Furnishing Your Dining Room

Whether you have a separate dining room, a kitchen dining area or even a small dining table at the back of the lounge room, it can be daunting trying to find the right table setting for you. Here are some helpful tips and ideas:

Select a dining table that compliements the shape of your dining area

A square room can be softened by a round table, or given a contemporary look with a square table. Rectangualr tables are great for larger families, people whom entertain often, or acting as a multi-purpose table; extra working space for example.
Mix and match your dining room chairs
Mixing different styles, as long as they are similar in height and colour can add individuality to your dining space.

Leave space
Make sure you leave over a metre for chair pull-back space around your dining table.
Dining area sharing a space?
If your dining area is sharing space with an open-plan kitchen, consider "separating the spaces" with area rugs or a decoartive dividing screen. Lighting can also work well in this situation: use brighter task lighting in the kitchen, and softer ambient lighting in the dining area.

Six Ways to Stretch your Space with Double Duty Furniture

One of my favorite tricks for stretching a space is to use furniture that performs double duty. You’d be surprised how many pieces are manufactured specifically to perform more than one service. You don’t have to limit your choices to new items, though. If you think creatively, you can find multiple ways to give furniture dual purposes. Here’s some of my favorite pieces that offer versatile function and style to your home.

1. Occasional Tables

Occasional tables are well known for their versatile storage options, but they can serve other purposes as well. A lift-top cocktail table can perform multiple jobs. Besides its original purpose as a handy place to set your cup or display your magazines, drawers make it fall into the storage category. When you raise it’s specially hinged top, it comes up and forward to becomes a desk, a game table or a convenient eating place.

Other cocktail tables double as ottomans. I especially like ones that have storage ottomans incorporated in their design. Pull them out, use them for extra seating and neatly hide your knitting or magazines.

End tables can also serve more than one purpose. Choose end tables that feature wine racks or that double as curio cabinets that protect your treasures while still showing them off.

2. Dining Tables

Even if you don’t have a designated dining room, you can create one with multifunctional furniture. Choose sofa tables that expand to seat up to six people or coffee tables that convert into dining tables with just a couple steps. There are stylish wooden folding chairs to coordinate with your table as well. When not in use, just fold the chairs up and hide them away in a closet or under the bed.

3. Kids Furniture

Furniture manufacturers have done a great job coming up with furnishings for kids rooms that play more than one role. There’s all in one nurseries that provide a changing table and dresser space and will grow from infancy to school age with your baby. Loft beds are also great space savers and are available complete with desks, closets and more. Loft bunk beds are a great options for kids who need to double up in one room. Don’t forget to ad a comfy flip chair so there’s someplace for your child to curl up with a book or have a guest spend the night.

4. Sofas and Chairs

Of course, we’re all familiar with sofa beds, but don’t confuse today’s new convertible sofas with grandma’s old hide-a-bed. There really is no comparison in looks or comfort. Today’s innovative furniture designers have created some amazingly comfortable and functional pieces. Do you have nieces and nephews, grandkids or other children that spend the night? There’s even a sofa that can convert to bunk beds.
You can also get sofas or sofa beds that feature storage compartments.

5. Bedroom Furniture

If space is an issue, make your bed do double duty. Instead of just shoving things under the bed, choose a stylish platform bed that offers storage drawers in the platform. You still have a chic look but gain neatly organized storage space at the same time.

There are computer desks that transform into beds and bedroom armoires that function as both clothing storage and a home for your television.

You can even get a bed for your dog that offers extra storage space for Fido’s toys and biscuits.

6. Versatile Accessories

Accessories don’t have to just look pretty. They can contribute function as well as style. Hall trees make a great first impression and offer a place to store boots, hats, umbrellas and other outdoor items, plus a handy place to sit and take off your shoes. Efficient entertainment centers will offer storage for DVDs and books. Baskets are great places to store keys and mail and decorative boxes can be used to stash a variety of items while lending charm and warmth to your space.

Getting the most from your small space while still creating a stylish home is definitely a challenge. With careful shopping and resourceful thinking, though, you can combine fashion and function into a chic and comfortable place your proud to show off.

