I frankly don't believe in going bold with curtains, especially in a small space. That's all your eye is going to be able to see. I would look for a cream with some yellow in it for the curtains. Instead of the plates I would choose a large painting to add color and life to that area. If your theme is yellow and navy, then I would have chosen an area rug that would have those colors in it for a more cohesive statement, although the rug you've chosen is very nice. Are you planning to add some lighting in the living area? What you're doing for your daughter is so loving and sweet.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with the thought not to go bold with the curtains. I think they'd be fab and fun in this space, and help give it more of a personal touch. Can you share a photo of the curtains you've got in mind? I would use the same fabric on both windows to make the space cohesive. I really like the idea of plates on the wall, and I like the looks of the sofa and pillows. Are you going to hang that big mirror over the sofa or elsewhere? I don't mind your current rug, but might be inclined to change it depending on what the patterned curtains look like.

I'm so sorry your daughter has experienced health issues. I too think it's absolutely wonderful what you're doing for her while she's away.

Am I the only one here who is nervous about decorating a DD's apartment while she is away?

I am assuming that everything in place now is what your DD did and you want to finish up the space? Or like Ingrid assumed, that you bought the rug.

Here is my thought. I would not surprise your DD unless you know her taste for absolutely sure. But, I don't think that is the case since you are asking here.

With curtains you already see the above two posters disagreeing on going bold or not for the drapes.

I would talk to my DD and arrange either a shopping trip with her or a time when you can shop online with her. Let her pick her own finishing touches.

I do think this is lovely of you. We should all have such thoughtful moms.

Yes this could be exactly what your daughter wants or not so much. Only you know your relationship with your daughter and whether you are of one mind in decorating. Also, sounds like all of these things could be changed out at some point if they are not her cup of tea long term, but will offer her a cheery space for now. I always worry when I hear of someone helping to decorate as a well-meaning daughter of a close friend decided to redecorate/organize my friend's kitchen/great room while my friend was on vacation. My friend was so unhappy, she spent the evening after she arrived home in tears at my house. Her daughter went as far as thowing out kitchen tools and installing new floors. The rest was not so bad as it could be gradually redone. My friend was really upset, but she did not want to seem ungrateful, so she is living with this redone space that she hates. Assuming your daughter will be truly happy with a newly decorated space, the sofa is great where it is. Agree with Ingrid's idea of a large painting rather than plates. As much as I think plates are cute, the painting is more current. Love the idea of curtains in a geometric print, but maybe not too bright. Add unique pillows to make the room extra special. A few cute accessories to carry the colors into the kitchen and you will have a happy room.

I don't know..I have a (supposedly) life-long permission from my DD to decorate for her all future houses lol

(that may change when it comes to real houses of course. but in light of that-doesn't make me nervous..we don't know maybe Marcia has same verbal agreement with her daughter?)

as for the curtains I respectfully agree with Ida to respectfully disagree with Ingrid..)) why can't curtains be bold, why rug can, curtains can not? depends on a room, one's preferences, style..sometimes I want to dial curtains down so to say sometimes I don't. maybe I want the curtains to be the main thing in the room? maybe it's my main tool?

(what I do though in these cases-I try to keep curtains background close to the wall color. that trick, I do, yes. sometimes it's virtually the same color. so you have this effect of softness and maybe pattern without really interrupting the space too much.

so one can do that when going bold)

I also madly love fabrics for example. if I can use some opportunity and it still be within my vision-I'll use it. It won't be neccessarily print..or color..could be texture..fabric itself..

anyway. I wouldn't hesitate to go bold..but "bold" means different things to different people.

moreover, I'd use one pattern in the dining and a very similar one everywhere else, keeping it to the same color pallette.

so here, you have your third opinion about curtains:)

Love the rug, the sofa(that stands just right, at least in my opinion). the mirror..where would it go by the way?

i think though-don't buy any more furniture..I'm with eld here, let your daughter pick it herself/together with you. some finishing touches you know? should be fun. you don't need to finish the room. you did a lot already. and if you're too stressed /unsure about curtains-make this desicion with her too? or they probably can be returned I guess quite easily, and the rods will stay ready for other curtains?

Bring a plant though:) These are always good to us and to our houses

I wish her strong health! and I wish you-to have only good news from her. Only the very best.

That's amazing and thoughtful what you're doing, and it comes together nicely. Just allow yourself to not be completely done..houses are never completely done anyway. That's the whole point if you ask me:)

My mother could redecorate my house any time. After all I learned everything I knew about style and decorating from her. You know your relationship and it's pretty obvious when a mother/daughter share the same taste (or they have differences and understand those and work with that too.)

You are awesome for doing this. Your daughter is very lucky to have such a wonderful, caring and hard working mother at her side.

As for concrete advice, I second april.

