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EmmaJ

Ways to Hygge Your Home and Make It More Inviting

March 19, 2019
EmmaJ
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The concept of hygge, invented by the Danish and pronounced “hoo-ga”, means the art of creating intimacy and can roughly be translated as cosiness. It has taken the world of interior design by storm and almost everyone is trying to recreate the beautiful Nordic minimalism that manages to offer warmth in a simple, timeless décor.

For beginners, hygge means a fresh, clutter-free space with indoor plants, lovely, fluffy rugs on bare hardwood floors, soft fabrics and furnishings and books. However, hygge is more than just design and décor. It’s about togetherness and family ties, nights of simple joys of being in each other’s company and having fun. So, here are several basic ways you can easily hygge up your home and make it more welcoming and inviting.

Bring in natural materials

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Natural materials are a key ingredient of hygge. Incorporate natural elements by bringing in simple decorative pieces such as a rustic wooden table, an organic wool throw, your collection of seashells, potted ferns, a bunch of fresh flowers or any other item from the great outdoors. If you love DIY projects, find a branch outside that you can use for a lamp post and create a stunning floor lamp that will cast a warm glow in your reading nook.

Create an ambient glow

Lighting and candlelight is an essential element in hygge and in cold and dark winter months in Scandinavia, this is the way to keep the atmosphere indoors warm and cosy. There’s a wide range of hand-made, scented candles on the market today and bringing them in your home will not only evoke warmth, but it will create peace and serenity.

You can also enhance the atmosphere by hanging a string of twinkling Christmas lights around your home and you’ll be amazed how relaxing it can be. Don’t limit this only to the living room. Bring them lights and candles into your kitchen while you’re cooking, into your bedroom while you’re reading and in the bathroom while you’re having a bath. Your kids too will love the soft glow of flickering lights hung around their bed frames.

Use textures to soften up the space

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By using natural materials and textiles, it’s easy to create an inviting space. Experts advise adding light linens in summer and soft, woolly blankets in the winter. They advise against carpets but recommend area rugs and soft, white sheepskin that is minimally processed and sustainably sourced.

The nursery can also benefit greatly from hygge design. If you’re going for a gender neutral room and you’re not a fan of typically themed kiddie rooms, cladding the baby’s room in neutral, pastel colours, natural textiles such as wool, cotton, sisal and felt, you’ll design the room that will provide a warm and pleasant environment for your baby to grow up in.

Unplug and unwind

It’s easy to get caught up in work today and lose our heads in information overload. Unplugging and unwinding doesn’t mean you should bury your head in sand and stop caring about what the world around you. It’s really about practicing being present now for just a few moments every day and enjoying the company of loved ones. To have a true hygge spirit in your home, put your phones down, turn off the TV and slow down. Have a delicious meal with your family, talk and embrace the simplicity of life.

It’s all about the details

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A few cosy details can go a long way and show people just how much you care. For instance, a basket with slippers by the entrance will help people kick their shoes off and relax, a tray with flowers, tea, coffee, cider and chocolates will indulge everyone’s senses and a lovely woven basket with extra blankets, pillows and favourite books will make anyone feel welcome and appreciated.

To achieve the ultimate hygge in your home, follow the tips listed here and enjoy the cosiness that will follow!

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The Start-to-Finish Guide Before Moving to a New Place

January 17, 2019
EmmaJ
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Moving from one home to another is always difficult, no matter how old you are, how many times you’ve done that before and how many possessions you actually have. Being forced to pack up everything you own and move it to another place can be a logistical nightmare, but if you plan ahead and know what you’re doing, moving can turn out to be easier than you’ve ever imagined. It includes a couple of vital stages, and you should pay equal attention to every single one of these, so here’s a handy start-to-finish guide that might help you get prepared for a move and tell you everything you need to know about the entire process.

Decide what stays and what goes

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Moving to a new home is a wonderful opportunity to get rid of all those things you don’t use anymore, but still keep them around, just in case you ever need them again. But, to be honest, the chances are you won’t need them at all, so this might be the perfect time to get rid of them.

Some of the things most people get rid of when moving are clothes, DVDs, CDs and books – the things you don’t use anymore – as well as old mugs, towels and kitchen appliances because you can always replace them with new ones. Once you decide what you don’t need, sell or donate these things, and then move onto packing the things you’ll take with you.

