If you are like me, you spend a fair amount of time on Apartment Therapy pouring over inspiring and endless design resources — so how do you take all of these ideas and filter them down to make decisions about your space?
The answer? Take advantage of samples where you can! The stress of picking the “right” color or material is lessened when you can stew on it. You can get samples of just about any material from wallpaper to flooring to tile, to paint. Paint samples cost $2-$5 each. If you don't have any extra white cardboard around you can pick up a package of 3 for $2 in the paint aisle. Wallpaper is either free or between $4-$5 a sample and flooring and tile can typically be checked out for free like a library book. Certain stores will even check out drapes without charging you.
For furnishings, like the wall sconces pictured above, I used ribbon to secure them to the wall temporarily. The room is still coming together and I am still undecided. Taking time to think about why something works or doesn’t work only helps to narrow in on right decision. As the old adage says: it's a journey not a destination.
Images: Tanya Lacourse
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It sounds like you have a lot of patience! I brought home a bunch of paint samples just yesterday. I've had one inconclusive color consultation with my husband, and I'm already itching to buy something and just get it done. Being careful and deliberate about making a choice stresses me out (I guess that is why some people refer to it as "agonizing over a decision"). Usually the best thing for me to do is to forget about the whole project for a good long while, and then make a quick gut decision. I think my brain sort of works it out in the background while I'm waiting.
Could you tell us what the name of the wallpaper on the bottom left is (with the swan)? Thanks!
Can you also post what the name of the yellow & lavendar wallpaper sample is please
Lotus papers! The collection is what convinced me to like wallpaper again.
What about the name of the flowered one on the right?
Would love to know who made the purple one - so pretty!
Can't wait to see the room when the decisions are made. I appreciate the time it takes to be this dilligent!
The yellow and green/purple wallpaper is from Farrow & Ball. The purple wallpaper is Graham&Brown. The silver chrysanthemum wallpaper on the right is also Graham&Brown via Target. The black bird paper is by Judit Gueth via Wallpaper Collective. The silver branch paper is by Hygge & West.