Cold space blues, a few tips to warm up a cold space...

warm spaces (Photo credit: ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓)

We allllll hate a cold space, its the space most wont hang out in or venture in. We have to ask ourselves what makes the space feel cold. Color, temperature, lack of visually appealing and or comforting items. If you address each of these problems, you'll soon find you can warm a space up in no time.

Temperature: Is the space really cold? A cold room will never feel warm no matter what you do it to it. If the space is poorly insulated you may want to consider purchasing insulated drapes in warm colors like browns, golds and reds for visual warmth and physical warmth. Electric fireplaces can be a wonderful focal point and also provide additional heat and have varied settings.

Visual appeal: Visual tools for warmth in a cool space can be utilized with candles, not just as décor but actually using them on a regular basis. Candle light emits a soft warm glow and will play off of the other accents in a warm to allow a little warm light to bounce off of any reflective accessories in the room. Reflective surfaces like metallic finishes, fabrics that have a sheen all can be mixed with matte finishes to create a balance of light and dark and warmth. Plants also have a welcoming, calming effect and where life will flourish, warmth can be felt.

Colors : Color matters in a space, and you can not make a cold space feel warm without color, however its not just color alone that works. Depending on the light in the room, the type of paint you choose is also important. Satin finish paints will let light reflect and lighten a dark space. Matte paint is soft and can give off the look of suede in candle light. A bright room that is stark and cold would do well with matte, while a room with limited natural light could make best use of the light with a satin or semi gloss finish to help the light source redistribute.

Other ideas: Sconces add decorative elegance and a nice soft light in dark spaces. Whether they are with candles or electric, they add to the atmosphere. They are decorative when not in use, take up little space and are purposeful when needed which makes them a great choice for lighting. Area rugs can also warm up a space where you have a lot of hard surfaces in a room. Always view your space top to bottom and side to side. Floors like hardwoods and tiles can sometimes use a little softening and warming up with area rugs and soft plush warm hues will do the trick nicely.

Related articles

• How to choose the right color in your space (Video)
• Reasons you may want to hire an Interior Decorator (Video)
• Could you use an Interior Decorator?
• Seasonal decorating ideas for your outdoor spaces (Video)
• How to tone down busy patterns in your home

How do I make my sun room feel finished?

The darker furniture pieces help anchor this large sunroom

Dear Dawn,
I have a sun room that was added on to my home several years ago. Once all the work was done I realized it was a challenge to not only decorate, but for some reason it still feels like it is in a state of transition, and not a finished room. Where am I going wrong?
Leslie, Ft. Wayne

Dear Leslie,
One mistake a lot of people make with their sun rooms is making them too different from the rest of the home. If you want your sun room to feel more integrated and finished, you should try a few of the tips listed below:

Pull color from adjoining rooms 
A sun room feels less like an addition when you pull color from the rest of your home into the space. This doesn't mean you have to use the exact color, but using lighter shades in an existing color already present in the home should help the room feel integrated. Try to find furniture that is similar to what your already have and love as well. Don't be lured into buying furniture that looks like "sun room furniture" that looks picture perfect but isn't user friendly or comfortable. This could keep the room feeling not only unwelcoming, but disconnected from the home.

Anchor the room
So many times, we see sun rooms that are light and lovely to look at, but they still feel like a glorified enclosed porch. While sun rooms should be filled with light many times people forget that a few visually heavy pieces can be just the anchor a sun room needs. So what exactly are visually heavy pieces? This can be items with strong presence in the room either in size, color, or texture. With all the strong light usually present in a sun room, you may feel the room has a light, ethereal, floaty feeling that doesn't really say, come on in and get comfortable. Adding a few dark furniture pieces, a bold print rug, or some texturally interesting pieces should help "settle the room down" and make it feel like it has substance.

Make sure the temperature is under control
Believe it or not, humans are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. A few degrees in either direction can be all it takes to make a room less appealing. Sun rooms that tend to be too warm in summer and too cold in winter will not be utilized to the fullest. If you haven't done so yet, look into adding heating and air conditioning to the space. Light control is important in keeping a room from feeling too warm during peak sunlight hours. Investing in window blinds may be a way to help stabilize the temperature in the room. Consider adding additional sources of heat  and air with electric fireplaces, and ceiling fans as well. 

Related articles

• That room no one goes into....
• Top 5 questions on how to get your home sold
• Reader Inquiry: How to cover water heaters

That room no one goes into....

