There was a time when the world of interior design was the stomping ground of the chosen few, those with years of training and hours upon hours of practical, hands-on experience. These days, however, anyone can successfully tackle a home design project with stellar results. This article offers great advice for getting started.
When choosing colors for your interior decorating, avoid going with fads. Olive green walls may have been popular once upon a time, but it can make your home look dated. Go for neutral colors that can withstand the test of time. That way, you would not feel like you have to repaint every year.
Use lamps. Aside from simply looking nice around the house, lamps are a great way to create a relaxing atmosphere around your home. They are better at lending to a desirable ambiance than the harsh light of an overhead fixture. Lamps can also save you quite a bit on your electricity bill.
When choosing a color palette for your room, use no more than three colors. When decorating, follow the 60-30-10 rule. 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% a secondary color, and 10% an accent color. More than 3 colors can make the room start to look busy.
Try to develop a theme on each and every floor of the house. After you develop this theme, try to match the colors and furniture to the type of theme that you choose. For example, you may want to instill a tropical theme in the first floor of your home to increase the vibrancy.
If you’re working on designing for a small space, adding light can greatly increase the feeling of size in the room. Adding light fixtures and using appropriate drapery can increase the amount of light in the room. Mirrors are also a great way to increase light and increase the apparent size of a small space.
Incorporate bright colors into your home to set a very light mood for your friends, family and guests. You can do this by placing a bright sofa or pillows in your living room. These can be any size that you would like and in any color to match your particular space.
Make sure that you determine the theme of your living room before you begin the project. You can choose to have a very playful living room with an entertainment system and toys if you have kids or a peaceful living room with a fireplace if you are a newly married couple.
Don’t forget to consider lighting when you’re designing a room. You don’t want things to be too dark and hard to see or else you risk eye strain. You can put in nice lights that will compliment your room, or you can use natural light. Mirrors are great at reflecting light from windows, so strategic placement of a mirror can help lighten a room with natural sunlight.
If you want a fresh look to your home, do not think that you have to spend a fortune. Simple changes to drapery or just rearranging the furniture can sometimes give the new look that you desire. Changing light fixtures can give a room a new look without costing too much.
Think about lighting. Lighting can not only help you to see things more clearly, but good lamps and lights can create a sense of drama and excitement in a space. Find out about different lights, from recessed spotlights to floor lamps, and experiment to see which suit your home the best.
The whole lighting of any room depends on the curtains you put up. Darker colors, like black, brown, and dark, red or blue, do not allow enough natural light to enter the room, causing it to be dark. Try to get lighter-colored curtains, like tan, white, peach, beige and taupe.
Hanging a collection of picture frames on a wall can be hassle-free. Place a large brown craft paper on the floor or table and arrange all the frames on it. Trace around the frame and where the nail would go. Tape the paper on the wall and put the nails in the place you marked on the paper. Remove the paper and hang your frames.
Take thorough measurements of the room you’re decorating before you start shopping for furniture. Size is important. Measure both your room and any furniture you plan on buying. Just because it can fit into a room, doesn’t mean it is of a practical size. Make sure that you’re still going to be able to walk around in the room with ease.
If you have a small kitchen, don’t use dark colors. Dark colors can make a room appear smaller than it actually is. If your kitchen is small, use light colors like white or beige. Light colors will also serve to brighten up your kitchen, making it feel more open and less cramped.
Get the most out of your interior planning budget by opting for furniture and accent pieces that are timeless and not trendy. Chances are you’ll tire of today’s trendy look long before the items you used to create it have worn out, causing you to spend more money to replace items that are still functional.
In some cases you may be able to remove ceilings in order for your rooms look bigger. You can remove that attic you do not have a use for and heighten your ceilings. Your room will also be brighter since light will reflect better through the space.
Use a few small potted plants in your kitchen and bathroom. Potted plants can add some much-needed color and decoration to a room. They will also make it feel fresher. Even fake potted plants can be better than not using them at all. Try putting a few in strategic places.
Now that you are armed with some fantastic advice and a whole lot of great tips and useful tricks, you can feel completely confident getting started on your own home design projects. Use the advice you have been given, and turn your dreams into reality within your very own home.