Keeping Room Interior Design: Making It Cozy

Now this may be a space unique to the South but I’ve found that across the country today many kitchens have nooks or mini-great rooms attached, this is a keeping room. It’s for keeping friends over coffee, keeping your kids doing homework, keeping you sane on a busy day when you can snag a few free moments, and for keeping you and your mate when the kids are grown and gone. Typically your keeping room will be open to the kitchen and include seating for four or more. But that’s just the basics, what you really want to know is how make it cozy, let’s dive in. (Television is optional in a keeping room as you likely have a big screen in your great room.)

Comfortable and Flexible Seating
This is all about soft and slouchy, curl up with a book (or kindle), type of seating. Skip the stiff and formal. You also want to look at having ottomans that also serve as storage. Keeping rooms rarely have enough storage so staying flexible helps.

Tables that Multitask
A table with a drawer and or shelf takes on a whole new dimension of usefulness than one without. In addition, you want to mix up your tables including wood, glass top on wrought iron, metal, tile top. Keeping rooms are all about being collecting in look and feel.

Accents that Add Character
Your keeping room is all about being personal, include family photos, mementos from your children, a favorite collection. Keep it relaxed, fun and ever changing. Life is always growing and so are we, your interiors are a reflection of this, never static, continually evolving.

Pillows for Personality
Dress up your upholstery with a cadre of pillows. These can be family made, needlepoint, quilted, or picked up at your local big box retailer or design boutique. Nothing too precious or you will hesitate before sitting down.

Lamps to Draw You In
Lamps are to people what flames are to moths, you are drawn to the pool of light far more than to a big overhead or that glare on your ceiling fan.  So be sure you dress up your keeping room with a lamp on each table. Lamps only match when tables match and you want a formal symmetry, otherwise keep it eclectic.

So much more can be shared about keeping room design, and I know you’ll want more tips so head on over to www.209homeimprovementtips.com .