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5 Kinds of Rugs for Busy Households

Today, rugs come in many different materials, colors, patterns and textures and finding the perfect one for your home can be exhausting. The task can be even harder if you’re looking for a rug that can withstand your active kids and a lot of traffic in general. It’s not easy to find a durable and easy-to-clean rug that will go well with your living room décor or look good in the kids’ bedroom. If you really don’t know where to start with your search, here’s a little guide that can help you choose a perfect rug for your busy household. Take a look.

5 Kinds of Rugs for Busy Households

Jute, sisal or seagrass

These natural material rugs are a great choice for every family and busy home. Because they are made of natural fibers, they can be a little costly, but if durability is your main criterion, this is the rug for you. They can withstand any kind of liquid spills and even brushing the stains out with a bristle brush. Before, they used to be available only in the shades of beige, but today you can get them in many patterns and colors, such as blue and gray. Truth be told, these rugs are not completely appropriate for rooms like nurseries or children’s bedrooms because they can be a little rough on gentle feet, but they are just perfect for a den or a sunroom.

Carpet tiles

These types of rugs are very practical because you can easily replace tiles that are worn-out or damaged, which makes them perfect for busy households. You can find tiles in different sizes and prices depending on the material. They best thing about the carpet tiles is that you can combine them the way you wish and create intricate designs. This can be very useful if you want to mask dirt or create some unique patterns.

5 Kinds of Rugs for Busy Households

Wool

Even though they can be costly, wool rugs are probably the best choice for any family. They are not only durable and soft to the touch, but are also available in many colors and patterns. If you’re ready to invest in a high-quality wool rug, you can be sure it will last you for more than 10 years (unlike synthetic rugs that will look their best only for two or three years after the purchase). Wool is easily cleaned and very moisture-resistant, making it the best choice for busy areas. Wool is also very soft and if you want to invest in gentle and durable kids floor rugs, wool is the way to go.

Cotton

Cotton rugs such as flat-weaves can easily be found at an affordable price. Also, they are relatively easy to clean. Most are machine washable or you can scrub the stains with some soap and a brush. Their biggest advantage is that they are soft and gentle, which makes them a great choice for nurseries and kids’ bedrooms. They are also perfect if you want to add a splash of color to your space, since they come in vibrant tones and many interesting designs.

5 Kinds of Rugs for Busy Households

Indoor-outdoor rugs

This type of rugs is great if you want to decorate your sunroom or a patio. They can also be a good option for rooms that are very busy and are exposed to a lot of wear and tear. They are usually made of durable synthetic materials like nylon, polypropylene or polyester, so if you don’t mind it, they will be a perfect match for your home. They are also easy to clean, come in many vibrant colors and patterns. Besides, they are more than affordable.

Now that you are familiar with different rug types and materials, you can choose the best one for your busy household and enjoy it for many years to come.

Importance of Trundle Beds for Your Little Kids at Home

When you have new additions in the home, your infants, then there are certain arrangements to be made not just in daily habits but also in the things used at home.

  • Coming to the changes in the bedroom, the best addition or a change for a family can be the inclusion of a trundle bed. It is true that not all homes are spacious, and this can be a troublesome situation. Well, there is no need to worry as you can get a single trundle bed for your child.
  • Having a trundle bed can help in organizing things in the little space. In addition to this, your infant’s or child’s stuff can be easily stored in the bed. Also, the kids can comfortably play around and sleep on the bed.
  • These beds are even stylish and can be rolled inside when there is no use of it. Besides the practicality and look, a family can gain many benefits with the trundle beds.

Importance of Trundle Beds for Your Little Kids at Home

Benefits of a trundle bed you should know

Let us check out some of the advantages that a single trundle bed can offer, go through the following.

