Posts tagged interior design

Economic Interior Design

Jun11
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

decorating

When it comes to the costs of improving your home, most would assume that interior design is not an area worth considering right now. Interior designers are expensive to hire and they choose uppity items that are way out of your economic means, right? Not necessarily. Most interior designers understand that people are pocket-pinching right now, and they know the best techniques and places to shop to help you find the most affordable items. Hiring an interior designer might even save you money in the long run.

If however you’re looking to update your home without professional help, here are some tips that were gathered right from the mouths of interior designers. The goal of decorating right now, according to one designer quoted in the 2010 issue of Home & Design Magazine, is to “go into what we call the soul of the home.” This means updating the items in the house that you find most important or sentimental, while also saving money and being more environmentally conscious.

Repurposing and reupholstering items that you already have is the most popular method of design right now. This allows you to keep pieces that hold meaning and memories, to reuse a worn piece rather than throw it out, and to update the look of your piece at a low cost.

Another popular designing tip right now is to decorate with neutral colors. Some interior designers consider this the number one tip for home designing, because neutral colors never go out of style. Ten years from now, your neutral décor will still look fresh and chic. So when you go to paint, use no or low VOC pain in tans, chocolates, grays or eggplant shades, including dark purples, plums and mauves. If you are updating your countertops or floors, you should use neutral colors and renewable materials, such as bamboo or cork. When you reupholster your furniture, use neutral colors as well.

When do you embrace current trends? Since trends are always changing, a popular rule of thumb that interior designers recommend is that you paint and update permanent items in neutral colors, and then you accessorize with trendy colors. For example, turquoise is the current color for spring and summer of 2010, so home designers should accessorize with turquoise artwork, curtains, dishware, throw pillows and any item that you can easily switch out and replace with a new trendy color down the road. Also, metal art and animal prints are both popular accents right now, which also both coincide with neutral décor.

There is always a way to update your interior design and keep up with current trends while still saving money in the process!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Wall Decorating Advice

Apr23
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

When it comes to home decorating, second to furniture, we mostly discuss what we will hang on our walls. Considering that the average height of a wall is eight feet, that’s 32 feet of empty space in one four-walled room that needs to be filled! With higher ceilings and open floor plans, feeling the need to fill wall space only increases. However, it’s very easy to fill your walls up so fast and with so much, they end up looking like a cluttered and chaotic disaster.

How do you keep your walls decorated? If you are trying to sell your house, or you just moved into a new house, begin with empty walls and follow these general rules:

  1. Start with the main wall of the first room that your guests view when they walk in your front door. Therefore, if your living room opens to the side, begin with the opposite wall or the wall opposite the front window. If your kitchen resides straight ahead, work with the wall straight ahead.
  2. Consider hanging one item on that first main wall. This way, all attention will be focused on this cherished item, and the wall will not look cluttered. You can even add a lighting fixture to center extra attention on the piece of art.
  3. Create a triangle of space on the wall that you will allow yourself to fill. Try to center it and keep it no larger than the top half of the wall. Fill this triangle of space with a collage of items, and do not extend the décor outside of the triangle.
  4. Continue following these rules as you continue to decorate past the main room of the house. Keep a routine going by hanging one centerpiece in each room, or mix it up, with some rooms showing off collages or multiple pieces, and other room displaying one focal piece.

When choosing what to hang on the wall, take these questions into consideration:

  • Who will use the room the most?
  • What type of ambiance do you want the room to have?
  • What color patterns do your paint palettes and furniture provide?
  • How much space do you have to work with?
  • What other wall items are you working with, such as windows and fireplaces?
  • What is your decorating budget?

What you hang on your wall is entirely up to you. The possibilities are overabundant, with almost nothing considered taboo. You could hang a family portrait or a collage of photographic memories. You could hang a piece of renowned artwork as a main focal point, or you could hang multiple pieces of art that complement each other. You could skip the usual paintings, sketches and photographs, and opt for a collage of wallpaper patterns, a framed puzzle, a creative piece of wood, a sculpture, an intricate clock or any other type of object that you find inspiring and visually appealing.

