If you are looking at interior design and decoration as a career or hobby, you must make yourself familiar with the basic elements of interior design. There are six basic elements used in interior design and
decoration. You must use all the six elements while decorating a home or room to get a well designed and functional unit.
Here are the basic elements of Interior Design and Decoration:
1) Balance - Balance is of two types - symmetrical and asymmetrical. A symmetrical layout has balance in design while an asymmetrical layout has disparity. Symmetrical layouts are used in formal room decorations whereas asymmetrical ones are used for experimental and funky layouts.
Balance also refers to weight of different objects used in the room. It could be the actual weight and size of the furniture (furniture units, entertainment centers) or it could refer to visual weight (patterns, colors, textures and so on). While designing, make sure that the weight (actual as well as visual) is distributed equally in all parts of the room and no part appears uninviting due to excess weight.
2) Color - Humans can see millions of colors. To make color selection easy, look at your favorite piece of art, rug or upholstered fabric. Then choose colors around that item based on “60-30-10″ rule. If your favorite rug contains blue, yellow and cream, you may go for yellow walls (60%), blue sofa (30%) and cream cushions (10%).
3) Focal Point - A focal point is the center of interest in the room, the area of the room where our eyes are naturally drawn when we enter the room. You must have a focal point in all rooms. Usually fireplaces, large bay windows make for excellent focal points but if your room doesn’t have these elements then you can create a focal point by hanging your art creatively or placing accessories on a bookshelf strategically. Once you have decided a focal point, arrange other elements of the room around the focal point.
Mirrors are an effective decorating tool when placed in front of a vanity or the entrance to a house, enhancing the light in a room or reflecting candlelight, or making a space look larger than it is. They are also a great substitute for windows if few are present.
Hanging a substantial mirror can be a heavy task. Smaller mirrors should be hung the same way you hang other framed pieces. Purchase hooks according to their weight capacity, and use Molly bolts if necessary. Hang the mirror so that it is comfortably at eye level if it will be used in a dressing area or bathroom. Hanging multiple mirrors in a group, perhaps with different frames and in different sizes, allows heights to be staggered or symmetrical.
According to the principles of Feng Shui, placing a mirror inside the front door will confuse any “evil spirits” attempting to enter your home. Read more…
Buying furniture for the baby nursery is a very big project for new parents.
Until the third trimester of pregnancy, mom gets too tired to enjoy in making the space to welcome the new baby to the home.
It is better for new parents to plan the baby nursery as soon as they know that a new baby is going to come. Here are wonderful tips that help you greatly in decorating your baby’s nursery.
Tips to buy baby furniture:
1. Select the right theme and colors. If you are not aware of the gender of your baby, then it is better to plan the nursery all in white color and once after the arrival of your baby you can add splashes of color to it or you can also choose neutral colors like green and orange.
2. Search on the internet for various brands and styles of the baby furniture like changing table, cot, pram and chest of drawers. So, you will get a clear idea on what you like and understand the various choices that are available.
3. Remember one thing, spend more amount of money on long lasting items like the baby crib, changing table, pram, and save as much money as you can on baby accessories.
4. It is very confusing to buy the correct pram that suits to your baby, because you will find so many varieties to choose from. Here are the things you need to consider while choosing the pram:
* Want to go jogging with the pram or quiet walks in the park?
* Do you want to use the pram for shopping?
* Do you want a huge storage space?
* Want to buy the pram that fits in your car’s boot?
5. Once after selecting all the baby furniture items, the next thing you need to consider is how to decorate the baby’s nursery. Select wonderful wall arts, g, big wooden letters, photo frames and various other room accessories to brighten up the nursery.
6. While selecting the baby stroller, first you need to decide which style of the stroller you want before searching the individual brands. Once you get better idea about for what purposes you want to use the stroller, then it will be easy for you to select.
7. It is not necessary to buy the baby monitor, but it is great to offer piece of mind. Select the monitor based on the things that you are going to use it. You need to move around a lot, so ensure that the monitor is portable.
8. Choose the crib based on the size and length of your baby and is well constructed, because crib is the place where your baby is going to spend his most of the time.
9. Baby bedding accessories is another item on which you need to spend lots of money. You can easily find cute and gorgeous designs for your baby bedding. Most of the cribs and bassinets use standard sized beddings. A good idea is to buy only the necessary accessories for your baby and keep all the less necessary things on your baby shower gift list.
10. Baby bassinets are only useful for your baby from the birth to 4 months age. When the baby starts rolling from side-to-side, it is the time to keep him in the crib. So, choose the bassinet according to the budget and get it if that is necessary for your baby.
Taken from: http://www.newbornbabyzone.com
If you choose a right bed for your toddler then the transition from crib to toddler bed can become an easy task. Moreover, if you use the similar mattress and bedding that your child previously used in his crib; the transition to a toddler bed will be easier.
Make sure that the toddler bed that you have chosen can be child friendly, safe and fun.
Toddler bed is designed low to the ground level for your child safety. It has railings on four sides that can be rolled out when the bed is in use. A toddler bed is easy to accumulate and disassemble and can be stored away when not in use.
While choosing the toddler bed you have to consider several factors. Among which the most important consideration is safety. The bed should not be too hard or too soft. The other factor you have to consider is comfort. You should not place too much stuff in your child’s bed like, pillows, stuffed animals, and toys.
There are many different types of toddler beds that qualify as kids bedding for a child, and these include sheets, blankets, comforters, pillow cases, bed skirts, canopy curtains, quilts, and more.
The points you have to remember while choosing the toddler bed:
* Choose a bed that is comfortable for your toddler.
* Make sure that the toddler that you have chosen is strong and not in danger of collapsing. Check all the joints and screws, especially when your child jumps on his bed.
* Choose a toddler bed that is low to the ground level. It is easier for your toddler to get into and when falls out of the bed the chances of injury are less.
* Choose a toddler bed to which you can easily attach the guardrails. Adjustable guardrails prevent falls which fit between the bed base and mattress.
* Place spare quilt or soft rug around the bed to lessen the shock of the fall and help prevent injury should your toddler fall out of bed.
* Choose a simple design. The best toddler bed frames should have simple, no ornamental, head and footboards without cutouts or protrusions.
* Place the bed in the safety place of your child’s bedroom. Ensure to place your toddler bed safely away from wall lamps, drapery and blind cords, heating units, and windows.
* There are some beds that are specially designed for your little angel. These types of beds come with hand painted designs in many colors and styles. They will surely give your little angel a smoothing sleep.
* It is better to choose a toddler bed that has storage space for books, toys, and clothes.
* Buy a bed that is in the shape of car, trucks and motor cycles for your baby boy. This encourages your child to sleep.
* There are some special beds designed especially for your little princess. Barbie and Dora are the most popular among the little girls. Most of the toddler beds have four corner posters crowned with colorful, theme related canopies.
Taken from: http://www.newbornbabyzone.com