Accessorizing is the way we put our personal stamp on our homes.  It can be considered an embellishment on the theme of our lifestyle – an extension, not only of our personal decorating taste, but also of our personal lives.

Once relegated to only the extremely wealthy, who displayed articles that looked like they belonged in a museum, home accessorizing caught on with the general public some time ago.  To a great extent this is due to shelter magazines, which show exquisite close-ups of tabletops and decorated walls.  Every tabletop becomes a still life, every wall a vista.

Hopefully, the memorabilia displayed in your home includes meaningful items, accumulated over time, with special significance for you.  Mix your cherished pieces among your current decorative items for a look that will please.  If you have a very large assortment of special keepsakes, display them together for impact.  Try putting away half of them for a few months, then exchange them with the ones on display for a fresh look.  They will be far more interesting and you will avoid the cluttered look that a huge collection can have.

The arrangement of your collections can be just as interesting as the collection itself.  Some people arrange by subject: a medley of jade turtles or a grouping of horse pictures together.  Others arrange by what we call predicate, the most common being in size and color.  Books are perfect example.  Analytical personalities will classify their books by subject.  The more visually oriented person tends to sort by predicate-size and color.  Collections are far more impactful when displayed grouped together rather than scattered over every table top.

The next step is to determine how to arrange accessories.  Some prefer traditional symmetry.  For example, two candlesticks and two objects d’art, flanking an oil painting over a mantel, would be suitable for a formal arrangement.  Others prefer a more contemporary asymmetrical grouping, as in variable-sized framed photographs, high/medium/low glass candlesticks with a free form sculpture.  Placing accessories in uneven numbers, i.e. 3, 5, or 7 provides more interesting groupings, as in this photo.

When a room begins to look stale or uninteresting, a few great accessories can change everything for the better.  Walk through your home and decide what areas could use some simple accessory changes to brighten that spot for your own enjoyment!  Then search for that one special piece or grouping around which you can re-build the décor.

It seems to me that during recessionary periods like we have gone thru recently, homeowners tend to choose neutral colors such as beige, espresso and chocolate with accents of dark blues, greens and wine colors.  Conversely, as the economic picture brightens, those same homeowners look to lighten up the interiors of their homes to more closely match their moods.  Lately, more and more of my clients are expressing an interest in the much livelier tones of coral, turquoise, citrus and kiwi leading me to believe that the improving real estate market, the robust stock market and the bump in consumer confidence are having their effect.

Now, my observations may have no more credence than the recent Ground Hog’s Day  predictions, but I like to think that I’m on to something here.  The January Las Vegas Furniture and Accessory Market supported this theory.  In every showroom we saw cheerful, brightly colored accent pieces, and the new fabric lines were more eye-catching than ever.  Many of the lighting fixtures and table top accessories were actually whimsical.  Very few of the dark heavy Asian rugs were spotlighted while the lighter newer designs were predominant in every rug showroom.  Almost all of the furniture manufacturers displayed lighter stained woods and less serious styling.

With a little luck, my theory is valid and we see these cheerful colors stay around for a long, long time.

Let’s examine some of the things that can cause a room to look a little frumpy or dated.  Trendy decorating and color schemes tire quicker than individualized decorating does.  Remember hunter green and burgundy?  How about peach and teal?  Color, more than any other design element, can precisely pinpoint the decade of a room’s last makeover.

The style of the furniture and accessories is another tell-tale sign of an aging room décor.  The days of more is more are gone, replaced by a simplified clean and open look that most people find appealing and stress inhibiting.  Thematic decorating, with an abundance of our favorite animal, tree or fruit, can become monotonous.

So, where do we begin in the freshening up process?  Let’s start with the arrangement of the furniture.  By simply pulling some of that furniture away from the wall or switching the position of a few pieces, the room will suddenly feel different.  Take all your accessories out of the room and one-by-one bring back only the things you really love, positioning them in a different place in the room, or in another room altogether. 

