How to Study Decorating Ideas

Whether you are building a new house, or remodeling an existing one, it is easy to study various decorating ideas to get a sense of the interior design style that you want in your home. Take a little extra time organizing your search for the materials and decor elements that suit your tastes, so you do not waste valuable time trying to find them during the last days of your home improvement project.

Things You'll Need

• Binder
• Plastic page protectors
• Subject tab dividers
• Highlighter
• Pens
• Digital camera (or a Polaroid camera if you have it)
• Standard notebook (or loose leaf paper)
• Small notebook
• Design magazines
• Design books
• Access to a computer & printer
• Access to television

Instructions

Interior Design Ideas Research Kit

1. Head to the office store and buy a three ring binder, plastic page protectors, subject dividers (one for each individual area in your home), a standard notebook or loose leaf paper, a small notebook, a highlighter and at least two pens. Put one of the pens and the small notebook in your purse or bag so you always have it with you.

2. Put your binder together by placing all of the plastic paper protectors in it, at the back where you can pull one out as needed, as well as the standard size notebook or loose leaf paper and place another pen in the front pocket. Label the subject dividers by the type of rooms that your are studying decorating ideas for like "bathroom", "kitchen", "living room", "dining room", "master bedroom", creating a different section in the binder for each individual space. (Don't forget often overlooked areas like entryways and stair landings.)

3. Place your digital camera, or Polaroid camera, in your everyday purse or bag alongside your small notebook and pen. This way you always have it on hand if you see something in stores that catches your eye when you are running errands or shopping for items other than those for your home.

Interior Design Research Study Materials

1. Check out your local home improvement store for books and manuals that offer different decorating ideas. Browse the mock rooms in different departments because, according to interior designer Robin Baron on the Home Furnishings website, "a good option is to go to showrooms and stores so that you're exposed to a wide variety of fabrics, rugs and furniture."

2. Take pictures of items that suit your particular tastes and take notes of brand names, color choices and other details. Grab paint sample cards as well as samples of any fabrics, flooring, wall treatments or tiles that suit your sense of style to compare with one another later.

3. Buy design magazines. They are filled with decorating ideas to study, from traditional and country rooms to elegant and contemporary spaces.

Interior Design Research Aids

1. Cut out magazine pictures and articles that catch your eye and place them in the page protectors of their perspective section within your binder. Go through the paint and fabric samples frequently, matching them up together in the different plastic sleeves as well.

2. Keep taking pictures wherever you go, from mock rooms to individual items and even table settings that appeal to you at restaurants, as you can find design inspiration everywhere. Develop the pictures as you take them, placing them in front of any clippings and samples that would complement the styles in the pictures.

3. Purchase and read home improvement manuals and highlight areas that interest you. Once you are finished with the entire book, you can even tear pages from it and place them in your binder as well.

4. Use your large notebook, or loose leaf paper, to take notes of sites and stores and tips or hints that you find while browsing the Internet. Print out and place any pages of interest that you may find too.

5. Watch interior design shows on television with your paper in hand as well. Keep adding to your decorating ideas binder as you study until you find the perfect elements to make your house a home.

References

• Home Furnishings: Where Do I Start?