A Fresh Look at Modern Interior Furniture Design

Most of the modern interior designers are moving away from the good, old classic look, which is bulky and heavy, and moving to cleaner looking techniques for interior furniture design. They are also moving to new materials when choosing to design new furniture. This furniture may not be as comfortable as the older styles of furniture from past generations, but they provide many appealing options to today's consumer including choices of styles, color, material, and textures that are sure to go with any décor in any room, whether it is to decorate the inside an office building or a home. This gives the consumer the ability to decide which furniture to go for based on her taste, giving her more artistic freedom to pick and choose the designs that she would like.
As technology and architecture made a change in the types of materials that are now available, design concepts have also made drastic changes in concept over the last hundred years. For instance, designers used cleaner lines for furniture; they moved forward to match the straight, simplistic lines of architecture. A zigzag chair, for example, which is shaped like a "Z", can give any room a unique look. Furniture is also now produced in mass quantities instead of piece by piece. This makes furniture available for all customers.
As time moved forward, many designers also moved forward with bold colors. They started using primaries as the main colors in their designs. The drastic change varied greatly from the past antique furniture, which was merely stained wood, or possibly painted white. The early 1900s modern interior designs furniture, which changed in color, now changed color schemes in many places worldwide, introducing colorful and bold looks into the interior design industry.
Steel is now being used in the interior design industry as well, as technology was developed that allowed for tubular steel rather than solid pieces of steel to be used in the manufacture of furniture. This allowed for lighter but still durable furniture to be made. This type of steel was hollow in the center, providing strength to it, while still being a lightweight solution for modern furniture. Steel started being used in different types of furniture including tables, chairs, dressers, and beds. It gave a great look to all types of furniture. Metal and leather were both used together in order to create comfortable furniture that any buyer would want.

Interior Furniture Options

Common furniture style
Let's take a look at some truly fascinating styles of interior furniture. The first to be discussed is American furniture. In this kind of furniture you will find three main styles and they are the Antique style, the modern style and the Rustic style. Each of them is unique with the European furniture style influencing the Antique styles and the World War II era influencing the modern style of furniture.
The antique furniture style follows the time period between the two wars - the revolutionary one and the civil war. Therefore this style of furniture is based more on a utilitarian and practical note. In the rustic style there is more usage of materials found in nature and the influence comes from the culture and the region it has originated from.
The next is the furniture from Europe which has its origin dating back to many centuries and therefore there is an influence from the English, Italian and the French styles. In the English style wood of many trees like the walnut and the oak are used extensively and the colors of the furniture are natural and dark. On the other hand in the Italian style you will find an influence of the Roman architecture and sculpture.
There is also a variety of materials that are used which range from marble and stone apart from the usual wood and fabric. You will find that there is a lot of emphasis on decoration and elaborate designs on the furniture flaunting the French style.
Common Influences
What is common to note is that the shape taken by the furniture and the designs are adopted from the usual elements that influence the home furniture all over the world. Depending on the century and the era that the furniture was originally made, the style and the patterns across the globe change. This proves the fact that there was a lot of interaction between the countries of the world in terms of trade. This contact between the countries resulted in the give and take of ideas that were later implemented in various forms, including furniture styles.

Furniture Trends, Interior Design and More

The Modern Look

 

     Pulling off an interior design for the "modern" look is no easy task. Many people have different ideas about what modern interior design really means, but what it does include is clean, straight lines, unique furniture designs, and geometric shapes. Furniture can be either futuristic looking or just simple in design. Before you decide which modern look you prefer, there are a few "rules" to keep in mind.
First, modern design is all about simplicity. Furniture often has little to no decorations. Open space is another key element. There is never clutter for modern interior designs. Every piece of furniture and accessory should serve a purpose. Geometric shapes are a must-have and can be utilized in every room of the house. Geometric shapes will give you more of that futuristic feel. Color is very important. When you think of modern, you often think of black and white and this is exactly the color scheme to use. Grays and beiges are also used, but feel free to throw in splashes of color. You want the color to reflect this clean and simple look.
The interior design of your bedroom should give off a feeling of relaxation. Consider a platform bed that doesn't have decorations and a headboard that isn't ornate. Nightstands should be rectangular and low to the ground. Accent lighting tends to be silver metal, but you can get away with more interesting colors and designs. Stick with muted and natural colors for the walls and for the linens. Let your accent pieces and decorative pillows be your outlet for brighter colors. The flooring should also be clean and elegant. Hardwood floors will look best. Remember that the goal is to create a relaxing space, so don't fill up the room with too many items.
The living room also needs to express this sense of comfort. Couches and sofas should be sleek and smooth. Benches without a backboard will create the illusion of more space, and the same goes for armless sofas. Sectionals are a good way to divide up your space. Avoid bulky materials and fabrics. Leather and microfiber work best. Black has become the optimal color choice for many modernists. In terms of chairs, you can opt for either a sleek leather chaise lounge or go for something with a bit more character. The chairs sometimes seem more like works of art rather than comfortable seating.
In the kitchen, stainless steel appliances reign supreme for this interior design. Dining and kitchen tables are perfectly square or rectangular and have armless chairs. Like the rest of the house, it should lack lavish designs. Dinnerware is usually white and square. If there are any patterns on it, it's usually a single line.

Home Fashion

The Fashion Of Modern Occupants

 

Home furnishing or soft furnishing is the latest trend in the business of fashion today. The desire to redecorate everything around us has lead people to become fashion centric with reference to the interiors of their work place or their home or perhaps it is the compensation for our hectic life that we generally seek relaxation through the colours and designs in our furnishings. Generally, we try to please our visual and tactile senses by the soft and beautiful fabrics around us.
In the last 3-4 years, people have begun changing their home furniture like they change their wardrobe according to the changing fashions. Lifestyle furnishing has become a mix of aesthetics, comfort, colours and designs. For instance, brown sofas have become outdated and people now prefer lively colours like blue and red. Though brand awareness in this segment is low but at present the scenario is changing, a few years ago consumers never stressed on purchasing branded home furnishing products, but now they are aware about new products and brands.
The list of furnishings includes bed linen like bed sheets, pillow slips (pillow shams), bed skirts, duvet covers, quilts and cushions; for giving the complete look to the bedroom matching curtains, tie-backs and also mats can be included in this list. This bedroom could be with an attached bathroom making the list even bigger. Towels and floor mats, shower curtains, same soap cases, toothbrush holders, soap dispensers, mugs and rugs can offer the attractiveness of a bathroom. Water in this room, evokes memories of sea and ocean, shells and fish, and hence these are major patterns in the design making of bathroom accessories. Bed-and-bath themes are also combined together by designers.
The bedroom that we are talking about could be that of an adult, or a child, or two adults, or two children and hence the look of every bedroom in a house is unique. The appearance of any room has to be in relevance to the psychological and physical requirements of its occupants.
Bed sheets aren't just utilitarian things; they make style statements while reflecting your personality and moods. As people are becoming more aware about fibres, fabrics, feel, colour and size of bed sheets, pillow slips, quilts, etc, it gives added responsibilities to the designers and manufacturers to ensure quality supply of the same.
Cotton is the most favored fabric for bed sheets, particularly those with a greater thread count. Exporters have an increasing demand for cotton bed sheets, though some also demand silk made-ups. Generally, many export houses are given the designs to work on, or they make their own varieties from which the buyers put up orders. They emphasizes on colour and design. For new born babies soft basic colours are used, where as for grown up children complimentary colour schemes with cartoon like motifs are mostly used. There are a variety of prints to select from. The prints for curtains vary from animals, to soft toys, cartoons and candies; the same is applicable for rugs, bed sheets, duvet covers and cushions.

