We've talked about creating a Jewel Box Home and capturing the Jewel Box Look, so now its time to cover Jewel Box Dos and Don'ts. Today, let's look at cottage style decorating.
The cottage style is very difficult to pull off in any size room, let alone a small space. Why? Charm, the defining trait of cottage style, is almost always expressed as an abundance of cutesy frou-frou pieces that are over-accessorized with shades of pink, yellow or blue, or some combination of all three. Generally speaking, no man - straight or gay - would ever willingly choose to live in a house that looks like this, unless forced to. Of course, if you are trying to break-up with your honey, this is a good way to drive him out. Let's look at some examples of cottage style gone wrong.
So what are the don'ts for these two rooms? Let's make a list:
- Never mix florals, plaids and checks in the same room. I don't care if they are from the same color palette and you love the look. You must restrain yourself. It will always feel like there is too much going on.
- Never use ruffles or flounces, unless you are decorating a room for a young girl who is between the ages of 5 and 12. Remember, cutesy is not a style.
- No more than 2-3 pillows on a sofa and 1-2 pillows for each chair. You must leave room for people to sit down!
- Baby blue and pale pink should be used as a color scheme only when decorating a baby's room. But if you absolutely must use these colors, then please limit them to accent pieces.
Until next time!
Genevieve
