Basics of home decor

Home decor is not about putting together a few elegant pieces of furniture or piling up meaningless accessories that only serve to lend a cluttered and haphazard look. Rather home décor is the judicious purchase of furnishings and accessories and their strategic placement which will bring functionality and aesthetics to the fore without any conflict between the design elements. There are a few guidelines which can help you in decorating your home in an appropriate and sensible way. The key is to pull together and link the various design elements resulting in a cohesive style scheme.

• Proportion in home decor: It is essential to pay attention to the factor of proportionality when going about the often delicate task of decorating your home. The items that you intend to place in a room must essentially be in accordance to the proportion of the various aspects of the room. A balanced look is achieved when all the elements are proportionately sized in relation to each other. For instance you wouldn't like to mar the factor of proportionality by placing a large overstuffed couch in a small living room. Similarly a tiny coffee table or side table would look disproportionate next to large or expansive pieces of furnishings.

• Balance of home decor:It is important to create a balance in the overall look of the room to give it a unified feel. You can seek to infuse a symmetrical or a asymmetrical balance. To create a symmetrical balance you must arrange the furniture and accessories like a mirror image. For instance place similar end tables to flank a couch or a large sofa. Though asymmetrical balance also creates an even feel in the room it varies slightly. For instance keep a cluster of decorative candles at one end of a side table and place a vase of flowers at the other end. As long as the different items are proportionate in size, the balance is maintained. If you have heavy and large pieces of furniture, fortify the balance by fanning them out instead of placing them close together.

• Contrast in home decor: You can choose to enhance the looks of your interior space by indulging in contrasts. You can opt for varied colors, patterns and designs but maintain the underlying style so that the resulting contrast does not impede the general tone of the room. Contrasts help to keep the dreaded monotony at bay and lend an interesting twist to your home.

• Cadence of home decor:The pulse of a room can be established by repeating certain elements of design at regular intervals. It could be a pattern, a color or even a motif that makes its presence felt at various places in a home.

• Harmony in home decor: When decorating your home it is crucial to coordinate the design elements to suggest a harmonious look. Therefore the furnishings, colors and the accessories should all relate to each other in a consistent manner. Moreover following the tenets of balance, cadence, contrast and proportion will also ensure that your home is a space that discourages discord among the various facets of home decor.

Contemporary home decor

Contemporary style decors are great if you want an uncomplicated living space or if you like to keep abreast with the latest trends. Contemporary interiors are characteristically minimalist, inviting in looks and visibly devoid of meaningless clutter. Such living spaces can be invoked with a few basic tips.

• Color in contemporary home decor:The colors in a contemporary style décor are typically black, white and neutral. The wall of a contemporary space is done up in neutral colors which provides a beautiful backdrop for accessories that are brazenly shaded. In case your walls are already colored in a vibrant shade, use neutral colors in the rest of the room. Use soft pastel colors for windows and walls while using a neutral color for the trims.

• Lines and spaces in contemporary home decor:The lines in a contemporary style décor are most evident in the architectural details, geometric shapes in furniture and accessories, bare windows and high ceilings. The space that is left bare on the walls also holds as much significance as the accessories that adorn it. Contemporary home décor dictates that the lesser there is the better it is. Nevertheless each and every design element has a singular role to play in the overall décor.

• Furniture in contemporary home decor:The furnishings in a contemporary themed home must be endowed with clear cut and smooth geometric shapes. The pieces of furniture must be simple without any frills like curves or ornate fixtures. The contemporary chairs, ottomans and couches have legs that are visibly exposed and the beds and chairs are conspicuous in the absence of trims, fringes and tassels. Choose pieces of furniture that have sleek and clean lines that have the advantage of creating the illusion of space. The key is to employ minimalism and only use the furniture that is actually needed thus leaving plenty of free space for foot traffic. Busy decors are an absolute no. The furniture that is upholstered is typically black, white or neutral in color and the fabric is of a natural texture. These fabrics include wool, jute, silk and linen. Use attractively patterned pillows in clean geometric shapes to adorn the seating options.

• Materials in contemporary home decor:A contemporary space can boast of a heady combination of both natural and man made materials. The natural materials can be exemplified by smooth materials like granite or a type of wood that does not flaunt a lot of wood grain. Stainless steel has a highly sleek look that is ideal for use in a contemporary setting. Therefore you could use stainless steel in various elements to summon the contemporary. You can also use metal, stone and clear glass to offset the contemporary look.

• Focal points in contemporary home decor: A contemporary space should ideally be based around a potent focal point that is capable of complementing the varied elements of design. The focal point could be an ethanol fireplace, a large window or even an expansive indoor waterfall. The room is question should be kept bright and airy by employing minimal pieces of furniture and accessories.

• Artwork in contemporary home decor: When choosing artwork for your contemporary home go for frames that sport a high gloss or are made of natural wood. If you are going for multiple pieces choose to hang them in a cluster so as to make them look like one large piece of art. You could also place contemporary style sculptures on stands that will place it at eye level. Use strategic lighting to underscore the gorgeous sculpture.

• Lighting in contemporary home decor: Lighting in a contemporary space can be used for drawing the eye to the items that you want to throw focus on. Since the individual items hold importance in a contemporary setting, the lighting fixtures can be tactically placed to enhance their visual appeal. Modern lighting accessories are available in striking and streamlined models that are works of art in themselves. Track or recessed lighting can also serve to wash a wall exclusively in light. Built in ceiling lights are also great for contemporary interiors.

• Floors in contemporary home decor: The contemporary floors should ideally advocate the smoothness of the rest of the design elements. Use wood, tiles or vinyl to cover the floor and use rugs or carpets with geometric patterns.

• Greens in contemporary home decor: You can induce a bit of nature into your living space by incorporating indoor planters that are planted with eye catching and large plants. Choose plants that have big flowers and place a light to focus on the plant.

Home decor accessories

Using too many accessories will only serve to wreck the carefully generated aspects of home decor. Some vital pieces of accessories can be used to give your home a decent and balanced look.

• Lighting in home decor:The lighting in a room can make the difference when it comes to establishing the overall mood. Lighting should neither be harsh and glaring nor should it be so dim as to create a somber ambiance. Other than the basic lighting options you can decorate a room with exquisite lamps and chandeliers.

• Curtains in home decor:If you thought that drapes and curtains are used only for regulating the amount of sunlight that can enter a room, you have got to think again. Curtains and blinds are not only functional but are also useful for setting the mood of the room. You can choose different colors and patterns and hang them at varying heights in accordance with the prevalent style of the room.

• Art in home decor:Art works like sculptures or paintings are a great way to give a room a face lift without being involved in a backbreaking budget. These pieces of art can also be used as focal points.

• Flooring in home decor:Flooring is a facet of home décor that unfortunately does not often figure among the priorities of a home owner's designing itinerary. Flooring is very important for imparting the final touches to any home. You could also choose the alternative of carpeting your floors though this will require relatively more maintenance than a regular vinyl or wooden floor. Rugs are yet another substitute for carpets and do not need much of maintenance.