I clean houses for a living and am constantly seeing how fixtures or materials do not hold their beauty. Marble countertops for sure get pock marks-doesnt matter if they are sealed. I would also add mirror switchplates (they always look like you have pudding on your hands), glass light fixtures that are open…they get dust on the inside and outside and you keep wiping and dusting and just streaking them. Also-unupopular opinion- glass shower doors if they overlap. Impossible to get that middle section and it ll grow mold on the bottom..chrome cabinet pulls- always have spotty hand marks
Chelsea, do you use gloves when you clean? Specifically in the bathroom. I’m needing gloves I can clean my mom’s commode and bathroom with that don’t stick to the commode nor trash bin plastic liners. Thanks.
As a geologist, I can’t ever recommend marble, limestone or travertine countertops. These rocks aren’t much harder (scratch resistant) than our own fingernails and the mineral they are comprised of, calcite, is highly reactive and stains/etches easily. They just won’t look good for very long. Instead get a hard (silica-based) rock like granite or quartzite, NOT that material marketed as “Quartz”, which is made of sand (which is mostly the mineral quartz, hence the name) in a plastic “resin”. The lower-priced ones, especially, have very high plastic content, so have all the disadvantages of other plastic countertops. There are many natural silica-rich rocks that have a beautiful texture similar to marble, but not the unsuitable calcite composition. The salesperson likely won’t know which is which, but the manufacturer (quarrying company) will. A possible alternative for those who really want the marble look is the new, marble-look sheet porcelain products. I might do my shower surround with that. All those marble-protect products, “systems”, etc. are just plastic coatings, I don’t think they can be very good, and will themselves scratch and melt.
I sell vintage furniture for a living specifically marble pieces. The problem with sealer is that most are acrylic based but there are water based ones and should be resealed every year since they’re soft stones. With maintenance, it looks great and I think the finish is more timeless compared to granite and quartzite. That’s just a personal opinion though! It just depends on the persons budget and willingness to maintain
I was using some travertine look as the tile in a shower. The stone guy (countertops were granite) kept looking back and forth, and at the back of the tile to see that - yes, it's porcelain. He was very impressed with the looks. It looked just like travertine.
Wow, that's incredibly valuable information! Thanks so much for sharing! I doubt I would have learned any of this from local sellers. Do you have any opinions on soapstone or concrete?
100% agree with the cloud sofa. We had a down/feather filled sofa years ago. Paid a boatload of money for it. After 2 years, my evening routine was to rhythmically "fluff" (aka "punch") the sofa while chanting, "I hate this couch! I hate this couch!" Never again...
I have the harmony sofa from west elm! While I stopped using some of the done pillows I LOVE how it had foam cushions for the bottom cushions and down for the back cushions so i barely have to fluff and it’s still just as comfy as the cloud couch
@@snnease I ordered harmony sofa too, but it hasn't arrived yet. This video made me worried coz I remember it has down pillows. Thanks for the comment.
I grew up in the 80s and our couches was this foam mattress with foam wedges that sat on a wooden stoage box....all had these burlap 'fitted sheets' that we had to make after sitting. Was not only a pain in the ass...it was hideous, even for the time.
If you cant spend the money to get the right rug, skip it. Also, TY for acknowledging disabilities- you are 100% correct. This is why I watch you, you really do think about these things.
Omg yes! I work in home support, mostly for the elderly, and many are opposed to any change in their decor. But here’s a list of things that are often problematic: low sitting places, like the couch, but also chairs and the toilet. And it’s even worse when your chair swings and spins. Too high or too low beds. My own parents are guilty of this, they have a bed with two rows of drawers + a high mattress and they have to jump to get in bed. Carpets in general, but especially the ones that move easily or are thick or curving around the edges. Stuff lying around on the floor. At this time of the year, christmas decorations on handrails. Thanks for making the future generation of elderly think about the ergonomics Nick!
Thank you once again,Nick. Yes, please do a part two. About rugs in high traffic area, I have painted my previous old, scarred wood kitchen floor in a diamond pattern. Ten years later, it was one of the features that sold the home. I also painted area rugs in the entry area, bathrooms and laundry. All were sealed with polyurethane. Downside is cannot easily change print, but if it is classic and in a favorite color combo, there is no need to. In later years, we lived in a historic home. All floors were painted around the edges of where the area rugs would be. It saved money for paint in the middle of the floor, which was never seen!
Finally an interior designer who doesn't tell you that you need a rug under the dining table to tie everything together or anchor it. Also, if you have a dust allergy I would add ANY rug that's not machine washable to the list. Something else that I find beautiful but impractical are chairs or sofas with low backs. Yes, they look gorgeous, but how are you supposed to lean back and relax when they only support half of your back? Maybe it's just me, but it takes me about five minutes until my back starts hurting.
Agreed, IMO rugs are just one solution to that, picking a table with the right base/legs in a contrasting color to achieve that is ideal, with a rug being the secondary option when that's not possible
I have to have a rug under the table bc the chairs will scratch the expensive wood floors- protectors/felt bottoms stuck to the bottom of chair legs do not work. The peel off, and people drag the chair out from under the table to sit and therefore scratch the floor. I dont think I would ever have wood floors again- Love them-hate them.
