Where to Begin when Redecorating a Room

One of the most often asked questions when I begin a consultation is, ‘Where do I begin?’  It is the reason most people just don’t do anything and continue to be unsatisfied with their rooms.  Of course the answer is different with every client and every room, but once you’ve determined a few key points, I like to start with color.

Again, this is a huge dilemma for most as color is scary too many; we all like color but are afraid to use it and knowing how to use it is a mystery to most.  I love all colors, not necessarily in the proportions I see them or in the application I find them,but really all colors are from nature and we all love nature right?  Even neon colors you ask?  Have you ever seen tropical fish?  So yes, even neon colors in the right application are great.

Back to our original question, where do you begin?  I say find your colors out of a favorite textile whether it is a rug, piece of furniture, a scarf or a piece of artwork that makes you smile every time you see it. Remember anything can be art. When you collect things that you truly love, you will find a common theme, just gather all your favorite things and see the similarities, it might just be color.  What we wear and what we live in can be very different and yet still very true to you.

Rugs are easy, especially colorful ones as you can build an entire room’s color scheme around the colors in the rug.  Sometimes using the boldest color is the right way to go, but not always.  The same is true with artwork and again color is the key to bringing a room together, which is why abstract art can work in a very traditional home; it adds a freshness and prevents the room from becoming, well, too traditional.