Home Decorating For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Getting Started with Home Decorating
Chapter 1 Bringing Your Vision to Life
Planning like a Pro
Taking Your Design to the Next Dimension
Considering the Style of Your Designs
Getting Background Information
Designing Your Kitchen, Bathroom, Home Office, and Media Room
Making Your Sleeping, Living, Dining, and Other Spaces Work for You
Adding Art and Accessories
Chapter 2 Budgeting Your Projects
Coming to Grips with Your Budget
Simplifying the budgeting process
Considering basic budget questions
Mapping Your Decorating Plan
Hunting for Bargains
Working with Professionals
Finding a local decorator
Taking advantage of in-store services
Surfing for online decorating services
Chapter 3 Evaluating Your Space
Preparing a Floor Plan
Collecting the right tools
Old-school tools
Innovative tools and apps
Measuring your space
Drawing floor plans
Thinking about Your Floor Plan
Critiquing the space
Considering function
Conceptualizing storage needs
Putting Furniture in Its Place
Moving furniture around
Evaluating your plan
Prepping for Change
Decluttering
Cleaning house
Chapter 4 Thinking Like a Designer
Deciphering Design
Considering color
Recognizing form
Reading between the lines
Talking straight about lines
Looking at those curves
Weighing in on mass
Touching texture
Introducing Yourself to Design Components
Focusing on the focal point
Keeping size and scale in mind
Creating harmony and unity
Creating contrast
Adding variety
Troubleshooting Problems
Figuring out your room’s problem
Zeroing in on a sound solution
Considering case studies
Adding color to a Contemporary home
Limiting lines in a Florida condo
Adding textural contrast throughout a home
Part 2 Creating Dimensions
Chapter 5 Experiencing Color
Introducing Color Theory and Practice
Relating to color
Finding foolproof color schemes
Spinning the Color Wheel
Making Color Work for Your Decor
Spreading color around
Meeting with the style board
Choosing a stylish color scheme
Chapter 6 Playing with Pattern
Considering Pattern
Timeless patterns
Contemporary patterns
It’s a jungle out there
Current trends
Planning for Pattern
Picking your pattern
Using pattern as background
Giving upholstery center stage
Using one pattern everywhere
Spreading pattern around
Mixing patterns with confidence
Practice Makes Perfect
Making sample boards
Studying magazine pictures
Scanning wall-covering sample books
Chapter 7 Toying with Texture
Getting to Know Texture
Texture has feelings, too
Throwing its weight around
Making Magic with Texture
Planning the background
Lining the walls with texture
Laying texture on the floors
Adding textures to ceilings
Applying texture as an accent
Making texture the star
Working with Texture
Part 3 Perfecting Style
Chapter 8 Decorating with Timeless Styles
Understanding Styles of the Past
Italian and Romantic
French
English
Germanic
Scandinavian
American
Early American styles
American Country
Asian
Global influences
Using Timeless Approaches in Your Home
Designing Your Own Homage to Historic Style
Traditional looks
Continuing productions and reproductions
Antiques and collectibles
Chapter 9 Designing with Contemporary Styles
Transitioning from Timeless to Contemporary Style
Focusing on Modern Style
Cozying Up to Mid-Century Modern
Catching Up with Contemporary Today
Modern-inspired styles
Transitional-inspired styles
Chapter 10 Developing Your Personal Style
Discovering Personal Style
Defining personal style
Looking at a who’s who of personal style
Exploring Your Personal Style
Personalizing Your Approach
Branding Your Hospitality Spaces
Chapter 11 Finding Furniture
Sizing Up Different Furniture Types
Fully assembled furniture
Quality indicators in furniture
Recycle, upcycle, and repurpose furnishings
Ready-to-assemble furniture
Buying Case Goods
Finding Upholstered Furniture
Working Furniture Magic
Part 4 Designing Backgrounds
Chapter 12 Enhancing Walls
Decorating with Architecture in Mind
Traditional wall design
Contemporary wall design
Considering Your Material Options
Ceramic tile and natural stones
Fabrics
Mirror
Paint
Stucco
Wallpaper and wall coverings
Wood
Chapter 13 Finding Flooring
Installing Hard Surfaces
Walking on wood
Casting a stone floor
Sizing up synthetics
Resilient flooring
Laminate flooring
Stepping on Soft Surfaces
Choosing carpeting
Resting on your rugs
Machine-made rugs
Handmade rugs
Homemade rugs
Solving Problems with Flooring
Chapter 14 Styling Ceilings
Considering Form and Function
Painting Your Ceiling
Getting it white
Using color for unity
Using color for contrast
Designing your own pattern
Painting a sky
Stenciling
Creating a mural
Making the Most of Your Ceiling
Letting lattice work its charms
Revamping with wall coverings
Tenting with fabric
Creating a ribbon trellis
Applying straw matting
Installing ceramic tiles
Reducing noise with acoustic tiles
Decoupaging your ceiling
Mirroring for glamour
Building the Ceiling You’ll Want to Decorate
Constructing a false ceiling
Raising the ceiling
Including classical touches
Adding beams
Creating coffers
Using planks
Adding carved ceilings
Warming up with wood accents
Livening up with laminate
Going nostalgic with stamped ceilings
Chapter 15 Dressing Windows
Exposing Windows
Choosing Shades, Blinds, and Shutters
Heeding the Curtain Call
Readymade
Custom-designed curtains
Top billing for your curtains
Supporting roles
Going to great lengths
Creating Special Effects
Chapter 16 Livening Up Lighting
