Keeping A Style File

Keeping a style file is one of the best ways to save money when re-decorating.  Seriously.  Knowing what it is you really want to have happen keeps you from buying a really cool IKEA pendant lamp just because you see it at the Salvation Army.  You want it because it's such a good deal, not because it actually fits the room - see?

Used to be, I had a folder filled with document sleeves and little tiny pictures of photo-styled bookshelves.  I still think this is a great way to include fabric swatches and wallpaper samples, but in the digital age, most everything in print is also available online.  Enter the digital folder.  Domino magazine has My Deco File available for free on their site. Upload photos from anywhere online and share your finds as photos sets.  Flip through other people's sets - pretty slick.

As you can see, I use my blog as a storage center for finds.  I like having them somewhere I can share. Even if you don't want to blog, you can still use Blogger.com (or any blog host) as a keeper for design project photos.  To stay organized, tag your uploads or add them in under individual project headers.  I've done this for styling projects.  My clients really get a good idea of how I see their project shaping up and they can also link out to find more information or to see a certain product's colorways.  Also pretty slick.

A few hints:  If you have a Mac, you can usually slide jpg files (photos) right off a web page onto your desktop for saving.  I usually rename files so I know what they are when uploading them to my design file.  If you run into a Flash situation or if you just want a section of the photo, press Apple + Shift + 4 to drag and clip. Apple + Shift + 3 gives you a photo of the full screen.

Comments

[jen geigley]

absolutely brilliant! i used to keep a notebook, but jpg's - duh!
so much easier. ;)