Teenagers have different preferences like pink which is mostly preferred by girls, whereas blue is a preferred colour for boys. Adults chose from a wide range of colours and motifs including traditional Indian motifs to modern compositions. In fact, the selection of colour and design depends on the fashion trend of today.
One step out of the bedroom and you reach the most happening room of the house - the living room. A combination of huge variety of colours and its relevant coordinates are particularly made to cater to people's physical and psychological desires. Sheer curtains to bring in sunlight, heavy lined curtains to prevent it, embroidered curtains and valences with lace trimmings flaunting luxury and a taste for design, make the room look more appealing and beautiful. Curtains can surely make the room look more attractive. Generally fabrics for sewing curtains are 54 inches wide or extra wide at 110 inches or 118 inches. Extra¬ wide fabrics are normally made for unlined sheer curtains, and are intended to be railroaded or run sideways with the selvage at the top and bottom of the curtains, permitting the curtains to be made without seams.
Curtains with well-designed features like noise and light reduction are being particularly produced for exports. The dyes used for these need to be sunlight resistant as curtains receive direct sunlight and might start looking dull and faded very soon. They are made in combination with the cushions and other furniture in the room.
The options are many; curtains are available in every size, colour, fabric and designs like stripes, checks, floral, woven, printed, etc. One can chose the fabric from the cottons to linens, velvets, tapestries etc. There are many alternatives in decorative accessories: rods with decorative finials, ornamental brackets, and pleats at the top, holdbacks and tiebacks. The alternatives selected depend on whether one needs to camouflage the windows or show them off, as they are architecturally special, whether one needs privacy or needs to visually enlarge a small room will ascertain the type of curtain one opts for.
In case you want extra light without spoiling your privacy, you can get transom window curtains. This two-part curtain possesses a sheer fabric at the top and privacy panels below. Tab-top curtains have fabric loops on the top to which a rod is fixed. Tie-top curtains possess fabric on the top of the panel that is fixed to the rod. And, grommet-top panels have metal eyelets on the top which is fixed with curtain rings. Tap-top curtains are a latest trend that is common in modern homes.
Many traditional Indian weaves and embroideries are being done all over India on the home furnishings products. Traditional Indian embroideries like 'kasida' from Kashmir, 'kantha' from Bengal and 'chikankari' from Uttar Pradesh are in demand for bed covers and curtains. The tie-and-dye methods of Rajasthan and Gujarat are also widely used for making colourful bed sheets and quilt covers. Many of these are available in cheaper rates in print.
Many home furnishing companies are making these products with handlooms. Normally, high quality silk and cotton are used for these products. While traditionally curtains were either produced with heavy jacquards or luxurious prints, at present a wide range of fabrics covering embroidered fabrics are being used. The attractive display of colours can also be seen in plain sofas with striped and spotted cushions or plush heavy pile carpets with designs varying from geometricals to florals and abstracts.
Occasionally it is appealing themes instead of sorting by room that the designers go for with areas designed by mood like femme fatale, eclectic, delicate, timeless and wild. In fact it includes the accessories like rugs, throws, frames, cushions, etc. Unique linen for the kitchen and other soft furnishings for lawn chairs have also gained remarkable popularity. Tapestries, chenille, cotton and linen prints, stripes and checks, toile, crewel work, plains of all types covering linens, silks, suede, voiles and muslins, and towels, be it for bath or the kitchen, all are included in this segment. The showrooms for soft furnishings provide the customers with a collection of designs to select from.

Recently, Portico, a premium Home Decor & furnishings brand introduced its premium and 'Sparkly' range.
Besides this, various small players in the market cater to every taste and pocket of the population. For those who do not need to spend in professionally decorating their rooms, many options are available by India's department chain stores like Ebony, Shoppers' Stop, Lifestyle, Pantaloons, Westside and even Big Bazaar.
Because of huge demands, many fashion designers have also forayed in this segment. At present the home furnishings segment is considered a flourishing sector in the textile industry. Domestic and export markets are both booming for home furnishings.
According to experts, to make brand awareness home furnishing companies have to put more emphasis on the overall shopping experience. Retail ambience, coordinated product ranges; in-store display; point-of-purchase promotional literature on the product features as well as the company's lineage and superior in-store service are some of the primary actions that home furnishing companies must take. In fact this has to be made in connection with innovative product and brand advertising and new promotional efforts.
While some experts believe that as the sector is largely commoditised, the main target would be to set the category to constantly develop, which can only be done through customer education.
However, some feel that it is a slight too early to introduce new collections each season. While it could support in making fashion consciousness in India about home furnishings, as well as the designs, colours and prints are contemporary, and the packaging and labeling are as per the good quality standards, home furnishing companies need not be bothered about making more complication in their business by creating repeated changes in their product offering at this stage. In fact, in the next few years, with more competition and more demand, it would be essential to introduce at least two major collections per year.
We require building up more colour and design sensitive people to work in this segment. For those who intend to begin a home furnishing venture, whether for exports or for the domestic market, it is appropriate to begin with just one or two products and then add on to it slowly. Cushion covers and curtains are the more demandable products. If proper plans are made using appropriate color combinations as expected in the colour forecast, and ever new designs are made, then definitely one will get success in this segment. The key point to note here is that trends change fast, so the process of designing and creation should keep on preventing stagnation and making guaranteed success.

Conclusion

In the last few years, people have started spending on furniture and furnishings like they perform with their clothing. For them lifestyle furnishing is turning out as a mix of aesthetics, comfort, colours and designs. Brown sofas are outdated; people need lively colours like blue and red. A few years ago consumers never demanded highly branded home furnishing products, but now they are very well aware about new products and brands in the market, though brand awareness in this segment is still low. Many companies are adding two to three products in their product lines every year and many are comings with innovative concepts in this segment. But, for this segment's growth still it requires a proper planning or strategy, more efforts and educate to customer as well.

