Category Archives: Home Decor

Feb10

Elegance Meets Minimalism – Scandinavian Inspired Interior Design

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Elegance Meets Minimalism – Scandinavian Inspired Interior Design

Hi everyone and TGIF! Today, I have a special guest post written by the queen of home decor, Chloe, for all of us. Miss Chloe has been featured on lifewithlilred quite a few times before so let’s give her a warm welcome back and get to it:

Elegance Meets Minimalism – Scandinavian Inspired Interior Design

What better way to introduce some chic minimalism into your own home than taking inspiration from Scandinavian interior design trends? An elegant, clutter-free yet unique and cozy home can be easily achieved with some tweaks here and there. It’s important that you adopt a minimalist way of thinking, so that the Scandi style can truly enrich your personal environment. If you’re not sure how to go about these intricate design changes, keep on reading:

1. White As Snow

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Love that chair!

Clean white walls and floors are one of the main features of minimalist Scandinavian style. The brightness and pureness of white perfectly resembles Scandinavian’s cool and chic atmosphere. What’s more, white makes any space look visually bigger, which creates a perfect canvas for your furniture and pieces of room decor.

Of course, you can introduce other colors through accessories, but make sure that they too fuse the natural vibe of Scandinavian style into a livable space.

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 Coolness in the kitchen

2. Sleek Lighting

You have several options when it comes to proper lighting solutions that will only accentuate the elegance of your interior. You can opt for statement chandeliers with sleek lines yet bold forms. On the other hand, you can also play with several ceiling lamps in smaller sizes that can change the look of your room depending on their position. When it comes to Scandinavian-inspired interior design, it’s essential that you make the most out of natural sunlight. But, since artificial light is still a must, try to opt for bright white bulbs that don’t put strain on the eyes.

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Tres Chic

3. Go Easy On Decor

The minimalist approach suggests a complete absence of clutter. Still, this doesn’t mean that your home should look plain or lack personality. In order to add a touch of elegance, go for contemporary modern details such as metallic frames, fruit bowls, plant pots, and candles. Of course, you can add your own twist to these accessories and play with more white, or opt for matching wooden frames, bowls, pots, and furniture.

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Minimalist with a twist

Since Scandi style is all about natural minimalism, you can also introduce stone as one of the accent materials for your accessories. When it comes to wall decor, it’s recommended that you keep things as simple as possible. Some people enjoy leaving their walls completely bare, but you can also add some extra texture and warmth with inspiring pieces of art that match the overall theme. The best way to tone down the coolness of such an environment is definitely the use of rugs and cushions, and these can act as a perfect pop of color. Still, make sure that the hues are not too bold and vibrant.

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Accessorize those walls

4. Functional Furniture & Layout

The elegance and minimalism of Scandinavian style are not only for the show. As you invest your time in redesigning your home, you should keep in mind both the form and functionality of your furniture. Depending on the room’s size, you can efficiently choose the pieces of furniture that you get a lot of use from.

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Sharp lines and neutral hues

Clean lines yet bold forms make for a perfect combo when it comes to fusing elegance and minimalism, since the furniture will act as an accessory on its own without losing its functionality. You shouldn’t sacrifice your comfort – quite the opposite. Therefore, it’s recommended that you rearrange your sofas, chairs, tables, and other odds and ends so that you have complete freedom of movement. Of course, you don’t have to stick with an ordinary layout. As long as you feel cozy, you can play with different positions until you find the most artistic yet pleasant arrangement.

5. Don’t Overlook Anything

True elegance means perfect harmony. In that respect, you shouldn’t neglect any area of your home. Usually, people put most of their efforts into the decor and design of their kitchen, living room, and bedroom, yet lose the interest when it comes to hallways and bathrooms. This is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make if you really value a minimal approach and Scandinavian-inspired style.

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TEDDY!!

Hallways can be transformed into cozy entrance areas with the help of greenery and warm rugs. On the other hand, perfect designer bathrooms can be achieved with white tiles, minimalist product arrangement, and some plants. A big sleek mirror would look great in both small and big bathrooms, as well. If you plan to invest more of your time and money in this intimate area of your home, stand-alone tubs will make a great final touch to your elegantly minimal design.

