Is your home experiencing an identity crisis? Maybe your family room skews traditional but your kitchen is sleek and modern, or your dining room is bathed in neutrals while your foyer is bold and bright. At the end of the day, each room is shouting, but none can be heard. A cohesive home, where each room compliments the other (vs. each room trying to be the main attraction) draws you in, wrapping you in its warm easy embrace. Though it requires patience and some restraint, if done right it feels effortlessly pulled together. Best of all, it never shouts.
One of my favorite Main Line interior designers, Larina Kase of Larina Kase Interior Design, put her many talents to work on a 1920s traditional home in Wayne. From the foyer to the family room, each room is unique, yet still complements the home’s overall style and color scheme. Nothing feels too matchy-matchy or overly decorated. This is the definition of a cohesive home, friends.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
Wondering how you can achieve this in your own home? Here are five helpful tips:
1. FIND YOUR STYLE AND STICK WITH IT.
Think about the types of furnishings and home decor you’re drawn to, such as traditional, modern, bohemian, coastal or vintage. For example, do tufted sofas make your heart beat fast or do you prefer your seating sleek and minimal? Not sure? Take Larina’s Interior Design Style Quiz here. Pinpointing your style–and sticking with it–will make it easier to select furnishings and accents you love and give your home a consistent look and feel.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
2. PICK A MAIN COLOR
Choose a color you love and a complementary neutral. Add a few accent colors and voilà! You’re well on your way to a cohesive home. In this home, Larina used blue as the main color and scattered pops of pink throughout.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
3. KEEP THE MAIN ELEMENTS CONSISTENT:
From moldings to hardware to flooring, the main elements should stay the same. For example, if the first floor of your home has hardwood floors, make sure the stain, style and plank width are identical in each room on that floor.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
4. DON’T BE AFRAID TO MIX IT UP.
While it’s good to be consistent, don’t be afraid to mix old and new. There’s nothing worse than a “time-stamped” home, where everything appears to have been purchased at the same time, from the same retailer. Mixing new and old (and high and low!) generates visual interest and gives your home more personality. This is another reason why I never buy furniture sets, which can make your home feel matchy-matchy.
5. ONLY BUY THINGS YOU LOVE (AND TAKE YOUR TIME!)
Take your time furnishing your home and only buy what you truly love (trust me, if you have mixed feelings about that sofa now, you’re not going to magically fall in love with it six months later). The right pieces will come along; you just need to wait for them. It’s better to leave a room empty for a bit than rush out and fill it with “things.”
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
Interior design by Larina Kase, Main Line Interior Designer.
Above all, remember to have fun with your home, and don’t worry too much about making a mistake! Instead, focus on creating a home that reflects your style and way of life.
Interior Design by Larina Kase Interior Design.
Photos by Perfectly Paired Photography.
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