You Know Your Home Décor is Frumpy and Stale when….

Article by: Julie Dana

As a decorator, I have gone into many different homes , The Allure of Exotic Hardwood Floors and met homeowners with questionable taste. One thing I am shocked about is people living in a time warp. I recently had a client who hired me because they had an "ah- ha moment"Â seeing their living room , The Truth About Thread Counts! style on a circa 1980's sit-com rerun. Yes, their living room , Invasion of the Bar Stool - Are you Prepared? had not been restyled in 25 years. Sometimes people just decorate , The Joy of Naming Paint? like their mother did because that is all they have ever known. Let's not be frumpy and stale.

So how can you tell if you are living in a time warp and need to freshen up your home's look? Here are just a few of the telltale signs:

Look up. What do you see? If you see a popcorn ceiling or glitter mixed with ceiling paint, , Home Decor Accessories - How to Create a New Look in a Room you have an outdated look.
Now, look down. Do you see dark carpeting? over 10 years old? Do you see wall , 5 Tips to Create Style and Elegance in Your Home to wall , The Color Blue: What Does It Mean To You? plush carpeting? The trend is most definitely hardwood floors , Plasma Entertainment Centers with gorgeous area rugs
Look to the side. Do you see any fake wood , The Benefits of Adjustable Air Beds paneling whatsoever? The darker and shinier it is, the worse it is. No paneling!
What do you see on the wall? Please don't tell me that you see white paint. , Wood Baker’s Rack - Add Style to Your Kitchen The trend is color, , Decorating a Nursery For a Newborn color, , French Country Kitchen Design and color. , Adding carpets and rug is a quick way to spice up a room scheme Don't be bland! A rich complex color , Recessed Lighting Tips can bring your room , Types of Wallpaper Borders up to the new
If you removed a picture from the wall, , The Truth About Thread Counts! will there be a telltale sign that it hung in that exact spot too long? Paint , Adding carpets and rug is a quick way to spice up a room scheme fades over the years, ya know. Be sure to change , Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes the accessories , 5 Tips to Create Style and Elegance in Your Home around every few years. I bet that picture is hung way too high also. Is it hung more than 6 inches from the top of the sofa? See told ya.
Do you have over 5 photographs of children who are now grown? Subtract points if the frames are all different types and sizes.
How about the furniture? Is it lumpy and bumpy (formally known as cascade back style)? It reminds me of rolls of fat. Yuck! The updated look it smooth sleek lines with classic styling. Toss it to the curb with its buddy, the extra large lazy-people recliner.
Speaking of the couch, please don't let me see a knitted afghan folded over the back of the sofa. I love things made by Grandma too but it doesn't need to be the focal point. It is no longer fashionable to place , Painting a room’s woodwork and the trim around doors and windows opens up a number of designs potent a folded blanket of any kind over the back of the couch.
How about the accent pillows? The old style of placing matching pillows at each end of the couch is dated too - just because they came with the couch doesn't mean you have to use them. Spice it up with pillows of contrasting colors, , The Blue: What Does It Mean To You? unique motifs, and hip textures.
Let's check out the kitchen. , Modern Bedding Ideas This is an easy room , Digital Picture Frame to tell if is out of date. On the floor, , Painting a room’s woodwork and the trim around doors and windows opens up a number of designs potent do you have bold geometric vinyl? Are your appliances harvest gold or avocado? Do your cupboards lack character? Do they have their original knobs and pulls? Are the counters a color , Using Less to Create the Feel of More like 70's Brady Bunch orange or even 80's country blue? It really pays to redo a kitchen , Granite Countertop Colors but if you can't right now, update the knobs, get a rug, , 5 Powder Room Ideas for Powder Room Designs and gallons of paint. , The Truth About Thread Counts!

And the bonus question:

11. On your bathroom , Turning Your Child's Room into a Mysterious Jungle counter, is there a grouping of lotions and potions? The big pump , Creature Comforts bottle of everyday moisturizer? On your bedroom dresser, you don't have your collection of perfume bottles of scents you haven't worn in several years, do you? Don't you remember your mother doing this? Let's not decorate , French Country Kitchen Design how mom did.

Now you know if your dÃƒÂ©cor is frumpy and stale. You also know a few ways to make it fresh. Next, how about those pleated slacks?

Julie Dana is a professional Interior , Adding carpets and rug is a quick way to spice up a room scheme Redesigner and Accredited Staging Professional. Her company, The Home , Outdoor Bar Stools Stylist, offers online decorating , Painting a room’s woodwork and the trim around doors and windows opens up a number of designs potent consultations, do-it-yourself decorating , Cozy and Comfortable -- A Living Room for Winter! plans and real-estate staging. Visit http://www.thehomestylist.com to take a fun style quiz, vote on a color , Style Ideas to Add Glamour to Your Home poll, and sign up for free decorating , Learn About Different Types of Window Coverings e-newsletter.

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