Provide enough boxes

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This might seem like the silliest thing in the world, but the fact is that many people just don’t have enough boxes when they’re packing their stuff. They start with a couple of huge cardboard boxes, thinking that’s going to be enough, but then realize that these huge boxes are neither practical nor strong enough for all their possessions.

Instead of doing that, you should get lots of smaller boxes, preferably of the same size. These are easier to handle and carry around, and you can stack them together easily because of their unique size. This way, you’ll be able to pack and unpack your things in a matter of minutes without wasting time and energy at all.

Ask your kids to help too

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Moving to another home can be stressful for your kids, especially if you’re moving to a new town and they have to leave all their friends behind. That’s why you have to find ways to make this a bit easier for them and minimize their stress as much as you can. Talking to them and approaching them in advance is the key, and if you manage to do these things subtly, your kids won’t even notice the move.

You’ll have to make a ton of promises to your kids in order to get them to cooperate in the move, and you’ll probably end up being more stressed-out than them. But, if you manage to get them involved, they could actually end up helping you quite a lot – packing their own things, labeling their own boxes and decluttering their own toys. This way, you can trust them to help you organize the move, and that means you have fewer things to worry about, which is quite amazing.

After packing all your things, loading them into the moving truck and getting your new home ready for your arrival, there’s nothing left to do than to say goodbye to your old home and leaving it for good. This is an important part of the process, and it will help you and your family get some closure before you can start your new life in your brand new home.

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Effective Ways to Choose the Right Floor Plan for Your Home

December 11, 2018
EmmaJ
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Building a home on your own instead of moving into an existing one isn’t something lots of people do nowadays. However, if you want to have the power to make choices and adapt this space to your own needs, building from scratch is exactly what you have to do. One of the most important benefits of making this decision is having the freedom to choose your own floor plan and personalize it as much as you want. So, if you too are in the middle of this process at the moment, here are a few tricks that will help you find the right floor plan for your own home.

Decide how many rooms you need

Depending on the number of people living in your house and other important reasons, the first thing you have to do is define the number of rooms you’re going to need. Besides the living room, kitchen and bathroom, you have to add enough bedrooms for every member of your family. If you’re planning on working from home, you’re going to need space for an office. On the other hand, if you’re going to have guests dropping by every now and then, they’re going to need a room as well. Once you’ve taken all these things into account, you can calculate the number of rooms your home will need and move on with your plans.

Make the layout

Making the perfect layout for your new home is neither easy nor simple, especially if you don’t have any experience and have never done anything like this in your life. That’s why you should talk to your contractor and your architect and get them to help you turn your ideas into reality. What you need to know is the basic layout and what you’d like to go where. Ask yourself are all the bedrooms going to be on the same side of the house, are the cooking and dining area going to be connected, how big you want the living room to be, etc. These are just some of the things you’ll have to figure out, but as soon as you do that, you’ll be a lot closer to finding a perfect floor plan for your home.

Get some inspiration

In order to get inspired, different people try different techniques, and these depend on where you live and how developed the real estate market in your area is. People like to visit open houses and get inspiration from the homes of their friends, encouraging their contractors to replicate these when coming up with a floor plan for their home. Others prefer looking at display homes that are nearly finished but can still include a few changes in order to get inspired.

Focus on one room at a time

When choosing a floor plan, it’s hard to think about the entire layout at once but focusing on separate spaces at a time and making sure they all get the attention they deserve is much better. Start with the living room, for instance, because this is where you’ll be spending most of your free time and socializing with your friends and family. Define its size and layout and include enough seating area for everyone. Then move onto the kitchen, but try to avoid the most common mistakes lots of people make, from wasting counter space to making your kitchen island too big. Finally, end with bathrooms and bedrooms, making sure they’re spacious enough and include a sufficient amount of maneuvering and storage space.

Choosing the right floor plan for your home is a lengthy process that requires lots of time and patience, but once you take care of it, you’re going to fall in love with your home more than ever before. So, think everything through, make smart decisions and imagine what kind of future you want to build in your home.

 

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Top Five Interior Design Trends for Using Wood in Your Home

November 28, 2018
EmmaJ
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Being sustainable and eco-friendly is the only way to save Mother Earth for the future generations, and the best ways to do that is by using wood to furnish your home. This is also an effective and easy way to bring in a dose of elegance and class into your living space, and that’s something we all need. Wood is versatile, durable and visually intriguing, which means you can combine it with other materials, colors and patterns any way you want. If you still don’t know how to incorporate wood into your interior space, here are five design trends you should take into consideration.

