When it comes to art, I find many homeowners make the same mistakes around sizing and placement.

Here are three easy solutions to follow before you go putting holes in your walls.

How Large Should My Art Be?

The Error: Hanging artwork that is too small. (Unfortunately, I see this with rugs often too.)

The Solution: As a general rule of thumb, art can be about 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the piece it is hung above.

How High Should I Hang My Art?

The Error: A common mistake I see as a designer, is homeowners hanging their art way too high.

The Solution: If you’re hanging a single piece of art, the width should be a minimum of half the width of the furniture it’s going over. AND, the art should be hung ~8″ above the piece of furniture. That said, you should also be considering the height of the wall the art is being hung on. If the art is going on the wall without anything beneath it, standard practice shows, the art should hang at around eye level, or 60″ from the floor to the center of the art. But, if the ceiling is high, the art can be hung higher.

How Far Apart Should I Arrange My Wall Art?

The Error: A third mistake I see far too often, is a pair of wall art being hung too far apart.

The Solution: Typically, when hanging art in an arrangement of two or more, each piece should be hung approximately 2″-3″ away from the adjacent pieces.

Now, if you’re in the market for some new art, I’ve previously shared some of my favorite places to buy art online, or, if you prefer to look in person, art is one of my favorite pieces to thrift. You can find some really special, one of a kind pieces on auction sites, local estate sales or at thrift stores.

The post How to Hang Art – Mistakes to Avoid first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Five essential items for styling your nightstand.

I like tchotchkes. Little collectable items picked up from travels, hand-painted dishes, leather catch all trays, you name it; I enjoy filling my home with precious items that are inspiring and remind me of a happy memory.

However, when it comes to nightstand styling, I believe in the theory a cluttered nightstand equals a cluttered mind. This is not backed by science, but I find I get a better night sleep with less on my bedside table than when I displayed too many knickknacks.

To keep my bedside table in check, I’ve narrowed down five essentials to include

Include Lighting

I’m a huge fan of layered lighting. It adds a warm and sophisticated element to a room, and it allows you to have much more control over how much light is on and when. The light on your nightstand will most likely be the tallest feature on your table but keep in mind, you’ll also want room for necessities like a water glass and eyeglasses. Alternatively, if you are short on space, you could opt for a wall sconce instead of a table lamp.

Add Greenery

I can’t stress this enough. It is crucial to add greenery into your home. Whether it’s on your coffee table or nightstand, adding a natural element such as fresh cut flowers in a beautiful vase really enlivens the space.

Incorporate Vintage Decorative items, Personal Effects or Books

Use a leather catch all or trinket dish to hold your jewelry, glasses or watch at the end of the day.

Display art or photos that makes you smile

Many people like having a photo of their loved ones on their nightstand, and for good reason. Depending on the size of your table, spring for a large frame (this can be balanced with a vase of flowers and/or books) or, go smaller and place the photo on a tray with personal effects and a bud vase.

Try a Candle/Diffuser

For me, lighting a candle when the sun sets marks the end of a day and diffusing lavender oil as I prepare for bed helps me unwind and relax. (just don’t leave the candle burning and don’t sleep with the diffuser on).

Are you a minimalist or maximalist with your nightstand styling? What are the essentials you keep out on your bedside table?

The post 5 Easy Ways to Style Your Nightstand first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Even with the realities of your day to day, it’s possible to style your coffee table and maintain its functionality. If you live with young children, it is inevitable they will rearrange and play with every object within an arm’s reach. Since TV remotes typically live on the coffee table it’s crucial the table remains a multipurpose piece of furniture.

In finding the balance between stylish and safe, here are a few of my tried and true tips to decorate your coffee table.

Ground the table with greenery

Place fresh flowers or a plant to infuse life into your space. Consider the amount of light the room gets as well as the amount of maintenance they require. If you have fur babies, make sure whatever you pick won’t be a problem for them too.

Utilize a tray

Break up the surface of the table and contain the objects you have by using a tray. I suggest it be no larger than half the size of your tabletop. This makes it easy if you have to clear the table for cleaning or you decide to have a TV dinner one night.

Add Books

Oversized, beautiful books on architecture/interiors, flowers or photography are my go-to’s. Change them out seasonally and flip through them to feel inspired.

