Thursday, May 28, 2009

2009 Home Decorating Trend

Interior Colors


Purples, soft blues, metallics, golden greens, grays, yellows…these are the interior colors you will see throughout 2009 in home decorating. Vibrant colors with lots of pop and sizzle will be tempered with neutrals to make them grounded and livable, creating a youthful, yet sophisticated style. However, the old solid + floral + striped fabric equation is being set to the side, replaced by unexpected new mixes. Throw in some fur – faux or real, shearling, burnished metallic leathers, eco-friendly vinyls, textural linens, and some heavy distressed wood…and well, you’ve created quite a conversation. There is a lot of look mentioned here, but making nod to one or two of the trends may be all you need to spunk up your room’s look.




Home Decoration Trends 2009: Fabrics




Fur seems to be one of the big decoration trends for 2009, and has reached a fervor pitch. There is a plethora of pillows, throws, bedding, seat cushions, fabrics and rugs being offered in both fake and real fur. Leaving the hair on the hide is a popular trend in leather furnishings that shows both texture and color variances. Most of the faux furs are created from a blend of polyester, Modacrylic, and acrylic fibers that feel very luxurious, and are just as lovely as the real thing. Visit www.eco-luxuryfur.com to see throws and pillows made from a New Zealand paihama. They tout that the fur is sourced from humanely killed animals that are considered pests since they have populated so rapidly.

Home Decorating Trends 2009: Purple Is Rising


Home decorating trends do tend to take a page from the fashion world, and 2009 decorating trends continue to follow it by incorporating the energetic colors. Orange as well as shades of Coral are big on the spring runway as well as enjoying resurgence in home fashion this year. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the rising strength of purple being used in interiors. It had a strong hold in 2008 fall fashion, which is being carried over into the new year in various shades. Combined with grays or neutrals, it has a sophisticated, calming effect. It can be viewed as feminine and light in its lavender shades, or strong and masculine when mixed with brown.



Home Decorating Trends 2009: Accessorize With Metallics

Throw a little (or a lot) of metallic in with any color, texture, or style, and you have hit upon the biggest trend of 2009 in home decorating. Once considered to be a “luxury” material, metallics have now been transformed to be made available in a myriad of finishes. We will see them in wall and furniture finishes, leathers and vinyls, fabrics, lighting, etc. Metallics are adding a nice bridge to the dull abundance of neutrals by adding a bit of sparkle and luxe.

If there is a trendy “must-have” of 2009, then consider fur or some sort of metallic to be your item. Both will add punch to any setting, modern or traditional, and give you an immediate conversation piece.

Top 10 Decorating Trends for 2009

Taking more risk with interior colors

– more color in richer tones, larger scaled art, mixing materials – none of these are new ideas, but with all the design shows and magazines out there it helps a person visualize better. I love to bring in unusual decor to make a statement in a room.


Choose unusual decor

Mirrored chest of drawers, metallic fabrics, painted pieces – could be a lamp, accessories, or a coffee table for example. Something that calls attention to itself in a room as a conversation piece.

Mixing up modern and traditional

Using rich varieties of textures in fabrics. Mixing wood grains, painted finishes, metal finishes. Use of line and texture on furniture – pleating, button tufting, etc. Metal or glass tile combined with ceramic. We have broken free of all things having to match.

Interior color trends 2009

chocolate, tobacco, taupe – with apple green shades.


Interior color trends 2009

Red – not in its true form. Rich brown-reds or deep purples paired with intense earthy tones of brown, green, or gold.

Home decor trends 2009

Materials such as bamboo, grasses, subtle organic patterns of plants or water themes, cooler restful use of greens, blues, lavenders. Use of colored glass as an accent.

Painting walls a color

not just beige or off white. Knowing that you can always repaint.


Home decor trends 2009

Use of metal and metallics - in decorating accessories, lighting, accent tables and fabrics, tiles.

Interior design trends 2009

Straighter lines in furniture – squared off arms, refined minimal legs on upholstery and tables. Straight, minimal designs on tables but playing up exotic wood grains. Simple lines in furnishings allow things like art or rugs to be played up.

Interior design trends 2009

Better use of proportions in a room – playing up architectural features, varying heights of lamps, key furniture pieces. Drawing attention to ceiling height through the better use of window treatments.

2009 Color Trends


The color is a warm, engaging yellow of 2009 color trends. The color was deemed perfect for this year of change - hopeful optimism that the economic and political atmosphere will clear and provide up most reassurance.The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,”

Interior Color Trends 2009: The Other Hot Colors

Watery shades of teal will continue to be a presence with the 2009 colors. Think of the tropical waters in the Caribbean and the charismatic mix of teal greens and blues. Teal is a color that rebounds under a different name every few years, but it appears it will be around for a while longer. The combination with brown continues to be very chic, but with the brown becoming more caramel toned.


