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Helpful Home Improvement Tips: Using Rugs as Home Décor

Helpful Home Improvement Tips: Using Rugs as Home Décor

Mark Brandon is quite passionate about home renovation, and likes to share his ideas and experience online in the hope that it could help other people. He’s also a regular blog contributor at Safe and Sound Property Inspections. He writes about home decorating tips with the use of rugs in this article.

home decorating tips

There are many different home decorating ideas available for everyone. Homeowners have the liberty to select what they need, and which type of décor would fit perfectly into their home. Those who already have ideas about simple home design and renovation could easily breeze through the process. For beginners to avoid any renovation mistakes, they have to be knowledgeable about simple home improvement tips.

When you think about rugs, you may come to the conclusion that they are simple yet functional, something that you wouldn’t have to spend time selecting its design. Although it’s true that they are functional, they really don’t have to look boring. Homeowners need to know that rugs play a role in adding texture to your home design, comfort or coziness, and it could even complement the interior design and make it look better. If you need help, the following are some useful ideas and tips in incorporating rugs to your home design.

 rugs as home decor

Rug Selection Process

There are a lot of things that need to be considered when it comes to choosing the right type of rugs. The factors that need to be considered would include your budget, the durability and the material used for a specific type of rug, and the rug design. If your budget allows, you can go for buying high quality rugs as they would truly last quite longer than the ordinary ones. For example, oriental rugs can be quite costly at times but they can serve for more years compared with most area rugs.

As for the design, you have the option to base this on your furniture and the rest of the fixtures in the room. For rooms with Queen Anne Furniture, a rug with several beautiful patterns could be a good choice. There are also modern and classic rug designs, so you may select from any of these depending on what the overall concept of the room would be. To better visualize the future outcome, you can take a picture of the room and use it as your reference in selecting rug designs.

rugs

Area Rugs for Wooden Floors

For homes with wooden floors, keeping the floors flawless can be tricky. There are many methods that could help you protect your floor, this includes adding an area rug underneath the area rugs for wooden floorsfurniture. It does not just act as protection from scrapes, it also effectively hides imperfections. In living rooms, large rugs can be quite preferable. This also goes the same for the dining room. Large furniture is usually helpful when it comes to keeping the rug in place.

As for the kitchen and bathroom, it is important to choose rugs that are made up of material that can resist moisture, or any other cases in which water could stay on the floor. For the kitchen and the bathroom, make sure to select rugs that have good water resistant qualities, those that are synthetic with natural fiber counterpart. To promote safety, it is also important to add rug pads beneath the area rugs to keep them in place. If you already have ordinary rugs in your kitchen, make an effort to protect it from steam or food stains.

Mix and Match

mix and matchThere are many things in the room with which you can match the area rug, so that it doesn’t look out of place. for homeowners who have already bought the rug first prior to the furniture and wall paint, it could be a great idea to take a photo of the rug, and decide the room color scheme (wall paint and furniture) so that they’d perfectly match the rug. Beautifully patterned rugs can catch attention and would best be placed in the focal point of the room.

The rug doesn’t always have to be the same color as the walls or the furniture, they can be two shades darker, or two shades lighter. Just make sure though that the colors do not clash. If the walls and furniture are in neutral colors, you can match the rug with the drapes, and any other room décor.

Multi-styled rugs offer a greater opportunity for mixing and matching room décor and other room designs. If the rug has three colors, multi styled rugsone color could match your drapes and curtains, the second color could complement your furniture covers, and the third could match your room ornaments and other decorative pieces such as vases and many others.

When it comes to decorating a home using rugs, choosing the right one always involves thinking about what you want to achieve; visualize the look and the feel of the room you want to decorate. This, along with the tips above should be very helpful for you to successfully decorate your home.