American Signature Vineyard Manor dining room table and chairs (Photo credit: Dawn Gagnon)

Do you have a room in your home that seems to be the one room everyone avoids? Does it seem to feel uncomfortable or have a  confused purpose? Well we all have these types of rooms. There are any number of reasons as to why a room in your home may be the one that gets avoided, under utilized and wasted as a great space. There are a number of reasons this may be. Lets look at a few:

Space is undefined: All rooms need an identity. Try to figure out what space you'd like to add to your home and use that as an initial inspiration. Do you need a home office? Craft/sewing room, library? Spare bedroom? Try to give the room a purpose that is really needed, it may be an inexpensive idea or more costly, but it should always address a key need you have in your home. Otherwise it will still be the "room no one goes into.." which is still a waste.

Space is too small or too large: Small spaces can always find a use if you examine first what your needs are. Many people will use small spaces as a place to simply create a "nook" for reading, sewing, meditating or convert into a closet. Spaces that are too large can be divided up into smaller spaces via a room divider or have a half wall built to separate the spaces. This way you can focus on creating two separate spaces individually. Because the spaces are close together you may want to consider spaces that will work well in close proximity to each other.  Perhaps a media room/game room?

Space is odd shaped or has little available wall space: Odd spaced rooms can be a real challenge but the first step is to try and treat the space like it is symmetrical. I know that may be hard to do, but you can read this article : Designing and decorating odd shaped rooms to get more information on this subject. Limited wall space is always a problem but you may want to create a faux wall where there is none and there are many ways to do this. You can build or add a shelving unit or use screens to make a faux wall as well to work off of. You can also suspend long drapes from the ceiling that can be opened and closed as needed where a wall is desired.

Space is too cold, too dark, too hot or too bright: All of these problems can be addressed with a few key strategies, for instances, cold rooms may need an additional heat source. Consider an attractive electric fireplace, which can provide not only heat but a focal point. Try to find units that have additional storage. Also consider where the cold feeling is coming from. Is there a draft? Are there windows that are in poor shape? Is the room really cold or does it feel cold because of the design and decor? Likewise, you'll want to ask yourself similar questions for a room that is too light and too warm. Rooms that are both too bright and too warm usually suggest that there are many windows and not enough air flow. Again consider adding an additional supply of cool air via an air conditioner. You can also tone down the brightness using black out curtains, installing shades or exterior awnings for the windows. Cool down the room visually by adding "cool" neutrals like gray or taupe or with blues and pastels. Go easy on the pastels mind you, or you'll have an 80's look. Pastels will work fine if you keep the trim in the room either bright white or very dark and remember to outfit the room in modern, contemporary furnishings. 
Read more here on The Unused Spaces to Your Home.

Related articles

• How to create a beautiful home from the outside in
• The pros and cons of open concept design
• Decorative and functional ideas for your kitchen
• Decorative and functional accessories for your kitchen
• How to find a compromise on color and decor in your home

Outdoor living spaces

Interior decorating is not limited to indoor spaces. When we decorate our homes, we always have to remember to include the outside spaces as well. In doing so we extend the beauty of our homes beyond doors and walls. Adding visual interest outside enhances the beauty of the inside.

Focus on what you see from the window

To create a beautiful interior, it is sometimes necessary to improve what can be seen on the outside. Try to add outdoor visual interest wherever there is a window in your home to improve the look a feel of the room from the inside. You'd be surprised how much this impacts the beauty of an interior space.

Create outdoor living spaces in multiple areas

Having one deck on your home is a nice feature, however adding lots of little outdoor hidden niches creates a little surprise around every corner. Designated areas that have a lovely view, are adjacent to entries to your home create welcoming areas to sit and enjoy your home and garden.

Limited green space doesn't mean limited options

If you have a small yard or little grass doesn't mean you can't create a beautiful little place to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Focus on container gardening, lovely small scale Bistro chairs and tables are all it takes to create a beautiful exterior space. Small bird baths and bird feeders will add to the space and also bring the nature to you.

Spring cleaning and organizing

To keep your home clutter free there are yearly habits that should be implemented that will allow for your home to look its best. Additionally, doing a little organizing will also make your day to day life function decidedly better as well.