 

The Most Modern Trends in Home Security

Knowing how to keep your house protected against all threats is a real challenge in and of itself; home security is simply too broad a topic to be able to be guaranteed with any sort of simplistic device or system. Essentially, security at home means staying on top of many different aspects of the house, some of which have to do with protection against crime and others of which have to do with protection from other dangers (such as fire, flooding, smoke, toxic gases, etc.). To do the job right, a home owner needs first of all to ensure that the latest in home security technology is being utilized and secondly that many layers of protection are in place, not just one or two. Thankfully, by now technology has come a really long way in this field and home owners have a full arsenal of options at their disposal to tackle the challenge.
When it comes to keeping up with the latest trends in home security technology, there's a lot to be aware of. An interesting recent development has come in the form of appliance control systems, which offer security benefits as well as (equally important) utilities cost benefits and general home-environmental-friendliness benefits. The possible configurations here are so vast that each home owner will find their own preferred way of taking advantage of such a centralized control system, as literally every single electrical appliance in the home gets hooked up to a central control and can have its activity regulated on a specific schedule. An excellent security perk is the fact that a home can be left vacant yet-through the appliance control system-be made to look fully occupied with lights, television, radio or any other appliance being set to come on at set times or perhaps even variable times.
Speaking of which, another interesting development in home security technology has been the LED display system that effectively imitates the effect of a turned-on TV without consuming anywhere near as much energy, and therefore $. The device is a relatively tiny little box that will be able to light up a room much in the same way a television would, in various colors, and therefore give a would-be burglar the impression that the house is occupied.
Other recent trends have focused on other types of threats-the non-criminal kind. For instance, today's smoke and fire detectors have reached incredible efficiency, just as carbon monoxide detectors have, all able to warn home residents of a threat long before they would even have noticed it. In the same token, water sensors and freeze sensors have now become much more sensitive to their surroundings, able to warn a home owner of problems that could cost a lot of money to repair if undetected for a longer period of time.
And the list goes on quite a bit longer, entering into many more categories; yet the point remains the same: it is necessary to stay fully updated on today's home security technology to keep a house and family as secure as possible.

Latest Trends in Home Interior Lighting

If you are seriously considering redecorating your dream home, one of the most important elements that you must spend time and effort on is lighting. Your choice of lighting can significantly impact on the feel and character of the interior of your home. Depending on the type of lighting you choose, a room may evoke a character that is cozy, inviting or detached at the flip of the switch.
When you are looking for the appropriate lighting fixtures and materials for your home, it is essential that you have the basic understanding of the functions and uses of decorative lighting, pendants, chandeliers, lamps and recessed cans. You have to make informed choice of lighting to ensure that these lighting elements perfectly blend with the overall character and design of your home.
The popular trend nowadays is the use of lighting fixtures that complement the architectural design of the home. Specifically, top choices for modern homes include taller lighting fixtures since most modern design today involve higher ceilings. In the past, eight feet was the norm. Today, it is not unusual to see modern homes being outfitted with nine or ten footer fixtures.
Further, interior design experts have also noted the shift in the type of materials of lighting fixtures. Interior specialists and homeowners are now inclined to veer away from the usual resin and plastic look in their lighting fixtures and revert back to the old school in home interior design where copper and brass are the dominant materials of lighting fixtures.
Another major development in the field of interior decoration and design is the change in the way many people are using lighting fixtures in their kitchens and dining rooms. In the last five years, the trend in kitchen design has shifted from mostly oak cabinets to mahogany and cherry cabinets. This is the main reason why we redder light tones are getting to be the popular choice in modern kitchens.
Homeowners are now going for recessed cans as their primary source of light while under-cabinet lighting fixtures are installed to brighten up the parts of the kitchen where major tasks are performed. It is now an accepted norm to provide lighting for the top portions of kitchen cabinets and toe spaces for the warm feel that they want to achieve in the interior of homes. Homeowners are now also inclined to install mini pendants as accents in the overall design of the interior. These lighting fixtures perfectly combine with the chandelier found in the dining room especially if the two rooms are adjacent to each other.
Outdoor lighting is now a hot item as more and more stakeholders are directing their resources on this ubiquitous outdoor fixture. Homeowners are spending more time and money on their patios, decks and terraces. Major players in the home lighting industry have recognized this emerging trend and have started focusing their attention in the development of new and advanced designs of their lighting products that meet the outdoor requirements. They have also used materials in these lighting products that can withstand the elements.
Table lamps, wall scones and chandeliers designed for outdoor use are usually made out of cast aluminum. These materials are more durable and do not rust or corrode. These outdoor lighting fixtures also meet the safety standards required of exterior electrical devices as they don't short out or cause fire even if they are exposed to moisture and rain. Landscape lighting materials have also evolved into decorative elements. Gone are the days where the security lights look unattractive and plain.
With all the exciting developments and new design ideas presented by modern lighting fixtures and products, home improvement specialists and homeowners alike now enjoy wider choices in the their design options. This is one aspect of the design of your home where you can showcase the character and look that you want to have in your home.

Latest Trends in Interior Home Painting

 Are you fed up with the old color variations? Have you lost your cool on seeing time-woven color combination? Do you require a new band of colors which enthuse you? Can you motivate your sagging spirits by activating new color preferences? The following three fresh imaginations of color concepts will fin a lasting solution to your disturbed mindset.
Purple is a color which catches the attention of many color fans but, strong patches will be irritating. So, follow the tips given below. You can try soft heather purple saturated with creamy off-whites. These colors have a soothing tendency. They give a pleasant feeling to live with. When they are coated on light wood, it prompts a perfect country look. You can use your curtain fabric as a starting point for your color connections.
Select a floral print cloth with purple blooms and then co-relate this format with your wall paint. Go in for waxed oak furniture pieces and a much-used leather easy chair to get a feel of timelessness. Place a sofa with cozy, comfortable cushions where you can sink deep into the cool curvatures. Bring purple accessories into the room and use wool and cashmere cushions to present an aristocratic ambiance.
Coral in its fiery mound embellished by slate Grey and arctic white - this combination is the most modern venture into the foray of interior decoration. Grey is a color which is soft and soothing in its basic nature. A living room to present a relaxed feel has to be decorated with Grey color accessories. Most interior decorators prefer this Grey format to other worn-out combination. It can sync with bright coral and flourishes of white. You can furnish your furniture, carpet and some other comfort fixtures with layers of Grey tones.
Paint the walls with a shade of coral to make it a statement of beauty. See to it that the patterns and makes littered in the room are simple samples but, stylish shapes. You have to co-relate your cushions and curtains with coral on the walls. Your fabric choices should also be dominated by a touch of Grey, in order to present a look of sophistication. Other showroom pieces like wall-clocks and flower vases can also portray a tinge of Grey or white to make it stand out and elevate the style statement of your living room.
Duck-egg blue is a color of classic culture and layered with pink, it is creative and evocative nature responds to our thirst for beauty. Cool duck-egg blue and pretty rose pink presents a frothy admixture of style and elegance. Your living room with this color creation elevates the visitors to cloud nine. Maintain the freshness of this mix. You can paint the walls in this soft blue shade to prompt a soothing sentiment to the onlookers. Select flooring and upholstery in neutral colors and then add a pulsating paint of pink.
Give an Eastern feel to the atmosphere. Combine the mild color curtains and cushions with embroidered designs, dark wood furniture with presentable floors - the statement of elegance reaches its grand finale. Orchids and ornamental items add to the floating sensation of grandeur. Other accessories viz. picture frames and ceramic tiles can flourish a shade of rose accents.
Refer to interior design and interior design ideas for more beneficial materials. Go in for classic styles, contemporary styles, country styles, eclectic styles, modern styles. Choose different styles of the faculty of Art viz. Abstract Art, Classic Art, Naturalistic Art, Representational Art to express your aesthetic sensitivity and artistic sensibility. Now, create a color base with above coated combination to generate a fascination which you will love forever.

