Designing or redesigning a space can be an overwhelming project. Where do you start? If you are taking on such a project, start with the basics. Determining what matters is the first step.

What matters most when you are designing a room? Is it the color or the shape of the room? Both of these things are important, sure, but they are not at the beginning of the design process. Let’s take a look at what you want to accomplish with the space you first.

Function (more…)

You don’t have to sink a lot of money that you don’t have into changing your home. In fact, it doesn’t take a lot of dough to make changes that will change your mood in your home. Use the following makeover tips to express changes in your style whenever you feel the need.

1. Make Use of Rugs – These can be large, medium, round or square rugs depending on your style. Area rugs can change the feel in a room and also protect your carpet underneath. Area rugs work well on hardwood floors to define spaces. Place one under your dining room table. In the living room place, a different rug under the furniture in each area of the room as a sort of dividing technique. (more…)

When decorating your kitchen there are a few things that you should keep in mind. The first being functionality, everything you put into your kitchen needs to enhance the beauty as well as maintain your kitchen’s functionality. For example colors. Now days you can get your entire countertop appliances in the same color, and not just white or black anymore either. Let’s say you’re going to have your main color be purple. You can get your pots and pans, dishes, microwave, blender, and so on all in the same shade of purple so that everything matches.

If you decide to go with a pattern like grapes or apples then you will want to make sure that the items you choose to decorate with will have some function as well. You may want to get an apple shaped cookie jar or apple shaped teapot, cups and saucers. All of which will add to your kitchens décor as well as still being functional.

If your kitchen did not come with a lot of counter space which most kitchens don’t then you may want to consider using more wall decorations.  You may know that almost anything can be turned into a wall decoration. You can take the saucers and hang them up using a plate wall hanger which you can get at most of your local stores. Another way to hang plates would be to build a small shelf that will allow you to not only display your plate but the cup that matches it as well.

The next best way you can add your special touch to your kitchen is with curtains. You can get your curtains to match the solid color that you have chosen or you can get curtains that have the same pattern that you have chose like the apples. Most kitchen curtains are going to be pretty sheer (meaning see through). However you can get a more solid curtain that is less sheer. Personally I would recommend getting the more sheer ones as they will allow more light to get into the kitchen.

Once you have chosen your kitchens décor there is one more thing that you will need to decide on and that is going to be “what color should you paint your kitchen?” the most common color to paint a kitchen is white. However you may want to go with the same shade as all of your counter top appliances, or even a lighter shade of that color. The best advice I can give on this is; the lighter the color is that you paint your walls the brighter your kitchen will be. I recommend going with white base that you can either sponge a light shade of your chosen appliance color or to use white base with just a hint of that color.

Another way to add to your kitchen walls is by putting a border that has your chosen pattern on it. Once again I would apply this over a white base. This is so that you can try and keep your kitchen as bright as possible.  The reason that I say this is because some kitchens are not very bright.

By using these tips you should be able to truly enjoy your kitchen; since after all this is the one room in your house that you will spend the most of your time in cooking and cleaning. It is also the room where everyone always seems to end up when you are having a party or family gathering.

Who says that designing a home has to be monochromatic? Have some fun with it and think outside the box. Pattern and different color schemes have made their way into homes all across the world with great results.

What are patterns?

In interior design, they are shapes, lines and repeating series that draw your attention. When working with patterns it is necessary to find one that you like. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a family room staring at a pattern you can’t stand. Make sure whatever you pick is one you can live with and actually enjoy.

Patterns used to be just vertical or horizontal lines. Things have certainly changed since then. Now, you can find tons of patterns to choose from and finding one that fits your personality and your home’s theme is fairly easy.

A pattern that works in your home could be horizontal lines with alternating blocks of complementary colors. If you like the pattern, the next step is finding ways to incorporate it into the scheme of the room. Everything doesn’t have to exhibit the pattern. Your living room will look like a page from an M.C. Escher book.

Let’s say that your pattern features beige and a shade of green. Use those two colors throughout the room as solids. If this is the pattern for wallpaper, try furnishings that have green upholstery to make the beige stand out. In contrast, buy a beige area rug.

For floral patterns, pick out several colors from the print and use them throughout the room. The floral designs will jump out but not too boldly. The other colors help to keep it from overpowering every feature of the room.

Sometimes, your pattern could come from a piece of furniture or a picture. Use it as the focal point of your room and decorate around it.

Color Talk

First, let’s get something straight: Primary colors are for kindergarten classrooms and toddlers. For your living spaces, go a bit bold with the colors. Different colors evoke different feelings in us. For example, yellows may remind you of a spring day in your garden. Orange may bring to mind the pumpkin you decorated for Halloween last year.

Use your emotions to choose the colors you want to fill your home. Purple may be vibrant and alive in the room on Extreme Makeover but it might fall flat and actually look hideous in your own home. Use color swatches and hold them up to your walls and see how you feel. One color can take on different subtle shades depending on the level of light present in a room.

Mesh color and pattern together to create the home of your dreams. Each room doesn’t have to be the same color but within the room, let color and pattern flow effortlessly. To avoid feeling awkward in your own home, choose color associated with pleasant emotions and memories.

Sometimes the simplest changes are the most powerful in your home. One such change is to add mirrors to your design scheme. Mirrors can be of any size and shape to fit your home décor needs.

What is it about seeing yourself in a mirror? You can admire or hate them, but you can’t stop looking at them. Use mirrors to enhance features in your home and create a showpiece that friends and neighbors will talk about. In a good way that is!

