SMALL LIVING ROOM: The Mindset & Creativity for BIG STYLE
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Hey babe! Welcome back. This week we’re approaching decorating a small space, specifically a small living room from a more mindset position. We are diving into the thinking and the backend work needed to feel confident in decorating and designing your home.
It’s important to design from a place of confidence and creativity, so that you can create a home that is reflective of you-not a trend and certainly not what you see someone else do.
A small living room gives you an incredible opportunity to express this creativity and confidence. You look to Pinterest and online design sources for inspiration and less for direction.
It is my hope that these types of videos help guide you to creating something of your own.
I hope you enjoy this video and it gives a little fire to fuel your creativity.
Sending you so much love from NY!
XOCD 😘
PS Access the Small Living Room/Bedroom Playlist here
• Small but oh so stylis...
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What I love about "smaller" spaces is that you can create a vibe so much easier. Items have to be closer together so they have to make sense. And bigger is better and less is more. Loved all your examples.
Totally! You nailed that. Thank you ❤️ Everything has much more power to contribute to the vibe with much more impact than in a larger sleaze where it might get “lost” so to speak.
Every single time I watch one of your videos I learn something (actually many things) that feels "perspective-shifting", if you know what I mean. That is the sign of a great teacher! Thank you!
Hi Carol! That’s wonderful babe!! Yeah! And thank you for the lovely comment. I enjoy teaching and inspiring with all my heart, and so I appreciate this so much 🤗 Big hug, darling ❤️
Ah yes... the work before the work! The boat needs to be pointed in the right direction first before the rowing begins. Design intermingled with life and living... who we are, who we are becoming... self-expression. Gorgeous examples and a mindful way of looking at creativity. Your artist's (and advanced soul's) perspective is always appreciated, dear Christina. xx
Awwwww I love it! Thank you, Joanna 🤍 We both know how to build up each other’s thoughts indeed!
@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio ♎✨♎
@@MyGoldendoodleDiary👯♂️
Love that you always bring it back to what we as the ones who live in the space want....how we want to feel in our space. I can go into a beautiful room/house and comment on its beauty, then say, I could not live in it. You are reminding us to be inspired by images, then to apply our own creativity, not to duplicate those images, but to create our own beauty. This is one of the reasons I love your channel ❤
As we are redecorating and remodeling, my biggest focus is on peace, and for me that means very little "setting around" space. I like my art/items mostly on walls or behind glass. We are also saturating with paint, using different sheens in the same color. We just picked out pavers and stone for our new outside stoop and I applied those same color principles, the blending of colors and textures so that there are gentle transitions rather than harsh, popping color changes.
Hi Melanie--I love your idea to use varied sheens of the same color paint to subtlety bring texture into a room as well as gentle transitions--you are speaking my love language. I have a deep love for monochromatic palettes for the feeling of peace and tranquility they bring into a space.
And yes--you nailed it. This process is about allowing ourselves to be inspired, to bring in thoughts and examples of how others carry out beauty in their homes/projects. To take in that inspiration, process it, let it sit for a while, then allow our own interpretation to take shape. This is how we create spaces and transform them into HOME ❤
@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio 2 Replies
I appreciated all the elements that you covered, Christina. Since we’ve never had what I would consider a large living room, I’ve always had to use some portion of these tips when decorating. This home that we’re in now has required some finagling and looking really at what we actually had to have as far as furniture pieces went, and antique pieces that I couldn’t force myself to let go. My husband and I have discussed that it would make life easier for me if I made an attempt to reduce tabletop items (make dusting easier) and reduce furniture (make it somewhat easier for me to move around). So, I will work on that when I’m able. Some health issues are making life difficult right now, though. Hoping this finds you well! ❤
I hope you’re feeling 100% soon. You will get there I’m sure you will. Little by little as you can maneuver.
Right on the money! The internal logic of juxtaposing pieces because so important and I love your call out to this--in my work it's all about creating meaning!
Absolutely! As creators it’s essential (but not always applied)-the meaning we are creating into the world is essential not just for those to observe, but for our own expression. It’s a form of self love and honoring our creative voice ✨
"Learn to trust your creative instincts"!!! That is something I need to work on! Thank you Christina for another great video!!!
Absolutely, Nicole!!! XOXOCD
aaaaah I finally found the perfect design youtube for me!!!!
Awww welcome to the channel and our home loving community 🤗
This is such a great channel; you add the best content in the designer space!
