Tips For Lacking Interior Design

Interior design creativity is not a gift that we are all born with.  I for one don’t have the makings of a world renowned designer.  What I do have is the ability to start with a base coat that is simple and then from there add to it.  I am not ever going to be one for color on the wall; beige is as bold as I go.  My couches and chairs are all in the brown, beige family and are solid colors. I do however have what it takes to add charm without breaking the bank or making my home impersonal.  Continue on to find some wonderful tips to help design the interior of your home today.

One of the first things I do is to peruse magazines.  I don’t subscribe to any however the library close to us keeps a good selection in stock and I do regularly find some that have been shared in the local swap box.  This is a great tip to save money on magazine subscriptions that can really add up quickly.

Another tip I take into consideration is dividing spaces into functioning places for our family.  This means that one room may have several separate groupings of furniture to give each space its own purpose.  The latest space we used this technique was our son’s room.  It is a rather small space.  With the help of a loft we were able to box off his bed and make it a fort setting leaving the bottom under it to be utilized.  We used it as a space for his school work and a place to stash a bean bag and small table with a light for when he feels like reading or playing on his laptop.  We took his closet and made it into a complete dressing area with a space for his clothes and personal care items along with a mirror.  This way he can shower and come in to his room to take care of his grooming needs.  His space is small but serves several purposes for him.

Another designing on a dime tip I have to offer is to choose something in each space to be a focal point.  I like to use book shelves, fireplaces, art and windows.  Arrange the room around this object and you will find that symmetry happens almost automatically.

When I design a space within my home around a window as the room’s focal point I often use layering in the window treatment options I choose.  This always adds class and coziness to the space.  It is also a great way to mix materials and colors giving the room a more dynamic feel.  Windowtreatments also help to control the amount of light an area receives.

Remember also that you don’t have to have window treatment that fit neatly into a packaged space any more.  When using curtains the sky is the limit.  I have seen small windows surrounding by beautiful window treatments that turn the space into more of an art showcase.  The truth is that window treatments are one of my favorite methods to transform a space. They are usually inexpensive, easy to install and make a huge statement.

Not everyone is a creative genius when it comes to interior design.  I know I am for sure not.  What I am good at is looking for inspiration everywhere.  Take pictures and jot ideas down as you come about them.  I have a portfolio filled with things I like and as I redo and update spaces in the house I pull the portfolio out to see what can and cannot be used in the space.  It is easy to copy other geniuses! 

Inexpensive Interior Design Tips

In the economic climate we live in today everyone is trying to cut corners and pinch pennies.  This is true in all aspects of our lives including interior decorating within our homes. Face it not all of us have a decorators touch but doing it yourself you can save a small fortune.  Here are some simple tips to help you become an expert interior decorator for your home without breaking the budget.

Tip One:  Often people are not thrilled with their homes flooring. However we all know this is an expensive replacement in home furnishings.  One instant change to a room be it carpeted, tiled or hardwood is using a large decorate rug.  This will instantly hide the flaws in your flooring and add flair to the room without having to completely redo the homes flooring.  Think about it at minimum you are looking at three thousand dollars to redo the flooring within your home.  A new area rug is at the most two hundred dollars.  That is a minimum savings of two thousand eight hundred dollars.

Tip Two: This tip requires absolutely no money only a bit of time and muscle.  Rearrange furniture in a living room area to divide the space up.  Have a space devoted to television, one area for reading and a cozy spot to sit back and talk with family and friends.  This is a terrific way to utilize a large space and give your room and furniture a more visual appeal.  It also makes the space more user friendly.

Tip Three: Add book shelves and not only for books.  A large book shelve unit is a great way to display pictures, art and memorabilia that you have accumulated that is too special to store in a box under the bed. This helps create a personalized feel to any room making it friendlier, more welcoming to guests and more special to you.

Tip Four: Purchase window treatments that fit your style and function for the space.  In bedrooms room darkening blinds and shades can be installed under designer roller shades or bamboo blinds.  This gives you the ability to have a stylish yet functional window treatment.  Homeowners can spice up a room using window treatments to play up their windows.  Just because you have a tiny window does not mean you have to stick with a mini blind.  You can transform the room using large curtains to add a focal point to the window, making it appear larger than it is. Layering window treatments is a must in interior design.  Don’t be afraid to combine textures and materials in your window coverings.

Tip Five:   I saved the best tip for last.  A big impact on a small budget can be had with the use of paint.  Painting a wall, ceiling or whole room can dramatically change the room overall look and feel.  Recently we added a deep brown wall into our otherwise beige living room and instantly the room was transformed.  It was amazing.  The colors you choose to paint with don’t always have to match exactly form room to room.  Adding color that plays well with other areas of the house if the key element to look for.