PS: What a pretty arrangement for the plates you've mocked up. Lovely.

Thank you all for the comments! In regards to decorate without her knowing.... She is my best friend and she will love it!!! The furniture in the room... We bought together.

The mirror... I don't know how to use it. She bought it for the bedroom but it didn't work ...any ideas how to use the mirror?

Curtains... How difficult to choose one ... At first i liked this one but not sure anymore...

Please pull the sofa out of the corner.

I love the rug and the sofa. Don't think I'd do bold navy curtains with them, though. Maybe something tribal.

Looks like you're planning a gallery wall opposite the sofa. It would be sharp to have a looooooong TV stand that the TV and the art could both hang above.

Even best friends will have different ideas of what they want in a living space. You are treading on dangerous ground if you asked me. I think it would be nice to perhaps get the painting done, if you are sure she would like it and then work together for the other elements, giving her lots of input. Designing a space is a "process" and I hope this all works out well. So sorry for her health problems and hoping those are all resolved. groveraxle and I agree on the input of the sofa, rug, long TV console. Art is very personal, so I might have some ideas ready, but let her have some "choice" among ideas. That is my 2 cents. Best of luck. Very generous of you, just keep your creative juices toward her preferences. Plates on the wall seems like a very traditional idea, so I would select more modern approaches for someone younger?

Here are the navy curtains:

Maybe have a couple of each concept ready and on "display" that she can express her voice on and you can return the ones that don't hit a home run!

Yep, agree with groveraxle, again! Go neutral on the curtains. Art, pillows and perhaps a "throw" on the sofa can bring color into the space.

Please be sure that you are totally tuned into your daughter's likes and dislikes before you decorate her space for her. This should be done to her liking, not yours - that is what a designer does. I think their are areas that are safe though. You could concentrate on bringing more light into the space. Maybe you could come up with some storage solutions for her. Perhaps several fabric samples for her to choose from. This is dangerous territory, yet a great thought. Do not complete the space, but find ways to get her involved in the decision making when she returns.

I love those bold curtains! I think the neutral curtains are too bland. You know your daughter, and we don't. Does color and pattern make her happy? If so, the curtains you're considering are super. I might even be tempted to look for something similar but with a third color (like yellow) in there somewhere.

I understand why some are saying this is "dangerous territory", but I also think the OP has made it clear that her relationship with her daughter affords her this opportunity. I think we should take her at her word and just try to help her make some decisions. :-)

I'm not a fan of the navy curtains. It would be the first and only thing I'd notice when entering the room. Somehow a bold curtain doesn't seem to be the feel she's going for with such a neutral sofa and rug. I'd get neutral curtains and add lots of color with paint, art and accessories.

if by taking sectional out of the corner you mean pulling it a bit away from the walls I wholeheartedly agree. Just pull it several inches forward

as for the curtains..lol..my nickname's so telling-it's really hard to stop talking sometimes, right? lol ok..I still think: "bold"..it can be very tame bold though, yet still a bit bold. my reasoning? well first of all the OP and presumably her daughter seem to like it. second. it's a simple room with standard ceiling, no molding, nothing architectural going on(which is fine..half of my rooms now are like that..I bet half of the world's rooms are like that. probably more)..you create it then. you create feeling of architecture. it can be many things. I believe it can be pattern too. you introduce shapes..you introduce dimension if the fabric allows it. you divert one's attention from what's not going on in the room. you create your interest. your eyes go up..they travel more.

and no, it doesn't have to be really dark chevron on really white background. you can find things that will tie together the wall color, the hints of blue..introduce some geometry..introduce texture..it can be bold and subtle you know. It can be subtly bold:)

granted I don't know a) your budget b) how long do you have..or think you have, to put the curtains up. some aren't on display, you should order them and stuff. So until you look, decide, order, they ship it..minimum a week. maybe more..probably more. but it might be well worth waiting.

so I won't post suggestions for now. but I do have some in mind

the plates..I suppose Marcia knows that her daughter would like the plates? maybe these are significant to her, a collection she had before but didn't have time to put up yet?

Because art is so personal..and the OP is obviously a very thoughtful mother..I'd presume(I can be mistaken of course) she gave a lot of thought to art specifically?

maximum-can be tweaked and changed

the idea of a gallery wall above TV stand/TV -very cool!

now, the mirror..honestly? I don't know. It's beautiful. It's quite big too. I don't see the whole room from all angles. Wasn't it a mirror, I'd say "lean it for now". but it's a mirror, and I'm a Nervous Nellie..superstitious as hell

(I myself have a mirror I don't know where to put lol. Like, I have several places to put it. But I want to keep my possibilies open for art. and the mirror doesn't fit in the bathroom where it was expected to go-electrical plan went differently than I thought

so. I think our mirrors could befriend each other meanwhile..while we figuring them out..))

