Now, if you really want to shave major funds from your bank account (if you have one,) you can always ask an interior designer or decorator to fill up you blank walls and empty rooms with something that is both functional and pleasing to the senses. For the great majority of us, however, we would rather keep expenses at bay, and designers or decorators are definitely out of our sphere of influence.  

So here are a couple of tips on how to decorate your home tastefully (according to your taste, of course) without breaking the bank, or the walls of your new home, or the sanity of your hapless visitors.  

Check The Overall Architecture. You must first take into consideration what your new place looks like from the outside – does it look like a Mediterranean villa, or as unimaginative as any mass produced living quarters? Often, people expect a smooth transition from your home’s façade to its interior. For example, the blueprint of your house is very East Mediterranean. Naturally, an oriental décor overwhelming the interiors would provide a head-scratching experience to your visitors.  

Unimaginative mass produced housing will give you more freedom to choose the theme of your new home. 

Choose A Theme. Yes, it sounds quite cliché, but choosing a theme for your home is one way you can keep an eye out for possible decorating splurges. When choosing a theme, make sure that you can sustain this theme all throughout the place, if that is your purpose. Say, if you want an oriental décor, try finding accents, furniture and knick knacks with the oriental flavor. Try not to splurge on anything else that can distract a visitor’s attention away from the very essence of your interior design. Otherwise, what’s the point of choosing a theme, if you are not going to be faithful to it?  

Choose A Color. In some cases, you may even choose different themes for different parts of the house. Colors can be great interior decorating tools too. A good example of this is an apartment where the kitchen is predominantly white (all appliances and fixtures are white); the bathroom is powder blue in color (including the towels and candles within); and the living room and dining hall are in earth-tone colors from dark green to lush brown and splatters of yellow and red.  

You can choose furniture or room accents that will either blend in nicely with the rest of the room’s motif, or one that stands out but complementary to the scheme.

There is actually nothing wrong with that train of thought. However, for the sake of clarity, some designers would want segregation of term modern from other styles of interior decoration. 

If you are looking into some interior decorations for your modern home set-up, there are common trends emerging like appliance, furniture, fixture and whatnots that are more environmentally friendly; more energy efficient; unique in design; built for comfort and functionality; and with a respectable price range. 

A few years ago, a couple of interior decoration ideas were geared for more decorative purposes. Mostly, they were plastic products with vibrant colors, and cutesy design. These decorative plastic pieces carried the day – at least for a while. Inevitably, these ideas lost their charm particularly since our needs have changed, and that the tide of public opinion is being set on something else.  

Concerns for the environment have led many designers to create more environmentally friendly home decoration pieces. Going green is now a regular battle cry among home owners everywhere. Although plastic is still very much used, people are now taking great steps to use nature-safe products like biodegradable and nature safe paints. At the very least, some of us are now recycling some of the still usable decorative pieces to cut down the possible loss of more of the world’s trees.  

A few creative interior decorators are turning to recycled paper, even bottles and (get this!) car parts to create interesting home decoration pieces. Plus, the fact that your visitors can actually see that you are recycling helps bring about a very modern (current) feel to your place.  

Another aspect for the going green project entails finding appliances that are energy efficient. The less power a machine uses, the less toxic emissions are being sent to our ozone layer; and thereby more environmentally friendly.  

Of course, nothing really says chic quite like a uniquely designed home decor. Unusual home decoration pieces have always been a great centerpiece discussion topic and more home owners are reveling at these unique designs, integrating them in whatever home decor they have as of the moment. These unique pieces actually accentuate the modern-ness of the decor. 

Comfort and functionality are two issues that are very much the trademark of most modern home decoration pieces. It is no longer enough that a piece looks great. In the time of multi-tasking, we are now also demanding that our home decor be used to its full potential, and that we enjoy using them while we are at it.  

