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Cat Decor - Finding the Beauty in Cat Decorating
Interior Decorating for Cat Owners Part 3: The Beauty of Cat Decor For the most part cat décor is less about being beautiful and more about keeping your pet safe and comfortable. However there are so many manufacturers of cat ...

Create an Underwater Adventure in Your Child’s Room
(ARA) – Decorating a child’s room can be a challenge. You want to create a room that reflects your child’s growth and personality throughout the years, without breaking the piggybank each time they have a new whim. “Winnie the Pooh is a...

Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees
Putting up and decorating your Christmas tree is a holiday tradition which has been in effect for hundreds of years and will probably be in effect until the end of time. Choosing whether you want a real Christmas tree or an artificial Christmas tree...

The art of home decoration
If you would have your rooms interesting as well as beautiful, make them say something, give them a spinal column by keeping all ornamentation subservient to line. Before you buy anything, try to imagine how you want each room to look when...

Using Window Coverings to Enlighten your Home
1.Start with one room at a time. There may be the temptation, especially when moving into a new home, to decorate all of the rooms at once. This takes far too much energy and can sap your creative juices, leaving the decorating flat and less...

 
Balanced Decorating

Think about it. Have you ever worn a sandal on one foot and a boot on the other? No? Then have you tried wearing a black leather glove on one hand with a red wool mitten on the other? Okay, probably not. Since our bodies have lots of pairs we tend to feel most comfortable when we wear matching pieces of clothing or accessories. Doing that gives our physical appearance the symmetry to which we all innately gravitate. The same concept applies to our homes. Every room looks better and feels more balanced if it is decorated with matching pairs.

One of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is, “My home needs help. Nothing feels pulled together!" The reason is simple: Most people aren't aware of the importance of balance when it comes to interior decorating. They may obsess about finding the perfect paint, the furniture style that truly represents their personality, or the fabric that will wear best on their sofas and chairs. And yet, it never occurs to them that adding pairs to their house or apartment will make the space feel less chaotic.

And it is not just my clients who are seeking more tranquility. All across the country the trend toward creating a more Zen-like environment has been gaining momentum over the course of the last decade. People are paring down their possessions in an attempt to create a more relaxing environment. They want to be able to roll out their yoga mat and stretch, and then sit down comfortably to meditate without being distracted. They want to be mindful of their breathing, not the decorating dilemmas that make them uncomfortable in their own home.

If you think your rooms are not as good-looking as you would like but you haven’t been able to figure out what is wrong with them, chances are your place is off-balance. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can fix this common mistake without spending money.

Start by reuniting any pairs you have separated. Just remember: couples belong together. If you have separated pairs of any kind -- for example, putting one in the living room and the other in the bedroom -- get them back together in the room where they will look their best and be most functional. And don’t be afraid that if you add lots of pairs, your room will be boring. I have used up to twenty pairs in a very large room and they looked fabulous. Just remember "Imelda's Rule:" you can never have too many pairs. (And, no, displaying lots of shoes doesn’t count!)

If, for example, you have one standing metal lamp next to the sofa in your living room and its mate is in


the den, bring the pair of lamps together and place them at either end of your sofa. Or, if you have a pair of table lamps, that have been separated, display them on matching end tables. Doing that will automatically make your room look and feel more balanced, will improve the general lighting, and will provide an additional place for someone to sit and read comfortably.

Keep in mind that any pair, no matter what kind it is, will help balance a room. If you don’t happen to have any to work with, you can sometimes create a pair. For example, if you have two different brass lamps and you want them to look like a pair, simply add new, matching shades. The fresh shades will fool the eye into thinking they are a pair. And if one lamp is a bit shorter than the other just place a few large art books underneath the shorter one until the tops of both lamps are level with each other. Voilà, you have a pair!

Some other ways to add pairs: Flank a sofa with a pair of chairs to create a balanced and intimate U-shaped conversation area or place the chairs side by side across from the sofa to provide an easy, face-to-face place to chat. Display a pair of urns or a pair of vases on top of a fireplace mantle or add balance with a pair of prints, framed identically and hung side by side. Pairs of figurines, candlesticks, bookends -- you probably have lots of pairs around your house that you can use to add balance to your rooms.