Remaking a Room with Mirrors

There is something about adding a mirror to room that can make it a good space turn great. It can open up a doorway or make a small space seem larger. A dark corner suddenly resonates with the rest of the room.

Once used as more of a focal point in bedrooms and bathrooms, mirror styles are more interesting than ever, with some practically covering up the actual mirror in order to use if for a reflective surface. Chunky ornate frames made from cast resin become artwork themselves. Unusual materials, such as bone or shell add soft colors. Smaller pieces of mirror are applied to the outside of a frame or in unexpected patterns to bounce light around.

Round and square mirrors give smaller areas a break by adding shape and size. “Mirrors give a room an illusion of infinity,” Geoffrey Bradfield, a New York based designer has stated. It’s not even necessary to hang a mirror anymore – it can be leaned on a mantle or on the floor to add extra dimension.

Pieces of mirror are working their way into tiled surfaces, furniture, lighting, and shelving to add a new play of light into a space. The reflective surface also adds a bit of old Hollywood glamour and dresses up an area.

In Feng Shui, it is believed that a mirror reflects something of good value, whether it is a treasured object, a scenic view, or a favorite photograph. The positive effects are thought to be doubled by the reflection.

Interior Design Ideas

Home decoration is the art of decorating a room so that it looks good, is easy to use and function wells with the existing architecture, The goal of home decoration is to provide a certain "feel" for the room, it encompasses applying wall paper, painting walls and other surfaces, choosing furniture and fittings and providing other decorations like artefacts and sculptures. There is a very thin line between designing and decoration. Interior decoration is generally focused more on finishes, such as wall paper, paint, window covering and furnishings. Interior design leads to be more integrated with the architecture and might also be involved in room layout, cabinet designs, windows and door placement and so on. But whatever is the term, one thing in common is the Design ideas, without which none of the above is possible.

Spacious rooms
If you love the wide open spaces and want the light and airy atmosphere, here are some tips on achieving that sense of spaciousness in your rooms.

- To create a feeling of largeness in your room, eliminate the shadows that tend to slice a room up into smaller spaces. Work on lighting the room with a soft, even light. Avoid ceiling lights as they tend to make the ceiling feel lower. Diffused, ambient lighting will tend to enlarge the room.
1. Keep the surfaces free of heavy textures. Smoother surfaces tend to reflect more light and make the room feel larger.
2. Avoid heavy textured flooring. Choose tile over patterned or textured carpeting. Reflective and shiny surfaces such as mirror and chrome also can be used effectively.
3. Soft colors and monochromatic color schemes. Use cream, beige, gray or cool pastels on your walls and floors to make them recede. The ceiling should always be the lightest color in the room.
4. Limit the use of patterns in the room to create a more airy feeling. A typical application of a pattern might be to reserve it for an accent piece.
5. Selection and placement of furniture in a room is crucial in defining the space. Keep the largest pieces against the walls whenever possible.
6. Choose furniture colors that are the same or similar to those selected for the walls and floors.
Cozy rooms
If you want a cozy and comforted ambience, here are some points to consider a more intimate space.
1. Create spaces through the use of directed light. Lighting from the ceiling will seem to lower it. A reading lamp or down-shaded lamp will cast light only in its relative vicinity. Use incandescent rather than halogen or florescent lamps for a warmer glow.
2. Choose strong colors for your walls and floor. They will tend to bring them in closer towards one another.
3. A dark floor with walls of brown or deep red, blue or green tones will help create the feeling of a smaller, cozier space.
4. Heavy, soft textures add warmth to a space. Use rougher textures for the hard elements in the room; iron instead of chrome, brick instead of glazed tiles.
5. The use of pattern in a room can also lend a sense of coziness to the space. The subject of mixing patterns in a room will be covered at some future time.
6. Choose dark finishes and fabrics to create a sense of the piece being larger than it actually is. Heavy textured fabrics and large patterns will add a cozy feeling to a sofa or chair.
7. Place pieces away from the wall and use tall pieces to divide and define smaller spaces within a room for greater intimacy.
Room corners
The corners of our rooms can be decorating assets or just a boring space. With a little imagination you can make the corner space work for you and create a beautiful area in your room.
1. The void corner of the room can be fill with natural or artificial tree.
2. An uplight addition will give a beautiful look.
3. Pedestals of varied sizes look good in corners.
4. A table top with a beautiful fabric and a couple of chairs to each side with coordinating fabric on the seats can give a very dramatic look. Add a lamp, your favorite pictures and collectibles for a gorgeous tablescape.
5. A corner cabinet or hanging cupboard is a handsome solution and adds needed storage and display areas as well.
Storages
One of the most important basics in decorating a small space is to purchase furniture that does double or triple duty for storage. Purchasing multiple purpose accessories and furniture allow options that give your living space character and flexibility.
1. Sofa cum bed : A sofa for your living room area might contain a bed for yourself or unexpected visitors.
2. Tables containing drawers or shelves give you other options further storage.
3. Bookshelves with or without doors, can be appropriate for entertainment centers, home offices, kitchen storage or bedroom storage.
4. Bathroom storage units are great for under sink storage. These units increase your storage capacity in a small area.
Theme room
A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your room a personality, choose from among these basic design elements, modify them to suit your tastes and implement them in a way which is just right for you.
1. A Theme - A 'themed' room says something about you, the person who has done it, your family or the place where you live. A theme will also provide you a place to showcase your collections, prized possessions, arts and crafts.
2. Artifacts - A piece of artistic value will always give your room that special touch you have always wanted. It can add texture and depth to a room.
3. Collections - It is the most effective way to display your collections in a special arrangement. Whether you collect shells, dolls or trinkets, arrange them tastefully instead of just lining things up in a row. Lining things looks even worse when objects are small in size. Instead, group them together to project variety within your collections.
4. Color - Color does not get limited to painting the walls of your room. Use colors that make you feel good about them in fabrics, linen, pillows, shelves, curtains etc. Blend colors to suit your style.
5. Fabrics - Add fabrics to liven up your room with a print that contains the color of your upholstery. To maintain harmony in colors, use the same accent at least thrice around the same room.