If you would like to stretch the borders of your comfort level just a little, add a vase, lamp, throw pillow or rug in the color you wish you had the nerve to try, and see if it grows on you.  Try a mirror or painting that is not your normal style.

Because you spend very short amounts of time there, a good place to try new looks is in the foyer, guest bedroom or powder room.  You can get a little wild and crazy in those areas because you won’t tire of it like you might in the family room or kitchen.

If it is time to replace some of your furniture, think in terms of pieces that compliment, rather than match, each other.  The careful selection of furniture items and accessories will provide you with a style that is not only your very own, but one that will age gracefully.  Decorating outside our comfort level can be somewhat scary but, if you try it, you’ll be asking yourself why you waited so long to do so!

However, although it is rarely true that reupholstering furniture is the most economical choice, there may be some other very good reasons to recover a piece.  Some considerations to be taken before making this decision are the characteristics of the sofa itself.  Are the dimensions and design perfect for your room and your family?  Is the sofa an unusual shape or size that would be difficult to replace?   Do you know that the sofa is a quality piece that has 8-way hand tied springs, kiln dried wood frame, corner blocking, and other high quality features?  Is there a sentimental attachment to the furniture in question?  These are all valid reasons to reupholster your furniture.

But on the other hand, if the piece of furniture fails to qualify with any of the above reasons, you may want to reconsider.  If your sofa is an outdated style, or was inexpensively made and is not extremely comfortable or attractive, investing more in it will not change any of those characteristics.  And no amount of fabric, trim and throw pillows will change the too-large or too-small-for-the-room problem.  If any of these circumstances accurately describes your current furniture, then you probably have your answer.  Whether you decision is to reupholster or to replace, our designers can help you determine the perfect solution!

Filling its role as the retreat’s focal point, the bed may be dramatically sleek or elaborately draped, and should make a strong statement on the room’s interior while imparting an ambience of luxury and leisure.  Nothing says custom more than bed coverings with beautiful accent pillows.  Contrary to what every ‘bed-in-a-bag’ retailer would have us believe, beds with varying frames, box springs, and mattresses are not ‘standard’ sizes.  Custom bedding requires custom fitting.

Canopy beds with side curtains were originally designed to deflect chilly drafts in the days before homes were well insulated.  Luckily, we’re now left with the legacy of this dramatic and intimate bed treatment.  The lack of a real canopy bed is not a deterrent since the bed canopy can be hung from the ceiling, from a carved corona, or from ceiling mounted drapery hardware. Even a small bedroom can enjoy this romantic treatment by draping only the head of the bed. A small love seat or chaise positioned at the foot of the bed can serve a dual role as a comfy nest for reading and as a rest for folding back the bed cover at night.  If space is ample, try two easy chairs facing each other with an ottoman between. The master bedroom television will need to be carefully situated  if the bed is canopied so that it doesn’t interfere with viewing.

Possibly more than in any other area of the home, window treatments need to be both beautiful and functional in the master suite.  If there is a nice view, draperies should be designed to clear most of the window when opened.  Styles, fabrics, trim, hardware, and fabrication techniques can vary tremendously to satisfy both function and beauty.  Privacy and light control are often provided thru hard-window treatments such as shades or wooden shutters with adjustable vanes and woven inserts.

Side tables for the bed are growing even larger to provide storage and table top space for the accessories of this user-friendly ‘nest’.  The two bedside tables needn’t be identical, but should reflect the personal needs of the individual sleeper.  In fact, current styles have moved from the traditional ‘bedroom suite’, inviting creativity and better functionality with individual pieces that work well together and function independently.

Rich wall colors create a sense of tranquility as well as a hint of drama in a bedroom. A large, custom framed floor-length mirror can add interest as well as serve for dressing purposes.  Lighting should also be carefully selected.  Lamps with opaque shades and three way switches allow for reading and task lighting while offering a low setting to soften the mood. And here’s a gender-friendly tip: men are usually more comfortable with tailored fabrics in stronger colors, and with paisleys, solids and stripes rather than florals.  

