Need a Home Decorating Idea?
We have Easy Decorating Tips
by Deborah Gaskill
Coming up with a
home decorating idea is a challenge that not all of us find easy to
accomplish. I personally don't happen to be a professional interior decorator,
but have educated myself enough though trial and error, television
home decorating shows and the internet that I feel strong enough to take a
stab at do-it-yourself home decorating. Apparently it has paid off as my
friends and family often look to me for home decor tips. It's fun do decorate...so jump in and go for it!
You'll be amazed to discover a true home decorating talent you didn't know you had. To get started, I have outlined some home decorating tips to get your project started on the right foot.
*
First and foremost, the number one place to start with decorating
your home is to choose your home style. Specific styles often require
a small range of color schemes and specific design features.
Therefore, before choosing your exact colors or architectural
features you may want to do a little research on the home style you
have chosen. A great resource to help you stay true to your home decorating style is
with home
décor books.
Your home style will also determine the architectural elements that should be added to your room decor. For example, if you are wanting a Neoclassical style (Greek & Roman Style) then columns, arched doorways and windows, strong dentil mouldings and an elaborate hand-forged staircase should be considered.
The following three resources for choosing your home decorating style will help you get started:
 
Please Note: In
order to keep all your decorating ideas organized, don't forget to
download your free copy of my e-book "Scrapbooking
Your Home Plans".
* Second
would be to select your colors. This is one of the greatest
challenges I have had in the past—coming up with a color scheme.
Gosh, all those paint colors...what to choose. Well, if you're like
me you need help! You can find many different places on the web that
offer help in choosing paint colors that will ease the pain in selecting the color palate of your room decor. Here's a few of them.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/
has a Color Visualizer program that you can work with to
select your paint colors. When I worked with the program I kept
getting an error message. Perhaps, you'll have better luck.
http://www.behr.comf/
offers a program to help you select your colors too, however I did
not find it very helpful. And the inspiration area made me a little
dizzy with how they move the photos in and out to view. Though, I
love working with this paint brand as it is quite easy to work with
and is very durable.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com
offers another paint program to use. It is fairly easy to use and
the overall visualization will at least help you discover the tone
of color you are leaning towards.
Save yourself
money and time:
One fo the most Important Decorating Tips to keep in mind: You will not get an exact color match over your computer screen or by
printing it out on paper. The only way to get an exact match is to get a paint sample. In addition, a paint color can take on many different color appearances in your home due to lighting and
shadowing of your room.
For instance, you
may love a specific golden yellow shade so you buy it, paint your
walls and when you are finished are horrified with the color. This is
why it is so crucial to purchase a little sample of paint before
purchasing a huge quantity.
Paint at least a 1
sq. ft. area on each of your walls to see the difference the lighting
of the room makes with the color. After you have painted the areas
see how the paint color appears both day and night. IF you are happy with the
color then go ahead and buy it. However, if you are incorporating fabrics into your room decor, it is a good idea to get all your fabrics selected prior
to buying your paint so that you can make sure your overall room decor stays on track as some fabric choices offer colors that are difficult to match paint colors.
 
