Interior Design 101

You don’t need a huge budget to get a new look for your home, because by playing with small decorations you can create something unique and creative. A lot of people are tired of the way their home looks, but don’t start a redecoration process because they imagine this costs a lot of money. However, you can make a huge impact with a small budget. That is, if you know how to combine elements and think outside the box. Here are two creative ideas that will help you add that extra kick to your bedroom, living room or garden, without burning a hole through your pocket.

No home can truly feel fresh and relaxing without one or two green elements. Whether you have a huge home with a garden, or a tiny apartment with a balcony, you can use garden pots to add a touch of spring to your home. These containers are indeed practical, but they don’t lack aesthetic appeal either. Some designs stands out through their quirky, pretty and colourful nature, so the pots alone are enough to make you smile. You might be used to simple, single-colored storage for flowers, but think again, because in the past years manufacturers have really started to come up with cool new designs. For example, you can buy a beautiful pot in pastel colours such as light green or blue, or play around with swirly or floral patterns. If you want to go for basic colours, then you can create beautiful combinations by buying three or more pots of the same colour. To avoid being too overwhelming, try not to combine too many patterns in the same space. If you have a garden, you can make it more colourful by scattering pots all over it. If not, then you can place them on window panes and make your room fresh and colourful.

Flower pots are outdoorsy, but what if you want to make a blank, empty room cosier? For that, scented candles are the perfect thing. Apart from the fact that they can smell amazing, like fruits, flowers, foods and any other scent you can possible think of, they aren’t bad at the decoration side either. Whether you opt for small votive candles or large jars, there is always a way of combining candles to make the room look more welcoming and romantic. For example, you can place a large candle jar near a flower vase or on your bedside table. One of the great things about these candles is that they come in beautifully designed jars, so you can easily find something cute or elegant to match the style of the room. A creative idea is to use votive holders in different shapes that create beautiful effects when the light is turned off.

These are just two ideas that prove that you don’t need a huge house or a huge budget to create a beautiful and welcoming home. With just a few dollars and some imagination, you can bring something new to your house and impress your guests and your family alike.

For more ideas about garden pots and scented candles, you can visit this website.

Don’t let the fear of making “design mistakes” keep you from creating a room that you love and one that you can live in happily for many years to come. Just make sure to avoid feeling like you HAVE to do something in order to create a picture perfect room. However, below are some of the most egregious decorating faux-pas you should avoid like the plague.

Keeping Something You Hate

Some interior designers may incorporate various things into their design plan, even something you hate. Whether they do this because you ask them to (“Help me love my funky wall color” or “Distract me from the ugly tile in the bathroom”) or they take it upon themselves to incorporate it, it’s often a big mistake. If you truly hate something, you’re not going to love it no matter what your designer does to make it more appealing.

The biggest mistake is asking the designer to incorporate something major, like ugly flooring, because you don’t want to pay to replace it. Your designer will base all of his or her design ideas around this one central thing so deciding down the road that it has to go means you’re going to have to redo all of your decor as well. Pony up the dough now to save more money down the road.

Don’t Pick Uncomfortable Furniture

Sounds simple but it’s a mistake a lot of people make when decorating a room. When you see a pretty piece of furniture that you just absolutely fall head over heels for, it’s hard to keep from buying it even if the cushions are a little hard and the back makes you sit straighter than a pole. Sure, this couch is going to look fabulous in your living room but you’re going to avoid that room after a while because that couch is about as comfortable as the Flinstone’s couch made of rock.

Make sure your dining chairs are comfortable, too. You’ll be spending lots of time in them every day. When you test them out, sit in them for a few minutes and decide if this is somewhere you can sit in for extended periods of time. Make sure you’ve measured your table’s height as well to ensure your chairs aren’t too short or tall.

Don’t Be Too Matchy Matchy

We love flipping through Houzz or Better Homes and Garden where these impeccably staged rooms match down to every last detail. Some old school designers will still drift towards this trend but students fresh out of interior design colleges will usually avoid this slightly outdated technique. They’ve been taught that this decorating method is best for selling a home or showcasing certain furniture pieces but it’s not ideal for people to live in.

Visit Herzing College for more information about interior design colleges.

Patrick Quinn is a Copywriter at Higher Education Marketing, a leading web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Marketing, and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other web marketing services and tools.

Decorating a space is a personal and sometimes painstaking endeavor. For the novice who decides to plunge ahead with a DIY project, there are many cable television shows that cater to every area of decorating and design that can offer helpful and insightful tips. But, what about the neophyte who wants to attempt decorating a space in their home for the very first time and require more guidance than an HGTV cable show can offer? For them, decorating can be a daring and daunting undertaking. Often, the most intimidating part of decorating for a beginner is choosing a paint color. Just imagine how overwhelming it must be to venture into a paint store and see hundreds of colors available (with the most creative names, I might add). Sure, the pros make decorating look easy; and to a pro it is. But for the amateur who desires a personal blueprint of sorts to get them started, there are basic tips that can be followed to point them in the right direction. Following is a brief overview of basic key areas to consider when attempting a DIY interior decorating project for the first time.

