10 SMART CHANGES FOR BEAUTIFUL ROOMS
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your home was filled with beautiful rooms? Comfortable rooms. Rooms that were company ready most of the time? Most of us would LOVE to have a home like this! But most of us don’t think it is attainable. Well, it is! Here are 10 small changes you can make to create beautiful rooms in your home.
Before I begin with this post I want to ask your opinion. In the body of the text, I need your opinion on something. Can you leave a comment and let me know? Thanks!
If a home filled with beautiful rooms seems impossible I know how you feel because I never thought my home could look like the homes in magazines or the perfect home in my head! It’s not perfect or often magazine worthy but I LOVE the rooms in my home. There are a plethora of things I do to keep working on each room to keep them fresh, in style and well-kept.
Here are 10 smart (and my favorite) things to do to create beautiful rooms.
By just reading this post your home won’t change. It’s by doing the things in this post that you will start to change things in your home.
By making small changes you can start creating beautiful rooms in your home! I hope you will start today!
Let’s start by getting a little help from a common thing I can’t decorate without…
USE YOUR CAMERA TO HELP YOU
If you are not using your camera on your phone to help you decorate your home this is the first smart change to make! You won’t believe what a camera can show you that your eyes can’t see!
I take pictures of everything I decorate in my home. I’ve learned to look at each image to see if the decor looks beautifully composed, if there is anything out of place, etc.
Let your camera be your most helpful personal assistant when it comes to decorating.
EDIT YOUR ROOM
Many home decorators put too way much furniture and decor in a room.
In other words, we we decorate with too much stuff.
One of THE BEST things you can do for a room in your home is to edit everything in it! I often say to readers and clients, “take one thing out of your room it will look better”.
But I’m saying take a lot out of a room if you want it to be more attractive. Not every space in a room needs to be filled. Not every surface needs lots of accent decor on it and not every wall needs a picture!
A beautiful room strikes a balance between things in a room and a bit of empty space. We love pretty things but our eyes and minds also need rest and that is why negative space (nothing in the space) is so so important.
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN… SPACE is a super important post for every home decorator to read. It’s all about how space can be used to create beauty.
If you want a smart way to create beauty in a room edit, edit, edit!
Remember this decorating mantra…
Bigger is better and less is more.
YVONNE @ STONEGABLE
Get rid of tons of seasonal decor that clutter up a room. Strive for unusual and beautiful accent decor instead!
You might like to see LESS IS BEST. This post will help you edit the rooms in your home.
DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE BOX
One of my decorating pet peeves is how often we all love a look like shiplap or blue cabinets or gold pendant lights and they become so so overdone they are no longer unexpected or surprising or awesome in the best of ways.
I’m not saying it’s wrong to put those popular design elements in our homes but what I am saying is to add things to your home that are not overdone and that are not the most current trends everyone loves.
I’m saying this for two reasons. One… trendy things will look “so 2021” in a few years and look dated. And two… they are overdone and lose their uniqueness!
Put something in the rooms of your home you love and is unexpected. Beautiful rooms thrive on unexpected and beautiful furnishings!
Who would have ever expected to see a big patterned rug in my living room? But when I saw this rug I knew it would be perfect for my neutral room. It as unexpected, not trendy and a bold move for a rug.
I have had so many comments and emails asking about this rug. Why? It’s unexpected and works with my room. And that creates beauty.
By the way, if you are interested you can see it HERE.
This can be a risky move. Just remember to start with a small unexpected accent or piece of furniture. Just one in a room will work great!
ADD A NEW RUG TO A ROOM
Adding a new rug to a room will also help to add beauty to a room. When I added the rug to our living room I said to myself, “this is the first time since we moved in that I feel like this room is me”. A great rug has immense power to create a beautiful and cohesive look.
If a new rug is not in your budget then have your rugs professionally cleaned. This will make them look so much fresher and smell better too!
