If you are moving into a new home, or just looking to redecorate the space you currently live in, you will want the décor to represent who you are and the lifestyle you lead. For instance, if you love the outdoors, camping, fishing and getting dirty, you want a room that leans more towards a rustic feel than loud, bright and cluttered.
Besides paint color, appliances and major furniture choices – couches, beds, and more – you will also want to make sure that your accent pieces follow the overall theme of the room. As owner of the Grass Valley branch of Furniture Medic, a popular repair and restoration company with hundreds of franchises nationwide, Danny Walker knows that sometimes the smallest details of wood furniture speaks the most about a piece.
Antique: If you love the charm, elegance and craftsmanship of former eras, then you probably also favor an antique decor. If this sounds like you, then you should know that when decorating an antique room, it less about the quantity of furniture, and more about the quality. Shopping for antique furniture at stores, trade shows and auctions will probably be more time-consuming because of the age and rarity of the designs. But once you find the perfect piece for your home, it is extremely satisfying. Because of the nature in which it was built, older furniture tends to be larger and sturdier than the mass-produced pieces of today, explains Walker. And they are also extremely valuable. Take a Duncan Phyfe for example, which Walker says were crafted 200 to 300 years ago. They don’t make pieces like that anymore, he adds.
If you don’t have the time or money to go hunting for antiques, then there are some tricks for taking modern pieces and transforming them into something new — or old rather. A lot of people seek the distressed look, Walker says, which gives the furniture an aged appearance. To achieve this look, dents must be put into the wood and then the piece is given a glazed finish and coated edges so that it appears darker.
Traditional: If you are asked to describe your ideal living space and you use the words classic, clean and comfortable, then traditional is the perfect look for you. This classic design style withstands the test of time and is not concerned with fleeting trends. Instead, it allows a house to look like a home — inviting and warm. When shopping for the right wood pieces to accentuate this type of room, go with darker pieces that have ornate designs and carvings.
Country: When redesigning your room, if you tend to be drawn toward more natural looks, lighter colors and a rustic ambiance, then your wood accents should follow suit. Try to picture what the furniture would look like at a cabin in the woods. You want to also represent the freshness and crispness of the outdoors. To achieve this, go for lighter wood pieces with fewer designs and cleaner, sharper edges. You also want to give the idea of openness, so don’t clutter the space. Instead, choose pieces you feel will add the most to the room.
Urban: If you love the hustle and bustle of big cities, or live in a smaller space, then an urban décor may be just what you’ve been looking for. These designs are all about minimalism. So to save on space, look for small pieces that appear natural and not overdone. Often, an urban look is more about functionality than appearance. For example, instead of scouring for an oversize coffee table that will take up a large portion of the room, add two smaller, well-built end tables.
No matter what your design tastes are, it is important to maintain your furniture through regular cleanings and repairs to prolong the life of the wood. And, if you ever want to give your wood furnishings a face lift so they look like the day you first bought them, hire a furniture medic who specializes in repairing and restoring your furniture right in your own home.