Once you find a decorative piece that you want to show off, strive to keep the focus on that piece and to keep your walls as uncluttered and calm as possible. Your guests will appreciate your smart sense of style!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged ,

Beat the Winter Blues

Jan08
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

winter-house1

After the holidays come to a close and the decorations are neatly restored into boxes, our homes tend to appear emptier and drabber. There are no more strings of multicolored lights, sparkly tinsel and fuzzy Santa hats to brighten our spirits. Though this drab feeling will pass with time, and you’ll soon remember what you love about your year-round décor, why not add a bold touch here and there? Little additions to your home’s winter décor will add just enough flare to beat the winter blues!

• Add throw rugs, pillows, vases or other miscellaneous knickknacks in warm, earthy tones that will increase the energy of a room. These tones will lift your mood by reminding you of the warmer days ahead. When those warmer days arrive, your décor will already be ready for them!

• Hang a new piece of framed artwork on your wall. Anything new to your eyes will lift your spirits. Opt to hang a framed picture of your family or friends, from over the holiday season, to remind you of the good times you shared.

• Go shopping at an antique store, a thrift store or a flea market for small and affordable finds. You can add flare to your home without feeling guilty for shopping post-holidays.

• Switch your winter, holiday candle scents with fragrances that will remind you of spring, the season of rebirth. Choose floral favorites or an ocean/rain aroma.

• Purchase some herbs to plant in indoor pots, and set the pots on a windowsill or near a window. The herbs will provide natural fragrances and a healthy addition to meals. When summer arrives, bring the pots outside!

• Replace heavy curtains with light, airy alternatives. These will allow the short hours of sunlight to stream inside, and it will remind you of warm summer breezes to come.

• Drape blankets and throws over your couches and chairs to add new patterns to a room and to have on hand during blistering cold nights. Also, keep fresh logs of wood in the fireplace for a quick strike of a match!

• During winter clearance sales, score some visually appealing mugs and some convenient hot chocolate, tea or coffee mixes. Place packets of hot chocolate or tea inside the mugs, and use these sets as a centerpiece that is easy to reach!

Before you know it, you’ll be hanging red hearts and Cupids around your house while you nibble on chocolates. After that, spring will be here before you know it!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Frugal Facelift for Your Kitchen

Aug17
2009 25 Comments Written by Shanna

ssfridge Sellers, are you wishing you could replace your appliances but can’t afford the cost? There’s another answer. With a few simple materials, a little time and a lot of elbow grease, you can turn your old appliances into like-new showpieces, designed to make your kitchen instantly more impressive to potential buyers. Want to know how?

Step One: Cleaning
This step may seem unnecessary, in which case you’ll be tempted to skip it—but don’t. Thoroughly scrubbing and sanitizing your appliances lays the groundwork for any improvement.

Step Two: Choose Replacement Materials
There are several options to choose from when it comes to updating your appliances. While these options may not last the next 20 years, they do extend the life of your outdated appliances temporarily, which is especially valuable when your home is for sale! Which solution you choose depends on your personal preference, so compare these choices:

  • Veneer Panels: Wood-looking panels can be attached to your existing appliances to give them a cutting-edge appearance.
  • Paint: Specially made appliance paint can give your older appliances a fresh start. Just be sure to use the paint specifically made for this purpose—use anything else, and you’re likely to ruin what you have.
  • Stainless Steel-Looking Contact Paper: You can purchase the contact paper at home stores or online, and then you just need to cut it yourself to the exact measurements of your appliances. Attach it to the front of your appliances for an instant makeover! Note that this option cannot be applied above the stove.

Research the cost and availability of materials at your local home improvement store, and decide which is best for you. Whatever the case, one thing’s for sure, this kitchen facelift is the kind that matters: it’s low in cost and big in impact!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Interior Water Décor

Aug14
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

bluewall

During the relatively hot, dry season of August, decorate your interior with cool, calm hues and water accessories! Whether you’re relaxing inside an air-conditioned room, or under a ceiling fan with the windows open, H2O accents can keep you feeling refreshed, even when the thermostat skyrockets past 100 degrees.

Paint an accent wall a soft shade of blue-green aqua, place a tranquil fountain on an end table, or upgrade your sink! Here are some detailed ways to add water accents to your home this August:

• Choose a room to redecorate in calming blue tones. Opt for a room that provides an abundance of windows or sliding glass doors, such as a Florida room, a bright table area or an airy living room. Paint the walls a navy blue tone, while covering furniture with crisp, white covers. Paint one wall a shade of aqua, while the other three remain white, creme or beige. If you have artistic talent, put your skills to use by painting or drawing a beach mural on one whole wall. For inspirational ideas, click here.

