By Maria Allen
Whether you're decorating a new place for the first time or redecorating key rooms that are in need of a design update, you have a lot of decisions to make. Do you prefer your furniture to be sleek and modern or ornate and vintage-inspired? What is your color palette for the space? Do you want wall-to-wall carpeting, area rugs, or hardwood flooring? And, of course, what kind of window treatments will be both functional and aesthetically appropriate for the space?
You might be tempted to think of curtains or blinds as an afterthought, when in fact they can tie together the whole room. They're also one of the few interior elements that can be seen from outside your home. An interior decorator can help you make the right design decisions, taking into account your personal taste, your budget, and principles of interior design, such as use of negative space and color contrast.
Giving You What You Want
Some people are reluctant to hire an interior decorator because they worry that their own preferences will be forced aside in favor of the designer's tastes. Unless you're a complete pushover and unwilling to express your opinions, this just isn't the case. Your decorator is working for you. It's his or her job to bring your vision to life, offering advice and options along the way. Your decorator may attempt to guide you toward a more harmonious or functional version of your initial vision, but you should never end up with a space you don't recognize as your own.
Following Design Principles
Most interior decorators either have a degree in interior design or have apprenticed with older, more experienced decorators. That means that they have an understanding of design principles that can affect how a room feels to its occupants. As a DIY designer, you might instinctively feel that a certain room is warm and welcoming while another room is stiff and formal, but not know how exactly that effect is achieved. By hiring a decorator to help you select your window draperies and other furnishings, you can utilize shape, line, negative space, color, and pattern to work toward a final product that's harmonious and gives off the exact vibe you want.
Remembering Function
Yes, you want your furnishings to give off a certain look. But window treatments must be functional, as well. For instance, those gauzy curtains you chose because you loved their soft, feminine look might be a nightmare when the mid-afternoon sun blasts in, fading upholstery and overheating the room. An interior decorator can take into account architectural issues and your specific needs. In a room that's perpetually dark, you might want to let in as much light as possible. A room with floor-to-ceiling windows might need wooden vertical blinds that you can close to keep the sun out at certain times of day. Window treatments can also help to frame a lovely outside view, combining form and function.
Staying on Budget
One final benefit of hiring an interior decorator over doing the work yourself is that by paying a little more for the service, you're actually more likely to stay on budget for the project! A professional decorator will have the inside scoop on thousands of window treatment options at an array of prices and can show you only those that fit into your price range. He or she may also have access to discounts that you, the consumer, can't use alone. Finally, as your paid contractor, it's in the decorator's best interest not to overspend, whereas you might be tempted to splurge on certain items--and those splurges can add up.
You might be tempted to think of curtains or blinds as an afterthought, when in fact they can tie together the whole room. They're also one of the few interior elements that can be seen from outside your home. An interior decorator can help you make the right design decisions, taking into account your personal taste, your budget, and principles of interior design, such as use of negative space and color contrast.
Giving You What You Want
Some people are reluctant to hire an interior decorator because they worry that their own preferences will be forced aside in favor of the designer's tastes. Unless you're a complete pushover and unwilling to express your opinions, this just isn't the case. Your decorator is working for you. It's his or her job to bring your vision to life, offering advice and options along the way. Your decorator may attempt to guide you toward a more harmonious or functional version of your initial vision, but you should never end up with a space you don't recognize as your own.
Following Design Principles
Most interior decorators either have a degree in interior design or have apprenticed with older, more experienced decorators. That means that they have an understanding of design principles that can affect how a room feels to its occupants. As a DIY designer, you might instinctively feel that a certain room is warm and welcoming while another room is stiff and formal, but not know how exactly that effect is achieved. By hiring a decorator to help you select your window draperies and other furnishings, you can utilize shape, line, negative space, color, and pattern to work toward a final product that's harmonious and gives off the exact vibe you want.
Remembering Function
Yes, you want your furnishings to give off a certain look. But window treatments must be functional, as well. For instance, those gauzy curtains you chose because you loved their soft, feminine look might be a nightmare when the mid-afternoon sun blasts in, fading upholstery and overheating the room. An interior decorator can take into account architectural issues and your specific needs. In a room that's perpetually dark, you might want to let in as much light as possible. A room with floor-to-ceiling windows might need wooden vertical blinds that you can close to keep the sun out at certain times of day. Window treatments can also help to frame a lovely outside view, combining form and function.
Staying on Budget
One final benefit of hiring an interior decorator over doing the work yourself is that by paying a little more for the service, you're actually more likely to stay on budget for the project! A professional decorator will have the inside scoop on thousands of window treatment options at an array of prices and can show you only those that fit into your price range. He or she may also have access to discounts that you, the consumer, can't use alone. Finally, as your paid contractor, it's in the decorator's best interest not to overspend, whereas you might be tempted to splurge on certain items--and those splurges can add up.
Maria Allen, a senior Internet marketing strategist for Prospect Genius, writes about interior design and SEO advertising.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_Allen
Blinds 4 Less
Quality Blinds, Shutters, & Shades
Proudly Serving Southern California since 1994
Free In-Home Shopping
(951) 924-9435