 

Wooden flooring

wooden flooring
This is probably the easiest idea in the world, but it’s still among the most effective and adaptable ones as well. Installing hardwood floors is something you can do on your own in just a couple of days, but it’ll last you a very long time. There are many types of hardwood floors and you can choose between different shades, so try to pick something that will go well with the color of your wall and your furniture.

 

Wooden furniture

Speaking of furniture, lots of people forget how visually appealing and interesting wooden furniture can be. Yes, wood can sometimes be pricier than other materials, but it’s natural, durable and easy to maintain. When it comes to cleaning, all you need is a wet cloth, a few minutes of free time, and you’re all done! Wooden furniture can also be sustainable and made from second-hand resources, or you can even repurpose and refurbish old pieces on your own. You’ll get cheap, yet versatile furniture that’s definitely going to suit every member of your family.

 

Wooden beams

This is another win-win situation where you can get a nice decorating element and something that will support your ceiling at the same time. Wooden beams are frequently seen in older homes that were recently renovated, and more and more owners are deciding to leave them exposed, precisely due to the aesthetic appeal of natural wood. Beams can do wonders for your interior and take it to a whole new level right away, and you can repaint them as often as you want and get a whole new look!

 

Wooden walls and paneling

This is an idea not many people consider, but it’s still worth the investment. Wooden statement walls are a great way to insulate your interior space and add a dose of elegance and personality into it, while still maintaining the natural look everyone loves so much. If you decide to give these walls a try, start small and apply wood to just one wall before you go all in. If you think this might be too much, try wooden paneling instead – this is basically the same idea, but panels go only halfway up. They’re easy to clean and repaint, and the change they introduce into your living space is enormous.

 

Wooden décor

Now, if you’re a real fan of wood and want to have it in every corner of your home, you can do that by finding the best wooden décor there is. Luckily, there are a lot of DIY ideas you can explore, from wooden picture frames, candle holders and coat hangers, to wooden coffee tables, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling bookcases and kitchen countertops. All of these things will make your interior space more rustic and inviting, and all your guests are surely going to notice how special your home décor really is.

 

Using wood in your home isn’t as hard as it seems at first, and the opportunities you have are enormous. Whether you’re a fan of wooden flooring or prefer seeing wood on your walls and ceilings, you can explore these ideas and adapt them to your own interior design style and the space you have. In the end, keep in mind that wood is generally easy to maintain and clean, so you won’t have any problems keeping your place spotless all year long.

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Best Unique Interior Design Elements To Make Your House Your Home

November 22, 2018
EmmaJ
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Have you ever wondered why some people can start out with the same basic materials as another designer, yet still create rooms that are edgy and unique? The difference is the way they use the elements of design and color.


A Global Community

Society has finally come to grips with the fact that technology has made us a global society. Corporations are likely to have facilities around the world. E-Commerce is a normal part of our lives.

Why does this matter in designing our homes? Before it was logical to have distribution points internationally and associates that could easily travel, we could expect the people in our lives to be culturally similar. But, today your boss, friends, and neighbors are often from cultures that are much different than that of Western society. Therefore, in order to make our homes visitor-friendly, we should consider how elements are perceived by others.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the use of color. For example, in the United States, the use of red stirs feelings of excitement, passion, and (positive and negative) power. In some cases, it is used to show strong anger. However, in Asian cultures, red is the color used to express joy and happiness. It is believed to bring happiness and long life. It is often worn by brides to ensure a happy marriage. In the Middle-East red is used for danger and warning. Further, Latin America and Mexico use red with white as a representation of religion and faith.

The effect

Because the “meaning” of color varies from one country to another, it is the mental or emotional reaction that causes problems. For example, if a client from Mexico visits your home for a dinner party You will probably offer alcohol from your home bar. You may play lively and modern music that is meant to be entertaining. If your home bar is decorated in red and white, which represent his religion, he may feel you are insulting his faith.

