Decorating Tips to Make Any Room Better
Decorating Tips to Make Any Room Better | Scottsdale Real Estate is a frequent question. It is no secret that designers don’t follow a secret rule book. There are no hard and fast laws governing what we they do. They are creative types by nature and love to imagine, dream and explore, following our intuition. That said, there are some rough principles to ensure a great result every time. They are just tried and true things that work. And these are not tricks or skills that take years to master. Anyone can do them from day one. Consider this a foundation for developing your own quirky, creative, rule-breaking intuition.
Pick the paint color last – There are thousands of paint colors with various tints, tones and shades. And each one looks different from home to home, because light sources vary, meaning what looks good in your current home might not in your new one. You want the color that best complements your upholstery, artwork, rug and whatever else. You can pick that color only if your stuff is actually inside your home.
Give your furniture some breathing room – Resist overcrowding a room. Gracious living means space to maneuver with ease. This is really great news if you are working with a tight budget. You do not need to fill up a space with lots of furniture. Spend more of your budget on fewer but better-quality pieces, and your room will look better than if it’s stuffed to the gills with flea market finds.
Hang artwork at the right height – Galleries and museums hang artwork so that the mid line (center) of each piece is 57 inches to 60 inches from the floor. (The average human eye level is 57 inches.) And you should do the same. In a room where the ceilings soar, there might be a tendency to hang the art higher. But remember: It needs to relate to human scale, not the structure’s scale. If you’re not sure, take a picture. It’s remarkable how much a photo can reveal. Print it out or use Photoshop or an app to draw on the photo. This can give you a sense of whether a larger or smaller piece of art is needed or a tall plant might be best to fill a vacant spot.
Know how to arrange furniture on a rug –There are basically three ways you can arrange furniture on your rug.
All on: The rug is large enough to place all of the furniture legs on top of it. This creates a more luxurious feel. For this, bigger is better. Just be sure to leave at least 12 to 18 inches of floor surface on all four sides of the rug’s borders.
Decorating Small Rooms
All off: If you have a small room, keeping all legs off the rug is a great cost-effective choice. You don’t want to pick too small a rug, though, or it may look insignificant, like an afterthought. The rug should appear as though it could touch the front legs of each of the seating pieces. This approach is best suited when you’re layering a pattern over a larger solid or textured rug.
Partially on / Partially off: If the room is irregular in size, it may be best to have some of the furniture in the grouping on the rug and some off of it. This look can be the most difficult to achieve.
Resist the urge to be too inspired by a theme – A particular them vibe can be achieved through a palette, artwork and materials that give the effect without drawing on the obvious clichés.
Create a focal point – There are leading roles and supporting cast members in any production. The same holds true in design. Choose your star and make it the focal point to anchor a room. Allow other items to take a secondary role. Don’t ask everything to have a leading role; it will just result in visual noise. Your focal point might be a dramatic hood in the kitchen, a mantel and art piece in the living room or a headboard in the bedroom. Whatever it is, choose something that will draw attention.
Consider sight lines – Your focal point should be free and clear from one room to the next, so that it feels like you’re being drawn between them. That’s why the best spot for a focal point is usually directly across from the entrance to the room.
Edit your collectibles – Don’t hang on to a piece that just doesn’t fit. If it’s not working for you, then find a new home for it (maybe in a different room).
Vary the scale – What looks good in the store may look like an elephant in the room when you bring it home. Or it’s too tiny to be of any significance. So always vary scale and proportion. Threes and fives make for more pleasing arrangements than even numbers.
Add layers of lighting – In this kitchen seating area, the back splash is lit, the artwork is highlighted and the cabinet interiors are filled with light. One central lighting fixture would not have had nearly the same dramatic result. Professionals build layers of lighting to create interest, intrigue and variety. In a room where everything is lit evenly, nothing stands out. Pick a focal point and perhaps a secondary focal point and highlight those. Add general ambient lighting and some lower lighting, like table lamps, for interest.
Be bold – Personality is what makes a space great. Make your own statement and have fun. The more you try, the more you will begin to see what works and what does not. Incorporate unexpected elements for drama. Eschew expected pieces and interpretations if you want a room that will really wow.
Ignore all principles in favor of creativity – Having some guidelines gives people a good starting point for furnishing and decorating their home, even if some of them are not practical for a particular space. Go with something personal that makes you smile and, above all, is comfortable. Overly designed rooms don’t really translate in modern life. A pillow collection and an art arrangement that are seemingly haphazard, as shown here create a dressed-down look with plenty of style.
For Scottsdale Real Estate, contact the Luxury Valley Homes Team at 480-595-6412
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Provided by: Luxury Valley Homes | Scottsdale Real Estate