Layer decorative and unexpected objects

Display an antique collectible item or travel souvenir. For me, it’s a rule of thumb to include vintage or antique items in every room. These objects always have an interesting story behind them that is enjoyable to share. Whether it’s an heirloom that was passed down from a great grandparent or a piece that incites memories from a past trip, it’s fun to take a walk down memory lane through the object.

I also believe that by surrounding young children with precious or semi-precious items, you can teach them the value of items at a young age.

Style your coffee table by playing with scale and including a variety of height and texture. Make sure to have fun swapping out seasonal objects throughout the year as well.

The coffee table is the center of your living room, ensure it continues to serve the purpose of your everyday reality and use these tips to style it like a pro.

Post images by Julia D’Agostino

The post How to Style Your Coffee Table Like a Pro first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

100 Main | Falls Village, CT

A shop in Falls Village, CT selling the work of local artisans from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. Curated by Bunny Williams and Christina van Hengel.

Browne & Co | Darien, CT

Eat, shop, entertain. Located in the heart of Darien, the store is a cohesive space which combines home goods and giftable items, a café and catering business.

Bungalow | Westport, CT

The shop is a gem, offering an exhilarating shopping experience, filled to the brim with a unique selection of furniture, antiques, home accessories, art, textiles, jewelry, books, and gifts from around the world. 

La Dentelliere | Scarsdale, NY

Where ladies come to get in to trouble and gentlemen come to get out of trouble. La Denteliiere is a very unique French-inspired emporium that specializes in European Gracious Gifts, Tabletop, and Home Accessories.

Patrick Mele | Greenwich, CT

Based in his hometown of Greenwich, designer Patrick Mele opened a 500 square foot jewel box store presenting a collection of refurbished antiques, period pieces with personality, costume jewelry and unique décor items

Terrain | Westport, CT

Filled to the brim with plants, home goods, entertaining and wellness items, Terrain is a one stop shop for the hostess with the mostess.

Lars Bolander | Westport, CT

Swedish interior designer, Lars Bolander, celebrated for introducing Gustavian vintage furnishings to a larger audience, opened shop here in CT earlier this year. The store showcases his distinctive blend of Gustavian furnishings and internationally sourced antiques with a few special curiosities sprinkled in.

The Huntress | Pound Ridge, NY

The Huntress is a home furnishings store and lifestyle brand dedicated to reinforcing the feeling of home. Located in Pound Ridge, New York, The Huntress is rich with whimsical, quirky sophistication and classical nostalgia.

The Flat | Norwalk, CT

Now open in East Norwalk, The Flat Westport, offers a beautiful selection of art and decor from a plethora of styles, think Bauhaus pieces, Gilt mirrors, Danish lights and beyond. 

The post Home Decor Stores | Local Guide first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

Our formal living room is the first room you see as you enter our home. It has transitioned from mostly playroom to mostly quiet, living space, with a few hidden toys for Wesleigh. The bulk of the furniture in this space has traveled with us from apartment to apartment, city to city but we still need a console, art and rug to really ground and round out the room. I love anything with geometric patterns and have been coveting this console.

Our home office has gotten a lot more action the past six months and lighting in that room is an issue. Although we have a nice big window, there is no recessed lights, so a task light is a must. I fell in love with this table lamp from the new Kara Mann collection at CB2 that I plan on incorporating into the design. 

Wesleigh’s room is mostly complete, eventually I’d like to layer a rug under her current Madeline Weinrib flat weave, but until then, what we really need in her room is a bookshelf or etagere to store and display items. I’ve always loved this rattan wrapped shelf from Serena and Lily.

Wesleigh’s Bathroom is one of my favorite rooms in our home thanks to the gorgeous Mokum La Palma print wallpaper. With the exception of a few final touches, this space is actually the most complete in the house. I just need to hang a photo, throw in appropriate wastebasket and accessories and can officially close the door on this room.

Our master bedroom is also slowly coming along, at this point, we need some art and window treatments but I’d first like an area rug. There’s nothing like stepping out of bed with bare feet onto a soft and cozy surface. This braided rug from Rugs USA looks like a chunky knit sweater and it’s made of wool and cotton so it will hold up to any wear and tear from Wesleigh and Tucker running around.

The post Friday Five | 09.11.2020 first appeared on Lindsey Boova.