We leaf through dozens of books and magazines to find inspiration for furnishing and decorating our homes. We gape at the model homes in the photos and ask ourselves if we can achieve the same perfection in our rooms. Bear in mind, however, that our own rooms don’t have the same dimensions, architecture or budget that come close to those in the pictures.

Home design magazines owe a lot to their photographers for creating the polished and elegant look in model homes. The magic of specialized lighting, lenses and angles all come into play to create the perfect image. Everything is perfectly posed and not a single item is out of place. Not a stray book, pillow, cup or pet. It was made to appear like nobody lives there!

Make your own personality shine through in your home design and not somebody else’s.

Painting is undoubtedly the dominant aspect in a room’s decor as it gives it character and creates environment. A painting job needs all items to be removed from the room. A layer of paint can alter the atmosphere and breathe in new life and freshness in a room. The best part is you don’t have to spend much.

Redesign the newly-painted room by bringing the items back piece by piece. Naturally, you don’t have to move large objects or permanent fixtures that will require additional labor and expense. Upon bringing the items back in, place them in a different location and arrangement and see if it makes an impression. Experiment with different arrangement until you achieve your desired effect. Only then can you bring the remaining items in one by one.

Why buy new when you can recycle your furniture? Give your worn furniture a fresh look with slipcovers. You can choose from an extensive array of fabrics available today. You can have worn out or scratched wood refinished at a price much lesser than buying a new one. Adding bright-colored throw pillows can bring life back to a drab sofa.

If you really need to dispose of furniture and other stuff, then offer them in a garage sale to generate some cash to add for new items. Or you can give them away to charity. If you have to buy new furniture and accessories, be sure to hunt for sales where prices are less expensive. Work on being a smart shopper.

Ever noticed a room that looks lively during the day but looks somber and dull in the evening? This is probably the effect of improper choice of lighting. Lighting can make a room appear inviting or it can make it look flat and uninteresting. Work with sufficiently bright illumination when painting or redecorating a room.

Lighting can make a big difference on a room’s appearance especially at night. Even colors that look attractive during daytime may appear dull at night without the appropriate lighting scheme.

Be sure your lights are bright enough and properly placed to add an interesting quality in a room. Install dimmers to light switches so you can create the right atmosphere – from soft to cozy to bright. Use energy-efficient light bulbs for lower monthly electric bills.

Got more tips about lighting? Post it here with your suggestions.

Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen or your entire house, you can save a bundle by purchasing items during sale season and making the necessary arrangements to finalize it. Salespeople make their living by selling and will negotiate deals to close a sale.

Check if the store has more than one item or accessory that you need and strike a deal with the sales rep. They’ll be more than glad to work with you. They may even waive delivery charges or offer a bulk discount.

Keep in mind that all they can do is refuse. If the salesperson refuses to make a deal, there are a lot of furniture stores you can visit where someone else will. You can also find better than retail prices during sales or purchase display items for an additional discount.

“Aargh! If I only knew this would cost this much…!” You’ve probably heard this line a lot of times from people who are having their homes remodeled. Perhaps you uttered it yourself. This thing happens when homeowners prepare the exact amount the contractor has initially asked for.

House remodeling can go way above the budget because of structural and electrical considerations which were kept hidden until demolition. Well, unless the contractor has x-ray vision, they can’t see potential problems behind walls or under floors. It will make good sense to set aside a separate budget for such contingencies. Learn to expect the unexpected and be prepared for any eventualities.

Did you have similar problems? Post it here and let us know how you handled it.

What part of your house does everybody love to congregate in? The kitchen, no doubt, because of the social ambiance it creates as well as the good food. Add to these some bright kitchen decorating ideas and many will want to spend more time in this area. 

You can redecorate your entire kitchen or just transform certain parts of it. It depends on you and your budget. Remember that you don’t need to break the bank to give your kitchen a stunning makeover. Some minor changes can spell a big difference, perhaps just a new layer of paint.

Should you put your home up for sale, your kitchen can be a major deciding point whether it sells quickly or not. It may well provide you with a greater advantage to compete with other homes on the market.

This can spell fun or trouble depending on your negotiation skill. We have our own designs in mind but so do kids. The best step to avoid a turf war is to listen to their input. They may want bright loud colors but you know it won’t be final especially as they grow older. Make a compromise and show them the color choices you’ve picked.

As kids get older you don’t want costly re-decoration of their entire room. Choose furniture that are simple yet practical in design such as a clothes chest that can double as a seat or a desk for both homework and computer games. You can buy trendy furniture that won’t burn a hole in your wallet and can be replaced as they get older.

What are your ideas about designing your kids’ room? Post your comments here.

The sink is the most important part of your kitchen. I consider it higher than the stove because all kitchen chores start and end in the sink! Because it is often used and for long stretches, the kitchen sink should first and foremost be durable.

Quartz composite and enameled cast iron sinks are the most durable. They are easy to maintain and come in a variety of stunning colors. China or brass sinks may look very attractive but won’t pass the durability test.

For some additional cash, you can purchase nickel or copper sinks. While nickel is the most durable, copper provides more practicality since it requires almost zero maintenance. However, stainless steel sinks are still the most popular. Although they easily get dented, these sinks can last for years with proper care.

There are various styles to consider when choosing your furniture design. There are the traditional style, contemporary, modern, period, exotic, country, American and unusual mix. Deciding on which style to choose depends on your furnishing taste, desired theme and color choices.

Designing with a specific style in mind can be difficult and may require the purchase of other items to complete your desired theme. Unless you are hopelessly in love with a specific furniture style, what if you get tired of it later and decide to shift to another style? You have to be doubly sure about the style you want to have as future alterations can cost you in terms of time and money.

Are you satisfied with your current home furnishing style? Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.