 

 

how to decorate using rugs

Image Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

 

Author Bio:

 

Mark Brandon

 

Mark Brandon is a regular blog contributor at Safe and Sound Property Inspections and an experienced DIY builder in home renovation, and home inspection. Everytime he gets the chance to learn something new, he shares this online through blogs. You may catch him on Twitter: @DIYMarkBrandon.

 

Small Modern Living Room Ideas

Designing any room in a home is challenging, however, it is the living room where people spend most of their time, and it automatically makes it more exposed to a critical eye. That is where you entertain your guests and spend a lot of family moments, celebrations, important events, etc. When decorating and shaping a small living room, the designer must overcome the imbalance between making it as spacious as it gets, but also providing it with sufficient seating – making it functional to the most. These guidelines will help you find the right path.

Mirror Play                                                                                

In order to avoid the boxy feeling of a small living room, especially one with not enough window space, you need to create the illusion of extra space by combining wallpapers and a large wall mirror. By positioning the mirror opposite the window (sorry, feng shui people) you can create an impression of an extra window, as it reflects the garden view from a real window. In this case you can focus your living room furniture on a love seat set against the wall, flanked by two identical side tables and lamps. Throw in a coffee table and if possible two slim chairs opposite the love seat.

1 - photography by Zara for Kate Forma

photography by Zara for Kate Forma

https://decostudioblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/foto-once1.jpg

Scale it down

With current trends of conserving space, there is little use for cumbersome armchairs and bulky full-fledged sofas. Small scale furniture can be equally interesting and practical. Antique shops offer a good deal on small furniture pieces, as rooms used to be much smaller more than half a century ago. Ask for small benches, love seats and chairs. By centering a love seat in front of the window, and including side walls. small tables on each side, you can save more space than with a full armchairs/sofa set. Add a pair of subdued period armchairs opposite the sofa, and you are all set. Small living rooms benefit from a dual use of pieces, like using a trunk as a central coffee table. This setting allows for a chaise lounge on one of

Ceiling is the Limit

If you are lucky enough to have a small living room with a high ceiling, there is no reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of that vertical dimension to create an impression of more space. Of course, you cannot add another seat vertically, but what you can do is attract the viewer’s attention up, persuading them that they are sitting in more spacious room. Turn your high living room walls into a private gallery of intricate small pieces. The effect won’t fall out.

Making the most out of a Corner

Contrary to sound logic, if you have a small living room, a good strategy is to take up that corner with a large piece of furniture you can find, like a sectional sofa. Such an array can make the living room look bigger than it really is, because it relies on one piece only, and more importantly can seat a dozen of people. Opt for a modern sectional with clean straight lines. Complement the sectional with a natural fabric rug Sydney style, in small prints or plain colors, to achieve the expansive effect. And if you are always in need for extra seating, involve a pair of leather folding stools opposite the sectional.

2 - Foto Shift Interiors

Foto Shift Interiors

http://i1.wp.com/adelaparvu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Foto-Shift-Interiors.jpg?resize=770%2C1113

Double Approach

If your living room arrangement dictates for an open-space sofa position, try a backless model. It has many advantages, especially if you are left with only a small sofa option. Apart from being a chic alternative to a traditional couch, it can be used from both sides, which kind of doubles the seats when the room gets crowded with people. In another scenario, a backless sofa can act as a divider between a living room and a dining area. Another way to create impression of spaciousness, apart from wallpapers and mirrors is the use of plants. Greenery softens the corners and draws a conclusion that there is more room behind than it really is.

There are many solutions for making a small living room space look bigger. There are two approaches, which often combine beautifully: making the impression of larger space and using furniture pieces that take little space and provide substantial seating.

Author Bio:  Zoe Clark  is a home decorator from the land down under. She loves playing with colours and spaces, and has a tender spot in her heart for everything vintage. You can find her on Google+Twitter and Facebook.

9 Best Decorating Tips For Your Nursery

Nursery decorating tips

When it is time to decorate a nursery or create one, most mothers or fathers comes up with many ideas on how to create the best appearance. No matter how you plan to improve the nursery, you should ensure that it serves the purpose. When putting up the nursery, always consider the level of security and practicality.

