Home furnishing - your advice?

[Jugend]

Every once in a while I get the urge to redo something in my apartment and this time it has come to the coffee table together with a small mat.

Since I practice the true art of compact living (I live in 19 m2 / 205 sqft) I'll build the coffee table myself, get it properly sized to fit in nicely. It'll be about 45*85cm / 17.5/33", semigloss black. The top board will be medium to dark grey/brownish glazed pine with a 1" black frame, looking pretty much like on the photoshopped pic.

Only headache at the moment is which mat I'll go with. I've found 3 nice ones at IKEA so far, my favourites is no 2 and 3. No 2 has a really nice look but as almost everytning else in my ap. is squared in one way or another it lacks No. 3:s circular breaking up. On No. 3:s downside is that so much else in here is in the same range of color tone.

Which one of the mats do you think looks best? The photoshop is made with pretty much accurate proportions. Sorry for the crappy quality, I only got my cells VGA camera atm. Irl mat no.3 and the sofa is much more colormatched then on the pic.

 

[TB]

I like #3. Everything is so angular, the round rug breaks it up nicely. But I also agree, the couch is too similar a color. Are there any other round rugs that you like?

Or you could get a new couch.

And don't worry about the picture quality. They look great.

 

[Duke]

I'd go with #3, but you may want to find one with no pattern. That pattern looks subtle enough, but in that compact a space you really want to avoid things with a lot of texture.

#1 fades too much and isn't doing anything to reinforce the center of the room.

#2 is too busy. In small areas, you are right up close to things and so textures really get emphasized. When you make the table, use a nice, close-grained wood and make sure the stain is fairly subtle. You may also want to match the wall unit as well as possible on the wood top, to avoid adding another color. If there is too much texture it makes the space seem even smaller than it is; but if things are very smooth and clean, they tend to recede a bit, making the room seem larger. You've done a good job so far with the upholstery and pillows - no patterns - and the curtains seem subtle enough too. Be very careful about adding anything else with a pattern, though, since the artwork is giving you some texture on the walls.

#3 is good because the circle really anchors the center of the room, and balances the couch and the angularity of everything else. If they have a navy blue one to complement your pillows, that would be great, but the red goes well assuming you are right and it matches the couch. Another option would be medium-dark grey to complement the walls, but black would be too stark, and would reduce the impact of the coffee table.

If I may ask, how did you do the Photoshop work?

 

[donbenni]

Check out those 1337 PS skillz

I'd have to go for 3 as well, fits well with the colours of the room. Nice room btw, looks homely. 1 and 2 do kind of make the table look likes it has been framed into the space it's in, so everyting looks a little cramped. 3 opens things up, feels more welcoming

 

[Jugend]

I like #3. Everything is so angular, the round rug breaks it up nicely. But I also agree, the couch is too similar a color. Are there any other round rugs that you like?

Or you could get a new couch.

And don't worry about the picture quality. They look great.

Getting a new couch would be a pain in the ass since this one fitted there with a margin of about 2mm. Mabye change it's fabric cover then.. but it's too much work and I haven't got access to a sewing machine atm.

But it'll probably be something round anyway. I searched a bit more on IKEA:s site and found a mat in the exact same size, unpatterned white or medium grey. It'll probably be one of those. I've seen some nice round mats at other furniture stores too but then the price whoops up from IKEA:s ~35 bucks to anything 100-200 $.

I'd go with #3, but you may want to find one with no pattern. That pattern looks subtle enough, but in that compact a space you really want to avoid things with a lot of texture.

#1 fades too much and isn't doing anything to reinforce the center of the room.

#2 is too busy. In small areas, you are right up close to things and so textures really get emphasized. When you make the table, use a nice, close-grained wood and make sure the stain is fairly subtle. You may also want to match the wall unit as well as possible on the wood top, to avoid adding another color. If there is too much texture it makes the space seem even smaller than it is; but if things are very smooth and clean, they tend to recede a bit, making the room seem larger. You've done a good job so far with the upholstery and pillows - no patterns - and the curtains seem subtle enough too. Be very careful about adding anything else with a pattern, though, since the artwork is giving you some texture on the walls.