• Add fabrics in pastel blues. Hang a voile or silk curtain over a window in blue, light enough to softly flow in a breeze. Add blue silky and sheer pillows to a white couch. Lay a blue cotton table cloth over a dining room table or a coffee table. Add blue placemats on a wooden table in light blue shades. For some real creativity, add fabrics that display an ocean or water scene. For some visual examples, click here.

• Place a fountain or waterfall fixture somewhere in your interior. The sounds will calm you, and the sight will keep you refreshed. If you choose a dramatic floor waterfall, choose the location wisely, since they are heavy and difficult to move and maintain. Choose a material that accents the materials already found in your home. Options include marble, stone, glass, cement and copper. For more tips on what type of fountain to choose, click here. For examples, click here.

• Upgrade your shower, tub or sink for an increased appreciation of water usage! Instead of bathing in an average shower/tub combo, opt for a one-of-a-kind Jacuzzi with speakers and a DVD player attached, or for a vessel sink with a granite bowl and a stainless steel faucet. The elegant style will never get old, and your stress levels will diminish while you take the time to relax. For examples of top-of-the-line tubs, click here, and for sinks, click here.

• Decorate with water accessories for a quick, affordable way to add H2O accents to your interior. Depending on your personality, hang a painting of dramatic waves during an ocean storm, or a calm scene of fishers on a pier. Spend a day at a beach or out on a boat, and then hang collages of the photographs you captured. Place clear vases on end tables and fill them with water and vibrant flowers. Add a fishbowl to a table with a bright betta fish. Adding simple accents could do the trick for a low cost and with zero maintenance.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Tying Your Home’s Decor Together

Aug07
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Becky

livingroom

One of the keys to obtaining an open, flowing floor plan and a sense of unity in your home is to create a cohesive design. Instead of approaching each room as a separate entity, you should think of it as part of a greater whole, in this case, your home. Eclectic decor can work sometimes, but you should be able to walk from one room in your house to the next without feeling a dramatic difference. Here are some tips on creating a cohesive design throughout your home:

Theme
Pick a theme that shows off your personal style to incorporate throughout your entire home. If you like different design elements and find it difficult to stick with just one, then try using color to create a cohesive feel.

Color

The right color scheme creates unity in your home. Limit the color palette to five colors at most, but use varying shades of these colors to keep things interesting. For example, if the walls in the living room display a mustard yellow, try a burnt orange in the dining room. This lets you stick with the same color group without being boring. Plus, walls of the same color will also give the illusion of more space.

Furnishings and Flooring

Furnishings are also an integral part of cohesive home decor. Figure out your furnishing style and then find pieces that will incorporate this style. By sticking with the same style throughout your home, you can create a seamless flow from room to room. Another easy way to unify connecting rooms is by using the same flooring.

Repetition

Repeat patterns, designs and fabrics in different rooms throughout your home to tie everything together. For example, a design that looks good on a throw pillow or curtains in the living room might also work on a tablecloth in the dining room. This concept is especially important in the main living areas, the parts of your home that everyone sees.

Follow these tips and you’ll feel a sense of unity in your home in no time!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , , ,

Staging for Summer

Jul06
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

floors

If you are selling your property during the summer season, it is important for prospective buyers to be warmly welcomed into your home. Buy Owner has also expressed that it is vital for sellers to stage their homes, to give potential buyers an idea what their furnished, decorated home may look like. So how do you get your home ready for a summer open house? Here are some summer staging tips:

Foyer

• If your foyer boasts tiling or hardwood flooring, keep the floor open. Remove any area rugs, as layers create unnecessary warmth when the weather is already hot.

• If you want to keep dirt from being tracked into the house, place a small mat right near the door.

• If you have a screen door, keep the main door open to allow for plenty of light to flow through the foyer.

Living Room

• Make sure a comfy chair is seated near the window to offer views of the outdoors; trade a lofty leather recliner for a light whicker rocking chair.

• For decoration, place a vintage screen door, garden gate, or a portion of white picket fencing in the corner of the room.

• Replace dark lampshades with white or cream-colored shades.

