Both choices have their appeal. This room is not afraid of its shadows, and the design takes full advantage of them. Color is minimized and lines draw the eye.

There are two important secrets to why this room works so well with only natural light. One is the large window covering most of one wall. This gives plenty of opportunity for light to reach into the room as well as providing a view better than any art that could cover a wall.

The flooring provides the second reason. You know this wood is dark as dark – possibly even an ebony, yet the window’s reflection on the glossy surface brings the light well into the room.

Without the flooring, you would lose the silhouette effect of the furniture, and the unusual lines of pieces such as the curved chair by the zebra-patterned rug would be lost in the darkness. Look at how the chair and sofa show reflections against the floor. These help define the space as shadows help define light.

Color has a minimal effect in this room. We are unable to distinguish color without light, and there is not much light here. The only visible element of color appears on the sofa’s arm where a couple of orange stripes could be a throw or some sort of pattern. This room doesn’t need color. There’s enough interest in the light, shadow and lines.

Are your shadows interesting? Do they add personality and a special flavor to your home? Think about it.

To make this plan a success, plan everything ahead of time so you don’t have to work on anything but spending time with your guests. Choose finger foods that require no last-minute prep and avoid the oven and stove top. Instead, have cool foods you can pull out of the refrigerator already plated, or smaller appetizers that will fit in your toaster oven.

Decorating is easy in a kitchen. Use napkins, placemats and small tablecloths to add color and personality, and serve the food on your countertops. Choose colors and textures that complement the look of your kitchen. With neutral cabinets and countertops like the kitchen in this photo, bright colors and accessories will add splash. Choose earth tones if your kitchen is darker and more neutral. Place fresh flowers or pots of herbs around the counters to add charm.

If you have a snack bar or an eat-in kitchen, set those up for people to take a break. If not, how about adding a small area rug in one corner and bringing in a few chairs from your dining room? Remember you don’t have to use any of your cabinets or large appliances, so you can place a seating area in front of almost anything in your kitchen.

Like the people in this kitchen, having fun is not about going fancy. Even a few snacks and laughter can make a get-together special.

As you’re determining where you can fit a home office, take a look at your formal dining room. If you have an alternate eating area such as an in-kitchen table, how often do you really use that room? With a few additions, you can set up a working home office that is easy to disassemble when you want to entertain.

To start, you may just need a laptop and wireless Internet access. If your filing needs are limited, look for a rolling file cart at a nearby office store. They’re inexpensive and often have an additional shelf for holding papers.

Every discount store has containers designed to hold office supplies and additional papers. If you need more space, see if you can repurpose a drawer or cabinet in your buffet to handle office supplies.

Most dining room lighting is not designed for work. Consider picking up a floor lamp to provide additional work light as needed. As you use the space more, you will know what you need to make it work for you.

At some point you may realize that it’s time for a real office chair with wheels. If this happens, be sure to protect your dining room flooring. Wood floors and an area rug such as the one in the photo won’t do well with the wear of those wheels. An inexpensive thin rug or floor protector will solve this concern.

When you’re ready to use your dining room for its original purpose, simply gather your office together and temporarily move it to another room. If you remember to keep things simple, in about a half hour you can have a regular dining room again.

One unique thing about these types of area rugs for the children’s playroom is they won’t easily ruin. Since there are several rug types appropriate for the way your children live and play, the first step towards choosing the best rug is to learn about the materials used to make them. Bear in mind that the rug should be one that is easily cleaned and can also withstand high traffic.

What are some of the materials that will suit this purpose? Seagrass, wool, mountain grass and sisal are known to be fire retardant, stain resistant and stand up well to high traffic which makes them highly suitable materials for use in the playroom. Rugs made from wool are known to be hypoallergenic and also repel bacteria and odors that may occur from spills. It is also easily cleaned. For the sisal, seagrass and mountain grass made rugs; they can always stand the test of time even as they are easily maintained.
The best part of it is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to buy these rugs. There are many choices of children’s rugs available in a range of prices, sizes and colors. Give the children something to enjoy for a long time to come – a quality children’s rug for the playroom.

First, ensure that the design outside is in balance with the inside of the property. For example, if the décor inside your house is that of Victorian style, designing your outdoor patio with modern style of décor will surely be out of place and in no time, you may no longer find pleasure in relaxing there. This doesn’t mean that your patio must look exactly like the interior of your house, but it would be wise to make them somewhat similar so that the interior of the house and the patio will naturally flow together.

Secondly, when decorating an outdoor patio, regardless of whether your patio is wide or very small, ensure that you design the patio within its confines and not what you dream to have. Is your patio smaller than your neighbor’s? It doesn’t matter, what matters here is decorating it in a way that it will be transformed into a fun and practical space for your family to reconnect in. The size or shape does not really make much difference; you can achieve the best results with your décor by using the best and high quality materials you can afford.

Are you ready to take a few chances with your home’s décor? You can take an important step in that direction by making a daring flooring choice.

