Jan9

The Tides Will Turn; Helping Elderly Parents Get The Best Life

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When you’re young, you rely on your parents for everything. Food, money, shelter, and love. As you get older you start to provide for yourself or you find other sources to provide these needs. You get your love from a husband or boyfriend, you find your own income, and you buy your house. But as your parents age, they may become less independent, and this can be difficult to deal with. It can be hard to see your parents lose who they used to be. They need your help now, they need you to, at least in some ways, look after them. If you don’t do this, as your parents get older, they might struggle to get the quality of life that they deserve. What can you do to ensure that they get the life you want them to have?

Pay Them Back: Over the past few years, you have probably found that your parents contributed a lot to your life, financially. They might have paid part of your college bills, helped you buy your first home, or put down the deposit on that new apartment. They may have acted as a guarantor and ensured that if you couldn’t pay your bills, you wouldn’t be left out on the street. It’s possible that they never asked for anything in return, they never requested that you pay them back.

However, one day they might need money from you, particularly after they retire. They might need to borrow from you to maintain their home. Or, they might need help moving to a different location. You should be willing to help them financially in this type of situation. You might be surprised how difficult this decision becomes as you get older. You might have your own financial commitments and needs. But, you just have to remember what they did for you and how much you really do owe them.

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Help Them Move Forward: At a certain age, it’s not practical or sensible to live in a home with two floors. You need to think about moving to a bungalow and before you make this decision for yourself, you’ll have to help your parents make the same choice. Many parents will push against this idea and keep a home they are used to for as long as possible. They don’t want to feel old and won’t tell you that it might actually even hurt to walk up and down the stairs. At that stage, you have two options. You can help them change the home to make it more suitable. Or, you can help them move, but they will need your support either way.

You might even find that the best option for them is a retirement home. This should be their choice unless they aren’t fit to make it. In that situation, you might have to step in. Be aware that there are plenty of nursing homes like Anglican Care that provide luxury accommodation to elderly parents. You just need to help them find the right place for them to live that will suit all their needs. Please keep in mind that this is a highly sensitive topic to bring up to your parents and should be handled with care. Look into tips for navigating the assisted living discussion as well as asking friends who have been in a similar situation for advice. This is something that should be talked about as lovingly and gracefully as possible.

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Keep Them In Your Life: Last but not least, your parents will need more than just emotional support. One day it will be up to you to ensure that they stay an important part of your life. You’ll decide when you see them and when they see their grandchildren. It’s crucial that they feel connected to your life and who you have become. Otherwise, you might find your parents suffering from depression and other emotional issues.

Something that can be really helpful is setting a schedule for visits. It will give both parties something to look forward to and establishes a routine. It could be a family lunch every Sunday. Or perhaps bringing the grandchildren by for some weekly Bingo if your parents or loved ones are residing in Assisted living and memory care facilities. That would surely be a treat for all and the residents too to see little ones joining the game! Set a schedule, commit to it fully, and see the emotional benefits before your eyes.

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Jan9

It’s Getting Hot In Here: Daydreaming Of Summer

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Who else is tired of the colder weather and the dark days? The January blues can hit us hard, so there is no surprise that some people will be counting down the days until the Summer officially arrives. The warmth that tingles your skin, the feeling of a frozen treat being enjoyed while lounging in a hammock and watching the world go by. Sounds like heaven doesn’t it? But we can often forget the downside of the heat, and it can be just as difficult to endure as the coldest days of the year. So while we are daydreaming, perhaps we can work out some of the ways that we can prepare ourselves in advance for the summer months ahead. After all, it’s far better to enjoy the sun than to be wishing for those winter days to return.

Stock Up On The Summer Essentials: Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy, so it’s worth making those investments now to ensure that you are comfortable and can have as much fun as possible. With plenty of discounts available across all kinds of stores, January would be the ideal time to get those big summer purchases sorted. Perhaps consider an outdoor grill so that you can have garden parties and cook up a storm. Maybe invest in some cotton bed sheets to ensure you get a comfortable night’s sleep during the hottest days of the year. Why not even treat yourself to an inflatable swimming pool for your outside space? And if you are planning a dream beach trip, rather than buying, you might instead set your sights on planning what hilton head beach rentals you might choose to hire for when you finally hit the sand.