Remember Noah who was told by a higher authority to get two of every kind of animal for his ark? Well, take it from the top: Bring the pairs you already have together and you will quickly and easily make your house or apartment feel balanced and more restful without having to buy new furnishings.

Copyright © 2005 Lauri Ward



About the author:
Lauri Ward, the author of Home Therapy (September 22, 2005; Putnam; $34.95US/$49.00CAN; 0-399-15296-2), Use What You Have® Decorating and Trade Secrets from Use What You Have® Decorating, is the founder of Use What You Have®, Inc., and the Interior Refiners Network®. She has appeared frequently on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Today, and ABC Evening News, among other programs, and on HGTV, the Discovery Channel, and Fox television. Ward, who has been featured in The New York Times, House Beautiful, Elle, Inspired House, and other magazines and newspapers, lives in New York City and Boca Raton, Florida. Visit her website at www.redecorate.com




 

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Content Menu
  • 10 home decorating ideas to quickly update any room

  • 10 tips for a window coverings makeover

  • 12 considerations when choosing contemporary lighting

  • 20th century home decorating guide

  • 3 kinds of wood used in real wood furniture

  • 5 essential factors of a good bedroom design

  • 5 external climatic factors that affect an interior design project

  • 5 fast ideas to freshen the look of your room

  • 5 most popular styles of christmas ornaments

  • 5 things your christmas table should not be without

  • 5 top bathroom decorating style ideas

  • 6 factors that affect a bedroom design project

  • 6 ways to use an area rug

  • 6 ways to use contemporary area rugs in your home decor

  • 9 ways to inexpensively decorate your bathroom

  • add some pizzazz to your powder room

  • an introduction to shutters

  • an overview of commonly used materials in interior design

  • area rug buyers guide

  • are your houseplants safe

  • art prints for home decorating

  • a beautiful carpet sets the mood of any room

  • a guide to choosing the right closet

  • a guide to interior shutters

  • a study of furniture elements for smaller bedrooms

  • balanced decorating

  • basic furniture and its place in design

  • beautifying your home

  • breaking away from white paint walls

  • building closet organizers

  • building or decorating your home requires house plans

  • buying custom wood blinds

  • carpet takes center stage

  • cat decorating protecting your pet

  • cat decor finding the beauty in cat decorating

  • ceiling medallions crown molding and ceiling domes 3 ways to add elegance and beauty to any room

  • chill out with a quality ceiling fan

  • choosing beautiful furniture for you home

  • christmas decorating ideas

  • classic home decorating with empire furniture

  • consider sunroom plans for a luxury addition

  • consult interior designer for flooring

  • country home accessories

  • cozyin up to winter

  • create an underwater adventure in your childs room

  • creating unique details with wallpaper borders decorating with wallpaper

  • decorating a childs room to look like a mysterious jungle and teaching them something too

  • decorating a comfort zone

  • decorating for thanksgiving budget friendly decor for the holiday

  • decorating frugally

  • decorating then make a smart flooring choice

  • decorating toolbox 101

  • decorating to sell a house by meeting three key needs

  • decorating transit areas

  • decorating where theres a will theres a way

  • decorating with authentic zebra decor

  • decorating with interior shutters

  • decorating with table fountains

  • decorating your entrance foyer

  • decorating your home 5 style tips that cost less than 50

  • decor for cats protecting your home

  • decor for cat owners protecting your posessions

  • dummies guide to interior design color schemes

  • eastern influences on western interiors japanese decor part i of ii color texture and contrast display

  • elements of interior design

  • emphasize your decor style in seven easy ways

  • empire furniture for home decorating

  • extending the living space outdoors working with color

  • exterior paint schemes for historical houses

  • five tips for helping your guests feel at home

  • five ways to create a healthy home

  • floral futon covers

  • four decorative painting techniques

  • from toss out to sensational keeper lamp re make

  • furnishing and decorating your own home

  • furniture placement secrets

  • furniture styles for your home decorating ideas

  • get your home ready for the holidays

  • granite countertops an overview

  • hand painted furniture the must have home furnishings of the season

  • hardwood floors for interior design and for home decorating

  • have you considered these space saving bed designs to maximize your interior decorating space

