subject: Charming Rooms [print this page] We've all been invited to homes that are absolutely charming. We've seen photos of architectural layouts and thought to ourselves, 'I could have done that'. Money is required for a lot of things, but it is not necessarily what is needed to create a charming ambiance.
Some of the ways to create a charming room are:
1. Lots of tall bookshelves:
Books are full of stories, and owning lots of them tells a bit about your story. It lets people know that you like to read, what you like to read and that you're a bit of a collector. You hold on to books like treasures and respect the memories they instil. Perhaps you are a great fan of adventure stories and Homer, Twain and Conan-Doyle, line your shelves. Or perhaps you are a collector of beautiful art books and have organised your shelves by publisher - Thames & Hudson, Phaidon and Black Dog. No matter whether your books are tall or short, old or new, thick or thin, bookshelves add an enormous amount of character to a room.
2. Antique basins:
Bathrooms are an ideal space to get a bit creative and adventurous in a home. People don't spend a lot of time in them, so if you get something a bit wrong, or the dcor doesn't match the rest of the house, it doesn't really matter. Between the wood, the piping, the tub, mirrors and colour there is a lot of choice when it comes to bathrooms. Stand alone antique basins, his and her sinks built into an old table, stained mirrors and lots of candles all add a lot of personality to a bathroom.
3. Wallpaper:
Hints of colour, interesting prints, fabric and paper all add charm to a room. Without taking up space they give a room a personality and reflect the personalities of the homeowners as well. Why not build a mosaic over your kitchen stove, or paint a wall of your bathroom in fusia? You can line your staircase with wallpaper and spruce up your plain couches with some colourful throws.
4. Decorative doors:
While no home has 'The Gates of Paradise' at its entrance it is very possible to build a door with a lot of character. It might be a matter of painting it a bright colour, lining it with bamboo blinds, or building in sliding doors as wide as the entire side of your home. You could even create a little house for your door by installing a canopy to sit above it.
Creating a charming space requires more thought and personality than it does cash. A lot of these things come from an eye for aesthetics and collecting special items over the years.
