Depending upon the exposure of each room, color on the walls can affect the ambiance of the room. Steel gray on the walls of a room with northern exposure will not add warmth and intimacy, but a subtle shade of light gray with a touch of rose and beige will work wonders. Do not be afraid to use deep, rich colors in well-lighted rooms.

The preference for wood floors and the increased use of area rugs is a very pleasing combination and a classic way to add warmth and comfort.

The arrangement of furniture in the social areas of the home is an important but sometimes overlooked way to make a room intimate. Really congenial conversation and media areas require careful planning of comfortable furniture. The plan should include some flexibility for pulling up extra chairs or ottomans.

Outdoor Furniture
Provided by Consumers Digest

Would you like to enjoy your backyard patio as much as your indoor living room? With many of the styles of today's outdoor furniture, it is easy to create an outdoor "living room." Manufacturers are taking full advantage of the major advances in frame materials and fabrics and the finishes used to protect them.

You can tailor your choices to the weather and climate where you live and to your décor tastes. Frame materials come in metals, wood, wicker and rattan, and resin and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Acrylics, vinyl-coated polyesters and olefins, as well as blends of these and some other materials, are the predominant fabrics used today. They're available in just about any color and in florals, stripes and other patterns.

Aluminum is by far the largest seller in frame materials, according to the industry trade magazine, Casual Living. Aluminum doesn't rust, but you might want to look for powder coated, painted or anodized finishes to prevent discoloration. You'll also find a growing number of cast-aluminum styles, which are heavy in weight but offer highly detailed and intricate designs. Like cast aluminum, wrought iron also offers intricate detailing. But along with steel, it can rust. Powder coatings on steel and rust retardants on steel and wrought iron can retard rusting. You'll want to check the finishes as you shop and make your selections.

Non-metal materials include wood, which ranges from teak at the high end to a wide range of other species, including oak and pine as well as other recycled woods. Wicker is not a specific material but rather a word for styles made of either natural reed or man-made materials. Rattan is a natural material, a hardwood that grows as a vine. Resin and PVC are man-made materials that are resistant to sunlight, don't rust and have integral color throughout.

Outdoor Lighting Design Tips
Provided by Consumers Digest

Even the most subtle lighting design can draw attention to the natural beauty of your lawn and garden. Begin planning the outdoor lighting scheme for your home by thinking of your outdoor spaces at night as a blank canvas - only instead of adding color to a white background as you would in a painting, you will be sculpting forms and colors out of shadows and darkness. Ask yourself the following questions before you begin forming your lighting scheme:

What do you want to highlight - the entrance, the walkway, any particular trees or shrubs or a side garden area?