Making Furniture

The beginner needs to realize that the difference between an amateur-looking furniture and a professional job, though important, is very small.

How to Make Furniture...

Often it is merely a matter of a piece of moulding or a corner brace, or a little extra sanding of the end grain.

In making a simple bedside lampstand and book­case, for example, the tyro probably would be con­tent with finishing everything off flush, and running the sides down to form feet. The professional, on the other hand, would give the top a slight over­hang and form a simple thumb moulding on three edges.

He would certainly enclose the space below the bottom shelf, and perhaps cut the skirt into a decorative shape. This base would have the effect of giving four feet to the cabinet, and allow it to stand more firmly on the floor.

The difference between the two jobs therefore would not be one of extra skill on the part of the professional, but of a practical application of a knowledge of design and the way these things are usually done for the best results.

The closed-in base, as can readily be seen, is better from every stand­point. It shuts off a space that would collect dust yet be too low to permit of its being swept out. Thus for very little extra expenditure of labor and material a much more impressive and expensive-looking job results.

This principle can be extended to all kinds of furniture and cabinet-making jobs, including the selection of tools and the care they receive after they have been acquired. The professional gets the best tools he can afford, and buys at the same time

Continued....
From "How to Make Your Own Furniture"
By: Henry Lionel Williams

How to use Home Decor Accessories to Create a New Look in a Room
Claire Bowes
1e6f
Apart from complimenting your newly painted walls with soft furnishings
and effective flooring, home decor accessories in a room are just as
equally important. Accessories ranging from flowers in a contemporary
vase to art pictures hanging on your walls, all add the finishing touches
to any room. Above all, accessories add personality to a room, they
inject your own personal touch making your home unique to you and
comfortable and inviting for you and your family.

Decorating with Art Pictures

You will be surprised at the important role that art pictures play in
home decor accessories. Not only do pictures add your own personality
into the room, they absorb noise and can actually help change the
illusion of a rooms' shape if placed in the right places. For example:

· horizontal /www.landscape-pictures-n-posters.com/landscape-photography.htm target=_blank>http://www.landscape-pictures-n-posters.com/landscape-photography.htm>landscape pictures help widen a room;

· Portrait /www.flower-pictures-n-posters.com/flower-pictures.htm target=_blank>http://www.flower-pictures-n-posters.com/flower-pictures.htm>floral pictures help give the illusion of height; and

· one large picture reflected through a mirror gives the sensation
of additional broader space.

Creating Art Arrangements:-

For a maximum effect and to make interesting wall arrangements that
can become a dynamic focal point of the room, try to hang smaller
pictures in a cluster.

If you hang an even number of smaller prints tightly together in a
cluster, this will help balance out a large space and give a window
effect in a small space. Remember to hang the prints together tightly
to create one unit and one focal point.

For larger pictures, place them in proportion to the furniture.
For example, hang a large picture approximately six to nine inches
above a sofa or at eye level. By hanging a larger print too high
above any piece of furniture can leave both pieces feeling disconnected.

Tips Before Hanging Art:-

Before hanging any art on a wall, try different combinations of arrangements.
Use painter's tape and brown paper bags and keep
rearranging the bits of paper on the wall until you have come up with
a great picture arrangement.

Always hang prints at eye level and use your hand in between pictures
as a guide to space large and medium sized pictures.

Create Illusions with Mirrors

Mirrors are great to help create the illusion of space. By cleverly
placing mirrors on an adjacent wall to a picture or something that is
interesting in your room, will reflect the image and add a sense of
space.

For darker rooms, hang a decorative mirror near a window. The light
will then bounce off the mirror into the room portraying more natural
much-needed light back into the area.

To give the illusion of depth in a room paint one of your walls in a
darker contrasting color to your other walls. Then hang a mirror on
that darker wall. This instantly gives the additional sense of depth
to the dimensions of the room.

Lighten-up with Light Fixtures

Light fittings are one of the most important elements of home decor
accessories as they set the ambience of the room. By using different
types of lighting you can create different moods on different areas
of the room, at different times of the day.

For example:-

· accent lighting such as a spot light is used to emphasize wall
paintings, ornaments or other interesting areas in a room;

· soft lighting used by small wall light fittings or table lamps,
help create a gentle romantic mood;

· general lighting such as a ceiling center light, strip light or
bright wall lamps are used for everyday purposes.

Tip: use a dimmer switch to create different moods with your lighting.

Adding Color with Flowers & Plants

Fresh flowers are always a wonderful accessory in a home. They are
easy to blend in with any rooms accent and you can swap and change
the color, type of flower and position at any time. They are such an
easy and adaptable accessory to have. If you are allergic to flowers,
try silk flowers instead - sometimes it is hard to distinguish between
real flowers and silk ones...

By placing plants throughout your home helps add natural color, texture,
and also softens the area making it more appealing to spend time there.
Don't forget to use attractive plant pots and containers for your plants
- they are a home decor accessory too!

Area Rugs and Textiles

Area Rugs:-
Area rugs add warmth and texture to a room. They help soften wooden or
hard floors and add contrasting colors and patterns into the room.

First you must determine what you want the rug for - is it a focal
point? or do you want to group furniture on it? Secondly, you
must measure what size rug you need before you go shopping.

Other Textiles:-
By using other types of textile home decor accessories, you can create
additional comfort and softness in using:-

· scatter cushions made with different types of material;

· throws on your sofa or lounge chair;

· napkins, place mats and tablecloths in the dining room or kitchen.

Summary

Home decor accessories play a crucial part in your home decorating.
Even if you don't need to repaint your walls, you can still change the
look of your room. By rearranging furniture and wall pictures, adding
soft light fixtures, flower arrangements and plants, the placement of an
area rug and using different textiles in a room, all help create a new look
to reflect you and your personality.

About the Author

Claire Bowes is a freelance writer and the owner of /www.flower-pictures-n-posters.com target=_blank>http://www.flower-pictures-n-posters.com>Flower Pictures n Posters.com and
/www.landscape-pictures-n-posters.com target=_blank>http://www.landscape-pictures-n-posters.com>Landscape Pictures n Posters.com. Fine art prints, posters and photographic prints
for your wall designs.