Design Advice From HGTV Guest Designers

How does the average person go about choosing a design style that best fits their home, family and lifestyle?

Color, texture and patterns along with the confidence to put it all together are some of the tools that begin forming a design style choice for your home. Developing and creating an interior style fitting your family needs can be inspired by many avenues, such as magazine articles that fashion beautiful room settings and style challenges. I find that the average person can educate their abilities through the vast array of television programs and books that feature at home do-it-yourself design formats. These helpful programs and books can influence and train you with helpful hints and ideas to express yourself through a design flair that is unique for you.

Treasured items can be integrated with new furniture, colors and patterns creating an eclectic feel of warmth that creates a patina of age to your room setting. Walls and floors are the most obvious choice for color that will develop a theme for your interiors. I always recommend making choices that are visually appealing to you and that the level of performance should also be considered for your family needs.

Warm colors can be stimulating and create a sense of energy while cooler shades seem restful and relaxing, but our response to color is completely individual. You may love bright and cheerful colors or prefer the order and simplicity of tone-on-tone, monochromatic shades. The cozy softness of natural shades and splashes of color and design should be pleasing to you.

Your central design theme can be built through simple techniques that portray easy and obvious decisions, arranging your colors (paint, wallpaper), textures (fabrics, flooring) and furniture (photographs/ wood samples and upholstery) on a "story board" (poster board or folder organizer), which will begin the process of forming your choices. This representation is a smaller version of what you will be seeing in your room on a larger scale and assists you as you shop for major purchases, along with the accessory items.

Whatever your style don't be afraid to tailor your choices that will create the personality and image of your home which will suit your budget and taste.

Susan K. Goans, IFDA
Artistic Adventures/ White Dove Media
Website: www.artisticadventures.net