Other Living Room Articles
Formal Design ~ Is it Your Lifestyle?
Remember your Grandmother’s Living room or Parlour that always seemed to be out of bounds because of the fancy over stuffed furnishings that no one was allowed to sit on? Well those days are not entirely gone, but I think most of us have relaxed enough so we can enjoy Formal Décor and forget the idea that it’s only for looking at.
Today Formal Décor doesn’t have to mean it’s a bunch of old furnishings passed down from generations, rather it can be a great mix of old pieces with new ones. Formal design can mean some beautiful wood furnishings that are handcrafted or reproductions, usually displaying unique details on each piece allowing it to showcase itself. Formal design use to be a sofa and two wing chairs but not any longer. The lines of the furniture are usually tailored and clean, but the furniture doesn’t have to be stuffy. A sofa and two leather side chairs can be formal as well.
Fabric also can have a Formal flair to it not only by way of design but the rich colour scheme and types of fabrics used. Jewel toned colours still are a favourite today in a formal design. The deep toned reds, greens, golds, blues, and browns have long been a staple in the colour palette. Today’s Formal doesn’t always have to go in that colour direction but the selections of fabrics and materials such as tiles, carpeting, draperies, and wall coverings should have a texture or design pattern that lends itself to a formal design.
Lighting can be as ornate as you’d like it with details galore or keeping it simplistic but with a style that remains true to formal design. The use of indirect lighting, candles, and mood lighting helps set the overall ambiance to the room.
Accessories are the finishing touches to most rooms and when done correctly can make your space go from “that’s lovely” to “that’s stunning”. Formal design is the perfect venue for showcasing any family heirlooms that you treasure and cherish. Display them in a small grouping if you can and resist the urge to scatter them about the room one by one. Believe it or not when you do that the “wow factor” is lost because each single item seems to get lost.
Don’t be afraid to mix new pieces with old and today there are huge selections in accessorizing such as pillows, pictures, pottery, and glassware that can replicate beautiful vintage pieces. I love to mix my heirlooms with something new, I feel it enhances the space and adds interest as well.
The use of mouldings and trim work can truly enhance a Formal room. Deep crown mouldings and intricate door trims are definitely an “extra” that is well worth spending the money on. A beautiful mantelpiece can be the “star” of the room, add a lovely ornate mirror above it or a beautiful original piece of art and you’ve got a winner for sure.
However you decide to design your Formal space, be true to your vision. A Formal room is usually a soft place to relax and gives you a peaceful place to come home to. Enjoy….
Written by Sharon @ IDQ
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