Good Basics - Decorating 101

28.02.2008 02:00 Home - Source: Home Envy

OK, OK...I've seen Trading Spaces. It's fun, it's zany, you never know what will happen when the homeowners return, and occasionally a makeover even results in a good-looking room. Reality decorating is ultimately unsatisfying fare, like cotton candy, which makes a great first impression but leaves you with a stomachache or a toothache (or both!). When it comes to decorating a real room with a reasonable budget, following tried and true decorating basics is the smart way to go.

Reality Decorating Don'ts

DON'T use bed sheets as window coverings. Draperies, curtains, and fabric blinds not only provide necessary privacy to rooms they also contribute to the overall look and feel of a finished space. Drapery-weight fabrics are heavier than sheets and allow the finished window treatment to hang with body and grace. Sheets, in comparison, look cheap and shoddy. Comb wholesale fabric centers to find quality fabric at affordable prices.

DON'T skimp on quality when it comes to sheets and towels. Used daily, these essentials come in close contact with the body and you deserve to enjoy the experience of using them. In terms of value, it's better to buy two great towels and launder frequently than buy ten cheap ones which feel lousy and fall apart easily. Stick to classic white and sheets and towels will always look fresh and clean.

DON'T create a feature wall; the technique of highlighting one of a room's four walls with a different colour is a cheap attention getter. Don't believe me? Then try this experiment: envision a room that is all white. Now paint one end wall bright red. Keep imagining. Now, visually fill up the room with your favourite furniture; money is no object because this is a fantasy. When you picture the room fully decorated, what do you notice most? The single red wall of course. The visual weight of such a move makes all other elements of a room look weak. Using this technique you've drawn attention to the colour of paint on the wall instead of allowing the paint to enhance the beauty of the furniture you've purchased. Rooms often have elements that are attention-worthy; architectural features such as columns, crown moulding, ceiling medallions or panelling may be worth emphasizing. But a plain wall? No.

DON'T choose a dark paint colour for rooms where natural sunlight is abundant. Save darker colours for rooms used predominately in the evening or spaces where there is scant or weak natural lighting.

DON'T ever paint vinyl flooring or wall to wall carpeting (yes, it's been done!). With proper preparation, a previously tiled backsplash or tiled wall may be painted over. But surfaces that endure daily direct contact such as floors and countertops are not great candidates for painting.

DON'T try to "wow" with a limited budget. Instead aim for classic, timeless elegance and your decorating dollars will go further. Avoid decorating gimmicks such as gluing feathers or record albums directly onto the wall. When the idea wears thin, it will be very difficult to remove the items without damaging walls.

DON'T paint a detailed mural onto a wall, especially if you are going to move within 3-5 years. Instead paint the mural on canvas, staple the canvas to the wall and apply moulding over the edges to "frame" the work. This way you can take down the work of art if you move.

DON'T over-theme children's bedrooms. SpongeBob SquarePants may be the rage today but three years from now it will be...so three years ago. Create a vibrant or restful environment for your child as you prefer. Then personalize the space using the child's own artwork, a favourite poster or original art which can be changed as necessary.

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