Category

Decor

How to Decorate an Instagram-Worthy Home

June 14, 2022
Chloe Taylor
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Is your Instagram feed full of interior designers and home improvement influencers? Do you double tap every perfect living room aesthetic and farmhouse kitchen you see? Maybe you even like sharing bits of your own life on the platform, and wish you could show off your home in your pictures. The good news? It’s easier than you might think to decorate an Instagram-worthy home. You don’t have to have a lot of design experience or a huge budget. With a few tips, tricks, and hacks, you can make your living space look awesome in photos. More importantly, you can create a home you love spending time in every day!

Clean Up the Clutter

One of the easiest ways to make your home look better is to clean it. When people see clutter in the background of your photos, it can be distracting, and they’ll spend less time looking at the actual subject.  Decluttering is a great way to give your home a more organized look, and it can also help you to lead a more minimalistic lifestyle. If you do decide to organize and get rid of things, however, make sure you do it responsibly. Consider donating things like:

  • Clothes
  • Toys
  • Electronics
  • Books
  • Furniture

If you’re trying to get rid of electronics, look up local e-cycling locations that can dispose of your items properly and safely. Responsible decluttering will give you a “clean slate” to decorate your home in a way that shows off your personality. 

Pick Your Aesthetic

Speaking of your personality, that’s exactly what your home decor should represent! It’s okay to follow some of the latest and greatest Instagram trends, including: 

  • Statement walls
  • Arched mirrors
  • Layered art
  • Round pedestal tables

If these things speak to you, use them! However, don’t let trends (that will likely come and go) influence you too much. If you don’t like something, you’ll end up regretting it once the trend has passed. Let’s face it, the shabby-chic look isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea forever. Instead, focus on creating an aesthetic that captures your personal sense of style. Find your inner interior designer by considering what inspires you, and the type of mood you want your home to evoke. When you do that, it won’t take long to develop a decor theme for your whole house. 

Small Changes Make a Big Difference

You don’t have to remodel or redecorate your entire home to get it Instagram-ready. If you’re on a tight budget or don’t have the time to make big changes in your decor, start small. You might be surprised by how different a room can look after it’s painted a different color, or even if you add different accents pillows, rugs, or blankets. Even things like updating the finishes and picking a few statement pieces can go a long way in making your home look completely different. You can “cheat” the look of specific rooms by utilizing natural lighting in each picture so every room looks as clean and clear as possible. While your photos need to be realistic, it’s also okay to do a few “staging” techniques when you specifically want your followers to focus on your decor. 

At the end of the day, however, it’s important to remember that you want to establish a home environment that’s comfortable to live in, not just one that looks good on social media. If you truly think about your needs and wants when it comes to home decor, that’s easy to accomplish. Have fun with this project, and give yourself the flexibility to make changes as your sense of style changes. The happier you are with your home, the more fun you’ll have sharing it on social media. 

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How to Make and Organize a Pet Space in Your Home

May 29, 2022
Mike Johnston
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If you have been thinking of getting a new pup or adjusting a corner of your home for your pet’s needs and enjoyment, this article is great for you. In this article, you’ll find some ideas on organising a pet space in your home and making it functional and beautiful. This way, you will be able to keep your home neat, and your pet will have complete comfort.

Necessary Items

While planning this adjustment of your home for your furry friend, you should make a list of necessary items that will be implemented in this space and will make it functional. First of all, you should have a comfortable bed and a crate (if you have a dog that you’re training). It’s also important to have a storage solution for your pet’s supplements and hygiene products, such as a dog toothbrush and paste. For this, you can use a simple box that you’ll keep somewhere in the area where your pet has no access. For the area to look great, and for you to keep it clean, you should have a good mat or a tray and you should also make sure to find an effective storage solution for toys.

The Best Area

pet

First of all, you should decide on the amount of space you’ll be dedicating to your pet. Some people decide on dedicating the whole room to their pets, and some of them would rather pick a section of a room for this. Either way, we should keep in mind that space should not be in the section of the house where we prefer to entertain our guests and where people usually gather. Your pet always has an option to join your gatherings but it’s important for them to have a safe space where they can have some alone time.

How to Match the Pet’s Space with the Room Decor

pet

When you’re choosing your pet’s bed, you should try and match it with the existing room decor. Since your pet’s bed is the dominant piece of furniture in your pet’s area, this would be the most important detail which should match your room’s style. Since this area should be easy to maintain, you should go for the minimalist approach to design. It would be ideal if you could implement the same colours that are dominant in your room into your pet’s area.

