2012 Family Home Decorating Ideas

Splash of Color

Early on, Keiser suggested a palette of pale blue and wheat. But when the homeowners craved more color, Keiser added bright orange lamps and pillows to the living room, then repeated the cheerful accents throughout the house. Pale walls, neutral upholstery, bright orange accents, and see-through surfaces such as glass end tables keep the living room light and inviting.

Balance in Pairs 

Like the couple's life, the house flexed to meet the needs of the new baby. In the living room, treated fabrics take the worry out of messy fingers and muddy paws not to mention the occasional wine spill. "To make a room feel balanced, I like to do things in pairs," says designer Kelly Keiser. Damask wing chairs flank the fireplace, and twin ottomans serve as both seating and pull up tables.

Wall Art: Think Big

To achieve the impact of a large piece of art, the couple hung multiple small frames close together. In keeping with the light look of the space, small prints were used in the art display to give impact without being overbearing. The small butterfly prints don't fill the frames, leaving plenty of space within the frames for crisp white mats that give the wall art display a sense of airiness. Black frames add just the right amount of drama.

Grab and Go

A narrow trestle table serves as a landing spot for keys, mail, and grocery lists. The table fits neatly inside the front door, and its slender profile doesn't block traffic. Because the tabletop surface is minimal, it can only hold so much, which helps prevent a pileup of clutter.

Wall of Memories

Family photographs and mementos that had been gathering dust were turned into a meaningful wall display. The display tells the family's story so far and is flexible enough to allow for whatever changes life brings.

Comfortable Dining

Upholstered high-back chairs offer guests a comfortable place to linger for another glass of wine or coffee and desserts. If you fall in love with a fabric that isn't kid-friendly, send the entire bolt to be sprayed with a stain-resisting treatment such as Nano-Tex. To minimize wear and tear, Keiser had matching covers sewn to protect the parts of upholstery that get the most use, such as the top of an ottoman or the headrests of dining room chairs. These extra covers slip over the furniture and can be easily removed for laundering.

Convenient and Cute

In the kitchen, plans for a wet bar were scrapped in favor of an antique school bench. Located by the back door, it's a handy place to drop the diaper bag or groceries.

Outside Influences 

A glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge through the bedroom window suggested the reddish-orange color for bedding and draperies. The bay windows let in plenty of natural light, but layers of window treatments offer options for controlling the flow of light. Roman shades can be lowered to diffuse some of the light coming in from the outside, and drapery panels can be drawn to block the light even more.

Matching Patterns 

Unified patterns of different scales create an elegant, tailored look. In this bedroom, a small-scale circle pattern dots the window draperies, and a medium pattern does the same on the Roman shades. Bedding with a large-scale circular pattern completes a harmonizing trio of patterns. For serenity's sake, the walls were kept neutral, and for design's sake, they were given a subtle, yet special treatment. Cream colors the walls above the molding, and taupe colors the walls below the molding. The slight shift in color adds dimension and character to the space.

New Window Treatment Ideas From HGTV Dream Homes

Learn new stylish and functional ways to use window treatments and revitalize your decor with ideas from past HGTV Dream Homes.

Dramatic Drapes

The longer the curtains, the more dramatic and elegant the design. In this master suite sheer loose linen drapes frame the queen size bed as well as the bay window. When trying to design a casual and more informal space, try using shorter curtains.

Bold Colors

This brightly painted kids' room designed for HGTV Dream Home 2010 is both colorful and lively. The rustic red walls scream high energy alongside the two-toned sliding curtains. Placed on a track, the drapes can be easily extended at night to provide privacy, as well as insulation on cooler nights.

Stylishly Unique

With an endless array of patterns and styles, you can be sure to find a curtain design that fits your personal decor. In HGTV Dream Home 2008, a striped fabric is used for the curtain trimming as well as the kids' overhead bed treatment. Dressed in a mixture of patterns and textures, this bedroom is youthful and fun.

Drapes Make a Decorative Divide

Curtains make great room dividers and can be adjusted to your preference. They can be pulled back with ties, pinned apart or simply allowed to hang freely. In this master suite the cream-colored curtains make the perfect divide between the bed and meditation area. Use them as a simple way to define different areas of your home.

Enhance the Details

Drapes are not just for windows. In this formal foyer the drapes enhance the architecture while making a stylish statement. Placed alongside the architectural posts, the flowy cream curtains create a dramatic entrance, leading you from the front door into the family room and kitchen.

Decorative Designs

Curtains can be extremely decorative. Use them to add a touch of personality to your space. Long curtains, such as these lightly patterned neutral fabrics, will add height and bring drama to your decor. Simplistically designed, this dining room is styled with handcrafted furnishings and neutral fabrics and accessories.

How to Arrange Art : 2012 Ideas

Artwork is a great way to add interest to a room, but arranging art can be stressful. Relax -- with our expert advice on how and where to hang art (and how much to hang), your home will feel like a gallery in no time.
Veronica Toney

Above the Sofa 

"People have a tendency to hang art too high," says Linda Crisolo, Art.com director of merchandising. "The center of the image should be at eye level." In living rooms, people are usually sitting, so artwork should be lower. A good way to ensure you're placing artwork at the right height is to hang it one hand width above the sofa.