1. Pack up Winter clothes-
Even if you have ample closet space, by the time Spring arrives it is time to go through the closets, dressers and drawers and pack away winter clothing. By doing this, you free up valuable space for your lighter clothing. It also helps you have a current inventory of what you have vs. what you may need for the Spring and Summer months.
2. Garage clean up equals money-
Garages get overloaded as the years go by and no time is better than the Spring to give your garage a good clean out. If you have a truck use the flat bed for all items you plan on discarding. Make sections in your driveway for Keeping, Donating, and Selling. Once your Donate section is full go ahead and take that to the people/places that will be using your donated items. By doing this, you will keep each section from overflowing. Do the same with items you will be discarding, each time your truck is full make a run to your landfill. Many landfills have separate recycling bins for wood, plastics, and scrap metal. You may want to separate your items ahead of time in the same categories and take them individually to the landfill.
3. Attic Discoveries-
You can do attics next since they tend to have less stored in them than garages. Attic space is an ideal place to store things you may need through out the year. Pay close attention to what you may want to store in an attic vs. the garage. Clean your attic out by removing all things that are not needed in one years time and relocate them to the garage. Holiday decorations, and Seasonal clothing are well suited for the attic as you can more conveniently access them when you need them.
4. Invest in more storage-
If you have a yard, you may want to consider an additional storage unit ie: Utility building or shed. These are ideal for storing things like Riding and push lawnmowers, garden tools, etc. For anywhere from $500.00 and up you can add not only storage but value to your home. Outbuildings and storage buildings are considered property improvements. If you were to have your home appraised, these buildings would be factored into your home's value right along with your fence, etc.

Related articles

• Furnishing small spaces
• Unifying large multi purpose spaces in your home
• How to define and design large spaces
• Maximizing limited space in your small home

Furnishing small spaces

Of all the spaces that offer a challenge in furnishing small spaces are more than likely the most difficult.

1. Opt for a loveseat instead of a couch. Loveseats are about a foot smaller than a couch but for a small space it is by far a better choice than trying to put in one large piece. Smaller spaces usually mean smaller walls, so pairing down your sofa to a loveseat may be the ideal solution. Look for straight clean lines and good quality. Over sized furniture will overpower the room and leave you little wiggle room.
   
2. Replace your coffee table with a storage trunk or ottoman. We all know small spaces lack storage so any time you can find a piece that serves dual duty you'll be far ahead of the game. Make sure to do this in every space of your small home. Always seek out multifunctional pieces.
   
3. Use floor lamps to flank your furniture. Tight spaces can't always accommodate side tables and end tables, however in most cases you still need lighting. Floor lamps can fit into a tight space and offer you the lighting you need.
   
4. Opt for one large piece that serves as the only seating. Sometimes more is best depending on the individual layout of the room. In these cases a sectional may prove the best option and allow for the most seating with no additional furniture required. Chose models that have built in storage, and fold down drink holders etc.
   
5. Raise up your bed. If you can manage, raising up your bed a little more will allow you to have additional storage underneath. Use luggage to store seasoning clothing and extra blankets etc.
   
6. Keep your chest of drawers and get rid of the dresser. While dressers usually come with mirrors, They usually take up far more wall space. Mount a full length mirror to a door or wall and use a chest of drawers in a small space instead. If you are handy, many drawers from dressers can be outfitted with rolling casters on the bottom allowing drawers to slide under your bed for easy access.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Going retro and getting it right

Retro design is a popular and personal design. Nothing quite brings one back to their roots, their childhood memories of grandma's kitchen like retro design can. However, like with most design decisions, going retro in a room requires a little research. You don't want to just jump in because you stand the risk of having the end result look like an indoor garage sale and not the warm nostalgic space you envisioned.

Research
Do your homework for the specific time period you are interested in. This may require hitting up on various informational sources, including but not limited to, Antique malls, libraries, museums, and even grandma's house. In fact, if you take grandma along with you on your quest for authentic retro decor, she may be able to help you a lot with figuring out what is a great piece to add to your overall look. Research popular colors of the specific era you want to capture and don't limit yourself to just kitchen gadgets, there are a lot of vintage fabrics out there that you may want to look into such as table linens, window treatments etc.

Mixing old and new 
There are a lot of new appliances out there that have a retro feel to them. Don't be afraid to mix and match along the way, keep the focus of the overall feel of the space in mind and don't obsess over every little detail being completely authentic. There are new lines of retro inspired replicas and design accessories emerging every day that have some up to date advantages that shouldn't be overlooked. It is better to go with some of these updated options when dealing with anything electrical.

