New Ideas for Decorating Your Home

If you’re looking for “new” ideas for decorating your home; where “new” means trendy and fashionably current rather than simply “different” from what you currently have, you should be aware of something.   What’s new can quickly become old.

In the middle of the last century a “new” idea was to paint an entire room the same color – usually a neutral off white or beige.  It didn’t take long for some to recognise the similarity between that color scheme and a hospital environment and new became old.   A few decades ago, light stained hardwood floors went out of fashion, and now they’re back.  Dark stained kitchen cabinetry was in and light stains were out and now the tables have turned.  And who can forget those lovely gold and avocado colored appliances of the late 1950s?

Home decorating should reflect the personality and values of the homeowners.  If you want to make a statement to your guests that you are up on the latest trends, attend a few trade shows and scour the high fashion magazines for the latest ideas.  Just be prepared to do a lot of redecorating over the years to keep up!

One current trend that bears mentioning is the use of multi-texture wall panels.  These are not like the uniform simulated wood paneling of old; they frequently feature a natural stone look with an almost 3D effect achieved by the mixture of texture, depth, and color variation.

Another current trend you might be interested in is using fabric as wall coverings.  Basically this is the same as wallpapering; only you’re using fabric instead of paper.  Fabrics provide a wide variety of colors and the patterns on cloth give a depth and texture wallpaper can’t match.  Walls need to be prepared in the same way they would for wallpaper and some wallpaper pastes are suitable for use with fabrics.  Many like to use the fabric below or above chair rail molding in combination with a coordinated paint color.  For a more dramatic effect, consider making window treatments from the same fabric used on the walls.  As a final tip, most bed sheets will work fine, affording a lower cost option.

There’s another trend that’s been around awhile that is more “function than form.”  For those unfamiliar with architectural language, the function of a structure is the way it will be used while its form is the physical appearance needed to support the function.

More and more homeowners are creating “multi-functional” rooms.  As an example, if you have a guest bedroom you can add the function of a den or study to the room by removing the bed and replacing it with a sleeper sofa or day bed.  Thus the room can be used to accommodate an overnight visitor while at the same time functioning as a private getaway for members of the family.

Turning living rooms into family oriented entertainment centers is another example.   Space permitting, this is simply a matter of adding a formal entertainment center cabinet and organising the furniture of the room around it.

For those who are able to undertake a major home renovation, the ultimate in multi-function is to combine the lounge room with the kitchen to create a “great room.”  In some homes the kitchen adjoins a bedroom and if construction permits, walls can be removed to combine the two into a dramatic space that combines two of the most pleasant of all human activities:  eating and relaxing!