WORK A NEW COLOR INTO YOUR COLOR PALETTE
Have you thought about changing up your color palette a bit? Beautiful rooms benefit from a color change now and then.
Try working another color into your room’s color palette.
I do this seasonally by adding a pop of color to a room. Our master bedroom benefitted greatly from the addition of seafoam aqua bedding. Adding seafoam to the color palette make my bedroom more serene and gave it a sanctuary feel.
Another way to work another color into a room’s color palette is by adding a “pop of color”. This is usually said when wanting to a fun color to a neutral room but no matter what colors you use in a room you can use a “pop” or a little bit of another color to shake things up… in a good way.
We often get decor blind to things in our home. In other words, we get bored with our rooms and we lose interest and just don’t pay attention to details anymore. And one way to get excited again is the addition of a new color to a room!
Choose one color and repeat it in three places in a room. Instant pretty!
Here are two post that will help you keep colors interesting in your home…
CAN YOU MIX WARM AND COOL COLORS IN DECOR
PAINT AND BEAUTIFUL ROOMS
I always say “a paintbrush is like a magic wand”. So make paint one of the first things you think about when you want to create beauty in a room.
Paint a wall. Paint furniture. Paint books. Paint a mirror. Paint floors. Paint pillows. Paint vases and candlesticks and table runners and light fixtures and baskets and just about anything else that is not nailed down!
Learn to paint, period!
Your home will look so much better because you can pick up a paintbrush or a can of paint. Inside that can is a beautiful room!
My next painting project is the round mirror above the Curlacue chest. I’m painting it a warm gray. I think that corner of my living room will look better when everything is not so light.
Why buy new when you can paint something!
YouTube is full of how to paint videos. Don’t be scared of paint it’s one of your best decorating tools! What in your home would look better a different color?
CHOOSE NEW CURTAINS
I had originally written “choose new window treatments” but I want everyone to get away from window treatments and hang ceiling to floor curtains.
Not valances or swags or curtains that are hung just above a window or curtains that only go to the bottom of the window sill.
When I say choose new curtains I’m talking about curtains that are hung as high on a wall as possible and that at least touch the floor.
Here’s a curtain mantra for you…
Hang them high, swing them low
Yvonne @ StoneGable
Hang curtains as close to the ceiling as possible and they need to hand so they at least touch the floor.
I’m here to help you create beautiful rooms and doing something else on your windows (other than shades or no curtains) will not make your room prettier.
Choose nice, yet simple hardware too.
You might find this post very helpful WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HANGING CURTAINS.
Maybe your room could also benefit from new curtains?
Here are a pair of really nice lined white linen curtains we put up when we moved into our home and a newer pair we hung in their place.
All we did was hand the horizontal striped curtain on the same curtain rod. What a difference! Who knew such a subtle change could make a big difference?
This is totally off-topic, but which table to do like the best? I’m thinking of bringing the round table back up from the basement. I’ve got the chairs covered (don’t need help on them) but not sure about the table? What table do you like best? Leave me a comment, thanks!
Create beauty in a room with curtains!
ADD MORE LIGHTING
Did you know most rooms are woefully underlit? It’s true.
We need overlapping pools of light when we light up our rooms with artificial lighting. Proper pools of light create rooms that are beautiful.
There are a few types of lighting, ambient, task and, accent lighting.
Ambient lighting is meant to light up most of a room. Think of overhead lighting such as chandeliers, track lighting, and most ceiling-mounted lighting. Sometimes a floor or large table lamp can be ambient lighting if a room is small enough.
Task lighting does just what it says, it illuminates a task. Think of a chair next to a lamp on a table. You can read with the light from this lamp. Desk lamps and buffet lamps and most lamps that are not hung on a wall or pendants fall into this category. They offer a light to a specific area of a room.
The last type of light is accent lighting. Think of lighting that shines light to accent something. Like painting lights and spotlights, and some sconces and bookcase lights.
