Interior Design and Interior Decorating - Some Definitions

Interior Decoration and Interior Design, although related disciplines, are different in terms of their application. Interior Decoration is the process of decorating a house with regards to finishes (for example wallpaper and paint, choice of furniture and fittings as well as adding finishing touches and decorations such as paintings and objets d'art. All of this provide a certain "feel" to a house but essentially the underlying structure of the house is not changed.

Interior decoration is normally professionally done by Interior Decorators although recently the trend has been for people to learn about Interior Decorating through various courses or books and then apply the techniques themselves-usually on a shoestring budget. The whole objective of Interior Decorating is to make a house aesthetically pleasing and at the same time, unique, since it should reflect the owner's specific personality and tastes.

Interior design on the other hand is more integrated with the architecture of a building and a professional Interior Designer will work closely with architects and builders to make choices regarding the integral design of the whole house or building. This includes looking at choices with regards to room layout, choice of cabinets and tiles and lots of other design factors. While the Interior Design budget for new developments used to be minimal, it is recognized these days that incorporating Interior Design into the project means the difference between a run-of-the-mill development and one that contributes to the branding and life-style image of the project. The money spent on Interior Design is therefore seen as a worthwhile investment in the whole property development process.

Homeowners are spending more and more to improve their homes. Since it is relatively easy to change the appearance of a house by changing the finishings and fittings a large portion of this money goes into Interior Decorating. The growing popularity in do-it-yourself Interior Decorating has meant that a whole industry around Interior Decorating courses, books and TV Shows have also sprung up, and it has become a popular hobby for married couples. Innovative Interior Decoration ideas, which cost less but at the same time giving the impression of style and class, are in vogue.

Young entrepreneurs have also seen the gap and there is a growing demand for information and courses on how to break into the Interior Design and Interior Decoration Industry. This has also given the home {interior decoration industry a boost.

Although the trend recently is for people to tackle the exciting task of transforming a house themselves, it has to be recognized that this falls more in the area of Interior Decorating. Interior Design still requires study of the context of Interior Design, the theory of good design, knowledge of the technical advances in the engineering industry for both residential as well as commercial buildings and knowledge of the latest trends and advances in the Interior Design industry.

In short, an Interior Design project in which all the elements of design are pulled together is still the ambit of the professional designer who should be able to deliver on projects that extend beyond the boundaries of a hobby pastime.

Interior Design For The Home

Any home can be pleasing with the proper application of basic interior design methods. Some people study interior design to be very good at it but there are people who are gifted with an eye for beauty and for interior designing.

A person who is creative can do some interior designing on his own even without formal training. Those who have an eye for what is aesthetic can just as easily decorate and design his own house depending on his tastes. Of course, it helps to read books and articles about designing to be updated on the basic and latest design methods.

Any interior designer can create a specific atmosphere just by putting together several pieces and unifying them in a single theme. There are interior designers who have a bias for certain motifs like eclectic, modern or even country style. Some go for simple designs without the clutter.

Interior design is not only aesthetic but also functional depending on the requirements of the client. An interior designer can make a small room spacious and an otherwise cluttered room into an orderly one. Interior design is used just about anywhere from homes, offices to commercial buildings.
The interiors of a room should always match the personality of the person who will occupy that room. This is the reason why designers always work closely with their clients so they can make sure that they get a feel of what their clients want in terms of design style.

People have this notion that interior design is expensive. However, designers are not only creative people but they are also very good in budgeting. Most designers will work on a design that will match or fit the budget of their clients. A person can allot a minimal amount for the interior design of his home or office and still come up with an aesthetic and functional room.

Professional interior designers who are formally trained usually have basic knowledge on architecture, engineering and even accounting. They need these courses to make their design aesthetic, structurally correct and cost effective.

The terms Interior design and interior decorating have often been used interchangeably. However, the two terms actually deal with different phases of making a room or a space aesthetic. Interior design is basically the process of studying the personality of the occupant of the room being designed in order to maximize and tailor-made the room's design for that person's behavior and personality.

Interior decorating on the other hand is the process of actually mixing and matching the different design techniques like window treatments, the right wallpaper, wall finish and even the furnishing of a room.

There are a lot of opportunities for those in the interior design and decorating industry. An interior designer can go into designing household, corporate or commercial establishments. Others specialize in the design of health facilities or even tourism establishments.

