Picture this: you walk into your home from a busy day and you’re transported right into the world you daydream about at your desk. There are soft linens, inviting colors, crisp lines, natural textures, and everything you need to indulge in your post-work hobbies and successfully manage your home. It’s all there. But for each person, what they just envisioned is different. There may not be a big, overstuffed easy chair in the corner, maybe there’s a foosball table, or a fully stocked kitchen a la your favorite restaurant. Or maybe you want a French chateau experience, or a rustic farmhouse feel. No matter what mood you want to set in your home, it’s all possible through design.
And that’s the beauty of interior design. Your home can speak – maybe not in literal words, but in the way it makes you feel, how it welcomes guests, and the features it holds that just make you want to stay there All. The. Time.
As an interior designer who loves collaborating with clients to create the home that’s always on their mind, I’d like to set the stage and talk about 4 moods you can create through design.
4 Moods
Even if you’re dealing with an open concept house, you can set a different mood in each room according to its uses and needs. Or, you can create a cohesive home that flows from room to room, all with a common theme that carries through. And all of this is done with a few special design tricks.
As for me, I love the idea of the four following moods that can turn ordinary rooms into an absolute haven for the people who use them most.
Masculine Home Office
The man of the house, or a good space for children to do school. Something with a calming, maybe rustic presence. Lots of natural materials, plenty of luxurious furniture, and plenty to support any hobbies.
A masculine look does not have to be dark, but navy blues, rich reds, and brown (especially in the form of leather sofas and wood furniture) can be key elements to at least start with, and then we can go from there. Perhaps the biggest part of the masculine home office is its usability. It’s not the man’s space if it doesn’t serve his daily/hobby needs. Maybe instead of a desk, there’s a drafting table, instead of a sofa a ping pong table, or along with the leather sofa a console table for video games.
Livable Luxe Living Room
Livable luxe living spaces drip with luxury and peace, but are also able to support daily activities and all the company you could ever invite over. These spaces are practical but ooze leisure and grandeur with a variety of textures, clean lines, a brighter color palette accented by richer hues, and practical furniture pieces that actually solve your storage and display problems.
It’s a balance that needs to be struck. I like using shelving units or credenzas to achieve easy storage, throw in some baskets, side tables with shelves, smaller pieces (like thin floor lamps) mixed with larger, more welcoming sofas and chairs, and using art that doesn’t clutter.
Serene Dining Room
The serene dining room is a wonderful thing. This is where you’ll go to relax over delicious meals, focus on conversation, and enjoy company. It’s less about the big things and more about the little details that add a subtle artistic flair without interrupting the rest of the design.
Simple textiles and materials are a big part of this, some metallic detailing, and a focus on lighter, brighter colors can all create a serene space for eating and entertaining. Here’s where I would also put the details more in the decor than the larger furniture pieces. Keep it all simple and in line with your own personality (make sure there are things you love!) and the serene will happen organically.
Bold Basement
This might be an area of the house that the kids use most, so it’s important to take that into consideration and maybe even pull in some of their advice before diving into the design. Here is where we want exciting colors, bold (maybe a bit wild) accents, and unique shapes mixed with quirky decor and fun novelty items.
This is a great place to go little more on the wild side with wallpaper patterns, maybe incorporate a mural design. It’s also where you can mix and match furniture designs and shapes. Big, reclining, overstuffed leather chairs with a more streamlined sofa, or large lounge chairs with slightly more dynamic shapes paired with a velvet sofa. Make it eclectic and keep the intrigue going with little hints of decor, and novelty pieces — like popcorn machines — that transform an ordinary basement area into the ideal hang out space.
Ready to transport one of these moods into your own home? Get in touch and we can create an easy E-design, with shoppable links and everything, and get your project started!
Your partner in design,
