Replacing the furniture in your space is another quick way to give your space a new look.....But when buying new furniture is not in your budget what do you do?  

Painting a piece of furniture can be very intimidating to many, but by following a few short easy steps, you will soon discover that it is not as difficult as you may think and the reward (knowing you did it yourself) will be immeasurable!

Painting furniture can also help with many design dilemmas within a room. For example, if you have inherited a family piece that just does not fit with your home's decor, giving it a new paint job could be the answer.  Or, if your decorating style is more eccentric, painting existing furniture will allow for your to express your personality and create a one of a kind piece that is unique and perfect for your home.

So don't let painting your furniture intimidate you.....Go for it and remember with patience all things work its way to perfection. 

        BEFORE                   AFTER

        

Have you ever heard the saying "Paint is the Affordable Decor"?

Well, it is true.....painting is the quickest and most affordable way to get the biggest bang for your buck when redecorating your space!

 

Why? Well think about it......

The walls in a room are usually the most dominating visual aspect of a room; therefore any changes made to them will capture the attention of one entering the room and cause a natural emotional response, whether good or bad. And if you are like so many homeowners out there, the thought of select colors for your walls is down-right frightening!

But it does not have to be......

 

Most homeowners select paint colors by going into a paint store, picking up a bunch of color swatches and taking them home only to be frustrated with the process of trying to visualize the color on their wall from a tiny paint swatch. For most, this process only contributes to their indecisiveness therefore they end up either postponing/canceling the project or paying a professional to make the decision for them.

But, there is another way..............

 

Most interior design companies use CAD (computer-aided-design) programs to give their clients a visual look of their room with, the selected paint colors.  This can be helpful when making decisions on colors before making the investment for labor & material cost. 

CAD programs can be very expensive and difficult to use, but

Better Homes and Gardens has an on-line tool that's ideal for a DIYer willing to put a little time in to get the results they want.

 

Giving your room a fresh new paint color is still the most affordable way to update your space and get instant gratification.  So, if you are having a hard time selecting colors give the BHG on-line tool a try, or give us a call and ask about our Color Consultation Services

 

 

This is the time most of us spruce up our yards to showcase the beautiful spring flowers. 

How would you like to find a creative, affordable way to also spruce up the inside of your home to showcase those same beautiful flowers and plants featured outdoors?

 

Here is an easy to do DIY project that will showcase your creativity and instantly liven up any plain wall in your home.

 

Step 1>  Purchase any size blank art canvas from your local craft store

 

Step 2>  Purchase semi-gloss or gloss spray paint in color(s) that

              coordinates/compliments your home's decor

 

Step 3>  Select fresh flowers, leaves and/or branches of your choice from

             your yard

 

Step 4>  Arrange your pick on the blank art canvas, and secure it with

             straight pins, tacks, or sticky glue to ensure it does not move

 

Step 5>  Spray paint canvas, then remove & dispose the picks, and

                                WHALA!.....The perfect wall art!

 

 

   Tips:  Create an interesting border by cutting a piece of paper into four

             strips.  On one edge of the strip cut a pattern or rip the paper to

             create an jagged edge. Arrange strip on the blank canvas, along

             with your picks, then spray paint the entire canvas.

 

             Group together several of these art pieces, on the same wall,

             to make a strong first impression!

 

 

 

 

Often times I get asked the question "what are the best decor colors" and my answer is always the same.......

                      What inspires you?

 

There is color in everything around us, and often times when you stop and look at an image, a photograph or a landscape your eyes will automatically be drawn to the colors that you are most attracted to.

The key is awareness; allowing your eyes to naturally find what it is attracted to and being aware as it is communicated back to you.

 

 

 

In this photograph my eyes are automatically drawn to the beautiful hues of yellow that brightens up the picture, in spite of the well lite landscape.

 

The insect's colors inspires an updated decor style, while the landscape's natural pallet neutralizes the total image, which visually translates into an ideal transitional decor. 

 

 

 

From this simple photograph a bedroom design plan is inspired that incorporates many of the features seen in the picture, such as the colors, lines and patterns.

 

The design offers the sophistication and elegance displayed by a butterfly, while also providing a beauty that stands out and naturally lightens up the room. The outcome is a well balanced decor that encourages positive energy.

                                                       click on image to see all our

 

 

If you have a room that needs decorating, let us know the color(s) that most inspire you. We'll take your information and create a

                   Semi-Custom Design Plan just for you!

 

      For full details, please visit The Room Planners, LLC website

 

 

 

If you are a Do-It-Yourself decorator but need a little help with your design choices, then these plans are ideal for you!  We have taken all the guess work out of decorating a room, and have published 15 budget friendly design plans that will turn the most novice homeowner to a professional decorator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

                 Into  a BEAUTIFUL & INVITING

 

 

 

                               Ready-Made DIY Design Plan                                                            

 

There are three (3) room plans for each color story, and each plan was designed to aesthetically coordinate and harmoniously flow with the other rooms.  We have addressed the three (3) main rooms in the home

Living Room, Dining Room and Bedroom

 

Whether you have a Traditional, Transitional, Modern or Eclectic style home, we have a plan to fit your needs. So look through our plans now, and get started decorating!!!!

