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From , former About.com Guide


More Decorating Don'ts

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Shopping with fabric samples and paint swatches will help you decide on other room elements.
Photo c.2002 G. Morton, About.com
 
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More of this Feature
• Part 2: More Dos
• Part 3: The Don'ts
• Part 4: More Don'ts

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Part 4: Jump start a project and choose wisely

 

More decorating "don'ts".

>> Don't fall in love with cheap furniture just because it has an appealing color or exciting fabric. Look for good lines, quality construction, and elegant details first. Then have those pieces covered in a fabric or finish that you love.

>> Don't choose colors standing in a store.

Try to take samples (of paint, fabrics, and floorcoverings) back to your home and look at them in daylight and at night.

>> Don't spend a lot of money on expensive items that are "trendy". Try out trends that truly appeal to you by experimenting first with inexpensive accessories.

>> Don't live with a lot of mismatched furniture orphans. Unite pieces with color -- either by painting everything one color (white, pale gold, or black for example) or by recovering everything using identical or a mix of coordinating fabrics.

>> Don't always choose backgrounds in your favorite color. Sometimes providing a softer background will make your favorite color stand out as the brightest accent color in the room.

>> Don't choose everything beige if you really love color. Remember, color doesn't cost more than white. Wouldn't a pretty mango, soft coral, or lovely green wall make a terrific backdrop for your white sofa?

>> Don't ignore the mood effects of color -- red is exciting, pale blue soothing, green calming, and yellow is happy -- so choose color schemes that underscore the feeling you want to create in your home.

>> Don't disregard the undertones of a color. Every color can be either light or dark, cool or warm, clear or muddy. Look for these color cues when choosing color.

>> Don't blow your entire budget on something that isn't functional, classic, or long-lasting, unless you're completely smitten and can't live without it. In general it's best to start with the basics and build from there.

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 ~ Glenna Morton
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