I searched for a sofa with a back high enough to rest my head against and in the end realised that, around here anyway, the only options for higher backs were leather sofas. I have no idea what the thinking was on not providing fabric sofas with higher backs.
In the 70s when we had several rooms of wall-to-wall shag carpet, we had a rug rake, a tool specifically made to perk up the messy flattened shag every few days. Really. We vacuumed AND raked. Keeping it clean was impossible. Dropping an earring was a project. You can imagine my lifelong aversion to shag.
I moved into an apartment about 20 years ago that still had the gold shag carpet. It was disgusting. I didn't know whether I should vacuum it or bale it Who ever thought that shag carpet was a good idea?
Shag carpet always looks dirty. I remember the rug rakes,we had shag carpet in one of the homes in lived in as a child. It looked like Oscar the Grouch.
As a teen, I worked in housekeeping at a hotel. After vacuuming, we would "rake" the shag pile as we backed out of the room! It still makes me chuckle! :D
As a designer, function absolutely always must come before form. Decorative items in the kitchen should be minimal-if they are needed at all. A red kettle on the stove top, because you like the color red is always a bad choice if you never, ever use a kettle. It will just sit there and get nasty. If you NEED a kettle, going out of your way to get a red one because it will look better sitting out makes sense.
I just had pretty much this exact conversation in my head this week. “I need to wash my teakettle.” “Why do I keep it on the stove year-round anyway when I only use it a few times in the winter?” I feel like I begin cooking every meal by moving the teakettle!
The first thing that came to mind for me was open kitchen shelving. I can see maybe having a couple shelves for your feature items that you want to curate and display, but not a complete lack of upper cabinets and every single last cup, plate and bowl out on display. So messy in real life!
OMG you are bang on! We redid our kitchen last year, and I have exactly 4 feet of open shelving for the sole purpose of showing off handmade serving bowls and platters that we use almost every day. I had open shelving in an apartment that was nothing but a dust magnet.
I couldn’t agree more! Unless you’re dusting everyday, it’s impossible to keep them clean! Maybe if you live in a really cold place where there is absolutely no dirt (like the South Pole). For me it’s so unhygienic for items that you use for eating/drinking.
Yes, exactly. I don't want to have to rinse off everything first before I use it. I'll feel like I live in filth, which seems like it'd really drag down a person's mental health situation.
ESPECIALLY if you have pets. The fur gets everywhere no matter how often you sweep/vacuum/dust. Unless you want to be washing your dishes BEFORE you use them as well as after, just no.
For the kitchen, I understand, but for the pantry, organized open shelving is a must for me. Being able to see at a glance everything you have makes shopping and finding ingredients makes cooking so much easier. I can also see having an open bookshelf that has cookbooks and tools that you reach for frequently
My biggest pet peeve in social media pics is not furniture exactly, but rather potted plants or vases with cut flowers ON TOP of books. It’s so likely you’ll ruin the books while watering your potted plants or when you put fresh water in your vase. Don’t do that, don’t do that to books 😭 (full disclosure, I am a former bookseller; but I also love and grow quite a few house plants)
The most impractical decor for me are empty vases or bowls on the shelves, consoles and coffee tables. They’re so trendy right now and it always irks me. Like what are they supposed to do? Collect dust? I stand by choosing items that are both decorative and functional otherwise they won’t have a place in my home.
@@bellaluna9572 oh I love them, too! I appreciate the artistry as they add character to a space. Some of them I use as pots for plants, container for drying flowers or eucalyptus or somewhere to put my random items that will otherwise clutter my counter. If I am ever gifted a ceramic decor doesn’t have any other function aside from being a display, I would probably have to put it in an enclosed glass shelf so it doesn’t get too much dust and keep it safe from my cats. Lol. I truly don’t have anything against people using them solely to fill a space. I’m just not a huge fan of them as they do not fit my chosen lifestyle.
My number one pet peeve regarding impractical furniture has to be glossy, high shine kitchen cabinets, especially in combination with a push-to-open mechanic. Fingerprints... fingerprints... everywhere! Also something I will never do again is dark (in our case black) counter tops in an area with very hard tap water. Every single droplet will become visible if you leave it to dry on your surfaces.
I just finished having my kitchen remodeled and went with high gloss cabinets and black countertop. However, I wanted to avoid the fingerprints and opted for a knob and soft close doors/ drawers and that really makes all the difference. As for the countertop, no issues yet. But I feel that's because I constantly wipe it down through the day. What i can't stand is the hard water stains on a stainless steel sink!! 😡
Our well water has iron in it. Best accidental decision I ever made was to tile the shower in orange mosaic glass tile. You can’t see the orange-y stain the water eventually leaves on other surfaces in the house.
I have high gloss with seem pulls. I don’t have an issue with fingerprints but they are high gloss Italian walnut and high gloss smoked oak. So the grain does hide a multitude of sins.
The thing I've never understood, and haven't seen talked about in videos like this, is porous and/or textured kitchen backsplashes, like those rough stacked stones that were so popular several years back. I have enough trouble keeping my backspash clean and I intentionally chose smooth glass subway tiles for that reason (I also think they're beautiful).
Yes! I saw another youtuber's redesign of their kitchen and it had a fluted backsplash... it was pretty but I was just thinking THAT is soooo impractical!
