By: Connie Deamond

Would you build a house without blueprints? Of course you wouldn’t. Have you furnished a room without a plan and then didn’t like the way the room came together? If you use the same approach when “building a room” as you would if you were building a house, the end result should be very satisfying.

The next time you decide to decorate, or redecorate, take out a piece of paper and make a few notes. You can do this in your head, but putting your thoughts on paper will free your mind to think of other things, and you will become more creative.

Ask yourself a lot of questions. For example, how will the room be used, how much seating do you need, do the fabrics need to be child and pet friendly, how do you want the room to make you “feel”? From these questions you’ll be able to start narrowing down what types of furnishings you’ll want to purchase. By doing it right the first time you can save time and money and be sure that you’ll be happy with the finished room.

Before purchasing any furniture decide what pieces you will need and what size they need to be to comfortably fit in your room. A well balanced room can make you feel more content when you walk into it. To help you in this step you may want to use graph paper to draw an outline of your room and do a rough sketch of furnishings. Think of the room as a scale and you’re trying to balance the scale. If you put too much on one end, it will tip over; but, if you have equal amounts on both ends, the scale will be balanced.

The next part of the plan is to choose a color scheme. Color has an impact on how you feel, and color in a room is just as important as balance. If you’re not sure about using a lot of color on the walls, paint the room a neutral color and use throw pillows, candles, or other accessories for that splash of color. Just as not enough color can make a room uninteresting, too much color can be overwhelming and clutter your vision. It’s easier to choose fabrics before paint colors because paint colors can be customized so the choices are almost limitless.

Don’t forget the windows. With so many fabric choices, trims, and decorative rods and finials made of all kinds of materials, your window treatments can be the crowning jewels in your room. If you choose custom window treatments, they will be designed to complement and add to the overall feeling in the room.

The final step in your planning is the accessories. This is one area that is often neglected. Groupings are nice if you use odd numbers and don’t overdo it with too many items in the group. A large item strategically placed can make an impact. An important thing to remember when accessorizing is to leave some open space. It’s all right not to have something on every table or in every corner.

In conclusion, plan ahead, think about what you want the end result to be, write down your ideas, buy what you like, but, make sure it will add the elements to the room that will give you the results you want. With a little planning and a lot of thought you will have the room that you envisioned.

Connie believes that the most important aspect of a designer/client relationship is communication so that “we together, create a space that you love returning to at the end of each day”. Connie is a certified professional decorator and is a member of Decorators Alliance of North America and Window Coverings Association of America.

Contact information:
Phone: 302-239-5806

Email:   conniedeamond@verizon.net

Website:
www.conniedeamond.com

Testimonials:
“Connie helped me with color selections, color corrections, placement of pictures, decorating ideas and window coverings. The whole experience was fun and exciting for me! Her expertise and attention and follow-up were so professional! Anyone thinking of using Connie’s services will be extremely happy with her services, taste and knowledge.”
~Allisyn Ruggieri, Newark, DE

“When converting my family room to a theater/media room I liked your approach to the selection of the ideal fabric for reducing light. Your drive to get a project moving beats your competitors. I would tell someone thinking of using your services that you are the right person for the project.”
~Robert Cephus, Wilmington, DE