When all this lighting work together it can bring great overlapping pools of beauty to a room.
Strive for each of these types of lighting to be present in a room.
MIX METALS IN BEAUTIFUL ROOMS
Gone are matchy-matchy furnishings and metals! Actually, long gone! One or the smartest and prettiest things you can do in a room is to mix metals.
Think about fixtures, and hardware and nail heads and appliances and curtain rods and draw pulls and handles.
Our eyes like to look for similar things in a room but they also like a little surprise. Using a mix of metals is a happy surprise to our eyes and our minds read that as attractive.
The silver curtain rod plays nicely with the ORB ceiling mount and the gold tone nail heads of the chairs. If there were any more metals in this room I would pick one, probably silver, and keep the rest of the metals in silver tones.
A little variety is a great thing when it comes to metals.
A word about gold tones. They are very very popular right now and overdone. If you love gold tones use them but add another metal or two in small doses to the mix.
CHANGE UP YOUR SEASONAL DECOR
Seasonal accents add such beauty to a room. A little goes a long way! Don’t over season-alize your home. Think of adding a nod to the season in a room.
Here’s one thing I do that works for any season or holiday. I add just one or two pretty organic seasonal decorations in a room at the beginning of the season and then as the season moves along I add a bit more. And during the season I like to change up what I have.
That way I always have something pretty and fresh to look at.
Seasonal decor can either look gorgeous or very overdone, cluttered, and cutsie. Err on the side of less is best and if you have a lot of season decor don’t put it out all at once. Rotate it during the season instead.
OTHER WAYS TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL ROOMS…
- rearrange the furniture
- shop you house
- declutter
- add something green to a room
- put a mirror in a room
- swap accents and other home items with a friend
- add new throw pillows
- create a focal point
We can move our rooms from nice to beautiful if we are aware of how to update and decorate a room. I hope you use these tips to transform a room in your home.
I love your round dining table. Where can I purchase.
Hi Bernadette, the round table is really beautiful! You can find it here: https://rstyle.me/+yxd_AnUm2uMmu63FaRGNHg
Yvonne, l like the round table but know it limits how many guests you can seat. We used to have an antique round oak table that had two inserts that could be used when needed a bigger oval table. Loved it but was offered an amount from a buyer we couldn’t refuse. Really miss that table now that our family has expanded with grandchildren.
I love the way you encourage readers to change things out to give a room a different look. I would change it out for a bit…..whatever you do it will look amazing.
Thanks, Betsy. I am so passionate about helping home decorators!
Round table looks dated – rectangular looks more updated to me. But it may look different in person.
I love your style.
I agree that the camera shows you what your eye does not.
One thing I notice in your pictures is that your dining room table is not centered on your area rug.
My table is not centered under my chandelier because I need a clear walking path to the back door.
HI Terri, the rug is centered. It’s probably the angle I took the picture. Thanks for your thoughts.
I love sitting around a round wood table with friends.
I like your concrete rectangular table the best. I think it flows with the room.
For some unexplainable reason, the round table is working for me. Maybe because it is an unexpected shape.
I like the rectangular table better as the round table looks a bit “off” in the space. A round table, though, is better for conversation among everyone at the table. I wonder if the round table would look better if you used a round rug. I do like the curtains with the stripe better than the white curtains as they keep the room from looking too monotone.
Lovely rooms!
Love the first suggestion! I discovered this too. It’s really the best way (for me) to edit a room. Happy Spring. We have snow on the way (apparently). ;0/
I prefer the rectangular table. I keep pondering. Would I like the round table if the rug were round? I like the color of the round table and I know round tables are better for conversations among all diners…. Thanks for all your help, Yvonne. I’ve learned tons!
Love the long table look
Hi Yvonne! I personally think that the round complements the space best. Love the curtains!
Yvonne.. once again thank you for explaining to me the designs in decorating. I do like it when you show pictures when explaining. I love the Round table.. to me it gives the room warmth.? I can visualize your family enjoying family times around that table. ❤
HOw sweet Lorri!
