Brighten Up Your Room

If you're thinking of doing a little decorating around the house and need a few good starting tips, you've come to the right place. And know that you are not the only one suddenly falling victim to the "freshen up for the summer" routine. Summer, in fact, is when most of us socialize more - it's when we get our vacations, have friends over on weekends for a barbecue and a little poolside fun and generally feel the need to give our living quarters a makeover. The thing is, you don't have to spend a huge amount of money in order to achieve that, so here are some small suggestions that, if handled properly, will help you go a long way.

The holy trinity of smart decorating - especially if we're dealing with small spaces - is light, light and light again. As far as colors go, irrespective of the amount of space you have at your disposal, never paint it pure white, as it will only make it give off a distinct air of dinginess. Use reflective, sparkly fabrics and wallpapers to draw the light in, and aim for at least three sources of light in every room, even if it's a small one. Smaller, fuzzier sources of light create a cozy, warm feeling - so go for a floor lamp and two table lamps. Set them so as to avoid creating any dark corners.

If you want to go for a more refined look and you are thinking of adding wallpaper or replacing the old one with a new shade and pattern, think outside the box and go for upholstering. The price is not much higher and the soft, matte walls will yield a feeling of homeliness and comfort. Play on the strengths of your room - for example, if the ceiling is high, compliment it with tall curtains in deep, rich colors such as dark red.

Aim to minimize the amount of clutter created by the everyday users of the room - designate a special wardrobe shelf or a drawer for the children's toys or your magazine collection, for example. Don't leave things lying around, as this creates an impression of messiness and neglect. Finally, make sure you have at least one vase with fresh flowers in every room - if it's an antique, so much the better. It will help create a pleasant atmosphere and set the trend for the entire room. Good luck!