For pet lovers, pets are family members and it’s important for them to have their rights in their homes such as their own space. This space could be small or the whole room, but what’s important is for it to be comfortable and safe. Making this space match the aesthetic we prefer makes the whole idea even better, so have fun choosing stylish pieces for your furry friend’s area.

 

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8 Ways To Make A Small Apartment Look Spacious

October 28, 2021
Chloe Taylor
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Furnishing a small apartment with all the luxuries of life can be a tricky project. You need to have enough room in there for the essentials, and you need to make sure you don’t take up too much space either. Then you have to figure out a way to make sure that you still have enough space left for storage, for things like your clothes and all the kitchen utensils. 

It can be tricky business, but furnishing a small space to look open and spacious is all about using the right tricks and optical illusions. Interior decorators know all about this stuff, and they don’t hesitate to give us plain folks some pointers now and then. 

If you want to know what these tips and tricks are, keep reading. 

Keep the Decor Simple 

It can be really easy to make an apartment feel like it’s stuffy and too small if you’re working with limited space, and you need to be mindful of how you decorate it. Now is not the time to bring in the vases and the tabletop decorations – in fact, this is the time to be scaling down on your decor and keeping it simple. 

The same goes for color as well. You need to lean towards plain and neutral colors to give your apartment an airy, light, and spacious feel. 

If you want to throw in some color though, you can get one bold statement piece and hang it on the wall – but avoid letting it take up any extra floor space, which brings us to the next tip. 

Clear the Way 

When arranging furniture in your new space, make sure you’re not putting anything near the doors, and that you have a clear path for people to walk through. 

It won’t hurt if you just group all your furniture to a single side of the apartment as long as no one’s bumping into anything. 

Clear the Floor 

A great tip to help make a room feel open is to be careful about how much floor space your furniture is taking up. Even if you have a chair to place at a certain place, get a sleek one that leaves the floor visible under it, and has narrow legs. 

Enough floor space being visible will make the space feel much more open and will help you avoid feeling claustrophobic in your new place. 

Avoid Bulky Furniture 

Sleek and minimalist furniture is the way to go for small spaces, but when we say minimalist not only are we talking about the design but also the way it’s built. A wide chair or slim wooden sofa will be able to seat just as many people as a puffed-up couch, but it will take up much less space – and will leave the floor visible under it. 

This needs to be a rule for all the furniture you get for your new place or any that you alter for it. Don’t underestimate how much space just one or two bulky items can take up when it’s already limited. 

Vertical and Horizontal Lines 

Remember when we talked about how maximizing space is all about creating a big optical illusion? Well, you can have a little help from straight parallel lines in creating that optical illusion. 

If you add any kind of vertical lines on the walls of your apartment and then add tall and slim furniture along the walls, you’ll have a really easy time making the room look like it has a higher ceiling than it actually does. 

Applying the same theory to horizontal lines, combining them with low and wide furniture can make the room itself look wider. 

Don’t Block Out the View 

Heavy drapes or curtains block out natural light and make the area look closed off and small even when it’s really not getting any smaller. This is why vertical or horizontal blinds or shades are a much better idea. 

Going on this same advice, we suggest opting out of anything with heavy fabrics and drapes. Instead, go for sheer fabrics or none at all for a nice, light, and airy look. 

Use Mirrors 

A strategically-placed mirror on the wall can help make your apartment look spacious and roomy – it gives the illusion of extra space.

This is why putting up mirrors on the wall, or even getting a closet with mirrors on the doors is a great idea to give yourself the illusion of space. 

Leave the Floor Bare 

The more floor space that’s visible in your apartment, the better. This is why we suggest opting out of using any kind of carpets or floor coverings – it’s basically the same thing as making sure you use furniture that allows the floor to stay visible.  

Decorating your new apartment can be hard, and you might not get it right the first time. Don’t be scared to move things around until they feel okay, and remember to keep your decor from becoming too overpowering or taking over the space. 

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5 Dorm Room Essentials that will Make you Feel at Home

October 22, 2021
Chloe Taylor
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Most of the time, that first move onto a university campus can feel intimidating. Preparation can, however, help you in alleviating some of those first-day-of-school nerves. Whenever we live away from the house it is always difficult to live a life like home. Therefore, it’s important to make the room feel like home but it’s also just as important to make it functional as you are going to be away from the comfort of your home.

These items will help you feel right at home in your college abode from handy gadgets to simple everyday things like a faucet water filter. You can have these things, even on a budget. Here’s what you require to stock your dorm room to make you feel right at home:

Countertop Microwave

A microwave will be your buddy when the dining hall is closed, you’re watching a movie with pals, or it’s late at night and you need food to get you through your study session. You may search for comfort in your college dining halls, but there are times when in-room meal prep may be a must.