Interior color trends 2009 - Vivid and Vibrant Rule

Shades of purple and red will boldly stomp into living areas as a go-to color. The meek will tone them down to secondary hues combined with earth tones or taupe-grays, for a softer sophisticated look. However, don’t be shocked to see entire rooms painted in a deeper version – the color hugs the area and creates warm, inviting environment. Vivid pinks will be for the ultra trendy, but you will see touches of it worm into traditional interiors. Pink is another optimistic tone that compares to the first flowers of spring, or looking through your rose colored glasses.

Interior Color Trends 2009 - Greige, Neutrals and Grays

Clean gray greens round out the new color trends with their subtle, subdued palette. With all this optimistic thinking, this trend gives life and lightness to a room. Paired with neutrals it is hardly somber as pops of color will be added as accents – consider navy blue, rich purple, or a crisp black for accessories.

Consumers are really looking for ways to freshen up what they already have, rather than full re-do of their rooms. If you have a room with neutral basics – a brown sofa or sage green chairs per se, then adding throws, pillows, or a grouping of accent vases in one of the new color trends is an inexpensive and easy fix.



Ten Colorful Ways to Decorate Your Home without Paint

Decorating Style | How to Decorate Without Painting

If you have ever lived in an apartment, dorm room or other space where painting the walls was strictly a no-no, you understand how hard it can be to come up with creative ways to inject warmth and personality into the room. Decorating without paint can be a challenge. Plain white or basic beige walls feel cold and sterile, and not particularly inviting. You want your home to reflect your personality and plain vanilla just isn’t your style. Don’t let the no-paint rule leave your home colorless. Here’s ten great ways to add color, charm and your own decorating style to your home without painting the walls and breaking the rules.

Removable Wall Graphics

These are fantastic! Your imagination

is about the only limitation you’ll bump into when you create your personalized decorating style with removable wall graphics. They’re easy to apply and easy to remove. No matter what you’re taste or style, you’ll find wall graphics that seemed custom made for you. In fact, you can have them custom made, if you like, and create your own design featuring family members or other treasures. Make an entire wall appear intricately painted, create the look of a hand painted mural or just send a message to your guests. Something else awesome about these graphics is that you can use them other places besides walls. Spruce up the kitchen cabinets or make a coordinating lampshade simply by adding removable wall graphics. Whether your taste runs to country, contemporary, classic or Zen, you’ll find the perfect way to enhance your style. Use graphics to accent architectural features or they are super for kids’ rooms. They’re even available as blackboards.

Removable Wall Hooks

Renters and others who can’t paint need to become well acquainted with removable wall hooks. They go on easy and come off without leaving a mark. Use them to hang mirrors and pictures or in the bedroom or bath to hold robes and towels. Use more than one hook for heavier items. These are great for any home. You don’t make any holes to patch and they do not damage the walls. Find removable wall hooks at most home or hardware stores.

Add Vibrant Colors

If you are stuck with white walls, use it to your advantage. Make white a part of your color scheme and use strong, vibrant colors to contrast with it. Black, white and red makes a sharp contemporary statement or use gingham blue and yellow for a country theme. Or how about bright neons or exotic tropicals? Use slipcovers and throw pillows, curtains and accessories to bring in lots of your favorite shades.

Add Wall Art

Use art to express yourself. Framed prints and paintings always add a finished look to any room. The art you love and display expresses volumes about your personality. Don’t be afraid to add some large pieces of wall art on big, blank walls. If you feel creative, you can even make your own. You can find lots of budget friendly ways to hang up some style.

Floating Wall Shelves

Use floating wall shelves or bookcases to add vertical appeal to your walls. Not only do floating shelves add visual interest, they also provide extra storage space, which is always at a premium. You can use floating wall shelves for books, of course, but they’re also a great place to keep your colorful glassware or favorite candlesticks.


Bring Nature Inside

If you can’t bring color in with paint, do it the natural way. Houseplants are a great way to add color to a room and living greenery helps to remove toxins from the air. Fresh flowers always add a festive touch to a room, too. Of course, plants do require some care, so if you don’t have a green thumb, you may want to substituted dried or silk faux foliage.


Add Flair with Folding Screens

Folding screens are another item that can serve double duty. They bring visual interest to the room, but can also camouflage items you’d rather not have on public display. Most of us think of an Asian design when we imaging a folding screen and there are many beautiful Oriental screens available, but they are certainly not limited to that style. There are screens offered today that will enhance any décor.