Kitchen/Dining Room

• Place a large bowl of fruit/veggies on the table, the counter or an island. Summer fruits include pineapple, peaches, cantaloupe and bananas. Summer vegetables include: tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers.

• Decorate the room with potted plants. Sunflowers brighten the room and give it a summery disposition.

• Cover dining room chairs with a light-colored slip covers.

Bedrooms

• Remove any heavy textures like accent pillows, down pillows, wool blankets.

• Create an airy, simple look on the bed with one or two white pillows, white sheets and a white cover sheet only.

• Exchange a wooden night table for a piece of whicker furniture.

Bathrooms

• Arrange a basket of scented soaps on the vanity; choose light scents like lavender, pomegranate or peach.

• Keep just one towel in the bathroom. Too many layers create too much warmth.

• If you have a shower/tub combo, keep the curtain/sliding door open.

It is not necessary to completely alter every single room in your house for a summer showing. If you making simple changes, lightening and freshening up your home’s decor, potential buyers will get the feel that your home is a comfortable place to live during the summer.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Adding Decorative Mirrors

May22
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

mirror

Looking to easily and quickly spruce up a room? Here’s a quick tip: add a mirror!

True, the main purpose of a mirror is to reflect, whether an object or ourselves as we brush our teeth in the morning. But when used as an accent piece, mirrors have the power to create illusions and transformations! Hung appropriately, this decorative piece can instantly make a room appear brighter and larger.

Here is insider’s knowledge on the different types of mirrors:

  • Long, oval mirrors allow a short room to appear taller.
  • Wide mirrors allow a small room to appear wider.
  • Floor-to-ceiling or wall-to-wall mirrors can double the size of a room!
  • When hung parallel to a window or a light fixture, mirrors can double the natural brightness in a room. They can also double a window’s attractive view.
  • In a dark closet or basement, a mirror can act as a window by attracting the small amount of light that is available.
  • Mirrors with frames can add visual, architectural appeal. Frames are available in wood, molded polyurethane, metal, plastic, eco-friendly bamboo and just about anything.
  • Hanging mirrors can fill an empty wall, and floor mirrors can fill an empty corner.
  • Mirrors are easy to clean and almost always appear like-new.
  • According to feng shui decorating, mirrors are the symbol of water and can calm or rejuvenate a room. Depending on your mirror placement, mirrors will improve health and family in the East, wealth in the Southeast and career in the North.
  • Make sure the mirror’s placement allows it to reflect something that you wouldn’t mind seeing twice. Opt for a nice window view over a bathroom or cluttered closet view.
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Top 10 Most Unique Decorating Ideas

Feb20
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

The slow month of February puts some of us into a funk. Winter isn’t gone, spring hasn’t arrived and the holidays are over. If you’re looking to fill your spare time and spruce up your home, now is the perfect time to redecorate! These top 10 unique decorating ideas are fun, original, easy and full of inspiration!

1. Spruce up your walls with some color! Solid paint is okay, but colorful stripes can really make a room bright and inviting. Wallpaper can get messy, so do the job in a snap with Permacel tape, which is basically colorful masking tape! The rolls come in numerous colors and widths so that your only worry is making sure your lines are straight.
2. Always wish that your bed displayed a headboard? Create your own and add spunk to your bedroom! Place a crafty tapestry behind your bed or create your own art on a blank canvas. Not artistic? Have a photograph placed onto a canvas. For something simpler, use a screen or paint an old headboard.
3. Go all out with a bookcase door! Whether you create a hidden “mystery room” or just add storage to a small area, you can buy or create your own bookcase doors. To make your own, use burly wood or plywood that you can paint. You’ll need strong hinges, like steel, for strength and smoothness when moving books.
4. If you are known for having a strong passion, make it the theme of a room! Bring your love for nature inside by wrapping vines up your walls, displaying art or statues of wildlife and accenting with bright colors! Or create the vision of a basketball court by drawing the court’s lines on a hardwood floor and hanging a basketball hoop. Just make sure it’s a passion that won’t soon die out.
5. Prices are high if you want to cover a wall in stone, but now you can pretend with laminate designs! Cover a wall with laminate panels that looks like stone, leather, metal or any other design you love! Laminate is cheap and easy to care for.
6. Make the kitchen table more fun by placing a builder’s dust sheet over the table as a tablecloth. Then, sketch a design into the material, or just sketch around a plate and silverware so that each seat has a permanent place setting! Dust sheets also pick up dirt and are machine washable.
7. Add color to a room without going overboard by designing your own lampshade! Paint geometric shapes or little circles using watercolors. Watercolor paints are easy to use and the design doesn’t need to be perfect. For less hassle, just spray paint a shade to add extra oomph to the room.
8. If you rent your home and cannot paint the walls, leave them white and add an accent color to a room. Hang bright accessories from wall sconces or buy bright fabric for throw pillows. A bright accent color will bounce off the white walls!
9. Bring the look of stained glass into your home with glass tiles. Glass tiles come in an abundance of designs and cover countertops or hang as backsplashes. They can also hang from accent windows to bounce colors around the room or can decorate stainless steel appliances!
10. Do some history research and design a room in a particular time period. Decorate a room from the Gothic period with dark colors and gargoyles, or add columns and art for a Roman and Greek period. Whatever you decide on, shop around and have fun with it! Shopping at garage sales, flea markets and antique shops will probably bring you the most original materials.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , ,

