Showing posts with label design style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label design style. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Stylish Home Decorating in Black and White




When people start thinking about living room decorating ideas and decorating their home, whether it be one or two rooms or even the entire house, the first question that usually springs to mind is ‘what colour’. Usually, people choose colours that they like or those which match pieces of their existing furniture. When searching for living room decorating ideas, one idea which is perhaps too often overlooked is decorating with the two basic colours (or shades, to be accurate) ” black and white.

Black and white, used in home decor shows style and creates drama and pizzazz. Top decorators say that every room in the house can benefit by using a touch of black. Black is a colour which anchors and grounds a room. Adding sophistication, black is definitely a colour that demands attention. Stylish home decor ideas for a home using black may include accessories such as light fixtures, trim or furniture. Black serves to add definition to focal points in a room. Black is just one colour that stands out or makes a statement, but it is definitely one of the most outspoken!

Decorating with the shades of black and white in your living room decorating ideas, lends a clean, fresh, elegant environment. This combination can be added to any room in a home making it a sophisticated area. Black and white are frequently used in contemporary interior design and often used to highlight other colours in the French Country style. It may be hard to visualize but there are many ideas for decorating a home using combinations of only these two basic colours.

The floor is a great place to start when considering stylish home decor. Black and white vinyl tiles laid alternately make a beautiful chessboard pattern and gives a clean and elegant appearance. Black marble used on the floor, accented by wide white baseboards is another beautiful idea for decorating a home. Laying white ceramic tiles with a black border or simply painting the floor black or white and using stencils of the opposite colour for decoration, is also quite stunning. These are great ideas for decorating a home.

Can you think of anything more perfect than white walls in the Mediterranean style? Painting the walls white or even an off-white, say smoke-white or apple-whitemakes a perfect backdrop for decorations such as shelving framed in black. Great living room decorating ideas! Elegant black window surrounds or black shutters against a clean, crisp white wall would certainly create an aura of sophistication. Maybe a glass-topped table with a black iron rim and black chairs? These are great ideas for decorating a home using only black and white.

Imagine a bedroom decorated using only black and white – that would be lovely stylish home decor too. A black or white iron bed-stead, covered with a striped black and white duvet or eiderdown. The pillow cases could be either all black or all white and you could add throw cushions in the other colour.

A nice leather black or white armchair in the corner would certainly accent the living room decorating ideas. Then you could have the white walls with a sophisticated piece of artwork, framed in black, hanging on it. That would surely add to the contemporary feel of your living room decorating ideas. Black furniture against the crisp white walls would look really neat and tidy and you could jazz it all up with accessories like pewter or silver candlesticks, jugs or vases.

However, if you think that the living room decorating ideas need a little more colour to complete the effect, perhaps a throw or a cushion in a bold colour such as red or gold for the chair in the corner of the room would be enough to accent the room. There are innumerable ways to decorate a home, however, finding the one that suits you and those who live with you is really very important. It’s nice to do something extreme and unusual, but please remember that you must be able to live with what you have created for quite sometime.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Decorating Your Home for 2010: Design Styles




What is your style? Each person has a style that reflects who you are and how you see yourself; your home should reflect this same aesthetic. In this second installment on ideas for decorating your home in 2010, let’s look at design styles.

You may not have thought about your style before. In fact, you may not even know what your style is. Yet, figuring this out will enable you to create a home that beautifully defines who you are and makes both you and your guests feel welcome. Here’s a little help in determining your style.

Do you find your eye drawn to rooms and photos in which the couch is flanked by end tables, with a lamp on each table? Do you enjoy decorating using items in pairs? Perhaps medium to dark-toned woods with unique design elements capture your attention. If these warm tones and calm symmetry appeal to you, your design style is traditional. For a photographic example of traditional style, check out the photo that accompanies “Decorating Your Home for 2010: Focal Points”.

On the other hand, perhaps you’re a person who likes a cozy, cottage look. A more casual version of the traditional style, this one has homey touches such as ruffled kitchen curtains, handmade quilts and needlepoint, design motifs that include fruit, flowers or animals, and colors in dusty tones such as mauve, gray, blue-gray, and deep greens. If this style sounds perfect to you, then your design style is country.

Or maybe sleek, spare design attracts you. Characterized by steel, glass, plexiglass and smooth, unadorned woods, this design style focuses on spaciousness and placing few items in each room, thereby allowing individual pieces or a spectacular view to take center stage. If this uncluttered style calls out to you, your style is modern.

Often confused with modern, contemporary style has the sleekness of modern design, but with personal touches such as rugs, art and other accessories that add personality and quirkiness to the décor. The photo accompanying “Home Décor after the Holidays” is an example of contemporary design.

Old World or Ethnic design introduces the flavors of other countries. A more eclectic style, this one uses elements of one or more cultures to reveal your heritage, travels or interests and happily coexists with traditional, modern or contemporary designs. If you enjoy items that highlight your cultural sensibilities, this style is for you.

Don’t hesitate to mix these design styles in whatever way you find appealing. What matters is that your design style reflect your life, interests and personality. Next time, we’ll look at color’s role in your home's décor for 2010.

Source examiner.com

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