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In our stressed-out, hectic, demanding world, it's comforting to have a space to get away from it all. Our homes really are our sanctuaries. As a place to recharge our batteries, it's essential that our rooms be pleasing and relaxing to us. To create a beautiful room that you'll enjoy being in may require you to do some redecorating. For some people this will come easily, for others not so much. So where do you start? You know you want to redesign a room, now you just need to know where to start.
An easy starting point for people who aren't interior designers or don't naturally have an eye for style, is to copycat. Grab an assortment of home decorating magazines and start flipping through the pages. Take note of which rooms you feel drawn to, the colors, the furniture and the general style. Try to pick a specific style that suits your personality. Common styles include modern, country and traditional. Less common styles include tuscan, Victorian or medieval. It's usually safer to stick to one specific style but if you feel creative and gutsy go ahead and try an eclectic style which includes bits of lots of different styles.
In designing any room it's important that you consider the function of that room. What is the room's purpose? How do you wish to use it and how will people move around in the space? If it's destined to be a cozy reading retreat, a minimalist modern style may look and feel too cold. If it's a high traffic room that will be frequented regularly by children, then designing a room with lots of breakable accessories or fine furniture may not be appropriate. Function and feel are important guidelines.
Once you have a general idea for the rooms theme or style, consider what the rooms elements will cost. You may think you want a specific item but then discover it's too costly for your budget. Do some shopping around to get a sense of whether your design concept is in fact realistic for your budget. Maybe you had planned on making a fireplace a focal point but then discovered it's too expensive to install. Maybe you can't have the real thing but an electric model will still make a good substitute.
Some people recommend making a detailed, to-scale drawing. If you feel this will help you lay out a room then do try. Floors plans are limited although as they don't help you get a feel for the room. You need to move around the room's furniture, sit on a chair and look around to really get a sense as to whether it's the right layout for you. Do remember although to take measurements of especially larger furniture pieces, like sofas. This is essential if you are buying a new piece and don't want to risk having to return it.
Along with style and furniture placement, consider the various surfaces in the room. How do you want the ceiling, walls and floors to look. Paint is the least expensive way to update a room, so always consider choosing new wall colors. Don't discount painting the ceiling and mouldings a color other than the typical white. How about trying a baby blue ceiling in a white room? Be creative. Floors are typically more expensive to change. An easy solution to this is to use area rugs. Try alternative materials like sisal, bamboo or cowhide rugs. The added advantage of using area rugs is that should you wish to change the look of the room in the future, you can just roll them up and try something different.
Home decorating really is an art without definite rules. If you're not a confident decorator, do use magazines for inspiration. Be a copycat, and remember it's your room. So what if you're the only one who likes lime-green walls. You're the one living in it, so go with it and have fun. Eve Duncan is a freelance writer,researcher and web publisher from . She writes on numerous topics for various websites. To learn more about unique home decor , visit homedecorjournal.com where you can also get tips on using home decor candleholders.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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