Paper Your Walls with Fabric

This extremely versatile project will allow you to customize your room perfectly. It may sound difficult at first, but in reality, it is fairly simple. There’s no sewing involved! You can find the how-to directions at http://www.rentaldecorating.com/quick_fix_fabric_on_walls.htm. Imagine walking through a giant fabric store where you can choose any print you like. That’s how many options you have to choose from with this project. It is best not to select fabrics that are extra heavy or especially slippery, though. Other than that, pick any fabric that pleases you. Make sure to pick up enough for coordinating accessories as well. If you have even the most basic sewing skills, you can whip up throw pillows, simple curtains or other charming trimmings.

Show off your Collections

If you have a collection of colorful plates or favorite family photographs, don’t tuck them away, hang them on your wall. Baskets are lightweight, come in a variety of colors and textures and are great places to stash things. Why not hang your favorites up? Hang unique items like an assortment of vintage hats or handbags to give your guests something interesting to look at. It’s a guaranteed conversation starter.

Lighting Style

Lighting plays a major part in setting the mood in a room. Try putting colored bulbs in track lighting or art lights and shine them directly on the wall. They’ll add a gentle glow of color. And don’t forget, you can add new globes to old lighting fixtures to give them a spark of personality. Just be sure to save the old globes so you can replace them when you move.

How to Choose the Perfect Lighting for a Dining Room


The dining room is a place where homeowners oftentimes are at a dilemma on what style of lighting to choose from. So much attention to details had been put in by a lot of homeowners to their dining room lighting because they want it to be the center of attention. A dining room, no matter what the size is,becomes a center during dinner time for the family as well as guests so choosing the right fixture that becomes its jewelry is necessary. A dining room light should be functional and attractive at the same time. People are sometimes at odds whether to choose form over function or vice versa. Luckily, with so many options to choose from, one doesn't have to choose between the two for nowadays, they oftentimes go hand in hand.

How to Choose the Perfect Lighting for a Dining Room Table:

Size of the dining room.
One factor you should think of when choosing your dining room lighting is the size of the dining room. The size of the light fixture should be proportionate to the size of your dining room. A huge chandelier will look so odd and over imposing in a small dining room.

Size of the dining table.
This may go hand in hand with the criterion above, but at times, a huge dining room may have a small dining table at the center. Although choosing the dining room table should also be in proportionate to the room, but at times a small heirloom piece that you cannot do without may need to stay in the huge dining room, with other big furnishings in the room will look just right. However, if the table is too small, a huge chandelier over it doesn't look right. A small round table that can accommodate four chairs should have a small pendant or up to 5-light pendant provided that the overall size of the pendant is not huge. hang the pendant light lower than traditional chandelier light to cast light better. A chandelier should be hung 30 inches above the table.

Finish:
Choose a lighting fixture for your dining room that has the same finish with those used through out the house so that there is cohesiveness in the design. Match also the hardware used on door knobs, curtain rods, and cabinet hardware.

Style:
When choosing a dining room light fixture, consider the style. If you have a modern or contemporary home, a crystal chandelier in a Victorian style may not work, in the same manner that a track lighting may look out of place in a formal Victorian style dining room. Always match your home decor style with the dining room light fixture so that the styles do not clash with each other.

Ceiling lighting:
In a dining room, the light should be functional as well as attractive. Choose a light that can cast enough light so that the food and anything in it is visible. Also it should cast enough light so that you can see each other's faces as you have conversation around the dinner table. Either choosing a drop light or a shade chandelier, ensure that the light would be suitable for entertaining.

Mood lighting:
Although we choose to have lights that are functional and that can cast enough light to see the food on the table, mood lighting can also help with entertaining. Mood lighting may mean having the ability to adjust the brightness and darkness of the light. You may need a light bright enough during dinner time, but during intimate candlelight dinners you can adjust to lower down the light's brightness.

Task lighting:
Even though your dining room has a ceiling fixture like a chandelier or light pendant, it also helps to have additional task lamps. Place a couple of buffet table lamps on the serving table to highlight the food being served. Place one on each end.

Accent lighting:
Wall sconces can be used to brighten the wall and add accent by highlighting the artwork and wall paint color.


Choosing your Bedroom and Bathroom ceiling Fixtures


Bedrooms can usually be served well by a fixture that holds 2 or 3 bulbs located in the center of the room. If you have exceptionally large bedrooms, you may need to plan your lighting to incorporate some smaller ceiling fixtures ith an assortment of lamps to bring light to specific areas of the room.


Ceiling fixtures for bathrooms may incorporate ventilation fans or heaters depending on need and taste. As in other rooms, try to make the fixture seem to fit the style of the room. If you have put expensive fixtures in the bathroom, do not short change the ceiling lighting. For those putting together a romantic bathroom suite, you may want to bring in some indirect sources of light and use dimmers.

