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10
Commandments of Decorating
1. Learn what inspires you.No longer do we need
to classify ourselves into a particular decorating style. Decorating
today is about bringing together a variety of elements that
inspire you. Maybe you're mostly traditional, but a sleek-lined
contemporary faucet really inspires you. Don't be afraid to mix
and match-just make it your own unique style.
2. Don't settle on decorative items just to
fill space. The decorative elements in a room should be
functional and inspirational. When searching for these items,
don't settle on something that you are not sold on just because
it fits your room or budget. If you can't afford to purchase the
items that you love and will make you enjoy the room-be sure to
wait. Leaving walls bare or rooms empty for a while will be
worth the wait to have the perfect room.
3. Make a plan. It's like the saying "measure
twice, cut once." Be sure that you have a plan before you start
decorating any room. This will ensure that the room will function
the way that you need it to and it will help to make the entire
design more cohesive.
4. Invest in quality. With more homeowners
interested in decorating, be wary of discount retailers. Just because
it's pretty, doesn't mean it's quality. Buy brands that you know
and trust. It may cost you a little more initially, but will
provide you better results in the long run.
5. Embrace color. Color is a great way to
infuse your personality into a room, so don't be afraid to use
it! Find what shades make you happy and add some life to your
room. Especially in smaller rooms that you don't use as often,
such as a powder room, let your creativity run wild and express
your personality through color.
6. Decorate for you, not your neighbor. While
styles and trends are great ways to get new ideas to spruce up a
room, don't base your entire design around what you think will
impress your guests. Make sure that your style is uniquely
yours. Remember-you have to live with your decorating choices every
day, not your neighbors!
7. Pay attention to lighting. In addition to the
functional aspects, lighting also helps to set the mood or add
decorating to a room. Try different types of lighting, such as
incandescent or halogen, or use lighting fixtures, such as
sconces and chandeliers as part of your design theme.
8. Incorporate art. Many homeowners think
expensive price tags when they think of art. However, art
doesn't have to have a high monetary value as long as it has
high personal value. Framing personal photographs of your
favorite vacation can add a beautiful statement to a room, while
making it uniquely your own. Even a unique faucet and sink as
the focal point of a room can be considered art!
9. Be sure to utilize all six room surfaces:
four walls, a floor and ceiling. If you're like most homeowners,
when it comes to decorating, you only think about the four walls
and floor of a room. But don't forget the ceiling. If there is
no crown molding in a room, there is no reason to not extend the
color on the walls into the ceiling to create a cohesive,
never-ending look to the room. Just be sure to choose a ¼
lighter shade of paint on the ceiling since horizontal planes
tend to look darker than vertical planes. Also, be sure to
choose quality surfaces for your flooring. As the most used
surface in a room, quality that will withstand foot traffic is
essential.
10. Be sure your room decor fits with the rest
of your home. With open floor plans becoming more popular, it is
important that you consider how your new decor will fit or flow
into the other rooms of your home. Consider how the color
schemes or design styles fit together. Pull your favorite
elements from one room into another, such as coordinating the
metal finishes of the faucets and hardware of the kitchen into
the metal surfaces of the lamps and coffee tables of the great
room.
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