General Tips
When you are thinking about a redesign, start collecting inspirational photos of things you would like in the room. Put it all in a folder or on a bulletin board.
Look through magazines, books, and blogs for inspiration.
A pair of fresh eyes can spot something amiss if you are stumped.
Don't be afraid to try something. Most things are really easy to change
If you really like it, then there is nothing wrong with it.
Try switching things from different rooms in your house for a new look without spending a dime.
You can use things for something other than what they were intended. Sometimes this creates the neatest look. Use drawer pulls as wall hooks, paper towel holders for ribbon.
Have a lot of variety. Never buy everything from one single collection. Designers always mix and match.
Know when to stop, just before you have too much going on.
Furniture Arrangement
Keep a good traffic flow from doors and around furniture.
Balance your heavy and light pieces throughout the room based on visual weight.
Don't put the main seating area or a bed with its back to the door.
Don't have things sticking out. If you run into it often, move it.
If your kids climb over the back of the couch, put a sofa table there.
If it bugs you, change it until it doesn't.
Don't buy trendy furniture unless you plan on loving it for many years past the trend.
Think about what you want to use the space for the most, then plan the furniture placement around that.
Allow 3 feet for major traffic paths, between a bed and dresser, or between two beds; Coffee tables need just over a foot of space from the seating; You need at least one and a half feet between the side of a bed and the wall.
Avoid placing large pieces of furniture diagonally across a corner of the room.
Don't ever finance for furniture. You can find lots of great stuff at secondhand shops, DI, and yard sales. Downeast is also a great store.
Window Treatments
Start with blinds or whatever will control the privacy of the room.
Don't leave a tiny strip of wall between the ceiling and the curtain or valance.
Don't have too much going on (layers of curtains and valances) in a tiny room unless you want it to feel extra cozy.
Floor-to-ceiling drapes make the room look taller.
Valances are better from the ceiling to top of window than top of window down.
If you only have curtains, make sure they are lined with a neutral fabric or else bright colors will be seen from outside your house.
Color/Paint
Look at the color during the day and night to get an idea of what the color will do under different lighting circumstances.
Pick the color you want and then go one or two shades lighter.
If you are really nervous about it, buy a $3 sample can.
Never, ever, ever paint a room (especially a bedroom) black.
Use accessories to bring in a really bright or strong color, not the walls.
Think about other colors you have in the room. Warm colors will intensify other warm colors.
Wood is a color.
Use complimentary colors. (Opposites on the color wheel: red and green, yellow and violet, blue and orange.)
Paint is the cheapest, easiest way to dramatically change a room.
Color theory (expanded version is at the end of this post)-
Red: Danger, passion, love, wealth, power, youth, delicacy, innocence.
Orange: Friendliness, warmth, celebration, stimulation to appetite.
Yellow: Cheerfulness, sunshine, intelligence, wisdom, optimism.
Green: Nature, calmness, cleanliness, freshness, happiness, nostalgia.
Blue: Loyalty, honesty, integrity, royalty, sincerity, calm.
Purple: Imagination, royalty, dignity, renewal, femininity, kindness.
Accessories
For a big room, use lots of accessories. Layer rugs, drapes, pillows, and lamps. It will make a bigger room feel cozy and absorb sound to reduce echoes.
Use groups of three or five for an aesthetic feel.
Make sure accessories tie in elsewhere in the room in some way. Use similar colors, styles, or objects.
Scale: Make sure things are balanced for the space they are in. Don't use a tiny picture on a large spot of wall.
Artwork should relate to the furniture placement, not the ceiling.
Hang photos all at eye level or in groupings.
Only go trendy on accessories or paint, but not with furniture.
With groupings, vary the size of objects used.
Good staples for accessories are pillows, baskets, pictures, plants, lamps, and other interesting containers.
Finding a Personal Style
Get rid of extra things you don't love or need.
Rearrange what you already have before buying something new.
Think “need”, not “want”.
Cultivate creativity: Focus on the best features of your home and accentuate those. Don't be limited by current trends or fashion(although these are great sources of inspiration), just pursue what you love.
Personalize your space with things you love to see.
Cultivate good taste by taking your time and choosing wisely.
Here is the expanded Color Association chart for those interested:
Red
Pure, Intense: Danger, passion, love, excitement, stimulus, conspicuousness.
Dark, neutralized: Wealth, power, sometimes evil.
Pure chroma pink: Cheerfulness, youth, festivity.
Light or pastel pink: Femininity, innocence, relaxation, delicacy.
Orange
Pure, intense: Friendliness, warmth, celebration, clarity.
Dark, neutralized: Wealth, success, fame, rich depth.
Light or pastel: Stimulation to appetite, security, relaxed euphoria (sense of well-being).
Yellow
Pure, bright: Cheerful optimism, sunshine, springtime, renewal, intensity, demanding, revealing, warmth (too much is hot), intellect, stimulation.
Dark, neutralized golden yellow: Wealth, affluence, status, distinction, high esteem. Too much is brash, garish, or ostentatious.
Middle to light value: Intelligence, wisdom, compassion, freshness, cheerfulness, optimism, goodness, clarity, cleanliness.
Green
Pure, bright: Nature, calmness, friendliness, integrity, practicality, frankness.
Dark, neutralized: Solidity, wealth, anchored tenacity, security.
Blue-green: Sea and sky, cleanliness, nostalgia, calmness.
Yellow-green: Youthfulness, freshness, happiness.
Blue
Pure, intense: Loyalty, honesty, integrity, royalty, stimulation, restlessness. These also apply to deep or neutralized blues.
Deep, neutralized: Sincerity, conservatism, safety, peacefulness, kindness, compassion. These also apply to pure or intense blues.
Light or pastel: Tentativeness, cleanliness, calm, expanded time and space, lack of security.
Purple or Violet
Pure, intense: Optimism, imagination, royalty, dignity, poise, renewal, commitment, drama.
Dark, neutralized: Depth, richness, security, sternness, soberness, sobriety, dullness.
Light or pastel: Freshness, springtime, flowers, imaginativeness, femininity, kindness, sensitivity.
Thanks to everyone who participated. We had a great turn-out and a lot of fun! We are looking forward to next month's topic, which will be Gardening. More details to come.
