In need of simple upmarket decorating tips? Want a great looking home but you are on a limited budget and you don't have a clue where to start? Keep reading ..
Decorating has changed dramatically in recent years. Many years ago people put great amounts of money in art and accent pieces. That’s still an option – art and collectables can be great ways to express yourself. If you find a piece of art that you truly love, go for it! Art is a great way to have moving pieces that speak directly to your soul. Art can also be a great investment. Click images for details
On the other hand, today many top designers and artists work for mass department stores and offer their collections for a small fraction of the cost of their work. Artists and designers do this because their profit is greater when selling to many people rather than just a few. Everyone benefits from this system. We can all enjoy trendy, art for a fraction of the cost and designers or artists are better compensated for their work. This system also allows us to update homes as often as we wish. Click images for details
Updating a home has never been easier. Simply go down to a store, choose a collection you like and bring it home. The collections are often set up in the store, so that dishes, glassware, tablecloths, napkins, and accent pieces are displayed in a professionally designed grouping. World-renowned designers put the collections together and freely give us the advantage of their talent, training and expertise. All types of stores employ top professionals to design collections, so that price isn’t necessarily a determiner of quality. Click images for details
That’s the good news. The bad news is that too many choices may lead to confusion and a sense of feeling overwhelmed. Each collection is beautiful and easily available. The cost per item is low, but choosing pieces can be a confusing and sometimes expensive dilemma. How do you determine what to do? Click images for details
The first thing to do is determine what you have and what you need
The first thing to do is determine what you have and what you need. There is a saying ‘Less is more’. This is especially true in home decorating. It’s far better to have a few pieces that you love than to have too many things that you don’t particularly like, no matter how good a buy they were.
Accents come in any budget, so first make sure that you have good, comfortable furniture. This need not be expensive furniture. A well-used but comfortable piece of furniture will often look great with slipcovers, pillows or a throw. Click images for details
Secondary colours make a big difference in a home. What’s the main colour in the room? If your couch is red, for instance, a white accent throughout the room will look dramatically different than, say, a purple accent. Click images for details
Six months later, change the accent pieces to black and the room will again look strikingly different, all the time using the same furniture. Red, or any bright colour, can sometimes cause a challenge when trying to find the right accents. Neutral colours in furniture will give you more options for accent colour changes, and allow you more flexibility.
Many people wonder what colours go together – the answer is that if you like it, it works. It’s your home. If you’re unsure of your choices, one option is to go to a paint store and get the sample cards. They’re put together by professionals and show which colours work together. Simply match the colours on the card and you’re unlikely to go wrong.
Another easy way of ensuring tasteful colour coordination is to simply purchase an entire collection. If you want to update the bathroom it’s easy to get all the accent pieces and fabrics at one time. Unless you’re sure of what you’re doing, this is a very simple way to get a beautiful, professional look. Make sure you purchase all the pieces that you’ll need because often the collections are changed every few months and pieces won’t be available. Click images for details
Decorating can be a real challenge. These are some easy tips to have a designer look at a fraction of the cost. You’ll end up with a home you’ll love!
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