You know the saying, “Go big or go home”? Well, we think you should go big at home! Most people make a common mistake when it comes to choosing furniture. They tend to shy away from larger pieces in favor of several small pieces. The result is a cluttered, messy hodgepodge that makes the room look smaller. While it is possible to crowd a room with oversized furniture, one well utilized piece not only adds visual appeal, it also provides storage, thereby making the room seem larger.
Don’t be intimidated by large furnishings. Depending on the room size, you should stick to one or two pieces, like a contemporary sectional and patterned rug or an oversized piece of art. When a substantial, attention-grabbing piece is introduced, a visually stimulating focal point is created that gives the room direction.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Personalize Your Space
Follows these tips to bring a customized touch to your home!
Monograms: An inexpensive way to personalize any room. Add them to bed linens, towels or a cozy blanket left draped over a chair. Many stores offer a monogram service for a fee when you buy their products.
Family heirlooms: Why keep your grandmother’s keepsakes in an old trunk in the attic? Display old photos and collectibles on console tables and walls throughout your home. Even if it’s an odd piece, like the barn door from your great uncle’s dairy farm, there are creative ways to incorporate it— possibly in your backyard garden? By displaying heirlooms, you’re adding an instant conversation piece and making something old new.
Frame-ables: Give accomplishments their due. Showcase things you’re proud of by putting them in frames. Word to the wise: don’t clump pictures together. Give each picture its own frame. Then, arrange the frames in an odd numbered grouping. Odd numbers give more visual appeal than an even numbered set.
Photos: Get creative with a photo editing software. By playing with the crop and saturation, you have the opportunity to create mini-works of art.
Art: All rooms can benefit from a well-placed piece of artwork. A small painting will look strange as the focal point on a large wall, so consider the size of your space first! Use a painting as a focal point or to bring together all the colors in the room. The best part is, art doesn’t have to cost a bundle to be an original. It just has to mean something to you. Plenty of DIY sites can show you ways to create your own. But if making art isn’t your thing, you just want to appreciate it, then acquaint yourself with budget-friendly options.
Monograms: An inexpensive way to personalize any room. Add them to bed linens, towels or a cozy blanket left draped over a chair. Many stores offer a monogram service for a fee when you buy their products.
Family heirlooms: Why keep your grandmother’s keepsakes in an old trunk in the attic? Display old photos and collectibles on console tables and walls throughout your home. Even if it’s an odd piece, like the barn door from your great uncle’s dairy farm, there are creative ways to incorporate it— possibly in your backyard garden? By displaying heirlooms, you’re adding an instant conversation piece and making something old new.
Frame-ables: Give accomplishments their due. Showcase things you’re proud of by putting them in frames. Word to the wise: don’t clump pictures together. Give each picture its own frame. Then, arrange the frames in an odd numbered grouping. Odd numbers give more visual appeal than an even numbered set.
Photos: Get creative with a photo editing software. By playing with the crop and saturation, you have the opportunity to create mini-works of art.
Art: All rooms can benefit from a well-placed piece of artwork. A small painting will look strange as the focal point on a large wall, so consider the size of your space first! Use a painting as a focal point or to bring together all the colors in the room. The best part is, art doesn’t have to cost a bundle to be an original. It just has to mean something to you. Plenty of DIY sites can show you ways to create your own. But if making art isn’t your thing, you just want to appreciate it, then acquaint yourself with budget-friendly options.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Spring Décor
Dust off the winter doldrums, spring is around the corner! Chances are you’ll soon be spending more time outside, so why not bring the outside in by inspiring your space with these 3 basic tips?
Color. It’s the name of the game. A gallon of paint can do wonders for a space. Bright shades of blue, green, yellow, purple and coral are associated with spring, so are pastels. So pick a color and go for it—whether you’re covering an entire room or just one wall, your space will stand out. And if you tire of your selection in the fall, you can always cover it.
Textiles. Designers have already brought out their spring lines: pillows, slipcovers, rugs and linens. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a bundle to get the look. Add a burst of white to the dining table. Floral patterns are inherently springy. Swap a heavier floor covering for a jute or seagrass rug. Drape a vibrant throw over your favorite chair. If you want a custom look, go to your local fabric store, where you can coordinate color, textiles and window coverings for a seamless look that’s sure to impress.
Window Coverings: The dark days of winter are over. While the sunshine is a welcome change, it may be more intense than your house can handle. So how do you avoid heavier drapery fabrics in favor of a more season appropriate window covering, without sacrificing shade? Roman shades are a simple, clean option to block the sun and maintain privacy. If you hang them in a basic white or cream, you can then layer them with patterned or bright colored drapes. It’s also possible to have linens lined with a thick, sun-stopping fabric.
The best part about switching up your style? It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. By integrating a few updated pieces, your room will sparkle like new.
Color. It’s the name of the game. A gallon of paint can do wonders for a space. Bright shades of blue, green, yellow, purple and coral are associated with spring, so are pastels. So pick a color and go for it—whether you’re covering an entire room or just one wall, your space will stand out. And if you tire of your selection in the fall, you can always cover it.
Textiles. Designers have already brought out their spring lines: pillows, slipcovers, rugs and linens. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a bundle to get the look. Add a burst of white to the dining table. Floral patterns are inherently springy. Swap a heavier floor covering for a jute or seagrass rug. Drape a vibrant throw over your favorite chair. If you want a custom look, go to your local fabric store, where you can coordinate color, textiles and window coverings for a seamless look that’s sure to impress.
Window Coverings: The dark days of winter are over. While the sunshine is a welcome change, it may be more intense than your house can handle. So how do you avoid heavier drapery fabrics in favor of a more season appropriate window covering, without sacrificing shade? Roman shades are a simple, clean option to block the sun and maintain privacy. If you hang them in a basic white or cream, you can then layer them with patterned or bright colored drapes. It’s also possible to have linens lined with a thick, sun-stopping fabric.
The best part about switching up your style? It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. By integrating a few updated pieces, your room will sparkle like new.
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