Updating with Cushions

Many of us don't have the time or the money to invest in a complete overhaul of the living spaces in our homes and instead stick with what we've got until we can't take it anymore, or until there's enough money saved up for a major shopping spree.  Well this decorating mentality doesn't have to continue any longer!  Apart from my previous posts on introducing decorative objects and art into your space (which of course I approve of) a quick and easy way to not only inject some colour but to also transform your space is to change (or add) cushions.


I know you must be thinking "no way, it can't be that easy", but it is really that easy.  A simple decorators trick is to either add an array of cushions on the sofa, an armchair, the floor, the bed, etc or to simply change what already exists.  Many of us have purchased a sofa in our day and without a doubt that sofa came with coordinating or matching throw cushions, and yes, you're probably looking at your sofa right now and thinking "yeah, so what?"  well why not change those throw cushions to something different?  Either replace them altogether or give them a new cover.


I'll show you some examples of how easily you can update the look of your furniture and your room by introducing new cushions.  This concept can also be easily adopted for a transformation throughout the seasons.  This is a quick and easy trick to spruce up your place without breaking the bank, and yes, this trick can (and should) be applied to every room of your house.


Coordinating or Contrasting?


Now that you've decided to make the transition and change those throw cushions in your home you have to decide whether you want to make a coordinating or contrasting addition to what already exists.  This is where the task of selecting new cushions (or covers) can become overwhelming, but it really doesn't have to be.  The trick is to select cushions that  either complement what's already existing or create contrast, and by this I mean do you want your cushions to enhance or stand out.


Here's an example of coordinating vs. contrasting cushion selections for a basic white sofa:

Now I know that not everyone has a white or light coloured sofa in your homes but this is just to show how easily one can adopt the coordinating or contrasting colour scheme for the sofa (or furniture piece) that you have.


Here are some coordinating cushions for the white sofa above:

 As you can see from the pillows selected here they vary in neutral shades to complement the colour of the sofa but not so much so as to blend right in.  If you select cushions that match the sofa I recommend that you opt for only one or two amongst a group and that those matching cushions are textural, this way they don't get lost against the similar hue of the sofa.


Here are some contrasting cushions for the white sofa above:

The selection of the chartreuse and apple green really make for a dramatic pop against the white of the sofa and therefore constitute as a perfect contrast.  You could easily incorporate any colour with the white sofa as the backdrop and they would stand out predominately; colours such as pink, turquoise, lavender, canary yellow, etc. would make an impact statement on this type of sofa.

TIP: remember when selecting cushions opt for texture and pattern as they add depth and dimension.  Don't only stick to the traditional square pillow try cushions in varying heights, shapes and sizes as well.


Coloured Sofas and Furniture...what cushion do I pick?


Now if you're not the adventurous type and don't have a white sofa or white furniture in your home and instead have a coloured sofa (mainly to mask the wear and tear of the family) you're probably wondering what you can do to enhance your space with cushions.  Most of us have traditional brown or black sofas/furniture and every now and then red, yellow and green can be found in households - I personally have crimson, yellow and sage sofas in my home, which I know sounds horrifying but I assure you they're not all in the same room!


With this being said, as the majority of households have brown/camel/tan coloured sofas I will use this colour choice as my next example:

Here are some complementary cushions for the chocolate coloured sofa:

Metallics such as gold, copper and bronze work well against the dark chocolate colour of the sofa and introducing warmer colours such as yellow, camel and tan work to soften up the overall tone.


Here are some contrasting cushions for the chocolate coloured sofa:

As you can see the bright blue and purple hues create a lovely contrast to the grounded chocolate brown in the sofa.  The hits of green, orange and magenta create a sense playfulness and work together to create harmony and intrigue.  In this case I would recommend that you select the same brightness level for all your cushions i.e.  vibrant or muted.


TIP: Opt for different patterns when selecting your cushions, the trick is to select patterns that have similar colours found within and therefore, will all work together harmoniously.


The key to selecting cushions to update or revamp your space is to select colours that don't clash with the majority of the fabric/colour found in your furniture.  For example, if you are planning on selecting cushions for your sofa, keep in mind that your colour selection will be based on the overall colour of that sofa, similarly, if your cushions are meant for the bedroom, you should select based on your bedspread, etc.  So if you have a funky retro sofa in a tangerine colour try to stay away from cushions that are pinkish in hue overall.  If however, you select a cushion that has hits of pink but are comprised of other colours that work well with your tangerine sofa (such as yellow, red, medium blue, green, purple, etc.) I say go for it.  The overall key is to have fun with the selection of your cushions, because after all they are so easily removed, replaced or re-covered!


Happy Shopping!


Courtesy of:
Crate and Barrel
Structube 

Mid-February Blues

I apologize for not updating my blog in quite some time.  Things got rather hectic and sadly took up all of my time and energy!  I will try my best to keep updated with various topics this year and hope that you'll continue to follow me.


