Taking an ordinary room and making it extraordinary doesn’t have to be a difficult process. In fact, if you start with a concept in mind, the expense doesn’t even have to be great. One of the best ways to transform any room is to change the coloring of the walls.

Plain, boring white works well with some themes, but not all. In fact, in some cases, colors are necessary to make a theme work. Smartly chosen colors with the right furniture and decorating accents can bring a designer theme home without having to break the bank. Plus, colors can set a tone for a room. Warm, bright colors are thought to benefit productivity. Darker, more somber colors can be relaxing (although sometimes too much if light sources aren’t present.) Neutrals by their nature, fall somewhere in between.

Here are some coloring concepts and the kinds of themes they work well with:

* Soft pastels. These offer a hint of color that’s beyond the basic white. Pinks, greens, blues and even light purples are wonderful for girls’ rooms, living rooms and even kitchens. Welcoming and airy, these colors are great for rooms with a lot of natural light. They promote a sense of color without taking over the decorating scheme. These can work well with lighter furniture and airy, floral patterns. * Neutrals. Off whites, browns, beiges, greens and so on are wonderful in rooms with a classic appeal. They are perfect for dens, kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms where classy appeal is desired. There’s something that’s just neat and clean about a warm beige wall juxtaposed with white baseboards. Neutrals are great in almost any setting. * Dark colors. Deep reds, greens and blues are perfect for some settings. They work very well with dark woods and even with lots of natural light. They project a professional, somber setting. Mixed with lighter colors, they can add a sense of personality to just about any decorating scheme. They are great for dens, living rooms and even kitchens. These colors present a somber, welcoming feel.

Remember when decorating that not every color scheme can, or necessarily should be carried throughout every room. Mix it up and have fun. And do remember the other decorating features that will be included in the room. If, for example, you have deep mahogany furniture, a whimsical color mix of purple and green might not look great. But, a deep red or green for the main color with a white or off white also on the walls or baseboards would look fantastic. Dark colors and lighter, natural oak and pine also mix well why presenting a nice mix of neutral and bold.

Don’t overlook wall coloring when setting out to decorate a room or an entire house. Paint colors can very much enhance a decorating scheme without costing a lot of money. They can set tones for rooms and even help you create a personal get away. Remember, light colors that aren’t too bright encourage productivity. Dark, but warm colors can present a relaxing front and neutrals fall somewhere in between. Choose colors that speak to your sense of style and make you happy and you should be pleased with the outcome.

While it is unusual to conceive of leather for flooring, leather tiles are gaining popularity. Leather is not only gorgeous, it’s a durable flooring material. It could be just the thing to add unique elegance to your executive home. A wide selection of colors that leather can easily be stained and dyed, and the ability to have leather custom colored, assures a flooring that will blend in with any decorating style.

While leather floors have traditionally been hard to install, many companies are now adhering leather to wood, making leather tiles. These are very easy to install, as they are solid, and each piece retains its shape and can be tiled very tightly together. Waxing the surface after installation assures that any gaps are filled, and makes the leather surface easy to clean.

Taking care of your leather flooring is easy. Just vacuum or sweep as you would any other flooring. Spills can be wiped up with a damp cloth. It is recommended that wax be applied to floors annually, although they can go longer without this. The level of maintenance you will do on the floors depends on the aesthetic you are after. If you enjoy the natural patina of a well-used floor, then all the better. After all, wear and tear happens, and adds to the character of your floor, and any object in you home. If, however, you want the leather looking like it did the day you installed it, you will want to wax and buff on a regular basis, especially in high traffic areas.

The biggest detriment to leather flooring is high humidity and excessive direct sunlight. These factors can stress leather, causing it to warp and reducing its longevity. So avoid leather in bathrooms, kitchens and solarium’s.

However, leather is ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, offices, and dens. Its soft texture makes it a great choice for TV or listening rooms. Leather tiles on the floors, walls and even ceilings will compliment your entertainment system’s surround sound, buffering sound waves and reducing echo.

If you are installing the tile yourself, be sure to store the tiles out of their shipping container, in your chosen room for at least two weeks. This helps them acclimatize, assuring they will stay put as tightly as you install them. Assure that your installation surface is clean and free of all debris. Any flaws in the floor will be apparent on the finished surface. Be sure to read all of the manufacturers instructions carefully before beginning. This is a worthy investment, and should be done right.

Those of you with an environmental conscience will appreciate that recycled leather tile can be found, made from old leather furniture.

Because leather tile is attractive, unique and durable, it is an excellent choice for flooring that will add to the value to your home.