tips and tricks

I come across alot of people who
don't know where to start when
decorating their home.

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.....

Let a professional designer do it for you!

No, I'm not talking about hiring a designer,
although I'm not trying to talk you out of it
either.  After all, I've made my living helping
people make their homes more beautiful.

But, you can use the advice of a
professional, without even knowing one.

The place to start is the rug
or comforter.
This was designed by a professional,
and it has a color scheme built in.
This is your starting point!

Look at the background color,
which is usually
some shade of white, off-white,
beige, or tan.
Use this color to paint your walls.

By the way, most of the time
any shade of beige or tan is better
on your walls than plain white.

Finding the right color for your
walls can be the trickiest
part because you need to use
the proper shade.

White or off-white can be
warm or cool.
It can have a pinky tone, or be
yellowy. It can lean toward
grey or more towards brown.
If you go yellowy when
you should have gone pinky,
that can be a problem.

If you're having trouble, try
getting some advice from the
associates at  the paint counter
at Home Depot.  They can be
a valuable resource.

Once you have the perfect
neutral color on your walls,
you can contrast it with a
bright creamy white on your
blinds and base molding.
If you have crown molding,
painting it white next to the
color on the walls will make
it stand out.
(I refuse to say "pop :)

Next, what is the dominant
color in the rug or comforter?
Use this color for large areas
in the room, such as curtain
panels and valances.

There will be at least one more
color that is used very little.
Pick one.
This is your accent color.
Use this color for small touches, such as
candles and pillows.

Whatever you do, don't paint your
walls first, then try to decorate
within them.

This is the hardest way to do it
and it is probably why so many
people get stuck.
Even a designer would have
a hard time doing it this way,
because it is backward!

The reason being is that there
are only a certain number of
rugs or comforters out there,
but there are thousands of
paint colors.

Above all, don't be afraid
of color.
I don't know about you,
but I get a little depressed
after I take down my Christmas
decorations.
I think this is because the season
brings so much color into our
lives, and we miss it when it's
gone.

(Did I just bring up Christmas?
Just me longing for cooler
weather I guess....:)