Starting a Decorating Project
Embarking on a decorating project for your home is very exciting but it can also be quite intimidating. Where do you start? Should you buy furniture first or choose fabric for curtains? Interior designer Sarah Hargrave of Style to Sell has some sound advice to make the process run smoothly.
"I find the best way to begin is with some research. I always do this and I advise my clients to do the same. Start a scrapbook by looking through interior and homemaker magazines and cut out the pictures you love. Then make notes on what it is you like about them. Is it the lighting or floor covering, or just the way the room seems to flow? Look carefully at the pictures you're drawn to and try to pinpoint the style you are after. Ask yourself key questions to determine whether you lean towards French-country style or coastal-chic. Or, are you attracted to a formal look rather than one that's relaxed and casual?
To guide you in your choice of a colour scheme, consider any floor covering or piece of artwork you intend putting in a room and use it as a starting point. If a rug you like is highly patterned, think about how much more decoration you can add. Also ask yourself if you want the rug to take centre stage or just provide a rich and subtle background. Few of us actually start afresh with a completely empty room, and certainly having some existing pieces to work with can be very helpful. But however you decide to get started on changing your home, you can be sure it will be both fascinating and rewarding.
Tips from Sarah
- Start a decorating scrapbook
- Scour books on decor
- Buy homemaker magazines and cut out the pictures you like
- Identify the style you want to create
- Pick a colour scheme to suit your chosen style
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