Introduction to Home Staging

I have had many experiences cleaning and home decor jobs in the past and would like to research how to get into this field. I live in a small town and have limited resources I would like to pursue this occupation for the small town folk.

http://www.interiordezine.com/index.cfm/Products/interior_decorating_ecourse

http://www.homestudycourses.net/interior-decorating-home-study.html

http://lp.aionline.edu/interior-design/landing-61H5-840RL.html?med=ppc&src=PSGSR&ven=PERFORMICS&cid=58000000000100550&keyword=programs+in+home+design+online&publisherSite=DSGoogle+-+K70&DS_KWID=p2461422

http://www.worldwidelearn.com/career-training/interior-design.htm

This should get you started in some research for online courses.

Good Luck

Home Decorating can be a challenge. But, if done properly, very rewarding. Beware though, there can be pitfalls to such a do-it-yourself project. So before you start any home decorating project, weigh up the pros and cons.

Choose Materials Carefully

The variety of materials now available offers you considerable choice when it comes to the style in which you decorate your home. What is practical in your area? Will a decorative wallpaper present a pleasing appearance? Or perhaps you prefer a veneer or a fabric wall covering? You may conclude that a simple coat of paint will provide the look you prefer. Before finally deciding, take into account the practical aspects. These include the cost, the durability of the finish, the ease of installation, and the time and effort needed to maintain and clean the walls. All of this has to be compared with what it would cost to have professionals do the work.

The color of your chosen decorative material is also important. Will it blend with other features of the room? If the room is usually cold, a warm shade of paint will create the sense of warmth. Light blue or green hues will make rooms that are on the warmer side of the house seem cooler. Dark or poorly lighted rooms can be brightened with light-colored finishes.

A kitchen often gets hot of course. Therefore, some prefer a cooler color, to `cool down` the room. A bathroom, on the other hand, is a place where a `warmer` color, a red, or brown, for example, will create a warmer feeling.

Very small rooms suit pale, cool colors. Coat low ceilings with a pale paint, and contrast with slightly darker walls to create an illusion of height. If you choose dark colors bear in mind they absorb heat and have more moisture problems than lighter shades. Dark paint fades quicker, so it’s difficult to touch up.

Planning and Preparing the Key

The secret of successful decorating is good preparation! Professional decorators take time and effort to prepare surfaces for painting, in comparison with the time it actually takes to do the job. If you are doing it yourself, do not skimp on time and effort when getting ready. You should aim for a surface that is dry, smooth, and clean.

Repair damaged surfaces by filling in cracks. Then rub down the repaired surface with glasspaper or sandpaper to achieve smoothness. Before you begin to paint, wash the surface with a damp cloth to remove dust from the wall plaster, and allow to dry.

What about your plan of action? Will anyone else in the family be able to provide help, whether it`s in the preparation, or in the painting, and/or wallpapering itself? And, there`s nothing worse than getting partway through and finding that you have insufficient materials to complete the job. And if the stores are closed you can`t just go out to buy more. So, make sure you have all the tools and decorating materials you need to finish the job.

Correct Care Of Brushes And Rollers

1. Bend and thoroughly work the bristles of a new brush to remove dust and loose bristles.
2. Avoid dipping the brush too deeply into the paint. (Cover only between one third and one half of the length of the bristles to prevent excess paint from becoming embedded in the stem.)
3. Clean the brush after use. Use mineral spirits for oil-based paint and warm water for latex, or water-based, paints.
4. Store clean, dry brushes in clean paper to absorb remaining dampness and help keep the bristles in shape.
5. Follow a similar procedure with paint rollers, making sure to dry any metal parts completely to prevent rust and consequent paint discoloration next time you use them.

Geoff Cummings
http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/decorating-your-home-requires-good-planning-723550.html

Is it reading, viewing, gut feel or something else?
For all of you beginning home decorators buy Martha Stewart’s "How to Decorate". You can have a nice home without a bunch of money.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Decorate-Martha-Stewart-Living/dp/0517887800/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4625797-0004161?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180807701&sr=1-1

Because every time somebody comes over they say that they like what I have done and say that I am creative. I just smile and say thank you!!

how many are dangerous to the environment? In production and for use and how many chemicals are dangerous to mammals in the production (including chemicals released by production in factory)?

What chemical does oil paint contain which is dangerous to our skin?

Is Wallpaper and wallpaper waste a better carbon footprint than paint (oil and emulsion)?

add hyperlinks and dissitations… haha. : )

The number of chemical species in paint would be huge in larger and lesser amounts. Oils are very complex mixtures of many indvidual compounds both toxic and non toxic. Paint also contains pigments with are also very complex. Lead compounds used to be used but the main pigment in most white paint is titanium dioxide which is not toxic.

The oils are often renewable such as linseed oil so environmentally relatively neutral.

I think you should email the paint manufacturers for reassurances regarding the nature of the ingredients. They rae more careful now than ever to ensure paints are safe.

This site is the Rattan furniture products.
Http://rattan.isailfull.com
I think it is very beautiful.

I am not sure which pieces you are interested in, but the whole line is very beautiful. I really like the rocking chair and the chairs are cute.

I’m decorating my home with the intention of selling it in a couple of years, so the things I’m doing now have to neutral enough that they won’t be off-putting to buyers. I’ve learned a lot of really great tips like caulking between the crown moulding and the ceiling makes it look really clean and polished, but I’d love more. Any advice is welcome, about painting, decorating, anything. I’m painting, replacing the carpet, handles, installing wainscoting, all kinds of things. Thanks!