Photo credit: Mariano Nocetti

Using color and structure to your advantage

Use neutral colors for your home. Eggshell, Ivory, and Vanilla are perfect for the living room. These colors make the room look bigger and give the room a warm, homey feeling. Add a splash of color with throw pillows, throws, vases, and rugs in a bright hue. Use the “times-three” rule. Use a larger item like the rug or throw to give you the effect you are looking for. The human eye immediately scans for the color elsewhere in the room. Use a striking pattern on canvas on the wall with your splash-color as a secondary color to the design.

Personal portraits are in big demand this year. The days of having your portrait painted on canvas with oils are back. Portrait paintings by Instapainting make this process painless. Send them a favorite photograph. Their professional artists will recreate the picture on canvas attached with keys to make placing the painting into a frame easy. If oil paintings are not in line with your style, opt to have watercolors for a casual but stunning portrait. You can also opt for pencil art or chalk art on heavy art-grade paper.

Your decision on the type of painting you want depends on the room. If your design is sharp, clean lines, go with oil paints. If your design is casual with lesser- defined patterns will compliment watercolors or chalk.

Use unique lighting to draw attention to the wall hangings.

Hotel-Style Bedrooms

Bedrooms that are inviting and plush are trending. Use thick comforters, pillows, of light colors. The sheets must be white and crisp. Pale blue or gray works well on walls. Deep plush rugs of faux fur are understated and chic.

Room decor should be limited. Stay away from the huge wooden bed frames, but dressers and bedside tables of cherry look great.

Final thoughts

Kitchens and bathrooms are staying with the 2018 trend of clean, bright colors. Bring outside in with window box herb gardens and hanging plants. The home of 2019 is comfortable. Even small rooms feel cozy and open. Your family, friends, and business associates will feel welcomed and relaxed. That is what your home is all about. Using bright hues sparingly and selectively will give each room a professional look. The year has already begun, so get started soon and take advantage of these amazing trends.

In this post, we addressed some of those elements to explain the interior designs that are trending in 2019.

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Halloween Décor Ideas to Wow Your Trick-or-Treaters

October 30, 2018
EmmaJ
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Everyone loves Halloween, but some people really love it and show their appreciation for this holiday by creating frightening décor on their homes. This is sometimes turning into a competition between neighbors and people spend enormous amounts of time and money on it year after year. However, there’s no need to break the bank every October when you can easily opt for various DIY ideas that will scare anyone who comes by your house for trick-or-treating. There’s still plenty of time to prepare your house for this holiday and impress everyone – both your neighbors and the kids who come to your home are going to appreciate the effort. Here are a few examples for creating the best Halloween décor and transforming your home into the scariest one on the block.

 

Start from the entrance

This is the place to start and get that wow factor right from the beginning – so that the trick-or-treaters know who they’re dealing with. If you want to create fun and spooky front door decoration, there are some great wreath ideas that are frugal yet still quite scary. If you have a wreath from last year’s Christmas party, you can easily transform it using black spray that will add a scary note. Apart from that, you can place candles in the window and they’ll create a wonderful effect when you turn off all of the lights inside your home.

 

Spooky digital projector

This is one of the latest trends in Halloween decorations and probably one that your potential visitors will find the scariest of them all. If your home features a glass front door, this idea is perfect for you because it involves a digital projector. You can play scenes from scary movies and project them onto your entrance, which will make them look realistic. This unique décor is something not many homes are going to have this year. There’s no need to look for old movies that scared you when you were a kid yourself, as a simple YouTube list of the best horror movie scenes of all time will do just fine.

 

Get a fog machine

Nothing says haunted house more than a fog machine – it’s simply perfect for sending chills down your spine! Such a machine can be easily rented and you won’t have a problem with finding one for your front porch. It’s essential for setting the mood and getting a great ambiance that will make your home look like it’s been empty for decades. If you want to go a step further, set up another fog machine on your lawn and make your entire property look haunted and scary.

 

Lawn accessories

source: http://www.kropyok.com

Scarecrows are the essential Halloween prop and among of the most intimidating pieces of décor since many people didn’t really like them when they were kids. There are so many ways you can use scarecrows – from displaying them proudly on your front lawn to setting them a bit further in the distance, or even hide behind a tree for a more dramatic effect. Apart from that, you can always use black and white bedsheets to create ghosts that will scare even the most fearless trick-or-treaters that come to your house.

