Many designer showhouses are a way for local charities to raise funds for worthy causes and you'll be helping out at the same time you're getting great decorating ideas. The price of your ticket may be tax deductible!
We have some tips for you to get the most out of the showhouses so that you can bring some of the best decorating ideas into your own home.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothes.
While you might want to dress to the nines when you go out with your friends, you should think about taking a Decorator Showhouse seriously. If you're struggling with clothes that are restrictive and high-heeled shoes that are uncomfortable, you'll be in a hurry to move through and maybe miss some of the best ideas. Many showhouses require visitors to wear flat, rubber-soled shoes to save the new flooring. Bring a pad of paper and a pencil.
There's nothing worse than seeing something you love and then forgetting it by the time you get home. Write down colors, accessory arrangements, color ideas, and furniture placements that particularly appeal to you. Then you'll have the ideas when you leave.Remember your reading glasses.
Most showhouses offer printed programs and directories of resources, workmen, fabric and furniture sources, and sponsors. If you see something you really like, you'll want to make a note of it so that you can follow up when you get home. If you can't read the information, what good is it?Think about what you need to do.
As you walk through the spaces of the designer showhouse, think of the space you're planning to decorate and be specific about getting ideas. It's great to get general ideas, but if you can really nail down a solution for a particularly difficult area, you'll have really gotten your money's worth and made progress.Talk to the designers.
At lots of showhouses, the designers of the rooms actually host their space, answer questions about their designs, and explain their design decisions. Most of the time, they're happy to discuss their choices and give you suggestions for solving challenges you have. Try to relate your questions to their designs, but be sure to be specific about your needs. You might hit it off and want to hire one of the designers to consult with you on your particular space. You'll feel more comfortable about hiring them if you've established a bit of rapport.Bring a camera.
Most designer showhouse rooms are protected from photography, much as artwork in a museum is. The interior and landscape designs are often "copyrighted" and cannot be photographed. But some designers will allow you to snap photos of their space and it would be a shame if you missed out on an opportunity. View some photos we were able to get at recent showhouses.Have fun!
Decorating is fun, after all, so getting new ideas for your decorating projects is part of the fun.
Plan ahead so that you don't miss an opportunity to get loads of decorating ideas at your community's showcase house. And if you're traveling, check out our listings of designer show houses all around the United States. You might even want to plan a trip around showhouse schedules.