Wow!! Thank you, luv. I appreciate you saying this!!! Makes my heart sing 💗
Great info once again Christina! I love my smaller rooms much more than the larger ones. I seem to have more success creating the feeling of home in the smaller ones.
Thank you Tamara 🤗 Happy you enjoyed it! I love that you said that. What is it about the smaller spade that makes it easier for you? I’m curious no right or wrong reason-just wondering if there might be clues as to how it might be easier for the larger rooms.
Hi Christina. Apart from our main base home, we have an apartment in Melbourne.🇦🇺 I love it! it’s small, cosy and old, maybe 1930’s, so different from our other home which is very large and only 6 years old. I actually prefer the apartment because it has so much character. We have so many of our mother’s antique furniture and bits and pieces that make it so sentimental and loved. I sit in the living room and think about how it feels and it’s just so homely, relaxing and peaceful. I love it and it’s so nice to not have to shop for things in the stores where everybody does. We go to antique stores and thrift stores and buy flowers. So, I understand what you mean about having a space speak to you. Thanks for another great video Christina.🥰❤️
Awww that’s so lovely and also how much fund is that? Visiting antique stores and buying flowers for home. Each piece is special when we focus on how we want home to feel. Thank you for sharing this Paulene 🤗
Great tips Christina and the little details you mentioned are helpful. You hit the nail on the head about creating a piece of art with a space.
Hi Jimmy! Yes! You are the artist of your home creating your masterpiece ❤️ Happy you enjoyed the video, babe!
Love your channel! Hello from Pound Ridge, NY :)
Hi neighbor!!! Thank you for watching the video and showing up here, Colette!! Hope to see you around town 🤗
I loved this one and it really resonates with me that idea of how you want your home to “feel.”
Yes exactly Shauna ❤️ Feeling is everything at home. It’s our place is security but it can be so much more too!
I agree with being mindful of harmony, unity and balance. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week ❤
Hi Nagla-so happy you’re here babe 🤗 Enjoy your week as well!
Hola Bella,
Thanks for another informative video.
I've learned the hard way, to sit still, observe and allow my apartment to speak to me.... I'm a spiritual person. Therefore, I don't follow trends and prefer comfy furniture, flower prints, and bright happy colors along with neutrals.
I have a small living room which I Love!!!
Side note; your pelo looks nice and you always wear nice pieces. Comfy and neutral which is my style.
God bless you always.
Hi babe! Are you back from your holiday? Jerry told me he met you!
I usually learn the hard way too but I feel you get some really good lessons from that! 🤗 Happy to hear you’re listening to your home now ❤️
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio Hola Bella, I return tomorrow. Elated to meet you in person. I was hesitant to approach Jerry when I saw him but went with my gut. We had a nice conversation. I'm so elated to meet you in person.
Have an amazing day. Los vemos pronto. Hola Jerry.
@@butterflysun I’ll definitely stop by and say hi! PS Jerry is a sweet heart-glad you went with your instincts 🤍
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio indeed he is!
You guys are so adorable together, God bless you both always
Side note: I'm there until the end of August, then I'll be assigned to another location next month.
@@butterflysun Okay well I’ll definitely come by before then!
I turned our smallest bedroom into a Growlery aka den. It is low sensory. The walls are painted in a deep woodland brown. There is one tall narrow window with sheer white curtains and charcoal drapes. The furniture is in browns and greens and lighting has metallic elements. Texture comes from the throw blankets, velvet brown tub chair, dark brown timber lowline bookcase.
The Growlery is very earthy and moody. Cave vibe. It is very different from the rest of my home.
My teenage son enjoys reading there on his smoky green upholstered rocking chair.
This room sounds amazing from your description!
Me too! Sounds like a retreat away from this busy world ❤️
@@michdancer13 Thank you! My 15 year old takes the credit for the inspiration.
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio Thanks Christina. I give my son credit for the concept.
I love it and so amazing for you to allow him to express himself in the design 🥰 I find that very supportive and great for strengthening his creative confidence ❤️
The couches on the floor are a definite no go for me. Grandparents would never be able to get up. They look cool though.
Ahhhh yes I get that, CD. Jerry would not be happy if I did this in our home but I love the look/idea of them. I have always used low to the ground furniture in my homes (I love to sit on the floor anyway--I think it's a yoga thing...). When we moved in together that was all out the door (and sold on FB Marketplace)!
