Girlfriends On The Go -- Odds & Ends

Here are some shopping and decorating tips we Girlfriends
have picked up over the years…

1. Some places are closed on Mondays and even Tuesdays. Check hours.
2. Less is more. One statement piece is better than lots of knickknacks.
3. You can always take it back…or can you? Be sure to check store return policy.
4. Lighting in the store is so different than in your home.
5. Carry a small tape measure and dimensions with you.
6. Consider taking a digital camera along when shopping for major purchases.
7. Arrange decorative groupings in odd numbers; vary height and texture.
8. A splash of color can dramatically change a room.
9. Your style is what YOU like. Always buy what you like and it will fit together nicely in your home.

10. Don’t have too many twosies.

11. A designer is sometimes the most cost-efficient way to go.

COLOR

Late at night I enjoy looking through my stacks of magazines to get ideas for home decorating and after this year’s long snowy winter I especially want to add more color to each room in my home for spring. The other day while reading one of my “House Beautiful” magazines, an article by designer Thomas Jayne caught my eye about “How to Use Color Effectively.” Perfect! Here are a few color tips from his article. I hope this helps you with your color decisions, big or small…in painting a room or just adding some throw pillows to a couch or bed.

1. Palette Priority--Do you want a warm or cool palette? Warm has more yellow tones and cool more blue tones. Stay in one register, so you might ask for help at the paint store.

2. Warm verses Cool--Warm colors often suit traditional design schemes and cool colors work well in contemporary interiors, but there’s no rule.

3. Neutral Power--So-called neutral colors like beige and cream are effective because they go with everything. But remember they belong to either a warm or cool range, too.

4. Go Green! Many shades of green can also act as neutrals. This tends to be overlooked and it’s worth exploring. It goes with almost everything.

5. Dark rooms seem bigger because corners fall into shadow and the parameters of a room are less clearly seen.

6. Monochromatic color schemes are a great decorating device but you usually need three shades of the same color to be successful.