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The Beginner’s Guide to Removable Wallpaper

March 22, 2019 by admin

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You may have heard about the removable wallpaper trend and be curious about it. What is it? How does it work? Is it a good fit for my home? These are all common questions that we hear about this product. To that end, we created the beginner’s guide to removable wallpaper. Read on to learn more about this product and how to tell if it’s a good fit for you.

These days, removable wallpaper is also known as wall decals. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

What is removable wallpaper?

Removable wallpaper is a growing trend in the world of interior design. Renters no longer have to worry about losing their security deposit because they customized the unit to their personal tastes. Nor do homeowners have to worry about keeping up with changing trends. Removable wallpaper is the temporary decorating option that allows you to bring a touch of personality to your walls without making any permanent commitments.

As the name suggests, removable wallpaper is a piece of decor that adheres to your wall, Yet you can also easily remove it when you’re done with it. You may know this product under another name: wall decals. However, today’s company’s are working hard to ensure that their designs look as modern as possible and fit in with today’s trends.

Removable wallpaper simply sticks onto the wall. Image: Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

How removable wallpaper works

The easiest way to describe how removable wallpaper works is to compare it to a sticker. Most companies use a low-tack adhesive paired with a sheet of backing that allows you to use the peel-and-stick method for installation. You can adhere removable wallpaper to the walls of your home in much the same way you would a sticker or any other kind of adhesive material.

One thing that’s important to note here is the condition of your walls will play a big role in how your end product looks. If your walls have holes in them or are otherwise pock-marked — think popcorn ceilings — those imperfections are visible underneath the wallpaper. Your best bet is to use this product on smoothly painted surfaces.

There are a few things to consider when using this material. Image: Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

Removable wallpaper considerations

Now that you know a little more about removable wallpaper and how it works, it’s important to focus on using it the right way. Here are a few crucial considerations to keep in mind as you shop for wallpaper to install in your home.

Don’t skimp on aesthetics

With removable wallpaper, aesthetics are a priority. In addition to choosing a print you love, you should also double-check to make sure that the size of the print fits with the size of the room. Also, check that the colors used in the print match your color scheme as a whole.

There’s also the quality of the paper itself to consider. Ideally, you want to choose a product that is textured so it looks and feels like real wallpaper. Since most removable wallpaper companies are online and it can be hard to get a sense of texture through a computer screen, we recommend asking for a sample of the paper to be sent to you before you buy.

Take measurements twice

Like traditional wallpaper, removable wallpaper is often sold in panels. You will need to know both the measurements of the room and the panels themselves in order to know how much paper you’ll need for your project. Tread carefully when taking your measurements and do them twice so you can be sure that you’ve gotten the right result.

As always, we suggest ordering slightly more than you think you’ll need to account for any mistakes during the installation process.

Have a second pair of hands (and eyes) for the install

Yes, the peel-and-stick method seems easy. However, the reality is that removable wallpaper is much bigger than a traditional sticker and is also much more unwieldy. It can be helpful to have more than one person on hand during the installation process. We suggest having one person place the panel on its spot on the wall while the other pulls the end of the panel taut and smooths down.

In addition to providing an extra pair of hands, a second person will also be helpful in verifying that the panels line up correctly with one and other. If you’re ever unsure of how your final product will end up looking, take a step back and take in the project from afar. Sometimes all you need is a little distance to give you perspective.

Carefully make adjustments if needed

Nobody’s perfect, so it’s safe to assume that a mistake will occur at some point during the installation process. The advantage of removable wallpaper is that it makes these issues easy to fix. Often, all it takes to correct a mistake is to carefully peel the decal away from the wall. From there, you can either replace the panel or shift it into the correct position.

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Rethink Your Space: How to Love Where You Live Now

March 21, 2019 by admin

Feeling a little envious after that HGTV marathon? Wishing your home was different after checking out your friend’s new digs? It happens to the best of us. The caveat to paging through idea books online or binge-watching home shows is that it can make your space feel less than. The truth is that no home is perfect. Chances are the homeowners living in your so-called dream home wish they could make some changes, too.

The thing is, you don’t need to renovate or rebuild your dream home. By rethinking the way you use your space, you can love your place now. Your home’s pain points might actually be solved with clever organization and thinking outside the box.

