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Choosing up the hardwood floor or the home decorating plan or idea that better fits in with Empire furniture can be a little bit difficult. There are some very good books of designs to base your decor idea. You can then get from them interesting complements and ornaments for all the corners of your house, of course based on the colonial style. One the most famous books at the date was the – Illustrated history of furniture, by Frederick Litchfield. You can read some tips from that book along the following paragraphs. We want to encourage the readers to follow its ideas because they can help you to find your own style.

Materials And Ornaments For Careful Finishes

On secretaries and tables, a common ornament of this description of furniture, is a column of mahogany, with a capital and base of bronze (either gilt, part gilt, or green), in the form of the head of a sphinx with the foot of an animal; console tables are supported by sphinxes and griffins; and candelabra and wall brackets for candles have winged figures of females, stiff in modeling and constrained in attitude, but almost invariably of good material with careful finish.

The bas-reliefs in metal which ornament the panels of the friezes of cabinets, or the marble bases of clocks, are either reproductions of mythological subjects from old Italian gems and seals, or represent the battles of the Emperor, in which Napoleon is portrayed as a Roman general. There was plenty of room to replace so much that had disappeared during the Revolution, and a vast quantity of decorative furniture was made during the few years which elapsed before the disaster of Waterloo caused the disappearance of a power which had been almost meteoric in its career.

What Books To Consult

The best authority on Empire Furniture is the book of designs, published in 1809 by the architects Percier and Fontaine, which is the more valuable as a work of reference, from the fact that every design represented was actually carried out, and is not a mere exercise of fancy, as is the case with many such books. In the preface the authors modestly state that they are entirely indebted to the antique for the reproduction of the different ornaments; and the originals, from which some of the designs were taken,are still preserved in a fragmentary form in the Museum of the Vatican.

Classic Designs And Ideas

An arm chair and a stool, together with that of the tripod table which are favorable examples of the richly-mounted and more decorative furniture of this style. While they are not free from the stiffness and constraint which are inseparable from classic designs as applied to furniture, the rich color of the mahogany, the high finish and good gilding of the bronze mounts, and the costly silk with which they are covered, render them attractive and give them a value of their own. By reading the books proposed above you definitely can break the look of the interior design of your house, and will learn how to include empire furniture into home decorating ideas and plans.

Whether you are working with existing furnishings and fabrics or “starting from scratch” with an empty room, you should always use the elements and principles of design as a guide in choosing everything.  The elements are your tools or raw materials, much like paints are the basics to a painter. The elements of design include space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles of design relate to how you use these elements and are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.

Element #1: Space
Space defines the boundaries and sets the limits on the functional and decorative things you can do.  Usually you will not determine the space; instead, you will be faced with the challenge of using the existing space effectively.

Element #2: Line
The lines in a room are second only to color in importance when it comes to setting the overall mood or feeling of a room.  The lines of window fashions should support the dominant line of the room. In most situations, the dominant line is straight (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) rather than curved. Your choice of emphasizing the direction of lines will determine the mood you want to create.
•    Vertical lines add height and dignity, creating a more formal atmosphere. Vertical lines also balance the horizontal lines found in most furniture.
•    Horizontal lines tend to create a restful, informal feeling. They work well in casual rooms or as relief to the strong verticals of formal rooms.
•    Diagonal lines attract attention and lead the eye. They can be disturbing unless supported by verticals or opposing diagonals.
•    Curved lines add a softening effect and keep the room from becoming too stiff. Use curved lines with some restraint to keep the room from becoming too soft and overly feminine.

Element #3: Form
Lines that join together produce the form, or shape, of an object, which in turn impacts the overall feeling of a room.  Straight lines create rectangles, square and triangles. Curved lines form circles and ovals. The rectangle is the most popular form and is often the dominant shape in a room. Triangles provide stability and curved shapes soften the contours of objects.

Element #4: Color
More than any other element, color can make a room beautiful. Color can set the mood. It can make a room warmer or cooler, larger or smaller. It can hide unsightly features or call attention to the center of interest. Even with the simplest furnishings, the proper use of color can transform a room.

Element #5: Texture
Texture is playing an increasingly important role in home decorating. Visual texture is a material’s apparent smoothness or roughness. To maintain and enhance a casual feeling, use fabrics that are more heavily textured, nubby or rough visual texture. Smooth, shiny surfaces such as silk, moiré, chintz and silk-like looks support a more formal feeling in a room.  Using several levels of complementary textures adds variety and maintains interest. However, it is a good idea to avoid dramatic contrasts in texture.

Since 1946 Croscill has been one of the most popular names in bedding and home décor. Croscill is well known for their unique bedding ensembles. Since their first comforter ensemble design “arsenic and old lace” which they released in the 1960’s, their unique, beautiful and luxurious bedroom linen sets have become a lead product in the industry.

Since the release of their first collections Croscill has set the standard for the bedding industry. Croscill’s Arsenic and Old Lace collection was the first time that a fully themed ensemble was available to the general public. Today an individual can decorate a beautiful master suite from bedroom to bathroom with Croscill linens and accessories.
Croscill offers accompaniments from window treatments, wallpapers and bedside lamps. Most of Croscill’s design themes can also include matching bathroom pieces including shower curtains, lotion and soap dispensers and other bathroom accessories such as toothbrush holders and tumblers. Croscill’s options offer an exceptional opportunity for the average consumer to decorate their living space without breaking the bank. Today’s consumer doesn’t need to hire an interior decorator to get a beautiful, elegant and matching décor for their home. They can simply choose from one of Croscill’s themes and be assured the class and look that they imagine.

