As a designer myself, the one rule you should always ignore when decorating a small apartment is the one about not pushing all of your furniture against the walls. In a small space it is almost always mandatory to push furniture against a wall. I have an 1100 ft, 3 BR home and all rooms have furniture to the wall. The livingroom only has one wall that will accommodate a standard 3 seat sofa. Don't try to fight the layout of a small living space. Put the big pieces where they have to go, then dazzle everyone with wall color, art work and the other little things.

Yes!! So many videos show huge and nice places, not the more realistic places that people are in.

Well i unfortunately don’t have any pictures for you but if it helps i can say from experience in my not well kept, built in the 1950s, 400sqft, $500 a month, apartment; the advice about Curtains, rugs, and lighting do make a HUGE difference and really makes a place feel cozier and look nicer. Went from “possible cockroach infestation” to “warm happy home”

They drive me nuts - I know it’s for the photo but no cords (even carefully tucked away ones), no life, no electronics, just a moment in time or never touched room. It is so unrealistic.

@@cliftonmcnalley8469 This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!

My sofa has always done that to me. I no longer have a sofa or will buy a sofa. LOL!

😂😂😂I was just gonna say! What drama!

I love the sofa she shows there.. xD But nevertheless I always choose neutral colours for expensive things, just like she said, that's better than regretting..

I thought it was brilliant, totally been there!

@@t.a.yeah. that’s a shame really. My sofa is full on rainbow colours and I still love it 8 years later.

what a cute idea!

Just add more bits of yellow or warm colors to your room to balance it out (as in video). I change out my colors with each season. I did this because I realized I couldn't look at my wine colored rug (from winter) in the summer when it's 110 degrees outside. So I shifted to light blue & beige for summer. Then came green/yellow for spring and orange/brown for fall. These were mostly things I had but rotated for emphasis. This was helpful particularly when I inherited some decorations from my parents. There just wasn't enough room nor did it match. Also using pillow covers saves space instead of multiple pillows.

Yellow is such a good colour!

My mum always says yellow is a colour for the kitchen. If you're happy with it, then no interior designer can tell you otherwise. It's your home. You need to make it work for you, not others.

What’s a smeg fridge?!

😂love that dirt! I chose brown tile to hide the dirt when my child was young!

😂

Ty

I wonder, for the crazy patterned furniture, I wonder if getting crazy patterned stuff to put on the furniture instead (like getting a patterned throw blanket, pillows, or cover for the couch for example) would be a better idea for someone who wants to jazz up the place without making an expensive commitment?

@@peggedyourdad9560 If you get a 'crazy' patterned sofa and get tired of the pattern, you can just get a cover for it. Buy what you like. And you suggestion of using a throw or a patterned cover is marvie.

@@gusmonster59 Marvie? I was just throwing out an idea as general advice not for anyone in particular. If someone really has their heart set on a crazy piece of furniture it’s not like I or anyone here can stop them lol.

I'm trying to arrange my home office. and i'm going to assume putting a desk up against the wall is ok because of all the cords that have to be plugged in right? haha

i almost comment on that... :D

I'll get that done thank you so much

I agree with you Karolina, I would like to add that you are so thoughtful and very pretty. (no I'm not your Mum). LOL

🤣🤣🤣😍

Nothing worse than that sneaky ankle swipe 😹

I think curtains 2 or 3 inches off the floor have almost the exact same look as curtains touching the floor. Curtains that the touch the floor get a whole lot dirtier than curtains held 2 inches off the floor. The lack of grime alone is worth it. BTW I love it when cats initiate a play session by attacking my ankles, but I also appreciate seeing when they're about to pounce.

We hung our curtains higher because the dog loved to pull at the bottom by lying down on it, always making us anxious that someday the whole thing might come down. (And we constantly had to wash the curtains and they got longer each and each time he laid down on it) Pets and curtains are just difficult

😂😂😂

That's a classic piece. Everyone seems to have the little black dress. The woman who chooses a simple dress in a style that flatters her, not the latest trend, will look great everytime she wears it. It may be black. It's more likely to be burgundy, midnight blue or even off white. Your sofa is that classic. The blue item in otherwise hot colours that calms everything. The statement in a neutral scheme. The start for layering blues/greens/purples for sophistication. Orange corduroy just doesn't have that flexibility.