In Scale 

A common problem when hanging artwork above a sofa or sideboard is that it's not in scale. Having pieces that are too small or too large will make the whole arrangement look strange. "Make sure artwork is at least two-thirds the size of the sofa or sideboard," Crisolo says. "For example, a 9-foot-long sofa should have a 6-foot-wide expanse of art above it."

Add Visual Balance 

When you hang multiple pieces in a group, visual balance is very important. "In a group arrangement, keep heavy pieces to the bottom and left," says Crisolo. "It balances the weight of the items because the eye starts on the left. If you have an even arrangement, put the heaviest piece in the middle."

Mix-and-Match Gallery 

Gallery arrangements are easy solutions for blank walls. Give the display interest by including more than just framed art, such as the vase and plates used in this living room. Start by defining the dimensions of your display. Position the most prominent piece at eye level in the center and work outward. "If you're using different frames, spread them out to give a little breathing room between each piece," Crisolo recommends.

Level Arrangement 

Hanging multiple pieces around a room can be difficult, especially when walls, doorways, or windows separate the pieces. "When hanging multiple pieces around the room, don't try to make the bottoms or tops of frames level. Level the middles," Crisolo says.

In the Bedroom 

In the bedroom, choose personal art, such as family photographs or your own photography. If you're arranging the pieces in groupings, Crisolo recommends sticking with one color theme, either all black-and-white or all color photographs.

In the Kitchen 

In the kitchen, hang art in a place where it won't get damaged by water or heat. Consider placing art above an office space, near the dining table, or above open counter space.

Crisolo also recommends avoiding kitchen art in the kitchen. "I tend to shy away from pictures of asparagus in the kitchen," she says. "Vintage art with traditional frames works in a traditional kitchen. In a modern kitchen, try bright colors with stainless-steel frames."

Consider Size 

When deciding where to hang images in your home, consider the wall space available and the arrangement of the room. "Use small pieces between windows and doors," Crisolo says. "If small items are in a space too large, the pieces look lost. With larger pieces, allow room for people to step back and admire the work."

Layer Pieces 

"Above a mantel or fireplace is the perfect place to layer pieces," Crisolo says. "A house looks like a home when you can see layers of artwork and accessories."

Hang in Style 

Make sure your arrangement matches your decorating style. "Symmetrical arrangements are more traditional or formal. Asymmetrical is modern," Crisolo says. "Also look at the image and style of the frame. For cottage-style rooms, stick with vintage images or botanicals. In modern rooms, choose large and abstract pieces."

Prop It Up 

While blank walls are a natural choice for displaying artwork, there is another option. Prop artwork against a wall or piece of furniture for a casual display.

Fast Decorating Facelifts 2012 Ideas

 Here are some quickly and easily ideas to spark up your room I hope to be inspiring and useful to you and you like it .... Enjoy !!!!!

Change Accent Pillows 

When done each season, it's a way to be trendy without making everything in your house a trend.

Add an Area Rug 

A rug anchors a furniture grouping, promotes an orderly feeling, and defines a space. Use painter's tape to outline various sizes on the floor to get an idea of how a rug could work in the room. In dining areas, the rug should be large enough to contain the chair legs when someone pushes back from the table. If you're hard-pressed for space, the rug needs to at least contain the legs when the chairs are pushed up to the table.

Try a New Color 

A powder room is a great starting point. The room doesn't get a lot of use, so you can experiment with color and go for drama.

 Throw Out, Recycle, or Donate 

If there's a chair no one ever sits in or a table that just collects junk, get rid of it. Same with old TVs, cell phones, and computers. You'll feel lighter -- and your home will be more comfortable.

 Reorganize a Bookcase 

This brings an instant sense of order. Place books so the spines are at the very front of the shelf. Don't randomly intermingle objects with books; set aside one shelf for displaying your accessories.

Change the Wall Color 

Painting is the cheapest way to redesign a room. A new color can change the tone of a room, and you can easily do-it-yourself.

Give New Life 

"You don't always have to buy everything brand new. Look at some of the good pieces you already have and see if they deserve a new lease on life by being repurposed into another room." A new stain or coat of paint usually changes an existing piece of furniture enough to give it a whole new life.

Add a Pop of Color

"You can't go wrong with a fun yellow throw pillow in any room." A few accents in citrus hues add a level of interest to any color scheme.

 Change the Mat on Artwork 

I often find it's the color of the mat, not the frame, that dates a picture. Change the look of the piece by swapping out a light-color mat for a dark one or vice versa. Or choose a new color of mat and use the art in a different room.

 Look for Bare Areas 

Ask yourself what simple items could add interest. A change may be as easy as rearranging furniture or putting an oversize potted plant in a corner.

 Tidy Up Your Entry 

It's a visitor's first impression, so don't let it become a dumping ground. Designate a place for mail and keys, like a small decorative tray or bowl. Add a basket for shoes at the bottom of the stairs so you can grab the basket on your next trip upstairs and put things away all at once.

Rearrange Art and Accessories 

Put something in a different place (such as rearranging a shelf display) and all of a sudden a room feels fresh. When hanging art, be sure not to go too high. A good average eye-level height is to have the center of a painting 5 to 5 1/2 feet from the floor.