Simple Decorating Ideas for Your Home

You may be starting to think that the decorating touches you've enjoyed during the last few months look out of place now. Some easy changes for your home décor can make a big difference.

Now is the time to remove the outdated slipcovers, the dusty floral touches, and the clutter that may have accumulated over the past few months.

Repurpose What You Already Own
Look at your room. Is there anything that you are tired of or that just doesn't fit your needs anymore? Would that chair work better in a bedroom? Think about traffic flow. Is someone always tripping over the coffee table? Are there things that you simply overlook that are past their prime? Maybe it's time to get rid of some of those things or update them with fresh fabric or a coat of paint.

Rearrange Furniture for a Fresh Look
Move chairs into conversation groups. Angle a sofa away from the wall at 45 degrees. Place a floor lamp behind it for a warm glow. Make sure each seat has a convenient table nearby to place a drink or a book. Think about the comfort of the people using the room and about making it feel cozy.

Add Accessories
After you have the furniture arranged to suit you, you can add pillows, throws, and other accessories to give it a warm, homey feel. If your throw pillows look a little tired, consider tying scarves or other fabric around them to give them a new look. Wrap the pillow like a package and tie the ends together. You can also use safety pins, hot glue, or even staples to secure the fabric in place. However, consider how permanent you want the new look to be and if you would like to use the fabric again for another use before doing something that could cause permanent damage.

Bring in Some Deep Color
Adding a few new accessories to a room can give it an entirely different feel. For fall and winter, think about using a few new items in a deeper shade of the colors already in your room. For instance, if your walls are painted a creamy yellow, consider orange, rust, brown, or mustard as accents. Also consider how the new colors will look with everything you plan to keep. Or you can add a deep shade of a complimentary color. In the yellow room this might be a deep violet. Candles and flowers are inexpensive ways to add color.

Use Texture to Warm up the Room
Loosely woven throws in deep colors, a basket of pine cones and long cinnamon sticks on the fireplace hearth, or a throw rug woven with a bouclé yarn can add new rough textures to the room and bring in a welcoming, warm atmosphere.

As suggested by British craftsman William Morris, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Following that guideline will produce rooms that reflect your personality and are rooms you enjoy living in.  By Linda Nelson

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