12
Beautify Your Surroundings By Kathy Mays, Interior Designer Cushions, Pillows, Rugs & Panels
Warm weather is here and living in San Diego means summertime visitors! Are you ready to spruce up your home? If so, then start to think about changing out accessories like cushions, pillows, rugs and panels. These are all great items that can refresh and renew your home in, inexpensive and delightful ways. • Think Bright Colors, Textures and Patterns When You Spruce Up For Summer. • Recover, Reupholster or Simply, Add New Cushions to Your Dining and Outdoor Chairs. • Roll up Dark Heavy Area Rugs from Fall & Rollout Fresh Light Crisp Colors of Summer. • Add Different Pillows Sizes & Shapes with Color to Give your Sofa Dimension & Style. • Consider Adding Lightweight Sheers or Panels over existing Shutters or Blinds.
Whether you’re remodeling or rearranging your furniture decide ahead of time what’s most important to you. Each situation may be different but I promise you the process is the same. 1. Prioritize what you want to change. Start with whatever is most important to you. Be honest with yourself & don’t take on too much at one time. Ex: Start with one room. 2. Set a deadline to Start & Stop your Project. This will get you moving and out of overwhelm and on your way. You can always extend the date, but be sure to schedule a start date. 3. Decide on a Direction, Theme, or Color way. Create a plan that flows with the rest of the room, space, home or office. This holds true for any project, including redesign. 4. Create a Realistic Budget. If you are remodeling do your homework. To start, get 3 estimates to compare what Contractor / Designer suits both your budget and style best. 5. Don’t Wait, Don’t Vacillate. Give yourself 3 options to choose from. Be sure to include 1 idea that you’re pretty certain you’ll toss out. This makes the elimination process that much easier. Now you only have to choose between 2 out of the 3 choices. 6. Take Action! This is by far my best advice. Many people are afraid of making the wrong decision. Follow your instinct, you may not make a prize winning decision, but you will decide on something you feel suits you and your style. At the end of the day that is what really matters and you’re one step closer in making your home your own!
How to Shop for Accessories for your Home
When shopping for new accessories for your home, it’s important to keep in mind color and proportion, balance, harmony & style. It’s even better if you take a picture with you. Make it easy on yourself and follow these 5 simple style solutions. Quick changes like these can make your home feel instantly lighter, 1. Create a color palette. Look at the colors in the room. Build your brighter and more current. So put away last season’s dark colors and palette around the most dominate colors unless of course the room is brighten up your home with the fresh new crisp, clean colors of monochromatic. Then you will want to add contrasting colors to give Summer! the room a pop of color. This will add life to the space. 2. Take something with colors of the Room with you to shop. If Good Interior Design is a Process you’re looking for accessories for your living or family room, take a In almost everything we do there is a process. The same holds true throw pillow from the sofa with you. This is a good item to carry along with good Interior Design. If you want to start a project of your own because it’s usually small and it will normally have the colors that and are not sure where to start, follow these 6 simple suggestions match the sofa already in it. If it doesn’t you may want to consider to help you break it down and break through from your concept to shopping for new throw pillows to tie the two together. completion. 3. Purchase accessories with intention. All too often I see lots of little “dust collector” items on a fireplace mantle. Visually, everything on the mantle now looks very small and cluttered. Take the proportion of the accessory size in account to the size you are placing the item on. Size does matter and lastly remember less is more when it comes to your mantle. Be sure to purchase what you purchase with intention. 4. Choose items that make a statement. Whether you choose a single item or a collection, choose an item that stands well on its own or items that work 760.587.7533 well together in a collection or group. This can be done seasonally and add variety to your home. 5. Trust your fashion style. As an Interior Designer and former Image Consultant, I’ve found that your fashion style diNatural Stone. Glass Tile. Porcelain. Mosaic. Granite rectly correlates to your home style. Ask yourself what is my fashion style? Are you casual, contemporary, classic, eclectic, romantic or a combination of a couple? Now, look around at your furniture and furnishings. Begin to notice many of the same colors, patterns and textures are Online Gallery www.ironstonetile.com there as well. That is because you find yourself most comfortable wearing and living in your own style. This is a simple yet effective way to be true to yourself, shop with confidence and in your own personal style! LIC# 957690