This is 100% real talk! My 69 year old mother and I tried out the RH Cloud Sofa and while I thought it was heavenly, my mom was sinking into it and could not, for what seemed like an eternity while we died laughing and got evil eyes from the salespersons, get out of it. For something that pricey they should install a lift button for the elderly and disabled! I still dream about that sofa though!☁️
Low sofas and chairs are also terrible if you're wearing a skirt: either you perch uncomfortably on the edge, or you flash everyone. (For some sofas you can buy replacement legs, and this is a great way to elevate them for the sake of guests -- and roombas!)
@@nelliebly6616 But who wants their furniture right on the floor. Then at best you should technically clean the sides of it more which I think is more work
Yay, someone FINALLY pointed out the problems with low furniture. My MIL had severe RA, and could NOT sit on anything where her knees were above her hips.. it was just too painful for her to get up out of the seat. My hubby and I have always been mindful of this, as RA runs in the family. I have long legs, and I hate getting up off a sofa or chair where my knees are above my hips.
Completely agree, but it’s a fallacy that the problem is just getting up from these low furniture pieces. Sitting on them is really bad for your posture and overall spine health….it is imperative that you sit with your knees and hips at right 90 degree angle, so unless you only use your sofa to lie down, yOu are screwing with your joint health. At any age…
@@anamazing2297 My DIL and MIL are/were both just at or under 5 foot. I'm only 5'3". All three of us have have had the experience of being swallowed by deep sofas. One feels like a child when the seat depth is longer than the upper leg length!
Nick, I 2nd the low furniture. We bought an absolutely beautiful sectional 20 yrs. ago, We are now 57 and both the youngest in our families. Untanned leather, (softest you've ever felt ), Goose down filled seating and backing, Removable to fluff, etc.... And now Nobody can get in or out of it because it's Low. I'd keep if we could, but your RIGHT, unkind for older guests. Out with the old, in with the new. Please folks, truly consider this when buying a statement piece. They aren't cheap, and if you you want to be considerate of your guests..... Just Sayin'. Thanks Nick, For all the great tips!
The other problem with rugs under dining tables is that, if you’re like me, you might frequently be moving that table about, adding leaves or aligning another small table alongside (and covering it all with a big tablecloth) to create seating for holidays and other gatherings. The rug is then the wrong size for that extended table. It just makes the whole thing look odd, highlighting that you’ve shoehorned extra people in where you’d almost rather not have them.
We use rugs in the kitchen and under the table but we had to decide to consider them as totally disposable. Nothing over $100, and frequently much cheaper than that. I once fell in love with a true antique rug and almost got it for my kitchen and hesitated. No, just no. Unless you’re ready to see a jar of spaghetti sauce break on that rug, it’s too costly/precious for that location. Same goes for the bathroom. And the Golden Rule in our experience is that cats love to barf on the most expensive surface in the house.
The other issue is that it's really difficult to push your chair back to get up from the table. What if the legs stick in the rug and Grandpa goes over backwards? I think it's a safety hazard.
The weird thing about the cloud sofa is that its usually styled in very modern spaces, undoubtedly because of its shape/lines, but because of the down and linen I think it'd look much better in a more rustic space where the wrinkling becomes more of an aesthetic choice. My sofa is a similar down+linen and I'll fluff it just once a week, or if company is coming over, but that's my space. Echoing Nick, I'd advise a stiffer poly fill and thicker blended fabric for anyone looking for a cleaner look.
I like rustic and even shabby chic, but i owned a down feather pillow and the fact you have to wrestle with it for 4 minutes for it to be just slightly above average in terms of comfort.. pisses me off. And that was one pillow, imagine doing that to a whole couch constantly
@@thedistinguished5255 as far as comfort goes, down back cushions basically require additional throw pillows in my opinion (contrary to what catalog and instagram pics would have you believe), I also plan on replacing the foam core in my bench cushion one day for something more substantial in the future for a little more consistent support, its definitely an aesthetic over functional choice overall
I deal with environmental allergies, so anything that can't be cleaned with water, vinegar, microfibre cloths or a quick steam is off my decorating list. And the net result of that is my home is much easier to maintain, in a lot of ways. Lately I've added more textures and I've noticed the maintenance creep up.
My #1 practicality complaint: Not giving enough space to use your storage. Especially if it's something you access daily -- remote controls in drawers, throws in baskets, cupboards in general, etc. If you bump into stuff or have to move one thing to access another, your storage "solution" is just not going to get used as intended. (And good luck keeping things tidy.)
Definitely need a part two! Also, I just remembered another thing I wish was over! Decorating with books by colour and most especially displaying them backwards!! WTF?!
Or making faux books for decoration? Please, explain this to me. Have we really moved that far into utter uselessness? I have lots of books. They may look great but really they are read and used. They are arranged by category not color or design.
I'm with you, but I'm a book nerd with her own way of cataloging my book collection. I don't want to tell someone else how to decorate their own space.
@@ScientificallyStupid I think aesthetically, I'd LOVE to do it by color (and shape), but I'm really OCD and having books of totally different topics right next to each other would drive me bananas.