10 interior designing tips

Here are 10 interior designing tips with which u can make your home more attractive and beautiful.
Tip 1:
One Prominent Feature:
For an eye-catching room, design around a focal point to draw the eye. For a bedroom, invest in a dramatic bed or utilize the fireplace in a living room. Don't make the room compete for the eye's attention, have one large feature and then smaller ones that complement it.
Tip 2:
Furniture Arrangement:
Arrange the furniture around the focal point of the room (a picture window, a fireplace, etc.) To create a sense of intimacy, set furniture away from the wall and to encourage conversation, place pieces about 6 feet apart.
Tip 3:
Scale:
When using multiple patterns or stripes, keep scale in mind. Patterns that are different can be complementary if they are of similar scale. If designing a room with large furniture, the scale of the pattern should also be large or it may get lost among the rest of the room's items. Delicate, small-boned furniture will be flattered by partnering it with smaller pattern designs and stripes.
Tip 4:
Colors:
Colors found in nature tend to invoke feelings of calm and restfulness. The lighter the paint, the lighter and larger the room will look. Darker paints such as reds, oranges and brown will make rooms appear smaller. In general, reds and oranges are great colors for a kitchen and dining room as they are lively and stimulate conversation and appetite. Greens and blues are restful and calm colors that promote stability and calmness.
Tip 5:
Lighting:
How the sun lights your room, and whether you have a view of greenery will make a difference in what colors you should use on the walls. To make your room appear larger, use up lights to light the ceilings and walls.
Tip 6:
Glass As an Accessory:
Glass is much more commonly used now and brings light into a room, whether as a mirror, vase, or a collection of wine glasses.
Tip 7:
Inspiration:
If you are unsure of what colors "go" together take a look outside. Colors that naturally occur in nature are a great guide. Think of the many shades of a calming blue and gray at the beach. Or the complex variations of green at work in an English garden.
Tip 8:
Balance:
A well-designed room tends to have a majority of one thing (a base color), a small percentage of something else (a pattern) and just a dash of something dramatic (a bold, bright color or an exotic painting).
Tip 9:
Fabrics:
Save money by using cotton-based materials for the larger slipcovers, and more expensive fabrics for smaller accent pillows.
Tip 10:
Experiment:
Before spending money on making an interior design change, try rearranging the furniture or moving furniture from one room to another. You may find a solution to a problem without spending a dime. Also, before tackling a huge room with your new paint color, test it on a small area and let it dry to make sure it's your perfect color.