The latest trend now for those in the interior design industry is to be able to incorporate the right engineering and aesthetic design with sustainable development. Even designers are now more conscious about the state of the environment so they tend to use environmentally friendly materials for their designs.

There are designers who specialize and use Feng Shui in their designs. This requires further study because Feng Shui deals with the Chinese's ancient methods of designing a space to make the design work for the owner's health, business and other life factors.

The Chinese believes that a structure should be properly designed so as to allow positive energy to enter the structure. When the structure has already been built without the aid of a Feng Shui expert, the mistakes can be corrected through proper interior design using the Feng Shui methods.

By incorporating Feng Shui in interior design, it is believed that a person can bring out all the positive energies in a room to make him rich, happy and healthy. An interior design using Feng Shui can also get rid of bad spirits that bring in negative atmosphere in an abode.

Getting the services of an interior designer can make a room both aesthetic and functional. Any person who wants to make his home livable and functional should try getting the services of an interior designer to maximize his space.

Choosing Interior Design Software

Interior design students will use interior design  software that the professionals use in their everyday designing work. A popular program is SmartDraw. With the program you get thousands of ready-made graphics for fixtures for the kitchen, bathroom and for furniture. Other graphics include lighting fixtures, cabinets, landscape elements and office furniture.

The interior design software also includes textures for tiled floors, custom cabinetry and granite countertops. Smartdraw is easy to use software that will help you create fantastic design plans in minutes. It is quite fast and easy.

You will be able to design anything with SmartDraw interior design software such as house and garage plans, offices, kitchen and bathroom plans and even closet plans.

The software is a real time saver for the interior design student and professional. This software is downloadable and ready to use right away.

SmartDraw interior design software offers free tech support and examples from professional interior design plans.

Another interior design software is Microspot Interiors. This software is designed for the Mac and allows the user to visualize their plans in 3D. This software is simple to use for both professionals and do it yourself home designers.

Microspot Interiors is a interior design software that is very popular among Mac users because of it's simplicity and the price tag which is just a fraction of the cost of most professional design software. The power of this software allows the user to come up with unlimited design possibilities. The advanced drawing tools of the software do most of the work. You can design the shape of the room and add virtually anything you want. You can also design the rooms in any particular size you want. Lighting tools are used to add sunlight to a room as well.

Microspot Interiors includes hundreds of furniture items and accessories, many of which were requested by users in the Microspot users' forum.

Interior design software is used extensively in the interior design profession. It allows the designer to virtually look at what their design plan will look like before implementing it.

Many interior design schools will offer online learning as part of their curriculum. The online method is designed so that the student can set their own pace and style of learning according to what really works best for them.

Interior design software is very helpful and useful but it requires a computer with a monitor that has the capacity for a high resolution that works with complex graphics. You will also need a lot of space on your hard drive to save files and to run the program.

It would be a good idea to save your files to a re-writeable CD or DVD as well for backup.
There are many interior design software programs available on the market. If you can get a trial copy then that will give you a chance to test the product before buying.

Unlocking the Secrets of Interior Design

Books, the internet, television, radio... with all of the interior design advice that's out there, you would be forgiven for thinking that you need a degree in design in order to create a pleasing interior for your home. But nothing could be further from the truth. interior design is more about inspiration, creativity and fun. In fact, interior design is one of the only aspects of home-building where you can really let your wildest fantasies take shape.

Your home is a reflection of yourself: we all change as we age, so it's natural that your idea of interior design will change, too. One of the beauties of interior design is that it's a moveable feast: a bold, striking interior with radical design features might appeal to you when you are in your twenties, but you may feel differently about design when you're in your thirties or forties. Your life circumstances may have changed - you may have married, for example, or you may have children - and this will certainly have an impact on the way in which you choose to design your home's interior.

The first step is understanding your interior. Whether you want to re-design a room, a floor or even a whole house, it's important to know what the space will be used for, and who will be using it. A lounge or bedroom can be ruined by the wrong design style, so make your design project easier by deciding up-front how you intend to use your interior.

The next step is to consider who will be using the space. What sort of person are they? Your interior design should take their age, character and occupation into consideration. A bright, vibrant design may not be suitable for a studious or serious person, for example. And a muted interior will suppress a creative spirit or free thinker. Make it a rule to design your interior around the inhabitants.

