Here’s the thing though. You actually can. And I’m going to show you exactly how with a real client example.

The Challenge: Getting the Old Money Look in a Rental

I’ve been hearing from a lot of people lately that the Old Money Style of the ’90s is exactly what they’re after. That dark, moody, layered look that feels like you’ve been collecting things for years. The problem is most of the inspiration photos you find online are set in rooms with incredible architecture. Giant windows, high ceilings, elaborate moldings. And if you’re renting a white box apartment, that can feel pretty discouraging.

But here’s what I want you to hear: you do not need any of that to get the Ralph Lauren Aesthetic. I’m going to prove it to you.

This particular client reached out to me because she was getting ready to move into a new New York City apartment and had one major item on her wish list: that ’90s Ralph Lauren look. She had two non-negotiable requirements. Everything had to be portable, and there could be no paint on the walls because she wasn’t sure how long she’d be staying. Not just portable either, but easily reusable in a future apartment down the line.

The Secret to Dark and Moody Without Painting the Walls

When you look at true Ralph Lauren inspiration photos, one of the first things you notice is the bold, dark wall color. Those deep greens, navies, and rich burgundies are a huge part of what makes those rooms feel so cozy and enveloping. So how do you get that same feeling without touching the walls?

You concentrate those dark, moody colors in the bigger elements of the room instead. Your rug, your window treatments, your main furniture pieces. When enough of the large surfaces in a room are carrying that depth of color, you get the same sense of enclosure and coziness that the wall color would have given you. The white walls essentially disappear.

Start with a Floor Plan (Always)

Before we looked at a single piece of furniture, we started with a floor plan. This is something I do with every single project because it makes no sense to start shopping until you know exactly what sizes will fit your space. I use the free tool at floorplanner.com, and I’ve done a couple of other videos walking through how to use it. There’s also a paper template linked below if you prefer to do it by hand.

In this case, the room was serving as both the living room and dining room, which is pretty common in a New York City apartment. The TV wasn’t a top priority for her in the traditional sense. She wanted one, but she wanted it to feel like part of the art installation. More on that in a minute.

Building the Color Palette Around the Rug

Once we had the floor plan sorted and knew the aesthetic we were going for, it was time to build the mood board. I almost always start with the rug because it sets the entire color story for the room.

For this project I chose a rug with a lot of rich, deep color: blues and greens mostly. That rug became the anchor for everything else. Every color we pulled into the room came from somewhere in that rug. That’s the approach that keeps a maximalist room from looking chaotic.

The Furniture: Chesterfield Sofa, Leather Chairs and a Campaign Style Coffee Table

With the color palette established, it was time to pick the big anchor pieces.

A Chesterfield sofa was a natural choice here. It’s a classic silhouette that has never gone out of style, and pretty much every furniture brand makes a version of it at different price points. We went with a fern green Chesterfield, which pulled directly from the rug. It’s also a piece that could move to any future living room and look just as good.

And of course, you have to have something in leather if you’re going for the Ralph Lauren look. We chose two leather armchairs with a little bit of nail head detail around the edges. That detail adds a subtle richness that really elevates the chairs.

For the coffee table, we found one with a campaign chest feeling. It has those little brass corner details, which gave us a jumping off point for bringing brass into other parts of the room.

Window Treatments and Textiles

The windows are one of the best places to introduce a big hit of color, especially when you can’t paint. We went with a steel blue cotton velvet for the drapes. Ralph Lauren doesn’t typically use a lot of pattern on windows, but plaid is always somewhere in the room. We saved that for the accessories instead.

Speaking of textiles, this is where the Ralph Lauren Aesthetic really comes to life. The style is inherently maximalist, but it’s a very focused kind of maximalism. Everything stays within a pretty tight color palette so the layers of texture and pattern feel intentional rather than cluttered.

We brought in throw pillows in both plaid and solid fabrics, and layered in several throw blankets. Lots of textiles is a signature of this look. It’s part of what gives it that lived-in, well-traveled feeling.

Lighting: Three Sources in Every Room

Every room needs three sources of light beyond the overhead fixture, and this room was no exception. We used a floor lamp, a table lamp, and sconces. All of the lighting was brass to pick up on those little brass details from the coffee table and tie everything together.

The goal is to be able to turn off the overhead light entirely and rely on these three sources for atmosphere. It makes an enormous difference in how a room feels at night.

Accessories: Books, Art, Sculpture and Plants

This is where the room really gets its personality. Coffee table books are all over this space, and most of them came from secondhand sources. They’re on the coffee table, on the bookshelves, on the credenza. Any flat surface is fair game.

For the artwork, the centerpiece is actually a frame TV, but not a standard Samsung frame. There’s an Etsy seller who makes really chunky, substantial TV frames that go on any smart TV. The result looks much more like a piece of artwork than a television. Since she doesn’t watch much TV, it lives on an equestrian art image most of the time, which fits perfectly with the rest of the room.

Ralph Lauren spaces also almost always include something sculptural, not just flat art on the walls. In this case it was some small statues on the shelving, but it could be anything three-dimensional sitting on a shelf or a coffee table.

And finally, plants. A fern and some fresh flowers on the coffee table to bring in a little life.

The Feeling Is What You’re Really After

The ’90s Ralph Lauren look is less of a decorating style and more of a feeling. It’s dark and moody and layered. It feels like the British countryside. Like someone who has traveled a lot and kept all their favorite things. Like a room that has been lived in and loved for a long time.

Once you understand the feeling you’re trying to create, you can replicate it anywhere. A white box rental apartment. A builder grade suburban home. The architectural features in the inspiration photos are nice, but they are not the point. The point is the color, the texture, the layering and the intention behind every piece you bring in.

That is completely within reach no matter what your walls look like. Here are the links to all the pieces on the mood board (I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links at no cost to you.