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Get Your Home Prepared: As much as we want to be outside constantly, we often will still need to be in our homes for a good chunk of our time. You may work from home or even just retire here at the hottest points of the day. This is why now might be the time to consider adding a ducted air conditioning system to your house or property. They can actually be quite cost efficient when you get the right system installed.

Try Out New Recipes For Frozen Treats: Summer wouldn’t be complete without those frozen treats stocked up in the freezer. So why not kick those January blues and start planning and trying out new recipes? Maybe you want to consider a new flavor combination or check out websites like eBay for ice molds you can use. They can be a refreshing treat but also very healthy if you consider the type of ingredients you are using.

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I NEED ONE!

Plan Ahead: Finally, daydreaming is the perfect opportunity to plan ahead for those summer months. Do you want to go on vacation? Do you plan to spend more time at home or with loved ones? Perhaps there is an activity that you want to do more of? Or, maybe you’re looking into hilton head beach rentals for that perfect summer getaway? Now is the time to start thinking ahead and booking up your diary. After all, sometimes the only way to get through a tough month is to have plenty of things to look forward to!

Jan9

5 Easy Ways To Balance Your Decor

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5 Easy Ways To Balance Your Decor

Decorating your home can be hard. Not only does it tend to be costly (even if you’re thrifty), it can be hard to coordinate. Whether you’re redesigning each room from scratch, or adding to what you have, bit by bit, ensuring that your decor is balanced and just works can feel like an impossible task. Impossible, but doable.

Whether you choose to hire an interior designer, follow the principles of feng shui design or research, try and buy, you might need to work on balancing out a few areas of your decor. If you’re tackling the task alone, these points should act as a starting guide for you to work from.

Color: Color can often be a safe starting point when it comes to your decor. You should be able to see straight away whether colors will work well together, or whether the entire look and feel of the room will be thrown off. But, some colors can be tricky. When that’s the case, hunt down interesting color palettes on Pinterest and see which ones most appeal to you. You’ll also be learning as you look, and will start to see how to match colors that balance well together.

Space: Another way to work on the balance of your decor is to use the space. If you’re working with a small room, you’re going to need to be smart. You’re not going to want to cram a lot of big furniture into the room, as it will look overcrowded. Instead, you’re going to want to opt for space saving storage ideas and lots of bright, fresh, airy colors. When you’ve got a larger room, you might need to be a bit more generous with the furniture and accessorizing. Otherwise, it will be out of balance and look quite bare.

If you are revamping a small room, you can create the illusion of size with cleverly placed mirrors and lighting to allow the light to bounce. Lighting fixtures that create a focal point can wow even in the smallest of spaces. The fixtures at Lustria are an excellent example of this as they feature really unique shapes and options ranging from floor lamps to chandeliers. I am especially partial to the bird wall lights which could create an awesome accent wall in a small room!

Fabric: Your soft furnishings can also say a lot about a space. You might not think that the rugs, throws, cushions, and curtains that you add into the room make a lot of difference right now. But, if you get the combination wrong and the room is off balance, you’ll soon see it. When you pick fabrics, you need to choose ones that coordinate well. It’s pretty similar to the color situation – if you choose something that doesn’t work well together, then you’re often left with a lot of loud clashing and a bit of a headache.

Pattern: Many people can be afraid of playing around with patterns. And while that is a safe bet to take, you can actually create an incredibly well-designed and daring home with different patterns. But, you still have to make sure that they balance. When patterns clash, it can be chaotic. So, you need to make sure that you use them tastefully and sparingly, to create the desired effect. Try finding patterns with similar colors in them so that they blend rather than compete against each other.

Design: Then, there’s the overarching design itself. You can often be swayed by different interior design trends. But, if you opt for something new and different, rather than sticking to a style that you know you’ll always love, the space may not feel right. It’s important that you choose a style that you feel comfortable with, as you’ll then be able to make it balance with the accents and accessories that you add in.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan9

Beyond Spring Cleaning: Those Changes You Should Make To Your Home

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Beyond Spring Cleaning: Those Changes You Should Make To Your Home

It can sometimes seem as though there is no end to the amount of changes that you can make at home. It makes little difference how long you have been living somewhere, there are always improvements which can be made. Some of these are relatively modest, and are merely the work of an afternoon. But if you want to notice a more profound change in the home, then you might want to consider making some bigger changes.

These kinds of changes might take a bit longer – but will definitely be worth the extra time. However, it can be difficult to decide on what kind of changes to actually make. In this post, we are going to look at a few examples of some of the things you could be doing around this time of year to improve your home.

A Fresh Coat Of Paint: This is one of those things that is so basic that we often forget about it entirely. But giving your home a fresh lick of paint can make a surprising difference to the overall ambience of the space. If you notice that you have not repainted any of your rooms in a while, spring is a great time to do it. Especially if you go for lighter colors, which can help to really liven things up in time for the fresh start of the new year. If you are unsure of what colors to go for, it might help to bear in mind that it doesn’t matter all too much. The main thing is that you are happy with the overall effect; whether or not you have unity in color between rooms should be wholly irrelevant.

Improve The Security: Security worries us all from time to time. One of the most essential things for anyone is to be able to feel at home in their own home. You need to feel safe there if nowhere else, as this is the whole idea of it being your home. That’s why it pays to keep a close eye on the security of your place. The last thing you want is to leave your home vulnerable to attacks or natural disasters. The good news is that improving the security of your home does not have to be a complex or expensive issue. If you install security window screens, you should find that any potential break-ins are thwarted at first attempt. And you might also want to consider taking out an insurance policy on the home and its contents, just for even more peace of mind.

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I See Youuu!

Prepare The Garden: As is likely to have happened, your garden is probably rather desolate at the moment. This, of course, is perfectly natural for it being winter, and there is little that can be done about that. However, now is a great time to start thinking about preparing the garden for the brighter and warmer months. This might be a simple case of reseeding the lawn, if necessary, or you might even want to turn the land so that the soil has a better chance of enabling plants to grow. Most importantly, think spring with bright and bold flowers and a lovely little bird house for your backyard animal visitors.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan9

Four Tips That Will Help You Get The Body You’ve Always Dreamed Of

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It’s been said that the best way to get your summer body is to start working on it during the winter. Arguably, all you need for the perfect ‘beach body’ is to have a body, and to be on the beach – but there’s nothing wrong with making sure that you feel beautiful. Here are some tips to help…

Eat Well: It’s important that you eat healthily all year. Of course, there are times when you might want to pig out – Thanksgiving and Christmas particularly, and let’s not forget about Halloween candy! But as a rule, you should try not to use the winter as an excuse to wear oversized sweaters and gain weight. Make sure that you meal plan, don’t snack too much, and that once the holidays are over you go back to your normal eating habits.

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Yummm

Get Active: One of the best ways to feel better about your body is to impress yourself by what it’s capable of. We spend so much time worrying about our stomachs and thighs that we don’t focus enough on what they can do. If you’re able bodied, then your legs are great no matter what they look like – they’re strong and they carry you around and they do their job! Think about the positives rather than the negatives. Try out Couch To 5K – it’ll build you up into being able to run a 5k, and you’ll be delighted at what your body can do when given a little pushing. You could also try out yoga. If there are no classes near you or if you aren’t feeling very confident yet, try out the YouTube channel Yoga With Adriene. You’ll be amazed at how quickly muscle builds up and how much your balance will improve.

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Go, go go!