Of course your sofa will go out of style! But if rather have something I like during that time!

Ò

I agree. People are definitely tired of that grey neutral look and it’s not always easy to redecorate around a large piece you don’t like be it neutral or not.

Agree, I absolutely adore my teal chaise sofa, that IS my art that I build my room around, and it looks fabulous, so, sorry, chicky! Enjoy that white sofa and how damned dirty it gets 😆

I have a red couch and then the matching chairs have a natural color fabric, theni have red and white pillows and neutral throw blankets. I have one pillow that is a peacock color and while it doesn't "match" it adds more personality! My bedroom on the other hand is very neutral. I think you're going to love your red couch! I thought I would regret going so bold but it's been almost 2 years and it is so fresh and inviting!

I bought burnt orange love seat and couch 20 years ago…everyone warned me against it. Loved it then…still love it now! And it’s quite the statement when people walk into the room…!

I scored a huge yellow 70s sofa about 8 years ago at a charity shop. The color came back in style two years ago. Since the color is so last year… I replaced it with a new loveseat. My color pallet is Van Gogh and I describe the new seat as being the color of haystack. I have nothing in the color of neutral beige and I love it that way.

Definitely a case of needing to know yourself. So interesting that monochrome drains you! For me, it's the opposite-color drains me, so I want everything to be clean and simple neutrals 😂

My previous “neutral” couch was a deep burgundy and my current one is a muted sagey green. I had the first one for over 20 years and hope to do the same this time. The colors were not particularly trendy and I never got tired of them. They were solids, though. Wild patterns would never have lasted as long!

I completely agree. I got my sofa 8 years ago and it’s full on rainbow, I have literally no regrets and I love it. There’s an idea of timeless classics, but it’s complete rubbish. So called timeless classics in the late 90s are the things everyone hates now. I’d rather have fun with colour and then, like you, use a slip cover later if my sofa is still good enough to keep. As it is though, I can’t see changing it anytime soon.

I have a grey couch from 5 years ago, now I want a beige one 😭😂 I was thinking of putting a cover also

I agree, have always told my children buy what colours and furniture you like rather than what is “in”. Everything always comes back again…lol

I have a vintage burnt orange leather couch that I bought when gray was the in color, but now it's in even though it's over 30 years old lol 🤣

In 2003, I reupholstered a high quality sectional that I bought second hand in a salmon chenille fabric. Moved recently for the sixth time since then and it still works everywhere!

agreed. very annoying

There's the US, and the rest of the world😁 Also, I think some things are typically American. Huge headboards (hate them), or photo gallery walls. I have never seen one in my country.

Surely the tiler should have pointed this out before?!

@Olivia Langeveldt not all handypeople are created equally. Or, the owner could have disregarded their advice.. who knows!

_(Middle aged man responding here...)_ Well, let's face it, I think this woman could walk around with no makeup (or hair) and she'd still be beautiful. That being said, and although I know nothing about makeup, it strikes me that her makeup colours and amounts are about perfect---in particular, because they're not too heavy.

I agree. I been watching this channel a couple of years. Posh is so funny. I laugh out loud. Classic humour. Posh your hair is so awesome in this video. I agree. Fantastic colour

GH ź

Total pet peeve of mine, too! My mom had a small, home-based custom window treatment business when I was young and I used to hate being dragged to clients home for consultations and installations or to be forced to wander around fabric stores all day but now, I’m so happy I had that “training”. Or maybe ignorance is bliss and it’s better to think your skinny, low and closely hung grommet drapes are the bomb-diggity 😂

@@persephonespomegranate lol

Curtains hung wrong: Good title for a country song.🤣

@@kritikitti3868 😂😂

Goes without saying

Can get art at arts & craft shows, art galleries, amateur shows as art schools, senior centers or make something yourself. Don’t know until you try!

