Home Decorating For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Description

Want to be your own decorator? Design on a dime with Dummies! Home Decorating For Dummies packs all the information you need to know about décor into one easy-to-read source. Whether you want to decorate one room or make over the whole house, this book has everything you need to design like a pro. This is the only reference you’ll need to transform your home into a space you’ll love. Dummies offers no-nonsense help, so you can plan perfect projects and stay within budget. Updated with the latest on smart homes, short-term rentals, DIY décor, and more. • Learn how to optimize your home’s floor plan • Discover tricks for mixing patterns, colors, and textures successfully • Refresh your home’s style without spending a fortune • Decorate rental properties with eye-catching, trendy style • Untangle the terms—mid-century modern, farmhouse, minimalism—and pinpoint your design style For those seeking ideas, resources, and budget-wise tips to spark their decorating creativity, Home Decorating For Dummies is a must-have. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond This Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Getting Started with Home Decorating Chapter 1 Bringing Your Vision to Life Planning like a Pro Taking Your Design to the Next Dimension Considering the Style of Your Designs Getting Background Information Designing Your Kitchen, Bathroom, Home Office, and Media Room Making Your Sleeping, Living, Dining, and Other Spaces Work for You Adding Art and Accessories Chapter 2 Budgeting Your Projects Coming to Grips with Your Budget Simplifying the budgeting process Considering basic budget questions Mapping Your Decorating Plan Hunting for Bargains Working with Professionals Finding a local decorator Taking advantage of in-store services Surfing for online decorating services Chapter 3 Evaluating Your Space Preparing a Floor Plan Collecting the right tools Old-school tools Innovative tools and apps Measuring your space Drawing floor plans Thinking about Your Floor Plan Critiquing the space Considering function Conceptualizing storage needs Putting Furniture in Its Place Moving furniture around Evaluating your plan Prepping for Change Decluttering Cleaning house Chapter 4 Thinking Like a Designer Deciphering Design Considering color Recognizing form Reading between the lines Talking straight about lines Looking at those curves Weighing in on mass Touching texture Introducing Yourself to Design Components Focusing on the focal point Keeping size and scale in mind Creating harmony and unity Creating contrast Adding variety Troubleshooting Problems Figuring out your room’s problem Zeroing in on a sound solution Considering case studies Adding color to a Contemporary home Limiting lines in a Florida condo Adding textural contrast throughout a home Part 2 Creating Dimensions Chapter 5 Experiencing Color Introducing Color Theory and Practice Relating to color Finding foolproof color schemes Spinning the Color Wheel Making Color Work for Your Decor Spreading color around Meeting with the style board Choosing a stylish color scheme Chapter 6 Playing with Pattern Considering Pattern Timeless patterns Contemporary patterns It’s a jungle out there Current trends Planning for Pattern Picking your pattern Using pattern as background Giving upholstery center stage Using one pattern everywhere Spreading pattern around Mixing patterns with confidence Practice Makes Perfect Making sample boards Studying magazine pictures Scanning wall-covering sample books Chapter 7 Toying with Texture Getting to Know Texture Texture has feelings, too Throwing its weight around Making Magic with Texture Planning the background Lining the walls with texture Laying texture on the floors Adding textures to ceilings Applying texture as an accent Making texture the star Working with Texture Part 3 Perfecting Style Chapter 8 Decorating with Timeless Styles Understanding Styles of the Past Italian and Romantic French English Germanic Scandinavian American Early American styles American Country Asian Global influences Using Timeless Approaches in Your Home Designing Your Own Homage to Historic Style Traditional looks Continuing productions and reproductions Antiques and collectibles Chapter 9 Designing with Contemporary Styles Transitioning from Timeless to Contemporary Style Focusing on Modern Style Cozying Up to Mid-Century Modern Catching Up with Contemporary Today Modern-inspired styles Transitional-inspired styles Chapter 10 Developing Your Personal Style Discovering Personal Style Defining personal style Looking at a who’s who of personal style Exploring Your Personal Style Personalizing Your Approach Branding Your Hospitality Spaces Chapter 11 Finding Furniture Sizing Up Different Furniture Types Fully assembled furniture Quality indicators in furniture Recycle, upcycle, and repurpose furnishings Ready-to-assemble furniture Buying Case Goods Finding Upholstered Furniture Working Furniture Magic Part 4 Designing Backgrounds Chapter 12 Enhancing Walls Decorating with Architecture in Mind Traditional wall design Contemporary wall design Considering Your Material Options Ceramic tile and natural stones Fabrics Mirror Paint Stucco Wallpaper and wall coverings Wood Chapter 13 Finding Flooring Installing Hard Surfaces Walking on wood Casting a stone floor Sizing up synthetics Resilient flooring Laminate flooring Stepping on Soft Surfaces Choosing carpeting Resting on your rugs Machine-made rugs Handmade rugs Homemade rugs Solving Problems with Flooring Chapter 14 Styling Ceilings Considering Form and Function Painting Your Ceiling Getting it white Using color for unity Using color for contrast Designing your own pattern Painting a sky Stenciling Creating a mural Making the Most of Your Ceiling Letting lattice work its charms Revamping with wall coverings Tenting with fabric Creating a ribbon trellis Applying straw matting Installing ceramic tiles Reducing noise with acoustic