A countertop microwave is a solution to that. You can learn to make your comfort food or you can stock that ready-made food for when you are really hungry and don’t feel like leaving your dorm.

Bedding

Sleep is essential when you are a college student and there’s no way to get a better night’s sleep than to make your mattress comfortable. Students are only provided with a mattress; nevertheless, new students must purchase sheets for their beds.

You don’t need to spend tons of cash to get a customized bed setup that’s chic and cozy. Find bedding that reminds you of home or has some sentimental value. Your bed is the only place that is fully yours. After all, when you’re in college, you would like an honest night’s sleep where you’ll catch on.

Comfy chair

To study, you need to be comfortable. The rooms accompany a clear wooden chair. However, you don’t need to accept that. You can either buy some cozy, comfy chairs that match the aesthetic of your room or even DIY it!

The truth is, you are going to be spending a lot of time studying in college. There would be days when you wouldn’t even get out of your study table. A comfortable study chair won’t make the study sessions magically easier, but they would for sure make them bearable.

Water Filter System

Most students forget about this one. However, this is the most important of the essentials on our list. Getting an effective water purifier installed in your dorm room would make your college life more manageable. You can get healthy water at any given time and do not need to for the other day to get it from somewhere. Alongside, water is the most necessary thing that should be available all the time.

Picture this, it’s the middle of the night, and you get out of your bed feeling thirsty. You reach for your water bottle on the nightstand only to find it empty. Now, you have to walk miles to get that water bottle of yours filled. Getting an Aqua water filter installed is an environmentally conscious decision as you would not need to hoard plastic water bottles.

  1. Rechargeable Hand vacuum

It is essential to keep your space tidy. Since this would be your first experience living alone, you would realize that there is nothing more cozy and homely than being in a clean, tidy space. After all, cleanliness is next to godliness. A rechargeable hand vacuum is a good economic investment as it would last for a long time. And this is also something that you would use on a daily basis.

  1. Plants

How can a place feel like home if there are not any plants? One of the greatest pieces of advice to make your dorm room feel like home is to have plants in your room. You can use artificial flowers and plants to beautify the room but it still will not feel the same as if you grew your own plants. So you should consider that as an option. In order to successfully grow plants in your dorm room, you can use grow lights to help with the planting process.

Conclusion

Here you have a few dorm room essentials that will make you feel at home. And the best thing is, you don’t need to spend a lump sum amount of money to buy them. From aqua water filters to beddings, all of the above could be bought at an affordable price after doing some research about the price and quality available in the market. Hopefully, the following tips given in this blog will make your life easier if you are living away from home.

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Revealing the Home of a Travelista: 7 Travel-Inspired Home Decor Ideas

July 28, 2021
Lilly Miller
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Being a travelista is not the easiest thing right now due to the pandemic that is still going on. However, if you can’t go to all the amazing places, then the best thing you could do is to infuse your home with decor that reminds you of all the previous trips you’ve taken, or the trips you plan to take once this whole thing is over. Therefore, if you’re someone who lives and breathes all things related to traveling, then here are some amazing tips that will inspire you to decorate your home to reflect the beauty of this world.

Accentuate your walls 

The easiest way to add some travel-inspired decors is to get some wall-art and place that on your walls. After all, we usually hang pictures and paintings anyway, so using your own photographs from various trips is a wonderful way to have those memories with you at all times. Other types of wall art perfect for travelistas are of course maps, whether new or vintage, it doesn’t matter. If you have collected a lot of souvenirs or decor pieces that can be hung on walls, feel free to include them as well. 

Don’t forget your kitchen 

The kitchen is where the family comes together to eat and spend some lovely moments in the company of one another. So if you love spending time in your kitchen, then decorating it in a travel-inspired style is definitely a great idea. And look no further than your own fridge, because fridge magnets are one of the most common types of souvenirs that you can even make by yourself to remember your travels. Other than that, you can use postcards or any cute pictures that you have. Besides, embellishing your kitchen space with some travel memories will definitely radiate warmth and cosmopolitan vibes, plus your children will always be able to learn about different cultures and traditions.

Vintage suitcases as decor 

There’s something uniquely charming about vintage suitcases: they’re elegant and rustic, so if you love all things vintage, then using them as shelves, or simply placing them in certain corners of your home will definitely add a special sense of elegance to your home. If you don’t own any, you can always browse your local vintage sellers or visit antique stores that sell unique or rare items. 

