Dr Decorator Examines Decorative Backgrounds
An empty room is a six-sided box comprised of four walls, a floor, and a ceiling. When a designer plans a space, the procedure is to study each of these elements.

The first step is to measure the space and create a furniture floor plan. The floor plan determines the use of the space, the traffic pattern, and any specialized needs. In the process, a shopping list of items and their sizes is generated.

The reason it is called a "floor plan" is because it deals with what will be sitting on the floor. But this does not tell the total design story. Before furniture can be set up, it is imperative to create the decorative background. The background will set the mood for a space and tell the story of the room. It is often more important and more lasting than the individual furnishings. A room has only one floor, but it has four walls. The walls envelop the furnishings, and if not properly designed can over- whelm or undermine the rest of the decorative scheme.

Color is possibly the most important element in wall decor and in creating a successful room. Color can enlarge or shrink a space, make walls or ceilings more or less prominent, and alter people’s moods. It is also the biggest decorating bargain around. Change the color of your walls and you can create a new room without changing your furnishings. Different colors set different tones. Yellow is cheerful, pastels are calming, deep colors are rich and dramatic. There is no color that is right or wrong—only what is right or wrong for the person who will be using the space.

Texture is another valuable element in wall decor. It can be created by using wall coverings or any of the multitude of decorative painted finishes that are so popular today. Like color, texture and pattern are mood creators. Linen- or suede-covered walls can give a space a masculine character or library ambience. Florals, on the other hand, will impart a softer, more feminine mood.

Moldings are an additional means of building texture into a space. The use of decorative moldings can transform a plain box into an elegant, classical space. It is another decorative bargain which can totally change the look of your home.

Flooring is another important part of the decorative palette. The floor is the anchor for the space. Flooring choices must be functional and durable,but also aesthetic. The variety of available flooring choices is mind-boggling and endless. There are multitudes of woods, tiles, stones, and carpets which can be used alone or in tandem. Again, no one choice is right or wrong—it is a personal selection that is right or wrong for a particular individual.

Windows offer another opportunity for decorating-inspired headaches. Window coverings are hardworking members of the decorative scheme. They must provide privacy and light control while always looking good. Window coverings fall into two categories. The “hard” treatments are the elements that sit directly on the window and open and close according to personal needs. The fabric coverings on a window are called “soft” treatments, and are more focused on creating a decorative mood. The variety of choices is, once again, vast and overwhelming.

The last and most frequently overlooked part of a room is the ceiling. Generally, ceilings are simply painted white and forgotten about. This is often a wasted design opportunity. Paint a ceiling in a pale yellow hue and you will feel like the sun is always shining. If a space has a very high ceiling, the use of a darker color will bring the ceiling down and create a sense of intimacy. If a ceiling is low, light tones should be used to make the ceiling seem higher.

The room photographed above in both "before" and "after" views is an example of working a decorative scheme on every level. The floor is carpeted in a wool mini-print which is dark enough to be durable, yet patterned enough to be interesting. The walls are painted a pale shade of sage green with subtle sponged shadings. Windows are treated to a layered effect. The hard treatment is a woven wood shade which goes up and down for privacy and light control. The tie-back curtain is an animal motif textured lace-type woven fabric. The top treatment is a satiny stripe which is draped over a pole for drama and elegance. The same stripe is also used as a door drape to create a peek-a-boo effect where the original wooden door was removed. One of the most interesting elements in the room is the vaulted barrel ceiling which was faux-painted in swirling shades of pale blue to create an open-to-the-sky feeling.

Furnishings are a mix of exotic textures and colors. The design intent was to create a guest bedroom/sitting room which would be tailored enough for a man but decorative enough for a woman. This was accomplished through the mix of fabrics and furnishings and the use of the British Colonial decorative scheme. Fabrics are shiny and glamorous while the furniture is English and masculine. The end result is a comfortable and inviting space which is sophisticated without being intimidating. The decorative backgrounds create the mood and set the proper stage for the furnishings to complete the space. Take the furniture out, and the decorative backgrounds will still tell an interesting story.