Interior redesigners – also known as interior refiners, redecorators, interior arrangers, one day decorators, room makeover specialists and home stylists - bring a unique perspective to their clients’ decorating dilemmas. While the business model of traditional interior design services is largely based on profits from the markup of furnishings and contract services which are resold to the client, interior redesigners are overwhelmingly service oriented. Charging flat rates per room or hourly fees which make their services accessible to those who aren’t interested in major purchases, interior redesigners provide creative services to transform your rooms using what you already own and limiting, or even eliminating, the need for new investment.

The interior redesign segment of the decorating and design industry is growing every day. Yet, while just about all the professionals in the field are service, rather than sales, oriented, there are important differences in the approaches of interior redesigners, even among those using the same professional designation.

Some interior redesigners will interview you in advance and then politely request that you absent yourself from your home during the room redesign. While all the furnishings that will be used are already in your home, you will be coming home to a surprise redesign and possibly other rooms that have been substantially changed by the relocation of furnishings to the redesigned room. Other redesigners will insist on your presence, however, the degree of collaboration will vary from those who will give you advice and leave it at that to those who really want to find ways to bring your personal preferences into the design scheme.

Some interior redesigners will physically rearrange your furnishings, accessorize your room and hang your artwork on the day of the redesign, while others will only give you a written plan. Still others will both rearrange your rooms and provide you with written plans to take your rooms to the next level. Some will only work with what you already own, while others are willing to develop design plans for partially furnished and even empty rooms. Some will include paint, window treatment and lighting consultations in the plan, and offer a range of follow-up services, while others will not go beyond what is possible to physically accomplish on the day of the redesign.

Questions You Need to Ask

It is important that you take the time to decide what it is that you want from an interior redesigner before you shop for professional help. Once you are clear about your own goals and expectations, you can start asking the questions that will enable you to match your needs with a particular redesigner’s services:

1. What is the scope of services included in the interior redesign?

2. Will the rooms actually be rearranged on the day of the redesign? If so, is there an additional cost for movers or moving assistants?

3. Will you be given a written design plan and, if so, what will it include?

4. If you have a budget to go beyond the one day decorating, will the redesigner provide specific ideas and guidance to maximize your budget and further enhance your room?

5. Will you be expected to be present to work collaboratively with the redesigner or will you be asked leave your home?

Whether you choose to collaborate with an interior redesigner or leave your home, it is important that you have a good rapport with the professional you choose - after all, a successful room redesign should reflect your personality and vision for your home, not the designer’s. You should feel that the interior redesigner is approachable, would value your ideas and is willing to take the time to understand what you want and answer all of your concerns. Be wary of anyone who promises to do so, but won’t take the time to listen and respond to you when you call to inquire about services.

Also, be wary of anyone who promises that a room makeover can be done in “as little as an hour” in order to get the appointment. A good interior redesign can take many hours, and while there are rooms that can be completed in an hour, no honest interior redesigner will tell you so without first seeing the room and speaking with you about your needs and expectations.

If the redesigner offers flat rates based on the size of the room, ask for a rate card or other written documentation. If hourly charges are involved, ask for an estimate of hours based on the size and complexity of your project.

Companies marketing interior redesign services vary greatly, from the independent redesigner to design agencies, referral operations and even franchises. Before you book an appointment, insist upon speaking directly with the interior redesigner who would be handling your project and assess that person’s experience and training independently from the company marketing the services. Ideally you always want the principal of the firm on your project, after all the firm’s reputation - not to mention all those before and after photos on the Web site - reflect the abilities of the principal, not its lower level staff. Check whether this would involve additional unadvertised fees, as is often the case.

If you take the time to find a great interior redesigner, you will find Interior redesign to be a great decorating solution, offering an affordable means to a dramatic transformation of your home in one day with little or no additional investment.

Peggy Berk is an award-winning interior decorator and certified interior refiner who has worked with a wide variety of residential and commercial clients throughout the New York Metropolitan Tri-State Area and Florida. Her design firm, Area Aesthetics ( http://www.areaaesthetics.com ), specializes in interior redesign, home staging and full service interior decorating. Peggy is the featured designer on the Home Decor Exchange where she answers readers’ decorating questions and writes a column for "HDE Monthly." Author of many articles in her area of expertise, she also writes the monthly "Rental Redesign" column for Rental Decorating Digest.

