Plan Your Home Decor Changes
If you start decorating without a plan, you're going at it backwards. Don't end up with a piece of furniture that serves no purpose or a color scheme that simply doesn't work.
Before you do anything to change your home decor—whether it's just one room or the entire house—you must plan ahead. Ask yourself (and others in your family, if it's a group decision) what you want to accomplish. Is it just to get a fresh look with a new color on the walls, or is it to really throw out the old and start all over again?
Choosing the Right Paint and Colors
If it's a new wall color you're considering, make sure the paint you purchase will complement your existing furnishings. Don't rush out to your nearest home supply store and purchase a can of paint just because it's on sale. Get several paint swatches and bring them home.
In fact, many stores now have sample jars of paint that enable you to actually paint a small portion of your wall to see how that particular color works with your scheme. Try these expert tips:
- Test multiple shades: Get several samples and paint them on the wall.
- Observe lighting changes: Let them dry and view these colors in different light (daylight vs. artificial light).
- Match your furnishings: Determine which color really enhances your room's existing furniture.
A color that looks really great during the daylight hours, with sun streaming in, can look entirely different in artificial light. Do your homework and you'll be pleased with the new look!
Selecting Furniture and Accessories
Homework applies as well to major jobs. Consider what each room is used for and get furniture that's appropriate. Chairs and couches—even accent furniture—for a family fun room would not necessarily be right for a formal living room.
Make sure you have proper measurements and diagrams of where windows and doors are located and, above all, have a decorating plan so that all items coordinate, from carpets to wall coverings.
Setting Goals and Budgets
There's really no one ideal way to start a home decorating project. You can get the bug by looking at a magazine and imagining some home decorating ideas, or seeing a beautiful fabric in a store and suddenly feeling that yours just doesn't match up.
Whatever your reason is to tackle a decorating job, it is very important that you set your goals first. At the same time, you must establish your budget. It's all well and good to have very lofty home decorating ideas, but your goals may have to be tempered by your finances. Develop your budget and establish a clear plan.
Finding Inspiration Online
Go online to get some really great home decorating ideas and cost-saving tips. Many online merchants allow you the luxury of cost comparisons without leaving your home. You'll be able to find casual and formal furniture as well as creative decorating ideas for any room in your home.
There's a wealth of information available to you, including books on decorating, accessories from lamps to rugs, and from throw pillows to silk floral arrangements.
"Before you start pounding the pavement, going from one retail store to another, go online to see what's available, determine pricing, and see if your plan is a reasonable one."
Embracing Your Unique Style
If you are one of the thousands who like the warmth and charm of a country home decor, the Internet has many sites that feature a large variety of home furnishings to help you achieve your desired look. Remember that "country" doesn't necessarily mean the log cabin look; it can be achieved in homes that are of traditional or contemporary architecture.
If a particular piece is something that really appeals to you and looks good in your home, does it really matter what style it is officially called? The answer is simple: no. Just follow good principles of decorating and use your imagination and good sense to achieve your desired look. Good luck on your decorating projects!
