Filed under: Your Home
The bad news: Your decor is aging you. The good news: Redecorating is less painful than botox. Find out which paint color is making you look old and what a grapefruit candle can do to reverse the process.
Agefotostock
There's entire books on clothes and make-up to make you look younger. But what about your house? Even the most carefully considered home is crawling with at least one or two things that can make you look older. Luckily, it's not hard to turn things around. Who wouldn't love to lose a few years everytime you step inside your own home?
We reached out to the New York Design Center's new Access to Design designers to get their thoughts and tips.
What's Aging You: Awkward Furniture
"The first thing that's making you look older? Furniture you can't sit in. Your posture shows your age," says designer Christopher Coleman.
Look younger by... bringing in a high back chair.
It'll force you to sit up straight and look all lithe and youthful.
A high backed chair in one of Coleman's rooms and a similar model available from Brueton. Christopher Coleman / NYDC
What's Aging You: Old-Fashioned Flowers
"The worst offender? Fake flowers!" says designer Tara Seawright. (Other, similar culprits: Musty potpourri that smells quite literally like your grandmother).
Look younger by... updating those florals.
Seawright suggests metal flowers to get the same cheerful look in a sleeker way. And if you want scents in your home, try grapefruit-scented soap or candles. It apparently makes you appear six years younger. Wow!
What's Aging You: Beige Paint
"Beige washes you out, color makes you glow," says designer Thomas Burak
Look younger by... surrounding yourself with color.
Try Benjamin Moore's Blue Wave, Ralph Lauren's Baja Orange or any of these paint colors that make you look younger.
One of Marks & Frantz's favorite sconces. Photo: StudioDekor
What's Aging You: Overhead Lighting
It casts more shadows -- not very forgiving way.
Look younger by... bringing in lamps and sconces.
"We can't stress how important this is. Get rid of that overhead lighting and use lamps. Or go with the most flattering light of all: Wall wash lighting," suggests designers Lisa Frantz and Lydia Marks.
What's Aging You: Your Aging House
"Nothing makes a person look older than worn-out fabrics, frayed carpets, and peeling paint," says designer Ed Ku. "If your surroundings look like they need some help and attention, chances are that you do also!"
Look younger by... cleaning and streamlining
Go around your house with three big bags: One for trash, one for donating, one for repairs. If something's looking past its prime and you can do without it, get rid of it. If it can be fixed with paint/needle and thread, get to it!
Looking for more great advice or for a designer for your home? Reach out to accesstodesign@nydc.com.
Looking for more ways to make your house work for you? Check out:
Marianne Williamson's Course in Weight Loss -- for Your Home
How Your House Can Make You Rich