Add to the list: (1) open shelving in the kitchen with all your crockery on display. An impossible cleaning task unless you have a full-time maid. (2) Flokati rugs. They shed wool big time and just increase your vacuuming time. (3) stand alone baths. How do you get in and out of them? How do you clean around them if they are close to a wall?
Finally someone talking about the stand alone tub! Thank you! They mount them close to the wall-how on earth are you going to wipe and dust behind it???? Seems gross. I no longer want my huge garden tub, but at least it has a surround that makes it easy to enter and keep clean.
THANK YOU. I can't stand the free standing bath trend. Impossible to clean around the sides and they're so deep I can't see out of the tub and I just feel like I'm being swallowed by porcelain.
Open shelving makes me crazy. I clean the cooking grease off the top of my kitchen cabinets every month, even with a decent rangehood, and when I see open shelves that's all I can think about. So gross.
Considerations for part 2 (1) Basket type lamp shades. So very difficult to keep dust free. Not a great idea over a dining table. (2) Textured kitchen backsplash at the stove area. Good luck cleaning off the grease after cooking (3) Very small floor tiles with lots and lots of grout in the shower area. Get used to back breaking cleaning routines with this one. 😅😅
As a house cleaner shag area rugs are one of the banes of my profession. Those and plate glass shower enclosures that everyone loves the idea of but also never maintain ( as in YES you must squeegee everything down every time you use it...)
My last apartment had glass shower doors and I did indeed squeegee them every single time I used the shower... a monumental waste of time but hand prints and water stains on glass irked me to no end so I forced my way through it nonetheless.
Thanks for this. I’m a pastors wife so we often have lots of guests of varying ages and abilities. I like things to look nice, but also need them to be practical, so liked that you gave alternatives where possible. Both me and one of my guests were so embarrassed the other week when she couldn’t get up from my sofa. Unfortunately I have chronic back pain and couldn’t help so had to call my husband. Because of my condition I have 4 different types of seating and wouldn’t consider our furniture particularly low, but could definitely relate.
Agree! When my 5 kids were growing up, I could never have a rug under the dining table. Eww! But now that they are all on their own and I have a solid table, no leaves, I have a lovely, but durable, not expensive rug to protect my floors from chairs being slid in and out. Practicality when decorating or renovating, should always be at the top of our lists. Thanks for reminding us, Nick.
Being a kitchen cabinet manufacturer/installer, I would say that the recent trend of shaker style doors which have a frame around them are a dirt and grease trap. A flat panel door which can easily be wiped down is a more logical and hygienic choice.
GODDDDD I just moved into a rental and the cupboards have the deepest frames, I straight up need a toothbrush if I want to get it properly cleaned. I hate whoever okayed this.
When I bought myhouse, there was wall-to-wall shag carpeting in most of the rooms. Not only was it hideous (chocolate, cream, burgundy, & neon red), my poor cats kept getting stuck in it. Getting rid of it was the first "home improvement" I made.
And I'd add those terrible Boucle sofas that are all the rage here in Australia. My friend bought a $4000 lounge just over a year ago with 2 kids , a cat and dog. It looks terrible now. Meanwhile I bought a $3000 Leather sofa 15 years ago and with a little maintenance it still looks great even after 4 kids and pets.
Yes! All of our sofas are leather, and have been for the last 25 years. Side chairs are fabric, but I will not buy a sofa that is not leather! Thank you for mentioning this.
Remember the chunky knit blanket made from raw wool roving? When it first came up on Pinterest, I couldn't understand why it became so popular! It is a nightmare to keep clean and similar to the cloud sofa, it will become ugly very quickly. There is a great video of a knitting channel testing out that thing with samples and it is so fun to watch the thing getting just a disgusting felted mat of dirt and cat hair :D
I collected one on the trash on the street it, washed it, combed it , put in on my sofa because it is trendy....and still doesnt find the point of its existance. Not even my cat likes it
You're giving me FLASHBACKS!!! I'm a knitter... UGH!!! That blanket was never meant to be anything more than a photo prop and people STILL ask for it to be made... first, they choke on the cost of the yarn... which is around $600 when made with actual wool and made to a size big enough to snuggle with as an adult... and then when you tell them you cannot wash it, EVER! Even wool soaking it will cause it to matte... and get all lifeless and LIMP! The trend this winter was hats made out of this stuff. They look super cute... until you follow wool care guidelines and use wool soak before storing for the winter and BAM! matte city... and that's if they didn't friction felt just from use. (Mattes and felts aren't exactly the same thing, but close) I guess all this rambling to say... I hate that blanket and that yarn and I hope the trend DIES!!!
If you like low seating make sure you also have single seating for older folks. Standard Wingback chairs are perfect for that because they have covered arms and are quite sturdy. A rug in your dining room works if you choose the right one. I had a low pile wool red bokhara which was under the table and chairs. It was in the dining room with children grandparents 2 cats etc for over 20 years. Trust me every type of liquid has been spilt on it. Prunes wine gravies cat liquids. But you can clean most anything out of a good wool rug and if it’s high pattern and darker it will always look good. I could clean any spill from that rug. I now have it in the living room. Buy good and keep. It’s great to find these classic rugs in estate sales. Remember high pattern darker colors in wool will take a real beating and wool is fireproof. It will look beautiful for years! Try to get low pile bc they are easier to vacuum.
