| Have you ever wanted that designer chic look for | | | | that you are decorating, whether it is a child's bedroom, |
| your home, or maybe you have watched interior | | | | kitchen, or living room. The kind of lighting you choose |
| design shows and thought that the looks which they | | | | will depend on and vary according to which room in |
| achieve look easy enough to do, then, once you try | | | | the house is being decorated, while one form of lighting |
| them on your own you start to feel confused and | | | | may be appropriate for one room, it does not mean |
| anxious and find yourself breaking out in a cold sweat. | | | | that it will be appropriate or functional for all of the |
| Well, by using the right guidelines you will discover how | | | | rooms in the house, for example: Fluorescent lighting is |
| the stress can be eliminated from any home decor | | | | generally used in the kitchen area where lots of light is |
| project. | | | | needed for safety purposes, but, I would not use this |
| DON'T GIVE UP BECAUSE HELP IS ON THE WAY. | | | | type of lighting in a bedroom, where it will be too jarring |
| To begin any design project there are several | | | | and bright. Mirrors and glass are another effective |
| questions which you would initially need to ask yourself, | | | | way of creating light or space in an area, they make |
| for example: | | | | spaces appear larger than what they actually are and |
| How much space do I have to work with? | | | | reflect light really well, they are especially useful in |
| What budget do I have to work with? | | | | hallways where there is often a small amount of |
| What look do I want to achieve within this space? | | | | space. |
| What is my personal style or taste? | | | | ARRANGING FURNITURE |
| What do I need to do, or purchase to achieve the | | | | When arranging furniture, always consider what you |
| look that I want within this space? | | | | would like to be the focal point in that room. A focal |
| What is the function of this particular room (what is | | | | point will be something in the room which automatically |
| the space used for, e.g. socialising, watching TV, etc.) | | | | grabs your attention, for example: A sofa/lounge suite, |
| Once you have answered these questions you will | | | | artwork or a dresser etc. for added impact you could |
| have a map, along with a direction which you can | | | | have an interesting large painting hanging above a |
| move towards. The best place to start when | | | | lounge suite. |
| decorating a room is always with the background. | | | | When arranging the remaining areas always bear |
| BACKGROUND | | | | functionality in mind. You would still want to be able to |
| The background of a room will incorporate ceilings and | | | | open windows and doors so don't place furniture in |
| walls, floor spaces, as well as the windows. The walls | | | | places where they could cause obstructions. Chairs |
| are a very important part of the decorating process | | | | should be grouped a comfortable distance apart for |
| because they serve to unify the furniture, the ceiling | | | | socialising purposes; a general rule of thumb would be |
| and the floor. | | | | about 120 centimetres apart. |
| There are numerous finishes to choose from, for | | | | An area will never look well designed when it is too |
| example: Wall coverings, wallpaper, mirrors and of | | | | cluttered so remember; less is more, especially in a |
| course paint. Bearing in mind that whatever finish and | | | | contemporary setting. Choose furnishings that go well |
| colour you choose will set the mood for that room. | | | | together which serves the need of that particular area |
| Those who have an affinity for the warm (red) colours | | | | in terms of design and practicality. |
| of the colour wheel will find that they can serve to | | | | When you are decorating a large area, break the |
| create an ambience of warmth and intimacy. Red is | | | | room up into different zones, you are able to do this |
| associated with passion and can also serve to | | | | by using rugs and various seating arrangements, you |
| stimulate and energize. Use the colour red with caution | | | | could also use floor standing lamps to create reading |
| though, particularly in a room where you are trying to | | | | areas. |
| create a sense of peace and serenity. | | | | Every arrangement should be pleasing to the eye, if it |
| The cool (blue) colours of the colour wheel can have | | | | is not and looks out of place, remove it and use it in |
| the opposite effect to the reds; blue will depress rather | | | | another room. |
| than energize the nervous system and can prepare | | | | ACCESSORIES |
| our bodies for sleep. Something else to note when | | | | Use pillows on the sofa/lounge suite but keep it |
| choosing a colour scheme is that colours that are | | | | practical, there still needs to be enough room for |
| opposite each other on the colour wheel will serve to | | | | people to sit down. Use lamps in order to create extra |
| complement one another. | | | | lighting in the room but also to enhance the room |
| Keep in mind the lighter the colours you choose to use | | | | aesthetically with their various designs and textures, |
| in a room the more airy the area will seem, the darker | | | | remember not to clutter the room with too many |
| the colours and the more textures used the smaller | | | | lamps. The cooler or lighter the decor of the room the |
| and more cosy the perception of the room will be. Use | | | | richer the accessories should be, as opposed to |
| of texture in a room will break the monotony of a | | | | warmer designs where the accessories could possibly |
| neutral background; you could use textured | | | | be more understated if so desired. When hanging art |
| upholstered furnishings, wall coverings or cushions, etc. | | | | always keep it at eye level, this is practical because it |
| With flooring, if starting from scratch there are a wide | | | | can be more easily seen but is also more pleasing to |
