When looking to a source for interior decorating inspiration, be critical in a way that will help you to refine and define your own taste. When turning to the work of another designer for decorating ideas, carefully look at the room and consider the basics: floor, walls, ceiling, and overall ambiance. Do not focus on details. When you are done, ask yourself these questions:
o How does this room make me feel?
o Is it too formal?
o Are the colors too light or too dark?
o Is the flooring too dark or would I rather have something darker and more anchored?
o Is the wallpaper/wall color intriguing or annoying?
o Is the furniture warm, dark, white, or colored?
o What do I like and or dislike?
Sources of Inspiration
Here are some sources of inspiration for home decorating ideas you may not have thought of:
Visit Design Models - Visit model homes, take home tours, or go to decorator show houses and checkout the work of talented interior designers.
Design Shows on TV - Watch a few shows to see what you like, then visit their websites for project information on interior decorating ideas.
Museums, Auctions, Antiques - If you are interested in period or antique furniture, visit the decorative arts departments in area museums and online interior design museums as well as auction houses, antique stores, and antique shows. This will help you become familiar with what is available in home decorating and educate you in the value of such pieces.
Interior Decorating Books and Magazines - Browse your local or online bookstore or library, or subscribe to magazines on home decorating. They will expand your knowledge of the design process and the materials and choices available to you as well as offering many interior decorating ideas.
Choose a Home Decorating Theme - Selecting an interior decorating theme is one of the easiest ways to decorate. Themes range from teddy bears in the baby's room to pears for the kitchen. The list is limited only by your imagination. When choosing a theme for decorating ideas, consider hobbies, dreams, locations, and design elements in your home.
Choose a Decorating Style - Decorating styles provide a guideline defining which colors, textures, and elements to consider while excluding the things that won't work. Common interior decorating styles include contemporary, Japanese, Tuscan, Mediterranean, and Country Ranch styles.
Research Online - The Internet offers thousands of links to online decorating tools, sites, and examples of home decorating ideas, as well as links to furniture manufacturers, color pallets, and wallpaper and fabric samples.
Fabric - The starting point for many successful decorating projects is a wonderful piece of fabric. Visit a fabric store for decorating ideas and get cuttings of everything that appeals to you. Be sure to stand at least 10 feet back from a sample fabric to get an overall sense of the design and color.
Decorating File - Keep a file of home decorating ideas with printouts, pictures, magazine clippings, and samples of fabric, paint, flooring, and paint.
Work with a Designer - Seek out a designer for a consultation, to complete a project, or for interior decorating ideas.