But once you have put up the nursery, you should now use your imagination to make some improvements. The space in your room should not limit the nursery subdivision into several zones. Each zone should serve a different function. A well organized nursery will save your energy and time. By defining each zone within the nursery, you will have an easier time while furnishing and decorating the space.

Tips on decorating the nursery:

1. Know the Space in Your Room

Start by measuring your room before you start shopping. Its can be painful if you fall in love with a changer, a glider or a crib that will hardly fit in your nursery. To correctly measure the space before purchasing furniture, spread some newspapers on the floor right on the space you will position the furniture. You should also go with the measurements to a store for the designer to assist you in achievement of the best room layout.

2. Plan Ahead

Generally, Nursery shopping is hard for parents mostly if they have no idea about the sex of the child. Therefore, it is important to think of everything before you begin the shopping. Mostly, you will need to specify whether you need a gender specific décor/furniture, whether to mix the furniture with any other furniture that is within your home.

3. Get Inspired

You should make use of blogs and magazines. They provide you with many ideas and pictures you may not have thought of before. This will ensure that you get a range of what you want. Furthermore, it assists you in making of an olioboard, a pinterest or a pinboard that you can use while shopping. However, if you want to stay original, ensure that you don’t stick too much in one design or one concept.

4. Have a Great Starting Point

Sometimes, it is better to concentrate on one element and make it the center of your decoration. For example, you can use a wall paper you have noticed as interesting or use a fabric that will improve the look of your window. Setting up the starting point makes the planning of the entire room easier. It will assist you to remain in line with an overall design tone and color scheme.

5. Paint the Room for a Statement

It is hard to find a rug or a fabric to match the paint in your house than it is to find a paint that will match a rug or fabric. Therefore, while decorating a room select the paint to use last. Stencils, broad stripes and giving your ceiling a new tone can be an easier and inexpensive way of getting a new custom look and without investing in any wallpaper.

6. Use Flair

When your room space is scarce and also you can’t fill the entire room with furniture, try to use flair to fill it. Murals and wall art easily personalize a space and can easily leave their mark regardless the size of your nursery.

7. Add Something Personal

You should add lots of family photos and colorful pictures to the walls of the nursery. Your baby will need something to stimulate them around their changing tables. The baby will like tofamily photo look at the photos that you have posted on the wall while changing them. Including family photos can make the baby start recognizing some familiar faces.

8. Keep The Decoration Simple

Due to the many gorgeous accessories and nursery furniture, it is easier to over decorate your nursery. Therefore always work to keep it simple. Also decide on the focus of the room early. You can choose an artwork or a piece of furniture. Always think of child friendly things and not childish things. Choose a neutral background. Then mix it with age appropriate accessories. This will reduce the need of redecorating the room after a few years.

9. Think About Safety

When buying a new crib, you should ensure that it meets all the safety standards. The standards ascertain that the crib is deep enough to allow the safety of your baby. To create a safe cribenvironment around the crib, position it away from lamps, window heaters, cords and wall decoration. Any furniture that the child can clamber onto should be away from the crib.

This Article is Sponsored By – Nanny Poppinz

Author Bio:

Derek Fraser is an Online Blogger for Nanny Poppinz which provides Nanny Service, Childcare Service, Newborn Specialist, Emergency Nanny Service, After School Nanny, Live in Nanny Services, Part-Full Time Nanny Service etc. You can Follow Him On @derekfraser84.

 

How to Set up the Perfect Nursery for your Child

How to Set up the Perfect Nursery for your Child1

Having a baby is the happiest moment in everyone’s life and everything that is connected to this wonderful event is beautiful. This also includes decorating and setting up a nursery for the upcoming child. It is an exciting decorating project and if it is done right, it will result in the best possible space for your child’s first months and years. So, what exactly does one need to take care of in order to set up the perfect nursery for one’s child?

