Even the shows that strive to replicate high-end rooms miss the mark more often than not in one or more elements. Not by much. Not as much as yours, perhaps. But enough to see the difference in a side-by-side comparison between the inspiration and the inexpensive look-alike. However, when you take away the picture of the room with the sumptuous fabrics, one-of-a kind antiques, custom-made window coverings and furniture, and art and accessories that are sometimes so expensive their price is not included in the room's tally-and look at its copy--the untrained eye has a hard time telling the difference between expensive and inexpensive.
The decorating and renovating television shows give you step-by-step instructions on projects you could easily solve with a trip to your local home renovation center. And, of course, that's what most DIY homeowners do. But you have probably noticed, your home renovation center sales person is not giving design advice. They can't. They are not designers.
Designers on the shows casually mention the fact that color can pull a room together. Good luck figuring that one out from their information. Color where? on what? adn how much?
Then there's that mine field of art and accessories. As mentioned before, sometimes these things are so expensive, their price is whispered or omitted. So, believe it or not, this is the step most DIY homeowners leave out of their decorating process or take a half-hearted swipe at dealing with. Of course, there is all that pesky stuff in between--the space planning, the window covering, etc., etc., etc.
It may seem decorating and interior design should be left to the professionals. And these shows are not vague by mistake. Professionals guard their ability to design spaces like their life depended upon it. Well, at least as though their income depended upon it.
Guess what. People who use professional interior designers don't always use them because they have deep pockets or even because they are artistically challenged. More often, it's because they don't have the time. No matter what the reason, everyone is not going to use a professional, regardless of how far from hitting the mark the DIY homeowner misses.
DIY homeowners have more time than money. They don't trust someone with interpreting their lifestyle. They like the idea of a hands-on approach to their spaces. They can't or won't spend what they think may be over-priced. They don't want the long wait for custom-made anything. And the list goes on.
You would think books on the subject would be clearer in their effort to help the homeowner. With all the space and time reading a book permits, this is not the case. No surprise there. These books are generally written by interior designers with a scarcity mind set. There's not enough to go around, so let's leave out just enough information so the prospective DIY homeowner will have to use a professional.
Homeowners, apartment dwellers, take heart! Design is a teachable process. It doesn't have to be scary or mystical. If all you want is to make a better space for yourself, you don't need a degree in interior design. People have been decorating their spaces since the caveman.
It's your home, decorate it.
Connie LeGendre empowers homeowners designing their interiors through e-courses and newsletters. DIY homeowners are encouraged to ask questions about their projects when signed up for a Free, downloadable e-course 7 New Secrets to Unleashing the Designer in You, at http://www.interiordesignclinic.com
A trained architect and interior designer, fifteen years teaching and running her design business with high-end clients demanding cost-effective and unique solutions, Ms. LeGendre brings that considerable background to her online tips, information, solutions, and Q&A website. The mission is to help translate financially out-of-reach design into affordable cretions for anyone who wants to do it themselves.
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