* Third –
Select your flooring. Deciding
on a flooring material can often times be difficult. Let me help
narrow your search by helping you rule out some obvious choices.
Please Note: You must have the colors of your room picked out before
choosing your flooring so that your floor will compliment your walls
and visa-versa.
Would
You Prefer:
a.___Hard
surface or b.___Soft Surface
If you chose "a." you might consider floor tile, ceramic, marble, or stone or wood
flooring. However, if your household has the tendency to drop heavy
objects on the floor you'll want to protect the floor with a
cushioned area rug to prevent breakage and expensive repairs.
c.___Permanent
Flooring or d.___I'd like the option to change the flooring
If you selected "d." stay away from tile, marble, stone and
wood flooring and consider either carpet or the new floating floors
that are available in the wood floor and ceramic tile look. If
someone in your household has asthma or allergies it is best to stay
away from wall to wall carpet as it is a great place to harbor
allergens.
e.___Neutral
Shades or f.___Color Specific Hews
If you would like the option to change your room's color palate then you should stay away
from a floor with color specific hews.
g.___I
have small children/pets or h.___no kids or pets
The best way to keep your flooring more durable with children and pets is to stay
away from carpeting. If you would like a softer feel on your feet
then consider inexpensive area rugs over a tough washable surface,
such as tile. Hard wood flooring should also be steered away from as
pet's toe nails can scratch and those "accidents" can
permanently warp and sustain odors fairly easily.
i.___I
live in a humid area or j.___I live in a dry area
If you live in a humid area it is best to stay away from natural fibers such as
carpeting and solid wood flooring as they can be a catalyst to
harboring mold and mildew in your carpet and warping wood floors. It
is best to use permanent flooring such as ceramic, porcelain, marble,
stone or terra cotta tile in extremely humid areas.
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*Fourth
- choosing your furniture,
which kind of goes hand in hand with the above aforementioned. The
furniture you choose for your room can either make or break the look
you are trying to achieve. Although, nowadays, it is the design trend
to make your rooms look as if your furniture has been collected over
time.
The
Europeans have been decorating this way for centuries; we Americans
are just catching on. We previously required that every piece of
furniture match exactly in style and color. Nowadays it's okay to
have odd pieces from different eras as long as they enhance the
general scope of the decorating scheme.
 
*
Fifth - when planning your home décor it is crucial to
know exactly how everything will fit in a room before wasting money
on buying furniture that won't fit.
I
have created a furniture template guide to easily make your
own templates at very little cost, if any, to you! It takes only
seconds to create
a furniture, cabinet, or appliance template accurately. All you have
to do is follow my simple instructions and violà, you have
room arrangement at its best. This
one of a kind guide offers easy instructions and "Conversion
Charts" to help you make precise
templates – even for that unique
and unusual piece of furniture!
Learn
How to Make Precise Furniture Templates from BuildWisely's Home
Planning Guide-Order Today and Save-Now Only $10.00!
*
Sixth – Accessorize! Nothing pulls a room together more than
accessories! Whether you are a minimalist or like to go all out,
selecting the right accessories will make your room sing! Accessories
include pillows, throws, books, baskets, plants and art pieces (such
as framed work, vases, statues, plates, etc.) that bring out the
character of your room design.
*
Seventh – Let there be light! Nothing enhances a room's
appearance and sets the mood more than lighting. Lighting can bring
out the best features to make your room shine.
Fill
Lighting – This type lighting is intended to evenly fill up
your entire room with light, such as overhead lighting from either a
chandelier or fixed ceiling light.
Spot
Lighting – This type of lighting is intended to show off a
special room feature such as a painting, furniture piece, and
especially, your room's focal point. It should grace the object
without overpowering it. A soft flood of light should be directed at
the object it is enhancing. This can be accomplished by using either
recessed lighting or tract lighting.
Task
Lighting – Lamps are especially needed when you want to have a
place to read and/or work. Whether it be a floor lamp or desk lamp
no room should be left without task lighting.
Mood
Lighting – This type of lighting can be either in the form of a
wall sconce, candles, or rope lighting—your mission is to
create a soft relaxing atmosphere. Tip: Place a string of rope
lighting atop cove moulding set a few inches below the ceiling to
softly light your entire room. Or, you can place rope lighting above
or below your cabinets to give your kitchen that designer panache.
Up
Lighting – This type of lighting is placed on the floor behind
a plant or piece of furniture in order to cast shadows to set a
dramatic scene for your visual pleasure. Caution: Make sure you use
up lights that are made specifically for sitting on the floor in
order to prevent fires from occurring.
We will continue to add more Home Decorating Information to help you achieve the home you've always dreamed of.
My best to you,
Deborah Gaskill
Need another Home Decorating Idea?
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