Aug 10
23
A Foolproof Way To Interior Decorating Success
There is an abundance of interior decorating items available to us today. We are spoiled for choice, for some people it can just be too hard. It can become a headache and expensive mistakes can be made. The simple 6 step method disclosed in this article can help you out of the muddle toward interior decorating success.
Interior design and interior decoration has reached a new level in contemporary homes. New home owners are more sophisticated than those from passed generations.
The pressure on many young people today to have it all straight away is enormous. The result of this can be besides personal debt a tendency for contemporary homes to all look the same. Some times at the price of individuality and uniqueness.
In many ways interior decorating has become easier. However the sheer volume of products available can make it difficult. We are spoiled for choice. A few years ago I worked out an easy foolproof way to stay on track when decorating. The participants of the workshop I disclosed my simple method to found the idea most helpful.
What you need
Magazines
Books (optional)
Time
Paint charts
Note book
Folders (optional)
Envelope for colour and fabric samples (optional)
It is vital to work out what you like
The first thing to do is work out what you like. Look through magazines, books and display homes. Cut out from magazines images you like and dislike. Quickly make your decision. At this, stage it works best when you go with your first reaction. Do I like this? If yes, put it aside with other images you like. If you really dislike something put this in another pile. It can be helpful to know what you dislike.
When you have a number of images start to go through the images slowly. Again ask yourself questions. What in this image do I like? Is it the colours, style, textures patterns? What do I dislike so much in this image?
It can be a great surprise to discover what theme keeps coming up again and again. Many years ago when my husband and I did this exercise when buying our first home we discovered all the images we liked had pot plants, and pale or white backgrounds. It pays to take your time and really think things through. Sometimes we do not allow ourselves the luxury of taking time.
Also look around your home. What items do you love? What items do you dislike? You may have a treasured piece, a fabric, a painting or any item. This could be your starting point. Or you may need to find a new starting point by finding a fabric or painting to use as a beginning of your interior decoration scheme.
Select a fabric or art work as a starting point
This is the easiest way I have found to help others with their interior decorating projects. Select a fabric or art work you really like. The style, colours and textures will be influenced by what you discovered in the first step.
The fabric could be a liberty print, abstract in design or with oriental patterns. This method works best if the fabric or art work has at least three colours. You can use an item with fewer colours and use different tones and tints of the same colour to create your scheme.
Choose a style
The item selected will usually indicate a style. Traditional, ethnic or modern; if you are starting from scratch you can select your furniture in the style you like. If you have to work with what you have, you could use the information you have gathered about your likes to select accessories in the style you like to redecorate.
Create a colour scheme
When you have worked out the style then you can work out a colour scheme. You can do this by using the lightest or background (if not too dark) colour in the fabric or art work for the broad areas of colour; the walls.
Then select another colour (mid range) from the fabric as the colour for upholstery or bench tops and cabinet doors. You could also do a feature wall in this colour.
The lightest brightest colour in the fabric or art work can be used for some accessories to add impact to the room. When you follow this method of creating a scheme for your home you know it will work. The textiles designers who designed the fabric and the artist who created the art work understand the principles of colour and design. If the design is successful on a small scale you know it can work on a larger scale.
Double check you selections
The challenge for you is to match the colours carefully with the original item. Use as many paint colour samples as you can get to help you discover a matching colour. Check the colours out in all lights. Also you could have your friends or family check the colours out. A word of caution; make sure you have spent time making the selections and take care not to be too influenced by other people’s opinions. It works best when you offer only two or three samples and ask the person which one they think works best.
Start shopping only when you have a clear idea what you want
You could also check with the retailers who sell paint and other items it check your colour selections. But the same caution applies. When you go shopping for items have samples of the colours in a note book or envelope. Check every selection against the colours you have chosen.
There you have it six simple steps to foolproof interior decoration. Happy decorating!
Rosena works as an interior design, retail and visual merchandising tutor for Australian College QED. She I has also worked for the Retail Traders Association of Victoria as a Retail Trainer. Rosena has a Diploma in Interior Design, Post Graduate Diploma in Public and Community Health and is a qualified trainer. She also works as an interior design consultant, creates designer art work and is the Australian partner of Sample Board Online a new cool free interior design presentation tool.