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While a majority of homeowners think that updating their home means making big investments, boosting the look of your house doesn’t have to involve any large-scale home improvement projects. Quite the opposite, minor upgrades go a long way in transforming your living space, and sometimes, all it takes is a few changes here and there to boost the look of your home. With that in mind, we’re listing our top six effortless tweaks you can make around the house and make it go from drab to fab in a snap. Scroll down to get inspired!
How illuminated our living space plays a vital role in how we perceive our living space, and dark, poorly lit spaces certainly don’t look appealing. A simple yet effective decorating tool, lighting has the ability to completely transform the interior, and when placed strategically, it can showcase the beauty of your home by illuminating and highlighting all the different ornaments and artwork displayed. In order to bring life into a dull, plain room, add a couple of different sources of light, and layer them to achieve the desired effect.
Since our styles evolve and change throughout the years, it’d be best if you’d introduce lighting fixtures that are in line with the current design style of your home. If you're not sure what the current trends are with lighting it may be worth talking to a lighting specialist like Connect Electric so they can point you in the right direction. By swapping your old and dated lighting fixtures, your living space will seem more cohesive and will look fresh and rejuvenated without you breaking the bank.
Another decor element you can use to make your space look more balanced and cohesive is the use of certain patterns in your living space. If you notice that you are drawn to one pattern in particular, try to introduce it into different areas of your home. Marble pattern continues to be one of the trendiest patterns among homeowners, and it’s easy to see why. Chic and sophisticated, marble comes in a variety of forms and incorporating it into your living space is a great way to add a touch of luxury and create an aura of sophistication. Because it’s so effective and eye-catching, it’s best to introduce it in small doses throughout your living space. Incorporate this stylish pattern into your home through decorative touches and accents – stationery, trays, and wall art will help you get the luxurious look without any huge investment while also giving a subtle nod to the marble trend.
For a modern touch that seamlessly blends style and durability, consider incorporating metal accents into your design. Whether through decorative elements, furniture, or wall art, metals can elevate your space with a sleek, contemporary vibe. Explore unique and high-quality options at Metal Plex to find pieces that add sophistication and character to your interiors.
You might think that in order to freshen up your living space, you’ll need to update your home from top to bottom, but that is not necessarily true. Beauty lies in the details, and sometimes, even the smallest of changes go a long way in transforming your living space. Swapping out your hardware is one way of rejuvenating your living space that won’t set you back a lot, but will still have an immense impact on how sophisticated and glamorous your whole space looks. Up the glam factor in your home with a set of luxury door handles and give your doors a fresh new look. Pay attention to the style of your home so you get the matching hardware and create a sense of cohesiveness in your living space. Take it a step further and replace the kitchen cabinet hardware as well – introduce new pulls and knobs to give your kitchen the face-lift it needed in the single most affordable way.
A versatile decorating tool, wallpapers are perfect for transforming spaces without going over the top or breaking the bank. They are easy to install, rather inexpensive, and can make all the difference when used strategically. Make the simple entrance more inviting by opting for wallpapers with patterns on them to change the mood in your home or renew it in a simple, yet effective way. Add tasteful wallpaper to your dining room to make it more inviting and comfortable, and go with a wallpaper that makes a statement in the living room. Instead of papering the entire room, it’d be better to with half-wall application to add a subtle accent to your space or use wallpaper to create an accent wall and make a powerful impression.
Another inexpensive upgrade you can make to rejuvenate your interiors may come as something unexpected but according to many professional interior designers it’s sure to give a boost to the overall appeal of your room. Although they’re often an overlooked design element that is painted in a neutral shade by default, ceilings offer a decorating opportunity that can completely transform the look and feel of your living space. Make a stunning statement by painting your ceiling in unexpected hues such as black or navy, or go with a faux stone paint treatment to add an elegant touch to your living space and enhance the architectural interest of your ceiling. You could also add patterns to your ceilings by adding wallpaper, stenciling the pattern on, or getting a professional to create the pattern by hand.
Accessories and home decor tell a story about the people who live there, what their personality is like and what their values are. The artwork is one of the things that add character to the home and when woven into the overall design, it can have an immense impact on the entire appeal of the living space. Go with art that speaks to you and that matches the overall style of your interiors. You can choose bigger, oversized pieces or you can go with smaller groupings of photographs and art – either of the options will make a major design impact, acting as the perfect finishing touch in a room. Of course, the artwork you choose to hang on your walls doesn’t have to cost too much – just make sure to frame it nicely so it blends in nicely with the entire design concept of your living space.
These are some of the most effective tweaks you can make to boost the appeal of your home. Whether you decide to incorporate one, two, or all of the six ideas suggested above, you’re sure to make an instant update that won’t go unnoticed. Use our tips as a guide for your micro makeover and design a space that is a reflection of your personality as well as good taste.