Rethink your space and you won’t have to wish your home away. Your dream home might be right underneath your nose — or at least under that old area rug. Here are a few ways to rethink your space and fall in love with your home all over again.

Edit your stuff

Displaying your stuff in a thoughtful way helps you love your space. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

What feels like a cramped living situation might just be a case of too much stuff. Taking the time to edit your stuff can free up square footage and help you better streamline the rest of your home. Feeling overwhelmed? Start with the most doable space: your linen closet. Crack it open, dejunk it and assess how you use it. Is it really best utilized for pillowcases or could it serve a better purpose? What is now an underutilized linen closet could make a great pantry or craft space instead.

Once you’ve tackled that, move onto bigger and better things. Get rid of the stuff you don’t use and keep the things that serve a true purpose. Stuff that is outdated, useless or in the way? Pass it on to someone who can give it some love.

Repurpose your rooms

Repurpose rooms for the way you live. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

You might not hate your home’s layout; maybe you just hate the way your home is being used. Just because typical homes have a formal dining room doesn’t mean that’s how you have to use it. If you’re only using your dining room for two big dinners a year, yet your kids’ toys are all over the house, is your home really being utilized properly?

Think beyond the usual in how you purpose your rooms. A dining room might make more sense as a study. An unused craft room could be a great laundry space. That empty guest room? It could be better utilized as a playroom.

Stop thinking resale

Open concept rustic living room and kitchen

Don’t worry about resale value if you’re sticking around. Image: Breadmaker/Shutterstock

Resale value is definitely important, especially if you see your home as an investment. If you know you’ll be staying in your home for the long haul, however, it’s okay to stop making decisions based on resale value. Another homeowner might not love changes you make, but if it works for you and your family, do what makes sense. If you do decide to sell your home down the road, chances are you can reverse the changes or stage rooms differently. Trying to please everyone when you’re the one living in your home can make you crazy. Style, rethink, design and organize your home for the way you live today.

Carve the space

Create zones for an open layout home. Image: Breadmaker/Shutterstock

Open concept homes are the biggest thing in home design, but they can make some things a challenge. Trying to entice a teen to finish homework in a noisy kitchen or trying to watch the game with a busy toddler can make open concept layouts feel hectic. If you feel like you have too many rooms doing too many things, try carving up the space.

Using things like bookshelves, furniture and even screens can help you divide up space in a non-permanent way. Then, you can assess and rearrange as needed to make sure your home is a place you love. A dedicated television watching space, a clear delineation between kitchen and living rooms — these small changes can help you relieve some of those pain points in a less-than-ideal layout.

Utilize every nook

Use up every inch of your home. Image: mavo/Shutterstock

Lusting after laundry rooms and romanticizing a reading nook in other homes can make your space feel like it’s all work and no play. What makes custom and luxury homes feel special aren’t always the main living spaces, but the little extras. By having room for specific activities, custom homes give families the most customized vibe.

But you don’t need to start demolition to get the spaces you want. Just rethink your nooks and crannies. You can have dedicated — albeit small — custom spaces in almost any home. That walk-in closet can become a crafter’s paradise. A mudroom can become your kids’ command center. Even a stair landing can become a comfortable reading nook with a chair and lamp. You might not be able to dedicate entire spaces to your family’s hobbies and lifestyle, but odds are you can find corners and crannies that work just as well.

Sure, watch your favorite home show for inspiration, but don’t let it get you down. You might dream of a two-story fireplace and shiplap everything in your future home, but you can still love where you live today. Rethink your space, get creative and add touches that make your house perfect for you and your family and you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the home you’ve made.

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These Are The 4 Color Rules That Every Interior Design Fan Needs To Know

March 7, 2019 by admin

Color is often the most difficult part of a room for interior design fans to get right. That’s because colors are fickle. There are so many shades to choose from and they need to be put together in the right proportions. Otherwise, they won’t work together in harmony. Luckily, there are a few color rules that you can use to make sure your colors look balanced every time. We’ve listed them below. Read them over to master color in interior design once and for all.

