Interior Design Lighting Tips For A Better Home

A major element in interior design that most homeowners overlook is lighting. Interior design lighting can spell the difference between a mediocre room and one that is truly impressive and dramatic.

Whether it's intentional or not, some homes retain very dim and somber lighting that does not at all contribute to the attractiveness of living space. These are places where interior design lighting has been taken for granted, and no matter how expensive your furniture or accents may be, they'll lose their appeal when situated in a room that is poorly lit.

Although interior design lighting is done with functionality in mind, it can also create atmospheres that set the mood, depending on its placement, coloring, and combinations.

Many old homes are notorious for being dim and plain because of the limited possibilies for modern interior design lighting. The main setback encountered by most interior design lighting professionals are existing wiring that may not be accessible or would simply take too much stripping to renovate.

However, if interior design lighting could not be easily managed via overhead lights, there are alternatives to revitalizing mediocre-looking spaces by making use of modern techniques that weren't available a few years ago.

Making Use Of Track lighting

Track lighting is a welcome boon to the interior design lighting industry. They are sleek, easy to install, and very functional. Most new condo units have provisions for basic track lighting fixtures and can be easily moved from one place to another with simple re-wiring.

Houses that were built without standby wiring but with overhead lights or ceiling fans may still benefit from track lighting as their existing wiring may still be tapped for the track lighting apparatus.

Track lighting is best used for focusing light on various room areas - on paintings, artwork, sculptures, or any item you wish to focus on. You can also use track lighting to focus light on a desk or on countertops where you work on.

If you're stuck with a cookie cutter home with limited interior design lighting options because of its inimal electrical outlets, you can depend on track lighting to fulfill your more sophisticated lighting needs.

Professional-grade interior design lighting can now be easily achieved with track lighting because of the many varieties of lights available. There are different sizes, colors, shapes and designs which are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Older homes which used to be dingy and unwelcoming instantly become vibrant with strategically placed track lighting. These fixtures help by reaching places which could not otherwise be lit.

The kitchen is another room where interior design lighting is crucial. Because it can be a hub of activity, specially designed track lighting works perfectly for kitchens with many different work areas.

There are simple straight tracks, U-shaped tracks, and just about any design imaginable. Interior design lighting professionals can show you a wide range of selections, depending on whether you want the fixtures to blend with the ceiling or stand out and make a statement.

You can also "play" with your interior design lighting by using your track lights as mood lighting. These are commonly equipped with dimmers that can soften or intensify the light. Different-colored bulbs can also be used for a festive effect.

Indeed, interior design lighting has come a long way from the plain and somber light fixtures of the yesteryears. Today, the possibilities in interior design lighting are only limited by your creativity.

Searching For An Interior Design Job

Use your interior design education to get that interior design job that you covet. If you have ever looked at a room or living space and felt that, you could make it more livable and attractive then maybe interior design is for you.

If you have a flair for creativity and are not afraid to express your ideas then an interior design job is just what you need. However, you cannot just go get a design job. You need the proper educational background to get your foot in the door of the industry. Once you have the interior design degree or diploma then you will be taken more seriously.

There are many top design schools in North America. Not only that but there are many online interior design schools as well. Design schools will help you unleash your creativity and show you how to use color, style, fabrics, accessories, lighting, paint and furnishings that reflect your personality and the personality of your clients.

If you are not specifically looking for an interior design job but would rather start your own Interior Design company, you are still going to need a proper education in Interior Design. An education will provide you with skills and confidence that you will need in pursuing your career in the exciting and challenging world of Interior Design.

Enrolling in an Interior Design program really has no prerequisites except basic artistic and creative ability. If you feel that attending school is just out of the question due to family or work commitments consider taking an online interior design program that lets you interact with instructors and other students on your own time. It is a great way to further your education to get that dream interior design job.

There is more to interior design than just decorating a room, which is essentially interior decorating. Interior Design is more of a process of drawing on the environment, architecture and product design. Interior decorating is more along the lines of simply decorating a living space. Interior Designers are professionally trained in the art of Interior Design.

To get that dream interior design job it also helps immensely if you have contacts in the field. If you are just starting out, consider volunteering at a large design firm to get valuable experience and a chance to make some contacts in the interior design industry.

When you are searching for your interior design job, do you have an idea or preference as to what area of design you would like to get into? Would you prefer residential or commercial? It is thought that commercial is a more lucrative area of interior design. Alternatively, would a more specialized area of design like healthcare or restaurant design be more interesting for you?