Room Arrangements

PLACE THE LARGEST PIECES FIRST:
In furnishing any room the major piece for the primary activity of the room must be considered first - the sofa in the living room, the bed in the bedroom, the desk in the office. This piece in most cases should face the central point of the room. The central point can be a view window, fireplace or, as is often the case, the television. Large pieces should be evenly distributed so as not to put the room off balance. Leave room around them for the best affect. In selecting these pieces, keep the architectural shapes in the room in mind.
NEXT PLACE THOSE PIECES RELATING TO THE MAIN PIECE:
The arrangement must make your activity comfortable and convenient. Think about the use of the room as you place the furniture. If you typically eat or drink there, is there a place to set your cup or plate down? Is there enough storage for books or CDs? If the room is used for socializing, is there enough seating and is it appropriately arranged? Wherever possible keep pieces of similar scale together. A small occasional chair would look better next to an table or floor lamp than next to a large overstuffed sofa. Try to balance pieces opposite one another. A pair of beautiful looking chairs is visually more balanced across from a sofa than a pair of small scale occasional chairs. Mix hard and soft surfaces by adding carpets or fabric covered tables to a room otherwise filled with wood, metal and stone.
ADD ACCENT PIECES FOR SECONDARY ACTIVITIES
Creating an area for a secondary use adds function to a room. A reading corner in a bedroom or a game area in a family room can be created with a minimum of space. A long empty wall can be made into a focal point by grouping pictures over a long narrow table. Place a desk under a window to take advantage of the natural light and view. Place a curved item in a corner to soften the angle. A corner cupboard or cabinet is a wonderfully functional piece that adds character to the room while displaying your favorite collection.
PLACE YOUR FURNITURE WHERE IT LOOKS BEST
Be aware of the light in the room when selecting and placing your furniture. A dark cabinet may disappear in a dimly lighted niche. Bright pieces may seem impressive under a picture window. Break up the horizontal lines of the room by mixing in taller items. A bookcase against the wall, a high back chair next to the sofa or a pair of lamps on a cabinet will give the eye some variety and improve the view. A sofa may be placed diagonally in front of a corner that has been softened by a plant or screen.
BE AWARE OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS
You can direct the flow of traffic through a room with the placement of your furniture. Leave a minimum of two and a half feet for walkways and avoid flowing traffic through a conversational grouping if possible. Guide the traffic around the room's perimeter to create a less disruptive environment. Be aware of the usage of adjacent rooms in laying out your floor plan and flow colors from one adjacent room to the next when they are visible from one another.
LET YOUR PERSONALITY SHINE THROUGH
Ultimately, your home is an expression of who you are. Design your rooms so that you are comfortable, with a realistic eye on your own taste and habits rather than relying on a picture from a magazine. After all, you're going to be living there.

