We Answer the 5 Most Common Design Questions You Ask Us Again and Again

As part blog, part design company, it’s understandable that our readers would want to tap into that second “part” and ask for our design advice…as much as possible. We get A LOT of questions via email and Instagram, but the thing is, so many of those quandaries and pleas for help start to feel universal. As in, you all seem to have issues in a lot of the same areas. So, putting on our blog hat, we decided it best to boil down what we think are our top five most asked design questions and put the answers we’ve already crafted in one place.

Question 1: How do I lay out a rectangular living room?

In all fairness, living rooms are usually rectangular in shape anyway, so this isn’t really that specific but given that pretty standard shape, you’d be surprised how many whammies it can pack…weird window or fireplace placement, not enough wall space because of too many room openings/transitions, functionality issues (where to put the sofa in relation to the TV when there’s no real place to actually put said TV)…the list goes on and on. Here’s my very own biggest takeaway from just life: furniture does not always have to go up against a wall. Float that sofa in a room if you can, move it out of a corner, angle some things…do what works best for YOU, not what you think you have to do. To help you along, here are some stories we’ve done in the past that aimed to answer this very popular question:

• How to Lay Out a Narrow Living Room
• How to Arrange Furniture With Two Focal Walls
• Trying Out Reader Suggestions For What to Do With My Living Room (No Shelves? New Layout?)
• How to Design a Pass-Through Room
• A Long Narrow Floorplan Design Agony

Question 2: What Color Should I Paint This Room?

Picking a paint color has to be one of the most “design paralysis-inducing” things for most people. It feels SO permanent, but guys, it’s totally not. Is prepping and painting a hassle? Yup. Is it reversible if you end up hating it? Also yup. So with that said, go forth and be bold, but if you also just want a tried-and-true white, we also have you covered.

• My Favorite Non-Neutral Paint Colors
• My Go-To Neutral Paint Colors
• 15 of Our Absolute Favorite Go-To White & Gray Paint Colors
• 12 Bold Blue and Green Paint Colors We’ve Tested (& Approved) So You Don’t Have To

And as an added bonus, here are two paint-related posts that will help you when it comes time to actually picking a color in case you need inspiration or just useful info:

• Painting Soon? Here’s a Crash Course on Paint Finishes So You Get It Right the First Time
• 2019 Paint Color Trends

Question 3: What size rug should I use?

If I had to rank the question I get myself from family and friends most, aside from paint colors, it’s absolutely about rug size. I’m talking, no exaggeration, maybe one text a week about this. Here’s what I’d advise most people: when in doubt, go larger than you think. Deciding between a 5×8 and an 8×10? If budget allows, always do the 8×10 for an area rug. As much of your furniture as you can place on the actual floorcovering will always be a cleaner look. Anyhow, I pulled all of our “room rules” posts that each have a section on the rug, as well as a great video (vintage Emlando) and design mistakes from the past.

• The Living Room Rules You Should Know
• Design Mistake: The “Too Small” Rug
• Bedroom Design Rules
• Dining Room Rules
• Video: How to Choose the Perfect Rug Size

Question 4: What do I do with this blank wall?

Ah yes, the every popular “blank wall” conundrum. What is it about a blank space that makes people’s minds go as empty as the wall they’re trying to fill? Show me a room full of stuff and I can tell you 10 things I’d change. But bareness, now that’s daunting. Good news, though: We have plenty of experience and ideas in the art department, from creating gallery walls, to where to buy large-scale art (for cheap) and even unexpected “non-framed art” options for when you want to get a little edgy.

• Affordable Large Scale Art & How to Get It in Your Home
• 15 Ideas We Got From You Guys for Hanging Art 
• The 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Try to Hang That Gallery Wall
• Best Online Art Resources
• How to Fill an Empty Wall With Unexpected Art Ideas
• Design Mistakes: Generic Art
• Sentimental Art: Is This the New Gallery Wall?

Question 5: Where do I buy lighting & what kind do I need?

This was a particularly popular question for renters because hard-wired lighting is not feasible for most of us on year-to-year leases. We can’t exactly opt to add more can lighting if a room is too dark, you know? Enter all the floor, table and wall lights we can afford to buy. We have some go-to resources, a handful of “power couples” so you can easily know how to pair things and lots of budget picks. Keep in mind some of the links on the shopping-focused posts might be dead which I know is a bummer BUT I thought it was still useful if it helps you find a new brand to check out…I’m sure you’ll discover all kinds of new goodies.

• Where to Buy Affordable Lighting Online: 18 of Our Go-To Resources
• The Messy Process: How I Chose ALL The Lights For the Mountain House “At Once”
• 19 Lighting Combos + The Rules of Lighting
• The Ultimate Budget Home: Rugs & Lighting Under $200, Art Under $100 and Decor Under $50
• A Roundup of Affordable Pendants Under $100
• My Favorite 37 Online Lighting Resources
• Power Couples: Floor & Table Lamp Combos That Work

Also, don’t forget to check out our curated lighting section on the Shop page for some of our favorite picks and resources.

I hope that was helpful to have that all in one spot, and I encourage you to keep the questions flowing because we’re here to serve. Xx