By no means am I an interior decorator nor do I have much interest in that subject. But, I am a homeowner who understands that people need space to live and, in some cases, they need more of it. For millions of Americans making a move to larger quarters or expanding the current home may be something they’d like to do, but given the current economic climate, beyond their ability to carry out.

So, how do people make do under such circumstances? They go minimal, of course.

As I mentioned, home décor isn’t my forte but I have friends who recently made some small but significant changes to their home, steps which have made all of the difference for them. You may still need more space, but sometimes small changes can yield big results and delay the inevitable move or upgrade. Let’s take a look at what my friends did and did not do:

Remove Furniture – The family room was getting crowded with one sofa, two love seats and a pair of recliners. Although quite a large room to start with, the extra seating capacity, coffee table and floor lamps were getting in the way. One love seat and one of the recliners was removed as were the coffee table and all three floor lamps. Track lighting now supplies the bulk of the lighting — getting around a once crowded room can now be done with ease.

Toss Drapes – Both the family room and the living room had the biggest, darkest drapes you’ve ever seen. I like heavy drapes in the bedroom which is perfect for privacy and conducive to a good night’s sleep, but cotton curtains look better elsewhere in the house, allowing the light to flow in and giving the impression that the room is larger than what it really is.

Lose Doors – Open floor plans create a more seamless living environment while helping homeowners maximize their space. Short of removing entire walls, taking down a door between rooms can make a big difference. Also, widening the entrance way to a room where a door once stood can give the appearance of a home being larger than it is.

Choose Built-ins – If you have a large amount of wall space, why not consider getting rid of the bulky bookcase and create built in shelving instead? One of the easiest ways to do that is to remove an extra window, enclose it and replace it with shelving. The cut out is already there and you’ve just freed up a significant amount of needed floor space by transferring your books from the floor to the wall.

Some of the changes mentioned only give the illusion of more space including using lighter colors on the wall and ceiling or buying smaller furniture, steps which cost you extra money. You may not be able to upgrade your living quarters right now, but making interim changes now can allow you to get even more out of your dwindling living space.

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Tags: doors, furniture, home décor, Home Improvement, home renovation, interior decoration, lighting

It has been said that “art is in the eye of the beholder.” Clearly, this statement must have been made by the person whose artistic ability was being questioned.

Perhaps it started with that bronze sculpture on display at the local museum which raised the eyebrows of patrons, who wondered just how the winner of Mrs. Kleermacher’s 4th grade art contest was able to showcase her work in a very public setting. Or, it could be that 16-foot “artistic expression” placed in the town center by the art league which resulted in numerous letters to the editor of the weekly journal calling for its banishment at once.

If you haven’t figured out that I am in a teasing mood, then rest assured that I am. I am also speaking as your anonymous neighbor who wishes you would tone down your personal collection of yard art.

I’m fine with a handful of medieval characters frolicking around your shrubbery, but when they start to crawl across your lawn to the street, then questioning your taste becomes everyone’s prerogative. Never mind that you branched out and have blended in cutesy stone frogs and polymerized Disney characters — your mix and match yard sculptures have stretched the definition of art and simply are in bad taste.

Before the entire block calls for a meeting of the neighborhood association to update the compact (rules) to ban all yard creatures, please take action at once by:

1. Culling your critters. Anything taller than a foot and those characters found within the six foot side and front property buffers should be removed. You can sell off what doesn’t fit at, you guessed it, your next yard sale.

2. Relocating the flock. Your backyard’s privacy fence is adequate to hide your work from nosy neighbors and prying eyes. Sure, you want to showcase your possessions, but that is best done out of the view of the families who live adjacent to your property and are objecting the loudest.

Once you have cleaned up your lawn we’ll make sure that the neighborhood association doesn’t enact a fresh set of rules to constrain everyone further. For goodness sake, Mr. Monsanto would be upset if his cast iron sundial could no longer be displayed and I would hate to tell Mrs. Lillington that her terra cotta pot collection has to go.

Personally, I’m fond of my garden fauns which double as reindeer as soon as the holiday season arrives. What?! Are you questioning my taste?

Tags: home décor, yard art

This article represents the final article in our home construction specification plan series.

Assembling a Home Construction Specification Plan — Spec Plan T: Interior Decor

Who is the best judge of how a new home should look? Is it the builder? An interior decorator? Or would that be some other type of professional?

Although there isn’t anything wrong with employing the services of a professional, the people who live in a home are often the best judges as to how it will look. After all, a house isn’t a home until you have personally decorated it.

We’ve Come To An End In Our Series

In our ongoing home construction specification plan series, which comes to an end with this article, we’ve taken you through all of the steps needed to acquire property, lay a foundation, build your house, and turn that house into a home. The final step, your home’s interior, isn’t a requirement of your home specification sheet, but it does play an important role as to where a wall will be built, how a room is laid out, and more.

Fortunately For You, My Advice Is Limited

Although I have been comfortable detailing the entire home spec plan up to this point, I must tell you that I am not someone who is particularly adept at interior decorating. For that, I leave this task in the capable hands of my wife.

If I were tasked with decorating a home, it would probably have a distinct bohemian bachelor look — a mix and clash of furniture, colors, and assorted knick knacks. It would be tidy, but not something that would appear in Architectural Digest or House Beautiful.

Get Informed!

Fortunately, there are some great resources out there for the person who wants to decorate their home. I mentioned two of the more popular interior decorating magazines, but there are some other places you can go for help:

Interior Decorating Stores: If you have a good store in your area, paying them a visit could be worth your while. Many of the larger stores offer seminars and classes to help you design your home’s interior. Sure, they want your business, but the ideas offered can be used anywhere.

Take A Class: Many adult schools and some community colleges offer classes on decorating your home. You don’t have to get a degree, but if that Window Treatment class costs you $50, you’ll likely get that money back when you go out to shop for what you want.

Turn On The TV: If you have access to cable channels, then a channel like HGTV can help you lay out your kitchen, choose the right colors for your den, find the best bedding for your child’s room, and much more.

Of course, a knowledge friend can also offer tips and advice, just the information you need to personalize your home.

On a final note, thank you for following our series which began in October 2007. If you are interested in a recap, most of our articles were posted on Tuesdays, so please go back to our Home Style For Every Homeowner article and start from there.

Enjoy your new home!

Tags: bathroom, bedroom, den, dining room, family room, foyer, hallway, home décor, interior decorating, kitchen, living room