Many of us spend a great deal of time at home these days. Whether you work from home, love spending time meal-prepping in the kitchen, or you simply enjoy leisurely time in the comfort of your own home, it’s possible the space isn’t as calming and relaxing as you’d like it to be.
If you’d like to create a sanctuary that incites feelings of calm and relaxation in your home but aren’t sure where to start, take a look at the ideas below. Try one or try all to create the calming space you’d like your home to be.
1. Soft & Warm Fabrics
Nothing says warmth and coziness than a soft quilt or a long shag rug. You can cover almost any surface in textiles, so let your imagination soar. Reupholster a chair in crushed velvet or add a soft shag rug to the floor – whatever it takes to make the space look and feel warm and inviting. Soft textiles have a calming effect no matter the season.
2. Balanced Colors
Although this year’s hot home décor trend is bold colors, to create the calming space you desire, try balancing pops of color against a neutral backdrop. For example, add vibrant throw pillows to your neutral couch for a balanced, interesting, and relaxing vibe.
3. Relaxing Home Décor
Look for home décor that fits your personality while also standing the test of time. If you’d like to try some of the newest trends in home décor, be sure it’s something you like because if you don’t, you may find yourself unable to relax completely.
3. Relaxing Home Décor
To truly help you relax at home, carve out a space that’s separate from the rest of the area dedicated to doing yoga or meditation. Be sure to include things like a floor mat or pillow, pictures you love, a couple of plants, and a music source to make the perfect nook for your relaxation practices.
5. Embrace Scent
Your sense of smell is the gateway to calmness as certain scents invite relaxation and reduce stress. Try lighting a few scented candles around your home or diffusing essential oils to create a relaxing atmosphere in your home. Scents to consider include chamomile, lavender, Jasmine, and lemon.
6. The Right Lighting
The right lighting can have a dramatic effect on your mood. If it’s dark or gloomy when your workday is done, you may need some light therapy to lift your spirits and instill relaxation. Look for lights that mimic the sun or try stringing lights across your living room to bring a positive vibe to your space.
7. Let Natural Light In
One of the easiest ways to create a brighter, calming space is to let the natural light flood in. Even if your home or apartment doesn’t have a lot of windows, you can still embrace the natural light you do have by not covering the windows with heavy treatments and keeping them open for as long as the daylight hours allow. You can further increase the brightness in the room by hanging mirrors on the walls to reflect and bounce the light around.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, many of us are staying at home more. This means finding new ways to entertain ourselves indoors and out. If you’ve never thought of your outdoor space as entertaining before, now’s the perfect time to transform it into an oasis of sorts to get some fresh air and a change of pace.
Here are several upgrades that can transform your outdoor spaces into areas you’ll want to spend time in.
1. Hang A Hammock
Who doesn’t like lying in a hammock on a warm, breezy day? If you have two trees within hammock-hanging distance of each other, or, even if you don’t (you can install your own poles for hanging), you can hang a hammock or some other swinging-type seating to enjoy the great outdoors in.
2. Hang Lanterns Or String Lights In Your Yard
Just as lighting plays a big role in the ambiance inside your home, it can also lend a warm, relaxing vibe to your outdoor spaces, too. Try hanging decorative lanterns or stinging pretty lights across your yard or along a fence for a rustic look that begs you to enjoy it once the sun sets.
3. Play Around With Seating
Gone are the days when patio furniture had to match. These days, you have a multitude of options when it comes to outdoor seating. If you like collecting individual pieces and creating your own seating arrangement, go for it to create an outdoor seating area that portrays your personal style.
4. Accent With Textiles
Make your outdoor space fun and exciting by adding accents in bright colors and textures. From area rugs and throw pillows to slipcovers and more, you can make an extension of your indoor living area.
Just be sure to choose fabrics that are designed to withstand the elements, so you don’t have to worry about storing any of your accents when the weather turns foul.
5. Consider Your Outdoor Activities
How will you use your outdoor space? Not only should it be comfortable and inviting, but it should also be functional. By adding a fireplace, you create a warm atmosphere that enables you to use the space during colder months. You can also add an outdoor kitchen, which will enable you to cook and dine outside on those beautiful summer evenings.
