I personally think the rug and dining table don't go with the rest of the area, if you want a casual look which both eclectic and rustic generally are, I'd get a lighter dining set, and a colorful rug then swap out the throw pillows to something with more design, or another color from the new rug that can tie into the colors of the door and wall. Since your couch appears to be a futon can you get a slipcover that zips around it and can be removed to wash?

Your home looks cozy and warm. Is there some other place you could store shoes and boots? Maybe remove some of the smaller items from the wall. Replace the curtain over the couch with one that better fits the window. Love the dog! Tacky is in the eye of the beholder, and your home is not it.

I agree with keeping the cords hidden, The white box is the Toyo stove which heats the house, what colors would you recommend painting it? Would placing a built-in around the stove it be too bulky in that area?

Also, not to be too critical here but I would paint the wall where the door is much much lighter, white would be best, right now it's just blending in with all the wood, the white will make the wood and door pop more. Possibly swapping out the sconce behind the couch a well, looks traditional, not really rustic or eclectic. If you're gonna go bold GO BOLD. It seems like you like bold colors and all that wood but you're scared and putting in contemporary and traditional piece like the rug and dining table, sconce. Also, I can't see the curtains but they also look very heavy and traditional.

I also think a drop zone for your coats, hats whatever is more usable and functional if it is on the same side that the door opens. You just walk in and hand things rather than having to close the door and walk around it. Doing that will give you more room to place your couch and maybe more seating if you move it to the opposite side.

not at all tacky. it shows a lot of personality.

it is your house. if you don't like something, change it. otherwise change it.

Please keep up the suggestions my brain is flowing with ideas!

I just painted my kitchen chartreuse, so who am I to call anyone else tacky?

Your headline did remind me of this (not in any way to be read as a criticism).

I like your colors and the wood. the only negative I have is the pallet looking furniture next to the door!

(and that big white air thing under the tv?? Any way to make a cover for that or drape some plants over it to camouflage it a bit? the white really sticks out w/all of the wood and the darker tones. can you spray it a darker color?)

what you can do for the drop zone, are incorporate some of these ideas, but make them from the same wood as your shelving, or paint them the blue or darker wood tones

in the corner, I photoshopped these corner shelves w/the baskets, and gave you bench w/sorage beneath for shoes and such.

look online for drop zone entry way ideas

It is not designed by a child or adolescent.

I don't see any:

1. princess or Disney decor

2. dirty gym socks laying around

3. posters of handsome teen idols

4. 6 diaries each with only first few pages written in, but all locked

5. 36 bottles of nail polish plus 6 bottles of foundation, 6 blushers, and more eye colors and cosmetic brushes than Da Vinci owned pigment and paint brushes

6. Hair color in purple pink and teal, and the aforementioned in matte and glitter

This space has a TON of potential. And the door color makes me smile — as does the dog.😑 The things that (to me, at least) give it a “college apartment”-vibe are the string lights, the backless dining bench, the window treatments (and/or lack thereof), the futon, and the wooden crate as furniture type things. I’d like to see some more permanent furniture, including an antique piece or two. And some lamps...substantial table lamps! Do you have any auction houses close by? Have you ever been to an estate sale? Do you have a sewing machine (and know how to use it)?

What sort of furniture would you like to see in this place? I am just now learning to sew curtains!

The crates under the window by the TV were the dead giveaway that you're young and probably making do with the same furnishings you used in dorm life! That entire corner behind the table and by the door is the main issue I see. The chunky bench and chopping block style table are a bit massive for your space. Another big concern is that your TV won't live very long above the heat source. I too think you should flip the dining and sitting areas, and use your dining bench as the spot for removing shoes/boots. Move the TV to the wall behind the door, and put the trunk under it for shoes. Change the futon for a pair of small scale swivel chairs that can float in the center of the room with their backs to the bar. They'll be able to swivel to watch TV. Do you need both the heater and the stove? Remove everything from the walls before you start to rearrange. Then try larger items when its time to decorate. I like the blue and purple but not the Khaki color.

Here's a color wheel to help you pick new colors for the Khaki walls. Since your door is a secondary to the primary blue wall, you could use the secondary green &/or orange nicely to keep it exciting. Of course, white can give the eye a place to rest and might be good for the kitchen area.