Before you start any major work, make sure to get rid of the clutter first. Go through everything you own and assess just how often you use or wear something. Do you enjoy all of your accessories and do they all really make an important part of your decor? Once the unnecessary things are out of the way, you’ll find it a lot easier to introduce Scandinavian design style fused with your individuality.

^^^ Thank you so much to Chloe for teaching us all about the minimalist chic Scandinavian home decor style! It’s always a pleasure to have you on lifewithlilred. Is your home decor style minimalist or eclectic? Do you prefer neutral hues or bold and bright colors? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Feb3

Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

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Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

If your kitchen hasn’t been looking its best for a while, now is the perfect time to do something about it. You can combine your spring cleaning with a kitchen renovation project that will make you happy, add value to your home, and ensure that the most important room in the house is looking its best. Whether you are looking to revamp your kitchen yourself or call in the professionals, here are some easy ways that you can update your kitchen:

Refresh Your Flooring: We sometimes neglect our kitchen floor for the simple fact that it is not in our eyeline as much as the cabinets, walls, etc. However, since the floor spans the whole of the kitchen, it is important that it always looks its best. Paying for a professional slate floor restoration or to have your wooden floor polished, for example, may seem like an unnecessary expense, but is something that you should aim to do each year or, at the very least, when your kitchen starts to look drab, because it can add a whole new lease of life to the room without you having to do much else.

Paint Your Cabinets: If you’re bored of your current kitchen cabinets, you need nothing more than some sandpaper, a block of wood, and a can of paint to put things right. Sand down your current cabinets before applying a lick of paint in the color of your choice for a quick kitchen update that won’t cost you very much at all.

Of course, if you are planning on completely renovating your kitchen piece by piece, the cabinets are the best place to start once you have saved and are ready to begin work. The improvement will be immediate and it will give your kitchen a brand new appearance. Look for reputable vendors for your cabinetry like Lovech. The last thing you want is splintering or stuck cabinet doors after you just replaced them!

Get a Handle on It: Updating your kitchen can be as simple as switching out your tired old cabinet handles for shiny new ones. There has never been more choice in the door handle department than there is at this moment, so whether you’re looking for traditional brass handles or something a bit more glam, your local hardware store should have you covered.

Add New Accessories: If your old tablecloth, curtains, and serving tray are looking worn, either upcycling them so that they look fresh and new again, or purchasing new alternatives will give your kitchen a real boost, and it won’t break the bank either.

Reclaim: The rustic look works well in the kitchen, which is why it might be worth keeping a look out for any old and abandoned stuff that might look like a good addition to the area. Old copper pots, wooden beams, and ancient barn doors will all add a unique touch to your kitchen for very little money. Reclaimed wood can also be used to build new shelving units, spice racks, tealight holders, and a myriad of other things that will compliment your kitchen. So, if you’re a keen crafter, this is one possibility for updating your kitchen. If crafting is not your thing but you love the rustic vibe, you might want to consider calling in the pros. From simple to in depth styling options, they will be able to help. Just enter a search for “Kitchen remodeler in Scottsdale, AZ” (or your local area) to achieve your design dreams.

Refresh Your Furniture: Another thing that you can do is refresh your kitchen furniture. Sand and re-varnish your table and chairs or paint them a brand new color for a big change. Or you can reupholster your chairs and even turn your dining table into a work of art using mosaic tiles – the choice is yours.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Jan31

Stamp Your Personality On Your Home With These Quick Fixes

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Stamp Your Personality On Your Home With These Quick Fixes

Homeowners are keen to turn a new house into their family home pretty much as soon as they move in. Even though they can be excited to start redesigning a new property, life can often get in the way and ends up slowing down this whole makeover. But don’t worry if you start to lose time to fix up your new house – there is plenty that you can do to stamp your own personality into a house no matter how long you have been living in it! Here are some super easy and quick fixes that can help you personalize your own home:

Use Plenty of Color: Homes in which the predominant colors are whites and creams are often regarded as quite austere and sterile. That is certainly not what you want to aim for if you want a home that pops with your personality! So be sure to use plenty of color in your rooms. You can go bold and paint your walls with bright colors. Sound a bit too intense for your tastes? Instead, opt for neutral shades on your walls but add bright accessories for bursts of color. You’ll find lots of colorful accessories by looking at sites like the Versace Home decor and furniture website.

