When you decide to give a child's room a makeover, it is vital to first look at it through his eyes. A child does not see his room as a functional space to live and sleep in, but as a fantasyland where all make-believe is reality. A pillow can become a horse to ride on, and a desk can be magically transformed into the dashboard of a formula one racing car.
Fortunately all these changes need not tug too hard at your purse strings, and a dash of creativity is all you need to convert your child's room into a haven of entertainment and learning.
Color
Introduce colors to the walls in your child's room in little bursts. A colorful collage of his or her favourite characters can be the central theme that spills over onto desks, stools and cots. Explore wallpaper with small prints that spell fun and activity, or a colorful border that runs along the length of the room.
A good home store would be able to provide a large number of colorful stick-ons and motifs that can be used around windows and over bedsteads. This can introduce some excitement to drab looking walls, and can easily be taken off without ruining them.
Furnishing
Keep in mind your child's needs as you pick up pieces of furniture for his room. Girls and boys may have a slightly different preference in color and finish, but ensure that you keep your furniture child-friendly. A beanbag can become an outlandish football for your energetic little boy and little stools can be molded as magical mushrooms for your fairy tale loving girl.
Start with a theme and think outside of the box. Avoid room themes that are based on your child's favorite character or television show because it will be difficult to design the room without having to purchase a lot of overpriced and unattractive room décor created to market specifically for kids. Instead, select a theme that is more general based on a broader interest of your child, such as a flower garden or the solar system.
Allow your child to become a part of the process. Talk to you child about their specific tastes in colors and other room details. Ask them about what they would like the room to look like; perhaps they will have an idea that is lots more creative than anything you might see in a magazine or catalog.
Use a great paint color but think sophisticated rather than Crayola crayon. Select a paint color that is subtle, subdued and classic. Allow the brighter colors to come from accessories and your child's toys, these items will inevitably be brightly colored.
Make it personal by incorporating your child's name somewhere in the room. Perhaps you can stencil their name on the wall above the bed. Also, rather than spending money on store bought art work, use inexpensive plastic frames to display your child's artwork and other creations.
When you want a unique look and feel in a room or your entire home, adding Antique Oriental rugs can create magic. Decorating with antique rugs give your interior decorating a lift that updates, revitalizes and beautifies your home, by combining contemporary flair, with classic elegance. Rugs can add dramatic color, a focal point, a warm look and protection for stone and hardwood floors without sacrificing visibility. The right choice can add lasting value to your living spaces.
Color is probably the most obvious aspect in choosing an antique carpet. When working with a room with a variety of color and patterns, a carpet with simpler colors and patterns can accent without conflicting. If the room has fairly neutral colors, choosing vibrant rugs with more intense pattern will brighten your atmosphere and add a splash of interest. If you have not chosen a color or pattern for your room, find the rug that you like and decorate around it. A hand-woven carpet is enough of an investment to make it worth creating the room around the rug as a focal point.
It is a good practice to add padding under the rug to keep it from sliding or bunching. Padding will also make it easier to clean and will prolong the life of your floor and rug. Most rug dealers can provide you with an appropriate pad for any carpet they sell.
One of the keys to a successful interior design project is to attend not only to the big items, but the smaller ones as well. Often referred to as 'finishing touches', these elements are crucial to making a space feel, and look completed.
Many times a client will contact me to report that they purchased all new furniture, but something 'is missing'. 99% of the time what is missing are the finishing touches.
So what are finishing touches? Generally speaking, finishing touches are decorative items that add color, texture, dimension and personality to a room. If chosen well, the finishing touches will reflect YOUR personality and essentially stamp the house as YOUR home.
Finishing touches can be defined as the following:
• Decorative window treatments such as window valances, or drapery
• Accessories for table tops, or mantel tops
• Artwork for the walls
• Mood creating lighting
• Area rugs
• Throw Pillows
• Decorative hardware on cabinets or dressers
• Plants; either live or artificial
Kitchens with high ceilings and associated 'pot shelves' above the cabinets are one of the most challenging spaces to decorate. The scale of the accessories needs to be appropriate for the height distance from the top of the cabinet to the ceiling. Placing small, interesting artwork, or low bowls in these spaces will not work well. Thought should also be given to the 'dust collection factor'. Although you might believe you will get out the ladder and dust off the space, reality is very often different. Silk plants should be used in moderation up in high spots as these are notorious dust collectors.
