Downtown San Diego: 7 Decorating Tips

Design by Rebekah ZaveloffOne of the toughest things to figure out when you purchase or rent a Downtown San Diego is how to decorate it for maximum appeal.  The majority of units, not all, but a large number of units are small and offer decorating challenges. Here are 7 tips for decorating.

1.  Plan.

 What room are you going to decorate? Do you have a style you like? Does western, spanish, french provincial or just eclectic appeal to you.  It is hard to design a room if you don't know what you want.  Do you want the room to be bright and cheerful or cool and restful?

2.  Measure. 

A surprising number of people forget to do this.  Have your measurements in hand before you go out looking for furniture. Nothing worse than buying the world's most fabulous couch and finding out it doesn't fit in the door or the room.

3.  Paint.

Colors help give visual depth to a room. Cheerful and bright colors create energy and excitement. Blues and greens create a more restful environment. Depth can be created with paint colors and furniture arrangement.  

4.  Balance. 

Balance can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical balance creates a feeling of restfulness because things match, like mirror images.  Asymmetrical balance is in reality an imbalance that creates a feeling of motion and excitement. Look at the room photo above. This is a good example of asymmetrical balance. Although the couches look the same, use of pillows and throws creates an off balance feeling. The room looks exciting and inviting. It looks like you would have a good time with friends and family.

5.  Scale.  

Scale is used to create heigth, depth and width in a room.  Depth can be created by setting up a foreground, mid-ground, background and vanishing point.  Your eye moves from the forefront to the vanishing point and makes you think a space is larger than it may be.   The best example of this is at Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyworld, Florida.  There is an ordinance that states a structure over 200 feet tall has to have a blinking red light on top of it.  Imagine Sleeping Beauty's Castle with a blinking red light.  Not cool. The castle was designed by Disney 189 feet tall.  To create the illusion of a taller castle, the upper windows were reduced in scale so you think you are looking father than you really are looking.  It is all illusion, but it works nonetheless.

6.  Volume.  

Volume also creates depth and width.  Furniture of varying characteristics draws the eye and again creates the illusion of depth and width.  This is especially helpful if you are in a small room, or a big room that is supposed to be your living room and dining room.

7.  Form.  

Divide large rooms by use of furniture placement.  This is especially helpful if you are living in a 750 square foot Downtown San Diego condo. You have one big space that is supposed to be the living room and dining room.  Divide the room into square functions.  Humans feel more comfortable and less formal in square formations. Create a sitting area.  Create a dining area.  These areas can give you a better feeling for your small space.

Many of the Downtown San Diego condos look like they came out of the same cookie cutter.  It was less expensive to the developers to build units that stacked on top of each other.  It is up to you to create the individual home for yourself.  Use these 7 tips to help create a unique and special environment.

This is a series of articles by Sharyn and Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents.