Home décor defines the interior of a domestic dwelling. Without home décor, a house is just a house. In other words, an empty house is a structure and not yet a home. Creating a well loved home is easy with the right choices in home décor, but they must be the right choices.

Some homeowners base their décor, also known as interior decoration, around the architectural style of the house, apartment or condominium.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Home+decor If it's an old Victorian house, antiques are a good match. If the home is an ultra-modern high-rise condo, modern or retro-modern might be the perfect choice of décor.

Home décor is not just based on furniture. It is a combination of things like accessories, house plants, artwork, and more. Start with an empty room, then select the larger furnishings. The next additions will be things like end tables, lamps, and figurines,for example. Then hang mirrors, paintings or photographs on the walls. Add a few artificial plants or real ones, and the room takes on a new life with an outdoor feel indoors.

Some people like to accent the walls of their home with colors of paint. Others like to use wallpaper, or a combination of the two. Draperies or blinds, otherwise known as "window treatments," can render a room mundane or a place of beauty and warmth depending on the choice.

Contemporary styles are largely international. Low-cost furnishings are scaled for the size of the room, for easy upkeep and functionality. Synthetics are often used, and metals and glass are put to innovative uses. There is an emphasis on lighting. Ultimately, a balance of beauty and comfort is achieved.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Home+decor

Renaissance Italy, influenced by the Greeks and Romans, developed magnificent interiors. Leading artists were employed to decorate palaces and villas. Spain followed suit with rich colors, artisan-crafted furniture, tooled leather, and rich textiles. France was a trendsetter, changing styles with the changing of kings. For instance, during the Louis period, 1610–1793, France was established as a primary influence in interior decoration.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Louis+period+styles England developed the Elizabethan Style.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Elizabethan+style

Settlers in America used simple furnishings in a style known as Early Colonial. It has gained renewed popularity for re-creating early American interiors. In the 19th century, furniture made by machine gained popularity. With handmade goods experiencing a rebirth in the mid 1800s, "arts and crafts" was the term used for interior design in which handmade articles of décor were prominent.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/arts+and+crafts

Classical cultures used decorative art to create detailed interiors, beginning in Asia. In Europe during medieval times, ancient Spain and surrounding areas were the primary countries using movable furniture and hanging objects to furnish castles.http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Home+decor

Decor does not have to be budget breaking. For an antique style, or an older look, consider checking local thrift stores for older pieces of kitchenware which can be used as room decor. Some thrift stores may have furniture from years gone by which could be recovered in a fabric which matches the room decor.

Other inexpensive home decor options include making curtains from sheet sets, or making quilts with memories from shirts or favorite clothing items which a child has outgrown. T-shirts from previous vacations can be made into quilt squares to form a memory wall hanging for the family to enjoy.