Plantation Furnishings - Decorating Tips and Hints

Do sketch your floor plan and record the room dimensions, window sizes and placement, and the location of special features, electrical outlets, and so on. Take your floor plan with you when you shop.

Do coordinate fabric and flooring choices before making any major purchases, and before choosing exact paint colors.

Do purchase large elements first (rugs, draperies, upholstered furniture) whenever possible, and use the exact colors and style of those major pieces to coordinate all other choices.

Do consider the uses and function of a room before deciding on furnishings and arrangements. For example, if your dining room will also be your study, then you’ll need room for a desk, books, lighting, and files as well as well as the dining room, table and chairs.

Do consider using unifying elements such as trim color, wood tone, flooring, motifs, fabrics, or materials.

Don’t choose colors standing in a store. Try to take samples (of paint, fabrics, and floor-coverings) back to your home and look at them in daylight and at night.

Don’t spend a lot of money on expensive items that are “trendy”. Try out trends that truly appeal to you by experimenting first with inexpensive accessories.

Don’t clutter up a room with a million little collectibles unless you’re in love with that look. Most of us will feel it is two crowded.

Don’t paint your walls then go out looking for fabrics to match. Paint can be mixed in any of a thousand colors, so select the final shades after upholstery, carpeting, and curtain fabrics are chosen.

Don’t paint a room without trying samples of the color in the room. Tiny paint chips can be deceiving as to tone and depth of color, so always paint a test board to confirm your choices.