Home | Decorating Articles | Just Decorating

Decorating: Creating Special Places in Your Home

In your house, you probably have two types of spaces to decorate: your "predetermined spaces" and your "free spaces." Your predetermined spaces (or entire rooms, in some cases) are those that you know you need, you know exactly how you'll use them, and you know what type of furnishings you need for them. In your bedroom, for instance, you know you'll need a bed and something that stores clothing, such as a dresser. In your living room, you'll need some sort of seating, such as a sofa.

Free spaces don't fall neatly into place as predetermined spaces do. In fact, some free spaces come about almost by accident. Let's say you've just moved into an apartment, you've set up all your furnishings, and you realize you have a little more space than you thought or that you could shift your belongings a bit and end up with open areas that could be put to use. These areas can also be as compact as a corner of a room or even an unused closet or as large as an entire room.

A wonderful way to get the most out of a "free area" is to dedicate it to a favorite interest or hobby. Some popular hobbies that could benefit from such a space include these:

Artwork. If you're an artist, setting up a studio area-even if it's a small, cozy one-can help foster your creativity. (Areas without carpeting work well in case of spills, or you can cover flooring before tackling messy projects.) An art table, some shelving, and ample space for storing supplies will likely be needed.

Sewing. Sewing supplies can take up lots of space, unless you plan carefully. Setting up a sewing machine on a table is a must. To keep fabric neatly stored, fold pieces then stack them neatly on book shelves, or tag baskets (e.g., by color or fabric type) and either hang them on a wall or line them up on a table or the floor. Other supplies can be accommodated by using wall grids.

Reading and writing. Whether you're writing the great American novel or just want to read it, you can create a cozy corner with a desk, a lamp (or two), a bookshelf stuffed with great reads and reference materials, and a warm fleece blanket so you can get comfy when you read.

Computer work. Computer desks and workstations come in every size, shape, and color you can imagine. Look for them used at flea markets and yard sales, or hit an office supply store if you're looking for a larger selection. (At least a few should be reasonably priced.) Also opt for an adjustable chair with appropriate back support, ample lighting, a printer stand, and a filing cabinet if you need to store files.

Related Articles

A Better Life Through Interior Decorating
The way your home looks can have an intimate impact on the overall quality of your life. This is a concept which may not seem obvious at first, and yet when you come to realize what a home really means on a psychological, a functional, and even a...

Five areas of your home that can improve it's resale value
There are several things that a homeowner can do to improve the resale value of their home before placing it on the market. Upgrading or refinishing these five critical areas, as well as a few general good practices, can dramatically increase...

Using Crown, Window Or Baseboard Molding Adds Style To Your Home
Crown, window or baseboard moldings are a great decorative feature that you can install yourself with good planning, the right tools, and a little effort.

Wide Open Spaces: How to Tame and Decorate Them
Today's homes are designed and laid out so our public areas, the family room, kitchen, recreation room, dining room, and living room are open to each other for interaction and family unity. But how are you to decorate these rooms...

Protecting Your Home from Hidden Allergens
Are your allergies out of control? Have you considered the possibility that allergens may be hiding in your home? Most people have no idea that some home products may intensely aggravate skin and respiratory allergies.

Interior Decorating for the Single Man
When you are a single guy, there are certain things you want to evoke in the various aspects of your life. You want to appear successful, confident, mature, sophisticated, and even a little sexy. Your home can help you do this, but you have to have...

I Want What I Want but What Do I Want?
If you are like most people, you know what you want and what you don't want. And that's great! Sometimes, however, we are unable to communicate what it is we want in a way that others are able to understand.

Getting Started Decorating Your Home
Decorating should be a fun, exciting adventure, not a painful event. If you're feeling very tense about the whole thing, take a step back and try to determine why.

How to Decorate and Be Different
Cookie-cutter rooms are generally most obvious when every color in the room matches exactly. Matching colors isn't about making sure the shade perfect, it's about using coordinating colors in various shades.

Homes Are Made For Living
Designing and making your home the way you want it to live in forever, one that is the best for everyone!

Home Electricity Conservation: Go Green and Save!
Are your electricity bills climbing monthly? Are you looking for ways to save money in your home budget? Here are a few simple tips to decrease your electrical usage at home. This will allow you to put extra money in your pocket while conserving energy.

Hiding the Hideous Decorating Problem
Everyone has parts of their house that they don't like. Whether your unsightly part is a water heater, a structural element, or a large piece of athletic equipment, you can mask these aspects by...

How to Decorate Our Ceilings
When I talk about how much I love colored ceilings, some people think I'm crazy. Colored ceilings can make a room seem smaller, but mainly they make the room feel closer, more intimate.

Decorating with the Things You Hate
The atrocious red floor. The hideous lime tile. The pink carpet. The lack of money to replace all those things - what will you ever do?

Developing a Haven in Your Home
When you open the front door to your house and step outside, you step into a world of dangers and strangers, uncertainties, and things you simply can't control. It's a big scary world out there...

Designer Radiators: More Than Just Good Looks
The most important part of radiators was to heat the room and you do your best to choose a grey or white that would not attract too much attention. Perhaps you paint it over or put a sofa in front of the whole thing. But now the choice of a radiator...

Decorating with Room Dividers
From half walls to a well-placed sofa, use room dividers to make the most of the space in your home, creating manageable activity areas that still let you enjoy the benefits of open-plan living.

Different Ideas for Home Decor
Your home can look just like your neighbor's because you shop at the same places, be different and find out how you can save.

Decorating Tips & Advice - Design Basics
Decorating has a few basics elements and fundamentals. Learn about the challenges facing any room design.

Decorating Home Tip: Where to Start on All Major Decorating Projects
In what order should you begin your decorating projects? Always start with a good plan!

Creating Special Places in Your Home
In your house, you probably have two types of spaces to decorate: your "predetermined spaces" and your "free spaces." Predetermined spaces are the kitchen, bath bedroom, free spaces is where it gets creative!