When it comes to Room Design…

Jul 1, 2011 by admin    No Comments    Posted under: Design Tutorials, Graphic Design Tips

When it comes to Room Design, Is it really necessary to “Buy the Best?”

In the United States, and perhaps around the world, as well, people – home owners and business owners – seem to always want each room in their home or office to look like “it came out of a magazine.” But, the truth is, few people ever reach that lofty goal … it’s just too expensive to “get there.”

Newlyweds and older married couples, as well, seem to always want to “shop for and buy the very beast” furniture … furnishings … wall art … sconces … rugs and carpeting … floor lighting and table lighting – you name it.

And if budget is not a problem, there are many walk-in stores and top-quality online retailers offering costly designer furniture and furnishings that can be used in room design – any room … in any home or office. In fact, if people have the funds they can hire skillful and creative interior decorators to handle the problems of room design. Ad, as you might expect, the finished product is generally good enough to stand out proudly in a showroom.

But, the reality for most people is different. The vast majority of Americans live with budget constraints. In other words, they have only so much money that they can spend on room design – whether it’s a single room or it’s several rooms. That doesn’t matter.

In truth, it doesn’t even matter if you, as a homeowner, are operating with a limited budget. Today, unlike what was true decades ago, people interested in buying designer furniture and furnishings, including decorative art, have many, many shopping choices.

A retail giant like Walmart, for example, sells furniture and great-looking major appliances, all the things you might need if you’re about to proceed with room design.  Naturally, because Walmart is a giant, discount retail store chain, you can roam through the aisles of their stores and find highly attractive furniture (sometimes with designer labels) … furnishings that add a “designer touch” to a room … wall art … sconces … and many other things that can make each room in your home – or office – “the talk of the neighborhood.”

And, because you’re shopping in Walmart, your purchases are going to be “rock bottom inexpensive.” Yes … let’s say the word – cheap! Cheap or inexpensive doesn’t have to mean ugly or poorly made … the opposite is true.

Your Walmart purchases, although they may cost a fraction of what you’d pay for similar items in a full price furniture store, are every bit as attractive and sturdy as the more expensive stuff.

Of course, Walmart is not the only store you can visit to buy furniture and furnishings at deeply discounted prices. There are many other chain stores and private shops that offer the same good deal. You simply have to find them.

The point is this: you don’t have to “break the bank” to create exceptional room design with new furniture, art and furnishings that, when put in place, make every house look like a home – warm, cozy, inviting.

And don’t think that you lack the creative skills to “get the job done right.” You have an imagination … all you have to do is use it. Happy Shopping!

Bathroom Designs can be Surprisingly Attractive

Jun 27, 2011 by admin    No Comments    Posted under: Design Tutorials, Graphic Design Tips

When the question of bathroom designs arises, most of us tend to be a little clueless. The average American home often has bathrooms that are more utilitarian than good-looking.

It’s not because Americans don’t want their bathrooms to be visually attractive … it’s that, for the most part, they don’t know how to achieve a true decorative effect. And yet, it’s really not that difficult … or expensive. That’s the simple truth.

Here’s why. If you’ve ever walked into a quality department store, you’ve seen the beautiful bathroom “sconces” and “extras” available in the store to help turn an ordinary bathroom into something extraordinary. But … department stores often charge “full manufacturer’s retail price” and that can be expensive.

A better solution, one actually used by professional designers, is to go to a discount store like Walmart to purchase the products that will accomplish the bathroom designs that can – and will – make your bathroom look special.

There’s so much that you can do to create superb bathroom designs – a plush area rug … a matching, plush seat cover for the toilet … stunning and interesting, but inexpensive, wall art … a matching and attractive soap dish and toothbrush holder … a cup holder for disposable paper cups (you’ll need to use to rinse your mouth each morning and evening) … and so much more.

Now, if that sounds like a lot, it is – but, if you go to a discount store, you’ll find that all of these products are budget-friendly. In fact, the cost is so modest you’re likely to have money left over for additional purchases for your bathtub and/or shower … or both.