Choosing the Right Colors for Your Living Room

The colors appear everywhere in the living room. There are colors on the wall, the paintings, picture frames, area rugs, wallpaper, jars, vases, figurines, and of course the furniture. Most homes are composed of a hundred colors thinking that it is fine to have them around especially in this area. Sometimes they do not even notice that the colors clash and do not match anymore making them look unpleasing to the eyes. It is still the best choice and practical if you opt to choose a theme color for this room and pick them accordingly so that they blend well with your furniture.
So how do you go on deciding about the theme color of your living room? You can opt to base them on your favorite colors if you like. If you have furniture already and you do not want to replace them, consider the colors that will match the hues of said furniture. Better yet, decide on the kind of look you want for the sitting room. When I say the kind of look, choose from contemporary, conventional, country look or an urbane appeal. There are various styles to choose from and each has corresponding colors. To help you with the theme, here are other looks you can choose.
If you are a nature lover, then you might as well make your living room speak of eco-friendly and environmental designs. When you want to be eco-friendly then you must have green plants in the room and those with colored blooms. Indoor plants are easy to care for needing ample amount of sunlight and regular watering. The main color therefore would be green which is very helpful for people who are always stressed out from work. Green hues help to relax the eyes and relieve the feeling of tiredness from your body. Aside from green, you can also opt for a blue room and get ocean and sea paintings to emphasize the look. You can pick both blue and green for your room since they blend well with one another. This way, your living room will exude a relaxing, tranquil, and serene atmosphere.
For small living rooms, it is a smart choice to have light colors in the room since they will help make the room look larger. Light colors are also easy to blend with. Specific colors for this look are tangerine and yellow especially if you want to brighten up your home. You can also collaborate this with a blue-green color combination.
Brown is a great color if you want an earthy look for the living room. You may want this kind of look especially during autumn and the perfect colors for this season are red, orange, and tangerine. For accentuations, we recommend gray and black, while cream, mocha, and tan can be the colors of your walls.
If you want to be more daring with the look of your room, you can use the element of disparity to create drama but not overdoing it so as not to make the colors clash so much. One example is the combination of lavender with light red and dark purple, which is good for a warm and comforting appeal. Light yellow and olive green can be your accentuating colors for the combination. Dark green with deep yellow and the blend of cream hues will help foster a tranquil and serene ambiance in the room.
Another seasonal theme you can opt to get is the spring theme. Here you will need to put flowery plants in the room and purchase floral wallpapers and carpets. The pillows may be of the colors yellow, pink, and lavender.
There are various kinds of living room furniture ranging from Italian, to modern, to traditional furniture. The material used also matter. Wood, metal, glass, and leather are famous choices.
You do not need to buy many furniture and accentuations to put up a good look for your living room. Matching the colors will help a great deal in making your living room look exceptional and unique.
Choose the kind of look that fits your standards and wants. It will be a very helpful guideline if you let yourself trust your personality in choosing the colors and theme of your living room.

Choosing Colour Schemes For Kids Bedrooms

Not too long ago girls rooms would only be decorated in pink and boys rooms in blue. This is still the case for many children's rooms. Girls rooms look cute in pink and the same can be said for the boys rooms decorated in blue. But people are becoming more adventurous now. Girls are starting to have shades of blues and even boys are starting to enjoy accents of pink. Paints and furniture is available now in every colour of the rainbow. This is good especially for children who share a room and parents are able to use colours that are unisex.
Many children and parents though still prefer traditional colour schemes. Try to decorate your child's bedroom to reflect his or her personal preferences. Do not feel you have to stick to some stereo type look. You can use a certain scheme overall and add some elements of another scheme by mixing up two schemes together. An example of this is if your child likes animals and aeroplanes and wants his bedroom theme to be a jungle. You can decorate the room in a jungle theme but still add some aeroplane models hanging down from the ceiling in a colour that matches the rest of the room. This way you and your child are adding your own original style to a certain theme.
If you are not sure where your young child's interests will lie or you want to ensure that a decorating scheme will appeal to girls and boys of all ages, you can not go wrong with a nature-inspired scheme. This type of scheme will appeal to younger and older children.

Colours For a Bathroom

In modern times, the trends have largely changed. Previously, the adornment was confined to the guest rooms, drawing rooms and bed rooms. But, the period of media and glamour has filled colours in our life and we want to transfer these colours to our surroundings. This is the reason why designing a house and every corner of it is given much importance.
Bathroom is a part of the house that depicts the standard and the taste of the inhabitants. The overall appearance of the bathroom gives the indication of your life style. It is the part that is essentially visited by anyone who visits the house. Thus, the decoration and the cleanliness of the bathroom portray the creativity and decency of the owners.
When we talk about the colours for a bathroom, it is not only the colour of the walls or the floor that is important, but also the colour scheme of every component of the bathroom. The components include towel, washing tub, showers, taps and the basins. They are the decor of the bathroom. So, when decorating the bathroom, the colour selection of each of its component is very crucial.
You can decorate your bathroom by employing different colour schemes, ranging from bright to dark. But, the selection is not as simple as it seems to be. It requires a bit technical approach. The selection majorly depends upon the shape and size of the bathroom. If you have a small sized bathroom, light colours will be the best choice. A light colour gives a wide look to the bathroom and seems bigger and wider than its original size, whereas, if you have a big washroom then any colour, be it dark or light, will suit the bathroom.
White is the colour of all the seasons. It provides a calming and a relaxing edge you need. It complements every colour scheme. You can have white toilet, basin and the bathtub. It will be advantageous when you want to change the paint of the walls, you do not need to change the components of the bathroom. Almost every colour will complement the colour of the toilet, basin and the bathtub. Another colour that complements other colours is beige. Chocolate brown, leafy green and cream colours mostly form good combinations with beige.
Moreover, colours of the bathroom are capable of changing the moods. For example, yellow colour gives a cheery and a jolly feeling. This can be the first feeling you want to get in the morning. Yellow colour has the property to reflect the natural light all over its walls, so it provides a very glowing appearance. It can also be named as the sunshine yellow, as it makes your morning happy and fresh.
There are other relaxing colours like sage or light blue. Giving a golden brown touch to the light blue colour gives feeling of a beach. If you add the essence of purple colour, you will feel like beginning your morning in a lavender field. Along with these bathroom paints, you can add the impact of lightening to it. Bright lights in the dark coloured bathrooms give a lively look to the bathroom. This shows the lively and sparkling face of your life.
Thus, the colours of the bathroom are very important. You may use one colour in the whole washroom or may use a blend of two or more complementing colours. Whatever colours you use, it does make a difference to the overall appearance of the bathroom.

