1.  The room must be functional

2.  The room must express a mood

3.  The room must have a sense of harmony

 

The key to every great room - and the essential elements of every great designer is to follow these three guidlines.

 

The function of a space is the ease of movement or "traffic flow" between area's.   Look at how you use the room to determine proper seating, lighting, fabrics, flooring, and space planning. 

 For example a dining room that is used only on occasion for elegant dinners needs to be looked at in a completely different way than the same dining room that is used every day for family dinners.

 

Create a mood.  You know a "mood"  how you feel when you enter a space.  Think of places you have been in your travels and how each  made you feel. 

 A lodge, a spa, a dance club, a hair salon.  Everything in thoses spaces are put there to create the  desired "mood".  What mood are you trying to create for yourself ?  Figure it out and then start selecting your palette of colors, lighting, fabrics, wood tones, and sounds around what "mood" you are trying to create for yourself and visitors. 

 

 

Harmony, like music every note flows together smeemlessly to create the perfect sound.  Many interior designers use distinct pieces and out of the ordinary uses for everyday things to create interest, but the key is tomake it make sense in the space and keep with the flow of  the surrounding space.

 

 

 

 

Want the designer look of beautiful windows without the designer cost?

 

 1- Purchase a set of standard draperies from any store (Target has some great choices)

 

 2- Purchase a cordinating trim from your local fabric or craft store. ie: fringe, tassles, rope whatever your fancy.  Also pick up some no sew iron on tape strip. 

 

 3- Iron draperies, lay the tape down on the edge of the drapery, next lay the trim over the top of the no sew tape, next place a iron on top making sure to apply pressure for 2-3 minutes (no steam)  when finished let cool and then hang.

 

4-  When handing make sure the drapery is long enough they need to hit the floor or for a lavish look puddle on the floor add a beautiful tassel as a tie back to create interest to the eye and top off your designer look.

 

Want more drama.... double layer your draperies -combine a rich silk drapery with a light linen drapery or a heavy chenille with a light cotton sheer.  The texture contrast is fabulous! Hang on a double drapery rod.

 

Designer draperies are always extra full so make sure to buy extra panels to give you the desired look.

 

 

Add distinctive interest in your finishes.  Insead of a ceramic sink in a bathroom opt for the rugged natural elements of a sink made of a boulder.

 

Use  large old drapery finals for book ends, or small rugs as wall art.

 

Use an old mirrored door as a wall mirror or behinds a bed as an instant headboard.

 

Use an old piece of barn wood add some unique hooks and create a eye catching  coat rack. 

 

Love Fabric... Select 3 different fabrics that flow together and work with the overall feel of the room, attach each fabric to a large piece of wood cut to your desired size then mount in a row on the wall and create a eye catching work of art.

 

The idea's are endless.. When out shopping remember when something catches your eye be creative on how to use it in your home.