

	Interior Decorating Information

You Know Your Home Décor is Frumpy and Stale when?.

As a decorator, I have gone into many different homes and met homeowners with questionable taste. One thing I am shocked about is people living in a time warp. I recently had a client who hired me because they had an "ah- ha moment" seeing their living room style on a circa 1980's sit-com rerun. Yes, their living room had not been restyled in 25 years. Sometimes people just decorate like their mother did because that is all they have ever known. Let's not be frumpy and stale.

So how can you tell if you are living in a time warp and need to freshen up your home's look? Here are just a few of the telltale signs:

Look up. What do you see? If you see a popcorn ceiling or glitter mixed with ceiling paint, you have an outdated look.

Now, look down. Do you see dark carpeting? over 10 years old? Do you see wall to wall plush carpeting? The trend is most definitely hardwood floors with gorgeous area rugs

Look to the side. Do you see any fake wood paneling whatsoever? The darker and shinier it is, the worse it is. No paneling!

What do you see on the wall? Please don't tell me that you see white paint. The trend is color, color, and color. Don't be bland! A rich complex color can bring your room up to the new

If you removed a picture from the wall, will there be a telltale sign that it hung in that exact spot too long? Paint fades over the years, ya know. Be sure to change the accessories around every few years. I bet that picture is hung way too high also. Is it hung more than 6 inches from the top of the sofa? See told ya.

Do you have over 5 photographs of children who are now grown? Subtract points if the frames are all different types and sizes.

How about the furniture? Is it lumpy and bumpy (formally known as cascade back style)? It reminds me of rolls of fat. Yuck! The updated look it smooth sleek lines with classic styling. Toss it to the curb with its buddy, the extra large lazy-people recliner.

Speaking of the couch, please don't let me see a knitted afghan folded over the back of the sofa. I love things made by Grandma too but it doesn't need to be the focal point. It is no longer fashionable to place a folded blanket of any kind over the back of the couch.

How about the accent pillows? The old style of placing matching pillows at each end of the couch is dated too - just because they came with the couch doesn't mean you have to use them. Spice it up with pillows of contrasting colors, unique motifs, and hip textures.

Let's check out the kitchen. This is an easy room to tell if is out of date. On the floor, do you have bold geometric vinyl? Are your appliances harvest gold or avocado? Do your cupboards lack character? Do they have their original knobs and pulls? Are the counters a color like 70's Brady Bunch orange or even 80's country blue? It really pays to redo a kitchen but if you can't right now, update the knobs, get a rug, and gallons of paint. And the bonus question:

11. On your bathroom counter, is there a grouping of lotions and potions? The big pump bottle of everyday moisturizer? On your bedroom dresser, you don't have your collection of perfume bottles of scents you haven't worn in several years, do you? Don't you remember your mother doing this? Let's not decorate how mom did.

Now you know if your décor is frumpy and stale. You also know a few ways to make it fresh. Next, how about those pleated slacks?

Julie Dana is a professional Interior Redesigner and Accredited Staging Professional. Her company, The Home Stylist, offers online decorating consultations, do-it-yourself decorating plans and real-estate staging. Visit http://www.thehomestylist.com to take a fun style quiz, vote on a color poll, and sign up for free decorating e-newsletter.

MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES

A Unique Look at Murphy Wall Beds
California has always been a fertile spot for fresh ideas, including the ultimate space-savers and instant room transformers - Murphy wall beds. Invented around 1900 by San Francisco resident, William L.

Three Ways to Add Charm and Style to Your Kitchen
I like decorating my kitchen with a cozy, warm, inviting, homey feeling to it. Usually I'm fighting for all the space I can get in my kitchen too.

Bar Stools and Counter Stools Complete Your Space
There is something to be said about a space that has been lovingly designed down to the very last detail. Oftentimes, it is the small details, not the large pieces of furnishings, which truly tie a room together and make it work.

A Look at Faux Wood Blinds
For those who want the warmth of wood, but are concerned with wood damage, faux-wood blinds may b e the answer. They are made of artificial materials but are designed to look just like real wood blinds.

Couch Slipcovers - An Easy Way to Give Old Furniture a Stylish New Image!
Fitting new couch slipcovers is a great way to instantly disguise worn or outdated upholstery, for not much effort or expense. Ready made slipcovers are designed to be really easy to fit over your old couches or chairs, giving them a fresh new look within just a few minutes.

Where to Find Unique Shower Curtains
Once upon a time, shower curtains were functional? and they were boring. Not today.

Make Simple Curtains and Valance for any Window
Making a quick set of curtains and a valance is something that you can do even if you don't have much sewing experience. It's just a matter of thinking through the process and calculating for fabric needed and knowing how to use a sewing machine.

How Curtains Can Change the Look of Your Home
The roles of curtains have changed. At one time they were used to retain heat, block cold air, control sunlight and provide privacy.

Choose The Right Colors and Placement For Your Flowers
Some people have a natural artistic ability when it comes to home décor and design but for most of us we need a little help. A few simple tips on what type of floral arrangements and colors can go a long way in making your home beautiful.

A Look at Edible Fruit Baskets
By their very nature, all fruit baskets, especially the original ones, qualify as edible fruit baskets. After all, when a fruit basket was filled with nothing but fruit, by definition everything in them was edible and therefore qualified as an edible fruit basket.

A Review of Popular Wood Stove Manufacturers
There are several world renowned wood stove manufacturers that make a wide range of quality products. Some companies specialize in making traditional wood stoves while other make cutting edge stoves with new and technologically advanced features.

Common Waterbed Sheet Materials
Several materials are used to make waterbed sheets. Waterbed owners can choose between many different fabric options when buying sheets.

Mission Style Lighting - Its Timeless Beauty Continues
If you ask most people to tell you about Mission Style lighting you are likely to be met with a blank stare and shrugged shoulders. But, if you ask these same people if they have ever heard of the Arts & Crafts Style, you are probably going to see a lot more recognize this term.

The Magic of Design
There was a time people thought the world was flat. At another point in history it was believed that women didn't have the know-how to run a business or change a tire.

A Look at Plantation Shutters
When potential buyers are looking at a home, many upgrades get their attention. Floor tile, fireplace, and tile backsplash are some popular additions to a home.

Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes
Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks.

Choosing Conservatory Furniture
Conservatories are such lovely and serene rooms that homeowners want to spend a lot of time in them. However, you cannot enjoy your conservatory very easily without choosing conservatory furniture.

Rug - Snug as a Bug!
Rugs are a great way to decoratively cover a floor. Whether you have carpet, tile or hardwood, a rug can protect your floor and add a designer's touch to it! Since rugs are more interchangeable than the base flooring, you can change the rugs and change the whole look of a room.

Contemporary Grandfather Clocks
The name "grandfather clock" instantly conjures up images of a dark, musty room, grandpa sitting in his rocking chair, smoking a pipe. Curls of woodsy smelling smoke drift across the room as his faithful old clock strikes the hour.

Finding Discount Waterbed Sheets
Consumers may be led to believe that waterbed sheets are more expensive than conventional sheets, but this is not true. Cheap waterbed sheets are easy to come by.