LIVEN
UP YOUR LIVING SPACE
by
Colleen Moulding
If
you're unsure of the look you want, start by tearing out
magazine pictures of rooms you like. You will soon see
themes appearing. Painted wooden furniture and pale stenciled
walls, traditional mahogany or art deco or a little of
many styles blended together in your own eclectic way.
Make
room boards with pictures, paint samples and fabric
swatches to help you decide. Don't compromise. If you
can't have what you want and can't make something into
what you want, either go without for now or use an
obviously temporary solution until you can have just the
right piece. Display collections in one place.
They
have far more impact grouped together. A collection of
green glass bottles catching the evening sun on a window
ledge or in a conservatory looks far more stylish than a
couple in the bathroom, one on the mantelpiece etc.
Flowers
and plants give an instant lift to a room. Look
carefully at magazine pictures styled by professionals
and nearly every one will have a display of flowers or
plants. Ask friends for cuttings of easy plants and top
up your collection cheaply at school fairs, Summer fetes
and car boot sales. Treat your room to a bunch of
flowers from the local market whenever you can afford to
and have a look at the marvelous silk versions available
now for when you can't.
Change
furniture you don't want to replace by recovering it or
hiding it under a throw. Experiment by tucking it in
different ways before piling on cushions. Extra large
sheets and duvet covers can be ideal for this job. Easy
capacious storage can be made for your kitchen, utility
room, bathroom, bedroom, workroom or kid's room by using
inexpensive shelves or shelving units under a worktop
and hanging curtains on a tight curtain wire in front of
them.
Match
or contrast them to the window curtains and this often
looks so pretty you won't want to change it later.
Buy fairly large glass and clip frames and hang some new
prints. Museums and art galleries often have excellent
quality prints at very reasonable prices. Don't forget
to incorporate texture into your room.
Think
of a chunky cream cotton throw, sea grass matting or a
bright Indian dhurrie. A silky scarf as a bedroom wall
hanging, a glowing beeswax candle, oversized calico
curtains with large jute tie backs. A feast for the eyes
and the fingertips. Change the atmosphere of your room
overnight by changing the lighting. Dimmer switches
fitted to all your fixed lighting and lamps will make a
huge difference.
Consider
candle sconces instead of wall lights, they are very
easy to install, no wiring to worry about, and can give
quite dramatic results. Use up lighters on the floor
behind plants or to highlight a feature. Treat your
lamps to new shades. Be confident about the look you
want to go for. If you do it half heartedly it won't
work so well anyway. Be bold! You can always change the
room again if you change your mind!
©
Colleen Moulding 1999
Colleen
Moulding is a freelance writer living in the south of
England. She is also the owner/editor of All That Women
Want.com <http://www.allthatwomenwant.com>
a magazine, web guide and resource for women everywhere.
You have permission to reprint this article in your
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