• rug https://rstyle.me/+1w2cMuMQuPsO-bdm3j7RlA
• sofa https://rstyle.me/+MWUJUJiXV2gAE-q3PVkdkA
• Credenza https://rstyle.me/+1eyPUsez3IpVVGhArTUrjQ
• Leather chair https://rstyle.me/+W29gZI3VpJkhTNIxDNivYA
• set of curtains  https://rstyle.me/+3qVMEcblHraeeVsdPHO1Ow
• Brass floor lamp  https://rstyle.me/+wNHcepanYaidIPvpcqIZMw
• plug in sconce  https://rstyle.me/+sMNRswwcP7F5qNzdOaYs6A
• Palm tree  https://rstyle.me/+20GL7X9P510A-A1wxuPAjQ
• Table lamp https://rstyle.me/+vNTgolcnZyGXCs3ThSAQZw
• bookshelf  https://rstyle.me/+4SseZZ0v1w_2dxFP98JGRg
• TV Frame https://rstyle.me/+HHHlCQkiJ5vbU07UcFooog

Stay tuned for my next video where I break down how to source all of these pieces secondhand and on a budget, including all the green Chesterfield sofas I found on Facebook Marketplace (you won’t believe how many there were).

The post 90s Ralph Lauren Style in an Apartment appeared first on Design Morsels.

There are so many recliners out there that are good looking. So in this post I’m going to share a list of recliners, some of which I’ve sat in myself and tested, some of which I have not, that have a wide variety of prices and styles. Check these out if you feel like you’re handcuffed to your recliner. I promise there is a better option.

Important Planning Tip

One thing to think about before we get started is when you’re floor planning, when you’re planning your space to include a recliner, you must include the dimensions of the recliner fully reclined to make sure that it fits in your space.

Budget-Friendly Options from IKEA

• IKEA GISTAD Red $369 only
• IKEA Muren comes in light grey and dark grey, more of a traditional style recliner, $479
• IKEA Ekolsund, grey and pink, $429

The first three are going to be from IKEA and the first one is the Gistad. At the time of this writing this one is $369 and it only comes in red.

The second one is the IKEA Muren. This one is more of a traditional looking recliner and by that I mean it has that pillow behind the head. It comes in light gray and dark gray and it’s $479.

One thing I would do if I was going to go with this recliner is get rid of that thing over the arm because why do you have to have that? And the thing behind your head. Because I don’t know why we need a little extra piece of fabric behind our head. I do know why we need that but I don’t like it.

And the third one is the Ekolsund and that one has more of a traditional chair look to it. It’s a smaller scale and it comes in gray and pink. This one probably isn’t big enough that you can sleep in it if that’s your goal with the recliner, but you can lean back.

You an watch my video review here.

Walmart Finds

• Better Homes and Gardens recliner – $314 linen and comes in leather, great ratings, smaller scale, easy to assemble comfortable, husband tested
• Better Homes and Gardens Reading modern recliner – olive and linen $267, more of a modern look (not great for over a certain height

This post contains affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The next two are also in the budget category, and they are from Walmart. I’m not able to sit in these either, but I did scour the reviews to kind of see what the pluses and minuses were. They’re both from the Better Homes and Gardens line of furniture, which I’ve had personal good experience with.

The first one is called the Modern Farmhouse Glider. I don’t know why they have to put the word farmhouse in it, but it’s not necessarily farmhouse. It retails for $314, and it comes in a cream and linen type color.

This one has a ton of good reviews, despite the fact that I was unable to sit in it. And it also comes in leather, and I did scour the reviews to find husband ratings, because I don’t know why a lot of recliners are listed in children’s sections. I guess because a lot of recliners are now in the children’s bedroom category because women like to breastfeed in them or rock their babies in them, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go in your living room. And this one has been tested by husbands and approved and they’ve left reviews that say they’re comfortable.

The next one has more of a modern look to it, and it doesn’t have the height behind the head, so it might not be as good if you’re very tall, but I think it has a really great look to it. It comes in olive and a linen oatmeal color, and it retails for $267, and it’s also by Better Homes and Gardens, and it’s called the Reading Pushback Recliner.

What I like, one of the things I like about it is that it has wood legs, so if you were trying to go for a more minimalist or modern look, this one has a really updated feeling. But I did read in the reviews that if you’re over a certain height, it might not be the one for you.

Mid-Range Options from West Elm

• West Elm Haven recliner comes in manual or electric, also swivels, 68 fabric choices. $699 to $1449, modern or mid century modern
• West Elm Auburn leather recliner – 7 leather colors plus a vegan leather, $999-$2448

Next we’re going to move to West Elm. A lot of the ones in West Elm are swivel and recline chairs. This one, the Haven, is on sale for $699. It comes in either a manual recline or a power recline. And for some reason West Elm doesn’t put any reviews on their website. So I did try to go sit in this one. It’s on sale right now for $699. It comes in 68 fabric choices, which I love.

The next one is the West Elm Auburn recliner. This one’s a leather recliner and it retails for $999. It comes in seven different leathers plus a vegan leather option. And I love this one because it looks like a modern chair, not necessarily an old fashioned recliner. And I think it could work in a traditional space too. I think it could work well in a traditional space as well.

Pottery Barn and Living Space

• Pottery Barn Square Arm Recliner – $1239-2299, tons of colors, dozens of fabrics
• Irving Leather Recliner – $1149 and $2249, comes in 54 fabrics both manual and electric

The next one’s from Pottery Barn, and it’s the square arm recliner. And I think this chair is so versatile that it could work in any style. It comes in 140 different fabric choices. It does not have that big headrest, which is one of the things that I personally like less about the way recliners look.

The next one is from a store called Living Spaces, and it’s called the Kennedy Cream Recliner. This one also looks like a regular chair and can fit into any style of room, and it retails for $695. This one had a ton of great reviews, but I’m not able to sit in it. It comes in cream and brown.

