Things Your Decorator Didn't Tell You

When working on a project, these questions seem to always come up.  Many decorators will punt on these (and send the homeowner to the painter, or wallpaper guy), but with the links below it is very easy to give the right answer.  

Question 1

"I found a fabulous chandelier, do you think it will fit in my dining room?

Answer

Size Guidelines Based on the Room's Dimensions and the size of Your Table

http://www.ehow.com/how_5068427_determine-right-size-chandelier.html

Calculate the correct size of the chandelier using this formula as a guide. 

1. If a room measures 10 by 12 feet, add 10 plus 12. The answer is 22; therefore, 22 inches should be the approximate diameter of the chandelier.
2. Measure the height of the room to determine the height of the chandelier. A common rule is 2 ½ to 3 inches for every foot of height for a room. An 8-foot room should thus have a fixture that is 20 to 24 inches in height.
3. Measure the width of the dining room table before selecting a size for the dining room. The fixture should be half the width of the table.
4. Consider the "visual weight" of the fixture. Some chandeliers will appear larger or smaller, depending upon the style. If the visual weight makes it appear light, then the diameter of the fixture can be slightly larger than the calculated size. If the visual weight appears heavy, choose a smaller-diameter fixture.    

Question 2

"Now that I have found the perfect wallpaper, how much of it do I need?"

Answer

A Wallpaper Calculator

http://www.easy2diy.com/cm/easy/diy_ht_calc_index.asp?page_id=35720776

This tool works with standard papers as well as french wallpapers!

This handy calculator will help you estimate the number of rolls of wallpaper you will need to wallpaper an interior room.
Enter the dimensions of your room:
	Feet	Inches
Room Length
Room Width
Room Height
Height of baseboard
How Many? Width of Trim (inches) Height (inches) Width (inches) Doors Windows
Square feet per roll
You will need:	TOTALS
Wallpaper		Single Rolls
Wallpaper		Double Rolls

Question 3

"I love this paint color, so how much paint do you think I am going to need?"

Answer 

The Paint Calculator

http://www.easy2diy.com/cm/easy/diy_ht_calc_index.asp?page_id=35720769

This handy calculator will help you estimate the amount of paint you will need to paint an interior room -- including all the trim. If you plan on applying a primer coat or multiple finish coats, multiply the results accordingly.
Enter the dimensions of your room:
	Feet	Inches
Room Length
Room Width
Room Height
Height of baseboard
How Many? Width of Trim (inches) Height (inches) Width (inches) Doors Windows
Square feet per gallon
	TOTALS
Paint for Walls		Gallons (4 quarts per gallon)
Paint for Ceiling		Gallons (4 quarts per gallon)
Paint for Trim		Quarts

Happy Wednesday! M.