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Home Improvement

Top 7 Home Improvement Ideas for 2018

March 9, 2018

The new millennium is no longer a juvenile. This means that everything you’ve learned about it by now is a thing of the past – you know, puberty, adolescence and all. Jokes aside, the year of 2018 has way too much to offer – both new and old. But let’s not procrastinate anymore, shall we? Here are some of the biggest home improvements trends for 2018.

Wood flooring

Whether you love it or hate it, wood flooring has made a huge comeback. And if you were thinking of upgrading your floors, this is the way to go. There are many options to choose from, but three of them are definitely on the top: herringbone parquet, gray wood and distressed flooring. If you love that Parisian vibe – go with a traditional light-colored parquet (or dark-colored depending on your interior and personal preferences) with either a chevron or herringbone (which is currently more popular) design. On the other hand, if the rooms in your home don’t receive enough natural light – go with gray wood. It is going to add brightness and a luxe feel to the space. Finally, if you are aiming towards a rustic look – naturally, you will go with distressed wood flooring.

Bright colors

Since this year’s Pantone color of the year is Ultraviolet – you can just imagine the things that are about to happen. Even though earthy tones are still at the top of the trends list – this year, we’ll also be seeing a lot of jewel tones. We’re talking emerald green, sapphire, amethyst, ruby etc. These colors are representing originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking – which is exactly what the world needs. Also, the time of rose gold is up. Instead, real gold and brass are taking the throne.

Curb appeal matters

Home improvement is not just about renovating your home’s interior. Even though we are all aware of the fact that beauty is on the inside, your home’s curb appeal is also really important. This year, do your best to fix it. Replace your old garage doors, replace those old and dingy house numbers and the rusty mailbox, illuminate your front yard, and maybe even rethink that new façade idea. All this is going to both make your home prettier and increase its value – which is also something worth having in mind.

Embrace the coziness

Light room dividers, reading nooks, plush pillows etc. are what modern home improvement is all about. The pressure of modern life simply requires these comfortable corners that will allow you to relax, unwind and enjoy your peace. Take time to decorate those small areas of your home and turn them into relaxing micro zones you will enjoy.

Leather and natural stone

When it comes to leather, it isn’t just about sofas and chaise lounges, it is also about many accents such as wall artwork, shelf holders and even leather flowers and other decorations. These are the ultimate elements of the 2018 modern interior design. And when it comes to color, have in mind that chocolate brown is the new gray, or in other words, now the primary neutral color. When it comes to stone, marble, granite and pebbles are still at the top of the popularity list. Go with carved designs or geometrical prints.

Flowers instead of word art

We will no longer be seeing those “Live, laugh, love” signs everywhere we look. And it is such a relief actually, because, you will agree on this one, this concept has seriously been painfully overused. In 2018, ‘focal pointing’ will be all about floral printed pillows, blankets, maybe even floral wallpapers, or even simply regular flowers… you know… like those you put in a vase… on your table. Pretty, right?

Cork, bright lights, dark wood

Dark wood, especially chocolate brown, as said above, is what gives any room a luxe feel, while cork is there to balance it – if it’s used for the right accents, such as doors and cabinets, for example. And when the room is crowded with wood, textiles, cork etc., it requires bright lighting in order to reach its full comfy potential.

No matter which idea you opt for, note that the most important thing is that you are feeling 100 percent comfortable in your home.

Interior Décor

Space-saving Ideas for a Small Bedroom

June 12, 2015

Lucas Bergman

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Many people today are facing the challenge of having a small living space. This is one of the most common disadvantages of living in urban areas. Instead of making it a problem, it would be best to accept it as a fact, and take advantage of what you have until you find something better. Small apartments usually have small bedrooms – which are big enough for a bed, and not for anything else. The key to happy living is to use all the tricks you can in order to turn your small-sized bedroom into a nice and functional one, and yet save space for other things.

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Source: Flickr

Use what you have

If your small bedroom does not have enough space for a nightstand, you should use what you have at hands. For example, if you have a deep window sill, move your bed next to it and it can serve as a nightstand. If you have a wall-mounted shelf beside the bed, you can add another one, which would be deep enough so that you can use it as a computer desk while you are sitting on the bed. If you have a desk next to your bed, it is perfectly fine to give it a double duty – to serve as a nightstand as well. A lamp is simply a must at your bedside, so instead of taking up space on a nightstand, you can simply hang one on the wall – this way, you will get direct light from above your head, which is great for reading. Mind you that it should be high enough so that you do not hit your head while sitting up.

