Decorate Like You See in Magazines and Books?

Have you ever wondered why interior designers place slippers on the ottoman in magazine photos? They do it to make the staged setting look as if it's a lived-in room. Pictures and illustrations in decorating books, magazines, and other advertisements are designed to sell a product or an idea.

But what's missing in the staged rooms of most interior design books and magazines? People.

When it comes to decorating your own your home, forget the empty rooms you see in the magazines and books. You should design your rooms as backdrops for the people who use and live in those spaces. In order to best utilize the spaces in your home, try these simple techniques:

Leave empty space. Empty space gives you breathing room and allows the most important items in the room to shine, which are the people!

Use small patterns on walls and furniture. Avoid large-patterned fabrics and wallpapers with designs larger than your head. Huge florals will interfere with the appearance of the people in the room. You don't want to have to compete with bold patterns behind your face. Patterns on sofas and chairs that clash with clothing will also make you and your guests feel uncomfortable.

Use colors that complement people. Finding the right colors to complement your skin and eyes deserves planning. Most people look great when surrounded by color. For light skin colors, use yellows, pinks, and beiges. For darker complexions, yellows, olives, and tans can make people stand out. Since most people no longer have bright white in their eyes, avoid pastels that are whiter than the white in your eyes.

Add textures that feel good to the touch. Support your sense of touch by adding textures that are nice to caress. You don't have to touch velvet to sense its softness, and soft textures like chenille and satins will visually support your feeling of being pampered, as well.

Arrange accessories to shore up emotions. In one of my rooms, I arranged my mantle accessories to make a statement, and it looked great in photographs, but after analyzing why the mantle didn't seem to smile, I realized that it wasn't personal. When I filled it with Mili fiori lamps, crystal candlesticks, and antique vases, the space looked great, but it really began to smile when I added a Mexican Rose rock under the painting.

Think comfort before pretense. Just because a sofa or chair looks fabulous doesn't mean the piece is comfortable. Remember, when you walk around a showroom, sitting down on any piece feels good, but in order to truly test a piece of furniture, you need to sit on it for a long time, until you feel totally rested. Only then will you be able to feel the real support and comfort level of that piece.

Remember, your home is a place for people, and when you and your guests look and feel great in your home, you can be sure that you've designed a great setting; one that far outshines the staged sets you'll see in magazines and books.

Joy to you!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm


Hot Topics In Decor

    Home Lighting Design C Daylighting Design

    INTRODUCTION

    This article develops a unique, extensive home lighting design Daylighting Design Schedule to address code and a whole lot more.

    Home lighting design policy for most any h...

    Selecting A Down Comforter For Your Bedroom

    It's soft, fluffy and terrific to cuddle with. No, it's not a cat. A down comforter breathes better than synthetic comforters and is much more efficient when it comes to keeping you comfortable at nig...

    10 Tips for More Meaningful Holidays

    No matter how many lists you make, cards you send, gifts you buy, or packages you wrap, there will be things you intended to do this holiday season that won't get done. If you do manage to get everyth...

    How to make a dried flower wall decoration

    I used to make wall hangings featuring dried flowers years ago. These are easy to make. All you need are

    * a disposable bowl (paper or plastic) that you can cut easily with a pair of
    scissors. <...

    Protect Your Floor: Controlling Airborne Moisture To Benefit Your Wood Flooring

    Humidity is simply a high degree of moisture in the air, which when it is greeted with a cooler temperature results in condensation. Such levels of moisture can lead to warping, mildew growth or wood ...

    The 39 Essential Guidelines Of Kitchen Design

    Lets face it, if you do not know the fundamentals of kitchen design designing your kitchen can be harder than Chinese algebra! So, I am going to make your job that little bit easier for you. I have li...

    Home Decor Accessories - How to Create a New Look in a Room

    Apart from complimenting your newly painted walls with soft furnishings and effective flooring, home decor accessories in a room are just as equally important. Accessories ranging from flowers in a co...

    DIY Home Design Ideas for the New Year C Budget Decoration

    The beginning of a new year always incites creativity and motivation for change. We all seek to improve our lives, lose weight, become better people, and update the things that are old and worn out. F...

    Inexpensive Wedding Decorations and Supplies

    Weddings tend to be frightfully expensive. Often couples postpone a wedding because their financial situation does not allow them to go ahead with all that they have planned for their wedding. It is n...

    Selecting Outdoor Decorative Lighting

    So you've finished putting in that new spa. You've got the landscaping and patio table in place. Now it's time to select the right outdoor decorative lighting to set it all off!

    Outdoor lighting no...

    How to Decorate Your Childs Room and use the Perfect Wall Decor

    Wall decor: Murals are a luxurious choice but not always a viable one. If a mural is possible, consider one created on canvas that can be hung like wall paper to avoid having your home disrupted for a...

    Five Fantastic Holiday Decorating Ideas

    It's that time of the year. My favorite time of the year... when we pull out our greenery, lights, ribbons and wrapping paper! It's a family time, hopefully a happy time and a nostalgic time. And I lo...

Most Recent Decor Supplements

Interesting Today:

Most Recent Decor Blogs:

Releated to Decor:

Decor Links:

Decor Decor Rss feeds.