When decorating a room in your home, you want it to be stylish with lots of character, but you also want it to be functional. The furniture takes up the bulk of the space in most rooms, whether it’s in your bedroom or the living room. This is why when you go to decorate your home, it’s important to properly plan where you want to place the furnishings.

Typically, the way you arrange your furniture depends on several different factors. Of course, the type of room you are decorating will be a factor, but so will what furniture you are working with and what style you are going for in your décor. Each room is going to be different when it comes to arranging furniture. However, here are some basic tips to follow when decorating your home.

Choose the Focal Point of the Room
You’re not going to be able to arrange your furniture until you’ve decided where the focal point is going to be in your room. The room might have a natural focal point, such as a bay window or fireplace, or you might choose one of the furnishings you have and build the room around that.

To choose your focal point, pay attention to where your eyes are drawn when you first walk into the room. Wherever that is, you want to focus on that part of the room. Once you’ve determined the focal point, you can now rearrange the furniture in order to emphasize that place in the room.

Plan Your Design
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to play around with a room’s design before they get it the way they like. It’s best to start by arranging the largest pieces of furniture first.

If you’ve already chosen one of your larger pieces of furniture to be the focal point, then that will be easy to place. The largest pieces need to be arranged first since they are going to take up the most space and be more dominant than the smaller pieces in the room. In a bedroom, this might mean figuring out where your bed goes first. In a family room, it may mean planning where the sofa will go.

Your furniture should be placed in relation to the focal point you’ve chosen. Not everything needs to be facing the focal point, but the furnishings should be arranged so that they show off the importance of the focal point. You need to also be sure that you are not putting all the larger pieces together, as it will throw off the balance of the room. After you’ve place the larger pieces, then move on to the smaller ones, such as side tables and chairs.

Consider the Purpose of the Room
You need to consider the purpose of the room when arranging the furniture. In your dining room, for example, you need to pay attention as to whether there’s enough space for people to comfortably pass bytable when others are seated there. In your living room, on the other hand, you want to be sure the seating is close enough together so that people aren’t shouting in order to hear one another. Functionality and purpose are key things to keep in mind when arranging the furniture in any room.

The great thing about arranging furniture in your home is that it’s not set in stone. Once you get the furniture in place, you can always leave it there for a couple of weeks to see how it works out. If in the end you don’t like it or it’s not working, you can always start over again and come up with a different arrangement for the room.

The Barn Furniture (1945) on Sepulveda Blvd. one block south of Victory Blvd.

This picture was taken in 1945 soon after the Tubermans bought the business from an unfinished and patio furniture shop owner for $8,000 inclusive of land and inventory. Phil Tuberman brought his experience in the bicycle business and Millie Tuberman brought her love for design to The Barn Furniture and the two made an unstoppable team.

In the early years, redwood patio furniture was a significant portion of the business due to its durability and rot-resistant properties. However, because cutting redwood was not ecologically safe and considerably expensive, The Barn drifted away from this west coast wood. Fortunately, The Barn Furniture has recently found that east coast red cedar provides the same rot-resistant properties that the redwood provided without the same shortage.

Does your dining room seem dull and boring to you? If so, then perhaps it’s time to decorate it with more style. Besides buying new dining furniture there are many ways to liven up your dining room, making it more stylish and put together. Following are some great style tips that can be used in any dining room.

1. Add an area rug to pull together the colors of the room
The area rug should be large enough to fit under the table and chairs when the chairs are pulled out. Don’t get too big a rug, though. Some flooring should show between the area rug and the walls. When measuring for an area rug, measure the length and width of the table and then add another four feet in all directions. If you’re looking for a whole new look in your dining room, then find a rug that fits that style and redecorate the rest of the room around it.

2. Add a centerpiece to your dining room table
A flower arrangement is a simple and effective way to add color to any dining room. Try decorative candles to bring some light into the room. A glass bowl or vase with fruit will add more of an earthy touch. Centerpieces provide a great venue for you to get really creative. Centerpieces can be changed frequently, depending on the season or just the mood you’re in.

