How to Find Decorating Tips for Kitchen Ideas
Your kitchen can make a signature statement about your home. But there are as many kitchen designs as there are homes, so how do you know which design is best for you? Book and magazine shelves, specialty television shows, and the Internet are full of ideas on kitchen design. If you don't know what your design type is, it is easy to find out by doing a little research. But there are also more innovative ways to find kitchen decorating tips. This article will explore some of the more creative as well as conventional methods. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Attend a kitchen and bath trade show, exposition, fair and/or conference. Check with your local exposition center for a list of upcoming events. Also, such events will be listed in your local newspaper. For example, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show is held yearly. Attending the full show is pricey, but the opening ceremony is free and an EXPO pass for the show floor can cost as little as $20.
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Take a look around local kitchen and bath stores, but don't bring your checkbook. You just want to get a sense of what's out there before you begin purchasing items. Note down any decorative item that catches your fancy.
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Visit model homes and new-home construction sites. Developers will often hire professional designers to stage the interior, including the kitchen, to better sell the homes. You just might see something that inspires you.
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Meet with an interior home decorator, if you can afford one. Decorators stay up to date on the latest home decorating tips and they'll be able to offer suggestions to create a kitchen that suits your personality and needs.
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Look through design and decorating magazines for ideas and tips. Better Homes & Garden, Interior Design, and Traditional Design are just three of the dozens of home decorating magazines. Tear out pages with ideas that inspire you and create a wish book by gluing those pages in a notebook.
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Read books. Go to the architecture and decorating section of the library or your favorite book store. Look up titles on kitchen design, kitchen organization, and kitchen styles. Look for titles such as "Big Book of Kitchen Designs" by Tina Skinner; "All New Kitchen Idea Book" by Joanne Keller Bouknight, and "Design Ideas for Kitchens" by Susan Boyle Hillstrom to begin your search. Books provide more in-depth information and tips, and can instruct you on how to complete many projects on your own.
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Watch specialty television shows on kitchen design and kitchen ideas. Don't rule out cooking shows for decorating tips. The sets are professionally designed and full of design ideas. "Spice Up Your Kitchen" is on HGTV, and Candice Olson, host and designer of "Divine Design," does a lot of designs for kitchens. Watch the DIY network's "Kitchen Impossible" and on The Food Network, see the sets of "Paula's Homecooking," "The Neely's" and "Semi Homemade" with Sandra Lee.
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Use the Internet and search for ideas and photos on the exact tip you need help with. If you need ideas on organizing the pantry, input "pantry organization in the kitchen." If you have questions, enter them into a search engine with a question mark and watch the solutions pop up. Don't think that any question is too simple; there are many people with the same question.
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Tips & Warnings
Decide how much you can afford to spend on decorating your kitchen and stick to your budget. You'll be proud of what you've been able to accomplish--and you just might be surprised by what you find.
Seeing too many options can be overwhelming and actually confuse you more, so try not to go overboard with your research. Choose two to three research avenues and stick with them.