The Cloud sofa dupe at Living Spaces comes in velvet, I find since the fabric is a lot thicker it needs a lot less fluffing in case someone is still interested in getting one with a bit less maintenance. Also the covers zip off so you can wash them which is nice. (I swear I don't work there, I just love my couch lol)
I really thought you would mention trying to vacuum underneath low furniture which is my pet peeve... But yes watching my mother struggle to get off my sofa, which is not low to the ground, is hard.
Nick, our previous house was a gorgeous contemporary. I bought a grey wool Florence [Mad Men] loveseat and thought I was gonna die. It looked awesome, fit the space, the wool was wonderful and comfy and easy to take care of. Oh my goodness I needed a crane to get off that thing. The seat height was only 16.5” from the floor and I’m tall, my hubs is tall, our kids/grandkids are tall. Only the cats could use that loveseat with ease. We sold it for $200 when we sold the house.
I love that you mentioned the rug under the dining table! We have a very messy toddler and a rug would have been sooo impractical. We actually stack our dining chairs every evening so our robot can easily mop and vac the hardwoods under the table. It's so much easier and hygienic than having a rug.
@@rmcnally3645 We have a roborock s5 max. Our dog doesn't shed, so I'm not sure about how it does with fur. We mainly use it on the hardwoods and it does a good job. I mainly just wipe up the sticky, wet messes (like dropped fruit haha) from my toddler now.
So many great points here that people just don't think about when spending money on decor and furnishings! YES - low seating is rough on those of us with bad knees. YES - marble isn't practical (I have quartz and love it). YES - putting a rug under a dining table or in the kitchen is going to mean frequent work/maintenance/replacement. Thank you Nick.
Yes to a part 2! All these make sense to me, and I appreciate the acknowledgement of aging/physical disabilities on furniture choice. As for the marble - what about granite? I’ve had it in two houses and that’s stuff is indestructible - you can cut things on it, and even set hot pans on it. And if it’s a dark color, it doesn’t stain. I am having a glorious black and gold granite called Galaxius in my new house.
Granite is great . Quartz is now just as good. I got a sample of Cambrian Quartz . I left yellow mustard, berries ketchup vinegar and tried scratching it stainless steel dish scrubber. Took a hammer to it too repeatedly. Stuff did not break!
granite has to be sealed, quartz does not. Quartz is also anti-microbial. And granite will not look as much like marble as some quartz does--just like nick says here.
We’ve never sealed our granite and it doesn’t stain. It’s a medium color and I love it. Pans straight from the oven to the countertop and yet you can cook on it too.
My issue with low furniture is the difficulty in cleaning under it - having to move all your living room furniture every time you need to vacuum &/or mop is a phenomenal waste of time and effort.
Family members have a sectional like the cloud sofa as their only living room furniture, and I literally had to buy some sturdy, folding chairs to have a viable seating option to accommodate a spine filled with titanium. Not welcoming, and not comfortable, and for some, even insensitive to aging family and friends. Thank you for your practical tips. Let's get EVERYONE thinking about universal design in their homes!!!
If you are a caretaker or have a family member with those needs should you make sure they have at least one seat in each communal area to accommodate them? Sure. Should you buy something just in case your grandma that only visits every other holiday has a chair best for her? No I don't think we should be modeling our homes for people that don't live there.
I vacuumed multiple times a day under my dining table, my kids really know how to produce crumbs every single meal! I watched so many videos about "grounding" a space by putting a rug underneath and unfortunately it was not conducive with our daily functional & practical lifestyle. Thank you for acknowledging this, Nick! I have removed a rug in my living room too, only put it back on special occasions or when I am up for a challenge to clean it.
As a person with a bad back and knees, I dread going over to someone's house where they like to melt into the soft, low sofas. I tend to sit on floor (informal party) or stick to dining room chairs. Guilty of shag rug purchase - never again. No rug/carpet under dining table for our family ever. I'm sure there is part 2 shortly behind this one.
People often forget about tall and big & tall people. I have an elderly father in law, and even in his late 70s and a bit hunched, the man is 6'4. There's no way he can sit on low furniture without having to let himself just drop onto it. and getting a big and tall man up from low furniture requires two people. Now add back or knee problems onto tall people, and you have yourself a trip to the hospital and possibly a lawsuit.
Totally agree - 200% - on each and every one of these! I talk about these exact, same topics - and comes from a life of my own "whoops experiences". Function always has to come before design, otherwise the design will never look as you pictured your insagram picture of the room to look! Well done! Here’s another one - not having enough storage in a room for everyday living in that room. It’s time to be honest with ourselves. It cracks me up when there’s a really beautiful coffee table display in the family room, with a big pile of remote controls sitting next to it. (Yup, I’ve done that too). Or even a "sleek" coffee table with no storage, and with no coffee table display - EXCEPT for the "bouquet" of remote controls. Get a coffee table with DRAWERS! We all need those drawers. It’s ok to admit that. Along those same lines - replace those bathroom mirrors with medicine cabinets! Not everybody wants to see our old toothbrushes, toothpaste with the icky top, dental floss, face cleanser, make up, moisturizer, body lotions, toner, nail clippers, medicines, vitamins, teeth whiteners, hair gels, hair spay, comb, and whatever else we need to put ourselves together. It doesn’t matter how pretty that mirror is above the sink, if there is mountain of stuff, or bottles of stuff, piled up around the faucet. Unless you have lots of storage in your base cabinet, and are willing to take everything out of the base cabinet every time you use it, its better to keep that stuff eye level as your using it, so you put it back. In fact,not only will your guests not want to see that stuff - you will get sick of seeing that stuff all the time. Your bathroom sink should have just hand soap - period.
