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Ok, let’s spill some tea right at the beginning – Valentine’s Day is definitely not everyone’s favorite holiday. However, those who do love it – love it to the extent of making everyone else around them very much aware that they do. But, jokes aside, this fun little lover’s holiday gives all of us the perfect excuse to romanticize a bit and embellish our homes with some pops of color and other little décor items reminiscent of spring that’s ahead of us.

Now, while hearts, roses and XOXOs can be seen wherever you turn during this time of year, that doesn’t mean that those are the only symbols allowed to be used in Valentine’s Day décor. Au contraire! There are so many beautiful ways you can decorate your home for this holiday, you wouldn’t even believe. Let’s check out some of them.

Décor doesn’t have to be over the top

Newsflash: You don’t have to go crazy with the décor! Actually, more subtle décor pieces will make a bigger impact and look way more stylish and modern. So, instead of painting your entire home in pinks and reds and hanging little Cupids and hearts on your chandelier, consider putting up a single piece of wall art with a romantic theme, or adding just a couple of heart-shaped throw pillows and a soft throw blanket to your sofa.

Pro tip: instead of going for the already-seen red and pink heart-shaped pillows, try to get ones in Live Coral (new Pantone color of the year) and express your style and taste to the max.

Décor doesn’t have to be IN your home

Contrary to popular belief, you really don’t need to limit your Valentine’s Day décor to your home’s interior. If you’re in love and you want the whole world to know, you can romanticize your patio or gazebo! Simply hang some light, sheer curtains, add some fairy lights to create a magical atmosphere, a warm and comfortable blanket is also a must, as well as a couple of tea lights. A nice little vase with some freshly picked flowers is also a detail you can’t go wrong with, and maybe even a nice heart-shaped wicker wreath embellished with some (preferably) fake flowers.

Floral arrangement

In the “Great Gray beast February” we could all use as much spring as we can get our hands on. And what screams “spring” louder than anything else? Flowers, of course. Therefore, put together nice little flower arrangements and scatter them throughout your home to boost the romance (and your mood) and skyrocket love in the air. However, make sure you avoid expensive roses (that have, at this point become a cliché) and go for something out of the ordinary, such as field flowers mixed with Chrysanthemum or place some Hydrangea bloom in a simple, clear round bowl for the maximum touch of romance.

Limit your décor to the bedroom

To really make this holiday extra special, limit your decorating efforts to the master bedroom. Invest some money into luxurious, romantic bedding (again, you can opt for Live Coral for that extra oomph) and a big, warm duvet cover with some romantic floral print. Additionally, get some scented candles to set the mood and even place some fresh flowers in vases on the nightstands. Finally, here as well, you can use fairy lights for some extra magic or even light dimmers if that’s more your thing.

So, as you can see, whether you’re in love or not, you can give your home some pizzazz with these modern Valentine’s Day décor to lift the overall mood and welcome spring with open arms.

The New Year has been in action for some time now, the holidays are over and it’s time to do some actual work. In order not to let winter post-holiday depression get to you, it’s important to get moving to a new project. Think about the interior of your house. When was the last time you redecorated? If you’re bored with the current look, new home decor is just the right 2019 project for you. It will keep you occupied for a while and you won’t lack motivation as you’ll be working on making your everyday life better and your own home more beautiful. In that respect, here are a few things you can do to make this happen.

Sectioning space

If you have a big living room and your furniture is aligned with the walls, you probably have a bunch of unused space in the middle of the room. There’s no time like the present to change these circumstances. Building a wall inside one room is not a very simple solution and it narrows the space down, which is a shame for a living room or any large room that has a lot of light and should generally be spacy. Instead, try to section the space using your own furniture. The back of a couch or a moving shelf are great for this.

Cutting out sofas

A popular 2019 trend involves ditching the couch for a more modern look. Not only is it very chic, but it also frees up the space in your room. Therefore, you can use a settee instead of a sofa in a smaller room. Match it with some tabourets instead of armchairs as they would look strange paired with a “backless couch”. Side tables are also great space savers. Metal ones are particularly trendy now and they come in all colours and shapes, gold and silver being the most popular currently.

Maximalism

If you were never a fan of minimalism, then this is the right thing for you. Introducing the anti-minimalistic style where cosy and decadent furniture is not only allowed, but encouraged. Say goodbye to neutral and plain everything and hello to colours and bold combinations. Go nuts and stuff all sorts of furniture and colours as the motto of this style is “More is more”.

Matte black

Matte black is the new neutral and if you, like Morticia Addams, think it’s such a happy colour, then this is great news for you. You can combine it with practically any colour and it will still look amazing. Black is elegant and classy, so if you aim to achieve this effect, then this new trend is meant for you.

White and crazy

Complementary neutral is white, of course. While many people dread using this colour since it has always been a go-to colour of almost every house we ever visited, there are some amazing combinations that can be done with white. For instance, white goes great with silly. Having that in mind, it would be fun combining white with some colourful patterns and crazy colours in general. Let your imagination run free and create a unique combination that will end up being anything but ordinary or generic.

