Gathering Decorating Ideas
If you are like me, you can never find a decorating idea when you need it. So I have started IDEA and HOME files.
Marked IDEAS, I keep a file beside me where I do my reading, especially magazine reading. I have a 6-pocket expandable file and a scissors within easy reach. I do not think magazines are sacred and readily tear out and cut up pages. Whenever I see something that inspires me, I tear it out. It might be the color of the whole room, or the style of the furniture, or a great looking window treatment.
I have divided the 6 sections into Living room, Dining room, Kitchen, Family room, Bathrooms, and Bedrooms. Then I can put the magazine picture directly into the “room” to which it applies. This saves sorting again later. Touch that paper once!! Then when you are ready to make some decorating changes, you won’t have to search back through months and years of decorating magazines to find that picture you love. This works especially well if you are planning to build a new house. You can fine tune the ideas you eventually use from these magazine pictures. And this is a good source of ideas to take to your design professional. It is so hard to verbally describe a look and here is where “a picture is worth a thousand words” really does apply.
The HOME file is also an important tool. Get another folding file and put your existing finishes and fabrics in the file – paint chip colors, wallpaper samples, carpet or wood floor scraps, fabric samples, arm covers from and pictures of existing furniture that you plan to keep. Even having some measurements of the rooms is a great idea.
Keep this file in the car so when you are out shopping and you have found a terrific deal on towels for the bathroom or an area rug for the dining room, you will have the information you need to make good decisions. Also as you have new design products installed in your home – fabric treatments, flooring, etc – be sure to save some scraps before the installer throws all those little pieces away. They will tuck nicely into your HOME folder.
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