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Is Getting Started Hard? Try Our Tips and Tricks!
We know that getting a home decorating project started can seem like an insurmountable object, but it doesn't have to be! You can break that mountain down to manageable chunks and conquer them! With a few little tips you will be decorating in no time!
Does Your Home Let You Relax?
Do you long for a retreat from the frantic pace of this busy world? Where you can relax and recharge? Does your home help you do this? I think it should! You can create the setting in your home that will relax, refresh and inspire you and your family. It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg either. Big changes can be achieved with a can of paint and a few accessories! Read on for 8 simple steps that you can use to create a warm, cozy and relaxing room in your home.
1. Declutter! No one needs the mess! Clutter hits us visually in the face. It causes stress when it does nothing but sit there. It silently asks us to get busy and clean it up, when all we really want to do is rest! Reduce the amount of 'stuff' in your rooms, and your mind will be more at peace, and so will you! Give the items you have left a place to belong where they can be kept neat and clean, and maybe even out of sight till they're needed. If they can't disappear entirely, consider placing groupings of items in baskets that can be tucked in a corner or in a cupboard.
2. Clean it up! Now that you have all that junk moved out of the room that was stressing you out, you can see the gunk that needs cleaning and may even be making you sick! Get rid of the cobwebs, dustbunnies, and any grime that has accumulated. Use some Febreze on your textiles and in the air to freshen your room. Now, breathe deep....here comes the fun stuff!
3. Purpose, theme and focus! To do this, you need to know what you intend to use the room for, its purpose. Will it be a family living room, or dining room or a bedroom? Is it going to morph into a recreation/game room, gym or an office? Find a sheet of paper and a pencil...write down the rooms' purpose.
Do you want it to motivate you, get you out the door again, or settle you down and relax you? Write down how you want it to make you feel when you enter the room. This will become your theme. Now, spend 5 minutes and daydream/brainstorm about that idea. What do you think about when that theme comes to mind? Write down anything that comes to mind. (There are no wrong answers when brainstorming!) Use this list to help you find accessories later on!
Next, you need to determine the focal point for the room. This is where all eyes will come when entering the room, so think about what it is in the room that you stare at! I recommend one main focal point, but it is ok to have a secondary point less accentuated than the first. Use your rooms' architecture to guide you. And NO, the TV is never the focal point in any room! Do you have a great set of windows, or a fireplace, or bank of shelving, or some other architectural detail that you love? Use it!
4. Take stock! Make a list of the furniture and accessories you already have that will work in your new room. Items that won't fit should be moved to other rooms or you could pack and store them. Make another list of things that you'd like to have in the room, but need to find. Take this 'shopping list' with you when you go shopping. For more savings, think about visiting a few garage sales, resale shops and clearance sales. You can very often find great bargains that really spruce up your room! Remember, this has to work for your budget!
5. Paint the walls! It has long been known that a quick afternoon with a paint can will have dramatic and long-lasting results in your home decor. Use warm colors like reds, golds, yellows and browns to warm your home up, and pair it with a contrasting trim color in the same color family to add some comfortable drama. Use blues, greens, and pale pinks and other pastels with a contrast trim color of off-white to white to cool the room down! Use bright, bold colors to inspire and excite you like purples and oranges.
6. Let there be light! Most homes have dark spots, where little to no natural light gets in, and no electric light has been installed. Use a combination of floor, table/desk and/or wall lighting along with your ceiling light to create cozy little niches in your room that invite your family and friends to sit down! Instead of trying to light every single corner, choose where you want the focal point of the room to be. Light that first and best, then move around the room and light up other areas for their purpose. Skimping on this step will leave you in the dark and disappointed with the results.
7. Arrange! Ok! Bring the furniture back in! Set up your focal area furniture first, then arrange the rest of the furniture around the room. Leave obvious walkways that lead towards room exits so there is a sense of flow. This is a great time to cut down on furniture if your room felt cramped before. Don't bring in furniture that doesn't support the rooms purpose!
8. Accessorize! Once the furniture and flow are working for you, it's time to add some accessories! These items should be based on the theme you set earlier in the process. Make sure to add some comfort based items, like pillows and throws; some items to stimulate the senses like candles, flowers, figurines, wall art, books and collections; something to accentuate your focal point, and some items to excite with color and texture. If your couch doesn't go with your new wall color, but you can't afford a new one, consider a slipcover, or cover it with a washable quilt that works with the new color. Add a rug to help define a seating arrangement, or a footstool to invite someone to put their feet up!
You did it! Now you can finally sit back and really relax in your home! Revel in your own home decor success! You have a retreat that is all warm and cozy and suited to you! Congratulations!
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