Choosing colors for the faux finish on your walls can be one of the most difficult decisions to make when embarking on a faux painting project. What colors should I use???? Nine times out of ten, the clients I have faux painted for in the last ten years left that answer up to me.
A great place to start in choosing colors is to match any colors that appear in the existing decor of the room, whether those colors are found in the tile, curtains, bedspreads or even bathroom accessories. Using at least two colors is preferable. For instance, in one bathroom I faux painted, the tile, tub and toilet were all different colors. By incorporating the 3 colors on the wall, it brought unity and sense to the existing features.
Another suggestion is to go with a contrasting color. This works great, especially when you have solid color fixtures or furniture. In other words, if you have a solid brown sofa with solid brown curtains, you don't want to faux paint a brown color on the wall. Rather, you should choose a contrasting green or golden color. Don't be afraid of adding dramatic colors to your walls. Besides, it's just paint and you can always paint over.
Choosing paint colors for your home may seem difficult, but in fact it really is quite simple. Your first step should always be determining exactly what you are planning to paint. For example, if you were painting a car you probably would not want to paint it rust colored. This is the same concept for your home; consider your color choices carefully since you will be looking at it for a long time. You want something that you enjoy, and if possible inspires you or even helps you to relax.
Let us assume for a moment that you are painting the outside. One of the key things you need to look at is the color of the homes around you. However, if you are painting inside you would want to look at the rooms and the style of the furniture in the room. Typically, someone is not going to be interested in painting their home hot pink or even electric blue unless it would blend in with either the other homes around them, or blend with the other rooms in their home. While it is good to express your individual style, you should select a color that will help emphasize your home, rather than draw attention to it for all of the wrong reasons.
Once you have looked at the colors around the area you are wanting to paint, regardless of whether it is inside or outside it is very important to start looking at various colors that interest you that will also blend in well with those around you. For example, blues and yellows coordinate well together, and if you are feeling especially bold and bright, you could even mix shades of red and blue together wonderfully. The choices and options are almost limitless, but if you are willing to coordinate colors carefully, you can choose almost any color in the rainbow to paint with.
Painting slanted ceilings is a chore, but it may not be as difficult as you might think. Of course, it is always a challenge to paint any ceiling, but once you figure out what colors you are using and how to design your paint color scheme, painting slanted ceilings is just like painting the walls. There are a few things to think about before you start, specifically what colors you want to use for your walls and ceiling, and whether or not you want to distinguish between the ceiling and the wall. If you do want to distinguish the ceiling from the wall, you need to know where that line should lie on the wall.
Choosing your colors for the walls and ceiling are an important part of painting slanted ceilings. There are several options for your color scheme: you can choose the same color for the walls and the ceiling; you can choose two colors, one for the ceiling and one for the walls; or, you can choose three colors, one for the slanted ceiling wall, one for the other three walls in the room, and one for the ceiling itself.
The benefit of choosing three colors is that you can draw attention to the slanted ceiling, which is generally a very interesting architectural aspect in a room. Some people choose a lighter color for this wall and then a darker color for the other remaining walls and white or a coordinating color for painting the slanted ceilings. Other people choose to put the darker color on the wall with the slant, and then use the light color on the other walls. When more than one color is used on the walls, the ceiling is usually white.
It never fails, you know what you are going to buy but as soon as you see all the selection available you no longer remember what you want the room to look like. Stores have that affect on everyone looking for paint for their room. Adding all the colored swatches in a certain area can be very confusing to the eyes and change the way you see something. Now you will need to sift through all the colors to locate the one that you like the most.
