
Are you tackling a tricky room layout? Struggling to find the perfect color palette? Wondering how to blend your style with your space? Our in-house interior design expert, Jaclyn Bohn, is here to help!
Through renovating, furnishing, and decorating two of her own houses, Jaclyn has been able to utilize what she’s learned from her experiences to help others not only settle into their homes, but love spending time in them as well.
Submit your design questions here, and let us guide you toward your dream space.
From Ceilings to Flooring: Your Biggest Design Questions, Answered
Our in-house design expert Jaclyn Bohn answers readers’ top design questions to help them transform their spaces.
We have been thinking of painting our ceiling in our finished family room downstairs a semi-dark charcoal or black. The walls are a soft white. Would painting it that way make the room look small. The ceiling is about 7.5 ft. tall. – James W., Comstock Park, MI
I would avoid painting the ceiling dark if the walls are white to keep the space from feeling cramped. (Think: The ceiling is closing in on you!) Instead, opt for color drenching, a technique that involves painting everything in a room the same color: the walls, ceiling, trim, and doors. This design choice is becoming popular amongst homeowners, commonly with darker tones and deep colors. You might assume this would make a room feel smaller, but because there are no visual breaks in the space, it can make it appear larger. This method helps lend to the intimate, cozy atmosphere many hope to achieve in their living rooms.
If you want a combination a soft white and a darker paint, consider painting the walls in the charcoal color and keep the ceiling white. Even though you are creating a visual break between the two colors, it would keep the ceiling feeling light and high.
I have a bedroom with slanted walls. It has hardwood floors, three windows, and an alcove. I like an English Cottage style. I am considering crown molding. I also like wallpaper but not on all walls. Any ideas? – Jill S., Pittsburgh, PA
Your bedroom sounds dreamy and full of potential! Thinking of it is making me want to go watch The Holiday. To start, the alcove sounds like a perfect spot for a desk or reading chair. You can mix crown molding with wallpaper, so you don’t have to choose between the two. If you have a wallpaper that you love but don’t want to apply it on all walls, apply it only to the one where the head of your bed sits. This will act as a perfect backdrop to your bed frame. For the rest of the room, choose a color from the wallpaper and use that around the remaining walls of the room. You can even do the walls, door, and trim the same color.
I’m getting LVP flooring for the kitchen and dining room. All the other rooms have the original oak floors. Should I run the new flooring the same direction as the old flooring? Or doesn’t it matter? Also, what colors do you recommend to compliment the oak floors? – Allen D., Waukesha, WI
LVP is an excellent alternative to real wood floors, especially in high traffic areas. Typically, floors should run parallel to the longest wall, which will help make the space appear larger and open. Because of this, you might notice that in many homes the way the flooring runs changes from room to room. Therefore, I recommend running the floors to match the direction of the longest wall in your kitchen and dining room.
For the color, I’d try to match LVP to the oak floors as closely as possible to create a visual continuation in your line of sight.
How do I decorate above a fireplace mantel? – Kelli Z., Belgium, WI
The most popular way to decorate above a fireplace mantel is simply placing a large mirror there. This could be a mantel-specific mirror, which is meant to lean on the mantel and attach to the wall at the top and comes in simple and modern styles. If you fancy traditional decor, opt for a detailed, vintage-style mirror. You can also do a long rectangular mirror or a round one to hang 4 to 5 inches above the mantel.
Alternatively, I love a large piece of art above a mantel. For a landscape orientation piece, hang the art on the wall 4 to 5 inches above the mantel. For portrait orientation pieces, sit them on the mantel while leaning the art against the wall.
Remember: The length of the mirror or art should be around two-thirds the length of the mantel Fill the remaining space with layered coffee table books, tall candlesticks, vases, or planters. If you want to incorporate ambient lighting around the mantel, add sconces on each side.