The art of decorating a home is really about adding definition to the space. A room is just an empty vessel, four walls, a ceiling, some windows and doors. It is only once you start to fill that space that you can actually add personality, style, and individuality to the area. By doing so, you can create the definition of the environment; giving meaning to what might otherwise be empty air.
Look around at your home. What do you want your spaces to evoke, how do you want your rooms to make people feel? Environment can cause emotional, social, and psychological reactions in people. By understanding this, you can gain greater control over the art of decorating. This will in turn give you more control over the environment itself, and thus give you subtle yet powerful tools for shaping the nature of your life's interactions.
Think about a living room for example. A space such as this filled with media, Television, stereo, gaming system, and a bevy of other gadgets, will tend to invoke a very distinct type of emotional response. Basically the space will be seen as a toy, which can be sued for enjoyment. By contrast, a more Zen space, left bare with only a few decorative accents, and a lack of electronics, will be a more peaceful, serene space.
Romance is another good example of adding meaning to a space. A regular room will have adequate lighting, seating, and spacing arrangements. However turn down the lights, exchange the seating for a few, comfy couches, and place the people arrangements in such a way that everyone is forced to sit closer to one another, and suddenly, you can start to feel the atmosphere shift to something a little more romantic in nature.
This piece is not intended to give you specific ways of adding definition or meaning to your spaces. Rather this is a broad overview, intended to make you more aware of the world around you, especially those spaces where you actually cont6rol the decorative elements. In this way, you can reach out and take even greater control of your life, crafting rooms and environments which will reflect exactly what you want them to.
Look around at your home. What do you want your spaces to evoke, how do you want your rooms to make people feel? Environment can cause emotional, social, and psychological reactions in people. By understanding this, you can gain greater control over the art of decorating. This will in turn give you more control over the environment itself, and thus give you subtle yet powerful tools for shaping the nature of your life's interactions.
Think about a living room for example. A space such as this filled with media, Television, stereo, gaming system, and a bevy of other gadgets, will tend to invoke a very distinct type of emotional response. Basically the space will be seen as a toy, which can be sued for enjoyment. By contrast, a more Zen space, left bare with only a few decorative accents, and a lack of electronics, will be a more peaceful, serene space.
Romance is another good example of adding meaning to a space. A regular room will have adequate lighting, seating, and spacing arrangements. However turn down the lights, exchange the seating for a few, comfy couches, and place the people arrangements in such a way that everyone is forced to sit closer to one another, and suddenly, you can start to feel the atmosphere shift to something a little more romantic in nature.
This piece is not intended to give you specific ways of adding definition or meaning to your spaces. Rather this is a broad overview, intended to make you more aware of the world around you, especially those spaces where you actually cont6rol the decorative elements. In this way, you can reach out and take even greater control of your life, crafting rooms and environments which will reflect exactly what you want them to.