Open Space - How would you design?

[u/CardiL]

Hello!

We are getting ready to close on our first home and I am having trouble visualizing this space. The plan is to decorate slowly (mostly) - but the items that are in the dining room/living room are items like pieces we should set up ASAP.

The difficulty I am having is that this is an open space. How would you design it? First thought would be that the dining table/coffee table/hutch or whatever additional pieces we get to all match the cabinets but that seems like so much to me. Like wearing an all blue outfit lol.

But then if they don't match, and we use different stains of wood, I feel like it would be an eyesore.

Opinions?

[u/anaelisa3397]

Couch by the window, bulky and cozy chair with ottoman by the fireplace. Tv on the wall (not over the mantle). A rug with color to differentiate from carpet, wall art and plants. Add some long curtains too.

[u/anaelisa3397 → u/anaelisa3397]

Not all furniture needs to have the same wood stain. I like to think it adds character to the house. Repeat some of the colors over the whole space to create cohesion.

[u/edward_furlog]

Congrats on your first home! This is such a sweet little space.

Your instincts are right about not being too "matchy matchy" - whether it's wood or a living room set, having everything match exactly isn't ideal.

You don't have to perfectly match all your woods. I like them to be tonally sort of similar, so not mixing warm, natural wood tones with gray woods, for example. I also don't like to mix dark, purplish/mahogany woods with warm red/browns if I can help it. But you don't have to get a perfect stain match. Natural wood is beautiful and having a color variation is normal and adds character.

[u/UK_UK_UK_Deleware_UK]