FrontRoom Furnishings, a home furnishings retailer, has announced its complete closure of all six central Ohio stores and plans to sell its real estate. The company began liquidating five of its six area stores last month and will close all six stores permanently. The company will also close four of its five remaining flagship stores and all of its remaining outlets, less than a year after closing its three Bedrooms First stores.
The sudden decline in consumer demand this year has caught furniture retailers and manufacturers off guard, resulting in exploding inventory levels, declining orders, and supply issues. To prepare for 2024 and beyond, it is essential to understand the differences between generations, redefine the furniture e-commerce experience using technology, fuel furniture marketing with 3D content, and boost furniture sales with advertising and advertising.
FrontRoom Furnishings is located at 940 Polaris Pkwy in Columbus, Ohio 43240. Employees rate the company 3.9 out of 5 stars based on 27 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. To get a job at FrontRoom Furnishings Family of Stores, one can contact them via phone at 310-0900 for pricing, hours, and directions.
According to information posted on the company’s website, FrontRoom Furnishings is no longer in business. The company will begin liquidating most of its central Ohio retail stores beginning September 2. Yelpers report that an outlet location in Columbus, Ohio, has closed. To find a similar spot, customers can visit the company’s website or contact the company directly.
📹 STOP DOING THIS TO YOUR LIVING ROOM! (PRO TIPS INCLUDED)
Stop Doing This To Your Living Room Guys! I am so excited to air this video today!! It’s a special video all about designing your …
What is the new name for home interiors?
Home Interiors, a company that was acquired by Penny and Steve Carlile after bankruptcy in 1996, was merged with Home and Garden Party, renaming it Celebrating Home. The company continues to operate from its headquarters in Marshall, TX. Heather Chastain, former president of Home Interiors, became president of Celebrating Home after the merger. The Carliles also purchased Home Interiors Mexico operation, which continues to operate under the Home Interiors name as an independent entity.
In 2006, Home Interiors generated $500 million in annual sales with Mike Lohner as CEO. Lohner resigned when Highland Capital Management acquired a majority interest in the company. Richard W. Heath, who had founded BeautiControl Cosmetics Inc. in 1981, replaced Lohner as president and CEO. Home Interiors has been a leader in direct sales and has a strong focus on what’s on the inside that counts.
Is Ethan Allen Furniture out of business?
Ethan Allen, a company founded in 1932, operates 139 retail design centers in the US, Canada, Asia, and Europe. The company specializes in custom furniture, including upholstered furniture, sofas, and chairs, made in selected fabrics. Theodore Baumritter and Nathan S. Ancell founded the company in 1932, buying a bankrupt furniture factory in Beecher Falls, Vermont in 1936. The company’s name, “Ethan Allen”, was chosen after the Vermont Revolutionary War leader Ethan Allen. The company also operates independent licensees in the US, Asia, and Europe.
Who bought Ethan Allen?
Farooq Kathwari becomes Chairman, President, and CEO of Ethan Allen, leading a management buyout and taking the company private in 1989. The furniture line is reinvented, moving away from colonial origins and embracing fresh looks. The company returns to trading on the New York Stock Exchange and commits to American workers’ skills, investing in new technology and state-of-the-art equipment. About 75 of their products are made in North American workshops.
What is the future of the home decor industry?
India’s Home Décor market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 8. 78 (CAGR 2024-2029), with revenue reaching INR 1. 95bn in 2024. The United States generates the highest revenue in this segment, at INR 35, 440m in 2024. India’s market is driven by a growing middle class and a strong emphasis on interior design. Key regions include India, France, the United States, Canada, and Denmark. The segment includes accessories and furnishings used to enhance a space’s aesthetic appeal, showcasing unique style and creativity.
What is the outlook for the home furnishings market?
The global home furnishings market, valued at USD 896. 75 billion in 2023, is projected to grow from USD 942. 48 billion in 2024 to USD 1408. 91 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 5. 1. The market is segmented into home furniture, home textile, wall decor, and others, and is classified into E-Commerce Sales and In-store Sales based on application. The market is expected to reach USD 1408. 91 billion by 2032.
What is another name for home furnishings?
The term “home furnishings” encompasses a range of elements that contribute to the overall aesthetic and functional appeal of a residential space. These elements include furniture, accessories, kitchenware, and storage solutions.
What happened to Ethan Allen?
Ethan Allen, a Vermont Patriot, died of a stroke at the age of 52 on February 12, 1789. He was best known as the leader of the Green Mountain Boys, who took the British fort at Ticonderoga with Benedict Arnold in May 1775. Allen had a varied career defending his land interests in the New Hampshire Grants (now part of Vermont) from any challenge. He faced charges of treason and attempted to negotiate terms for Vermont’s rejoining the British empire in the early 1780s when New York blocked its acceptance as one of the United States.
Allen was born to Joseph and Mary Baker Allen in Connecticut, who acquired titles to land in Vermont from the government of New Hampshire. When New York claimed the right to sell the same land, Allen led the protest in defense of the New Hampshire Grants. When his father died in 1755, Ethan assumed the mantle of leadership and led the Green Mountain Boys in guerrilla actions against New York landowners in Vermont. He earned the title of Patriot by his actions at Ticonderoga, where he and Arnold seized the cannon that would allow the Patriots to drive the British from Boston.
What is the current interior design style called?
Contemporary interior design is popular for its luxury modern aesthetic, featuring clean lines and innovative finishes. Furniture lines are clean and uncomplicated, while sofas and armchairs are comfortable and upholstered in lustrous velvets and chenilles. Coffee tables and casegoods are understated and monolithic, while installation lighting, specialist wall cladding, and flooring are crucial elements in a room’s overall design.
What is the forecast for home furnishings?
