Farmhouse Decor Inspriation

Embracing the farmhouse design style doesn’t mean you have to live in the country, on a farm, or anything of the sort! This increasingly popular style often referred to as “Farmhouse Chic” incorporates rustic design concepts in a variety of ways to create a space full of country charm. Check out these design tips to help you achieve this style in your home!

  • Light Walls and Flooring Options. If you are completely revamping an entire room, opt for wood flooring, which embodies the best of country chic. Pair this flooring with light-colored walls, such as ivory or cream. Build onto this simple paint color with easygoing patterns, but avoid dark colors, as this will take away from the open feeling of the room. Light colors make a room feel larger than it actually is, and the combination of these colors with wood floors will establish an inviting mood within your space.
  • Open Storage Options. Country style is all about open, livable spaces, which shelving will become your new best friend! Accessories throughout the room are great, but when it comes to storage, shelves reduce clutter on the floor and provide plenty of space for both accessorizing and simple displays. Closed storage may be used to hide items you don’t want to be seen on a regular basis, but build and utilize shelves on your walls for unique displays of interesting items that go well with the farmhouse design style. Old books, rustic looking picture frames and other pieces will dress up your room without creating a clutter throughout the space.
  • Vintage Is In. Outside of shelving, you will need to accessorize in other ways to create your ideal atmosphere. From tabletops to wall pieces and furniture additions, look for farmhouse style decor that brings a vintage vibe. Mason jars are a fun and easy accessory, as they can be painted different colors or used in a multitude of ways! For an eye-catching side table accessory, fill a mason jar with flowers and lightly coat the outside in various shades of gold for a classic touch. Quilts and blankets can be folded on top of couches or chairs, but look for ones that match your theme. Linen, burlap, and cotton are your best possible material choices, so get creative and accessorize!
  • A Touch Of Family. One of the best ways to build on this design style is to bring your own personal touch. Family heirlooms or family-inspired signs and wall decor add a unique sense of comfort that builds on the traditions of you and your family. Inspiring and loving messages hung on the wall encourage positivity, and you will love the memories that come with the inclusion of family treasures.

No matter how you take on this design style, farmhouse chic incorporates rustic pieces and open concepts to create a breathtaking space. Light walls, wood floors, vintage accessories and personal touches come together to give your home a charming touch!

Designing A Space For Your Pet

Are you a pet-friendly household? When it comes to our pets, they are an important part of the family! Whether you are a new pet owner or have had your loving companion for years, your furry friend deserves a unique space within your home for them to call their own. This doesn’t mean you have to build an entirely new section to accommodate them. Instead, check out these design tips for how to turn any space into a pet-friendly dwelling.

  • Choose Your Space. When beginning your design, the first step is determining how much space you will need. Some parts of your home may be more pet-friendly than others, and it’s your decision where you’d like to create the sanctuary. Ideally, the spot you choose will be close to gathering spaces (think family and living rooms), but far enough away to give your pet some privacy if they need it. You don’t want to have their area directly within rooms that are highly populated, as this may be overwhelming when they are looking to escape the hectic times of the day. Choose a space that will make your pet feel safe and secure, even when they’re away from you.
  • Accessorize to Meet Your Pet’s Needs. From crate trained to free-roaming animals, we all have pets with different needs. If your pet has been trained to sleep in a crate, find some fun and cozy accessories to include inside. Soft blankets, a food and water bowls, and multiple toys are great things to make a create feel more like home. If your pet has passed the crate stage, accessorize in other ways throughout the room! Wall decorations will add a creative touch, and play toys can be organized in a toy chest or other colorful storage bin. Shelves also help you keep many items off the floor and allow you to maximize the space you are using. 
  • Color and Design Choices. One of the most important things to think about when designing a space for your pet is how your choices will impact their well-being. The expert Bothell, WA painters recommend bright, stimulating colors may encourage more playful activities, but at night when everyone is heading to bed, this isn’t the best time for play. Instead, find a way to incorporate fun colors in small aspects of the room, such as in play toys, wall decor or other accessories. If you are dedicating an entire room to your pet, opt for a softer, cool wall color, such as light blues, soft purples, or classic beiges and whites. Light versions of other colors, including yellows and greens, are also great choices, as long as the hues are not too harsh or bright.

Your pet is another member of your family and deserves a space designed to meet their needs. From full rooms to small nooks, there are many places within your home that you can turn into their very own getaway. Design aspects like color choices should encourage calm feelings, but accessories throughout the space may bring out the playful emotions. Have fun with your design and create something your pet is sure to love!

