What is the first thing you notice about this room scene? Red, right! Red is a bold color that tends to stand out whether in interior design, an accessory to an outfit, or as a car color driving by on the street.  It reminds us of the power of red as a color in decorating.  Red is a great color for the home and can be used as a wall or accent color.

A few years ago red dining rooms were all the rage. This could have stemmed from the study that showed red increases our appetite. Today we are seeing fewer red dining rooms but not less red in interiors.

Red is a powerful color when used in its pure form. Power suits and ties are often red because of the strength of this color.  Having a red wall or red carpet makes a very strong design statement in a room.  For this reason many people prefer to use red as an accent color. Red today is often used as an accent color on area rugs and pillows.

The variation of red hues can run from plums to tomato reds, which allow red to be used in a wide variety of color palette. Terracotta red tile floors are great in the kitchen while deep plum is a cozy color for the walls in a master bedroom.  Red and grey is also a great color combination for the living room.

Reds work with neutrals like grey, other warm colors like orange, or contrast with cool colors like aqua.  Adding a pop of red to your counter top or sofa will bring energy to your room.

Green as a color or green as an environmental movement can be a powerful addition to a space. Green color can be introduced through paint and fabrics, rugs and accessories in both color and environmental friendliness.  A simple way to be green in both senses is to have house plants in your home.

Not only do houseplants add a pop of green color to a room, they can also clean the air.  Great for a room like a nursery or home office where you spend a lot of time. Variations of house plants do a better job than others cleaning the air, so do your research or ask at your local garden center.

A hot trend in decorating right now is terrariums. If you hear the word terrarium and think of a school project, think again. Today’s terrariums are stylish and chic. What they do have in common with the old school terrariums of your childhood is that they are a great DIY project. Almost any glass vessel, from a mason jar to a fishbowl, can be turned into a terrarium. This is a great project to do with your kids.  It is a nice way to introduce them to growing plants, which could lead to an interest in a kitchen garden.

Terrariums are great decoration for a shelf, table or even the kitchen window sill. Check online for tips and tricks to designing and maintaining a chic and stylish terrarium. House plants and terrariums are a great way to go green in your home.

If your bedroom is feeling a little bland, you can easily spice things up if you have a good foundation.  A suite of bedroom furniture that provides a bed, nightstands and a dresser makes for good design bones for a bedroom. However, all the matching furniture and finishes need to be livened up with accessories and additional furnishings to create a lively and interesting bedroom.

This bedroom is a great example of having good bones.  The cream colored bedroom suite is a nice way to begin to decorate the bedroom.  The neutral cream color allows you to go in any direction with wall, floor and accent colors.  You could stick with the neutrals and layer in deeper neutrals like grey on the walls, pillows or duvet. An area rug could be used to add color, texture and pattern, and still show off the beautiful wood floors.

Color can be applied on the walls and windows as well.  Paint is a quick and inexpensive way to bring color into a room. Curtains can also be used to add color and pattern to the space.  Smaller pops of color could be done in accent pillows, a colorful lampshade, or a lampshade trimmed with bright ribbon. Swapping out the lamp for a colorful one is another idea.

If you prefer neutral walls, add color to the walls with artwork or a hanging.  You could frame a collection of family photos—great for a bedroom. Paintings and prints are other ways to bring color onto the walls without painting the wall.

The popular fairy tale The Princess and The Pea tells the story of a very particular princess. Any parent of a little girl knows that their own little princess can be just as particular when it comes to her clothes, toys and room.

Designing a bedroom fit for a particular princess can be a challenge. It is important that your girl knows her opinions are being heard and considered while you the parents get the final say in the design of the room. Working together is the best way to achieve a design you are both pleased with in the end.

Choosing classic designs and materials will mean your room will endure the changing tastes and styles as your princess grows up. While your teenager may not like the same designs and colors as your toddler, there are some design elements that can please both. Good quality flooring is one of them.

Selecting a neutral floor for your girl’s room means finding something durable as well as classic to suit changing tastes. Neutral carpet that can go with various wall and linen colors is a good choice. Hardwood floors and soft area rugs are another. The hardwood will last over the years while the area rugs can be changed with changing tastes.

Classic floral wallpaper that isn’t too trendy or thematic is another design element that can outlast the latest fad. Select a wallpaper that works with your flooring for a polished design perfect for a little or big princess. A great solution is painting the walls a color she picks out and then adding wall decals that are easy to put up and take down if she decides to change her mind.

If you are lucky to have a designated room as your home office, there are some key design elements you’ll want to include in the room: a work surface; comfortable chair; task lighting; and storage. These four elements form the very basic elements of a home office. Once you have these in place you can begin to personalize the space with color, pattern and decorative accessories like art.

A home office work surface can be a classic desk with fire drawers in the base. Or it can be a vintage table that you’ve refinished. Determine what kind of work you’ll be doing and how much desk space you’ll need.

The desk chair you choose doesn’t have to be a standard office style chair but it should offer good support for your back.  Test out several styles of chairs to see what will work for your back and your design style. Take into consideration what type of flooring you have in the home office. If you want a chair that rolls you may need a hard mat to protect carpeting and rugs.

Task lighting is important for a workspace. Beyond the overhead lighting in the room, you’ll want something to illuminate the work surface. Table lamps and adjustable desk lamps are good choices.

Finally storage is key for an organized home office. You don’t need to buy standard filing cabinets but you will want a place for files. Look for filing cabinets that look more like furniture. Baskets and decorative boxes on shelves can store important files.

Details are what make a professionally designed room stand out. Interior designers and decorators know that designing and decorating a space is more than just arranging lighting and furniture, selecting wall colors, choosing flooring and buying accents.  Design is in the details. Small touches that might be overlooked at first glance are the things that make good design great design.

One design detail that many people probably overlook is stitching. Decorative stitching, as opposed to the stitching that holds a piece together, can add an extra bit of flair. Decorative stitching can be something like quilting or a blanket stitch on the edge of a throw or rug. As seen in this picture, detailed stitching can be done on leather as well as fabrics.

For leather or suede furnishings, decorative stitching is a common design element. The stitching can be done in a white or contrasting thread so it stands out. Just like quilting where the thread can blend or become a decorative element on its own, decorative stitching on leather can be subtle or bold. Stitching can be purely decorative or as part of the construction of the piece. Seams can be highlighted with contrasting thread for a decorative look.

Pillows and other soft goods can be embellished with embroidery as well as quilting. Embroidery can be done in geometric, abstract and representative patterns—the possibilities are endless.

Next time you are purchasing a rug, piece of furniture or decorative accessory pay attention to the details like stitching.