Lifestyles

Casual Comfy ~ Is a Warm & Relaxing Lifestyle

For a lot of us who are busy with work, raising a family, extra curricular activities and maintaining our homes, a Casual Comfy Lifestyle is exactly what we are looking for.

If a warm, homey and a comfortable lifestyle sounds good to you, then Casual Comfy will work well in creating your inviting atmosphere. The details in the design and décor are simple with textured fabrics and colourful accessories, with a flash of whimsy scattered about the room.

The furnishings are more kid-friendly having softer upholstery and being slightly over-sized in scale. It’s hard to resist a big comfy couch after a hard day at the office. The use of natural fibres such as cotton, linen and wool are typically seen in Casual décor. New synthetic materials on the market can add durability and slipcovers are a mother’s answer to keeping the upholstery neat and tidy. The fact that slipcovers can be washed at home is not only a time saver but a money saver as well.

Casual decorating can be in almost any room of your home. Decorating styles that can also reflect a casual lifestyle are French Country, Cottage, Rustic and Shabby Chic. There are slight variations to all those styles but the underlying rule of thumb is Relaxed and Comfortable. The colour palette can change from one to the other but the basic guidelines remain the same.

Neutral colours on the larger items such as upholstery and flooring ground the room. The use of textured fabrics preferably natural and not shiny lend themselves to a casual décor. The use of special accents such as buttons, pleats, cording and the use of contrasting coloured details are very appealing in this type of design. Carrying the use of natural fibres down to the floor coverings also gives a more warm and homey feeling in the room. Hardwood, Cork, Sisal and Berber are a few of the excellent choices on the market today. The maintenance is usually minimal and always showcases well with regular cleanings.

A Casual Comfy lifestyle will most likely have a long large horizontal sofa rather smaller scaled pieces. Lower profiled pieces are seen more often in a Casual Lifestyle décor rather than taller, vertical and more formal pieces. A chunky ottoman for resting your feet or doubling as a large scaled coffee table gives a feeling of being comfortable and relaxed. Gone are the days of “matchy matchy” furnishings. A mixture of patterns, textures, and colours scattered throughout the room add interest and eye appeal almost the moment you see them.

Look for items around your home to make your accessorizing more personal. Old antiques or family treasures, along with books, pictures and pottery are wonderful additions to the Casual Comfy décor. The use of wrought iron, wicker, and rattan helps your room to become that warm cozy space that you wanted. Don’t forget fresh flowers and plants is a welcome addition as well.

Window coverings can be less fussy with the Casual décor. The use of bamboo, rattan, and wood blinds can give privacy and light control when needed. Depending on the overall décor in your room you might not need another thing on your windows other than a decorative blind, which there are several wonderful choices out there today. If valances are what you are looking for them keep them simple, but interesting in your choices of fabric and colour. For a touch of whimsy add a branch as your curtain rod or a simple metal pipe. Let your imagination be creative and you’ll be surprised with what you can come up with.Remember your family and your lifestyle when creating your Casual Comfy space. There really isn’t a right or a wrong way to decorate as long as it works for you. Simplicity is important and I can’t stress the de-cluttering factor enough and showcase the items that mean the most to you and your family. Put another log on the fire, pour a glass of wine and put up your feet and Relax and Enjoy!

Written by Sharon @ IDQ