When you are ready to purchase your paint, go online and try to find the perfect color in a picture. Most of the home improvement sites will show you the color being used on the wall so you can see for yourself what it looks like. You can also print that picture to take with you to find the paint at the store. You may want to call ahead to see if the store offers that color and see if it is in stock.
Your mood has a lot to do with what you buy. If you are feeling sad or depressed you are not going to be interested in bright and cheerful colors. If you are happy and cheerful you don't want to use dark colors. That is because we like the world to fit our moods. When you are going to buy paint for your interior, you will need to work hard to keep yourself in a neutral mood. This means that you can't get too frustrated on the driver over and you can't make yourself be happy. Avoid depressing situations until you choose your paint.
Choosing a theme to help in the remodeling of your kitchen can help to make the process easier. Sometimes choosing a theme, though, can be as big of a project as remodeling the actually kitchen. It should not be that stressful, though. Choosing a theme can be fun. It can make your kitchen a lively place that is very suited to your family.
When I was at a recent seminar to learn how to cut a granite counter top, I talked to a lot of people about ideas for re-doing my kitchen. You can get started with choosing a theme by brainstorming ideas. You should think about things you like, things your family likes. Consider some of the traditional kitchen themes. Think about colors that you like as they can lead you to a very good idea for a theme. Once you have a theme there are many different ways that you can use the theme. You do not simply need to hang up pictures and add cute towels. You can be creative with painting and other design aspects. You should also try to keep a focal point so that your kitchen does not look too busy. A focal point can help you to keep things neat and orderly and looking the best possible. Above all the theme should be clearly communicated. You do not want confusing elements that will make people wonder what the theme actually is. Be clear and concise with your design.
If you are having problems coming up with a theme or incorporating your theme into your design, then you may want to seek help. You can go online to the many home improvement and interior design websites for some great ideas and help. You may also be able to look in magazines and, of course, ask a creative friend. All of these things can help you to refine your ideas and come up with the final design plan. Sometimes it can be quite easy to come up with an idea, but implementing it can be super difficult.
Candles have been always used as a bright idea for romantic dinners, candle decorative shapes used in home décor, and much more other uses of candles. We often find candles at hotels, restaurants and also many would use candles at different corners of home to create a cozy, romantic atmosphere and unique style of home decor. Now what to do with candles and how to use candles as a glamorous, chic object in home decoration?
A creative simple idea for candles decoration is to create a grouping of candles of the same shape, or of different sizes with same color to create a nice looking candles view set on your side table. Ivory or white color candles are a wise choice that suits all tastes and create comfort in the eyes of the viewer.
Our next candle tip idea is; floating candles. Place floating candles in a decorative clear glass bowl and use the bowl as a centerpiece for your dining table. You can add fresh flower petals within the glass bowl of your lighted candles to get the most out of that romantic mood.
Decorating with plants is a great way to breathe life into your home without spending too much money. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of plants inside your house along with tips on different ways you can use plants to brighten up your space and how you can maintain them.
The Benefits of Plants
Cleaner Air
All indoor plants will clean your air and act as a natural filter, but some do the job a little better than others. Typically ivies, poinsettias, palms (lady palms and areca palms), peace lilies, Boston ferns and spider plants are great at improving the air quality in your environment.
Reduced Humidity Levels
Plant transpiration works to create an indoor humidity level that's ideal for humans. Remember, if the air's too dry, you're vulnerable to flu and colds, but if it's too humid, it can be uncomfortable or cold. Through transpiration and evaporation, indoor plants help to regulate the humidity in your home, keeping it at an ideal level.
Reduced Noise Levels
Plants can actually absorb, reflect and diffract sound. While this difference is more noticeable in environments with hard surfaces and harsh corners, plants can and will diffuse noise and loud echoes. The Peace Lily and the Sweetheart Plant are both good examples of plants that can diffuse sound.
Getting the inside of your home looking good can be a challenge and does require a certain amount of skill and knowledge in order to pull it off. Using the right colors and combinations for the curtains, draperies, even your bed sheets and duvet colors can make a big difference in the general appearance of a room. If you have a small living space then consider getting something like a sofa bed as it will save you a lot of space. Plants can also make a big difference in the appearance and feel of a room. There are many great benefits to using plants such as getting cleaner and fresher air as well as reduced humidity levels.
