I think I need to learn some basics of interior design - any good websites?

[BrocasBelly]

I have no 'eye' for style. I have some nice Things, but ultimately, my rooms never quite come together.

We're about to do three bedrooms and I just know they'll look shite when I've finished with them.

I can spend hours on Houzz and Pinterest, but I don't know how to make the individual things I like look coherent, short of buying everything from one shop so they all match.

So, can anyone recommend any sites for basic tips in how to plan decor schemes please?

I've just read on House Beautiful site, "LEAVE CABINETS OPEN
An open armoire is more interesting than a closed one. Let people into your secret world."

er...no

My house is enough of a shit tip without letting folk see inside the cupboards as well!

Apartment Therapy is great.

I could have written your post. Looking forward to reading some responses.

Remember there is no right and wrong - we all have different opinions - just that some people are more confident in their choices and leave others feeling they 'know it all'.

Google images - sort of style you might look for - French bedroom, Pastel bedroom etc., if you take the time, you can pick up loads of ideas.

NEVER would I leave a cabinet open!

Right, Apartment Therapy eh?

PMSL at Leave Cabinets Open. What, so visitors can view your artfully displayed collection of artisan artefacts?

Interior design websites never really work for me. I am, though, an interiors magazine addict. Do you read any?

I've never seen that Apartment Therapy website before! Thanks so much for giving me yet another way to waste my precious time [bitter sarcasm emoticon]

On Groupon you can do an interior design course. Its reduced to £49 at the moment.

I am also away to google Apartment Therapy. Devora

The Houzz app might be helpful.

I'm looking for a website that tells me how to decorate with a toddler in the house. A toddler that thinks everything on any surface needs to be on the floor!

I came to say Apartment Therapy. Bloody fabulous.

Not exactly interior design tips but I found Pinterest very useful for getting a sense of your own personal style and seeing how rooms are put together. House magazines often have good design tips.

justbatteringon, when I moved into this house one of the first things I did was to paint all my kitchen units and kitchen tiles (it took 6 coats!) with a newly adopted clingier-than-a-baby-marmoset tot on my hip. You can tell! I look now at the big drips and think, what was I thinking?

so, the first thing I liked on Apartment Therapy was De Gournay hand painted wallpapers LOL.

now where did I put that £12,000??

I'm all in a muddle, anyone care to help?

I need to decorate around this bed from loaf, but the headboard is like a bluey grey linen which I can't find a picture of.

So, ok, it's a French style bed, which means it 'goes with' ornate frenchy furniture and chandeliers and things doesn't it? But as I don't have time to take three children around vintage fairs or antique auctions, all I can think to do is to buy the matching set from Loaf, but that's naff right? And also eye-wateringly expensive to me, yikes!

I'm not confident enough to try ebay as I'd want to either see the quality of a piece or buy from a trusted company with a returns policy.

Any advice pleeeease you stylish people?

That's beautiful but wow. That's a heck of a lot of money!

I'd set up Pinterest boards for each room, then find things that you like and pin to it. Once you've got a selection pick the main themes that you like - material (wood, metal, painted) and colour and delete things that don't fit into it.

Oh and because I am absolutely rubbish at colour matching, I use design seeds to find a colour scheme I like and stick to that.

Devora, I'm not a regular reader of the mags, would you recommend any that are er, less intimidating? I don't want my house to look like a hotel IYSWIM. Not that it ever could with 3 children roaming wild in it!

Moreis, that is EXACTLY the kind of advice I'm after, thank you!

Wow. love the look Design Seeds for colour ideas. Good call Moreis.

brocas I think your bed would also suit a simpler room than one filled with ornate furniture and chandeliers, things like industrial style metal and wood lamps and striped grey and white linen roman blinds, for example.

Have you had a look on notonthehighstreet for bits and pieces? What have you already got that you are going to use in your bedroom with the bed? Or are you starting from scratch?

Even things like framed pictures that you know you will be using could be a good starting point.

Honestly Brocas ask on here, MN has decorated & furnished my house & I love it

houzz.com is my favorite but it is geared more toward Americans.

do shabby chic style to go with the bed? (pinterest search: shabby chic)

Can you get a sample of the material on the bed? Get a paint match. Use the paint for either one wall (toning in the other walls) or/and picture frames and a couple of pieces of furniture. The bed is gorgeous. It may be expensive matching the wood to furniture. Painting furniture to match the linen will be cheaper? You can then buy frames and furniture from shops like Dunelm and B&Ms to paint. It will instantly look more expensive. Honest

Don't know if it's any help but I've seen very similar beds on ebay

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amelia-Oak-Bed-Frame-LFE-Double-Bed-Frame-Only/301444186888?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D3802da6ea03b49f3994fcf6e15e7689c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D261790805649&rt=nc

Brocas, the web site owner no longer updates her site but I like absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.co.uk/.