The Home Furniture Market is projected to reach $720. 9 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 5. 5 from 2024 to 2031. This growth is attributed to the increasing demand for luxury furniture, customized home furniture, and disposable income. However, factors such as rental furniture preference and availability of suitable raw materials at competitive prices are restraining the market’s growth. Key players’ omni-channel presence, adoption of technology for furniture placement, and urban population growth are expected to generate growth opportunities.
However, the growing demand for second-hand furniture is a major challenge. The market is also influenced by the rise in sustainable furniture and smart furniture trends. Luxury furniture, known for its premium materials, craftsmanship, and designs, is gaining popularity due to its aesthetic value. Luxury furniture brands are expanding their business in urban cities, such as Durian Industries Ltd.’s new store in Jaipur, India. Factors such as disposable income, globalization, urbanization, and evolving consumer preferences are driving the demand for luxury furniture.
What were Ethan Allen’s last words?
Ethan Allen, a military leader, expressed apprehension about the possibility of encountering celestial beings at the moment of his demise. In response, the attending physician made a succinct observation, stating, “If they are waiting, let them wait.”
Did Home Interiors go out of business?
Home Interiors, a popular home decorating company founded in the early 1980s, revolutionized the direct sales approach for home furnishings and decor. However, as consumer preferences evolved, so did the demand for its products. By the late 2000s, Home Interiors faced significant challenges, leading many consumers to question its existence in its original form. Despite its decline, the legacy of Home Interiors continues to influence the home decor landscape through various brands and platforms that prioritize personalization and customer engagement.
Online platforms like Coohom have introduced a new era of home design where amateur designers can create stunning interiors with ease. Coohom offers a vast library of furniture models, a plethora of design templates, and helpful tools for rendering high-quality images, making home decoration accessible to everyone. For those nostalgic about Home Interiors, the community of design enthusiasts on social media serves as a reminder of the impact it had on home decor.
Tips for modern home decor include embracing technology, personalizing your space, staying updated with design trends, and experimentation. While Home Interiors is no longer in operation, its influence is still felt in the industry. Instead, consider using platforms like Coohom for modern home design solutions.
📹 UL FSRI Home Furnishings Comparison (Natural vs. Synthetic)
In 2020, the UL FSRI team captured a new side-by-side burn comparison of natural vs. synthetic furnished rooms. Since the …
I can see where she’s coming from with the photos. Having like a big main pic of your whole family or a couple of little ones throughout the room is fine, but I work as a nanny for a family that literally has photos of them on every square inch of every wall and it’s incredibly overwhelming. I’m talking giant 50-photo collages on every hallway, pics by the kitchen sink, giant canvases, and even a pic in the bathroom. They stare at me while I’m on the toilet and it’s super awkward. Keep that shit to a minimum
Oooh I can’t go along with personal photos in public spaces. No. Just no. My home is not a gallery, it’s a HOME. I have never felt uncomfortable seeing family photos in someone’s living room. Lisa is a designer…that’s her perspective… that’s what we’re here for, but I will always have select family photos in my living spaces. Only exception would be if I’m staging a home for sale.
I absolutely disagree with you. You’re home is not a public space, it’s your sanctuary. You don’t have to please anyone but yourself. The people who come to your home are family and friends. If friends feel uncomfortable about your family photos, well that’s their issue; and maybe then they shouldn’t come over.
Hi Lisa, I admit that I felt a little left out in this article as the tips seemed to be for large homes. Such as don’t put living room furniture against the walls. I’m sure if someone has a small living room at least one chair or sofa will end up against a wall. The no family photos only makes sense IF you have a separate family room aka the living room is really your parlor which isn’t the case for many homes and even then it seems a little exaggerated. I doubt people would mind seeing a small photo or two say 4×5 or smaller in a frame along with other items like on a shelf or side table. I’d just try to avoid making the photos a focal point. As for the fireplace… well my house won’t have one. My parents do and it is over their fireplace as there are shelves on both sides. They normally watch tv from the kitchen or dining table which is a little higher up. I am going to instead have counter height storage built into that wall to mirror the height of the kitchen peninsula opposite it so my TV will still be a little higher that sitting eye height. This is important for me since my house will be very small and I don’t want to store everything in the kitchen cabinets!
I agree about the photos. Put them in a hallway and make a gallery wall. It makes more sense and looks great. My mom taught me this through her decorating and I’ve just always done it that way. It’s pretty cool too because you can give your kids a history lesson about their ancestors too. 😉 Unless you’re the queen of England, don’t put a huge picture of yourself and your family above the fireplace. Its tacky and uninspired jmo.
I am in my late 60s, and I grew up with the understanding that formal portraits were fine in public spaces, but that photos were better in private spaces. I think we have become more flexible, but I get where Lisa is coming from. Actually, when my parents passed away I discovered a treasure trove of black and white family pictures from the late 1800s and early 1900s. I framed them with black frames and white mats to make a gallery wall in my very modern dining room. People ALWAYS spend time looking at them because they are interesting. If you display pictures intentionally, following good design, it will work.
Lisa, I watch your website religiously and love your advice. One of the things that stood out in this article was that most of the examples of “do this” rooms had furniture against the walls or windows and that seems contrary to your first “don’t” which was not to put furniture against the walls. What am I missing?
The more I watch your articles and the more it’s evident that you’re not taking smaller spaces into consideration. No couch against a wall? 30-36 inches for traffic patterns? Hahahahaha if I don’t put my couch against the wall my space is going to feel even tighter and I’ve got a love seat and one chair that share an end table. And you can forget a coffee table!
My friends parents have a huge gallery wall in their staircase leading from the main living area upstairs to the bedrooms. The gallery wall shows pictures of the whole family at different stages of their life and pictures from when the kids were baby’s (now grwon up) to their first grandkids. And I always loved it as a guest. It’s not so much in your face on the living room, but when you are close enough to the family that they would let you upstairs you would quickly pass all their pictures. I sometimes walked extra slow to see all of them. I think this is a great idea to handle it!