Kennedy Cream Power Recliner with USB | Wallaway – 24oo reviews, 2 colors, cream and brown. $695

Wayfair’s Popular Option

Beecher Leather Recliner Wayfair $702 comes in 17 leather colors

Wayfair has a lot of recliners and the most popular one that I saw was the Beecher leather recliner. This one almost looks like a wing chair. It still has almost that sort of pillow behind your head if that is a must for you. It comes in about 17 different colors and it retails for $702.

Luxury Options

Rejuvenation wing back recliner in leather – $4745-$5099 (with or without nailheads)

If I had an unlimited budget and I really had to have a recliner, it would be this one. And it’s from Rejuvenation. It’s a leather recliner. You can get it with or without nail heads, which is going to really give it a traditional look to it. It has kind of a wing chair shape, but it doesn’t have the pillow behind the head.

It does look like a regular chair when it’s not reclined, but it’s pricey. It ranges from $2800 and up, and there are 16 different colors. So if you’re looking for something that’s a keeper for the long term, this one would be a great choice. I love the wood legs, and I think this one is just a really beautiful piece of furniture that happens to recline.

Interior Define’s Customizable Option

Interior Define Sadie recliner – $1420 so many fabric choices, many of which are performance

The next one is from Interior Define. And Interior Define is a place that I often go to if I’m really looking for some interesting colors, and they have a lot of performance fabrics. But they also have a recliner that has a really great look to it. You can pretty much go in any style room. It’s very minimalist and kind of modern looking.

It’s called the Sadie Recliner. And it has wood legs. If you’re not familiar with Interior Defined, they have a ton of fabric options. And what the other thing I really love about Interior Defined is you can customize the fill of your cushions. So let’s say you want your cushions to have some down in them to make them a little bit more comfortable. That’s an upgrade that you can do with any of their pieces of furniture.

In fact, they have three different cushion options. They have standard, double down blend and a down alternative if you have an allergy. And those options are an extra $100 to $125. But it’s something that if you’re going to keep the chair for a long time, I would personally invest in.

Crate and Barrel’s Classic

Lounge Classic Recliners – $899 (288 fabrics)

I wanted to check out Crate and Barrel. Not only because I can go there and sit in the furniture, but I’ve had great luck with upholstery pieces from Crate and Barrel.

Conclusion

There you have it. Proof that recliners don’t have to look like your grandpa’s recliner. You don’t have to choose between comfort and style. So, if you feel handcuffed to your husband’s recliner, check out one of these.

I’ll leave the links for all these options below.

The post Stylish Recliners That Won’t Ruin Your Living Room in 2026 appeared first on Design Morsels.

If that sounds like you and you’re getting tired of your farmhouse look, I want to urge you not to just jump on whatever the next trend is. The key to having timeless style is to develop your own style.

That sometimes takes a little more time to figure out. It’s not something that happens overnight. But if you’re ready to move away from a trend-driven look, here are a few swaps you can make one at a time to figure out what your timeless style really is.

What makes a style timeless is that it’s not the trend. It’s something that speaks specifically to you and that’s why it lasts.

Start with One Inspiration Piece

Whatever room you want to work on, start by finding one thing in the room to really pull your inspiration from.

I’ve seen this in countless designer homes. I recently watched a luxury home tour where the designer built her entire dining room and kitchen around a single bench.

If there’s something you really love. It doesn’t have to be a bench, use it as your anchor piece. It could be a piece of furniture, a rug you found that you really like, a piece of art, or even a fabric that makes you think, “Ooh, I really love that.” Let that inspiration piece help drive the whole look of the room.

Commit to a Color Palette

Something else I hear a lot is, “I don’t know if these things go together.” Choosing a color palette is a great way to solve that. That doesn’t mean everything has to be the same color, it just means that if your pieces work within the same palette, they can work together in a room even if they’re different styles.

The Swaps: Give Your Room a New Look Without Replacing the Furniture

One good thing about farmhouse style is that the furnishings are pretty neutral, a lot of white or off-white sofas and chairs so they can work in almost any style. It’s an easy thing to transition away from. Here’s what to swap out:

1. Start with the Rug

A lot of farmhouse spaces had very neutral rugs with little to no color. Think about finding a rug that has a color palette in it one that helps you commit to a direction for the room. A rug is one of the easiest and most impactful places to start.

2. Take Down the Word Art

If you’re tired of the farmhouse look, word-based artwork is one of the biggest things that screams it. Swap it out for something visual. And it doesn’t have to be something you absolutely love right away.

I know a lot of people feel like they have to wait until they find that perfect piece. But there’s a lot of inexpensive art out there. You can thrift it, find it on Etsy or Wayfair. Get something you like, knowing you can always replace it later. Just make it something that isn’t words.

3. Swap Out Accessories for Something in Your Color Palette

This might be a combination of throw pillows, a throw blanket, vases, glassware, or picture frames anything in the room that echoes the color you’re establishing.

If you’re not sure how to mix and match patterns for pillows, Etsy actually has pre-curated pillow combinations that take the guesswork out of it. I also have a post on how to combine fabrics that might help.

4. Replace the Coffee Table

A lot of farmhouse living rooms have really rustic wood coffee tables. Swapping to something less rustic is an easy and inexpensive way to change the feel of the room.

Think brass with a glass top, a tufted fabric coffee table just something that reads a little less rough.

5. Add Some Paint

Choosing a wall color that isn’t white can completely change the feeling of a room. Paint can be a quick transformation especially if you do it yourself. Just make sure the color you choose works with your color palette. I love using Samplize (paint samples you can order and stick on the wall) to see what a color looks like in your specific room at different times of day before committing.

6. Replace the Window Treatments

Most farmhouse window treatments are white or cream. Try using a fabric that isn’t — something with a little color or pattern. Draperies are a wonderful way to add texture and warmth to a space, and they make a bigger impact than people often expect.