Hopefully, the upgrades above will help you create an outdoor space that you love to spend time in.
Today’s home is much more than just a place to rest and unwind. These days it’s an office, school, and whatever else it needs to be while the pandemic rages on.
With the dawning of a new year comes new interior home décor trends most people will find refreshing and helpful. So, without further ado, here are a few of the interior décor trends you can expect.
1. What’s Old Is New Again
While styles come and go, it’s the nostalgia that’s playing a big role in today’s interior décor trends. Styles from the Victorian era, Art Deco, and even grand millennial aesthetics are making a comeback as many people wish longingly for what used to be in a world so full of uncertainty and strife.
2. Easy To Clean Is Always Good
We’ll be seeing lots of easy to clean fabrics and surfaces. Expect non-porous surfaces like glass and metal to be part of many home renovations as they deter the growth and spread of bacteria. Also, the kid-friendly, durable, stain-proof fabric will take center stage where applicable.
3. Warm, Cozy Colors
Earthy tones and warm neutrals will be popular as we begin making our homes cozier places to be. Today’s trend is organic shades like Camel, which adds a layer of warmth and hominess gray just doesn’t have.
4. Calming Shades Of Blue
Color has a big impact on our emotions, which is why shades of soft blue will be trending this year. The calming effect this shade has on the mind will help alleviate some of the stress we’re all feeling as we stay quarantined in our homes. Blue is a timeless color that never seems to go out of style, making it a great choice for a fresh look.
5. Natural Materials Aren’t Going Anywhere
Wood tones, organic materials, and natural accents are going to be extremely popular.
6. Say Goodbye To The Open Floor Plan
In years past, the open floor plan, where one room flows seamlessly into the next, was valued as it brought the family closer together.
This realization puts open floor plans on the outs and closed floor plans at the top of many homeowner’s renovation plans.
7. A Shift Toward Sustainable Furnishings
Sustainability is a subject that impacts our daily lives in many areas. Today’s homeowner is opting less for cheap, DIY furnishings and choosing instead to buy furniture that’s more expensive and better made. These furnishings are kinder to the environment and they give their owners a sense of pride in being able to hand down an heirloom rather than throwing the piece in the landfill.
The kitchen is often the most-used room in the house. In many cases, it is a multi-use room where not just cooking takes place, but eating, homework, office work, and more are common activities.
So when it comes to remodeling your kitchen, you have a lot of options in terms of layouts and features. It can seem overwhelming, but below, we discuss several layouts and what you can expect with each so you can choose one that suits your needs best.
The Island
Islands in kitchens are popular as they not only add interest to the room but also functionality. They work well in large kitchens with plenty of space to maneuver around. Kitchen islands can be stand-alone versions where food prep takes place or part of a bigger unit such as a wall or half-wall for additional vertical storage and interest.
Single & Double Galley Kitchens
Galley kitchens are known for their compact layouts that put everything within easy reach. In a single-galley kitchen, the cabinets, appliances, and countertops are all strategically placed on one wall. In a double-galley kitchen, all the elements of the room are placed on two walls that run parallel and opposite each other.
If space is a concern, the single-galley kitchen works well, while a double-galley kitchen is best suited for rooms that are longer than they are wide.
An L-Shaped Kitchen
L-shaped kitchens feature the sink and cooking areas on different sides of the “L.” This design is especially great in smaller kitchens where family members love cooking together as it gives ample space for everyone to work.
U-Shaped Kitchen
Common in open floor plans where the dining room and kitchen are one big space, the U-shaped kitchen helps divide the area into two separate rooms. The U-shaped kitchen can also be used in smaller kitchens to provide ample storage and workspace, but it can also give a feeling of being closed in. In this instance, open shelving helps reduce the closed-in feeling.
You have many options when it comes to kitchen layouts, so if you’re planning a kitchen remodel, be sure you understand the differences between them so you can choose the one that works best with the space you have and your particular needs.
A great room, different than a traditional living room, is a large open space designed to be used every day by the entire family for a multitude of uses. From watching TV to reading and lounging, this room is as versatile as it is functional.
