If you’re due for a redo in your bedroom, antique drawer pulls may be the way to accomplish the new look you want, without being out a fortune in new furniture. While sometimes, your bedroom furniture may be past its prime, and ready to be replaced, it’s also possible that the furniture is in great shape, just doesn’t look quite right for the new decorative theme you have in mind. Many pieces of furniture are sold these days with normal knobs and pulls. While this may have worked before, if you now want to dress it up, changing the drawer pulls is an easy way to do it. First you have to decide if the piece of furniture with new drawer pulls will be enough to make this room look the way you want it to. It may need a little more than that. You may need to strip the old paint off and start from scratch, making that dresser, nightstand or other piece look like a completely different furnishing. If you are going for a retro look, you can get some pink or turquoise paint and pop on a pair of antique drawer pulls to end up with a piece that looks like it may have been in your mother’s home. Next you have to find the right drawer pulls. There are two types you may choose from. The first are the real things. These are antique drawer pulls that really are as old as they look and are collector’s pieces in themselves. These are very popular and with a high demand, and limited supply, it can be very costly to get the perfect knobs for your bedroom redo project. The other option is to get reproduction antique drawer pulls. These look like the real thing, but have been made more recently and therefore as much more affordable. Once you decide which kind you want, you can start shopping. You want to look for the right style first. In today’s world of everything at your fingertips, that’s easy. You can hop online and do a search for ‘antique drawer pulls’. You will most likely be overwhelmed by places that are ready to sell you knobs that look like they go from a few years ago back to the times of the pharaohs. After you find a few you like, make sure they will fit. There are a number of different drawer pull sizes. You may need to measure the size of your current pull and where the holes are placed (if there were more than one) to see if they will fit. If you really like the pulls and they are not the right size for your drawer, you may need to take a more drastic measure. You can always drill new holes in your drawers to suit the antique drawer pulls, fill in the old ones, and then repaint the drawers. It seems like a lot of work, but in the end if the look you want is exactly what you have gotten, you will find it all worthwhile.

Wardrobes are generally the key piece of furniture in any bedroom as they often dominate the room.   Other furniture is often covered or concealed by ornaments, photographs and day to day products like jewelery boxes and makeup.   The wardrobe is usually the most clearly visible piece of furniture  so the look and style of it can influence  your whole room.   Fashion can change over the years but the wardrobe in your house can stand the test of time.   A wardrobe will last as long as you want it to,  this depends on how much you are prepared to spend.  If you invest in good quality furniture you will not be disappointed and it will serve you well for years to come.    Alternatively many people spend less on furniture so they can update to keep up with the latest fashions.   Our customers have invariably tried the cheaper route  and found that the cheaper quality products let them down due to bad construction and finishes that do not stand the test of time so they look to us for an alternative which is unique and practical.     Our particular style of antique wardrobes are original and usually between eighty and one hundred years old. Each one being unique as we rarely get two the same apart from a few pairs that have come in over the years.  The wardrobes are all pine as we don’t deal in any other type of wood. All the wardrobes  have been hot caustic stripped to remove years of old paint and kill any wood worm.   When all all the paint or varnish has been removed we can see what sort of repairs are required, hopefully not too many,  as we try to keep all the original features where possible.   Normally the first job is to replace the feet with new ones in a style and shape that matches the wardrobe,  a victorian bun is a good choice.  The feet have a dowel so you have to drill a hole in the base to fit them, they can be glued in but if you have a good  fit, leave the glue then you can  remove them later.   I have to change the top cornice sometimes as they get damaged over the years, plus any splits in the panels are glued and clamped. Check the drawer runners for wear and replace them if necessary.   The wardrobe  can be sanded down now if there are no other major repairs and stained down with a water based stain to blend in the repairs ready for waxing.   Locks and keys are also repaired and replaced.   Our wardrobe collection are mainly of a breakdown type with one, two or three doors. The construction is normally fitted together by tongue and groove joints on all the larger parts and dowels on the rest, this allows the wardrobe to be completely disassembled and easily  reassembled in your home.   The joints are held together tightly by a wooden or metal taper on the inside on all four corners which gives a good solid construction.    We endeavour to find the best quality pieces with good lines and age but also good solid craftsmanship when they were fist made, so you get furniture that will  keep its value and stand the test of time 

