Sofa Furniture Buyer’s Guide Blog

we want to spruce up our living room but don’t have a very good eye for interior decorating. i can tell when something looks good, but can’t seem to decorate well (either because of lack of style, budget, space available,etc.) are there any resources online that I can turn to to learn the basics of how to put together an attractive room? are there "style" rules that i should be following?

One place to get some good ideas from, would be www.hgtv.com. thats where I would start looking.

I’ve found that even after all the painting and decoration and accessories, my kids’ rooms don’t look much like those in interior decor books. I am talking about the books with simple ideas for regular people on an average budget.

The kids and I decorate/plan together, and we are very happy with the end results, but the rooms just look ordinary.

So, does your kid’s room look like those in magazines and interior decor books? Or, does it look nice but "ordinary"?

A few of the families I have worked with have had amazing kid rooms that could be from a magazine. If your entire house looks like a magazine, chances are your child’s room will, too. If your own home looks "ordinary," the likelihood of pulling off a magazine quality child’s room is probably not any better than your non magazine style living room. Just be glad your kids can express themselves in their rooms. That’s half the fun!

I am currently thinking of starting my own interior decorating and home accent business that would appeal to families that live on a budget but would like professional help with their home. If you currently live on a budget or are careful with you money, would you hire someone like this? My services would be alot like the shows on HGTV like Design on a Dime.

Currently, I work at a wholesale countertop fabricator where we sell to designers, builders, retailers, etc. Alot of the smaller companies I work with sub out their design work to people like you who have a passion for it. If you are worried about not getting call backs from contacts you can always try to get online with a company needing your expertise. This way you build a name for yourself by using that company’s good (hopefully!) reputation. Your idea is a great one, for sure, but I would be very careful about starting up without already having a client base. And because I already live on a budget, I probably wouldn’t hire you because I could do it myself….But if your services were included, at no charge, through a reputable company, I would be more likely to want to work with you and purchase materials.

Unfortunately, FREE, goes a long way. You may have to offer vouchers for a free in home consultation just to get going. Plus you will need to be very ambitious to keep clients coming in. Don’t forget that alot of people will be needy and indecisive so patience truly is a virtue….Good Luck!!!

Hi all

I’d like to get a set of five paintbrushes for interior decorating. I don’t want to break the bank, but would like something that is of reasonable quality to give me a good finish, and that is worth looking after and keeping for a while

Can anyone suggest a brand that is worth looking at?

Thanks
Matt

Brand is not important. The quality is. Look at this link for more info
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@1828825982.1162168282@@@@&BV_EngineID=cchkaddjfeeikdgcgelceffdfgidglm.0&MID=9876

Hi all

I’d like to get a set of five paintbrushes for interior decorating. I don’t want to break the bank, but would like something that is of reasonable quality to give me a good finish, and that is worth looking after and keeping for a while

Can anyone suggest a brand that is worth looking at?

Thanks
Matt

Brand is not important. The quality is. Look at this link for more info
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@1828825982.1162168282@@@@&BV_EngineID=cchkaddjfeeikdgcgelceffdfgidglm.0&MID=9876

What is involved in creating an Interior Decorating idea board for myself, or for someone else?

What items should it include?
What should it not include?

Thanks!

Before even getting to the idea board, you will have a very clear idea what design style you or your client wants. You will have already had an in depth consultation to get information on style, budget and colors by now. Keep your board focused and do not provide too many choices on any given board. If you must make up two boards for two different ideas, then do so.For my clients, this is an example of what I would do:

I have a large (almost poster size) picture frame, with cabinet handles on two sides, like a tray: In it, I insert (from behind) a foam core board (craft store). I paint the board with a sample room color or two. There is a stronger piece of thin plywood that holds the core board in place that is screwed in from the back so the tray support the goods:

Within the framed board:

*neatly arranged swatches for the project at hand, whether it be upholstery, window seats, pillows, dining chair seats, cornices, drapery, or other upholstered items.