Theme or no theme?

Many parents decide to go with a certain theme when they are decorating the nursery. Either they want to keep things simple and go with a theme or they are fans of a certain motif that will pervade the new nursery. Most themes are gender-based, with princesses for girls and sports for boys, for example. There are also plenty of nursery themes that are gender neutral and that will work for any child, like animal kingdom or something retro. Other parents choose against a theme and they come up with the design and the “feel” on their own.

Best furniture you can afford

If there is one thing where you will not want to skimp is buying furniture for your nursery. We think there is no need to list everything you will need for your nursery, but we will tell you this – make sure you get the highest-quality furniture you can afford. Try to make it natural and untreated with anything that might harm the baby. We are not saying that you should spend thousands on a bassinette, but do not skimp either. A good idea is also to put in “support” furniture that will not be for the baby itself, like a chair and a coffee table for the parents who spend time in the nursery.

Choosing the color

You have to be very careful when choosing the color for the nursery. Painting services professionals we talked to recommended something mild and calming, as opposed to something very aggressive and exciting. We are talking shades of beige, milder shades of blue and green or even yellow or orange, but making sure the actual shades are airy and easy on the eyes. Some of the colors you will want to avoid in the nursery are red, strong yellows and orange, as well as aggressive shades of pink or purple.

Controlling light and warmth

A baby needs to spend time in warm and comfortable environment with enough light, but not too much. Because of this, most experts will recommend that you enable precise control of lighting in the nursery. For instance, you can put in shades that will allow you to control how much natural light gets in at any given moment. Also, when artificial lighting is in question, it is always a good idea to install dimmers. You should also install air-conditioning and heating that will enable you to finely tune the temperature in the nursery at all times.

Things to Avoid When Decorating Your Home Office

home office

No matter if you’re a full time stay-at-home employee, or sometimes you just need to finish some extra to do’s at home, everything is easier when you have a home office. That space shouldn’t be just a desk and a chair in an empty room, but it should also increase your productivity and reduce the stress. So you should make it as pleasant as possible. Here we will mention some things you should avoid in the process of creating your home office space.

Failing to Mind Your Surroundings

home-office-ideasIt is a no-brainer that leaving your boring walls empty will make the impression that you are working in a cubicle. Why don’t you turn them into something more inviting, or even better home-like? Painting the walls in fresh colors will break monotony that drains you every day and the pictures of your family or the other things you love will always put a smile on your face. Same rules apply for the floor. If you can’t move in something bigger, even a small oriental rug can really make a difference.

Uncomfortable Chair

What good would be a good home office without a good, pleasant chair? The answer is – a place of frustration and increased back pain. So, unless you want to feel as comfortable as if you are sitting on the Iron Throne, listen to what we learned from the people who own and operate a Sydney-based company specialized in office furniture. There are five things your chair needs to provide to you: easily adjustable height, enough depth and width to accommodate any user, lumbar support, large enough backrest and, of course, enough padding to be comfortable for sitting for extended periods of time.

Improper Lighting

If your home office has a natural light source, utilize it as much as possible. Natural light reduces the eyestrain. But be aware that you will have to place your monitor in such a way that work-space-home officeyou avoid irritating glare. When the sun goes down, try to complement your office light, especially if you are casting the shadow over the desk, with another bright desk lamp. It is good for your eyes and your headache.

Style over Substance

Nice furniture is pleasing for the eye, but without a real purpose it only obstructs your everyday activities and annoys you. Be sure that, aside from looking great, your desk and shelves are equipped with enough drawers and cabinet doors to hide away a whole plethora of things you don’t want to see on a regular basis.

Cable Clutter

One of the few things that makes you instantly nervous and gives away an impression of overall sloppiness is the sight of messy wires and cables under your desk. Try not to show them to anyone and, if you must, at least make the cables look tidy, ASAP. Once they start forming knots, the chance is that you will lose your will to even tackle this problem.

