The decorations have come down after Christmas and the rooms are looking rather bare. Winter is often a drab time of year and, even though the promise of Spring is just around the corner, why not liven your January days up by investing in some home decorating. Home decorating ideas do not have to break the bank; there are plenty of ideas which can make an immediate impact on the interior of your home without spending too much money. At the other extreme, however, you could hire an interior decorator and go the whole hog! Whatever you choose, however, there are plenty of home decorating ideas around - from chic and sophisticated to ultra modern, or the contemporary cottage look with beams and home-crafted cushions. Home decorating ideas is really a matter of personal preference and depends on the kind of home you have and the lifestyle you live there.
To change the look on a shoestring, alter the positioning of the furniture. If, previously, it was against the walls, pull it all out and reposition it at angles. What about changing the dining room to the lounge and the lounge to the dining room for an immediate change? Even in the smallest houses, there is usually sufficient room to make this change. I did this one weekend a few years ago and it has become an almost annual alteration. My front room [the traditional lounge area] runs through into the traditional dining area with a large opened out area in the wall between. This 'opened-out' area was knocked through before I bought the house, and it is neither an open-plan nor an appropriate size to be closed off by double doors. It looks what it is - a big square gap in the wall, with a wood surround to finish it off! I have actually arranged with a local builder to have this altered to a brick-faced archway. It will certainly look a lot better!
If you are on a budget, even painting one wall as a focal point will look cleaner and brighter. There are plenty of inexpensive wall hangings you can buy from companies like IKEA, the Swedish company with many outlets in the UK. Plants will also liven up any home decorating ideas - they come in a multitude of styles and sizes and are readily available from garden centres which often have huge arrays on display. If, like me, you keep forgetting to water your plants, you would probably be better advised to place silk plants around your home. Their quality is extremely good and they look remarkably lifelike these days.If you've decided to decorate your living room in a classic or traditional style, this second part of our two part series will provide you with some wonderful tips and ideas...
Furnishings
Elegance and comfort are essential elements of the classic style living room. Choose a boxy-shaped sofa with comfortable, soft cushions covered in a longwearing woven stripe or damask. Team it with a selection of different seating styles, covered in toning but different fabrics. This looks more natural than a matching suite, and you can pick up bargains to revamp. A chesterfield or chaise longue adds an authentic touch.
Glass-fronted cupboards are perfect for displaying favorite china or old books. Chests and trunks with upholstered tops - or draped with a shawl or throw - provide a useful surface, and hidden storage space, too. Modern items such as the TV and stereo are best tucked away in built-in storage systems.
Look for small decorative tables to hold lamps and collections of silver-framed photos; or buy inexpensive particleboard tables and disguise them with matching floor-length circular cloths trimmed with deep fringing.
Create a soft, atmospheric glow with careful lighting. If you have a central chandelier, fit a dimmer switch so you can create a candle-like glimmer. Wall lights, table lamps, and floor lamps, or candles set around the room, create pools of warm light. Large Chinese-style vases in blue and white or green provide good lampbases; wood stained to a mahogany or ebony finish on brass bases are also ideal. Fit them with a simple parchment or pleated silk shade.
Large, gilt-framed landscapes or portraits look suitably imposing, together with a large framed mirror over the fireplace. Architectural engravings or botanical prints in narrow black frames add a sophisticated touch. Hang them in groups, perhaps linked with a picture bow or stick-on, printed classical swags and borders.
Choose ornaments carefully, avoiding a cluttered look; a single big plaster bust - some museums sell copies of original antiquities - placed on a side table or in the hearth, has real impact. Symmetry is an important element - matching stylized china dogs or cats either side of the hearth is a typical classic look; or place matching china figurines on the mantelpiece.
Details
Small touches can create the impression of graceful living that typifies classic style. Flowers are always important; create a big, splashy formal display of greenery and twigs, and supplement it with fresh flowers in season. Place bowls of scented dried flower heads or potpourri on tables for a drift of perfumed air.
Handworked items, such as tapestry cushions, old silver, and leather-bound books, create a sense of the past. Group objects together carefully to complement each other.