*a sample of flooring (wood, tile, carpet, vinyl, etc)

*pictures of furniture recommendations if it’s a living room
bedding if it’s a bedroom
cabinetry, appliances, seating if it’s a kitchen

*a floor plan to scale with more than one furniture arrangement option

*photos of lighting fixtures, decorative lamp shades, lamps

*a sample piece of wood that is stained if there will be stained wood in the design plan (for floors or woodwork or furniture, doors, etc)

Do not include any prices yet. But you should have already discussed a budget so you will not present anything out of the client’s budget. Do not present any item that you are not positive is available and can order within a reasonable amount of time. Your client will be very upset if she selects a fabric and bases much of the design/color scheme from a discontinued, then you’ll have to start all over.

So, where do you get all of these pictures you will be presenting?? Search the internet for your favorite sources. Use these sources to order from and download the pictures from there. Go to the bookstore and page through Home Dec magazines and buy the ones that inspire you. Cut out photos of ideas that you are sure you have the resources to copy. People need visual stimulants in order to picture a design or a style. You will have to inspire them to be as excited about their project as you are.

I have a file with folders marked: Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room, Bathroom, Bedroom, Lighting, Outdoors, Picture frames and wall art,
Color schemes, Draperies, Shades, Furniture, Upholstery ideas, pillows, resources. I often call upon these files to use in my idea boards. I have been collecting these things for years and often get inspired by what I find tucked away in my folders.

What is involved in creating an Interior Decorating idea board for myself, or for someone else?

What items should it include?
What should it not include?

Thanks!

Before even getting to the idea board, you will have a very clear idea what design style you or your client wants. You will have already had an in depth consultation to get information on style, budget and colors by now. Keep your board focused and do not provide too many choices on any given board. If you must make up two boards for two different ideas, then do so.For my clients, this is an example of what I would do:

I have a large (almost poster size) picture frame, with cabinet handles on two sides, like a tray: In it, I insert (from behind) a foam core board (craft store). I paint the board with a sample room color or two. There is a stronger piece of thin plywood that holds the core board in place that is screwed in from the back so the tray support the goods:

Within the framed board:

*neatly arranged swatches for the project at hand, whether it be upholstery, window seats, pillows, dining chair seats, cornices, drapery, or other upholstered items.

*a sample of flooring (wood, tile, carpet, vinyl, etc)

*pictures of furniture recommendations if it’s a living room
bedding if it’s a bedroom
cabinetry, appliances, seating if it’s a kitchen

*a floor plan to scale with more than one furniture arrangement option

*photos of lighting fixtures, decorative lamp shades, lamps

*a sample piece of wood that is stained if there will be stained wood in the design plan (for floors or woodwork or furniture, doors, etc)

Do not include any prices yet. But you should have already discussed a budget so you will not present anything out of the client’s budget. Do not present any item that you are not positive is available and can order within a reasonable amount of time. Your client will be very upset if she selects a fabric and bases much of the design/color scheme from a discontinued, then you’ll have to start all over.

So, where do you get all of these pictures you will be presenting?? Search the internet for your favorite sources. Use these sources to order from and download the pictures from there. Go to the bookstore and page through Home Dec magazines and buy the ones that inspire you. Cut out photos of ideas that you are sure you have the resources to copy. People need visual stimulants in order to picture a design or a style. You will have to inspire them to be as excited about their project as you are.

I have a file with folders marked: Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room, Bathroom, Bedroom, Lighting, Outdoors, Picture frames and wall art,
Color schemes, Draperies, Shades, Furniture, Upholstery ideas, pillows, resources. I often call upon these files to use in my idea boards. I have been collecting these things for years and often get inspired by what I find tucked away in my folders.

I work for an interior decorating company and have some pieces that need to be matted and framed. We’re on a tight budget right now, but the pieces must look good. They don’t need to be elaborate custom frames, but must be a step above the metal poster frames you buy at the craft store. Any suggestions on what framers to go to in the Los Angeles area?

Its not in Los Angeles, but Displays2go.com has some really nice inexpensive poster frames that you can order online. They have really fast shipping too, most of their stuff ships the same day you order it.

Here is a link to their main poster frame page:
http://www.displays2go.com/poster_frames.htm