Interior: The most common paint color is white; white is a good choice for many, as it goes well with anybody’s style. It has a tendency to make a room look larger than it is, so white is especially good for smaller rooms. The second most popular color would have to be light brown, like a light latte color. This is best for larger rooms, as it doesn’t make it look bigger like white does; it also brings a nice warm feel to the space. The last color, is one which has become very popular but is normally used as an accent wall, if you haven’t guessed it already, the color is red. You will sometimes find red in kitchens and bathrooms too, only they usually have more of a Cranberry tinge to them.

Exterior: The most popular color when it comes to painting the exterior of your home is white or off-white, often these homes have a dark trim and sometimes shutters. After white it’s really a toss up, it seems that depending on the area you live in the second most popular would either be, browns/tans or blue/grey. Following these colors are yellows and greens, with red and pink falling behind. Mainly due to the fact that people in general like their homes to blend in with the rest of the neighborhood, and the brighter the color, the harder it is to match with the permanent fixtures on your home.

Paint Colors That Are Always Stylish

An easy way to remember the colors that never lose their appeal is to think of nature, nature never goes out of style. That being said colors such as white, beige, brown, tan, and grey used in moderation. Paint with these colors and you can’t go wrong.

Home Styles

Classic Style Description – A classic styled home usually works best in a heritage home only for the reason that to get a true classic look you need rooms rather than open spaces where the rooms flow into one another. Classic looks are composed by much planned out decorating, décor is very symmetrical. The objects you have in a room aren’t nearly as important as the way they’re arranged.

Contemporary Style Description – A contemporary look is one which is very clean, with smooth lines. It’s the most simple of styles, brought together by the use of glass, steel, and stone. Also the colors you use need to be solid, normally in beige, creams, whites, and blacks, homes with a contemporary style have minimal use of detail such as carvings and even the light you use should be lighting that focuses not on the fixture but just of the light it gives out.

Country Style Description – To achieve a country style look in your home, just utilize the use of woods, some furnishings will have the use of chicken wire instead of glass, on cabinet doors. A popular fabric choice is plaid, of all the styles this one would be the most likely to look a little cluttered but if you decorate accordingly you can achieve a beautiful country tone, but with a clean up-to-date appearance.

Eclectic Style Description – Anyone can easily create an eclectic looking home, mostly due to the fact that pretty much anything goes with this style. The purpose is to mix and match different types of furnishings, woods, colors, and textiles. This is a good choice for large families or ones with different ideas of style since you can actually mix earth tones with color and antiques with new pieces.

Modern Style Description – Geometrical shapes and colors such as dark brown, black, and chrome are use to create a modern look, often with hints of deep colors throughout a room. One of the main goals when creating this style is to have the furniture to appear to be floating. For example platform beds, glass bowl sinks, and big wall size windows all help creating a modern style home.

Art Styles

Abstract Art – Abstract art is very colorful and bright, the most distinctive thing about it; however, is the fact that it doesn’t represent any visual object; rather it normally is an expression of emotion or sound.

Classic Art – This type of art is one that has become very famous with artists such as Van Gogh and Edvard Munch, these artists don’t represent classic art just because their work is so old, but also the fact that artists such as these had a way of expressing their thoughts, visions, and dreams in their paintings, this is what makes up classic art.

Naturalistic Art – This would be one of the easiest to describe and to remember, it’s exactly what it says it is, nature. These are the most realistic paintings, sometimes they are so perfectly painted that they almost would appear to be a photo. You could pretty much describe this style as scenery and landscape pictures.

Representational Art – This style is very much as it says it is. When you see representational art it will very much represent something or somewhere, a picture of the statue of liberty for example, most people would instantly know what this is and where to find it, unlike a picture of a house or a mountain, you wouldn’t know exactly which house or mountain it is. So representation art is an exact replica of an object, person, or place.

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Here are 5 key elements of interior design :

1. Space
Space defines the boundaries and establishes the limits of functional and decorative things you can do. In general, the space does not determine, however, face the challenge of using the space effectively.

2. Line
The lines in a room are second in importance to color when it comes to setting the mood or general feeling of a room. The window decoration lines should support the dominant theme of the room. In most situations, the dominant line is straight (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) rather than curve. Your choice to emphasize the direction of the lines that determine your mood to create.
- Vertical lines add height and dignity, creating a more formal setting. The vertical lines and the balance of the horizontal lines in most of the furniture.
- Horizontal lines tend to create a break, informal feeling. They work well in casual rooms or strong vertical relief to the formal rooms.
- Diagonal lines attract attention and shift attention. They may be of concern unless supported by vertical or diagonal opposite.
- Curved lines add a soothing effect and keep the room is too rigid. Use curved lines with some moderation to keep the room from being too soft and too feminine.