How to Choose Kitchen Colors For Your New Kitchen

The kitchen might be the pride and joy for many homeowners. Some people might not pay care too much about what their kitchen looks like and just see it as where the food is prepared. On the other hand many people get very serious with the decor and kitchen appliances. If you are serious about remodeling your kitchen and doing a lot of research just to find the right colors for your kitchen then you should think about the style of your home first. If you have a modern home then you can choose a modern style with modern colors. If your home is basically colonial style ten it wouldn't make sense to have a high tech shiny red kitchen.
For a modern home there have never been more options than now. These days more and more people are opting for modern style which is why we are seeing newer designs and ideas more often. Three of the hottest colors these days for a modern kitchen are solid black, cherry red and white. If you look at home magazines and kitchen styles you will notice these colors more frequently. They are always very shiny and look very stylish.
These are the three colors that will be great in the kitchen. Although the red would be breathtaking it is actually a color that you can eventually get tired of. If you are going to spend so much money on renovating you should choose a classy color. Neutral colors like black, white or even silver can be satisfying for a very long time. Even if you are tempted with red you should think about what is best in the long run.
Now that you have narrowed down your options you have to think about how the color would affect the appearance of your kitchen. It is well known that dark colors make a room look smaller and light colors make a room feel larger. If your kitchen is tiny enough you really should lean toward the white. Many kitchens now days are built very large, and if this sounds like your kitchen then black would be an excellent choice.
Choosing the right colors for your kitchen can not be something selfish. You have to put thought into it and see what would be better suited for your home and kitchen size. Black and white is the best options for a long term kitchen. Always consider the style of your home and the size of your kitchen before picking out the colors.

Bedroom Colour Scheme Ideas

 The bedroom is arguably one of the most important rooms in a house. It is where we recharge our batteries, spending around one-third (around eight hours) of each and every day in that one room. Although we may be asleep for most of that time, it is still the room you are in when you go to bed and wake up the following morning, so its design and decoration - from the colour scheme on the walls, to the bedroom furniture and bed itself - can play a major part in your mood, feelings and emotions over time.
Therefore, it is important to take time in choosing a bedroom colour scheme, based on your personal tastes and preferences. However, other factors may play a part, such as the bedroom's size. Here are some ideas to help with choosing the perfect colour scheme for your bedroom:
Choosing colours for moods
Colours can affect your mood, so it is important to choose a bedroom colour scheme based on colours you like but also depending on what suits you personally.
For example, you might not be a fan of blue (especially if you are a girl), but blue can be a very calming and tranquil colour, so it might be more of a preferred option if you want somewhere that is truly relaxing and will make you feel at ease.
Pinks and reds on the other hand are more fun, playful and romantic. Along with yellows and oranges, they are warm and inviting colours.
Neutral colours - such as whites and creams - are not only more suitable for guest bedrooms, rather than choosing a colour that some guests may dislike, but they are restful and soothing colours as well.
Choosing a colour based on the size of the bedroom
For smaller bedrooms, it is wise to opt for a lighter colour, which will reflect more light and therefore give the illusion that the room is much larger than it actually is. Mirrors can also help to open a small space and make it appear larger - someone with a small bedroom might want to have a few small mirrors dotted around or one large mirror in the room for this reason.
Alternatively, for larger bedrooms, darker colours can make the room appear smaller. Although this may not sound that great, it should help to close in the space and therefore give the feel of a cosy, snug and intimate bedroom.
Try before you buy (lots of pots)
Most importantly, think about using tester pots before buying your decided colour in bulk, just in case you find that it is not what you wanted or it doesn't go with the room how you originally envisaged. Try different colours out and get an idea of what will be the best depending on the size of the room, the space and generally just what you like best.

Select the Right Kitchen Colors With These Simple Tips

 Kitchen colors are merely colors that look best in a kitchen and which will also wear well with time and much use. They can be anything really and in essence the whole color world is your oyster, but people have different ideas on what are suitable colors for a kitchen.







Some of the many colors you can find in kitchens are:
 * cream and beige tones
* earthier colors like browns and light beiges.
* pristine white with perhaps black or chromium-plate highlights
* brilliant intense colors like brick red
All have the own unique appeal. The true question here is - what look are you after? So, here are a few questions you should consider answering:
* What color or style are your cabinets - ie: oak, maple or painted
* What color are your appliances - stainless steel, white or black
* What kind of counter tops - marble, formica (colored)
Although these questions are by no means the only ones, they are just a few to help you get the picture of what color to paint your kitchen.
I know that the merriment part for me in redoing my own kitchen wasn't choosing the brand new accessories I would need, but choosing the desirable kitchen colors that would lend it the much needed elegance it lacked at that moment.
Remember, when selecting kitchen colors you want to consider the colors that are washable and easy to clean. For instance, white or beige will be far more easier to clean then dark plum or brick red.
Choosing kitchen colors can be fun. If you answer the above questions you are sure to get started on the right foot. Of course the color should be something you like, but it should also be something you're willing to live with for the next few years, unless of course you're into repainting your kitchen.