I have nothing against bold blue drapes for the living room. I do not, however, like the ones proposed because of the bright white chain design against all those warm tones in the room. I have not found anything to replace them with yet. I have looked around a bit. I'll keep trying. I do love groveraxel's linen or burlap panels. I think they bring out the best in the beautiful rug and handsome sofa. If only there were drapes that combines the best of both.

ohhh Marcia that makes me sad. It would have been so fun and a nice surprise!! But I can see where safe is better than sorry. So many of the suggestions really come down to personal choice. Me I would want the back of the sofa to the dining room..but with the sectional (love it by the way) that probably wouldn't work. I love plates..but no way my daughter will ever incorporate mine in her decor when I am gone. Both my DD's moved into new apartments this summer. It "should" be no problem for a mom to set up a daughter's kitchen..but boy was it, for DD#2. Perhaps you could shop and put together some story boards so that when she returns she can make the final choices then you can BAM put it together?

I think you made the right decision. My mother "thinks" she knows me and my tastes, but sadly she has no clue. In my mother's case she would be doing it as a mechanism for controlling me and trying to make me be a person I am not. I am not saying this is the case for you, but it would be more fun to do as a project together if you are truly best friends.

Yes, I am glad you decided to wait too. Maybe get her something she can open when she gets back?

Since you say you know her taste, one piece of art would be a nice touch along with you explaining how you plan to help her finish up the room's decor.

Your heart is in the right place, and you made the right decision. You have some great ideas going in, you are sure to end up with a room that she loves.

Who knew there could be a decorating rorschach test. We all saw this through the lens of our relationships with our own mothers.

Count me in the column that says it's too bad you were dissuaded from making this surprise for your daughter. Never the less, you will have a wonderful time putting together a fantastic space with your daughter. Doing things together is its own special fun too.

Marcia, here's a ton of blue and yellow Ikat drapes which I particularly like as they give a room a little more personality. I do think both rooms should have the same drapery treatment and I also believe you will choose exactly something you're daughter will love. That mirror can be used most anywhere, even the foyer for a quick glance before one leaves.

"If only there were drapes that combines the best of both."-there are..))

but since the decision was made to wait..there's time for this

(my Mom asks me to decorate for her.

My Grandma on the other hand wouldn't let anyone even as much as say a word to her about what's she's doing in our rooms(and all rooms she considered to be hers lol).

But if she'd be alive right now and enter my house-I think it would feel to her as her own. Obviously it's different. Different times, I'm a different person, with my life and all. It just feels the same. I don't know whether it'd be fun to do a project with her. Probably not lol. I'm stubborn. She was like me multiply hundred..

that's all off topic of course

but that's an interesting off topic for sure.

Marcia, good luck to you! And have a lot of fun decorating together with your daughter..it'll be so pretty, so personal in the end.

Marcia, I'll try again, here it is. Ikat drapes

I'm glad you are waiting. My young adult daughter is a pleaser. If I surprised her with decorating, she would live with it for years before admitting that there were things that she didn't like.

You can still scratch your decorating itch by making a few mock ups or mood boards to share with her.

I loved the yellow curtain!!!

here is my sketch...

What do you guys think to paint an accent wall? If yes, what color?

I don't care for accent walls as a rule. I think they chop up a space. Are you looking for more color in the room? Might a change in wall color be of interest to you? Sometimes I think people want an accent wall as a relatively easy way to incorporate a more bold color, but I think that looks disjointed.

Do you think you might like an even bolder plate arrangement in the dining area? I've seen some pretty dramatic walls all done up in blue and white transfer ware, for example. You could expand that section of the wall and get greater impact, especially if you stick to a monochromatic scheme.

I love the yellow drapes. Here is a fabric I found from P. Kaufmann:

There is no wall suitable for an accent wall here. You might consider painting the entry space and replacing the blinds. A less blinding entry light would be nice.

The plates are cute.

There's nothing wrong with the rug that I can see. In fact, I like it. What doesn't work with the sofa and rug is the coffee table. Too traditional.

You did a great job hanging the plates, what a pretty shape you made. Beautiful.

I second groveraxle. The rug is great, absolutely nothing wrong with it. The coffee table is too small in diameter, too tall and too traditional for the sofa.

You are a very kind mother!

The plates look super! (And don't worry about "us" being upset! You are following your heart, and only you know your daughter ... we certainly don't!) :-)

I love that Kaufmann fabric that Rita shared. That's along the lines of what I was envisioning early on for this space. Fun, fresh, young, a bit bohemian - I think that would really rock!

I actually love the rug!

A more modern coffee table...

Yes, wait for her. The two of you can start a new design dilemma, then go shopping and have lunch.

My daughter and I are very close. Not only would I not decorate her condo while she was away, I would not go into her condo without her knowledge.