 

                             COMING SOON

  a fine selection of our "Decorator's Choice" Products at affordable prices!

Area rugs are multifaceted. They can be decorative, functional or both.

Selecting the right rug for you is totally dependent on your needs.

 

When using an area rug for decorative purpose, select a large rug that will fit in the middle of the room's layout. This works best for living rooms where furniture are positioned for entertainment and conversation. Make sure that the rug is large enough to allow at least 1/3 of the front end of your furniture to rest on it. The style and color you select should be based on the decor of the room.  Avoid trying to match colors exactly; this effort is usually useless since different fibers take on color dyes differently.  If you have a monotone decor try matching just enough to give the room uniformity.  And if using multiple rugs in the room, instead of using the same size and/or pattern, experiment with coordinating colors, styles, sizes and shapes that will add interest to the room.

 

There is no limit to what can be done when you decorate using area rugs.  A living room rug can be one of the most important factors in decorating your living room. The right rug can determine the colors and accents, colors and tones, style of furniture and the overall aesthetics of your living room layout. It can become the center, the main factor that ties the whole room together.

 

 

There are 3 basic focal areas upon entering a room

 

Often times homeowners address the ceilings with beautiful light fixtures and wood trims, and the walls with paint finishes and artwork, but what's often overlooked in a home are the floors.

 

The floors, in a home, are blank canvases that allows the homeowner an opportunity to showcase their creativity. There are three different elements to consider when making your selections:

                Core -  examples:  Hardwood, Carpet or Tile

 

        Wearability - examples: Laminate or Natural wood

                                           Shag or Berber

                                           Ceramic or Natural Stone Tile   

  

                Finish - examples:  Matte or High Gloss

 

Once your selection is made, the final step is accessorizing your floor; this is where your creativity comes into play.  Floor accessories come in the form of area rugs, flooring medallions and the combination of different flooring materials, patterns and the directional placement on the core floor.     

 

Floor accessories add personality to your room; when they are left out of the decor it makes the room look unfinished, like a canvas with a solid background color and no picture. So, don't underestimate the effects of flooring accessories in your home's decor.

 

*Note: The above examples are just a few of the many different materials available to choose from for each element. Making the right selection is subjective, based on your individual needs. If you find it difficult to make a selection, consider calling a professional decorator to help with your decision. 

The sun serves as an important source to our  existence, but it's strong power can also have detrimental effects on home furnishings.

 

When decorating your home, one very important element to include in your plan are the window coverings. Besides aesthetic reasons, window treatment serves a vital role in protecting our interior decor investment. Just as we protect our skin from the sun, we also need to take precaution in protecting the furnishing in our homes from fading, drying out or cracking. Even if your furniture is not positioned in direct sunlight, over a period of time if sunlight is entering the room, you will start to see the fabric fade on your furniture and accessories, as well as on wall paint and wall arts.

 

When planning what type of window treatment to use, answering these 3 questions will help with your decision:

 

1. How much sunlight is your furnishings currently exposed to?

2. Can the furnishings be moved around in the room to reduced their exposure to direct sunlight?

3. Will the furnishings in the room be exposed to indirect sunlight at anytime of the day?

 

Window treatment stores can help with your selection, or contact a professional interior decorator to help with your decorating plan that incorporates your window treatments.

 

For additional information on selecting window coverings, read our blog "How to Make Window Treatment Selections"

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog entitled

The #1 Mistake Made in Interior Decorating, which revealed that the lack of planning your project can have a detrimental affect on the outcome of the project.  Unfortunately lack of a plan is also the #1 mistake, many people make, when furnishing a room.

 

Often times we allow the excitement, of furnishing the room, to overtake us emotionally, which often results in taking the premature step of going shopping (and often times making the purchase) before taking the time to develop a plan.

 

The average size of a furniture showroom is 100,000 square feet with ceiling heights averaging 15-20 feet.  The average home is approximately 2,500 sq ft with 8-10 ft ceilings......This means that the average furniture showroom can fit about 40 homes inside of it!  This explains why the furniture displayed in a showroom looks different when it is delivered to the home.

 

 

When developing a plan the first thing to take into consideration is the size of the room. Start by measuring the room and drawing it on a piece of paper; make sure to sketch in the location of windows, doors and other non-movable items (i.e. fireplace, columns, etc) in the room. Next draw in the furniture, using squares & circles to represent the shape of the furniture. This will help with furniture placement and also in determining size & shapes that will look best in the room. There are furniture templates that you can download free from the internet or purchase from local hobby stores.

 

 

Next is determining the style you're wanting to achieve in that room. Knowing your style will help narrow the section of the furniture showroom floor that you shop, making your shopping experience more productive and fun!

