Interior Decorating Making space suit your personality and needs

Definitions Interior design or decoration: the art of decorating a room so that it is attractive, easy to use, and functions well with the existing architecture. Interior designer: a person who is considered a professional in the field of interior design Design board: visual layout of all the colors, materials, features, and furnishings of a room mounted on poster board.

Window Treatments Any covering of windows in a room. Curtains: include a pulley attachment to close. Drapes: hang vertically but do not close Blinds: Many long pieces hang together to cover window. May be horizontal, wooden, or track. Shade: fabric form of blind. Valance: decorative top used with other forms of window treatment.

Curtains and Drapes

Blinds Horizontal Panel tracks Wood blinds

Shades Pleated shade Roller shade Roman shade

Valance Standard valance Cornice Scarf

Furniture Styles Furniture is an important part of making a space livable. There are many styles of furniture including Shaker, French Provincial, Modern, English, Art Deco and many others. French ShakerArt Deco English

Furniture: Sofa Variations Sofa: Cushioned seat for several people, also referred to as a couch. Sectional Sofa: Sofa comprised of several pieces. Ottoman: large foot rest for a sofa. Settee: sofa that fits 2.5 people. Chaise longue: long sofa with one arm rest.

Furniture: Storage Wardrobe or armoire: cabinet with vertical doors used for storing clothing. Chest of drawers, bureau or dresser: chest with horizontal drawers stacked. Curio cabinet or cupboard: wooden or metal cabinet with glass doors used to store collectables or dishes. Sideboard or buffet: long waist high piece of furniture used to store dishes and serve food. Other Storage: bookcase, night stand, hat rack, chest, filing cabinet, and desk. sideboard wardrobe dresser cupboard

Furniture Bedroom set: matching bed, night stands, & dresser. Hutch: two piece storage unit consisting of drawers and cabinets and a flat surface. Dining set: large table and chairs often with a matching hutch or sideboard. Others: desk, end table, coffee table, book shelves, reclining chairs, etcetera.

Other Furnishings & Accessories Technology: Entertainment center, computer equipment, home office equipment. Appliances: stove, oven, dishwasher, small kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, iron and accessories. Decorative Pieces: framed pictures, photos, or art, fabric wall hangings, art pieces, wall shelves, etcetera. Functional Furnishings: trash cans, magazine racks, step stool, hamper, toy boxes, CD or DVD racks, etc.

Floor Covering Hardwood: Thin planks of wood. Lasts for a long time, but occasional needs to be re-polished. Expensive Area Rugs: Small rugs placed on wood or carpeted floors to reduce the damage to high traffic areas Wall to Wall Carpeting: Carpeting that covers the entire floor. Usually placed on top of unfinished new floors or damaged older floors. Tile: Hard finish used in kitchens, bathrooms, and mudrooms. Can be natural stone, cultured stone, or composite materials. Cold and hard surface. Laminate: Inexpensive alternative to tile floors. Creates a smooth, easy to clean, relatively hard surface. Hardwood & Area Rug Wall to Wall Tile Laminate

Color The color of the room and furnishings can alter the mood of individuals in the room. Red and orange are busy colors and give a room a sense of energy. Green and blue are calming and relaxing. Yellow is cheering and happy. Earth tones (brown, tan, gray etc.) are neutral and affect mood less than other colors. Light colors make a room feel larger. Dark colors make a room feel smaller.

Color Schemes Rooms are more aesthetically appealing when colors follow one of these schemes. Monochromatic: several shades of one color. Analogous: two or more colors used that appear next to each other on the color wheel. Complementary: two colors directly across from each other on the wheel. Triad: three colors evenly placed around the color wheel. Shade: a dark color Tint: a light color