  1. Additional space: This is the most common benefit of trundles, you can open them during nights or when the child is sleeping and can keep it inside when it is not required. It is actually a smart idea to include such a bed in the family and save good amount of space. A trundle bed is especially helpful for small apartments, where you need to go for maximum utilization of space. In addition, it is a unique furniture which can impress the guests coming to your home.
  2. Bonding between kids: If you have twins or two children, then having a trundle bed can make their bonding stronger. How? Well, they can play together, sleep together and spend quality time with each other. The daily communication will enhance their love, which can be felt for many more years to come.
  3. Storage section: Instead of getting extra furniture for storing the kids’ stuff, you can do it in a trundle. It can be a best place to store books, toys, games and other things. There are drawers in the trundle, which makes a great convenience for families with small homes. Moreover, you can also make additional drawers in case you want to customize the design of the trundle bed. Just suggest the required designs and layout to the carpenter, and you can use the bed for more space.
  4. Price: Well, it can be a surprise for you to read that these trundle beds are reasonably priced. You need not pay for two beds, instead get just one trundle bed and make your expense half. There are different varieties of such trundle beds available in the market; you can choose any based on your requirements and of course your budget.
  5. Sharing: Kids should be taught all good things right from their young age. With trundle beds they can eventually learn the act of sharing and caring each other. There will be nothing like yours or mine, everything will be together.

If you think that the benefits above mentioned are right, then you should not wait for long and purchase the right kind of trundle bed for your kids right away.

You can find many options in the market under the umbrella of a trundle bed. Some of the popular ones include trundle with drawers, mega trundle, classic trundle, and twin trundle. So, think about all the considerations of your kids and home, and get the perfect furniture for your little bundles of joy. Have a great time shopping for kids.

 

An Easy Living Room Interior Decorating Plan

The Living Room of Today

An Easy Living Room Interior Decorating Plan

The living room is a staple in a house. This is where guests are welcomed and served with refreshments. This area is also the first place that guests see, so its appearance could speak of the values and the kind of lifestyle the family living in it holds.

For example, some immigrants design their living rooms with relics and furniture that reflect their culture and heritage, most especially the art style that are dominant in their own country. Another displays different souvenirs they bought from other countries, showing their love for traveling.

You see, the living room builds an impression, one that either makes or breaks the perception of the owner. Thus, it is important that the area looks presentable and inviting so as to leave a good impression.

Living Room Interior Decorating Plan

In planning the interior design of a living room, you must consider these factors: the size of the space, the pieces of furniture to place, and the kind of activities you plan to hold there.

Step 1: Have a general look at the space you have

Take a look at the space provided. Where do you plan to put what? Should the sofa be put against the wall? Are you going to install some curtains in the living room? Do you want a center table or would you like this area open so you can sit on the floor? These questions are essential to know what specific furniture pieces and decorations you want to put in said area.

If possible, measure the size of your living room space. That way, you can scale your living room on a paper and draw the picture of your dream living room.

An Easy Living Room Interior Decorating Plan

Step 2: Start with the light

The lighting in this specific area of the house has to be bright enough to illuminate every corner of the room. It will also help in setting up the mood of happiness and warmth, both of which speaks a welcoming vibe to visitors. Thus, choosing the right light is as important as choosing the right couch and center table. Choices range from the minimalist ceiling light, that look simple yet sophisticated, to extravagant chandeliers such as Cassio Light that resembles a royal crown turned upside down and attached to the ceiling.

The lights can also help create an illusion of space. To make the room look bigger, use bright lights. In contrast, adopting a dimmer shade of lighting will make the room smaller.

Step 3: Complement lighting with a Wallpaper

The color of the walls, along with the light, affects a human’s perception of space. By using light colors on both the lighting and wallpaper, the living room would look more open and airy, which makes it more inviting and welcoming for guests.

On the other hand, using darker hues may create an illusion of smaller space. BUT, it can enhance the mood of intimacy and elegance, especially if the room would only be used at night.

The general rule of thumb in decorating any room is this: use patterns in only one key piece. In this case, if you choose patterned wallpaper, the rest of the pieces, like the sofa, must be in solid colors, and vice versa. This way, the beauty (or distraction) of patterns would stay in one place.