All of the items you can buy to “dress up your bathroom” are available in dazzling varieties of designer colors that are sure to match any existing color scheme in your home. And as I’ve already noted, the cost is far from prohibitive … it’s downright affordable.

The ability to really stretch your budget when engaging in bathroom designs means you can “keep buying” to add more interest to each of the bathrooms in your home. Perhaps, if you want, you can add a designer scale … a stylish waste basket … “soap on a rope” that can hang intriguingly from the nozzle in your shower … and so much more.

The point is this: there is so much you can do to make your bathroom look as good and as interesting as your living room, your family room, your dining room or your kitchen. The only thing that may stand in your way is your own imagination.

There’s no need to let that stop you from turning your bathroom into a showcase. If you’re unsure of your ability to “think outside the box,” thumb through a decorating magazine or watch a TV show that stresses home decoration.

You’ll get the ideas you want … and the confidence you need to produce bathroom designs that will have friends and neighbors heaping praise on you. Enjoy the experience!

How to Decorate … Just about Anything!

Jun 26, 2011 by admin    No Comments    Posted under: Design Tutorials, Graphic Design Tips

Many people in the United States seem to be “all thumbs” when it comes to decorating. Very often, they begin with the belief that it’s a difficult task to decorate, that you have to be professional to do the job right … that ordinary people just don’t know how to decorate. And that’s wrong.

You can be successful at decorating your home, and all of the rooms in it, by employing just a bit of imagination … by spending some time thumbing through decorating magazines … by watching home decorating programs on television … even by visiting the homes of friends and acquaintances.

It’s not as hard as you may think to learn how to decorate. In fact, for most folks, it’s something of an acquired skill. You learn by watching … by reading … by seeing what others have done. And you use that knowledge in your own life … certainly in your own home.

One thing you need to know about decorating is that, in almost all cases, “less is more.” By that I mean, especially when you’re decorating the rooms of your home – avoid clutter. Too much furniture … too many lamps … an abundance of paintings and “sconces” on the wall or next to the wall all seem to have the negative effect of making the area feel “crowded and uncomfortable.”

That’s the opposite of the effect you want to achieve. If you’ve ever visited a model home in a new home development, you already know what I mean. The developer, trying to sell homes, makes the model appear as attractive as possible.

In most cases, he has hired a design firm that, of course, knows how to decorate. And the results of their effort: each room in the model home is stunning – because it employs the technique of limited furniture and lots of open space. That works … that is “Decorating 101.”

You don’t have to be a professional decorator or interior designer to achieve great effects. Consider the living room in your home. Your initial thought may be to place your sofa and club chairs along the wall so that they’re out of the way. A better idea – in fact, a much better idea – is to place the sofa and matching chairs in the center of the room for the express purpose of creating a “conversation pit.”

When the furniture is placed in the middle of the room, visitors to your home will be able to sit relatively close to one another and that helps make it a more social setting. Plus … the room just looks better when you’ve created “the pit.” That’s how professional designers do it; that’s how you should decorate, as well.

There are many other terrific, yet simple-to- learn, ideas that will enable you to develop the skill you want, the skill that teaches you how to decorate effectively … generally without breaking your budget. Yes … you don’t have to spend a lot to have a beautiful home … one you’ve decorated on your own.

So … come on. Now that you know a little about how to decorate – take a good look at your home and start planning changes. Remember: you can do it..

Kitchen Design; Make it the Center of your Home

Jun 23, 2011 by admin    No Comments    Posted under: Design Tutorials, Graphic Design Tips

Walk into any modern American home – that is a single family home – and, if it’s well-designed and carefully thought out – you’re likely to see a breathtaking living room … a functional and stylish family room … a magnificent, finished basement … beautiful bedrooms … even stunning and practical bathrooms.

But what will the kitchen look like? Too often, homeowners devote too much of their energy and most of their budget on all the rooms of the house mentioned above, but not on the kitchen. And, because a comfortable, well-conceived kitchen can be the center of the home – the place where family members get together for meals and “small talk,” that’s a big mistake.

