By definition, inspiration is a person, place, experience, etc., that makes someone want to do or create something.

Don't you love being inspired by something that you glimpse quickly but has a profound effect on your imagination? If you are searching for fresh ideas for decorating or renovating, look beyond the obvious sources.

easter-lilies-altar-backdrop

That impetus could be from a floral display you see at a wedding or other reception that defines a neutral palette and serene atmosphere for a room. It could be realised in quality artificial flowers or the form itself could motivate you to create a similar cascading effect in a room divider, shower screen, window treatment or curtains.

Sometimes the juxtaposition of two colours will surprise you and their unique combination will become the source for a whole new adventure in colour schemes.

Inspiring colour combos can come from nature, a scene on TV (such as the Countess of Grantham's room in Downton Abbey) or two small dots of oil paint on a canvas at the art gallery.  Some of the best colour artists were Edouard Vuillard and Odilon Redon. They can be described as artist's artists for their amazing use of colour. Look below to see some brilliant examples.

The outrageous colours used by Vuillard on the left and by Redon in the centre work beautifully together within each painting and offer some superb hues to experiment with. Sometimes the shapes and textures may be the motivation. The abstract by Barns-Graham could be reinvented as a floor plan for a room or garden or it could be used to represent the proportions for the decoration of a feature wall.

'Boulevard-of-Batignolles', Edouard Vuillard, 'Sunset', Odilon Redon and an abstract by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

'Boulevard-of-Batignolles', Edouard Vuillard, 'Sunset', Odilon Redon and an abstract by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

 

 

 

 

The Basics

Home entertainment can be watching TV or movies on TV, gaming and listening to music. The bare minimum furniture you need for a room dedicated to entertainment are:

TV tvx 1

Whether you have a box unit or wall mounted flat screen, the TV is really the hearth and focus of most family homes. Wall mounting frees up a lot of space but any TV can be integrated into a functional storage unit. The biggest problem with Wii games and the ever-changing new technologies in audio-visual devices is the huge amount of requisite accessories we amass. This is especially true in an extended family situation when dad loves his old LPs and the kids are into Xbox one and Playstation 4.

Storage

twoStorage units can be sleek or more like a console or buffet shape, this depends on the style of your room and the look you want to achieve.

The main thing is being able to store all your equipment and accessories and hide the worst of the messy cables.

Corner TV units can be a great solution for small spaces or for when you want visual access from more than one room. The most important thing here is the final height of the TV screen. It should be at a comfortable viewing level, which means generally that your direct eyeline should be approximately a third of the way up the screen. There are also some great smaller solutions made for specific storage items such as DVD towers and racks.

Couch

 Make it comfy! A modular couch can be a good choice for an entertainment room because it can be reconfigured according to what you are doing and how many people are involved. The traditional sofa and pair of armchairs or recliners work very well too. The prime task is arranging the furniture to maximise your viewing and listening position as well as utilising the general space. Ottomans, especially those that include their own storage recesses, can be perfect seating choices for extra guests that drop by.

 Coffee Table

 Lastly, a must-have, provided you have the space for it, is a coffee table. Placed btween the couch and the TV unit, a coffee table provides you with a surface to put your drinks and snacks on. Look for a coffee table that can also store things you need close to hand like the remote controls, TV guide and magazines. With these basics you will create an ideal place to put your feet up and, relax and enjoy your toys without the clutter.