Friday Fun Stuff… Decorating Tips and Tricks

meg braff
The Dining Room

Dining tables should be 30” high Allow 18” of table width per person For rectangular tables, you’ll need a table that is at least 48″ long to seat 6 people, 72″ for 8 and 96″ to seat 12 people Dining seating should be 16”-18” high from the floor to the top of the seat To pick the right size light fixture for above a table, you can either 1) Divide the width of your dining table by two to get an approximate chandelier diameter OR 2) Add the room’s length and width in feet; the sum equals an approximate chandelier diameter in inches 3) If your ceilings are more than 8′ high, increase the height of the chandelier or pendant 3″ for each additional foot of ceiling height.

• sconces’ back plates  should be roughly between 60”-64” above the floor

The Kitchen
A band of pendants running the length of a kitchen bar or countertop should be at least 10″ smaller in diameter than the width of the counter, and mounted 27-36” above the counter.

http://www.thekitchn.com/kitchen-design-by-the-numbers-113206


The Living Room

• You need at least 26”-36” clear as a pathway to walk comfortably through a room
• If you’re covering the entire room with one area rug, leave 12″-18″ clear all around to the wall.  In smaller rooms, 7″-12″ will work
• Choose side tables that are about 2” less than the height of the sofa arm
• Coffee tables should be 1”-2” less than the height of the sofa’s seat cushion
• Place the coffee table 18 inches from the sofa or chairs
• "The length of the table should always be long enough for everyone seated on the sofa to be able to reach the table without getting up from their seat,but not as long as (seat length) of the sofa
• For art groupings with more than one row, spacing between the images should be 1 ½” to 2”
• If using art above a sofa, fill at least 50%-60% of the 5-foot high space above the sofa
• Hang your flat screen tv at eye level when you are in viewing position.  The ideal viewing distance is 1 1/2 times the size of the screen
• hang your art at 57" on center."On center" means that the middle of the picture is at 57" (obviously, the hook will be higher).

Tom Scherer

The Bedroom

• If you place a bench, box, chest or trunk at the end of a bed, it should be slightly lower than the height of the bed and no more than 15”-21” deep
• For most beds, 24”-27” is the ideal height for a nightstand
• For a King-size bed, nightstands should be at least 36” wide
• Area rugs underneath beds should extend 6”-12” beyond the outer edges of the nightstands and the end of the bed
• Swing arm lamps above bedside tables should be mounted no farther than 3” out from the edge of the headboard with the bottom of the shade about 20” above the top of the mattress
• Table lamps should also have the bottom of the shade about 20” above the top of the mattress
• Use a 47″ tall headboard if you don’t want much headboard to show above your pillows or 52″ and up if you want to show more headboard above the pillows

via decor mentor

peter dunham
Window Treatments

• Curtain width should always be at least twice the width of the window for fullness.  For modern rooms, just twice the window’s width or even just 1 ¾ times for a really sleek look
• Extend the curtain rod by at least 6”-8” past the outer edge of the trim on each side of the window
• Hang curtains as close to the ceiling line as possible to help elongate the window and add anywhere from 2″-8″ to the length if you want the curtain to have the puddle look

Does this mean that if you aren’t following these guidelines you are wrong?  Of course not rules are broken all the time.  If it feels good to you and you like how it looks, that’s all that matters.  But, if you’re unsure where to start, these measurements are a good starting point.

Matthew Bees Southern Living
For tons more helpful tips you can go to my Design Tip Pinterest Board here http://www.pinterest.com/chattersley/design-tips/
Happy Friday!!

Cindy