Interior Design Tip: To Outlet or not to Outlet? /  by Paula

OutletsOn many occasions I have walked into a bedroom with a new lamp in hand only to find the outlet is directly in the center of the wall behind the headboard. How are you supposed to plug things into this outlet? It isn’t an issue if you are Elastigirl and can stretch your arm into that awkward position to get under and over the headboard rail or you can stretch from the side to reach it. If the outlet is centered behind a king-size bed, good luck plugging something in without moving the bed. I often think that the people designing and building houses are only taking into consideration the building code requirements and costs per outlet but not how people actually live in and use the space they are creating. Wouldn't it be nice if outlets were conveniently placed in the spaces you want to access them? In most cases, this is a simple and inexpensive project that could help improve your quality of life in the spaces you are in the most.

 

When deciding the locations of your outlets here are a few suggestions:

  1. For outlets by your bed (whether a twin or a king), decide where the bed will be placed in the room. Will it have nightstands? What size will they be? Place the outlets behind the nightstand about 2/3 of the nightstand width from the bed edge for easy access to plug in lamps, clocks and whatever else you need to plug in.
  2. For outlets at your media center, there are several things you should ask yourself:
    • Is the TV sitting on a shelf or the top of the media center? If yes, then you should place an outlet to the outside edge of both sides of the media center so it will be easy for you to plug and unplug all of the equipment pieces that often go with a TV without having to move the media cabinet. If you have the luxury to do so, pre-plan the placement of all of the equipment first and place the outlets according to your needs. You can never have too many plugs in this area. As a general rule, figure out how many outlets you need, then add a couple more for future equipment. It is always better to have 10 wall outlets than to have two outlets and multiple power strips.
    • Is the TV hanging on the wall? If yes, then you should place the outlet high on the wall behind the TV's location but slightly off center so it doesn't interfere with the mounting bracket. You should also plan for a hole/channel in your wall to run other wires from the TV to the media cabinet below. It is rarely acceptable to have an exposed cord going to your TV .
  3. For living space outlets  in new construction, pre-plan your furniture arrangement to the best of your ability and place floor outlets at hidden, but easily accessible locations. You will not want the recessed floor outlet for your side table lamp to show a lump in your rug and give away its location. Cut a hole in your rug if necessary to give it a direct and hidden path to the outlet. Afraid to do this yourself? There are carpet repair places that would be happy to come out and help you with this sometimes difficult task.
  4. Outlet blog Wire channelFor floor outlets in an existing living space, putting an outlet in the slab is not so easy. Just as with new construction, you need a plan for your furniture placement, then place the outlets to each side of the sofa for easy access to lamps on end tables. If your furniture is in the middle of the room, use wire/cable cover that runs along the baseboard until you can turn a 90 degree angle and head under a rug. Tape the wire down to the floor to keep it in place and find a floor wire cover that is close to the color of your tile/hardwood so it will virtually disappear.
  5. Another space that can never have too many outlets is the workbench in your Garage. (Notice a trend with the typical man areas?) Know your equipment - does it require a 110 or 220 volt outlet? What are you planning to do in each area and space? Also, don’t forget your car washing areas. Have an outlet near the garage door so your vacuum will be able to reach without any issue.

You don't have to live with the meager selection of outlets that came with your house. They're inexpensive and easy to install, even in a home that's already built. Stop dealing with the hard-to-reach plugs and the tangle of wires and power strips - make your outlets work for you.

Click Here to See other Blog Posts by Paula Ables Interiors

 

Interior Design Tip: Need an attitude adjustment? Change the color of your room! /  by Paula

Need an attitude adjustment? Change the color of your room!

Rumor has it, color change causes mood change.  How can this be you might ask?  Here are a few examples:

Don't take that tone with me!

  1. Some fast food restaurants choose the color orange for an accent or prominent color because it makes you think “Inexpensive” and gets you in and out of the restaurant quickly.
  2. Hospitals use soothing tones of blue and green to help promote relaxation by making you think of nature and being outside.
  3. Many bars and nightclubs will combine yellows and reds to make you feel happy and full of energy.

 

Yes, these are all examples in Commercial spaces.  This same line of thinking can be applied when selecting a color for your home as well.

We all know whites are crisp and clean and if you are not careful can go institutional in the

blink of an eye. Neutrals such as taupe and tan are great for staple colors in hallways and secondary rooms.  They help to tie your rooms together as a cohesive unit.  But how many times have you walked into a home that felt like it was a “Tribute to Tan”?  Let’s add some color to your room to see if we can liven things up.

 

We will start with primary colors:

Blue:  Light blues are relaxing, calming and soothing.  The color makes you think of water and a beautiful clear sky. In your home it is a great color to use in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Yellow: The color of sunshine.  Whether you are using a soft subtle or a bright in your face tone, yellow makes you happy. In your home it is a great color to use in breakfast rooms and play rooms.  It wakes you up and gets you ready for the day.

Red:  Want to feel excited and energized?  Red is your color!  Red is great for Game rooms and playrooms where high energy games and brain stimulating activities are a guarantee.  Other great areas to use red for a pop of color are Foyer’s, Living and Dining rooms. Whether used as a whole room or an accent wall red will stimulate your heart. (Best to avoid bedrooms and bathrooms as some tones do cause agitation and could undermine the serenity you often seek in these rooms.)

 

Next we will talk about the secondary colors:

Purple:  What a history this color has…purple has always been associated with royalty and luxury.  It is wonderful when used as an accent in paint or fabric.  When using the lighter tones, purple can give the same feelings of relaxation and serenity as a light blue.  As the darker tones have more of a flair for the dramatic, when I think purple, I think VELVET; Soft, luxurious and a wow factor in any room.

Orange:  I mentioned above that orange in a restaurant setting is supposed to make you think inexpensive.  It also has other great emotional effects.  Like red, various tones of Orange are energizing and exciting.  It is great when used in an exercise room and breakfast room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green:  When I think of Zen and peace, I think of green.  It is a wonderful mix of the serenity of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow.  What more could you ask for in this world?  Green is great in any room of the house.  It provides interest and energy, yet comfort and relaxation.  Rumor has it that green also helps with fertility…an interesting thought. (I would have said red)

 

 

Now, go forth and paint or accessorize accordingly!  Love the spaces you are in.  The cheapest change you can make in your home is painting an accent wall.  I promise once it is done you will wonder why you waited so long to do it.

 

  Click Here to See other Blog Posts by Paula Ables Interiors