A wonderful master bedroom, even with minimal extra space, should be enjoyed as an integral part of your home.  Make it personal, cozy, functional, and beautiful, and you’ll find yourself retreating to your master suite more often than ever before.

Privacy, light control and beauty are the three major functions of window treatments.  In addition, what you put on your windows may or may not provide thermal protection from heat.  As you approach the issue of window treatments in your home, there are several key questions to ask yourself in order to decide what is your best option.

First, consider the degree of privacy needed at each window.  Bedrooms and bathrooms are the most obvious rooms where privacy is required.  Most homeowners want the availability of a privacy treatment in the more public areas of their homes as well, especially during nighttime hours.

Even those who live in secluded areas where the issue of other people looking in is negligible need to consider whether they want privacy treatments to block the ‘black hole syndrome’ that occurs from looking out at night.

Secondly, think about your light control needs.  Most of us love lots of natural light in our homes, as reflected in the huge beautiful windows of today’s architecture.  However, over time, the sun causes fading of your furniture, wood floors, and floor coverings, and can dramatically increase your cooling bills in summer.  It also interferes with computer work and television viewing by creating eye-straining glare on the screen.  And, as great as sunrises and sunsets are to watch, we don’t want them shining directly in our eyes when we eat breakfast or watch the evening news.

Thirdly, ask yourself what aesthetic role you need for your window treatments to play in each room, as they are an important element in providing a balance of color, pattern and texture to your overall decorating scheme.  They can also serve to create optical illusions of your windows appearing larger, your ceilings being higher, or your room being more proportionally pleasing than it actually is.

Clients sometimes tell me that they are reluctant to put anything on their windows, thinking that ‘window treatment’ means heavy occlusive draperies or yards and yards of fussy stuff at their windows.  Although we can still do those things where it’s appropriate, today’s window treatment styles offer much more variety and excitement than in generations past.  Visit our website to enjoy some of our interesting makeovers that may help in dressing your windows.

While the Chinese are thought to have originated the folding screen, the Japanese soon embraced the idea with their rendition; a rigid framed paper style, the shoji.  In the 17^th century, the screen became an important design feature in Europe and soon thereafter became a feature in American homes.

Before selecting a screen, determine the function it is to fulfill.  Will it hide an unattractive view?  Divide a too-large room into two spaces?  Perhaps create a foyer area where none exists?  It can even serve to protect your rugs and furnishings from the damages of the sunrays.  The folding multi-panel style is the most versatile.  This screen can be extended or compacted as needed and is easily transportable.  A four or six-panel screen can be divided in half and installed as faux shutters on each side of a wide arched doorway. 

When the only purpose of a screen is to add drama and beauty to a room, your choices are endless.  While there are many sources for beautiful screens, you may want to consider a custom creation of iron, wood, glass, shutters, fabric, cork, leather, or bamboo.  Hand painted versions can feature a scene or subject that has special meaning for you and your family.

Covered in cork or fabric, your screen can serve as a bulletin board or as an extra “wall’ for hanging family pictures.  Heavy plants can anchor and secure an unstable screen while providing a discrete place to hide a canister lamp to up-light the whole vignette.  Attach a screen to a large wall to serve as an unusual headboard for a king bed.

To add a dramatic focal point to those soaring walls, mount an oversized screen above a sofa.  As a welcomed change, prop a beautiful fireplace screen on a console table.  Install a screen of organic material on your patio as a support for climbing vines to provide shade and privacy.  Suspend a framed paper screen in a bathroom window for privacy without the loss of light.

The styles and uses of this extraordinary accessory are infinite.  With a little imagination and  help from your interior decorator you’re sure to find just the right decorative screen for your home.