@@PoshPennies It actually needs to be said, because so many other interior designers on youtube are telling people to buy cheap mass produced art and/or throw some house paint randomly on a cheap canvas from Michael's and stick it on their walls. The majority of viewers/commenters seem to think that original art is so hideously expensive that it can't even be considered by average people. It's tragic.

Thank you for commenting. I didn’t even think of Etsy!

@@Blueberry-rx6hr sure! Saatchi art also has SO much beautiful and affordable art (especially if you buy artist prints instead of originals). Home Goods and Walmart aren't necessary, even on a budget.

*_"...Grudgingly, they agreed...."_* Y-e-e-e-s-s-s-s-s.......and WHY are tradesmen / contractors like that, anyway?? If you ask for something mid-stream that takes more work & time, they can simply charge you for the extra work & time! Simple! No immature, embarrassing whining necessary.

@@be5952 I worked as a craftsman and builder for 19 years. A grudging mood might stem from many factors. So often clients want something changed for free. They want you to spend a few days or weeks laboring *for free* to fix your mistake. The mistake was obvious when looking at the giant professional sized samples or digital mock up. But they never considered your advice in the first place, nor hired a designer. They couldn't really see it until the project was 90% finished. Or, worst case, the job looks great and the client is thrilled until some relative who doesn't even live there disapproves. If they wish to pay for the redo, that's better, but it still throws the company job schedule way off for the next client. I couldn't just hire more staff willy nilly because trustworthy competent skilled tradespeople are hard to find, even when paying top wages. Also, please consider that undoing grout is harder than grouting in the first place, especially if you are tasked with preserving the integrity of the tile. Also, it's very bad to disturb the mortar (what's holding the tile to the substrate) with excess water, or physical force, while it's going through a 3-4 week curing process. (But you can't wait 3 weeks to remove good grout because that is 100 times more difficult.) In fact, some undo/redo processes like this will void a warranty and insurance coverage. As a contractor who was 100% on my client's side, I don't want that potential headache for them in the future. Or maybe the workers were whining because they weren't up to the task. In that case I'd take it as a sign to let them go.

@@janinawaz4596 excellent explanation, thank you so much for going to the trouble. My builder kept checking with me on everything, I was also on site pretty much every day. He said that it's always easier to change something before you start it. He is fantastic 👏, I am currently waiting for him to return from a job in Paris to do a few extra things around my house, I would rather wait for someone I trust than rush to get it done with someone else.

they make super vinegar that doesn't have that pickle smell!

It only smells like a pickle while it's wet though - once dry it smells wonderfully clean (unless it's one of those scented "cleaning' vinegars - those smell as bad as other cleaning supplies in my personal opinion).

me too :) as a dancer too, same : empty space is VITAL

Oh me too. I felt so relieved when I got rid of that item. It d i d remind me of my mistake and it drove me nuts.

I loved that section about rugs. 👍🏻

Me too! But I’m getting,…….no I’m at the age, I say something!! diplomatically, of course! 😂

They used to call that "puddling" curtains. To say I loathe those might _not_ be overstatement. It looks exactly as you say, that they are ill-fitting. They look messy, tacky and must be unimaginably efficient dust and dirt catchers. This designer didn't get into it much in this video, but others have said draperies can look nice at several lengths. I do agree with her, though, that her specific example did look quite 'wrong'.

So cute

Our kids influenced what we did with our sofa. We have an antique wooden sofa that had mustard yellow cushions that were falling apart. Tossed them and bought outdoor cushions that matched our color scheme! So easy to toss in the wash.

In all seriousness, I just found this channel recently and it’s amazing. Thank you for being awesome with your delivery! It’s refreshing and inspiring 🧡

usually returns will be resold when they're having a sale. That's how I found my rug. There was only one size to choose from and one colour and it was a steal. And it also happened to be a perfect fit for my living room ☺

I've lived several places where the livingroom furniture had to go against the wall. It's your place and if you like, it doesn't matter what other people think. Get sick of the rules. I have an olive green couch and chair,not new at all but kept clean.

Love back Alison 😍!

Agreed.

Yes, please do not suggest holding the curtain bottom away from the baseboard register.