#3 is good because the circle really anchors the center of the room, and balances the couch and the angularity of everything else. If they have a navy blue one to complement your pillows, that would be great, but the red goes well assuming you are right and it matches the couch. Another option would be medium-dark grey to complement the walls, but black would be too stark, and would reduce the impact of the coffee table.

If I may ask, how did you do the Photoshop work?

Thanks for your very good advices in matching colors and how the use of patterned/unpatterned surfaces will affect the feeling of business and spatiousness in the room. It feels like you have a very good eye for things like this.

I'll try to match the table board glazing with the wall and then probably go for a circular white/grey mat. Most probably grey after your input. The table board is quite small-grained and has a lot of structure in it since it is made out of many small pieces glued together. It'll probably look good in medium to dark grey.

Actually the pillows are black with a subtle grey pattern, VGA camera.. As it might seem then all the room is made out of grey and different shades of grey/white/red but that's not the case. I have 3 quite large paintings which brings both blue and a tad green so the lack of other colors is not the case.

Technique? I cut, pasted and then modified the top of the old small rectangular table (which will be used as a base for the new one). The mats are made in proper size from having folding rules on the floor in the right lenght and then edited out. Pictures of the mats comes from IKEA:s site. And the shadowing is made up.

It'll look like this with the grey mat, which I think looks great: (freaking pillows partly desaturated and the Xbox box will go to my store)

Check out those 1337 PS skillz

I'd have to go for 3 as well, fits well with the colours of the room. Nice room btw, looks homely. 1 and 2 do kind of make the table look likes it has been framed into the space it's in, so everyting looks a little cramped. 3 opens things up, feels more welcoming

Oooh, I'm mr. PiAs leet.

Thanks! I put a lot of effort in my small home since it is very important to me. I just couldn't take it with some T2 posters and a black roof-fan. After these advices I'll go for the round mat which I have to agree, it opens up the room.

Again, thanks all.

 

[skicrush]

Why not a red square one? I love IKEA, by the way--they need more of them here!

 

[Jugend]

Why not a red square one? I love IKEA, by the way--they need more of them here!

I pretty much ruled out squared mats after these advices and my own opinions. Thanks anyway for your comment.

And yes, IKEA is an awesome store. I have 2 large IKEA:s within 10 kms.

 

[amp88]

The best thing to come from IKEA is the pear cider

I'd go for number 1, but I have no taste for interior decorating

 

[Jugend]

The best thing to come from IKEA is the pear cider

I'd go for number 1, but I have no taste for interior decorating

Pear Cider??? Who the whole told you IKEA came up with that? Mabye Kopparbergs or some other Swedish brewery but not IKEA. *zip*

 

[amp88]

Pear Cider??? Who the whole told you IKEA came up with that? Mabye Kopparbergs or some other Swedish brewery but not IKEA. *zip*

I meant "come from" as in "bought from"

It's brewed by Kopparberg. Very frereshing on a hot, summer day (not that we get many in Scotland).

 

[Jugend]

I meant "come from" as in "bought from"

It's brewed by Kopparberg. Very frereshing on a hot, summer day (not that we get many in Scotland).

Oh, ok. Kopparbergs Cider are the s*it, especially their 7.0:s. No need for a hot summer day to get amused by those.

 

[amp88]

Oh, ok. Kopparbergs Cider are the s*it, especially their 7.0:s. No need for a hot summer day to get amused by those.