 

Scary balloons

Balloons aren’t scary, right? After all, there’s nothing scary about a round flexible bag full of air or helium! Well, you might want to think twice before you’re absolutely sure Halloween balloons aren’t scary. If you fine-tune them a bit and turn them into some of the most popular scary faces on the planet – Dracula, Frankenstein, Boogeyman and Michael Myers are just some of them – they could turn out to be quite scary after all. Be creative with your balloons and you might easily scare lots of trick-or-treaters that are planning to come by your home.

source: https://hips.hearstapps.com

You can see that creating effective and scary Halloween decorations isn’t hard at all – all you need is some free time, a dash of inspiration and a few great ideas that will make your holiday extra special. But try not to overdo it or you’ll seriously scare off everyone who might be coming to your house, and getting a bad reputation isn’t what you should be aiming at.

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Stunning Home Library Ideas for Your Book Collection

August 14, 2018
EmmaJ
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Being a passionate reader and spending all the money you have on books is one of the best ways of constantly expanding your knowledge and working on your imagination. It’s also a way of finding a world of fiction you can escape to once your own surroundings get too complicated. However, being a bookworm also means your home is probably packed with books and you have to find room for all of them. Creating a new home library is going to help you organize your books, display them and always know where they are. So, if you too are looking for library ideas for your home, here are a few tips that might help you.

 

A huge bookcase

All books deserve to be on a bookcase, and depending on the size of your collection, these bookcases can be bigger or smaller. If you’re serious about reading, you probably have hundreds or even thousands of books, which is why a huge wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling bookcase would be the best solution in the world. You can even do this on your own – that way, you’ll save a ton of money and personalize your bookcase at the same time, so this is definitely an idea worth exploring as soon as possible.

 

Proper lighting

When your book collection is large, it’s sometimes hard to know where a particular book is and finding it in the dark is virtually impossible. That’s why every home library needs to be illuminated properly, but this has to be done carefully in order not to ruin your books. This is especially important if your collection includes rare or antique books that were printed several decades ago as these don’t always react well to a strong light. Therefore, try to get as much natural light as possible – large windows and skylights might do the trick – or find alternative lighting options such as small lamps or string lights. In the end, don’t forget a fireplace: it’s going to give you more light and put you in the right mood for reading.

 

Proudly presenting

All of us have our favorite books and a few titles that we’re proud of owning – whether we’re talking about first editions or rare books that are hard to find, these are the parts of our library we’re most proud of. If you too have a couple of these books in your possession, it’s high time you created a special spot for them in your library. Give them a special treatment, shine some light onto them and you’ll make your guests curious and all your fellow book lovers jealous. Don’t be afraid to brag about your book collection, but proudly present it to the world!

 

Seating arrangement

Organizing your books is one part of the process, but a perfect library must include something else as well – proper seating options. Luckily, most avid readers are modest and usually need just a comfortable chair or a sofa that’s going to give them a chance to spend hours and hours reading. Another idea you might want to explore is a special kind of bench that’s already built into your library: it allows you to relax and have your favorite books within reach – and what more could you ask for? In the end, try to go a step further and create your own bookcase with a window seat so that you’re always surrounded by lots of natural light while reading. To make it more comfortable and stylish, add some plants to boost the aesthetics of the room.


Utilizing all the free space in your home is a must if you’re a big fan of reading and own lots of books, so you need to explore unusual options and take your home library to a whole new level. Once you do that, you’ll be ready pick a different book every single day and really enjoy your collection. Remember that making your own system when organizing books is essential because you need to know where every title is instead of wasting time looking for it.

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Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent’s Best Decorating Tips

July 3, 2018
EmmaJ
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The number of decorating shows you can watch on TV or stream online is enormous and all of them focus on different things – some are all about saving money, others about DIY projects, and the third about renovating your home as quickly as possible. However, Nate & Jeremiah by Design is one of the most special decorating shows out there because of one simple thing: its stars, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, are among the most special decorating couples in the world. Their style is simple yet visually attractive, and their approach to interior design combines frugal and effective approach. If you too are a fan of Nate and Jeremiah, here’s what you can learn from them and how to use their ideas when decorating your own home.

 

Make a plan and follow it

source:  https://www.nateberkus.com

Every episode of Nate & Jeremiah consists of three separate segments: first they pick a home they’re going to renovate, then they talk to the homeowners, listening to their wishes and determining the budget, and only then do they start the actual work, planning out the remodeling projects and inviting their demolition crew. This is basically what you too need to do when renovating your home, so be sure not to skip any of these steps.