With your design foundation in place, it's time to start choosing your colour palette. Aim to include 2 - 4 colours or shades: it will be far flattering to your interior than a single colour. And don't be afraid to contrast: bright reds and blues look stunning against a modern white interior, for example, whereas tranquil greens and turquoises will add warmth to an old-fashioned, beamed interior. Be bold: try painting a 'feature wall' in a single colour, and contrast that with interesting accessories... it's an interior design trick that will really bring a room to life.

As any interior design expert knows, it's the finishing touches that can make all the difference. An oversized cushion with an ethnic design; a long table made from a reclaimed railway sleeper; a fireplace full of candles... little touches of design brilliance that will bring your interior to life.

What Is Interior Design and How Is It Different From Interior Decorating?

To begin this journey, first an attempt must be made to answer the question, 'What is interior design'; The National Council for interior design Qualification offers up the following definition: 'is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive'. Comparing this to the definitions provided by The Free Dictionary for an interior decorator: 'also called interior designer a person whose profession is the planning of the decoration and furnishings of the interior of houses, shops, etc.' and 'a person whose profession is the painting and wallpapering of houses'

Well it is understandable, based on the two definitions above, why there are two camps. One camp holds that the interior designer is held to a higher standard and has significantly more training and design responsibilities than the interior decorator, and then there are those that bunch them all together as one and the same. There are those that look at the designer as a version of an architect and those that look at them as being a house painter. No wonder there is confusion amongst the ranks.

In an attempt to answer the question, 'Is there a difference or not?', a Google search was performed for ' interior decorator Degree' and the response overwhelmingly returned results for 'interior designer'; and not the keyword as searched. One can reasonably conclude that since one can get a degree in interior design, but not as an interior decorator, that there is a difference.

So where would one draw the line between a designer and a decorator? Reverting back to the two definitions above one can discern the key difference. The definition for the designer refers to 'built interior environment' whereas the decorator suggests ' decorating and furnishing' as the key activities. The higher standard is the designer's ability and responsibilities to call for tearing out walls, flooring, windows, lighting, electrical, as well as recommending furniture and miscellaneous design pieces. In short, the scope their role includes the responsibilities of a decorator, but goes much further.

Often it is critical for the designer to understand the wants and needs of the individual or company leadership that is hiring them to make a space comfortable and esthetically pleasing to 'the eye of the beholder'; meaning whoever is paying the freight. This will require the designer to ask the question, 'What is interior design through the eyes of my employer?'

Determining just how to customize a small dwelling area up to major corporate businesses like a national restaurant chain that must be attractive to the eye in many different regions of the country with a common design can be very challenging. Requiring a grasp of many different fields including developing and reading floor plans, a knowledge of building codes, and access to a long list of contractors that are capable of doing the work to specification are just a few of the extra requirement that separate interior design from decoration.

Often specializing in unique areas like hotels, casinos, restaurants, or other businesses that may regularly freshen up their designs to keep their businesses looking comfortable yet enticing, designers generally develop skill sets that may not play all that well outside of their special areas of expertise. What they probably are looking for in the interior design of a hospital is most likely a far cry from what they are looking for at a casino. Perhaps a better example would be determining just how to continue on with a southwestern theme for a Mexican restaurant chain in places like Seattle, St. Louis, Charlotte, Pittsburg, and Boston. What is interior design widely accepted in one region may not be well accepted in another.

In asking, 'What is interior design?' in today's environment, one must also begin to start thinking green and to look for ways to minimize the consumption of non-renewable energy sources. How does one create areas with a lot of natural lighting but not subject the individual to the blazing rays of the sun? How does one incorporate solar panels into the design or solar powered floor heaters in colder climates without losing the esthetic charm and ambiance of marble floors? These are the challenges of today's designers. It's a good thing that they love their jobs.

7 House Interior Design Tips For Small Space Living

Small spaces have great potential when it comes to house interior design. Make more room while giving each space your unique design expression by applying these 7 rules the pros use!

1. Slim Down - Get a large box, basket or bag and sift through those small accents. Too many little things sitting around a small room will clog of the room's space quickly. It's amazing how much air space you will create by being super specific about what you have placed on table tops and shelves.

2. Trim Down - Heavy, bulky window treatments not only block the limited light in your small room but are also space hoggers. Free those windows by using shades, blinds or even shutters. There are some gorgeous options to be made or purchased at your favorite house interior design store. Have a little extra money to spend, have your blinds custom designed in fabrics that compliment the rest of your room's decor.

3. Color Down - Though a variety of color breaks up a large house, too much color in a small one will work against your already limited amount of space. It is best to paint all the walls one color or use a similar pallet hue for small subtle changes from room to room.

