We love the bright colors of Mexican décor such as yellow, blue, hot pink, red and green. What is the best flooring choice to compliment these colors?

The beautiful hues of Mexico were originally inspired by nature in its many forms: Azure, the ocean; yellow, the sun; fuchsia, flowers; red, spices; and green, plants. With this in mind, a perfect flooring choice which naturally balances these colors is saltillo tile. It is derived directly from the earth and was first created in Mexico, a perfect foundation for your vibrant colors. So go ahead paint the walls you’ve been wanting to in brilliant yellow or blue, the saltillo floor will give warmth to the room and compliment the colors you choose perfectly.

Saltillo is a terra cotta tile which originated in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, but is now manufactured in many other locations in the country. Each clay tile is handmade and unique in color ranging from varying reds, oranges and yellows, with many tiles having all three colors. In its raw state, after being formed and dried, Saltillo is highly porous and needs to be sealed. The high gloss shine you see on many saltillo tile floors is a result of multiple coats of sealant. The sealant brings out the colors in each tile and results in a mottled effect giving it its warmth and glow.

Because saltillo tile can be difficult to work with, you’ll need to have a professional with experience in installing it do the job. For extra interest, consider having them work a pattern or mosaic into the tile.

Looking at this paint color in a store chances are you would not select it, but in this room it works perfectly.

Although the paint is dark, the room is not. The white ceiling and moldings combine with the wainscoting to balance the dark wall choice. At the same time the light carpet adds a nice brightness to the space.

Pattern takes a strong position in the room, with the loveseats and draperies dominating the eye. The chair by the secretary and the carpet show a more subtle approach to pattern that works well in the room.

In the past few years, patterned carpeting, once perceived as old fashioned, has gained a new following with more interesting combinations of colors and embossing. This carpet takes full advantage of its traditional design and colors while still creating a fresh look. The matching rug with its border in a contrasting design helps maintain a consistency with the flooring while adding interest.

While this room stays in the traditional mode when it comes to style, the chances taken with color and contrast show a daring approach. It demonstrates that traditional doesn’t have to mean boring.

Do you take chances with your décor? No matter what your style, think about challenging yourself to do something unique with color, pattern or flooring.

Vaulted ceilings help rooms become more dramatic and spacious. More and more, modern architecture includes them as part of the main living space.

While a high ceiling provides an exciting addition to a home, it can also lead to decorating challenges. This living room goes about halfway toward addressing the concerns but stops too soon. A few adjustments could help this room completely incorporate the vaulted ceiling into its look.

To start, this room is beautifully decorated. With a vaulted ceiling your flooring choices are limitless. Even a very dark flooring choice can stand up to these walls and the powerful height of the ceiling. This homeowner chose light carpeting, but the rich dark tones of the furnishings help to keep the room well anchored and comfortable.

Really the only weakness comes from an apparent unwillingness to include the ceiling height completely in the room’s design. Only three elements: the fireplace surround, the tree on the right, and the window and drapery treatment, reach up toward the ceiling. The rest of the room stays at a comfortable level that would suit a room with an eight-foot ceiling.

The biggest gap in the room’s proportions comes from the wall space to either side of the fireplace. Those white bare squares make the rest of the room feel a bit squashed toward the floor. The easiest way to address them involves adding art reaching to the ceiling, or at least farther up. Replace the fireplace mirror with some art in colors that echo the other artwork or the drapery on the other wall to make a good start. Another option is to repaint that wall in a focal tone such as a mid-range sage green or even a dusty rose to echo the sofa.

If you are fortunate enough to have a vaulted ceiling in your home, think about what you can do to incorporate it into your design plans and take full advantage of its potential for drama.

Not sure what color scheme to paint your room? Go to your local paint store and look through the brochures for a creative color combination. Buy the small quarts of the colors if you are still not sure.