Step 4: Choose the furniture

Living Room Interior Decorating Plan

Here comes the toughest part: choosing furniture. What you decide on this part of the interior decorating plan can make or break the final look of your living room. There are two key furniture pieces that makes a living room a legitimate one.

Sofa

The sofa is practically the star of the living room. This is where house guests gather and converse with the other members of the household. And because the first thing a host does is make his or her guests rest on the couch, the chosen sofa must look inviting and comfortable to sit on.

A sofa set is not complete without cushions or throw pillows, which can add a pop of color and comfort to an otherwise flat and boring sofa. Cushions can complement the sofa and make sitting more comfortable.

Center Table

The center table is another must-have when designing a living room. You may prefer a decorative type which looks sleek and minimalistic. Or you can choose a functional one that has a large storage space underneath its glass top to hold books, magazines, or anything imaginable. A general rule of thumb when choosing a center table is that it must be large enough to occupy the gap made by the sofa set when arranged in a C-shape.

Some people may opt to make their center tables bare, specifically those who prefer doing their work in the living room or add a centerpiece at the top. The key in choosing the right centerpiece for every table is to keep it simple, minimal, and one that has to occupy a limited amount of space. After all, the center table is designed to specifically hold refreshments and other stuff that houseguests may need or have.

Remember the measurements you took earlier? This is the part where they can become handy. In choosing the furniture, you must be sure that the pieces can actually fit in the limited space.

Step 5: Add some accessories

Although this is optional, accessories, as mentioned before, can add emphasis to the theme of your living room. Oftentimes, accessories are the ones that are used to ramp up the overall vibe. For example, if you want to change themes, changing at least one or two accessories, like adding artificial flowers or a wall painting can do the trick.

Another choice would be a candle stand or holder, which can serve as additional light or another piece that can improve the ambiance of the room. Couples who want to cherish their late-night dates can use this to make the living room more romantic and set the mood for intimate moments.

Author’s Bio

Akshay works as an Interior Designer with Lalco Interiors and he is in love with his job. Thinking up interesting home décor ideas and helping clients implement them is what makes him tick. You can catch up with Akshay and his team and indulge in one of their beautiful home décor pieces for your home at Lalco Interiors showroom in Mumbai.

Freshen Up Your Home’s Look with These 6 Decorating Tips

Freshen Up Your Home's Look with These 6 Decorating Tips

No matter how well we take care of our home, from time to time we notice that it doesn’t look as nice and fresh as it did before. Going through a thorough renovation twice or even once a year may be the most effective way to keep your home in great condition, but it’s rather complicated and expensive to pull through. This is why there are simple but useful decorating tips which will allow you to freshen up your home’s look and not break the bank at the same time.

Switch out light fixtures

Do you know how to check if your light fixtures are right for your room? It’s simple – you don’t notice them. Light should vary from room to room, and the good light you need in your kitchen and bathroom would simply be too bright for your living room and bedroom. Even if you have perfect lighting, when was the last time you changes light fixtures? They should be functional, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be elegant, extravagant, vintage, or modern at the same time. You can change your own light fixtures and pick something more or less prominent. Sometimes, something as simple as a new lamp or even merely a lamp shade will be enough to make the entire room look different.

Rearrange your furniture

The simplest way to give your home ‘new’ look without necessarily going off and buying new things, you can rearrange the furniture. This goes for any room in the house – dining room, living room, and bedroom. Move the shelf from one wall to another, place a lamp in another corner, turn the couch so that it faces the window, and place the coffee table between the armchairs.  You can also get some custom made curtains from experts in Perth, to transform the room’s look with style. Even the simplest things will result in different atmosphere, and you will feel like you’ve stepped into another home.