3. Add some style to the room with a piece of artwork or a set of shelves
Look around your dining room—do you have anything on the walls? A bigger piece of artwork can be a great way to create a focal point for the room. Or perhaps consider adding two or three pieces to the walls that will tie the room together. Another great option is to hang one or two shelves on a wall. Then you can put pictures, candles, or other décor items there to add some decoration to the room.

4. Set the dining room table for a finished look
By setting out a nice set of china along with placemats or an elegant tablecloth, you are adding a finished look to your dining room. This will help the room to appear more welcoming, rather than cold and uninviting, to guests. By changing the place settings according to the different seasons and holidays, in addition to your main setting, you ensure that you’ll never grow tired of what your dining room looks like.

5. Incorporate some style with a new light fixture
Lighting can certainly add some style to a dining room. You might go with a chandelier, which always looks great above a wood dining table, or some tall standing lamps in the corners. The chandelier should go with the style of the rest of the room. Chandeliers can be adjusted to the perfect height that will give the room the right amount of light.

There are so many more ways to add more style to your dining room. Just remember to be creative and envision what your ideal dining room would look like. Then get to work and make it happen!

Once you’ve bought your young son some rugged wood bedroom furniture like an oak bed or wood night stand then you have to decide on decorating them that will keep them happy and entertained. There are so many great and unique decorating themes for any boy’s room. Remember when selecting your theme to be sure it’s something that can grow with him through the next several years. Any of the following themes can easily be adapted for any boy ranging from age two to age ten. Any of these unique decorating ideas will help get you started on creating a fun and engaging décor for any little boy’s room.

The Firehouse Bedroom
If your little boy is enamored with firefighters, then a firehouse theme would be perfect for his room. You should have no problem finding a firefighter wallpaper border to hang on the walls. Or for those who can draw or paint, any number of firefighter scenes might grace the walls. Aside from fire truck bedding, there are plenty of other accessories you can add to the room to increase the fun, including a fireman’s hat, a hose hanging on the wall, or a fireman’s pole. You might even consider putting a siren in the room—if you dare!

The Bedroom from Outer Space
An outer space theme is the perfect choice for any little boy interested in aliens or the night sky. Walls can be decorate using outer-space and star wallpaper borders and even star and planet decals. If you’re able to, you should be able to find spaceship or planet templates that you can trace and paint on the walls.

For a striking addition to the room, try painting the ceiling black and then using glow-in-the-dark paint to add stars and planets to the ceiling. Throw in a couple Martian stuffed animals, and your little boy will be sleeping in outer space.

Pirate Themes for Bedrooms
If your little boy is partial to pirates, you can use movies such as Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean as a reference, depending on how old he is. Start by painting the walls blue for the ocean. A pirate ship painted on one of the walls would be an awesome addition, or perhaps an island with an overflowing treasure chest on the shore. Complete the look by adding accessories such as nets, portholes, treasure boxes with booty, and pirate hats.

A Favorite Animal Theme
What’s your little boy’s favorite animal? Is it monkeys or lizards? Consider decorating his room with his favorite animals. This is a broad theme that can be customized to fit your little boy’s preferences. For instance, if your boy has a pet, you can always build the theme around that, complete with a special place for the pet to live. Just be sure that if your little boy is old enough, you take his interests into consideration and not just choose any animal theme for his room.

Other Decorating Themes
Some other decorating ideas for a little boy’s room that are both unique and fun include:

· cowboys

· dinosaurs

· race cars

· military

· jungle

· sports

· construction

· licensed characters and cartoons

· haunted house

· bugs

· the wild outdoors

To find the perfect decorating theme for your little boy, involve him in the process, not only of choosing the theme, but of picking out what he wants in the room and helping set it all up.

For those who like to keep current with the styles and designs of today, a contemporary style might be the perfect décor choice for your home. Nowadays, contemporary styles have shifted and are no longer as cold and unwelcoming as they once were. Contemporary styles nowadays tend to be comfortable, lighter, and very welcoming.

So what exactly is needed to create that contemporary look? The basic components of this design style are simplicity, clean lines, and sophistication. Focusing on shape, size, and color is the key to any contemporary style. What will result is a fresh, sleek look that will fit just about any room in the home. If a contemporary style seems like the décor choice for you, here are some other important features to consider.

