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How
do you define your decorating style, what you
like, what suits you?
Well, in pretty much the same way that you find
clothes to wear that you like. By knowing yourself
and what suits you; seeing what’s out there,
in stores and on other people; and seeking out
constant inspiration in magazines and the media! |
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If at all possible, try not
to pressure yourself, or let others rush you. Spend
time looking for ideas and inspiration in books, magazines,
catalogs and on-line. (See Creating
a Color Scrapbook).
Live in the space for a while, look at the light at
various times of the day, see how you actually use
the rooms. In short, find out what the space needs.
If you don’t have a lot of time, there are short-cuts—take
a look at Go
with What You Love. |
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Make a point
of looking around houses that are
open to the public—model homes,
furnished homes for sale and so
on.
If you’re eating out at a
nice restaurant or visiting a museum
or gallery, take note of the décor
and details. It's probably the work
of a highly experienced interior
designer.
You can even sharpen your design
sense at the movies, by looking
at the sets and scenes with rooms
in them, which are usually styled
by skilled set designers down to
the smallest details.
Ask friends and acquaintances whose
homes you admire how they created
their look—most people are
flattered and will love to give
you tips.
But don't just go with what others
say is good. Be honest with yourself.
Look for what you truly like. |
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What colors do you particularly
respond to? Do you like light or dark? Strong
or muted?
How about textures—man-made or natural?
Do you like antiques, or reproduction, or modern?
Or all of the above?
What rooms do you most enjoy being in—cozy,
or ultra-modern?
Don’t design to impress others, or just
to demonstrate that you know the latest trends
(without perhaps actually liking them very much).
Design for yourself and your family. After all,
friends and colleagues just visit. You have
to live there, day in and day out! |
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For convenience, and to help
you focus your efforts, we’ve carved the dizzyingly
diverse world of decorating up into just four
BEHR Signature Styles: |
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A traditional style
is generally formal, sophisticated and
timeless, using antiques or high quality
furniture reproductions, rich woods, overstuffed
seating and muted, understated colors.
The emphasis is on comfort, style and
classic, refined elegance.
Fabrics are luxurious and rich, fixtures
are of high quality, and accessories may
include paintings, vintage prints, sculpture
and framed personal mementos. Traditional
rooms are thoughtfully composed and generally
have a rather formal feel. |
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With its roots in the
Bauhaus art movement of the 1920s, classic modern
(which may also be called contemporary), treats
interior spaces almost as pieces of three-dimensional
art, balancing form, shape, color and texture,
and banishing clutter and fussiness.
Surfaces are plain, colors are usually clean
and pure, shapes are geometric, with immaculate
detail and finishing. The whole look is pared
down and polished. Materials may be either the
highest quality natural (silk and cotton, slate
and marble, for example) or quality man-made. |
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Country today is an
assemblage of related styles, with names
that include rustic, peasant, pastoral,
natural, floral, romantic, nautical, beach,
cottage, country house, colonial, New
England, Shaker and Provençal,
to name a few.
Signature elements are materials and textures
that are natural rather than man-made;
colors and designs that echo nature (floral
motifs, for example); furniture that is
simple and hand-crafted; and an absence
of modern artifacts (they may be there,
but are concealed). |
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Casual can also be
called eclectic—it’s a well-chosen
and harmonious mix of furniture, fixtures,
colors, textures and treasured accessories
that appeal to you.
Casual requires a confident hand to team
up ancient and modern, to combine, say,
the clean lines of contemporary with the
warmth of country, and tie it all together
with color and texture.
The most successful casual rooms generally
confine themselves to two or three different
styles, and frequently use a common decorating
theme, such as color or shape. |
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Try the ColorSmart™ by BEHR interactive program to experiment with thousands of different color combinations and see how they look in actual room settings.
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