Share Your Memories: No one will have the exact same memories as you do, so one great way to splash your personality all over your home is to share all your memories. There are various ways you can do this. For example, you could hang photos from all of your adventures abroad in your living room. You might even like the idea of collecting all your trinkets and souvenirs from around the world together and showcasing them in a display cabinet. Displaying family photos is also a great way to show off your fantastic memories, especially if your kids are no longer babies. Nothing beats cute baby pics!

Show Off Your Hobbies: No matter what your hobby may be, there will certainly be ways of incorporating it into your interior design. For example, if you have an artistic side, you might like to create your own artworks to hang on your walls. If you love watching the birds in your garden, you could think about taking some photographs to hang on your walls. Love sports? Then why not buy some decorative sports equipment to display in your home. For instance, a vintage tennis racquet or a cricket bat will look very stylish propped up in your hall with smart lighting around it.

Get Your Kids To Help: I’m sure your kids will love having their pictures and drawings stuck onto the doors of your fridge. But why not spread them out around the house? You can frame the best ones and display them in your living and dining rooms. There are also some companies who will take a drawing that your child has done and print it onto a cushion cover. That will be a super cute touch to any living room!

Make boring and blah a thing of the past and add a touch of fun into your home with these tips.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan26

Feel The Rainbow: The Importance Of Color In The Home

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Feel The Rainbow: The Importance Of Color In The Home

Decorating the home is an exciting time. You get to turn a new leaf on the parts of the home that you don’t like. And, with the bits you do like, you can refresh them and make them look new again. But, despite most people’s love for beautiful rooms, most struggle to find colors that suit their space and style. This means that loads of people end up with rooms that they don’t like, even after redecorating. So, to help you out, this post will be going through the importance of color in the home and how you should go about choosing them.

Room Size: Color can have a great impact on a room. It can change the feel, mood, and even the size of a room. And, size is something that you have to consider. Some rooms feel far too big, even when they’re filled with furniture. Whereas, some rooms feel tiny, with no room at all. This needs to be a consideration. Different colors can have different effects on how we perceive the size of a room. For example, a small room would benefit from lighter colors, which make it feel more open. But, huge rooms are better with darker shades, to make them feel a little cozier. Of course, you’re not actually changing the size of the room. Color can just have the effect of doing so. Dark colors absorb more light than lighter ones, which reflect it. This makes a room darker, making it feel smaller. When a room is lighter, it feels more open and large.

Boring, Interesting, or Ugly! Once you’ve figured out the shade you’d like for your room, you have to figure out a balance. It’s easy to have too little color in a room, making it look boring. Likewise, you can also have too much going on, making the room look ugly. But, you want the house to be interesting – somewhere right in the middle. Doing this can be hard. So, it’s usually best to get the help of a professional. Having a painter give you their opinion on the room ideas you have is a great way to start. They see loads of rooms and they know what looks good. They will also be able to help you to complete the job. And, using a professional for painting will almost always have a better result.

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Ladders are scary! :((

Choosing Well: Choosing the colors for your home is completely down to you but rooms shouldn’t have more than one vibrant color as a rule of thumb. Neutral colors can be played with a little more. But, it’s usually best to be conservative with what you choose. Use guides online to choose colors that fit with moods. For example, if you wanted a relaxing room, you could choose yellow as the main color. This sort of method will always see that you choose something that you love.

Hopefully, this will inspire you to start making changes when it comes to the decor in your home. It can be hard to make decisions like this. It takes a lot of work, and you have to be confident in your choices before you start the job. But, once it’s all done, you’ll feel much happier in your home!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan25

Wait! Try These Tricks Before Throwing Out Tired Furniture

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Wait! Try These Tricks Before Throwing Out Tired Furniture

Furniture can only last so long before it starts to look a little tired. Your immediate thought might be that you need to get rid of a piece of furniture that’s going downhill. However, if it’s something that you love, you don’t need to say goodbye to it just yet. There are some easy things that you can do to rescue your furniture and avoid having to throw it out. Some things you can do yourself or you could get a professional to help you out. Before you throw out that sofa or cabinet, here’s what you could do to save it:

Start By Giving It a Clean: The first thing you should do with a tired piece of furniture is to clean it. You could be amazed by how much of a difference it makes. Furniture made from wood, metal, or plastic can be very easy to clean. You only need to dust or wipe it down, perhaps with some soapy water or special cleaning solution. But upholstered fabric can be a little trickier to get clean. Some pieces have removable covers that you can put in your washing machine. You might also want to consider an upholstery steam cleaner, which will make it easier to get the fabric clean.

