Home Decorating Ideas
What's Your Style?
A home makes a statement about the person who designs it. Have you figured out how to make your home reflect the essence of you? Do you know what your style is?
What are the color's that draw you in, which create a happy mood? Have you thought about what you want your home to say about you? Idea's like, Janie loves bright cheery rooms filled with fun or Tara's house is so warm and cozy, walking through her front door makes me feel like I'm at a resort.
As I write, I will post some pictures that reflect different styles, color's and tastes. Look closely at these pictures. Which decorating motif are you drawn to? What colors do you find soothing, beautiful or stimulating to your senses?
Crisp Green Living Room
Splash of Color
Colors set the mood for a room. For instance, browns and beige create a warm atmosphere and if arranged well these colors communicate comfort.
What color creates the atmosphere you are looking for? Gentle blues to soothe the soul? Red, black, and white to make a bold modern space? When you mix in stainless steel and straight lines it reflects your streamline taste. Shades of green bring the outside in.
When you add your favorite colors to your own tastes and style you create a space that is uniquely you.
How about the living room featured above? Does the crisp green in this living room lift your spirits? Does a fireplace speak coziness to your heart or are you so practical that you immediately think "fireplace equals work?"
How about the colors. Do you like the color combination? Now think about the art piece displayed above the fireplace, does it look classy or like a cheap photo, someone threw on the wall?
You see we each have very specific tastes. I believe a woman should trust her gut and go with it.
Decorate with a purpose on purpose by looking at swatches of material, paint colors, furnishings and accessories. Are you a modern girl, a homebody comfy girl or a girl who longs for days gone by? Don't be intimidated by other peoples opinions. You are unique, explore what that means and build your home around it.
Pink for my Girl
Pink For Pretty
Pink is a color that represents femininity to most. If you love pink, if you think pink is pretty, you can put splashes of pink as a complementary color in any room.
If the color pink makes you happy you can find ways to incorporate it into your home. Touches here and there communicate an atmosphere of femininity. On the other hand, when you think of pink mixed in your décor does it make you want to puke? Whatever your response to pink is, it is a reflection of your unique taste.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to decorating. Decorating is a likeness of you and what you find to be soothing, cheerful, artistic or beautiful. It's up to you to create a mood, making your house your home. Each of us views beauty through different lenses. Don't be afraid to trust your own sense of all things beautiful.
Soothing Earth Tones
LIVING SPACE
Are you drawn to soothing browns and/or earthy rusts? Do you believe Earth Tones create a relaxing and calming atmosphere? When you enter a room bathed in Earth Tones do you feel like coziness enfolds you?
Look at the Living Room pictured above. Is this a room you would long to come home to? Does this room look inviting, cozy and warm to you? If so, you will find comfort in this color scheme.
Perhaps you think earth tones are boring or too plain, old-fashioned or not hip. If so you may have more of a modern spirit and lean more toward classy sleek lines.
One more question to nip it in the bud. Do earth tones look dull and lifeless to you? If so, this is not a reflection of you.
Warm Tones for Baby
Brown and Pink for Baby's Room
BABY'S ROOM
Did you know that shades of brown for baby girls, when paired with pink, create a warm and feminine atmosphere? Browns and pinks look GREAT together BUT the question is: Is it YOU?
Is this baby's room a room YOU would picture your baby girl sleeping in? Does this room create an atmosphere you desire for your little one? Perhaps you lean toward bright colors that create a festive, fun atmosphere.
Whatever you choose - it will be a reflection of YOU!
Industrial and Artsy
Industrial and Artsy
CHIC AND MODERN
As you take a peek at this industrial or colorful artsy living space do you get goosebumps? Does this room create a delight in your soul? Do you feel joy as you look at this room? Most importantly, does this room reflect YOU?
The color in the artsy motif may distract some from getting the feel of this modern space. If the color palette for this room does not reflect your color preferences, use your imagination to color it in your idea of beautiful.
If you like the modern theme but the picture above doesn't quite cut it, know there are many styles that fit the category, modern. Do some research and you will be delighted to find décor that will tickle your soul and open up many possibilities for decorating your home.
Jazzy Tween Room
How do you like this Jazzy Tween Room? Do you see it as Stylin' and Hip or are the color's and lines hard for you to look at? What beauty is to one person may be downright ugly to the next.
When decorating for your Tween or child, it is important to encourage them and include them as you both explore their own world of color and style. Guiding them to a tasteful design will help them learn what their own taste and style is.
Be true to YOU and to your Teen and Tween as you design your child's place of style, refuge, and peace.
My Favorite Things
My Style
Let me share a bit of ME with you. Cozy Comfort is my Style. I am drawn to all things that create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in my home. My desire is that my home is a place people love to visit and where they feel welcomed and at home. To create this type of an atmosphere there are some messages I want my home to provide.
- Coziness: As each room is entered a peaceful and cozy atmosphere surrounds each guest. The lush throws, soft carpet, silk flowers, antique piano, beautiful throw pillows and warm tones of colors create a homey and cozy atmosphere.
- Safety: This is a safe place; a beautiful and restful respite from the world.
- Love is Here, The homey décor and welcoming pictures and decorating touches say, this is a place of comfort and rest where all who enter know that they are loved.
