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Five Simple Ways to Makeover Your Kitchen

When was the last time you updated your kitchen? Since the kitchen is a natural gathering place in the home, you want to make sure the space is optimized and up-to-date. Some kitchen makeovers require a complete gutting, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Here are five simple ways you can remodel your kitchen:

Update your appliances: Are your appliances still working properly? If so, that’s good news! You don’t have to toss them. An easy, budget-friendly appliance upgrade is slapping on a coat of paint. If your appliances are making funny sounds or have stopped working altogether, it’s probably time for a replacement. Splurge for a new stainless-steel refrigerator or range. If you have room in the budget, make the switch to smart appliances, as they are becoming more and more popular.
Redo your kitchen cabinets: The easiest way to update your kitchen cabinets and drawers is to replace the hardware. Their knobs and handles come in a variety of finishes, colors, and designs. Choose a hardware style based on the other elements in the kitchen. Another option is to stain or paint your kitchen cabinets. This will require more time and effort, but the results will be a drastic change. You can also remove the cabinet doors completely if you’re into the open shelving look.
Refurbish countertops: Kitchen countertops come in many different materials. The key to having them stand the test of time is to opt for something classic and durable like granite. If you like chopping your food without a cutting board, you can get butcher block countertops. Other materials to consider include quartz, copper, marble, or stainless steel.
Paint the walls: If it’s been more than a few years since you’ve last painted your kitchen walls, now is the time to do it. Granbury painters say you should choose a neutral color if you have an interesting and bold backsplash. If you want to go a more playful route, pastels like marine blue, pale lime, or citrus orange can really stand out in a kitchen. Dark colors like navy, forest green, and black are also making a comeback.
Add a backsplash: If your walls are strictly painted, consider adding a backsplash in between your cabinets and countertops. This is one area of the kitchen where you can really take risks. Bold patterns, mirrored or metallic finishes, and alternative materials are all welcome. You can also think about extending the backsplash past the bottom of the cabinets all the way to the ceiling.

We spend a lot of time in our kitchens cooking, entertaining, and eating. That’s why we want them to be both functional and beautiful. Start thinking about the ways in which you want to makeover your kitchen today.

How Do Colors Make You Feel?

Used by professional interior decorators and designers, color theory states that the colors in your home have a psychological impact on your mood. As such, it’s important to think about how you want to feel in each room of your house. Once you’ve identified the mood you want each room in your home to have, here are some suggestions on how to achieve it!

Design By Color

Red. The color red stimulates your appetite, which is why many restaurants implement color theory in their décor. For weight-conscious people, avoid using red in the kitchen to ensure you don’t overindulge as a result of your paint color. Instead, incorporate red in your dining room where you want your appetite to be stimulated.
Blue. Shades of blue, which are rarely found in food, can suppress appetite, so if you’re dieting, blue can be a great help in the kitchen. Blue also has a calming effect, so introduce the color in your bedroom or bathrooms.
Yellow. Studies show that babies cry most in rooms that are yellow more than any other color. Although associated with sunshine and cheer, yellow can actually increase anxiety, so limit this color to transitional spaces in your home, such as hallways and entryways.
Green. Soft, moss-colored greens act as neutrals and can help make a space feel tranquil. Bright greens in citrus tones, though, invigorate a room instead. To get a jump start on your day, paint your closet or dressing room a citrus green.

Design by room:

Bedroom. For a bedroom that evokes feelings of a relaxing retreat, incorporate light blue. Studies show that blue helps slow down your heart rate and can also lower your blood pressure. Both of these effects help you get to sleep.
Bathroom. For a bathroom that feels like a spa-like retreat, consider sage green tones since they have soothing qualities. Incorporate mosaic tiles that include various hues of green. Don’t forget to accessorize with items like green hand towels and soap dispensers. To strike the perfect balance, integrate white throughout the bathroom as well.
Living room. To achieve a happy, inviting living room, implement subtle hints of yellow. Bold punches of yellow will uplift your mood and fill it with optimism. Too much yellow, though, can make you feel lazy, so choose yellow accessories, but don’t avoid doing an overall yellow paint for every wall.
Home office. Painting a black accent wall in your home office can motivate you to get to work. If you’re daring enough to attempt this bold color scheme, balance it with white and bright accessories. Avoid a black wall if your home office doesn’t have a window. Instead, opt for a shade of purple, which is said to stimulate your creative jucies.