@@rabbitgregory9289 Amen to that! 😄 Because the truth about that mountain of stuff is we would, indeed, clean AROUND it. Who wants to clean UNDER a mountain, and then have to put the mountain BACK?
Yes, love this topic! The rug under the dining table is, like you said, lovely, but not practical! Also, most people stick a rug under the table that's too small. I can only imagine their guests are dragging the rug up under their chair because it's caught on the chair legs....kinda like fluffing the sofa every time you get up!😂
In Brazil we usually use marble as table tops and for sink area and kitchen counters and floors we use granite. There are beautiful colors and shades. The most common one is a dark green that looks almost black. Very pretty and practical. Another thing, marble can crack and break more easily and you also need to get it polished after about 10 years of use on a table.
From a Mom of two (ages 5 & 4): Thank you SO much for creating a video that speaks truth about design vs. the reality of ankle biting crumb monsters! 😅
I saw a home tour where the marble countertop had a thick glass top on it. You could still see the beautiful marble underneath. I thought that was genius. It may cost a ton more but you can have the best of both worlds, beauty and durability.
Just drop a hot tuna casserole or mac and cheese for 10 people on it. Glass will crack into pueces . Glass is ver sensitive to temp changes. Stone not so
Nick u r 💯 % spot on regarding low furniture. Not just for elderly but people with disabilities. As a nurse I hear theses complaints all the time. Great info to bring up. I hope your viewers take u seriously 🙂
The RH cloud sofa advice also applies to Ikea's Soderhamn. It looks gorgeous in their catalog and at the store. But once you start using it, same thing. You either fluff it every time you stand up or it'll show creasing, crinkles and even the cushions move out of place.
I have the soderhamn and have not found it to be like that! Sure, the pillows can be moved, but that adds to its versatility (converting to a sofa bed). I have rarely had to fluff the cushions and find that they keep their shape. I 100% recommend it, it is so comfy and affordable, and you can find some great covers for it online.
It could be an difference in manufacture though, as the suitcase designer on YT has highlighted the differences she found purchasing the soderhamn in Asia and in the US, and the cushions seemed to be more fickle/of poorer quality in the US. I am in Australia and find it great!!
Granite/stone/marble countertops! Soooo impractical if you actually cook in your kitchen. Stains easily, hard to see if it’s clean (granite), if something glass tips over or falls on your marble countertop, it breaks. My preference for home is Formica. Super indestructible, loads of patterns, and lasts forever. My grandmother had a countertop of Formica installed in 1954. When her house was sold, and scheduled to be torn down, I got the counter and had it recut for my kitchen, and used it for the next 30 years. It’s now a beautiful cocktail/bar top. Nary a scratch, stain or burn mark. Soooo practical! Shag rugs: hideous! If you love the shaggy look, get large Mongolian Lamb pillow covers for your sofa. They feel divine, come in stunning colors, and give that boho shaggy look without the beating a rug will take. Great video! Thanks!
I have a rug under my dining table and it’s definitely doable, at least for me. I live alone though and don’t have kids or a partner, so I don’t have to worry about others spilling drinks or stuff all over it. I have a small table and the rug is big enough to where I can pull out the chair and comfortably sit in it without having to worry about it snagging on the edge of the rug. Sure I get crumbs on it sometimes from eating but that’s what the vacuum is for. If you want to do it, I say go for it
I have a rug under my dining table with a 1 and 4 yr old. But we clean every evening and train our kids not to make huge messes when they eat (helloooo table manners). More often than not, a lot of things people say are design “don’ts” are not because those things are bad but because they are just too lazy to regularly clean their homes. (Obviously that statement does not apply to the elderly/disabled).
I must say as a messy person who cooks a lot, and high heat… I love my granite counter tops. I’ve put 500 degree pizza stone on it, we’ve had them for 10+ years. Love it.
I use a rug under my dining table because my rented apartment has light colored carpet 😅 If I had hard/darker floors I would definitely move it elsewhere! Loved this video, I always think practicality first when it comes to buying furniture and you made some great points 👍
So glad you added marble countertops to the list!!! I used to work for a custom stone fabrication company and we used to have a sample of marble that we have put a sliced tomato on and people were like oh my god.
I did an outdoor rug under our dining room table. The dining room leads to the back door/backyard. We have a dog and chickens and a garden and we’re constantly coming in and out through that door and through the dining room to get literally everywhere else. It looks totally fine and we can take it outside and hose it down or lightly pressure wash, hang it dry and it looks brand new. WAY less expensive than ruggable
I got a dupe to the cloud sofa about 3 yrs ago & I had to use a "butt blanket" to tuck into the seat cushions every night. And I had to replace the seat cushions after 3 yrs. Epic naps though.