The plants that you choose should match and highlight the general colors in your home. Sometimes keeping a space design simple is often the best way to go. Try to remove as much clutter as possible and use simple color combinations like black and white. Installing some rope lighting under the bed can also be great to add a night light source.
Using candles effectively can also be great to add a nice decorating style to any room. Create a grouping with the candles on a side table or you can use floating candles on a bowl also. Adding relevant artwork and paintings can also greatly enhance the appearance of your home. Make sure the artwork does match with the theme you are going for in each room.
Many people like to do many things with their hall walls. Some people like to hang out pictures and some people like to have exposed brick and some people like to do paint jobs, just as some people like blinds and some like curtains on their windows. However there is one thing that could be right for every wall should people be interested in doing this and this is wallpaper. Wallpaper is right for your home and can be right for your wall should that be something that you'd be looking to do. Putting up wallpaper is an easy enough thing to do and it can be done in an afternoon with your roommate or partner or just buy yourself if you are handy enough with a roller.
Choosing Wallpaper That's Right For Your Style
One of the most tragic things that people forget is their own style. When they are doing something like their own home they often discount their own style for something that might be a little bit too drab or bland or just not very interesting at all. If you want to choose the wallpaper that's right for your style then you should begin by choosing wallpaper that makes sense for your life. Having the right kind of wallpaper up in your home makes a statement to anybody who comes into your home. It says and this is who I am and this is what I believe and this is what's important to me. These are all things that people sometimes forget about which are always very important and which should be handled with care and a delicacy.
Many people find it a good idea to use paintings and posters to change the look of their rooms. While it may be a costly affair to use originals, it is definitely possible to use prints of paintings that may be available at a fraction of the cost of the original. This means that you can definitely have a John Constable painting on your wall at an economic value.
When it comes to landscapes, you will find that a lot many amateur artists also begin their work with this topic. These people usually have very little workspace available and therefore decide to work in a workshop and use their imagination to get their landscapes done. One the other hand there is this line of so called 'Impressionists' who would actually do the painting on the countryside. The idea was to make their paintings as meaningful as possible and to bring that natural essence in it. Renoir and Monet fall into this category of Impressionists.
As for cultures, you will find that many cultures have a history of landscape paintings in them. This not restricted to any part of the world be it united states, Holland, France or Japan. What is clearly visible is that the artists that belonged to this era show a great influence of the culture and tradition prevailing then. These paintings therefore provide a glimpse of the natural beauty that existed during those times. Most of the topics revolved around themes like forest, oceans and the mountains.
Most homes and apartment walls in not only the United States but also around the world, are in most instances painted white. What is, agreeably, nice about the color white is the way it adds a sense of spaciousness in a room, not to mention the fact that it is relatively easy to add to it from one decor to another. It comes as no surprise therefore that the world of kinetic art, pictures and sculptures has tremendously increased the decorating options that can be applied to adorn a white washed wall. This article will look at how pictures in motion can uniquely transform and add character to a white wall as compared with traditional static wall hangings.
Pertaining to motion, the word kinetic in art as projected through drawings and sculpture, probably rose to fame in large kinetic sculptures displayed in public places like those created by Ralfonso Gschwend. Gschwend, a designer of environmentally interactive, kinetic, light and sound sculptures that interact with the environment such as wind and water, may have set in motion what has now transcended into kinetic art finding its rightful place in the modern home.
