Many people agree that the hardest part of home decorating is knowing where to start. The starting point for selecting a color scheme can be a special painting, an Oriental rug, or the fabric you want to use for the draperies or sofa. Whether you are redecorating the entire living room, or simply sprucing up an existing decorating scheme, develop a working plan for the project. The inspiration can come from many sources. Notice what you like as you browse through magazines and as you visit decorating studios or homes.
Colors influence the overall look of a room, making it warm and cozy, or refreshingly cool. Choose a color scheme based on your personal preferences, the mood you want to create, and the lighting in the room. From flooring to accessories, variations in texture are especially important if you have selected a neutral color scheme.                  
An educational program titled, “Floor Décor” is set for Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Great Bend Recreation Center, 12th and Stone. The doors to the Burnside and Meeting room will open at 6:30 and give participants a chance to visit booths from various businesses that provide window, wall, or floor coverings. At about 7:15 p.m., I have invited Kelly Nixon and Jami Battin, from Miller’s of Claflin, to share what’s new in the area of flooring. Following their presentation, participants will have another chance to ask questions and visit the booths again.
Remember that your home, like your lifestyle, is uniquely personal.  The living room is often the room in which you entertain guests. Even though it will be shared with others, it is important that it reflect your own taste in decorating. Even on a limited budget, you can use ingenuity and imagination to create a room that reflects your own style, using the projects and ideas shared at the program “Floor Décor.”
Hear from the experts what the new trends in color and materials are. Whether you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, or will be enlisting the help of an interior designer, you won’t be disappointed. No pre-registration is required to attend this free program. I hope to see you on the 27th.
Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu.