8 Decorating Dilemmas (And How to Solve Them)Eugene Chrinian

8 Decorating Dilemmas (And How to Solve Them)

When you’re decorating a home, it can sometimes be hard to make up your mind about what décor choices you prefer. Do you like hardwood floors or carpet? Bright colors or neutrals? What do you do if you like both?

If you’ve been asking yourself these kinds of questions, there’s good news in store for you: there are ways to get the best of both worlds without having to choose one option over the other. Read on for helpful tips on how to compromise on eight common decorating dilemmas. (Bonus: These are also great solutions if you and your partner are sharing the same home but have different decorating tastes!)

Old vs. new furniture

The dilemma: You’ve inherited some charming heirloom pieces of furniture that you don’t want to get rid of (or can’t without offending someone), but if you had the choice you’d actually prefer brand-new, contemporary furniture.

The fix: A DIY makeover is the perfect way to update older furniture while still keeping its heirloom feel. A new coat of glossy black paint can make old wood pieces look sleek and modern, while reupholstering furniture items like a sofa or loveseat is an instant way to update their appearance.

Leather vs. upholstery The dilemma: Is it better to choose cool leather or warm

upholstery for a living room set? Both have their pros and cons, and you like both equally.

The fix: Why not mix and match? Complement a softly upholstered sofa with a pair of smooth leather armchairs. If you choose tones within the same color family as well, the textures will play beautifully off each other and will bring an extra layer of visual interest to the room.

Wood flooring vs. carpet

The dilemma: You can’t decide if you prefer the soft feel of wall-to-wall carpeting underfoot, or the elegant look of hardwood flooring.

The fix: These different flooring types are each at their best in different areas of the home. Carpeting is a great choice for bedrooms, as it brings a plush softness to the beginning and end of your day and helps keeps down noise; hardwood, complemented by wool or cotton area rugs, lets your main living spaces shine.

Mementos on display vs. a minimalist look The dilemma: You love the memories inspired by the sight of a

shelf full of souvenirs and treasured possessions, but you’re wary of overcluttering your living space.

The fix: Keeping collections well ordered is the key to avoiding a jumbled look. Limit the places where your knick-knacks are displayed to one or two designated areas; this will let you enjoy your treasures without the risk of them taking over your home.

What to do with the television?

The dilemma: One partner wants the big television to be the focal point of a living area, while the other would prefer a serene living space with no TV screens at all.

The fix: These days, many entertainment units are available with sliding doors that can reveal the television when it’s in use and conceal it completely when it’s not. If you have a wall-mounted television, consider getting an elegant frame for it, which will help the screen look more like a picture.

Neutrals vs. colors The dilemma: You love the visual interest that comes with plenty

of bold, bright colors, but you also love the soothing and restful feeling that a neutral color scheme brings to a living area.

The fix: This one’s easy. Keep walls, floors, and major pieces of furniture quiet in tone, then fill the room with bright accessories. Boldly colored and patterned throws, pillows, table lamps, rugs, and artwork will bring a big punch of energy to a neutral room, but they’re also all easily changed or put away when you want a change of mood.

Functional kitchen vs. pretty kitchen

The dilemma: You’re a keen cook and you like your kitchen to be hardworking, durable, and equipped with the best in stainless steel gadgetry, but you also like it when all the workaday stuff can be hidden away behind a classic, elegant façade.

The fix: The good news is that mixed-material kitchens are all the rage these days, so you’ll be entirely on-trend in combining these two looks. Feel free to match ornate or old-world cabinets with commercial-style appliances, or use a tough concrete for the perimeter countertops and elegant marble for the kitchen island.

Where to file?

The dilemma: You need bills and other important papers in plain sight to be able to deal with them properly, but you’d rather avoid the look of an untidy stack of paper.

The fix: You don’t need to hide important documents away in a filing cabinet to keep them organized. Use attractive, open baskets as ad hoc file folders—they’re pretty enough to keep in view, and more effective than a series of different piles.