apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

A picture of your space and objects would be very helpful.

http://www.highfashionhome.com/dining_tables.asp?id=1900

You might want to look at the Santomer Dining Table. It is from the same manufacturer as the Seguro Media unit from Crate and Barrel. It's Peroba wood goes well with the Noguchi Coffee Table.

Where is the carpet in the image from?

curtains! white sheers that puddle on the floor would be a good mix for you and your husband.

One of my favorite ways of "compromise" decorating is to use things that are visually interesting, personal and yet non-intrusive. The easiest? Books.

To give your newly shared space some personality and uniqueness, set out a few of your fav/prettiest books with his prettiest books. Ours are currently on a side table, although we often have books on the fireplace too. My pic was Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home", while he picked "The Power Broker." Whenever I feel like we are going to drive each other nuts, knowing how cute our disparate tastes in literature reminds me that we can get along even though we are so different. And people ALWAYS ask about the bizarrely random assortment set out.

"Where is the carpet in the image from?"

That's an image from Room and Board.

The OP needs a decorator friend to come out and give her advice since we've been given nothing to go by here regarding taste/interests/budget/space available, etc.

A medium-size plant can provide warmth to a space and make it feel homey and lived-in. Also good for adding drama.

Your rug looks cool. Is that a lime or spring green colored detail? Look for a throw pillow in that shade for a pop of color on the couch. If the color gets old, it's easy to change it out for something else. A bright orange might be fun, too.

BTW, I love the media cabinet. I have the seguro coffee table.

Hi, this is Clara, the OP. Thanks for all your comments, they're very helpful! I just wanted to provide some more info since I think my original question was too long to be published. We've purchased the Jasper sectional pictured above, the Noguchi coffee table, the Seguro media cabinet, and a large Parsons leaning mirror. We actually do not yet have a rug or lamps or anything but we want the room to look clean and calm and bright. What colors should we consider? And what colors/materials should we buy the dining table and chairs in? Since we spent most of our budget on the other items, the more affordable the better (and IKEA is always reliable), but if there's a must-have investment we have a little room to move around our budget a bit.

Books and accessories sound great! Especially since we can mix and match when we feel like changing things around. And I love the idea of curtains - I think it'll make our apartment feel a lot less like a rental.

Thanks again and I look forward to reading more of your comments!

@cantabrigian1:

I would love to have a plant but have never had one before. Is there one you'd recommend that would thrive well in an apartment environment without too much maintenance? My apartment faces west and I have large windows so I get a good deal of light.

Thanks again!