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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.
Expert Tips for Coastal Flooring, Preserving Antiques, and Maximizing Small Spaces
Our in-house design expert Jaclyn Bohn answers readers’ top design questions to help them transform their spaces.
Hi, I live in a 1,034 square foot condo/cooperative. I’m forever trying to figure out space utilization. Our living space is an open kitchen, dining, and living room area, with the living room area about 13×13. There is a small fireplace in the corner leaving 6 feet of wall space. The rest of the area is either windows, the sliding glass door to the deck, or is paralleled by the kitchen island. I’d appreciate any tips for furnishing and arrangement. Of course, my husband’s recliner has to stay. Thank you. – Cathy, Duluth, MN
Hi Cathy! Thank you so much for your question—and for sending photos and extra details! (For anyone else looking to submit, feel free to email us at designtips@thisoldhouse.com.)
Since you mentioned that you like having a sleeper sofa for guests and that your husband’s recliner is a must, I’d suggest swapping your current sofa for a sleeper sofa with a chaise. Position the long side of the sofa parallel to the sliding door to the deck, with the chaise extending toward the window that overlooks the lake. I recommend mounting the TV above the fireplace and placing the recliner where your current sofa and the speaker/TV stand nearly meet. Then, add a coffee table to anchor the center of the seating area. Upsize your area rug so that at least the front feet of all seating pieces rest on it. This arrangement will maximize your space and ensure that every seat in the room has a clear view of both the lake and the TV.
We built our 4,600 sq. ft. home in 2003. Entering from the front door, it looks like a bowling alley with 20-ft ceilings. My furniture has adopted the same placement: on the side and facing inwards. I need guidance… – Deanna, Greenfield, IN
Hi Deanna! I can completely envision what it’s like entering your home—especially since I’m so familiar with houses built in the late ’90s and early 2000s. A long entryway with 20-foot ceilings can definitely feel like a bowling alley if it’s not thoughtfully furnished! My own home, built in 1997, has a very similar layout with a long entry and tall ceilings. I initially struggled to make sense of the space but eventually found success by breaking it into distinct zones.
Start by adding a large area rug near the front door to help define the first zone. Pair it with a bench or chair and a basket for shoes to create a true “entry area.” You could also include a console table and a mirror here to complete the look. Then, in the next section of the hallway, create a small sitting area—two chairs and a cocktail table work well. Add large artwork or a sculptural wall piece to signal that you’ve moved into a new part of the space. If you’d rather skip anchoring everything to a wall, consider a round entry table centered in this second area. Style it with a large vase, coffee table books, and tuck a pair of ottomans or stools underneath to add dimension. This is a great example of using floating furniture instead of everything being wall-bound. Lastly, if you’re open to a little electrical work, adding sconces can help warm up the space and create intentional focal points throughout.
Could you name anything used on antique furniture to protect it from cold or warm months? – Mary, Conway, NH
Hi Mary! This is a great question—protecting furniture is always important, but especially so with antique pieces. After all, they’ve already made it this far, and it’s up to us to help preserve them for years to come.
When it comes to humidity control, wood can shrink, crack, or split in the winter, and swell or warp in the summer. To help maintain stable conditions, consider using a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep year-round humidity consistent. For enclosed spaces like cabinets or drawers, moisture absorbers can be helpful. Applying a furniture wax is another smart step. It helps seal the wood surface and slows down the exchange of moisture. In addition, keep antique furniture out of direct sunlight (which can bleach and crack the wood), a few inches away from exterior walls or radiators, and out of direct airflow from HVAC vents or fireplaces—basically, anything that would create abrupt temperature or humidity changes.
I’d like to replace carpeting in my master bedroom and guest bedrooms, both rather large. The carpeting is 20 yrs old. What flooring is best for FL Oceanside living? The rest of the condo flooring is large porcelains tile – Randi, Hallandale, FL
Hi Randy! It must be gorgeous living along the ocean in Florida! I’m personally not a fan of wall-to-wall carpeting in bedrooms, so I fully support your idea of switching to hard flooring. In your case, you’ll want something that can handle humidity, moisture, and salt air—while still feeling cool and comfortable underfoot. Porcelain tile is always a safe, durable choice, even if it’s different from what you have in the rest of your condo. You can easily warm it up in the bedrooms with area rugs. Another great option is slate stone, which offers a beautiful natural look. That said, one of my favorite solutions for oceanfront homes is a high-quality, marine-grade or rigid core luxury vinyl plank (LVP) with a wood-look finish. It’s durable, moisture-resistant, and gives bedrooms a warmer, more inviting vibe than tile or stone. Even with LVP, I’d still recommend adding an area rug under each bed—placed so that it extends just past the nightstands. That way, there’s a cozy, soft spot underfoot when you get out of bed in the morning.