Determine the style for the space:
Resist the urge to jump right in. Begin by asking yourself a few questions about the space.

 

• What will I do in the space?
• How do I want to feel in the space?
• Who else will use the space on a regular basis?

 

If necessary, ask other members of the family the same questions. The answers to these queries will help to decide if the space is to be decorated formally or casually, for instance. Of course, there are other styles to be considered. The style chosen will determine many of the subsequent decisions such as the type of furniture placed in the room, the fabric chosen, as well as the type of window treatment that is installed, to name a few.

For example, the casual style typically has simple details, textured elements and lots of horizontal lines. The furniture tends to be large in scale and upholstered or slip covered. Whereas the formal style is inspired by period homes with elaborate architectural features and special attention is placed on symmetry and lines.

Choose the colors for your space :
As previously stated, this can be a great source of angst for the DIY decorator. Color has the ability to evoke emotional responses in people so consider the style and mood of the room and choose the color accordingly. For instance, red is a stimulating color well suited for family rooms. Green, on the other hand, is a calming color that would be a good choice for a space dedicated to relaxing. Because there are countless colors to choose from it is helpful to utilize what professional decorators call the rule of three. That is, use only three colors, excluding neutrals, in their various values, intensities, and textures to avoid a space that is overwhelming with too many colors that may or may not be complimentary.

Generally, the stronger or primary color is used for the accessories or perhaps an accent wall. Once a few colors are identified, preview them on small, inconspicuous parts of a wall so it can be observed in all types of lighting. Lighting will change how the color appears. Also, remember that paint always dries darker and seems more intense when an entire wall is painted as opposed to a small test area.

Pay attention to the paint finish. The shinier the finish, the easier it will be to clean. These high gloss finishes are perfect for high traffic areas like baths and kitchens. Good sources of inspiration for a color scheme are an area rug, fabric, or art piece to be used in the space. Select three colors from your inspiration piece and use them in the space.

Choose fabrics carefully:
The style you choose to decorate in and the purpose of the space will strongly dictate the kind of fabrics you choose. For instance, if you are decorating a family room that has a southern exposure in the casual style, fabrics that do not stand up to constant use (perhaps by children and pets) would not be a good choice. Additionally, a space that receives a great deal of sunlight would make using silks and other delicate fabrics prone to fade not cost effective options.

Be budget minded:
No matter which style you choose, always shop within your means. If you have to choose between an expensive piece of art and an economical sofa for the living room, purchase a really good sofa first. The sofa will need to withstand years of use. It would be wise to invest the larger part of your budget on a soundly constructed sofa that will end up saving you money in the long run. It is far easier to obtain budget friendly accent pieces that are aesthetically pleasing to balance out your décor. In time, those accent pieces can be replaced with more expensive ones, if necessary.

Choosing wall art:
Be creative when it comes to adorning your walls. Think outside of the box and consider a wrought iron sculptured piece or a wall vase with quality faux flowers cascading down. If you are putting together a gallery of photos, use the same color or metal finish frames as not to detract from the subject matter. Remember to measure twice to avoid turning your newly painted walls into Swiss cheese. Whatever you hang, the center of it should be between 62 – 65 inches from the floor.

There are a myriad of other factors to consider during the decorating process, such as implementing the elements of design, balance, harmony. The finished product should be both stylish and functional. Many of my fellow decorators enjoy consulting on DIY projects. I also enjoy assisting someone in the creating of their space. The bond that is established with a DIY client is as strong as when I take on a project on my own with little to no input from the client. It is rewarding to see the look of satisfaction on the face of someone who has embarked upon a DIY project and emerged on the other side with a space they can be proud to have decorated themselves. While it may be less stressful to hire a professional interior decorator, it is can be very gratifying to do it yourself. For those who feel up to the challenge, these basic guidelines will help immensely.

©Rena Bullard 2009
This article may be reprinted, in its entirety, with copyright information.

Rena Bullard is a Certified Interior Decorator and a professional member in good standing with Certified Interior Decorators International and The Society of Decorating Professionals. Although she is naturally gifted to be an interior decorator & home stager, she prides herself on staying abreast of the most current decorating and design information available to industry professionals.

Rena is qualified and trained to assist with space planning, artwork and accessory selection, color consultation, identifying furniture styles and periods, effectively using the elements and principles of design, and so much more. Rena has the reputation of getting the job done and done right.

Rena works collaboratively with her clients to ensure that when she is done the end result is the space desired.

Rena hosts a blog talk radio show on interior decorating and home staging topics and interviews industry professionals. Rena can be contacted via her website: [http://redecoratingbyrena.com/]