I don't think they do anything more than 4.5% at IKEA here, but I reckon that's good enough. It's nicely quaffable as it is, and I'm not much of a drinker anyway. I'd rather have 3 or 4 cans of 4.5% than 1 or 2 of 7.0%

 

[Jugend]

I don't think they do anything more than 4.5% at IKEA here, but I reckon that's good enough. It's nicely quaffable as it is, and I'm not much of a drinker anyway. I'd rather have 3 or 4 cans of 4.5% than 1 or 2 of 7.0%

Good Enough? That depends on how much drunknard you is.. Funnily I've never seen or heard about IKEA:s selling alcohol beverages.. .... Where do they do this..???

 

[amp88]

Good Enough? That depends on how much drunknard you is.. Funnily I've never seen or heard about IKEA:s selling alcohol beverages.. .... Where do they do this..???

Hehe, I suppose 👍

I had a wee search for it on the IKEA UK homepage there, but I can't find it on their site. It's my mate who gets it for me, so I couldn't even tell you what department or whatever it's sold in. To tell the truth, I've never set foot inside IKEA myself, so I've no idea how things are laid out.

edit: My mate gets them in the Glasgow branch, in Scotland

 

[Duke]

Getting a new couch would be a pain in the ass since this one fitted there with a margin of about 2mm. Mabye change it's fabric cover then.. but it's too much work and I haven't got access to a sewing machine atm.

I like the red couch. No need to change it!

Thanks for your very good advices in matching colors and how the use of patterned/unpatterned surfaces will affect the feeling of business and spatiousness in the room. It feels like you have a very good eye for things like this.

Thanks! I'm an architect...

I'll try to match the table board glazing with the wall and then probably go for a circular white/grey mat. Most probably grey after your input. The table board is quite small-grained and has a lot of structure in it since it is made out of many small pieces glued together. It'll probably look good in medium to dark grey.

And so it does, from looking at your latest picture. The dark grey is very good and doesn't compete with the red couch and reddish wood wall unit, but it still anchors the center point of the room.
👍

Actually the pillows are black with a subtle grey pattern, VGA camera.. As it might seem then all the room is made out of grey and different shades of grey/white/red but that's not the case. I have 3 quite large paintings which brings both blue and a tad green so the lack of other colors is not the case.

In a small room, sticking to 2 or 3 main colors is good! Grey and white for your backgrounds, and red for the accent - perfect. A little color in the paintings is good, but don't go overboard adding other colors. In fact, I'm glad the pillows are grey. Again,
👍

 

[skicrush]

Good Enough? That depends on how much drunknard you is.. Funnily I've never seen or heard about IKEA:s selling alcohol beverages.. .... Where do they do this..???

That's what I was wondering--but cider here in the states isn't alcoholic anyway.

 

[amp88]

Hijacking the topic just a little more, here's a couple of pics of the cider for anyone who's wondering

First...how it looks before you drink it...


...and after you drink a few cans...


Back on topic, who likes my fantastic table?

We were playing poker the other night (hence the pear cider and cards) and I won. Now it's my lucky table

 

[Jugend]

I like the red couch. No need to change it!

Thanks! I'm an architect...

And so it does, from looking at your latest picture. The dark grey is very good and doesn't compete with the red couch and reddish wood wall unit, but it still anchors the center point of the room.
👍

In a small room, sticking to 2 or 3 main colors is good! Grey and white for your backgrounds, and red for the accent - perfect. A little color in the paintings is good, but don't go overboard adding other colors. In fact, I'm glad the pillows are grey. Again,
👍

You're an architect? It makes sense then..

Thanks duke, I'll probably let it go this way. 👍

 

[Apclps]

Number 3 in white?

From your options I'd have the first one.

 

[Duke]

Number 3 in white?

Somehow I don't think that's what he had in mind...

 

[TB]

Awesome, Duke!

 

[Jugend]

Somehow I don't think that's what he had in mind...

Ooh, tacky!..

"Its large size will cover almost any area you want."

 

[Magic069]

Thanks! I'm an architect...

Hence why I didn't comment. I knew either Duke, or DerAlta would come in and say a few things.

I myself, am an Architect in training.