To see before and after photos of her one-day room redesigns, read what New York’s top real estate brokers have to say about her home staging services, or submit your decorating questions, visit her Web site at: http://www.AreaAesthetics.com

The kitchen is a room that is more personal than any other room in your home. This is because your kitchen decorating theme deeply reflects your personal decorating tastes and style. When you decide to decorate your kitchen, it’s important to be sure you’re decorating for youself… not others. Take your family into consideration of course, but if you’re the one who uses the kitchen most, it’s safe to consider it as your room. Now, the easiest way to add a little decorating flavor to your kitchen is by adding a fresh new coat of paint. If you don’t feel like taking on a painting project though, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ideas for decorating the kitchen that don’t involve painting.

First, try putting up new curtains. New curtains help create a fresh new look in your kitchen, and sometimes just this one change will make your kitchen look completely different. This is a simple and cost effective method for decorating. Curtains can bring out the personality of your kitchen with little effort too. If you have a country style kitchen for instance, a few country cooking themed curtains will help pull the decorating them together.

Next, try new kitchen accessories. Every kitchen could do well with new fresh accessories. After a while your old accessories tend to get tiresome, and… well… old. New accessories like paper towel racks, bread boxes, salt and pepper shakers, or even old jars can make your kitchen look like it’s been completely redecorated. And along with these new accessories, if your budget permits, purchase a new kitchen gadget that will go along with your new theme. Instead of a plain white coffeemaker for instance, go for a new red coffee maker to accent the red apples in the country themed curtains. Be creative and add a personal touch.

Alternatively, try making your own kitchen accessories. If you are the crafty, artsy type then you could make your own kitchen decorating accessories. Most craft stores have several unfinished kitchen decor items that you can purchase and decorate on your own. For instance, you could buy an unfinished bread box and custom design it to fit your favorite decorating theme. When finished, that bread box will be an evident testimonial of your creative decorating abilities. Doing this with your entire kitchen decor collection will further add that personal touch that every kitchen deserves.

Your kitchen is the primary source where you feed and nuture your family. By adding your distinct personality to your kitchen’s personality, you’ll create life-long memories for you and your family. So start working on some of these great kitchen decorating ideas today, and you’re bound to come up with something completely unique and special that you’ll absolutely love.

Additional resources and updates for this article can be found online at: http://www.diyhomedecorating.com/articles/2005-11/215/easy-decorating-ideas-for-the-kitchen/

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Visit The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network for more kitchen decorating ideas.

Accessories are what turn a bland bedroom into a designer show piece! Accessorizing your bedroom is a very important aspect in the decorating process. When you buy a new outfit it is greatly enhanced with jewelery, scarves and purses for women and ties or watches for men. A bedroom is no different! You can add character and beauty to a home in many ways just by following a few inexpensive changes.

First off, you must decide on a bedroom theme. Is it a victorian, modern, southwest, traditional or safari style that would suit your personality? Look in magazines, books or the internet to get a flavor of the accessories you would like to see in your home. Purchase accessories that go with the theme and color of your bedroom. Color choices should compliment the main color in the room.

Sometimes you might find that you already have all the accessories that you need but you just need to display them differently. It is recommended to group your accessories in odd numbers rather than even numbers. Different heights and textures are also attractive. For example, a night side table can have a lamp, picture frame and small pot of flowers as a grouping.

Hanging prints or pictures in your bedroom is a great way to make boring walls come to life. But most people don’t know how to properly hang wall art. Often times, pictures and artwork are hung too high on the wall giving it an awkward appearance. The rule of thumb is the picture should be hung so that the middle of the picture is at eye level. Art work should be placed no more than five to eight inches above the sofa or seven to ten inches above a table. Try to align pictures in different geometric shapes (vertical, circular, triangular or rectangular groupings) in various sizes for a different effect.

In the bedroom, night tables and bookcases are often found to be too cluttered and full of small knickknacks. Try to vary the size of the shelves vertically for interest. Vary the heights of books with the tallest in the middle. Don’t put small books next to tall books. Take off dust covers from books to show their often rich colors. The upper shelves can be used for candles, family pictures, fancy bowls or larger ornaments in odd number groupings of 1, 3 or 5 pieces. You can also mix and match books with ornaments, but make the books the focal point. Don’t leave a gap between the ceiling and the top of the bookcase. Place a plant on the top shelf for balance.

Lighting is key in the bedroom. You want to be able to set different moods. You might want subtle lighting for those romantic times, then you will also want bright lighting for getting ready to go to work. Accent a large picture with a spot light to enhance a focal point in a room. Lighting creates ambiance and should coordinate with the theme you want to create. Get creative with an old lamp by adding tassels, beads or decorative finials. Use faux paint or wrap funky fabric around the base to give it a new lift.

