Decorating your home can change the entire feel and ambience of the house. It can alter your mood, boost productivity and increase happiness. Not only that, but it can add value to your home and wow your friends and family. If you haven’t got a clue where to start, you’re not alone. So many of us don’t know the first thing about colour schemes, proportion and balance. Fear not, we’re here to help you get started.
First things first – Make a plan of action. Start small and work room by room. If you’re planning on making any structural changes, speak to a professional and see if there will be an impact. If you’re a member of a community association like Cedar Management, check for any restrictions. There may be visual or decorative limits for the consistency of the neighbourhood.
Colours – Colours are the backbone of every decorating job. They set the tone and feel of a room. Get it right and you can create the perfect atmosphere. The trick is to decide on a scheme and stick to it. Match your paint, curtains and upholstery to one colour theme. There are usually three matching colours in a pallette. Find a pallette you like and stick to it. The right colours can brighten up a dark room or make a large space feel cosy.
Balance – You’ll often hear interior designers talk about balance. Essentially this means getting the right number, size and shape objects in a room. ‘Heavy’ items are those that are large, patterned or dense. They attract the eye and swallow your field of vision. These items are great, but you don’t want too many in one room. Balance them with ‘light’ objects. These are subtle and decorative. Think flowers or candles.
Lighting – The right lighting can change the entire mood of your home. Soft lighting can make a living room feel warm and cosy in the evenings. When decorating, you want to try and capitalise on natural light. Natural light opens up the home and has a positive effect on your mood. Use well placed mirrors to reflect natural light and make the most of large windows and glass doors. For cosier rooms, use candles and dimmer lights.
Focal point – Most rooms are decorated around one focal point. In the living room, this could be the TV in the corner. It could be a coffee table in the center. Large and unusual objects also make a great focal point. Another great object is a fireplace. If there is no obvious choice, make one. Highlight a particular piece of furniture or purchase a large piece of art.
Storage – Decorating is nothing without great storage. To really appreciate your decorating, you need to remove clutter! Plan storage into your decorating plan and work to purchase more if you need to. You could even use your DIY skills here.
The key to great decorating is simplicity and consistency. Decide on a colour scheme and stick to it. Work to get the lighting perfect and highlight a centerpiece in the room. Use your creativity and put your own stamp on the house.