Regardless of the texture of your walls, and whether flat paint, or a glossy finish was used, kinetic pictures wall decor stands out beautifully against light surfaces. And above all, as if to add a new dimension to art in the 21st century, these impressive pieces depicting the outdoors come complete with sound and motion. Needless to say, they can present a very classy look and ambiance to even the most modest of homes. Kinetic pictures wall decor is becoming easier to find both online and off, yet this art form still remains exclusive in that it is not mass produced. The positive side, undoubtedly, unlike the way mass produced wall hangings would provide pieces identical to that of your neighbors, kinetic wall hangings are in themselves unique and relatively inexpensive. And what would appear to add icing to the cake is the wide array of 3D moving pictures that are available. Depicting exotic backdrops like waterfalls, virtual windows, stunning sunsets, city skylines complete with sounds that sooth, these cutting edge masterpieces of technology help to transport even the avid day dreamer into exotic territories afar.
When deciding on building your own sun room enclosure, it is vital to know the purpose for which you will be utilizing the room. Any sun room can have a variety of uses including bedroom, bathroom, spa, recreation room, kitchen room, attic, or even office space. You will need different construction methods and different furniture for each of the sun room usage.
You should give thought to a few points before installing sun room additions. Place the windows towards facing the South. The South shown by the needle of the compass can vary from the solar south. Thus place the windows in tandem with the suns movement. Generally walls and ceilings made from glass consist of the sun room additions.
However, depending on the climatic zone you reside in, it may be different. If you live in place that gets maximum sun light, you may go for partial coverings of glass or make just the sunroom walls of glass. Likewise, if you face a lot of snow where you live, you may go for partial glass roofing for your ceiling. You can put skylights to receive extra rays of the sun inside the house. You may also desire to bind the entire area with glass if you are going to put bath tubs in the room for an ambience like a spa. If you want to make your sunroom have the appearance of a real room, then you can also place knee walls through which you can easily run electrical wires.
Probably one of the easiest ways to get home decoration ideas is to simply watch television these days. There are several shows that are dedicated to the subject of completely redesigning an entire house room by room. The biggest problem with watching these television shows is having something in front of you as documentation. So a couple of ideas that may help out is to have a pencil and paper available to take notes as you go, and also to record the program for viewing later on.
Even though you may get some great home interior design ideas from these television shows, ask yourself whether or not they will fit well in your particular home. Just because they look great on television in someone else's home does not mean that it will fit in well in your home. So try to visualize the whole project from beginning to end in your house. And plan, plan, plan. By taking extra precaution in the planning stages, you can ensure a more problem free application.
This detail packed 172-page eBook( filled with pictures) will teach you various techniques such as how to turn your bedroom, living room, and bathrooms into master showpieces, as well as how to make the most out of small spaces with the right furniture and alternative arrangements as well as choosing the right color concepts and different paints to enhance household features.
What’s Your Style?
You should keep in mind that in order to design your home, you have to get in touch with the signature style and express it in your own unique way. If you end up looking at a lot of other people’s house, and merely try to replicate what they have done, it will be likely that you will not really feel like your home is an expression of yourself. Don't be afraid to be unique and creative with your home interior ideas.
You could express your style through the kind of collectibles you display, the artwork on your walls, the kind of foliage you maintain, etc. However, it is important to keep in mind that you are not doing all this just to occupy space. Each article should be an inspiration and convey a certain message about yourself and family. The true beauty in developing your unique home interior ideas is that you own the ideas, feel and look which is truly priceless.
If you ever wanted a splash of warmth and cheery colors for your bedroom, try decorating in French country style.
Add window coverings. A pair of blue denim draperies and yellow accented with blue stripes window valance and matching tie backs would look lovely. Use branches and twigs accented with small wooden birdhouse on each end as your rods. This is a creative way to make the room more romantic and rustic.
Use a pine bed either plain or accented with iron grills. Use a matching bedside table.
Add bedding using the colors and patterns commonly used in French country style. French country style uses plaids, ginghams and stripes as well as small flower patterns on bedding and pillow cases. Start off with a basic creamy bed linen, then add a blue and yellow gingham bed cover. Use layering and accent with lots of pillows.
Add accessories. Use a painting or wall art with the same color hues found in the room. Add a yellow ceramic pitcher filled with fresh flowers. Use blue colored lampshade or cover the lampshade with blue and white gingham fabric. Add a straw hat with silk flowers and hang on the door. Add scented candles to make the room smell great.
