It’s an expression of your personality, on display to all visitors - and it makes both the first, and the last, impression. It’s also where family members congregate to lounge around, to watch television, to read or simply for a relaxed chat. Designing this space correctly is crucial.

FURNITURE: Consider the focal point and arrange the rest of your furniture around it. If you have an imposing statue, for instance, or a grand piano, let this be the center of attention, and set the other furniture around it. It’s important to consider traffic in the area; does the arrangement allow free movement and give an uncluttered look? Try off-square angles, for a warmer and more casual look. Also, instead of having your sofa touch the wall, you could consider placing it a foot or so away and install a plant or a lamp. To create a “lived-in” aura for your living area, position small furniture in the room. This can be a small bench, or a low sofa table. Place magazines, journals and newspapers under the table. Placing flower vases, baskets and small plants on your table also creates beauty and livens up the room.

For people who have space and want to make a statement, a 12-ft running sofa in artificial leather and off-white will get your guests talking. There is a growing preference for antique furniture used in consonance with contemporary furniture - for instance, a straight-line sofa set with an ornate center table. Today, furniture suitable for different segments of society is available.

COLOURS: Do you want your hall to be a vibrant, or a restful, space? Colours can intimidate, invite or irritate. Green is a relaxing colour and there are several shades to choose from. At the other end of the spectrum, there are people who like orange and red on their walls. Choose a shade that goes with your personality, and ensure your carpets and furniture are well-coordinated. Of course, for the most classic, elegant look, creams and whites always work best, providing the perfect canvas for experimentation with upholstery and furniture.

MIRRORS: If your room is small, particularly, mirrors can add space and depth.

LIGHTING: This can really create or affect the mood in your living room. Don’t go in for harsh tube-lights in your living room; they may seem more practical, but do not do anything to bring in a soothing atmosphere. Try focus lighting for items like artifacts and paintings.

WORKING WITH A BUDGET: If your budget is low - say, about a lakh for the living room, opt for basic, minimalistic furniture - cane sofas can also be truly elegant. Colourful mosaics or simple kotah or Jaisalmer stone slabs should be used for flooring to give warmth. Rugs or colourful chatais or durries can be dramatic. Use earthy cottons for upholstery so that stains aren’t too visible, and stack colourful cushions around to make your space welcoming. Carry the terracotta theme further with pots and other artifacts. Straight lines, with minimum maintenance and materials are quick to work. Try ceramic or vitrified tiles in an economical range. For the walls, velvet touch emulsion paint can be used.

Instead of opting for expensive materials like marble, play with colour and texture. Avoid false ceilings since they can be expensive and will need maintenance. Of course, if you have a high budget, there is nothing like Italian marble and expensive artifacts to make your living room special.

Find out more about this in http://www.mumbaiproperties.info

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With today’s array of earth-tone paints, under-cupboard organizers and inventive illumination options, there’s no need to fret away those happy hours you could be enjoying in the heart of your home — your kitchen!

Too small? Too cramped? Too dark?

Use the S-O-S system to rethink your kitchen space this year!

Simplify it.
Open it up.
Store it.

Simplicity doesn’t mean barren. It doesn’t mean sparse. It does mean easy — on the eyes, on movements, on how you use the space and light you have to maximize your small spaces.

Simplify your kitchen furniture and furnishings … streamline and recess your lighting … clear your counters and walls of all but the attractive essentials for food preparation. These, plus an efficient step-saving work area, are among the quickest first steps you should take to when redecorating your small or narrow kitchen.

If possible, rearrange your appliances and workspaces to essentially “go with the flow.” Divide the room up into two main areas: food preparation/cooking, and clean-up.

One way to simplify food preparation is to arrange your appliances in 1-2-3 order in terms of use: refrigerator first, then sinks with work surfaces attached or inserted, then microwave, stove or cook top. That way, food leaves the refrigerator, and is washed, chopped, processed, seasoned and cooked with just a few easy steps by the chef!

