Furnishing and decorating one’s home is one of those challenges that some of us adore and others dread.
Not everyone has the ‘artistic’ ability to visualize a setting and then create the actuality.
However, there are a few guidelines for home decoration that anyone can follow, turning a potential dilemma into a most satisfying experience.
Obviously, the first step is deciding what kind of interior decoration you want, be it ultra-modern, Bohemian, Victorian or anything in between.
Once you have decided on your basic motif, and on the particular pieces you would like to incorporate, you’ll need to do some measuring.
A tape measure and a notebook will make your decorating job a whole lot easier. In each room that you plan to furnish, get precise measurements of the available space and write them down.
Many people find that a rough sketch of the area with furniture drawn in more or less to scale helps to simplify the home improvement project. This is a good idea even if later you decide to scrap the whole thing, since it will give you an idea of where and how much furniture to place in the room.
Another important idea to consider is a ‘centerpiece’. If you have, for instance, one large and/or dramatic object or item of furniture you may want to make that the focal point of the room, in this case the rest of the furnishings should complement that particular piece, not overshadow it.
The most interesting and attractive rooms almost always contain a ‘centerpiece’ of some kind, though you may choose to place yours in the corner. Whatever looks and feels right to you is the key element here.
If decorating is not your forte’ and the whole project seems a bit much, there are countless sources where you can just look at pictures until you see something that looks ‘right’ to you.
Again, accurate measurements will save you a good deal of time and effort, as you will know how much space you have to work with.
Depending on your budget and how much time you have to spend on putting your house in order, remember such marvelous sources as yard sales – you don’t need to spend a fortune to find just the right furniture and artwork for your personal haven or showplace.
The main objectives in furnishing and decorating are usually comfort, functionality and aesthetic appeal, not necessarily in that order. A beautiful room may not be comfortable, and “comfy” may not be pretty.
However, if you can combine all these aspects to your own satisfaction, you’ve done a very good job indeed. Now you can just sit back and enjoy!