A well decorated home is one unified whole with rooms that blend and relate to each other like members of a family. The goal of any room arrangement in your house is a simple grouping of furniture pieces that work toward its purpose, dining, sleeping, working, or relaxing. Create easy access through your rooms with 3-fott-wide passages that suggest where you want traffic to flow. Use entry furnishings constant with the rest of your home.

When you are dealing with furniture the whole collection must take priority over individual pieces. It is easy to fall under the enchantment of an antique piece of furniture, but you have to consider how it will fit in with everything else. Plus, you have to ask whether it meets your needs. Everybody loves to buy new things, but before bring in new furniture you must figure out whether to take advantage of what you already have.

You may want to restore or renovate the external appearance of furniture if it is shabby or drab. Decorating is not merely throwing out the old and brings in the new objects. New furniture is certainly attractive, not to mention pricey, if you were to search secondhand market and antique stores, you would probably come across some surprising pieces of furniture that add a touch of distinction to our home. Remember that some old furniture has more personality than new designs and can be a source of inspiration as you seek to create your own decorating scheme.

Old furniture is adequately interesting to be the central feature of a room but be sure never to mix antique furniture with different styles. The general rule is that if you have one very quality piece of antique furniture, the other, more reserved pieces, should stay out of the limelight. In bigger rooms you can place two or three pieces of antique furniture without overdoing it. Decorating a home is a lifelong process that changes as you adjust. It’s an unfolding experience that lets you express yourself. Enjoy the time you spend doing it.

How to learn about decorating rooms. ”Where do I start?” is the lament heard from most people confronted with decorating a room for the first time. Understanding the problems of room layout, different styles of decorating, what period to decorate a room in, whether to use antiques or reproductions (as well as how to tell the difference and not be swindled) and all of the other problems of decorating overwhelm most people. Those of us who feel this way are better off leaving this issue to the experts - professional interior decorators. If, on the other hand, the topic fascinates you and you want to try your hand at it, it can be learned, just like anything else you put your mind to. First of all, determine what use the room will serve. Is it a bedroom, or a bed-sitting room? Is it a casual living room, a place for all of the family, or will it be more of a formal area to greet and entertain guests? Will the man of the house be using the room as an office/study, or will it be more along the lines of an old English library? Depending upon the space you have to work with, you will have to make a choice between formal design and comfort. In a small space, the two are not usually compatible. If you are able to have a country home for comfort and a flat in town for formal entertainment, you have the perfect solution. Just host your formal occasions in town, and have family and close friends for comfortable weekends in the country. It is easy enough to create a comfortable setting in your home. You have only to choose plush, cozy fabrics, seating that sinks when you sit in it, tables everywhere for convenience and clutter. In the bedroom, think low lighting, a variety of bed types depending on needs, such as king, queen or even twin sizes for guests. To decorate a room in a certain period, or a combination of periods is a most difficult task if you are not familiar with decorating with antiques. The one surefire way is to shop each piece you are considering and then get a second opinion. If you are interested in a desk, look at many antique desks until you find the one that you like best, and then bring back a friend or acquaintance who is more knowledgeable than you are and ask them to help you with your final decision, especially concerning the authenticity of the antique. You should also do as much reading as you can about the particular period that your new antique comes from. Just as with any serious investment, you should be as well informed as possible about the subject. In addition to reading, buying additional pieces from time to time will help you become an expert in that period of antiques. Really good, very old pieces of furniture which are true antiques are not easy to find today. Private collectors rarely let go of quality pieces of fine old furniture, which makes them even rarer and more expensive. And many of the really old pieces are in museums today. These kinds of antiques are usually in excellent condition because they have been held by the same family or estate since they were originally built by the master furniture maker. Many pieces such as this are signed, just like a work of art. At the most, you may be able to find some older furniture that has come onto the market because the family that held them has come into dire straits at one point or another. This usually means that the furniture has been handed from household to household and may have suffered some damage instead of being coddled at the same grand mansion for all of it existance. Though not as perfect, older pieces such as this have a character of their own and are usually very beautiful and demonstrate very fine workmanship as well as wonderful form to suit their function. Everyone has their own idea of what is beautiful.

