Andrew Callejo - Foolproof interior design ideas for a fabulous home

1. Andrew Callejo | Choosing Your Home's Interior Design If you want to give your home an interior makeover, but don't know where to start, don't worry. Enhancing your home's interior can be a lot of fun and simpler than you think. Here are a few basic tips by Andrew Callejo to help you get started. There are several approaches you can take when planning for the interior design: Contemporary - this style usually appears fairly harsh and cold due to hard angles and stark colour schemes (a lot of black, gray, and white). However, if properly tempered with the right amount of coloured accents, it can become rather warm and inviting. Traditional - this remains the most popular of all interior designs, with curved furniture made from dark wood and upholstered with coordinating fabrics, along with chandeliers, glass, and porcelain lighting utilizing a variety of shades. Classical - this style uses a lot of yellows, greens, ad differing hues of grey and pink to achieve its colour palette. You'll also find a lot of

2. columns, busts, and urns, mostly inspired by Greek or Roman architecture. Country - this author's favourite style, country-flavoured homes are usually quite warm and inviting, namely due to the use of natural, handcrafted, and time-worn materials. The colours are inspired by the surrounding landscape, along with a plethora of floral or checkered patterns. Wrought iron and stone are also used in the construction and/or decoration process, as well as distressed wood and pottery. Tropical - for the homeowner who wants to feel like every day is "getting away from it all", this style incorporates a colour scheme featuring beige and softer shades of brown, alongside furniture made from distressed wood, rattan, or bamboo. Teak furniture is also popular, but requires significant care to properly maintain. Cotton, linen, and silk make up the fabric base for this decorative style. Rustic - this is the first cousin to the Country style, with high beamed ceilings, stone fireplaces, and tin lampshades. The overall impact is to create a warm and cozy environment.

3. There are several factors to take into consideration when planning your room design, namely lighting, colours, patterns, and furniture. The more natural light you have in a room, the more open and airy it is going to feel and appear. Rooms tend to appear larger when there are fewer shadows present. By the same token, darker colours tend to make a room feel smaller and more closed in, while lighter colours make it appear larger and more spacious. The same goes for various textures, with smooth surfaces reflecting light in such a way as to create the illusion of space and size, and rougher textures and patterns creating a more intimate feel. When it comes to furniture, it becomes much like trying to define art...you'll know it when you see it. You may skip over two dozen different pieces before deciding on the one that will work most effectively in your home. As a general rule, keep larger pieces of furniture against walls to preserve space. The one exception may be

4. your sofa, which in most cases should be in the centre of the room it occupies. Choose pieces that stand off the floor on legs that are made of materials that reflect light or let light through. An example is a glass centre table for the living room or a glass dining table for the kitchen. You can also find pieces at your local furniture store that will work well in your home, however, many times looking through used furniture or antique store may provide you with options that can bring a unique flair to your decorating. Well-worn or naturally distressed pieces add character to your design, and of course, many of these older pieces are no longer generally available.