I love your concrete table. Expect the unexpected? I’m working with many pieces of dark furniture that I can’t or won’t replace but neutral is my new mantra. Thanks for all your help.
I prefer the rectangular table, I think it works better with the round pendant. The concrete table also adds a bit of an industrial element that is unexpected.
I love the round table and the chairs are so warm and inviting!! I’d use the round table and chairs in the fall and winter and bring out the rectangular table with the light colored chairs for spring and summer. They feel so light and airy for that time of year.
I’d love to see pictures all along of Stone Gable. Your pictures of that home will never go out of style. You have so much to share from it also! I love your post!
Hands down. The round table is warm and inviting. The chairs are the same and accent the table. Whereas the linear table appears colder.
Love the round table- with a round rug. So much more conducive to conversation.
Love your blog – so much great information! I love the round table! Thanks for sharing wonderful tips – now I have to go to take lots of pictures !
Love the new curtains. I think the round table with a round rug would soften the sharp angles. Maybe something softer on the wall to replace the rectangle door as well. I know that was more than you asked for but was my perspective of the room from your photo.
I like the curtains too, where are they from
You can see the curtains here:https://rstyle.me/+wROjfEIur4sarXmg8oVY1Q
I like the round dining table!!
Yvonne, I love your new rug! I prefer the rectangular concrete table! I love the color and texture of it! The other is lovely but more ordinary, traditional! My daughter- in -law would love it too! It is a focal point! Thirdly, who is the course of your new bedding? I love the color! My daughter-in-law is thinking of painting her kitchen cabinets that color of aqua/sea mist! She follows you, too! You certainly keep us on our toes! We love your decor and you!???
The bedding is from Ballard Designs. It is called the Aubrey set. Oh, I’m so thrilled both you and your daughter read StobeGable,
Both tables work well in this space, but I like the round one better. It’s just so classy looking.
You have a beautiful home, and your ideas are so helpful. Your blog was one of the first ones I signed up for and it’s still one of my favorites! Thank you for helping me add beauty to my home all these years!
I’m so happy StoneGable is helping you!
Would love to know where your din8ng table rug is from. I am in Canada and hope it’s available here as well
It’s a Ruggable and you can see it here:https://rstyle.me/+s6RjkEELaN4Ee9gPGuwZMw
Thank you for the posts that are offered on a regular basis. I especially enjoy those with seasonal suggestions for vignettes. I prefer the round table, the square one appears a bit too harsh and less flowing.
I like the round table , I think it’s a little more intimate and unexpected in the space .
As always, I appreciate see your beautiful home and the great advice you provide your readers
I love both tables but prefer the round one in this home. Thanks for this wonderful post by the way. I was shopping my house this morning and this article encouraged me to move some things from one room to another.
Thanks, Sherry!
Where do you find extra long curtains? The usual size does not have enough length to hang up higher than just above the window. Also, we have a king size bed with a box spring. I have yet to find a comforter or spread that equally covers the bed on both sides. I usually have it longer on the size facing the door. Any ideas?
If you have 8-foot ceilings get 96-inch curtains. If you have a 9-foot ceiling choose 108-inch curtains. Som e places like Ballard Designs and Pottery Barn sell longer curtains. Hope this helps. Always put up longer drapes and if you need to get them hemmed. So worth it for the look!
I like how the round table repeats the round light shape. It draws me over to the space.
Rectangle. I like the contrast between the rectangle table and the round chandelier.
I love the rectangular table best in your room. To me, and it might be just the angle of the photo, but the round one makes the room look more crowded. I love the difference of the curtains and I think the mirror will be stunning in gray.
