ASK DEB NELSON: HOW TO DECORATE A MANTEL

A fireplace is often the focal point of a living room. I'm frequently asked about how to decorate the mantel. It usually requires one larger item, like artwork or a mirror to ground the whole area. Then from there it's all about experimenting with different heights and objects to get the right balanced look. Some mantels are more layered with items, while others are a bit more sparse. I always suggest checking some decor magazines, or looking online, for some inspiration of mantels you like and then try to recreate the look at your own house. Here is another of mine with a black mirror and some simple vases of shells and antique books.

This mantel from House Beautiful has always caught my eye, it's simple yet pretty and colourful. Also interesting to see a round mirror.

Another simple mantel from Elle Decor that looks great. This kind of looks like a chalkboard to me above the mantel but it may be art.

A more layered approach with a few pieces of art.

ASK DEB NELSON: FURNITURE WITH SLIPCOVERS

Often people ask me about the best style or colour of furniture for their home. It can be different in every situation, but as many people know, I'm a big fan of slipcovered furniture. I have a sofa, (that you can see above in a white slipcover), but I have several other covers to completely change the look of the piece. I have different colours, fabrics and styles – so depending on the time of year or look I want, I just change the slipcover. I really like slipcovers for a couple of reasons; first they offer you tons of versatility – you don't have to buy a new sofa when you want a completely different look. Also they are really easy to clean, when people say they can't have white furniture, a machine washable white slipcover can really open up a lot of options. You don't have these cleaning choices with an upholstered piece of furniture. If you're looking for a sofa, consider something that is slipcovered if you want something to change up from time to time.

People also ask where to get slipcovers and there are two options. You can buy a sofa that comes with a fitted cover and perhaps buy a cover in more than one fabric or colour, like the Ikea option below. The other option is to buy a sofa that has loose cushions (ie. removable) so you could have a slipcover made for the sofa and all the cushions. This is a more expensive option, you need to buy the slipcover fabric and find an expert to do the work.

Here are a few sofas options.

1.  The Geoffrey from Montauk sofa, these are beautiful, custom made, down filled sofas. They will make the slipcover and you have tons of fabric options.

2.  An Ektorp sofa from Ikea. This is very affordable, so you could consider buying a couple of covers in different colours.

3.  An option for a small sofa from Bouclair for less than $1000

ASK DEB NELSON: TV SOLUTION FOR FAMILY ROOM

In my column, Ask Deb Nelson, a reader wrote in asking about where to place a TV in her open kitchen/family room – she didn't want to put it above her fireplace mantel. Obviously people need to go with a TV solution that works for them – it's a common question – where to put the TV?! But the reality is, for people with kids and an open concept family room, there is probably going to be a large TV in the room. At least the size of TV's has improved, these days most people have a thin plasma screen TV, so it can easily be wall mounted. One way to deal with the TV is to just put it out there on a stylish console (above image shows one from Westelm). I like the style of this console and depending on the room layout it would add some balance and symmetry to have two matching consoles on either side of the fireplace. The TV can be placed on the console and you can add a stack of books, or a few other items beside the TV. On the other side you could have a lamp and artwork behind it to balance out the room. The great thing about a closed door cabinet like this is that is also provides you with quite a bit of storage. It also is made for TV equipment, so the components can go inside and there are holes in the back for the wires. This can help cut down on the unsightly mass of cords.

Here are a few other ideas of great consoles for a TV. From Westelm:

From Restoration Hardware:

From Ikea:

From Westelm:

ASK DEB NELSON: DINING ROOM

In my newspaper column, Ask Deb Nelson, I was recently asked about how to create a casual, light and airy dining room. The reader wanted to have a room that could be used for entertaining or where kids could spread out with their homework. I found the image above as 'inspiration'. You can pretty easily replicate a room like this with a few items. This room has beautiful architectural details, but even without 10' ceilings, you can paint any room in a nice warm white colour. You could also add crown moulding, wainscoting or even a non-functioning fireplace with an old mantel.

Unfinished wooden tables are still quite trendy and easy to find, something like this would be a great addition to the room. 

A couple of glass pendant lights above the table add some sparkle but keep the sight line open. They naturally provide a light and airy feel.

A slipcovered white chair looks great, and as long as it's a machine washable cover, it can be functional for a dining room.

Dining room ideas

In my newspaper column, 'Ask Deb Nelson', I had a question about how to add more colour to a dining room. The homeowner had an oak pedestal table they were planning on painting white. I found the image above as 'inspiration' for the room. I thought the addition of a modern, graphic wallpaper would look be a great backdrop to the room. I suggested this paper in green, because I thought it looked so fresh with the white, but any colour paper would work to add a burst of pattern. I also suggested these chairs in white, they are affordable and can be easily wiped clean in case of spills. I also like these chairs because they can be stacked, so it's easy to store a couple of extras elsewhere and bring them out for additional seating as needed. A large piece of artwork or a mirror can be a great way to add a focal point on one wall. And last but not least, the addition of a drum shade chandelier really works well above the round table.