Remember, Rome was not built in a day
Be careful, it is easy to get overwhelmed when trying to bring a vision to life in decorating and design. Start off small and add as you go along. If you try to do too much too soon, you will most assuredly run out of money, patience and energy. Part of the appeal of retro design is it has a time worn, well loved and comfortable feel. This can't be achieved in a day, but takes time, love of the style and a good eye. Relax, enjoy the experience and let the design occur naturally, not under pressure. You want the look to be authentic not intentional.

Going too far 
One thing you don't want to do with your retro design is go too far. How can you go too far? Well, too much matchy-matchy deliberate accessories will  again, offset what you are trying to achieve and actually work against the design aesthetic, especially if you are trying to really capture a moment in time with your design. Better to have a few well chosen pieces, than to have a whole room where each element was bought from the same store, with the same logo, or color.

Also check out : Retro RefrigeratorDealer.com

Take a look at these wonderful retro finds that can really give you a jump start on your retro design scheme:

Holiday decorating and color choices

Image by Zellaby via Flickr

With the onset of the holidays in full swing the urge to decorate our homes is the best way to get into the holiday spirit. However, there are homeowners that are intimidated by things like color. Being intimidated by the bold colors of the holidays send some of us into a tail spin. Do I use red and green in a beige room? Will my color choices clash and be tacky with everything else in the room?

There are a few things we can do to pull off a classy, polished and well designed room or, if it suits you an old fashioned and . The first thing we have to decide is which way you want it to go, and what sort of result do you want. Do you want magical timeless and classy, or do you prefer warm, old fashioned and homespun. Perhaps you'd like to add a little modern flare to the decorating scheme.

My suggestions:

For classy and polished

Image via WikipediaThis look screams magical and embodies the glow and magic that we associate with the holidays. It is flexible and the easiest because it will automatically work with your existing design scheme.

Keep colors simple, and let sparkles rule the design choices. Metallic ornaments, clear crystals, golds, and silvers and soft shades of white will give your holiday room a sparkle and refinement that will merge well with most existing designs. Use clear lights on your tree and make sure to repeat your lighting and color choices throughout the space. Keep colors to a minimum, no more than three ideally.

Designer tip- Don't be afraid to be creative. Use old jewelry to decorate mantle garlands, lamp shades, and even candles. Old dangling earrings look great hung from clear beaded garlands, and pearl strings. Just because you're going for classy and polished doesn't mean you can't be creative and use some of those wonderful jewelry pieces that have lost their mates in your jewelry box. For

For old fashioned and homespun

 Image via Wikipedia

Its all about home made and nature inspired décor.

When we think of the holidays from our youth, many times we remember that our parents decorated with reds, greens and every other color of the rainbow. Little focus was given as to whether it matched an existing décor scheme, and somehow, it always felt warm and welcoming. Didn't it?

You really can't go wrong with traditional colors if this is the look you desire. If it is somehow clashing with other things in the room, consider removing those things temporarily so that you won't feel uncomfortable with the end result. Using natural materials and homemade items in a room are an inexpensive way to get a great homespun holiday feel. Decorate mantles with pine branches, real pine cones, and candles. Drill three shallow holes in logs and inset tea light candles, fill baskets with pine cones, nuts and seed pods. Use lots of red and green checked and plaid ribbon as well. Chunky cuts of logs can be placed on your mantle and a great pedestal for large candles. Peppermint oils, nutmeg and cinnamon sprinkled in baskets and vessels of pot pourrie will keep the smells of the holiday season in mind too. No baskets? Use clay pots and sit around your fireplace hearth, fill with cinnamon sticks, twigs and pine branches, and as always, finish off with raffia, or great old fashioned ribbon. If you are using a natural Christmas tree, save any branches that you may have trimmed off for decorating.

Designer tip: Polish up old candles and restore their shine and luster with a little vegetable oil on a soft cloth.

Related articles

• Color trends that date a home
• HGTV helps you become your own designer

Interior décor an investment in your home's value

Image via Wikipedia

Interior decorating has come a long way. No more are the days where simply placing an item that caught your eye in a shop on a shelf was enough to make for a well decorated and designed space. Decorating today is a fine science where strategy, composition, balance and scale all come into play. Today the modern home owner is privy to tools and ideas that not only make their home stylish, but a vessel for profit as well.

Years ago, selling a home simply meant giving it a good clean, and hoping a prospective buyer liked what they saw. Today, there is a true strategy with much depending on how well versed the home owner is on décor, design, and marketing their homes best assets. Your chances of making a profit or scoring big in a soft market is hard, but it all depends on one's definition on what big is. A big score to some may be acquiring enough over their home's pay off to put ten percent down on the next home, while to others it may be recouping your improvement costs and then some.