I’ve also found taking a article of a space and looking at it on screen can help identify any areas that could be better styled or designed. Thanks for all the tips, I managed to check all off the list as already something I already do, but it did help validate my design logic 😆 I can understand that some people will not appreciate the point about personal photos. I think that they could be displayed as works of art or in beautiful frames as a design statement, but too many in a prominent place might be a bit overwhelming. I personally have all mine in our hallway as a gallery wall and in bedrooms, but wouldn’t be at all offended to walk into a home with personal photos in a living space.
I always enjoy your articles. Sometimes I disagree, though. For example, I don’t consider my home to be a public space. It is not a dentist’s waiting area. I don’t see why I can’t have my personal pictures displayed throughout. The only visitors I get are friends and family and they DO want to see my kids’ pictures displayed.
I have a gallery wall of family photos going up my open staircase and into the upstairs hallway. I also have two living rooms on the 1st floor. The family room where we have the television has no family photos. However the sitting room has no TV……a piano instead. Above the piano is a gallery wall of more family photos. People rave about our family photos. Taken professionally in a less posey way… put in black and white…. framed with matting looks like art. I saved the wedding photos for our bedroom and instead opted to keep our wedding album in the sitting room in case folks ask about our wedding photos. I also keep a pretty box of family pictures from years ago for visiting family to delve into when we’re chatting about the old days.
Generally agree with you, Lisa, but I have to throw the flag on the personal photos in public spaces. They are often conversation starters. And while I don’t do gallery walls, my babies and my bride/daughter in a silver frame shouldn’t make anybody uncomfortable. If it does, I probably don’t need to know them. 😉
I adore you 🙂 it is the rare occasion that I really enjoy the personality of the expert advice, not only are your tips spot on, you have fun teaching us! and, I know I said this before, but I love your speaking voice (I told you last time you are a twin voice with Tea Leone!) thanks again for being SO awesome! will check out your website 🙂 xoxo and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! -Donna
Oh Lisa! I love you. But this was not fun realistic for so many of us on a couple points. I’m in a lovely home of 1050 sq ft, family of 6. We don’t have public and private space! 😂 1 bathroom too so not even that is private. Well, I mean it has a door and lock… 😂 I even work from home and have clients in all the time. They always compliment and ooh and ah my family photos. I’m also not sure it possible to not have my couch against a wall. 🤔 Maybe..🤷♀️ it’s a small living room and we need seating for 6 or more…. You are delightful and helpful and I adore you style.
I totally disagree when it comes to family photos. My home isn’t open to the public it’s open to family and friends. I’m not a fan of having family photos hung on the wall, but displayed on bookshelves, piano, sofa table etc. adds a personal touch. My guest have never been uncomfortable looking at my family photos, and if they were they’re not the kind of people I want in my home. If the house is for sale then I agree there should be no family photos. Furniture looks better if it’s not up against the wall, but not all living rooms have the space or the layout to make it possible. At the end of the day it’s all about functionality and what makes you happy. That said, the other tips you gave were great.
Great tips as always Lisa!!!!! I agree with family photos in more private spaces. I read this many years ago, considered the pros and cons and decided it was the way to go. We have black and white professional photos of our sons-I believe the style was called baby body parts, and they are in our bedroom hung in a gallery wall style. Absolutely love it and so timeless too. We have our extended family photos and our sons senior and personality graduation photos in black frames with white mat boards hung in the main hallway. The colorful photos are made cohesive by the unifying matboards and frames. I also have a few favorites pictures of our parents and grandparents wedding days framed in my home office. – This is a funny little thing I’ve noticed about having photos in the hallway…Many times someone has gone to use the guest bathroom in the hallway and emerged with a comment to the rest of the group about how great the photos are in the hall etc. Having the family photos to peruse in the hall is nice for people. So if they happened to go MIA in the bathroom for a bit, they were simply held up enjoying all the photos down the hall! Or just have some fantastical art !!! smiley face
I have an odd layout with my living room where 2 doors at one corner and 2 doors at the opposite corner dictate the traffic flow, but one wall is built-ins and one wall has a window, so I really have to work the one remaining corner. I think a sectional would be best, but it would necessarily have to sit against the walls!
I knew it! I knew I would have a slap on my wrist for my TV being on a wall and my sofas being against the walls. I know it is wrong, but I have an excuse. English houses are so small and my large second half requires a large sitting space. And if I move it all to the middle of the room another rule would get broken. No passage. I have tried, I have cried, I demanded the smaller sofa but I’ve lost that battle just as I’ve lost the battle with the TV above the fireplace. Suppose that’s what we call “a compromise” within the family. And Oh! My little grandson calls out family room “the cinema room”. At least my boys are happy. I have to comfort myself on a point not having any family photos on display. And there is nothing wrong with my lighting or so I hope. Forgive me, Lisa, for I have sinned…
Lisa, your advice is always right on. But just one observation: When I look through my AD magazine, at all those super-expensive interiors, I often see tables (or desks, or a wall or bookcase) in their living space featuring framed photographs of family/friends/celebrities (since a lot of these homes are owned by celebrities). Is that OK, or not? A few framed favorite photos here and there?
It was never ever the idea of builders, electrians, and cable guys to put the TV above the fireplace. No one wants to wire the most awkward outlets in the house. The honour of that idea is for designers and the homeowners who follow them. Someday the reality that people watch TV and the design for that must be dealt with, will finally sink in.