Create a mood

In spite of the actual size of your room, there are many techniques available to you in helping to create a sense of largeness or relaxation- depending on your personal style.
You want your room to look large...
You love the wide open spaces and want to bring the outside in. You may prefer modern up to date designs and think of your personal decorating style as "light and fresh looking". Here are some tips on achieving that sense of largeness in your rooms.
Lighting:
To create a feeling of largeness in your room, you will want to eliminate the shadows that tend to slice a room up into smaller spaces. Work on lighting the room with a soft, even light. Avoid ceiling lights as they tend to make the ceiling feel lower. Soft and tender lighting will tend to enlarge the room.
Color:
Soft colors and one color schemes. Use cream, beige, gray or cool light, soft,watery colors on your walls and floors. The ceiling should always be the lightest color in the room.
Textures:
Keep your surfaces free of heavy textures. Smoother surfaces tend to reflect more light and make the room feel larger. Avoid heavy textured flooring. Choose tile over patterned or textured carpeting. Reflective and shiny surfaces such as mirror and chrome also can be used effectively.
Patterns:
Limit the use of patterns in the room to create a more fresh feeling. The idea is not to stop the eye as it travels across the room. Decorating with pillows and/or accessories might be a good choice.
Furniture:
Selection and placement of furniture in a room is crucial in defining the space. Keep the largest pieces against the walls whenever possible. Choose furniture colors that are the same or similar to those selected for the walls and floors. Select pieces that stand off the floor on legs and are made of materials that reflect or let light through. And above all, use as few furniture pieces as possible in the room to avoid over crowding.
You want your room giving a feel of relaxation...
Your room, your nest. You want to be enveloped by it. Surrounded by its warmth and comforted by its inviting spaces. Here are some things to consider when creating a more friendly space.
Lighting:
Create spaces through the use of directed light. The shadows that will result will help visually eliminate those areas. Lighting from the ceiling will seem to lower it. A reading lamp or down-shaded lamp will cast light only in its relative area. Use bright and shinning lamps for a warmer glow.
Color:
Choose strong colors for your walls and floor. They will tend to bring them in closer towards one another. A dark floor with walls of brown or deep red, blue or green tones will help create the feeling of a smaller, cozier space.
Textures:
Heavy, soft textures add warmth to a space. Faux fur or hand knitted throws on a sofa, smart carpeting and long curtains are all textural elements to consider. Use rougher textures for the hard elements in the room; iron instead of chrome, brick instead of glazed tiles.
Patterns:
The use of pattern in a room can also lend a sense of relaxation to the space. smart looking carpets and printed wallpapers used alone or in combinations; the more patterns in a room, the smaller it will feel. The subject of mixing patterns in a room will be covered at some future time.
Furniture:
Choose dark finishes and fabrics to create a sense of the piece being larger than it actually is. Heavy textured fabrics and large patterns will add a cozy feeling to a sofa or chair. Place pieces away from the wall and use tall pieces to divide and define smaller spaces within a room for greater friendly and warm environment.

Choosing the right color for different rooms

Choosing the right color for the right room is a difficult task to focus on when designing the the theme of any particular room. These are few ideas which you should consider while choosing the color scheme.
1. Warm colours which jump out at you like reds, oranges and yellows tend to close a space, while receding colours such as blue, green and violet tend to make a room look larger. Although, just to confuse things, the darkest shades of these receding colours, such as navy blue can diminish a room.
2. White or a light neutral coloured walls are generally the best for making a room seem bigger.
3. Paint your skirting boards and mouldings a lighter colour than the walls to make your room look bigger.
4. To create the illusion of higher ceilings and a more open space, paint ceilings white or off-white. Medium to dark colours will make ceiling seem lower - handy for cosying a very high room up.
5. If the colour you've painted on your walls is too much of a shock to the system, you can tone them down by slapping on a lighter or more muted colour over the original using techniques such as rag rolling, sponging, or colour washing.
6. Use warm colours on North facing rooms which don't get a huge amount of sunlight and cool colours on brighter South facing rooms.

Interior Designing Ideas

Are you looking for interior designing ideas and home decorating tips to start or even finish your home design project? then these are some interior designing ideas with which you can create more attractive and beautiful rooms within your home.
Space:
1. Strategically place a large mirror near a window so the outdoors can be reflected. This will make the room look brighter and bigger.
2. Choose furnishings in scale with the rooms - slim rockers, open-back chairs or a simple sofa are better for small rooms rather than overpowering furnishings which swallow your space.
3. Place your large furniture at angles with the wall to break up the room and fool the eye that the room is more spacious than it is.
4. In a long but narrow room, paint the two, shorter end walls slightly darker than the others to make the room seem squarer.
5. A room will appear wider if you paint the floor and ceiling a similar colour, then paint the walls in a lighter shade.
6. To make a room seem smaller use a dark colour on the walls below picture rail height, and a lighter colour above the rail and covering the ceiling.
7. Use vertical stripes to give walls more height and make the ceiling look higher.