Interior Painting - What Colors to Choose

When thinking of a home improvement project that can splash your New York home with the needed ambiance and considerably change its look and feel within the budget, then Interior painting is your best bet. Though it is seemingly simple, do not get fooled as there is more to the job than meets the eye. To make a success out of it, the wall preparation should be done accurately. There are also a lot of things to consider like the paint, finish, and wall painting techniques and processes. Depending on how you see it, choosing the right paint color for your inter painting project can be a daunting or the most fun task.
Through all the plethora of choices, you are bound to find the perfect one for the room you need to spruce up in your interior painting project. What you need to do first is answer these questions:
- Are there constraints to the color selection such as needing to fit into a historical or conservative neighborhood?
- What impression or effect do you want to achieve? Would you like to implement something peaceful and harmonious or would you rather have it bold and bright?
- How long do you intend to live in your New York home?
Neutral or safe colors are the way to go if by chance you have plans on selling the house in the n ear future or live within a historical neighborhood. By going neutral, you will not risk having to turn off any potential buyer just because yours and his tastes doe not jive. This color option also helps preserve the classical look of any periodic home adding more value to it.
But if you are in a situation where you are free to exhaust every possible color schemes to integrate into your interior painting, then here are the most common color schemes to look into: the monochromatic using just one color of varying tints and shades; analogous and complementary. These color coordinations can be achieved with the help of a color wheel. If want to get more ideas you can browse through other home interiors, nature, photographs, paintings, fabric designs or just anything that could inspire your color selection.

There are also other factors that you need to consider when choosing colors to get the most out of your interior painting project. Not unless you also plan to buy a new set of everything for the room to undergo interior painting, choose a scheme that would best complement the rest of the fixtures and furnishings. The space or area of the room, artificial and natural lighting, existing elements, fabric furnishing or flooring should also be taken into consideration.
When deciding on whether to pick the darker or lighter hue of your color choice for the interior painting project, here are several tips to help you:
- Light colors give any room a more spacious look and are not ideal to be used with unevenly proportioned walls if you have no plans on highlighting it.
- Unknown to many homeowners, the darker shades require more effort to maintain, absorbs more heat and fades sooner than that of lighter colors.
- And colors presented on the color chips, swathes or just any color samples may slightly vary from the actual look. Be sure to consult with an expert before making that final choice.

Home Improvement: Interior Design and Decorating Article Category

Inspiring Architecture

Like any art form it is easy to understand how architecture has evolved, what styles are currently popular and what the most attractive attributes of a building are - high ceilings, big open spaces, lots of natural light etc. What is difficult to understand is how on Earth architects are able to visualise something that is so different from the space they are currently looking at and yet it happens all the time.
Interior Design Ideas: Windows Style Benefits

There are many different interior design ideas for windows and most of them seem like they are purely for decorative purposes. But there are many benefits that window treatments and styles can offer for your home as well. When it comes to interior design ideas, windows are one of the main pieces that can have a variety of different treatment styles which enhance the look and feel of any room. They can make or break the room decor and create a space that people love to spend in or absolutely don't.
Contemporary Home Accessories - A New Trend

Home is where the heart is, they say. A well-furnished home with modern comforts and amenities is a dream for many. Home decor is an important part of a well furnished home, to which a lot of importance is being attributed nowadays.
Floral Duvet Covers - Bringing a Bright Ambiance in the Bedroom

Floral duvet covers are among the most sought after covers by homeowners. This is due to the bright ambiance that floral patterns bring to the bedroom. The wide range of designs also makes decorating a room a very enjoyable activity.
Consider the Tips to Take Care of Porcelain Tiles!

Today, there are many people who usually get very confused about choosing the durable flooring material for their home. You may find easy availability of different kinds of flooring options to suit the pattern and style of houses. One of them is porcelain tiles which are well-known for their amazing durability and because of this quality these tiles are mostly preferred by a number of people, these days.
Choose Popular and Trendy Travertine Floor Tiles!

These days, market is full of a number of flooring materials but you are looking for that kind of flooring option which suits more to your home. One must choose only travertine floor tiles which are considered as the most popular type of limestone tile. If it is installed in your home then it would definitely add elegance to your house.
How to Make Proper Use of Travertine Tiles?

There is no doubt that travertine tile is best option which can be installed in your home easily. The main thing to consider the most is that you must make a good use of

Elements of Interior Design

Whether you are working with existing furnishings and fabrics or "starting from scratch" with an empty room, you should always use the elements and principles of design as a guide in choosing everything. The elements are your tools or raw materials, much like paints are the basics to a painter. The elements of design include space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles of design relate to how you use these elements and are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.

Element #1: Space

Space defines the boundaries and sets the limits on the functional and decorative things you can do. Usually you will not determine the space; instead, you will be faced with the challenge of using the existing space effectively.

Element #2: Line

The lines in a room are second only to color in importance when it comes to setting the overall mood or feeling of a room. The lines of window fashions should support the dominant line of the room. In most situations, the dominant line is straight (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) rather than curved. Your choice of emphasizing the direction of lines will determine the mood you want to create.

o Vertical lines add height and dignity, creating a more formal atmosphere. Vertical lines also balance the horizontal lines found in most furniture.

o Horizontal lines tend to create a restful, informal feeling. They work well in casual rooms or as relief to the strong verticals of formal rooms.

o Diagonal lines attract attention and lead the eye. They can be disturbing unless supported by verticals or opposing diagonals.

o Curved lines add a softening effect and keep the room from becoming too stiff. Use curved lines with some restraint to keep the room from becoming too soft and overly feminine.

Element #3: Form

Lines that join together produce the form, or shape, of an object, which in turn impacts the overall feeling of a room. Straight lines create rectangles, square and triangles. Curved lines form circles and ovals. The rectangle is the most popular form and is often the dominant shape in a room. Triangles provide stability and curved shapes soften the contours of objects.

Element #4: Color

More than any other element, color can make a room beautiful. Color can set the mood. It can make a room warmer or cooler, larger or smaller. It can hide unsightly features or call attention to the center of interest. Even with the simplest furnishings, the proper use of color can transform a room.

Element #5: Texture

Texture is playing an increasingly important role in home decorating. Visual texture is a material's apparent smoothness or roughness. To maintain and enhance a casual feeling, use fabrics that are more heavily textured, nubby or rough visual texture. Smooth, shiny surfaces such as silk, moiré, chintz and silk-like looks support a more formal feeling in a room. Using several levels of complementary textures adds variety and maintains interest. However, it is a good idea to avoid dramatic contrasts in texture.

Interior Designing Ideas & Colours That Decorate Your Room

Interior Decoration is quickly gaining prominence. Most socialites tend to have a knack for this profession, since this not only gets them quick and easy money, but provides them alliance to the most influential people in circle. Interior decoration on a general basis is tailor made for rich people who have a trend for life. Their lifestyles not only cater globally to people of similar tastes, but also set trends for people to follow them and their cause. Right from expensive banquets and lounges to hotels and malls every major architectural structure being put up is hiring the best interior designers to give an exotic look that would look appealing to people. Interior design ideas on a professional level require high level of innovativeness and creativity to make the space look peculiar and in the process create an ambiance that would suit the theme of the space.