With that said, no great room is truly great without a little TLC. Below, we divulge a few suggestions that are sure to make your great room… well… great!
Light And Bright Is Key
To make your great room look and feel large and open, keeping it light and bright is key. If you’re building an open floor plan into your home, be sure the great room has plenty of windows to allow as much natural light to flood the space as possible.
Of course, you’ll want to add the appropriate window coverings to filter and block the light as needed for things like TV viewing or to keep that hot afternoon sun at bay.
Make The Tv Part Of The Decor
No great room is complete without a TV, and of course, it’ll need to be strategically placed for proper Netflix watching on the weekends. With that said, consider mounting the TV on the wall as if it were a piece of artwork. Build its placement into the surrounding wall décor so it looks to be a part of the décor and not something out of place.
If your great room includes a fireplace, consider hanging a low-profile large-screen TV above it for an impressive and interesting display.
Multi-purpose Furnishings
A great room is designed to be multi-functional with many activities taking place there at any given time. In one area, someone may be watching TV, while across the room, someone else may be doing homework at the dining table.
Keep this in mind as you choose furniture for your great room. The upholstered dining chairs you love may not be a practical fit if the dining table will be used for messy activities like crafting, so think about this and choose furniture that fits your and your family’s needs best.
Your home’s great room can be anything you want it to be. That’s the beauty of the space. Follow the tips above to make it the greatest room possible.
On average, we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors, and thanks to COVID-19, it’s likely even more for some people. Now that you know that, it’s also important to know that many studies suggest that you can improve your physical and mental wellbeing by bringing the outdoors in.
Your home should be a place to collect your thoughts and refresh your mind and body. As such, bringing Mother Nature into your home is a great way to make your indoor space into a sanctuary. Here are several ideas that will help you bring nature into your home.
1. Build Around A Tree
The idea isn’t new, but it is timeless. If you’re building your dream home, try building it around a large tree to instantly bring the beauty and ambiance of nature indoors.
2. Kitchen Herb Garden
To bring nature into your kitchen, plant an herb garden along a wall or two. Hanging flower boxes make for the perfect garden setting, and when stuffed with fresh growing herbs like thyme, rosemary, mint, parsley, basil, and tarragon, you might be inspired to release your inner chef.
3. Build A Greenhouse
Greenhouses aren’t just for commercial growers. You can build one in your home or in your yard where fresh fruits and vegetables abound and beautiful flowers spring forth. There’s nothing quite like harvesting home-grown veggies in the summer and cutting fresh flowers for the table in the winter.
4. Choose Rustic Finishes
Rustic touches such as a natural wood countertop or a wood paneled accent wall can transform a room from cold and uninviting to warm and welcoming in an instant.
5. Bring In A Houseplant Or Two
Even if you don’t have a green thumb, there are many varieties of houseplants that can thrive in an indoor environment with little care. Spider plants, for example, require little care but will add a lovely natural touch to the space and will improve air quality, too.
6. Choose Earthy Colors
Earth tones such as shades of gray, green, and blue bring a sense of nature into the home, lending a soothing vibe to any room.
7. Use Raw Wood Accents
Raw wood accents such as reclaimed barn wood beams, trim, and cabinetry can give a room a warm atmosphere that’s both rustic and beautiful. Most people marvel at the effect old barn wood has as a décor accent in a country home.
8. Use Natural Fibers
Adding natural fibers to a room is an easy way to bring the outdoors in. Wicker furniture, woven sea grass rugs, faux fur, etc. are all nature-inspired fibers that instill a sense of the great outdoors inside your home.
9. Incorporate A Water Feature
The sound of running water works wonders to soothe and relax. Try adding a desktop fountain or, if possible, build an actual babbling brook right through the center of your home.
10. Nature-inspired Art
Another easy and effective way to bring the beauty of nature into your home is to hang nature-inspired artwork on the walls. From a simple sunset landscape to wildlife shots and nature scenes, you are only limited by your own imagination.
Sure, slippers were invented for a reason, but once you’ve lived in a home with heated floors, you’ll throw every single pair you own in the trash.
