Finding A Décor Style That Fits Your Personality
Do a quick search on the Internet for home decorating ideas and you will find literally hundreds if not thousands of ideas instantly. But how do you make the right choice with so many options available? If you don’t already have specific tastes that are uniquely yours, you can start by browsing through popular décor magazines, watching home décor TV programs, searching through books at your local library or surfing the Internet for a plethora of creative wall decorating ideas.
Most home décor styles fall into one of three categories: traditional, contemporary or eclectic. Your personality and personal preferences will most likely fall into one or more of these groups. Here is a partial description of some of the elements of each.
The Traditional Look
Traditional styles never go out of style. They offer a collection the best looks from the past. Characteristics of this style include symmetry and proportion in a formal and graceful setting. Color schemes are neutral with warm finishes and light colored walls. Wall style and décor usually include naturalistic art like flowers, bowls of fruit, leaves and vines or natural wallpaper patterns. Mood is created using darker upholstery with classical detailed and intricate patterns. Classy and luxurious fabrics are used to accent rooms. Darker natural woods including walnut, rosewood or mahogany are often used to add formality and class. Other accent choices include formal lighting choices such as crystal chandeliers, framed traditional art pieces and carpet with wood flooring combinations.
The Contemporary Look
Contemporary styles use bold accents and structural elements of the room to enhance the design and feel. Most contemporary styles use neutral colors on the walls while incorporating bold and vivid color accents with contemporary artwork, geometric shapes and modern decorative elements. The key to contemporary is that they are simple, clean and geometric. This concept applies to all the elements of the room including furniture, lighting and décor. Another important characteristic of modern styles is their use of open space. Use open and empty space as an artistic expression rather than trying to fill it with an unnecessary element. The use of light also needs to be taken into consideration, as it is another facet that adds to the contemporary feel. Lighting choices include stainless steel, chrome or brushed-nickel lamps. Furniture is comprised of light colored wood like birch or light maple combined with metal or glass. Modern storage organizers are used to hide clutter.
The Eclectic Look
Simply put eclectic styles incorporate elements of many styles and combine them in a way that brings about continuity and self-expression. A vivid use of color can be seen in this style of decorating. There is a creative use of lines including clear, clean and curved line designs. In this style you will frequently find unexpected elements from a different style or era that create intrigue for the viewer. Accessories are placed liberally while at the same time being careful no to overcrowd the space. You will see both traditional and contemporary elements mixed together to create their own unique look. For example, you might see a traditionally designed kitchen with modern kitchen backsplash ideas on the walls. This look appeals to those who do not like sticking with one style. They like to mix in a little bit of everything for variety’s sake.