Home decoration is the art of decorating a room so that it looks good, is easy to use and function wells with the existing architecture. The goal of home decoration is to provide certain "feel" for the room, it encompasses applying wallpaper, painting walls and other surfaces, choosing furniture and fittings and providing other decorations like artifacts and sculptures. There is a very thin line between designing and decoration. Interior decoration is generally focused more on finishes, such as wallpaper, paint, window covering and furnishings. Interior design leads to be more integrated with the architecture and might also be involved in room layout, cabinet designs, windows and door placement and so on.

Interior design colour is responsible for glow of your space which in turn reflects the mood and purpose of it's creation. Colour combination through various paint techniques provides the trick of giving every part of the space a different theme.

Some of the most commonly used colour techniques used include colour washing, sponging & dry brushing. Colour plays an integral part of your decor. It has the ability to alter the perception of space in many ways - by enhancing a beautiful detail, by subduing an undesirable feature, by imposing scale or by simple compensating for the lack of architectural character. So it is important that you opt for the right combinations. Colours give the essential character to any space. Be it the living room or kitchen, bedroom or lounge. Some of the most commonly used decorative colour ideas include Glam Decor, Cool decor, Natural Decor & vibrant decor. Interior decoration is costly and only the rich seems to afford it. Hence if opted for it is important that you ensure that you get the right colours & paints that would suit your taste and last for a long time.

Architect and Interior Decorator employed with one of the world's most decorative agencies. To read more about architecture in detail click here.

Decorating Interior Walls - Tips for Hanging Art and Picture Frames

Redecorating your home might be a tough job at times. There's sometimes a need for a change of home decorations. Interior Designs are a thing for professionals, but with a touch of creativity and imagination and, of course, coupled with some expert advice you could do it on your own. This is very difficult if you don't have a plan to follow. In order to set it up efficiently, the first thing would be to create a plan for the design or decoration. That would depend upon what do you want to change, the budget available, the equipment needed and how long will it take to complete the entire project.

If you want to retain the original wall design, it would be much nicer to add some items to further enhance the design, such as art and picture frames. If you have already found that right art for the wall and the right spot to place it, that would be the time to put it on display your beautiful piece for all to view. A popular saying goes with, "A picture speaks a thousand words". A picture brings good old memories back. Things to remember for putting up the pictured or art frame would be a good thing so as to bring out that interior designer within you.

Primarily, we should determine the best place to hang the art piece or pictures. It is better to put heavy pictures from wall stud or beam, rather than wallboard itself. Make markings, like using a pencil, to serves as a guide for the exact location to hang it. Choose the right hook, depending upon the weight of the picture and hammer it on the marked spot. Hang the picture and adjust it to make sure it is placed straight.

There are a lot to be considered in hanging that picture. The pictures should be better to hang at the eye level, which is usually 5 feet and 6 inches. For offices or areas where there are naturally chairs, pictures are best hung at the seated eye level. It is better to have a group of pictures rather than a single picture placed on the wall. It is better to make a design for it first, on where to place the art pieces. Make enough spaces for pictures to stand out from the group of pictures. Make sure to inspect and replace for pictures that fades with time.

Other tips would be to use white or light-colored mats for the pictures, as they give emphasis to the art and picture frames. But that would depend upon the picture itself. Contrast is the key to such an issue and to provide emphasis. To prevent fading, avoid striking the pictures to the rays of sunshine. Instead of nails, it is best to use hooks to hold on the pictures. Try alternating between large and small picture frames. It gives a nicer effect. If more than one picture is to be placed, you could select one to be in the center or its main attraction.

With this article, you could learn some quite few tips in decorating that dull wall. But as experts say, be not afraid to experiment as it unleashes your creative side.

The Latest Interior Design Trend

One of the newest crazes sweeping the world of interior design is purchasing antique or old furniture and restyling it for your home. One of the more popular aspects of this new trend is to re-upholster old chairs to make them unique. Having several different styles of chair around your kitchen table can give a quirky and unique look to the room which is very sought after in this new interior design fad known as "Mismatched chic."

So where should you start when trying to achieve "Mismatched chic"? The best place is with chairs. Chairs are easy to find in antique shops and are often relatively cheap. If you don't want to go out and spend money you can always see if you have any old chairs lying around your house which you can re-upholster. Popular types of chairs for this style include elegant Banquette Seating and retro style Booth seating. These are two of the more expensive styles of seating but you can just about use anything to achieve the perfect look.

Another popular and slightly cheaper style of seating is Bench Seating for use at a kitchen table. Using a bench on one side of a table and then chairs on the other can give a distinctive look to your dining area. You don't even need to go out and buy the Bench seating, you can make it yourself. All you need is a couple of planks of wood, some nails, a tin of varnish or wood stain and a healthy imagination.

In fact most of your "mismatched chic" style room can be created entirely by you, even upholstering the chairs. If you consider yourself to be a more hands on type of person then you don't need to pay a professional to do any of the design work in your new quirky room. Upholstering is one of the more tricky jobs however with the right tools and the correct guidance top quality upholstery is achievable. There are many free articles available online to show you how to upholster chairs.

By doing the majority of design work yourself you will maximise the affect of your "mismatched chic" room and will also gain a great sense of pride that the room is entirely yours and entirely different to anything your friends will have. The whole idea of "mismatched chic" after all is to be different and move away from the standardized boring IKEA style furniture which many people have in their homes.

Craftwood interiors specialise in upholstered fixed seating, such as booth seating built in a quality controlled environment.

 Interior Design Tools

If you're going to work as an interior designer, you'll need the right interior design tools to do the job. Even amateur interior designers and students must have the right tools if they are going to get the job done right every time and continue advancing their skills. Since the interior designing tools of the trade are so important, most designers have dedicated tool kits where they can store everything they'll ever need in one convenient and easy to locate place.

One of the first tools that set an interior designer apart is the use of a color wheel. Used in every stage of interior design, it helps designers make decisions about paint, flooring, wallpaper, window treatments, furniture and other accessories. Next, you will need graph paper, pencils, pens, rulers, a protractor, measuring tape, a t-square and a yard stick to make sure you have the right edges, dimensions and measurements and to plan an interior design job correctly.

Push pins and thumb tacks are important interior design tools for the creative planning components of the process. When you want to hang things on the wall you will also need picture wire, plastic anchors and cup hooks, as well as pins and needles. And when you want to cut fabric you will need some professional grade scissors with tempered blades.

Chances are you will also need some tougher cutting tools than scissors during some of your interior design jobs, including a box cutter and utility knife to open supplies or to deal with lightweight objects, plus a handsaw for working with wood and tougher fabrics like carpet. Some scraping and cleaning tasks may require a single-edged razor as well.

A professional glue gun is one of the most important interior design tools that you will use again and again, and extra glue sticks are a must. Rubber bands, plastic ties and sewing needles with thread may also be practical when you need to attach things together. And for tougher tasks, c-clamps, hammers, pliers and screwdrivers may be required. Paint brushes and rollers are also required, so don't forget about those.