Heated floors are more than just a luxury. They are energy-efficient and help lower your heating bills in the winter. While the initial expense might sound like a lot, heated floors pay for themselves via your energy savings in a very short time.
2. Dimmer Switches
Installing dimmer switches in your home is probably the cheapest upgrade on this list. However, don’t underestimate the impact it will have. You’ll be surprised at how much changing the lighting in a room can change the ambiance instantly. If you hate how harsh your overhead lighting is, try installing a dimmer switch and see how warm and cozy the room becomes.
3. A Mudroom
Having a functional mudroom is something that many people overlook. This room is especially helpful when it’s situated between the house and the garage. A mudroom is meant to get a little messy, so whether someone is coming home from the gym, coming in from the garden, or shoveling snow, the mudroom catches all the dirt and mess before it enters your home.
4. A Finished Basement
If the basement in your home is unfinished, it may seem like the only thing it’s good for is storage. Give the space a little TLC, however, and it’ll change the way you live in your home forever.
A finished basement gives everyone extra space to live the way they want. If you add separate rooms down there, it’ll open up even more possibilities for its use.
5. Upper-Level Laundry
Sure, having a dedicated laundry room is nice, but having one on the second floor right outside the bedrooms? Priceless!
Doing laundry is so much easier since there’s no need to lug heavy loads of laundry up and down the stairs.
6. Double Sinks in the Bathroom
Once you’ve experienced the convenience of a double sink, you’ll never be able to go back to a single again. Having a double sink in the bathroom makes sharing the space with a partner or roommate tolerable, especially when it comes to coordinating spit and rinse cycles while brushing. If you have the space, installing a double sink in your master bath is definitely worth considering.
Many smart homeowners make upgrades to their homes. Unfortunately, not all upgrades are worth the time or expense you put in. Avoid luxury upgrades that require a lot of maintenance (like the hot tub) and instead, focus on projects like the ones mentioned above that are totally worth the consideration.
Painted floors are hardly a new concept, but in today’s modern home design, they can lend warmth, charm, and a rustic touch that fits any budget. If you’re the DIY type and are considering painting your floors, here are a few things to think about before you begin.
1. Do You Have Time And Money To Prepare The Floor Professionally?
When you hear of a painted floor that didn’t last, likely, it wasn’t prepared properly in the beginning. Preparing the floor correctly is the key to getting a painted floor to last a long time. If you don’t know how to prepare the floor correctly, hiring a professional to do it will greatly improve the chances that your floor will last. Even if your budget doesn’t allow for an entire professionally completed project, consider hiring a professional for the preparation part to ensure a good result.
2. Do You Have A Historical Home?
If you own a historical home with original flooring, keeping it as-is is often preferred. That said, historical homes often have additions with newer flooring that can be painted to enhance modernization or keep with the historical décor.
3. The Room’s Natural Light
If you have a small, dark room that gets little natural light, painting the floor a bright shade (white or off-white) will help bounce light around, so it feels bigger.
4. How Thin Are Your Wood Floors?
If the original wood floors in your home have already been refinished several times, it could be that they are too thin to refinish again. In this case, rather than the expense and hassle of replacing them, painting offers a way to breathe new life into old floors without breaking your budget.
5. Your Modern Home Lacks Charm
New constructions can lack charm and history, so painting the floors can give yours the character it lacks. Consider a design that works with your home’s architectural style, but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through your painted floors.
6. Are Your Floors Damaged Beyond Repair?
If your floors are damaged beyond repair or they are structurally unsound, painting them only covers up the problem without addressing the real issues. If they are warped or uneven, paint won’t be able to cover them. If your floors are beyond repair, it’s best to bite the bullet and get them fixed, so they look great and you know they can support you and your belongings the way they should.
7. Will You Want To Go Back To The Original Floor?
Painting is pretty permanent, so if there’s a chance you’ll want to go back to your original finish, it’s a good idea to skip this project. If you do paint your floors and ever want to “undo” it, keep in mind that it’ll be another major undertaking to do so, and there’s no guarantee the floor will be the same as it once was.
Millennials are the biggest generational group of homebuyers. If you want to be competitive and appeal to this group when selling your home, you must be sure to include features they are looking for. Below, we discuss several home renovations you may want to consider if you hope to appeal to this generation of buyers.