Get a new rug

Carpets and rugs anchor the room, and it’s important you choose them wisely. Having your old rugs and carpets cleaned is a lot of work, and even when you take care of them, they get shabby, especially if they’re in a place that has a lot of foot traffic such as hallway or a living room. Getting a new rug in to any room is an easy and effective way to bring in more texture and colour. Make sure you pick the right size – you want to keep your feet on the rug when you get off the bed, and in your living room it’s not necessary for the rug to cover the entire floor, but it should be big enough so that the front legs of the furniture are on it.

Get nature in

Get nature in

You would be surprised to discover how much better your home would look if you just bring in a couple of fresh plants and place them in a corner or on a coffee table in your living room. Plastic plants may do the trick too, but they are never going to look as good as ‘the real thing’. If you’re worried about not being able to take care of a lot of plants, start by planting a couple of succulents and cacti in a bigger flower pot and trying to take care of them. These plants are very resilient and they’ll look great on your shelves.

Paint the place

Painting the walls a new colour is a great way to freshen up your home. Choosing lighter colours can also result in making the space appear more spacious than it already is. On the other hand, you can also try painting a single wall with bold colour that differs from the rest of the house completely. If you were hoping to paint the entire house, you should contact exterior and roof painting experts. This way the job will be done quickly and there will be less mess to clean up afterwards.

Toss pillows

Unlike updating your walls and floors, updating your toss pillows doesn’t have to be neither complicated nor expensive, and what is best – you can do it yourself in a single afternoon. Just go ahead and buy some crazy materials, the more colourful the better, and make new pillowcases. You can even use something unexpected like your old tees and bed covers to get great new pillowcases. Geometric and floral prints, even sequins, and fax fur are all great choices for accent toss pillows in your living room.

Spring is the perfect time for redecorating because we are easily inspired by nature waking up and the warmth of the sun. Your wardrobe is changing, so why not your home too? Look for inspiration everywhere, because it is usually found in the unlikeliest of places. Make bright colours, fresh plants, and light, flowy fabrics essential parts of your interior décor and transform your home into a cheery, bright space.

Guest Post By:

Author bio: Steven Clarke is a business consultant and a DIY enthusiast. In his spare time, he likes to write about his ideas and share them with the world. Steven is a regular contributor to several websites.

Design Decor: 3 Essentials For Your Living Room

living-room

The Layout of Your Living Room

When it comes to decorating your home, one of the most important rooms that you will have to decorate is the living room. The living room is the entrance to your home, which completes the overall layout. When you’re browsing for decorations for the living room, make sure that you choose high-quality designs. By doing this, you will be able to enhance the beauty and elegance that your home has to offer.

An Essential Adornment Includes the Lighting

One essential decoration that you need for your living room is proper lighting. By using the right lighting, you can accentuate the environment in your living room. Your main goal is to create a relaxing ambiance. However, you will also have to create lighting that will complement all of your decorations, such as table lamps. A collection of table lamps can accessorize your coffee tables or side tables. You can also think about floor lamps as well, which will go great in the corners of the living room.

Furniture Collections are Important

Whether you’re thinking about decorating your home with contemporary or traditional designs, you will be able to find furniture collections that will be able to complete your home’s decor. You can invest in sofas that can come in a variety of choices. These choices can include love seats, lounge chaises or arm chairs, just to mention a few. You can also invest in coffee tables and end tables to accessorize your sofas. Take a look at high quality furniture, like those at Visions In Contemporary Living, that will last and you can enjoy for many years to come.

Area Rugs With Great Designs

You can also think about decorating your living room with area rugs. The area rugs are essential to complete the layout of your living room. It is ideal that you choose colors that will be able to create a relaxing ambiance. You’ll be able to find an assortment of area rugs, such as different shapes and sizes. The shapes can revolve around oval, square or rectangle alternatives. You can also choose from a variety of large to small sizes.

