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Avoiding Pitfalls in Home Decorating

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Contributed by: Terry Marvin on 10/15/2007

If redecorating your home for the holidays is on your wish list, before starting your project, beware of "the pitfalls in home decorating." Cathy Beaman, décor designer and Decor & You franchise owner, offers the following decorating tips to ensure a successful outcome for your "holiday home makeover."

Before You Start

First and foremost, proper planning and asking yourself the right questions will help you avoid making some of the most common decorating mistakes. You can fit most questions into two basic categories.

•Define the Project

Take the time to clearly define what you want to achieve and what limits you might want to work within. A well designed interior space must be functional and comfortable, as well as beautiful. Don't attempt to do too much at once. Try finishing one entire room at a time rather than working on multiple rooms. Consider and plan how each room will flow into the next room. The transition from room to room must flow naturally and have a cohesive feel.

Complete any pre-decorating work, such as painting and replacing flooring before you move on to selecting fabrics, furniture and accessories.

Before starting any decorating project, ask yourself the following questions:
•Who will use the space and what activities will take place there?
•What do you like about the space now? Is there anything specific that does not work?
•What look and feel do you want the space to have?
•Are there special decorating challenges you will need to address, such a room with an unusual shape?
•What color scheme will you use?
•What kinds of fabrics and patterns appeal to you?
•Do you like simple lines or more elaborate designs?

•Decide on Your Priorities and Budget

Once you know what you want to accomplish, it is important to set priorities and establish your budget.
•Decide what changes you need to have and which would be nice to have.
•Determine if you need some kind of financing.
•If necessary, complete your decorating project in phases.
•If you plan to relocate within a year or two, use your budget dollars wisely and spend more on those items you can take with you (such as furniture and accessories) and less on items, such as window treatments.

Getting Started

There's one final hurdle to jump before actually pulling the trigger on any decorating project - and that is weighing the pros and cons of doing it yourself or seeking the help of a professional interior decorator.

•Doing it Yourself

If you plan to tackle the project on your own, you will need to:
•Have the time, knowledge and willingness to manage the project;
•Be willing to shop multiple vendors, place and follow up on orders, and deal with any delivery problems;
•Know how to select furniture that is the proper style and scale for what you want to accomplish; and
•Have the ability and organizational skills to handle multiple and sometimes complicated details.

•Using An Interior Decorator

By choosing to use a professional interior decorator, you avoid the "pitfalls" sometimes associated with decorating projects.
•You can find suitable designers on many internet sites, such as the Interior Design Directory (i-d-d.com), the yellow pages or advertisements in local publications.
•A good designer will listen and ask lots of questions.
•Choose the interior decorator you feel will best work with you to bring your dream to reality.

Cathy Beaman owns a Decor & You franchise in Simi Valley, California. To learn more about her decorating business, or to begin learning about franchise opportunities with Decor & You, please call Cathy at 805-526-4171.

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Terry Marvin

Simi Valley , CA

Terry Marvin has posted 23 stories and 0 comments since joining on 10/4/2006. Terry Marvin 's average story rating is 3.78.

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