DECORATING TIPS

You've read it all, from how to decorate with color to how to make those sconces look just so in your dining area.  You’re overwhelmed, as a matter of fact.  Now that you understand how to pull furniture away from the walls and use area rugs, how about turning to the fascinating world of art?  In fact, your choice of art may come first, rather than last, because you have the option of using the easiest decorating tool, paint, to accessorize your collection of artwork, not the other way around.  Analyze your favorite abstract painting’s colors: will the oranges in it fit in well with a stark arrangement of the painting on a white wall, or will the oranges look better with a complementary shade of chocolate brown or fuchsia as a background?  If you desire to paint only one wall with this stylish color, and then expand its use as you see how you like it in your personal space, you’ll have used color like a true interior designer.

Now to move onto the question of light.  No doubt about it, more ambient light in a room is a good thing as its volume can be controlled easily with draperies and window shades.  Optimize the light by ensuring that it flatters your artwork and does not hit it directly.  This will preserve your artwork by limiting its exposure to ultraviolet rays.  A room bathed in light, but with a canvas full of art illuminated indirectly by its rays, will make this room the one that you want to stay in forever.  If you wish to bring light to a dark corner, how better than to hang mirrors or use mirror tiles?  If you are working on decorating a small room as a special challenge, mirrors can be placed to either side of your artwork to enhance its appearance.  If a sconce is placed inside a mirrored area, the effect is truly magical, as the entire wall seems to belong to a palatial estate.  Such are the wondrous effects of managing the proper access of light into your home.

You’re certain about the placement of art on your walls.  You’re ready to tackle the rest of the room.  With art already in place, that’s easy to do.  Considering the color scheme is a time-honored way of decorating, so you pull out a color or two from your artwork and duplicate it in small items such as throw pillows.  Save neutral tones for your rugs and large sofas.  To get back to the subject of light, how about updating those tired lamps?  A lamp can jazz up a sofa or chair in addition to bringing light to an area for use in study or working on crafts.

The finishing touches are perhaps the most fun.  Are you a collector of figurines?  Pull out your favorite collectibles.  A display area with the proper lighting will show off your personality as few things do.  Group related objects, varying the shapes and using small sets of three or five figurines together.  If you are the proud owner of a truly large collection, vary them weekly and indulge your decorating flair.