4. Lighten Up - Pull in that limited light with the use of mirrors positioned directly across from a window. Use semi gloss paint to reflect the light and keep your furniture polished and your appliances clean.

5. Fabric Up - It is better to fabric up your accents and leave the large furniture pieces to solids. If you already have a busy couch with a floral print, shapes or strips, consider toning things down a bit with a slip cover. Then, bring in those extra fabrics in your accents to provide some visual depth and emotional interest. Have fun with this part of your house interior design project!

Bring in those weaves, patterns, and quilted fabrics for this.

6. Liven Up - Nothing says open space and health like fresh plants placed around a room. Potted plants are preferred but bountiful bouquets regularly freshened up will also work well.

Limited for room? Positioning a potted plant in front of the fireplace mantle during the warmest time of the year is a great use of that space. Angle your furniture and use the extra space to display an indoor tree or palm.

7. Step Up - Light bare wood is always the best and beautiful of option for giving a small room a larger appearance. Flooring in an apartment cannot be changed but it can be changed up! Place a lighter area rug on top of the existing carpet. Or in the case of a dark linoleum find a light bamboo or Berber to bring out the light.

2012 Interior Design Trends: The Return of Global Decor

It's not unusual to see trends return in interior design. A few years ago, global decor was all of the rage but the following year, it was a tabu, dated style. For the coming 2012, global decor is making a come-back in the interior design world. Global influences on various home decor items is going to be extremely trendy this coming spring and summer, so be sure to put them on your wish list!

Bathroom Design Ideas

An unexpected room in your home to decorate using the global decor trend is your bathroom. A bathroom is a small room and with basic, versatile styled fixtures, you can regularly update the theme or decor style without having to remodel the entire bathroom.

Bathroom decorating ideas that incorporate global flavors could include items such as African tribal masks or African pottery. Wooden sculptures or handmade wall art are all great accessory options for this style of interior design.

Bedroom Decorating Ideas

When it comes to the bedroom, your options may be a bit more versatile. Consider items such as a large carved headboard, which can make a dramatic decorating statement in your bedroom. Look for styles that are Moroccan or Asian, which can be extremely unique and different from what you might see at your best friend's house, your neighbor's house or your in-laws' house. Other global styles include Parisian, Aboriginal, Southwestern, Hispanic or Latin, Caribbean and many, many more.

Carved side tables and trendy lamps with woven shades are perfect for the global decor look. When it comes to global decor, don't be afraid of metallic shades either: golds, brass, bronze and silvers are all completely acceptable when it comes to decorating with a global influence.

Don't be afraid to mix and match cultures in your international decor. Just because you enjoy a set of tribal chairs from Africa doesn't mean you can't mix those chairs with a nice Moroccan style coffee table. When it comes to global decor, let the decorating ideas flow. Designers from major cities everywhere; including New York interior designers and Los Angeles interior designers, aren't afraid to mix and match patterns, colors, styles and even cultures, so you shouldn't be afraid of mixing and matching either!

Last but not least, another trend: reclaimed wood, has a place in the global design style. Reclaimed wood looks perfectly at-home when paired with other global elements, such as woven baskets, carved wooden statues or imported wall art.

Interior Designers Are A Very Creative Breed

People often confuse interior designers with interior decorators and interior stylists. They are not as different as chalk and cheese but they are quite different. While a decorator would create your home space with different kinds of objects and put the various objects to make them look catching on the eye, the interior designers study forms, design, symmetry of structure and related aspects. Their study is considered more bent towards the theoretical side of the job but they have deep sense of creativity and a well harnessed idea of compositeness.

designers have always looked towards the past to create something modern and fresh. It is because past is an unfailing library for the interior designers. Interior designers believe that period pieces can be made to work very well even in conjunction. Yes, the underlying idea is not to disturb the consistency of theme. However hard it might seem, they can keep a uniformity of structure spirit despite bringing in tones of different periods.

House of building designers understand the need of creating a form and its structural dimensions that suit the taste of a budding owner. It is after all his home or commercial space; it has to be his style statement too. Often they are ready to hold back their own style in favor of the owner's statement and yet keep their creativity intact. Designers are sometimes blessed with a vision that can put to shame even the Cubists.