@@bilindalaw-morley161 LOL! I use a blanket as a partial slipcover for the couch - not on the backrest or armrest pillows, only on the seat cushion part, that you sit on, y'know, with your butt. And every night I have to straighten out the.... butt blanket.
For me I would add loose back cushions on sofas. I prefer attached back cushion sofas. I have cats who love to sit on top of sofas. Those loose back cushions always get squashed down.
Impractical items for me is anything white or light colored. I live on a ranch in rural northern New Mexico with 3 dogs (one is 154 lbs), 3 cats and 9 horses. As you can imagine, my lifestyle doesn't work with anything that can show dust, dirt or mud. Heck...I can't even wear a white blouse or it's dirty within 5 minutes. LOL...it just started snowing a few minutes ago, so I'll be getting out the vacuum, broom and steam cleaner (yes, I'm addicted to my steam cleaner) and preparing for the tracks that will be coming in shortly.
Great video as always. As most people i also love a nice marble - i found that the best solution is to install quartzite because it's a natural stone but more hard wearing and with natural veining. Some people confuse it with quartz however it's a totally different material, and is not man-made.
Yet another fabulous video. This is why I LOVE this channel. Your videos are so DOWN TO EARTH and unpretentious. You're one of the only designers I've come across who consistently balances great style with real issues (budget, kids, aging, time constraints, etc.) Keep up the good work!!!
Love this video, thank you for addressing the needs of older adults. At 65 with osteoarthritis in my knees, I was very aware that I had to shop for a new sofa carefully. I measured what was a good seat height but also the depth of the sofa seating. I wanted to be able to sit back on the sofa without having to struggle to get up from the sofa. I also made sure my new platform bed was at a good height that I could swing my legs out and be able to have my feet flat on the ground. I bought my furniture online from a mfg that listed ALL the dimensions needed to make good decisions. They also list what furniture is child and pet friendly too. On the shag rug issue, Ruggable has a washable shag rug. Their rugs are great if you need to frequently wash rugs due to pets, kids or allergies. Their two part system keeps the rug flat and secure so you don't catch your feet on the edges reducing a tripping hazard. You might want to mention ADA compliant hardware when selecting furniture with handles too.
I would add wooden coutertops to the list as well. They are very popular in Poland at the moment and I'll admit - they add this warm feeling to a kitchen, but I honestly don't get it, how you can choose such material if you are used to cooking something more than water on regular basis... Although wait... Even water spilled on that and left for half an hour will ruin it... 😉 So basically one of the most impractical ideas for a kitchen ever.
We have oak counter tops that are 15 years old. Every now and then they are sanded and given a new coat of oil (it only takes half an hour or so to do this yourself). We are definitely not clean freaks and use the kitchen A LOT, only rarely do we manage to stain the counter tops. That being said, our kitchen decor tends towards rustic, if someone is going for a very posh and polished style a wooden counter top will absolutely look too lived-in.
I have solid oak countertops, reclaimed from old restaurant table tops. I refinished myself with stain and 6 layers of polyurethane. They are great. Many finishes being used on woods today are horrible, especially the quick drying lacquers that are used instead of slower drying much more durable polyurethane. Old school oiling will eventually work, but I had no desire to put in the effort. Finished appropriately, wood can be an easy and durable countertop.
It really depends on the wood species and how it's been treated (from extraction, to ageing, to surface treatments). Having a wood counter might not be a bad experience at all. Still, stone is generally more durable and practical. Also, it´s quite important to remember that wood is flammable, which might present a risk, especially if the owner is a clumsy person.
@@gabrielaribeiro6155 As a designer, I have never liked marble because it isn't practical, stains too easily and all stone is too hard. Things break much too easily. Very simple to snap the bottom off of a wine glass. It's also very cold. In many winter climates it can be difficult to warm a kitchen space due to the retained coldness, making leaning on a stone top very uncomfortable at times. But mostly, I find stone tops ecologically irresponsible. I'm not one of these people constantly harping on environmental issues, but I've seen way too many granite tops removed because the color or shape isn't "on trend". These are materials that literally take thousands of years to form and aren't that easy to come by. And now our society thinks it's okay to use these precious materials willy nilly to satisfy a housewife's ego. Using these materials in buildings or in a way that honors the substance and makes use of its longevity makes sense. Placing it in the kitchen of a homeowner who sells it 10 years later for the new homeowner to rip out because it's no longer trending is grossly irresponsible. There are far too many other choices that can be used for this purpose. Plastic Laminate on fiber board is a less harmful ecological choice.
Thanks for the practical tips on impractical decor. I am gathering ideas for my kitchen renovation. I adore marble. I think I will go for quartz instead because realistically I am a disaster when I cook and the marble wouldn't stand a chance with me. My husband calls me Honey the Destroyer. I have no rugs in my home other than two cotton rugs on either side of our bed. Easily washable. I have terrible allergies and once I got rid of the rugs my allergies greatly improved. Instead you see the gleaming beauty of my original 1940 oak floor. Now I don't have to vacuum my rugs every day in a futile attempt to keep my allergies at bay. No low furniture for me as I have bad knees. Thank you for pointing out that when making home decor purchases we need to think not only of beauty but also of how practically we live.