To light areas in any room that are not well served by the main fixture, recessed lights and various styles of track lighting can add ambiance. Some areas to consider would be near the kitchen sink or stove. You may want extra lighting brought to accent a fireplace or breakfast nook.When putting ceiling fixtures in rooms that are relatively sterile in their feel, you may want to consider flourescent fixtures. Many people are not great fans, but with a suspended ceiling you can hide the fixtures and still get great light. The bulbs last a long time even with heavy use and use much less electricity than incandescent bulbs. One area for this type of fixture would be a basement family room

Choosing Your Home's Ceiling Light Fixtures


Whether you are building a new home or remodeling an existing one, picking out the right ceiling light fixtures for your home ranks among the most important decisions to be made. Ceiling fixtures can add value to the appearance of the house, or they can look like careless afterthoughts.

You always want the fixtures hanging from the ceiling or recessed into it to match the style and feel of the room. A giant chandelier is rarely a good choice for a child's bedroom. A bare bulb fixture will not impress guests as the enter a large foyer. So, taking the time to select the right ceiling light fixtures for each room is essential to good decorating.

If you have a large foyer or dining room, a tasteful chandelier that fits with the size of the room can be an excellent choice. Whether you go with a modern art deco type of fixture or a traditional chandelier with lots of cut crystal is determined by the character of the room and its furnishings. The style of the house itself may need to be factored into this decision.

For a smaller foyer, you may want to consider wall fixtures or pole lamps instead of a ceiling fixture. However, a nice well-lit foyer with an ornamental fixture that does not protrude a great deal from the ceiling can be a great addition, too. Your foyer lighting should telegraph the mood of your house to guests as soon as they step through the door.


Kitchen and dining areas should be lit with fixtures that will give maximum lighting to the guest area. A multiple bulb fixture is usually a safe bet. If you are concerned about making the room seem more intimate at special times, installing a dimmer can give you the needed flexibility. Go slowly about installing a lighted ceiling fan. Often these can be dust collectors and sometimes become noisy near the end of their life. If you are a fan of the fan, make sure you opt for quality.


Hallways need a fixture about every 8 to 10 feet if ceiling fixtures are the only source of light. Simple single-bulb fixtures will usually do the trick. Given the choice of fewer and bigger or more and smaller, try to go for more and smaller to get a more even light dispersion in a hallway.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Pattern Combination Basics


The various magazines that show all that glitzy photographs of celebrity homes make such a good use of fabrics that they can change the entire look of a room merely by changing their patterns. However, pattern combination is not everyone's cup of tea so most people prefer to make do with colors and accessories for home décor. It is a skill that comes with good imagination and creativity. We have brought you some basic rules of the thumb that will help you decorate your homes and work areas look grand and instantly likeable by spending just a few bucks. If you learn how to best place combination of chosen patterns, you can change the look of your home every time you want quite easily without having to strip down your home totally. So here are our secrets:
  • Add variety to a room and glamorize it instantly. Harmonious pattern combination should also count how dense a pattern is. Use patterns closer together to make a room appear cozier while patterns far apart can make room appear bigger.
  • An expert can experiment with combination of pattern styles. Three plaids may look dull while sensible use of a floral pattern; a plaid pattern and a stripe pattern may add a dramatic touch to the décor. Checks, geometric patterns and abstract designs make experimenting almost a fun.
  • As a novice, it is always a good idea to choose one basic fabric pattern and use it as a foundation to decorate your room. Choose the wall colors and accessories according to the fabric and its pattern. Various patterns that are most commonly used are cheery ornamental florals; classic plaids, funky multicolored stripes or even traditional solid colors.
  • In case you are not able to get the hang of the right use of scales while using patterns, choose medium-scale patterns as they can be used both for larger spaces and for smaller spaces too.
  • It is advisable to use more than three patterns in a single room, unless you want to disrupt the harmony of the room and make it look chaotic. However, if the room or area is very large, you may use some subdued and understated pattern to give definition to certain part of the room or make it the focal point of your décor.
  • Large-scale patterns may be cut to bits and pieces when used to cover smaller areas or small pieces of furniture and accents and may lose their beauty. They may also make a room appear smaller. On the other hand, they look bold, energetic, vibrant and lively in a large room and add a touch of elegance and grandeur to large furniture pieces.
  • Never ever use contrasting patterns in a single area as it can become chaotic. Instead choose three different areas over a large room in a way that visual and aesthetic balance can be achieved.
  • Not only the patterns but also their scales can be experimented with. Large to medium to small sized plaids all have a different look that can be learned from experience. Use large-scale patterns in larger rooms while small scale in smaller rooms. You can define different work areas in a room, simply by changing the scales of the patterns used. Try using a small-scale floral design for the corners, medium-scale stripes for the kitchen and large-scale plaids for the living area. A very small-scale pattern in a very large room may be lost and may be mistaken for texture or solid color, when seen at a distance.
  • The trick is to have unity in patterns though they may vary in style or scale. Common color can be this unity factor for one. If the foundation fabric or color that you have chosen is blue in color, choose the patterns that have same shade of blue as the main color.
  • Vertical stripes add illusion of height and are meant for rooms with lower ceilings and low furniture, while horizontal stripes add illusion of width to the narrow rooms or furniture pieces.

