This article is about the planner and contemporary decor for the planner who likes to see the big picture, but at the same time wants to create a living space that can be customized to reflect his or her unique tastes. The Planning Tool for the 21st Century, or TTV for short, was developed by an Interior Design Professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Frank Warnock is a prolific designer of residential and commercial architecture and design. In his book, TTV and the Planning Tool, he shares many practical strategies that will help you use your planner correctly.
When you think about it, there really are no rules that say you have to decorate using a single template. It really depends on your purpose and what you want to achieve as a homeowner. For instance, a contemporary home style planner might use a single sheet of paper to represent an entire room and then use a different color for each section. Or, for example, he or she might use one color for the headboard and another color for the footboard.
For the planner who wants to create a living space using a contemporary home style, the process becomes a bit more involved. First, he or she will choose a floor plan, or set of floor plans, using pencil and paper. Next, he or she will select the furniture and accents that will make up the room. For instance, the sofa, loveseat, coffee table and end tables might all be of the same color. He or she will choose a soft paint that matches or contrasts with the wall color. The furniture pieces should also be in the same contemporary decor colors.
If you are decorating a bathroom, then the contemporary home style uses bright, bold colors and shapes. Walls will often be painted white with large pictures or photos of beautiful sceneries. Accessories might be stainless steel knobs and handles in the contemporary decor colors. Bathroom fixtures will include contemporary medicine cabinets, vanities, shower curtains, faucets and toilets. Tiling is very popular in contemporary bathrooms, since it allows a homeowner to use different colors and patterns for the tile and grout.
Dining rooms in contemporary decor are usually open and have a feeling of space. The furniture will be simple but well-designed. Wrought iron furniture, marble top tables and coffee tables will provide the necessary surfaces for dining room furniture. When decorating a dining room, it is a good idea to choose contemporary art and decorations, such as lamps and candles.
One of the things that most people don’t think about when considering contemporary decor is lighting. Many people go about contemporary home design the wrong way–without paying attention to lighting. In fact, the way a person designs his or her lighting can tell you a lot about what kind of contemporary decor is being used. A well-illuminated contemporary home will reflect light in an appropriate way and will look inviting.
Color is another important characteristic of contemporary decor. People who have a color scheme in mind often take it too literally when it comes to the utilization of colors in their home. Instead of using dark colors, for instance, homeowners should consider using lighter shades. Using lighter shades will make the home feel more airy and open.
This same principle is true with furniture. Furniture can be made from several kinds of materials, but it should be made out of something that can withstand modern life. Many times a person will see contemporary furniture made from wrought iron, for instance. However, if the furniture is made of wood, it should be kept in mind that it may not be able to withstand all the weather changes. In this way, it is important to put some thought into the process of choosing contemporary decor.