What makes these patterns real classics is that when used in small doses, they can work in both traditional and contemporary spaces. A zebra skin rug, the darling of shelter magazines a few years ago, is a much stronger design statement than a needlepoint pillow in a zebra pattern. Playing with size and scale can make these animal prints feel bold or refined. Where they are used also affects the power of their impact.  A pillow or rug in animal print becomes an accent. A sofa or wall covered in animal print is more of a statement. When working with animal prints it is all a matter of scale.

This black and white living room is centered by a classic zebra skin rug. Unlike many other African animals, zebras are not endangered. The rug’s bold pattern is the only pattern in the room so the eye is drawn to it. Using only black and white furniture creates a strong graphic look to the room that feels very contemporary. If you paired a zebra rug or cowhide rug with more traditional furnishings you would achieve a very different result.

The warm neutral color of the wall above the sink has enough tint to counterbalance the cool grey of the marble tiles in the shower.  Continuing the same warm cream from the wall onto the counter creates a wide swath of warmth. Both the stone countertop and wall color are complemented by the warm wood of the vanity.

The lack of flourishes and clean lines actually puts more emphasis and color and materials in this bathroom.  Wood grain, wall color and the stone all stand out as key design elements. The marble of the shower or the warm wood of vanity could either be put on the floor for a cohesive overall design. Another choice would be to carry the countertop and wall color onto the floor.

Adding an orchid brings in a beautiful organic touch to the cool surfaces and straight lines of the room’s designs.  A single natural element like a plant or vase of flowers stands out in a sleek space.  The orchid adds a pop of color as well as visual interest. Wood accessories would also add organic, natural warmth to the cool stone that dominates this bathroom.

Accessories like area rugs and pillows are an easy way to bring more texture into a room. An area rug doesn’t have to be a deep shag to add texture to a smooth wood or tile floor. Even a flat weave rug has texture.  Besides rugs and accessories, furniture is a great way to add texture.

Woven furniture, like the contemporary chairs pictured here, has tons of natural texture.  A single woven stool or ottoman can bring texture to a room. You don’t need an entire suite of wicker furniture to make an impact; a single piece can make a big design statement.  Mixing materials of furniture is a great way to add texture. Wood, glass, chrome and upholstered pieces all have different surfaces and different textures.

Upholstery is another way to add texture. Soft cotton velvets, chenilles, and wools all have a subtle texture. Layer these with a knit throw or silk pillow for additional textures.

Leather is another beautiful texture to have on furniture.  Think with your fingers when it comes to bringing in more texture to your space. Imagine how it would feel to touch the piece.  Creating a space that is both visually and tactile appealing means you have created an interesting room.

The color palette for this room is set by the architectural elements of the fireplace and wood column.  Leaving the stone fireplace and wood column natural lets their beautiful materials be the stars.  The two colors are then carried throughout the furnishings, curtains and flooring to create a well designed room.

The wood of the column is repeated on the coffee table. The warm hue also becomes an accent color in the area rug below the coffee table.  The rug ties in both the cream of the walls and furniture along with the stone fireplace and wood colors.

Using different shades of neutrals creates a layered look.  Pattern and texture can add interest like they do in this living room.  The pattern of the rug as well as the texture of the wood, stone and upholstery mix together to make for a more lively design.  Adding patterned throw pillows to the seating or a bit of the wood or stone color would bring more interest to the cream upholstered sofa and chairs.

Along with the major design decisions like flooring and wall finishes, furniture is what sets the tone and style for a room.  Furniture style is how we define ourselves as traditional, modern, country or contemporary.  How we finish our furniture can be just as important in creating the look of a room as the style of the furniture. Upholstery plays a huge role in decorating a living room.

This contemporary space is a great example of how upholstery can be used to create a polished and pulled together looking space.  The furniture in this room is all contemporary in style but is not a suite of furniture that completely matches in form.  The sectional’s clean lines are echoed in the simple square upholstered ottoman that serves as the coffee table.  The curved side chairs are more fluid and sculptural than either the ottoman or the sofa.  What unites the pieces together is the matching upholstery fabric.

While this living room uses the same upholstery throughout the soft furnishings, that doesn’t have to be the rule for all upholstered pieces in a room.  In fact, having an accent chair in upholstery fabric that contrasts or compliments the sofa upholstery can make the chair more of a focal point. Choosing an accent fabric that contains the sofa color is a way to tie the two different fabrics together. Accents like area rugs and pillows can also play off the colors of the upholstery to bring the entire décor together into one cohesive and polished look.

If you have a hallway that opens into a room, make certain you have something of interest on the far wall that is visible from the hall.  In this hallway, there is a bookcase at the far end of the room that creates a visual interest for the hall.  If the hall ends in a wall, place a work of art or interesting wallpaper on that wall to create a focal point.

Hallways are wonderful places for a bold wallpaper or stenciled paint design.  You can also paint the hall a bolder or deeper color than you would in a room. Pick a color palette for the hall that relates to the rooms off of it for a more coordinate look.

The walls in a hallway are the perfect place for a gallery style grouping of art or family photos. These gallery walls will give you something to look at as you move down the hall. Hall lighting can be a chandelier or a row of track lighting down the hall that highlights the art on the walls. Finish the hallway with a carpet runner if you have hardwood floors. This will make the space feel more polished.

Once you’ve cleaned out your space, finding storage for what you have left can still be a challenge.  Cabinets and bookshelves are the go to places to store the objects of our lives.  Baskets and bins on the floor are other popular options.  Built-in cabinets and shelves are a more permanent option for additional storage in living and bedrooms. All of these storage options can provide you with standard storage in most rooms of your home.

Additional storage spaces can be created if you think outside the box, or shelf as it were.  Think about wall mounted inset medicine cabinets that keep products off the counter and floor. These cabinets use the gaps between the wall studs as additional storage space in the bathroom. This idea can work in other areas of the home too.  Nooks and crannies can be created out of the space under the stairs or in walls in a family or playroom.

Think creatively and you just might find a bit more extra storage in your home.

The designer for this room succeeded with both goals. If you walk into the room, glossy wood flooring, an inviting traditional area rug, the bank of windows and the warm gold and cream tones provide a rich interesting space.

It’s from above, however, that the room really comes into its own. From this angle, the antique light fixture becomes the focal point. Its bronze finish picks up the brown shades on the richly patterned floor-to-ceiling curtains and the dark tones of the area rug.

The fireplace to the right has a large enough profile to call attention to it even from the upper hallway and having the surround reaching the ceiling helps to connect upper and lower levels. Even the grand piano draws the eye upward from below, inviting a visitor to capture the feel of every level of this room.

The room itself it not very large, so it makes sense to choose a small sofa and coffee table that focus more on height than footprint. Bringing every part of the room together through color helps a smaller space feel larger and more congruent.

Overall, the design choices in this room meet the needs of the homeowners and visitors, providing an inviting vista from every possible level in the home.

Our personal territory standards affect many things, from how close we will stand when in line to the odd arrangements that occur with people on an elevator. It also has a direct impact on the seating in any home. Have you noticed that some seats in your home are used frequently while others are ignored? Or that a sofa that could easily hold three tends to have only two people sitting on it? Take a look at the photo below. Even though there is space on the sofa, two of the four people watching the baseball game chose to sit on the floor rather than sit too close to someone else.

Take a look at your home’s seating areas with personal territory in mind. Are some of your chairs too close together or too far apart? Aim for an average 18-inch distance and you may get more people sitting than you did before. An area rug can provide an easily defined floor area to enable you to arrange your seating at the best distance.

In a dining room or at a kitchen snack bar, plan for 18 inches of space between seats and you will see a more comfortable group of people. You may even want to plan the size of the guest list to match the party space.

If you have a multi-cultural guest list, you can allow your guests to define their own comfortable personal space by providing a variety of floor pillows or light movable chairs. This will enable everyone to find the distance that suits them.

This is not a huge space yet the layout creates both a sleeping and a sitting area.  A fireplace tucked into the corner adds a romantic, country touch. The fireplace can be seen from both the bed and the seating area.  The bed faces the French doors leading to a private terrace—what a lovely view to walk up to. The white painted beamed ceiling and darker floor makes the room feel more spacious. The dark walnut wood floor anchors the lighter palette of the room. The ebony four poster bed and writing table stand out in the airy room.

The colorway is kept to a simple palette of white, gray and tan, with black and orange accents. White sheers soften the dark lines of the four poster bed. Pale stone gray walls create a soft backdrop for the furnishing and accents in the room. Colorful accents in throws and pillows make it easy to change the colors with the seasons or your mood.  A black floor lamp and black and white art tie into the color of the bed. Neutral upholstery in tan and pale gray linen adds texture without adding color and pattern. Natural elements, like the driftwood table and jute rug, add organic elements along with the stone fireplace.