Not tacky. It is a warm, cozy, rustic family home. Some ideas to consider: paint the door the same blue as the wall, add coordinating buffalo check curtains for the windows, and braided rugs for the floor. Add some storage similar to Beth H.'s suggestions. Remove the small art from the walls. I like the string lights from what I can see of them, but it looks like you still need more lighting. Don't forget a coordinating, colorful blanket for the dog's bed! Look at the The LLBean website (home goods and furniture) for inspiration.

Safevieh rugs (Target and Amazon has them) they're pretty affordable and have ton of colorful ones. Lighter dining table. Dining tables can be expensive though, do you have a Habitat for Humanity Re Store near you? They have used and surplus items in good condition and it's a non profit as well and the money goes towards a good cause.

To answer some questions that I'm getting the Toyo stove (big white box) is something that I can't/won't remove or move. Living in Alaska both the stove and fireplace are essential. I am willing to paint/rearrange/exchange furniture in order to find my home style. So far living in this house has been experimental when it comes to interior design and I'm still not seeing what I invasion. Reference Pictures from you guys would be great.

I do think it is important to reflect what it is, a rustic home in a forested area.

I posted a bunch of reference pics in my comment

Thank you! I liked the ideas on the built in drop off zone! I am scared of built in because I worry about it looking too bulky in a space. how can you get away with furniture that provied storage and doesn't take up too much room. is that a builtin?

Use a bookshelf and a separate bench that isn't built in. Is there a store that sells unfinished furniture near you? They usually have a variety of plain, quality furniture in a variety of sizes. You can paint or stain as you prefer, or the store may finish it for you.

you could just do the bench against the wall, and the hooks (almost like you have it) above the bench. or near the bench.

or you could do that wall in a type of wood beadboard, almost like a panel, and then have the bench below as a 'sort of' built in look. But it wouldn't be. if that makes sense.

Actually, you could do reclaimed wood on the wall like they did here, and just do the shelving and cubbies around it. it has the 'built-in' look, but it's not, as you can see.

using the corners to store the baskets and such, would just give you some vertical space.

or you could do a vertical type of bench seating, and some cubbies above that w/hooks

this is a type of ship lap, but you could do pallet or reclaimed wood, or even rip plywood, nail it to the wall and paint it.

have you ever looked at Ana White? She lives in Alaska. has a ton of things that she's made. She posts all of the plans and how-to's as well.

https://ana-white.com/node/1926

https://ana-white.com/woodworking-projects

I see how the corner bench and shelving blends in and doesn't look too bulky that is great!!

I really like your wood floor, ceiling and window frames. But I think your colour choice on the door detracts from your room.

Colour-wise, your wood is orange-red. You're on the right track by looking in the blue colour family which emphasizes the wood by contrasting with it. It's the opposite colour on the colour wheel. But go more for a green-blue since your orange tends to orange-red. Use it on a dark intense colour for the door, and a more muted greyed-out colour on the wall. If you can tint some heat-resistant paint, paint the heating unit to match the wall.

As you identified yourself in your question, the clear bright colours look a bit adolescent/childish. You can have the same interesting colours but when they're muted/grayed they look more adult, either in dark tones or pale. The colours I show for your door and wall are the same bright green-blue on the colour wheel, just adjusted for darkness and grayness.

And remember that the amount of colour in your little paint chip is multiplied many many times when you paint a wall. So the cheerful little paint chip can easily become a screaming loud amount of colour if you're not careful. My experience is that a gray paint chip with a bit of a greenish tinge becomes a soft green wall.

When my husband and I first got married, we really didn’t have money for nice furniture. The one thing I wanted, storage with doors, we couldn’t afford. Needless to say, when our finances stabilized I bought storage with DOORS!

The only thing I can think of immediately is to corral the items in the room and try to make it appear less cluttered. But I have minimalist tendencies, you may not.

I don’t think your space is tacky, I think it’s undeveloped, but this is how you grow and learn. And trust me, what you like NOW, even if purchased in an effort to seem more “adult” or “stylish,” you may not like in 10 years. We grow and evolve, our spaces do as well; so just make your home enjoyable at this point in your life, in a few years, you may need to adjust it and that’s ok. Good luck and have fun.

Cute place! I'm glad partim addressed the colors. Fully agree. I think someone upthread mentioned too many small things on the walls and I would like to suggest removing everything, including around the tv, retake pictures, then photo-shop one large framed print, painting, map etc, on the other wall to see the transformation into a more "adult space" that would make, in addition to some of the other suggestions. Seems like a fun project.

