About.com Interior Decorating

Decorating with Denim Blues

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:11:45 +0000

Denim jeans are probably your favourite item of clothing. It seems like they go with everything from white and black, to florals, to red and camel. By adding just a few accessories, you can wear the same jeans in the office and later at a chic cocktail party.

Can the same versatility be applied in your home decor? Yes, for sure.

A sofa or chair covered in denim is a good place to start. It's classic, soft, and practically begs you to sit down and stay a while. Choose pre-washed fabrics for the softest feel. And keep your chair out of direct sunlight or you'll find it fading in all the wrong places.

Baskets and wood boxes also fit well with a denim scheme. Use natural wood tones or try painted styles in barn red or navy blue. Denim fits comfortably against walls of white, camel, and yellow. You can repeat the denim blue colors in your window treatments, pictures, and accessories. Read more How To Decorate with Denim Blues

July 4th Holiday Decor

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:11:25 +0000

You don't have to be celebrating a patriotic holiday to know that home furnishings and accessories look great in red, white and blue.

At no time during the year do they seem more appropriate than in July, when flags and fireworks are everywhere, and summer is in full swing. But these great patriotic colors look good in both contemporary and traditional settings. Read more Decor Centerpieces in Red, White and Blue

How to Use a Chest of Drawers in Any Room

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:11:19 +0000

Chests of drawers were originally made to store clothes and a bedroom is the logical place to find one. Small clothing, not appropriate for hanging, find a handy home in a chest of drawers. Folded sweaters, socks, underwear, t-shirts, and socks are right at home.

A short, low chest with 2 drawers works well for a bedside table. A small chest placed in a child's closet will help to create more floor space in the room. Store small clothes in the drawers and hang items above on the clothes rod. You can also find good uses for a chest of drawers in your living room or family room. Read more Use a Chest of Drawers in Every Living Space
Photo: (c) FurnitureGuide.com

Cleaning Furniture Tips

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:11:16 +0000

Have you ever made the shocking discovery of a stain on the back of a favourite chair or a water mark on the top of the desk in your guest room? You really can't blame anyone. But you can fix it. We'll help you find how to clean any piece of furniture and keep it looking like new.

If you've invested in expensive furniture or just picked up some pieces at a tag sale or estate sale, you'll want to do a few things to get and keep the pieces in good condition. Proper care and cleaning are important parts of preserving the pieces for years of beauty and use. Read more How To Keep Your Furniture Looking New: Leather, Wood, Wicker, and Upholstered Furniture Cleaning Tips
Photo: (c) Lexington Furniture

FREE Paint from Glidden

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:11:48 +0000

Free paint, in 282 colors, yours till July 2, 2009. No restrictions, no conditions, one quart of eggshell finish in almost any color you can think of. Well, there is just one limit, and that is one offer per household. Sounds great, doesn't it?

The only thing you have to do - other than decide on a paint color, of course! - is to submit a simple web-based form by July 2, 2009. Three to four weeks from then you have your free paint. Go to www.glidden.com or call 1-800-GLIDDEN anytime between now and July 2, 2009.

The Glidden National Paint Giveaway, go for it!

Clean Like A Pro

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:11:18 +0000

Cleaning like a pro does not sound like a very exciting topic for an interior decorator, does it? Let's face it, most of us would prefer to have a cleaning lady. I know I would.

However, in the meantime, I am the one cleaning my house, so the quicker and better I can do it, the more time I have for more exciting things.

Cleaning the house can be easy, it can take less than 30 min, and it can be done in 9 basic steps. Ready, set, go. Read more How To Quick Clean Any Room in the House
Photo: Ryan McVay / Getty Images

Alexandra Stoddard: from Perfectionism to Balance and Freedom

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:11:36 +0000

Alexandra Stoddard is one of my favourite authors/interior designers. Her books are full of zest for life and inspiration found in the most simple and authentic life experiences.

"Open Your Eyes: 1,000 Simple Ways to Bring Beauty into Your Home" was the first book I read by her, and from there I looked for all the books authored by Alexandra Stoddard. She encourages the reader to train the eye in order to see beauty all around us, to see beauty in simple things. To understand proportion, perspective, design, balance, scale, and design, which will gradually lead to a more discriminating view of home and decor.

A well decorated home is a home full of beauty and meaning, a home that nurtures and relaxes. To me, Alexandra Stoddard's decorating style is well summed up in the subtitle of her book "The Art of Possible": the path from perfectionism to balance and freedom. She is more than an interior decorator; she truly is a contemporary philosopher of living.

If you are not familiar with Alexandra Stoddard, I highly encourage you to read her books. She is a must-read for any aspiring interior decorator. Her books will inspire you, as well as give you a good understanding of the basics of interior design. Read more Top 10 Books by Alexandra Stoddard

Slipcover Ideas for Your Furniture

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:11:44 +0000

Slipcovers are an easy way to bring new life and a fresh look to your old furniture. Your furniture may look worn out, it might be that the color is not working with your new room decor, or you might be just plain tired of it!

It is good to know that simple and inexpensive slipcovers can transform a piece of furniture from drab and boring to a fresh and new focal point in your room.

See how you can coordinate mismatched side chairs with matching slipcovers, add a contemporary look to any room with faux leather black slipcovers, and even make your comfortable but ugly recliner chair look beautiful with a new stretch slipcover. Read more Cover Your Tired, Old Furniture With a New Slipcover
Photo: (c) SureFit

How Paint Can Change the Look of a Room

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:11:28 +0000

Color is really the easiest way to create a totally new look and feel in any room. Of course, there are more efforts involved than just choosing the right color, as you have to be sure everything will work harmoniously in your room.

Check our photo gallery or the prettiest painted rooms in America. See how plain walls received an instant lift through the addition of varying directions of beadboard and wainscoting, admire a hand painted mural that sets the tone for gracious living and decide if a cantaloupe paint in tone-on-tone strie technique will work in your living room! Read more View Beautifully Painted Rooms
Photo: Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute

Balanced Decorating: Use What You Have

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:11:27 +0000

Have you ever worn a sandal on one foot and a boot on the other? No? Then have you tried wearing a black leather glove on one hand with a red wool mitten on the other? Okay, probably not. Since our bodies have lots of pairs we tend to feel most comfortable when we wear matching pieces of clothing or accessories.

Doing that gives our physical appearance the symmetry to which we all innately gravitate. The same concept applies to our homes. Every room looks better and feels more balanced if it is decorated with matching pairs. Read more How To Bring Balance To Your Decorating
Photo: (c) SureFit