As we’ve seen, you don’t have to be a Feng Shui master to make your workplace more inviting and pleasant. All you need is a little bit of will and creativity. Now, transform your room into the best possible home office!

Out of the world bathroom design ideas

Futuristic bathroom

If you are a keen admirer of futuristic designs, there is a possibility for a bathroom makeover according to your passions. Of course, all the hi-tech multimedia innovations are commonly used and applied in our living rooms, kitchens and study rooms. However, we are here to talk about bathrooms and I am here to give you an insight into the world of futuristic bathroom designs and as a living proof that it is functionally implementable.

Bathtub or shower cabin

This dilemma is not crucial to your futuristic design; any option that you choose offers plenty of innovative solutions. When bathtubs are concerned, they are highly customizable when it comes to shape and size. For example, a diamond shaped one will certainly make an appearance and easily become a center piece of your bathroom. Enriched with digitally controllable water level and temperature it will be at your service and ready for you whenever you programmed it to be. There are also models available that use their interactive surface to virtually color the water to your preference. Why not take a bath in azure blue of the Caribbean? On the other hand, shower cabins are even more customizable. Touch screen water flow and temperature control easily turns them into massage cabins and water therapy ones. Also, their designs are so customizable that you can practically fit them at any spot and angle, with foldable cabins and retractable taps.

LED bathtubs

Sink

Another item that can practically have any shape, color and place you want. Those that react to motions and shadows have been used for a long time now and they are upgraded by voice commands and temperature programmability. Also, the shapes and sizes of taps are practically limitless and can be adapted to any height preference. On top of that, a proper choice would significantly contribute to design in general. For example, dorf tapware with flowing curves and smooth bendswould fit nicely in practically any bathroom and give it a touch of class, besides futuristic appearance.

Tapware with curves and smooth blends

Light

Light fixtures are great atmosphere builders. Dimmable central fixtures of infinite shapes available, a color change feature, and various remote controllable desk and wall ones will enable you to build the atmosphere according to your current mood. This is a great feature, if you hate being blinded in the morning, just as I do, you will certainly cherish this.

Tiles

What is futuristic about tiles, you may ask. Well, the choice of material and shapes, to put it short. There are tiles available that clean themselves, and there are those that offer a 3D effect similar to that achieved in the best cinemas. So, you can make your bathroom appear twice as big and have it dried out by itself not more than 5 minutes after you finished your shower.

Futuristic comes with customizability and this is a great combination that anyone can make use of. The only possible problem is that you will spend even more time in you bathrooms. Luckily, out of pleasure, not need.

Going Oriental with Your Rugs

How to choose the right Oriental rugThe most beautiful thing about our incredible green planet is all the diversity that just seems to blossom everywhere. You may take literally any aspect and field of Earth and there is simply no way that you will come upon the same result twice. Human cultures and civilizations are, naturally, not excluded from this phenomenon. Yes, we are all different, but this, often controversial aspect of our society and our species in general, is at the same time what is best about us.

Every culture and every region has its own unique thing, something that separates them, something that sets it above everyone else. For example, if going for the classy and elegant suit, you will naturally go for a suit of Italian make, for the choice of your car there is no better advice than to buy German, but when the rugs are in question it is the Orient that is second to none. This is where east and west were always as one.

The Right Fit

Because of their dazzling beauty, oriental rugs have been a symbol of prosperity and one’s social status for centuries. Still, it is not Getting the Right Fit for your Oriental Rugenough to just select a random oriental rug and simply install it in your living room. There are several criteria that need to be satisfied prior to this, one of which is naturally the shape and the size of the rug. This step, although not as easy as it may seem, can be quite simple with the help of the proper research on the topic. By following just a couple of simple yet logical rules, you will be able in no time to pick the perfect rug size for your home.

