Home Decorating Tips

Though Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously said, "Less is more", we do not mean "minimalism" but we wanted to emphasize simplicity. You can apply this towards your style and overall look of the room or area. Mess-free spaces make your house or room or area bigger in size. So in any makeover, clearing up and cleaning up is the very first step to do.

The next part of the room that is noticeable would be the walls. Why not give your walls some refinement? I will bet on this -- the first thing that comes to your mind is to do some paint update. And we don't just mean plain paint! We urge you to try experimenting with colors. Pick a shade that is bolder than your usual, "safe" favorite. Then, the common habit done is to paint three sides of the wall white or with one color and the fourth side of the wall is painted differently, preferably an accent color. Think of accent or contrasting colors. Will a striking red be alright?

You can also smarten up your walls by adding some shelves, art pieces or art works.

Another wonderful thing to do for your make over is to put in a little grace and comfort by adding area rugs! These rugs do not only make a room more relaxed but it brings a feel of stylishness. Area rugs also covers or outlines the "conversation area".

Modern area rugs are interesting as they are made from various materials such as wool and silk. You can also find rugs that cost less and they are made of - jute, grass, and sisal.

Apart from dressing up your walls and your floors, it is time to give your furniture a little face-lift - simple: by covering it! Yes, get an entire fresh look with slipcovers. Use slipcovers not only for hiding old upholstery. But this is an instant tool for shifting one total color scheme of an area or room to another that is easy on the pocket!

An easy trick to do (you can even do this with your eyes closed) is to toss a white slipcover to shady colored furniture and in an instant, you create a breezy atmosphere!

Whether we agree or not, lighting sets the appropriate mood in any given room or space. If you think about it, this is the most unnoticed aspect of a makeover. Each type of light has its own purpose to our daily activities, and that makes lighting a significant aspect of every change in our homes. The basic we know about lighting is that it illuminates any dark room or place. Beyond that, maybe we ran out of answers! To recall, we have task lighting that are usually used for our table and floor lamps. In terms of aesthetics, we have accent lightings that give spotlight to an artwork or portrait.

Did you know that type of light bulbs can also set an atmosphere? In general, incandescent lighting gives off yellow light which that generates a romantic ambience, and cuts down flaws and imperfections, and typically used in bedrooms and bathrooms, too. Fluorescent light radiates white light that is actually good for studying, and for the kitchen use as these areas always require general lighting.

Use your final outcome for this makeover as your basis in determining which lighting you would like to have and which would actually work without redundancy.

Now, let us move on to decorating your space or room using indoor plants. Have you noticed that indoor plants turn a dull corner to life? Plants reduce stress. Imagine what it can do when you have them indoors! According to research studies, plants work hard to improve our health by cleaning the air from toxins. Great, isn't it?

Indoor plants give you an impression of a "balanced" environment, thus giving you a "balanced state of mind". Notice that you become more productive in such surroundings - with plants present. Are you ready to take them in?

It is suggested however, to know which plants would be good for your makeover and which are great for the indoors. It is nice to have outdoor plants to be inside, though this is not possible if they crave for direct sunlight. There is no need to fill the entire space with plants. What is recommended is to have at least eight plants inside and that should be enough for you.

We have worked on filling boring spaces with plants. Now it is time to smarten our windows! Depending on our personality, some may want uninterrupted views of what is outside, some may be sensitive to light surroundings and would prefer nice, a thick curtain. Some may simply want to accentuate their windows. Adding Drapes to your home certainly can make a big impact.

Window treatments can completely change the feel of your room. Selecting a window treatment should match the overall appearance of the room or the space. Using color, you can either heighten the existing room color scheme or be in uniform with.

Consider the length of your window treatment to be in proportion to the room's height. If you would like to emanate elegance, a formal floor length window treatment is a good choice - as it is frequently layered with a sheer, and honed with a top treatment or a valence.

Here's a trick that you can work on - hang the drapes higher and wider than your window. This will give you the illusion of a larger window than it really is. It even makes your room seem grand!

Lastly, try replacing cabinet handles or door knobs make a quick makeover! Those small details, when changed can give a renewed feeling. Try playing up with a chic design on your curtain rods, too!