Home Decor Buying Guide

The way you decorate your home is as unique as you are and reflects your tastes and style. While there are many recognized home decor styles, such as contemporary or traditional, you can make your own home decor by understanding how the elements of each room work together to create a mood. This home decor buying guide lists some of those main elements so you can know how to dress up your space.

Elements of Home Decor:

1. Theme: A theme is a creative inspiration and displays what you find interesting. A theme also makes it easy to choose similar home decor accessories to furnish your home. Your theme can be a color, mood, motif, floral element or any number of other things you find inspiring. For example, if you want a touch of the exotic as part of your theme, you might use decorative elements such as a zebra-stripe area rug or giraffe-themed wall art. If you like romantic home decor, you could complement your fireplace with Tiffany-style wall sconces and rose-themed pillows.

2. Focal point: Every room should have a focal point. This is the highlight of the room, and other home decor pieces you choose will naturally flow around it. You can choose anything as your focal point, but a feature with a large impact is best. This item will have the mood and colors you want to replicate in the color scheme and style of the room. Good focal points include fireplaces, a wall painted a different color from the rest, a window or large furniture.

3. Color: Color is an important part of home decor and adds structure to your room. Use at least three colors: a dominant color, a complementary one and one for home accents that you scatter about the room. For example, many contemporary rooms use black or dark colors for furniture, white or light colors for most walls and a bright color as the accent color. The colors you choose don't have to be as contrasting as black and white; the dominant and complementary colors can be from the same family, but your accent color should be from a different color palette so that it is easily visible and makes a statement.

4. Lighting: The way you light your home is important in creating the mood you want, and there is a huge variety of lighting options for you to choose from. Chandeliers create a formal look, while floor lamps are a great option to provide light for reading in that comfortable chair. Candles and wall sconces designate cozy conversation areas and cast an inviting glow. Lighting options have several different styles and finishes, so make sure your lighting matches the feel of the room and similar hardware, such as door handles and other light fixtures.

5. Art: Use your home decor theme as the starting point to decorate your walls. Your theme is all about what interests you, and art is a great way to display your interests. Family pictures bring traditional warmth to a home, but instead of sitting them on tables or shelves, use them as wall decor by hanging several of your favorites together on a wall. Unify the look by choosing frames that are alike or very similar. If you have a small room, hang a large painting on the wall to create an illusion of spaciousness. Posters are favorites in a modern setting. Choose prints or canvas art of calm Tuscan villas or quaint French streets for country home decor or decorate your walls with prints of the Eiffel Tower and skyscrapers for a more cosmopolitan look.

6. Floral elements: Bring life and warmth into your room with flowers and plants. Silk plants often look just as good as real ones and are much easier to care for. Either way, plants make a room feel more inviting. For a more traditional look, a small ficus tree in the corner complements the vase of roses on the dining or coffee table. Orchids or bamboo stalks look great in contemporary settings. Combinations of different flowers or fruit arrangements are classic elements of country home decor. Floral elements make great home decor themes, so choose your favorites.

7. Storage: Storage is important in any room; use a variety of storage options both to control clutter and display your favorite things. Baskets and bowls are great options for small spaces and look great holding fruit, flowers or your current knitting project. Floating shelves make great wall decor, keep a room feeling light and airy and beautifully display your favorite books, collectibles or photos. For more substantial storage and display options, choose a bookcase and organize its contents with decorative bookends or wicker baskets. Many small furniture pieces such as ottomans have removable seats and can be used to hide magazines and gaming supplies.

8. Fabrics: The fabrics you choose add texture to the room and help create a mood. Slipcovers are great for protecting your furniture or changing the look in the room. Throw pillows and blankets are also favorites and add comfort and warmth to a room. Curtains help you control light and privacy in a room and come in as wide a variety of materials, colors and styles as do slipcovers and throw pillows. Area rugs make a bare, cold floor warm and inviting. Use all four fabric options to make a comfortable, cozy room or mix and match for a lighter style. Fabrics are an easy way to bring a theme or motif to a room without overpowering it.

9. Accessories: Once you have your theme, color scheme, lighting and a good mix of the other elements in this guide, you'll need some home decor accessories to complete the look. Baskets, bowls, throw pillows, rugs, picture frames, wall sconces and lamps are all part of your repertoire of accessories, but don't forget mirrors, clocks, vases, statues, sculptures, decorative screens and wall art.