Try Cosmetic Options: If you are really unhappy with your body, then there’s absolutely nothing stopping you from getting cosmetic surgery and treatments to improve your self-esteem. If you hate having to shave your legs and bikini line, then try out laser hair removal so you don’t have to get expensive, painful waxes or sort out your stubbly shins every day when you’re on vacation. If you’re self-conscious about your figure, try out body contouring, a sort of liposuction that will eliminate unwanted fat. If you want to find out more, read it at www.Clderm.com/non-surgical-lipo.

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Get Smoother Skin: During the winter, when you’re covering up in black opaque tights,  jeans, and sometimes even thermal underwear (!!!), the condition of your skin is the furthest thing from your mind. But make sure that you stay smooth and glowing by exfoliating your body at least twice a week. If you shave your legs, chances are they’re a little rough and not in the best condition, so make sure that you use a good shaving foam. Hair conditioner also helps to keep your legs soft and smooth when you’re shaving them. Put on moisturizing body cream, especially before you go to bed, so you can let it sink in overnight. During the day, use a cream that complements the scent of your perfume so you can feel perfectly put together.

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Body butter is a must!

Jan9

Are Your Teeth Ageing You? Here’s What You Can Do About It!

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With a world that is obsessed with youth, it can be argued that some of this pressure to stay looking young comes from the media and from celebrities who seem to reach the age of forty and then stop ageing completely. But for the average person on an average income, it’s not always so easy to stay youthful. We can’t all attend aerobics classes and have healthy meals prepared for us by a personal chef daily! The most important thing is that you recognize what about you is a dead giveaway when it comes to how old you are. Skin is obviously one of them, but have you ever considered your teeth? When it comes to our teeth, they only look as good as we treat them. So, here are some ways in which your teeth can prematurely age you, and what you can do to keep yours looking young.

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Ahhhhh

Missing Teeth: If there was ever a way to make you look older than you really are, it is through a missing tooth. In society, we tend to picture people with missing teeth as elderly. This is simply because in the olden days, before dental hygiene was considered important, old people would lose their teeth as said teeth started to decay. But the truth is, if you don’t take care of your dental health, you could be at risk of losing your teeth at any age. Gum disease is one of the most common causes behind a missing tooth and it’s something you need to tackle immediately to avoid losing any more of them. If you have already lost one, you might want to consider getting dental implants to fill the space and give you back your smile.

Discolored Teeth: Another dead giveaway for teeth that have aged before you have is discoloration. Of course, a perfectly white Hollywood smile is a pipe dream for most of us. But if your teeth are quite clearly yellow, or even brown, you will know that you definitely have discoloration. You can get them whitened professionally, but of course, prevention is better than the cure. Consider making a few lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking, avoiding too much red wine and coffee, and brushing your teeth at least twice a day.

Teeth whitening services paired with lifestyle changes can really make a difference in transforming your smile. Not only that, but it will provide a huge self confidence boost too. To begin this journey, simply enter a search for “Philadelphia smile makeover specialists” (or your local area) to find dentist offices that offer teeth whitening solutions. Your dentist will be able to create a plan to give you your brightest smile ever.

Crooked Teeth: We can’t help the teeth that we are born with. It’s a bit of a lottery of luck, really; some people are born with perfectly straight teeth while others are dealt a pretty crooked card. Many people who feel their crooked teeth age them resign themselves to the fact that they can’t do anything about it. But, in reality, crooked teeth can actually be changed whatever your age. Braces aren’t just for children and teenagers these days! If you do feel self-conscious, simply go for some invisible braces, and no one will know the difference.

Investing in your smile is always going to be a good thing. You are doing something to care for yourself and you are going to have a major self confidence boost. Whether you go with traditional or Invisible braces is your prerogative, but it is absolutely worth discussing with your dentist if you would like to make a change.

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Aw :’)

Jan6

Nasty Gal Purchases & Review

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Nasty Gal Purchases & Review

Hi everyone and TGIF!! I hope you all have some fun and exciting plans lined up for the weekend! During my graduation ceremony evening, I was chatting with the girl beside me about online shopping because she complimented my heels and we got to talking about ModCloth which is where they were from. She told me how much she liked the site Nasty Gal so I figured that I would take a look at some point because I could tell that she had great taste.