Guest Post by Chloe Taylor
On the surface, minimalism might seem simple and straightforward, but in reality, this approach to interior design can be highly complex and nuanced, making it difficult to master. Many a time, homeowners will abandon their dreams of creating a truly minimalist living environment simply because they don’t understand the key concepts that make minimalism work, it’s foundation, and its uniqueness. It’s easy to make a minimalist setting look too empty, monotonous, or uninspiring, and that’s because minimalism is not so much about the absence of décor as it is about its strategic implementation.
Today, let’s delve deep into minimalist interior design, and explore the key concepts that you can use to make minimalism work in your home by bringing form and function together. Here’s what you need to know.
The first key consideration that affects both the form and the function of a room you need to know about is flexibility. Minimalism might not be the absence of décor per se, but it certainly is the absence of clutter, which invariably elevates the flexibility and maneuverability in the room, while at the same time elevating its aesthetic appeal. This is why your first job is to declutter your living environment thoroughly.
There are two main ways to declutter: getting rid of your stuff, or storing it in concealed storage spaces. Before you start putting everything in drawers and hollow ottomans, though, be sure to get rid of as much extraneous décor as you can. But instead of simply throwing stuff away, be sure to see if someone might make use of the things you no longer use, and donate these belongings to charities. You can even try to sell some pieces online if you’re parting ways with something of material value.
Minimalism relies heavily on complementary as well as contrasting shapes and forms, which can make it quite difficult to successfully mix and match décor elements. Oftentimes, the look and feel of the room might continue to seem like it’s cluttered simply because the shapes of the furniture, architectural elements, and the amenities are at odds with each other. This is why a good idea would be to stick to the basic shapes such as squares and rectangles, complemented by common lines such as horizontal, vertical, diagonal, crisscross lines, and curved lines.
You can use circular or elliptical shapes for your focal points, which we will touch upon shortly. Sticking to these basic shapes and lines will allow you to frame the design of your stylish living environment and unify the minimalist look and feel, all the while setting a beautiful foundation for the complementary accents. With the foundation comprised of these essential elements, you will also be able to bring in truly captivating focal points later on, which will give every room its unique aesthetic appeal and bring the minimalist design to life.
To make the minimalist design truly shine, you need to make every room unique in its aesthetic appeal, but without cluttering the space with extraneous décor element. One of the best ways to do that is to bring a vibrant floor accent into the mix, such as an ornate rug in the seating area, or a cozy standing spot underneath the kitchen island. It’s important that the rug doesn’t interfere with the minimalist setting, yet that it frames that area of the room.
Over the years, creative companies have perfected many styles of carpets and improved their look and feel to fit every interior design approach, such as the popular Miss Amara NZ that offers minimalist-friendly rugs in monochrome designs, jute styles, and classic looks that go with everything. It’s important that you choose a pattern that complements the shapes and lines we mentioned previously, but the shape of the rug itself is allowed to stand out – such as a circular carpet underneath a square-shaped seating area in the living room.
People often think that the minimalist color scheme consists of black and white colors, and while it is true that the foundation of the room should be as neutral as possible, that doesn’t mean that you can’t play around with some vibrant color options. You just have to use strong colors strategically and place them in the inner parts of the space.
What this means is that minimalism comes to life with pure white and off-white walls that, for example, will allow a beautiful marble floor or slab to shine in all its glory. Once you have the foundation in place, you can use vibrant colors for your pillows, blankets, and other throws on the furniture to give every piece its unique flair. And speaking of uniqueness, let’s move on to the focal points.
Finally, keep in mind that every room deserves to have a striking focal point that will tie the whole minimalist look together. Now, a focal point can be anything from a grand focal wall in the dining room, to a lush potted plant in the corner of the living room, or a set of vibrant paintings over the fireplace – it all depends on your personal taste. When it comes to focal points, you are free to let your imagination take the reins, but keep in mind not to overdo it. Instead, make sure to stick with one such feature per room.
Minimalism is not just about the aesthetic appeal of a clutter-free interior, it’s also about the functionality and comfort it brings to your home. With these design tips in mind, you will be able to bring a beautiful minimalist living environment to life imbued with happiness and zeal.
Member Guest Post:
Have you ever been to a luxury hotel? If you have, you most definitely noticed that the bathrooms at these hotels are really amazing. Who knew that so much design and style could be implemented inside a bathroom?! Luxury bathrooms have a lot of amazing elements that make them super comfortable and beautiful. I, for one, have been obsessed with upgrading my bathroom to make it look amazing after I saw a luxury bathroom, and who wouldn't want their bathroom to appear luxe and lavish.
Now, adding some of the big stuff like a hot tub might be a little expensive, but there are a lot of other areas where an upgrade can really make your bathroom look amazing and inviting. There are a lot of easy and amazing ways in which you can make your bathroom look super luxurious and amazing.
You should start from the basics, one of the main elements of a bathroom or any other room that affects its style and design is, of course, the walls. You need to add a little more style and design to the walls of your bathroom. Neutral colors that are soothing and calming are the way to go for the paint of the bathroom walls.