These professionals all over the world are challenged by new aspects of modernism. It's because the basic idea is to keep the convention of form and geography of place in mind. House or building designers can't use their skill sets distancing themselves from the medium in which they work and getting adrift from the geographic requirement of place. These professionals know all about choosing the exact raw materials. Yes, they often take suggestions from the interior decorators to put forth this plan. Interior designers use consistency to create a complete theme for a home. Parallel motifs can't truly convert a home into a likeable place. They feel that a kaleidoscope of motifs can potentially kill a structure.

Interior decorators are paid pretty well if they have beaten the initial days of hardships. People acknowledge their craft and understand the supreme creativity in their vision. Today, you can get in touch with top interior designers through internet. Most of them also flash their work and achievements over their website.People often confuse interior designers with interior decorators and interior stylists. They are not as different as chalk and cheese but they are quite different. While a decorator would create your home space with different kinds of objects and put the various objects to make them look catching on the eye, the interior designers study forms, design, symmetry of structure and related aspects. Their study is considered more bent towards the theoretical side of the job but they have deep sense of creativity and a well harnessed idea of compositeness.

Interior designers have always looked towards the past to create something modern and fresh. It is because past is an unfailing library for the interior designers. They believe that period pieces can be made to work very well even in conjunction. Yes, the underlying idea is not to disturb the consistency of theme. However hard it might seem, they can keep a uniformity of structure spirit despite bringing in tones of different periods.

Interior designers understand the need of creating a form and its structural dimensions that suit the taste of a budding owner. It is after all his home or commercial space; it has to be his style statement too. Often the designers are ready to hold back their own style in favor of the owner's statement and yet keep their creativity intact. These professionals are sometimes blessed with a vision that can put to shame even the Cubists.

These designers all over the world are challenged by new aspects of modernism. It's because the basic idea is to keep the convention of form and geography of place in mind. Interior decorators can't use their skill sets distancing themselves from the medium in which they work and getting adrift from the geographic requirement of place. Interior designers know all about choosing the exact raw materials. Yes, they often take suggestions from the interior decorators to put forth this plan. Interior designers use consistency to create a complete theme for a home. Parallel motifs can't truly convert a home into a likeable place. They feel that a kaleidoscope of motifs can potentially kill a structure.

Interior designers are paid pretty well if they have beaten the initial days of hardships. People acknowledge their craft and understand the supreme creativity in their vision. Today, you can get in touch with top designers through internet. Most of the interior designers also flash their work and achievements over their website.

Interior Design Trends for Every Room in 2012

If you've recently bought your first home, you've moved into your first apartment, you've moved into a new space or you simply just want to update a room in your home, you're probably wondering what the current different interior design trends are. Here's a basic guide to the trendiest decor styles of 2012 for every room in your home, from the bedroom to the bathroom, the kitchen to the living room and everything in between.

Bedroom designs

Bed room designs in 2012 will be returning to clean, crisp lines and details. The style will be purely contemporary, as people are looking to de-stress from the recent economy issues and thus, they'll want to create bedroom designs that are spa-like. Spaces that you can retreat into after a long, hard day.

Be on the look out for clean, soft hues including cool blues, soft grays and creamy ivory whites, giving a soft and comfortable look with clean lines that compliment a comfortable, restful space.

Bathroom designs

There are actually a number of different bath room designs that are growing in popularity in 2012. This includes Moroccan inspired tile, natural or reclaimed materials, clean colors and unusual but organic looking fixtures. Of course, it doesn't end there. With bathroom designs, the opportunities are endless as more and more people are breaking away from the "what if I sell the house" mentality and looking more toward the "I want to enjoy my home" mentality.

For 2012, the best thing you can do for your bath room space is to create a space that you love, rather than what might sell the best.

Living room designs

The living room is all about comfort and style blended together for a unique look. People are learning that they don't have to settle on a single interior design style, but that they can mix and match a number of styles and accept that no space is ever "perfect," despite what they may have been told previously.

For living room designs, don't be surprised to see a large surge of Moroccan inspired looks, global inspired looks, mid century modern, eclectic looks, vintage pieces, Americana and more.

Kitchen designs

The kitchen is now the hub of the home, so it's no surprise that most people will be putting the majority of their focus into this space. When looking to create an updated kitchen design, you'll notice that much like with the bathroom and other spaces in the home, people are starting to become more comfortable with the "here and now" and less focused on the "what happens when I sell my home?"

Kitchen designs will include rustic and industrial touches, as well as clean, contemporary touches for a blend of updated and vintage styling. For materials, look for a lot of clean, contemporary materials over traditional and natural finishes. For example, stainless steel countertops are being preferred over natural stone countertops.