Bedroom tips:
for all bedrooms, i suggest choosing earthtones/ nuetral tones for all bedroom wall colors, so that the rooms can apply to all potential buyers. do you have window treatments? consider updating window treatments if are old/ or dont let light into room. keep in mined buyers like light! when selling your house, make sure you remove all clutter from dressers, and also remove knik naks.
master bedroom: – if you have several dressers in your r oom just taking up space, get rid of 1 or two of them! show off the space you have in your masterr.

Bathrooms
-new shower curtain if current one is old looking, or has mold
- light blue is a fresh color to have on walls. but i think earthones are prob safest.
- have a theme with towles. for ex: if the walls of your bathroom are green, get vanilla white towles with green leaves on them.

kitchen: (main selling point.)
- if your cabinets are really out of shape, it would be a good idea to invest in some oak cabinets.
- what do you have for flooring? biuyers lovee hardwood flooors.
-and appliances? stainless steel is more favored, but you dont have that, that is ok. just keep things clean. remember to remove pics and clutter form fridge and counters!
- once you have removed clutter from counter tops, it is a nice gesture to add a bowl of fresh colorfull fruites to counter top
- set table with a nice colored theme. (buyers like to see that a kitchen has a seating area.)

how is the exterior of your home? simple changes such as new numbers for your house, new door bell and a fresh coat of paint on your deck can really improve looks.

hope this helpedddd

An indoor waterfall or fountain is one of the loveliest ways to decorate your space. The beauty and peace of trickling falls in your home, not to mention its beauty, is reason enough to consider buying one for your home. A waterfall can only add to the tranquility of your home and can help create your own little indoor paradise.

However, you don’t want to buy just any fountain or waterfall; choosing the right one for your home is important and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. There are some important factors to consider, such as the space and size of your home, your existing décor, whether you want it on the floor or on the wall, and if you have a family or pets.

Space is one of the most important considerations; interior fountains and waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes, so make sure you measure the area you’re going to put it. This includes length and width, and make sure you have a little leeway. Use common sense and don’t put it in risky places. If it’s on the floor, make sure its in an area that gets light foot traffic.

This is especially important to consider if you have small children or pets. You need to take into account wandering hands and paws, so it might be best in this case to mount it on the wall above the height of your children until they are old enough to know not to play with it; this is doubly important if you have pets. In this case, investing in the flattest waterfall possible might be your best bet. If you insist on having a floor fountain, consider putting something like a delicate, transparent glass barrier around it that’s child and pet safe.

Choose your waterfall to blend in with your existing décor, or make it your centerpiece; there are a wide variety of colors, materials, designs and models; add something like a soft light to a waterfall and you have a amazing ambience.

In all, choosing a water fountain or waterfall for your home is an individual decision, so get the one that’s right for you and fits with your lifestyle. A fountain is definitely a unique way to decorate that will win many compliments from visitors and look amazing in your home, no matter what type you live in.

For more information, visit http://www.earthinspiredproducts.com/

for the worlds finest indoor wall fountains and custom water features.

Kausik Dutta
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/interior-decorating-buying-a-water-fountain-or-waterfall-for-your-home-103125.html

What are your favourites?

START HERE
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_33320,00.html

These are also good
http://interiordec.about.com/
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/living

And this is really good
http://www.behr.com/behrx/index.jsp
because it lets you pick a room, styles of that room, and see how different paint colors would look.

I need lamp shades for decorating my newly constructed home & garden. Can anybody tell me about good online resource where I can get cheap and best lamps.

Any price comparison website would do. They let you view a product on several different sites so you can get the cheapest value. I used to use ciao, but found the site hard to navigate, now I use twenga.

http://www.twenga.com/

Hope this helped

From time to time, everyone wishes they could change the décor in their home and create a more personal atmosphere. However, this task is often one that brings on confusion as to how to decorate without spending lots of money.

This task is really easily done just by adding new items to the various rooms in your home. Some of the items you can add range from wall plagues, mirrors and furniture, to lighting or other items. Just adding a tabletop figurine to a room gives it a certain awe that will surely enhance the atmosphere of that room. Depending on your preferences, a unique crystal figurine in the shape of an eagle, a stallion, dolphins, or a wolf might be just the touch you were looking for.

Of course, if you have a certain theme already in place, you might want to decorate accordingly. A “Western” themed room could include such items as a stallion figurine, southwestern styled mirror, metal cowboy wall hooks, or a feathered hand axe. Not only will you be able to use wall plagues to add to the western theme but such items as southwestern themed lamps, clocks, vases, pots, candles, candleholders, and photo frames can also be great ways to accentuate the feel. In just a few short minutes, you have given your guest bedroom a southwestern atmosphere.

If you are going for a nautical theme, the dolphin table would also be excellent in a bathroom. You could place the table in the corner and place bath sets such as the spa bath set or the pralines & honey bath basket to decorate. Along with these items, you can find other under the sea figurines and accessories to enhance the feel and give your guests a beautiful bath time experience along with providing them all the essential bath accessories.

Instead of hiring an interior decorator or throwing out everything in a room and starting over you can find all kinds of unique items that can be added to any room in your home such as decorative screens, wall décor, clocks, vases, bookends, figurines, photo frames, linens and even various accent furniture pieces. Just by adding or replacing a few items with new ones, you will be able to decorate your home without the added expense of redoing the entire room.

The idea, when it comes to decorating, is to choose a theme or atmosphere you would like the room to have such as a wild safari, under the sea, country, southwestern, or even just a calm and relaxing mood. Then you can find items to add that will ultimately change the room, giving it a unique, exciting, and fresh look with only a few items.

The fun comes in when you can envision the room the way you desire, begin adding all the items associated with your theme, and then watch it come to life before your eyes. Each room can have its own personality and awe instead of being the same throughout the home. Have fun! Enjoy finding the unique items to decorate every room in your home, or just create your own little getaway with one room.

Ron Jan Stager
http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/home-decorating-tips-726533.html