You should also consider adding some elegant tiles to your walls. There are a lot of amazing options for tiles in the market, choose some in a neutral color that are in contrast with the rest of the installments in your bathroom. You can also add some artwork to your walls to make them look more amazing and add an extra design element to your bathroom.
A very distinct feature that you may have noticed in luxury bathrooms is that they tend to have very large mirrors. These mirrors have a lot of functionality when it comes to the design and style of your bathroom. First of all, the large mirrors make your bathroom feel bigger and more spacious than it actually is. The mirrors also improve the lighting of the bathroom and add a lot of style and design to it. Also, this is a fairly inexpensive upgrade that can significantly improve the look of your bathroom.
The lighting is one of the most important design features that can make or break the design of a room. Even if you have the most elegant decor and the best-designed room, if they aren't properly lit, they can feel uninviting. The same concept applies to your bathroom. You need to put some effort into the lighting fixtures of the bathroom because a simple overhead light is just not going to work. Add multiple LED ceiling lights and also look into adding some pendant lights in front of the large mirror to help you in your makeup or grooming.
Like any other room, a luxury bathroom also needs to have a balance of natural and artificial light. If your bathroom already doesn't have one, you should add a window. You can use one-way glass or some decorative glass on the window to make it look more elegant. If you have a window, you will also need to add some window fixtures. Elegant looking blinds that are in contrast with the paint and other elements of your bathroom are the best option in my opinion.
Now, if you are upgrading your bathroom, you will need to add some luxury accessories. This phase of the upgrade depends a lot upon your budget. If you have the budget, you need to go for some amazing luxury items like a hot tub or a walk-in shower. But if you are a little low on budget, then don't worry; there are a lot of amazing luxury accessories that you can add to your bathroom on a budget.
One easy and affordable luxury upgrade that you can easily install yourself is a new showerhead. There are a lot of amazing options available in the market. You should also get some other elegant looking accessories for your bathroom like a stylish and elegant soap dispenser, trashcan, toothbrush holder and soap holder. You should also buy some good quality shampoos, conditioners, soaps and body wash as these products are also essential luxury accessories. You can go to HomeAddons to check some amazing products and their reviews.
After you are done with the larger upgrades, you should also add some small elements that will complete the look of your bathroom. Start by buying some decorative soaps and displaying them on your sink counter. These soaps can add a lot of color to the design of your bathroom, and they can also add an amazing fragrance to the place, which is essential for the luxury feel.
You should also place some scented decorative candles in your bathroom. You can light the candles while taking a bath to fill the place up with an amazing scent. These candles also contribute to the rich color pallet of your bathroom. You should also place some amazing decorative towels in the bathroom for a luxury feel.
Another very common design feature that can be seen in almost every luxury bathroom is countertops on the sides of the sink. Many normal bathrooms don't have any countertops on the sides of the sign, and they are missing out on a lot of advantages.
Firstly, these countertops make your bathroom look amazing and luxurious, but they also have a lot of utility. They can give you a lot of extra storage space in the bathroom if you create drawers and cabinets under the countertop. You can also place a lot of extra items on these countertops. You can place your decorative soaps and candles, and you can also keep all of your toiletries and accessories on the countertops. Sink side countertops are an essential design feature that you should add to your bathroom if you want the luxury look and feel.
About the Author:
This post is written by Andrea Smith. She loves traveling, home decorating and hanging out with her friends. She is currently a student of Interior Designing at the California Arts School. She regularly writes blogs at https://homeaddons.com/.
Sometimes, decorating your home may feel a bit too complicated and overwhelming, especially with so many “rules” that you’re supposed to stick to. But, the secret of the most beautiful interiors is finding a home décor that is to your own preference. In case you’re not sure what to do, here are some tips about decorating myths that shouldn't be ignored.
You have probably heard numerous times that regardless of the color of your walls, the ceiling should always be kept plain white. Well, that’s simply not true. Certain wall shades such as bold yellow or deep green don’t match well with a stark white ceiling at all – especially if there are no other white elements in the room. That said, don’t hesitate to opt for other, more complementary shades for your ceiling that actually match the walls and furniture effectively.
Another well-known decorating myth says that you should never mix different prints and patterns in your interior. And, as you can probably guess, this isn’t necessarily true at all. These days, eclectic décor style is gaining in popularity and if you know how to pair your prints and patterns, you can easily introduce them in any room together. Don’t hesitate to let your creativity and personality shine through your décor just because there’s such an outdated decorating myth going around.
Completely false. What’s more, different styles and types of chairs can look especially well together. Of course, there should be one common element to unify them, but you’re never limited to specific sets. The same goes for your sofa, armchairs and ottomans. It’s true that it was common to buy these items in matching sets in the past, but in this day and age, it’s more effective and interesting to effectively pair items that differ from each other, especially when seating arrangement is concerned.
It’s very common to hear that small rooms should always be painted in light and neutral colours to create a visually bigger space. However, that’s not entirely true. What creates the visually bigger space is the use of one unified colour for the entire room. In that respect, you can freely use darker shades such as deep green, blue or burgundy; the point is to choose one shade that feels most pleasant to you personally. Whether it’s dark or not doesn’t have any merit at all.
