Easy Interior Decorating
Interior Design Can Be Simple or Quirky, As Long As It Is Personal
May 3, 2009
Go ahead and paint that wall deep purple, like artist Frieda Kahlo, but make sure it reflects personal feelings and opinions and is not simply a statement.
Instead, items in a home, from knick-knacks on shelves to furniture to the overall colour scheme, should tell the story of the owners. Personal design could be the color of the walls, or a baby photo of the homeowner taken moments after birth, according to Marco Pasanella, designer, teacher, and author of How to Live in Style Without Losing Your Mind (Simon & Schuster, 2000)
Color
Bright, warm colours such as orange and red are generally invigorating and warming, whilst blues and greens are more calming. However, there are exceptions. Hot pink can calm the mind, whilst electric blue can create an exhilarating effect, Pasanella says.
To decide if a colour works:
- Choose a color one shade lighter than the original choice.
- Hold colour swatches vertically, rather than in the palm of the hand, which washes it out under store lights.
- Buy the smallest amount, possibly a pint, and paint a small area. Then live with the colour for a few days before committing to it.
Furniture
The layout of a house often dictates the use of an area and the best place to put furniture. For example, an overhead fixture in the dining area suggests where a table might be placed, Pasanella says, whilst the layout of a living area may very well suggest where the sofa should go.
Remember, however, that there are no hard and fast rules on furniture layout, Pasanella says. The most important thing to remember when placing furniture is to create a comfortable gathering place, mimicking the ancient habit of gathering round a fire. Rather than acquiring an indoor fire pit, instead get an interesting coffee table, he suggests, place chairs and a comfortable sofa around it, and see what happens.
Scent
The scent of a home should be derived naturally from its ingredients and activities, Pasanella says, rather than from artificial means. Scent is an extremely powerful sense that brings back memories, images, and emotions.
Instead of buying a plug-in air freshener, Pasanella suggests growing fresh herbs such as sage, basil, and thyme on the windowsill. For extra interest and scent appeal, grow a small container of rye or wheat grass, and clip the top every now and then, if there is not a pet who does it, and enjoy the scent of fresh-cut grass.
Texture
Instead of expensive flowers that quickly wilt, Pasanella suggests decorating with fruit. Put pears on the coffee table, and lemons everywhere. Bowls of lemons add architectural interest, he says, and smell lovely, in addition to being affordable.
Another favorite texture is towels. Pasanella asks readers to consider one reason hotels seem luxurious. Towels. And plenty of them. So consider adding shelves in the bathroom and stocking them with fluffy towels. Let guests revel in their presence and enjoy the luxury that stacks of towels can afford.
Living Things
Pasanella says goldfish are good for every home.
“A $2 pet has a lot to recommend it,” he says. “Cheery, cheap, and easy to care for, it also fulfills a more highbrow ideal: houses need to have living things to become more than vessels for your possessions. And a fish is a good place to start.”
In addition to sheer decorative value, fish have been proven in studies, such as those by Yankelovich Partners, to have a soporific and relaxing effect and can actually help promote a good night’s sleep, especially when placed in the bedroom or even on the bedside table.
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