Mid-February Blues


Earlier this month good 'ol Wiarton Willie and Punxsutawney Phil (both groundhogs) shared the news with us that winter is going to be over sooner than we expected and I could not have been happier to hear this.  I'm not sure where you reside, but here in Canada the winters are cold, long and dreary so any sign that they'll be over is one to celebrated!


Because our winters are not the most pleasant many of us begin to suffer from the "February Blues".  Seas of people dressed in black and grey match what the weather's like outside and the moods are quite low because of this.  Everyone by this point in the season just really wants to sun to start shining and the snow to melt; but we don't need to wait for those sunnier days to inject some colour and pizazz into our wardrobes!  Let's break out of this dreary cycle of black/grey ensembles and throw some caution to the wind (oh that blasted wind-chill) with some much-needed and well-deserved colour!


Pastel vs. Saturated Colours


You might think I would say "who cares, colour is colour so wear those pastels!", well not this time.  The reason for me saying "not this time" is due to the season we're in, Winter. Pastels in my opinion are reserved for the warmer months and for when we actually do break out of this season and well into Spring.  Washed out colours in the Winter such as pastels don't work well with many skin tones that lose some pigment when the temperatures plummet; these colours lend themselves to washing out the skin tone as it is and we don't really want to draw attention to how sallow our skin is looking this time of the year especially!  Even if you have darker skin (I'm envious) I would stay away from pastels in the Winter months, they really don't have a place during this season and as such you should be wary - that is unless you live in a very sunny/warm climate then by all means go for it!


Darker more saturated colours is where it's at.  These are the colours you should select when trying to break out of the February-blues.  Regal blues and purples, reds, pinks, greens and mustard should all be considered in your Winter colour-breakthrough ensemble.  Winter white (not to be mistaken for the summer-whites which have a blue undertone and are sharp in their colouring; winter whites are a creamier off-white) is also a good addition and will brighten up your wardrobe.


Here are some saturated colours to consider:

As you can see from the colours illustrated above that the hues really run the gamut.  So don't get stuck on one saturated colour, play around with the richness of the saturated shades and let them enhance your wardrobe.


Outerwear


A brightly coloured (or even just coloured) jacket or coat lends itself to standing out in a crowd.  While everyone else is wearing their black and grey winter coats you can stand out  in the drab sea with a red, magenta, blue or green coat.  This is a wonderful way to inject colour into your everyday by sporting a beautiful coloured coat, it'll take some work locating one but once you do you'll regret not having done this sooner!


Here are some ideas:

As you can see above these winter coats vary from red, purple, olive green, sapphire blue, camel, magenta, winter white, multi-coloured and chocolate brown.  The options are endless and the beauty of it is that none of these coats are in black or grey! 


Menswear


Now for you guys in my audience.  I know it's so easy to get stuck in your comfortable zone and reach for that white shirt in your closet - after all any tie you select will work well with it right, but why settle?  I hate to break it to you but even fellas suffer from the February-blues and I see it all the time.  


Guys you can get away with injecting some colour into your wardrobe (on average) and what better way than by selecting dress shirts in saturated shades like those shown above.  Deep, rich shades that enhance your skin tone paired with a funky tie in a complementary or contrasting shade will work wonders for your ensemble and your overall general feeling - I know, here I go talking about "feelings" - But trust me on this one, there will be a change in your attitude when you decide to take my advice, go out on a limb and break out of this rut.


Here are some ideas:

As you can see above the deep saturated ruby red, magenta, teal, grape and blue topaz shades in the dress shirts are vibrant and captivating.  While the complementary and contrasting tone of the ties really make these bad-boy combinations pop.  The options are endless and you'll really begin to appreciate how many options there are out there for making a colour statement!


...And something for the Ladies


It's so easy to want to throw on a comfy pair of pj's and lounge around the house on cold, windy winter days and it gets even harder to pick something to wear to work especially when you just want to hibernate indoors.  A common trend is to throw on a pair of pants and a sweater and rush out the door braving the wintery blast that hits you as soon as you step outside, but every now and then when the mercury rises to just around the freezing mark why not throw on a dress instead in a luscious saturated shade. 


Something to inspire you with:

I know I've been on and on about wearing some colour during the colder more dreary months of the year and I'm certainly not saying you need to deck out from head to toe, but one way to inject some colour is by sporting a dress (sweater or otherwise) in a more saturated shade.  The dresses above are in grape, plum, cobalt blue, navy, emerald green, pink and red and are all good examples of dresses you could wear to work or on the town.  Just be sure to dress warmly and wear tights/pantyhose!


Get out there and shop for some deeply saturated shades to add to your wintery wardrobe to help beat those winter-blues, trust me on this one, you'll thank me when you do!


Happy Shopping!


Courtesy of:
Le Chateau
BCBG Max Azria
Banana Republic
Mango
Macys
Old Navy
Geoffrey Beene
Danier
Anthropologie