Reupholster Fabric Furniture: Some upholstered furniture might still look rough after you clean it. Perhaps there are holes or tears in the fabric or it has just become very worn down. You don’t need to throw it out, though. You still have a chance to rescue it by reupholstering it. You can replace the fabric with something similar or give it a completely new look. This is a job you could attempt to do yourself. However, if you’re unsure about it, it’s just as easy to get a professional to do it for you. Get some quotes to make sure that you get the right price.

Repair Wood: Wooden furniture can end up with lots of little blemishes in its daily use. You might notice scratches, stains, or cracks in the varnish. There are some simple ways for you to fix these issues on your own. For example, you can repair scratches using moist coffee grounds by applying them for a few minutes and then wiping away. Oil and vinegar can help to remove stains, while sandpaper and nail polish can help you repair varnish. If you have bigger issues, such as loose joints, you could fix them yourself or have the furniture repaired by a professional.

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Pixabay Image

Paint or Varnish: A lick of paint is often a good way to give something a new lease on life. If your furniture is looking a bit dull, painting it could revive it. Just make sure that you use the right type of paint for the material. You could also choose to use varnish or a new stain on your wooden furniture if you want to refresh the surface. You could create an entirely new look or just give your furniture a subtle refresh.

See if you can save a piece of furniture before you decide to get rid of it. It could last for another few years!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan23

Normal House, One Of A Kind Home: How To Make Your Home Truly Unique

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Normal House, One Of A Kind Home: How To Make Your Home Truly Unique

Your home should be a reflection of who you are. The problem with houses, however, is that many of them can be pretty similar despite how unique all of us are. But what if you started thinking about your home differently? Sure, unless you want to get started on some serious renovation work, the basic shape of your home is going to stay the same, but that’s where your limitations end. In many ways, the only limit to what you can do with your home is how far your imagination can stretch. How willing are you to break away from tradition and try something really different? If that sounds like your kind of thing then here are a few simple but daring ways that you can make your home as unique as possible.

Rethink What “Lighting” Means: Far too many people take lighting for granted. It’s such a central and important element to your home that it doesn’t make sense to start messing around with it, right? Wrong! There are plenty of exciting and interesting ways to bring light into your home without having to stick with the same boring old ideas. Scrap the lamps and try using some LED tape to light your home. With LED tape you can light areas of your home that you might never have even considered such as along the stairs or inside your bookcases. Not only that, but often the tape itself is completely hidden so that no one would know that it was there until you suddenly filled the room with light.

Don’t Take the Obvious Layouts: A lot of the time you walk into a room and the obvious way to lay it out is right there in front of you. But hold on a second! Before you decide to do things the same way as everyone else, ask yourself if there isn’t a more interesting option. Look at the light sources in the room, think about the way it flows into other parts of the house, and ask yourself what would be the most enjoyable layout for you personally. You might find yourself going for something pretty unusual, but if it works for you, then that’s the most important thing. It’s your house after all!

Break the Rules: There are entire books written on the rules of interior design. We all have lists in our heads of things that we should and shouldn’t ever do. You know what the best thing to do with those rules is? Throw them out of the window! This is your home so if you want big, bold patterns, then go for it! Make your home as open and spacious or snug and cozy as you want. Don’t listen to anyone who tries to tell you what you can and can’t do in your own home. Once you break free of that idea, you’ll be able to turn your home into somewhere truly one of a kind.