Your floors matter 

Floors tend to be neglected in favor of other spaces, but did you know that you can use them as well to infuse your home with some travel-themed decor? For example, getting rugs made of New Zealand wool will definitely add a special vibe to your space, especially if you love this country and its vibrant culture. Other styles of rugs that you may consider are of course Berber and Dhurrie, especially since they’re quite enriching and colorful, meaning your space will look much better once you decide to incorporate them. It will also add a special note of comfort to your interior, as it`s one of the most important features of a peaceful home. 

Polaroid photographs count too

Polaroid pictures are a perfect decor piece, as they’re so versatile and can be used in different ways. So if you’re a photography aficionado, then using Polaroids will surely be a nice addition to your home. You can place Polaroids on the walls, or hang them on a LED string. If you don’t own a Polaroid camera, then you can get a quality printer to print your existing photos to look like Polaroids. 

Use musical instruments

Music is a universal language understood all over the world. When everything goes silent, music speaks. And luckily, using musical instruments to decorate your space is a perfect idea for any music-oriented travelista. An acoustic guitar is a lovely staple of many road trips and camping experiences, however, if you own some exotic instruments from other cultures, feel free to use them as a lovely decor, however, make sure to be respectful about it. 

Add blankets, quilts, and pillows 

Coziness plays an important factor in one’s home, especially if you work a highly stressful job. Therefore, adding various blankets, throw pillows, quilts, or embroidery is a sure way to add some wanderlust-inspired atmosphere to your home. You can use Persian, Moroccan. South American or any other motifs, and also, feel free to mix them together to create a unique blend of different colors and patterns. If possible, try to purchase these items from authentic creators, and nowadays, there are many of them who ship worldwide. 

Conclusion

Your home deserves to look warm and stylish, and if you love traveling, then using decor pieces from your trips is a perfect way to cherish those memories. Additionally, feel free to purchase any similarly-looking items that you find, such as posters, musical instruments, globes, pillows, and blankets. Infusing your home with travel-inspired decor is a perfect solution for any travelista who is currently going through withdrawal due to the current situation with the pandemic. Finally, keep in mind that traveling is the only thing that you pay for that actually makes you rich, so feel free to decorate your home to reflect this lovely sentiment. 

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How to Start an Art Collection and Incorporate It Into Your Home

March 25, 2021
Chloe Taylor
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It’s a common misconception that only wealthy people can afford to have an art collection. However, it is not about having only expensive artworks that you buy at auctions for a ransom price. It’s more about collecting artwork that shows your individuality.

But if you’re only at the beginning of your path as an art collector, you may find it daunting to determine which artworks you want to have around you and which art movement is close to your heart. Moreover, you also need to have a good knowledge of the places where you can buy artworks that won’t bleed your bank account dry.

So, today, we will cover these as well as some other points that you need to know if you want to start an art collection.

1. Research the Style That’s Close to Your Heart

First and foremost, the artwork you collect should resonate with you and make you feel aesthetically pleased. So, start your journey by researching different art styles, going from older artistic movements to modern ones. Browse different art books, journals, and editorials to see what you find most appealing and what you would want to have around you.

Besides, the artworks you collect should look natural in your environment. It’s important to choose art that would complement your house and not make it look too cluttered.

So, look around you and think, what would fit in well. For instance, if you have a minimalist home design, blank walls, you might want to add some subtle colors with the paintings of plants. This picture of monstera deliciosa would fit perfectly in a minimalist home:

Also, it is important that your art collection conveys a certain emotion that would fill up your space and make it feel complete. That’s why you need to research your art interests first before buying artwork for your collection.

2. Estimate Your Budget

Another point for prior research is the initial budget for your art collection. This budget will help you decide, which artworks will start your collection and where you will buy them.

When estimating your budget, don’t go overboard. Instead, start small; the initial budget of $1,000 would be enough to purchase the first artworks.

You will also need to create an outline of your budget for all your future purchases. It should include how much you have spent and are planning to spend on artwork in the future. To make it concise and clear, you can use online editors from platforms like TrustMyPaper or Supreme Dissertations, which will also help you proofread and organize your budget outline.

Also, when writing your artwork collection budget, decide, whether you want to start with one original piece on which you’d spend your entire budget or a few smaller and less expensive artworks. Whatever you choose, remember that an art collection is about quality, not quantity.

3. Find Art Places that Won’t Rip You Off

Now, as you have figured out the art style that’s close to your heart and your initial budget, you have a better understanding of where you might go to purchase the first artwork for your collection.

