When decorating a room at home or office space there are often a battery of decisions that have to be made. Below are some of the key decisions that will come into play, This is not an exhaustive list, just something to get you started on your decorating journey:
1) What type or style do you want to be surrounded by?
a. Do you want a formal atmosphere, carefree, exotic, or something else?
b. Will your style have a name such as Mid-Century, Colonial, Shabby Chic, Safari, etc in order to match pieces and be cohesive?
c. Is it something that you’ll be able to live with for a while and not tire of easily?
2) What will be the main color theme?
a. Will you pick a single color, a color duo, a color trio, or something else?
b. Will you pick hot colors such as Yellow, Orange, Red or cool colors such as Blue, Green, Purple?
c. Will the hue of your color choice be soft pastels or bold and vibrant, or something else?
3. What kind of furniture and accessories will you choose?
a. Couches: Sleeper sofa, Chaise Lounge, Futon, etc.
Here is a handy link that explains varieties of couches: http://www.homestratosphere.com/types-of-sofas/
b.Tables: Loo, Pembroke, Sofa Table, End Table, Side Table, or other?
Link to table identification: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_(furniture)
c. Desks: Credenza, Computer, Ergonomic, Lap, etc. A handy guide for identification can be found at: http://www.ranker.com/list/types-of-desks/nychick?var=2&utm_expid=16418821-121.b9XLps9tQ46lDkmnFkWsBA.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
d. Lighting: Ambient, Undercabinet, Portable Lamps, Chandeliers, etc
Here is a link with sample photos and different room choices: https://www.americanlightingassoc.com/Lighting-Your-Home.aspx
e. Cabinets: storage, curio or display, hutch, enclosed book shelves, free standing or built into the wall, wood, metal, plastic, large or small, etc
f. Accents: Curios, Collections, Vases, Figurines, Nostalgic Child Furniture, Plaques, Wall Art, Fine Art, Quilts and Throws, Plants and Containers, Decorative Storage Boxes and Baskets, and many more.
Well these ideas should get you started and hopefully not overwhelm you. Take each one at a time and think about what room you’d like to decorate, and then think of how you could change it to what you want. If it’s too monumental a task for you then start small and work your way up. A scarf thrown over an exhisting lamp, some throw pillows with images on them or made with a particular cloth that you like such as plaid, a new rug, a figurine, you get the idea.
Below are pictures of three vases in different styles. As a helpful exercise in getting in touch with your thoughts/feelings on decor, look at each one and ask yourself some questions to see how you react to each:
1. What color(s) do I see?
2. What shape is it? (describe as best you can if you don’t know the formal name).
3. What words come to my mind when I look at this vase?
4. Does it remind you of another time, another place, another era, family members, etc.
5. How does each one make me feel? In other words what are some words or sentences that describe your reaction when you look at each one: Pretty, Formal, Snooty, Chaotic, Makes me feel special, makes me feel rich, makes me feel uncomfortable, etc.

*** These vases and more found at Taste of Elegance on Ebay:
http://stores.ebay.com/Taste-of-Elegance?_dmd=2&_nkw=vase
Once you’ve gone through this exercise, tell what you found out. Was this exercise helpful or just an extra thing in your day? Did it help you in getting ideas for decorating? Did it build your thirst to know more? We would love to hear your comments so please do leave them. Perhaps share other ideas that you have discovered in your decorating journey.
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