 

 

Once you know know the size & style furniture, the last item is your budget.  Although many would like to start with the budget and then shop for what is affordable within that budget, I STRONGLY advice against that.  Furniture, like your home, should be viewed as a long term investment that can transition with you and your family.  If your initial purchase is well thought out, it can save you a lot of money when you redecorate your home again in the future. Knowing your budget will also help narrow the furniture stores you will visit to ensure you stay on budget.

 

 

Shopping for furniture does not have to be a time consuming process or a drag...........IF YOU HAVE A PLAN!!!

When buying or selling a home,

most people will seek the advice of a Realtor and when planning their investments will often speak with a financial planner.......yet when remodeling or decorating a home they will go at it alone.

 

 

With the housing market still at a decline, many homeowners are opting to remain in their current home longer and are either remodeling or redecorating to get a fresh new look.

 

 

The average cost of a remodeling project is $20,000-$45,000.  The average cost of a decorating project is $2,000 - $6,000.  In addition, most consumers spends on average $1,000 - $1,500 per year on home decorating products. With the average home valued at $250,000, this means that homeowners are spending on average 5%-20% of the home's value on home improvement; and this does not include the  additional expense for the "OOPS" factor of mistakes made.  

 

This is a pretty big gamble to take, without professional advice, considering the average value of homes in this country have dropped close to 10% in the last 5 years alone.  

 

Consulting with a professional interior decorator ($150-$200 fee) can help eliminate the many mistakes made in most interior decorating projects.  Now that's a good return on investment!

 

 

Click here to learn more about our in-home consultation services

 

Which, do you believe, is the first step when decorating a room?

    1) Deciding the style & color for the room?

    2) Planning the details of the project?

    3) Selecting the furniture to go in the room?

 

If you selected #1 or #3 then you're doomed for failure; without a detailed plan it will be like playing Russian roulette - a hit or miss game.

 

 

 

 

 

Fall is here, and if you're anything like me you're still trying to figure out how did the summer go by so fast. Transitioning your home decor, from one season to another, does not have to be a major expense; it just take a little bit of creativity for bringing the outdoors in!

 

Below are 3 inexpensive ideas, that can be incorporate in your indoor living space, to give the appearance of summer months inside, while enjoying the leaves falling outdoors.

 

 

 

 

 

Framed posters with images of summer gardens and landscapes are ideals and affordable. These should be easy to find in local art supply or home decor stores, or you can always find them on line in websites such as www.allposters.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                       

 

 

Branches and Dry Flowers                 

 

Replace your silk and natural floral arrangements with dry flowers and branches. Try using different household items, as containers, other than the traditional vases to showcase your creativity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change your home accessories (ie: throw pillows, bedding, window treatment) to green color. Like there outdoors, there are many shades of green out there, so find the right shade to compliment your existing furnishing and decor.

 

Dressing the windows is something that is often overlooked by homeowners when decorating their home. Yet, window dressing is one of the key elements to a successful design plan.

 

Your windows should be viewed as "wall art", another opportunity to showcase your personality.  Because there are so many styles of window treatment out in the market, it can become an overwhelming experience trying to select the correct treatment for your windows.

 

Start as any artist would....with a blank canvas; trust me, this will make the decision process easier. Start by deciding if you are want to showcase or hide your window.  Next, determine how much coverage you want; this will help determine how many layers you will need to achieve the results you're wanting.

 

There are basically three types of window treatment layers: 

1) complete privacy & furniture protection (ie: blinds, shades, drapery) 

2) semi-privacy (ie: sheers, light weight fabrics panels)

3) decorative (ie: panels, valances, cornices)

 

 

 

 

 

If you're looking to showcase your windows, and are not concern with the lack of privacy or direct light damaging your furniture, a window treatment like this may be ideal for your home    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

If, on the other hand, you're wanting to showcase your windows, but need a bit more privacy and/or protection for your furniture, a window treatment such as this one may work for your home.

 

It does not have to be complicated...is just a matter of preference and design style. Most stores, that sell window treatments, have professions on staff that can help you make your selections. You may also want to consider taking a photograph of your window with you so they can better help you make the right selections. 

 

Do you have difficulty selecting colors for your home?

   

Color is very subjective, therefore what inspires your color choices may not necessarily inspire your spouse's or other members in the household. So how do you select the right colors that brings harmony to the home?

Start with the family's favorite meal!

For example, if your family enjoys fun, spicy foods such as Mexican, then consider looking at energetic colors within the red or yellow color families. Each color family (red, yellow, blue, green, orange & violet) come in an endless number of shades, tones and tints; finding the right color for your family is just a matter of preference.  Example: the brighter the color the more energy that will be evoked in that space; therefore if you have a very energetic 3 year child, you may want to consider going with muted tones within the color family you've selected.

 

 

 

On the other hand, if your family's favorite meal consists of a nice juicy steak with potatoes, then a neutral pallet may be ideal for your family. Neutrals do not have to be boring....on the contrary, a properly decorated room, with a neutral color pallet, can be very elegant or playful. Using a secondary contrasting or complimenting color, as accent, will make any neutral color room come to life.

  

 

Color selection does not have to be stressful. Make it fun and just think food!