I wouldn't add white-painted wood to your scheme. It's too country and not rustic. It draws the eye and is jarring. Natural wood is better, and if you want something to visually disappear, paint it the same colour as the wall.

Don't be afraid to leave a small wall empty. It looks better than putting something tiny on it. A room look better when the eye has some empty places to rest.

Your windows and view are fabulous. For the sliding door, don't cover any of the glass with the curtain when the curtains are open. And don't drape it back with a holdback - again, it's a cute country look which is jarring with your style. With your lovely wood trim, pull the curtain back all the way to the curtain rod bracket, and let it hang down straight, showing as much of the wood trim as possible. The rod should actually be hung higher, halfway between the trim and the ceiling, not over the trim. But your current curtains may not be long enough.

In the picture I removed your small things, and hung the one item higher.

Tacky is one way to describe the space.

Eclectic is mixing different styles together.

It does not remove the need for things to be neat and organized

It does not mean cluttered with stuff

It does not mean selecting colors blindfolded.

When you get dressed to go to work would you wear the pink, blue, beige, gold and gray together?

This will help get you on the right track.

Step 1 - touch everything in your space - for each item decide if it is necessary, decide if you love it, decide if it would be better stowed in a drawer, cupboard or some other storage space.

Find homes for the things that you need, love and can put away.

Give away everything that you don't need and don't love.

Take the stuff that you love, but do not need and place it in a box in another room for now.

This should leave only the things you need that cannot be tucked away.

Step 2 - plan how your space is going to function - what area is the best space for the Sofa, TV and dining - right now things don't make sense - The sofa is at an angle facing the kitchen and the TV is on the opposite wall past the dining table???

Draw a floor plan with measurements showing the whole space, where the doors and windows are - size of the furniture you have and we can help you figure out where to put what. We need measurements to figure out how things can fit. A picture of the kitchen space would also be helpful.

Step 3 - Once we know where things are going to go it is time to pick a color palette.

You have a ton of wood. You need a color palette that will complement the wood - not clash or fight with it. Walls are huge, so a little color goes a long way - your colors are bright, brash and don't go with the wood.

This is a small space - I would suggest using one wall color. If you like color and like blue I would use a subdued blue on the walls and brighter, bolder blues in your accents (wall art, curtains, pillows, throw blanket, area rug.)

Is blue the color that makes your heart sing or is that some other color?

The inside of the door usually coordinates with the other interior colors - It can be a darker shade of the same color or a different color than the walls, but it has to relate to the other colors.

Here are some good choices for wall color

Green:

Blue:

BlueGreen:

Before settling on a wall color find an area carpet with one of these hues and some other color that makes brings you joy when you look at it.

Maybe something like this . . .

.

https://www.houzz.com/products/floral-hooked-francesca-area-rug-by-loloi-7-6x9-6-prvw-vr~114535224

Now you can use any of the other colors in the carpet as your accent colors in the room - including painting the door if you love the look, but you have to have the color on at least 3 things of various sizes in the space. Wall art, throw pillow, vase, a chair.

Your space can be young at heart, bright and colorful and fun, but still all work together

You have a Bohemian Eclectic style going on. Love the colors!

I'd change out the futon for a sofa, find space for a few table lamps and take care of the area near the door. Keep your vivid colors in all that you buy.....Best Wishes!

Lots of suggestions already so I won’t add to them - I just want to say that if you could see what MY house looked when I was starting out 🤦🏻‍♀️ you’d realize that you are doing way better than you realize.

I love the suggestions for paint colors and rearranging the furniture. I agree with everything you guys are saying and I have a question for you. When it comes to adding wood furniture to my home which is already covered in wood paneling and trim, how do I go about finding woods that match? Do they have to match the wood exactly?

I personally think you have enough light colored wood with the floor and trim. I think I would look for darker prices that go with your table and accent pieces. The contrast is nice. Look for darker prices for an entry bench, end tables and cabinetry instead. Since you love color I would look for a colorful rug that will tie the colors you already have in the room. The rug you currently have is too boring for the rest of the room. Please try switching the dining/living spaces and use the rug in front of the couch giving you a warm mat under your feet in front of the wood stove and heater. It should help keeping that area warmer. You don’t need the rug centered inside the door. Use rugs to define living spaces instead

They don't have to match exactly, just pick something in the same tone but slightly lighter or darker, you've got a lot of variation in your floors to help. Avoid espresso, dark mahogany, grey tones.