And lastly, the price range of modern designs for home decor is actually rising. This surge in prices are caused by a lot of factors, making homeowners on a steady look out for bargain home decor ideas that will answer most of the present day sensibilities we have.

However, aside from Old World décor, it should be noted that there are other interior decorating styles that people find elegant like modern décor, oriental décor, and eclectic décor, to name a few.  

Old World Décor (see traditional rugs for samples of area rugs with an old world style)

Old World décor has always attracted a large group of admirers for years. The allure of eras past is always portrayed as romantic and grandiose, and many of us wish to experience some of that charm in our present times. Although this type of décor can be pricey (with antique pieces and all,) many people still find quaint fascination in the styles and trimmings of the Old World.  

Here are some of the more prominent examples of Old World décor.  

• Baroque – a 17^th century Italian décor characterized by extensive use of dramatic ornamentation with dynamic carvings, restless lines and spectacular extensions. Dark wood and dark coloration are the usual motif – and in this case, the more elaborate the design, the better. Furniture is usually made of mahogany and other expensive types of wood with deep red varnish heaped on in layers.

• Empire – a 19^th century French décor characterized by delicate but elaborate ornamentation that follows Greek or Roman classical sensibilities, like using bas relief on furniture surfaces, or using animal leg carvings on furniture. Almost all fixtures are bedecked with designs like caryatids, lyres, torches, wreaths and urns.

• Old English – originally introduced in Britain in the later part of the 1800, this décor achieved fame in North America at the turn of the 19^th century. It is known for its extensive use of rich wood panels, plush cushioned seats, and solidly made wood furniture with elaborate carvings in each turn. It is also sometimes called as the Queen Anne Revival décor, and is usually darker in coloration and motif than its predecessor, the Tudor décor.

• Tudor – 18^th century English décor so named after the house of English sovereigns from Henry VII to Elizabeth I. This Old World décor is characterized by exposed beams, elaborate trappings and lushly padded furniture. Although most of its furniture designs are almost box-like in appearance, the pieces are actually more substantial in weight than the Old English décor.

Modern Décor (see contemporary rugs with a modern style)

However, some people may find this style of interior decoration a bit too heavy handed literally. People who prefer lighter furniture construction and space color motif often try to seek elegance in more modern styles. The term modern does not necessarily mean modern times or present times. This type of décor usually means simple or less elaborate in design, color and ornamentation.  

Some of these so called chic-and-elegant settings include, but is not limited to: 

• Biedermeier Style - a 19^th century German-inspired décor characterized by principles based on utilitarian purposes: clean lines, minimal ornamentation and maximum functionality. A trademark of this style is the use of less expensive wood like ash, cherry, oak and pear wood. Wood staining is also a common practice, and décor fixtures are almost bare.

• Hard Edge Style – originated only around 1959, this décor style is mostly geometric in design and construction. It consists of straight but rough lines; and colors have to be solidly blended or at least homogenous in shades. It does however, still utilizes wood.

• High Tech style – emerged in the 1970s, and is also called late modernism or even revamped modernism. Some people even consider it as post modern décor style, and it is characterized by the extensive use of pre-fabricated materials like glass and steel. There is little or no ornamentation. The High Tech style has also evolved from solid glass panels and heavy steel frames to light weight materials.

• Minimalist – is a style that originated post World War II, particularly between the late 1960s and the early 1970s. As the word suggest, minimalist style is stripping down décor to its most fundamental purposes. According to historical accounts, this style may have been influenced by the austere living condition often seen in traditional Japanese interior décor.

Oriental Décor (see oriental rugs with a style from the orient)

Speaking of Japanese inspired interior décor, some people actually find elegance in more exotic settings, specifically oriental styles of décor. The one common element of oriental style is the extensive use of negative space. This means that there are blank spaces on the walls, or uneven distribution of design and carvings on the furniture and fixture. Oriental décor actually celebrates imperfection as uniqueness. Two of the more widely used oriental décor styles in the West are Chinese-inspired décor and Japanese-inspired décor. 