| variety of choices that exist, for example: Wood, | | | | the eye. |
| carpets, tiles, slate, granite, synthetics, etc. | | | | Art in most areas of the home is essential. It creates |
| In this situation we are going to assume that you | | | | points of interest and can be the topic of many |
| currently have a floor covering and you do not want | | | | conversations. You do not necessarily need to spend |
| to go through the trouble of replacing it. A simple | | | | large sums of money on artwork. The artwork that |
| solution is to use a rug to spruce up the area, rugs are | | | | you decide to use can be personal to you, for |
| incredibly versatile and can be used in any part of the | | | | example, have a go at assemblage art, you don't have |
| home. A rug can serve to define or ground a certain | | | | to be a professional artist to put an assemblage |
| area, for example: In a dining room, tables and chairs | | | | together, you can produce an assemblage piece with |
| can appear to be floating and the room may look | | | | any level of creativity that you may have. An |
| rather bare but as soon as the rug is placed | | | | assemblage is very similar to a collage, except the |
| underneath them they appear anchored and look as | | | | objects used are 3 dimensional. |
| though they have a sense of belonging. | | | | As an example, often grandparents leave items of |
| Ceilings are a practical part of the house, they house | | | | jewellery for their grandchildren, the items may not be |
| smoke alarms, lights etc. When painting the ceiling there | | | | of much monetary value and it may not be something |
| are actually several things to consider, most | | | | that you will wear but it may be of great sentimental |
| importantly, the size of the room. If the room is small, | | | | value. Rather than leaving these heirlooms laying |
| painting the ceiling a lighter colour than the walls will | | | | around in a box somewhere you can use a deep |
| open up the room, on the other hand, painting the | | | | picture frame to display the jewellery in an interesting |
| ceiling a darker colour than the walls can make it | | | | and creative way. This will give the items a home |
| appear slightly lower than it actually is, this is especially | | | | where they can be enjoyed and appreciated and can |
| useful in areas where the ceiling appears to be too | | | | also serve to honour your grandparent. |
| high for that particular area, making it look awkward. | | | | In a child's bedroom you can make use of a deep |
| White reflects light a lot more than any other colour | | | | picture frame to display your child's first pair of knitted |
| and is probably the main reason why this is the "go to" | | | | boots and or baby outfit and collage this with a |
| colour for ceilings. Naturally, there are also a number of | | | | christening certificate or a copy of a baby scan that |
| other options, for example, stencilling and murals, it | | | | you may have, the possibilities are endless. You could |
| basically boils down to your personal preference. | | | | use large frames for a dramatic effect or smaller |
| Windows provide light in a room and therefore need | | | | frames depending on the space you that you would |
| careful consideration. Light is an integral part of interior | | | | like to fill. |
| design, it serves to illuminate the form of things and | | | | In a living room area you can create your own canvas |
| can make you more aware of texture, colour and | | | | art. By applying various textures to a canvas and |
| shapes. How you dress your windows depends on | | | | painting over it you can create artwork that is uniquely |
| your personal taste as well as the look and feel which | | | | yours and that also looks good. For example: Crumple |
| you are trying to achieve. The options range from | | | | up pieces of foil and glue it onto a canvas in a random |
| curtains to blinds and shutters etc. With that said if | | | | but creative fashion, then paint over it with an acrylic |
| there is no issue with privacy, one could then opt for a | | | | paint or spray paint and watch how amazing the |
| bare window which can often look equally appealing, it | | | | texture looks when using this very simple technique (I |
| could also save quite a bit of money should you be on | | | | do find that the texture shows through the best when |
| a tight budget. When using a curtain to dress the | | | | using a light colour acrylic paint, also, always remember |
| window, the longer the curtain is the dressier and much | | | | to use spray paint in an area that is well ventilated and |
| more elegant the window and the room will look, in this | | | | always use a proper spray mask to filter out the |
| case curtains would generally touch the floor. Curtains | | | | fumes). |
| that hang to the bottom of the window are used more | | | | You can use this technique on a large canvas to hang |
| frequently in the kitchen area where a more practical | | | | above a sofa/lounge suite as a focal point or you can |
| solution is needed. | | | | create a triptych, which is 3 (possibly smaller) |
| LIGHTING | | | | canvasses hung together or slightly apart for a smaller |
| The general and obvious guideline for lighting is, less | | | | wall or hallway etc. (When creating these artworks |
| light is required if the room is light and more light is | | | | play around with colour to discover what works best |
| required if the room is dark. When you have dark | | | | for you and what best matches your decor). |
| pieces of furniture in the room this will absorb most of | | | | The creative process is supposed to be fun so enjoy |
| the light within the room and more lighting will need to | | | | the journey when decorating and you will soon find |
| be provided. There are many forms of lighting to | | | | how rewarding it can be when you are able to stand |
| choose from like chandeliers, ceiling mounted lights, | | | | back and admire the masterpiece which you have |
| floor standing lamps, etc. Consider the type of room | | | | created with your very own hands. |