, hold a TV, DVD player and all the accessories or have provisions for a computer as mentioned above. There are TV stands with shelves or doors or even a fireplace!
Have Multiple table surfaces: Rather than having to get out of your chair every time you want to sip coffee, make sure that there are enough surfaces within arm’s reach of living room seating to hold items such as drinks, books, table lamps, tissue and reading glasses.
Purchase efficient lighting: Think about where you need lighting and then analyse what kind of lighting- table lamps or floor lamps, style of lamps according to the activity and mood of the space. Are you writing, eating or reading?

3. Incorporating natural elements into your home.

Nature is a wonderful source of ideas for decorating our home although some of us would like to just add touches here and there- not an entire house “lodge” theme. Find treasures that you find appealing and suitable for the room you want to accent.

Natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, wool and acetate are popular looks and often blended together or with manufactured fibers to increase performance. I expect we’ll be seeing more hemp products too) Sheepskin hides and Tibetan pillows (long, wavy fur) make a lovely accent to a bedroom floor or sofa. Leather furniture, cowhide rugs and hair on hide accent furniture have also been very popular over the last few years.
Even in a traditional room setting it looks appealing to contrast wicker and rope baskets on a hardwood floor or counter top or accents with rough wood surfaces against refined fabrics.
Take a walk and collect items such as rocks, acorns, driftwood, sheaves of wheat, bamboo stick dividers or dogwood branches (pretty in a vase during holidays with ornaments) fallen curls off birch trees (lovely tied with binder twine in a basket) It is possible to buy bags of smooth rocks, assorted shells or driftwood, real or manufactured, which are currently so trendy.
Display these items in decorative boxes, clear jars or small trays with the addition of candles to coordinate with the room. Once again, Realite candles (flameless & battery operated- look real) are a perfect touch.
Consider organic shapes such as free flowing sheers or furniture with curves. In recent times, furniture manufacturers have designed sofas and coffee tables with curved fronts and sides or tables with asymmetrical shapes.
One trend becoming more popular is items handmade with added embroidery, borders with crochet work, knitted afghans etc. Added touches like coconut buttons enhance the detail for example on decorative sofa pillows.
Wall hangings like paintings or metal wall art are abundant. Metal butterflies and dragonflies are currently very popular; alternatively, hang landscapes or botanicals that inspire calm.

4. Professional Design Tips for Proper Placement.

Are there guidelines to placing things correctly in your home like hanging pictures, chandeliers or placing a floral arrangement on the dining room table? You bet- Here’s some advice from professionals to help you make every room look functional, balanced and fabulous.

Hanging artwork:
- Above a sofa: hang 6 (15cm) to 9 inches (23cm) above the top of the sofa. The size of the artwork (or grouping) should be about two-thirds or the width of the sofa
- Above a mantle or console: Hang 4 (10cm) to 12 inches above, depending on the height of the furnishing. If the mantle is 4 feet or taller, then hang art 4 to 6 inches above. If the artwork or mirror is taller than 3 feet, lean it on the mantle or console for a casual effect.
- In a hallway, on a landing or on a blank wall: The centre of the picture/artwork should be hung about 60-66 inches from the floor. In sitting areas pictures can be hung a little lower so that when in a sitting position, the picture is at eye level.
- Extra high ceilings such as a foyer or loft: Move the artwork up 3 to 4 inches in order to take advantage of the extra height and proportions of the space. If the width is larger as well, a larger piece will look more appealing in relation to the wall size.
- Up a stairwell: Follow the same rule as for hanging art on a blank wall, except measure 60-66 inches up every third step, forming a diagonal line that the middle of the artwork will follow.
- Picture groupings: Many small framed photos (preferably all with the same colour frames) have the same impact as a single large piece of artwork. Start with the largest frame in the middle of the wall and surround it with the next largest frames; hang the smallest ones on the outer edges. Position the pieces no more than 5-6 inches apart so they don’t look disconnected. This is an attractive way to display old family photos or a collection of like items for big impact in a room, hallway or office.
Placing lighting:
- Chandelier: In a room with an 8 foot ceiling, the chandelier should hang 30 inches above the table. Each foot that the ceiling is higher, raise it 3 inches.
- Table Lamp: In the living room- lamps on side or end tables next to a sofa or chair- make sure the bottom of the shade is at eye level when you are sitting, or 40 to 42 inches from the floor. If it’s higher, you’ll end up getting glare from the bulb. If it’s too low, the light will be inadequate for reading. On a sofa table behind a sofa, the same eye-level rule applies. Because sofa tables are higher than side table it may be more practical to use a larger lamp for general lighting, or smaller accent lights like a candlestick style. When you’re sitting at a desk doing work, again, the bottom of your lamp’s shade should be at eye level. When sitting up in bed reading, the bottom of the lampshade should be even with your shoulder, or about 20 inches from the top of your bed. If your lamps are the only source of light in the room, and you don’t use it for reading, you can get away with taller lamps.
- Floor Lamp: The distance from the floor lamp to a book you’re reading should be 20 inches (50cm). Also, when sitting in a chair (same situation as sitting on the sofa beside a table lamp) the bottom of the shade should be at eye level. If the lamp is too tall, move it back about 10 inches (25cm) behind your shoulder to change the angle of glare.
- Wall sconce: With 8 or 9 foot ceilings sconces should be installed between 5 ½ and 6 feet high respectively- measured from the floor to the centre of the fixture. In a hall the shade is best focused down to light the floor.
Television position: To determine the proper distance between your television and the viewer, take the measurement of the TV diagonally and multiply it by 3 and divide by 12. For example, the ideal distance from a 40 inch TV is 10 feet.
Television position: To determine the proper distance between your television and the viewer, take the measurement of the TV diagonally and multiply it by 3 and divide by 12. For example, the ideal distance from a 40 inch TV is 10 feet.
Area Rugs: The rug should be large enough in the room to be able to snug under the front legs of the furniture by 3 inches or more.
Flowers: Flowers in a tall arrangement should be two times the height of the urn. Centerpiece arrangements should be 2 inches below eye level.
Dining Table: The distance between the wall and the dining room table should be no less than 3 feet and every person at the table should have 24 to 30 inches of table space. Area rugs should extend two feet outside the perimeter of the dining table; this allows the front chair legs to remain on the rug when pulled out.
Hanging drapes: The drapery rod should be mounted at least 2 inches above the window. The rod should extend 6 to 12 inches on either side of the window.