I love your articles but I disagree with the TV being over the fireplace. It made all the difference in the world for our living room. And the hardware is adjustable so can move it out, left, right, down up and it is been a good move for us. I personally don’t like two focal spots. One the fireplace the other the TV with another piece of furniture since entertainment centers are out…
I use a spray primer (Z-prime) on plastic plug and switch plates, let dry, then paint with a tiny foam roller them to match the walls. If the walls have flat paint, get a little matching pot of eggshell or semi-gloss paint for them, it’s more cleanable. You can also get black, brown, white, almond or beige plugs and switches themselves, that blend in better, and switch them out for those in a color that stands out too much. Online is a better place to search for exactly what you want, using your electrician’s specs.
I would love to see you do a article on how to make a T_I_N_Y DARK condo entry way brighter. I’m in a 1,258 sq. ft condo and people walk into my dark hallway and even I think it is depressing. The 3/4 high board and batten walls are painted white (which is great) and there is a bench for sitting and taking shoes off (another plus). But its issues are its tiny size, and that the laundry room entry door is there immediately across from the entry door. The chocolate brown laminate floor is going within the next few months (a mid tone wood laminate is going down) and that will help to lighten the room a bit. I do have a table lamp in there and I have two “candle lanterns” on the opposite wall that provides a bit of ambiance. No chance for a chandelier as there is no electricity in that room and I have another condo directly above me so no way to add electric. The entry door is a heavy oak door and i am thinking about painting the inside of the door and its frame white which “could” help lighten things up a bit. I cannot change out the door and out in a door with a window (condo rules) so that is not an option for me. Any other ideas or suggestions?
OMG Lisa. I must be a designer and not know it LOL. I don’t like furniture against the wall, TV above the fireplace is a no no for me, I don’t like personal pictures in the public spaces and everyone thinks I am weird because of that AND I always use the leave the room idea. I love you articles…keep them coming girl!
Love the article as always! And I agree re the living room is a public space… I think people can apply a little balance and add some personal pics but should think about which ones…. I’ve seen plenty of…. Interesting shots in people’s living rooms that I’m sure have special meaning to them but they don’t always ‘deliver’ the intended sentiment to a visitor!!!!
Omg! I love this article! I keep on ticking the boxes haha! Must have watched all your articles when we were building the new house. Three layers of lighting make a huge difference esp in the evening. Visitors said it makes the house really cosy ☺️. And yes, no personal photos in the living room, just big wall arts
Great and useful tips here but, we need to remember our homes were built and designed for our comfort and our family’s confort, it should be welcoming for guests … sure…but that should never be the primary focus. So, if a guest is uncomfortable with pictures of MY family in MY house, then that’s their problem not mine 🙃
We have a small house so family pictures will have to be in a public space. Although we don’t have a lot. I have 3 framed photos on a side table with a plant. And one on a bedroom side table. I don’t like family photos on the wall. I only put art on the walls. And since I’m a minimalist. I only have a few larger scales framed art pieces scattered around the house. I do like candles, so I have a bunch decorated potted candles scattered around the house too. They substitute for art in a lot of ways.
I agree with “no family photos in public spaces”. I’ve always felt weird when people put memories on the walls of the communal/public spaces. It feels sorta uninviting. You want to use the public spaces to create new memories with guests, not reflect on old memories. Personally I enjoy 1 or 2 small frames on an end table in the living room, but save the family photo moments for hallways and bedrooms.
Well we do have the couch up against the wall (minus the sofa table), but it’s not really our fault! Our daughter sleeps in the family/living room, since we’re out of rooms (mobile home blues!) No fear 😨 of fireplaces here in Florida! Thanks for talking about traffic’s patterns, they’re super important in our living room. I can certainly see that I need to edit (again). I won’t be buying a rug until we no longer have animals, or until never🤣😁 Same reason we don’t have plants, the puppy would eat it! Although I would love to have some hanging❤️ Thanks for sharing!
I really don’t get the picture one. In every home I’ve been too there are always family pictures. I neve feel uncomfortable and my guests always seem interested in them. It’s so fun to see people as they were as children, in a blast from the past and have a good laugh telling funny stories about it. I personally use photos as a conversation starter especially with people I don’t know well. They have a photo out and i say is that your daughter, grandchild etc. This always gets them talking and everyone relaxes! Idk, I guess it’s clear that we must be lower class because we aren’t afraid of family photos and even find them interesting. Maybe the upper classes that she works with are so egotistical that being interested in other people’s lives, ie things outside themselves, isn’t a thing and being faced with evidence of that short coming makes them uncomfortable? That being said, a whole gallery wall of photos could be a bit much. But idk, just doesn’t bother me and i think it’s nice.
….I don’t typically invite people who are uncomfortable with seeing my family? This is so weird. And even if I did, it’s my sanctuary from the world, not the public’s. I get people want to live in magazine homes the way some people want magazine muscles, but I like walking into my home and being surrounded by things and people I love. I like walking into others and seeing what and who they love.
I have no other wall for the television. I have one full wall that has the fireplace. Two walls are entirely windows and the fourth wall doesn’t exist. It’s doorways and a niche where a wet bar used to be. Right now the TV is hung in a corner but we’re looking for a mount to go above the fireplace that will let us pull the TV out and down. There’s nowhere else for it to go.
The art I love is my son’s face. Lol Family photos make a home cozy. I love black and white family pictures in black frames. That’s art. Now maybe a giant painted portrait of you and your Family in green silk and black velvet over your fire place might be a bit much. (Yes, very specific because I knew a family that had that) You live in a HOME not a museum. I like mirrors and plants. Opens up and livens up any space. Agree with the rugs! My pet peeve! A small rug! Why bother!? makes the space feel smaller. Spend the extra money and get a rug that fits the area. Another pet peeve is light fixtures that are too tiny for the space 😩 like you have a beautiful dining table and some puny pendant hanging over it… yuck
Have to join the chorus of those who disagree about family photos. I certainly don’t want them scattered all over the place, but I enjoy seeing a small cohesive collection of framed personal photos- either table top or as a gallery wall. It’s also a chance to add color, texture and style with the choice of frames. Too many photos tends to start looking very cluttered.
