Ever Heard of Decorator's Block?

You want to redecorate, say your livingroom, but "Where do I start?". I think every home has it's decorating challenges. I know mine seems to have many. But challenges are good. They keep us thinking. Think about your focal point, or what should be your focal point, like a nice fireplace or exceptionally beautiful piece of furniture. Not the TV unless it's housed in that beautiful piece of furniture.

What is your current color scheme? Don't have one that you like? Change it. Pick your favorite colors and use them. If you have those colors in a painting, or throw pillows, knicknacks, that's a start. Build around those colors. Good place to find favorite colors is in your clothes closet! Pick out your favorte blouse, dress, etc., but don't forget your hubby's favorites. He lives there to. Select the colors that blend or complement each other, not clash.

Now back to the livingroom. Lets say your favorites are in the line of fall colors. Reds, browns, rust, golds, oranges and some yellows. That gives you a lot to play with. Let's also say that your main focal point is a fireplace. You want it to stand out. If the fireplace is dark in color, go to light colors on the wall around it. The opposite if your fireplace is a light color. Now if you use a dark color, say a nice rich chocolate brown, on the fireplace wall, you would want to use a lighter tan or light golden brown, wheat. Something along that line, for the rest of your walls. That keeps it neutral enough that you can add a combination of other colors for carpeting, upholstered furniture, wood furniture, etc.

A little hint: If your upholstered furniture is a very light color, go a couple shades darker for your wall color so your furniture doesn't get lost. I found that out when moving into my place. Had off white leather furniture and the walls were almost exactly the same color.....everything just went flat.

Now let's throw in your favorite colors. If it's accessories like vases, statues or other whatnots, group them in small groups around the room. Coffee table, bookshelf, mantle. Try to stay with odd numbers in your groups. Three (stagger the heights)to a group is always good. Also pick up your colors in throw pillows and small area rugs. Maybe an area rug under the coffee table. Also drapes or valances.

Furniture placement is alway a key to decorating. Don't line your furniture up along the walls like soldiers. If you have enough room, you could put a couple comfortable chairs and a small coffee table, or side tables, flanking the fireplace for a nice cozy conversation area. If your TV is also in the livingroom, your sofa and another comfortable chair and tables can be grouped for watching TV. Keep in mind, unless you have a small livingroom to begin with, the sofa does not have to be flat against the wall. Experiment with it.