Oh! Don't Do That! What NOT to do When Decorating

I usually take the "what to do approach" in everything I do.  Focus on the positive, let the negative quietly slip away.  But today, let's have a little fun, and talk about the funny things NOT TO DO when decorating.

1.  Don't Paint Every Room in Your Home a Loud, Bright Color

photo:yteng-mnmlife.blogspot.com

Painting every room a bright, "fun" color became popular with diy home decorating television.  Everyone wanted to decorate their homes like they saw on TV.  I am not against bold color in the home.  For so many people bright color energizes them!  Don't be afraid of color.  I think what ends up happening though is that amateur decorators get carried away trying to include every color they love into their homes.  They love green, so their bedroom gets a coat of bright grass green!  And what goes better with grass than a bright blue sky, so the trim or hall way is sky blue.  Then, they saw an elegant red dining room, and they paint that next.  You can see that this is already a mess, but many people fall into this trap.  Once you've started, it can be hard to stop!  Bathroom: Pink!  Livingroom: Golden Yellow!  Yikes! 

Okay, there are some easy rules to follow, for anyone wanting to add color to their homes
-Use different values of the same color (darker in some rooms, lighter in others)
-Make sure all of the paint colors throughout the house look good together (Even if the rooms aren't next to each other)
-Use one neutral paint color throughout the entire house, and pop in your bright shades with accents like pillows etc.
-Pick grayed-down versions of colors you love (less shocking, more sophisticated)

Several years ago when I was shopping for a "Fixer Uper" I went into houses that needed a lot of TLC.  Many of these houses had the "Every Room a Different Color" Syndrome!  If I was afraid of catching it, that experience cured me for good!

2.  Don't Display Every Tchotchke You (or your grandma) Ever Collected

photo:google images

If there was one "Don't" I am guilty of, this is it.  I do love stuff!  I like collecting, and styling tables, bookshelves, countertops... I have friends with homes that are very minimal, and I really admire that.  I have a few things I like to keep on display:  Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, Glass Bottles, Baskets, Books.  Aughhh!!  I am the first to admit all of this stuff looks like Clutter!!  Maybe this is pretty clutter, but too much stuff for your space looks cramped and disorganized.

There is help out there (even for me):
-Focus on 1 or 2 small collections
-Make sure the amount of "stuff" you have is in proportion to the size of your living space
-Keep only what is functional and you really use, Edit, Edit, Edit!


photo: google images

 





A beautiful, organized, spare home is so much more wonderful to enjoy spending time in, than being surrounded by "junk".  I know I don't want to end up living is a space like this:


photo:cnn.com

3. Don't Create "Theme" Rooms

photo:lindapaul.com

You just got back from a fabulous trip to Italy.  Italian Kitchen!  Grapes, faux columns, Chianti bottles... Don't do that!  Or you love the islands and the beach.  Everyone knows this one.  Shells, shells and more shells, grass skirts, palm trees, hibiscus print.  It seems that whenever anyone comes back from a vacation, they want to recreate that place somewhere in their home.  I'm all for using a trip as inspiration, just not so literally. 

photo:themerooms.blogspot.com

I know rooms like this are really popular among the diy-ers and I in no way want to inhibit your creativity.  You can definitely have your Italian or beach inspired room, while still keeping it elegant and sophisticated.  You will be reminded of your great vacation, without it screaming "I just got back from Italy (or the beach, or Japan or whatever)!

-Use the colors of a place rather than iconic imagery to design your room
-Go as authentic as you can.  In Italy and the Islands, all of the materials are pure, nothing faux
-Try to replicate the relaxed feeling you had on vacation rather than "painting a picture" of a place

There are more "Don'ts" that I could include, obviously.  But really this is only for fun.  And that is what decorating your home should be: Fun!  Your interiors shouldn't be taken too seriously, it's all just stuff.  But that being said, the space you live in can enhance your life in so many ways when it is a place you enjoy!

Are you ready to create the space of your dreams?  Log on to http://www.designtheroomyoulove.com and enter your email address.  You will receive tips, tools and trainings directly from me, showing you step by step how to Design the Room You Love!

SR
    

Dark Walls? Instantly Chic!



Interior Designers know that paint is one of the easiest ways to create instant impact in a room.  They also know that darker, deeper colors give a lot of look, for very little effort.  Trouble is, when people decorate their own homes, they are often too timid and safe in choosing their paint colors.


photo:plabcity.co.uk

There are commonly accepted misconceptions about dark walls.  That it will make the room look smaller.  That nothing will look good with them.  That they are...depressing.  Too dark...Ugly.  Do you realize that many of the rooms you love in magazines, decorated by professional interior designers, have darker walls that expand the room, make all of the furniture and fabrics look amazing, are cool or cozy, inviting, and...beautiful!

photo:nycinteriordesign.com



photo:housedecoratingidea.com

 Here are two livingrooms of very different styles, but equally successful.  Both are painted in very dark gray or black.  White glows, leather looks rich and the texture is highlighted, and the woodwork in black looks traditional and fresh at the same time.


photo:designsponge.com

 













When people are decorating their own home, they choose light neutrals thinking they will make their rooms look elegant and professionally decorated.  This often leaves their rooms looking bland and safe, and sometimes unfinnished.  Taupe, tan, cream, and other pale colors can be beautiful (stay tuned for a post on how to make the most of these colors!), but if you want drama, and that WOW factor in your rooms, consider colors that are a shade or two (or many) darker than your comfort zone.  The results are virtually guaranteed to instantly make your room something you love, even if the wall color is all you change.





photo:interiordesignstyles.com

Dark walls in a traditional setting look sophisticated and enveloping, while letting the table and art take center stage.




photo:housebeautiful.com

photo:minimaltrends.com



Two livingrooms done in a deep purple.  Both have a glam sensibility, one with a more eclectic feel and the other more contemporary.  What would these rooms look like with white or taupe walls?  The dark paint gives the rooms focus and a point of view.  Pretty good for the cost of a can of paint!

photo:housebeautiful.com

photo:iseecubed.com


Bedrooms are a great room to start using darker colors because they are generally not the "public" rooms of a home.  The room on the left was designed by Mary McDonald, known for bold and glamorous looks.  You may have seen her on Bravo TV's Million Dollar Decorator!  The green bedroom was designed by Miles Redd, who uses color and pattern to amazing effect.  If you are looking for inspiration in bringing bold color into your home, these two masters' work are great for reference.



photo:carpettheworld.org

Any color kicked up a few notches can look fantastic.  Orange definitely isn't for everyone, but it is one of  my favorites.  I love how the deeper color really makes all of the bold patterns cohesive.  In a room that had timid walls, all these bold statements might look cluttered and confusing.  The bold walls say " this was meant to look this way!"

photo:.ur-homeinteriors.blogspot.com

And don't forget the bathroom.  This black high gloss bathroom looks so chic!  Anywhere in your home that you want to make a statement, dark walls may just be your jumping off point! 

Looking for a system to put it all into place?  http://www.designtheroomyoulove.com has all the tools you need to design the rooms of your dreams!  If you are ready to create a space you love coming home to, take the next step!  Log onto the website, enter your email, and you too, can learn to Design the Room You Love!