Mario
Buatta, the New York designer who's known as the
"King of Chintz" because of his love for that
floral pattern, has some great ideas for
decorating your home with subtle touches that can
make a huge difference in looks and comfort.
Here are
a few thoughts from one of the world's most sought
after interior designers:
First,
Mario suggests that one of the least expensive,
yet most effective ways to dramatically change the
look of a room is to change the color of the
walls. If you choose carefully, just an upgrade of
paint can add a new vibrancy to your old furniture
and accessories. Even tired-looking fabrics will
seem to be revitalized, possibly saving you
thousands of dollars by not having to buy new
furniture or having them refurbished.
That
brings up Mario's next suggestion. If your
furniture is comfortable and serviceable, and you
like it, you don't have to replace it when you go
to redecorate a room. Slipcovers made of
decorative sheets can be a great way to change the
look of a room. The same is true with a quilt,
thrown over the back of a sofa. It's quick and
easy, not to mention very economical. If the idea
of slipcovers doesn't appeal to you, you can
generally have your furniture reupholstered much
less expensively than buying new pieces.
When it
comes to accent pieces, Mario suggests carefully
mixing and matching fabrics. He generally begins
with the biggest piece first, and then tries to
pick up colors from that fabric in other parts of
the room. That way, a room feels harmonious
without being stuffy or overly formal. In fact, as
long as there's a subtle match of colors, Mario
isn't adverse to using plaids, stripes, and floral
prints all in the same room. The idea is to
maintain the overall harmony without sacrificing a
feeling of whimsy, fun, and surprise.
One of
Mario's most important pieces of advice is that
the focal point of any room shouldn't be the
décor, but its occupants. He likens the concept to
setting a theatrical stage for an actor. Each
piece should add to the feel, comfort, and
livability of a room, but a room shouldn't
overwhelm its owner or guests.
Mario is
also an advocate of providing an element of
surprise in his decorating. For instance, he likes
to use screens to help break up large spaces and
believes that screens are especially important in
living rooms. It may provide just a moment of
suspense, but it adds an all-important sense of
mystery.
Finally,
Mario also stresses that your home needs to
reflect your own taste and lifestyle, although he
does emphasize staying within the overall context
of your home's architecture. All in all, it takes
carefully planning for your decorating to look
carefree, but the results will be worth it, and
you don't have to break the bank in the process.
More
about
Mario
Buatta's Interior Design Ideas
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette
J. Fisher
America's "Dream Home" Maker
Jeanette Fisher, author
of best-selling real estate investing and interior
design books, has researched the effects of the
environment on emotions for over 15 years. She is
the author of over ten books, including university
textbooks, and encyclopedia articles on color
psychology. For more information on interior
design psychology, free ebooks and newsletters,
please visit
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