Home Sweet Home

Deciding upon a style of decoration that is both appropriate for the room and pleasing to the eye is the most important part of any interior design project. Careful consideration must be given to this critical aspect right from the beginning, as it is not something that can easily or cheaply be rectified halfway through the exercise. Though it can be tempting to take advantage of a bargain, it is generally a better idea to wait until you know roughly what look you are aiming for before you venture forth armed with a cheque book. While it’s easy to relegate an unsuitable item of clothing to the local charity shop, getting rid of an ill-chosen three-piece suite can prove rather more problematical.

In these stylistically anarchic times, choosing a style or styles of decoration can be a bewildering process. Set aside time to work out what types of interiors you find particularly pleasing. It might help to jot down a few notes with a description of your ideal room. Do you like the sparseness of minimal decoration — white walls, little furniture and a feeling of space, or do you feel happier surrounded with colour and pattern? Perhaps you find yourself attracted to the clean, uncompromising lines of modern furniture, or maybe you feel that a combination of antique, contemporary and ethnic pieces holds more appeal.

The architectural period of the building often provides a useful reference point from which to start planning. An existing feature of a room, such as an inglenook fireplace, might suggest the gleam of dark furniture and richly textured fabrics. A solid wood-block floor might point you in the direction of a more contemporary style where natural materials and neutral colours work so well together. While there is no reason to stick rigidly to that period’s style of decoration, it often helps to bear in mind the nature and scale of the building when deciding what sort of furniture to choose, leading to a harmonious final result. Developing a basic knowledge of general decorative styles will prove invaluable, enabling you to make informed decisions regarding the choice of fabrics, colours and furniture in addition to the innumerable other details that contribute to the making of a successful living room. It also prevents basic mistakes being made, such as introducing inappropriate materials and designs into period rooms.

Traditional-style rooms come in many guises but the principal elements — fabrics, wall colours, furniture and accessories — are based on period designs. There has never been such a wide variety of merchandise available in as many period styles as there is now. Having settled on a style of decoration that you think is suitable for your home and your way of life, don’t feel duty- bound to throw out existing furniture even if it is of the wrong period. Furniture has always been different periods that some of the most successful rooms evolve. A particular architectural or decorative style can be created in any number of ways — using the wall colour, the fabric design, the period details such as panelling, window design, fireplace design or a curtain treatment. While authentic period pieces add character to the room, think carefully about the seating — oak settles may be in keeping with sixteenth and seventeenth-century style but they are not comfortable.

Similarly, Georgian sofas are beautiful but can be unyielding and rather formal in appearance. A contemporary sofa made in a traditional style will certainly prove more comfortable, and when covered in a fabric of the chosen period it will help to contribute a sense of period style to the room. Learn to identify the particular characteristics of the period you’re interested in, so that when you come to buy furniture you will be able to assess immediately whether the piece is of the period and style that you’re looking for. The advantage of this approach can be seen around some of the best dinner tables: sets of period dining chairs are notoriously expensive but it is often possible to pick up a fine single chair for a modest outlay. A collection of chairs of roughly the same period, perhaps differing slightly in tone, style and size, will co-exist quite happily round the table, whereas the effect of a group of widely differing styles is confusing.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Critical Stylish

• Critical Stylish continue...
• Duck pond Table Decoration
• Washday Blues, Get the most Space and ease out of your Laundry, DIY Laundry Layout
• Skillful use of color
• Master of Guide part A
• Decorating bedroom—a world of possibilities part 1
• Bathroom linens and accessories
• Decorate Beautiful Eye Catch Point: Windows part 2
• Create Dramatic and Practical Effects with Colorful Curtains of Beads
• Bathroom Decoration, how to put on the Style and Colour on