I have been out of town all week, visiting my daughter in KC. She is in the process of moving from a large house to a townhouse. As is probably true of most moves, there were a number of surprises each followed by a necessary decision.
I must admit that I was thrilled with her home choice. We went furniture and accessory shopping prior to her move. Then spent the evening after the truck was emptied, planning and discussing the perfect place for each piece.
I guess the thing I found most interesting about the entire process, is that she kept saying that she felt overwhelmed as she stared at the tan walls and carpet. However, I was so excited! A blank slate with clean fresh walls . . . oh, the potential. It made me think about the various ways we each approach redecorating or remodeling, or the adventure of a major move. For some, we can hardly wait to get out our idea books, go shopping, and start creating. For others, we are frozen in our tracks with no idea of where to begin.
So, I thought it might be fun to dialogue about your thoughts on the subject.
Where do you begin?
* Your favorite color
* An heirloom
* A cherished piece of furniture
* A beautiful accessory
Where do you go for ideas?
* Your favorite store
* Magazines
* Model homes
* Friends homes
I would love to hear your suggestions, success stories, and struggles. I can’t wait to get your helpful hints and ideas.
1. All of the above!! Depending on the room, and my mood, I draw inspiration from various sources.
If you truly are starting from scratch regarding furniture and accessories, a great place to start is an area rug. You can then plan your color scheme, and feel of the room based on the colors and patterns in the rug.
A favorite piece or family heirloom are also good starting points to build from. For those who are not creative, or who aren’t coming up with their own ideas flipping through magazines or visiting model homes are good ways to get inspiration and ideas.
by Shawn — 3/31/08 at 12:14 pm #
2. Shawn,
I loved your suggestions! My daughter found a fabulous piece of art for her wall. It is a metal sculpture which includes a number of different colors. So, the next thing we did was find an area rug that complimented it. I am so anxious for her to get the room finished so we can get pictures to show off the completed product. Thanks for your ideas.
Deb
by Deb — 4/1/08 at 10:39 am #
3. Clean slate, well first stop should be a homegoods store for sure.A peice of pottery , rug a chair may be all you need to get you going.. then go back each week and keep building on it.. I have decorated one house and 3 apartments from tjmax and homegoods..good luck.
by amy king — 4/1/08 at 12:44 pm #
4. Amy,
I like the way you think!
Deb
by Deb — 4/1/08 at 6:13 pm #
5. I really like to watch the HGTV shows that talk about decorating without spending a lot of money. I’m 21, a student, and I have a whole house to do– I definitely understand the “overwhelming” thing! I find that it’s best to invest in the basics when it comes to big furniture items, such as dining room tables, and then bringing color and style in with the accessories. I think one of the most important things in any accessory is that it expresses who I am, whether that’s through color, theme, or even personal photographs. Right now, in my dining room, I’m REALLY down to the basics– my walls are beige and I have a basic dining set in dark wood with 6 plain chairs. That stuff will stay with me for a very long time, but I can change my look so easily (and inexpensively) with accessories on the walls, slipcovers for my chairs, etc. That’s why I love Home Goods– whenever I need a change, a couple of wall hangings and a throw pillow can make any room look fresh. Next month, I’m going to get REALLY ambitious and try to figure out how to do window treatments!
Katy
by Katy — 4/2/08 at 3:24 pm #
6. That’s great Katy,
You have wonderful thoughts. You have said that you are a student . . . are you studying design by any chance? I can tell that your home now and those in the future are going to be a lovely reflection of you. Thanks for sharing with us.
Deb
by Deb — 4/2/08 at 4:40 pm #