Summer Decorating Trends

Summer is just around the corner, which means many homeowners are gearing up to let the warm weather in. From vibrant colors to pleasant weather and plenty of sunshine, summer is a wonderful time of year that presents plenty of home decorating inspiration. Discover the best ways to incorporate the bright, welcoming feeling summer brings into your home décor.

  • Fun Foliage. No matter where you live, the trees, shrubs, and flowers on your property have surely started to bloom. Bring the warm hues of these botanicals into your interior decor. Incorporate a vibrant flower arrangement into your dining room by creating a centerpiece with freshly cut flowers from your garden. If you don’t want to have to replace the flowers, invest in a faux arrangement instead. You can find a variety of faux flower arrangements, wreaths, and swags to bring the vibrant colors of summer into your home.
  • Glowing Gold. Picture the sun setting over the bay at your favorite shore point. You can capture that gorgeous glow by incorporating gold accents into your home décor! Gold can bring a warm, inviting feeling to any room in your home. Be mindful that overusing gold can quickly become gaudy, so use it in moderation. Think gold accents in a room with seafoam green or navy blue elements for a subtle, nautical feel.
  • Lovely Lilac. While Millennial Pink is still being celebrated throughout interior design, Millennial Lilac is all the rage this summer! We can thank Pantone’s Color of the Year, Ultraviolet, for this boost in purple popularity. Lilac can help add depth and create visual interest in spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, according to the professional Huntington County painters.
  • Tantalizing Tropical. Draw on the inspiration of vintage tropical prints and use them throughout your home decor. These groovy vibes work well in small elements like lamp shades, throw pillows, and table runners. If you’re not a huge fan of tropical prints, you can still incorporate tropical elements, like citrus fruits or birds of paradise, throughout your home.

Welcome the summer season with these inspired decorating ideas! For more summer decorating trends, contact Jennifer Pysnack, a Syracuse, NY interior decorator.

Transitioning Your Teen Room to an Adult Bedroom

How to Choose a Headboard Style

If you’re an adult still living at home (or an adult that’s had to move back home for one reason or another), returning to your childhood bedroom can be a bit haunting. Fortunately, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can use to make the once tired space your own. Here are a few tips on how to update your teenage bedroom for your adult lifestyle.

Choose the right color scheme: Change up the bright color on the walls with a neutral option like beige, cream, gray, or even a soft black. Think about whether you prefer a space that is light and airy, or dark and cozy. Choose an unconventional neutral like Sherwin Williams colors, Window Pane (SW 6210) and Anjou Pear (SW 6381), or make a statement with Black Magic (SW 6991).  The color of your bedroom, like the colors you love to wear, can make you feel a range of emotions: happy, excited, inspired or even serene. Keep in mind that a bedroom is a place of rest and relaxation so pick something that works for you and the kind of space you want to create.

Incorporate accents – they’re everything: Match your desired color scheme with a printed rug, chrome lamp, or funky bedspread. Mixing things up with a bold print or color will bring out the inner-child in you and give the room a fresh look. Another great way to make the room look bigger is creating an accent wall with a unique color behind the headboard. For a less traditional accent wall, try wallpaper with stripes, geometric shapes, or small patterns. Inject your grown-up personality into space further by adding artwork to the empty the walls. Whether it’s paintings of flowers or a scenic view, anything that reflects what you love will work. If you’re more of a minimalist, repurpose old frames by painting them a solid color, like black or white, and hang them all over the walls.

Creating a space of your own takes a bit of drive and creativity. Visualize your new space and go from there. It will take some time, but in the end, it will all be worth it to make the space yours. Nervous about taking the plunge? Contact the experts at CertaPro Painters of King of Prussia today.

Choosing Decor For A Custom Home

custom home builders

You’ve hand-picked everything else in terms of the layout and design of your home – deciding on decor should be no different! Deanna Kovach, a Dover, DE interior decorator, shares some tips and tricks for choosing decor for your custom home.