I agree family if you can’t have family pics in your home where can you have them, not everywhere in your home,but I hate houses that are too staged they never feel homy. Matter of personal taste I suppose !!😀at the end of the day I don’t like people that just call to see your house and not to see you .❤️
So what is the answer when your living room is super narrow and doesn’t accommodate seating pulled away from the walls? Child-sized furniture? Lol And, while it may not be stylish to put a TV above the fireplace, I actually enjoyed that in our last house. Spending most of the time with my head down (cooking, reading, gardeing, playing with the little ones and perusal Lisa’s articles on my phone), it was good for my neck muscles to have to lift my head just a little to watch TV. Not uncomfortable at all. 💜
I think shoving furniture to the wall is probably the worst mistake you can make. It’s also the gateway to other related errors. Shoving a sofa next to a wall looks awful. Cheap. I always place a brick behind the back feet so that there’s at least an inch or two between the wall and sofa, or ANY, piece of furniture or decor.❣️❤️
Okay I too am struggling with a couple points from this article. I’m moving my family of six into a very small apartment for the next couple of years, so we will have to put our couch along the wall, and we won’t have any spaces but two bedrooms for photos (granted I don’t have tons because kids grow so fast I can’t keep up!), But I do know what she means. I’ve been in homes where there appeared to be almost a shrine to each child, and or pet in the living room. It can feel awkward after a while. All of that being true, I have also been to homes, my husband’s great grandmother’s for example where I found every photo enchanting and captivating. They went back almost 100 years! This is Lisa’s professional opinion, of course you can take it or leave it. I’m glad she shared it here!
Thank you for the photo tip I wish more people would share this one. I’ve heard this tip from others actually and moved my gallery wall from the entry to my office. They also said to save the family galleries for cozy spaces but their reason was for privacy. In my case anyone who came to my front door knew exactly who and how many lived in my home. Now I have a mirror in the entry (duh 😂) while the family gallery is tucked safely out of view in a space meant only for true guest.
Hi Lisa, thanks for the article. I think you must live in a large house because I’m sure many of us can’t move furniture off the walls as our rooms are too small. When you talk about family photos making others uncomfortable I’m at a loss. My home embraces my family. I select them carefully and I agree that overdoing things can be a mess, but not sure about them bothering other people. Other than that I enjoyed it. X
My living room can be described as anything, but a public space. The term just turns me off. I’ve also had everything on the back of a bathroom door, from THE Constitution, to a life sized Elvira. Most folks that enter my home already know I’m a smart alec, but most are surprised at how beautiful it is. I admit that I’m a bit of a ”maximalist”. I grew up with ‘champagne taste, on a beer budget’, and at 58, no one would ever suspect on how little I have managed to live on.Cancer Sun, Taurus Rising…home, home, home. Leo Moon, major ‘house pride’.
I’m lucky enough to have hunted, found, and bought back an heirloom antique table that had previously come down in my family. It’s a carved, round parlor table, and the best place I have for it is a corner of my living room. I didn’t plan it, but the family table ended up having a few, and then a group (now 8) black and white family photos, dating from 1890 to 1948. As I am able, I find more interesting, vintage frames for these, and a few family mementoes join the mix, all around a lamp in grandma’s china pattern. I actually don’t care for a lot of family photos on display, but have made this exception, and it suits my old house and me. It’s in a corner out of the traffic pattern, so in nobody’s face. Visitors and family gravitate to it, though, and it serves to start many stories.
I always side-eye the tv over the fireplace, in my old townhouse the builder put outlets above it for that purpose and I’m glad I ran the fireplace heavily before settling on any configuration because it got WAY TOO HOT above the mantle for any electronics. I’m sure the type of gas fireplace has something to do with it, but yea, even so, we would’ve been looking upwards to see anything. Nah.
Oh Boy… Respectfully, if you walked into my 1300 sq foot house as a hired interior designer and told me not to use my walls to maximize walking/living space, and then told me I should hide my family photos in a “personal” space.. I would kindly show you the door.. But I do LOVE your ideas about plants.. I love live plants.. not fake plastic ones..
Lisa, thank you for your articles each week. They are very entertaining and informative. You are a joy to watch. Just wanted to add my comments. I believe there are exceptions to every rule – just as some rules are made to be broken. As far as the TV over the fireplace goes, if there is a raised hearth, then I agree that the TV would be too high for comfortable viewing. If the hearth is even with the floor and the TV is at least 42″, then the seating area should be far enough away so the viewer does not need to crane their neck to view the screen (even in a smallish room, and particularly in a smallish room where another wall may put the TV too close to the seating for comfortable viewing). Also, for the most part, I don’t have personal photographs in my living room because I don’t share those things with many people, but I do have two special black and white photographs of my parents when they were first married in the 1940s (now deceased father and very much alive 96 year-old mother). I like having the photos where I can see them the most, and anyone who would be uncomfortable seeing those photos would just be uncomfortable. I find that strange, but that would not matter to me. They were probably just a friend of a friend who came along for the ride.
Call me a curmudgeon, but I wish Open Concept and Sectionals would go away. I don’t cook in my living room and I don’t sprawl and crawl on my living room furniture. LOL I’m in on the Art, no fam photos please, remember when we all went down to Olan Mills for the Family Portrait? LOL I may have to drop my own ‘living room’ article.
Nope, 100% wrong about TV’s over the fireplace. Makes absolute sense to use that no man’s land for a TV because fireplaces are rarely in use, so an entire wall is wasted. It’s awful to see a TV crammed into a corner or on a wall that is not properly visible from the seating area (you wanna talk about neck injury?). Look at every sport bar. TV’s are up even higher and no one is getting a sprained neck. Fail.