Area rugs can define a space and pull a bedroom together. Place furniture completely on the rug for a warmer effect. Area rugs used under a dining room table should be large enough to also accommodate the chairs when fully pulled out.

Use many pillows on the bed as this can add a splash of color in a bedroom. Vary the colors and patterns of the pillows and graduate the sizes from large to small. Pillows are also great on a sofa and will add tremendous character to a dull living room.

Mirrors are great to expand a smaller space. Try leaning a tall mirror behind a bed as a head board for a dramatic look! These mirrors can be five to six feet tall. It has an amazing effect!

You can give your master bedroom attached bath a spa appeal by placing clear glass bowls filled with colored soaps, bath salts or bubble bath beads on the bathroom counter. Candles are also nice on a bathtub. Low lighting with lit candles will sooth all your troubles away!

Have fun trying out new things. Shop around for different accessories for your bedroom. Try antique stores, consignment shops or flea markets for ideas. There are many craft books available that you can also explore. First impressions are lasting. Do not mix beautiful furniture with cheap accessories. Accessories can make or break the ambiance of your home. Be creative and trust your instincts!

Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs and Decorations where you can learn more about bedroom decorating.

If you think that just because you have children and pets that you cannot decorate your kitchen and dining area then think again! New materials and furniture make elegant kitchen living possible and practical.

Durable Materials

Yes, choosing the right material can make all the difference when furnishing a kitchen or family dining area.

Have you always loved leather? Well it’s not only great for minor spills that are quickly wiped off, it also wears well, even gaining a beautiful patina with time and use. Leather does not collect pet hair as a cloth couch or chair would, and crumbs and dirt will wipe off easily.

Perhaps you prefer fabric upholstery on your dining chairs? Think of luxurious Ultrasuede. Sophisticated enough for even the most formal rooms, it’s looks belie the easy care of the material. You won’t deal with fading or staining the way you are accustomed to with cotton, and many stains will come off quite easily with a damp cloth.

Do you have real ruffians running around? You can always count on slipcovers if you need to. Many decorators have used white or cream slipcovers to good effect, although you may consider a stripe or other pattern to disguise everyday wear. And because you can clean them thoroughly by removing them you do not have to be too concerned about occasional messes. Slipcovers also work well on fancy dining room chairs and can be removed for adult-only dinner parties. On the other hand, try to stay away from delicate materials like silks or velvets which stain easily and are difficult to clean.

Kid Proof Furniture

If you have small children you may also consider choosing soft furnishings, like ottomans, to replace hazards such as hard edged tables.

Area rugs can be great for keeping light colored carpets in good shape, but be certain they rest flat so children are not prone to trip over them. Selecting heavy rugs or using a special padding underneath to reduce movement would be especially recommended when using rugs on hard, slippery surfaces.

When choosing wood furnishings, light or dark, be sure it has a protective clear coat so that marks and spills do not ruin the finish.

A Space For Kids

Would your children really mind an ‘adult’ space in the kitchen? If you make most of the home child-friendly, then it is not outside of reason to create one area specifically for adult entertaining or relaxing. Giving children a small area within the adult room where they can read books or sit at a small table for quiet games will teach them to respect and take care of nice things. This, along with making reasonable choices for the rest of the home, allows all in the family to enjoy their surroundings and each other.

Lee Dobbins writes for A Kitchen Decorating Idea Guide where you can find hundreds of articles on kitchen decorating.

People spend large sums of money to improve their homes, some even taking out expensive home equity and refinancing loans. While it’s true that putting in new floors or cabinets can cost a bundle, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your home for much less. There are 3 key areas to focus on where small improvements will make the most difference – the foyer, bathrooms and kitchen. These projects below cost under $100.00 to do and just one of the projects below can make a huge difference, but why not do all 3?

Foyer

It’s true that you only get one chance to make a first impression and the first impression people get of your home is your foyer. Has your welcome mat lost its welcome appeal? It’s time to spice up your entrance so what you hear are "oohs" and "ahhs" when people cross your threshold. If you have a spacious porch, a potted plant in a metal planter can create a pleasant atmosphere. Contemporary planters are about $10.