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Source: Flickr

Additional storage

In a small bedroom, the walls are your best friends. A general rule for small bedrooms is to hang everything you can on the walls. If you have a narrow bedroom, you can put a simple shelf beside or above the bed to make up for a nightstand, and you will get extra space for something else. If you lack space for keeping a bike, you can simply hang it above the bed – the only thing you have to do is to clean its tires every time you mount it on the wall. If you lack storage space, you can find high beds which have enough storage space underneath the mattress – a space which you can use for winter/summer clothes, sheets and blankets, and the like. Do not be afraid to even add cabinets above the bed – they are simply made for small bedrooms.

And finally, the key to a happy home and normal living is not the size of your living space. Rather, it should be the joy of waking up next to the person you really care about and enjoying every moment with them. Even though you cannot magically make the space bigger than it is, you can create optical illusion – by painting the walls white, and using light-coloured sheets (which will additionally make you feel calm and you will be able to take a good rest in it) and hanging mirrors to visually enlarge your small bedroom.

Interior Décor

Pimp My Bedroom

February 16, 2015

Lucas Bergman

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You have been coming home to the same old bedroom for some time now, and you clearly do not feel the same as you did when you first decorated it. Sometimes you look at the old posters, and stickers and ask yourself “what was I thinking?” But you feel rather stuck with it, as the room is really small, and you know how hard it is to work with small spaces. However, there are ways to make your tiny corner seem bigger, and most importantly, more functional.

Bring It Up Your Bedroom

Has it happened to you that you did something at the desk, and when you wanted to get up, you hit your chair on the bed?
That is all because of the lack of space, but it is not like you can throw one of those two things out of the room. The design culture has come up with the solution on how to use the height of the room to your advantage and get more space out of it.
Another great idea is to put the table under the window so that you could have enough natural light, especially when two windows only.
Leave your desk right where it is now, and build the bed right over it, just make sure that you install the right lighting fixtures so that it is not too dark when you work on your computer or read a book.

A Place for One More

You always wanted to invite a friend for a sleepover, but you had no bed to offer to them. The simplest solution is to hide one mattress under your own bed, and pull it out only when you absolutely need it. And it is not only for sleeping, you can pull it out every time you need an extra sitting space, as it is perfect for playing cards, board games, or just chatting with your friends.

Get a custom bed

Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom and worths most of your investment. According to Jonathan Prichard and the Mattress Insider Company, custom and odd mattress designs are mostly made to fit extravagant and unique bedroom settings.
A custom-design bed can come in large size or foldable form, with metal or wood frame, depending on you what tone you want to set for the room.

Hidden Storage

There is enough space in your room for most basic furniture, but as you are growing up, you realize that you need more and more storage space. You have sorted out all of your clothes and shoes, but what to do with all the books? You can always add more shelves on the wall, but sometimes even that is not enough. So instead of the pull-out mattress, pull out and empty storage space, where you can place all of your valuables and collectibles. It is also very practical for bookworms, who would not need to get out of bed in the evening to grab one for a bedtime story.

It is all about the Little Things

When you finish with reorganizing the room so that is fully functional, it is time to think about the details that make it a warm and welcoming place. First think about the linens, as after a hard day all you will want to do is come home and throw yourself on the bed, and dive in the sea of cushions. You can get or make one of those with messages or quotes on them, as they always make and interesting decorating detail.

Then, if you feel a little bit of claustrophobic, put a big mirror on one of the walls, as they reflect both picture and light, what will make your room seem bigger.

Chose an interesting wallpaper or a sticker for the wall that you like, but if you are going for the wallpaper that will take up most, or all the walls, go with more neutral one, and then add other colorful details in the room to break the monotony. However, if you have a small place, do not over clutter it, but go with just a few figurines or scented candles.

Some of the things you can do yourself, and save some money on redecorating, but most important thing is not to be discouraged with the lack of finances. You do not need to make a big change all at once – start from one thing, and then others will come with time, and soon you will have your little seventh heaven.

improvement