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These Inspirational Sources for Home Decorating
by Kim Stone
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When
looking to a source for interior decorating inspiration, be critical
in a way that will help you to refine and define your own taste. When
turning to the work of another designer for decorating ideas, carefully
look at the room and consider the basics: floor, walls, ceiling, and
overall ambiance. Do not focus on details. When you are done, ask yourself
these questions:
• How does this room make me feel?
• Is it too formal?
• Are the colors too light or too dark?
• Is the flooring too dark or would I rather have something darker
and more anchored?
• Is the wallpaper/wall color intriguing or annoying?
• Is the furniture warm, dark, white, or colored?
• What do I like and or dislike?
Here are some sources of inspiration for home decorating
ideas you may not have thought of:
Visit Design Models - Visit model
homes, take home tours, or go to decorator show houses and checkout
the work of talented interior designers.
Design Shows on TV - Watch a few shows to see what you like,
then visit their websites for project information on interior decorating
ideas.
Museums, Auctions, Antiques - If you are interested
in period or antique furniture, visit the decorative arts departments
in area museums and online interior design museums as well as auction
houses, antique stores, and antique shows. This will help you become
familiar with what is available in home decorating and educate you
in the value of such pieces.
Interior Decorating Books and Magazines - Browse
your local or online bookstore or library, or subscribe to magazines
on home decorating. They will expand your knowledge of the design
process and the materials and choices available to you as well as
offering many interior decorating ideas.
Choose a Home Decorating Theme - Selecting an interior
decorating theme is one of the easiest ways to decorate. Themes range
from teddy bears in the baby's room to pears for the kitchen. The
list is limited only by your imagination. When choosing a theme for
decorating ideas, consider hobbies, dreams, locations, and design
elements in your home.
Choose a Decorating Style - Decorating styles provide
a guideline defining which colors, textures, and elements to consider
while excluding the things that won't work. Common interior decorating
styles include contemporary, Japanese, Tuscan, Mediterranean, and
Country Ranch styles.
Research Online - The Internet offers thousands of
links to online decorating tools, sites, and examples of home decorating
ideas, as well as links to furniture manufacturers, color pallets,
and wallpaper and fabric samples.
Fabric - The starting point for many successful decorating
projects is a wonderful piece of fabric. Visit a fabric store for
decorating ideas and get cuttings of everything that appeals to you.
Be sure to stand at least 10 feet back from a sample fabric to get
an overall sense of the design and color.
Decorating File - Keep a file of home decorating
ideas with printouts, pictures, magazine clippings, and samples of
fabric, paint, flooring, and paint.
Work with a Designer - Seek out a designer for a
consultation, to complete a project, or for interior decorating ideas.
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