living room Archives - Emily A. Clark

A Plan in Progress: Our Living Room Refresh

Oct122018

Fall is in the air and it has me itching to make some changes to our living room. I’m starting with throwing out my stained white slipcovers and moving out one of the two matching sofas. I’m also moving in more pattern.

(See something you like? All product images are linked.)

I’m also experimenting with different art above our fireplace. I haven’t decided if the black and white is staying yet. I think I’ll wait and see how I feel once the patterned sofa is in place.

And here’s a quick look at the sofa with a $49 (IKEA) beige slipcover. The other sofa won’t be here for another month. Stay tuned. . .

Slipcovered Sofas: Are They Worth It?

Sep262018

After owning (white) slipcovered sofas for a couple of years now, it seems like a good time to give an update on how they’re working for our family and if the “ease” of washable covers is really worth it.

We have a pair of the IKEA Ektorp sofas in our living room, and I’ll stand by my opinion that for the price and the comfort, they’re a great fit for our not-so-gentle family of seven. But the washable slipcovers? Not so washable, after all.

I started out like every other slipcover owner in America who said “I’ll just throw them in the washer.” Truth be told, there’s no such thing as “just throwing them” anywhere. In a perfect world, I guess you would take them off every month or so. My average, I’m ashamed to admit, is more like once a year. We’re not suppose to, but “we” eat snacks (and ice cream and popcorn and salsa) in front of the TV and I just got tired of worrying about it, which leaves us with less then crisp white couches.

Look closely. Someone–who shall remain nameless–decided to eat chocolate ice cream while paying more attention to a ballgame. . .

While I can take the covers off by myself, the pain of getting them back on the frame is more of a two-man job. They say not to bleach them, but I’ve tried it–along with OxiClean and stain sprays and everything else I’ve read online that’s been recommended. The verdict? The white doesn’t come out white. (This could be due to my once-a-year-washing schedule.) And it’s a lot of trouble, I tell you, to go through the process of washing them and get a dingy result.

So, the alternative is to buy new slipcovers–or a new sofa. . . For our IKEA Ektorp, a new cover is $250. I’m sure it varies but a quick Google search says the average cost to have a sofa cleaned is between $100-$150. Although the “new” doesn’t last extremely long around here (for anything), I still feel like new slipcovers are a good investment for a few years, at least. While I’m speaking from the experience of having white sofas, I think you could get away with keeping the covers even longer if it were a darker color. . .

What’s been your experience with slipcovered furniture?

Do you think it’s worth it?

3 Easy Mantel Decorating Ideas Using Art

Aug72018

I haven’t changed up our mantel in a while and am getting the itch to do a little rearranging. Right now, it’s simple and straightforward, with a pair of ginger jars flanking the DIY art I made. Here’s the way it looks currently, along with two more mantel decorating ideas I like.

See the before/after pics and how I painted the brick white here.

If you struggle with accessorizing, this look is the easiest to accomplish. I’m obviously a fan of blue and white jars (with some beads and a green leaf thrown in), but a pair of topiaries or ceramic birds or vases can work, too. The focus here is more on the art.

photo source: Park and Oak

I’m a fan of the collected look, but the trick is to make it look as effortless as possible. Mix things up by using different frames (hang one, lean some, mix in a canvas, etc.) and keep accessories minimal. I like how they’ve used a couple of substantial pieces on the ends and nothing else. Another tip: If you’re worried about a collection looking too busy, keep the art neutral.

photo source: Emily Henderson

A gallery above the mantel is a great solution if you have higher ceilings and don’t want to invest in one huge piece of art. Etsy is a good source for affordable sets (many that you can even print and frame yourself). To balance out the clean lines of a grid, I’d keep the accessories minimal and asymmetrical using one larger piece on the end.