The kitchen matters in a well-designed home … a lot. When properly laid out, it will be both functional and comfortable … attractive, too.

Importantly, you don’t have to hire a design firm to get a great kitchen. Kitchen design – a well-planned kitchen – is not “rocket science.” A little thought and a lot of careful execution should be enough to let you enjoy having a great “center of the house” for dining and entertainment.

It all starts with a good-sized room. You will need enough square feet of space to create a kitchen you will love. Here are a few kitchen design tips to help you:

• Start with top quality appliances … if room permits, install a large, “double-door” refrigerator … a microwave “tucked under a cabinet” so that it’s out of the way … a coffee pot … a toaster … a food processor … and all of your other appliances hidden, but easily accessible, in closets.
• Give yourself lots of counter space … plenty of room to keep counter-top appliances out in the open and readily available, but not to the point where your kitchen looks cluttered and unattractive
• Choose designer colors for your appliances … colorful wallpaper for the walls – two components that will give your kitchen a fresh, modern and inviting look.
• Include a “must-have” center island … make it the heart of your kitchen … the place where you prepare meals in complete comfort because you have lots of room to work. And a center island looks great, too.
• Remember to add lots of cabinets … because you want to be able to store non-perishable foods … utensils … pots and pans … storage containers … and more out of sight, but still easily accessible.
• Tile on the floor adds a dynamic finishing touch … and ceramic tile wipes clean easily and always looks fresh and new.
• One last thing to remember: your kitchen table and the chairs that surround it should be stylish, comfortable … and, most importantly, easy to clean and maintain.

That’s it. Do all of these things – on your own (no design firm needed) – and your kitchen will look great and become the talk of the neighborhood.

Best of all, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to enjoy the kind of kitchen that will get “rave reviews.” Prove it to yourself. Get started today.

Home Decorating; Put your Imagination to Work

Jun 23, 2011 by admin    1 Comment     Posted under: Graphic Design Tips

There is, however, “a best way.” And that is whatever pleases you. For people – perhaps like you – who want to do their own home decorating, there are so many things that can be done to make sure the end result justifies the effort. For example:

You can search online for professional design tips which may give you valuable input on design styles or over-the-top, but clever, decorating ideas.

You can go to your local library or bookstore and get your hands on an easy-to-read-and-understand book that shows and tells you how to produce a quality room design – for every room in your home.

Or … you can rely on your own very good instincts – and your life’s experiences – to trust your judgment and engage in home decorating that you want … that you will like … and that, when completed, will look great.

Clearly, you have many choices. You can even hire an interior design firm (although that may be costly) to help you create your “perfect home.” And when it comes to furniture and supplementary furnishings, is there a “right way” to go? The answer is an emphatic no.

In truth, it depends on what kind of furnishings appeal to you. There are certainly many choices, all of which can be great. For instance: you can elect to furnish the rooms of your home with handsome and stately colonial furniture … period pieces that mimic the look and feel of furniture that may have graced the homes of Americans 200 years ago.

You can opt for a rustic style … it looks great in homes that have exposed wood beams … a general rugged look. Of course, you can purchase the kind of furniture – and furnishings – that grace many homes today. That is, of course, modern or contemporary designed bedroom sets … living room ensembles … even dining room and kitchen pieces.

Choose wisely and your home is likely to look sensational. And, while primary furniture pieces are critically important, your home will not have a truly finished look until you complete it with wall paintings… floor and table lamps … exquisite overhead lighting … and all of the other “extras” that make a house look and feel like a home.

Here’s something else to consider: you don’t have to “break the bank” on your purchases in order to achieve the warm and inviting look you want. If you are a smart, astute shopper and if you are patient, chances are excellent that you will be able to find the furniture and furnishings you want at a price that you can afford.

It may not be easy and, in fact, it very possibly could take lots of time and effort to locate what you want, but a budget-friendly beautiful home is possible … and likely – with just a little extra effort.

So … take the plunge. Become your own interior decorator. Utilize all the design tips you can find – online or in your local library – incorporate clever decorating ideas – do it all without spending a lot . And then … enjoy the incredible results.