The 60-30-10 rule helps rooms feel balanced and visually interesting. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

The 60-30-10 rule

The 60-30-10 rule is any interior design fan’s best friend. No matter what your personal aesthetic may be or what you want your room to look like, you can use this rule to help make sure that your color palette stays balanced. In this setup, you’ll use three colors. 60, 30 and 10 refer to the percentages of your design that each will make up.

Here’s how it works: first, you’ll choose one shade to be your dominant shade and take up approximately 60 percent of the room. Usually, this will be a neutral or some type of subdued hue that can take up a lot of space without feeling overwhelming. Next will be your secondary color, which is typically a bit bolder and takes up about 30 percent of the space. Finally, your accent color is your boldest shade and should make up the remaining 10 percent.

Take the photo above, for example. In this case, greige is the dominant color. You can see it on the walls and the sofa. Then, black is the secondary color. It’s on the bookshelf, side table, pillows and dining chair and in the rug. Finally, coral is the accent shade. That can be seen in the throw pillows and potted plants.

Using warm or cool colors will set the tone for your space. Image: Marina_D/Shutterstock

Warm vs. cool colors

The phrase “warm vs. cool colors” refers to where specific shades fall on the color wheel. Traditionally, shades like red, orange and yellow are thought of as warm colors because they are more vibrant. However, neutrals like brown and tan are also included in the mix. On the other side of the spectrum are the cool colors, or blue, green and purple, as well as gray.

The choice of warm or cool colors will affect the energy of the space. Since warm colors tend to bring an upbeat and welcoming feel to a room, they’re best in entertaining spaces. Think about using these shades in your dining room or kitchen. Cool colors, on the other hand, are more subdued. They work best in bedrooms and office spaces, where a calming energy is appreciated.

Complementary colors are across from each other on the color wheel. Image: Africa Studio/Shutterstock

The complementary color scheme

Of all the color rules that interior designers use, the complementary color scheme is often thought of as the simplest. That’s because this color scheme only involves two shades. In particular, it uses two shades that are sitting directly opposite each other on the color wheel, meaning you get combinations like blue and orange, yellow and purple or red and green.

As you can see from the photo above, these color pairings are extremely high contrast, which means that — while they undoubtedly bring a strong energy into the space — they’re ultimately best used in small doses. You should think of them as your accent colors and use plenty of neutrals to balance them out and provide a place for the eye to rest.

Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

The analogous color scheme

If you have trouble navigating the color wheel, an analogous color scheme might be for you. For this one, all you have to do is pick a central color, then also use the colors on either side of it. Here, two colors will be primary colors and the third will be a mix of the two. For example, red, orange and yellow or red, purple and blue.

Since you’re using three colors in this one, proportion will come in handy to make sure the space feels balanced. You may want to incorporate the 60-30-10 rule again to keep your proportions in check. And remember, you can always use different shades of the same color as another way to create visual variety.

Interestingly, if you’re not a big fan of vibrant hues, you can also do an analogous color scheme using neutrals. Typically, this is referred to as a monochromatic color scheme. Here, all you need to do is mix black, white and gray together to create a sleek, modern look.

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Entryway Design Tips: 6 Ways to Make an Entrance in Your Home

March 2, 2019 by admin

While often overlooked, the entryway might be one of the most important spaces in your home. After all, it’s the place that welcomes people into your home and, in some cases, might be the only part that visitors see. So why treat your entryway like a total afterthought? You can use clever design features to get organized, brighten the space and make the best first impression possible. Go beyond the welcome mat and make sure your entryway says exactly what you want. Follow these design tips to really make an entrance with your front entryway.

Everything in its place

Cut the clutter with smart storage solutions. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

If you’re like most homeowners, your entryway can get a little cluttered. As the landing place for kids, guests and even pets, it’s all too easy to let piles stack up. The best design tip for your entry is to make sure that everything has a place. Be realistic when planning out your foyer: if you tend to drop your mail when you walk in the door, make sure it has a place to go. Sure, in a perfect world your kids would hang their backpacks in their room, but a couple of hooks in the entry can keep them off of the floor. Even a place to stash shoes out of the way means you’re not tripping over boots and flip flops–and a shoe bin doesn’t need to be perfectly organized. Think about how you and your family uses the entryway and get organized.