Other kitchen interior design trends include open shelving, stylish and colorful tile backsplashes such as mosaic tiles or Moroccan inspired tiles, dark warm cabinetry and of course, plenty of proper lighting.

Interior Designers - The Top 2 Misconceptions That Keep Home Owners From Hiring an Interior Designer

As an interior designer in Atlanta, GA for the last eight years, I've noticed a few common threads running through the most popular misconceptions about using interior designers. If you've never used an interior designer, ask yourself why right now.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

...

Wow, that was quick! I bet you have a pretty good answer, too. I also bet your answer falls into one of the following two major categories:

1) COST: "I can't afford one. Using an interior designer is an excessive luxury reserved for the wealthiest of people that live in mansions and drive Bentley's." Or, "I'll save money if I do all the design work myself, which means I can buy more furniture."

2) CREATIVE EXPRESSION: "If I use an interior designer, I'm afraid I'll feel like my home won't be an expression of my unique style and tastes. I have good taste - I can do this on my own."

If your answer for not hiring an interior designer fits into one of these categories, then read on for some answers that might surprise you.

First of all, I want you to know these reactions are completely normal and understandable based on the amount of information that exists in the marketplace about how the client/ designer process works.

So let me respond to each of these arguments in order.

1. COST: Professional interior designers typically are able to purchase furniture at discounted rates from furniture and accessory manufacturers or distributors because of their purchase volume. When you use an interior designer you take advantage of their discounts to purchase furniture through your designer at a cost that is lower than what you would pay on your own. Every designer operates a little differently, but a typical pricing/ fee structure used by a lot of interior designers in Atlanta (where I am based) is "cost plus". This pricing formula is very common among industries that make purchases on behalf of their clients.

The "cost" in this pricing structure is the designers' reduced cost for the items you purchase (furniture, accessories, window treatments, etc). The "plus" is a percentage of that cost added to compensate the designer for their services and their sources. Many designers will even waive any hourly fees for clients purchasing a certain amount of furniture through them. In the end, you pay LESS for your home furnishings using a good designer than you do without one. AND, your budget actually goes further with a designer than without one.

An interior designer can save you money in other ways, too, like:

A designer's "industry-insider" knowledge helps clients achieve the best results through sourcing options not available to the general public.

Soft-costs include time saved and higher likelihood of your satisfaction in the end result (no replacement costs for that sofa that's just too big!)

So, as you can see, using an interior designer actually makes strong financial sense. A professional designer will save you money, save you time, and stretch your budget further than you could on your own.

2. CREATIVE EXPRESSION: A good interior designer listens to what their clients' tastes and styles are and involves them heavily in the selection process. Your style will show through in each selection you make. designers will take you with them to furniture stores. Bring fabric samples to your home to have you review, and involve you in lots of other ways to make sure the final outcome is a reflection of your style - and one that you will bring you great satisfaction in the place where you spend most of your time - your home!

If you don't feel your designer is listening to you carefully enough, let them know. Keeping an honest and open channel of communication is critical to make sure you're happy with the final design of your home.

Using a professional designer who makes his or her living by decorating does have its advantages. Think about the number of times you've painted a room. Have they always turned out just the way you had imagined? And were they coordinated with the furniture and flowed from one room to the next? Or did you find yourself either repainting a room you just painted or, worse yet, think "ugghh" every time you walked into your bathroom?

Think of your designer as just a helping hand whose advice may save you from some expensive and time-consuming design set-backs.

Plus, the little finishing touches that truly make a house a home are the things that only the client can add to a room. I know as an interior designer, I take the responsibility of helping my clients achieve a great living space that they'll love and feel accurately reflects their personality and likes very seriously!

I hope I've helped clear up some of the main reasons I've seen why more people don't take advantage of professional design help when decorating a home or even just a room in a home.

Stay tuned for my next installment in my series where I'll be discussing how to evaluate and hire an interior designer.

Low Cost Interior Design and Decorating Tips

Thinking of a home or office renovation, but worried about the cost of the interior designing and decorating? Do you think you can't afford to spend much on the interior designing but wish for an elegant make over for your room? You don't have to get vexed about not having too much money to spend on your decoration, because you can do a fabulous job of decorating your house without spending much of your pennies, if you do it wise.