tiles Decoupaging your ceiling Mirroring for glamour Building the Ceiling You’ll Want to Decorate Constructing a false ceiling Raising the ceiling Including classical touches Adding beams Creating coffers Using planks Adding carved ceilings Warming up with wood accents Livening up with laminate Going nostalgic with stamped ceilings Chapter 15 Dressing Windows Exposing Windows Choosing Shades, Blinds, and Shutters Heeding the Curtain Call Readymade Custom-designed curtains Top billing for your curtains Supporting roles Going to great lengths Creating Special Effects Chapter 16 Livening Up Lighting Understanding Lighting Basics Functional lighting Decorative lighting Choosing light levels and locations Designing decorative lighting Lighting Up Your Life Illuminating logically Focusing on aesthetics Lighting 101 General lighting Task lighting Accent lighting Planning General Lighting Creating contrast Avoiding glare Balancing light Buying the Right Bulbs Picking Perfect Fixtures Ceiling fixtures Chandeliers Pendants Portables Recessed lighting Tracks Under-cabinet and under-shelf fixtures Vanity lighting strips Wall-mounted fixtures Lighting Your Home, Room by Room Hallways Stairways Bathrooms Bedrooms Children’s bedrooms Dining rooms Kitchens Home offices Living rooms Part 5 Tackling Kitchens, Baths, Home Offices, and Media Rooms Chapter 17 Cooking Up Dream Kitchens Considering Your Wallet Spending the dough Cutting corners Determining Your Dimensions Finding the Right Furnishings Characterizing cabinets Drawers Cabinets Countering your top Walking on fabulous floors Enjoying wonderful walls Ceramic tile Glass tile Paint Paneling and plank Wall covering Decorating Do’s Selecting a style or theme Determining your style Letting cabinets be your guide Creating the background Spotlighting a hood Furnishing a great kitchen Treating windows Accessorizing to add eye appeal Chapter 18 Beautifying Bathrooms Bathroom Budgeting Strategizing for Resale Customizing Your Bathroom Gathering information Sprucing up surfaces Walls Floors Ceilings Windows Accessorizing Your Bathroom Meeting a Bathroom’s Needs Styling your bathroom Making the most of small bathrooms Gussying up guest bathrooms Styling your children’s bathroom Transforming Tacky into Terrific Spicing up your vanity Making the best of old tile Chapter 19 Setting Up Work from Home Locating Your Home Office Measuring Your Space Lighting Up Equipping Your Office Electronic equipment Furniture Desks Chairs Storage Wiring Up Color Scheming for Productivity Accessorizing for Productivity and Fun Chapter 20 Making the Most of Media Rooms Considering Your Options Converting Spaces to Media Rooms Considering the basic elements Transforming spaces Designing a Home Theater Decorating a Media Room Part 6 Transforming Sleeping, Living, Dining, and Other Spaces Chapter 21 Styling Bedrooms Considering Function First Selecting the Right Bed Type Fitting your room (and your body) Getting comfortable Finding great style Beautifying Your Bed Dressing your bed Making pillow talk Arranging Your Furniture Storing Your Stuff Taking stock of your storage needs Maximizing storage space Decorating for Your Bedrooms’ Needs Primary bedrooms Teen bedrooms Children’s bedrooms Guest rooms Chapter 22 Enlivening Living Rooms Thinking about Function Putting your furniture in its place Checking out different layouts Focusing on a focal point Discovering furniture-arranging basics Staging a Great Backdrop Settling on wall materials Paint Wall coverings Paneling Dealing with your ceilings Adding drama to the floor Doing up the windows Handling Accessories Chapter 23 Designing for Dining Preparing a Comfortable Table Putting Style on Your Menu Creating the Formal Dining Room Comfort Movement Color, texture, and pattern Furniture China and glassware Linens Storage Making the Most of Casual Eating Spaces Serving Up Food and Beverages in Other Spaces Living room Hallway Media room, dens, and game rooms Outdoor dining Adding a Dash of Dining Magic Chapter 24 Transforming Bonus Spaces Annexing Attics Beautifying Basements Crafting Craft Spaces Enlivening the Laundry Planning for action Installing floors Choosing wall surfaces Accessorizing Sizing up seating Providing storage Making Meditation Areas Perking Up Porches, Patios, and Decks Styling Out the She Shed Part 7 Putting on the Final Touches Chapter 25 Arranging Art Artistically Finding Art Knowing where to buy fine art Picking up decorative art Decorative originals Decorative reproductions Having fun with art Placing Art in the Right Relationship Picking up on a picture’s colors Considering basic conventions Pleasing the eye of the beholder Finding homes for your art Back to the future Up-to-the-minute looks Eclectic mixes Artful Backgrounds The Art of Art Placement Grouping Artwork Do’s and don’ts of group displays Timeless symmetry Contemporary asymmetry Great grouping techniques Displaying in Off-the-Wall Ways Chapter 26 Accessorizing with Flair Hunting for Accessories Updating Your Arrangements Finishing with Pizzazz Accessorizing One by One Blooming beauty Professional arrangements Silk flowers Dried plants Trees and shrubs Ceramic tiles Ceramics Collections Colored glassware Ego elements Fan favorites Found objects Hardware Mirror magic Frame-ups Frameless fashion Clear and colored mirror glass Pillow talk Stained glass Quilts, throws, and warm fuzzies Screen tests Part 8 The Part of Tens Chapter 27 Ten Tips for a Luxe Look Ramp Up Molding Cut Back on Clutter Float Your Furniture Go for the Gold and Brass Heighten the Hardware Lay Down Some Rugs Paint It Black Plus Up Your Style Switch Out the Switch Plates Upscale Your Lighting Fixtures Chapter 28 Ten Tips for Small Spaces Build in Shelving Create Cohesion with Color Fool the Eye with Curtains Get into the Zone with Area Rugs Light Up the Smart Way Magnify the Magic with Mirrors Make Space with Standing Screens Scale Up Furniture Size Select Multifunctional Pieces Take Advantage of Vertical Space Index EULA