The size and the shape of your oriental rug should mostly depend on three things. These factors are the size of your room, the furniture in the room and the room’s design. Although, sometimes it is quite easy to imagine the rug that you want and even if that same rug looks good in your mind, sometimes it will simply not be the same when you bring it home, as you imagined that it will. One of the little tricks, which may help you determine the perfect size is to align a bunch of old newspapers in your room, so that they cover the area that the aforementioned rug should later occupy. This way, you will be able to see exactly what it will look like in your room, size and position-wise.

An Integral Part of Your Room

Tips On How To Choose Your Oriental RugAlthough you may invest a lot of effort in selecting the rug that you like the best, it is crucial that you always have one thing in mind. Rug, your rug, should be one with the room, not be above or be hiding behind it, in any way. What this means is that in order to select the right color for your area rug, you need to always keep in mind both the texture and even the theme of your room, especially if you plan to design with oriental patterns in contemporary spaces.

While on the topic, people working for some of the most renowned online suppliers of quality rugs claim that there are various techniques that some of their clients use in order to select the perfect rug. One of the most interesting and at the same time most effective methods is to take a picture of your room prior to the purchase, and then take that picture with you when you go shopping. In this way, you’ll find out whether your room’s overall design can really benefit from adding an oriental flooring item or not.

As you can see, selecting a truly amazing oriental rug for your home is in no way easy. Still, it is one of the most important things for the general aesthetic impression of both your room and your home. The key thing here is to remain calm, do a proper research and show some genuine dedication to the matter at hands. With all this in mind, your perfect selection will be almost completely fail-proof.

Author Bio: If one thing can be said with certainty for about Lillian Connors, her mind is nothing if not utterly curious. That’s the reason why she simply can’t resist the urge to embark on all sorts of home improvement/DIY projects and spread the word about them. She’s also deeply into green living practices, being in charge of the sustainability segment at SmoothDecorator. You can check her out on Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Fire Up Your Living Room!

Have you always felt that your living room lacks excitement no matter what interior design idea you tried? Different wall color palettes, various furniture materials, shapes and styles, all those artworks carefully placed, interchanges of light and shadows, nothing seems to do the trick. You need a new flame. It’s high time you gave something completely different a shot. Fire up your living room atmosphere by implementing one of different fire pit and fire place solutions available. To make your choice easier we prepared a list of fire up solutions that are most popular on the market today.

Traditional Fire Place

fireplaceThe first think that comes to mind when you think about a traditional fire place are Christmas movies. The beautiful snowy white on the outside and a cozy, sparkling fire place made of bricks inside, with family gathered around having fun and enjoying the atmosphere. This kind of traditional approach to building fire places is very much sought after today, as well. Marble or brick fire places are the main pieces of many living rooms, while different electric ones too, which, in a combination with a right mantel can be easily incorporated in any traditional looking living room, improving the appearance and especially the atmosphere. Therefore, they are the best choice if you wish to achieve the above mentioned atmosphere from the movies, accompanied with suitable furniture and artwork.

Modern Fire Place

This should be your choice if you wish to add a touch of warmth to your living room that is of modern spirit, with the furniture used made of modern materials, such as metal or plastic. A fire place, electrical, gas or wood powered modern fire places will soften the atmosphere but will blend in perfectly if you choose a modern looking mantel to go along. With a TV set mounted on the wall above it, or a stereo and cinema system carefully placed, it will turn your living room into a more enjoyable and soothing looking multimedia center by breaking the sterility these dedicated rooms usually have.

Fire Pits

These igniters are the most modern of all three mentioned here and require a kind of a special treatment. This is due to their attractiveness and the fact that the attention which is focusedfireplace modern on them wherever installed makes them a center piece of any room. This is especially true when it comes to living rooms. Therefore, be careful. If you wish to use one of them to fire up the atmosphere, it would be smart to organize and arrange everything else in your living room after you chose among many of the fire pits available. For example, if you opt for a large fire pit positioned in the center of your living room, allow enough space for it to be clearly visible and arrange the room to even more emphasize its presence. On the other hand, if you prefer a milder effect, there are various less dominant pits that could be positioned practically anywhere in the room, providing that you have a suitable outlet for them. There are even small, portable versions which you can easily position, for example on your dining table, or anywhere you like, and as easily remove.