This wood can work with both modern and traditional tastes, and it will bring personality into your home. The variety in color and tone are emphasized by the different plank lengths. This floor will register with anyone walking into the room.

With this flooring, you want to make sure your furniture choices add personality without clashing with the floor’s style. The dining table, chairs, and buffet let the floor stand up but they don’t play a secondary position. By choosing dark ebony furniture, it grabs the darkest shades in the floor and brings them into the forefront. At the same time, the red chair cushions draw that hue from the floor and help to integrate the space.

The off-white walls and baseboards keep the boundaries of the room in the background. If you wanted to pull that wall forward, an ebony wood blind on the window and rich red drapes that touch the floor would suit the mood and style of this dining room. However, given the open design of the space, coordinating window coverings across every functional area may limit your choices.

Whatever your style or taste, think about letting your floor take center stage in at least one room in your home. When you start with a dramatic choice like this flooring, it’s fun and exciting to run with your daring side to create an adventurous and inviting space.

HARDWOOD. Hardwood naturally reflects light so it gives your condo a more open feel. Since many condos have limited space, using a light colored hardwood floor can make your space appear larger.

Hardwood can be expensive as compared to other flooring options but if you are planning to sell your condo, this is the perfect choice for flooring as it will give your condo an added value and will really catch the eye of potential buyers.

If you are also planning to stay longer in your condo, hardwood floors will last you a lifetime, as it is durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic.

LAMINATE. If you have a limited budget but would still want the look of hardwood floors, then go with laminate. Laminate mimics the look of hardwood, which reflects light, also giving your rooms a larger, brighter feel.

TILES. For areas in your condo where hardwood and laminate is not ideal because of exposure to water and moisture, then tiles are the perfect choice. Tiles can be installed in bathrooms, kitchen and in hallways.

CARPET. Layering your floors can add versatility and will complement your flooring choice and installing carpet, which comes in a variety of color, pattern and design, can serve this purpose.

Carpets are also the best choice for rooms like the bedroom as it gives a feeling of warmth and coziness to a room.

So whether you are buying, selling or is just renovating your condo, the flooring options mentioned above can help you decide which flooring is best for your space.

The pale gray and white are typical of Scandinavian design. Blonde wood, wheat and blue accents keep the palette light but add layers of tonal colors.  Gray walls mimic the sea, visible through the multiple windows. White painted floors open up the room and reflect the natural light. White painted floors are also typical of Scandinavian design.  The blond wood of a built-in bench, which extends the length of the far wall, also keeps the room feeling light and airy. The blonde wood color is carried through to the wheat colored furniture. Blonde ash and beech woods are often used in Scandinavian contemporary furniture.  The seating arrangement is intimate; there is room for additional seating in the large room.

Textiles continue the pale, beach inspired colorway.  The blue, cream and wheat area rug recalls a nautical map while tying together the room’s palette. The gray knitted pouf is a hot accessory right now. Contemporary lighting, painted white like the ceiling, blends rather than stands out in the room.

The lattice pattern on the side chairs is unexpected in this traditional living room. The modern feeling pattern works in the space because it ties in with the rug.  Dark piping highlights the clean lines of the chairs. Placing the chairs close together allows for intimate conversation.

The largest upholstered piece, the sofa, is done in a solid green that feels more neutral.  Solid upholstery is a good choice on investment pieces, like sofas.  Of course, a custom slipcover could be made to cover patterned upholstery for the summer or winter, or as your taste changes. Throws and accent pillows add richer pops of colors to add depth to the palette.

Additional patterns can be seen on the loveseat in the foreground. This floral pulls from the colors of the rug but adds a feminine touch to the décor. The dark wood of the loveseat’s frame and the coffee table is grounding in a room full of color.  Simple accents on the table keep the colorful space from feeling too busy and cluttered.

Choose one that carries decorator fabric. These heavier fabrics are used for upholstery, bed covers, curtains and throw pillows.

Begin by wandering around and getting a feel for the choices. Most decorator fabric stores have their merchandise sorted by color and fabric type. For example, this man is looking at a selection of microfibers – a fabric that holds up well under tough use.

See if you’re drawn to solids or prints, geometrics or florals, blues and white or soft brown and gold. Once you’ve spent time looking at your choices, narrow down your preferences to two or three. Buy a half-yard of your favorites – or a quarter-yard if you chose a pricey option. Then take them home, drape them on a chair or set on a table and live with them for a week.

Does one draw your eye? Do you find you’re getting tired of another? Over the week, you will probably find that one rises to the surface of your attention. If it’s a solid, you have your room’s primary color. If it’s a print, look for the strongest hue in the fabric, but pull the other colors in as accents or accessories.

Now, take your fabric swatch to our flooring showroom and explore your flooring choices. You may find carpeting, for example, with the same blend of hues. If not, look for wood or tile flooring that will work well with your fabric. You’re well on your way to creating a new look with an exciting color palette in your home.