Home Decorating; You have the Talent to get it done

Jul 15, 2011 by admin    No Comments    Posted under: Design Firms, Design Tutorials, Graphic Design Tips

Mention something like room design, interior decorating or home decorating and the average home owner or apartment dweller becomes a bundle of nerves and, in some cases, actually starts to shake. Why … he or she immediately believes the creativity needed to successfully home decorate just isn’t available.

If you feel that way, this is the time to “change your attitude.” You don’t have to be a professional room designer … a skilled interior decorator …or a gifted amateur to create “looks” that would actually make a professional proud.

All you really need to do – at any time – is trust your creative instincts and your judgment … they both exist and they are always available to you. It is simply a matter of accessing the creative intellect that rests inside you. And that takes confidence … a belief that you can do it.

And … you can do it, even if you currently don’t realize it. In truth, you can look at an empty room and imagine it filled with furniture and furnishings … with walls painted in colors that are vibrant and inviting … with floor and table lamps that bring elements of interest and warmth with them – you can think like an interior decorator.

That is not to say, of course, that you possess the skills and the experience of a professional decorator who gets paid for his or her services … nothing of the sort. But, you are creative, certainly to the point where you can “dress up” each room in your home and make it look great. And, unlike a professional interior decorator, you’ll be able to “carry out this magic” without busting your personal budget.

That’s because, as you will quickly discover, you not only possess decorating ability, you also know how to “shop and save.” And that gives you a “leg up” on the high-priced professional talent.

So, if you’re thinking of decorating a room – or several rooms – in your single family home, your townhouse or your condo – trust yourself to get the job done in great fashion.

Remember even before you start: you know what looks good … you know how to shop … you know how to fit all the elements of room design together, including color … and you should know that you can do it all in spectacular fashion.

This is your time to prove to yourself and to those close to you that you have skills and abilities that have long been dormant, skills and abilities you’re ready to show off.

Take the next step as soon as possible. If you’ve just purchased a home and are waiting to move in – plan each room out carefully. Then begin shopping for the items you know are needed. If you already are living in a home and simply want to redecorate a room or two, employ the same strategy.

You may not be able to get hired and work as an interior designer, but you’re good enough to employ the skills you have for yourself. Get started with home decorating. And have fun.

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..