Mood Lightning Basics




Lights bring life to every corner of the room. They may add a sensuous feel to the simple room or make it look like a perfect place for social meets. Mood lighting is the latest trend in home decoration. Before setting up the lighting of the place, you need to assess how much ambient lighting is there in a room. To review this, you need to first check the look of the room at different times of the day - morning, afternoon, evening and at night. While a room in the eastern side will have bright mornings, glaring afternoons, subdued evenings and dark night, the opposite is the case, with the one located at the western side. The latter will have dark mornings and brighter evenings.

Next in line, comes what kind of lighting can be given to the room. A dining space or a living room can be dealt with a central light from the ceiling, which will bring in diffuse light to the corners of the room, making it socially appealing. In case of the bedroom, you would want a relaxed, romantic and comfy ambience. In such a situation, the key to make the room quixotic and dreamy would be to indulge in dimmers and soft lights. A table lamp at the corner of the room or lamps with adjustable lights can add drama and intensity to the bedroom. Also, you can keep a few aromatic votives to intensify the ambience of the room.

Coming to children's room, the best bet would be to keep the lighting bright and vibrant, but take care not to make it too loud. This would help flow positive energies to the room. Match the lightning to the color theme of the room. For instance, for a pink room, the light chosen should emit subtle grace to the room but a blue room should have lighting that gives a cool impact to the ambience. For reading or sewing rooms, fluorescent lights are a good option to explore. They are bright and would therefore assist in reading fine prints or sewing purposes.

To create a lively atmosphere in the broad daylight and also supplement ambient lighting in the living room (where there is indirect lighting), the best bet would be to use strip lights behind a wall-to-wall valance over the windows. In case you are in a party mood, use more of halogens and red lights. These create just the right effect for the party mood. To accentuate the effect, use the white mini-lights in patio plants, large houseplants, and so on to make your party sparkle. In case the party is for the couple and requires romantic setting, use lots of candlelight and shimmer ones. Add mirror, crystals, diamond and other reflective surfaces to create an extra festive spar. To give a whimsical effect, use strand lights beneath a translucent table cloth

Decoration Trends

Decoration and design trends and themes keep changing with times, as do the facilities and appliances one uses in the home. It plays quiet an important role in almost all of the decorating decisions. The three most talked about and basic decoration trends are:
  • Country or rustic look;
  • Casual or contemporary décor; and
  • Traditional and classic look.
While most prefer to decorate their homes in contemporary style, traditional styles bring back nostalgic memories to many. There are some others who feel that country and rustic style home put us closer to nature. All the other themes are considered secondary in nature and are developed on one of these themes as the foundation. Such as country style is said to provide the base for Country French or Mission-style home decoration. We can see that in some regions, one style dominated others while in another region, some other style or trend may have the upper hand.

The decoration style preferred by a person usually depends on individual taste, age and color combinations. Casual home décor is usually guided by home decorating magazines and may range from black plastic to chrome and glass combinations. These days, people are going for clean, simple and minimalist décor with occasional geometric patterns. Colors most preferred these days beige, white and gray with light wood furniture and accessories such as those made from natural maple to match.

The traditional style of course uses rich and ornate designs that reflect grandeur and opulence and deep and dark colors with jewel tones such as emerald green, burgundy and navy blue. The details are often in polished brass and gold work while woodwork is generally of cherry wood and has dark stains. Leather furniture is also common in such décor.

The country style keeps changing too. While plaids, fruity and birdy patterns have long gone out of style; baby boomers love to be 'cool and trendy'. Bright color combinations are quite common with ample use of lime green, bright blue and red that are muted down using the soft pastels and earthy tones here and there. Sturdy, overstuffed, nostalgic furniture is a common sight in this style with an antique look enhanced by crackled or distressed paint finish. They are meant to be very very comfortable, warm and cozy.