Plan your budget
Low or high, you should always have a specific budget plan for your work, rather than saying 'I want the room's interior design to be done at a low cost it is better to have an idea of how much you are ready to spend. Coming to the correct value may not be possible but giving an almost accurate estimate will always help. Divide your budget under different task like, $ 100 for new furniture, $ 50 for paint etc rather than quoting the whole amount. But remember your budget plan should be realistic and should be strictly followed for a successful low cost interior designing.

Be the interior designer yourself
Hiring a firm or a specialist to do the makeover might give you a completely remarkable room or office, but remember the more established they are, the more you will end up paying them for the service alone. So it is best to take your imagination into play and come up with how much you are going to spent and what would have to be changed or introduced. You can refer articles in magazines or the internet to get ample ideas on how to do the job at minimum cost.

Shop low and wide
You are planning to decorate the interiors of the room, so it calls for full day fun shopping. Are you aware that most of the goods you buy at the branded Shoppe may be available at an unbelievably slashed price in local shops and auction houses? So take your time to hunt in the second hand shops, bargain market and any shop with a year ending sale or shop renovation sale sign board. You are going to hit on something great at an unbelievable price. But just getting the thing at a low price should not tempt you to buy it; you should buy only those things you came to shop for. Otherwise, the low priced shopping experience will turn to a conflicting one.

Get your things auctioned
If you are renovating the place, you may have to remove a piece of furniture, curtains and a lot of junk you may no longer require. Rather than shifting them to the storeroom, you can get these things sold at a low price to get a tip on your budget; you can either auction it or sell it to a second hand shop. Remember your stuff might not fetch much, but removing these will help you to de clutter the room and at the same time get a small raise on your budget. But if you are doing the interior designing and decorating from start, don't worry for not having anything to sell; you can have an option of choosing very wisely and designing the room afresh with no time loss.

Reuse your stuff
You can use a lot of things at hand in a novel and creative way to make the interior designing a fun and creative experience. You can make a cushion cover out of your old curtain by stitching together the pieces but while choosing the fabric, see to it that it either gives an arresting effect to the otherwise blunt room or else combine with the mood of it. You can also use an old piece of furniture and polish it to make a centrepiece of the room. Your grandmother's chest drawer can boast the main attraction in your drawing room if you space it well and take care to project it.

Decorative pieces
Decorative items and wall painting can come in any range and sometimes it may cost you a fortune. But it's not just costly decorative pieces and antique collections that can make your interior boast a good appearance. You can use a family portrait or a painting your little one did to give a new look to the walls. These paintings and photos don't just come free, they are worthless and just a good frame will do the job. Similarly you can also use decorative candles and gift pieces in a creative way to change the face of your room.

An extra coat of paint
An extra coat of paint can always give a facelift to a room. interior designing is never complete without a well painted wall. Choose the same shade of paint as your previous one as getting a new shade will require more coats of the paint and hence it will increase the cost of painting. But you can do a contrasting shade on just one wall if you are bored with the 'same old paint' this not just give a new face to the room, it also saves a bit on the paint.

Keep it simple
Be it kitchen, bedroom, office or study; keep the room as simple as possible. Reduce the number of furniture and extra piece of couch to give your room a neat, organised, spacious and new look. Your rooms and office should also have a touch of your personality so work on it.

Georgian Interior Design Ideas And Styles

Considered by many to be the epitome of all that is desirable for the interior design ideas (and, incidentally, the exterior too), the Georgian period has a great influence on how we arrange our homes today and is, in fact, the basis for the currently popular English country house style. A combination of perfect proportions, symmetry and harmony is hard to resist for long.

Covering a period of about a hundred years from George I's accession to the throne in 1714, Georgian style represents the sum of several highly diverse, imported styles, the homogenization of which produced a high point in English decoration. This style in turn was re-exported, influencing, in particular, the newly established colonies in North America.

At the start of the period, rococo was all the rage in France and to some extent in the rest of Europe. With its rampant, florid, asymmetrical lines featuring such motifs as scrolls, shells, flowers and ribbons - in fact, anything which could be represented by a curve - it had many admirers, not least the French court, the font of fashion in Europe.

In England, however, there were other forces at work. The Grand Tour, undertaken by many a well-heeled gentleman to enrich his cultural knowledge of the world, meant that continental ideas, especially those espoused in Italy - a 'must stop' on the trek - were given an airing back home. The Earl of Burlington was one who made the trip. An architect, he was much influenced by the work of Andrea Palladio in Italy, and upon his return to England did much to popularize this classical style of architecture.