With the increase in the aging of the population, there is a need for more care and living spaces for the elderly. This could be an area of rapid growth for the interior designer, thus keep this in mind when searching for your interior design job.

To get started on your interior design career, enroll in an accredited Interior Design school today. Once you've graduated you are well on your way to your dream interior design job.

Earning a Bachelors Degree at an Interior Design College

Students can earn a bachelors degree from an Interior Design College. A good school will provide the student with the ability to apply their creative ideas and techniques to professional interior design. These areas of interior design are planning, designing, equipping and furnishing commercial and residential interior spaces.

The student at an interior design college will learn the principles of computer application drafting (CAD) and graphic techniques. In addition, the student learns the effects of interior lighting, acoustics, color coordination, integrating systems, furniture and furnishings. However, that is not all, interior design also covers such things as textiles, textile finishing's, the history of interior design and the various different period styles. Lastly, the student should expect to learn about basic structural design and building codes and inspection regulations. In addition, how the regulations apply to residential and commercial interior design.

Several well qualified Interior Design Colleges and schools offer the student a well-rounded curriculum that enhances the student's creativity along with the human factor of interior design. Students need not only learn about the creative aspects of interior design. The business side of interior design and how to deal with clients, is also an important topic to be studied. Without people, the interior designer has no work.

The typical interior design student is creative, energetic and curious. Interior design is a creative and quite varied career. No two designs are the same, the designer needs to use a variety of techniques and methods to create a desirable living space that pleases their client.

Interior Design College will arm the student with insight and knowledge to prepare them for an exciting and profitable career in Interior Design. The interior designer's ultimate and main goal is to transform plain generic areas into beautiful and creative spaces that meet the personalities of the interior designer's clients.

An Interior Design College in the United States offer four-year baccalaureate degrees in Interior Design. Universities offer the same type of program. Some colleges offer Interior Design as a stand-alone program only. Students may pursue a Masters degree in Interior Design but this is much less common. You will find students that pursue their more advanced degree in a related design subject such as fine art or industrial design.

Interior design college institutions have expanded beyond the traditional classroom or studio based instruction. Online degree programs now are being offered in interior design. The online programs are just as comprehensive as the studio-based programs.

It would be beneficial for the student to attend an Interior Design College that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, the primary accreditation agency for interior design education programs in the United States.

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.

Interior Design Vs Interior Decorating Vs Home Staging Vs Interior Redesign - What's the Difference?

The other day a real estate agent whose listings I stage for sale introduced me to someone as a "designer". I didn't want to take the time to correct him, but I thought to myself, "This isn't the first time I've heard people use 'designer' erroneously. It's often used to label someone who's an interior decorator. So, why does everyone lump us all in one category, when we all clearly do something different?"

To put the differences succinctly:

• Interior Design involves, among many other things, the preparation of documents often by a licensed professional for the construction of an interior space such as plans and elevations, and details and specifications, including lighting, power and communication locations, materials and finishes, and furniture layouts.
• Interior Decorating involves the adornment of surfaces in the interior space, such as fabrics, wall coverings, furniture, decorative accessories, flooring, light fixtures etc., and takes into account the lifestyle, taste, needs and preferences of the user of the space. While interior designers may decorate, interior decorators don't design.
• Home Staging is preparing the home for sale through updates and "decorating" so that it appeals to the broadest range of buyers for the market that the home is in.
• Interior Redesign is often done by home stagers for homeowners not currently selling because it employs many of the same principles that home stagers use, such as primarily using what furniture and decorative accessories the homeowner already has, with an eye towards the future sale of the home.

Now, let's explore each one more in-depth.

Interior Design

According to the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ):

• Interior design 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.
• Designs are created in response to and coordinated with thebuilding shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project.
• Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability.
• The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is the leading organization for interior design professionals. Certain levels of its members must meet certain education, work experience and examination requirements administered by the NCIDQ. Further, some states have licensing requirements for interior designers which include the passage of this exam. ASID also has continuing education requirements for its members.

Interior Decorating

No wonder people often confuse interior decorating with Interior Design. Even I had trouble finding a definition for Interior Decorating. Often it said "see interior design".

Perhaps its best to understand interior decorating as it exists in contrast to interior design:

• An interior decorator would select floor coverings based upon the tastes and lifestyle of the client, whereas the interior designer would take it a step further and look at usage, sound transference, flammability, etc.
• An interior decorator would select lighting fixtures, whereas the interior designer would plan for the location of lighting and ensure that it is in compliance with building and safety codes.
• An interior decorator does not need to have any formal education and/or work experience, testing or licensing, whereas an interior designer does.