While I normally would agree about a tv over a fireplace, for most people in their living room it’s the most logical and practical place to put it. I cannot stand it off on either side as it looks so unbalanced that it would drive me mad. Our living room is fairly large and square so we’re far away from the tv from the sofa so our necks aren’t always looking up. Trust me I’d much prefer a traditional style where there is a large ornate mirror or painting above my wood burning fireplace but sadly it just won’t cut it in our space. The off balance would drive me mad 😂
Oh, Lisa… you meant don´t do a gallery wall with family photos, but there´s nothing wrong with personal photography in small doses… it´s all about the family and if that´s what they want, 3 or 4 pictures won´t do any harm. The “problem” is when they don´t have anything else to show. Now, the height and scale are super important as you mentioned (it actually relates to shoving furniture against the wall), but low coffee tables are as uncomfortable as the photo of the mantel tv and the side sofa. I always do 2 inches higher than the seat on my coffee tables because you are already stretching to put down a drink, so imagine having to go even lower. Not practical. On the other hand.. plants and “art” can feel too stiff or pretentious if you´re not into it. In my case, I don´t like plants, I have them outdoor where I feel they “belong” and get all of the sun that they need. I rather have other things that feel more important and make me happier than having a fiddle leaf next to a window just cause it looks pretty on Pinterest hahaha
She talks about “save that space for artwork you love”… 1st of all, photography is an ART form and I didn’t pay all that money to hide them!!! Also! I don’t want to look at someone’s family photo when I’m pooping and vulnerable. Keep it in the livingroom!!! 2nd, there might be “artwork” that makes guests feel uncomfortable… I’m there more than them obviously. It’s my space so I’m gonna do it how I want! And if you don’t like it you don’t have to come over!
No pictures of family in public spaces?? But homes “are our” very private spaces. I like the other pieces of advice but not this one at all. I have never encountered someone that I invited into my home who seemed uneasy because they saw my family’s smiling faces and memories. In fact they usually ask more about who is who and where was the pic taken. I think the interior design world has to be careful about taking the natural, normal, family-friendly elements out of home suggestions and advice. Some pieces of advice are more suited for a hotel than a home. Other than that, I still love perusal and hearing from Lisa Holt 🙌
A formal living room does not need a TV unless there is no family room for one and there are none in bedrooms. OMG, I laughed myself silly at the “no clear traffic pattern” examples. Lamps for reading need to be high enough to shed light on reading material in the hand of the readers seated by them or they are merely ambient lighting and nothing more. Terrific examples of how to disguise light switches without actually hiding them all.
The only thing we have to do is put the couch against the wall because we have a bunny who crawls under the couch otherwise. It’s a nice and fairly new couch but I’m not the biggest fan of it because it reclines and that makes it easy for our bun to go under with all the space underneath of it. Would love to get a new couch someday that doesn’t recline so we won’t have to push it against the wall anymore.
LoL ~ 3:15… Been there dumb that. 😁 (Tiny apartment.) Great article, thank you for sharing your expertise & ideas! Lotsa fun 🙂 Re plants, they’re also awesome, easy & affordable solutions for filling those unsettling empty dead spaces in your home that need a little “something” – but you’re not sure… what? 🤔🌿 And plants with lots of rounded or large broad leaves are great for “softening” spaces that have many sharp angled/intersecting walls & vaulted ceilings; linear/squared furniture & bookcases. The opposites attract idea. (My very favorite LR decor item is a HUGE 32″ tall, 5′ circumference mottled blue glazed ceramic tree pot purchased at Home Goods. It was clearance red tagged at $40 & so big & heavy that I had to roll it into the house. And still worth every penny & all the effort. Even when friends roll their eyes when they see it, lol.)
I have to smile. If you saw the house in which I live, you’d never believe that I watch designers. It was my mother’s house for about 50 years. Although a large house, it was filled with a massive amount of stuff, some nice things and many things she didn’t want to “waste” by discarding. I have been donating, trashing, rearranging and trying not to lose my mind during the two years since her passing. One day I am going to put some of your good advice into practice. Really, I am. In the meantime, I’m so glad this is not 2-way article, lol.
All tips are right on! I follow all these tips, especially the one about the personal photos. I put those in hallways and bedrooms. People follow you to understand how to make their homes look more sophisticated. My home is gorgeous, like a spread from Elle Decor. I am grateful. However, I adore the “wow factor.” Family photos are distracting. I prefer good art and beautiful lamps. Many thanks to you for helping me to keep it sharp! ❤️
I think she is right on the money. Let us enjoy your decorated space! Put your photos in the album and share with your family and friends if they wish to see them! Not everyone wants to see all the photos and it takes away from the vibe of decor. The most well decorated houses don’t have family photos everywhere. We get it. You love your family! I love mine! We don’t want their faces all over the house…you live in the house we already know what the family looks like….
Question about lighting for renters: in my apartment my living room/main room has no overhead lighting–at all. So I have multiple table lamps and a couple of floor lamps. Anyone have any suggestions for what to do in place of overhead? I considered a plug-in pendant, but that’s just one bulb, so it will only work for a small area (in my case, I’m thinking for a reading nook). Thanks!
I don’t like backless benches that make one ache and slouth, and coffee tables that are so far away from the seat that one hurts the spine each time to get to them. Also, most of the “good” examples you gave comprised furniture placed right along the walls, but that’s contrary to the first point you made. And speaking of the first point in conjuction with the third one, suppose one moved the furniture from the wall and brought it to a more central part of the room, would one should also leave enough space behind it to allow for traffic? Because that’s what the third point meant. But in that case, I guess one would need a really large room for the ideas to work altogether. And even then, the problem of backless benches and distant coffee tables would remain.
I mostly agree, but I’m afraid that my upright piano has to stay up against the wall. I’m not bothered by people’s photos, but I have seen people have shelves with pictures that look like a shine almost, so I get what you’re talking about there. My friend’s parents’ house has these ‘photo shrines’ that make you think their kids are dead!
