Home Decorating for Dummies Book

	Introduction	1
	About This Book	1
	Who Needs to Read This Book?	2
	How to Use This Book	2
	How This Book Is Organized	3
	Icons Used in This Book	4
	Where to Go from Here	5
Part I	Basic Planning	7
Chapter 1	Bringing Your Vision to Life	9
	Taking the First Steps	9
	Decorating All Through the House	10
	Adding Professional Finishing Touches	11
Chapter 2	Planning Your Budget	13
	Coming to Grips with Your Budget	13
	Creating Your Decorating Road Map	16
	Checking Out Costs	17
	Hunting for Bargains	18
	Calling on the Professionals	19
Chapter 3	Evaluating Your Space	21
	Preparing a Floor Plan	21
	Putting Furniture in Its Place	27
Chapter 4	Understanding Design Principles	33
	Deciphering Design	33
	Befriending the Basic Design Elements	35
	Introducing Yourself to Design Components	38
	Feeling the Rhythm	42
	Balancing Your Act	42
Part II	Creating Surface Interest	45
Chapter 5	Eyeing Color Basics	47
	Taking Color 101	47
	Understanding Color--The Color Wheel	49
	Using Basic Color Schemes	51
Chapter 6	Applying Pattern Basics	57
	Considering Pattern	57
	Planning for Pattern	61
	Practicing Makes Perfect	66
Chapter 7	Feeling Your Way Through Textures	69
	Getting to Know Texture	69
	Making Magic with Texture	71
Chapter 8	Troubleshooting Basics	79
	Asking "What's My Room's Problem?"	79
	Zeroing In on a Sound Solution	80
	Considering Case Studies	81
Part III	Style and Substance	85
Chapter 9	Living with Historic Decorating Styles	87
	Considering Lasting Styles	87
	Using Historic Styles in Your Home	88
	Understanding Styles of the Past	89
	Creating Your Own History-Based Style	97
Chapter 10	Decorating with Contemporary Styles	99
	Moving from Historic to Contemporary Style	99
	Focusing on Modern Style	101
	Catching Up with Contemporary Today	102
Chapter 11	Determining Your Personal Decorating Style	107
	Discovering Personal Style	107
	Finding Your Personal Style	110
	Exploring Your Personal Style	115
	Personalizing Your World	116
Chapter 12	Finding Out about Furniture	119
	Sizing Up Different Furniture Types	119
	Buying Quality Case Goods	122
	Finding Quality Upholstered Furniture	124
	Working Furniture Magic	126
Part IV	Creating Backgrounds	129
Chapter 13	Creating Wonderful Walls	131
	Forming a Unified Look	131
	Decorating with Architecture in Mind	132
	Considering Your Material Options	135
Chapter 14	Finding Fabulous Floors	143
	Installing Hard Surfaces	143
	Stepping on Soft Surfaces	148
	Solving Problems with Flooring	152
Chapter 15	Sprucing Up Ceilings	155
	Considering Form and Function	155
	Painting Your Ceiling	156
	Disguising Your Ceiling	159
	Building the Ceiling You Want	162
Chapter 16	Dressing Up Windows	165
	Exposing Windows	165
	Looking at Shades, Blinds, and Shutters	167
	Heeding the Curtain (and Drapery) Call	170
	Creating Special Effects	176
Chapter 17	Lively Lighting	179
	Understanding Lighting Basics	179
	Lighting Up Your Life	181
	Lighting 101	182
	Planning General Lighting	184
	Buying the Right Bulbs	185
	Picking Perfect Fixtures	187
	Lighting Your Home, Room by Room	190
Part V	Tackling the Three Tough Rooms: Kitchen, Bath, and Home Office	197
Chapter 18	Cooking Up Your Dream Kitchen	199
	Considering Your Wallet	199
	Reviewing Design Guidelines	201
	Determining Your Dimensions	202
	Finding the Right Furnishings	202
	Decorating Do's	210
Chapter 19	Beautifying Your Bathroom	215
	Budgeting Matters	215
	Strategizing for Resale	217
	Customizing Your Bathroom	218
	Accessorizing Your Bathroom	222
	Meeting a Bathroom's Needs	223
	Transforming Tacky into Terrific	227
Chapter 20	Setting Up Your Home Office	229
	Locating Your Work/Study Space	230
	Measuring Your Space	231
	Lighting Up	231
	Equipping Your Office	232
	Wiring Up	235
	Color Scheming for Productivity	236
	Accessorizing for Productivity and Fun	237
Part VI	Fixing Up Four Easy Rooms	239
Chapter 21	Styling Serene Bedrooms	241
	Considering Function First	241
	Selecting the Right Bed Type	243
	Storing Your Stuff	248
	Placing Nightstands and Tables	250
	Beautifying Your Bed	250
	Arranging Your Furniture	252
	Decorating for Your Bedrooms' Needs	253
Chapter 22	Creating Your Living Room	257
	Thinking about Function	257
	Creating a Great Backdrop	264
	Handling Accessories	268
Chapter 23	Designing for Dining	271
	Preparing a Comfortable Table	272
	Putting Style on Your Menu	273
	Creating the Formal Dining Room	275
	Dining 'Round	280
	Creating Instant Dining Magic	283
Chapter 24	Transforming Bonus Areas	285
	Annexing Attics	285
	Beautifying Basements	287
	Perking Up Porches and Patios	289
	Enlivening the Laundry	292
Part VII	Embellishments: Accessorizing with Art and Other Stuff	295
Chapter 25	Acquiring and Arranging Art	297
	Affairs of the Art	297
	Buying Do's and Don'ts	300
	Finding Art	301
	Placing Art in the Right Relationship	302
	Artful Backgrounds	304
	The Art of Art Placement	304
	Relating Artwork in Groups	305
	Displaying in Off-the-Wall Ways	310
Chapter 26	Accentuating Your Style	313
	Hunting for Accessories	313
	Updating Your Arrangements	314
	Finishing with Pizzazz	314
	Accessorizing One by One	315
Part VIII	The Part of Tens	329
Chapter 27	Ten Quick and Easy Centerpieces	331
	Indulging in Child's Play	331
	Adding an Artistic Touch	332
	Bejeweling Your Holiday Table	332
	Creating a Colorful Collection	332
	Flying Your Flags	333
	Using Your Marbles	333
	Thinking Fresh	333
	Sharing the Bounty	333
	Lighting Up the Table	334
	Bowling Them Over	334
Chapter 28	Ten Tips for Leftover Wallpaper	335
	Slipcovering Your Lampshade	335
	Adding Flower Power to a Paper Shade	336
	Refreshing a Wastebasket	336
	Dressing Your Books in New Jackets	336
	Wallpapering a Backsplash	336
	Lining a Shelf	337
	Decoupaging Your Lamp Base	337
	Transforming a Box	337
	Covering a Notebook or Journal	337
	Decorating Kitchen Canisters	337
Chapter 29	Ten Favorite Sources	339
	Subscribing to Magazines	339
	Sighting Online Sites	340
	Cataloging Catalogs	340
	Buying Books	341
	Watching TV	341
	Talking on the Radio	342
	Asking Associations and Institutions	342
	Dropping by Designer Showcase Houses	342
	Scoping Out the Dailies	343
	Checking Out the Library	343
	Index	345