We love when you ask for an opinion, because we all have one!!! Here’s my take…The round table seems to have more visual weight and appears to call for a larger rug. On the other hand, the appeal of the rectangular table is more about the new draperies paired with it. The new window treatments made a tremendous difference in the two photos, so either table may work well. Last word: I think the you have a win/win with the rectangular table! It seems to make the area look larger, and you can keep your rug. Let us know what you decide…
We just put a larger rug in the dining room today.
I like the round table better. It is a change from all the straight lines. Adds more interest to the space.
Those are great suggestions.
Two of them I already do. Edit I don’t like clutter and I always use my camera to get a better perspective of the room.
Both tables look beautiful but I think I like the round one better?
You go girl!
I like the round table for fall and winter and the rectangle one for spring and summer. Since you have the ability to have both , I say use them! Anything you do is beautiful so either choice will be perfect in my opinion. I’d love to see your basement!
I really need to write a post about my basement.
Where did you get your beautiful living room rug? Also, do you have an Amazon store?
I do not have an Amazon store. YOu can find the living room rug here:https://rstyle.me/+HsiXMInJqK-c2O1OPmRoUw
Loved your Sunday message, a lot of truth. I have a small place but some of your ideas have been helpful even for me. Thank you.
Your home is beyond beautiful! I love all your decor ideas and inspirations! Could you tell me where you purchased the three large white vases you have sitting on your dining room table?
Thanks so much!
Hi Katie, I found them at a local shop. I hope to have an affiliate with them so I can offer things I use in my home from their shop.
Yvonne
I am partial to the round table. I always think they are more friendly.
Donna
Like the round table, more intimate. Other table looks more formal.
Love your blog….look forward to ALL your posts! I like the round table the best!
Have a blessed day!
Susan
Great tips! Thanks! But as far as the table — keep the retangular one (I spy a round table in the next room and the round light hanging above is enough!)
Love, love your blog!
Could you share how you store all your decorative items when they are not in use? I love to change things out like you do, but could use help on how to best store them.
Thanks so much!
We are so blessed to have a huge basement and I have it set up with shelves like a store.
I prefer round tables because they make conversation with all easier. The other issue is if the majority of the time there is such two of you, a long table seems awkward. I assume you are reupholstering the chairs in a lighter color. But, the cement top one is unusual.quite a conundrum.
I just adore your decorating style and love the advise. Always so smart. I think the round table looks the best. It plays off the round light fixture beautifully and seems to fit the room better than the other table.
Thank you Valerie
If you go with the round table, unless it has leaves, you will seat 2 less people. In one view of the round table it looks like there will be two round tables next to each other. Too much? I think both tables are great and say go for changing them in and out with each other. I have a question- is your rug too small for the table? What happens to the balance of the chair when you are sitting at the table when two legs are on the rug and two legs are on the wood floor? Love your web site and all your ideas.
The table has two big leaves. I just got a bigger rug. Same rug just bigger. When we moved into our Tanglewood home I was not sure how a big rug might work in that area. Now I know.
If you have room and the table will fit enough guests then I think I’d go with the round table. Also, very good post today! Thank you
Thanks, Joan! Actually, the round table has two leaves and makes a huge oval table.
Round table. Adds more interest.
I like the round table the best. I think a round rug would really look great with it also.
Thanks for the suggestion. A round rug and table and round pendant light is way too much round! LOL!
What a great post! Your home is beautiful and restful. The rectangle table and interesting legs seen without a chair blocking the way is my favorite of the two dining room looks.
Thanks, Carla!
Thanks for your tips. I really like your dining room chairs with the nail heads. Do you mind sharing where you got them? Thanks.
Hi Nancy, I got the chairs here:https://rstyle.me/+B7FvOMKaVKxhFyi7C9hWPA
You have a beautiful home. I would prefer the oblong table but do not like the color of the runner or the rug.
Oh, I see!
I really love the look of your concrete table. I like the contrast with the texture of your burlap and overhead light. The table’s flat smooth surface really creates a great focal point for the room.
With that said, it will be fun to see what you teach us about decorating with a round table if you switch it out for a while.