Getting the Results That You Want

Remember that your main goal is to get the results that you want for your home’s interior design. When you’re shopping for these essential decorations for your living room, it’s recommended that you buy your furniture and decorations in sets. By doing this, you will be able to find more bargain prices. Rest assured that by investing in these three essential furniture collections, you’re sure to have the interior design that you want for your home.

Stylish Alternatives to Traditional Bedside Tables

A bedside table is a very important furniture piece in any bedroom, but unlike most of the other items, it doesn’t have to be bought in the bedroom department of a furniture store. In fact, it can look even better if you ditch the purpose-built designs and inject some creativity into choosing the right nightstand for you. Think about it, what defines a good nightstand? Storage space? Surface area? Height? Stability? All these features can be found in many other items, from coffee tables to wine crates, so don’t wait a second longer to look at our suggestions for stylish alternatives to traditional bedside tables.

Floating Shelf

Floating Shelf

If the storage capacity is not very important for you, and you just need a convenient table with enough surface area to leave a book, glass of water and a vase, then you can save a lot of space by installing a stylish and minimalistic floating shelf. You can also install two shelves one above the other for some extra storing space.

Suitcase/s

On the other hand, you might be up for something more eye-catching. In that case we suggest finding an old suitcase (on your attic or a flea market), installing wooden or hairpin legs on it, and you will get a perfectly romantic and vintage nightstand with hidden storage. You can also ditch the legs and stack more suitcases of different sizes.

Retro Bar Cart

A traditional bar cart repurposed into a nightstand will add an incredible retro vibe to your room and painting it in metallic tones will make it even more elegant. You can even go in the opposite direction and paint the cart with matte black color to support industrial style.

Wooden Crate

Do you have a stack of old wine, milk or fruit crates? Don’t let them go to waste. You can use them to create a no-fuss bedside table. Just take one and place it vertically by your bed. You can paint it with bright colors or leave it as it is. As with the suitcases, you can also stack the crates on top of each other.

Stylish Alternatives to Traditional Bedside Tables

Contemporary Bedside Table

Unlike traditional bedside tables, contemporary bedside tables like this can reinvigorate your bedroom and add a futuristic edge to the design. From the nesting-style table and marble surface area to patterned bases and ombre metallic effect, contemporary nightstands make a huge design statement.

Antique Bedside Table

Take another trip to the flea market or an antique store and find a cast-off, forgotten bedside table that just needs a bit of your love. You can work with what you have and enhance its worn-out look, or you can get a bucket of bright paint (e.g. coral, teal, etc.) and breath new life into it. Either way you will get a bedside table that speaks of your style and uniqueness.

Cinder Blocks

You probably never thought that you’ll be looking for furniture in construction sites, but stay with us for a bit here. It takes nothing more than three cinder blocks to aid your décor efforts. All you need to do is properly clean them, place two of them in vertical position next to each other, and then place the third one horizontally on top of them. You will end up with enough functional storage space, a surface area appropriate for industrial-themed retro lamps and some fresh flowers, and a truly surprising style statement.

So, what do you say? Are you willing to skip furniture stores and find your bedside table on a road less traveled? Good for you! Once you see how your new stylish furniture piece looks like by your bed, you will know that you’ve made the right decision.

Going Modern: 4 Pointers to Help Turn Your Home into a Contemporary Setting

Going Modern 4 Pointers to Help Turn Your Home into a Contemporary Setting

The contemporary style is recognizable by its uncluttered and organized appearance. It focuses on comfort, simplicity and a visually soothing atmosphere. An open concept design is typical of a contemporary style home. Spaces can be unified through the use of rugs and by strategic furniture arrangements. There are specific design elements you can rely on to give your home a contemporary appearance.

Contemporary Color Choices

In a contemporary home, the colors used are usually similar in tone. Beige, cream, taupe, brown and possibly white are the most popular choices for a contemporary décor. Don’t worry, though, your décor will not be too plain as you’ll definitely want to add in some accent colors as well. An accent color should be vibrant and stand out. Some good colors are red, blue and green as well as their many different shades and tones. Accent colors can easily be shown off through pillows, rugs, wall art and many other such decorative items.