There are two ways that you can go about selecting the general decor of your home office: either follow the style that prevails in the rest of your home, or treat your office as an individual space. Choosing which way to go is a simple task requiring answers to only a few questions.

> Has your home been decorated in one style that is visible throughout?

> Is your office easily visible from other rooms/areas of your home?

> Does your work suggest a style of its own?

Based on the questions above, here are a few simple ways to help you easily achieve a pleasing decor in your home office.

If you are going to treat your office as a part of your home, using the same decor and style, your job is already half done. But remember, you don’t have to use the exact colour scheme or mood. You can modify what you see outside your office to blend smoothly. For instance, you can reverse the main and accent colours; you can use the same colours but in different proportions; or a different level of formality. Because you are decorating an office, it is likely that you are going to want to treat the style differently than how it appears in other areas of your home, and this is normal. Don’t be afraid to create a variation in the atmosphere — it is only the general style you are aiming to respect.

For a home office that is open within an area of your home, you are going to have to be a little more cautious. In this case, you must respect the style seen around your office, but at the same time you should definitely aim to create a sense of separation between your work space and living space. Visual separation does not mean building a wall; it means creating a new environment within the existing one. Some ways of creating visual separation include changes in ceiling height and/or floor level (a step up or down); a room divider placed to look decorative rather than confining; colour changes such as reversing the main and accent paint colours used on the walls; and furniture placement.

Placing furniture in a way that the layout separates space is fairly simple, but don’t forget to play with your ideas on graph paper first or else you may find yourself still rearranging while you should already be at your desk. Consider using a large bookshelf or storage cabinet as a room divider — the back of it can be decorated with fabric, paint, a collage. . . or place furniture back-to-back to create the sense of two separate zones. Keep in mind while you are working on the layout that you don’t want to feel that your office is, for instance, in the back of your basement — it is at the back of the basement. Just as words can be played with, so can space.

A home office that is to receive a style of its own is a fun thing to work out. You should aim to have a bit of who you are visible in the decor, while creating a visual sense of what you do. This is not a cubicle in a large office complex — this is your office. If you have a love of bold patterns, classic cars, angels. . . incorporate them into the decor even if they have nothing to do with what you will be doing in your office. At the same time, your office should say more about whay you do that “I work at a desk. ” What do you do at that desk? If you are in the computer business, have things around that suggest that, like an enlarged and framed comic strip that has something to do with computers. If your office is actually more of a workshop and you do clothing alterations, incorporate your supplies into your decor: display spools of thread in a rainbow-like pattern, hand a rod a few inches from a wall and drape some fabrics over it for an ever-changing backdrop. If you work in the travel industry, have a model plane suspended, and display items or pictures symbolic of some of your favorite destinations; if it won’t get in your way, have a beach ball in your office, or make a “sandbox” to hang on the wall by gluing sand to the back of a shadow box and gluing small shells onto the sand.