The fact that all these things don’t even require a lot of money makes it all more enticing and realistic. So, the only thing keeping you from having the most amazing home décor there is, is actually yourself. Make a firm decision and a plan, arm yourself with some good ideas and DIY enthusiasm and you’ll be good to go.

One would think shopping for home design enthusiasts is a mission impossible. It goes hand in hand with buying someone a perfume. It’s exhausting and incredibly difficult and the odds of the person liking it are not really on your side. Another problem is not even knowing where to start. Home décor is such a vast universe. How on Earth should we know where to look? Despite the pain this type of shopping brings, when you imagine the look on your friend’s face after getting them the best home décor gift there is, you’ll realize it’s all worth it. So, let’s get to it and see how to narrow it down and crack the code for getting the perfect present.

Minimalism

Contrary to popular opinion, minimalism enthusiasts actually like getting home décor presents. However, they may be the most difficult target audience as any gift you get that they already have or dislike, is considered clutter. That’s why you should tread carefully when it comes to buying gifts. However, if you know your friend’s inventory stats, a nice set of trays or cups and a teapot seem like a good idea. Scented candles goodie bags can also bring your friend joy. You can even pair coasters and candle holders. Regardless, your main guidelines are to stick to neutral colors and plain designs.

Antique lover

Unfortunately, given the delicacy of the situation, one cannot exactly categorize antiques here due to the fact that the availability of items depends on luck and circumstances. This is where you simply need to go and search until an item “speaks to you”. It is best if you go live as online shopping won’t give you the real idea or show you the true charm of the items. For instance, my mom wanted to have this special old book. It was about history of mathematics and not many copies were printed so it was impossible to buy it in any bookstore. However, one day, her friend found it in an antique store accidentally and bought it for her. She was ecstatic. So, go and try your luck at various antique stores and flea markets and you might just find the perfect gift.

Natural types

People find it quite easy to shop for this group. When in doubt, buy a plant. You can never go wrong with buying a beautiful plant in a nice naturally designed pot. Success is one-hundred-percent guaranteed. However, if you want to be a bit more creative, there are some lovely cooking sets that are nature-themed with branches for holders. There are also amazing curtain designs and drapes including scenery, animal prints and many more nature-inspired patterns. You could even consider a DIY of cacti in a glass terrarium. It will be a great touch in your friend’s home and it also has a personal note.

Bohemian rhapsody

Bohemians have that wonderful sense of romance. Your friend probably likes to cuddle up into a blanket and enjoy a good book and a glass of wine on a rainy afternoon. In that respect, you should consider getting them a soft warm plushy blanket that also has an interesting design. This would make any bohemian happy. Another gift idea would be pillows or even a plush toy that fits their living room. It’s important that the materials are natural and they feel good against the skin.

Hopefully, this classification gave you some idea on where to start and what to look for when getting home décor gifts for your friends. It will take you some time and effort, but once you see how happy you made them, you will have zero regrets.

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

Decide what stays and what goes

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

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

Provide enough boxes

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

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

Ask your kids to help too

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

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

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

Patios are the most stylish parts of a garden, but for them to remain stylish, you need to give them a makeover from time to time. Without taking care of the patio covers, cleaning out the leaves and dirt left over from rainy weather and reviving the furniture, your patio won’t stay as beautiful for long. It’s also a good idea to replace some ruined pieces with new furniture and reorganize your patio space. Here are some ideas what you can invest in.

A wood pergola

Pergolas are not only marvelous design pieces, but are a necessary protection from the sun, as well. You can make your DIY pergola or you can hire a professional to do it for you. It takes less time to build a pergola than to renovate your whole patio, even though you get the same effect. Adding this wooden detail can completely change the look of your patio and make it feel more comfortable for both you and your visitors. Pergolas are useful for rainy days, as well. You just need to add a decent cover.

Bathe in luxury

In order to completely spoil yourself, there is nothing better to do than installing a luxury spa in your garden. Built-in spas are made with soothing jets positioned to target acupressure points and relieve tired muscles and designed to take into consideration the human form. A spa with a range size to fit 2-4 people might be just about the right size for your patio zone without you having to rearrange too much. Coming home from work and jumping straight into a luxury therapeutic bath might be just the thing you need for stress relief.  

Nooks and hammocks

If you are a fan of easy and cheap DIY comfort, then nooks or hammocks are just what you need. For the simplest solution, you will need only two standing points and a long net. For something more convenient, you can find hanging chairs that can carry up to two persons, but in this case, you will need a ceiling standing point. There are self-standing single person hanging chairs, as well. Reading nooks should be efficiently located in one patio corner that has the most light. Including a hammock in this same corner can make it the most picturesque place of your home.

Gravel and stone

Although most patios are typically paved, think about investing in a flagstone patio floor. Building a flagstone patio can be as fun as putting puzzle pieces together. A flagstone patio is also a dream to clean and remove dirt and dust quickly with an electric pressure washer. If you have already defined the shape of your patio and dug it at least 5 inches deep, think about covering the soil with landscape fabric so that weed can’t grow between the stone.

