Think Outside The Box With Your Lakewood Home

The way we decorate our dwelling has changed over the years. We used to think of our homes as our worth and although that value may still hold true for some, style, function and personal identity play an important role as well. I think we’d all agree that Lakewood is like no other place in the Cleveland area. Same goes for the people here. It’s the perfect place to express your personal identity.

Take a minute to think about your Lakewood identity. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t appreciate diversity, older homes, city living and the lake. Making it the perfect place to  experiment with your personal decorating  expression and think outside the box Here are some tips to help get you started:

1. Start with a few magazines for ideas. My favorites are House Beautiful, Veranda and Elle Décor. They offer all kinds of wonderful ideas for period homes as well as eclectic style. Photo copy the pages and create a design journal you can reference.  Lakewood library carries all of these.

2. Gather color chips. I recommend Sherwin Williams. They are a local company and they offer the latest trend setting colors in the industry and they now offer sample sizes of paint. Color is an important factors in design and decorating. Experiment. Try green and a shade of orange. Better yet, paint a wall or room your favorite color!

3. Try something new. Perhaps you’ve never worked with wallpaper. They don’t necessarily have to overpower the room. Grasscloth or textures are a striking option.

4. Design is everywhere. It’s fashion, the landscape, the seascape, the things you love.  Learn to glean ideas from everything you  see.

5. Mix it up. Lakewood has some of the best vintage and second hand  furniture stores in the area. Add something completely different to your décor like a chair, table, vase or lamp in a different style. You’ll be amazed at how it adds a fresh perspective to your existing arrangement.

6. Bring nature inside. Take a walk through the Metroparks. You’ll be surprised at what you can find. Driftwood, dried grass,  wild flowers , weeds… yes weeds. Some  weeds have striking blooms and can make interesting arrangements when combined with other elements of nature. Sea glass and stones. Add them to a bowl and place a candle in the center or put them in the bottom of a glass vessel with some of those weeds or flowers. If you can’t find some of these things outside, take a drive over to Pat Catan’s or a local flower shop.

7. Whitewash– Watered down white or cream paint. Wash it over an armless old chair for a place to set books and create an interesting end table. You can probably find the chair in one of the second hand stores for next to nothing.

8. Everything doesn’t have to match. As a matter of  good design, it shouldn’t. Objects of varying pattern, color, texture and size add interest and encourages the eye to look throughout the room.

9. Sheers. Inside and Out. They make everything look and feel elegant, tropical and breezy. A fresh idea for summer décor.

Most importantly, be open minded and confident in your choices. Sure, plenty of you are thinking you like your period look or traditional decor. That’s OK! But remember, this is Lakewood where it’s OK to think outside the box too!

Robby Zettler is a Home Design Consultant and Professional Real Estate Stager.