As you can see, the suggested solutions to fire up your living room can meet anyone’s needs. However, make sure you plan the renovation based on the one you choose and build the desired atmosphere in relation to it. In the end, enjoy your pleasurable and warm future days, this is why you started it in the first place!

How To Create A Minimalist Designed Home Space

minimalist designThe minimalist look is a design icon and trend that has been around for many, many years; never falling out of fashion, we long been in love with the clean, sleek lines a true minimalist designed home and business can bring.

But we live in an increasingly consumer based society; we buy so much from food to technology, that finding places to put or hide all this stuff in a minimalist design can present a dilemma. But, it is not just about the stuff we accumulate; the fixings used to mount shelves and the like can look huge, ugly and cumbersome in a minimalist design.

But there is hope and help of the horizon; technology and manufacture is moving on at a pace so that now, for those seeking a true minimalist design to their home or business there are now all kinds of fixings, such as glass shelf brackets, that allow for a sleek fixings that complement the room.

But why opt for a minimalist design?

There are many benefits to living in a minimalist designed space and although many of us hanker after this kind of design, it can be hard to achieve but, pushed on by the thought of these benefits, you will continue your pledge to live and work in a less cluttered, freer moving space…

  • Much less stressful – if nothing else, the absence of clutter around us makes the space less stressful. You will instantly notice that you are less ‘busy’ looking in the space, living-room-clutterseeking out shapes and colours. This is because clutter has a habit of drawing the eye to a heap or shape of things; it will attracted to colour and then, the eye and the brain must try and work out ‘what is it?’ With less clutter and cumbersome stuff around, the space is calmer… as are you and so whatever it is you normally do in the space – sleep, eat, socialise or work – you will notice an instant change.
  • Much more appealing – as humans, we naturally accumulate all kinds of things and we need somewhere to keep these items. Some of these things do not need to be obvious or on display, but some items, more precious to us we may want to see and glass shelving is a fantastic way of showing these items to the best of beauty and ability. But again, with glass shelving in particular, cumbersome, noticeable brackets can instantly remove any minimalist appeal that the space has; after all, who wants a minimalist glass shelf, with huge brackets on the wall?
  • Easy to clean (and keep clean) – regardless of where you live or where your business premises are, there is a job that is never ending – cleaning! Some people love the satisfaction of cleaning every day but, there are some of us who do it as and when necessary. But, imagine if there was no clutter in the way! Just clean, smooth and clutter free surfaces that take seconds to clean because they can just be wiped over?

How to create the minimalist look

It is not just about chucking out stacks of clutter or hiding it in the cupboard under the stairs so that the next time this is opened the stuff all falls out or you cannot find anything when you want or need it. Minimalism is about living with what we have, accessing it and being able to enjoy a clutter free zone or space. It is not about a home or business being devoid of all personality.

Step 1: start with one room… live with it and see if you like it

Some people start and stop with this one room. They have a space that offers uncluttered space, where the mind, body and soul can rest. And if this is something you like and get along sofa-minimalistwith, you can then extend it to the rest of your home or space.

Step 2: Choosing the right items

A minimalist design is not just about ‘lack of stuff’, it is about creating a design statement with the items you do have. Some people choose to replace all furniture and art work on walls, but some people decide to use the items that they have.

Step 3: you can still accessorise the space!

Many people assume that a minimalist space is devoid of all accessories but this is not the case. You can accessorise but these items need to be carefully chosen, offering clean lines and a non-fussy design. This is why glass shelving makes such an excellent addition to any minimalist design space. The fact they allow light through and bounce around off their surface is perfect for this kind of space.