Home Staging

Home staging is the art and science of preparing a home for sale so that it appeals to the broadest range of buyers in order to sell quickly and for top dollar. The objective is to make the potential buyer fall in love with the home, envision themselves living there and aspire to the lifestyle the home portrays.

According to the Real Estate Staging Association's Consumer's Guide to Home Staging, it is a "systematic and coordinated methodology in which knowledge of real estate, home renovations and creative design principles are applied to attract a buyer."

Home staging involves any or all of the following:

• Evaluating what furniture and decorative accessories (throw pillows, artwork, decorative objects, lamps, knickknacks, etc.) the owner has, and:

- eliminating some of the furniture and/or decorative accessories, otherwise known as decluttering as well as depersonalizing (removal of family photos, trophies, collections etc. so the buyer can envision living there)

- arranging the furniture and accessories for optimal placement to enhance flow (the ability to walk freely through the room), focal point enhancement (e.g., emphasizing a fireplace or a beautiful view), balance (are there too many or too large pieces in the bookcase or on only one side of the room?) and the positive aspects of the home while downplaying the negatives

• Carefully selecting for purchase or rent, if necessary, the appropriate furniture and accessories for the style of the home and it's market.
• Recommending, implementing and/or arranging for enhancements, updates and repairs such as painting, flooring, sink fixtures, lighting fixtures, window treatments, landscaping, etc.

Interior Redesign

As stated above, interior redesign is like home staging, however it enhances the home for the homeowners rather than for potential buyers. And it does so with an eye towards its future sale. It is like home staging in that it primarily uses the client's existing furniture and decorative accessories to transform the space, and may also involve the purchase of additional furniture and accessories as well as updates to the wall colors, window treatments, lighting fixtures etc.

Summary

To summarize the differences:

• Interior Design involves the planning of all aspects of interior space often by a licensed professional.
• Interior Decorating involves the adornment of surfaces in the interior space. Interior designers may decorate, but interior decorators don't design.
• Home Staging is preparing the home for sale through updates and showcasing so that it appeals to the broadest range of buyers for the market that the home is in.
• Interior Redesign employs many of the same principles that home stagers use, such as primarily using what furniture and decorative accessories the homeowner already has, with an eye towards the future sale of the home.

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.

Interior Design Tips For Modern Contemporary Lighting Installations

Modern lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some aesthetic or practical effect. The application of modern lighting within your home can give your home a stylish 'designer' look.

Lighting is very important in interior decorating. Unfortunately, far too many people don't understand or neglect to see its importance.

Here are a few tips that will help you if you are considering installing some modern lighting in your home.

Size and strength of lighting fixture:

Before choosing your new fixtures, make sure you measure the area you intend to illuminate. You must also, of course, consider the space available to hold the new fixture. You need to ensure that your new fitting(s) does not emit overpowering illumination and also that the size of the fixture itself fits in the space allocated, both functionally and aesthetically. A balance between the size of the light fixture and the power of illumination is important.

Style matters:

The style of the lighting fixtures you install should be in keeping with the overall style of the room. Consistency is everything when it comes to interior design. Or maybe more to the point, inconsistency of design, particularly when it comes to out of place lighting, can really hurt the overall effect. lighting really is a make or break element of interior design.

Colour considerations:

Colour of both the actual fixture, and the light it emits should be carefully considered. Filters can soften the light emitted from a light fixture, which may suit the interior design and colour scheme of the room.

Conclusion:

Modern contemporary lighting can add real designer style to your home. Consider the size and strength, style and colour of fittings and the light they emit to achieve the very best effect. It is possible to purchase stylish contemporary lighting fixtures at affordable prices and to either fit them yourself or to have them fitted for you. Remember, for any electrical work you should always hire a professional, as electricity can be very harmful.

Tips When Choosing Your Home Interior Design Style

Some of the most popular exteriors in America are Modern, Art Deco, Victorian and Colonial Revival. Logically, many of these home owners would choose to complement the home interior design by using unified elements. If the exterior is an Arts and Craft bungalow, for instance, you may want neutral tone walls, stained glass lights and mission oak furniture. However, if you have a Cape Cod, then a country theme might be more appropriate for your interior. You can gain insight and custom designs from a trained professional to help you make the best choices.

