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Super-Sized Homes Present Extra Decorating
Challenges Along With Extra Space
More is definitely more when it comes to the interior dream-scape of
today's American home. In the past 30 years, home size in the U.S. has
increased by 50 percent. Even disregarding the mega-houses and
McMansions of business moguls - where measurements frequently surpass
the 25,000-square-foot mark - American homes are bigger than ever
before. In the year 2000, the average home in the U.S. boasted 2,265
square feet of living space, compared to a 1,500-square-foot average in
1970, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
The trend toward larger homes is expected to continue in the next 10
years, industry leaders predict, with an emphasis on extra amenities,
especially the high-tech variety. Popular luxury features include bonus or
specialty rooms like home theaters and family computer centers as well as
large-scale design elements such as high ceilings and generously
proportioned rooms.
"Americans have always valued wide open spaces, so it's no surprise
that commodious homes are increasingly popular," notes Mike Short, design
director for Sauder Woodworking. "These spacious settings provide families
with ample room for varied hobbies and interests, generous space for
home-based businesses, and gracious backdrops for family and business
entertaining."
Today's bigger-than-ever-before homes present their own decorating
challenges, however. What kinds of furnishings pack the most punch in
today's mega-scaled interiors? And how can a family create warmth and
intimacy in a super-sized environment?
The wide variety of well-proportioned, stylish furnishings available today
provides a host of solutions to these welcome modern dilemmas. Short and
his staff suggest several tips for making the most of spacious
surroundings.
- "Select furnishings with a sense of heft and weight," says Short. Sauder's
Timber Inn Collection, for example, can hold its own in the largest of
rooms, thanks to generous proportions and enduring traditional styling.
Sturdy bookcases, hard-working entertainment centers and roomy computer
desks add substance and solidity without bulkiness. Commanding details
such as raised panel doors and a robust oak finish with open end grain
contribute to the dynamic, take-charge styling that works so well in
today's wide open interiors.
Sauder's Sierra Collection
- Look for generously sized furnishings that won't be dwarfed by the room's
dimensions, Short advises. A large-scale entertainment wall in Sauder's
Sierra Collection, for instance, can expand to hold today's increasingly
popular 36 to 50 1/2-inch large screen TVs. With its bold contemporary
lines and free-flowing, hardware-free design, this stately unit can
instantly create a handsome, king-sized home theater for today's amply
proportioned homefront.
- "Choose accessories that have scale and substance, too," Short says. For
example, hand-woven rugs and other large-scale textiles make ideal wall
hangings because their rich textures and patterns are bold enough to
command attention in a large setting. A prominent display of similar
objects, such as an open shelf arrangement of colorful retro ashtrays or a
line-up of black and white photos in identical frames, also makes a
dramatic statement on a wide expanse of wall.
Sauder's Cottage Home Collection
- Create settings within settings for a thoughtful division of space and a
sense of intimacy, the designer advises. Groupings of furniture can
fashion a variety of specialized arenas, from cozy conversation/relaxation
areas to complete home theaters to fully outfitted homework and at-home
business centers. In one segment of a large room, for example, an easy
chair plus bookcases can produce a graceful reading nook. In another
section of the same room, a computer desk, hutch and entertainment center
from Sauder's Cottage Home Collection can be grouped to create a handsome
high-tech oasis for work and leisure alike. The generous storage
capabilities, solid country good looks and rustic, knotty pine finish of
these pieces add substance and style to any setting.
- Put color and lighting to work, the designer advises. Neutral colors
emphasize space and enhance a room's open, expansive feeling while warmer
colors can be used to delineate individual gathering spots for social and
private times alike. Lighting can also create distinct areas within a
large space. For example, track lighting, hidden spotlights and individual
lamps can subtly define special areas, from a calm, focused work center to
a bright, lively family gathering spot.
Grand as they are, today's mega-homes need not be intimidating. With a
careful selection of furnishings and decorating techniques, these spacious
abodes can fulfill their almost unlimited people-pleasing potential.
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