Home Design Tips

Home design is not only a big business; it can be very enjoyable for you the homeowner. When you’re building your home, or just giving your present home a makeover, taking the lead role in your home design can be a very rewarding experience. Doing your own home design allows you to express yourself in a way that no one else can do for you. Choices not only become easier when you do your own home design, but you’ll find that you have more of them than if you’d hired a professional to do it for you.

One of the first things you should consider in your home design project is the function of the room you’re working on. Function is a key home design factor. It will dictate the majority of what items will go into the room. Two major points in function to consider is the intended use of the room and who will be using it. Naturally, a room which will receive high traffic would need more resilient flooring and furniture than a room which would not get as much traffic. Knowing what the room is going to be used for and by whom is the first step in home design.

Style is another key factor in home design. After the function of the room is determined, you’ll need to decide the style of décor you’ll be incorporating in your home design. Certainly a family game room would have a more modern style with clean lines, while a country kitchen may have more of a cottage style or rustic home design. Fabrics like furniture, drapes, throws and pillows would play a major role in the feel of the room. Colors used properly in home design can alter a person’s mood upon entering the room. Earthy tones and light blues have a calming effect, while bright reds and contrasting colors can create a sense of excitement. Style when used properly can make any room a success story.

The placement of items and objects in a room will always alter the flow of movement to both the body and the eye. Flow is yet another key factor in home design. The flow of the room is crucial, as you don’t want the room to be awkward to navigate. This not only applies to the person moving across the room, but also the eye of the person moving from one part of the room to another. Of course the physical flow in home design is achieved by the placement of furniture such as sofas, chairs and tables. The eye flow of the room can be controlled by the decorative items placed in the room, as well as how the room is painted. Colors which flow easily into each other create a nice even sense of movement to the eye from one area to another.

Home design should never be a daunting challenge, but rather an enjoyable experience to those who wish to do their own home design. By following the three major factors of function, style and flow, every home design project you complete will be a successful one.

Seven Home Décor Quick Make-Over Tips

If your home décor is beginning to look a little “frazzled”, then here are seven tips to give your room a quick make-over without breaking the family budget. Not all home decorating projects have to mean knocking down walls and hiring a contractor. You can easily accomplish these seven tips over a few days and bring a lifeless, dull room back to life.

1. CLEAN: If you have a family, then you probably have newspapers, magazines, books, toys, shoes, clothes, etc., that detract from the personality of your room. Find or create new storage spaces for these items. Give your draperies and upholstered furnishings a good vacuuming. Remove all your decorative collectibles and give each piece a thorough cleaning. You want the space to have a fresh beginning.

2. FOCAL POINT: If your room is lacking a focal point, try painting one wall in a different, but coordinating color, that complements the rest of your room and furnishings. The newly painted wall will instantly become the focal point of the room. Decorate the wall with interesting art work or a large ornately framed mirror. (If you opt to use a mirror, make sure it reflects a pleasant view – never a blank wall or closet door). Place a favorite piece of furniture against the new focal point wall to complete the look. If your room already has a nice focal point, consider giving the entire room a fresh new coat of paint. A simple color change can make an incredible difference in your room.

3. REARRANGE THE FURNITURE: No matter the size of your room, pull the furniture away from the walls. Place your furnishings at interesting angles in front of your focal point to create an intimate conversation area. If you room is narrow, try placing the sofa on the diagonal to make the room appear wider. Never arrange your room so that the traffic flow runs directly through your conversational area.

4. REARRANGE THE RUG: If you have an area rug, turn it on an angle and use it to define your newly arranged conversation area. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, try layering a complimentary area rug in your conversation area. (Use carpet-to-carpet tape to anchor the area rug. This helps keep the area rug in place, and, more importantly, helps prevent someone from tripping over the edges of the rug).

5. ADD GREENERY: Breathe new life into your room with the addition of healthy green plants. Use plants of varying heights and species for interest. Keep your plants in good health and well-trimmed. (A vase of fresh cut flowers is always a beautiful addition to any room). If you have poor lighting, consider using good quality silk greenery. Silk greenery is actually a safer choice if you have small children or pets.

6. BUY SOME NEW LAMPS: Nothing can make your room look more outdated and stale than lamps from the sixties. Find unique, interesting lamps that will make a bold statement and relate to the personality of your room. Look for lighting with three-way switches. This offers you a variety of lighting options to set the mood in your room.

7. ADD PERSONALITY AND ACCESSORIES: Refresh your favorite family photographs by treating them to a new frame. Hang interesting artwork, mirrors or architectural pieces that reflect your personality. Give new life to your sofa and chairs with decorative pillows and throws. This is an easy way to add color and texture to your room. Create vignettes with your freshly cleaned collectibles. Group them in odd numbers at varying heights. Use hardbound books in stacks, or assorted decorative boxes, to assist with varying the heights. Bring in some candlelight to add drama and warmth. Last, but not least, add something “unexpected” just for fun.

With a little bit of imagination and creativity, you can turn your “frazzled” home décor into a fresh, exciting new space. Renew your passion for decorating your home – “one room at a time!”