If you’re really adventurous, a coat of brightly-colored paint on your front door can create a splash. If you take on this challenge, it’s a good idea to make sure that the paint complements your home. For example, if your home is mostly red brick, a red door would make a dynamic look. A gallon of interior/exterior gloss enamel in red or any other bright color will set you back no more than $20.

Kitchen

When you look in your kitchen, what catches your eye first? Probably all those nifty cabinets that discreetly tuck away your dishes, right? After a number of years you might crave a different look. For starters, you might want to give them a good cleaning. This one step alone can make a difference. You would be surprised the amount of dust and grease that can accumulate on cabinets. Depending on the material that your cabinets are made of, simply removing the cabinets from their hinges and wiping them down with the damp cloth is sufficient. There are chemicals on the market, but you need to make sure that the chemicals are made for your cabinet material.

Once your cabinets are shining again, you can then add or replace knobs. Knobs range from simple unfinished versions that cost as little as $.50 to decorative insert pulls that costs around $3. With the average kitchen containing about 12 cabinets, your cost won’t go over $36.

Bathroom

Guest bathrooms are usually confined to a small space. Why not give this room a lift? You undoubtedly have a nice set of guest towels and matching accessories. These items are not necessarily cheap so unless you want to go over your $100 spending limit, you can leave those items as they are. What you can add are wallpaper trim, artwork, and color. There are numerous styles of wallpaper trim that you can choose a new look for your bathroom. You can go as conservative and as creative as you want. To complement the wallpaper trim, you can add artwork. You don’t have to go out and purchase expensive artwork. You can use your imagination to come up with some ideas. For example, a few seashells, colorful fabric, and an empty picture frame are all you need to become your own favorite artist.

If you have any leftover paint from your door, you can use this to paint a wall in your bathroom, as long as the color doesn’t clash with the other elements of your bathroom.

Lee Dobbins writes for A Kitchen Decorating Idea Guide where you can find hundreds of articles on frugal kitchen decorating.

When you think of decorating a kitchen, you probably picture expensive cabinets or counter tops but making a big change doesn’t have to include a major overhaul. One simple and inexpensive way to change the look in your kitchen is to change or add to what you have on the kitchen walls. Making changes this way gives you great flexibility as if you don’t like what you see you can always move it around or reverse the look all together.

What is the first thing you notice when you walk into someone’s home? The walls, right? Walls enclose the home, giving a thematic impression. So, if your walls are empty you’ve got to get to work to populate them. Wall hangings can be expensive, but that’s only if you purchase something by a famous dead artist. You can create your own artwork without any art instruction whatsoever. First, you have to consider your theme. If you have a country kitchen theme then you will want country style artwork. A modern kitchen theme will look best with prints in sleek frames. A retro look? Then get some vintage style prints of old signs or baking products.

Do you have hundreds of pictures and just don’t know what to do with them? If the idea of a personalized kitchen picture wall appeals to you, you could arrange the photos into a huge wall photo collage. Examples include pictures of exotic places, weddings, and children growing up. Although you will have more fun creating your collage yourself, there are companies that will take care of this for you. The cost ranges from about $50 for an 8×10 to $150 for a 20×24 wall collage.

If your kitchen has an outdoorsy, café or nature feel, you might want to consider pressing leaves or flowers and framing your work; the best of these are flat. You basically place the leaves or flowers in a book to allow them to dry flat. They are ready for your wall hanging when they become crisp. This shouldn’t take longer than a week or two. After the items are pressed, you will just need to mount the artwork and hang it on your wall.

When you decorate your kitchen with artwork you are only limited by your imagination. Don’t be afraid to experiment. As mentioned previously, artwork is easily reversible. So, be imaginative and creative and design your artwork.

Lee Dobbins writes for A Kitchen Decorating Idea Guide where you can find hundreds of articles on frugal kitchen decorating.

What features compel us to decide upon a particular decorating style? The process begins with what we want our home to feel like and what we want out of the environment, in which we spend our quality time. Being with our families, enjoying time with friends, sitting in a cozy chair with a great book and favorite drink - these are the things we think of when imagining our time at home. If you ask anyone what words best describe country decorating, they would say warm and cozy. Having family and friends feel welcome and relaxed when visiting is important. Visitors don’t want to feel like they can’t sit on the sofa or kick off their shoes. The country decorating style, in its simplistic, yet beautiful appearance, achieves this objective.

Country decorating fills your home with charm and personality, while creating a warm and cozy environment for your family and friends. In the fast-paced world we live in, having a home that is reminiscent of a simpler time is a comforting feeling.