Now, this myth definitely doesn’t make sense. If you can have furniture of different styles you better believe that you can feature decorative bits and bobs as well as artwork of different style, too. The only thing that you need to remember here is that the décor you want to use makes you feel happy. And you can still find a way to match them in your own creative way. That said, if you like how the dark forest print looks next to the marble geometric art piece, go for it! And if you like how the marble tray pairs against a wicker plant pot, feel free to arrange them that way. This is definitely an aspect of your home where the only one to set the rules should be you.
The separation between the outdoors and indoors has been clearly made, but you don’t really have to honour that separation for absolutely every single décor element. For instance, climbing plants can look especially charming and whimsical in any interior – they are not reserved for your yard only. Furthermore, you can always use timber cladding for your interior design if your goal is to create a warmer, cosier, and more cabin-like personal environment. Also, if it matches your decorating style, feel free to play with wicker for your indoor furniture as well, and maybe even stone structures such as tall statues for a striking focal point. In the end, your home is your canvas.
Using metal finishes for your hardware and other surfaces is really popular, especially since you can choose between different kinds of metal as well as mat and glossy coating. In general, gold and copper are warm tones while silver and nickel are considered to be cool tones. And, as you probably already know, the myth states that you should never mix these metals together. Well, if you want to add more dimension and glamour to your personal space, you can do exactly that!
A very common decorating myth states that you should always place your art pieces high up. It’s said that your other decorative elements such as flower vases and similar should never obscure your art. Well, the truth is that this can look rather awkward and impersonal. Feel free to move that art down. It should be at least at your eye level. Also, there’s nothing wrong with other decorative elements covering a corner of your artwork. This can actually look a lot more endearing and personal compared to keeping everything at a safe distance.
It’s really strange that this particular decorating myth has gained so much momentum. In reality, you don’t have to obsess with odd numbers or any numbers for that matter. When it comes to scattering cushions and other decorative elements that you want to group, use as many as you want. It really doesn’t matter whether there are 2, 9 or 20 of them; if you find the number satisfactory, there’s nothing else to think about.
You’re decorating your own home and, in that respect, the only rules that you should be following are your own. Obviously, it’s important to know what you want to achieve both looks- and functionality-wise, but that doesn’t mean that you need to let old decorating myths limit your creativity.
Guest post: Kevin Jefferson
Classic Hacks to Add Style to Your Living Space
Creating the perfect living space means finding the right balance between functionality, comfort, and style. However, this task often seems difficult to achieve when decorating our living spaces on a budget. No matter how much money we spend on decent furniture, we often neglect the slightest details that make all the difference in the room.
With the right tips and tricks, you can transform your home into a comfortable oasis. Not to mention, add style to your living space.
Modernize With Art
Using contemporary and modern art is what makes any interior space feel rooted in today, no matter the time period of the piece. Instead of looking for art pieces that “match” the interiors, choose photographs and pictures that complement the colors of the rooms. You can even add a bit of humor into your home with modern animal portraits. But that doesn’t mean you have to use that 90s horse poster you once had. Instead, opt for modern prints or your own family pet’s portrait.
Indulge with Scents
Candles help set the tone of the living space as they bring intimacy and relaxation, depending on where you place them. However, there are some fragrances that just won’t enhance certain rooms. A kitchen that smells like lavender and linen or a bathroom that smells like pumpkin spice or cinnamon might seem a little out of place, for instance.
If you have a candle scent you love but find that it’s too overpowering for a small setting, you might consider using it in your living room instead. Select wood wick candles with a fruity scent like lime and coconut or even linen and beach fragrances will do wonders to making your living room feel classic and spacious.
Display in 3s
Keep the space well balanced in style by arranging décor in threes. Displaying a trio looks visually appealing and balanced, especially when heights, sizes, and materials are combined. You can start by testing a small table or corner and then apply the concept to various areas of the living space. Incorporate a marble tray with eccentric pieces like a vase and miniature plant to complete the look. Just make sure not to overdo it. Otherwise, the effect will look sloppy.
Find the Perfect Coffee Table
Coffee tables come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and more. However, having such a great variety to choose from comes with its share of challenges. The best way to choose your coffee table is to start with the angles. If you have a sectional sofa, opt for a uniquely shaped table. You can even choose a coffee table in sets of threes to move them around where and when you need them.
Do you find your living room too overcrowded? It’s a good idea to eliminate any extra visual clutter from the room. Choose pieces with open bases or glasses surfaces.
Incorporate Low-Fuss Houseplants
Houseplants are a well-loved staple item in many interior designs. The only problem is, they can be hard to keep alive. You can include ivy plants into your home as a classic staple or choose a versatile aloe plant. Both of which are easy to maintain with a bit of care.
Play with different size plants and designs. You can combine big plants near large pieces of furniture while small plants can be mixed within tables and empty corners. Make sure to provide them with enough light and nutrients to survive the indoor environment.