  • Go bold with color. Paint is one of the most affordable tools in your design toolbox. Color can do so much for a space, whether that’s making it feel ten times larger, brighter, or simply more alive. To choose the color scheme that’s right, think about what the room will be used for. Is it a bedroom where you’ll be relaxing? Opt for calming colors in cool hues like lavender, eucalyptus, or sapphire. Is the space a dining room or basement that will be primarily used for entertaining? Warm, inviting tones, like clay or soft gold, will create a welcoming, homey atmosphere.
  • Choose unique furnishings. Furniture is one of the most important components in any home. It’s where you’ll rest, spend time with loved ones, and of course, snooze! With so many options to choose from, finding the furniture that’s right for your custom home is easy. Start by thinking about the room you’re furnishing. In a bedroom, you’ll want practical but comfortable pieces that make the room feel functional and cozy. In living areas like dens, basements, or sitting rooms, you’ll want plenty of comfortable seating, tabletops, and cabinet storage for odds and ends like books, movies, and games. Once you’ve considered the type of furniture each room will need, you can start to consider the way these pieces will look. Whether it’s an eclectic pattern on the upholstery or a unique shape, choose furniture that speaks to you!
  • Give every room a focal point. Each room in your home should feature an element that serves as a visual exclamation point. Something that will make friends and family stop and take notice. From a bold accent wall to a statement rug, there are many ways you can give each room its own flair. In a dining or living room, create a focal point with a large, elegant mirror. The frame can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. In the kitchen, let vibrant floral centerpieces or modern works of art steal the show. It all comes down to your personal tastes. If you love farmhouse decor, let that shine through the ways in which you dress up each space in your home.
  • Decide on the right floor accents. If you’ve chosen hardwood floors, dress them up with a decorative Persian rug. Opt for tile flooring? A plush throw rug can help to warm the space up a bit. Have you lined a room with wall-to-wall carpeting? You can use a decorative throw rug on top of it! Choose a pattern that features a color that compliments your carpeting. This helps add texture and dimension to a room.

You’ve invested a lot of time and money into your space – decorate it as such!

This post brought to you by Triumph Building Group, Montgomery County home builders.

Spring Home Decor

Spring is a time when the weather gets warmer, the flowers start to bloom, and we bring back the bright colors to decorate with in our home! There are tons of wonderful ways you can spruce up your home for the season, and bright colors are just the beginning. From storage solutions to wall decor and room accents, the possibilities are endless when it comes to spring home decor. Check out these fun ideas you can use in your home this spring. 

  • Spring Colors: A fresh pop of color is an easy way to bring a sense of joy into your home, right in time for spring! The expert painters in Greenville, SC recommend sticking to the lighter side of the color spectrum. Hues like blush pinks and pastels are a great choice and will blend well with neutral colors you have in your home like beiges and whites. Whether you paint an accent wall in one of these color options or simply include them in your decorative pieces, like cushions and throw blankets, adding pastel colors to your home will create a welcoming feel for any family or guests you entertain this spring.
  • Patterned Window Accents: Floral prints are a great way to add cheery vibes to any room in your home. Start with your drapery. Look for curtains in fun floral patterns to encourage positive, festive vibes throughout the room. The bright colors and busy patterns will bring a bit of the outdoors in, helping the room to feel more light and airy. If floral accents are too busy for you, consider less busy patterns that still feature exciting colors. You don’t have to go too bright with your choices, but you want to select a color or pattern that will elicit the happy feelings that come with the changes in weather and seasons, as well as dress up your space for spring.
  • Bring Nature Inside: The best parts of spring are the natural aspects, like blooming plants and flowers and plenty of sunlight. Embrace the season and bring these aspects indoors! Potted plants and flowers make great tabletop accessories, and you can add to these pieces to create a beautiful Easter dinner centerpiece. Simple potted flowers, such as tulips or daisies, bring a freshness to any room. For a more crafty idea, take a small birdbath and fill it with plants that are easy to maintain, such as moss and daffodils, for a miniature indoor garden.

The most important thing to remember about spring decor is to incorporate bright colors that are indicative of the natural beauty that comes with the season. Whether you freshen a room with a coat of paint or add simple accents to rooms throughout your home, let the season inspire your creativity and your home decor. For more spring decorating tips, contact the Valley Design Team, a group of Chagrin Falls, OH interior decorators

7 Quick & Easy Home Upgrades

Maintaining your home is one thing, but home improvement projects are important for retaining its value. Plus, upgrading your home helps to make it more aesthetically pleasing. While most of the time this is easier said than done, there are some quick fixes that you can work on to keep your home modern that won’t cost you a ton, brought to you by Amy Ahearn, a Williamsburg, VA interior decorator.