So where do we go from here? Especially in a sluggish economy and with limited funds? Consider updating your décor if nothing else. A home painted in contemporary neutrals and polished off with a clever mix of well placed and balanced décor can go a long way. This may mean replacing drapes, removing items that are not functional nor decorative, and painting as well.

Image via WikipediaOne thing that can not be ignored today is that home buyers today are well schooled in décor and design compared to their parents and grand parents. Not to mention they are deluged with oodles of inventory to pick from right now. Young home buyers are less interested in a home's “potential” and more interested in things like updates, location, and room to grow.

Standard is no longer desirable, above and beyond the competition is what will get your contract signed. So if you find yourself needing to sell your home remember a well decorated interior is a minimal investment, but an investment nonetheless. Sometimes, it is not the amount of money you spend, it is what you spend it on that makes
it pay off.

 

 

 Related articles

• Color trends that date a home
• Interior Designer Vern Yip to introduce Vern Yip Home Collection on HSN
• Pier 1 Imports store offering 25 percent off
• Removing "popcorn" ceilings
• The importance of balance in home decor
• Vintage accessories for your kitchen design

The importance of home accessories

Accessories are the jewelry of the home. Accessorizing a home is vital in many aspects on many levels and in fact, make the house a home. When we fail to add those little touches to the decor of a home we find a home that naturally is off putting, sterile, and it offers very little in the way of comfort to yourself and visitors. The environment will give off a negative energy in many cases. If you live in South Carolina and are looking for accessories to make a house a home, see: Pier 1 Imports in Columbia, SC for ways to become inspired.

Why are accessories Important?

Accessories add the charm, the warmth, and the visual statement, testimony of the home owner. They give the visitor insights, clues into who you are, what you value and create an environment that gives off its own energy. To understand how accessorize and decorate your home you must first ask yourself what is the ultimate goal you wish to achieve with in the space. This check list should help you get started in creating a home that you will not only love but create years of fond memories in.

1. What is my ideal home?

Defining your ideal home will give you an idea of where to start decorating and accessorizing. Many people find that the ideal home starts off with large ticket

items like gourmet kitchens, in ground swimming pools, and grand master suites. One should figure out how to prioritize big ticket items versus, smaller decorative elements

that can still give you the ideal environment.

2. What do I want my home to tell visitors about me?

The impression your home gives visitors is important. For some a home is a showcase of memories and family life, for others it is a showcase of your tastes and design style. Figuring out what you want your home to say about you, usually leads you in a specific direction in design. Example, if you want your home to say "I'm successful" you may find yourself accessorizing with valuable collections, or placing more priority on big ticket items, while another may want their home to say " I'm warm and friendly" and have a home that is filled with family relics, memorabilia, comfortable furnishings and warm colors.

3. Will I be selling this home within the next five years?

This may seem an odd item to have on this list but accessorizing a home can range from a lot of money, to very little. If you are planning to sell your home you will want to be more methodical in your approach to how you decorate and design it. Big ticket accessorizing can be mean a nice return on your investment, but it can also mean a loss as well. Smaller ways we accessories, "movable" decor means the basic home will stay the same. "Changeable" decor, usually costs a little more and involves things like wall color, flooring, and perhaps fixtures. Not all accessorizing is in art work and what nots. Accessorizing a home is also in the updates, fixtures, colors and flooring choices.

4. What function does each room fill?

Each room you plan on living in needs to have a clear function and purpose. Knowing this will help you decide what accessories will work, compliment and help

the room make its statement. For instance, a home office might be well suited for you if it is accessorized and decorated in a color scheme that is conducive to

concentration and focus. Accessories can be added that will not only be attractive to the eye but also perform a function as well. Example, a beautiful desk, is an accessory but

it also is decorative and performs a function.

5. What do I want my home to provide me with?

Whether you are retired, work all day, have a busy lifestyle, or are a stay at home mom, a home is expected to provide us with more than just a place to hang our hat. Ideally a home for most should be a place of comfort, rest and rejuvenation, safety and where family can be together and share time and space in. Knowing exactly what you want out of your house will make a big difference in where your priorities lie. If your home isn't meeting your needs, it could be due to the fact that your decor and environment has not been created to cater to you and your families needs. By following this list, you should be able to get there and create an environment that is nurturing and healthy on many levels.

