Image via WikipediaDecorating ideas for Autumn
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Decorating ideas for Autumn
Image via WikipediaDecorating ideas for Autumn
How to find the best deals on home decor
Image via WikipediaHow to find the best deals on home decor
How to find inspiration for color in your room
Image via WikipediaHow to find inspiration for color in your room
Finding three bold colors in your room to inspire you is easy with a little know how.
Photo: fotosearch.com When deciding my color choices in a room, It's a great idea to use what is already in the room. Often our own decor can give us the greatest help when we need to decide on what color to paint a room that will not only appeal to us, but also enhance the existing decor elements.
Existing decor-
The decor you already have in your home is no doubt already an appealing aspect to you in the room. Using what you already have is a great way to find the color you need to bring them out. There are methods that can help you decide. Start by picking three accessories that you use already in the room as decor. Whether its a beautiful planter, a candle, or a vase, usually they all have at least one primary color that you really love in them. Now from these three items you can probably find what I call the "dominant neutral". How do we determine this? Here is an example: Lets say your choices are the following, One red vase, one dark brown picture frame, one white marble bookend. Your three colors here are red, brown and white. Now if you were to blend these three colors you'd end up with a warm beige. This is now your dominant neutral. I'd use this color as the dominant color of the room with brown, red or white as the accent wall or second dominant color, with the third color a good choice for trim.
Existing artwork-
Here again, you can use the method described in step one of this article to ascertain what dominant neutral you want. Three appeal color choices pulled from perhaps one piece of artwork, or several. A simple trick to help you may be to either go to a paint store and get three samples of paint in the same colors and hold them up to the neutral colors on display to see which one they all merge best with. You can also take all three colors and mix them equally to see if they product a neutral. If they don't quite produce a neutral adding white paint to this to get a neutral shade is an easy fix and now you will have a great dominant neutral based on a combination of the three colors pulled from your artwork. A good trick for those who are somewhat color challenged. You may sometimes get a pastel from this and it too can act as the unifying neutralizer in the room.
Old World Lure-
Many of us, including myself are drawn to the styles of old world design. As such many of us may have some reminders of these eras already in place in our homes. We can always and should always research online for colors that were available during those times as a guideline for use to tie in these elements in our home. A good way to do this is view existing artwork from people that either currently live in these areas or past works of art that is displayed in museums, magazines, and books with art in them. The further back you go the more you will see that the colors available in those times was limited, however this is what makes some of these design elements so refined and sophisticated. Do a lot of research. Whether you love the style of Native American, Greek, African or Rome, a little research in those areas can be a great inspiration for your color scheme. Just remember the dominant neutral rule in most cases. I would say, if you are not planning on selling your home within the next ten years to go a free as you wish with your color pallet. Your home is an expression of things you love and as such should make you feel at peace with your environment. You work too hard not to have things as you love them.
Fabrics-
Sometimes the easiest and safest color scheme to choose is pulled from the fabrics in the room. Whether it is from the couch, a chair, the drapes or decorative pillows this may be your ultimate safest bet. You can sometimes mix and match picking one decorative accessory, one color from a painting, one color from the fabrics. The only real rules is to try and find the color scheme that will work for all three colors, unify and neutralize at the same time. Simply choose the three colors in paint samples and mix. Then add white paint until the color gets pale, how pale is up to you.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: How to find inspiration for color in your room
How to de-clutter your home
Image via WikipediaHow to de-clutter your home
*******How to choose the best window treatments
Image via Wikipedia
********How to avoid big mistakes in home decor
If you are not a professional, do not by any means listen to any designer that tells you to avoid beige, whites and neutrals.
These are safe color choices for those who are not trained and are usually regret free. If you are aching for colors, use them with accessories like pillows, prints, etc.
Avoid theme rooms that are permanent or costly to change. A Lion King bedroom for your son can be extremely costly, and in 1 to 2 years he will be a fan of something else. Use removable decor for youngsters. They will change their passions often. Paying a large sum of money for something that will be painted over later is a waste.
Avoid current fads in color, and decor. A few years back everyone was nuts for Holstein cows, and lets not forget country geese and country blue was everywhere. Not long after that, burgundy and hunter green anything was all the rage. Please. please, anything large in your home should be neutral, accessories like throw pillows, curtains, area rugs can be more personal and colorful. Just make sure when trends change, you aren't in a corner with going too far with a fad.