Art Deco first gained popularity in the 1920s. While the glitz, glamour and gaudiness diminished following the Great Depression, there is still a soft spot in the American heart for the lost innocence of this classic time period. In the twenties and thirties, the professional interior designer saw Art Deco as both elegant and ultra-modern. Combining aspects of airplane design and Futurism with Old World mosaic patterns and Cubism, the end result was something very interesting that spoke to the aristocracy who wanted nothing bland or boring.

Borrowing from austere stainless steel but also exotic zebra skin and saturated modern colors, Art Deco interior design trends offer the homeowner a museum-type vibe with an array of conversation pieces. Curved mirrors, Tiffany lamps, lacquered furniture, velvet drapes, silk lamp shades, small furniture, thick carpeting and symmetrical geometric shape patterns can all add a hint of Deco to a room. "It's about glamour and getting a glimpse of those bygone days where TV was less important and it was about cocktail hour and company," furniture designer Barclay Butera tells HGTV.

The Arts and Crafts home interior design style took America and Great Britain by storm from 1850 through to 1920. Following the advent of mass production and rampant industrialism, artists like John Ruskin and William Morris called for a return to rustic craftsmanship. Simplicity meets high quality with clean, elegant furniture that is as practical as it is beautiful. William Morris said in 1882, "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

Other influential Arts and Crafts designers include Frank Lloyd Wright, Gustav Stickley, Henry Greene and Elbert Hubbard. Durable, dark-stained "mission style" oak furniture, stained glass, painted tiles, floral fabrics, Mica shade lighting, neutral tone walls and deep green or sapphire blue accent colors are all part of Arts and Crafts custom designs.

In addition to the aforementioned styles, you may notice interior design services featuring "Feng Shui." Feng Shui home interior design is based on the principle that the arrangement of objects, the choice of color and the manipulation of space can help you feel better and achieve your goals. Often Feng Shui involves clearing out clutter, adding plants and rearranging furniture to maximize space. No matter which custom designs you choose, feeling at peace and completely comfortable in your own space is the end goal.

Why Should You Use an Interior Designer?

Every interior designer will tell you that one of the most common questions they are asked is 'why pay a designer when I can design just as well myself?'... Why use an interior designer?

There are many people capable of decorating their homes to their desired effect, but if you want the complete finished home with the real wow factor, call in the experts. The following article explains some of the reasons why and interior designer can be your best friend.

1. An experienced interior designer will have had years of training in his or her desired field, most of them covering all aspects of the design industry. They will have also had many years of practical experience of designing, organising, co-ordinating and project managing it entirely.

2. Experience also brings years of dealing with committed contractors who would advise on lighting schemes, plumbing requirements and if required, necessary building works.

3. Sadly so many builders, plumbers and electricians are not capable of dealing with the jobs they are quoting for. An interior designer has eliminated the bad guys!

4. Probably one of the better reasons for employing a designer, is the fact that they can save you money in the long run. A good interior designer will have access to all the best furniture, carpet, fabric houses, lighting engineers and suppliers in the world.

5. So many people have absolutely no idea of where to buy the furniture they desire and spend days, if not weeks and months searching for it. These boring shopping trips have even been known to cause a few divorces!

6. Designers have a constantly updated library of catalogues. This enables you to choose from the luxury of your own home or the designers office. Also they have the ability to obtain a compromise between partners! Many of these companies give discounts to interior designers, which some are happy to share with their clients.

7. Using an interior designer also gives you the opportunity to have products made exactly to your requirements, an interior designer can assist in having it made completely bespoke in any desired finish and style.

8. Another reason for using a designer is that, unfortunately the average person has a complete lack of special awareness... For instance how many times do you see in homes a sofa the size of one that would fit in the lobby of a London Hotel? Alternatively in a large suite, one that would suit a bedsit. interior designers have the skill to know which size pieces look good and which do not. Knowing the correct size and layout of furniture of any room is vital.

9. A designer will know how to achieve the maximum realisation of value of your property. Far too many homes are de-valued by poor interior design. The tragedy being that this has probably cost the home-owner a lot of money. New home builders always use a designer for the showhome as they know that this will generate sales very quickly. The showhome on a new development usually has a waiting list of potential buyers. Even if a show home is not to your taste, most people will aspire to that complete finished, professional look.

10. A good interior designer will provide you with a complete overview of every room with a Mood Board of the colour palette, furniture style and layout, window treatments and flooring, lighting and wall finishes. They can also supply 3D visuals if you require. This is a virtual picture of every room, so if there is anything you have doubts about it can be addressed immediately. The client will also be informed of the overall costings for room or whole project.

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.

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.