I have lots of ideas for a round table too.
Also, thanks for the tips. I love the camera idea and so many others too! I always look forward to great new ideas from your blog. Love it! ?
Thanks, I use my camera every day to help me decorate.
I love round tables and think you should switch it up in you dining area. Your home is beautiful and inspirational. Thank you for all your wonderful tips.
You are so sweet!
I would love to own either table but to my eye the concrete rectangular table is perfection in that space!
Thanks.
Bring up the round table for your dining room! It softens the angles of the room and I like the intimacy of people sitting at a round table vs a square or rectangular one.
I have been learning so much about creating a home to love from your posts. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of and passion for home decorating.
It would be interesting to see the round table with the new striped curtains. I do love the look of the cement tabletop and gray chairs with the gray stripe in the curtains. I also love the repeated color of the table legs with the basket chandelier and also with the burlap table runner. It looks a bit more modern and seems perfect in your space to me! It will be interesting to see what you decide!
Thanks, Gloria
Thank you so much for all the wonderful tips that you share. I am loving your blog!! There’s just something about your round table that is so inviting. I would love to see it with your new curtains!
Work a new color into your color palette–do you have a source for the beautiful seafoam quilt and shams in this bedroom photo? Lovely! Thank you.
I love your horizontally striped curtains! Where did you find your fabric?
You can find the curtains at Ballard Designs.
Yvonne, are the stripes in the curtain gray or neutral and are they the same as what you have in your family room? I love the subtle interest the stripes add without distracting from the windows. Thank you.
They are neutral, Shannon. There is just enough of “something” there that makes them a bit more interesting!
This was such a wonderful post. Must do some editing of my rooms and use my camera! As for the tables I much prefer the rectangle concrete topped one. Clean, elegant, classy but has a country look about it. The round one takes me back to the days when they were all the rage and often didn’t suit the room. You could of course change the table whenever you get the urge! Keep up the good work!
First of all, I love this post. Your suggestions are all doable and practical. Great idea to use a camera to give you a different perspective on a room. I am starting today to make some changes.
My vote is for the rectangular concrete table. I think the finish and sleekness compliment the stainless steel appliances in your kitchen; connecting one space with another.
Hi Yvonne,
Another great post!
I love the dinging room with the rectangle table, it looks perfect as it is to my eyes. The colours look great and it is a cleaner more modern look than the picture with the round table. I agree with another commenter that the round table would look better with a bigger/rounder rug.
Whatever you go with will look fantastic any way.
Cheers
Heather
You are right. We just put down a bigger rug last night.
Hi Yvonne,
I have learned SO much from you. We lost our home and everything in it to a house
fire three years ago. Your ideas about decorating have helped me along the way. I have made mistakes for sure, but we love our new home and know that we can make some changes.
Can’t believe I am giving you my opinion, but I truly prefer your round table. invites people to join it seems warmer and invites people to join together.
Thank you, Barb
Barb, I know you have left a comment before and I have prayed for peace and blessing on you and your new home. I’m so thrilled you are loving your new home!
Yvonne, I always LOVE reading your posts and learn so much!! I think either table will look great in your dining room but I am really drawn to the rectangle one. I feel that it just makes the dining room look elegant. I love the lamps on your curlique chest (by the round mirror)!! Would you share your source for those? I think it is so hard to find nice chunky lamps!
Looking forward to your next post…..I always do :).
Here they are Vicki,https://rstyle.me/+TxDBILuGwYDypx2cLUEVEA
I cannot commit to either table because I really like them both! I’ve been “curating” my accessory collection…going bigger and fewer and trying not to rush each season. I’ve been dying to get out all the turquoise/aqua for summer, but I’m holding off for now and just rearranging things, changing out some of the vignettes, cleaning and organizing, etc. Summer is a long season here in TX, so I’m pacing myself!
round is more elegant…..
