Which room should i decorate first

See also. Furniture Furniture Top Ideabooks. Decorating Guides. Decorating Decorating Top Ideabooks. Fred Albert September 25, Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites and magazines, including Houzz, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful and Style Save Comment 96 Like Few things in life are as daunting as decorating your first home.

Many of us just retreat into the familiar or the expected, leaving a trail of disappointment and Linen White paint in our wake.

Decide what you like. The easiest way to figure out what appeals to you is by looking at photos of other homes. And at the risk of sounding self-serving, the easiest way to do that is by perusing the photos on Houzz. Save your favorite ones in an ideabook. You can also scour design books or clip pictures from magazines. What are the common denominators, in terms of color, furniture style, pattern and density of objects in the room?

High Victorian will generally not work in a cracker-box condo. Create a budget. Figure out how much you can spend. If you can't afford to decorate the whole place at once, pick the room where you spend most of your time and make that your priority.

Sketch out a floor plan. I know this sounds like a drag, and something a schoolteacher would advise you to do. Find everything from a coffee table to a bed for your new place.

Pick a color palette. Some people say you should pull your color palette from the flooring. Others recommend starting with a piece of art. Once you have your palette established, let the rest of the decor spring from that. Use neutral colors for investment pieces, like the sofa and dining table , and put the color in paint or accent pieces like pillows, lamps and art.

If you are not happy about that spot now, your feelings about this area are not going to improve without a change. Decorate there so you will feel better about the decor projects that follow. Decorate for you Another school of thought when it comes to setting decorating priorities is to pick the decorating project that will please you the most.

You are the one who is living in the apartment, after all. You might want to choose a room where you spend most of your time and decorate it first. If you need a respite from the world, decorate your bedroom first, creating a serene sanctuary. If you plan on spending a lot of time snuggled up on the couch with a good book, decorate the living room so it is warm and inviting.

Heed these words of warning Wherever and however you decorate, make sure that you are following the regulations put forth in your lease. Also, once you choose where you want to decorate first, stick to that plan until the project is completed.

With more than 40 years of experience covering the multifamily rental industry, Apartment Guide is your authority for rental advice and apartment living. If you don't have a large primary suite, look for practical ideas for decorating small bedrooms.

And guest bedrooms have their own unique needs for decorating. For decorating kids' rooms, it's still common practice to use themes traditionally assigned to boys and girls, although today's parents are increasingly sensitive to making kids' bedrooms more gender-neutral.

A nursery for an infant has its own decorating needs, especially where young families where budget may be a consideration. Do you want to turn your master bath into an elegant spa?

Then research general design ideas for bathrooms, including how to make the room feel soft and sophisticated , and how to choose the cabinets, tile, sinks, mirrors, lighting, and accessories.

In small bathrooms , the challenge is decorating it to make it feel and look larger. If your new bathroom involves a full remodeling project, look for tips on working with contractors. Other key decisions will be choosing colors and selecting the right vanity and sink for your bathroom. The kitchen can be an expensive room to remodel, so you'll want to carefully plan your project. If a complete remodel is not affordable or practical, there are any number of budget kitchen makeovers you can consider—including a deep cleaning, freshening the paint, adding light fixtures, replacing cabinet hardware, adding new accessories, and replacing the sink and faucet.

Finally, simple decorating choices all on their own can make a kitchen look brand new. And of course, these decorating choices are part of any budget kitchen makeover or major remodeling project. The dining room table is the centerpiece of the room, so its choice and placement are critical to any decorating project. Choosing the right furnishings can be especially important for a small dining room. Other important elements to consider are the chairs and the chandelier —both of which help define your style and set the tone for meals.

Finally, give careful consideration to the curtains and drapes and to your tableware. A foyer should be an inviting space that sets the tone for the rest of your dwelling, but there are also many practical things to be considered as you design and decorate your foyer. Flooring, storage, and fixtures are all important considerations in designing a foyer. You will have different needs if you will be seeing clients in your home office and using the space for professional reasons.