Understanding Lighting Basics
Functional lighting
Decorative lighting
Choosing light levels and locations
Designing decorative lighting
Lighting Up Your Life
Illuminating logically
Focusing on aesthetics
Lighting 101
General lighting
Task lighting
Accent lighting
Planning General Lighting
Creating contrast
Avoiding glare
Balancing light
Buying the Right Bulbs
Picking Perfect Fixtures
Ceiling fixtures
Chandeliers
Pendants
Portables
Recessed lighting
Tracks
Under-cabinet and under-shelf fixtures
Vanity lighting strips
Wall-mounted fixtures
Lighting Your Home, Room by Room
Hallways
Stairways
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Children’s bedrooms
Dining rooms
Kitchens
Home offices
Living rooms
Part 5 Tackling Kitchens, Baths, Home Offices, and Media Rooms
Chapter 17 Cooking Up Dream Kitchens
Considering Your Wallet
Spending the dough
Cutting corners
Determining Your Dimensions
Finding the Right Furnishings
Characterizing cabinets
Drawers
Cabinets
Countering your top
Walking on fabulous floors
Enjoying wonderful walls
Ceramic tile
Glass tile
Paint
Paneling and plank
Wall covering
Decorating Do’s
Selecting a style or theme
Determining your style
Letting cabinets be your guide
Creating the background
Spotlighting a hood
Furnishing a great kitchen
Treating windows
Accessorizing to add eye appeal
Chapter 18 Beautifying Bathrooms
Bathroom Budgeting
Strategizing for Resale
Customizing Your Bathroom
Gathering information
Sprucing up surfaces
Walls
Floors
Ceilings
Windows
Accessorizing Your Bathroom
Meeting a Bathroom’s Needs
Styling your bathroom
Making the most of small bathrooms
Gussying up guest bathrooms
Styling your children’s bathroom
Transforming Tacky into Terrific
Spicing up your vanity
Making the best of old tile
Chapter 19 Setting Up Work from Home
Locating Your Home Office
Measuring Your Space
Lighting Up
Equipping Your Office
Electronic equipment
Furniture
Desks
Chairs
Storage
Wiring Up
Color Scheming for Productivity
Accessorizing for Productivity and Fun
Chapter 20 Making the Most of Media Rooms
Considering Your Options
Converting Spaces to Media Rooms
Considering the basic elements
Transforming spaces
Designing a Home Theater
Decorating a Media Room
Part 6 Transforming Sleeping, Living, Dining, and Other Spaces
Chapter 21 Styling Bedrooms
Considering Function First
Selecting the Right Bed Type
Fitting your room (and your body)
Getting comfortable
Finding great style
Beautifying Your Bed
Dressing your bed
Making pillow talk
Arranging Your Furniture
Storing Your Stuff
Taking stock of your storage needs
Maximizing storage space
Decorating for Your Bedrooms’ Needs
Primary bedrooms
Teen bedrooms
Children’s bedrooms
Guest rooms
Chapter 22 Enlivening Living Rooms
Thinking about Function
Putting your furniture in its place
Checking out different layouts
Focusing on a focal point
Discovering furniture-arranging basics
Staging a Great Backdrop
Settling on wall materials
Paint
Wall coverings
Paneling
Dealing with your ceilings
Adding drama to the floor
Doing up the windows
Handling Accessories
Chapter 23 Designing for Dining
Preparing a Comfortable Table
Putting Style on Your Menu
Creating the Formal Dining Room
Comfort
Movement
Color, texture, and pattern
Furniture
China and glassware
Linens
Storage
Making the Most of Casual Eating Spaces
Serving Up Food and Beverages in Other Spaces
Living room
Hallway
Media room, dens, and game rooms
Outdoor dining
Adding a Dash of Dining Magic
Chapter 24 Transforming Bonus Spaces
Annexing Attics
Beautifying Basements
Crafting Craft Spaces
Enlivening the Laundry
Planning for action
Installing floors
Choosing wall surfaces
Accessorizing
Sizing up seating
Providing storage
Making Meditation Areas
Perking Up Porches, Patios, and Decks
Styling Out the She Shed
Part 7 Putting on the Final Touches
Chapter 25 Arranging Art Artistically
Finding Art
Knowing where to buy fine art
Picking up decorative art
Decorative originals
Decorative reproductions
Having fun with art
Placing Art in the Right Relationship
Picking up on a picture’s colors
Considering basic conventions
Pleasing the eye of the beholder
Finding homes for your art
Back to the future
Up-to-the-minute looks
Eclectic mixes
Artful Backgrounds
The Art of Art Placement
Grouping Artwork
Do’s and don’ts of group displays
Timeless symmetry
Contemporary asymmetry
Great grouping techniques
Displaying in Off-the-Wall Ways
Chapter 26 Accessorizing with Flair
Hunting for Accessories
Updating Your Arrangements
Finishing with Pizzazz
Accessorizing One by One
Blooming beauty
Professional arrangements
Silk flowers
Dried plants
Trees and shrubs
Ceramic tiles
Ceramics
Collections
Colored glassware
Ego elements
Fan favorites
Found objects
Hardware
Mirror magic
Frame-ups
Frameless fashion
Clear and colored mirror glass
Pillow talk
Stained glass
Quilts, throws, and warm fuzzies
Screen tests
Part 8 The Part of Tens
Chapter 27 Ten Tips for a Luxe Look
Ramp Up Molding
Cut Back on Clutter
Float Your Furniture
Go for the Gold and Brass
Heighten the Hardware
Lay Down Some Rugs
Paint It Black
Plus Up Your Style
Switch Out the Switch Plates
Upscale Your Lighting Fixtures
Chapter 28 Ten Tips for Small Spaces
Build in Shelving
Create Cohesion with Color
Fool the Eye with Curtains
Get into the Zone with Area Rugs
Light Up the Smart Way
Magnify the Magic with Mirrors
Make Space with Standing Screens
Scale Up Furniture Size
Select Multifunctional Pieces
Take Advantage of Vertical Space
Index
EULA