Applying these design tips will make a huge difference in the look, feel and function of your home. Use them the next time you decorate or take aim at a room that needs help.

5. Guidelines to lamps, bulbs and lampshades.

Matching the shade and base:
If you ever decide to replace a shade years after you’ve purchased the lamp, it’s good to know what the proportions are to getting a great match. To ensure a lamp doesn’t look top-heavy, follow this rule of thumb: Turn your lampshade on its side and make sure the diameter of the shade is anywhere from ¾ of the height of, to the same height as, the base, and never higher. Make sure the shade covers the lamps harp (the “U” shaped metal piece that the shade attaches to with a part that screws on the top called a finial) and bulb socket while leaving about 1 inch of the neck exposed. Harps come in a variety of sizes if you need to change the proportions.

Shade Options:
The most popular shade materials are in classic neutral tones as well as black on occasion. Each one is appropriate for either general (overall room) task (lighting specific work areas) or accent (add drama or focus attention in one place) lighting.

Silk: Because it is so thin, it is the most transparent shade material and is suitable for task or general lighting. Some manufactured fabrics now look very similar to silk and are less expensive.
Linen: Linen is thicker than silk, but still lets out plenty of light. Good for general or task lighting.
Pleated Fabric shade: This softens light because the light has to go through a few layers of fabric. Appropriate for general or task lighting.
Parchment: A high quality stiff paper, this has a soft glow but light doesn’t penetrate it. Light is emitted from the top and bottom, making it good for accent lighting.
Kraft paper: Heavier than parchment, a kraft paper shade emits a warm yellow glow and is used the same as a parchment shade.

Which Bulb to buy?

Fluorescent: These bulbs have increased in popularity and their prices have dropped considerably. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs screw into stand lamps and are extremely energy efficient. Once known for only emitting a cool white light, fluorescents now come in a wide range of color renditions. Florescent light in our opinion still does not provide as warm a feel (I don’t mean warm heat) as the old incandescent lighting. LED lighting is gradually coming to the residential market. It is already widely available to the commercial market. It has the advantages of superior efficiency and can also supply a warmer light similar to incandescent. Because installing dimmable fluorescents is expensive, they’re best used for task or general lighting in rooms without dimmer switches like kitchens and laundry rooms- where you are not after “mood”.
Halogen: Halogen lights give off a white light, so they’re suitable for both task and accent lighting. They are also dimmable and more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, making them appropriate for general lighting. Halogens burn very hot so make sure they have cooled before touching. Not all halogen bulbs are the same- different types have qualities that impact how long they last, how much light you get and how white they are.

Use the guidelines in Section 4 and 5 to properly incorporate lamps into your home.

Bennett’s Home Furnishings features a great selection of living room, bedroom, dining room, home office, entertainment, accent, furniture, and mattresses in the Eastern Ontario region. Bennett’s has been serving the Campbellford and Peterborough region since 1926. We are centrally located on Clonsilla Avenue just off Lansdowne Street in Peterborough and off Bridge Street in Campbellford, Trent Hills. Bennett’s Home Furnishings carries the best brands like: La-Z-Boy, Maytag, Canadel, Simmons, Tempur-Pedic, and many more.

Information Accuracy - Bennett’s Home Furnishings specializes in solid wood furniture and custom order upholstery. Please visit our showroom for a complete selection and further details. We have taken great care to provide you with information that is accurate and useful. Please notify us if you find an error, and we will do our best to correct it. We ask that you contact us directly and visit our stores to confirm information about pricing, color, features, dimensions, availability and special order lead times.