Do not think that every piece of furniture should be set at an angle. This is something a lot of designers love to do, however if your room is small this arrangement will make the room seem smaller and it can very well throw off the balance, and this can make the room feel odd. The same goes for area rugs. Designers do some odd things, don't do everything just because they do it on TV. There are bad designers out there and I have seen them on many shows, leaving the client crying.
If you got a one shot chance at making a big difference in your home, kitchen is the number one most important room. The three biggest factors for consideration are counter tops, flooring, cabinets. If your kitchen is all set, please update those bathrooms. All else can wait. It is almost wasted time and money when home owners do the easy things like changing wall color or having different flooring installed and completely neglect kitchen and bathroo
********Converting a closet into an office space
A wall closet in a residential house in the United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Convert that unused closet into a functional office space...
It may be hard to believe but there are times when you may need an office area far more than you need a closet. In those times, it is easy to take a spare closet and convert it into a functioning space. Latest and probably lasting trends that will be seen in the housing market is new construction that is accommodating to the needs of most home buyers to have a home office. For those who have an older home improvising is the name of the game.
Things You'll Need:
1 piece of 4 X 8 plywood (this should be enough but measure)
(2) 2X4X8's or(1 X 5's can also be used) You may need more so make sure to measure.
Box of 1 1/2 inch nails, or screws
(1) handsaw or skill saw
(1) level
(1) drill
molly bolts
Step 1
First things first, you will want to measure your closet sides, and across the back. The closet in the photograph is the kind with two bi folds, so the measurements were roughly 2 1/2 feet on each short end and approximately 6 feet across.
Step 2
Cut your 2 X 4 that will be mounted on the interior walls across the back and sides to fit according to your individual closet size. Nail one nail in the center of each 2 X 4 this will allow you the ability to move your 2 X 4 and adjust it to be perfectly level. Make sure to use a level and mark the wall with a pencil. You can now screw it into place using molly bolts and your drill. Add enough to make it very secure, and repeat this with the end too.
Step 3
Now that your 2 x 4's are all in place and level and securely attached to your walls, it is time to cut your ply wood to fit on top. Make sure to put in several notches along the back of the plywood to allow for your computer wires, etc. Once cut simply place on top of the 2 X 4 braces and nail along the edges. If you want this space to also serve for other uses like sewing, its a good idea to place a 2 X 4 brace up from the floor to add extra support for a heavy sewing machine.
********Home decor trends that will last
Recent Trends in Home Decor, they'll be around for some time to come...
Image by CanvasPop- www.canvaspop.com via FlickrIf you are updating an existing home for yourself or you are preparing to sell in the near future, one area of interest should be what the recent trends are. Typically speaking, following trends can be a risk but a few trends surfacing today are likely to be around for some time to come. Knowing what trends are safe to use and likely to appeal to not only your sense of style but any future prospects is just sound investing. Read here: Home decor trends that will last
Image by CanvasPop- www.canvaspop.com via FlickrMonday, September 27, 2010
********Show restraint when following interior designers on television
Image via WikipediaShow restraint when following interior designers on television
Decorating a baby nursery
Consider function first-
The function of the nursery is the primary consideration for the design. Since baby spends the majority of his or her time sleeping this room, it needs to promote a relaxed and restful state for baby. Choose soft calming colors. This may seem old school but, old school is born out of common sense.
Noone can get a good night's rest in a room that has too much visual stimulation. Baby recieves a great deal of stimuli from interacting with the family, and when awake is often times in the living quarters of the home. It is not necessary to make the nursery stimulating, or highly contrasting in patterns etc.
Simple removable decor-
When decorating, try to have decor that can easily be changed out. As baby grows, the room needs to be able to transition between being the place the baby sleeps, to also being the place the toddler plays. Keep decor simple and forgiving. Avoid hanging pictures on the wall of a toddlers room, if a picture falls it could injure your toddler. Soft decor like posters, quilts, and even the child's own toys can be a part of the wall decor. Just make sure everything that needs to be in reach is in reach and things baby/toddler don't need to play with can not be accessible. Don't under estimate a toddler, by the way. They can be very determined.
Color choices-
Use scrubbable paint only. You'll thank me later. Chose colors that can blend with any decor and always consider that your child grows quickly and will soon not want a "baby" room, but a big boy or big girl room. By keeping the colors fairly neutral, you will have an easier time updating to new decor later. There are many low and no voc paints, (see ToolBase.Org) available that can be used through out the home, don't skimp on this in the nursery. Environmentally friendly, and baby friendly too. For the best paint to use in your nursery see this link: Organic Baby Resource
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)