The clash of these two very different styles could have meant an awful compromise. Instead the best of both was retained and the result was magnificent. The straight lines, symmetry and control of the Palladian style served to restrain the more excessive fluidity and glitz of the rococo interpretation. In turn the French delicacy and freedom of line lifted the rather constrained classical style.

To these two important influences were added two more, Gothick (the 'k' denotes the revival period) and chinoiserie. Every age draws upon the past and this was no exception and, with the increased availability of furnishings from the east, oriental taste also crept into the currency of English decoration.

One outstanding feature of the period was that, through the genius of people such as Robert Adam and William Kent, the designs of interiors were, for the first time, indelibly linked with those of the exterior. Classical pediments, plinths and pilasters all found their way indoors to become common interior embellishments.

Overseas trade and increased wealth led to a demand for a more sophisticated lifestyle. Rudimentary plumbing (running cold water at ground level and basic waste disposal) became available, as did better heating and illumination in the homes of the nobility and merchant class. Lower down the social strata it was a very different story, a fact that can be used to great advantage when planning a Georgian style interior today. It is not necessary to inherit a grand country mansion together with a substantial budget before considering the adoption of Georgian style. All you need are rooms of pleasing proportions and a knowledge of the materials and styles adopted by the average household of the day. A modern-day natural floor covering, such as jute over a quarry tiled floor, will serve every bit as well as a precious Aubusson carpet on ancient wood.

As with the interior styles of other ages, it was the development of materials and skills which greatly influenced the changes in interior fashion. The use of hardwoods (mahogany in particular) and the refinement of glass production meant that early 'heavy' designs gave way to more delicate styles.

Rooms were dominated, as ever, by practical considerations. The need to keep warm and to introduce as much light as possible meant that considerable thought was given to fireplaces and windows.

Mirrors were also an important feature, reflecting and increasing what natural light was available and, at night, candlelight. Practical though these elements were, it did not mean that they had to have a utilitarian appearance. Fireplaces were surrounded by the grandest of treatments in fine marble, mirrors framed with intricately carved, gilt moldings and windows dressed either with beautifully paneled shutters or curtains hanging from delicately worked, wooden pelmets. In addition, doors (often double) were fielded, ceilings molded and walls frequently paneled.

Not only was this a golden age of architecture and decoration but furniture making too was at its height. The designs of Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton are legendary and constantly revived. No wonder, then, that elements of Georgian style have endured and are as popular today as ever.

Georgian Style Interior Design Tips

Walls were a very important part of the Georgian interior and much attention was paid to their treatment. Classically, the wall area would have been divided into three sections: the dado/wainscoting, incorporating the skirting/base board, dado panel and rail (which would be at a height of approximately 75 cm/2ft 6in); the field or mid-wall section; and the top section made up of frieze and cornice.

Early in the period these panels would most probably have been made of oak and finished with a simple wax polish. Later, with the introduction of softwoods, the paneling may have been painted, albeit in rather drab colors, or given a faux wood finish.

Hangings of precious textiles and tapestries were fashionable and fabric walling as we know it also popular (except in the dining room, where food smells might be trapped). Fabrics such as silk and wool damask were attached to walls above dado height by means of wooden battens and finished with a gilt fillet. Costly wallpapers (including flock types and patterns with oriental themes) in sheets rather than rolls were highly prized and most frequently attached to a canvas backing before being hung, thus enabling them to be removed when the owners departed.

Flooring

Exposed bare wooden planks or parquet, simply scrubbed and waxed (and, for coziness, topped with an oriental or area rug) are typical Georgian treatments. For an alternative covering, a painted and varnished floor cloth made of canvas might be incorporated into the scheme. For halls and the grander areas of a house, stone or marble flooring, possibly in a classical pattern, was considered most appropriate.

Furnishings

Close co-ordination between all the soft furnishings within a room would have been evident, each item echoing the material and style of others. Popular fabrics of the day were velvet, brocade, damask, silk, chintz and tapestry. Oriental themes influenced many of the fabrics and toile de jouy might well have depicted scenes from Chinese life. Embroidered textiles were also very popular.

Lighting And Accessories

The main source of light, apart from the fire, would have been candles. These were housed in candlesticks, candelabra, wall sconces and lanterns made of wood, glass, brass or silver. Many candlesticks were based on classical designs, while those for the candelabra were mainly rococo in feel. Mirrors in gilt frames featured strongly, as did lacquerwork screens, porcelain ware and fans from the Orient.