Step 4: choosing quality over quantity

The essence of minimalist design is that everything is clearly thought about and is there for a reason; shelving is not there for reasons of clutter; they are there to add essential accessories to a room. Furniture is chosen because it offers the look and tone that you want from them; art work is delightful, adding a splash of colour, if that is what you want; it is not just about filling the space of a bare wall.

Step 5: enjoy!

Enjoy your calming, relaxing space… and wonder, as you sit enjoying the serenity, why you never did it before!

Tips To Modernize Your Home

Modernize your home

tips to modernize your home

Photo Credit: Flickr

As modern technology changes our lives, it changes our homes too. At the turn of the twentieth century, closed-off rooms and cramped living spaces were about what the average person could expect. But now we have more solutions to home and design-based problems than we’ve ever had before, and a fabulous modern interior could be right at your fingertips.

Find the look you like

The best thing about modern home design is that there are many different styles to experiment with, styles that can be adapted and individualized. Maybe you’re a lover of the outdoors and want your living room to fade seamlessly into the garden. This can be done by using the same design elements and colors in both, and opening your living room up to the light with open space and large windows. Textures like fur (preferably not real fur), stone and wood can also add to an ‘outside’ effect in an indoor room.

Or – maybe you hate the outdoors, and want a cozy space where you can keep your widescreen television and favorite gadgets. Using soft lighting (pinks, reds) and bringing in lots of comfortable seating space can help you there. Remember, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your house, as does everyone! It needs to be something you enjoy. Make your favorite things the focal points of any design.

Choose your favorite things

Clutter isn’t going to do a room any favors. Go through your stuff and decide what you really need- don’t be afraid to get rid of anything that just doesn’t work for you. Those hideous pink cushions from your grandma? She’ll forgive you if you throw them away.

Invest in some clever storage solutions

Hidden storage spaces are often the backbone of modern room design. Sliding panels can keep things out of sight, or a piece of furniture with storage space beneath it can be used to store books, DVDs, or anything you like.

Some designers incorporate the storage space right into the room – shelving units in bright colors, a bookcase as the biggest, boldest thing in the room – which is also a perfectly valid design choice; weigh up the options and see what works for you.

Decide on the furniture

Trendy minimalist spaces often use minimalist furniture, but perhaps that’s not for you. Perhaps you want lots of cozy sofas and chairs so you can entertain guests. Well, the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive – minimalism is about the freedom of space. There’s nothing stopping you making a seating area the focal point of a minimalist room.

Try and choose furniture that will last a long time and that can be adapted to any style. Things that can be easily painted to fit in with any color scheme are a good idea too!

Choose your favorite colors

A modern design usually blends the functional with the vibrant. So you can have the metals of your chairs and the textures of your worktops topped off with a bright color, anything you bedroomchoose – shades of green if you want your room to match your garden, perhaps.

Different colors can open up (or close) your room in different ways. Yellow can make an otherwise drab room feel cheerful; purple, in the right places, can make a room look sophisticated and luxurious. Blue is apparently the best color for productivity, so use it for an office or study!

But keep green in mind

windowsSustainability is a big issue right now. Therefore, designers are making choices to save on energy and money – did you know there’s a house made entirely out of recycled materials? – and using natural resources instead. Open plan houses with lots of windows to bring in the light use a lot less electricity. Solar power and wind power are being used as the main source of energy for some houses. This extends to the garden as well – people are creating vegetable patches to provide food for themselves, and doing away with wasteful patio heaters and outdoor lights that eat up electricity.

A modern home, done right, will always be a modern home – ideally it should be easy to update whenever an update is needed. But it should also be an open, useful, sustainable space, tailored to fit in with the likes, dislikes, and personality of the person living in it. That’s you!

Guest Post By:

Jelena Djurdjevic is a business woman, mom and wife. She is currently staying at home due to a great reason, her family. In her free time she loves  blogging about home design.

 

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