3. Form
The lines that connect producing the form, or shape of an object, which in turn affects the overall feeling of a room. Straight lines create rectangles, squares and triangles. Curved lines are circles and ovals. The rectangle is the most popular and is often the dominant form in a room. Triangles provide stability and curved to soften the edges of objects.

4.  Color
More than any other element, color can make a room beautiful. Color can set the mood. You can make a room warmer or cooler, larger or smaller. You can hide unpleasant characteristics or draw attention to the focus. Even with the most simple decoration, the appropriate use of color can transform a room.

5.  Texture
Texture is playing an increasingly important role in home decor. The visual texture is apparent softness of a material or roughness. To maintain and enhance a casual feeling, tissues that are used in more textured, rough or nubby visual texture. Smooth, shiny surfaces such as silk, moire, chintz and silk-like seems to support a more formal feeling in a room. Using multiple levels of complementary textures adds variety and keeps the interest. However, it is a good idea to avoid dramatic contrasts in texture.

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Decorating with Art Pictures

You will be surprised at the important role that art pictures play in home decor accessories. Not only do pictures add your own personality into the room, they absorb noise and can actually help change the illusion of a rooms’ shape if placed in the right places. For example:

* horizontal landscape pictures help widen a room;
* Portrait floral pictures help give the illusion of height; and
* one large picture reflected through a mirror gives the sensation of additional broader space.

Creating Art Arrangements:-

For a maximum effect and to make interesting wall arrangements that can become a dynamic focal point of the room, try to hang smaller pictures in a cluster.

If you hang an even number of smaller prints tightly together in a cluster, this will help balance out a large space and give a window effect in a small space. Remember to hang the prints together tightly to create one unit and one focal point.

For larger pictures, place them in proportion to the furniture. For example, hang a large picture approximately six to nine inches above a sofa or at eye level. By hanging a larger print too high above any piece of furniture can leave both pieces feeling disconnected.

Tips Before Hanging Art:-

Before hanging any art on a wall, try different combinations of arrangements. Use painter’s tape and brown paper bags and keep rearranging the bits of paper on the wall until you have come up with a great picture arrangement.

Always hang prints at eye level and use your hand in between pictures as a guide to space large and medium sized pictures.

Create Illusions with Mirrors

Mirrors are great to help create the illusion of space. By cleverly placing mirrors on an adjacent wall to a picture or something that is interesting in your room, will reflect the image and add a sense of space.

For darker rooms, hang a decorative mirror near a window. The light will then bounce off the mirror into the room portraying more natural much-needed light back into the area.

To give the illusion of depth in a room paint one of your walls in a darker contrasting color to your other walls. Then hang a mirror on that darker wall. This instantly gives the additional sense of depth to the dimensions of the room.

Lighten up with Light Fixtures

Light fittings are one of the most important elements of home decor accessories as they set the ambience of the room. By using different types of lighting you can create different moods on different areas of the room, at different times of the day.

For example:-

* accent lighting such as a spot light is used to emphasize wall paintings, ornaments or other interesting areas in a room;
* soft lighting used by small wall light fittings or table lamps, help create a gentle romantic mood; · general lighting such as a ceiling center light, strip light or bright wall lamps are used for everyday purposes.

Tip: use a dimmer switch to create different moods with your lighting.

Adding Color with Flowers & Plants

Fresh flowers are always a wonderful accessory in a home. They are easy to blend in with any rooms accent and you can swap and change the color, type of flower and position at any time. They are such an easy and adaptable accessory to have. If you are allergic to flowers, try silk flowers instead – sometimes it is hard to distinguish between real flowers and silk ones…

By placing plants throughout your home helps add natural color, texture, and also softens the area making it more appealing to spend time there. Don’t forget to use attractive plant pots and containers for your plants – they are a home decor accessory too!

Area Rugs and Textiles

Area Rugs:- Area rugs add warmth and texture to a room. They help soften wooden or hard floors and add contrasting colors and patterns into the room.

First you must determine what you want the rug for – is it a focal point? or do you want to group furniture on it? etc.. Secondly, you must measure what size rug you need before you go shopping.

Other Textiles:- By using other types of textile home decor accessories, you can create additional comfort and softness in using:-

* scatter cushions made with different types of material;
* throws on your sofa or lounge chair;
* napkins, place mats and tablecloths in the dining room or kitchen.

Summary

Home decor accessories play a crucial part in your home decorating. Even if you don’t need to repaint your walls, you can still change the look of your room. By rearranging furniture and wall pictures, adding soft light fixtures, flower arrangements and plants, the placement of an area rug and using different textiles in a room, all help create a new look to reflect you and your personality.

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A person who is creative can do some interior designing on his own even without formal training. Those who have an eye for what is aesthetic can just as easily decorate and design his own house depending on his tastes. Of course, it helps to read books and articles about designing to be updated on the basic and latest design methods.

Any interior designer can create a specific atmosphere just by putting together several pieces and unifying them in a single theme. There are interior designers who have a bias for certain motifs like eclectic, modern or even country style. Some go for simple designs without the clutter.

Interior design is not only aesthetic but also functional depending on the requirements of the client. An interior designer can make a small room spacious and an otherwise cluttered room into an orderly one. Interior design is used just about anywhere from homes, offices to commercial buildings.

The interiors of a room should always match the personality of the person who will occupy that room. This is the reason why designers always work closely with their clients so they can make sure that they get a feel of what their clients want in terms of design style.

People have this notion that interior design is expensive. However, designers are not only creative people but they are also very good in budgeting. Most designers will work on a design that will match or fit the budget of their clients. A person can allot a minimal amount for the interior design of his home or office and still come up with an aesthetic and functional room.

Professional interior designers who are formally trained usually have basic knowledge on architecture, engineering and even accounting. They need these courses to make their design aesthetic, structurally correct and cost effective.

The terms Interior design and interior decorating have often been used interchangeably. However, the two terms actually deal with different phases of making a room or a space aesthetic. Interior design is basically the process of studying the personality of the occupant of the room being designed in order to maximize and tailor-made the room’s design for that person’s behavior and personality.

Interior decorating on the other hand is the process of actually mixing and matching the different design techniques like window treatments, the right wallpaper, wall finish and even the furnishing of a room.

There are a lot of opportunities for those in the interior design and decorating industry. An interior designer can go into designing household, corporate or commercial establishments. Others specialize in the design of health facilities or even tourism establishments.

The latest trend now for those in the interior design industry is to be able to incorporate the right engineering and aesthetic design with sustainable development. Even designers are now more conscious about the state of the environment so they tend to use environmentally friendly materials for their designs.

There are designers who specialize and use Feng Shui in their designs. This requires further study because Feng Shui deals with the Chinese’s ancient methods of designing a space to make the design work for the owner’s health, business and other life factors.

The Chinese believes that a structure should be properly designed so as to allow positive energy to enter the structure. When the structure has already been built without the aid of a Feng Shui expert, the mistakes can be corrected through proper interior design using the Feng Shui methods.

By incorporating Feng Shui in interior design, it is believed that a person can bring out all the positive energies in a room to make him rich, happy and healthy. An interior design using Feng Shui can also get rid of bad spirits that bring in negative atmosphere in an abode.

Getting the services of an interior designer can make a room both aesthetic and functional. Any person who wants to make his home livable and functional should try getting the services of an interior designer to maximize his space.

The most intimate space, and perhaps the most important, is the bedroom. Unfortunately, it is most often overlooked as it is not regularly seen by visitors to your home. Too often the rooms meant for entertaining guests take precedence over those nurturing private havens.

Choosing the theme of the bedroom decor can vary as much as personal style and depend upon the desired effect; calming or stimulating, meditative or invigorating, an intellectual retreat or a sensual hideaway. It is entirely up to you.

Beyond choosing the wall colors and furniture, you have important considerations to make concerning the textiles: rugs, pillows, and bedding. The sumptuousness of these will directly affect the comfort of the room. The luxuriousness of sleeping on fine linens can not be overstated. The bedding is one area that you do not want to skimp on when you are furnishing your own nurturing space.

To properly outfit your bed, you will need a substantial mattress, a mattress pad, sheets, a blanket, a duvet or comforter, and pillows. The pillows’ firmness is entirely a matter of personal preference, but be sure they are of adequate number. The sheets, blankets, and duvet all provide an opportunity to contribute to the overall decor of the room, as well as to your physical comfort.

Some bedrooms’ decor are built around a fabulous comforter’s pattern and/or colors, while others leave the bed linens to play the role of accent pieces in the scheme. There is no right or wrong answer here, but be sure that you do not fall into the trap of purchasing something for its looks alone. These pieces are to be functional as well. Too often people find themselves sleeping, or attempting to sleep, on inferior quality. Your days depend on your nights’ rest – splurge on fine bed linens.

Remember that other than your comfort and peace of mind, there really are no rules when it comes to creating your private sanctuary. Make it your own.