Contemporary Color Choices for Your Room
Contemporary styles tend to incorporate mostly neutral colors, although modern variants are adding more colors such as blues and greens into the mix. Traditionally, black is often the color used to ground the décor, creating a base for the look. Choose neutral tones such as light gray, white, or light tan for your walls.

One new trend in contemporary styles revolves around monochromatic themes. This means you choose one or two complementary colors, such as green and blue, and then you work only with those colors, adding a neutral color such as black or white here and there. Thus, for instance, you may coordinate white pillows with a modern light-blue chair.

Accentuate the Lines and Geometry of the Room
Essential to contemporary style is distinct lines in the design. To create definite lines in your décor, you might look to including some geometric shapes or keeping the windows bare in the room. Don’t overcrowd the space. You need each and every piece to stand on its own and not get shuffled in with everything else.

Choose Sleek and Modern Furniture
For contemporary furnishings, look for sleek and modern pieces that have geometric patterns. Rather than a big plush, comfy sofa, you might go with a sleek wrap-around sofa with exposed peg legs for that contemporary look. Choose furniture that’s upholstered in neutral tones such as white, black, tan, and gray. You can also consider purchasing contemporary wood furniture. Avoid furniture with frilly accents or pillows, or pieces with skirts or trim on the bottom.

Contemporary Décor That’s Basic, Bold, and Functional
Remember, with contemporary style, less is more. In other words, you need to eliminate the small, cute, little things and focus on larger objects. Avoid any floral or paisley prints, as well as fringes and ruffles.

When it comes to contemporary décor, go basic, bold, and functional. For instance, a simple large candle on a dish may be all that’s needed on a shelf or table. Another contemporary accent might be a glass vase with colored balls or marbles. However, limit those accents to one per surface area. Some surfaces, such as side tables, don’t need anything on them.

Contemporary style can create a great look for practically any room in your home and can be achieved with something as simple as new  living room or bedroom furniture accents. However, do be sure this is the style you want, as it is hard to incorporate contemporary pieces into other decorating themes.

When it comes to decorating, the master bedroom is often the most neglected room in the house. Sometimes homeowners simply run out of money or ideas after finishing the rest of the house, or perhaps they just never got around to bringing their own style to the room. Rather than waiting until you have the time or funds, consider the following quick-and-easy decorating ideas that will instantly add style to the master bedroom.

Decorating Your Walls
A simple change of paint color can take your bedroom in a whole new direction. Painting is not only easy and inexpensive, but it doesn’t take that much time. There are many different options to choose from when it comes to painting the master bedroom.

If you’re happy with your bedding, find a shade that complements existing colors. Or if you’re considering new bedding, you can go with the color scheme of your choice. You might also opt for an easier route and paint an accent wall;  a good choice might be the one your bed is against.

Another quick decorating tip is to hang a painting on one wall. Choose whatever type of painting best fits the décor of the room. You might even try hanging a couple of different smaller paintings on the same wall in a random pattern. Paintings and photographs can be found at your local department store or even at discount stores.

Choosing Your Bedding
The focal point of any bedroom is the bed. If you’re not set on a particular décor, start with the bedding first. You can see what’s available at your local stores, or even browse online for different bedding ideas.

Don’t spend a lot of money on your bedding set; you can always find something simple to add to it. A great way to add some color or texture to your bed is with pillows. For instance, inexpensive throw pillows will add design and interest to a plain bedding set. For a romantic look, you can even create a canopy around your bed by hanging tulle or silk from the ceiling.

Adding Accessories
Begin by removing any clutter that may be on top of any furniture in the room such as dressers or nightstands. Remember, it’s a lot easier to decorate a room when you’re not looking at a mess. Put away any items you want to keep in drawers and then get rid of whatever else you don’t need.

Once you can see your furniture, you’ll be able to determine the best places to add accessories to your room. For instance, a unique lamp might make a great addition to a nightstand, whereas candles or a vase of flowers might be the perfect touch for the dresser.

Decorating a master bedroom can be a surprisingly simple process. By adding simple design touches here and there, you can create a space that is entirely your own.