  1. Freshen up your paint. Repainting the walls in your house is a simple way to make your house appear more modern and lively that won’t break the bank.
  2. Pick up some new furniture. Simply getting rid of the old and incorporating new pieces into one or all of your rooms will make a huge difference in regards to how contemporary your home appears to be. Something as small as an ottoman can make all the difference.
  3. Invest in a smart thermostat. A programmable thermostat makes dealing with fluctuating weather throughout the seasons much more tolerable. Smart thermostats let you program your preferences – for instance, you can set a temperature but have it rise or lower based on the time of the day. If you’re in the market to sell your home, this small addition to your home makes it much more attractive to potential buyers.
  4. Add a backsplash to your kitchen. A backsplash can give your kitchen a more polished look. It also makes maintenance easier. If you spill anything on your walls while cooking or prepping food, cleanup on a tile backsplash will is a breeze when compared to trying to scrub down your bare walls.
  5. Install a low-flow showerhead. Low-flow showerheads are beneficial not to just the environment, but to your water bill as well. The flow rate is slower than standard showerheads, thus cutting back on how much water you are actually using. This leads to savings on your water bill each month!
  6. Create a landscape or garden. Whether you are looking to grow your own vegetables or just plant a few flowers, landscaping or gardening will help liven up your home’s outdoor appearance. In addition, gardening has proven to be great for relieving stress and clearing your head.
  7. Choose new window treatments. Adding new window treatments in your home is an easy way to revive the appearance of any room. With blinds, drapes, curtains, and shades to choose from, it’s easy to achieve the look you are going for in no time.

Follow these suggestions for a quick and easy way to revive your home this year! For more home improvement suggestions, contact the experts at CertaPro Painters of Southern New Hampshire.

Creating An In-Home Yoga Studio

If you need a place to practice your sun salutations but can’t always find time to make it to the studio, you may want to consider creating a space for yoga in your very own home. What could be better than a multi-functioning room where you can practice yoga, meditate, or just relax whenever you please? It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a trained yogi – the room itself will exude peace and simplicity. Here’s how to create an in-home yoga studio.

  • Choose the room. In order to get the most out of your practice, set up shop in a room that’s free of distractions. An empty, open space will allow you to keep a zen mindset while you go through your Vinyasas. If you don’t have a spare room available, use an area in your home where you can shift furnishings around. Maybe you have a walk-in closet capable of fitting a yoga mat, or maybe you can move a few pieces around in your home office. No matter where you find space in your home, ensuring you’re comfortable is essential.
  • Set the atmosphere. Adjustable lighting is paramount in any home yoga studio, according to Jennifer Jones, an interior designer in Conroe, TX. If the room features a window, let the natural light pour into the space. Use double bracket curtain rods so that you can hang sheer and room darkening curtains to control the light as needed. If the room you’re using as your studio is windowless, install a light dimmer so you can adjust the lighting. Another variable you’ll want to be in control of is the temperature. Some people love a hot yoga session, while others may want a breeze blowing through the window. Consider this factor when choosing your in-home studio.
  • Acquire the equipment. You can’t have a functioning yoga studio without the proper equipment. For starters, you’ll need a mat. If the room you chose is carpeted, you can place a wood board underneath your mat for a firmer surface. Use a yoga towel so you don’t slip and slide on your mat once in your in the thick of that day’s practice. You may also want to invest in blocks and straps to help stay grounded and with flexibility. Lastly, place a portable speaker in the room so you can do your flow with a yoga-inspired playlist.
  • Pick out the décor. Though minimalism is best in a yoga studio, there are ways you can add décor without going overboard. Choose elements that are going to jive with your vibe. If your practice focuses on meditation, hang tapestries on the walls and incorporate various candles and incense into your decor. If you enjoy checking your form while you practice, line one wall with mirrors. Color is another important consideration for your at-home yoga space. Lehigh Valley painters recommend soothing colors in shades of lilac, cerulean, or a vibrant white. If neutral is more your style, various shades of gray can create a tranquil yoga space.

It doesn’t take a lot to create your own yoga oasis. You can push aside furniture or create an entire studio –  when it comes to designing the space of your dreams, it truly comes down to your personal choices!

Interested in becoming a trained yoga therapist so you can help people right within your home (or their own)? Breathing Deeply offers yoga therapy classes to become a yoga therapist, where you can earn your certification to help those with chronic pain disorders, anxiety, depression, and more.

