A Beginner's Guide To Home Interior Decorating

Tasteful home interior decorating is achieved by paying attention to the basics. Here are some tips to get you started in decorating your own home.

There is probably nothing more rewarding after a hard day's work than retiring to a house that you have decorated yourself. When you want your house to be truly unique, exercising creative control is your best option. Home interior decorating brings out your individuality; it also challenges your resourcefulness to choose materials that you like that are both appropriate and reasonably priced.

Contrary to popular belief, decorating a house can be done by most anybody. Some people may not be too confident with their skill so they hire professional decorators, which costs them a bit more. To decorate your own home tastefully, you should have an understanding of the basic principles of color, lighting, and style, as well as a solid idea of the preferred ambience. Learning these basics will give you confidence to do your own home interior decorating.

The following are some to the things that every beginner interior designer should ponder before proceeding to alter any room in the house.

Theme - One must ask this question, first and foremost: What ambience is desired for the house? There are many themes to choose from. Some might want their abode to look like a Japanese tea house. Some may be inclined to go tropical. A few others may prefer a Victorian style. Regardless of choice, a theme unites all other aspects of home interior decorating. Without a solid theme, it will be harder to come up with a cohesive style.

Color - Many people are intimidated by the task of styling their houses because they feel that they are not very good with color harmony. Colors are actually fun to play with, and choosing them is largely dependent on the theme. While no one can go wrong with black, white, and neutral colors, it would be a waste not to play with the other hues and shades in the color chart.

Along with the theme, the choice of colors should be further guided by your personal preference. For instance, a contemporary styled bedroom may have walls, ceilings, curtains and rugs in neutral colors, but you may inject your personality by adding accents of your favorite color, such as blue pillow cases and doilies. You may also want to play with monochromatic colors: a single color comes in many hues, shades, and saturation levels, each of which is appropriate to specific items in the room. The importance of a theme cannot be overstated.

Materials and Accessories - Again, depending on the home interior decorating theme you are going for, the items may be made of common materials, such as metal and wood. A tightly themed house always has a few items of interest, such as unique art, that serves as centerpieces and often becoming instant subjects of conversation. One can display favorite statues or valuable relics picked up at an art gallery or antique shop for this purpose.

Lights - Without appropriate illumination, any well-decorated home will not look as good as its potential. You should consider the quality of light that comes from the windows, as well as the type, intensity, and color of light that comes from overhead lighting and lamps. A good lighting system should be able to showcase the room's style, the items that are being displayed, and should contribute to the overall ambience.

Browsing through magazines, TV shows, consulting with professionals, and going back to one's basic knowledge of art and style will help you, the budding decorator, come up with the look that you desires for your design. Home interior decorating is a very enjoyable activity, especially when you enjoy the results of your creative efforts.