The Place to Express Yourself
Image courtesy Sea gull Lighting
As fun as it can be, registering can also be overwhelming. When it comes to the living room especially, couples may feel pressured into selecting a whole host of things just to fill requirements that they may have in the future. If that's the case, put that scanner down and read on.
Registering for your future or current living room isn't about just stocking the place. It's about decorating your home with the items that speak most to your new life together, which also means you don't necessarily have to register for it all Right. This. Second. So, rethink what seems so cool today and follow a few tips for living room decor that matches you.
The Plan
"Have a plan, then register for things that are going to work," says interior expert and design psychologist Kelli Ellis, who's based in Orange County, Calif. By "work" Ellis doesn't necessarily mean that everything has to be the same patterns and style but you want to have a sense of the types of things you like. "The only thing that unifies is color," says Ellis, noting that she mixes a lot of antique with modern - as long as it's sans color, you don't have to worry if they "go together."
Similarly, Donna Ferrari, gift registry & entertaining editor at Brides magazine, is a believer that "if you love something, the acid test is to really love something - a textile, a shape, an accessory - and that piece will always wind up fitting in.
"It's better to wait for something you feel strongly about," she says.
You and your soon-to-be may still be defining your own personal style, so there may be some "maybes" on your list, but lean toward choosing items you really want to see in your home.
The Essentials
"Don't rush to decorate the living room," Ferrari says. "Get key pieces first - something to sit on, eat on, sleep on - a good sofa, good chairs, coffee table. Don't try to accessorize it all at once."
Some couples may be gun-shy about registering for furniture for fear the price isn't right for guests, but furniture makes for a great group gift. Additionally, some retailers offer discounts on remaining registry items after the wedding.
Keeping your color palette in the neutral zone is always a good idea so you can add the zing in the accessories and have your big pieces stand the test of time. Neutrality doesn't just apply to color, however. Chicago event designer and planner Marina Birch suggests sticking with classic shapes also. She notes that going neutral doesn't mean everything is beige. "It's just a muted version of a color," she says. And, patterns aren't totally ruled out, says Birch, as long as they're smaller, simpler patterns.
Consider, too, the functionality of the pieces you choose. Ottomans that include storage are great. Sofas that pull out into couches may be necessary for your lifestyle. Coffee tables that have enough room for all your stuff. Ellis recommends being intentional about your design and that your choices should be dictated by function.
Ins & Outs
While our experts have recommended taking it slow, there are many items couples can add to registries to help personalize and accessorize their new living room. The key, as noted above, is to choose wisely to avoid tons of clutter but don't hold yourself so far back that you have nothing for anyone to buy you and no place to put a candle.
Summer Krecke, deputy editor of the Weddingchannel.com, recommends looking at the staples: crystal vases, area rugs, slipcovers and curtains. All of which, she notes, can be moved to another room if you get sick of them.
Crate and Barrel spokeswoman Vicki Lang recommends other items such as, "a beautiful throw for the back of the sofa, gorgeous pillows, candle sticks, blown glass bowls and interesting lamps with great shapes," which, she says, "give you a lot of look for money."
"Decorative pieces like vases and bowls accessorize your furniture like jewelry for your wardrobe," says Joanna Kartalis, registry director for Bloomingdales. She recommends "lighting like votives, candlesticks, pillar candles and hurricanes," which "truly pull the look together and set the mood whether you're entertaining or in for a cozy night at home."
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