• Chinese-inspired décor – is predominantly in shades of red and gold, with overt tones of Zen-inspired sensibilities. Usually, Chinese décor are made of wood, bronze, marble and paper. Small (and large) Buddha or Zen statues are the norm as with bric-a-bracs depicting everyday scenes of Chinese living.
  
  
• Japanese-inspired décor – is based on the austere living styles that one can usually see in a regular Japanese home. This includes low, but functional tables, almost no chairs (cushions are used) and wood / paper mat floors. This gives the room a minimalist feel to it. Nonetheless, hide-away beds and large closets are part of Japanese décor sensibilities, as with soft lighting styles and dark, almost black accents on light colored furniture and fixture.

 Eclectic Décor 

Eclectic décor simply means a combination of more than two interior decorating styles. You may not know it, but a good percentage of our homes these days have eclectic décor, and we do not even know it. However, there is a trick to making eclectic décor look elegant. You certainly do not want your home to look like a museum – and even some museums can look elegant, you know.  

Interesting accent pieces of likely persuasion should be grouped together like masks acquired from different countries. Or, if you prefer, you can segregate your home into motif rooms. You can have a minimalist décor for your den and oriental décor for your dining area – and then you can place accents that go against the minimalist trend in your den (like an elaborate Greek inspired marble sculpture at the center of the room to give contrast to the room;) or, a 17^th century painting over one of the walls to complement the atmosphere of your oriental inspired dining hall. You just might be surprised with the results.

It goes without saying that some trends are serviceable while others are downright head-scratchers. Nonetheless, here are some of the more interesting trends in home decorating.  

Indoor Waterfalls 

Indoor waterfalls have actually been with us for a long time. There were initial speculations that this was a trend that would expire immediately, since its purpose was deemed strictly for display only. But with the coming of 2008, more and more indoor waterfall designs are coming out, and it seems to be selling like hot cakes. Smaller yet more attractive, modern panels for the waterfalls now range from glass to colorful rock surfaces, to marbled stones, to quarried slates from exotic places.  

Leather Beds 

Leather is not a new material, but some designers have repackaged leather as bed material. Leather beds are streamlined and give off a clean look. The entire bed is not made up of leather, though. It is however, accentuated by leather trimmings like head and footrests; the main base is encased within padded leather as well. But don’t worry; the actual bed is made of comfy foam.  Plus, you can always showcase a leather area rug with the leather bed.

Maximizing Closet Space 

Closet spaces used to be defined by dimension – the larger the space, the better. However, not all homes have the necessary space for walk in closet or even a closet large enough to accommodate most everything we have. The current trend seems to leaning to smart closets, or rather smarter closets. These smarter closets can easily segregated clothes, accessories and whatnots in a secure fashion (with auto locks and time-keyed system) while utilizing all available space within the closet, and we mean all. Some of these closets are made of state of the art fiberglass while others from metal sheets.  

Rain Showers 

Fancy trying rain showers right in the comfort of your own home? Sure you do. Rain showers are replacing conventional shower heads, and are usually made from corian and stainless steel. The actual shower head is extremely large with about 200 water outlets, and is guaranteed to give anyone under the tap a whole new bathing experience.  

Suspended Fireplaces  

Yes, suspended fireplaces are making an appearance among the more modern homes. These fireplaces are usually small, ergonomically designed and very unique looking. All of them can be placed anywhere in the room, and some of these suspended fireplaces can even rotate to face all parts of the room. Made from state of the art steel casings with heat resistant finishes, these fireplaces are actually proving to be more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly and easier to clean and maintain than conventional fireplaces.