Hard to decide because they both look great! I kinda like the round table better as it softens up the area. Your home is always beautiful no matter which table you use.
I so appreciate your many decorating tips. While our styles – and lifestyles – are different, everything you’ve shared these many years has allowed me to enjoy my small more than before we met. As to your question about the tables: I am partial to your wood round table because there are already so many angular elements going on in this room – window panes, pillars, the rectangle carpet, the small rustic door hanging on the wall, even the stripes and folds in the curtains (my eyes read the folds as vertical stripes that align with the actual horizontal stripes to form a pattern of squares). The round wood table invites the round organic shandy and the room’s archway to dance together within the spacious ‘box’ space. You know, like threes on a sideboard or threes on a tray. Thank you for allowing me to stretch with you and all your followers. Fondly, Chasya.
Thank you so much, Chasya
I prefer the rectangular table. It seems to fit the space better.
Thanks for your decorating insight. I’m sure whichever you choose will look great!
Hi Yvonne,
First off I would like to say I love your blog and find it so informative! As to the table choice, I prefer the round one. To me round tables invite conversations; I think the rectangle one looks a little industrial which is not your home style.
Thanks for sharing your wonder talent,
Joan
Thanks, Joan!
Hello Yvonne. I kinda like the round table. It seems to shorten the space and make it cozy, and
warm. Much more inviting. Good luck in your decision. I love your home. God Bless you and Bobby. Stay healthy.love you.
I like the round table.
The round table fills the space better. However, either one is lovely.
Hi Yvonne. I so enjoy your blog! Thank you for all your great advice! I thought I’d respond to the question you posed about your dining room table – only because I noticed it in one of your previous posts. Although your rectangular table is super cool, I prefer the round one because of the round lighting fixture hanging above it. If you prefer the rectangular table, I’d like to see you swap out the round fixture for a rectangular one. Have a great evening! Becky
Thanks for your input Becky!
Thank you for all the info you share. I followed your advice of using my phone’s camera as I staged our house to sell. Also, past ideas you have shared were a huge help. Within five days we received four offers and one was $20,000 over asking! As we move out of state, our next challenges are paring down 33 years worth of stuff and finding a home to buy. We rely on Proverbs 3:5,6.
HI KT, congratulation on the sale of your home. My friend Lory at Designthusiam has a fabulous free resource for “rightsizing” you home. You will love this and find it so helpful. See it here: https://designthusiasm.com/downsize-or-optimize-toolkit
Hello Yvonne. I really love reading your posts, just wish we could find some ifvthevlively things you mention here in the YK.
Re the table, I prefer the round one, I would paint the legs in one if your neutrals maybe.. I feel the rectangular one’s legs don’t go with the chairs, too much going on under the table. Best wishes x
I prefer the round. But I am a round table girl currently. I love your blog. I love your tips. I love your decorating style. ?
Thanks Laurel! I love round tables too!
I like the look of your dining room now very much. If the round wins, use the leaves and
surprise us with a new shape in your dining room. Whatever you do, it will be beautiful
and well curated. With my rectangle table, I have two perfect comfortable backless stools
I can slip in next to the head of the table chairs and have two more people sitting at the
table, it sounds tacky but it works on those times that could be embarrassing if I did not have
this ace up my sleeve. It is about being at the table and enjoying the meal. Buying a even
‘bigger table’ would not be practical for the few times this does happen. wink.
Thanks for the great seating tip Joy!
I think the rectangle table is just beautiful. The curtain and the rug and the simple table flowers look stunning in that room. Round table are nice as I had one for years. Go with the rectangle table. Lighter and brighter look in the room.
I’m ordering a round table for this dining room. Shhh! You are the first to know!
I like the round table better.
Me too! I found a round table I love but it is back ordered 6 months!
I love the round table with round lighting it is gorgeous and conversations so much better!
Thanks!