Keep your wood choices natural. No high gloss finishes, no unnatural stains.

I like the colors....I'm so tired of gray. Anyway. The objects you have on the wall seem to be randomly placed. Make groupings. Or the "gallery" wall. You can use bookshelves on the sides of your TV (and the white stove) to make it look like built ins...and you can use the shelves for decorative items and make the stove blend in better.

My Houzz: Original Art and Vintage Treasures Fill a Missouri Home · More Info

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And I think a round table would suit the space better.

My decorator was very against trying to do "Matchy matchy" with wood tones, and I love the way my house looks. But I agree with posters above who said to avoid the grayish wood tones that are around these days, and nothing too high gloss.

Such a cute place! I see you love color!

I would add the color in punches, such as area rug, chairs and accessories.

Some inspiration:

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Ashley as I got more into decorating, I learned a few tips for tweaking my decor to make it look more "put together" if you will. One was removing visual clutter as much as possible, and the other was scale. You have a lot of stuff on the walls of varying sizes and functions and it gives off a less relaxed vibe than if you simplified and groups things. Gives the eye some places to "rest" when scanning the room. You've been given a lot of good suggestions here about grouping photos, putting them in places where they are proportional to their surroundings, simplifying lines by consolidating cords, grouping shoes into a covered shoe rack, etc. Shoe clutter is on of my greatest challenges!! I envy you the woodstove. And I love that you are not bending to monochrome-acity . . . that's not a word, but so be it. And futons are imminently practical, not just the purvey of college students. People in Japan use them all the time in their homes . . . we still love ours and they are 30+ years old! The cushions do need occasional restuffing though . . .

We have wood throughout our home. Wood matches wood as long as the finishes and style of the pieces aren't glaringly out of proportion. Proportion is super important in decorating. Proportion and lines of sight. Natural colors blend together well. Your blue wall is not natural, although pretty. Whatever you put on those walls will stand out due to contrast, which is not bad, but too much can be visually overwhelming when scattered randomly. It is a fine line, one which I walk constantly in my own decorating . . . I love what is called "Bohemian" or "Curated" or "Eclectic" or sometimes "English Country" which is a collection of many tones, colors and textures of fun things . . .

Edited to add that you should not be afraid to maybe invest in some larger storage oriented pieces for your home. I lived in apartments for so many years, so most of my original furniture was small and portable and looked "in proportion" in a small apartment, but when I got my first home, I could invest in some serious nice storage pieces. IKEA and Danish moderns styles are another great style that mixed in a variety of woods, and is good at imagining storage pieces that sit out in the open as opposed to closets.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/rooms/living-room/

Just got an article in my daily feed from Better Homes and Gardens designating yet another name for a style that combines color and variety and different woods. They call it "Grandmilennial Style." Kinda goofy but as someone old enough to have loved it the other two times it came along (as Victorian, Colonial and then Country or Shabby Chic), I had to smile. Yes I know, all of those styles are not the same, but they are in definite contrast to something like MCM or "Industrial" or even Bauhaus. One can go overboard with any of those styles, but nothing wrong with their basic aesthetic which is "have fun and decorate with what you love, not what other people tell you to do!!" Here's the salient quote from the article: "A well-edited design is key to pulling off the grandmillennial look in a
way that's more timeless than antiquated. Be selective as you
accessorize to avoid an overly cluttered look. Choose fabrics in bold
patterns, but keep the color palette tight and consistent so the look is
layered and cozy, not chaotic. Above all, decorate with what you love."

Also had to laugh because calling it "Grandmilennial Style" is so "Boomer!" Wanting some of the props for something their grandkids are doing . . . (just joking around!)

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/lessons/expert-advice/grandmillennial-style/?did=567291-20201007&cmp=bhgdecorating_100720&utm_campaign=bhg-decorating_newsletter&utm_source=bhg.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=100720&cid=567291&mid=42284497764

Another really fun house from my feed, totally "eclectic" which they call "fun" style. Notice that the walls and floors are all the same color though, to act as a unifying force. That's the key, finding a way to group your diverse things in a way that the eye can rest on them in a calm way, even if they are "zippy" in appearance. It's finding the balance between too much pattern and not enough. Too much reads "clutter" and not enough reads a bit of clutter too, like "lost cargo floating in the sea" or "too dispersed."