How do you want your space to feel? That is a great starting point! You support it with the notion that you use your creative instinct. To anchor that you show us pictures of out of the box living rooms. It makes me realize that there are a lot of layers in my personality that makes the home I feel good in. So there are a lot of layers in my home. For me that is what you ment as making your home amazing, for you. I learned in the past years that also very small homes, like mine (44 sqm), can look great. It isn't about the size, it is how you see and compose it. You also can choose beautiful things for a small home and make it great, even grand if you like.
For cohesion in the whole house, I like to think of it as a symphony with several movements. The quiet movement is my livingroom, the adventurous movement is my bedroom and the scherzo, the fun movement is my bathroom. But it is still the same symphony, with my handwriting. So all the rooms still feel like me. And that is why it feels like home. Thank you and have a blessed week!
Hi Grady! Yes to everything you wrote. Absolutely loved it and you made me think of another great point on cohesion.
It doesn’t have to be taken literally, in a sense that evening is visually matchy-matchy but rather, the home carries the same feeling/presence though out the home.
Rooms do not have to look the same, but totally fine if they do-what I’m saying is that they can FEEL the same-the same presence of the person living there with various aspects of their personality in each room.
For example each room in your flat as you describe, is the perfect illustration. It carries your presence flowing though room to room, displaying your multifaceted personality
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio Yes, exactly! And as you said, different rooms can look the same, like in style and color. I think your countryhouse is a good example. But in there every room has its own stars, that make them having a voice of their own as well.
I think the home of Lone Fox is a great example of cohesion and layers of personality. I think he has great intuition for his own style. His choices always make me smile, because I never would choose those items, but he knows how they will fit in his home. And then I love it.
I see a lot of personality in your home. I recognize in your home how you describe what you want your home to feel like. And I looooove the accent chairs!!!!
Ahhhh thank you! I love these chairs too haha.
I also like Lone Fox-I don’t follow too many decorators but I do catch his videos occasionally and he’s come quite far from his initial style. He’s developed more of his own signature style-which I appreciate!!
Advise question: Can you please tell me if it's best to match the bookcase paint color to your wall color? Ty❤
Hi! Good question. I think it’s dependent on the look you’re going for-I myself love the look of built in bookcases and so I would opt for something the same color as my walls. However, if you want to add some color, create movement and rhythm in a space then you can go for a color used in your palette. Also a subtle shade of the wall color is nice too-such as a shade lighter or a shade darker than the wall color.
Christina, (HI!!!) in the modern plant room, the one you helped design - how tall were the ceilings? Were they 8ft, or were they 9+. I was wondering because I have standard 8ft ceilings in 80% of my home. I really like the idea of painting a contrast color on the ceiling, but I'm afraid it's going to make the ceilings look lower. Or like they're trying to push down on your head. In the photo of the plant room, the ceilings looked very tall even with the green gloss ceiling and that's why I'm curious 🙂
Hi Timi! The ceilings are 10ft. What about a lighter color in the high gloss? I think that would open up the space-like a soft light blue, soft lighter green-you could even do the same color as your walls but make it a high gloss for there same effect.
Also for the record I worked as the sales director for that project, and we as a team worked with the designer. I don’t want to take credit for her work. Check her out Anna Karlin-she is very talented and a lovely person!
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio Ah, okay, yep 10ft ceilings make a big difference. I understand about the sales team and design team/designer. That was all my confusion. You were very clear in the video 🙂.
I love the idea of a lighter glossy color on the ceiling. I am really liking it for my kitchen and living room 😁 Thank you!!
Yes!! I’m even thinking about it now for the bedroom to bring in more light. Same color but more shine ☺️
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio Oooooo, yes! Great idea! I love that idea! I painted the tray ceiling in my dining room the same color as my walls in Flat. But now I'm thinking of rolling a clear gloss poly over top to make it shiny 😁😉😁
@@timilisafogal6990Yes try it!!! Be brave, darling!!!
Thank you
You’re welcome, lovely 😘❤️🥰
I love the warm white on the walls. 😍
Which white is it? What is the name of the color and what brand is it?
As always a great video. ❤❤
Hi Stefanie! It’s Benjamin Moore Putty 🤍
PS Happy you enjoyed the video!
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio
Many many thanks Christina 🫶
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio
Is is Harwood Putty?
@@Stefanie272 Yes! I forgot the “Hardwood”
Part but yes that’s the color. That paint is popular on this channel. You’re the 3-4th person to ask me about it. I love it 🤍
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio
I also love it. Thank's a lot for sharing.