Pier 1 Imports store offering 25 percent off

If you are in the market for kitchen and dining items, your local Pier 1 Imports store has

a great sale on select kitchen and dining essentials that will make your home beautiful and functional.

Whether its aprons, dinnerware or even adding to a salt and pepper collection, don't miss these special

deals. If you live in South Carolina, you can find a Pier 1 in the following areas, Columbia, Summerville, Anderson and Spartanburg. To get an idea what great décor and accessories you can buy, see: Pier 1 Imports. The Pier 1 Imports online store allows customers to shop online, and pick up at the store.
For those that are looking for more than just kitchen and dinning room decor and accessories, Pier 1 offers a wide range of great decorative items for every room in your house. Whether it is decorative pillows for the sofa, window treatments, area rugs or even furniture the choices are unique and special. See the slideshow!

Other articles by this author:

• Designing and decorating odd-shaped rooms
• How to give open spaces their own style
• Pier 1 Imports can add style to your garden
• Create a "Memory garden" for Mother's Day

Carrera Dream

Carrera Dream
Carrera dream is all about a kitchen with a blend of old world style and elegance merged with contemporary design elements. Envision a simple white kitchen with stainless steel, timeless Carrera marble, glass tile back splash in varying shades of black, pearl and soft greys. For lighting, a  chandelier that looks as though it has been around for a hundred years, yet it is new and ideal for a space that keeps you guessing what time era you are in. Dark touches give the room some bearing here and there with touches of dark bronze on the chandelier, sink fixture, and even in the glass tile back splash. All work together to create a seamless, timeless and sophisticated capture of today and yesterday.

The importance of balance in home decor

Image by dawnella66 via Flickr

Staged-livingRoom2Image by dawnella66 via Flickr

This room is well balanced in its decor.

Balance in home design and décor isn't just about placing like items opposite of each other, or making sure every wall hanging is juxtaposed to another. Creating balance is about making sure the visual accessories in a room compliment and are visually evenly weighted to all of their counterparts. Why is balance so important? The human eye is trained to make distinctions in all it surveys.

This is a great navigational tool if you are lost but in a home, too many distinctive oddities confuse the brain instead, since the occupant of the room is not trying to figure out how to navigate the area, they simply want to enjoy the view. Balance allows the eye to gracefully scan the room and not stop and refocus continually. This promotes relaxation and calm. The next question is, how to create balance using different items that are not of the same color, texture or shape.

Visual weight of a object being used in décor needs to be countered to make a room feel balanced. Otherwise you have a room that feels askew and this leaves the occupant often feeling a little askew as well. To make sure that the balance is right in a room you must survey the decorative items and furnishings. Ask yourself these questions:

Which items does your eye travel to immediately when you enter a room?

The items that your eyes are drawn to are more than likely the visual weight champions of the room. Large furniture, dark items have more visual presence.

Is there equal distribution of these items in the room?

Single large pieces in a room that have no counterpart to balance them out will make the room feel off balance. When people sense a room is off balance, they tend to avoid relaxing in the room altogether. An off balance room creates off balance feelings. Maybe not in the most extreme sense of the word, but you will definitely notice it.

Are the counterparts placed diagonally or opposite of their heavy partners?

Balance is of course creating a counter weight in the room. A large dark sofa will throw the balance off in a room if the other equally heavy piece is placed incorrectly, or in juxtaposition with the sofa. What you want to do is to place the counterpart in an opposite part of the room.

Balance can also be created by placing tall items diagonally to each other as well. For instance, a fireplace with a tall vase on one side flanking a piece of artwork, need not balanced with another similar tall vase on the other side, you can place a taller vase on the opposite side down on the hearth and still get the sense of balance from this.

Other ways to help with the balance in a room is with color, a heavy dark piece of furniture can be off set by a darker wall color opposite of the piece, so don't be afraid to try color as an option it can really make a difference. Dark framed pictures and wall décor also carry a great deal of weight visually in spite many times of their size so always try to employ a little dark in the room. Dark accents while visually weighty often “sit a design down” in a room. A room that is without a few dark accents can feel somewhat transitional and temporary. However in some cases this may be just what the owner wants, especially in bedrooms, beach themed rooms or zen inspired décor.

Related articles

• Addressing problems in your room (examiner.com)
• The importance of home accessories (dawnsinteriordecoratingsolutions.blogspot.com)
• Pier 1 Imports store offering 25 percent off (dawnsinteriordecoratingsolutions.blogspot.com)
• HGTV helps you become your own designer (dawnsinteriordecoratingsolutions.blogspot.com)