subject: Decorating Your Great Big Roomy California Home [print this page] Modern California homes are indicative of sprawling lawns and spacious interiors usually seen in the homes of the rich and the famous. Walk-in closets, jacuzzis, grand foyer and a picturesque garden are essentials of a California mansion.
A test of patience and creativity is in place when decorating a big or spacious house. You don't want to fill the rooms with too many furnishings but at the same time, you don't want the areas to look too sparse, further magnifying the already overwhelming space. In addition to choosing the right objects to create a warm and homely atmosphere, how you arrange these furnishings gives an impact on the over-all look of the place. Remember that big spaces don't exactly mean more objects. Less can be more and less can be good. Maximizing the space doesn't mean overloading with furnishings. Let's take a tour of the house and see how you can make the most of each room. Focus on quality rather than quantity (of furniture).
Let's kick off with the receiving area or the living room. The furnishings will look best if they are positioned away from the walls and cushioned by a large area rug, which is fitted just right to the size of the room. Thus, if you are decorating a larger than life living room, a bigger area rug is needed. A smaller size in room also means less measurement for the rug as well. A set of furniture, particularly the seating furnishings paired with an area rug will make the receiving spot more intimate. An area rug placed in the center of the room will make it cozier as well, especially one with a deeper, darker color.
Let's now proceed to another important part of the house, the kitchen. Kitchens in big houses mostly have plenty of cupboards ideal for organizing kitchen utensils. Modern design also includes built-in stoves, refrigerator and ovens, which makes for a more structured area for preparing meals. Glass or frosted cupboard paneling only looks nice if the stuff inside are actually well arranged. Otherwise, it's better to stick to wood paneling for concealing the riot of pans and pots inside.
For many big houses, there are formal and informal dining areas. The latter being commonly adjacent to the kitchen or sometimes in the kitchen itself. The formal dining room is ideal for special occasions and gatherings where the size and the furnishings can accommodate a group of guests. Area rugs suited for the huge size of the room and the sophisticated furniture will enhance the room's appeal even more. Rugs will also protect the floor from the coming and going of people from your frequent dinner parties.
Dining rooms can also be set aside exclusively for entertainment purposes. Breakfast nooks kitty corner to kitchen spaces are standard issue and often serve throughout the day for family meals. High quality furniture chosen for your dining room is used to best advantage for large family get-togethers and formal dinners. Highly polished parquet floor should be protected with an elegant, tightly woven, easily maintained area rug beneath the dining table. Area rugs also add another touch of elegance and color to any dining space.
Bedrooms are the domain of the inhabitants. Children can be given free rein to create their own decor as a reflection of their personalities (and often do irregardless). Wall to wall carpeting is the standard choice but smaller area rugs can be used on top to add interest. Small rugs also work well to break up a child's room into specific areas. Fore example, one area is for sleeping while another area is for studying or playing. Recreation rooms should have a highly durable indoor-outdoor type area rug beneath billiard tables or between sofa and entertainment center.
The vaulted ceilings and open spaces of the atria and foyer that are so often a part of modern California homes may be problematic in terms of tastefully accenting the space. A single large oriental design area rug carelessly arranged in the foyer and flanked by tall growing indoor palms or cascading vines may be all the decoration needed to create a welcoming entrance to your home.