7. Update the Accent Lighting

A lot of the lighting in rustic farmhouse spaces tends to be black. Think about swapping in some accent lighting with a warmer tone, brass lamps or something with an interesting shade shape. It can really shift the whole feeling of a room.

8. Swap the Metal Finishes

Along those same lines, a lot of farmhouse rooms lean heavily on black hardware, black drapery rods, and black frames. Try replacing some of those with something that has a warmer tone, like brass. It doesn’t have to be everything, even a few swaps make a difference.

You Don’t Have to Do It All at Once

None of these are the most expensive things to change in a space. Depending on the rug and lighting you choose, you could make this whole transformation for under $1,000 and a lot of it can be thrifted.

But more importantly: you don’t need to switch everything out at the same time. Find a rug you love and live with it for a bit. Order some fabric samples and put them with the rug so you can think through what pillows might work. Try not to rush all the changes at once. Take your time and make them one by one, that’s actually what gives a space a more timeless feel, because you’re spending the time designing it yourself.

So before you jump on the next trend train, think about finding your own timeless style instead. It’s worth it.

The post Transition Away from Farmhouse Style Without Chasing the Next Trend appeared first on Design Morsels.

Step 1: Living Room Floor Plan

As always I like to start with figuring out the floor plan.

For a living you room you always want to think about how you will use the room. Will you watch TV, entertain guests? What other things do you want to do in this room? Does it need to be pet or child friendly?

In this case, the couple mainly uses the room for guests. They watch TV in a different room and they have no kids at home.

They wanted to fireplace to be the focal point of the room. Here is the floor plan we settled on. This plan gives the entry a bit of a separation from the seating area and there was plenty of room for some bookshelves and a small seating nook.

Step 2: Style Inspiration and Color Palette

Since I recently did a video outlining all of the Ralph Lauren style principles, which you can see here, we already had our inspiration. She wanted mostly neutral colors with some dark green.

The three words she used to describe the way she wanted the room to feel are luxurious, collected and cozy. I like to suggest that people find 5 image for inspiration. This is the collection my client sent me.

She had a hard time finding a lot of inspiration. This can be one of the hardest parts, which I talked about in this video.

Step 3 – Mood Board

The last part of the process is to pull everything together onto a mood board to see how it all looks together. This is a great opportunity to try things out virtually before committing to buying anything.

It can also be a great way to save money because you don’t want to get things that don’t make your room feel collected, cozy and luxurious. These are the products sourced in the room.

• Jute rug
• Wool rug over the top
• Maxwell sofa in Limestone
• Turner roller arm leather chair
• Round black coffee table
• Green velvet curtains
• Floor lamp
• Black & White Prints
• Art over the fireplace
• sconces over fireplace

If you want to hear more about how to get that Ralph Lauren aesthetic in your room, be sure you watch this video.

This post contains affiliate links. I do earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The post Ralph Lauren Inspired Living Room Makeover appeared first on Design Morsels.

Click to watch.

The Social Media Style Myth

Something that social media decided was a thing is that you have to choose one style. You have to decide. I’m coastal, I’m cottage or I’m traditional.

They don’t even teach these styles in design school – this is something made up by social media. They only teach Traditional, Modern and Transitional. So if you’re having a hard time deciding what your style is, don’t do that. Do this instead.

Focus on Your Color Palette Instead

Focus instead on your color palette. Because even if you choose a style, let’s say you choose cottage, your room can look kind of boring if everything in it is cottage. That’s one thing you’ll see when you look at designer’s homes, and we’re going to look at a few examples today of both designer’s homes and some mood boards where there’s a mix of styles.

You’ll notice that when a designer’s home is coastal, they’re going to throw in a modern chair. Or if their home is traditional, they’re going to throw in some really eclectic wall covering. They don’t limit themselves to a specific style. Instead, what they try to focus on is more of a cohesive color palette.

You don’t even have to have everything in the room match your color palette. But if you pick a color palette and try to get most of the things in the room to work within that color palette, it tends to make your room look more pulled together. So if you’re struggling with style, focus on color instead.

The 60-30-10 Color Rule in Action

Here’s an example. In this first room, most of the furnishings are neutral, but to make the room work, we picked out some pinks and reds to pull the color palette together. We used those in a couple of different places, like on the upholstery for the bench, in some artwork, and in some pillows. Some of these things may be modern, some of them might lean toward traditional.

It doesn’t necessarily matter that the items themselves are a specific style that’s all the same. It’s that they work together in the color palette. I’ve talked before about the 60-30-10 principle, and that is that your eye will see about 60% one color, then 30% should be another color, and 10% should be a smaller accent color.

In this room, the 60% is probably cream, the 30% is pinks and reds, and the 10% is black.

Mixing Styles Successfully Through Color

This room has a mix of styles – some of it is modern and some of it is a little bit more traditional. The armchair has a more traditional look, but the coffee table is more of a modern aesthetic.

What makes the pieces work together is that they are in a similar color palette. In this case, following the 60-30-10 rule, 60% is a neutral oatmeal color, about 30% is blues, and 10% is a little bit of orange. You can see there’s a mix of styles within this room, but they work together because of the color palette.

In this particular case, what ties all the colors together – which is something I really love to use – is a rug. The rug has all of the colors in the color palette, and it makes it easy to pull out colors to use them throughout the room.

Here’s another example with some of the same furniture, but this person decided they wanted a little bit of cottage flair. In this case, we decided to use greens and purples together in the room. The armchair has a really cottage look to it, but we’ve pulled in accent colors of purple and oatmeal. The 60% in this room is again a neutral oatmeal color, but the 30% and 10% are the green and purple. The style of the items in the room is a mix of styles.