This hit me in the aspiration, lol! Practicality is a hard-learned lesson. I had a gorgeous wood dining table that was too precious to use: the oils from my hand would interact with the finish, so I had to keep it covered with a tablecloth. What's the point of having beautiful wood furniture if you have to cover it up all the time? Heartbreaking. Never again.
This is the benefit of buying antique/used furniture.... it's already broken in/patina-ed and has character. Maybe just let marks happen, eventually it will look good and be homey.
I was going to write the same thing as Lili. I always buy used on the cheap. My dining room table (used everyday) with matching chairs was $35 from someone who kept it pristine and covered for 20 years. We use it and love it…. We still take good care of it but if it gets marked or knocked, no problem. We have it to live, not to live for.
I tried to take this approach with my curbside find: a 1960s teak dining table. I refinished the top with teak oil, and just let family meals happen (our kitchen is not eat-in). Two weeks later I was back to the pads-under-tablecloth setup. I like your style, but I'm not strong enough.
@@ml_haskell3854 I hope u get strong. Why hide pretty things. I remember Oprah showed beautiful old napkins she bought at a garage sale fo r$1 in the original package. She said someone loved these so much they didn't use them. Then she said "Use your good stuff don't die and let someone else sell it for $1 unused." I had moved across the ocean so only packed the good stuff. I almost bought "bad" dishes etc for everyday use at the $store.... I had to force myself to just use my good stuff. Over time, a few things broke, but I found other good stuff eventually. You can do it!
Get it refinished. Todays finishes are very hard wearing. My husband works in the cabinet door industry and he refinished my table that had the old style fish that was sticky. Now it's refinished it's a lovely shade and very durable.
THANK YOU for stating what should be obvious about the rug under the table!!! Who ever thought of that? There’s FOOD and stainable stuff just dropping off the table, and no one’s reeeaaaallly cleaning it properly. It’s the biggest headache you could do!
Hi Nick, We went to a carpet store and had a frise/shag area rug cut and bound. This rug is an incredible quality and off white. It’s so thick you can’t push your finger down in between the fibers to find the bottom. Made by Shaw. We clean it twice a year by slightly dampening it, sprinkling the cleaning powder, and then vacuum. Btw We have a smelly French bulldog. I’ll send you a photo of our living room and the rug.
Love the way you deliver your videos. No fluff, straight to the point but still with a friendly style and well prepared so there's not 50 million takes 😊
Low furniture is lovely for us SHORT people. So much furniture is too high and deep for us so it's nice to sometimes actually be able to put my feet on the floor.
I bought a cloud couch but I opted out for the performance linens, I ended up doing velvet and it definitely holds shape better and still very comfortable. Also it’s water proof
Agree with you on choice of fabric. I got a Craigslist find of an MCM sofa with down cushions in tragic beige. We got it redone in a sturdy velour and the cushions hold their shape better than if we had used a plain 1-over-1 weave or twill. They do need some fluffing from time to time, but it doesn't look like rumpled pajamas every time you get up.
Gotta say I LOVE my cloud sofa dupe. I bought it purely because it’s so comfortable. It absolutely does look so wrinkled all the time but we have a cozy maximalist vibe so it really doesn’t look out of place, even wrinkled.
Great tips all the way around. I had a wool shag rug for many years. It looked beautiful when new. That thing shed horribly. There were giant fur shag balls all over the place. We did have it professionally cleaned twice with good success, but it’s expensive. We also had to rake it on a regular basis. So happy to be rid of it. Waiting now for our new rug to arrive. We made sure it would be easy to vacuum and clean. I love your channel.
Thanks for sharing insight via your opinion and also your fails.. keeps me from making mistakes for sure. Also- I recently started shopping for a new sofa and side chairs. Then I injured my knee. About half my wish list disappeared just due to height and I decided moving forward it’s no more low furniture for me. Even if my knee heals I don’t want to risk having furniture my guests and I can’t use.
I love your videos! I would love to see a video about durable couches that are practical for kids, cats, and a couch potato dog. Easy to clean and doesn't hang on to fur. Regular and sectional styles. Where to buy??? Thanks!
Whatever style you choose, please consider buying any furniture used from an individual or consignment store. I wish Nick would talk about this more…. Good solid furniture in a wide range of styles, better made than most of the stuff from Wayfair or IKEA. It’s possible to buy higher end pieces for the same price as the lesser quality new pieces… and sometimes for free! I recently purchased a beautiful high end leather sofa for $299 at a consignment store. At least 4K if new. Why so cheap? It’s faded on the back and sides. I can restore the color for about $25. I bought a new Italian beech dining table and four chairs at a Habitat for Humanity Restore… and a beautiful modern thick wool area rug…,all for $150.
rugs under the table..... yes. but nothing precious. We have a tile floor - for comfort and coziness a rug is a must. I go with an inexpensive low wool, easy to vacuum and spills do come up easily. I choose pattern with colors
I love how you are expressing your opinion on things, but still let everyone know that it is completely okay to have a different one. Furthermore, you express your feelings very clear and understandable without being impolite, rude or offensive. I also love that you try to consider every angle of one topic, give beyond superficial information that are actually well researched and backed up and that you ACTUALLY KNOW what you are talking about. Many content creators just have superficial knowledge on things and can not explain or break down the reason / topic they are talking about. Your videos and information have essence 🤍🤍🤍