A Dedicated Workspace
Working from home is something many companies embrace. As such, a large portion of the population now works from home, at least on a part-time basis. For millennials, a home must contain a dedicated workspace complete with plenty of outlets and room for shelving.
If your home contains a spare room, adding a few tweaks here and there to make the space feel like a home office is recommended. If no spare room is available, a nook or something similar in a kitchen that has good lighting works, too. The space doesn’t have to be large, just something an up-and-coming remote worker can picture themselves using daily.
A Smart Home
Millennials are all about the digital age, and as a result, they crave smart technology. From smart thermostats and keyless locks to smart doorbells and more, millennials appreciate the convenience and added security these smart options bring to a home.
If you’re hoping your home appeals to the millennial generation, be ready to discuss your smart home features as well as the wi-fi carriers and signal strengths in your neighborhood.
Charging Ports
The younger generation has their smartphones with them all the time. As such, these devices need regular charging to keep up. Switching out some of the regular outlets in your home with USB outlets will be a huge plus with the millennial generation.
Adding USB charging ports in bedrooms, living spaces, and in the kitchen is a great way to market to the millennial generation.
Neutral Color Palette
A neutral color scheme is very popular among millennials. If you want to appeal to this group of buyers, consider giving the rooms in your home a fresh coat of paint in a palette of gray variations, white, and soft neutrals throughout. If your kitchen has cabinets in vibrant or dark hues, think about painting them a lighter, neutral color and switch out the hardware for a look most millennials will appreciate.
Outdoor Living Space
If you want to hook younger buyers, having an outdoor living space where they can spend time entertaining family and friends is a must. Whether your yard is big or small, millennials will be able to see themselves hanging out in it around a fire pit in comfortable seating under some urban-chic lighting. Even if you’ve never used your yard like this before, it pays to stage a space like this in your backyard while selling your home.
Since millennials make up a large portion of homebuyers, it makes sense to market to them as much as possible when selling your home. Add a few of these upgrades and/or renovations to your home to appeal to this generational group.
If we had to choose one word to describe modern home décor, it’s “simple.” Modern décor features clean lines, a neutral palette, and geometric shapes, which may sound boring, but it’s really anything but. Modern home décor is warm, inviting, and stylish in any home, so if you want to upgrade yours with a modern twist, here are several design elements you’ll need to include.
1.Simplicity
Now, we’re not talking four bare walls and a chair here, but modern home décor is simple and minimalistic. Studies have shown that clutter can lead to stress, which is something modern home décor does not contribute to.
As you go about redecorating, remember that less is more and try to keep things as clutter-free as possible.
2. Functionality
Functionality is important in modern home décor. In addition to the clean lines and clutter-free spaces, you also want to make sure your room(s) are easily identifiable as to their use and that their various features and elements are easily accessible.
For example, a modern kitchen will have plenty of workspaces, and all its equipment and tools will be readily available.
3. Technology
What is modern décor without technology? Technology is a huge part of everyday life, so it makes sense that it should be part of your modern home décor. It’s not enough to just say “technology,” though, but rather, technology that is streamlined (think flat-panel TVs and built-in computers) to keep those clean lines modern home décor is all about.
4. Open Space
This design element may not be possible in some homes, but modern home décor has an open and airy vibe. Large, open rooms with light color palettes and plenty of natural lighting work to create that feeling of freedom and openness that modern home décor is known for.
Even if your home has small, enclosed rooms, you can create that feeling of openness by using light, neutral colors and keeping windows uncovered to allow as much natural light to flood the space as possible. You can also hang mirrors on the wall to reflect the light, which will add depth to the room and make it appear larger than it actually is.
5. Character
Although modern home décor’s main focus is neutral, there’s no reason not to explore your wild side by adding a pop of color here and there for character. An accent wall painted a nice red or throw pillows in a bright yellow can add just the right amount of fun to an otherwise neutral palette for an exciting touch.
Creating modern home décor isn’t difficult, and you have a lot of room for creativity and personality. All you need to do is remember these five design elements and you’ll be able to achieve the modern décor you want in your own home.