The entrance is a great place to start since this is where first impressions are made.  In addition to being attractive, it can be very practical for a high-traffic area of the home.   Dress up the front door with a dried floral wreath or colorful Indian corn. Mirrors and candlelight brighten a foyer, and a rich oriental or braided rug adds a warm touch.

Moving on from the foyer, family and friends usually settle into the living or family room, for warmth and comfort. If you have a fireplace, consider using a mantel scarf to add rich texture, accessorized with lighted candles and family photos. A big, brass container is wonderful for holding extra firewood. Think about your furniture arrangement-are upholstered pieces placed in comfortable conversational groupings? No one wants to sit in the lone chair off in a corner. 

The dining room should be a delicious atmosphere for home-cooked meals. You can easily create a gorgeous holiday tablecloth out of any fabric that suits your personal style.  Try layering two cloths-a rich solid as a base topped with a shorter coordinating pattern.  The centerpiece should be lively but not overbearing, as you don’t want it to act as a barrier between guests interrupting conversation. 

For overnight guests, think of ways you can make them feel at home. Fresh flowers or fragrant potpourri always add a nice touch. Holiday-inspired throw pillows on the bed are inviting. Consider new decorative shade options for window treatments, such as balloon or roman shades. These can be custom made in a pattern that coordinates with the bed ensemble. Clear some hanging space in the closet, and don’t forget to lay out plush towels and extra blankets.

There are many more ways to make your guests and family feel at home for the holidays. Preparing to welcome guests to your house is a lot of fun, and a great reason to complete that long-overdue decorating project! Decorating Den wishes you a world of creativity in developing your holiday decorations. Happy Holidays!

The best professional to decorate your home will most likely come from a combination of compatible personalities and tastes. During your initial consultation, ask to review the portfolio of the decorator to assure yourself that (s)he is capable of working in diverse styles. This is also the time to judge whether your personalities are a good fit. Remember that you will be working together for several weeks, if not months.

Working with a professional designer should be an enjoyable experience. Since interior decorating projects are highly personal and collaborative, the final results are always much more successful when the lines of communication are open and ideas are freely discussed. Be candid with your decorator regarding such important elements as priorities, timing, budgets and tastes. If a style, color or item is suggested that you do not like, feel free to say so.

To ensure that you get off to the right start with your decorator and also get the results you are looking for, keep in mind the following tips:

–Be a keen observer. Consciously make note of what catches your interest as you peruse decorating magazines and the internet for interesting rooms and make-overs. Start a file of colors, patterns and designs that appeal to you. You may notice a chandelier, mirror, color combination or window treatment that you like. Once you clip and track these for a brief period, you will be better able to draw a conclusion as to your personal style.

–Take an honest inventory of your existing décor to determine which pieces you want to keep. Assess your furnishings the way you periodically review your wardrobe. Plan to keep the pieces you truly love and put all others on the to-be-replaced-eventually list.

–Based upon your initial consultation, your designer should present you with fabric samples, sketches and pictures for your evaluation. Since professionals have access to a world of options unavailable in retail stores, be reasonable about asking to see more and more of everything available. Remember that the first two or three designs you are shown will be, in the decorator’s opinion, the best looks for your home. One of the most important services a professional offers is sparing you the confusion of the unlimited choices available. Trust your designer’s advice and stay focused on the overall design goal.

–Give your decorator some latitude to decide for you the small details such as trims, pillows, accessories and botanicals. Your project will move forward more smoothly if (s)he doesn’t have to get your approval on every button and candle.

The last piece of advice is to give change a chance. The most dramatic changes usually come from introducing a strong new color or a different pattern. Don’t panic! We are experts at color coordination, and we work with the best painters in SW Florida to ensure you get the quality paint job your home deserves.

Just remember that all change – even vast improvement – requires a period of adjustment. Most homeowners who have selected professional decorating services for their home will be quick to tell you, “I should have done it sooner!”