 

Dining table as a focal point

Every home needs a focal point and if you decide to set up yours in the dining room, Nate and Jeremiah recommend focusing on the dining table. This is where your family gathers and where you welcome your guests, so it has to be inviting, cozy and perfect. You can also display your best piece of décor here and thus add some personality to your home, which is something every homeowner appreciates. Finally, all of your guests will immediately notice your vintage dining table, especially if you pair it with cool and comfortable chairs, so it’s definitely an idea worth exploring.

 

Learn how to compromise

source: https://bellevivir.com

Of course, you need to learn how to compromise the wishes of all your family members and keep in mind that even this amazing decorating couple doesn’t agree on absolutely every step of the way. On the contrary, they too sometimes argue about certain ideas, but this is a part of the process, so learn how to compromise and listen to everyone’s input.

 

Add a rug here and there

While some people don’t like rugs, Nate and Jeremiah are all for them – in the dining room, the living room, the bedroom and everywhere else. Rugs give your space a dose of personality and a ton of depth, particularly if you layer them one on top of another and use rugs that differ in size, color, texture and pattern. This trick is both easy and cheap, so use it when renovating as often as you can.

 

Try to save a dollar or two

source: https://fancydecors.co

This is probably the most important tip Nate and Jeremiah can offer: every dollar can be stretched far beyond your expectations if you plan in advance and know what you want. They can help you realize this in just a couple of episodes, and some of the things they recommend doing include shopping online instead of the expensive stores, focusing on one room at a time, using lots of cheap vintage pieces, as well as reusing, repurposing and recycling everything you can, from furniture and decorations to flooring and building materials. This way, you can use every single cent you have and make the most of your budget.

 

There are lots of other things you can learn from Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent – from incorporating plants into your interior design and using 3-D art on your walls to letting lots of fresh air and natural light into your living space, and keeping things clean, simple and cozy. While you certainly can’t replicate all of their ideas, you can always adapt them to your needs and budget, and you’ll surely come up with an amazing new space you’ll enjoy in the years to come.

 

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Great Ways to Decorate With Plants

June 1, 2018
EmmaJ
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Adding plants and flowers to your living space might be the easiest yet most effective way to make it cozier, more welcoming and visually appealing. Plants can brighten up any room in a matter of seconds, not to mention their positive effect on your mood and health: they purify the air, help you feel better and are the best decoration you can hope for, since they come in all shapes, sizes and, most importantly, colors. So, if you too wish to brighten up your home but are unsure how, here are a few great ways you can decorate with plants.

 

Make a statement

Every room needs a focal point, and what better way to make one than by focusing on a beautiful plant full of colors? This is an easy way to create a focal point too, because you only need a small plant stand and a decorative pot, and you’re good to go. You can pick a plant of any size and shift all the attention to it, but make sure you choose the right one. Some of the most popular choices of plants that can easily be turned into focal points include peace lilies, succulents, bromeliads and cacti, so pick the plant you like and turn it into a statement piece today.

 

A vertical garden

This is an idea not that many people know about, but it’s certainly among the most unique and attractive ways to decorate your interior space. If you have an empty wall unoccupied by bookshelves, pictures and paintings, turn it into a vertical garden everyone’s going to notice the second they walk into your home. For an impressive indoor garden, you need pots, containers, a few wooden pallets and as many plants as you want. The best thing about this idea is that you can incorporate herbs, flowers and even grass in there as well, so it’s literally a proper garden, just inside your house.

 

Indoor ivy wall

If you like seeing old mansions in movies covered in romantic and intriguing ivy, you can create such an effect in real life as well, both indoors and out. Unfortunately, ivy is going to make you wait a decade or two before it completely covers your exterior walls, but what you can do in the meantime is focus on decorating your interior with this plant. You just have to find a species that you like, position it in opposite corners of your living room and give it some guidance along the walls – of course, you need to water it regularly and provide enough natural light if you want to achieve the best results.

 

Low-maintenance options

Speaking of watering, not everyone who loves plants and flowers loves watering them as well. Sometimes you may be too busy or too forgetful to do it on time, so opting for low-maintenance plants instead might be a good idea – aloe, rabbit ears, philodendron and spider plant are among the options you can take into consideration. These usually need to be watered once every couple of weeks, so taking care of them is really easy, but they’ll still look quite amazing and will make your friends jealous of your wonderful green décor.