  • help choosing door and window hardware

  • heres why interior decorating makes a statement about you

  • holiday decorating can cast a warm glow all year

  • holiday decorating tips christmas candles

  • holiday decorating tips thanksgiving a time for gratitude and giving

  • home decorating ideas for different furniture styles

  • home fragrance in vogue

  • home furnishing and decorating your home with designs

  • home improvements planning

  • home improvement projects that really pay off

  • home interior decorating

  • how do home furnishing experts study an interior space

  • how do i finalize budget for my bedroom design project

  • how to achieve indirect lighting in interior design

  • how to change a rooms dimension using wall pictures

  • how to choose a safe color to paint your rooms

  • how to decorate ethnic

  • how to decorate your home on ebay

  • how to extend your living space outdoors working with color

  • how to generate ideas for your bedroom design

  • how to lend your home a rustic decor theme

  • how to use accessories in a bedroom decorating project

  • how to use picture frames to decorate an interior space

  • how to use wall finishes in a bedroom design project

  • ideas for closet organizers

  • ideas for your interior christmas decorating

  • index

  • interior decorating and home decor needs

  • interior decorating and home decor with inuit art from the arctic north

  • interior decorating and home decor with native american indian art

  • interior decorating for cat owners

  • interior decorating themes

  • interior decorating themes whats your decorating style

  • interior designing

  • interior design for cat owners

  • in the mood

  • its easy being green at home

  • its spring lets decorate

  • it s spring let s decorate

  • keep your yard ornamental with sago palm care

  • landscaping how does your garden grow

  • leather is a great choice in your decor

  • log cabin living soften the decor with fabric artwork and plants

  • make your house feel more like a home

  • new decor for a new year

  • new trends in design and comfortable living

  • new trends in design comfortable living

  • not only should ones bedroom be a refuge but it should also be a sanctuary

  • one way to create extra space in your home is with closet organizers

  • optical illusions of interior decorating how to make the most of your living space

  • practical feng shui debunking the myths and finding out what we can actually learn from the ancients

  • prefabricated homes primer

  • principles of interior design

  • putting passion back into home decorating

  • real vs artificial christmas trees

  • roman shades give old house a rich look

  • rotator

  • selecting bean bag chairs to suit your home decor

  • selling your home dont be a victim

  • seven ways to emphasize a decor style

  • shag area rugs a great way to create a safe and easy to clean home

  • shag area rugs one of the most popular floor coverings around

  • simplicity with your home wall decor

  • smarten your interiors

  • stair rail decorating ideas

  • staying in tune with the change of season

  • study of

  • study of interior design as a reflection of the mind

  • style and perfection in home decoration with plantation shutters

  • style elegance of shutters and safety of hurricane shutters

  • style on a budget simple changes dramatic results

  • style your home with decorative plantation shutters

  • tasteful home decorating changes your house into a home

  • ten tips to ensure that you choose the right carpet for your home or office

  • the art of home decoration

  • the art of selecting your homes art

  • the beauty of a contemporary ceiling fan

  • the benefits of exterior shutters

  • the benefits of wood blinds

  • the concept of dynamic space in bedroom design

  • the concept of positive and negative spaces in interior design

  • the four essential tips to consider before choosing flooring for your home

  • the importance of bedroom design in a home decoration project

  • the importance of lighting in an interior design project

  • the latest flower trends in interior decorating for your home office

  • the magic of color

  • the magic of using wooden window blinds

  • the new stone in technical ceramics for interior decorating ideas

  • the oriental vs contemporary bedroom design theory

  • the truth about color schemes in an interior design project

  • the two pillars of a successful interior design project

  • the ultimate yard sale guide for home decorators

  • things to consider when purchasing sunroom kits

  • thinking about home improvement then heres a checklist

  • three easy home improvements for under 100 00

  • tips for buying sunroom kits

  • tips on budget decorating

  • too much stuff syndrome or how decorating and organizing can help your sanity

  • tuscan style decorating three essentials

  • use outdoor rugs to decorate your outdoor space

  • using window coverings to enlighten your home

  • wallpaper doesnt just cover it defines the room

  • warm your home with a taste of the tropics

  • whack o matic

  • whats old is new again

  • what does it take to be an interior designer

  • what is a platform bed

  • what should you know about house flooring

  • what to consider before you start decorating your home

  • where to find discount home furnishings

  • window blinds and curtains top decorating tips

  • window curtains help with adding more privacy to your home