A mirror contains a reflective surface. You can see yourself and whatever is behind you at the time. That’s the key – mirrors aren’t just for your guests to admire themselves in. Sunlight bounces off of mirrors and dances on walls creating an untold number of effects. As the sun goes down, this can be a beautiful sight to behold as you relax in your living room or den.

Small Spaces

The use of mirrors can open up a small space. Let’s take a bathroom for instance. You already have at least one mirror in your bathroom over the sink most likely. Use a full length mirror on the adjacent wall to create a feeling of depth to a small bathroom space. A mirror placed across from the bathroom window also adds depth to the room.

Use mirrors as artwork on the walls of your favorite room. Anyone looking in the mirror can get a panoramic view of the room. Unlike paintings, the view will change with the lighting in the room. When you choose to redecorate, it will give a whole new view too.

Large Spaces

Mirrors can turn large spaces into even bigger ones simply by using them to create an illusion. If you have the money and know-how, turn a wall into a mirrored surface. In your bedroom that area can be used to dress in the morning. For the sake of function, turn closet doors (sliding or opening) into mirrored surfaces. For those with smaller bedrooms, this is a great way to save space.

Large spaces provide a lot of surface area to play with mirrors. Instead of always using one larger mirror, try creating a collage surface with different sized mirrors. Creating a pattern of mirrors on a long wall in the living room or dining room, gives guests a view from several different angles.

Mirrors don’t have to be the same shape and size either. Use round ones for bathrooms, rectangular ones for the hallway and square ones for the kitchen. Mirrors can also be framed for a cleaner look that matches any color combination.

Hang your mirrors so that no hardware is seen. Be sure there is room enough in the hallways, for instance, so that the mirror can be raised from the surface but not so far out that people will nudge it every time they walk down the hallway.

Incorporating mirrors into your interior design is an easy way to add length and depth to small rooms. For larger rooms, it adds a new dimension to the space. Play around with different layouts of your mirrors and before you know it you’ll find the perfect solution to spicing up the décor of every room in your house.

It is not true that only the well-to-do can afford an interior designer. If you use the resources available to you, an interior designer can help you to achieve your goals for your home. Here are a few tips to follow when looking to hire a designer.

1. Look Locally – If you live in a large metropolitan area, there are probably hundreds of design shops all around you. Some of those designers may be willing to work for an hourly fee to help you to get started on your home projects. Ask friends or family members who have recently remodeled who they used to design their rooms. A local designer means no traveling and easy access to them if changes need to be made.

2. Fees – Of course there is the issue of money. Interior designers can be expensive so find out up front what they charge for their expertise. To save money, start with a smaller room in your home or implement suggestions over time as you can afford to do so. Don’t worry. There are designers who are willing to work with you on the fee schedule, sometimes you just have to shop around a bit to find them.

3. Have Ideas of What You Want to Accomplish – This is a biggie. You can get into trouble and lose control of the project when you let the designer decide what you do with the room. Clip pictures from design magazines, write down your favorite colors and determine your personal style before meeting with the designer. That way, you know if the particular designer you are talking to can help you. Some designers specialize in different areas of style. Some of the more common styles include country living, modern chic, French Provencal or other areas.

4. Interview Potential Designers – This can be done in your home (so they can see the space) or in their shop. It doesn’t have to be a formal interview either. Create a list of questions that will help you determine who can meet your needs best. Ask your questions as you’re browsing their studio. Record their answers and review them later to see who the best match for you is.

5. Ask for a Portfolio – Ask to see samples of their work. This way you can see for yourself how their designs work in real homes and apartments. In magazines, pictures often are accompanied by stories from the designer or at least a mention of their names. Don’t be afraid to contact the specific designer yourself.

Are you interested in making changes to your home? If you’re ready to switch things up a bit and make it more fitting to your family and your budget, hiring an interior designer can save you a lot of time and headache. Use these five tips to help you choose a designer who understands your vision and can help make things happen without breaking the bank.

A bathroom is not just considered to be a utility space nowadays. This place is where you tend to be completely yourself and start your day with a fresh mood in the morning. A normal bathroom consists of one or two sinks, toilet, a tub and or shower and in some cases a bidet. If it is a luxury bathroom then it may include a spa, whirlpool, cabinets, Jacuzzi and even more. No matter the size of your bathroom it will still need to have your special individual touches making it so that each room in your home will be a true reflection of you and your unique personality. (more…)

The home is where the heart is – yes it is very true.  A place that you would want to be impeccable and crystal clear, it indeed is real fun to decorate your home.  Take it from me; I had the most memorable time of my life decorating my home.  If you are planning to do the same, either now or in the near future, I think you need to read this.  It will help you with the nuances, since I’ve been there and done that and I can give you a fairly good idea of what will work and what might not. (more…)

When you visit somebody’s home, the first thing that catches you is how well or how badly the house has been decorated. Like they say the first impression is the best impression, the same is the case when somebody visits your house as well.  You would not want somebody to think bad about your home decorations and hence you need to do it up as best as you can.  Talk to friends, look at pictures on magazines, while you are watching your favorite soaps on the television make a note of the interiors – these are easy ways for you to track the trendy, fashionable and eye catching home decoration tips.  Even if you are not so observant to check all this out, this is the age of the internet and there are a lot of site that can give you lot of home decoration ideas if you specify the dimensions.  There are other general instructions as well that you can read and apply it to your house. (more…)

Home – that is one place that shows your personality and reflects what kind of a person you are.  A messy home with things and articles scattered all over the place is just a clear indication that the owner of the house is much unorganized and confused.  A neat and clean house with matching furniture and wall paints and pleasantly organized drawing rooms shows how much you care for the intricacies and how much your home matters to you.  Given a choice I am sure most of us would want to fall into the second category that talks good of ourselves and our homes. (more…)