Home is a lot of things for most people these days. From being the place you rest and relax to it being your workspace and much more, the home front can get a bit stale after spending so much time there.
If it’s time to give your home a fresh look and feel, try these simple, yet effective, ways to brighten, freshen and revitalize the ambiance of your home.
Take Advantage Of Natural Lighting Sources
Natural lighting not only makes your home look and feel better, but it also has the ability to make you feel better, too. Instead of turning on the lights when you get up in the morning, throw open the shades and let the sunshine in.
Not many windows in the room? No worries. Try hanging a mirror or two opposite a window to reflect light. In addition to brightening the space, mirrors also make a room appear larger.
Consider Light Colored Furniture
Light-colored furniture looks fresh and clean, giving your space an instant pick-me-up. Try choosing furnishings in whites, light grays, and beiges, to brighten any room.
Not sure you want to commit to white furniture? Try putting light-colored slipcovers on instead. You’ll get the same effect and be able to remove them to wash them if need be.
Let Nature Inspire You
Think wicker, cotton, woven materials, etc. for décor and accent pieces to give your home the freshness of nature.
In your living room, for example, switch out heavy, dark-colored blankets for lightweight, colorful throws and remove any dark accent pieces and replace them with woven baskets and colorful pieces instead.
Bring The Outdoors In
One of the best ways to freshen your space – literally – is adding potted plants and flowers. The addition will add a fresh, clean vibe and instill the air with extra oxygen, which is always a good thing.
If you are cursed with a black thumb, you can add faux plants around your home to get the same green vibe without all the hassle of keeping the plants alive.
Whatever reason you have for wanting to give your home a fresh look and feel, the ideas above are perfect for the task. From flooding your space with natural light to adding lots of green plants and colorful flowers, you can transform your home into a bright and breezy space with just a few easy changes.
Homeowners are always looking for ways to update their homes for aesthetics and convenience, but what about eco-friendliness? Making your home eco-friendlier decreases its carbon footprint on the planet, and in most cases, makes your home more energy-efficient overall.
If you’re looking to make some upgrades in your home, look to these green renovation ideas for inspiration.
Renewable Heating Systems
The biggest benefit of installing a renewable heating system is that your supply of fuel for heat will never run out. Renewable heating systems include biomass boilers and air source heat pumps, both of which use heat sources found in nature or are easily replenished anywhere.
Water-saving Appliances
Want to save money on your water bill and save the planet at the same time? Consider installing water-saving faucets and showerheads to start, and if you have a garden, seriously think about installing a water diverter that flushes wastewater out to your garden where it can once again be useful.
Triple-pane Windows
Although triple-paned windows can be expensive to install, their benefits far outweigh the cost. Adding that extra layer of glass will reduce outside noise and provide extra protection against the outside elements. Your energy bills will decrease significantly, and your home’s interior temps will stay steady and comfortable all year long.
Dual-pane Windows
If your home has old, single-pane windows, installing new, dual-pane windows will make a huge difference in terms of comfort and energy efficiency. Dual-pane windows have two panes of glass with a small space in between to form an air pocket. This air pocket keeps the outside temps from affecting your indoor temps, which helps your heating and cooling systems work less.
Skylights
Take advantage of natural lighting and use electric lights less by installing skylights throughout your home. Skylights can come with ventilation and radiation heat control features as well.
Insulation
Insulation is one of those things you really can’t afford to overlook. If you live in an older home, having extra insulation installed can greatly reduce your energy bills and thus, your home’s impact on the planet.
Sustainable/reusable Building Materials
The home building industry is under great pressure to use sustainable and/or reusable materials in the construction of new homes. Reusing building materials is a great way to cut down on deforestation and save money. If you’re planning to add on to your existing home or build a new home, consider using as many sustainable and/or reusable materials as possible in the construction.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are a great way to save money on your energy bills while taking advantage of natural energy sources. Unfortunately, many people don’t like the way they look, so if they’re visible from the front of your home, it could impact its value. With that said, the money you’ll save and the energy the panels produce naturally are well worth the risk of devaluing your home a tad bit.
