By Sakina Khawaja

Fashion influences all aspects of our lives.Let’s face it our style not only pours into what sortof jeans we wear whether boot cut, straight legor the skinny , it also effects if we like a club chair,a lazy boy or a leather chaise. With that vision inmind we set out to decorate our dream houseand more importantly we dream big usually result-ing in either a trickled down effect of our originalconcept or a splurged out room no pets or chil-dren under 10 can enter. So this idea of dreamingbig and dreaming design couture has really takenover the average Canadian household becauseevery departmental store and furniture outlet isselling a dream room that result in a dream life. Wehere at FW are huge fans of couture, high designand anything exquisite. However, we are also realistsand want to provide our dedicated readerswith options to attain their dreams without burninga hole in their pockets. This is not a “everything un-der $100” kind of article but rather one that will giveyou key points on how to shop to build your dreamand meanwhile be realistic about your goals.

Shopping without a goal is frustrating, confusing and expensive. One ends up buying things that don’t match or are just plain useless. Thatresults in returned trips to the mall for refunds and store credits. Get a simple white sheet of paper or a white sheet of paper in Microsoft word and start pasting on images of items that help draw inspiration for the theme of the room you are about to decorate. You can go wild at this point from Versace bed sheets to thrift shop finds. Anything and everything you love- this, my friends is your mood board that will help you build that dream room.

2. Choose a simple colour

Design shows these days boost bold colours and dramatic effects. If the room is one that is for personal use or something you really enjoy then bold or bright colours might be a good option. Generally though staying in a more neutral colour palette will allow you to be more adventurous with accent items that can be changed regularly to change the whole look of the room. Wall colours are the backdrop of your couture project so choose wisely. Great colours are always in the grey and beige family. You can go as deep as steel grey and accent it with white baseboards or go with peanut walls and a dark floor- guaranteed success.

3. Know your room layout

Many times we will fall in love with a piece of furniture and become saddened to find out that the room cannot accommodate such a piece nor is the doorway wide enough to bring it in. Take exact measurements of all windows, walls, entrances etc so you know what you are working with. A flat two dimensional drawing with measurements written on each wall is the best way to go.

4. Furniture Placemen

Know where you will place each piece of furniture and how many pieces you need. This is not a guessing item. One most know exactly what they need in that room. Now is the fun part, shop in every price point store. This lets you see the variety out there and be realistic about your purchases. Definitely check out flea markets and thrift stores for rare finds, rugs, funky chairs, things that can be stained or painted to freshen up- they always add character to your room.

5. Lighting is key

Most people over look the importance of lighting in a room. It makes or breaks the effect. Choose correct lighting that suits the style of your room and adds to the glamorous or not so glamorous look you are going for. A chandelier may be appropriate in any room as long as it’s the right style so don’t follow generic rules that keep such lighting only for formal areas. Pot lights do rack up the electricity bills but if kept on a dimmer and only for accent lighting, they can make a world of difference to any space.

6. Accessories Galore

We all love wearing jewelry, nice shoes, scarves and much more. Just like that your couture room begs for nice décor pieces, lamps, wall paper on accent walls, bedding, picture frames and much more. Be selective but make a statement. This is where personal choice can be magnified because even though the big items can be staples small things can be changed.

Food For Thought

Design books are great inspiration and starting points. They also make excellent coffee table books. Dream Rooms: Inspirational Interiors from 100 Homes by Andreas von Einsiedel and Johanna Thornycroft published by Merrell is a great book to pick up and see the variety of options you can use to theme your next design project around.