The first step in decorating your home and giving it personality is to know yourself your likes and dislikes. Know your lifestyle,habits and desires.If you don't know yourself take a look in your closet. Your clothes will tell you a lot about your individual style,fabric choices and color pallet.

1. Start by making a wish list then take the time to really see the room finished and what you want the room to look like.

2. Collect home decor magazine pictures and put them in a idea folder.

3. Collect swathes and samples of fabric,paint chips and photos of the rooms you like and staple them to a sheet of paper for your idea folder.

4. Take important measurements of the room. Draw a simple floor plan include windows,doorways and bookcases.This will help to avoid purchasing mistakes like an oversized sofa that swallows up the room".

5.With your folder in hand shop discount stores, super centers,garage sales and thrift stores for items that look like those in your idea folder. Look for furniture pieces that have the similar line and shape. Remember the fabric can be reupholstered. An Old lamp base can be new again with a new shade, old art re-framed think of way to revamp used items.

6.Try color washing the walls.Mix 1 part paint 3 parts water and just wash the walls with the mixture in a circular motion.A quart of paint goes a long way.

7. Mix two bed in a bag sets a solid and a print for a designer look.

8. Replace old outlet covers with wall paper border, fabric, tissue paper and anything that can be hot glued on.

9. Repaint an old coffee table or recover a chair pad with the same fabric as the window treatment fabric.

10. No sew window treatments will add drama to your decor. Achieve this by wrapping yards of fabric over a pole, play with it to create a unique look. Add tassels and trim with a hot glue gun for the WOW factor.

Celeste Alexander
decoratingsista@yahoo.com
Serving Metro Atlanta