As a designer for a builder I just want to point out that we don’t put a plug for the TV over the fireplace by default, we let them choose the location. I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve tried to convince to not put their TV there but they just won’t listen even when I give them alternative locations. It’s extremely frustrating 😖😂 So it’s not always the builders fault! People are obsessed with it for reasons I’ll never understand. We also don’t put in long gangs of light switches either because.. eww.
I would love a article of different ways to place furniture when you’re fire place is in an angle. Also, making a space right next to it a focus for the tv. I want to know if I’ve got it right. Lots of great tips in all your articles. I’m not sure the one about family pics in our living space. Thanks for sharing.
The only one of these I’m guilty of is putting my sectional up against a wall, but that’s because my living room is so small that it won’t accommodate the sectional any other way, and I wanted a fairly large sectional to facilitate lounging. Unfortunately, this configuration, and the high arm on one side of the sectional precludes adding a corner conversation chair, so I just added a planter in that vacant corner (somewhat similar to the West Elm one Lisa showed us, but taller.) I’ve become so accustomed to my sectional that I feel like if I replace it with a smaller sofa, it will look oddly too small, so I’m out of ideas on how to add a conversational chair in that corner that kind of screams at me for want of that chair. Fortunately, my living room is open concept to my dining room where my dinette set is cattywhampus from the wall at a cool angle for when you enter the space, so I didn’t end up with too much of that bowling alley affect that putting everything against a wall can have. Any suggestions on how I can bring an armless chair into that corner would be greatly appreciated. I’ve gotten to where I’m about to scout out a furniture maker to see if I can enlist their help in cutting off that one high arm so that a conversation could be had between those on the sectional and someone sitting in an added corner chair. Other than that high arm, I love the sectional I have.
I actually agree with Lisa ( kinda). Growing up my Grandmother and Mother were the same. No family photos in the living room. Yes, in the family room, hallways, bedrooms, etc. So I have always decorated the same way. We all actually like art and display it. My kids are all grown now and I have a few family photos hanging in groupings of art but they are not focal points and they complement the collection. I always wonder about people who hang all these large professional photos of themselves on their living room walls as focal points. Do they just enjoy looking at themselves all the time? Should we comment on their lovely family every time we visit? I had one friend whose walls featured herself more than her children and none of her husband. Did she just siit and admire herself all the time?
I just want to add that you CAN change out your outlets and switches to colors that match the plates and blend into the surface they are on! And it’s not even difficult for a competent DIYer to do – which makes it pretty affordable. Obviously you don’t want to mess with electricity if you are uncomfortable, but it really isn’t difficult if you follow just a couple of basic rules that would be included in any online tutorial. I am on the team of personal photos in the more private spaces and the same goes for religious items, BUT also on the team of you do you in your own home.
I disagree with the family photos in the living room. Young House Love did a podcast on this a while back, about it and I recall seeing big photos of a landscape with their children in the center. From afar the landscape is the focal point but when you actually look at the photo you’ll see the kids are center stage, that’s ideal to me.
Hi Lisa! I live your advice however I’m struggling with the one about not moving furniture against the walls. I live the setup in all these beautiful big rooms. Our living room is 13×18 feet big and we share it with my work from home husband’s office. I would love to have his desk in the middle of the room and the sectional for our four family members off the wall. Right now I’ve got the room separated by an Ikea Kallax shelf, desk against the wall and sectional in the opposite corner. If you can offer any better ideas for a space like that I’d love to hear it because I’m getting ready to paint that room and redo the floor.
never take advice from people who say “never do this”… sorry for being catty but…seriously it’s ok to put furniture against the wall…the sectional you showed as a “do” was pressed up against, not just one wall…but two walls. Often it makes sense to have the tv above the fireplace as it keeps the tv centered, and your focal points aligned. I’ve noticed that the “stop doing this to your living room” clickbait title is the trend the past month or so…i expect better than clickbait from you.
I agree with the personal photos. Of course, I love to look at family pictures, but I’m not sure why, but I wouldn’t say I like a family portrait in a living room, especially when it takes centre stage. The bedroom or stairwell is fine, but living rooms are meant to show off YOUR style. That is just my opinion, of course.
I think it’s beyond tacky to show a picture of someone’s home and say something to the affect of: “don’t do what’s going on with this thing…”. True professional designers or influencers always use public domain photos. Not pictures showing a person’s private possessions and their cat. So incredibly tacky.
4:43 I never would have thought family photos make people uncomfortable. Unless its gore, pornography, provoking political content or something actually disturbing going on I dont think it should make anyone uncomfortable and people have gotten too sensitive if it does. I also wonder how many visitors do people have to consider the living room a “public space”? And somehow not the toilet even though its very likely some visitors may need to use it. Mostly agree with your rules otherwise. The living room is the part of my home Im most proud of, but I dont do everything right on this list, I actually dont even have a TV, carpet or decor plants (unless you count the aquarium, I have one). Is that considered a lack? I do have a lot of decor
I agree these advices are great, but not always possible to implement in real life. I have 3 kids and very small living space. I push all furniture against the walls to make more space for running and playing. And I cannot imagine myself collecting toys, balls and bullets behind the furniture every day. Moreover I have back issues and I cannot drag sofas. Unfortunately practical solutions are winning over beauty.
My home is not a public space, it is a place for family and friends to gather in. No offense. I do not have pictures any longer in my living room because I have to many but when I was young I placed pictures for I enjoyed looking at my children. Also, my house is small and my sofa is against a wall. Chairs are not though. A home should be a place where you relax and enjoy. Having things you love around you. If you are a big wig and entertain for business great advice for the formal spaces. As for me Did that and I rather not. I want friends and family to be comfortable we live in homes not show cases. Come on in put your feet up. Ya all come back now.Peace.
