Is Simple Home Decorating A Style For You?
What does the term ‘Simple Home Decorating’ bring to mind? For many, it can mean a quick, easy and affordable decorating style. An uncluttered, understated and natural style can also define easy home decorating. In fact, all of these attributes can be incorporated into a easy home decor that will appeal to just about anyone, particularly those who are decorating on a budget but still want to create an appealing look for their home.
One very important starting point that is crucial in any home decor project is to de-clutter the area you are going to decorate, or in many situations, redecorate. Remove everything that you can physically carry out of the room, to give yourself a fresh begin and the capability to really see what you are working with. This includes any accessories on shelves, throw rugs and surround decor – everything must go, at least for now. The only furnishings in the room should be massive upholstery and casegoods that are too heavy to remove.
With the thought that easy home decorating evokes light, natural and easy to look upon, think about the floor and walls in this area. Do you need a fresh coat of neutral colored paint on the walls and ‘Ceiling White’ on the ceiling? How about the floor? If your budget can handle it, think about light carpeting, wood floors (natural or faux), or tile, all in lighter, natural finishes. If your budget will not grant for that expense, make sure the floors are sparkling clean. If your decorating style includes a more colorful approach for the walls, then use just one color and opt for a shade that is not overly bright.
Your next step is to carefully think about the upholstery in this room. Is the artifact dated, dark, stained, or generally not pleasant to view? A quick, easy and affordable solution is to discover the world of slipcovers. There are so many more choices, styles and fabrics now than there were five or ten years ago. You can find slipcovers for sofas, easy chairs, dining chairs, etc. They are prefabricated to fit particular styles of upholstery and look great. This is a wonderful way to create a different look in a room without spending a lot of money. If you choose this option, look for fabrics that fit your lifestyle as the first priority,then seek out lighter colors and patterns. These choices, along with the lighter colored walls, will keep your room looking fresh, open and uncluttered.
Now that you have addressed the ceiling, walls, floor and larger pieces in the room, it’s time to think about the smaller items and accessories. Bear in mind the goal is to look for natural, uncluttered, easy and inexpensive. First, do an inventory of all of the ‘stuff’ you have in your closets, kitchen cabinets and other storage areas. You are looking for something that you have never used in this room before, or perhaps never considered using as an accent or accessory. For example, you might have a lovely and one-of-a-kind piece that has been tucked away in a china compartment for years. Or, you might come crossways a throw rug that was place away long ago and fogotten, and it might be perfect for this home decor project. If you come crossways a piece that is hand painted, hand woven or prefabricated from natural material, even better.
Bring apiece piece you have identified into your project room and try to find a place for it that will show the piece off to it’s ideal advantage, with a goal of minimal accessorizing. You want to refrain filling the walls with photos just to take up space. Instead, try just one or two of your favorite pieces, a picture or mirror you just ‘discovered’ or an interesting combination of the two. By putting less on the walls and on display, apiece piece will acquire more attention and dimension. For example, you might have place an antique accent plateau against a surround in this room. You hung a beautiful oval picture above it, place a hand painted pitcher on the plateau with an antique piece of alter as an underlayment, and as a finishing touch place some natural type of organic such as Baby’s Breath in the pitcher (instead of the usual silk flowers). The particular style used as an example might not match your individualized decorating taste, but the result would be the same; simple, understated, affordable and natural.
If your closets and cabinets are ‘bare’, try shopping at a discount home decor store and choose one or two items that you love, to add to your decor project. Again, keep it easy and understated as you make your selections. When you add these pieces to your room, place them in a way that will accentuate their character and beauty (which is to say, if you bought a new accent table, don’t place so much stuff on it and around it that you can’t see the table!)
Simple home decorating should be just that – simple. By incorporating these recommendations into your decorating project, you will create a room that is uncluttered and understated, and have accomplished this quickly, easily and inexpensively.