Featured Image By: Wikipedia

Jan20

Be a Rebel: 7 Small Space Decor Rules That Are Worth Breaking

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Be a Rebel: 7 Small Space Decor Rules That Are Worth Breaking

Hiii everyone! This is a post from one of my darling friends, Chloe, who is an interior design queen. Thanks again, Chloe girl! 🙂

Be a Rebel: 7 Small Space Decor Rules That Are Worth Breaking

A famous American author Theresa Anne Fowler once wrote that “some rules are nothing but old habits that people are afraid to change”. And boy, was she right. People would rather obey conventional wisdoms than take the risk of creating something different. This is especially true when it comes to decorating small rooms, which are labelled as “difficult” to design. Still, is painting the walls white always a good way to decorate a tiny space? Of course not. There is no one universal solution that works for all small rooms. Here are some decorating rules that could benefit from a little rebellion.

Paint It White:

This must be the most boring interior design rule out there. Why must we paint a small room white? White does contribute to the illusion of spaciousness, but so does beige, sand, and other light neutrals. Or, if you prefer style over size, you can always go with bold deep shades.

Darker colors can be used to accentuate certain architectural features (e.g. built-in wall shelves) or simply to provoke visual interest. When painting a small room with darker hues, go with a glossy, instead of matte finish, because it can reflect light making the space appear bigger.

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Beige for days!

Keep the Knick-Knacks at a Minimum:

If you followed every conservative décor rule, you would leave your favorite vase, your travel souvenirs, and all of your lovable knick-knacks in the attic, since you wouldn’t display them in your small room. But, if you ignore the naysayers, you will fill your room with charming accessories which will turn an ordinary space into a home.

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Cool kitsch

Avoid Large Scale Patterns:

“Sure, you can use patterns in a small room, but only teeny-tiny polka dots.” Forget all about that and go with bold patterns. Go back to the ‘80s and revive the popular trend of flame stitch patterns or vivid floral motifs. Introduce patterns with wallpaper, upholstery, drapes, rugs, and accessories such as throw pillows, tablecloths, etc.

Stay Away from Large Furniture:

Your small room doesn’t have to look like a Barbie’s house. Small furniture in a small room can only hurt its functionality and comfort. Sometimes it is better to rely on your sense of design and decoration instead of sticking to some preset rules. One large bulky piece of furniture can make a room more inviting and open. If you are planning to include such a piece, opt for a sitting item, such as a sectional sofa.

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Tres chic

Heavy Drapes Are a Big No-No:

One of the most common misconceptions about interior design is that bare windows make a space look bigger. Bare windows might work in some cases, especially when the view is great, but not always. Contrary to the popular opinion, heavy drapes, especially when hung very close to the ceiling, can make the room look taller thus making it visually more spacious.

Compromise on Dining Area:

An open-space concept in a small apartment means that some things have to be left out. The most common choice is the dining table. It is more often than not reduced to a kitchen island with chairs or a foldable table in some corner. It doesn’t have to be like that. You don’t have to go with a full-blown 12-seat table, but you can downsize it to 4 seats. Then, you can still host your friends and family comfortably for dinner and drinks.

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Pexels Image

Go with Matchy-Matchy:

Introducing matching patterns and colors is one of the basic rules of interior design, and it is especially used in small spaces to avoid overwhelming them with too much stuff. Go against this rule and don’t coordinate colors and patterns, and you’ll get a fun and interesting result. However, be careful not to overdo it, this rule is here for a reason. Try to display colors and patterns in pairs (e.g. two striped cushions + two green candles).

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Pretty in pink

Stop sacrificing the personality of your small room just to create an illusion of a few extra square inches. When you go for a rebellious design approach – the sky is your limit.

^^^ Shout out to Chloe for such a fab post! -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan18

Kick Back And Relax: How To Create The Most Relaxing Living Room

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Kick Back And Relax: How To Create The Most Relaxing Living Room

After a long day at work, doing chores, or chasing after the kids, is there anything better than flopping down onto the couch to catch up on your favorite Netflix drama? Having a space that caters purely to relaxation is really important to your sense of well being. After a stressful day, it’s a must to be able to switch off and wind down, but you don’t need to overhaul your entire house or completely redecorate to achieve this. Just a few little changes and you’ve got yourself the perfect living room sanctuary:

Keep it Serene: When choosing your color palate for any room, it’s important to consider the mood you want to feel while you’re in that space. Pale blues, greens, yellows, and beige have the ability to help relax our minds. Try to keep bright colors out of the walls, furniture, and fabrics of any room in which you would like to relax – bright colors are great at energizing us and helping us to feel awake, which is basically the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve in your living room.

