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icarusContinuing the How Decorate series (see How To Decorate: Phase One and Phase Two here)....
How To Decorate
When I moved into my first apartment, my mom asked me what I liked. "You're an artist," she said.
I should know, right?
Not being a decorator, I responded with confusion. "What do you mean, what do I like?" After a puzzling conversation filled with terms I didn't recognize, I said, "Er. I like the tables and chairs with little feet on them-?"
She wrinkled her nose and called me "very traditional." But that wasn't it. When I looked at actual photos, I discovered I didn't like those chairs at all. Too fancy. I just don't like straight lines. I like curves.
Most people get overwhelmed and confused when figuring out what styles they like. There are so many options. That's one reason to give yourself time.
And photos. Lots of photos.
How To Decorate: Phase Three, What Do I Like?
Homework (this part is fun--you can take an afternoon with a stack of catalogs, or, if possible, take your time, days, weeks, even months):
1 - Online and in print, order catalogs of furnishings and decorative items. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY'RE LAUGHABLY EXPENSIVE. You're not buying these things but finding your tastes. Window shop! Check out stores that have Things You Like.
2 - Mark the catalogs and/or keep a list of links with comments. Put stars on what you really, really like. Notice what you really, really hate, too.
3 - Write down in those comments what you like about them ("It's kind of Jetson's retro" or "I like the color, it reminds me of fall" or "Looks sturdy, like I can put my feet on it" or "My grandma had one." Lame phrases like "it's pretty" or "I like it" are useless).
4 - After doing this with a several catalogs, stores, websites, take a look at what you've said. What patterns do you find?
Do the words "comfortable" or "sturdy" come up a lot? How about "fun" or "whimsical"? Did you mention grandma's house over and over? In those pictures, do you see similarities? Maybe a lot of black leather sofas and glass tables? Is half of it Asian and half of it country kitchen? Is there a lot of wood? Do things look handmade or antique? Did you like animal pictures? Leopard spots? African stuff? Kites and bright colors?
If it all seems a confusing jumble, you may want a friend to help you spot the patterns. English majors: you're looking for themes. You know how to do this.
Don't worry if they don't all seem to fit together. Everyone has a range of tastes.
Now. Narrow what you wrote down to a few phrases that describe what you want in your place. (This time. Some phrases you might reserve for another place.) For example: "Old fashioned. Country. Handmade-looking. Reminds me of grandma's."
I ended up with: "Asian, wood, looks a little beat up, soft, rounded edges and curved lines, musical instruments, classy cat art, fall colors, (no glass or metal furniture!), brass fixtures."
Sometimes people (usually guys) hit this stage and ... it all looks the same. You just couldn't care less. Try the opposite approach. Point out what you think is ugly. Guys, it might seem a little "frou-frou" to have an opinion about interior design, but bring in that zebra striped couch and, oh, man, what the hell is That?! Suuure you don't care. (If you're resistant to this part, recall phase one: who's going to see this place? Girlfriends? Trust me. What your place looks like has an impact.)
In rare cases, nothing looks ugly either. All right. Write down how you want other people to react and have someone help you. (If you don't expect other humans to ever see your place--until they carry out your body--then never mind. Just do the storage planning and ignore the rest, ha.)
Have you done your homework? Great. Now you have a list of catchphrases to guide you in your shopping. With those phrases and images in mind, what you buy will click together even you make that impulse buy on vacation in Aruba.
Next ... Phase Four: Layout.
How To Decorate
When I moved into my first apartment, my mom asked me what I liked. "You're an artist," she said.
I should know, right?
Not being a decorator, I responded with confusion. "What do you mean, what do I like?" After a puzzling conversation filled with terms I didn't recognize, I said, "Er. I like the tables and chairs with little feet on them-?"
She wrinkled her nose and called me "very traditional." But that wasn't it. When I looked at actual photos, I discovered I didn't like those chairs at all. Too fancy. I just don't like straight lines. I like curves.
Most people get overwhelmed and confused when figuring out what styles they like. There are so many options. That's one reason to give yourself time.
And photos. Lots of photos.