Now that you’re well-versed on color theory, contact Houston house painters and take control over the moods in your home.

Office Colors That Inspire Creativity

When it’s time to focus all of your efforts on your work, you want your workspace to be a productive and inspiring place. Honing in on our creativity can be difficult to do, especially if our workspace isn’t up to par. If you work in a space that lacks color, your are dulling your creative juices. Use these three inspiring colors to create a workspace that will ignite your passion and get your mind working!

Busy Blue: Hues of blue create a calming environment that allows for focus and productivity. The color blue has been linked to improved cognitive performance, making it a great choice for people in the creative industry. Marketing professionals, animators and creative writers can all benefit from the use of blue in their workspace.
Go Go Green: This calming, natural color is great for creating a comfortable and soothing workspace. Like blue, certain shades of green can enhance a person’s creativity. As a reassuring and balancing color, green works well in retail stores where money is being exchanged. Green is a color of productivity and works well in workspaces that you spend a lot of time in.
Raging Red: Bright colors like red and orange work well if your job requires physical activity. These colors inspire passion and productivity, and studies have shown that they can increase heart rate and overall blood flow. If you work in a fitness center or in the civil service industry (like firefighting), red and orange are excellent colors that will keep you motivated and passionate about the work you do.

Whether your workspace is your office or your bedroom, there are certain colors that you can use to make yourself more productive. These office painting tips are brought to you by the experts of Huntington Township residential and commercial painters. Call today with more help with color theory or to schedule your free, detailed estimate!

Best Placement for Mirrors In Your Home

In the Feng Shui world, mirrors symbolize wealth, health, and happiness. The Feng Shui culture recommends certain places to hang mirrors to promote these ideals and gain the most positive benefits. In addition to happiness and wealth, mirrors are great for making spaces appear larger than they are, providing extra light or serving as a piece of art. Discover the best placement for mirrors in your home in our room-by-room breakdown:

Foyer/Entryway. Placing a mirror in your foyer is a no-brainer. Never hang a mirror directly across from the front door. Instead, install one adjacent to the door or above a console table. Mirrors help expand the appearance of small foyers and entryways and make them feel more open and inviting.

Living Room. One of the best spots you can hang a mirror is in the living room. If there isn’t a lot of natural light already flowing in your living room, hanging a mirror can create the illusion of a window. A mirror could also serve as the focal point of a living room. To do so, hang the mirror at a height where every member of your family can see themselves fully.

Dining Room. Dining rooms are another great place to hang a mirror. When the table of food is reflected, you are promoting wealth and abundance. In dining spaces, the bigger the mirror the better. To really reflect light all around the dining room, line two adjacent walls with mirrors.

Bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, mirrors aren’t supposed to be in the bedroom! According to Feng Shui practices, you should never place a mirror across from your bed or on the ceiling. The best placement for mirrors in the bedroom is on the interior of your closet doors or above your headboard. Wherever you decide to place a mirror in your bedroom, keep in mind that your reflection shouldn’t be the first thing you see when you wake up.

Bathroom. A lot of people hang mirrors in their bathroom without putting much thought into it. As a general rule of thumb, the mirror should never reflect the toilet. Install a mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink to completely avoid this issue.

When it comes to using mirrors in your home, get creative! For extra drama and illusions of space, line an entire section of a wall with a mirror and place a chest or buffet table in front of it. Place a mirror behind a lamp or light source for a dramatic effect. In rooms with dark paint or patterned walls, mirrors can appear as windows and break up the boldness. If any room has a view of your garden, find a way to hang a mirror to reflect the greenery.

Remember that mirrors are wonderful additions, and placing them in the right spots can create a more positive and peaceful environment. For more help with mirror placement, contact Pamela Ryalls, a San Jose, CA interior decorator.

Dressing Your Windows For The Holiday Season

Daylight savings has come and gone, which means the hours we have of daylight on a daily basis are precious! It’s simple to dress your home’s exterior and interior furnishings in seasonal décor, but that’s not always the case when it comes to window treatments. Lighting plays a key role in creating an atmosphere in your home and the right shades, drapes, or blinds can make or break that vibe. To evoke the right atmosphere this holiday season, consider these tips and tricks for choosing the right window treatments.