I love round tables, but in your space, the long table looks better. I agree the round mirror would look better the same gray as the stripe in the curtain. I don’t like the tabacco basket over the sign being white. A natural color would allow it to stand out and raise your mantel. Thanks for all your tutorials.
I prefer the round table wwith the thinking that it can be expanded to an oval size. Best of both worlds and no corners if you need to fit in an extra person. Much more versatility than a rectangle. I am Always editing!
I just got a beautiful round table that expands from Etan Allen. I’ll share it soon.
Where do you put or how do you incorporate 5×7 pictures into your rooms. I have six God children and would like to have pictures out on a table ?
Hi.. I LOVE all of your guidance in decorating SO much!! Thank you for sharing your talent.
Both tables are beautiful.. not sure how much dining table space you have throughout your home?
With your growing family .it almost seems like you could fit more people at the rectangle shaped one. Even high chairs etc. at the end..
But the round table is gorgeous as well.
If you need those extra spots it may be smart to keep the rectangle shape for now.. but just thought of this. With the round table and you don’t have to worry about sharp edges with the grandchildren. SO pros and cons on both tables. I don’t think you can make a wrong choice. Both so beautiful!
Take strong in Jesus.. we serve such an amazing God. ❤️
Stay warm, Julie ⛄️
Thanks for the suggestions, Julie, Our round table has two leaves so it can expand and be very ample for everyone.
I like the round table. Round tables are friendly because you can always add another guest to a round table.
My new round table finally came in. I’ll share it next week!
Round table! Hands down! I loved it when you changed to the round table! Of course, do what you want as you have great taste. Love your blog!
Me too!
Hi Yvonne…even though my palette is different, your ideas and advice about simplifying and more relaxed decor is helping me Re-do my living room and dining room. I’m taking the formality down by several a notches and are mixing more contemporary elements. Niw waiting for a new sofa and chairs to arrive. Getting unnecessary old accessories out to consignment etc. thanks for the inspiration….. ps I am nearby in West Chester PA.
Good for you Lynn! Your changes sound wonderful!
I like the round table!!
I like the second table with the nailhead chairs. Looks more t date.
I love your round table. I think it adds warms to the space.
We just got a new table that works better with our style and it is round!
Regarding your dining room table, how many people do you entetain at a time. The test of a table is the memories made around it. Does your round table have a leaf to it? It’s not just how it looks; it’s how welcoming it is.
Hi Debra, I’ve had small groups and large ones around our table over the years. Right now my favorite number of adults to have for dinner is six. It is intimate enough to have some great conversation that includes everyone! Our round table does have a leaf and we can sit 10 adults around it comfortably. Hope this is helpful.
Yvonne, I love to read your blog as it inspires me and I get lots of ideas from you. I prefer the round table as it brings warmth and color to the space, looks cozy and inviting for conversation and complements the light fixture nicely. A round rug would work nicely with it. Thanks for sharing.
Good morning Yvonne,
This is a wonderful post. Great ideas all around. As for the tables, I think the rectangular one looks best in the space.
The round table has a more casual look perhaps suited for a breakfast nook.
May God bless you and your family this Easter.
Kindest regards,
Marie Empringham
Yvonne
I’ve been admiring your brown/gray multi colored traditional rug you purchased for your sunroom not that long ago. Do you have a website for me? Colors are perfect for my living room
You can find it at rugsales.com
I prefer the long table …. more interesting and in my opinion a lot easier to change out runners, centerpieces, etc.
I like both tables, but leaning towards the rectangular one. Have you considered changing out the light fixture?
I’m always considering changing decor. Buy I really like the pendant in the dining room.
I love all your content! I don’t know if this is an older post since I’m new here. Both tables are great and create their own moodo. From a line and design perspective, I prefer the round table that repeats the round pendant.
I did get a new round table.
I like the round table. My distressed white dining room table is both. I leave it round for four people and add the panel for six. Round is just more eye appealing to me.
Thanks, Suzanne. We actually have a new round table now that opens up too! The best of both worlds.