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You can find a lot of advice
out there about home decorating. Usually
they will focus on a certain room or even a part of the room, but who has the
time to find the whole package.
Extensive reading is a luxury few have.
Trying to piece together information on decorating the entire house is
daunting. So, why not look at all the
parts in one complete article. We will
take it one room at a time.
The ENTRY way of your home may
seem to be an insignificant area on which to focus. But this is not the case. This tiny area provides the visitor with their
first impression of your house. If a
visitor comes through the front door and continues on to the next room without
stopping to admire something special you have failed. Your guest needs to be greeted with a
positive and welcome atmosphere from the very first moment they enter. This can be done in a number of ways. One of the most popular ways is to add a side
table, and one that is unusual. About
thirty years ago, we moved into an upscale neighborhood in Houston, Texas. The neighbor just behind us was very cordial
and offered assistance with the move-in.
On the second day, she had noticed that we had a foyer that was causing
some decorator problems. We had nothing
to really complete it. So, she went to
an antique shop, found a long, tall and narrow oriental table and brought it
over. It was beautiful. Made of mahogany with delicate imprints and
sculptured legs, it seemed to be absolutely perfect. I was ready to pay her any amount of money to
keep it, but she insisted on giving it to us as a house-warming gift. Tables like this one can perfectly
accessorize an entry area. Also consider
purchasing some art or an antique mirror to go over the table and then add
décor on top of it. If your guest does not
stop at your foyer to admire your work, you need to rethink the way it is
decorated.
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The living room or family room
comes in all shapes and sizes. They are
multi-purpose rooms and are one of the most used spaces in the home. This is a great place to have fun with color,
pattern, and accessories. By the way,
before you start buying decorator items measure your room, shelves, windows,
and other elements BEFORE going shopping.
Items in a store will always seem smaller because the store is so
big. You will be sad if you get your
items home and they are the wrong scale or too small or large for a wall or
table. In most homes the family room
also serves as an entertainment center.
Instead of displaying a rather utilitarian flat screen TV or stereo system
in the open, why not choose an antique armoire or manor cabinet where
entertainment centers can be concealed when not in use. Then decorate the areas around that piece of
furniture. Since they are typically
tall, choosing tall plants on either side is an option. Also make the seating look warm and
comfortable. Break up the usual couch
and chair with some other pieces, like a chase or deep lounging furniture. They come in all shapes and sizes. Also end tables for reading and floor lamps
are a good choice. The key is to create
a theme and find interesting pieces, not the usual fare. If the family room is more of an
entertainment room, choose wall decorations that are more fun than
artistic. I remember one home that
decorated the family room New Orleans style.
There was jazz artwork on the walls, rote iron railings in key places
and even a cool player piano. A massive
antique armoire housing the entertainment pieces and even an antique popcorn
machine really defined it.
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Because kitchens are designed
98% around function, it can be hard to know where to put the pretty
things. Kitchen decor should reflect
what’s happening in the kitchen. Start
with selecting pretty jars, canisters, baskets, and greenery, even silk plants
or plastic fruits or veggies can’t hurt.
For counter placements, start with the corners. If you have the height, put the taller pieces
in the corner and layer out in front of them.
The canisters that hold actual food can be placed more in the middle or
near the stove top. Again, less is more
in the kitchen. Keep those counters free
of clutter and keep them as clean as possible so you have more room to cook and
less places to collect dust and germs. Above
cabinets, keep it free of clutter. Again,
less is more. Some people love to pack
them full from corner to corner.
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Bedroom colors are
important. The wise will prefer to keep
the tones and patterns subdued... to create a relaxing and restful place to
retreat to. Neutral colors with accents
of pattern and lots of texture can create this comforting look. If you have a head or footboard that is a
great statement piece, let them speak for themselves. Choose simple accessories that complement the
focal point-furniture. Floating
nightstands are a good way to simplify.
Also, don’t be afraid of wallpaper.
The wallpaper of today is not your grandma’s wallpaper. Adding a pattern to the wall behind your bed,
whether with paper or a stencil, creates a beautiful finished look. Gorgeous fabrics in a bedroom is what makes
them feel lush and comforting. Most
people choose to hang decor above their headboard, which is totally fine, but
don’t be afraid to be different and hang pieces over your night stands
instead. Another thing, you don’t have
to buy “bedroom sets” (or living room sets) because when you do, you’re
allowing some salesman or manufacturer to decorate your home. Instead, choose furniture pieces that complement
each other, but don’t necessarily match each other. Paint your side tables a fun color and then
repeat that color throughout the room.
Have your headboard be a bright color and then have neutral side
tables. The ideas are endless, and I
promise if you break away from the “bedroom set” idea, you’ll have a more
designer look in no time.
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The bathroom is similar to the
kitchen in the fact that they mostly exist for functional purposes. That
doesn’t mean you can’t add a little decor to them. For example, for the vanity add beautiful
canisters or baskets that hold the everyday items like q-tips and towels. Tall and thin vases with greenery and flowers
bring the outdoors in and soften up the hard lines of a bathroom. One way to really add a focal point to a
bathroom is the addition of a clawfoot or pedestal porcelain bathtub. There are a few specialized companies (Tub
King, Inc. for example) that have brought back the old antique style with some
more modern improvements. The slipper
tub, for example, made of thick, rich porcelain comes in various sizes to fit
any bath and has the sexy lines of a slipper.
Instead of placing it in a corner, as with traditional bathtubs, you
redesign the bathroom to have it in the center as a key focal point. With draperies and towel to add color to this
beautiful fixture, you can really make the bathroom come alive.
One last thing, unless architectural
elements call for something different (mantels, wainscot, etc.) hang your art
with the center of the piece just above eye level. A good standard is about 5 foot 5
inches. If you look around, most people
hang their frames and mirrors way higher than this... bring them down where you
can actually see them.
When you examine your home
room by room, does it speak to you? Is
there a consistent pattern that shows someone took time and energy to make it
special? There is a lot you can do, even
on a budget.
In this article I have
provided sound advice on how to decorate your house room by room, including the
kitchen and bathrooms. This advice includes design styles like contemporary verses
antique and architectural elements like a claw-foot tub verses a modern pedestal
bathtub.
If
you would like to see examples of porcelain, claw-foot, pedestal and contemporary
bathtubs, visit our website at www.tubking.com.
You will not be disappointed. We hope you visit soon.
Thanks again for visiting with us. Until next time.
Would you like to receive a free copy of our eBook - Tub King's Ultimate Guide to Cast Iron/Porcelain Tubs, Walk-in Tubs & Safety Suite Showers? Fill in the form below and we will send it to you for free, or you can buy it on Amazon.com by clicking on this link.
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| At TubKing.com |
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to you. It has been my pleasure sharing this information with you.
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