One tip I’ve discovered: If fancy planters/cache pots exceed your budget and you hate the look of plastic pots (especially large ones) indoors… put the whole thing in a soft woven laundry basket. (Ikea & container stores sell them at less than half the price and just remove the handles if you want with a seem ripper)
Lisa, thank you! It had to be said! Personal photographs (especially glam pics of weddings) in the living room are absolutely not right! If you have to display them use the family room, or a personal office, or a library, or the bedroom. But a living room, or a dining room (especially a formal dining room), are not to be cluttered with personal pics. Its just tacky. Display instead a beautiful painting, or a sculpture, or a collection of carefully curated art objects, etc. This is where you can express your style and taste and not the family altar!
I fully argue with that you definitely absolutely can change the socket itself and they do sell sockets in different colors and different finishes…. And if you seen The Sorry Girl’s song did I turn off the breaker did I turn off the breaker did I turn off the breaker I don’t want to die and actually check that you did before proceeding I is actually a fairly simple and quick process
wellllll I guess I’m a pro.!!! I do everything you said to do, from the lighting to art to furniture….so thanks! my friends all say how lovely my place feels, I like the english country garden/house feel, with collected pieces and real art, not signs, water colors and oils I have painted myself.so I’m doing good, and yes the thing that bugs me the most when I watch my diy utube articles is a tiny rug right inside a sectional….get a big enough rug for a dining table as well as the living room….please tell people how much rug needs to be around a dining table, I have seen dining room rugs so small that the back legs of the chairs are off the edge of the rug while the chairs are completely under the table!!!!.
I agree with you completely Lisa. Personal photos tend to feel “too much in your face” in public space, because company will be sitting in these rooms for longer periods, having to look at your personal photos. But there is a great compromise. On my living room wall, I have a large stunning photo of the seashore, with footprints in the sand, heading to the ocean and the sky is above. But if you look carefully, closely, there are two little boys running in the surf. Those are my two boys, when they were little, so that photo is meaningful to me, and yet at the same time, it is just a beautiful coastal scene to everyone else. To anyone else, it just looks like a lovely, large panoramic photo of just the sea, sand, and sky. Because the boys are barely visible. So I have used this design trick, of including my boys, in large scale photos, where the boys are very tiny in size compared to overall photo size. p.s. my bedrooms are full of photos of my family. Good for you Lisa, for taking a strong stance on moving those personal photos from public spaces (living room) to private spaces (bedroom). That advice alone will move our decor up a whole other level.
My issue with family photos is that they are rarely displayed or arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way in my opinion. At least in most of the experiences I’ve had in other people’s homes. My mother in law has a photo of her elderly father displayed though of him painting his artwork that was shot by a photographer and I absolutely love it. The photo is art itself.
What on earth, no family photos? That’s completely absurd! It’s my home I have to live in it not other people. I’ve literally never heard of anyone being uncomfortable seeing someone else family photos in their own home. Honestly I implore everyone break that rule. If you have family photos that you love put them wherever you want, your family is far more important than a perfectly styled magazine cover home.
Omg! It’s clear that Lisa works with really rich people. Litterally, our apartment doesn’t have private spaces except the bedroom. So litterally if i kept my family photos in private space i would never see them because i only sleep in my bedroom. Personally, i love nosing around people’s family photos. It’s a great way to open conversations!
This is some of the WORST advice that you have given! Nothing in my home is a public space, because it’s MY home! I have never felt uncomfortable with seeing family photos in a living room. I think you have forgotten the average, everyday people who don’t design their spaces as an art gallery or show room, but just want to feel a sense of peace and comfort at home!
Lisa, as a renter, I would LOVE to see a article from you about how to show our interior decor style without competing with the existing bones of a home. I live in a Victorian apartment that has had some more modern upgrades over the years. In your desert modern article, you hinted to how desert modern wouldn’t work with an apartment like mine. WOULD LOVE to see more of your thoughts on which interior decor styles don’t mix with which home styles. Thank you for everything you do!
My problem with my public spaces in our house is that since the pandemic started, we now have five adults in the house, one boho girl with a dog, one minimalist lady with a dog, one mid century modern guy, and one young couple with a baby who are just too tired to think of design but tend to leave bright colored clutter all around to keep any dog toys company. We all try to cater to the minimalist because she gets stressed if she’s too closed in by things, but it would be great to have ways to incorporate at least some feel of the people who live here in the two rooms we share (a living room/dining room space and a breezeway. We are winning in the keeping everyone healthy and safe, but kind of losing the feeling of pride (and sometimes comfort) in our house. Everyone has their own bedroom, so there is a haven for everyone, but we are eating a lot of meals together and spending time playing with the baby in the front room. Is there a way to combine design styles like this? Or ways to hint at other things while doing a minimalist style? So very needing advice on this new blended space we have been tossed into.
My husband went to pick up the keys for our new apartment downtown and came home saying ” we can put the tv above the fireplace” and I’m like OMG! NO!PLEASE NO! PLEASE! NOOOO! I would rather use a smaller tv than have a giant one above the fireplace. I can’t. I know he’s bummed because he’s losing a great movie theater in our house we have now and he’s a director so he likes big screening rooms but this is temporary. He can deal with it.
I disagree with your furniture placement advice. With the shape and size of my living room, my larger pieces of furniture look absolutely lovely against the walls. It gives my room a feel of spaciousness and airiness. Also, family photos scattered throughout any room in the house, make it look like a home. I adore walking past the faces of my loved ones throughout the day.
The family pictures thing can be done tastefully. My sister and he husband had a photo of the two of them above the fireplace that was enormous and kept up long after the styles changed(check the skinny eyebrows)! Yuk.But. My friend had very stylized oil paintings done of her daughters. Done by a fabulous artist. Museum quality. They will always be stunning!