1. Paint a new color on the walls.  It’s always suggested in home interior decorating magazines as a simple way to transform a room.  It works!  It doesn’t take much money, just a little bit of time, and you can add a whole new feeling to a room.  Start by collecting lots and lots of color chips from your local paint shop, narrow the colors down to about three that you love, buy some small cans of these colors you love and try them on the walls before you commit to larger cans of paint.  Once you paint the samples on your walls, live with them for a few days to see if there is one color that stands out and enhances everything else you have in the room.  The new color should breath new life into your old furnishings.
   
   
2. Hang up large pictures of bold colorful flowers (think Georgia O’Keefe) for bursts of color in a room.  You can find affordable art online and either frame it yourself or order it with a frame.  Try to stick to similar colors if you are hanging more than one picture.  Use reds, yellows, and oranges together or blues, greens, and purples together.  Hang up 2 or 3 in a row for more visual impact.
   
   
3. Add new lights to your rooms such as small and discreet accent lights to bring warmth, coziness, and drama.  You can purchase smaller sconce lights (plug-in or hardwire) and have them flank an entryway, fireplace, or bookcase.  Purchase up lights to cast an interesting light up on tall plants or behind an arrangement of vases on a console table.  Up lights add wonderful drama and warmth to a room and easily and cheaply transform a space with a wash of light.
   
   
4. Change out your area rugs.  Buying a new bright area rug for a room is an easy way to breathe new life into your space.  Try a solid rug with an unexpected color.  A new color underfoot can be carried out in new throw pillows and drapes or pictures on the wall.  A new rug is a great starting point when you need to revive a room because it has so many functions: it can divide up a larger room by delineating a seating arrangement, it can add a large burst of color, it can provide an interesting texture if you go for a shag rug or sisal weave, and it can echo shapes in the room (i.e.: using a circular rug under a circular coffee table or using a rectangular area rug in a rectangular room).
   
   
5. New throw pillows are a great way to revive older sofas and chairs.  I consider new pillows a “mini-reupholstering” because the pillow fabrics tend to stand out over the sofa fabric – your eye is drawn to the pillows first so you can make the sofa look like new again.  Stripes look great on most sofas and add a pattern that is easy to incorporate into the room.  If you choose solid colors, choose interesting textures such as a nubby weave or quilted velvet.
   
   
6. Bring spring inside!  Buy some large leaf plants or trees that can add a soft architectural element to a room (like large palm plants).  I think of tall plants and trees in large oversized planters as organic columns.  Use them in the corners of a room to bring life and interest to dead space or flank two to spice up transitions and entrances between rooms.
   
   
7. Dress your bare windows.  New simple drapes are a major factor in creating coziness during the winter months.  Even if you have window treatments, changing them out for a season will make everything around feel new.  And they can be simple and inexpensive.  I love to buy tablecloths on sale and use them as drapes.  I can usually get two panels from one tablecloth by dividing in half lengthwise.  Buy some drapery clips (online is a good place to find them) to clip rings right across the top hem of the panels and hand on a drapery rod.  Or there are lots of inexpensive shades make out of woven natural materials that can add a warm casual touch to a room.  As long as your windows are standard sizes and you can order ready-made shades, they shouldn’t cost too much.  When you buy inexpensive window treatments, you can afford to change them from time to time.  Being able to change colors and accessories with the seasons keeps an interior exciting.
   
   
8. Play music.  So often we forget the other senses when we decorate our homes.  Music can have a tremendous effect on our mood and should be played often.  Though you’re not adding something visual, you’re adding another layer to your environment that has a great impact.  When you’re alone at home, play whatever makes you happy.  When you have your family or friends at home, play something everyone can appreciate like instrumentals or classical music played softly that stays in the background.
   
   
9. Add fragrance.  Scent is a great mood enhancer.  I love to use either fragranced candles or oil diffusers that burn with a tea light candle.  My favorite fragrances for winter are cinnamon, apple, clove, pumpkin, and balsam.  Again, you’re not adding a visual enhancement but the sense of smell is so powerful in enhancing your interior.  It can make you and your company feel happier without even realizing why.