lesson 2

ccrystal212
Nov 29
3 min read

HOW TO DECIDE ON WHICH FURNITURE/ACCESSORY PIECES TO PURCHASE

here you can see repetitive contrasting shapes throughout the room - circles/curves and squares/sharp edges. the accent chair, side table, ceiling light, and table lamp (not shown) are vintage. sofa is a custom piece we designed! (design by crystal sinclair designs - photo by tim lenz)

you're putting a room together but not exactly sure where to start - it happens to everyone, even experienced designers. i recommend putting a mood board together to get direction and inspiration. after looking at literally thousands of photos, it gives you a general idea of what you want to do, it gives you a direction to start. mood boards don't need to be on interiors only, they can include people, places, objects, food, architecture, fashion.. you name it! this helps you understand the overall vibe and feel you want, while breaking away from repeating designs you see over and over again.

SOME EXAMPLES OF MOOD BOARDS WE'VE PUT TOGETHER:

the vibe is relaxed, classic with a twist! modern furniture in a non-modern space. darker colors..

the vibe is fresh and bright! modern and organic.

the vibe is classic with modern furniture. overall bright with some loud pops of color.

the vibe is a bit retro but modern and organic. bright, earthy colors - dark wood tones.

once you have a general direction it's good to start with a large piece in the room - whether that be a sofa, an area rug, a coffee table, dining table, or bed. sometimes i have an idea of what i'm looking for but more often than not, i don't! i keep looking and looking until something just hits and feels right (keep in mind, upholstered pieces can be reupholstered - just know that upholstering a piece can cost a lot between labor and the needed fabric). once i have my base i move on to the next item - say we're designing a living room and the sofa is what was first selected, i would usually move on to the coffee table. when sourcing the additional pieces it's good to keep overall shape, legs, and lines in mind. i've noticed that i repeat shapes in rooms - if sofa has a cylinder shaped arm, i'll prob look for coffee tables that have curves too. it could be the overall shape or the edge detail. if you selected a sofa with legs that taper, it's best to have another piece in the room that has tapered legs too.. or a detail that's tapered to pick up the legs on the sofa. i work my way around the room thinking like this. once you realize what detail, shape, or line you're drawn to, mimic it and then contrast with it. if you have a lot of curves, pull in two or three pieces that have sharp edges. this keeps things interesting! don't forget to include lighting in the mix - ceiling lights and lamps should also contribute to the shapes,lines, and details.

i highly suggest sourcing vintage for a couple of pieces - it could be from a local vintage shop or an online shop. chairish, 1st dibs, and etsy are great for vintage finds as they compile many small shops worldwide into one shop. be ready to use the filters, these are your friends. i usually source vintage lights, cabinets, accent chairs, and tables. vintage sofas and lounge chairs are great too but they'll likely need reupholstering which can add to your budget. vintage pieces add character to a space. it's a piece that you'll be fond of for many years AND it'll last for many years!! vintage adds soul to a space, it tells a story, and often becomes a conversation starter.