While decorating homes in a particular style, you do not only pay attention to family rooms, kitchens or dining areas only but also extend it to the master and guest bathrooms and powder rooms for the complete effect. Chrome and brushed nickel are the most popular bath accessory finishes closely followed by oil-rubbed bronze and wrought iron looks. These bath accessories can also be categorized under the heads of country, casual or contemporary, and classic or traditional. New trends include 'retro-style' designs and wood finishes such as that of maple and oak along with constant influx of new simple, creative and innovative designs such as open towel ring or stylish glass shelf that add new dimension to bath décor and complement the overall bath designs.

There are faucets and showerheads that should be chosen according to the decoration style that you choose and accessories should match the finish of faucets. Use traditional accessories in non-traditional ways such as placing small votive candles in existing soap tumbler holders for a soft glow or tall tapers in a large bath to add the dramatic and romantic touch. Decorative shelves can be used to place fresh flowers or family photos for that special touch. You may also add color and texture to the bath by using towels and napkins of all sizes to match your chosen decoration style without having to spend big bucks for enhancing the character of your home.

Furniture for Adults Bedroom


When interior designing Adults bedrooms, make sure the rooms are cozy and restful in appearance. Avoid bright colors like orange. Bright colors won't induce you to sleep. Neutral, pastel and warm colors are best suited for bedrooms.

● If you are starting your interiors from scratch, you can start by choosing fabrics first and base the color of you wall from it, then you can select furniture that compliments the color of walls and the fabrics that you are going to use.

● Save on expensive wall decor, go through magazines, art books or even your child's art work at school and have the picture framed. Not only will you save, you will have a unique picture that is not found on commercial home decor stores.

● Consider an extra cabinet or storage space inside your bedroom or den, they are areas that usually invite clutter. It is important to always have your room neat and clutter free.

● Use warm flooring on bedroom floors like wood and carpet. Don't use ceramic tiles, marble or granite on bedroom floors. It is not pleasant to get out of bed in the morning and step on a cold floor. If a cold flooring material is already installed, put an area rug beside the bed.

Cozy Bedroom● If you can, use the same fabric, design and color of the bedcovers as with the curtains. The room will have that "Interior Designed" look.

● If you want to be one with nature as the look you want for your bedroom, go with woven wood shades. These are made from renewable resources like jutes, bamboos, reeds and rattan. Cool, cozy and "green" look is achieved!

● If your room is small, use mirrors on the walls. It gives the room an illusion of space (If you are a Feng Shui believer, see the tips on mirrors).

● For bedrooms and specially dens, put an exhaust fan on the ceiling or wall farthest from the window. It will suck-in the cold air outside and keep the air inside the room fresh and cool. This can even save you electricity bills by not using your air conditioner during cool months.

● Some of us wants our bedrooms to be dark even late in the day specially when we sleep late. Thus some of us put up very dark curtains. Deep colored curtains against a light colored wall comes very strong. It is better to have your walls a shade darker and the curtain a little lighter to lessen the contrast. An alternative is to use two layered curtains instead one that is very dark.

● Aside from the typical center light on the middle of the ceiling, use lampshades, pin lights and up lights for mood lighting. These type of lighting gives dark and light patterns of light in the room.

● 1/3 of you life is spent on your bed. Invest in a good mattress, pillows and cotton or linen sheets -they absorb perspiration better.

● The bedroom is your private space, among all rooms in your home, your bedroom's look and atmosphere should be the most relaxing and reflective of your personal taste and style.

Children & Teenagers Room


Children room
The children room is the most playful thing to design and it needs a lot of creativity carefulness. The room should be given some longevity by choosing background elements that are long lasting. The general rules while planning children room are:
  • The room should grow with the child so everything should be very versatile.
  • The babies move quickly from infant to pre school and then to school and you need objects with every month passing.
  • One must start with the child's favorite things and that should be the key to design anything.
  • The storage is one thing that really grows with the child and to fulfill that need, one must have adequate storage.
The storage is of four types:
Closed storage: This type of storage includes Elmira, closet, drawers and should be used for those things which look cluttered otherwise.
Open storage: This type of storage is good for displaying something and includes showcases, consoles, and racks.
Remote Storage: Items stored in basement or garage which are out of sight and not easy to get fall in this category of storage.
Convenient Storage: This storage includes the space which can be conveniently found like in the bed, upper closets.
  • The window treatment is as important as anything else. It should supply sufficient light and air. They can be simply be colourful; can have blinds or roller shades.
Teenagers Room:

Teenagers yearn for freedom and need more space. Individuality, expressing themselves and making their own decisions are some of the topmost priorities in this rebellious period of life. They are difficult to please too. Here are some tips to really make teenager thankful for having such a wonderful room and the world's most caring parents:
  • Inexpensive accessories are the best way to funk up the room such as decorative pillows, throws, rugs, lamps, photo frames and wall hangings.
  • Bulletin board and clip frames to create the collage of your favorite photos, magazine cutouts and posters are must for teenagers for their hero-worship.
  • Special creative ideas such as group of masks, cross-swords, hunter's knife, leather whips, decorative shields or plates can also be used as innovation.
  • Trendy study-lamps and lampshades and overhead retro paper lanterns that come in various designs to suit the personality of your teenager's nature will encourage them to study more and more.
  • Round-cushioned comfy chairs with a wicker bottom can be used for a mix-and-match color scheme and to store them in corner of the room by arranging them one on top of the other to gain more space.
  • Fold-up papasan chair is a favorite too.
  • Extra seating for friends coming over for studying or watching movie can always be managed with big, oversized pillows and a big comfy beanbag.
  • Teenagers sharing room with their siblings will appreciate privacy by hanging beaded curtains or a canopy bed.
  • Storage area to keep their accessories such as toiletries, hair styling products, compact disks, dirty clothes and magazines in the form of stacking baskets, trunks and dressers are always needed.
  • Functional furniture pieces with hidden storage space are the most appreciated ones.
  • A desk complete with a personal computer and a comfy yet ergonomically sound chair will help your teens to study and chat for long time without the backaches.
  • Extra storage options in the bathroom to keep all those recently acquired grooming products such as hair-gels and body glitter, is an essential too.
  • Cordless phones in trendy designs and bold colors for those long late-night talks are the first love of all teenagers.
  • A private living room space can be provided by placing a sofa or an extra-long loveseat, which can double up as a bed for a friend that can be folded or deflated might be an option too.
  • If your teen loves that harsh loud music, ample use of fabric and carpet can absorb some of the sound. You may also soundproof their room, so that you can sleep better.

Furniture for Toddler's and Young children rooms


From plain to fancy and everything in between, the children rooms hold promises and dreams. Rooms for babies and toddlers can be done in any way the parents choose. However, older children generally love being part of the decorating process.

Toddler's room
From the time they are born, little ones begin to amass a huge quantity of clothing, toys and books, augmented as years pass by collections, hobbies, schoolwork, and equipment.
  • A toddler's room will require organizing an ever-growing collection of toys and books.
  • Like a cat with nine lives, versatile kid's rooms need objects that can grow, change, and adapt to new uses.
  • The lightning should be adequate in toddler's room. This is one criterion which should be carefully done.
  • Give the room some longevity by choosing background elements that are long lasting.
  • Choose a background color to use on the painted walls, floors, and ceiling. Use your main fabric print to guide you.
  • Choose a focal point for the room. While many choose the bed as the main point of interest, you could focus on a display shelf, a painted wall mural, or decorated play area. The focal point should really reinforce your chosen theme.
  • Whatever stage your children are in, you've probably realized the ongoing need for adequate storage.
Young Children room

Young kids are very imaginative and creative and wants to set up there own world. So while designing the room for young children, their involvement is must. Here are some of the things one must take care:
  • Be sure to involve child by getting his or her ideas and choose favorite colors, favorite sports or artistic interests, or story or movie characters.
  • Take a main colour with your child's choice and make it a major element, then stat designing rest of the things.
  • Shop for fabric, wallpaper or border paper that will reinforce the choice of the kid. Some kids like plains, other prefers checks o strips, some are fond of floral pints other like it geometrical, and so it differs from child to child.
  • The choice of bedding should be according to room which will enhance both the color scheme and theme you've selected. Floral patterns can get well for girls and game themes go for boys.
  • Make sure to build a place for the collection and display of your child's artwork, projects, collections.
  • A proper storage is needed for any age group. The storage should be accompanied with desk and something like it.
  • Safety is the utmost important thing. Keep electrical cords out of the way, use non-skid pads under decorative area rugs, and don't stack storage units too high.

Swimming Pool & Garden Lightning

Swimming Pool Lightning:

Water presents a challenging and rewarding medium for lighting. Swimming pools, fountains, waterfalls magically come to life with lighting effects at night.

Swimmingpool Lighting

  • For effective swimming pool lighting, the lights are generally set below the water level, into the sides of the pool.
  • This should be done while the construction of the pool so as to keep the wiring away from water.
  • The lights should be placed to shimmer down the deep end of the pool.
  • Fountains are effectively lit by submerged narrow beam sources set near the base of each jet or falling on the flowing water casting a color and sparkle on it. Waterfall comes to life when lit from behind.
Garden Lightning:

Garden is a place where man interacts and is near to the Mother Nature even at the time when we are on the verge of destroying it.