Amp Up Neutrals with Pops of Color
The first impression you create about your home should not be overlooked, even if you live in a small space. For a versatile color that compliments neutrals, marble tiles are your best bet. Try layering every tile of it into your neutral wall for an exciting new look. Consider pairing gold and a metallic shade for a sharp and stylish upgrade to the living room.
Learn the Art of Layering
If you want to make your living room look like it came out of a magazine, layering is the way to go. Start small and add more layers as you get comfortable with the layout of the space. This could be pillows on the sofa or throw pillows on the floor. Experiment with different colors, textures, and materials until you’re satisfied with the results.
Display Your Hobbies
Nothing makes your home more personalized than showing details about “you.” Display objects or crafts that you love doing. Incorporate old creators or equipment into your décor. This will ensure an interesting display, creating the perfect opportunity for discussion and even quality time with your loved ones who share the same interests.
Provide Invisible Storage
A discreet, yet well-designed storage space is a must-have in all homes. But, how often do we consider the tiny objects that make the room look more cluttered than it really is? Use an ottoman to store magazines, a decorative glass jar for pens, and a tray for bills and mail. Once you tuck these items away to an invisible place, your living room will look more organized and comfortable.
Keep Baskets Ready
Baskets are great storage options to fill with clutter if you plan to carry from room to room or before unexpected guests arrive. Not to mention, they look much more expensive than they actually are. Place a few of them around the home in less-than-hidden spots to make them feel part of the interior décor.
You can choose different shapes and sizes, but they should all be uniform in texture, material, and color. Otherwise, the room will look too busy. However, complementary materials will make the design totally unique in a neutral area.
Lastly, the easy hack for your home is to make your living space about who you are and what you enjoy. Make it a room you are eager to spend time in and enjoy with your loved ones. After all, the living room is a community space to share with the family.
Designing a home that looks glamorous and expensive doesn’t necessarily mean swapping all your furniture for state-of-the-art pieces. On the contrary, all it takes is learning how to work with what you have and adding some luxe elements in order to create a glamorous vibe. Here, we’re laying out six essential tips to help you revamp your living space and make it look more luxurious.
Before you start with redesigning your home, you need to get rid of all the things that create clutter. Be it old clothing, broken accessories, and that dress you bought one size smaller as a way of motivating yourself to lose weight – they all need to go. Whether you choose to donate your things or sell them online is up to you. Decluttering plays a major role in creating spaces that are sophisticated and chic, where the accent is on simplicity and scarcity of displayed items. Try using the now popular KonMari method of decluttering, if you haven’t already – it’ll free up so much space in your home, allowing you to proudly display those things that truly bring joy to your life.
There is something about marble that just makes people lose their marbles – its sleek design and elegant splashes of colors can elevate the look of any room and make it feel classy and refined. No wonder so many homeowners are deciding to include the marble trend into their homes, one way or another. Some go bold and include marble pattern on larger surfaces such as countertops and desks, while others decide to go for something subtler. If you fall into the latter category, there are several ways you can incorporate marble into your living space without going over the top. Stationery like notebooks and stickers are a great way to make your office desk look chic while incorporating marble wall art in your living room will give it a luxurious flair.
Just like metallics, mirrors are a great way to add a luxe flair to your space and enhance the visual interest of the room. Mirrors are a rather inexpensive way to give your room a grander feel and they’re one of the tricks interior designers use to create an illusion of spaciousness. Mirrors play with our perception, and when placed strategically, they can have a significant impact on how the room looks. They’re a quintessential tool in decorating luxurious spaces and are often used in smaller homes to make them appear larger. Go for oversized wall mirrors to add a glamorous, jewel-box effect to your living room and opt for the large, ornate wall mirror above your bed to add some bling to your bedroom, too.
What colors you choose for your living space largely depends on the emotion you want to convey. Because neutrals are such calming colors, many homeowners decide to paint their walls in white, beige or gray. All these colors infuse the space with serenity and bring an aura of sophistication, and they look especially good when paired with metallics. Some classic color and metal combinations you can use for creating luxurious spaces are gray and platinum, black and white with copper accents, and blush pink combined with golden tones. Gold is especially useful for adding glamour to an otherwise plain space – just by adding a silk or satin throw pillow, a lamp and some candle holders in golden hues, you can make your home look sophisticated and refined.
If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to make your home look stylish and modern, consider replacing your old tapware. Leaking faucets and worn and torn shower heads are an indicator of neglect, and they can make your home look dated and unkempt. Consider giving your tapware a makeover – switch your old taps for something new and modern. Taps with a rounded design and a stylish brushed gold finish are always an excellent choice while opting for square chrome shower heads can really give your bathroom a luxurious vibe. Give your sinks and showers a whole new look by opting for Phoenix tapware – choose from a wide range of premium quality tapware and choose the model, color, and style that best fits your interior design style.
