Decorating a Room

Why spend a fortune hiring an interior designer to decorate a room when you could decorate the room yourself? Decorating on your own reveals part of your personality to others, and makes your house feel like home. Decorating a room may seem like an enormous process, but it is actually easy when broken down into three steps. Firstly, design a floor plan, secondly, select and coordinate the color scheme, and thirdly, accessorize the room.

Start your decorating project by drawing a detailed floor plan of the room using a pencil and measuring tape or a ruler. Include the exact locations and measurements of any windows and doors on the plan. Next, place the pieces of furniture on the drawing that will be in the room keeping in mind the locations of the windows and doors. Make several drawings of the floor plan with the furniture arranged in alternate ways to explore the options available, and choose the layout that suits you best. Also, be sure to include proper measurements of the furniture such as the width, length, and height of any couches or chairs. These measurements will be needed if you decide to buy slip covers for the furniture when you choose a color scheme.

For many, choosing a color scheme for the room is the most difficult part of the process. Hundreds of paint colors, wall papers, floor treatments, and upholstery patterns exist on the market, all are impressive but also overwhelming. Start this step by observing the size and proportion of the room with the furniture in place, and decide the feeling you wish to create. For example, in a small space, light colors tend to create a sense of spaciousness where as dark colors may create a sense of comfort. However, if you have a large space to fill, using dark colors will create a sense of intimacy and warmth. To economize, select a color scheme that coordinates the existing floor treatment, and upholstery with the wall covering that you selected. On the market today are many inexpensive rugs that offer a flexible solution to covering a floor to accent the color scheme. Another economical option available is inexpensive furniture slip covers that are also flexible, and versatile in creating a well designed color scheme. Do not be afraid to experiment with pattern and texture variations such as a bold stripe with delicate floral print. It is this use of contrasting but coordinating colors that adds interest and detail to the room. Before moving on to accessorize the room, it is extremely important to examine the color scheme that you have selected, and be certain that you are happy with your choices.

Accessorizing the room is by far the most enjoyable part of the process. This step allows you to express your creativity and personality in the room. Use the items you already have such as collections of things like stamps or figurines. Also, buy new accessories to accent the old such as lamps, pictures, art work, and plants. Displaying private collections, for example, antiques or books create a theme that flows throughout the room, and unifies the interesting mixture of patterns and colors. Place the accessories in many variations, and choose the arrangement that creates the feeling you desire. A lot of layering with pillows and throws creates a sense of warmth and comfort while the use of minimal objectives may create an open sense. Accessories also represent a style; using items like brass and crystal lamps add a touch of elegance. Baskets, plants, and personal photos create a casual and comfortable atmosphere. Small accents such as tassels, frames, and knickknacks, add delicate details to complete the atmosphere of your desire. Remember that accessories are not permanent, and may be rearranged as many times as you like until you are content with the final décor. Do not rush the accessorizing; adding accessories overtime is often enjoyable and most effective.

When taken step by step, decorating a room can be fun and rewarding. Always begin by designing a floor plan and arranging the furniture. Then choose a color scheme that creates the desired atmosphere in the room. Finally, use your personal style to accessorize the room with collections and belongings. Decorating using these easy steps described, you can easily decorate without the financial burden of hiring a professional interior designer.