Home Decorating Trends for 2009

Jan01
2009 2 Comments Written by Alicia

Now is the time to get a head start with your home improvement plans for the new year, by looking at potential 2009 home decorating trends! It’s never too early to plan for the future. According to Carmen Natschke, editor of “The Decorating Diva”, and other famous trendsetters, there is much to look forward to in 2009!

With the economic stresses that we’re currently facing, the home is expected to be marketed as a stress-free sanctuary. Calm, neutral colors and elegant satin or comfy cotton furniture should fill the home. These ideas coincide with the feng shui design ideas of placing furniture in a way that will bring peace to the energies around us.

Fashion in home decorating tends to follow the trends of clothing fashion. Home accessories, such as pillows, are expected to flaunt belts, sequins and bold colors! Check out the trendsetter clothing magazines to stay ahead of the curve.

Popular furniture for 2009 includes old-fashioned pieces with a contemporary pattern. Take trips to the local antique shops and find some quality-built furniture. Then, fix it up with bold, bright patterns. Bringing old-fashioned and contemporary styles together creates a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Green living has become more popular than ever and will continue to surge in 2009! We will see a rush of eco-friendly materials, such as cork flooring, bamboo countertops and organic wool slipcovers. To get a fuller knowledge of eco-friendly materials for the home, check out our green-living blog entries!

Art Deco is experiencing a resurgence of popularity in interior design. Art Deco is usually based on a variety of geometric shapes. Fill your home with all types of patterns, from animal print to geometrics to modern floral. It’s nearly impossible to go wrong with the unique appeal of Art Deco.

Wood is also experiencing a resurgence of recognition. It is expected that in 2009, wood will be displayed in more places than just the flooring. Turn your home into a ski lodge or log cabin with hardwood wall coverings, beadboard ceilings and even wooden furniture.

Neutral colors have always been used in abundance, but they aren’t what they used to be! The “drab tan” in only one shade is no longer what neutral coloring refers to! Now you can find every shade that is visible outdoors, whether it be leaves, nuts, foods or grasses. Each room could include a different shade of tan, one wall could shine more than the others or the ceiling could add some color. Bring the calm colors of nature inside for a look that everyone will appreciate!

Colors that are expected to gain fame in 2009 include rich browns, bright pinks, indigo and sapphire, spiced orange, saffron, gold and silver, all shades of green, soft blues and purples, fuchsia, salmon, lavender, deep blue and even yellow!

In order to show off all of these stunning color palettes, more complex lighting fixtures will be in order! Chandeliers are expected to grow in size and wall fixtures will gain popularity. With such a color craze on its way, people want to show off their new rooms as much as possible!

Wall murals will soar to an all-time high! A wall mural can completely change the mood of a room without you spending a fortune. With some time and talent, a wall mural could transform your family room into a beachfront or your den into a sunny park.

A blend of cultures comes together in 2009. Furniture patterns or art pieces can show off multiple cultural influences at one time. Turn your home into an international wonder without buying a single plane ticket! Your guests will appreciate the history and recognition of cultural variety.

Any sort of one-of-a-kind accessory can set your home apart from others. Buy a piece of furniture from a local builder, purchase a painting from the actual painter and grab an antique tea set from a nearby antique store. You’d be amazed at the unique, original opportunities awaiting you in 2009!

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