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Decor

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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8 Ideas to Transform A Nursery Into a Child’s Room

November 11, 2020
Chloe Taylor
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Babies grow fast, and with time they like to experiment and explore things. Their visual and motor skills develop more rapidly if you create a perfect environment for them in their room. There are many ways to transform your baby’s nursery into a child’s room. Come up with judicious renovating and add up some color to the room. Involve your kid in the process as much as possible and make it a fun experience for them. Create fun, functional, and practical; add lovely storage for their toys and an accessory that can help them learn fast.

Here are eight ideas that can help you to transform a nursery into a child’s room:

Declutter

The room requirements are different; many things in the nursery are just for decoration. Your child needs a comfortable space to play and enjoy, sort out all the stuff and decide if they are useful and practical for the new room. Make a checklist about what to keep. When we go down the list, there are a few things that nurseries usually have:

  • Changing table
  • Storage baskets
  • Dresser clothes
  • Hamper and many other things

You can containerize all the unnecessary stuff or use your vertical space to store these things. Sometimes the decluttering process gets challenging because of insufficient space. When you find it hard to keep all the items in your house, try selling them online, or organize a garage sale.

There are various other options to meet your space issues; ask your friends or family if you can borrow their extra space for storage. Otherwise, you can search for some local storage unit agencies. If you live in Washington, you will find suitable storage units there. These temporary storage units are very efficient. One of them is bonney lake self storage that offers up to eight storage sizes to meet your storage needs. Never let storage issues intervene with any of your house renovation or room transformation steps.

Bed And Bedding

Eventually, you have to replace the crib with a bed or replace the higher rail kit with a lower one. There are convertible crib beds that allow you to transform a crib into a bed when your baby grows; this is a good option if you do not want to buy a new mattress and a bed. For your child’s safety, never compromise on the quality of the bed and cribs. Floor bedding is also a good option as it takes up less space, especially if you are handling a small space.

Keep It Simple

Adopt a minimalist way of decorating your child’s room. Keeping it simple creates more space in the room. Children like to play and run around the room; leave plenty of open floor space for all the fun your child plans to have.

Create A Safe And Kid-Friendly Space

Consider your child’s height when you put things in their room. Avoid placing heavy and sharp objects in the room. Once you are sure about the room’s safety, you will be at ease when your child is playing alone in the room. Take care of the electric sockets and remove any wire with potential danger.

Update The Art Section

Suppose your child is drawing, painting, or doing any art, display it on the wall to appreciate their efforts. You can keep some drawings from the nursery as a sweet reminder of your baby’s early age. Also, try to buy colors that are toxic-free.

Change The Curtains

Now the curtain selection is tricky and exciting; you have to choose a curtain that adds up the room’s ambiance and looks artistic. But at the same time, you have to pick a fabric that can block the light during the day when your child falls asleep. You can add a double-layered curtain with one dark and one light tone.

Add Colors To The Room

Paint the walls and add patterns to the room. Make it visually beautiful; it’s not just about decorating your child’s room. It’s more about allowing them to learn through observation. If you are not comfortable with painting the walls, then use wallpaper for an accent wall.

Flexible Closet Ideas And Book Corner

Here are a few tips for organizing kid’s bedroom. If there is a built-in closet in the room, you can easily organize the clothes and look for portable dressing shelves. It allows you to use space efficiently and provides a safer environment for your child. Mobile shelving is also very cost-effective. Keeping their wardrobe organized is a challenge, but it’s doable; train them to dress up independently. Make it a cozy, friendly place for your kid, even if it’s a small corner in the room. Make it a habit to buy new books every month. A child’s holistic development gets more decisive in the early years when all the senses are observing at a much higher frequency. Kiddos love some alone time, and their book corner is the best go-to place.

Final Words

It looks like a swift transition when you think about your pregnancy announcement to your delivery date and moving from nursery days to preparing your child’s first room. Babies grow fast, and they become more eager to learn and play; while decorating their place, make sure you leave plenty of space for learning. If you are dealing with a small space, go for floor bedding and add colors to the room. Experiment with colors, shapes, and patterns; repurpose all the room’s existing elements if you do not feel like replacing them. Curtains, bedding, clothing section, dressing section, and reading area are focus areas. Whatever changes you make never compromise your child’s safety and leave lots of space for fun and learning.

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5 Ideas for Decorating a Superhero-Themed Kids’ Bedroom

October 9, 2020
Lilly Miller
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All kids get obsessed with their favourite characters and quite often never really grow out of it. Even though it’s not a rule of the thumb, girls usually gravitate towards fairy tale princesses and boys towards superheroes from pop culture and comics. However, there is no real division here and their choice of a hero can range from powerful female characters such as Wonder Woman and Catwoman to those cool male protagonists such as Captain America, Superman, Batman or Spiderman.

Decorating your child’s room in a superhero theme is one of those cool kids interior ideas that will create a fun, cool and educational environment where they can develop their imagination.

Here are several ideas to help you incorporate your child’s favourite superhero characters into their bedroom design.

Superhero walls

Consider the bedroom walls as empty canvases and utilize that space to showcase your kid’s superhero of choice. As an elegant solution, frame pictures of characters and hang them up, or to be more original if your kid can draw well, have them draw their favourite character and then proudly display it!

Another solution could be putting up movie posters, real-sized figure wall stickers, a mural or go full force, and do a feature wall with a superhero-themed wallpaper. You can also mix and match: do the bottom part of the wall in comic-inspired, black-and-white wallpaper and the upper part can feature coloured figures of a particular character.

Shelving and storage

Every kid’s bedroom is brimming with toys and it can be challenging to keep it tidy and organised. The key is having lots of shelving and practical storage. Moreover, if your child has a favourite superhero, they love to have them displayed and distinguished from the rest of the mix. They come in all shapes and forms all around the world and kids love collecting them. In the US, action figures and dolls are particularly popular, as are pop vinyl bobbleheads in Australia. No kid’s room is truly complete without their favourite superhero collection!

A great solution could be a hanging bookshelf shaped like Batman’s logo where you can put all the books, comics and figures, or it could even be shaped as Mjölnir or the Captain’s shield. For a more spacious solution, you can opt for a simple standing shelf with storage boxes that you can either paint or wrap in felt paper and add your kid’s favourite character’s logo.

The bed

Your child’s bed is another great place where you can incorporate their favourite superheroes. One option is to create a headboard with the superhero’s logo, or simply go with the superhero bedding, pillows or bedspread. In that way, you can even change it weekly, if your kid has several favourite characters!

Bedroom furniture

A unique way to incorporate superheroes into your kid’s bedroom is to customize different pieces of furniture by decorating them with comic book pages. You can do it on drawer fronts, desk tops or chairs. There are various techniques and they’re quite inexpensive. All you need is a bit of patience and creativity!

Unique superhero details

If you prefer to keep your kid’s room more neutral but still have their favourite superhero present, incorporate a few unique details and accent pieces. You can make letter cut-outs of your kid’s name and decoupage them with comic book pages and then hang them up on the wall. You can do the same with lampshades and wall clocks as well.

Finally, one of the most original and educational ways to utilize your kid’s obsession with superheroes is to add their famous quotes in frames and use them to create motivational messages, such as all superheroes are honest, kind, generous and tidy, which might get your kid to clean up their room more often!

With these tips, some goodwill and creativity, any room can easily be transformed into a real super kid’s room!

 

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Little Things to Bring Peace into Your Home

August 25, 2020
EmmaJ
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We all spend a ton of time at the office, which means we’re quite tired by the time we come back home. That’s why having a living space that’s cozy, comfortable and peaceful is a must. If you don’t live in such a home, you’ll probably never manage to get rested. This will make you aggravated, angry, and stressed out. If you follow these steps, you’ll bring peace into your home.

Open your windows

Peaceful home

This is probably the simplest and oldest idea in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. Opening your windows as soon as you get up is great for you and can do wonders both for your physical and mental health. It will boost your motivation, keep you focused, and most importantly, help you wake up in the morning. However, it can help your home as well, on more levels than one. Colors play a significant role in the interior design and letting natural light in your home will help you understand how different colors work together and take your interior design to the next level.

Letting tons of fresh air and natural sunlight comes in through your windows is one of the best and easiest ways to make your living space nicer. This is just the thing you need when you’re trying to relax and recuperate after a long day at the office. Install those huge windows that will maximize your fresh air and sunlight potential, and keep them open all day every day.

Control the lighting for a peaceful home

This is another simple issue that can really go a long way, but the problem is that most people generally don’t think about it. We don’t consider the lighting setup to be the most important part of our homes, which is why we don’t even think about changing it and making it work in our favor more. But, if we did, we’d be able to forget all about our piled-up stress. Every room in your home should be properly lit. If you plan on designing a contemporary kitchen, you should pay attention to every detail in order to make it look amazing and modern.

While most people stick to one simple overhead light source, others scatter their light sources all across their living space. You can opt for smaller and subtler lamps that give them just as much light as their ceiling light, but in a better and more natural way. They also replace their traditional incandescent light bulbs with those new LED ones. They are equally powerful but more natural, subtle and eye-pleasing. In the end, they rely on natural sunlight coming through their windows, so don’t forget about that either.

Spa-like experience in your bathroom

Bathroom

Coming home from work, most people love hitting the bathroom, and it doesn’t matter if you prefer a quick shower or a long bath. This is something that will definitely make you feel better and bring you back to life. It’s a way to cleanse your body and leave your stress behind, so turning your bathroom into a spa-like space is what you need to do as soon as possible. Sometimes, investing in creating an amazing bathroom is just the change you need and this can be done very quickly if you find the inspiration and know exactly what you want.

Sort out your possessions

The problem most people have with their homes today is the organization – homes are getting smaller and smaller, the number of our possessions bigger and bigger, and these two tendencies can’t go hand in hand. So, in order to make everything work, you either have to keep moving to a new home every once in a while, or declutter your possessions and sort them out. And it’s the former idea that will also boost the serenity level of your home, so give it a thought. You need to go through everything and simplify your life at home.

Decluttering your home isn’t easy, but it’s something you’ll be able to handle if you know what you’re doing. Throwing away things you don’t need or use anymore, reorganizing them more effectively, and making the most of every inch of free space you have is really important, so start doing these things straight away.

Making your home more peaceful is a long process, and it comes in a number of stages. You need to make a plan, decide what you’re trying to do, and focus on your end goal. If you manage to do that, your home will become more peaceful and comfortable sooner than you think.

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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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