|
|
Decorating A New Home
The steps you are about to take will help to make the house to which you have moved a reflection of you, and an environment in which you are more comfortable than any other - your home.
Start with a realistic plan, with or without a professional interior decorator's help. Virtually any decorating you do will involve time, money, physical energy, and most likely a bit of frustration. It pays to recognize all of those elements to avoid exceeding your initial budget in time, money and energy. Your realistic decorating plan may include several steps spread out over time. The pros tell us that decorating a room or an entire home is always a process. Homes and rooms evolve and grow reflecting the people who live in them.
A first step in piecing together a plan is to identify what you are bringing with you; the furnishing, art or collectibles you highly value. Second, set priorities; rooms, areas, and phases of your total decorating project. Keep in mind that when one room or area of your home is finished, the contrast between it and the rest of your home is made notable. Next, establish a realistic budget in dollars and time to complete the project.
With the plan in hand, the next questions are:
- Can we live with what's there? Floors, carpets, colors, lighting, details, etc.?
- What must be changed? Be specific and detailed in appraising the entire house.
- What are the priorities? What must be done first, second and what can wait?
- If you are going to do major decorating (all or most of your home) select at least one room which will be completely finished before the balance of the project begins so that you have a livable area to which to retreat during the work on the rest of your home.
Here are some thought starters:
- Remember, the brighter the light outdoors, the more color you can use indoors.
- The fastest and least expensive way to freshen and personalize a house is with paint. Don't fear using color, especially with white trim which adds freshness and character. Vibrant color is coming back in vogue.
- If you must refinish wood floors, know that darker floors are coming back into fashion, although they also show dust more readily. Beautifully finished wood floors provide a rich framework for everything that sits on the floor and richness to the entire room.
- With carpet, a good place to begin is in bedrooms where you have the option to use a wide range of colors. Carpet also works especially well on stairs and hallways, but in these areas use more neutral tones.
- When buying furniture, don t restrict your purchases to buying matching "sets". For example, you will add variety and interest in your living or family rooms by selecting complementary end, coffee and occasional tables rather than buying tables which totally match one another in design, finish and size.
- Over scale - don't under scale. A few large pieces are preferable to many small ones.
- Window coverings. Measure, and hang from the ceiling (or crown molding just below the ceiling) to the floor, unless you want a "cottage" look. The trend is to simplify.
- Don't feel you must do a whole room at once. Remember rooms, like people, evolve.
Using a professional interior designer or decorator depends on several factors, not the least of which is your budget and confidence in making decisions. If you are fearful of making mistakes in choosing colors, fabrics, or furnishings, hire a professional designer on an hourly basis to help you with such decisions. You will gain confidence by participating in decorating decisions and eliminate concern over making mistakes as you complete decorating your home.
Keep in mind throughout the process that it's your home being decorated and when finished, it should be comfortable and nurturing to you and to all members of your family.
This information provided by Edge Real Estate, 303-681-8888 and Homes & Land Magazine. © S.M.A.R.T. Marketing, Inc.
 Download The Decorating & Furnishing Organizer PDF Form
 Download The Decorating & Furnishing Organizer In Microsoft Word Form
|
This article provided for you by Edge Real Estate, 303-681-8888. Reprinted with permission from Homes & Land Magazine. © S.M.A.R.T. Marketing, Inc.
|
|
