Each of us desires a home that is welcoming, inviting and comfortable. We try to decorate to suit our sense of style.
In as much as we throw things about to create the atmosphere, we seek, inculcating some tips in our efforts will produce even better results than we expect.
1. Define Your Style
First, you need to determine your style. Look around, what things draw you to them. What kind of items make you most comfortable, rustic antique decor, or modern exquisite ones? What colours and patterns do you easily gravitate towards?
Would you prefer traditional, formal or an elegant item? What are you seeking to achieve with the décor, a playful, humorous or inviting look?
In order to settle on your choices, try to remember a décor you saw that easily caught your fancy and what peculiar artefact had your attention in that setting.
2. Know What You Don’t Like
Figuring out your style is only the first step. You need to know exactly what you absolutely do not want in your space.
This is a very personal decision as certain colours, paintings and artefacts may remind you of events and unpleasant experiences. These further go on to fine-tune your taste a lot better.
Be sure to be very clear and specific on what you do not want because it is your space. Feeling comfortable in that space is more important than pleasing anyone else.
3. Build Around Your Space
It is important to consider space and scale in the décor. Using furniture that is either too big or too small for the amount of space you have can distort your décor.
You need to constantly remember to maintain the balance of space in the room. For large rooms, it is only right to consider demarcating areas for various activities.
An area for a work table, a seating area conducive for conversation, a play area. Take into account the various activities you have planned, for the amount of space you have.
Keeping balance is essential because you make everything look artificial when you keep too much symmetry. Remember proportion and scale make your design.
4. Sample Your Paint
Selecting the right kind of paint is one of the most cost-effective and important decisions you will make as you decorate. Proper paint choices connect your spaces beautifully.
You stand the risk of creating incoherent room colours if you paint one room at a time. Most importantly, take into account how various paint colours affect your mood.
Some may make you calm, agitated or happy. This is key in your room paint selection.
Sample actual paint colours on your walls when looking at options. Spot them in natural light, morning light and at night.
Often a go-to colour that worked well for one project will not work for another.
5. Combine High and Low Price Points
Being aristocratic doesn’t necessarily mean you have a better taste or sense of style(whether it be art, furniture or cars). Not everything must be expensive to be important.
Don’t be afraid to mix up your style when you decorate.
So long as the art or furniture serves the purpose for which you want to purchase it, go right ahead. You need to do only what makes you comfortable.
The most humble objects can have the most soul and be the most beautiful thing in a room. Do not be afraid to mix high and low price points.
6. Start From the Ground Up
Finally, you know designing and decorating can be overpowering and draining. Most people get confused as to what to do first and it is best advised to start from the ground up.
Decide what you want to cover your floor. Thinking about what you want to cover your floor first, be it carpet, tiles, wooden floors, sets the tone for what will be placed in the space.
If you decide to go with a neutral tone or natural fibre without a lot of pattern or colour, you have more options with colours or upholstery.
If you choose a rug, you can draw inspiration from the colours of the rug to decide your colour palette.
Starting with something like a sofa or stuffed chairs limits your style immediately. It is a much easier approach to make your final floor covering decision first and then layer.
Evidently, colours, patterns and most especially your comfort are the key factors to consider when you intend to decorate any space.
Consider everything that makes you very happy and have them in the space you spend most of your time.
You deserve to be happy whilst you are in there.