Textures play an important role in designing spaces that are visually appealing, and they’re a great way to bring an extra dimension to your decor. Introducing a variety of textures is the time-old trick that professional stylists use to create balance and harmony into any room, regardless of its design style. Apply this trick by varying the materials in your living space – a couple of faux fur throw pillows and a sheepskin rug will soften the materials such as stone and leather. The same effect is achieved by adding luxurious, velvet curtains and a placing a soft, knit blanket over the sofa. Incorporating a variety of textures will add character to your living space and make it feel cozy and inviting.
Turning your home into a stylish oasis is easy – use these six tips to revamp your home and give it a luxe flair.
Guest post by:
We all want the best for our homes. After all, it's where your whole family creates memories together, and where you can find comfort and peace from life outside the four corners of your home. Every once in a while, an interior idea pops into mind to bring more life to our abodes and turn it as our dream spaces.
Not to mention those fixer-upper shows that inspire you to get moving and bring new interior changes to your home!
Decorating can be expensive, but thanks to the concept of DIY, you don't need to break the piggy bank to spruce up your home. With a little handicraft and creativity skills, you can achieve the look and vibes you want for your home. We've gathered these 8 easy DIY home projects for your home project inspiration:
Inspiration from Ugly Duckling House
These wooden couch sleeves are the perfect substitute for end tables if you don't have space left. They're also not fixed, so whenever you're not going to use them, you can easily slide them off and set aside.
Inspiration from Delia Creates
This DIY coffee table project won't need many materials, and it's easy to make. But don't let the simplicity fool you. This coffee table would surely add a homey vibe to your living room!
Inspiration from Tasty
Got plenty of kitchenware but don't want to install those bulky cabinets for storage? Try installing this kitchen tool pegboard instead!
Inspiration from Tasty
No space left in your pantry shelves for some of your pantry items? Try this genius DIY pullover pantry! No more hassle with the puzzle of what fits where.
Inspiration from Shutterfly
Lessen the space your closet takes with a DIY hanging closet. You can easily see how many items of clothing you have, even plan out what you'll wear for the day while lying on bed. It's also a plus point for interior design too.
You can also pin some thumb tacks or push pins for your jewelry and other accessories!
Don't throw that broken or out-of-tune guitar yet! The body of the guitar could be a great makeshift shelf for your or your kid/s' small bedroom items.
Inspiration from Craftsman Drive
If you have a window pane on your storage, probably after a renovation was done at your home, you can repurpose that extra window as a medicine/toiletry cabinet for your bathroom.
Inspiration from Buzzfeed Nifty
Have that quaint, quiet spot on your backyard for admiring your garden or getting some fresh air with this cheap DIY bench!
This is a Guest Post
Marie has always been one to spend hours tinkering her home. By making easy, DIY changes here and there, she aims to make the home a perfect place to relax, to spend time with her family, and to create lasting memories. She blogs at Home Awakening hoping to inspire others to do the same.
by Sarah Jessica Smith
The living room has always been the center of anybody's home. It deserves its name for sure, as it's the place where we spend most of our lives when we're not at work or outside. It's the room where the family gathers, relaxes and have fun. It is also the room where we entertain our guests, too. So, it's safe to say that it's usually the room to which we pay most attention to when it comes to decoration and renovation. Create your own stylish and unique living room by following these tips:
You need a spot in your living room where most guests will look at the moment they walk into the room. It needs to be different than other areas of the room, with eye-catching features or items. It's possible you already have a focal point in the room - it can be a fireplace or mantle. In case you don't, create it yourself. You can use an oversized mirror, a large and appealing painting or even a piano. Once you have the focal point, it will be easier to decorate the rest of the room around it, according to its vibe, colors, and style. That way, everything will contribute to the impression of a cohesive, comfortable space.
You probably already know how different colors affect our mood in different ways, so be very careful when it comes to the choice of colors. You can choose to go all monochromatic or opt for three colors max. In case you want only two colors to be dominant in the room, think of complementary colors combination. Whichever combination you choose, the goal is the same - to produce a seamless effect of colors that give out the vibe you want and create the mood you're aiming at. When you move on to choosing the furniture and decorative items, always keep in mind the color palette you opted for.
Living room walls and ceiling get a lot of attention for a good reason - they represent the frames that form the most important room in a home. Therefore, you should spend some quality time planning their decoration. The thing with them is that they sometimes need significant renovation. However, it doesn't have to be a nuisance - as it's stated by Precision Planning company, decoration professionals aim to turn your renovation vision into reality as quickly as possible. There are many professionals out there who can help you to achieve your go in having a great home.
So, you can let your imagination go wild when it comes to wall coverings and treatments. The point is to express your personality and style of the room here. The great thing about walls is that there are so many materials and options to be used here. You can choose to go chic through wallpapers that are now popular more than ever. You can achieve elegant, ever-lasting modern look through marble or granite tiles used to form any shape you want on the wall. Just make sure you avoid usual mistakes when cleaning marble. In short, take your time and explore your options with the walls - you can follow current trends or you can opt for a classic look.
