Most homes today are decorated in a more casual or family friendly style rather than the formal don’t-touch-anything style of past generations. However, this formal look can create an elegant and luxurious atmosphere that is lacking in many homes today. The question is…is this a look that you could really maintain and enjoy? Before you start planning your home’s interior design or choose to decorate your home or single room in a formal decorating style, consider the functionality and upkeep that go along with maintaining this classical, and often expensive, design style.

Formal home décor usually involves using dark, intricately carved hardwood furniture and floors. They are often coated in shiny, highly polished lacquered finishes to reflect the lights and attract the eye’s attention. This can be a sleek and expensive look, but it can also collect dust and is easily marred with fingerprints and smudges. Wood furniture and floors need to be dusted, polished, and mopped on a regular basis to keep them looking clean and luxurious. More on Is Formal Home Décor for You? Consider Functionality and Upkeep

Don’t look now, but those retro designs so popular in the 1970’s are back! Perhaps it’s because kids leaving their parents’ homes and establishing their own are raiding family attics and basements and hauling out all that stuff their parents started out with 30 years ago. Or maybe it’s that a modular sofa from the 1970’s is easier to find and less expensive to purchase than, say, a Queen Ann desk actually made during Queen Ann’s day.

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Modern minimalist decorating is dramatic and impressive when properly approached. Despite popular opinion, modern minimalist decorating is not bare bones but rather everything in the room has a specific function. People seeking an organized oasis away from the cluttered chaos of the world will appreciate modern minimalist decorating.

To be sure we get it right, let’s first consider what each of the terms modern and minimalist mean to avoid confusion. More on Modern Minimalist Decorating: When it Works and When it Doesn’t

When it comes to designing décor that works for you and your kids remember these two words: Washable and safe: Washable to keep your home looking its best, and safe from the standpoints of your kids and your possessions both.

Washable is easy enough to understand. After all, kids-especially the toddler to junior high variety-are little dirt magnets. They pick up dirt from everywhere (including places that don’t appear to have any) and redeposit it to every surface they touch.

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French Country Home Décor: A Popular Home Decorating Choice

French country design is a very popular design choice today, even for those who have never been to France. Don’t let the idea of “French” design intimidate you because it’s actually quite easy to achieve this French country décor style.

French country design is influenced by the colors, textures, sights, and sounds of the Provence region of southern France. It’s all about living the good life, relaxing, and enjoying the world around you. But it’s also about working hard in order to get what you want out of life. Natural colors, fresh produce, rich fabrics, aromatic spices, deep red wines, dark metals, and rustic coziness are all a part of French Country décor.

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What is Shabby Chic Home Décor: An Infusion of Warmth and Personality

Shabby chic offers understated charm and splendor while infusing warmth and personality throughout your living quarters. The basis of shabby chic is simple colors combined with your favorite artwork, accessories and furniture. This versatile, easy way of decorating is affordable, fun and elegant.

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Cottage design style means romance, simplicity, coziness, and comfort. Think of it as comfort food for the soul! Light and airy colors, lots of pastels, floral patterns, pretty plaids, bold stripes, white furniture, and plenty of overstuffed pillows make cottage designed rooms a place you want to curl up with a good book in and stay all day.

The wall colors in cottage design are typically muted and understated. Pastel pinks, soft yellows, sky blues, gentle greens, and soothing lavenders are always acceptable. And of course, you can never go wrong with crisp, clean white! The colors should sort of be worn or faded looking and have that gentle sense of aging. This is not to say it should look old, but just have that been-there-awhile look. Imagine a cottage beach house on Nantucket in the springtime.

The walls in cottage design are usually painted solid colors all around. If you do paint an accent wall, make sure it’s of the same shade because cottage design is all about staying within the same color range. This monochromatic look adds to the soothing and uncomplicated feel of cottage design. Contrast should come in the form of white trim, woodwork, or beadboard. To get that classic cottage look you should have lots of white painted wood accents around the room. Consider adding beadboard and paint the ceiling, trim, and windows in crisp, bright white to make the muted wall colors stand out.

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Cozy White Rooms That are Chic and Inviting – Not Cold and Impersonal

Many people believe that white is the absence of color and bland, but this is not the case. White actually comes in many different shades and tones to create a wide variety of moods in a room.

A pure white is quite rare and most shades of white have another color as an undertone, such as white or blue, which make the white warm or cool. There is a virtual wonderland of white tones to choose from, all with their own unique appeal and character.

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Mixing Floral and Plaid Patterns: Obtaining Balance for a Professional Interior Design Look

The mix of floral and plaid is charming and inviting; it is a healthy balance of feminine and masculine; it is a harmonious blend of country and modern all at the same time. Putting these two elements together and achieving balance can be exciting and result in a well put together room and interior decor that looks professionally designed. A successful mix of floral and plaid patterns makes you feel comfortable and cozy, like a warm country home or a tucked-away bed and breakfast.

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