|
Decorating On A Budget |
"Americans spent $343 billion on home enhancement, according to a recent study by the Barnard Retail Consulting Group of Upper Montclair, N.J. So if you are thinking of improving your home décor, you are in good company." | |
| |
Style On A Budget: Simple Changes = Dramatic Results | |
Find Interior Designers, Decorating Supplies, Professionals, and Services in Canada, United States, and United Kingdom! Interior Designers, Builders, Remodelers, Professionals, Decorating Suppliers, and Businesses - join us in building the Best Home Improvement Directory on the Web by adding your Listing or Informational Article Today! Go To
Design Info |
Website: http://www.area-rugs-source.com/ Would you like to add more elegance and style to your home? Would you like to know how to do it for less money? You're not alone. Americans spent $343 billion on home enhancement, according to a recent study by the Barnard Retail Consulting Group of Upper Montclair, N.J. So if you are thinking of improving your home décor, you are in good company. Trends driving today's decorating
Can I decorate without a decorator? Today, more people than ever are making exciting changes to their homes, and they are doing so without the expense of a professional decorator. If you are thinking of improving your décor you may be wondering:
In a word-yes! Not only can you successfully decorate your home yourself, there are compelling reasons for doing it yourself. These include:
Where to find décor ideas: Home décor trends change often. To find the latest trends:
Will my new décor work with what I have? One of the exciting design trends of recent years in the "eclectic" look-the mixing and matching of various items, fabrics, colors and styles. Many people today typically have an assortment of home furnishings: antique items they inherited, items bought while single, and items chosen as a couple. Today you can combine these in creative and fun ways for a look that is pleasing and uniquely yours. This is quite a contrast to the more stuffy approach of period furniture and decor of the past. Where do I start? With the home décor choices available, starting a project can seem a bit intimidating. Like all successful projects, you need a plan before you start. Consider your objectives-do you want to add a new piece of furniture or redo a whole room? Rather than get bogged down with reviewing endless possible décor improvements, let's focus on the following four areas that yield impressive results for a reasonable price:
Painting a room is one of the easiest but most impressive décor changes you can make. You can make a small room look larger with lighter colors. You can also make a smaller apartment look larger by tying its rooms together with a lighter color. Conversely, you can make a large room more intimate by using darker colors. A splash of color can brighten a drab space. Have a favorite rug or piece of furniture? Then you can use this as the basis of your décor and select a paint color that complements it. Purchase your paint from a quality specialty paint retailer. National paint retailers have the latest colors and can instruct you on new painting techniques. Since they only sell paint, they have very knowledgeable staff that can assist you in finding the perfect color for your project. How to paint like a pro Select one or two dominant colors for your room. While the choice of paint colors is up to you, you can get the best results by ensuring that you:
Area Rugs A new area rug represents one of the best home décor purchases you can make. These affordable rugs come in a multitude of styles, fabrics, and colors. You can use them to brighten a room, accent your furniture, or provide a lively contrast to the primary decorating theme. Area rugs work well in living rooms of course, but also in bedrooms, halls, even bathrooms. There are three broad categories of area rugs. Persian Rugs Persian rugs have a well-deserved reputation as the finest in world. All Persian rugs are made by hand. Each rug is a beautiful and complex original, painstakingly made by skilled humans. Many weavers come from families that have been making rugs for generations. The symmetry and accuracy of the complex designs is stunning. A Persian rug represents an investment in gracious living that, with proper care, will yield decades of beauty and elegance to your home. Four main factors contribute Persian's legacy of excellence:
Oriental Rugs Oriental rugs come from Asia and are less expensive than Persian rugs. Oriental rugs come in a vast array of sizes, colors, and designs. All Oriental rugs have the following key characteristics:
Contemporary Rugs Generally the most affordable of area rugs, contemporary rugs tend to defy description; there are so many great possibilities. Broadly speaking, however, contemporary area rugs have the following characteristics:
Who has the best selection of area rugs at the lowest prices? Internet merchants. A quality Internet-based retailer can carry far more stock than the local carpet store. They have lower prices because their overhead is lower and they tend to deal directly with the carpet makers-thereby cutting out layers of middlemen and the expensive mark-ups. If buying a carpet over the Internet seems unusual, don't worry. (People didn't used to buy computers over the Internet either.) The key to buying a great carpet you will love is finding a reputable online merchant. You want someone who has a solid reputation, great selection, excellent product knowledge, and guarantees. Furniture Furniture makes a big décor statement in a room. Casual or elegant, bold or subtle, there's nothing like the right pieces to set a room off. Here's a little secret they won't tell you at the furniture store-chances are good you don't need to replace the furniture you already have to get a fresh new look in your home. Furniture, especially older furniture, is often extremely well made. The frame is often hardwood and very sound. Likely the cushions are fine too. What might be a bit out of date is the fabric and pattern. Do you need to spend a bundle on having the item reupholstered? No you don't! Savvy consumers know that today's innovative slipcovers can rejuvenate your couch or chair at a fraction of the cost of replacing them or having them reupholstered. Modern slipcovers fit beautifully, giving you a tailored look. Here are the benefits of using slipcovers:
Best of all, you can view, order, and have these slipcovers delivered without leaving the house. Internet retailers have the widest selection and the lowest prices. Lamps In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. Aaron Rose Interior designers use lighting to bring a room alive, and so can you. Consider the beauty of a pool of light in a room, adding mood and elegance. One of the best ways make a lighting décor statement is through a combination of floor and table lamps. Lamps represent your best lighting value because they require no wiring alterations to your home and because they can be moved from room to room and from house to house. By only lighting the areas you want, you can save energy and money. And you can add or take away focus from different parts of a room, according to your decorating scheme. Using lamps effectively Begin by asking yourself what you are trying to achieve. Do you want general illumination in a corner of the room or a lamp to light a task area, such as a desk or comfy reading chair? This will help you narrow the choice to freestanding floor lamps or table lamps. Next think of styles. Today you can choose from literally hundreds of different styles of lamps in classical, contemporary, and futuristic styles. Both floor and table lamps also come in a vast array of colors and materials including brass and other metals, plastic and wood. Whatever your style, there is a lamp for you. Finally, consider the light it casts. Today you can get lamps with bulbs that cast distinct lights. The oldest and most familiar bulb is the incandescent that casts a warm light. These bulbs are inexpensive, but not very energy efficient. Consider a lamp with a dimmer that accepts tri-light bulbs, so you can tailor the light to the mood and save energy. Two other choices not available in the past are compact fluorescent bulbs and halogen bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs fit in standard light sockets and are super energy efficient. These bulbs come in a variety of lighting tones so you can have both energy efficiency and a warm, inviting light. The other choice today is halogen bulbs. These tiny bulbs cast a bright, whitish light-ideal for spot illumination. Final décor thoughts Whatever the scope of your project, be bold, take chances, and express yourself. If you've always wanted a red wall-do it. The suggestions above are modest in cost, allowing you to experiment and find just the right home décor look. Have fun! About the Author:Colin McDougall is a successful freelance writer
for several home decor websites. Note: This article was submitted by a second party and the contents are subject to our disclaimer. |
|
||||||||||
The Home Improvement Web Directory
- DIY Tips, Design, Decorating, Repair, and Improvement Information For The Consumer and Professional! "Find the information and resources you need for your home and property" |
||||||||||
© 2001 - 2024 The Home Improvement Web Directory All rights reserved :: We are a "Family Friendly" site. |