Comfort Versus Style

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

08 Jun 2009 06:00 AM

In home decorating, there is a constant battle between comfort and style. Sometimes what feels good doesn't look good, and what looks good can feel horrible. To find a balance of both comfort and style when the two fight so ferociously against each other is quite a feat.

Comfort is easier to achieve if your home is a bit laid back and casual and much harder to achieve in a formal atmosphere though it can be done. Over the years, I have found that my personal style has relaxed a bit in an effort to make my home comfortable. Here are some tactics that I use to make my home stylishly comfortable.

1. Furniture with storage capabilities. I use storage cubes as coffee tables, and my ottoman also has a storage compartment. This allows me to store blankets and extra pillows for when we want to settle in and nap on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

2. We prefer to have less large pieces over a many small pieces. The more items you have in a room, the more busy and hectic the room seems. To be truly comfortable, you mind must also be able to relax. This can't be done if you are overstimulated by stuff. Larger furniture pieces like sofas and chairs also make for better relaxing.

3. I keep decorating simple, almost to the point of being a minimalist. If an item does not have a purpose, I rarely keep it in a room. Items are place as much for function as they are for beauty.

4. Choose item with textural interest. As comfort is best achieved with simplicity, to make things more interesting, patterns and textures need to be given a greater importance. I look for fun patterns, and textured, accessories with a great tactile element. I like leather, weaves, embroidery, and even smooth textures like glass, metals, and stone to adorn my home adding visual interest to my comfortable and comforting furnishings.

If you liked this you should also read my blogs at the home blog, the parents blog, and the frugal blog. You can read my recent posts here.

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Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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