Real Designer Homes: How They Actually Live

Now, let’s take a look at some designer’s homes where they embrace this approach. This first one is kind of a coastal room, and these are from some of the Schumacher home tours. These homes are worth taking a look at. Schumacher is a well-known fabric manufacturer, and their fabrics are gorgeous and really pricey, but they know how to combine colors.

This home has a coastal look, but you can see there are some really modern elements in this room, like the chairs with the chrome arms. That’s a really modern touch, and there are some really modern lamps. So it’s a mix of coastal with a little bit of modern, but what makes the room really work together is the layering of the color palette.

A Designer Who Masters Color Layering

Here’s another example, and this designer uses a lot of color. The first example shows just how much color she uses in the room. They’re such a mix of styles, but they really work together because she’s intentionally using the colors. She’s using lots of oranges and reds.

The artwork is really modern, but some of the lighting is more cottage looking, and it’s all pulled together. You can see in this little vignette that the colors are really coming from the fabric on the drapes. She’s pulled together these oranges and reds and touches of black that are in the fabric trim.

In this little vignette, there’s a really modern looking sculptural piece, a cottage-style lamp, and a modern, geometric piece of art. So not everything in this space is just one style. It’s lots of styles mixed, and that’s what makes a space more interesting.

Here’s an overall view of the room, and it really has a lot of neutral in it too. The 60% in this room is probably camel, and then the orange and the pinks and reds are the other two colors that are brought in as accents. In this case, I think she’s using the fabric to really drive the color palette, which is one of the tricks you can use – something like a piece of art.

Use What You Love to Drive Your Color Palette

A rug or fabric can really set the color palette for your room. It’s an easy way to do it if you have one of those things that you really love. Let’s say you have a painting that you just love. You don’t know what it is about the painting, but you love it. You can use the colors in the painting to drive the color scheme for your room, or you can use the colors in a rug that you really love to drive the room.

That is one of the easiest things to do.

Start Shopping for Your Color Story

I’m hoping that this will make it easier for you to forget about choosing a style and instead focus on choosing what your color story is. That makes it so much easier when you go out shopping or on a trip to find something that will work in your home. If you know the color palette, you can say, “Ooh, look at this pretty blue blanket. Wouldn’t this work in my living room? Because I know my living room has got a lot of blue in it.”

So stop shopping for your style and start shopping for your color story. You might find it’s a lot easier to pull your room together.

The post Don’t Choose a Style – Create Your Color Story Instead appeared first on Design Morsels.

Today I’m going to show you four easy swaps that you can make that can completely change the look of your living room without changing any of the big, expensive things like the couch or painting the walls.

I’ve seen a million transformations, as I’m sure you have, where they completely overhaul the whole room without disclosing the price—and it would be high. Not everyone can afford to do those kind of transformations. This is a lower cost approach.

And I’ll say, there’s one caveat: If you have a couch that is not neutral, this might not work for you. But if you follow my advice on choosing a couch, which I talked about in my design series, you have a couch that is basic enough that it is versatile. Let’s face it, a lot of us move frequently, so that’s why I really think it’s important to have a couch that can fit into lots of different spaces.

Keep reading until the end, and I’ll show you three different rooms that are actually all the same room with the same couch and the same paint, but they all have a completely different look based on these four swaps.

If you haven’t met me before, I’m Andrea and I create custom floor plans and mood boards for my clients to help them get a home that feels unique to them.

Swap #1: The Rug

The first swap that can really change the look of your room and in fact drive the look of your room is the rug.

A rug is a great way to really set the color palette of the room and to set the tone or the feeling of the room. Just switching out the rug alone can make the room feel completely different, and you can use the rug to help you set your style.

If you want a more traditional or a more cottage look, you can go with an oriental rug. If you have a more minimalist look, you can go with a natural fiber rug. If you want a more modern feeling, you can use a rug that has some geometric pattern to it.

The most common three mistakes that I see people make when they buy a rug is:

1. They get a rug that is too small. You want your rug in a living room to be big enough where all of the main pieces of furniture can sit with at least their front legs on the rug. The rug can really help define the area.
2. They pick a rug that doesn’t really go with their color scheme so that it looks like it’s a little bit out of place. I think a rug is a really important place to start with your color scheme.
3. If you’re using a solid rug, then your color scheme probably won’t come from the rug. But a rug is a really easy way to set the color scheme for the room, and it can immediately pull together the room.

Swap #2: Window Treatments

The second swap is window treatments. And this can either be curtains, roman shades, or a combination of the two.

It’s a great way to add color, texture, and pattern to your space. And the most common mistake I see with window coverings is that people hang them too low and too close to the window frame. You’ve probably heard you should hang your drapes high and wide. And what this does is it makes your windows look bigger.

In fact, most of the window covering for curtains or drapes will be hanging over the wall. And the other mistake I see is that people don’t get a wide enough drape. You generally want to make sure you have at least one and a half to two times minimum width of fabric as the width of the window. You can read more about getting the right size curtain here.

I had one client who made one change to her room, and that was adding a floor to ceiling drape, and that immediately changed the look of the room.

You can use curtains that have a lot of pattern if that’s where you want to bring in your color palette. Or you can choose curtains that have just a really warm and luxurious feel to them.

Swap #3: Lighting

The third swap is something that I’ve talked a lot about, and that’s lighting. Lighting is something that is often overlooked by people, but lighting is like the jewelry for an outfit. And if you don’t wear a lot of jewelry, it’s like your shoes for an outfit. It really helps to make a statement about the space.

And if you don’t have the budget to get an electrician and have new pieces wired in, there are lots of lighting options that can be plugged in, even overhead lighting.

Every room needs to have all three kinds of light and at least three sources of light:

• Ambient light, which comes from usually the lighting that’s in the room
• Task lighting, which is for things like reading or chopping or sewing
• Mood lighting and accent lighting, which is really what helps set the mood of the room

In the three examples I’m going to show you, I just switched out two light fixtures, an overhead light, and a lamp, and just those two things alone can make a big impact in a room.

