You Know Your Home Décor is Frumpy and Stale when?.

As a decorator, I have gone into many different homes and met homeowners with questionable taste. One thing I am shocked about is people living in a time warp. I recently had a client who hired me because they had an "ah- ha moment" seeing their living room style on a circa 1980's sit-com rerun. Yes, their living room had not been restyled in 25 years. Sometimes people just decorate like their mother did because that is all they have ever known. Let's not be frumpy and stale.

So how can you tell if you are living in a time warp and need to freshen up your home's look? Here are just a few of the telltale signs:

  • Look up. What do you see? If you see a popcorn ceiling or glitter mixed with ceiling paint, you have an outdated look.
  • Now, look down. Do you see dark carpeting? over 10 years old? Do you see wall to wall plush carpeting? The trend is most definitely hardwood floors with gorgeous area rugs
  • Look to the side. Do you see any fake wood paneling whatsoever? The darker and shinier it is, the worse it is. No paneling!
  • What do you see on the wall? Please don't tell me that you see white paint. The trend is color, color, and color. Don't be bland! A rich complex color can bring your room up to the new
  • If you removed a picture from the wall, will there be a telltale sign that it hung in that exact spot too long? Paint fades over the years, ya know. Be sure to change the accessories around every few years. I bet that picture is hung way too high also. Is it hung more than 6 inches from the top of the sofa? See told ya.
  • Do you have over 5 photographs of children who are now grown? Subtract points if the frames are all different types and sizes.
  • How about the furniture? Is it lumpy and bumpy (formally known as cascade back style)? It reminds me of rolls of fat. Yuck! The updated look it smooth sleek lines with classic styling. Toss it to the curb with its buddy, the extra large lazy-people recliner.
  • Speaking of the couch, please don't let me see a knitted afghan folded over the back of the sofa. I love things made by Grandma too but it doesn't need to be the focal point. It is no longer fashionable to place a folded blanket of any kind over the back of the couch.
  • How about the accent pillows? The old style of placing matching pillows at each end of the couch is dated too - just because they came with the couch doesn't mean you have to use them. Spice it up with pillows of contrasting colors, unique motifs, and hip textures.
  • Let's check out the kitchen. This is an easy room to tell if is out of date. On the floor, do you have bold geometric vinyl? Are your appliances harvest gold or avocado? Do your cupboards lack character? Do they have their original knobs and pulls? Are the counters a color like 70's Brady Bunch orange or even 80's country blue? It really pays to redo a kitchen but if you can't right now, update the knobs, get a rug, and gallons of paint. And the bonus question:

    11. On your bathroom counter, is there a grouping of lotions and potions? The big pump bottle of everyday moisturizer? On your bedroom dresser, you don't have your collection of perfume bottles of scents you haven't worn in several years, do you? Don't you remember your mother doing this? Let's not decorate how mom did.

    Now you know if your décor is frumpy and stale. You also know a few ways to make it fresh. Next, how about those pleated slacks?

    Julie Dana is a professional Interior Redesigner and Accredited Staging Professional. Her company, The Home Stylist, offers online decorating consultations, do-it-yourself decorating plans and real-estate staging. Visit http://www.thehomestylist.com to take a fun style quiz, vote on a color poll, and sign up for free decorating e-newsletter.

    In The News:


    Interior decorators in Central Jersey reflect clients' tastes
    Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - Nov 27, 2008
    By BRANDON LAUSCH • Staff Writer • November 27, 2008 BRANCHBURG —The sales pitch of custom interior-decorating business Decor&You basically comes down to ...

    Decorator turns Dubuque theater into holiday site
    Chicago Tribune, United States - Dec 1, 2008
    "You either got it or you don't," said Meyer, a man with a penchant for interior design and storytelling. "And, no, I'm not going to do anybody's house. ...

    Fathead(R) Offers to Decorate the First Daughters Rooms with Jonas ...
    MarketWatch - Dec 1, 2008
    ... about decorating their own rooms, we wanted to reach out to the First Lady's transition team to offer our expertise in the 'Department of the Interior', ...

    NewsReleaseWire.com (press release)

    : New Home Staging Design Guide Takes Guesswork Out of How to ...
    NewsReleaseWire.com (press release) - 14 hours ago
    In fact, even if you’re an interior designer, decorating to sell and decorating to live are two completely different objectives and need to be handled ...

    Top 10 Home Decor Trends for 2009 - Interior Genius
    Imperial Valley News, CA - Nov 27, 2008
    Carmen Natschke -- editor of "The Decorating Diva" -- sees a revival of what she calls “Hollywood Regency.” According to her Web site, this style is ...

    WHIZ

    Holiday Decorating Safet
    WHIZ, OH - Nov 30, 2008
    "You want to make sure that you use interior for interior and exterior for exterior. And something safety-wise for your interior, you want to make sure you ...

    Interior decorating trends toward rich color, vintage look
    Tampabay.com, FL - Nov 10, 2008
    "We are drawn to old-culture decor — a Tuscan farmhouse kitchen — but we want state-of-the-art appliances in that kitchen. So we are drawn to both vintage ...

    Lights, music, Christmas: Area houses decorated to brighten spirits
    Southeast Missourian, MO - Nov 30, 2008
    A little bit of extra lighting in the interior of the home will include lights around tall bookcases. "Their greenery was natural. ...
    Glenn House serves as alternative to Parade of Lights Southeast Missourian
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    Pittsburgh Post Gazette

    Business partners use house to show off design, decorating talents
    Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - Nov 14, 2008
    "A house should be more than a place to eat and sleep," said Mr. Tot, 56, a North Side resident and owner of Nolen Painting & Interior Decorating. ...

    Local shop offers interesting vintage Christmas decor
    Huntington Herald Dispatch, WV - Nov 29, 2008
    Brass Rabbit Home Accents has been selling interior decorations for the past five years. "I've been in this kind of business for 15 years and I felt like it ...
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