Make more of your wall space, too. Hang a large pegboard — painted white or some pastel hue to match your kitchen — along one wall. Using different-sized S-hooks, gather together all those kitchen gadgets, ladles, sifters, choppers and other hand tools that so often clutter up counters or languish in junk drawers.

Attach an oversized S-hook at one or both ends of the pegboard to keep handy your aprons, children’s bibs and potholders.

Open up your small-space kitchen by adding light wherever you have a dark corner. Skylights are great illuminators, if a redesign fits into your redecorating budget! For lighting, opt for the brightest, least harsh illumination available, and get rid of clunky hanging globes and lanterns in favor of streamlined, sleek luminescence.

A bright glow is a must for a small kitchen, but you can also add light by strategically positioning mirrors. Hang one across from your kitchen windows, to double the incoming natural light and double the view of the great outdoors. Mirrors are effective, too, in “extending” short hallways and opening up dark, dead-end corners.

White cabinets — doorless, or doored with framed chicken wire — and white or pale walls with color flowing seamlessly from one room to the next, say “light and airy” in any kitchen lexicon! Feeling adventurous? Tear out a few old cupboards and put up some open floating shelves in their stead.

Finding storage space in a small kitchen is so much easier these days with a wide array of under-sink, under-cupboard and behind-the-door organizers — everything from hanging mesh baskets to epoxy-coated wire. Use them liberally to store and hide trash bags, grocery sacks, coupons, barbeque tools and other as-needed accessories!

Whatever your decorating choices, make them with “you” in mind. Experiment with light, space, fabric and textures to achieve the look that you want, in whatever space you have available!

Kate Sheridan is a Michigan freelance writer, photographer and homesteader whose writings on the fun and foibles of country living may be found at http://www.gardenandhearth.com/RuralLiving.htm.

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When we think about home improvement projects we often think of changing or adding to a room but one of the most important improvements you can make in the kitchen is to make sure you have the proper lighting. You need to make sure that the room is not only illuminated, but that you have enough light to work, no matter which area of the kitchen you are in. Here are some tips on how to plan for perfect kitchen lighting.

Overhead Lighting

Many kitchens, and especially older ones, only have one type of lighting or even worse, perhaps only one light! You may be thinking that a big light centered in the middle of the ceiling will serve your need effectively, but it is rarely enough. If you do go with one overhead light, make sure that you plan to incorporate enough reflection to let the light bounce into every part of the room so that it is lit properly..

One thing to consider if you only have room or resources for lighting on the ceiling is track lighting. This type of lighting will allow you to direct the light to specific areas of the kitchen. You can install a light or point a light to each work area as well as your stove and kitchen table. Or, try using track kitchen lighting for the work area and then install additional lighting over the table or island areas.

Counters And Work Areas

Typically, one big light in the middle of the room will be inadequate for proper task lighting. It is problematic since when you are standing at the counter with your back to the light you will be casting a shadow right on the area you want to illuminate. Task lighting is important for proper food prep and will make your kitchen chores much easier.

For great task lighting consider kitchen lights that are installed on the bottoms of the cabinets that overhang your kitchen countertops. You’ll be able to easily see while you are chopping vegetables and preparing meals. This lighting is soft enough to provide the right amount of light and can be easily turned off as needed or leave just one light on at night as a “night light” of sorts.

Island And Table Lighting

You’ll also want to consider how you light the island and table areas. Here is where you will want to insure that lighting is adequate, and looks great with the style of your kitchen.

For eat in islands, the most popular type of lighting is lights that hang down from the ceiling. The length of your islands dictates how many lights you will need. The table lighting should be chic and is most practical if you can get lighting on a dimmer. Typically, you would want some sort of chandelier for right above the table but be sure to match the style to your kitchen decor.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.dailynewz.info where you can find out more about home improvement and renovation.

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