Harvest the Power of Fire: Fire can be really relaxing, warming, and comforting when used in a space correctly. Introducing a fireplace can be a great focal point for the room, but it also allows you to warm the room to your specifications and give off a great light and a touch of elegance. Electric fire installation is relatively straightforward, and they can bring a charming atmosphere into the room. With so many to choose from, make sure you check out this Fireplace Guide to find the best electric fire for your room. It can also be lovely to add large white pillar candles, which can give the room a spa-like feel, and add softness to the lighting in the evening.

Bring the Outdoors In: Never underestimate the power of indoor plants and flowers. The greenery purifies the air, adds color to the room without being abrasive, and looks really beautiful, too. Flowers help to make the room smell clean and lovely and can be very soothing visually as well.

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These pots are cool!

Rearrange The Space: Arranging Your Living Room for Optimal Comfort not only helps you feel more relaxed but also makes your space more functional. To start, place your couch close to a source of natural light like a large picture window. It will make the perfect spot to cozy up with a good book! Accent the room with plush accessories in tranquil hues like rugs, throws blankets and pillows. Place your favorite art and pictures where you can see them all the time. And don’t forget while you’re swapping your furniture around to replace harsh fluorescent bulbs with a softer glow.

As you are rearranging, you might want to add items of comfort. This could be favorite family photos, your coziest pair of slippers ready by the couch, or an aromatherapy diffuser on your coffee table for your living room. Beloved items can soothe and relax which can turn your living room into an even more tranquil place to be. Think of what you would like to see when you retire there to chill after work and put it in a spot that will always be in sight.

Keep it Clutter Free: Clutter in any room is not conducive to a sense of serenity. Rather, it does the opposite by bringing a sense of disorder and chaos to the brain which can make it difficult to relax. Keep out trinkets and photos that you love and which bring you happiness, but put everything else into storage. A few little ornaments have a much bigger impact visually than a lot of clutter and makes it much easier to clear your mind.

Let the Light In: Natural light is great for making us feel good, so hook back those curtains, pull up the blinds, and welcome the light in. Beautiful billowy curtains over large windows add a delightful sense of calm and look stunning to boot, but can also help to make a room feel more private if it’s overlooked. In the evenings, invest in a good dimmer switch so you can set the lighting to a comfortable level, and choose a nice reading lamp for when you need brighter light.

And there you have the perfect room for relaxation. So kick back, wind down, and enjoy the serenity. Ohmmmm.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan12

How Unique Can You Go? Tips For Making A Home Unlike Any You’ve Seen

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Who doesn’t want a home that’s different from anyone elses? In life, the more unique we can be, the better. There’s something satisfying in knowing that you’re the only person with that particular style. You’ll become the envy of your friends and will probably set a few trends of your own! The only question is, how do you achieve a look that’s different from anyone else? Being individual can be hard. We’re all trying to achieve the same goal, aren’t we? It makes sense that we’re all trying the same style ideas! We’ve got some ideas about how to achieve the most unique home you can imagine. Following these will ensure that you’re creating a home that no one’s ever seen before!

Build Your Own: We’re going to start this list with the most extreme suggestion. We’re aware building your home isn’t an option for many people. It is, however, the best way to get a home unlike any other. When designing your home, you have a say in every aspect of the house you’re living in. You can go as mad with your plan as you like. You could even employ the services of a company like http://www.structural-innovations.com, and get creative with the structure you put in place!  If you have money and time behind you, the world is your oyster! Or at least, your home is. If you’ve never considered building your home, research whether it could work for you.

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Wikimedia Image

Think Outside the Decor Box: If you’re not keen on embarking on such a massive project, there’s plenty of other things you can try! The easiest way to change your home is to focus on decoration. To achieve a look unlike any other, try not to let anyone’s decoration influence you. Sit down and plan the room from your mind only. Whatever choices you come up with, you can ensure they’ll be unique to you. Have fun with this. Tap into your creative well and use it to get your home looking great.