Absolutely, homes can be filled with the most expensive furniture and accessories, and still not feel warm, cozy and inviting. There is more to country decorating than expensive items. For instance, crafts, which are prevalent in country decorating, are fairly inexpensive to make or buy. However, they add a personal touch, and their homemade qualities have an appeal that cannot be denied. Accessories and accent pieces is a feature that bring personality to your home. A room without a personal touch feels cold and not welcoming, even if it is beautifully furnished.

The wall color choices for your home are important in establishing a cozy atmosphere. Use rich, warm country colors. Reds, blues, and greens are a few choices that might be considered. Wallpaper in country patterns and themes, wainscoting and beadboard are wonderful wallcovering options that add texture and interest.

There are several variations to country decorating, such as, primitive, folk, rustic/lodge/cabin, and Americana. They all have their own style, but can easily be used in conjunction with each other from one room to another. You can have an Americana decorated bathroom and a lodge style familyroom, for example. It can certainly be difficult to choose just one country decorating style, so rest assured, you can certainly incorporate more than one throughout your home.

Primitive - rough, old, unfinished look

Folk - crafty look, country decorations, sheep, angels, cows, Amish style

Rustic/Lodge/Cabin - all three terms are used for this wildlife style decorating, bears, moose, deer, hunting, metal, wood, log furniture, pinecones, outdoor appeal

Americana - patriotic decor, American flag, stars and stripes, red, white, and blue accessories

Enjoy decorating your home. Keep in mind the idea of a peaceful, warm and relaxing setting that you, your family, and friends will always treasure.

copyright 2005 - Karen Cundiff - www.my-country-home.com

Karen Cundiff is the owner of http://www.my-country-home.com Visit this website for country decorating ideas, resources, and get delicious recipes for entertaining family and friends in your country home.

Please feel free to post this article exactly as it is seen here, including the author’s name and copyright.

Today more and more consumers are looking for effective methods and ideas on how to redecorate their bathrooms. One of the best ways is to start the process is to plan ahead and figure out what sort of look or feel that you might want to demonstrate. Often a good plan starts with looking thru some samples and magazines so you can figure out the style, patterns or fixtures that you are planning to have.

Quite often when doing some bathroom decorating you often want to explore the options of beautiful bathroom vanities. Often bathroom vanity cabinets are used to storage purposes where you can hold your best household personal care items. One consideration that comes to mind is the size of your current bathroom. Designs for smaller bathrooms have often been a concern as there is limitation of space and options available in the marketplace. If you have room to enlarge it with the features that you want- that would definitely be a bonus.

A very common element of the redecorating is the current flooring. If you have carpet, perhaps you would like to add some nice tile or marble as an alternative. Ceramic tiles increase the longevity of the bathroom with adding good support. Quite often you can achieve a polished and sharp appearance with this item. The most used part however of this room is the sink.

A bathroom sink places a big role in your decision making process. The choice is massive for you here. You can get creative with wall mount sinks or even under mount designs. It really depends on the look that you want. Perhaps you are seeking a stylish, modern look or something that is functional. It sure looks amazing when you have a nice mirror and lighting in that room. Just let your creativity do the work for you.

Bathroom decorating- Where Alan Zunec is a regular author and contributor on bathroom decorating tips.

It’s the accent pieces, the finishing touches, the small but significant items that give a home personality. When you’re decorating a new home from scratch, these things are often overlooked in favor of the major decisions about flooring, wall coverings and large furniture such as beds and sofas.

These little decorative items are what make a room comfortable and welcoming. Toss one or two beaded pillows on your bed or couch, and see how inviting it becomes. Brighten up your kitchen with some ceramic gourmet pigs on the counters, and it will become the place where everyone gathers. Envelop your living room in the grace of candlelight and watch everyone relax in its glow. You don’t have to spend an enormous amount of money to create an inviting atomosphere.

Use Greenery to Give your Room Life
Plants and flowers are among the best ways to make a room hospitable. Use a wide variety of planters, urns and plant stands to suit your decorating scheme that are made from alabastrite, which is an inexpensive material. Select your plants and containers to complement the room, not clash with it. Bright colors are excellent for the kitchen, but pastels might be more restful in the bedroom.

Don’t forget about the outdoor areas as a lead to your interior decorating. Matching lions statues at the end of the driveway give a regal touch to your entrance. Or you may prefer something more whimsical, such as loving frogs on a bench sculpture, to liven up your patio or door entrance. For a romantic atmosphere, choose a Victorian style cherub, or hang candle lanterns in the branches of nearby trees. Inside and out, let your home reflect your own gracious welcome.

