Posts Tagged ‘Painting’

With the new craze for interior decorating inspired by “home makeover” television programs, more and more people are tempted to hire a professional decorator, even if they can’t afford one.

Simplicity: the Art of Home Decorating

If you’re thinking about breaking the bank for the sake of a beautiful room, think again. You don’t have to spend as much as an oil tycoon to have a home every bit as beautiful. Here’s why:

A pair of human eyes can only take in so much, no matter how much is put before them.

The secret is not to aim for beauty that comes from opulence, but for a simple beauty. And simple beauty is usually less expensive.

The best way to go for simple beauty in interior design is to make the focus of a room a single well-chosen decorative element.

Art Prints: Simple Home Décor Focus

But what single beautiful element could you actually afford?

Unless you happen to get really, really lucky at a crafts fair or estate sale, there’s only one sure way to buy high taste on a low budget. Not original paintings or expensive wallpaper. Just a well-chosen print of a painting or photograph that reflects your style and taste and matches your room.

Surprised at such a simple answer to the decorating conundrum? Perhaps, like most people, you do not understand what art prints really are.

What Art Prints Are Not

Art prints are not posters.

Posters are made using paper stock similar to what magazines use. Art prints are made using special heavier print stock especially for prints.

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At will you can finish bedroom walls with wood, cloth, veneer sheet or cork. Natural materials are distinguished by the characteristic structure and color, they do not have cheerless monotony and always look warm and lively, which is especially topical for creating comfort in the bedroom.
Partially the image of the bedroom is defined by color that dominates in its setting.

Blue or dark blue plunge you into the thoughts of coolness and sky space. Green tones are associated with spring, freshness, they favor relaxation, but their emotional restraint requires active support from warm colors. Beautiful combinations are made as a result of combining pale shades with rich, saturated color and light.

Yellow gamma is like sun rays, it warms and animates the room, but it is recommended that vast yellow surfaces are freshened with fragments of other saturated colors. It is better to soften orange by combining it with cool key of gray-blue or one can experiment with its pale shades. Red is considered “to cheer up”, but it is difficult to wake up in such a bedroom. It is better to use red colors as a light accent.

Violet is deep and expressive, especially in combination with mild yellow or green background. Ascetic black-and-white gamma is actively used in popular minimalist stylizations. But the best decision for bedroom is thought to be shades of white that remind of baked milk or soft gray that approaches the color of flax linen. Effective are combinations of light and dark, weak and saturated colors.
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In special terminology bedroom is referred to as “the intimate space”, i.e. the place that is not intended for others’ glances. However, the bedroom in a modern apartment-studio can be only conditionally separated from other zones by light constructive elements: arches, columns, sliding partitions, screens, etc.

According to the tradition, bedroom is isolated and is placed in one of the far and noiseless parts of the apartment, but at will one can also arrange here a workplace that won’t allow the premises to “stand idle” in the daytime, or the drawing-room.
In the apartment with high ceilings one can make the entresol and place the bed on the second level. As a result, there will appear some additional space for arranging workplace or cloakroom. (By the way, the place to store clothes is one of the main elements of bedroom. Even if it is possible to arrange a separate cloakroom, it would better place it adjacent to the bedroom. A small cloakroom can be separated from the bedroom by the rigid, but light mobile partitions that are commonly used for organizing of fitted cupboards).

One of the original decisions is the podium-case. For this the dais is built in the room and the bed is mounted inside of it. Boxes for bedclothes are placed on the sides. In the case of need the bed easy moves out on rollers.

The podium area can be used as cabinet (the workplace), library, etc. Such planning of the room empties space for area of recreation (drawing-room).

Not less original is the bedroom in the “Eastern” style.

In this case the bed is replaced by the mattress, which, with a help of the carpet, is transferred into the couch with many pillows, when it is necessary to transfer the room into the drawing-room.
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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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1. The easiest way to jazz up your outdoor deck or patio is by using splashes of color. Sometimes it only means investing in a few accent pieces that make a bold statement and your outdoor living space perks right up. You don’t always have to buy new – with a little elbow grease and some creativity you can make second hand items look brand new. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

2. Before you begin, clear everything off of your deck or patio and give it a good pressure wash. If it needs staining, all the new furniture in the world won’t help – bite the bullet and give it a new coat of stain or paint. This is actually a great place to get started with colorful accents. Try painting your fence posts a bright, coordinating color such as teal. Or paint a pattern or border around the edge of your deck.

3. Decks are for socializing, so show that you are ready for company. The addition of metal furniture is inexpensive and comes in lots of great colors. Place a colorful bar cart in the corner and load it up with bright acrylic glassware.

4. Give your old wicker furniture a facelift by painting it in bright sunny colors, or if you’re feeling adventuress, use a stencil and add flowers or other patterns. Just use acrylic paint, but seal it with varnish to protect your paint job.

5. Get a hold of a galvanized bucket or oblong container, paint it bright blue or orange and add a vine pattern on the outside. Voila, now you have a fancy ice-bucket for all your coolers. Remember, unless you’re using a food-safe paint, the surface should not come in direct contact with food.
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