When choosing the colours for your office, there are a few basic points to consider. Yellows, reds, and other very warm colours in large quantities can cause you to feel thirsty. Blue is very relaxing, but be careful not to choose a bland grey-blue that can actually lead to feeling tired or restless. The best way to go about selecting the colours for your office is to choose three colours; use one as a main colour (for instance on the walls), another as the main accent colour (visible in a pattern on a rug, drapes, desk accessories. . . ), and the third as an accent colour appearing only in splashes here and there (such as flowers in a vase, a couple of photo frames. . . ). At this point your colour scheme is set, and all you have to do is keep in mind some basic points of colour psychology. A dark ceiling will feel very low; mirrors and reflective materials make a space feel larger; too many colours, especially bold ones, can cause a feeling of clutter even if there is none.

A final point on the topic of colour and style: materials such as woods, stone, and metal can be incorporated into any colour scheme — although they may affect the style, they will not clash. A natural pine desk will certainly give a different look than a mahogany one, but either will match any colour scheme; ditto for stainless steel and brass, and marble and concrete.

Look for the final article from this 4-part series on home offices: Lighting and Window Treatments for the Home Office.

Have a Luxurious Home on a Tight Budget

Luxurious homes, inevitably, evoke one word from every aspirant of a luxurious home. And that is – ‘expensive’. Normally, luxury homes are viewed from the amount of money invested in furnishing these homes. We tend to believe that royalty of luxurious homes come from money. But, very conveniently, forget that some astute thinking and of course, little money can transform our homes into a royal castle. In fact, if we trace the journey of some of the luxury furniture, we can easily find out that the things that were commonplace in ancient homes have been rendered luxurious in the form of antiques. So, present day’s luxury is yesterday’s normalcy. So, why not try to make it a present day’s normalcy?

The first thing to take care of is to avoid buying fakes. If antiques are your choice to bring in luxury to your home, never settle for cheap furniture or look-alikes. For instance, an exclusive Amish made furniture could be your ideal choice but never get duped by unscrupulous dealers, who make a quick buck out of the ignorant buyers. Always opt for a reputed dealer of Amish furniture who provides adequate guarantees and warranties on your purchase. Similarly, if dealing with Antique furniture dealers, always choose the one who has a good reputation both online as well as offline.

The next thing to plan is the art works. While expensive paintings by renowned painters may be out of your budget range, you certainly need not lose heart. A beautiful oil painting or water-colored painting can be an impressive alternative. The artwork need not be a “branded” one. The important things are that the painting should (a) gel with the overall scheme of the room; and (b) not look like a poor replica of some original artwork. As long as these two conditions are met, the “brand” won’t matter much.

Flooring comes next. A decent priced wool carpet or stone tiles can provide the look and feel of luxury to your home. A carefully crafted handmade carpet is any day better than artificially created custom-made flooring.

You must be extra careful while spending on furniture requirements. One thing about luxury furniture is that it acts like a seductive temptress. You have to be extra careful to resist the temptation of spending too much on luxury furniture items. A better option is to look for the reproduction pieces manufactured by furniture makers, like Baker Furniture or Century Furniture. Kitchen with granite finish can be inexpensively royal.

Affordable luxuries also come at a price but this should not daunt you, as the satisfaction of having a luxurious home is much more valuable than affordable luxuries. Apart from buying new items, you can also mould your existing furniture into a luxurious outlook. Silk pillows and tapestry finish are good options for affordable luxury. Decorative and inexpensive plants could lend the oomph factor in the drawing room. And most importantly, never clutter your home with excessive furniture. Always allow some breathing space in your rooms.