Architectural Design Elements

A stairway can be an impressive architectural feature in a home. You can get inspiration for stairway designs from specialty companies, such as Tarosa Stairs, and their websites that feature the different types of staircases.  The balustrades are a key design element that can make a stairway incredibly impressive. Stainless steel and glass are popular features in a contemporary stairway design.

Contemporary Furniture

If you’re wanting to create a contemporary look in your home, you can easily achieve your goal by selecting furniture that has contemporary characteristics. Generally, that would involve selecting furniture that has curves rather than defined lines. The furniture you select should be simplistic and void of decorative embellishments. Natural fabric is essential in a contemporary décor. Silk, linen, jute wool and cotton are good choices. Keep this in mind when choosing upholstery fabric and accessories such as pillows and rugs.

Creating a Unified Décor

To achieve cohesiveness in your home décor, the design elements in the kitchen and bathroom should comply with the design elements in your living room and bedrooms. Accent tables and other pieces of furniture can feature chrome or glass details. Those same elements can be used in the kitchen and bath. Glass or frosted glass cabinet fronts are appropriate in a contemporary home. Stainless steel and chrome are also popular material choices for a contemporary home. These can be incorporated in individual rooms in the form of lamps, cabinet hardware and accent furniture designs

It’s not too hard to incorporate contemporary style in your home. Hopefully, the above advice will help you to be able to change up the style in your home using this elegant style.

Top Ways to Use Used Wooden Pallets to Decorate Your Home

Top Ways to Use Used Wooden Pallets to Decorate Your Home
Used Wooden Pallets

Just like any other item, wooden pallets also lose their functionality with time. However, even after serving the needs to transport materials in certain industries for many years, there are still a lot of creative ideas that you can incorporate to decorate your home with wooden pallets. So why not try to squeeze all the benefits from used wooden pallets. There are a number of decoration pieces and furniture you can create and your imagination is the limit. From the number of options available, below are mentioned some of the top ways in which you can decorate your homes with the used wooden pallets.

  • Constructing A Dining Table

Out of just four used wooden pallets, you can come up with a rustic and original dining table for your home. With the simplistic and rustic look, a pallet table is functional for both the outdoors and indoors at the same time. In order to add weather proofing and rustic charm to the dining table, just finish off the pallet table with wax, oil or polyurethane sealer to complete this addition.

  • Coffee Table

Coffee tables are a great addition to any home décor and with used wooden pallets there are a number of possibilities for you. From modern style coffee table to oriental style coffee table, you can accommodate all types of designs with these pallets. Just a few wheels, screws, brackets, stain and your imagination is what will do the trick here. Nothing can beat this attractive piece of coffee table you make out of a wooden pallet.  Glass is another element you can add on the table to get perfect results.

  • Computer Table

Used wooden pallets could also be used as a perfectly sized computer desk with space for keyboard and mouse as well. All you need is sturdy legs and raise the height of the pallets to one that is most comfortable for you and you are done. The addition of rustic wood will make the computer desk all the more attractive.

Rolling Table : Used Wooden Pallets
Rolling Table : Used Wooden Pallets

  • Rolling Outdoor Table

With just a few additions of used wooden pallets, wooden beams cut in four pieces, caster wheels, screws, stain and L bracket you can get this rolling outdoor table set for your home. These are great for outdoors when you want to hang out with friends and you can easily roll these in whenever you feel like using them as a small dining table at home.

  • Pallet Kitchen Island

A kitchen island could also be one of the most important additions in your home décor, and one attractive and rustic used wooden pallets kitchen island will add a great amount of charm to your kitchen. With just 3-4 used wooden pallets and right creativity, you can come up with an excellent looking and highly functional kitchen island in your home. There is no hard and fast rule as to where you can place these in your kitchen. Just let your imagination do the work and get attractive looking kitchen island in your kitchen.

