How to Organize Decorating Ideas

Consider this scenario: You see a decorating idea in a magazine, perhaps the perfect sofa, color scheme or centerpiece how-to. You're sure you can find it again, but then you can't. Here are tips for tracking your decorating inspirations.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• File Cabinets
• Scissors
• Design Magazines
• Post-it Flags
• Post-it Notes
• Ballpoint Pens
• File Folders
• Highlighter Pens

1. Set up labeled file folders for your ideas. Suggested headings include living/family rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, kitchen, window treatments, garden, how-to ideas, storage, floors, or whatever your needs and interests are.
2. Mark the front covers of decorating magazines with page numbers and a label ("rug," "curtain") for the ideas you want to save. When you're on a clutter-control mission, tear out the page and file it before discarding the magazine.
3. Photocopy pages from books and file them. Note the book's title on the photocopies in case you later want to study the original book photos, which will be better quality than your copies.
4. Save paint chips of paints you like and/or have used in a file called "paint" or in the appropriate room files. If you don't have the paint manufacturer's chip, create your own by painting a piece of pasteboard, drying it and then filing it so that it can be toted with you when shopping for coordinating decor and so it can be computer-matched later if more paint is needed.
5. File wallpaper samples with the titles of the appropriate wallpaper books as well as the page number. These ease the process of placing the order at the conclusion of a long project and can also expedite reordering if additional paper is needed.
6. Catalog your fabric swatches the same way as wallpaper samples; be sure to note the store where you found the fabric.
7. Revise your files periodically - about every year or so - as your needs and style trends change.

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