Furniture lighting is an art form. It requires sensitivity to the uniqueness of an individual piece of free standing furniture and a willingness to do whatever is necessary to customize display lighting fixtures to the dimensions and aesthetic of the furniture itself. Altering the furniture to fit the lighting defeats the entire purpose of luxury display lighting, and falls far short of the luminance requirements needed to bring out the rich textures and colors in many hardwood pieces. Furniture lighting fixtures must be custom-manufactured to fit the shelves, vertical styles, or interior doors of a free standing piece. They must also be concealed as much as possible in order to produce the illusion of sourceless light. This added sense of mystique contributes to a sense of timelessness and elegance apropos to antique and reproduction furniture and brings added emphasis to the special contents typically displayed therein. Phantom linear strip lights are ideal for this form of fine furniture lighting. Because we manufacture only custom pieces, it is possible for us to custom cut a linear strip light to the precise interior dimensions of an armoire, free standing bookshelf, breakfront, corner cabinet, bibliothèque, or vitrine. This has to be done on a case by case basis, which is why we never advertise ourselves as a “furniture light” company in the stereotypical sense of the term. We are more like the luminaire equivalent of a furniture builder-creating space out of something that does not consume space, (light) and bringing the full value of the furniture’s aesthetic to the forefront of the viewer’s attention. Phantom agents assess the dimensions of a free standing antique or reproduction piece and determine if a horizontally mounted or vertically mounted fixture is needed. They determine the necessary length of the furniture lighting strip, and then place an order with the low voltage light manufacturing team. When the lighting strips arrive, they are hard-wired to a vertical or horizontal surface within the cabinet or case. The surfaces to which these strip lights are mounted vary widely depending on the type of furniture we are lighting. In free standing bookshelves, for example, we typically mount our strip lights to the bottom front of the shelf in order to cast the light slightly backward and onto hardbacks on display. In cabinets, we also position horizontal strip lights under the top header to illuminate contents on top shelves. Corner cabinets can be lit with vertical strips that are concealed along the interior vertical styles of the display. However, many antique cabinets and antique reproductions lack vertical styles, and feature only a set of glass-paned doors that open outward. When lighting these cases, we will either mount vertical strip lights to the rear interior of the door, or we mount them along the rear wall along the interior corner. While the strip lights may be momentarily visible to someone standing right in front of the cabinet when they open the door, the sheik, low profile design of Phantom’s furniture lighting strip provides an presentable aesthetic compliment to interior contents and a return to apparently “sourceless” lighting once the doors are closed. Antique and reproduction furniture is intended to function as a focal point in the room, and as such must be carefully preserved with a minimum of alteration to its original condition. Because our lighting strips are smaller than other cabinet light fixtures and because of their patented wireless functionally, only a minimum of drilling into the wood is required to mount them. Your Phantom Agent will custom design your light strips to leave your armoire, book case, antique display, or curio cabinet virtually unchanged, while simultaneously transforming its dark interior into a whole new world of depth, color and light.

A clawfoot bathtub is one of the most classic pieces of bathroom furniture that you can install in your home.   With an a antique style vanity to go with it, the clawfoot bathtub will offer a timeless look that harkens back to the Victorian era when fine homes were elaborately decorated in a manner that dazzled the eye. There are many clawfoot bathtub styles to choose from, though, and various materials that are used to construct them.   The two most popular materials that you will find on the market are cast iron and acrylic – before you go to purchase this kind of tub it’s a good idea to understand how they differ. If you really want to capture the authentic antique look in your home, a cast iron clawfoot bathtub will probably be the ideal choice for you.  This type of tub is nice because it can be painted and repainted to match the décor in your bathroom, and it is known for lasting an extremely long time.   The material is very heavy, however, so it is not as suitable for people with upstairs bathrooms.   Cast iron also retains heat for a long time. An acrylic clawfoot bathtub may not have the authentic appeal of cast iron, but it is very lightweight, easy to use and good at keeping the water warm longer.   Owners must consider that acrylic will break down if strong cleaning chemicals like acetate are used.   Both of these materials are good choices if you love the classic style, but they have different advantages and disadvantages. In addition to these different clawfoot bathtub materials, there are also different kinds of faucets you can install.   This will provide the final finishing touch that really gives your bathroom that classic old-world style. For more information please contact Simply Bathtubs.

