Once you're done with the window treatments, the repainting of the walls, and the rearranging of the furniture, you might think you're done. But wait a minute. Taking a look around the room, you get this sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, and you realize that after all your hard work, the room doesn't even look half finished yet! Now what?



Well, you may have finished designing and embellishing the interiors and the shell of your home, but that doesn't mean your job is done. There are lots of finishing touches that you can add to make the room look finished and welcoming. In fact, some interior decorators advocate that home decoration is never finished; that there is always something new to add or to remove. Whether it takes a week, a month, or a whole lifetime, finding just the right finishing touches for a room is really the fun part of decorating.

Expand on Your Theme ? Everyone has a special interest, whether it's traveling, sports, pets, flowers, children, and even a favorite book or movie. These special interests can provide a background and several fresh ideas for designing a room and embellishing it to reflect your own unique personality. When you pick out a suitable theme, you'll then know what accessories, art, memorabilia, and even colors to look for and include in your room.

Plants and Flowers ? It's amazing what a quick transformation can be made with fresh plants and flowers. And you don't even have to get expensive floral arrangements, etc. A simple plant potted in a decorative pot set on a coffee table, bookshelf, on top of a cabinet, almost anywhere, adds life and color instantly. Be sure to keep fresh plants shiny and dusted. If a plant gets scraggly or droopy, waste no time getting it out. You may want to nurse it back to its former healthy form, but in the meantime, remove it from your room!

Wall It Up ? Uncovered, dull walls get a real lift with a colorful poster, a painting, prints, and family photos. However, try to focus on a color scheme or theme, and don't just go smacking them up all against the walls. One large piece can create a central point, where all of your other wall art pieces could draw the eye nearer for a closer look.

Favorite Stuff ? If you collect anything such as models, books, terra cotta, cameras, or sporting equipment, use the collection as a point of interest, or at least to serve as a great conversational piece. Things like coins, teapots, small sculptures, dolls, etc. can be gathered into one special place, or if you want, they can be arranged in several areas around the room. Celadon plates, blue and white porcelain, carved wooden pieces all offer themselves as works of art for a room.

Ground It Up ? A hardwood floor looks sleek and smooth, while wall to wall carpet adds softness and unifies large spaces. But placing an area rug can add even more definition to your room. It can create a special area, provide a boundary for furniture, and even divide a room into several spaces without walls. Classic oriental rugs can be found to fit almost any decorating scheme, and contemporary patterned or color-blocked rugs add color and character to the floor and the room.