Vintage details

Some rusty old tables, chairs, pots or other patio details can look rather stylish if you redesign them just a bit. Take one weekend in the garage to transform your broken armchair from unusable junk to a vintage must-have hand-made accessory. Also, hardscape elements like arbors or trellises can be found at flea markets and garage sales for a small amount of money, and can make amazing changes to your patio design. Details like colorful flowers in rusty recolored pots or just in simple old and torn up rubber boots are an adorable and creative way to make new use of things you would otherwise throw away.

Putting new life to your patio can simply be done by shining some new light within. Spreading some lovely lighting through the patio will give a beautiful romantic vibe to any evening. Coloring the light bulbs with colorful transparent paint can also have an interesting effect. Don’t be afraid to experiment and be creative in order to make the most enjoyable patio for your home.

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

Wooden flooring

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

Wooden furniture

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

Wooden beams

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

Wooden walls and paneling

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

Wooden décor

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

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

You might think that choosing colors for your home is easy – you just pick the ones you like, and that’s it. In most cases, you will get a satisfying result in a visual sense, but psychologically, the color you picked might not be the best choice for the purpose of the room. As you probably already know, certain colors make us feel a certain way, and color psychology is something you should keep in mind when designing your home. It can help you create not just visually pleasing spaces but also spaces that allow you to rest, work, or entertain your guests much more efficiently. With that in mind, here are some of the most popular colors and how you should use them around your apartment.

Blue

Blue is one of the most popular colors in general, and it’s not hard to see why. It is a very soothing color that can lower your blood pressure and help you relax, which is why it’s a good choice for the bedroom. You can also use it in your study, as it is known to boost creativity. Moreover, if you want to decrease your appetite and lose weight, use it in your kitchen.

Blue can make people moody though, especially those who tend to suffer from the winter blues, so perhaps you shouldn’t use it too much in your living room. In general, if you live in colder climates, it might be a good idea to opt for warmer colors or at least balance the blue with some warmer-colored accessories.

Green

The psychological effects of green are similar to those of blue. It can help you relax and clear your mind, since it’s usually associated with nature, vegetation, and spring. It’s a bit more cheerful than blue though, so it’s less likely to make people depressed and moody.

When combined with brown and yellow, it becomes perfect for your kitchen, as it can remind you of spring and sunshine. In the bedroom, it works best when combined with blue. This makes the room softer on the eyes and helps you rest. When combined with blue, it’s also a great choice for the bathroom, since it can help you create a spa-like atmosphere.

Red

Red is used to convey passion, love, and excitement, but it can also indicate danger and threat if the shade is too bright. It is known to increase appetite too, which is why it’s often used in restaurants, and it’s a good choice for your kitchen.

You can also use it in your living room if you want the room to feel more energizing and lively. Just don’t overdo it; as mentioned, too much red cause make people feel threatened, aggressive, and mad. Using it as wall décor, and adding pops of red with flowers and accessories can be more than enough to achieve the positive effect. In the bedroom, you can use it to enhance passion and romance. However, red can make it more difficult to fall asleep, so again, don’t overdo it.

White

Many people would say that white is boring or bland, because it’s usually used in hospitals, offices, and other facilities that don’t carry much personality. However, when used correctly, it has many benefits. For example, it can make your living room feel more spacious, which is great if you live in a smaller apartment. Also, if you think of it as a blank canvas, it actually gives you the freedom to add color with everything else, from bigger statement pieces to smaller accessories. This also means that you can change the effect you want to achieve just by changing the accessories instead of repainting the entire room, and it’s a method that can work in any room.

Brown

Brown is a great choice for when you want to create a cozy and comfortable environment. This is because it reminds people of earth, nature, chocolate, coffee, trees, and other comforting things. It metaphorically keeps you “down to earth”, so use it when you want to create a safe space.

Moreover, when used correctly, it can also make the room appear more luxurious and elegant. This depends on the materials used though; mahogany, for instance, is often used in libraries and spaces designated for quiet conversations.

Yellow

Light yellow is a cheerful color that invokes sunshine, happiness, and optimism. Darker yellow, on the other hand, can irritate people, so it’s not a good choice for a base color. Yellow is very popular in kitchens that receive a lot of sunshine since it can warm up the place during winter and freshen up the atmosphere during spring and summer. Moreover, it’s a good choice for halls and entryways, because it can visually expand the space.

Final note

When choosing the colors for your home, keep in mind that while people do respond similarly in general, there are always exceptions. For example, most people would say that black is the color of death and mourning. However, there are also people who would emphasize its timeless elegance and would enjoy being surrounded by it. Similarly, a color could evoke memories, both positive and negative, and this could influence one’s feelings towards that color regardless of the color psychology. With that in mind, color psychology is something you can rely on, but, when possible, one’s personal feelings should also be taken into account.

Colors can influence people’s emotions, both positively and negatively. So, when designing your home, consider the effects that different colors can have, and your apartment will be not just visually appealing but also much more functional.