Design 101

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Hooray for the red, white and blue!

I've been decorating for the fourth of July holiday.

I thought I'd share some of my design philosophy with you. (Doesn't that statement make me seem important and very knowledgeable? Hee! Hee!) In the last few years I've tried to incorporate two tricks into my displays. The first is to "go big". It's better to spend your hard earned cash on one big item that will have a lot of impact, than on a lot of small items that can appear as clutter. This was a hard one for me to learn because I literally like to get the most for my money. I want to show a lot for what I've spent. But I've learned that if I buy something big, it will fill up the room, catch my eye, and make me smile, much faster than a bunch of smaller decorations.
The second trick is to layer your design. An extra layer gives the display more dimension and depth. Store displays always use the layering technique. Layering finishes the display---you don't wonder if there should be something more. But, beware not to add so many layers that the display appears too busy. You need to know just when to stop.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, let me show you how to incorporate these techniques:

This over sized flag really makes a statement
on it's own.
Adding another layer with the candle light and stars
makes the display look finished,
and now it really "pops" (4th of July pun).
The large letters and flags look great. . .
but with the addition of stars and vine balls,
the display appears more finished.
The stars repeat the colors in the flags and
the vine balls repeat the black in the letters and candles.
And everyone knows that good design repeats itself.

Okay, the design philosophy lesson has concluded.
Now, your homework is to go try these tricks
in your home.