You can go with a statement chandelier. There are lots of really interesting floor lamps that can also make a statement. And there are some really great sconces that can really take your room to the next level.

So if you have basic builder grade light fixtures, changing up the lighting is something that’s really going to make a big difference.

Swap #4: Accessories

The fourth swap is accessories, and I’m not talking about tons of accessories. You’ll see when you look at these rooms. Basically I’m talking about things like pillows, plants, and artwork.

Those are the main three. Pillows are a great way to add in more texture and color, and if you feel uncertain about mixing the patterns of the pillows, check out my guide where I give an easy formula for combining patterns.

You also want to make sure that every room has something alive in it. And if you’re not good with real plants, there’s some great faux ones out there.

And artwork. Artwork is something that is so personal and doesn’t have to be expensive. You can thrift a lot of artwork. You can make your own artwork, or you can buy really inexpensive prints and have them framed.

So these seemingly small items can add a lot of personal touch to your space.

See the Transformation

Now let’s take a look at the three rooms. You’ll notice it’s the exact same room. It has the same couch and the same wall color, but I’ve changed up these four things: the rug, the window coverings, the lighting, and a few accessories.

I did this because I want you to see the power of just changing these few things because that’s something that you can easily do yourself. So if you’re ready to transform your living room, try making these four swaps first, and you might not need to change anything else.

For those of you who want a little bit more personal help, I do offer virtual design plans, and I’ll link those below.

The post Transform Your Decor with 4 Simple Swaps (Budget Friendly) appeared first on Design Morsels.

Whether you’re dealing with a big empty space like this, or just a small corner that could use a little something extra, a gallery wall is a great way to add personality to your space.

From selecting the artwork to hanging it, I’m going to give you the six steps that I use to put together gallery walls.

And the hardest part is just making the decision “I’m going to do it” and giving yourself a time frame. Because I find that buying art can be one of the hardest things to do in your room and it’s often the last thing that you do.

Step 1: Choose a Theme

If you already have all of the artwork that you want to put into your gallery, then just skip to the next step. But for most people, they don’t really know if the pieces go together, and they haven’t picked out all the pieces. So if you decide to go with a theme, it can be an easier way to come up with a collection that goes together.

And I’ll give you a couple of ideas for what I mean by theme:

• You can choose to hang all portraits
• You can choose to hang all landscapes
• You can choose to hang all things that are depicting a certain place
• You can choose all black and white
• You can choose all floral
• You can choose to have lots of different things, but all in the same frame
• You can choose all abstract

And just to give this gallery wall as an example, I didn’t own any of these pieces when I decided. I decided the theme I was gonna go for was “red and looks Parisian to me.”

So if you’re looking for inspiration for themes, you can look on Pinterest, and you can actually look on Etsy and get a lot of inspiration if you search for gallery walls.

Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical

While you’re thinking about the theme, you should also consider whether you want your gallery to be symmetrical or asymmetrical. So a symmetrical gallery, all the pieces are the same size, and there’s typically like nine pieces or five pieces. And this one is an example of asymmetrical where all the pieces are different sizes.

And that can have a little bit more of an eclectic feel, whereas a symmetrical gallery has a little bit more of a traditional look to it.

Step 2: Measure Your Space

The second step is a quick one. You want to measure out the size that you’re trying to fill. Like, is it 9 feet by 5 feet? And you want to include all of the spaces between the artwork, just the total amount of space that you want to cover.

Step 3: Choose the Pieces

If you have no idea where to begin, start with one anchor piece because that can give you something to work around for the rest.

Just as an example, this is not expensive – this is like a poster – but it is a bicycle which I knew I wanted because we like biking and it looks like a bicycle sitting against a wall in Paris. So, I use that to set the theme of my gallery, and then I could work the pieces in around it.

Add Dimension with 3D Elements

One thing you can add to your gallery that gives it a little bit more interest is to put something sculptural in your gallery. And that means something that’s not art. It’s three dimensional. Like:

• A basket
• A clock
• A piece of fabric
• A mask
• A hat
• A musical instrument
• A sconce

So think about these alternative things when you’re putting together your pieces.

Use a Mood Board to Preview

When I’m selecting my pieces, if I don’t already have them, I like to try them out together on a mood board. I have a tutorial here on how to set up a mood board in Canva, but that is the perfect tool for seeing if artwork goes together. And a lot of the artwork that you’re going to find is scalable, so you can change the size to see how it looks.

Where to Shop for Art

Some of the places that I like to shop for art are:

Etsy: I’ve got several of these pieces from Etsy. This one is from Etsy, this one is from a painter in France that I got on Etsy, this one is from a painter in Ukraine, but they came from all over the place. And that’s what I love about Etsy is you can really get one of a kind pieces. And sometimes you can even tell them, “can you make it this size?” And I really like that.

Minted: This is a great place to go and they also will mat and frame the artwork for you. They have every different style. You can set it by color.

Artfully Walls: A great place to get a curated collection.

Downloadable Art: One thing you can also do on Etsy, they have sellers if you search for “Gallery Wall Art” that sell expired copyright downloadable artwork. And what that means is the artwork is free to anyone. They’ve just collected it in a place where you can easily download it. You can print any size or have it printed in any size. And often they show you arrangements of different pieces of art and it can help you come up with ideas for which pieces go well together. And you can get one download for $11 – the expensive part is printing it and getting it framed. But it can be a really great thing to do if you have no idea what you want to hang.

Step 4: Test Out the Arrangement

If you haven’t bought any of the pieces, test them out in a mood board. If you already have them, then you can test them out by grouping them together on the floor. That’s something that I like to do when I’m trying to pull a bunch of different pieces and I’ve never hung them together. I’ll just lay them out in the living room and try rearranging them in different ways because that helps me see what it’s going to look like up on the wall.

One of the tips for doing that is to start with the biggest piece first, if it’s an asymmetrical arrangement. Put the biggest piece down and then work your way out from there.

Step 5: Frame Your Art

The next step is, if your pieces are unframed, to have them framed or to buy the frames. And one of the places that I’ve used that is very budget friendly frames is called Frame It Easy. And they will also send you the mat. They’ve got lots of different styles.

No, they’re not sponsoring this – I’ve just used them a bunch before. But you basically have to assemble the frame yourself. And it’s an inexpensive way to frame art.

It allows you to frame it with where it’s floating, because there’s a mat behind it which can kind of make your artwork look a little bit more elevated if it’s floating.

One of the other places that I love to get frames if I’m on a really tight budget is IKEA.

Step 6: Hang Your Gallery Wall

And the last step is just to hang all the pieces once you have them all. There are lots of tutorials out there to show you how to hang them. I have one here where I talk about hanging a gallery wall of photographs. But what I like to do is to start with the centerpiece and hang it first.

There are also tutorials out there where you cut a piece of paper to the same size as all your artwork, and you put that up on the wall first. And if you are a really detailed person, that is a great way to do it. I am, that sounds way too complicated for me, I like to do something simpler and that is just to hang it. Even if I poke a few extra holes in the wall because I have to move a piece two or three times, those holes are easy to patch.

Even if you’re a renter, hang the big piece first and then work your way out around that. You want about three inches between the pieces, but you’ll be able to see as you’re hanging, as you’re setting it out on the floor, “Oh, these two pieces need to move up” or “these two pieces need to move down.” You’re going to be surprised at how easy you’ll be able to see the proportions.

And that’s it. Those are the six steps to create a gallery wall. And if you’re struggling with choosing art, I’ve got an article here where I talk about an easy way to kind of narrow down what kind of art you want to hang. And if you have questions about your artwork and how it goes together, you can send me an email or leave a comment and ask any questions you have!

The post Foolproof Gallery Wall Formula For A Curated Look appeared first on Design Morsels.

Some bulbs are definitely better than others when it comes to creating that warm, inviting atmosphere we all want in our homes.

Understanding LED Lighting Vocabulary

Let’s look at some essential LED terminology that will help you make informed choices.

Lumens: Measuring Brightness

Light bulbs used to be measured in watts and volts, but LED bulbs are measured in lumens and kelvins. Lumens represent brightness – the higher the number, the brighter the bulb.

• Low Brightness: 200-400 lumens (perfect for ambient lighting)
• Medium Brightness: 500-800 lumens (ideal for most living spaces)
• High Brightness: 900-1,500 lumens (best for task lighting)

Those decorative bulbs with exposed filaments typically have very low lumens, which is why they create such a pleasant glow without overwhelming a space.

Kelvin: Measuring Warmth

The Kelvin score rates the warmth of the light. Lower numbers produce warmer light (more yellow/orange), while higher numbers create cooler, bluer light. Kelvin ratings typically range from 2000K to 6000K.

Common packaging terms and their Kelvin equivalents:

• Soft White: Around 2700K-3000K (warmest option, closest to traditional incandescent)
• Warm White: 3000K-3500K (slightly less warm than soft white)
• Bright White: 3500K-4000K (neutral to cool light)
• Daylight: 5000K-6500K (bluest light, similar to office lighting)

The Right Light for Every Room

Every room needs at least three sources of light (not counting natural light from windows). These should include:

1. Ambient Lighting: Usually built-in ceiling fixtures that come with your home
2. Task Lighting: Functional lights for specific activities (reading lamps, pendant lights over kitchen islands)
3. Mood Lighting: Everything else that adds atmosphere – picture lights, sconces, floor lamps, and decorative fixtures not tied to specific functions

Mood lighting is what truly elevates your space to the next level, creating depth and visual interest.

My favorite Bulbs

Here’s a comparison of these bulbs in a lamp so you can see the difference.

The following links will take you to these bulbs online. I do earn a small commission if you purchase through my links at no cost to you.

• 3000 Kelvin 1600 lumen LED bulb
• 43 watt, 565 Lumen GE Halogen bulb
• 2700 kelvin, 800 lumen LED bulb
• Equivalent to 1490, 72 watt halogen (the halogen bulb is not available)
• 5000Kelvin 480 Lumen
• Smart dimmer
• Incandescent bulbs

Enhancing Flexibility with Dimmers

Another way to make your lighting more versatile is by installing dimmers. Many LED bulbs have dimming capabilities that can be controlled either from the fixture itself or from a wall switch. Smart dimmers connected to apps offer even more control.

Dimmers allow you to adjust brightness based on your needs – more light for tasks, less light for entertaining or relaxing. This flexibility means one fixture can serve multiple purposes throughout the day.

Alternatives to LED

While LED technology has improved dramatically, some people still prefer traditional incandescent bulbs. These generate light from heat, making them less energy-efficient but sometimes preferable for those concerned about blue light exposure. Incandescent bulbs are still available, though they’re more expensive to purchase and operate.

Creating Warm LED Lighting on a Budget

Inexpensive mood lighting options can make a significant impact. Retailers like IKEA offer affordable fixtures with built-in dimming capabilities that provide lovely warm accent lighting. These small investments can transform the feel of a room without requiring major renovations.

Final Thoughts

Never underestimate the power of lighting in your home. The right bulbs with appropriate lumens and Kelvin temperatures can create spaces that feel warm, inviting, and comfortable rather than clinical or sterile. By understanding these fundamentals, you can make informed choices that dramatically improve your living environment.

For personalized guidance on lighting or other interior design challenges, consider scheduling a one-on-one design consultation to transform your space with professional expertise.

The post The Designer’s Guide to Warm LED Lighting appeared first on Design Morsels.