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/makeovers/before-and-after/eclectic-craftsman-home/?did=567291-20201007&cmp=bhgdecorating_100720&utm_campaign=bhg-decorating_newsletter&utm_source=bhg.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=100720&cid=567291&mid=42284497764

Grandmilennial Style basically sounds like today's shabby chic. I wonder if the popularity of Golden Girls brought this on?

Ashley: I would not say your home is tacky or childish. If I saw these photos with no explanation, I would assume it was a mountain cabin. Warm, casual and inviting. But childish? no.

I have some friends who decorate a bit like yours, but in addition they have a bear collection everywhere. Stuffed teddy bears, pictures of bears, bear folk art. The color scheme in some of the rooms is designed around it. They're in their late 40s, and yes, I do think their home is childish. But the thing is they love it there. They're delightful people and I love them. So do I judge their decor? no. is it for me? no. who cares, it's their home!

I didn't read all the comments, but my decor advice: if you wanted to keep this cabiny feel but make it a little bit more trendy, google "Pendleton Cabin Decor". you might like some of the elements:

can you swap dining room table with couch? Tv should be closer to a couch and dining room for conversations only, imo. The purple door ones not fit a rustic look you want. what is the thing under tv? It doesn't fit cozy aesthetic so if you can move it more out of sight you should consider it. The look is not tacky but a bit mismatched

Looks like at one point the dining room and the living room was switched. There is a dining light over the coffee table.

Why were they switched?

Looking more at your home, once you have finalized your coat and shoe dilemma, I would place your sofa with it's back facing the coats and shoes. Adding the chest in front of the sofa. Also adding a small area rug to define the space.

Dining table under dining fixture.

Take all your small pictures and place them around your tv.

Inspiration for tv wall:

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Joseph's post show the importance of "editing" if you are going for an eclectic style. That's why they sometimes call the style "curated." You have to give the eye some place to rest around your displays. Too much of whatever it is that you love, and each individual's loveliness gets lost . . .

I have a friend who collected rabbit stuff for years. She got to a point when she realized she needed to edit. She still has a few judiciously placed in her home, but she steadfastly refuses any more additions. But "editing" is something one often does when you move or get a new home. I edited my stuff when I bought my first home, and am in the process of editing my new home. You have to do the Marie Kondo thing, ask yourself if the item has practical utility (will I routinely use it) or if it brings you joy. The purpose of home decorating is to make your home more pleasant to live in, both in arrangement of items and practicality. Start with that. At this point, your home gives off a real pleasant comfort and warmth vibe. That it's a little cluttered looking just says to me that some comprehensive storage solutions, at bit of furniture re-arranging and some editing will turn it into a show stopper.

OMG ILoveMod, those Pendleton blankets were awesome! Drool, drool! But sadly, having lived in cabin-ey cool places most of my life, I am not allowed any more blankets in my collection . . .

l pinkmountain -- no blankets you say.... but what about pillows and wall hangings? 😉

We believe some items may be cluttering your space, but if you remove some of the clutter and if you add more pictures on the wall we think the space would work well.

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Roseclair Residence · More Info

I like your space. I could happily live there -- and I'm old. Obviously you are not afraid of color and that is a good thing. Don't buy into any advice to neutral it down. Some people hate taking risks, hate bright colors, hate purple, etc., but that is not you! Go for the colors you love and trust your instincts. I do think a brightly colored rug or one with a larger scale pattern would add more oomph and fun to the room.

I do have a question - is the couch a futon that you or guests sleep on or does it have cushions? Just wondering - you could go bolder with that cover on it, as well.

Examples:

( https://www.target.com/p/flatweave-dhurrie-geometric-fringed-woven-area-rug-opalhouse-153/-/A-53096790 )

( https://www.target.com/p/delois-rug-safavieh/-/A-79914148?preselect=79821147 )

( https://www.target.com/p/pomona-loomed-rug-safavieh/-/A-52895908 )

And one from Rugs USA:

( https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/united-weavers-willa/Plum/14171321482-P.html )

Before you buy anything, decide on how you will arrange your furniture. My concern is that you may buy something like a rug and then it doesn't fit properly in the space.