If you’re considering making some upgrades to your home, be sure to consider these greener renovation ideas that are sure to save you money and the planet.
Houseplants make great décor elements as they bring color and life into any space. They offer a host of health benefits including purifying the air you breathe, and they make you appreciate your home so much more. If you’d like to bring nature and color into your home, read on for great plant decorating ideas below.
Got Bookshelves?
F.Y.I. bookshelves aren’t just for books anymore. They are a great place to showcase accent pieces, framed photos, and yes, plants, too!
Try adding a small succulent or two to your bookshelves to add texture and interest to the space. For even more impact, place a trailing plant on the top shelf and let it drape down the shelves. This gives an added layer of intrigue that’s hard to ignore.
Don’t Forget The Ceiling
Hanging plants are a great addition to any home, but especially if you have small children or pets running around. There really is no limit to how you can hang plants from the ceiling. Hang them high for a garden up high or vary their heights to create a visually stimulating display.
This is a fun way to introduce plants into your home as you also have the benefit of choosing the type of hanger you’ll use. Macrame hangers add a bohemian vibe while a simple hook on the coat rack makes for a simple accessory in your mudroom or entryway.
Indoor Trees Make A Bold Statement
If you don’t have a lot of space for multiple plants or you’re tired of small houseplants, an indoor tree makes a bold statement. Indoor trees offer a floor-to-ceiling look that seems to complete the décor in a room. There are many trees to choose from that grow well indoors including palm trees, fiddle leaf figs, olive trees, and monstera, each bringing its own personality to the table.
Plants As Room Dividers
Plants are so versatile they can even be used as room dividers. This is especially helpful in homes with open floor plans or in studio apartments where you need to create separate areas for different uses.
You can create plant room dividers out of anything. You can use free-standing shelving units filled with plants, a long table topped with plants, or even window boxes filled with plants hung from the ceiling to create natural barriers between spaces in your home.
Breathe Life Into Your Bathroom
The bathroom is often a cold space with hard elements. Tile and porcelain tend to give the room a coolness that’s hard to overcome.
Adding plants in your bathroom can help warm and soften the hardness of this room, creating a spa-like vibe that’s both inviting and relaxing. Some great plant species that thrive in the humid, low-light environment of a bathroom include snake plant, spider plant, and peace lily.
There’s no place like home and surrounding yourself with the things you love makes the space even more meaningful. There’s no doubt your home reflects who you are. As such, why not truly make your house a home by incorporating your hobbies, talents, and passions into its décor.
You don’t have to completely renovate your home to include the things you enjoy in its décor. In fact, you probably already own many of the items we’ll talk about below. If you enjoy something, use it to decorate your home so you feel more comfortable and more inspired.
1. Decorate With Seasonal Items
Just because you only play baseball in the summer doesn’t mean you forget about it when the snow flies. On the contrary, you probably think about it even more. Rather than storing your seasonal items in a closet when you can’t use them, try adding them to your home’s décor instead.
Mount baseball bats on the wall or place your gloves and baseballs on shelves. Hang skis and other winter items from the ceiling for a unique décor idea. Since a lot of this stuff is used outdoors, there’s no need to worry about interim storage.
2. Display Your Talents
Do you like to paint on canvas or maybe cross stitch? If so, use your talents to create one-of-a-kind décor for your home. Not only will you enjoy making the decorations, your guests will love the fact that your home is so full of exciting things to look at.
3. Tell A Story With Your Collections
Most everyone is a collector of something. What kind of things do you like to collect? Coffee mugs? Stamps perhaps? What about books? Almost anything can be a collectible with a story. Instead of squirreling away your massive collection, why not put it on display for everyone to see?
Each piece in your collection probably comes with a story – a story that means something to you and is a fascination for everyone else. Revel in the joy your collections bring when you use them as décor in your home.
4. Display Your Tools In A Handy Fashion
If you use specific tools for your hobby, keep them just an arm’s length away by hanging them where you use them most. Not only will it be more convenient to grab the tool you need when you need it, it’ll inspire some interesting conversations with guests who show interest in what you do.