Use heavy fabric. Materials like velvet and wool can instantly bring warmth into any room in your home. These textures provide visual warmth and physical insulation, helping to keep the heat you’re pumping into your home from seeping through any cracks in your window caulking. In addition, heavy fabrics like these offer total privacy when closed.
Consider room darkening options. If you’re a shift worker of any kind, room darkening curtains can be a lifesaver no matter what time of year it is. You need your room to be dark so that you can rest at any given time of the day. Room darkening curtains give you that option. In addition to eliminating natural light completely, room darkening curtains can help prevent cool drafts from coming in as well.
Let the sun in with sheers. For those of you looking to let as much sunlight in as possible, sheer curtains are your best bet. This lightweight fabric was designed to let as much daylight through as possible, making it perfect for the short autumn days. Cheryl Smith, a Chatham, NJ interior decorator, recommends using sheer curtains in common rooms like your kitchen, living, and dining spaces. These rooms demand natural light and typically don’t require that much privacy.
Accentuate with window treatments. If you’re looking for a simple way to incorporate color, pattern, or texture into a room, updating your window treatments is a quick, effective solution. The expert Jacksonville, FL painters suggest choosing curtains or drapes that feature a bold, autumnal color scheme, like burnt sienna or oxblood. These colors will translate seamlessly into the holiday season as well. This quick update will make a statement and help to usher the holiday season in.
Choose the right style and length. The length of the window treatments you choose depends on what you’re trying to achieve in a room. For example, if you’re looking to make the windows in your family room appear larger than they are, you’ll want to find curtains that are 60-80” long. Hang them far enough above the window so that they just graze the floor. Conversely, in a kitchen, for instance, you’ll want simpler window treatments, like wooden slat shutters or a valance for that window over the sink.

Before you upgrade your window treatments, it’s important to consider the space, it’s current design, and the goal you’re looking to achieve. With so many options available, finding the window treatments that are right for you and your home can seem challenging. For the best assistance in home design, contact Decorating Den Interiors today.

Wise Home Improvements For Fall

When you think of fall, your mind probably goes to decorating with pumpkins, sipping apple cider, and enjoying time with the family. Many homeowners don’t consider fall as a time to make home improvements – that’s for the springtime, right? Contrary to popular belief, there are several home improvements you can take advantage of this autumn. Discover the best projects to tackle once the weather starts to break.

Insulate your pipes. Frozen pipes can happen at any point when the temperatures drop. To prevent your pipes from freezing, wrap them in electric heat tape, fiberglass insulation, or pipe jackets. This will help keep the pipe’s temperature regulated and ensure water can flow through them continuously.

Reseal doors and windows. Improperly sealed windows and doors can cause valuable heat to seep out of your home on cold days, increasing your home heating costs drastically. Prevent this problem by having your windows and doors re-sealed this fall. Examine the weather stripping for cracks or missing portions of sealant. If you notice major damage, remove the old stripping and apply a new layer for an instant fix in energy efficiency.

Enhance your yard. If you’re not sure what your yard needs, connect with local landscapers. They’ll be able to provide you with a layout that compliments the look and feel of your home’s exterior, boosting your property value. Plus, they’ll know what kind of care your existing plants and shrubs will need to withstand the winter temperature drop.

Pressure wash the exterior. Over time, your home’s siding will collect a layer of dirt, dust, and debris. Remove this layer with a pressure washing machine. You can simply use water or mix a solution designed to clean your siding. Once the siding is clear, use the pressure washer to remove dirt and stains present on your concrete surfaces.

Clear the gutter. Throughout the fall, leaves flutter down into your yard and can cause major issues with your gutter. Make a habit out of clearing your gutters this fall to remove built-up leaves. This will prevent larger, more expensive home improvements in the future. While you’re clearing them out, make sure the gutters are draining properly and there aren’t any cracks present.

Make a list of everything you didn’t get done last spring and put off to relax this summer to tackle this fall. This post brought to you by Triumph Building Group, custom home builders in Montgomery County.

Keeping Your Home Warm This Fall

As the fall season draws closer, you and your family will experience your fair share of visits from friends, family, and loved ones. You’ll want your home to be warm and inviting for your guests, but you also want to avoid climbing energy costs. Keep your home cozy and more energy efficient this fall with these tips and tricks!