 

Keep up with the schedule

However, even the most low-maintenance plants need to be fertilized and their soil needs attention as well, so you can’t really rely on watering them once a month and expect your indoor garden to flourish. That’s why you should make a schedule and write down all the important details of your plants: when you brought them into your home, how often they require water, when you need to fertilize the soil, etc. Also, you should learn how to water them properly and what kind of water is the best, because not all water is the same. These things may be boring, but they’re ultimately going to determine the success of your indoor plants.

 

Being surrounded by plants is wonderful, especially in the spring, and they’re a much better choice than artificial décor full of dangerous materials and harmful bacteria that can endanger the health of your entire family. Therefore, get your favorite plants and spread them all around your living area as soon as possible!

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Nursery Design That Looks like You Hired an Interior Designer

May 4, 2018
EmmaJ
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Expecting a baby is one of the most joyous moments in anyone’s life, and decorating the nursery is equally exciting. However, all modern nurseries seem to resemble each other and they all include the same items – from a princess-themed wallpaper for girls to a Cars-inspired crib for boys. So, why don’t you start thinking outside the box for a moment and do something unusual for your newborn to make them feel really special and appreciated? If you’re willing to do something like that, but are unsure what, here are a couple of ideas that might help you achieve your goal and make your nursery seem like it was designed by a professional interior decorator.

 

Seating arrangement

This is something most parents forget because their main focus is on the baby, not themselves, but the seating arrangement is crucial for everyone involved. Feeding your baby, holding it in your hands and cradling it to sleep is definitely exhausting, which is why the nursery has to include a spot where the parents can relax and take a break. Mothers love a comfortable rocking chair where they can feed the baby, while fathers usually prefer a comfy sofa or an armchair, so don’t forget to find room for these things as well.

 

The right color

Back in the day, painting a nursery was easy – get a bucket of pink color for the girls and blue for the boys, and you’re good to go! Today, things aren’t that simple, not because pink and blue have gone out of style, but because parents don’t mind including other color choices as well. Anything from beige, gray, lime green, yellow and even white will do, as long as the walls are painted with care and precision. Keep in mind that personalizing the space in accordance with your own taste makes much more sense than blindly following the trends – after all, that’s going to give your nursery the personal touch it needs.

 

Toys, toys, toys!

No nursery is complete without the baby’s personal belongings, including the toys that should surround it from early on. A room with no baby’s favorite toys looks rather sad, grim and dull, so remember to add a few – nevertheless, try not to go overboard and cover the crib with dozens of stuffed animals. As soon as your baby starts walking and being active, you should adapt to this transition and start introducing more advanced and complex toys that will make them more active and independent. This is an important step in your child’s development, and something you definitely shouldn’t skip, so inspire your loved ones and encourage them to think for themselves more than before.

 

Storage space

Although they’re quite small and seem more than easy to handle, babies require a ton of products and equipment on a daily basis – not to mention a pile of diapers and clean clothes. All of these items need to be by your side at all times, so keeping them close-by is a must. A practical vanity is the best way to keep all of your baby’s possessions at one spot, but it’s also perfect for organizing storage space. These vanities can be quite spacious, yet don’t take too much room in a nursery that’s probably not that big anyway, so they’re perfect.

 

Art pieces and photos

Just because you’re decorating a nursery doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add some class to it. Being surrounded by lots of different colors can be a positive influence on your toddler’s mental and physical development, so explore classic and contemporary art pieces which you can incorporate into their nursery and hang a few on the walls. Also, since you’ve probably started taking photos of your baby the second it arrived from the delivery room, feel free to develop some of them as well. Pick colorful and playful frames and scatter them all around the room, following the development of your children from the earliest days of their lives.

 

Designing and decorating a nursery is the best way to prepare for the arrival of your little bundle of joy. Once you complete the process, sit back, relax and celebrate this new beginning in your life.

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Smooth Decorator is a website dedicated to our little sanctuaries from the hustle and bustle of the outside world – to our homes, sweet homes. We believe that the foundation of a quality life needs to be set right there, in the place where we first dream things up, and that only when we organized our homes can we hope to organize the rest of our everyday existence.

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