A week or so later, I decided to take a look see and, for the most part, really liked what I saw – asides from the super sexy pieces which just aren’t me in the slightest. I liked the edgy, glam looks and although the prices were kind of steep, they had a great sale section to browse through which I was thankful for! After a look over of the website, I ended up with two moto jackets. One was funded by my mom for Christmas (thanks, mommy!) and the other was a total treat yoself piece that I planned on using my graduation cash to purchase. Take a look:

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First of all, let me start with what I liked about Nasty Gal before I delve into some of the not so great stuff. As a first time shopper, I ultimately ended up happy but there are some things that I need to bear in mind if I purchase from them again.

What I Liked:

The Clothing Itself: Both jackets that I received are simply to die for. I love both jackets and I think that they were well worth the price. I have been looking for a super cool black moto jacket for a long time and I finally found it in the patched back jacket featured first. And, of course, the olive green butterfly patched moto jacket was so sweet that I couldn’t not get that one, too! I have received endless compliments on both of them already and I’ve had them for about three days total. I also love that these are pieces that not everyone is going to have which makes them even more special to me.

The Customer Service (Kind Of): When I first received my black moto jacket, one of the patches on the back was nearly falling off. Instantly, I ran to the laptop and pulled up a chat with a Nasty Gal agent to ask how to go about receiving a damaged item. She told me to take pictures of the damage and then send it on over via email. I quickly snapped some pics and emailed them over and then waited anxiously to see what they say so I could get a replacement which I was super keen on because I loved the item.

About two and a half hours went by and I heard back nada which I thought was weird because someone was able to chat with me so quickly. So, I decided to just bite the bullet and call them and after seeking them out they addressed the problem. I was told that I would receive store credit to purchase a new one as soon as they got the notification of my return and was provided with a shipping label and a free shipping code to rebuy the jacket.

I was so pleased and figured that my credit should be on my account the following day after I dropped off the UPS package. Four days went by and I heard nothing and at this point the jacket was marked “low inventory”. I was annoyed, for one, and also worried that my coat would be sold out by the time that my credit was applied. Once more, I pulled up a chat and told the agent the problem and then it got fixed promptly.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that their customer service is good if you seek them out but I genuinely feel like if I didn’t, my problems still wouldn’t have been solved. I have always had online shopping experiences where issues were solved quickly after they got word of it so actually having to seek out the help that I needed again after no initial reply was very off putting.

What I Didn’t Like:

THE SIZES: If you plan on shopping at Nasty Gal and are reading this, please heed my warning when I say: DO NOT TRUST THEIR SIZE GUIDE. Their sizes seem to run one size to a size and a half smaller than what they say. Let me explain – I fit very comfortably into a size small eighty percent of the time and an extra small the other twenty percent. And according to their size guide I would be a perfect small but that simply wasn’t the case.

I originally purchased my black moto jacket in a small and my butterfly one in a medium because I read that it fit tightly in the comment section. Had I known that the black patched jacket was going to be some Baby Gap size in a small, I would have purchased the medium first. The small was tight and it was just strange to me because their size guide said that a small would be just right, like it normally is. I didn’t even think to size up in it because I was so confident that the small would be great because I was nowhere close to a medium according to their guide.

Frankly, if I order from them again, I plan on just sizing up in everything and not even acknowledging their guide because it is so skewed. It wasn’t until after I placed my order that I Googled Nasty Gal reviews and saw that literally everyone said that their sizes were jacked up! This was admittedly my bad, I should have done this before placing my order but it was still annoying just the same to have a size guide be so very misleading.

Don’t get me wrong, I am, in the end, really happy with my purchases BUT unless I see something there that is absolutely to die for, then I don’t plan on shopping Nasty Gal again. Originally, I thought that it could possibly replace ModCloth for me but, let’s be real, that wasn’t ever going to happen anyways.