Our homes reflect who we are. There is a reason cozy comfort is my style. I am a homebody, I need my home to be my favorite place in the world. When I rest at night the best place to be is in my comfortable cushioned rocking chair wrapped up in a lovely, warm throw. As I drink coffee or hot cocoa I enjoy reading a good book, inviting a friend over to chat or spending time with my children and grandchildren.
I enjoy an occasional outing to run errands, attend special events, go to Church or have fun with the girls. But at the end of the day, I want to go straight to the cozy comfort of my home.
Years ago I heard a speaker say that the home is the woman's domain. I liked that ... I mean I really liked that! I have always felt that my home should be a reflection of me. What I value will be seen throughout the rooms of my home. I have many treasured gifts displayed from friends and family; these gifts fill my heart with joy and represent love and many memories.
My bedroom reflects a place of comfort and rest, it is a reflection of my heart. From the beautifully arranged silk flowers sitting on the credenza to the king sized bed complete with an electric blanket to warm the bed before we crawl in at night. The bed is covered in a fluffy, off-white, cozy comforter with a floral quilt nostalgically gracing the foot. The colors in the room are comprised in warm hues of soft blues, browns, rust and soft beige which, for me, creates a warm and welcoming place to rest . Accent colors of soft greens and pinks are found as accents in floral pictures, candles and delicate floral sheers. Antique white lace throw pillows adorn the head of the bed.
Bedtime is something I look forward to. As I go to my room I enter my oasis then fall into luxury ... feeling a bit like a princess.
Does Your Home Reflect You?
People have various ideas of what makes a home their personal refuge. For instance, when I enter my friend Sally's house I see Sally everywhere. Sally's palate for her home, many years ago, was blue; specifically colonial blue with variations for each room. Her tastes reflected the clean, crisp and pristine beauty of New England. She even lived in a New England Salt Box Style house. Today she has various hues of green and warm rusts running throughout her home. Her style still reflects New England charm with Shaker furniture throughout but now it is in a high class sort of way. I have watched Sally's home change and evolve into a Better Homes and Garden display of wonder. Her natural taste of beauty and sophistication is seen in every room.
My friend Cathy has a completely different style and expression going on in her home. Cathy says, she loves junk. What she means is that she is drawn to days gone by. She loves antique stores and anything really, really old. She has cigar boxes, old coffee tins and a myriad of treasures in different shapes and sizes that are displayed tastefully on a shelf in her kitchen. If I had all of her 'junk' it would most certainly look like junk in my home. But Cathy has a knack and a gift and when you enter her house a transport to another era takes place. Beauty and nostalgia envelopes the one who visits her home. She lovingly displays those old time items in such a way that makes her home unique, warm and cozy; filled with interest, comfort and old fashioned charm.
Kathy and Sally have learned the secret of making their homes a reflection of what they love and what they deem beautiful.
Sentimental
What is your Style?
How do you put yourself and your style into your home? Do you wonder, "Where do I begin?" You have Aunt Margie's pink rocker sitting in the corner by an antique table you found at a garage sale while your mother's modern piano, gifted to you, sits obtrusively in your living space. Does the whole house look like a mish-mash of collections that have no cohesiveness? Are you ready to make your home a reflection of you?
STYLE
The First step is to identify your style? Not sure what your style is? I would suggest picking up a book ... going to the library or surfing the internet to check out decorating styles. There are many looks and styles out there. To list a few, there is Asian Décor, Contemporary, Romantic, English Country, New England Style, French Country, Mediterranean, Rustic, Traditional and Victorian. Each of these styles is unique and distinct.
The question is which style are you drawn to? What best reflects your essence? After you have spent sufficient time searching you will find yourself being drawn toward a style that pleases your eyes and makes you feel satisfied, inspired or happy. You will discover the style that fits you.
COLORS
Now it is time to select the colors that will grace your walls, accent your furniture, cover your beds and flow through your home. Colors are key to creating atmosphere. With color you can create coziness and warmth, a modern hip mood, a cool refreshing atmosphere, or a time honored traditional feel.
I suggest a color wheel and some decorating books to help you find the colors that complement your style and communicate the atmosphere you are trying to create.
Staying organized is crucial. You will need to keep track of measurements for windows and rooms, drawings of room layouts, samples of fabric and wallpaper, a list of stores to visit and so much more.
Research and shop; compare and choose; touch and feel. Enjoy the journey knowing that your work will be rewarded with a home that truly reflects what you love and who you are.
ON A BUDGET?
Great Suggestions here: Decorating on a Budget
Get Going Girl
Decorating is fun and it's a journey. Some may know exactly what they like, others may have become dependant on what other people think in order to form their own opinions. As you go through the steps of learning your own style you will find the joy of expressing who you are. It will build confidence and the reward will be a house you can't wait to come home to.
I'd love to hear your stories on home decorating. Please leave comments in the comment section below. Who knows, we could create a discussion group. If you have been inspired, get going girl! Action is the key but don't rush it or feel pressured to decorate everything in a hurry. Homes are best formed while percolating ideas and ingeniously watching the details come to fruition.
Your Style
Did this Hub prompt you to think about How your Home reflects YOU?
© 2009 Susan Ream