Choosing the right lighting can be quite a challenge. However, the hard work will definitely pay off. The best is to go with different sources of lighting, meaning you should include overhead lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. That way, you will have all the aspects covered - lighting up the whole room, reading a book in the corner, having a romantic evening, highlighting beautiful items. The next step is to find the light sources that fit into the style of the room and even add to its aesthetics.
Floor covering can be a statement on is own. make sure your choice is also comfortable for your feet, as you need to be completely relaxed in your living room. You can get a wall-to-wall carpet in a vibrant color or a neutral hardwood floor that gives out warmth and comfort. You can also consider more unexpected options, like stone tiles or ceramic tiles that create an interesting effect.
Creating a perfect, stylish living room that reflects your personality and can also amaze your visitors will probably take some time. Decorating it to fit your vision completely is an adventure that you should enjoy every step of the way. Pay attention to every detail and don't rush the process. Only then will you eventually manage to get your dream living room.
Guest Blogger
Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.
You don’t have to be a professional designer in order to make your bedroom look like one from the interior design magazines. All it takes is some knowledge, patience, time, and effort. So, to help you bring your bedroom to the next level, here are seven things you should know.
For starters, you should come up with a theme for your bedroom. It can be a time period, location, or simply a design that you like. Once you come up with the theme, you should choose the larger items according to it – your bed, lighting fixtures, rugs, etc. Other, smaller accessories can stray a bit from the main theme, or they can simply be neutral.
Moreover, to make the bedroom more elegant, you should try to find the balance between the design elements. That means that your main color should cover about 60% of your bedroom, second color 30%, and the remaining percent should include accent colors. The same goes for patterns and prints – you can mix them as much as you want, but there should be one primary print or pattern.
Marble has become quite popular this year; you can find marble bracelets, iPhone cases, purses, and even bow ties. It has become a symbol of elegance, class, and luxury, so why not add it to your bedroom as well? For example, you can hang some stunning marble artwork on the walls, or you can introduce a marble nightstand or a simple marble wireless charging pad that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
No matter which marble piece you choose, though, you can rest assured that it would instantly transform your entire bedroom.
If you want your bedroom to truly be elegant, make sure your lights are not too strong. You should have more than one lighting source, and you should know how to layer the sources correctly. It would allow you to set the brightness of the lights depending on your mood or occasion. As for the fixtures, you should think about getting a luxurious chandelier, a few sconces, and maybe a couple of lamps for some late-night reading. Moreover, the fixtures can also help you spice up your bedroom – there are many abstract, unusual, and shiny lighting fixtures that would fit any style. Also, you should let in as much natural light as possible during the day.
It’s safe to say that the bed is the most important element in the room. No matter whether it is big, small, cheap or expensive – it can serve as a great focal point. All it needs is an eye-catching headboard. So, choose a headboard with an unusual shape or some other notable feature, but make sure it fits the overall theme of your bedroom. Moreover, to make your bed truly draw attention, there shouldn’t be any clutter. The accessories you have should all be complementing your bed, like minimalistic photos or mirrors that match the color palette.
If your bedroom happens to be a bit larger, and you have some unused space near the window, think about adding a comfy chair, a small table, and perhaps you could also introduce one of those beautiful Turkish rugs that can increase the comfort level of the entire room. Besides boosting the visual appeal of your room, such a setup could be very practical as well. It could serve as your reading nook, a place for your morning coffee, or a small workstation for those late-night work projects.
Night tables are a pretty important part of every bedroom. However, most of them tend to become a bit cluttered with all the little things we leave next to our bed. So, before you do anything with your nightstand, you should first declutter it. Get rid of anything you don’t need, and try to change the habit of leaving things on it – you don’t need anything except a glass of water, lamp, your favorite book, and maybe a scented candle or a vase with some flowers. Next, think about replacing the hardware on the table – crystal or brass can be a great option for a luxurious bedroom.
Last but not least, one of the best ways to upgrade the visual appeal of your bedroom is by introducing more greenery. Besides the fact that plants can purify the air inside, they can also help you emphasize the accent colors. No matter whether you choose a large fern to place in the corner or small potted flowers you can arrange on your shelves, adding a few plants can greatly boost the appearance of any room.
Your bedroom is not only the room in which you sleep but also a part of your home, and being so, it reflects your sense of style just as much as any other room. So, consider the listed tips, and your time spent in this room will be more enjoyable than ever before.
For more on interior design guides.
Guest Writer
Chloe is a graduated journalist from Adelaide and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Besides all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time.
When we first created the minimalist marble wallet, we knew there would be several concerns about the functionality, weight, and fragility.
This is why we would like to go into further details and address these common concerns.
Minimalist wallets are built to keep just the important cards and some cash so it's convenient for you to just take it and go.
Compared to bulky wallets in your back pocket, your lower back will thank you for using minimalist wallets.
The lumpy wallet that you sit on is actually a huge long-term health problem for your back! The minimalist wallets are slim, so it won't affect your back when you put it in the back pocket and sit on them. Plus, most people keep it in the front pocket anyway.
