Posts Tagged ‘interior decorating’

Whether you are working with existing furnishings and fabrics or “starting from scratch” with an empty room, you should always use the elements and principles of design as a guide in choosing everything. The elements are your tools or raw materials, much like paints are the basics to a painter. The elements of design include space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles of design relate to how you use these elements and are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.

Element #1: Space
Space defines the boundaries and sets the limits on the functional and decorative things you can do. Usually you will not determine the space; instead, you will be faced with the challenge of using the existing space effectively.

Element #2: Line
The lines in a room are second only to color in importance when it comes to setting the overall mood or feeling of a room. The lines of window fashions should support the dominant line of the room. In most situations, the dominant line is straight (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) rather than curved. Your choice of emphasizing the direction of lines will determine the mood you want to create.
• Vertical lines add height and dignity, creating a more formal atmosphere. Vertical lines also balance the horizontal lines found in most furniture.
• Horizontal lines tend to create a restful, informal feeling. They work well in casual rooms or as relief to the strong verticals of formal rooms.
• Diagonal lines attract attention and lead the eye. They can be disturbing unless supported by verticals or opposing diagonals.
• Curved lines add a softening effect and keep the room from becoming too stiff. Use curved lines with some restraint to keep the room from becoming too soft and overly feminine.
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You’re almost finished! The chocolate leather sofa set you ordered two months ago is in place. You have your coffee table aligned perfectly across from your new entertainment center. The antique bird cage in the corner is just perfect for that entrance wall. But you notice there’s something missing as you gaze upon your newly furnished room. Those pesky blank walls!

We have all been in a similar situation. Just how do we accessorize what is possibly the most important part of the room? Well Patricia Buzo, owner of Patricia’s Palette, has come up with eight unique ways to dress up those boring walls.

1. Supersize your artwork with a trompe l’oeil wall mural.
A wall mural can do wonders for a blank, drab space by making the room appear larger and more inviting. The term “trompe l’oeil” literally means “fool the eye”. (Smart Tip: Wall murals can be combined with other ideas listed below such as # 6 and 7.)

2. Embellish your blank space with a hanging tapestry.
Tapestries can be custom ordered in many sizes, bringing in a sophisticated and elegant piece of art. These can be made of fabric, leather, or hand painted canvas.

3. Hang a stained glass window.
Obtain either salvaged pieces from churches and old buildings, or brand new ones made by local artisans. (Smart Tip: Place your old holiday lights behind the window to make the colors in the stained glass really glow.)

4. Accent the area by hanging a decorative screen.
By using a semi-folded screen you can create an unusual 3-dimentional accent for your décor.
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The average person visits the bathroom about 6-8 times a day, making it an average of 2,500 times a year. That adds up to about 3 years of your life on the john. If we factor in how much the average person spends in the shower or bath, taking into account here that we live in a hyper clean society, we have to tack on a couple more years. At least. And then think about everything else you do in there, from bathing your kids to getting ready for a night out. That’s a lot of time in that small space we call the bathroom.

It’s no wonder then, that remodeling trends for bathrooms have been doing flips and turns faster than the water going down in your toilet. And more spectacularly, too.

The bathroom has become a proper room in the home, much like a bedroom or a library. Bathroom remodeling has become a much more involved process that takes into account, rather seriously, the varying needs of the people using the space and the various design elements that can be incorporated into the space.
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Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If you’re looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:

1. Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)
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