Croscill has dozens of themes including classic Toile, Floral, Southwestern and Tropical ensembles. One of Croscill’s most popular floral designs is the Chambord collection

The Croscill Chambord Collection highlights subtle coloring of amethyst, sage and oyster combined in a rose and vine design. The collection is a romantic and dreamy interpretation of the classic English floral. The comforter is polyester filled and features the rose design interspersed with vines in amethyst. This is highlighted by the sage and oyster tone accents.  The sheets of the Chambord Collection are 220 thread count 100 percent cotton percale. They are a tonal print and bordered by a floral vine accent. The floral pattern is continued in the dust ruffle, accent pillows and shams.

In addition to the Chambord collection Croscill offers dozens of other ensembles. Croscill townhouse, a traditional damask print enhanced by 310 thread count prima cotton sheets. The Wisteria collection is their newest set. Wisteria is a pale blue floral ensemble decorated with Wisteria Floral patterns. Wisteria is also one of Croscill’s lines that have matching bathroom accessories.

Throughout Croscill’s 60 year history they have proven to have a wide appeal due to their extensive variety in design, attention to detail and quality workmanship. Even with this superior quality and Croscill’s position as a top retailer they have managed to keep their products affordable for the average consumer. The combination of variety, quality and affordability make Croscill an excellent choice for your next bedding purchase.

Decorating your home can be a daunting task, but it is one that will reward you many times over. Determining your personal style allows you to create a theme that you can carry from room to room, giving the house a cohesiveness, even if your style is eclectic.

Your furniture is the backbone of the home. It is important to choose wisely and then formulate your design plan around your choices. After you have laid that foundation in place, you can begin to look at complementary fabrics and colors – eventually visiting paint, window coverings, floor coverings, lighting, and accents in turn.

Discover your style and go from there. Your taste may range from traditional to country to casual to contemporary to modern, or anywhere in between. You can choose from materials such as woods, metals, glass, even plastics. You may like intricate designs or strong, simple lines, such as in the Mission style. You may want your pieces to be heavy and substantial, perhaps dramatic, or the sharp, linear design of Minimalism may appeal to you.

When you are considering your preference for what appeals to you, take into account too how you envision your home’s primary function. Is it to be a comfortable haven for your family? Do you plan to entertain elegantly? Do you want a serene, cool, calming environment? Do you prefer an eclectic, cozy, warm nook? Is it to be an open, airy affair or more somber? Casual? Luxurious? Formal? Rustic?

If your style is casual, and you are looking to make an inviting home for you and your family, you are likely to want the warm glow of woods, either light or dramtically dark, and soft, inviting fabrics. If you prefer a more traditional, formal look, you are likely to choose rich fabrics, including damask and velvet, and woods, such as cherry or mahogany. For the modern approach, you may incorporate many materials – light, blonde woods, sleek metals like chrome and aluminum, and simple fabrics.

Whatever your taste, you can find fabulous pieces that express your style.

Here are some easy tips to decorate your home.   Taking a few moments to think about your home will help you fully enjoy it.

Think about your home, and answer these questions:

1.  What do you want it to be?    If you want your home to be a tranquil oasis in a busy world, are your colors soothing or do they shout?   If you want a fun place for friends to gather, do you have plenty of seating?

2.  What are your main hobbies and activities?   What do you need for these activities?  For instance, if you have a collection that you work on often, get storage containers for it that can be easily opened or put away.  If it’s a lot of trouble to get at your collection, you either won’t spend the time on it, or else might be tempted to leave it out and risk losing or breaking certain pieces.

3.  Who will be using the space?   How many people will be living there?  What ages?  It’s important for every person to have a space that’s their own.  Whether it’s a special chair, couch, desk or a section of a room, everyone needs ‘their space’.   If you’re planning to do video aerobics, you’ll need room to move around in front of the TV!

4.  What about your things?   It’s easy to become very messy if things don’t have a place.     A small filing cabinet is a must for many people – it’s a great place to store all the papers that you don’t know what to do with!

5.  How much do you really need?  Too much furniture makes a room seem crowded.  The bare essentials are a couch and chair, a table and chairs for eating, a bed and place for your clothes.   After that, think hard about what you need or don’t need.  Will you really use that computer desk – or would you rather sit on the couch with a laptop?

6.  Think about the traffic flow.   You want to be able to walk anywhere in the room without bumping into furniture.   Try drawing furniture placement on paper as a first step.

7.  Pick a focal point – your Greystone Properties home has unique features.  What do you want to see when your first walk in the room?   If you have nice windows with great lighting, are you emphasizing it?   Everyone feels brighter in sunshine.

8.  Think about order and organization.  Do you bring home work every day, or mail, or sports equipment?    Where will you put it?   A large bowl or box near the front door is a great place to drop mail until you go through it later.

9.  Take advantage of free expert advice.  Every store and every product line employs professional designers to put furniture and accessories together.   If you’re unsure of your decorating skills, pick a design you like.   Study how they did it either by looking through a catalogue or going to a store.   It’s all there assembled and displayed for you.   If you like the look, simply do what they’ve done!