Nebraska Furniture Mart, America’s largest furnishing store brings to you yet another useful creation to furnish your home. This time, it’s a nightstand crafted in a timeless design with a hint of old world charm. Nightstands are an inevitable part of bedrooms. Everyone needs a stand by their bedside. Today, nightstands are available in every style you can think of. The Nightstand Lavender that Nebraska Furniture Mart brings to you is a traditional one. Though a traditional nightstand it has all the features of a modern one, and is truly a great pick. The Nightstand Lavender is made of poplar wood solids and has an enamel finish. It has a drawer and a compartment below with mirrored armoire back doors to store your belongings. The distressed finish gives it a traditional look without making it look too stuffy and boring. Nightstands serve various purposes. It can be yourlibrary nightstand where you can place your favorite novels, letter pads, stationery, and other miscellaneous articles along with your bedside lamp. It’ll also be the ideal spot to keep a glass of water with, perhaps your medication, and other bedtime needs. It can even transform into a table to keep your alarm clock along with photo frames of your loved ones and various other curios. This traditional nightstand is indeed a versatile piece of furniture and is not just fit for your bedroom but other rooms as well. Place it in corridors by staircases or in your veranda to store whatever you want, we leave it to you to decide! The Nightstand Lavender is suitable for those who appreciate antique-inspired furniture which is functional at the same time. NFM has an exciting range of nightstands in different styles and finishes. We recommend the Nightstand Lavender because it is highly practical even as it retains its quaint charm.

Not many of us are very knowlegeable about furniture (unless you’re a decorator or manufacturer). Consequently, shopping for furniture and home accessories can often be a tiresome chore. But if you approach the task knowing what you want as well as what you need, it can become an exciting adventure. Not many of us are very knowlegeable about furniture (unless you’re a decorator or manufacturer). Consequently, shopping for furniture and home accessories can often be a tiresome chore. But if you approach the task knowing what you want as well as what you need, it can become an exciting adventure. Consider these important tips before shopping for furniture or home accessories:Know What You Need Go in with a plan. Decide what it is you absolutely need to buy, then make a list. If you put it all down writing, you won’t forget anything. One note of caution: unless you’ve had a major accident, like a flood or smoke damage, don’t junk ALL of your old furniture and replace everything. For most of us, this is unnecessary and impractical. Not to mention expensive. Before you go shopping, look around your house to see exactly what kinds of furniture or accessories you really need. Does your sofa sag so much it’s become uncomfortable? It may be time for a new one. But just because there’s an incredible sale at the furniture store, that doesn’t mean it’s time to replace your sturdy old dining table. Don’t get carried away with spur-of-the-moment impulse buys when it comes to furniture. As you’re deciding what to buy (before going shopping), remember to measure the space where you’re planning to put the new furniture! Also, be sure to leave ample space between the new piece and your existing furniture to leave enough room for the free flow of traffic in and out of the room. Know Your Theme Choosing a general theme or look for your furniture will help keep everything in sync. Without a coherent theme you’ll likely wind up with a clashing, cluttered room that won’t allow you to relax. To simplify things, consider choosing from one of these five major styles:1. Casual – earth tones, with materials like oak, pine, ash and maple woods (think: overstuffed sofas, casual tables and chairs) 2. Contemporary – bold colors, sharp lines, metal and glass (think: contemporary metal wall art and metal wall sculptures)3. Country – rustic designs including floral prints, painted woods and soft cushions4. Traditional – antiques, vintage furniture styles made of woods like mahogany5. Eclectic – ethnic or artisan decorative ornaments and furniture Going in knowing your theme will make the furniture-buying experience much easier. Of course, if your home or the particular room you’re decorating already has a theme, just buy the furniture or home accessories that fit in with your current look. Know Your Lifestyle Consider your family’s lifestyle and find furniture that will fit in and complement the way you live. That means, for example, if you have kids or pets, don’t buy a white silk sofa or a white leather barcalounger and expect it to stay clean for long. Inspiration Look at interior design magazines, talk to interior decorators, search the Internet and read books on this topic. Study about home designing so it will be easier for you to find pieces of furniture and home accessories that will suit your preferences and taste. Budgeting Know what you can afford. Then once you set you budget, stick to it. That way you’ll be sure to stay within your means. You shouldn’t have to break the bank just to buy new furniture or a piece of wall art. Quality and Durability Keep in mind that value involves more than simply price. Whatever furniture you purchase should last a long time, so look for quality and durability as well. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. So if you buy furniture based simply on the lowest price, chances are you’ll be buying the lowest quality as well. Sometimes spending a little more upfront for higher quality can actually save you money by avoiding costly repairs later. Adding new furniture and accessories to your home décor is a sure way to liven up your living quarters.