Garden Lighting

  • Lighting should be planned according to desired landscape lighting effects as well as providing adequate light for walking, security etc.
  • All lights, wiring and metal work should be able to resist weather conditions for a prolonged period of time like dust, moisture and corrosion.
  • The lighting should illuminate select areas, should create striking effects and keeps what is to be concealed in shadows.
Thus, the way of lighting drastically changes the way of living and mood of the environment. So one must be very careful while planning the lights and choosing the fixtures as in the end, if worked carelessly, it can result into mis match of everything.


Reading Room & Bed Room Lightning


Reading Room Lightning:

The study is the most important room for the intellectuals, for students as this is the room where one builds his career. In the reading room, one should plan the lights very carefully as the intensity affects a lot on the eyes thus on the health.

  • In a study, the priority is to provide adequate illumination for reading and writing. For maximum pleasure of reading and for easier concentration, reading lamps must have a proper quality and quantity of illumination and be placed so that the light falls comfortably on the open page.
  • The complete room may be lit with powerful up lighters, down lighters, or the general lighting may be reduced to be supplemented with task lights as required. For the study it is necessary that task lights be supported with general illumination even if it is of low intensity to avoid eye strain.
  • Care should be taken where computers are placed; the task light should not produce glare or reflections on the screen. Task lights for writing should be positioned so as to avoid both glare and shadow.
  • If floor lamps are used as reading lights, then it should be 40"-49" from the floor to the bottom edge of the shade. The shade should be moderately illuminous to softly diffuse the light and eliminate glare, thus open top shades are preferred.
Bed Room Lightning:


Bedroom Lighting

The bedroom is a place where one can be totally oneself. It is the room where we spend the maximum amount of time - to sleep, relax and unwind, after a long tiring day and rejuvenate oneself for the tomorrow.

  • The lighting should be a soothing general illumination. If want to highlight some paintings or photographs, one can go for a task lighting in this area.
  • Up lighters look very beautiful, dimmers can be very useful to play with the intensity of the light as per mood.
  • Lights should be planned in such a way that it must create a light, romantic, relaxing environment. Table lamps or hanging lamp shades provides the room a very aesthetic look.

Bath room Lightning



Planning and designing is a tedious job. Today's bathroom wears a well dressed look, its design recognizing people's needs to begin and end their day in pleasant surroundings. It is after all an intimate personal place- perhaps the only room in the house where one can be totally private and get much needed peace.

1. For a relatively small room, the bath area can use a no. of different types of lighting.

2. General lighting is essential in a compact bath, a central ceiling may suffice.

3. Medium size and large size baths and especially those with sectioned areas for tub, shower and toilet will require several overhead fixtures.

4. The lights are general, recessed into the ceilings or those over a tub or a shower must be watertight and vapour proof. A minimum of 100W incandescent or 60W fluorescent lamp is sufficient.

5. The most critical lighting in a bath centers on the mirror area, this is the basic for good grooming. For shaving, make up applications hair care, light should be soft and diffused without glare or shadow.

6. Avoid lighting the mirror itself rather light of the person looking into the mirror. The most efficient to light up a person's face is to use three fixtures, one on either side of the mirror or one overhead. Side fixtures should be mounted 30" - 36" apart on the wall and install about 60" above the floor.

7. Incandescent fixtures should have a minimum of 75W bulb and fluorescent tubes on either side of 20W and one tube of 30W or two tubes of 15W overhead. Additional bath lighting for specific purposes may include plant lights to take the advantage of bath humidity for growing the flowers and ferns.

Dinning Room & Kitchen Lightning

The decor of dining room depends upon the culture of the family. A dining room can change the style of eating. So one should be careful while playing with the lights to make the environment relax and easy.

Dining Room Lighting

  • One must keep the visual emphasis off the ceiling and walls and on the décor of food and guests.
  • Ceiling down lights should fall and focus primarily on dining room table surface.
  • Candles and fuel lamps in decorative holders can add special touch to any meal.
  • Buffet or service areas and chinaware/silverware/crockery displays deserve special lighting emphasis.
Kitchen Lightning:
Kitchen is a place where a lady spends her maximum time so it should have comfortable and fresh feeling. Today's kitchens are far removed from the dark dingy spaces one saw earlier.
Kitchin Lighting
  • General lighting for a kitchen should be well distributed, uniform and as shadow less as possible.
  • Fluorescent fixtures reduce the energy demands without sacrificing illumination.
  • Even if there is window in the kitchen, install down lighting over a sink for cloudy days or nights.
  • Special lighting for key work areas can be installed in the ceiling or in the upper cabinets.
  • Provide light for storage areas in pantry or wall cabinets overhead or shelf mounted brackets will do the job.