Home Decorating Guide

We spend a great deal of time in our home. We use it to relax from a hard day of work and to enjoy family activities and gatherings.

We want to make our home attractive, comfortable, and efficient for our use. In the process of decorating our home, we want to make sure it fits the architecture of the space. Designing the interior of our home provides a certain "feel" to our home. Home interior decoration includes applying wallpaper, painting the walls, choosing furniture and fittings such as light fixtures, and adding decorative elements such as paintings, flowers, and statuary.

We can hire an interior designer and/or an architect to help us with the design and decoration. In years past, there has been a distinction between an interior designer and an interior decorator.

Interior decoration focuses on finishing such as wallpaper, window coverings, furnishings, and paint. Interior design deals with the architecture in addition to the decoration. Interior design is focused on the space as a whole such as the layout of the rooms as well as custom made furnishings. Today, interior decoration has fused with interior design.

The concept of home interior decoration began in the late 18th century with Jeanselme in Paris, Lenygon and Morant in London, and Ogden Codman in New York. The concept has evolved over the years and has gone through many trends and transitions. Today, home interior decoration and design focuses on innovative ways to decorate on a budget.

The objective of home interior decorating is to improve the home functionally and have it to reflect your tastes and personality in a unique way. This is a challenge.

In one year alone, homeowners spent approximately $175 billion on home improvement. About 65% of this can be attributed to interior decoration. Most money is spent on improving bathrooms and kitchens. Growing in popularity are specialty rooms such as home theaters, craft rooms, home library and computer areas, and areas for specific use by family members such as a child's playroom.

Color palettes change, the same as in fashion, as trends change. Color is also a unique preference. While some homeowners may follow current trends, others may use colors that fit their personality whether they are in vogue or not.

Innovative home interior decorating ideas which cost less but give the impression of being up-to-date decorating schemes are what young professionals and newly married couples are trying to achieve. Most of these ideas are eclectic decorating styles in which the homeowner can put their own stamp of uniqueness. Harmony has to be balanced with uniqueness so that the home provides functionality.

The home interior decorating industry changes each year. There are new trends, new styles, new decorative elements, and new colors. It is difficult to keep track of these trends. The important rule in home decorating is that whatever you choose to do with your home should be functional and comfortable for you.