Not many of us are very knowlegeable about furniture (unless you’re a decorator or manufacturer). Consequently, shopping for furniture and home accessories can often be a tiresome chore. But if you approach the task knowing what you want as well as what you need, it can become an exciting adventure. Not many of us are very knowlegeable about furniture (unless you’re a decorator or manufacturer). Consequently, shopping for furniture and home accessories can often be a tiresome chore. But if you approach the task knowing what you want as well as what you need, it can become an exciting adventure. Consider these important tips before shopping for furniture or home accessories:Know What You Need Go in with a plan. Decide what it is you absolutely need to buy, then make a list. If you put it all down writing, you won’t forget anything. One note of caution: unless you’ve had a major accident, like a flood or smoke damage, don’t junk ALL of your old furniture and replace everything. For most of us, this is unnecessary and impractical. Not to mention expensive. Before you go shopping, look around your house to see exactly what kinds of furniture or accessories you really need. Does your sofa sag so much it’s become uncomfortable? It may be time for a new one. But just because there’s an incredible sale at the furniture store, that doesn’t mean it’s time to replace your sturdy old dining table. Don’t get carried away with spur-of-the-moment impulse buys when it comes to furniture. As you’re deciding what to buy (before going shopping), remember to measure the space where you’re planning to put the new furniture! Also, be sure to leave ample space between the new piece and your existing furniture to leave enough room for the free flow of traffic in and out of the room. Know Your Theme Choosing a general theme or look for your furniture will help keep everything in sync. Without a coherent theme you’ll likely wind up with a clashing, cluttered room that won’t allow you to relax. To simplify things, consider choosing from one of these five major styles:1. Casual – earth tones, with materials like oak, pine, ash and maple woods (think: overstuffed sofas, casual tables and chairs) 2. Contemporary – bold colors, sharp lines, metal and glass (think: contemporary metal wall art and metal wall sculptures)3. Country – rustic designs including floral prints, painted woods and soft cushions4. Traditional – antiques, vintage furniture styles made of woods like mahogany5. Eclectic – ethnic or artisan decorative ornaments and furniture Going in knowing your theme will make the furniture-buying experience much easier. Of course, if your home or the particular room you’re decorating already has a theme, just buy the furniture or home accessories that fit in with your current look. Know Your Lifestyle Consider your family’s lifestyle and find furniture that will fit in and complement the way you live. That means, for example, if you have kids or pets, don’t buy a white silk sofa or a white leather barcalounger and expect it to stay clean for long. Inspiration Look at interior design magazines, talk to interior decorators, search the Internet and read books on this topic. Study about home designing so it will be easier for you to find pieces of furniture and home accessories that will suit your preferences and taste. Budgeting Know what you can afford. Then once you set you budget, stick to it. That way you’ll be sure to stay within your means. You shouldn’t have to break the bank just to buy new furniture or a piece of wall art. Quality and Durability Keep in mind that value involves more than simply price. Whatever furniture you purchase should last a long time, so look for quality and durability as well. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. So if you buy furniture based simply on the lowest price, chances are you’ll be buying the lowest quality as well. Sometimes spending a little more upfront for higher quality can actually save you money by avoiding costly repairs later. Adding new furniture and accessories to your home décor is a sure way to liven up your living quarters.