Find the PerfectHome Decorating Ideas!Creative home decorating ideas can quickly make the difference between that one special haven you call your own and just another house. The word "home" brings to mind visions of welcome and warmth, rather than merely a house -- a building. Loving attention to décor dresses the bare bones of a house or an apartment so that it expresses the personalities of the family that lives there. The art of creating a charming and comfortable home is one of the most fascinating occupations in the world, and it truly is easier than you may think! Art begins within. Our focus will be to bring out the artist in each of us while digging into projects for personalizing our properties both inside and out.
Be sure to check back often — new how-to projects, home decorating ideas and tips will be added frequently! Now, hang onto your hat and let the journey begin! Decorate or Redecorate? The art of decorating ones living space goes back at least to the beginning of recorded history. Don't worry — I'm not going to recommend that you go quite so primitive in decorating your own cave, unless of course you LIKE the idea! If you are just starting out or are planning to purchase a new home soon, you will need decorating ideas. Those like me who are customizing (and organizing) an existing house will need ideas on how to redecorate. We'll be talking about both design approaches here. Today many people live in apartments or condos. Some modern apartments are smaller than the house of your dreams, but they have many of the same features and décor needs. If you have a patio, balcony or courtyard you will also need suggestions to help you make it special. We can often borrow tidbits here and there from earlier civilizations as we develop our own home decorating ideas.
Looking back through history we find many examples of different civilizations developing unique decorating ideas. Throughout the world, wherever European ideas have spread, we find features of the classic décor themes of the past. Here in the United States we see a great deal of English, French and Spanish influence in our architecture. In the South we have many fine old mansions that have spacious wrap-around porches with beautiful supporting columns that follow one of the classic styles. Don't you just love this concept? I do! In fact, I'm currently working on a design for our "dream home" that includes several covered porches. I want to have lots of room for outdoor living and for my rather large container garden. Mind you, I'm no architect, and will have to hire one to put my ideas into a useable blueprint once I am able to show what I want. We usually try to match our interior décor to the architectural style of the house to a certain extent, at least in the lower floor or the public areas. On the upper floor(s) or in bedrooms we can and should let our personal taste and talents shine through. The décor ideas we will be exploring include, but are certainly not limited to, various ethnic and historical decorative styles. With a bit of creativity a man's/woman's residence may become his/her castle, so join me often as we explore and find that perfect concept for your own "castle" and gardens. Home Decorating Ideas for Individual Rooms What rooms do you notice first when you walk into a house? Most people check out the kitchen to see whether it is well-equipped (I like LOTS of kitchen gadgets!) and whether the baths are attractive and inviting. The bedrooms should be relaxing, conducive to sleep, and are usually customized to fit the personality of the person or persons who call them their own. The formal areas usually catch my eye -- both living and dining rooms. I can't help thinking about how when I was a kid these areas were always closed off except for holidays and special occasions. We didn't DARE make a mess in there! I even remember asking permission to sit there for a few minutes when a special date picked me up. The family spent most of its time in the den and breakfast nook (ours was actually a dine-in kitchen). Quite a few houses today have a separate recreation area and media center or theater. In a smaller house these may be combined with the family room or den. Have you ever noticed that if the family or great room has a fireplace, the first thing that catches your eye as you enter is the mantle treatment? Special attention is called for here. Let's not forget our work-centers! Even the lowly laundry is deserving of attention to be sure it is a pleasant, efficient work-space. Many of us have need of an office, and perhaps a workshop. If you are an avid hobbyist as I am, one or more craft and/or sewing stations are an absolute necessity! Speaking of hobbies -- I'll occasionally bring in some "how-to" craft tips to help you with your search for the perfect décor. Have you ever found yourself drowning in "stuff" with no place to put it all? That's me -- the eternal (infernal?) pack-rat! The first step in decorating or redecorating your home is to conquer clutter. Check out how I'm handling the problem of how to conquer clutter in my own home. It's important to remember that we CAN redecorate on a budget, and there are many interesting ways of decorating a small space. We'll also probe simple techniques that can help you increase the value of your property and talk about how to find your dream home. And so much more . . .! See you again soon,
KEM Enterprises
PS: You may want to bookmark this page - just press "Control D." I always enjoy hearing from my readers, and would love to know what you would like to see discussed on this website. What do YOU think are the perfect home decorating ideas?
|
|