My advice for people who plan on shopping there is to be very careful of their sizes, read the online reviews (there are a TON), and continuously seek out their customer service if you have a problem because I don’t think that they have any intentions of accommodating you otherwise.

So there you have it, my Nasty Gal Purchases & Review! Has anyone ever shopping Nasty Gal before? What did you think? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan6

We’ve All Got Them! What To Do With Those Unwanted Christmas Gifts

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We’ve All Got Them! What To Do With Those Unwanted Christmas Gifts

We’ve all been there. At some point, we’re bound to open gifts that we don’t like or we’ve already got. If you’ve got a pile of unwanted presents, here are some handy suggestions.

Unwanted Clothing: If you’ve got items of clothing that don’t fit you or suit your style, don’t just throw them into the wardrobe and let them sit there with the tags still on for years to come. If you’ve got the receipt or the labels are still intact, take them back to the store and get a credit note or an exchange. You might as well get something that you’re going to wear. If you can’t return it, consider reselling it on an online auction site or hitting up a store like Plato’s Closet to see if you can sell it there.

Regifting: If you’ve got more than one of the same item or you’ve been given something that you won’t use, consider regifting it. There’s nothing wrong with passing on presents as long as they’re suitable for the recipient, and they’re in pristine condition. I’ll admit that I’ve been guilty of regifting before – but shhh, don’t tell. 😉

Donating To Charity: If you were spoiled by friends and family and you’ve got a few items lying around that you don’t want to keep, consider donating to charity. For many people, the holidays are a lonely time, and it’s nice to give to people less fortunate.

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Host a Beat The January Blues Party: January can be a sobering month, especially after the frivolities of the festive season. It’s cold and dark outside, and everyone’s feeling a little low after the holidays. If you’re keen to cheer everybody up and shift some unwanted gifts, you could host a beat the January blues party. Get everyone together, put a playlist on, lay out some food and drinks, and organize an exchange of white elephant gifts. Your spare presents will find a home, and your friends will leave in good spirits.

Have a Clear Out: There’s no better time of year to have a clear out than January. We tend to accumulate a lot of stuff over the holidays and it’s a good idea to declutter and free up some space. Get rid of all the trash and then have a look through your cupboards, wardrobes, and shelving units to see if there is anything you want to throw out or sell. If you’ve got a lot of items in good condition, you may be able to make some money. Gather everything together, and organize a yard sale. Send out some fliers, put some signs in the driveway, and say bye bye to your unwanted holiday clutter.

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Most of us get at least a couple of unwanted gifts each year. Perhaps you’ve got items that don’t fit or suit you or you’ve got the same presents you got last year. If you have got unopened presents lying around, don’t just throw them in a cupboard or put them in the bin. There are lots of things you can do to make use of your gifts. Donate them to charity or give them to a friend or family member who would appreciate them. Sell them online or have a clear out and host a yard sale when warmer weather permits. Happy weekend!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan5

Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series

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Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! I hope everyone is having a fab week so far. So during the past few months I really wanted to host a holiday themed guest bloggers series but I was so busy with graduation stuff that I didn’t get the chance. Now that the holidays are long gone and the winter blues are starting to kick in, I thought that now would be a perfect time for a series that celebrates all things spring. So break out the pastels and florals and apply some sweet peach blush to your cheeks and show me your best spring styles!

If you are interested in participating, shoot me an email at sarah.mush6794@gmail.com with some ideas for a guest post and we’ll pick which one works best. I’d love to be able to publish the series during the first week of February. Looking forward to hearing from all of you! -Sarah

Jan4

Interior Trends That You’ll Simply Love in 2017

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Interior Trends That You’ll Simply Love in 2017

Hii everyone and happy hump day! My friend, Chloe, was kind enough to write a guest post for lifewithlilred about some super cool home decor tips for the new year. She did an amazing job and I am so happy to be able to host her on my page! Check it out:

Interior Trends That You’ll Simply Love in 2017:

Another year’s drawing to an end, and while most homeowners are busy putting up Christmas decorations and making plans for the holiday ahead, interior designers already have their eyes locked on the trends that will mark the season to come. In 2016, we’ve seen a rise of the open-plan living, gentle blends of rose and gold touches, mix-and-match decors, eclectic traveler and boho chic aesthetics, 3D gallery walls, and other suave home features, some of which will stay in vogue in 2017. Nevertheless, in addition to the trending features, the year to come will bring along a few new design tendencies to help house-proud homeowners dial up the visual game in their nests. Here are five of the biggest trends we’ll be seeing more of in the year to come:

1. Upholstered Headboards for Snug Dreams:

Upholstered headboards entered the home decor scene through the back door in the past few years, infusing chic bedrooms with an extra dose of interest and comfort. The popularity of cute tufted headboards will persist in 2017, pushing minimalist timber bed frames out of style.

This is such a simple way to add a dose of glamour and elegance to the bedroom. Upholstered bed frames will rock neutral hues, dramatic buttons, and sumptuous fabrics such as velvet or plush for vintage aesthetics and first-rate comfort.

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2. Spare Hours Lulled in Mother Nature’s Lap:

Natural materials were a huge hit among interior designers over the past couple of years and it looks like the trend will stick around for at least one year longer. Natural stone and wood will remain on trend in stylish homes in 2017, but this year around, they’ll be topped by cork panels and unexpected combinations starring metal and sensitive materials. Cork will climb up stylish home office walls, providing a blank (and noise-proof) canvas for creative wall art experiments and note-pinning sprees.

At the same time, rattan, bamboo, leather, and fur will conquer suave living areas, instilling the modern home with a dose of style au naturale.

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3. A Nod to Bygone Eras and Dreamy Designs:

In 2017, vintage, shabby chic, and boho interiors will remain on trend, but they’ll be joined by a few more time-honored designs, such as mid-century modern, Victorian, and classic décor. For a touch of old-school charisma, you can update the living room following in retro footsteps, and if you want to tweak the bedroom to get the biggest stylistic bang for your buck, you may want to check this out and use expert cues to dial up the boudoir visuals and overall home aesthetics.

In case you want to pay tribute to the more rugged among time-tested home styles, you can infuse your nest with rough-looking extras such as animal hides, furs, and reclaimed wood.

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4. Revamped and Re-Imagined Color Palette:

As for the trending hues in the season ahead, Pantone has already rolled out their tonal picks for spring and summer, branding green as the color of the year 2017. Versatile, vigorous, and trans-seasonal, textiles and accessories in bright green will fit in natural-inspired decors and liven up a minimalist home with a dose of playful contrast and unexpected tonal accents.

Other colors that will sneak into stylish living areas in the year ahead will include terracotta, brown, grey, and dark blue, along with a nod to jewel tones which will be used as accents to rev up visual interest and add vibrancy to the room.

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5. Stainless Steel for a Dose of Stylistic Chill:

Although the focus of designers’ attention in the year to come will rest on mix-and-match decor formulas and creative reinterpretations of classic designs, modern materials will still have their rightful place in a 2017 home. Stainless steel and original combinations of metallic surfaces such as bronze, brass, copper, wrought iron, and brushed aluminum will help define a well-grounded framework for textural and tonal experiments. A subtle way to add a note of contemporary chill to top-notch homes, stainless steel and metal finishes will help maintain aesthetic balance and keep the visual scale snugly secured halfway between vintage fluff and 21st-century industrial.

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Other up-and-coming trends we can expect to see in the year ahead include a growing affection for natural fiber and coarse textiles, the return of farmhouse and country style, the rise of luxury furnishings and retro-inspired pieces such as mantelpieces, fire pits, all-wood deck furniture, and a slow comeback of the traditional closed room layout.

Judging by the looks of it, the year ahead will be marked by quite a few awe-inspiring interior designs, so if you’re looking to doll up your home any time soon, make sure you keep an eye out for new trends and add a few fresh decor pieces to take the look of your home from dull to fab. Good luck!

^^^ Thank you so much to Chloe for treating lifewithlilred to this post!! -Sarah