These are the basic interior design tools you will need on a daily basis. As the job requires, you will also need to purchase fabrics, carpets, paints, stencils, picture frames, decorative pieces and much more.

Interior designing can be plenty of fun but it can also end up being annoying if you cannot accomplish what you attempted to do because you aren't able to find the things you need for the task. In order to avoid this aggravation, make an interior decorating tool kit that you can grab when you are performing decorating tasks and have all you need right at your tips of your fingers.

When you begin to make your interior decorating tool kit, consider the items you frequently make use of for decorating projects and include those.

In your tool kit, place push pins as well as plastic anchors. Include picture wire for image hanging in the kit. You will want some thumb tacks and cup hooks plus some pins or needles also. Any additional item you normally use for hanging things also needs to be added.

When decorating or planning a job, you usually need to measure the space or the object to be put into the room. You will want to include a yardstick along with a tape measure in your kit. You will also want to have a t-square along with a level to be able to measure whether an image is level or not and whether the shelf you might be setting up is level.

Pick a good pair of scissors for cutting fabric only. Furthermore include a pair or utility scissors for cutting other items. Feature a box cutter in the tool kit for opening boxes as well as cutting additional lightweight objects. You will want a little handsaw if you undertake any woodworking tasks. You might want a hacksaw too. A utility knife can also be useful. If you'd like, you should have a handful of single-edge razor blades stored safely inside your tool kit for scraping tasks.

Several interior decorating tasks require attaching things together. Include in your tool kit a warm glue gun as well as glue sticks. A can of spray adhesive could be very helpful as well. A staple gun and also extra staples certainly are a must-have in the kit. Rubber bands have a lot of uses when working on projects, so include different sizes of these items. Plastic twist ties are extremely handy while decorating. Wood glue as well as super glue is items you might want to include. Sewing needles and threat for tacking fabrics ought to be in the kit as well.

The tools most often used in decorating tasks can be included or otherwise kept handy. Examples are a hammer, flat and screwdrivers in a number sizes, clamps like c-clamps and also a pair of pliers.

 Careers in Interior Design

There is more to Interior Design than home decorating. The career opportunities for interior design graduates are endless.

According to the United States Department of Labor, employment of interior designers is expected to grow 19 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than average for all occupations.

If you are interested in a hands-on education, working with the latest design software technology that results in a wide variety of fulfilling positions, this may be a career path for you. Earn a Bachelors of Science in Interior Design or an Interior Design & Decorating Associates degree and start your career as a:

Green Designer - Green designers work with builders, specifying eco-friendly materials from renewable resources and designing energy efficient homes & buildings in Florida.

Healthcare Designer - Designing the interior structure of hospitals, doctor offices, medical clinics and facilities. A healthcare interior designer job is to make sure the medical facility is built within the governed regulations and technical requirements needed to function. Also, a major role of a medical interior designer is to design the clinic for optimal operational productivity and increasing the bottom line.

Buyer or Purchasing Agent - Working for large retail stores, department stores and furniture stores. A Buyer decides what merchandise will be sold at a store. Professional Buyers travel to trade shows and are innovators for the latest trends.

Hospitality or Service Designer - Working with hotels/resorts, sports stadiums and restaurants. A hospitality designer creates a pleasant & functional space for people to gather.

Set Designer - Working on television, exhibit, movie and theater sets. A set designer works closely with the director and studies the script to determine the appropriate set design. This includes selecting the furniture, wall & floor coverings and other props to give the set the desired mood and time period of the script.

Government Designer - Designing the interiors for public buildings such as court houses, training facilities and jails. Designers who specialize in public buildings concentrate on accessibility design and operational design. During the interior design process of government buildings the interior designers make sure the accessible environment meets the needs of people who are blind or have poor vision. Also, the designer is responsible to design the facility to meet the needs of the service it provides.

Preservationist -Working with historic buildings and museums. A Preservationist helps preserve, conserve and protect buildings and its materials of historic significance.

Event Designer - Designing and decorating corporate parties, charity balls or other large gatherings

The author is a marketing representative for career colleges. If you are interested in going to an Interior Design School, please visit us at The Institute of Interior Design and apply today!

 History of Interior Design

Knowing your preferred decorating style is the best way to confidently approach a decorating project. The knowledge will help you to answer many questions and guide you through the myriad of decisions to come.

In part two we will look at the decorative styles contributed by the16th and 17th centuries. This five part series on decorating styles will give you a snap shot or a quick peek into the essence of decorating styles. It is written so that anyone can benefit from the information; the professional and the novice.

A brief look at the 16th & 17th centuries shows that decorating emphasis turned to the desire for domestic comfort. This was largely due to the rapid spread of prosperity among the merchant classes of both Europe and the newly established American colonies. Stylistically speaking, the most noteworthy development was the widespread use of Classical forms of ornament. This originated in Renaissance Italy and was loosely interpreted in Europe and, later, America by way of pattern books.

The Oriental style of decorating became popular in the late 17th century as trading with China and India became stronger. Architecturally speaking, the 16th century was when geometric patterned marble and elaborate marquetry and parquetry floors became popular. Marquetry is the art of inlaying different woods and other natural material onto a surface to create a picture. When an inlay technique is applied the end result should be that the two surfaces have become one. It is similar to when a floor set in tiles and then there is a different pattern in a different tile altogether. Most of the time marquetry was done using woods, but, materials like ivory, etc. can be used. If the marquetry is done properly, there shouldn't be any disconnect between the two surfaces. Marquetry was reserved for the wealthiest people. Typically, you would see this kind of work in Traditional styled spaces.

Also, in the 16th century there was a greater use of wainscoting throughout the period. And, of course wainscoting is popular when decorating in Country style. During the 16th and 17th centuries paneling made from hardwoods emerged. And, typically they were left untreated and stained or limed. And most people know what paneling is. Most people choose to remove pre-existing paneling because they feel it dates the home, and that's because it dates back to the 16th & 17th century. Transom windows became very common by the late 16th century. A transom window can be fixed or operable - meaning it opens or closes. Often a transom window is the windows you see above or on the side of a door - and it's only function is to allow extra light in. Transom windows are popular in Contemporary style homes.

The most significant contribution to furniture during this time was the introduction of upholstery. We already know that the 16th & 17th century was when domestic comfort became important. So, the benches and boards used as chairs in the medieval days were cushioned by the addition of upholstery. Upholsters were also used to make carpets, tapestry, and draperies. Upholstered seating first appeared in Europe in the 1620's. Fabrics used included leather, and velvet.

In part 3 of decorating styles we will take a glimpse at the 18th to mid 19th century and what was offered to interior decorating.