Keep your door shut tight. Ensure that your front door is doing its job. An entry door that isn’t properly sealing shut is allowing energy to escape. During the cooler fall and winter months, families pay a lot of money to pump warm air into their homes to stay comfortable. If your entryway door is not sealed properly on all sides, it is allowing warm air to escape, which means you are throwing money and energy right out your front door! To eliminate this problem, ensure that your doors are equipped with the proper weather stripping on all sides.
Let the sunlight in! We all know the hours of natural light start to dwindle when fall arrives, so leave your blinds open during the day to soak up as much sun as possible. Doing so can help eliminate the need for use of electricity to see during the day and can even boost the temperature of your home slightly so you can lower the temperature of your thermostat. Having a sunroom installed as an addition to your home will allow even more sunlight in. This space can be enjoyed year-round, regardless of the weather, and help you soak up every ounce of natural sunlight during the shortened fall days.
Be mindful of your fireplace use. Fireplaces create a warming, festive environment throughout the fall, but they can be detrimental to your home’s heating system. Cold air can easily enter through your chimney flue, so make sure it is closed when your fireplace is not in use. To make the most of the heat your fireplace generates, utilize glass panels or doors to keep the cold from coming in through your fireplace. Heat rises, and a fire can take the warm air you are pumping into your home through your thermostat system if you aren’t careful!
Utilize your ceiling fans. Take a look at the fans in your home – many are equipped to run clockwise and counter-clockwise. By flipping the switch and running your fan counter-clockwise, you’re able to push heat back down into your home that would otherwise remain trapped near your ceiling.
Keep interior doors shut. If you only occupy certain rooms in your home, keep the doors to the less frequented spaces shut. This will keep the main rooms in your home warmer and use less energy to do so. When you’re going to utilize a shut-off room, simply open the door and let the warm air in!
Get cooking! Using kitchen appliances such as your oven can exponentially warm your home. The fall and winter months are packed with events that require delicious meals and scrumptious treats, so don’t be afraid to pop a roast in the oven for a few hours or bake up large batches of chocolate chip cookies. You’ll be doing your family and your home a favor!
Incorporate throw rugs into your décor. Hardwood flooring can be a factor contributing to the cold temperatures throughout your home in the winter. Find a way to use area rugs or runners on your hardwood floors to help trap in some heat.

It comes down to keeping you and your family comfortable this fall season.

Owning a home is no simple feat. Each season comes with its own to-do list of upkeep, but with the right tools and an action plan in mind, maintaining your home can be simple! This summer, keep your home in tip-top shape by checking things off of this list:

Check your smoke detectors. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can help prevent tragedy from striking, so make sure the ones in your home are in working order. Hold the test button down monthly and wait for the beep to confirm that they’re working. Replace the batteries if necessary and make sure a detector is present on every floor of your home.
Polish your porch. During the summer, most people like to enjoy the great outdoors. If your home features a porch, patio, or deck, you’ll want it looking its best during the time you spend on it. Newer patios will only require a simple sweep, but if you’ve had your patio for some time, have it restained by a painting professional. They’ll ensure the surface is properly sanded and evenly stained, leaving your porch looking refreshed!
Touch up your exterior paint. A quick fix that can work miracles, touching up areas of your home’s exterior that might be cracked, chipped, or worn from the elements is best done on cooler summer days. If you’re unsure of the color that was used to paint your home’s siding, contact the professionals that handled it. They’ll be able to give you the name and brand of the paint color or provide you with the closest match if the color is no longer sold.
Wash your windows. Summer is the best time to wash your windows, but make sure to do it early in the morning or at sundown to avoid those pesky streaks! Use your favorite streak-free cleaner or a washcloth, warm water, and soap to remove the pollen and debris buildup from the spring. Don’t forget about your screens. They can collect just as much, if not more, dust and pollen, so give them a gentle scrub with a brush and soapy water.
Pressure wash your driveway. Most homeowners don’t consider giving their driveway a good clean, but it’s an area of your landscape that receives a lot of foot (and car) traffic! Dirt, debris, and even oil and other liquids from your car can seep into a porous driveway. To give yours a good clean, start by removing any weeds that you might see in your driveway, inspecting for cracks or holes along the way. Repair or repave any damage, then use a pressure washer to remove set-in dirt, grease, and grime.

Looking for help with your home’s exterior maintenance? CertaPro Painters of Cape Ann can help! Contact their team of experts for exterior painting and pressure washing this summer.

How To Decorate Your Hallway

Hallways and staircases are one of the most utilized, and yet underappreciated, areas of a home. Too often, homeowners leave their halls and stairs barren of any interior design. Don’t be one of those homeowners! Learn to appreciate the space that is your hallways – discover ways to liven it up.