Test paint on an area of the wall using the quarts you purchased. Paint a horizontal line near the floor and a three-foot by three-foot block above the potential baseboard trim. Paint another horizontal line above that to see the effect of those colors as trim and body paint. Paint a block next to that if you are considering an accent wall adjacent to the main color.

Taking the time to paint a small area will save you time and money in the long run, by avoiding making the wrong choice and having to paint over it. Taking a little extra time choosing colors is worth it.  It will  result in a fresh new look that you are satisfied with.

For 2011, Moroccan interiors are still trending hot and this staircase and its ensemble do not disappoint. The interior element used as the focal point here is all about shape and contrast. The bright yellow backdrop of the zigzag staircase creates a brightly-hued canvas for a myriad of shapes, materials and styles.

The Barley Twist leg of the English pub table set against the geometric shape of the stairs might have many interior designers running the other way, but the contrast works well with the legs softening the harsh edges above. The Moroccan style chair with its intricate carvings and curvaceous back with cane inset playfully adds many circles and spirals into the mix with wonderful results.

Mixing woods is another way of adding contrast and the designer of this room used it to their advantage. By pairing the medium wood stain of the pub table with the dark wooden chair, they highlighted the patina of age in the chair exquisitely. The light stairs play off the tile baseboard and the lightness of the chair’s patina as well.

Finally the three bottles sitting atop the table introduce a cylindrical shape, which gives a sense of smoothness to the already visually busy room. The green in the glass is a nice compliment to the yellow and seems very organic and natural, which also helps create unity among the contrasting elements.

Implementing the same strategic use of interior design elements and principles which never go out of style can really bring a design together which may have seemed haphazard and chaotic when done without understanding of these tools of the trade. The tools are easy to use once you’ve practiced. Next time you look at an interior design photo or an actual room think about what may have been in the designer’s mind when the created the décor. Can you identify use of shape, contrast or unity?

The front door of your home is more than a door. It is the focal point of the exterior of your home. Normally front doors are placed on the exterior side that faces the street. This door is viewed by anyone traveling on your street. The front door is also the “first impression” of your home. Here’s how you can make your front door a stylish addition to your décor:

Playing with colors: Choosing the color for your front door can be a challenge for anyone. One should consider choosing a color that will stand out and contrast with finish materials on the exterior. Normally there are a couple of colors that are on the exterior of any house. For example brick or paneling (the finish material on the exterior) is one color, the trim is another, shutters may be the same color of trim or an entirely different color. Selecting a shade can be easy if you choose a color that is already on the exterior. Paint or stain the door in a lighter or darker shade of the color already on the exterior. You may want to select a color from the landscape that surrounds your home’s exterior.

Light it up: There’s nothing like proper lighting to add sophistication and style to your home’s exterior. There should be a light fixture that provides adequate lighting for the entry of your home and highlights your yard with accent lighting along pathways. Landscaping is very attractive when outdoor spotlights highlight trees and shrubbery.

Hardware: This is one part of the front door you can get really creative with. There are quite a variety of knobs and handles available. You can choose from traditional to vintage or a modern look. Your door will look best if your hardware compliments the style of door and exterior.

Most decorating problems can be fixed in a flash, and inexpensively at that. Be creative and think about what will make your space more appealing.

Does your floor have a stain or chip somewhere? Area and runner rugs can be placed on top of wood, carpet or tile. Bare wood and tile floors need some warmth and should have rugs where foot traffic is high.

Wood furniture can become chipped or scratched over time. You can purchase “stain touch up pens” in the appropriate finish. Simply touching up wood furniture can make it look brand new!

Cabinets and doors can take on a new look with new hardware. Knobs can easily be replaced in no time at all. There is such a wide variety of hardware available; there is no reason not to upgrade your doors.

New lampshades can update not only the lamp itself, but also the entire room. Shades control what shade of light is cast throughout a room. White shades project a bright clean light. Black shades with gold metallic inside looks create an intimate affect in a dining area.  It’s amazing what such a small difference can make!