Personalizing Your Home

Coming up with a plan is the logical first step to personalizing a home. You don't want to go about it haphazardly and end up with something that looks like a gimmicky family restaurant. Or worse, go over budget and have an expensive a hodge-podge on your hands. One thing to consider is everybody's opinion when decorating a family home. You have to reach a consensus with every family member over the theme you will use - at least on the common areas. Those living alone have it easy since they can do whatever they want. The key here is to go with what you yourself want - not what your mother wants, not what your neighbors want, and certainly not what that know-it-all Martha Stewart wants. You will be the one living in your home so it must suit you.

When you are done taking note of what everybody likes and you have your plan finalized, you can go ahead and proceed to the fun part. Start with the larger pieces - furniture, area rugs, fixtures. Many believe that smaller accessories and accent pieces reflect your personal sense of style more but large pieces can convey that just as effectively. Big items can also showcase your individual style, whether it be from brightly colored furniture, to unique area rugs for your home. Don't put too much thought into what others might say about your taste in decorations. So what if guests find your flower shaped rug too eccentric? If it pleases you, it's doing its job just fine.


Fantasia Fuchsia Rug



Fantasia Gold Rug



Fantasia Green Rug



Fantasia Light Pink Rug

Another path to personalizing your own space is using textures that appeal to you. Using a combination of contrasting textures - smooth and rough, polished and matte, plain and patterned - can accentuate an otherwise boring surface and inject much-needed life to virtually anything. Have a blast trying out different combinations. You can even mix things up in different rooms. Don't be afraid to experiment in order to find what works. Remember, you make the rules so there is no wrong combination. If you feel that a certain grouping appeals to you, then there is nothing wrong going with it.

Using textures is not the only way of self-expression. Experiment with different elements such as lines, colors, patterns, and materials. As far as home decor is concerned, nothing is set in stone. There are really no rules, just things that work more than others. Don't forget to have fun while decorating. This way, your style, your likes and dislikes, even your background and lifestyle will be accurately represented.


Brilliant Linen Rug



Rio Burgundy Rug