Do it Yourself Interior Designing

You can design a room using some basic design principles.

Designing a room in your home with thought and care can result in a beautiful space where your family and friends will feel welcome and want to spend time. Some people spend major money on professional interior designers to achieve this, but you can get the same result yourself by following some basic elements of design. Paying attention to function, paint colors, well-made furniture and accessories will get you a room you can't wait to settle into.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Furniture
• Rug
• Cushions
• Lamps
• Accessories

Instructions

1. Consider function before implementing a design plan. No matter how good your home looks, it won't mean a thing if the house doesn't function properly. Before decorating, consider what functions you need each room to fulfill, like how much seating you need in the dining room and how much storage you need in the bedrooms.

2. Choose a wall color for the rooms you're decorating. Paint on the walls is one of the easiest and quickest ways to make a big difference in a space. Before choosing a color, get some paint samples from the paint store and paint blocks of color on the walls. You can see how the paint looks when dry and see how the color changes as the light changes throughout the day, helping you pick the paint you like best.

3. Purchase furniture that is durable and sturdy, even if costs a bit more. Durable furniture will last longer, saving you money in the long run. Choose furniture with fabrics that are easy to spot clean, or darker furniture that won't show wear and tear as much as lighter covered pieces.

4. Position furniture in the room to allow for flow of traffic, leaving enough room between pieces so people can walk around comfortably without feeling cramped.

5. Anchor furniture on an area rug. This will define the furniture grouping. Make sure the rug is large enough to go under all of the pieces of furniture in that space.

6. Consider the lighting in the room you are decorating. Does it provide the functionality you need and give the ambiance you are looking for? Add accessories like cushions, throw blankets, curtains and lamps to add layers and depth to the room, making it feel complete.

References

• Decorator Secrets: Dos and Don'ts