The cutouts designed by the MIKOL team is not just for aesthetic appeal, but also functionality. Either end of the cutout allows users to easily push up the credit card and pull out the one they desire. Becuase of the elastic band, you can easily flip through which card you would like to use. That band also allows you to slip in some cash that you may need to use.
This was a major issue when we first started the company. People had this notion that marble must be heavy, or that we weren't using real marble. Of course, overtime through proper education and customers experiencing our products were they able to realize what technology could bring to the world.
For those of you who are not aware of our ultra-thin marble processing technology, the marble we produce is as thin as a credit card.
The natural marble and granite pieces we produce are roughly 1mm thick. Traditional marble and granite slabs that most people are accustomed to are 20mm thick. That is why marble traditional is very heavy. Most people have seen thin metal or steel sheets, so they know it can be light. But, it's the same concept. If you increase the thickness of the metal or steel 20x, that piece will become heavy as well.
This was definitely a major concern as well. However, because the first item we introduced were marble iPhone cases, they had a PU protector. Therefore, it seemed to have eased most people's concerns. The marble notebook journals, naturally thought it wouldn't be dropped as much.
A bigger challenge came with the touch marble business cards that were really a hit for us.
What we found out, was that these were giveaway products, so again, it was a concern but people were able to overcome them more easily. And after using our products, they learned how durable it was.
Minimalist wallets made out of real marble is the biggest obstacle in education for us.
Wallets are handled all the time. They tend to be dropped, tossed around, and comes with a lot of wear and tear.
The good thing about our minimalist wallets is that it's made out of real marble. So it won't wear out over time such as traditional leather wallets. The color becomes darker and more beautiful as you use it since the marble soaks up the oils in your hands everytime it's used.
Now! The ultimate question is will this marble wallet break or shatters when it is dropped! Instead of describing it to you with our own words, we decided to make a quick clip and demonstrate it!
Please comment and let us know what you think. Or if you have any other concerns that we can help answer.
The art of minimalism dates back centuries. With our cluttered, sensory-overloaded modern world, it’s no wonder minimalism is finding a resurgence. There are several reasons it’s a fantastic way of life to embrace. Less in your closet or on your desk brings a natural state of peace to your environment. It’s easier to think in a place that has less clutter, the same way it’s easier to concentrate in a quiet setting than a loud rock concert.
Think of the stuff around you as noise. The less you surround yourself with unnecessary knick-knacks, the less “noise” exists in your space. Minimalism also makes finding things more manageable and cleaning your desk or home a breeze. There are several ways to incorporate minimalism into your style.
Clear House Clear Thoughts
A clean home and desk allow for clearer thinking. Have you noticed how much better you feel after thoroughly cleaning a room? The practice of minimalism in your house or workspace not only clears out metaphorical baggage to allow in new ideas, but it also lets the pieces of décor you genuinely love shine. When your home is cluttered, even the most beautiful artwork can get lost in a mess. Remove the unnecessary and watch how your favorite artwork radiates more beautifully on your walls.
Charging wires also seem to be everywhere with the mass of technology around us. So, why not invest in charging devices that both declutter and look amazing on their own? Finding small ways to beautify what is typically considered an eyesore is a crucial component of minimalism.
Timeless Style with Minimalist Fashion
The same goes for your sense of fashion. When you overdo your style with too much makeup, jewelry, or an excess of accessories, it’s hard to focus on one piece or one part of your look. However, if you select a few statement items such as well-tailored clothes and a classic bracelet, it lends your appearance a more elegant vibe. You’re also more likely to get compliments on those hand-selected accessories when your outfit has less clutter. The people with the classiest looks historically styled their appearance around clean lines, high-quality threads, and a couple of superb pieces of jewelry and accessories.
How to Start Adding Minimalism to Your Style
Don’t know where to start? As minimalist lifestyle expert Marie Kondo outlines, there are some fundamental ways to start tidying up your life. First, take your time. It might take months to declutter your life thoroughly. Set aside a chunk of time each week, put on soothing music and get in a donating frame of mind. As you move through each room or closet, pay attention to how much joy every item you touch brings you.
Whether it’s clothing, jewelry, or an item on a shelf think about three factors:
· Have you used it in the last five or six months, or will you use it in the very near future?
· Is it a nostalgic item that has sentimental value?
· Does it bring you great joy when you look at it, wear it, or pick it up?
If you can say no to all three, get rid of it. Getting rid of stuff can be a great way to make a little side money if you decide to sell your unwanted items. Alternatively, give them to charity. You’ll feel good about donating everyday clothes, a suit that doesn’t quite fit anymore, or a lamp you don’t love, but someone else can’t afford. With each week, go through another area of your home, closets, or office. Within a month or so, you’ll feel the freeing sensation of minimalism. When you decide to invest in something new, you’ll likely realize you will have a more conscious sense of your ideal style.
Guest Post: Jane Sandwood