Get Creative With the Layout: While you’re getting daring with home design, why not try something different with the layout? There are certain layout norms that many of us follow for no real reason. Of course, some rooms, such as your kitchen or bathroom, can’t change around. Your other rooms are fair game, though. Why not swap your bedroom and living room? If it’s possible, it’s worth a go. People will look twice; that’s for sure!

Make Furniture: Making your home may not be practical, but making your furniture is a more achievable goal. If you’re not good at making things from scratch, repurpose things to fit into your home. Why not scrap the lights and have a lantern of old jars instead? Use watering cans as plant pots. You can even work solely with one material in making your own furniture, just like this discount Amish furniture; stuff like this is made entirely out of wood, which makes it incredibly durable. And the more restrictions you put on your making process, the more creative your ideas can get! Small touches like this will bring an individual style to any room. You could even reupholster old furniture. Learn how on sites like http://do-it-yourselfdesign.blogspot.com. You can choose any material you want to get the furniture you need!

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Pexels Image

Jan12

Keeping Up With Next Door: How You Can Give Your Home Ultimate Curb Appeal

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Keeping Up With Next Door: How You Can Give Your Home Ultimate Curb Appeal

Forget keeping up with the Kardashians or any other celebrity, it’s all about what is going on next door and on your street. I don’t mean nosing into other people’s business, but the habit of keeping up with next door when it comes to your home is starting to creep up. It’s not a bad thing either, when done with the best intentions. You see to keeping your property looking good on the exterior, and if everyone else follows suit, it makes your street look like the perfect place to live. So if anyone happens to be selling their home it will help them out to no end if the rest of the homes matched and looked the part. It could even increase the value somewhat. So whether you want to start a trend or feel like you are letting your street down, here are some tips on how you can get the ultimate curb appeal.

Take Care of the Lawn: A well-kept lawn can really add to your curb appeal, but equally, an unkempt lawn can have the opposite effect. It is so important to ensure that you cut those lawned areas every time you have the opportunity to do so otherwise, before you know it, your front garden can turn into a bit of a jungle. It’s also a good idea to give your lawn a bit of TLC. You could do this by trimming the edges to your flower beds if you have them or giving the grassed area a feed to add some vitality and life to the health and color of it.

Think About Your Garage Doors, Windows, and Front Door: Now you need to focus your attention on the front of your property and how it looks. Broken garage doors, unclean windows, and an unpleasing front door just won’t do. Thankfully, a garage door repair is an easy resolve and even cleaning the windows and taking care of your door is all easily fixed. Dirty windows are an instant eyesore and you will be amazed at the difference once they have had a good cleaning. You may have someone who does Residential Window Cleaning in your area or take some time to do it yourself. It may seem like a back breaking chore but it could make a world of difference to your home.

You could even consider replacing your front door with something new or striking, perhaps opting for a colored door. When replacing your doors, you will want to look somewhere with a wide inventory so you can see all of your options in front of you. Wrought iron, sturdy oak, or a pop of color are all wildly popular for giving your home an instant facelift. You can even make your front door more accessible with the help of a door closer for hands-free convenience, as well as helping to save on your energy bills and impressing others with the functionality of your door.

Add a Deck or Patio: If your yard is lacking a spot to sit back and relax, an amazing upgrade could be adding decking or a patio. When the nice weather hits, it will provide the place to be for an outdoor party, barbecues, or simply lounging in the sun with a good book. An addition like a deck or patio is an instant increase to both curb appeal and property value. Be sure to decorate with brightly colored furniture, fairy lights, and potted plants or flowers for the ultimate outdoor escape.

It Doesn’t Take Long to Brush Away the Debris: We’re at that point in time where leaves are on the ground and there can be a bit of debris gathered around the front of your home. However, in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t take long to brush all those away and majorly boost your curb appeal.

What About the Gutters? I know clearing out the gutters could be a job saved for that yearly “to do” list, but if you find that they are looking particularly overloaded or even causing drainage issues, then now is the time to get up there and give them a clear out. If you do not want to take on the job yourself, I am sure there will be a local service happy to resolve the problem for you.

Finally, why not add a bit of color to the front of your home by planting some pretty flowers or adding a few pots around your front door. It could be a lovely addition to the frontage of your property and will brighten up a blah door instantly.

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