There are places where you can buy art that meets any budget and taste. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Art fairs – There, you will not only see the artwork for yourself but will also be able to communicate with the author, discuss the style of the artwork, and maybe even get a discount.

Credit: Instagram

  • Graduate shows – Art school alumni often participate in exhibitions where they sell their artworks, which are often quite unique, at a low price. You can take advantage of that and also support young artists, who might one day become famous.

Credit: Instagram

  • Online art platforms – Here, you can find rare gems that fit any art style, like this unique pop art poster of Queen Elizabeth with her favorite corgi:

However, if you’re looking for artwork from a particular artist but don’t want to spend a fortune on it, follow them on Instagram to see whether they are selling copies of their pictures that you would like to have in your collection. This is a great option for those who are not interested in buying expensive art but would like to support their favorite artist.

4. Work with an Art Consultant

If you are interested in purchasing expensive artworks and are planning to re-sell some of the items in the future, you might need an art consultant to help you curate your collection.

There are a lot of benefits that you can get from a partnership with an art consultant as well:

  • You will get original art pieces – An art consultant knows when and where to look for such artworks, and you won’t have to waste your time browsing the websites and attending the art fairs.
  • Your art collection will be properly managed – Besides helping you find valuable art pieces, your art advisor will also help organize your collection. For example, you can hire a professional that specializes in art from an online writing service, who will help you write descriptions for artwork and create a review, which you can later publish on different online resources before re-selling it.
  • You will have the opinion of a professional – An art advisor has the experience and education needed to find art that would fit your style and can differentiate an original piece from a copy.

Of course, your budget should allow you to hire an art consultant, which isn’t cheap. Typically, such advisors charge their clients 20% of the price of an artwork, so you need to be prepared for such cooperation financially. But it is definitely worth the money if you have big plans for your art collection.

Wrapping Up

Starting your own art collection is an exciting event in your life, but you can make a lot of amateur mistakes that would affect the quality of your collection.

So, make sure you research and find your favorite art style and evaluate your budget first. After that, you can start looking for the art you like within your budget. And, if you have ambitious plans, it’s always a good idea to get an art consultant, who will help you fill your collection with unique and original artworks.

 

Guest post by Nicole Garrison

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Décor Pieces to Create Summer Vibes in Your Home

February 10, 2021
Marie Nieves
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Are you hyped for the summer? We all are! But the only thing that isn’t looking to excited to welcome summer is our homes which are still stuck in their winter look. But, don’t worry, because you can infuse those addictive summer vibes in your home with only a few easy and (relatively) cheap décor pieces and home improvements.

Summer decor

Little colour pops

While whites, greys and beiges will always be trendy and stylish, summer is the perfect time to go a bit bolder when it comes to colour. Accentuate your home with a few big and bright touches! You can stick to one shade per room or be brave and mix and match different complementary colours, patterns and textures. This project will not only improve your home but also exercise your creativity!

Summer decor - bright colours

Timeless blue and white

If you want to upgrade your walls but want to take a safe path, go with timeless blue and white combo. This will awaken that dreamy Greek island vibe and bring the coast to you, even if you live somewhere deep inland. Blue is a perfect summer colour because it’s soothing and calming and creates a great contrast with crisp white. Every time you step into your blue and white room, you’ll be reminded of fluffy clouds, blue skies and sparkling ocean.

Summer decor - blue and white

Get nautical

If you love a blue and white colour combination, why not push things even further with a nautical theme? This is truly a perfect way to welcome summer into your home without spending too much money. So, think small anchor figurines, ship steering wheel details, knots and paddles (you can find these for practically free at boating junkyards or make your own replicas in a few hours). You can also add some marine feel to your beach-inspired coastal cushions perfect for any minimalist space that needs a touch of colour and softness. No matter if you prefer navy blue, want to go for a classic blue and white stripe or want to spice things up with pink coral, you can find your coastal cushions online. And if you pick the right cushions, you can use them both inside and outside. Your patio will love a new summer look!

Summer decor - nautical

A tropical-themed corner

Is there anything more “summer-y” than a tropical jungle? While you can just plant mangroves and palms in your pots, you can go smaller with exotic plants. Create a corner filled with all sorts of ferns and mini palms. Add some pineapple and coconut motifs to the corner and finish with a mango and coconut oil-diffuser.

Summer decor - tropical

Relax in a hammock

Ditch your boring armchair until winter and replace it with a comfy hammock. This addition to your home might look super crazy and first, but with amazing indoor hammock types, you and add some swing to any of your rooms. From rope hammocks to hammock chairs, you can find anything and everything! And as soon as you jump in to relax in your new seating, you’ll feel like a pirate ruler overlooking their kingdom! Yarrrrr!

Summer decor - hammock

Fresh and trendy dinnerware

While your living room is the centre of your home, it doesn’t deserve all the action. So, refresh the look of your dining room with some new plates! Go crazy with funky patterned plates or serve a salad in a coconut or watermelon inspired bowls. Grab some custom dinner napkins and your dinners will never be this fun and stylish!

Summer decor - dinnerware

Airy curtains

Bring that chill summer vibe into your space with some airy and light curtains that will flutter in the summer wind. These are specially designed to be let the cool air inside and keep some of that scorching sunlight outside. You will appreciate some gentle breeze, especially when trying to relax. Plus, if you opt for a crisp and clean white look, your entire space will instantly look fresh and airy! In general, light neutral tones area always perfect solutions for achieving a pleasant summer vibe.

Summer decor - curtains

Colourful rugs

Replacing your heavy rugs with something fun, colourful and light will also transform your space. Think bright colours and fun patterns that will add some visual interest and serve as a statement piece of your room without being too much in-your-face. When designing a room, it’s a good idea to start from rugs and build your design upwards.

Summer decor - rug

Light bedding

Imagine slipping between cool and light covers every night. You can have that with a small bedding upgrade from hefty winter materials to breathable ones in light and cheerful hues. This year is all about tiny floral patterns!

Summer decor - bedding

Touch up your garden

Don’t neglect your outdoor space! While shabby-chic is going very strong right now, you can’t just throw anything in your garden and call it a day. However, carefully distressed furniture, some ornate lanterns and soft coastal cushions will be able to compete with even those magical gardens by the sea.

Summer decor - garden

Summer is finally here, so make sure to welcome it in style. These few décor ideas will be easy to incorporate into your space and even easier to fall in love with!

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New Interior Design Ideas for the New Year

January 17, 2021
Chloe Taylor
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One way of getting ready for the new year is by giving your home a new look. Over the year, it’s easy to get tired of the same old look of your house. It’s not surprising that your house starts to lose its appeal, even for visitors. By incorporating new and trendy interior designs in your home, you will revive your home’s attractiveness, giving a fresh start to the coming year.

However, alongside enhancing the look of your house, you’ll also increase the functionality and comfort, which will be quite useful to begin your new year. Besides gaining all these benefits, it’s also essential to keep your home updated with contemporary interior design concepts; otherwise, it will become obsolete.

So, here are some contemporary ideas that will help you transform your house this year.

Beautify your garden

Indeed, gardens are not a part of the interior of your house. However, they broadly reflect how your home looks from the inside, especially in the new year, as greenery grows in popularity. So, giving your house a natural look from the outside is essential to make a difference on the inside. Providing more function to your garden can significantly enhance its look by making it more modern while also being useful.

If you have enough space in your garden for swimming pools and fountains, it’s a smart choice to add them to your garden. Alongside being attractive, swimming pools are also quite entertaining. Moreover, you can also add lighting to your garden to further enhance its beauty at night. However, the most significant part of the gardens is the greenery. Larger plants will be quite trendy in the coming years, while flowers and plants in large pots are also necessary parts of a good-looking garden.

However, your garden or lawn should also look clean and tidy. Otherwise, you will be concealing the beauty of the decoration you add. So, make sure to clean debris from plants, weeds, and especially thatch, which can look quite dirty. However, cleaning these things up is exhausting and tedious; hence, using a lawn scarifier is essential. Most importantly, make sure to use the best lawn scarifier to clean grass effectively. Head over to https://www.sublimegardens.co.uk/best-lawn-scarifier/ to conveniently choose the most suitable lawn scarifier.

Give your home a natural touch

As mentioned earlier, natural looks for houses are rising, making them an ideal interior design for the new year. However, along with a beautiful garden, you also need to bring the greenery inside your home; only then will you achieve a natural effect in your home. The best way to do so is by binging in houseplants. You can place appealing indoor plants such as Jade plants, Oxalis, and Chinese Money plants.

Shelves and similar places are most suitable for plants; however, make sure to provide them with a good source of sunlight. Windows are perfect for this purpose. Furthermore, you can also create a vertical garden inside your house, which is quite trendy and part of the urban revolution. A vertical garden will significantly contribute to giving a natural look inside your home.

Along with an appealing touch of greenery, indoor plants will also help to give your home a refreshing feel, as plants are known to purify air to a reasonable extent. For this purpose, the Areca Palm, Snake Plant, and Gerbera daisy are recommended by NASA, making them ideal plants for reducing air pollution in homes. Moreover, plants aren’t the only decoration that helps to give a natural touch to your home. Furniture and decorations that use sustainable and organic materials are on the rise in popularity, making them suitable options to add a natural touch to your home.

Decorate walls with wallpapers

Wallpapers are a great way to give your house a new look, without having to empty your pocket or putting in too much effort. You can use different combinations in various places inside your home to create a new effect in each one of those places. Furthermore, wallpapers are also an excellent way to reflect your personality in the house. However, you can also use trendy wallpaper designs that are good to begin the new year.

Maximalist wallpapers, such as animal prints, are becoming popular with time and are great designs for the new year. However, 3D, abstract, textured, and geometric wallpapers are also the right choice due to their mesmerizing visuals and increasing popularity in the coming years.

Use paint

Like wallpapers, painting a few areas in your house can entirely change the look of your home. Vibrant colors, such as red, yellow and blue, are mostly rising in popularity and appeal. You can use such colors in accents, shades, or even to color entire walls to build up an energizing environment while also retaining the coziness. However, neutral colors seem to be even more popular in recent years. Ultimate gray is the color of the year 2021, making it an excellent option for painting your house.

Lighting

Lighting plays a massive role in changing the appearance and atmosphere of your house. With a mediocre lighting design inside your home, the beauty of the interior design of your home can become dull. Not only should you pay attention to the position of lights, but also their effect. Warm colors are rising in popularity and can be used to create a soft glow throughout your house.

However, it’s best to use LED bulbs for this purpose over incandescent bulbs, as they are more efficient. To further enhance the lighting, you can mix and match two different colors in consecutive lights.

Unique rugs

You can use rugs and carpets to create all kinds of effects, such as maximalism, minimalism, and vintage looks. They enhance your floors’ attractiveness, which otherwise looks dull, and helps make your home more comfortable and cozier.

You can get custom-built carpets that reflect your personality or use a combination of many different rugs to create unique effects. Moreover, rugs and carpets don’t need to be rectangular. You can choose from various shapes and sizes. However, make sure to purchase environment-friendly rugs and carpets for the new year.

Conclusion

Overtime all houses need a new look, and the new year is a perfect time. However, it would help if you chose the most suitable interior design ideas that fit your house the best. By considering the tips above, not only will you stay ahead with new trends in interior design, but you will also increase the functionality and comfort of your house.

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Stylish and Cohesive: How to Mix Different Wood Finishes in Your Home Decor

January 13, 2021
Mike Johnston
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There is something charming about wooden furniture that makes it a staple in practically every home. Usually associated with feelings of warmth, comfort, and richness, wooden furnishings can easily transform any room and make it feel more homely and inviting while at the same time offering high quality and a timeless look. When it comes to mixing and matching furnishings with different wood finishes, things can get a little tricky.

You want to create a look that looks stylish and cohesive, and for that to happen, you will need to consider a couple of factors. To help you out, we are listing a couple of useful tips for skillfully mixing and matching different wood finishes in your home decor.

Use wood finishes with common undertones

When looking to mix woods in the same room, the best place to start would be to identify the undertones. Different woods will have a different color temperature or undertone, and how you combine them will largely impact the overall feel of the room and whether it feels connected or not.

Your safest bet would be to use common undertones. There are wood finishes with warm undertones ( maple, walnut, white oak) – they are unstained, and they have a natural, warm feel. They’ll appear either red, yellow, or orange, and they can easily be mixed and matched. There are also wood finishes with cool undertones. These are stained woods, and they’re easy to combine, and with a variety of options to choose from (maple with charcoal stain, ash with sand stain, etc.), it’s easy to appeal to every taste. Using wood finishes with common undertones will result in a balanced look since all the tones will complement each other.

wood finishes Photo by R ARCHITECTURE on Unsplash

Add visual interest by creating contrast

Another way you can incorporate different wood finishes in your home decor and achieve a balanced look is to play with contrast. If you don’t want to be too bold, you can take a more subtle route and use pieces with dark and light wood finishes that are not as contrasting. For instance, you can go for combinations such as medium and dark or light and medium.

You can also create contrast by opting for pieces that have a different grain pattern and size. Varying wood grains will add interest to your interiors and have a significant impact on the overall appeal of the room regardless of the way you choose to incorporate wood into your interior space. If you are, however, drawn to a bolder, more dramatic look, you can go for a high-contrast mix, combining dark-stained finishes with pale ones.

Incorporate a unifying piece into the mix

This is a great tip for someone who’s just starting out and wants to make sure that all the elements are tied perfectly together. It can be as simple as adding one element that will act as a bridge between warm and cool tones in the room. 

A great example of “bridge” wood is, of course, reclaimed wood because of its uniqueness, character, and history, but some other great options include spalted sugarberry, zebrawood, and pieces with burled finishes. Because they contain a range of tones, they’ll act as a unifying piece for all the other wood finishes, creating visual balance and tying everything together into a cohesive whole.

wood finishes Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Soften the transition with warm, cozy textiles

Every room can benefit from incorporating a wooden touch, but it is a good idea to add some textiles into the mix as well. Introducing a couple of layers will create a buffer between the woods and soften the transition from one tone of wood to another.

Area rugs are some of the decor pieces that are commonly used to soften the mix and create a soothing transition, acting as an effective layer of texture for rooms with wooden floors and plenty of wooden furniture while also upping the cozy factor in your home. 

Wrapping up

Using natural materials such as wood is a great way to infuse your interiors with a touch of nature and design spaces that exude warmth and comfort. Whether you prefer a rustic look or gravitate more towards modern design, no worries – wood blends with practically every style.

If you take the time to learn how to successfully mix wood finishes, you will be able to bring a sense of balance and cohesiveness into your interiors and take your home decor to a whole new level.

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Cozy Living Room Fireplaces That Will Keep You Warm All Winter

December 28, 2020
Lilly Miller
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It is difficult to even imagine winter without a fireplace warming up the living room and presenting a focal point and invitation for get-togethers. The typical cold outdoor setting is calling for a warm room enriched with a sizzling fire. Incorporating a fireplace into a living room shouldn’t be very difficult, but it does require some consideration when it comes to the design of the entire room, the very piece, and its surroundings. So, here’s everything you need to know about adding a cozy ambiance to your home by designing a beautiful living room fireplace for the warmest winter ever.

The focal point

When a fireplace is in the room, all eyes are looking at it. It is the area where you will place your seating arrangement, and where you will direct your décor efforts. However, a fireplace can share the spotlight with another feature, such as a big-screen television, an antique Argentine mirror, or an artwork. Also, a fireplace can serve to divide an open concept space into the living and the cooking/eating area. Various styles of fireplaces can fit into various interior design styles.

The modern room fireplace

We usually associate these decor pieces with nostalgia and vintage-looking rooms. However, there are plenty of styles that can be incorporated into a highly-modern room. For example, you can go for a fireplace surrounded by sleek heat-resistant tiles with a matte finish. As for the rest of the room, stick with the minimalist look. The mantel should remain clear of clutter, but you can hang a simple artwork above the fireplace.

Fireplace extravaganza 

Another option that goes oddly well with modern and minimalist rooms is a statement-making fireplace. They can’t be designed without the help of professional designers. These fireplaces do not fit into the traditional rectangular or square shape norm and they use different materials and colors. Since they are a statement on their own, they don’t require additional decorative elements.

Chimney in the first plan

Chimney breasts are a nice thing to add if you are designing a room from scratch. However, you have to think about how the chimney breast will integrate with the fireplace and with the walls. It can be set in the corner or in the middle of the room, and the décor and color of the chimney should be a different tone from the rest of the room.

Rustic charm

If you are in for a traditional fireplace appearance, you can choose to build a stone or brick fireplace with a wooden mantle. Not only will a fireplace like this emit true warmth, but it will also bring visual warmth into space. Rustic, vintage, and organic design styles fit in well with such a fireplace. Wooden furniture and warm neutrals on the wall will blend in well with such an interior and provide an irresistibly cozy feel.

Plain, white, and beautiful

The most classic fireplaces are simple, minimalistic, and complemented with plain white corbels and matching lintels. They are simply calling for some charming Christmas décor and precious family time. The mantel can be traditionally decorated with family photographs, candles, and other details. For decorating the surroundings of the fireplace, search for beautiful pots online and plant houseplants that can stand the heat, such as aloe vera, areca palm, and Boston fern.

On the beach all year long

There is nothing warmer than the sun warming up the picturesque white stretch of sand while the waves are hitting it. Translate that ambiance into your cold winter home by designing a coastal-style room with a fireplace decorated with noticeable pieces of shells. Other design elements to include are sun-bleached woods, sisal, oceanic blues and sandy shades. 

Winter is often cold and harsh, and all we want to do is cover ourselves with a soft blanket, have a cup of hot chocolate, read a good book and listen to the wood crackling in the fire. Choose the style of your fireplace and make your winter days a warm dream instead of a cold nightmare.

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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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