So, make sure that you consider the above mentioned ideas and make the best use of used wooden pallets. The above-mentioned ideas are just some of the many options available to you. You can find a huge list of possibilities and designs on the internet that you can incorporate in your home for decoration. Just research well about the available options and make the best use of your imagination for used wooden pallets. The time that you spend in research and comparison will bring in great results for your home décor.

5 ways to infuse your home’s design with modern minimalist principles

5 ways to infuse your home's design with modern minimalist principles

Born initially as a reaction to the dizzying displays of abstract expressionism, minimalism has developed quite a bit since its rather humble beginnings. In fact, over the past decades the trend has grown to encapsulate numerous ideas about art and life in general. Perhaps that explains why even today, this style continues to be such a popular choice among interior designers and people who aspire to live a simpler life in general. If you want your home to benefit from all the qualities inherent in a minimalist art work without sacrificing its ultimate livability, here are five essential aspects to consider:

  1. The “less is more” mantra

This central tenet of minimalism is often misunderstood in today’s society. It doesn’t refer to spending less money to buy more goods, nor does it involve eliminating some of the basic pleasures that make life worth living. Instead, “less is more” simply means that abundance by itself does not always guarantee happiness. With regards to interior design, this translates into having just the right amount of things at all times. Owning extraneous objects can quickly clutter a home, so be sure to always give away the things that you no longer need as you acquire new possessions.

home design

  1. Furniture placement and the value of open space

Open space is valued above all in minimalism. Just like the space between two musical notes can sometimes mean more than the actual notes themselves, it is believed that the absence of things can in some instances lead to more contentment than their relative abundance. This doesn’t mean that rooms should be devoid of essential objects like beds, bathroom fixtures and cooking appliances, but it does mean that the way you arrange things is all-important. Instead of simply placing things at random, opt for fitted furniture instead, making sure that you leave plenty of space around your most important items.

  1. The role of color

Color is another underrated aspect that usually gets misunderstood in minimalism. While the trend does indeed reject gaudy displays in favor of a more restrained approach, colors certainly have their place in minimalist decorations. The trick here is to settle on a relatively stable color palette, and then use variations of it throughout your entire household. It’s well known that colors affect our mood so you should always be careful when choosing the right one. In 2017, for instance, the fashionable hue is believed to be greenery, a fresh yellow-green shade that symbolizes new beginnings. If you were to pick such a shade as your base color, you should refrain from employing clashing tones that undermine its simplicity. Nevertheless, the occasional accent wall or stand-out piece can still be used to spruce up your home’s overall look.

infuse your home's design with modern minimalist principles

  1. Choosing appropriate building materials

If you are what you eat, then your home is what it’s built of. From its basic structure to its subtlest finishes, the materials you use to construct your home will inevitably have a big say in its overall character. To that end, a minimalist home will generally favor natural materials such as wood or masonry, but there is a place for man-made materials as well, if the situation demands it. Owing to their sleekness, minimalist homes can sometimes be perceived as overly distant, but this too can be fixed with the likes of textured timbers, which create warmth and give your home a friendlier, rustic vibe.

  1. The importance of good lighting

As a general rule of thumb, minimalist homes are designed to be bright, clean environments for people who want to gain a clearer perspective on life by leading an orderly existence. This kind of goal cannot be achieved in the absence of light, which is why optimizing access to light sources is one of the most important aspects of minimalist interior design. Natural light is always preferable, as safe sun exposure grants certain benefits that no artificial light can provide. To that end, make sure that your home’s windows are perfectly placed to absorb the sun’s rays without overheating the room or bothering your eyes. And don’t forget to also invest in plentiful artificial light sources that are kind to your eyes and only consume a reasonable amount of energy.

As you can see, the many precepts of minimalism can be successfully employed in interior design and will likely lead to beautiful, cleanly-designed home that many people will no doubt enjoy living in. While the minimalist style isn’t for everybody, plenty of homeowners could stand to benefit from its central tenets, as they generally translate into a much more relaxed and serene outlook on life in general. For all these reasons and more, keeping it minimal is something that you should definitely consider when designing your very own dream home.

