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Decorating 101: Shapes

May 2, 2012 By creatingyourspace Leave a Comment

This vignette on a mantel illustrates the importance of using a variety of shapes in decorating. While all of the objects on the mantel are white, their shapes give them each a unique visual interest. Varying shapes as well as size can create a dynamic design in a room or in a vignette on a table, shelf or mantel.

 

Having a range of shapes in a vignette or room adds variety to the lines of the furniture and accessories.  Long rectangular sofas with square or round cushions are a good example of using different shapes in furniture and accents.  If a room is dominated by rectangles in the furniture and area rugs, round and curving lines of circles can be brought in with accents and patterns. Using a round coffee table is an easy way to break up all the straight lines of sofas and chairs.

 

A round area rug in a living room, or a rectangular rug under a round table in the dining room, is a great way to introduce a new shape to the space.  Runners and area rugs are often rectangles but can be found in squares and circles as well.

 

Vases, bowls and other tabletop accessories are a great way to introduce or repeat shapes in a room.  Grouping items by color rather than by shape will put the focus on the unique shape of each object. This can be done with glass or pottery collections. Variety of shapes and sizes is the key to creating interesting vignettes and rooms.

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Filed Under: Hints & Tips, Interior Finishes Tagged With: decorating, decorating with shapes, from the floors up, home, home decor, home decor inspiration, home decor tips, home vignettes, room decor, vignettes in decor

How to Make a Small Home Feel Larger

March 5, 2012 By creatingyourspace Leave a Comment

Having a large home is a luxury that most people aspire to obtain. However, we live in a time of economic uncertainty where buying or upgrading to a larger home is not an option for most Americans. Having the home of your dreams maybe have to be put on hold, but don’t feel stuck in your current living situation. Chances are your home is a suitable size for your needs; you just need to take some manageable steps to make it feel larger. Here are few tips for creating the feel of having more space without the cost of adding a new room or buying a new house.

One factor that determines how large a home feels the “diagonal view”, or the line of vision that extends from one corner of the house to another. The farther that your eye can see inside a house, the larger that house will feel. A house can have a lot of square footage, but if every room is divided by walls that limit your line of vision the house will feel small. Removing a wall, widening an entrance, or cutting a window in a wall to connect two rooms can go a long way in creating the illusion of having more space.

A more inexpensive option to create more space is removing clutter around the house. Piles of unneeded and used items lining walls or sitting in corners quickly make a room feel crowded and small. Unnecessary furniture and wall-hangings can have the same effect. Keeping a clean, uncluttered home works wonders in creating the illusion of more space.

Furniture takes up the most space in a home and should therefore be given the most thought to make sure you don’t waste space. When choosing furniture try to put larger pieces along the wall to maximize space in the center of the room. Eliminate furniture that is not functional or is simply collecting dust.  Consider hanging your TV on the wall instead of adding an extra piece of furniture to set it on.

Paint your walls with lighter colors. Dark colors make a room feel small and cozy. Using a cream or other light color will open up a room and give the feeling of more space. Using natural light to brighten rooms also gives the feel of more space. Skip the extra costs involved in moving to a new house and make the house you’ve got feel larger.

Guest author Derek Dasher writes for http://www.topalarmsystem.com.                        Derek enjoys writing about home improvement and design

 

 

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Filed Under: Hints & Tips Tagged With: home decor tips, home tips, make your house seem larger, room decor, unclutter your home

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