How To Decorate: Phase Three, What Do I Like?
Homework (this part is fun--you can take an afternoon with a stack of catalogs, or, if possible, take your time, days, weeks, even months):
1 - Online and in print, order catalogs of furnishings and decorative items. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY'RE LAUGHABLY EXPENSIVE. You're not buying these things but finding your tastes. Window shop! Check out stores that have Things You Like.
2 - Mark the catalogs and/or keep a list of links with comments. Put stars on what you really, really like. Notice what you really, really hate, too.
3 - Write down in those comments what you like about them ("It's kind of Jetson's retro" or "I like the color, it reminds me of fall" or "Looks sturdy, like I can put my feet on it" or "My grandma had one." Lame phrases like "it's pretty" or "I like it" are useless).
4 - After doing this with a several catalogs, stores, websites, take a look at what you've said. What patterns do you find?
Do the words "comfortable" or "sturdy" come up a lot? How about "fun" or "whimsical"? Did you mention grandma's house over and over? In those pictures, do you see similarities? Maybe a lot of black leather sofas and glass tables? Is half of it Asian and half of it country kitchen? Is there a lot of wood? Do things look handmade or antique? Did you like animal pictures? Leopard spots? African stuff? Kites and bright colors?
If it all seems a confusing jumble, you may want a friend to help you spot the patterns. English majors: you're looking for themes. You know how to do this.
Don't worry if they don't all seem to fit together. Everyone has a range of tastes.
Now. Narrow what you wrote down to a few phrases that describe what you want in your place. (This time. Some phrases you might reserve for another place.) For example: "Old fashioned. Country. Handmade-looking. Reminds me of grandma's."
I ended up with: "Asian, wood, looks a little beat up, soft, rounded edges and curved lines, musical instruments, classy cat art, fall colors, (no glass or metal furniture!), brass fixtures."
Sometimes people (usually guys) hit this stage and ... it all looks the same. You just couldn't care less. Try the opposite approach. Point out what you think is ugly. Guys, it might seem a little "frou-frou" to have an opinion about interior design, but bring in that zebra striped couch and, oh, man, what the hell is That?! Suuure you don't care. (If you're resistant to this part, recall phase one: who's going to see this place? Girlfriends? Trust me. What your place looks like has an impact.)
In rare cases, nothing looks ugly either. All right. Write down how you want other people to react and have someone help you. (If you don't expect other humans to ever see your place--until they carry out your body--then never mind. Just do the storage planning and ignore the rest, ha.)
Have you done your homework? Great. Now you have a list of catchphrases to guide you in your shopping. With those phrases and images in mind, what you buy will click together even you make that impulse buy on vacation in Aruba.
Next ... Phase Four: Layout.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-25 12:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-25 02:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-02 05:47 am (UTC)*Snort*
no subject
Date: 2010-12-02 08:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 05:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-31 01:25 am (UTC)I read the first two with avid but abstract interest but now suddenly it's possible I'll be moving house within a month or two and OMG PERSPECTIVE SHIFT! Now I am totally re-reading the three and hanging out for you to write more, preferably by yesterday, because I have no idea what I want etc.
Also the style naming and exemplifying you mentioned in another comment would be really helpful - in a lot of cases I know what the stuff I like looks like but I don't have the faintest idea what it's called because almost all my furniture is stuff I've been given at the moment and the rest is off eBay!
Could I suggest you solicit names/examples from other commenters too, so we can help each other out?
In any case, thank you thank you THANK YOU for these essays. I shall fangirl you forever <3
no subject
Date: 2010-12-31 01:55 am (UTC)Unfortunately these articles have an almost complete absence of photographs which is really unhelpful but they have descriptive text and will help you find search terms at least.
How to find your furnishing style. The difference between Formal and Informal is also described, but not on that page.
A list of decorating styles, linking to the articles about each: Decorating styles for home interiors.
Now I have words to start my searching with!
no subject
Date: 2011-01-12 02:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-12 04:42 am (UTC)Just in case anybody else is going through here, I'm documenting my "homework" from Icarus' posts too: http://rb.dreamwidth.org/272780.html