 

What should we learn from Nordic interior designers

What should we learn from Nordic interior designers

Now, don’t let your inner gamer show. Nordic home design has nothing to do with your home decorations in Skyrim, unless you really want to have that alchemy table, but that’s a different story. Nordic interior design today is a simple, yet truly unique way to use your living environment to the fullest. The so called Scandinavian trend has taken the world by storm, and is described as a timeless style in interior décor. If you want to know the main characteristics of this design, keep on reading. Thanks to its inspiring simplicity, you’ll find it quite applicable to your own home.

1. Calming colors

Nordic-inspired homes do not shy away from occasional pop of color. Still, the dominant palette includes softer hues like whites, creams, grays and pale blues. Of course, various pastel shades can be used in this design if you’re up for some experimenting.

Nordic interior designer

While this soothing color scheme is vastly popular, Scandinavian homes are also known for bold lines and forms. Statement patterns in your decorative bits and wall décor can, therefore, add enough texture and warmth without breaking the minimalist approach.

2. Let there be light

Natural light is very important in Nordic-inspired interior design. It works especially well with brighter shades. Therefore, big windows that are not overly shaded with curtains are a staple in this trend. In case you don’t have big windows, you can make the most out of the ones you already have – just keep them pristine clean and use a light and breezy material for curtains.

Nordic-inspired interior design

The material shouldn’t be too dark in color either. Of course, artificial lighting plays an important role, as well. In most Scandinavian homes, you’ll find bold yet clean lines on chandeliers and floor lamps, and recessed lights in rooms with lower ceilings.

3. All about nature

If there’s one thing that’s truly emphasized in Nordic homes, it’s the nature-inspired décor. Big windows that offer great views of the outdoors are only one part of the trend.  Wood furnishings, as well as stone accent details are vastly popular, too.

indoor plants

Moreover, indoor plants that are tall, sleek and work as a statement piece on their own can truly bring harmony when matched with cooler colors of Scandinavian homes. Having plants in your personal surroundings is very important regardless of your preferred style, so make sure to fully utilize this tip.

Rustic antiques

4. Rustic antiques

In order to make the minimalist décor look warmer and more comfortable, My Scandinavian Home stylists suggest introducing rustic and antique-looking items. These go surprisingly well with the overall simplicity of the interior. You can choose how to mix and match these seemingly contrasting elements. For example, antique wall clocks and rustic frames or plant pots can add the necessary texture to the plainness of furniture and walls. On the other hand, you can keep your decorative bits and pieces pretty sleek and simple, yet go for rustic-looking cabinets, coffee tables or earthy rugs and furniture covers.

5. No clutter involved

No clutter involved

Accessories are allowed in Nordic interior design, but only if they work well in creating a warm, simple, unique and most importantly, functional layout for you to spend time in. Too much clutter, and especially pieces that clash with the overall theme and color palette, break the harmony and can cause mental pressure. In that respect, aesthetically pleasing décor that allows complete freedom of movement is something to keep in mind when incorporating accessories. Making a mess of your display décor should be avoided, as well.

Scandinavian décor

Feeling inspired yet? If you feel like your home’s interior doesn’t motivate or energize you enough, trying out Nordic tricks in home décor and design is definitely worth considering. With functionality, looks and a touch of nature in your immediate surroundings, you can efficiently improve the quality of your lifestyle. Using interior to de-stress and relax is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for success and appeal of Scandinavian décor trend.

Guest Post By:

Chloe TaylorChloe is an art historian, recreational ballet dancer and a contributor at smoothdecorator.com. She is passionate about photography, dance and music. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world with her husband and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She also enjoys learning and writing about home design, since she is crazy about aesthetics. You can find Chloe on FB, Twitter, and G+.

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