Pulling together all the various elements in a decorative scheme is not difficult to accomplish.
And using continuity of pattern and colour to co-ordinate your entire home can achieve some really effective results.
We all want our homes to be attractive, pleasant places to be in and at the same time, reflective of our personality. And yet, it is obviously clear that while some homes are instantly welcoming and full of atmosphere, others seem cold and friendless.
If you really think about it and analyse the rooms that you feel happiest in, you will probably find that they all have one thing in common – continuity and a sense of harmony. This is not difficult to achieve, and can be accomplished in many different ways.
Any interior decorator will go to great lengths to understand his or her client's needs before compiling any interior designs, and if you want to create harmony and co-ordination in your home, this is a good place to start. Carefully consider the way you live – whether you live on your own, have children or pets, are newly married, or live in a commune.
Your circumstances will, to a large extent, dictate your choice of décor – for example, there is no point in hankering after white carpets if you have no chance of keeping them clean, or in choosing beautiful silk fabric wallpaper if you have young children around.
Introducing harmony
Whether you live in a rented flat, a townhouse or a country cottage, the same rules apply – every room needs a centre of interest to which the eye is drawn. It might be a fireplace or an attractive window that is already there, or you might have to create a point of interest yourself. An unusual window could be accentuated, dadoes or cornices picked out, or you might have an interesting architectural feature such as an arched alcove or unusual decorative moulding that could be highlighted.
You could create a feature wall in a room, using wallpaper or colour, or an especially attractive, unusual or brightly coloured piece of furniture or work of art, which could be positioned as the focal feature. Whatever you choose, the real art is to keep your feature part of an overall theme.
Choosing colour
Colour and pattern play a tremendously important part in our lives, and those you choose should feel comfortable, as well as being aesthetically pleasing. Wallpapers, fabrics and paint all go a long way towards achieving a co-ordinated look and the subtleties with which you can use them are almost endless.
Choosing the right colours, however, is a true art form and something that is easy to get wrong. As such, it is recommended that you carefully plan your colour palette by compiling a comprehensive colour board – this is a collection of the various fabrics, flooring, furniture finishes, wallpaper and paint swatches that you intend to use in a particular room. Having a clear understanding of the colours in a particular décor scheme will assist you in making the right choices with regards to finishes, furniture and accessories.
Pattern and design
When you have decided what effect you want to create and have chosen the colours you want to live with, your next decision will be pattern. Modern wallpapers are increasingly versatile, designed for mixing and matching with great flexibility. For example, you can buy patterned wallpaper with two or three mini-print designs related to it, and with plain paper and paint colours also keyed-in. The idea is to use the main pattern on three or four walls with the mini print in an alcove, the side walls of a fireplace, or in an adjacent room. Or vice versa.
There are literally thousands of wallpaper designs available and many people find it impossible to visualise them in their own homes. Some books have coloured room settings, which help to show a pattern in depth, but it is always a good idea to take along fabric samples of existing furnishings and paint swatches for an exact colour match. Mini prints are increasingly popular as they are undemanding and easy to relate to. Yet, large scale, dramatic designs can work wonders for the right room, and will need fewer images and ornamentation. Graphic print wallpaper is also very popular – with certain companies able to produce specially printed wallpaper with any graphic image of your choice.
It is important to take care not to swamp a room with the same design or colour. Instead, try for a build-up of slightly different types of patterns and harmonious hues. Leading wallpaper and fabric producers aim at collections that blend together so that not one, but a number of patterns and colours, can be used without seeming overpowering. This co-ordinated theme can be applied to anything, from fabric, wallpaper and ceramic tiles, to lampshades, fabric blinds, upholstery and so on.
The secret is to mix designs in no more than two or three main colours, or even to use the same design in complementary ways.
Pictures courtesy of:
Black Fabrics: www.blackfabrics.co.za
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