Home Upgrades: A Romantic Touch

Home upgrades are fun ways for individuals to add a personal touch to their home, which can vary based on a person’s style needs and preferences. At some point, however, we all long for a little bit of a romantic atmosphere within our home. From warm color options to simple accessories, check out these tips on how to add a little romance to your home decor. 

  • Roses are Red: With so many color options to choose from, it should be no surprise that one of the easiest ways to achieve the ideal mood and tone for your home is through a color scheme update! If you’re looking to build on a romantic setting in just one room, the expert Flower Mound painters recommend a simple upgrade to the color of your walls. Combine warm reds, soft pinks, and deep neutral beiges to enhance the atmosphere in the best way possible. Paint an entire room deep red to add warmth and comfort, or add in an accent wall to a dark beige color scheme for a fun pop of color that will make your heart flutter. Lighter colors, such as pinks and whites, can be added in as accents or within the furniture, such as through pillows or bedding.
  • Accent Your Heart Out: Accents are the most universal way to liven up any space. In the case of turning your room or home into a romantic getaway, the accents you choose must match this aesthetic. Sticking with the warm red, light pink and deep beige color scheme, look for accents that enhance this palette. Blankets and throws are a comfortable choice and, with the right material, provide a relaxing, snuggly option for watching a movie or reading a book. In addition, accents that offer an uplifting feeling to your sense of smell, such as candles or diffusers, will tie everything together from the moment you walk through the door. Scents such as lavender and jasmine are perfect for those relaxing thoughts and feelings after a long day.
  • Wooden Details: When you think ‘romantic’, the idea of wood doesn’t come directly to mind. However, worn wooden details will add an unexpected romantic touch to any home design. Find a chair with a carved wood back and add a whitewashed finish to achieve the worn look, which will be a conversation piece as well as a beautiful ‘antique’ looking seating option. Find antique wood pieces at thrift shops or yard sales that you can give new life to throughout your home design. Often, these types of furnishings are unique, amplifying their romantic qualities. 

 

Adding a romantic touch to your home doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. By finding a beautiful color option, including warm accessories, and customizing pieces to offer a more rustic look, you can turn your home into the romantic getaway you’ve been dreaming of!

For more help bringing romantic accents into your home, contact Sandra Burroughs and Allison Fikejs, Overland Park, KS interior decorators.

Creating A Budget A Home Improvement Project

Home renovations can be stressful, take more time to complete than you anticipate, and wind up costing you a fortune if you aren’t careful. To ensure that your home improvement project doesn’t become a money pit, it’s essential to create a plan before the remodeling begins. More importantly, you should come up with a budget. Not sure where to start? Here are tips on creating a budget for your next home improvement project.

  • Come up with an estimated figure. Imagine your dream renovation and how much it would cost. Now, come down to reality and decide where you’re going to begin. Will it be a single room? An entire floor? Just a paint job? If you can’t determine how big or small the renovation is going to be, work backward. Think of a dollar amount that makes sense for you to spend at this time – that will help you figure out what your priorities are.
  • Consider taking money from your savings or financing. Once you have a number you’re comfortable with, you must decide if you can afford to pay for the renovations out of pocket or if you need to finance the project. If you have the money saved and can pay with cash up front, that’s great- no interest! If you don’t have the money, talk to a financial advisor and decide what the best option is for you. The three most common borrowing options are: a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan, or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Choose a plan that has a low-interest rate and one that you will be able to keep up with month-to-month.
  • Find a contractor that fits the scope of the project (and your budget). Now that you’re getting to closer to the number you are going to spend, it’s time to start getting quotes from contractors. When interviewing potential contractors, make sure they’re licensed, have reviews and references, and a portfolio of their work. With a contractor, the work will get done quickly and efficiently, but it will cost more than if you were to go the DIY-route. If the estimate prices you’re receiving seem outrageous, it may be smarter to do the work on your own.
  • Itemize what you need. Start from the beginning. What’s it going to take to complete this home improvement project? Create a spreadsheet and include everything from inspection costs to a roll of duct tape. When you have everything written down and in one place, it’s easier to see where your money is going. Whether you’ve hired a contractor or are doing it yourself, you should still create this list to keep your budget on track.

Is the home improvement you imagined bigger than what you can afford? Consider tackling a smaller portion of the project first like simply painting a room. You should also leave room for mistakes. You never know when an unexpected problem is going to occur or if something winds up costing you more than you had hoped. Leave room in the budget for these mistakes and you won’t be surprised along the way.

This post brought to you by Bohnne Jones, an interior decorator in Brentwood, TN.