Visit your on-line resource for home decor accents at affordable prices.

When decorating baby rooms and children spaces there are many considerations to take into account to satisfy your need to create the "WOW" factor. There are color choices to be made, paint techniques and finishes to be decided on, the needs of the room have to be identified, safety issues addressed, window treatments selected. Of course creating a room that your child and others love is also high on your list of priorities. All of this has to be accomplished within a set budget.

One question I hear being debated frequently is, "Should I use Primary colors or Pastel colors for my baby room/child space?". Much information is available on the ability of Primary colors to stimulate cognitive processing and development. Babies can perceive bright, primary colors long before they can focus on pastel colors. That’s a fact. Parents want to provide a stimulating environment for their children. That’s also a fact. It’s part of the ‘morphing’ process that takes place within you when your child is born - you change from a somewhat egotistical individual to being totally self-sacrificing for the needs of your child - it goes with the territory of being a parent.

So instead of visualizing powder blue, or misty pink, you think about Magenta, or Tangy Tangerine or Aegean Blue. You tell yourself that even though the rest of your home is finished in Barely Beige, it’s not as if it’ll be the first room you see when you enter the house, and you can always paint it over if you really don’t like it. If it’s best for your baby or child you’ll talk yourself into anything!

Then you talk to other Moms, read some parenting magazines and chat to your friend who works in Childcare. You hear about "fussy" babies, who have trouble settling to sleep, who seem to cry all the time and grow into toddlers who need to be constantly entertained. You hear the words "over-stimulated" and you gasp! Once again you’re visualizing Powder Blue and Misty Pink as your preferred color choice for your baby room or child space.

You’ve experienced your first taste of conflicting advice on parenting outcomes and providing the best environment for your child. It’s seems whichever way you choose - Primary color or Pastel color - it appears your child may be disadvantaged.

Don’t despair, there’s a simple decorating technique used by professionals that offers a solution to your dilemma. Your baby room should contain 3 distinct spaces or areas:- a sleep area; a work area; and a play area. In the initial planning stages of your decorating project for your baby/childs room, draw the room layout on some grid paper, marking in windows, doors and closets. Next, mark in the proposed sleep area, work area and play area.

A sleep area will contain a crib or bed, a bedside table, perhaps a lamp. It is an area designed for sleep, relaxation, dreams and rejuvinating the body and mind. It should inspire a feeling of comfort and security for your child. Sleep areas are well-suited to the soothing effect of Pastel colors.

A work area will initially contain a diaper change space, diaper bucket, drawers or cupboards for clothing, storage for infant-care products, and a feeding chair which will evolve with your baby’s growth into a toddler to becoming an area where your child can develop their fine-motor skills e.g. by drawing, painting, manipulating playdoh or construction. Your feeding chair becomes a story sharing place for you and your child, a place to build magic and imagination. Work areas need to be fully washable and easy to maintain - this is the area of the room that will suffer the most "accidents"; from baby vomit, to spilled paint, to playdoh squished into the floor. Using Neutral colors in your work area, highlighted with accessories using 2 or 3 colors from the rest of the room allows you to easily identify and attend to any "spillage" accidents that may occur here.

A play area for an infant may simply be an area where you keep cuddle toys, hang mobiles and shelve books. As your baby grows into a toddler this area of their room can become the most- used high-traffic area in your home. Your child will be playing with blocks, a dollhouse, making "cubby" spaces, playing pirates or cowboys or schools in this area. Your toddler will use their hands on the walls to aid their physical stability as they play, and toys will be constantly bumped into walls as their gross motor skills develop fine tuning, so keep durability in mind when choosing a finish for the walls here. The best Play areas are inviting and stimulating, and provoke excitement and imagination. Play areas are well-suited to the invigorating effects of Primary colors.

By identifying the 3 distinct needs of your child’s room - sleep, work, play - and decorating appropriately, you’ll be giving your child the "best of both worlds" without having to choose.

Decorating and best-practice parenting choices just became a whole lot easier!

www.baby-room-projects.com

Nell Frances is author of the Step-by-Step Guide to Baby Room Projects Ebook and brings over 20 years decorating experience to her articles. She’s helped families decorate using miniscule budgets and zany ideas, to create baby rooms and child spaces that echo with squeals of delight! For all your Baby Room Decorating information and advice visit http://www.baby-room-projects.com