Color: A hallway or staircase is the pathway to several rooms in your home. For this reason, the professionals at CertaPro Painters of Lexington/Concord, MA recommend that you paint with a neutral color. Hallways also often lack a source of natural light, so utilizing neutral colored paints will help brighten the space.

Flooring: Hallways and staircases are high traffic areas, making hardwood flooring a viable option for homeowners. Hardwood floors can withstand much more wear and tear than traditional carpeting and are an easy clean. Spruce up the look of your hardwood flooring with a decorative area rug.

Interest: If you’re looking for a way to add some structure to your hallway without the bulk of a table or shelving, try wainscoting. Traditionally, wainscoting is comprised of pieces of interlocking wood that can be easily painted or stained any color. This covering is placed over the lower portion of a wall and creates an elegant look. To add interest to a staircase, try painting the banisters with a bright color. The subtle pop will give your staircase a sophisticated, modern look.

Personality: Use your hallways to showcase your personality. Hang family photos, wall decals, or even decorative mirrors on your hallway walls. Arrange them in a gallery style for an added sense of elegance. The same can be done along the walls of a staircase.

Functionality: Your home may have a hallway located right at the entrance of your home. If this is the case, you’ll need to include functional design elements that will make the space easier to utilize. Hang a coat rack for the family to place hats, jackets, purses, and bags on when they come home. Line rubber mats against the wall for muddy shoes to go. For added organization, line a shelf with bins for family members to store miscellaneous items in, including keys and mail. You can also utilize small bin storage on the lower steps of your staircase.

Lighting: Whether you opt for a modern style cage light or a simple vintage lamp, the lighting in your hallway should be decorative and functional. When the light is on, the entire length of the hallway should be visible. If you find that your hallway or staircase is extra long, install as much light as necessary.

Furniture: While the hallway is a method of travel in a home, that doesn’t mean that it cannot house furniture. Use a narrow table to house a decorative lamp, photos, or a landline telephone. If you have room, incorporate a bench with cushions into your hallway design for a contemporary chic look.

Don’t let your hallway fall to the wayside. After all, it’s one of the most utilized spaces in your home! Spruce up your hallways appearance with these interior design tips.

Decorating On A Tight Budget

Decorating a space can seem extremely challenging – decorating a space on a tight budget can seem impossible. With the help of some interior design experts, at Jarons have put together the most important things to remember when you’re designing on a budget.

Invest in the right things. No matter what, you’re going to have to spend some money to update the look of a room. If you prioritize and budget, you can spend money where it counts, like quality furniture. If your feeling extra thrift, scour local outlets, or garage sales for old-but-sturdy furniture staples. Use these pieces to anchor the room, then start decorating with accessories.
Splurge on paint color. When you break down the cost of paint, it costs just pennies on the dollar. Plus, if you use the right technique, you can really get the most out of your investment. Choose a color that suits your tastes and the space you’re decorating. The expert Waldorf painters recommend following the 60-30-10 rule – 60% of the space you’re decorating should be in a neutral shade (in most cases, this means the walls), 30% should be in your accent color (whether this is an accent wall or accents in furniture and other decor), and 10% should be in your boldest color choice (candle sconces, throw pillows, etc.).
Re-purpose what you have. These days in the world of design, you can pretty much DIY anything, and sometimes old is the best kind of new. If you’re looking to update your home, try giving new life to some of your existing decor. Hang a small collection of your favorite photos is a quick fix to any dull wall in your home. Display vacation memorabilia on shelving units or unused surfaces around the room. With the right attitude and a design in mind, you can change the look and feel of a space with a simple coat of paint. By updating a few smaller items in a room with a more modern look, you’ll save time and money, which can be used to splurge on a new decor item elsewhere in the house. If you aren’t so handy, contract the help of family or friends.
Keep it simple. If you play to your interests and keep your design ideas minimal, you’ll avoid overspending or over-cluttering a space with too many design elements. Accessories should be tasteful and not overbearing; lighting should be plentiful and unobtrusive; furniture should be comfortable and purposeful. Overall, the space should be functional, livable, and true to you.

With these budget design tips in mind, you can update the look of a space in no time, and at little cost. At the end of the day, if you’re happy with the space you have created, you’ve done your job well! For more budget-friendly decorating tips, contact Kimberly Paulus, a Sienna Plantation, TX interior decorator.