The genius of Nancy Meyers interiors isn’t what most people think. While many label them all as “coastal grandma,” her film sets actually span a remarkable range of styles. From the rich, masculine modern spaces in What Women Want to the cozy English cottage in The Holiday, to the traditional Hampton’s mansion in Something’s Gotta Give – each space has its own distinct personality.

Let’s break down the five achievable elements that make these spaces so irresistible (plus one reality check):

1. The Art of Mood Lighting

These homes feature an almost uncountable number of lamps, creating that perfect warm, inviting glow. Here’s an insider secret: these aren’t real homes – they’re filmed on sound stages without natural light.

Every source of illumination is carefully placed to create that cozy atmosphere. The takeaway? Layer in more lamps and sconces than you think necessary, and favor warm light over bright white overhead lighting.

2. The Anti-Minimalist Approach

These spaces excel at looking thoroughly lived-in, filled with books, picture frames, and personal touches. They’re the dictionary definition of “curated” – every room feels like a carefully collected story of someone’s life.

To capture this feeling, incorporate family photos, stack beloved books as decor, add plants or flowers, and most importantly, seek out unique thrifted pieces or family hand-me-downs that add character.

3. The Strategic Rug Layout

Every room features an expansive rug (though never wall-to-wall carpeting). While the movie sets often use custom pieces, you can achieve a similar effect by starting with a large natural fiber rug like jute or seagrass and layering smaller, more expensive rugs on top.

4. The Layered Window Treatments

Notice how every window features full-length curtains hung high, usually paired with shades underneath. To recreate this look, hang your curtains higher and wider than the window frame, and layer in simple Roman or bamboo shades for added texture.

5. The Heart of the Home: The Kitchen

These kitchens always feature a prominent island that serves as a conversation hub – just like in real homes. They’re styled with hanging copper pots, extensive cookbook collections, and rows of fresh herbs. While the casual croissant-making scenes might be fantasy, many of these welcoming kitchen elements are achievable.

The Reality Check

Here’s the truth: some aspects of Nancy Meyers’ interiors are pure Hollywood magic. No amount of decorating can recreate those sweeping ocean views or massive bay windows if your home’s architecture doesn’t support it. Those stunning flower arrangements?

They’re likely $600 studio props. It’s important to remember these sets have unlimited budgets and professional designers – the key is capturing the feeling while keeping expectations realistic.

If you’re inspired by these interiors, check out Grace and Frankie for another masterclass in set design. The beach house in that show offers similar levels of interior inspiration, even if you’re just watching for the decor.

Looking for more interior inspiration? You might want to read 9 lessons I learned from touring designers homes.

The post The Magic Behind Nancy Meyers’ Interiors: 5 Things You Can Do appeared first on Design Morsels.

Let’s explore 10 IKEA pieces that capture that collected, cozy cottage look – from traditional cabinetry to slipcovered upholstery. You might be surprised at how many pieces at IKEA can help you build that cottage aesthetic. And they mix great with antiques, because one thing that almost all designers try to do is mix high and low in every space.

The Best IKEA Cottage Finds

1. Rocksjon and Uppland Chairs

The Rocksjon chair comes in three colors. It includes a matching footstool and is slipcovered. The slipcover colors are white, oatmeal, and ticking – and remember, ticking is a classic cottage fabric. It’s not the most comfortable, that’s the Uppland, which also comes in lots of different slip covers.

2. Hemnes Collection

The Hemnes line offers many cottage-appropriate pieces, but let’s focus on the cabinet with glass doors. What makes the Hemnes line special is that it’s wood furniture, not particle board.

Imagine this cabinet filled with ironstone or china collections. One client even wallpapered the backs of these cabinets – there are lots of ways to level up and customize IKEA pieces for your space.

3. Lommarp Cabinet

This piece comes in green, black, and cream, with a really unique shape. The brass hardware adds charm, and it comes in several different configurations. Use it as a freestanding paint pantry or hutch, and consider swapping out the hardware for vintage pieces.

4. Hemnes Bed

Available in gray, black, and white, this bed can be beautifully cottage-style when layered with quilts and textiles. It also comes in a daybed configuration.

5. Tolkning Bench

This woven seagrass piece adds great texture and offers double-duty function with storage. You could even use it as a coffee table with a tray in a casual room.

6. Skogsbo Dining Chair

Fashioned after 19th-century bentwood chairs, these can be made cozier with tied-on cushions.

7. Ingatorp Table

This wood table features turned legs and a leaf. Available in white, black, and gray, the leaf transforms it into a larger oval table.

8. Bergmund Chair

This classic Parsons chair style dates back to France in the 1930s. The tailored upholstery works at your dining table or as a desk chair. It comes with several different slipcover options, but you can also have them made by BEMZ in any fabric you choose. At this price point, they’re a great value, and they’re surprisingly comfortable too.

9. Jute Rug

The almost 8×10 size of the TÅGBILJETT is only $180, making it perfect for layering. If you have a unique antique rug that’s smaller, you can layer it on top of this jute base.

10. Accessories

This is the absolute favorite category – IKEA is a master at making budget-friendly accessories. You’ll find throw blankets, throw pillows, candlesticks, and frames. The frames are particularly good deals – just add your own vintage artwork, or download free artwork that has expired copyright. Read how to print artwork to make it looks real.

You can combine new candlesticks with old ones. There are so many budget-friendly choices in the accessory category that it’s worth exploring. Look for their glass pitchers and inexpensive glasses too.

Conclusion

Whether you’re fully committed to following the cottage trend in 2025, you’ve been doing it for a long time, or maybe you don’t know your style yet, these IKEA pieces are versatile enough for any space. If you find yourself drawn to these pieces, that’s a clue about your design preferences. Most successful spaces are a mix of multiple styles, and these IKEA pieces can help you create that perfect blend of old and new, high and low.

The post IKEA’s Surprising Cottage Style Finds: 10 Pieces for a Collected, Cozy Home appeared first on Design Morsels.