5. Decorate According to Emotion
Your favorite things inspire emotion. That’s why they’re your favorite things. Decorate with the things you love based on how they make you feel. For instance, if that lovely shell you picked up on the beach last summer calms your mind, place it on your bedside table.
If you own a first-edition copy of your favorite book, display it proudly on a bookshelf near your desk.
When you see the things that evoke powerful emotions around your home, it becomes more your home than just a place to rest your head. These are just a few of the ways you can incorporate your creative side into your décor.
Spring is upon us, and with the changing season sometimes comes a desire to change things up inside the home, too. If you’re looking for ways to reinvent your living room, here are a few great ideas.
Add Some Greenery
You’d be surprised by what a single plant and decorative planter can do to make your living room look and feel more luxurious. Some easy-to-grow plants include the snake plant, yucca plant, pothos, aloe, and Christmas Cactus.
Head to your local home goods store to find a beautifully painted pot (or two!) and watch how it becomes the centerpiece for the entire room.
Hang Some Art
A nice piece of artwork hung on the wall can make a huge statement. If you can’t afford actual canvas art, go online and order prints of your favorite pieces and frame them. Choose colors from the artwork to decorate the rest of the room with throw pillows, rugs, etc.
Fresh Pillows
Throw pillows make great accent pieces, but they need a refresher from time to time to keep them current and trendy. You can go online and purchase new throw pillow covers that will update the look of your living room with little effort or expense. Today’s hot patterns include geometrics, cactus print, animal print, and banana leaf.
Add A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Many of us underestimate what a fresh coat of paint can do for a room. If your living room is small or dark, give it a bright lift by painting the walls a light shade like off-white or cream. If you’re in the market for new furniture, choose pieces in shades to match. Think earthy hues that mimic those you see in nature.
Buy A New Rug
An area rug is an important décor element in the living room as it adds warmth, interest, and brings the room’s décor together. Many people make the mistake of purchasing an area rug that’s too small for the space, which can make the room seem smaller. Ideally, you want a rug that’s large enough for all the furniture to sit on while leaving 10-20 inches of floor space between the rug and the walls.
If you’re ready to reinvent your living room this fall, follow the tips listed above and let us know how it turns out!
If you’ve never seen burl wood before, it’s a lovely type of wood that features an intricate marbled effect that showcases the beauty of imperfection. It makes a lovely addition to any home, but only if it’s incorporated the right way. Below, we give a few expert tips for decorating your home with burl wood.
Make A Statement With Burl Wood Furniture
Want to make a bold statement in your home? Purchase a large burl wood piece of furniture to bring color, texture, and interest to your space. Burlwood coffee tables, credenzas, and dining tables all have large flat planes that highlight the knotty imperfection of burl wood. Any one of these statement pieces will be the center of attention you’re looking for by embracing this trend.
Go For Faux Burl
Because burl wood is rare, it can be a tad pricey. If real burl wood doesn’t fit into your budget, don’t be afraid to go for faux burl wood instead. Faux burl wood veneers mimic the look of real burl wood without the real burl wood price tag. When shopping for the fake version, be sure to look for ones that highlight the irregular swirls and knots that real burl wood is known for. The pattern shouldn’t be too repetitive if you want it to look authentic.
Burl Wood Accent Pieces
If you’re not quite ready for a big burl wood statement, you can add the charm and beauty of burl wood by bringing in accent pieces to complement the room’s décor. For example, you can add texture and color to a traditional bedroom by bringing in a pair of burl wood nightstands. These pieces are small enough to be unobtrusive while still adding a touch of modern charm to the space.
Experiment With Burl Wood Accents
If you aren’t too sure about burl wood furnishings or your budget doesn’t allow for such a large commitment, consider adding a couple of burl wood accessories around the room. A burl wood picture frame can be just what that accent wall needs to bring it all together. Or, consider adding a burl wood trinket box or some other small accent to a coffee table to incorporate this trend in your home.
Burl Wood And Color
One of the most-loved features of burl wood is its intricate colors and swirls. You can use this to your advantage by pairing burl wood items with bold jewel tones such as emerald green or cobalt blue. For a more subtle approach, try combining burl wood with muted earthy tones and other natural accents.
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