Little Black Dress = Little Black Home

Some people have trouble translating who they are and what they want into design. I have found that an easy way to connect the dots is to look at your wardrobe. What do you love to wear? What is your style? Are you a sassy gladiator platform or a demure tweed kitten heel? Is it all in the details- embroidery, embellishment, and pattern? Or do you prefer a more simplistic approach? This is the first thing you need to establish.

Lady #1- bohemian, vintage, & romantic

Lady #2- sleek,sexy, & modern

Lady #3- sweet, classic, & feminine

Now, approach your space design with a little black dress mentality. Make your larger, more expensive and permanent features mostly neutral in color. And it doesn’t have to be black necessarily, we're just going for the neutral effect of the LBD. A base or canvas, if you will. You're creating a lasting foundation “layer” that you can change the “feel” or style of over time by changing out your next layer- the color layer. And by the way- there are a lot of neutrals out there- navy, espresso, olive, graphite…anything lacking a very noticeable amount of secondary or primary color. As far as mixing neutrals, there are no rules, they go with everything…hence the name. Mix navy and black, black and brown. It adds unexpected interest and depth in this first layer.

Dress/Foundation Layer

Lady #1

Lady #2

Lady #3

Next is your color layer. Here’s where you accessorize with color, spunk, pattern, etc., and to whatever extent makes you happy. Think of this layer as your volume knob for whatever you want your room to say. Add a little color or a lot. Use two muted colors, or five that are deeply saturated. Now you can play without fear of commitment. You see, by incorporating your style and color in small, inexpensive, and/or easily changeable places, you can help stretch your money because the bigger, more expensive areas are already taken care of and will work with whatever you put with them. Now you're not tied permanently to any one color, style, season, or mood and your room can evolve over time. A no-worries room.

Accessory/Color Layer

Lady #1

Lady #2

Lady #3

Now to see the complete ensembles...

Voila! Instant Little Black Home.