Offer a seat

A bench makes a comfortable place to take off shoes. Image: Svet_Feo/Shutterstock

One thing that most entryways tend to miss is a place to sit. Naturally, you’re not going to invite people to pull up a chair in your front foyer. Still, a place to sit gives a convenient place to slip on shoes or sort through the mail when coming and going. What’s more, a bench can double as a clever storage solution for shoes and jackets to help cut down on clutter. Look for a bench with shelving or one that hinges open to make your entryway comfortable and convenient.

Look up

Use wall space to set the tone for your house. Image: Vadym Andrushchenko/Shutterstock

Your entryway is the perfect place to define your style. While it might be a tighter area, you can capitalize on wall and ceiling space to bring in some extra style. A statement chandelier, for example, can give guests an idea of your home’s style. Or, a grouping of picture frames can add some interest to the walls. Travel much? Your foyer walls are the perfect place to display shadow boxes, mementos, and souvenirs so visitors get an idea of what’s important to you.

Define the space

Use a rug to define the space. Image: Ambient Ideas/Shutterstock

If you live in an open concept home, a front entryway can be tricky. Without a clear definition between the foyer area and the rest of the home, you could be left scratching your head. Defining the space with color and furniture lets visitors know where the entry ends and the home begins. Stage your entry with furniture so there’s a clear delineation between it and the rest of your home. A well-placed bookcase or table gives a place to set keys or a bench and locker set shows guests where to stash their stuff. Entryway too small for furniture? Utilize a bold color or even wallpaper to bring attention to the foyer without clutter.

Reflect light

Use mirrors to open up a tight space. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Entryways are notoriously tight in some homes and others can suffer from a lack of light. Bounce some brightness into the entry by utilizing mirrors to reflect light. This works especially well if your front door features windows. By angling a mirror directly across the source of light, you can essentially double down on whatever natural brightness you have to make your entry feel larger and airier.

Invite guests

Front entry with bench and storage entryway

Give visitors a place to stash their stuff. Image:
Michael Higginson/Shutterstock

Remember that your entryway should serve as a way to welcome guests into your home. Make sure that it gives the right impression and help your guests always feel comfortable. Offer a defined place to put things so that guests aren’t left holding coats and shoes. Diffusing essential oils or lighting a candle ensures your home smells as great as it looks. Keeping necessities like phone chargers, ice scrapers and umbrellas at the ready means you always have what visitors need on hand.

Take a look around your entryway and ask yourself: does this foyer say what I want it to? When you start thinking of your entryway as a personal space (and not just a place to drop your stuff) you can start to see how visitors feel when they walk through your front door. Focus on comfort and style to make sure your entryway really makes an entrance.

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How to Create the Perfect Gallery Grid in Your Home

February 14, 2019 by admin

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When an old interior design trend gets a makeover, it’s like a breath of fresh air. The gallery grid, a new take on the gallery wall, is the latest. Keep reading to learn all about this twist on a classic. See why it works so well and how to recreate the look on your own. Trust us when we say that you won’t want to miss out on this one.

A gallery grid is a new take on the gallery wall. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

What is a gallery grid?

In interior design, all trends are cyclical. The gallery grid is no different. With this comeback, we see a more refined version of the gallery wall. While the traditional gallery wall was all about eclectic curation and placement, the gallery grid offers a more tailored take on displaying wall art.

Gallery grids are all about structure. While the display can involve any type of artwork, the way in which you hang them is key. Gallery grids can be vertical or horizontal and involve two rows or ten. But they must feature evenly-hung prints that come together to form either a square or a rectangle.

This type of gallery wall is a bit more structured. Image: Mtlapcevic/Shutterstock

Why this look works

Standard gallery walls are great, especially if you like the eclectic look, but they can get a little bit unruly. Before you know it, a whole wall is covered in a hodge-podge of different artworks that have very little – if anything – tying them together. Believe it or not, having to take in all that stimuli is actually overwhelming to us, psychologically.

It all has to do with the way in which our brains process information. According to Gestalt Psychology, though our eyes take in separate pieces of information, our brains boil all of it down into a singular, simpler and recognizable pattern. With a traditional gallery wall, this may be impossible. A gallery grid, however, makes it easy.

In fact, gallery grids are based on repeating patterns. For one thing, no matter how many pieces of artwork are used, it’s always an even number. There’s also a coordinating color scheme or topic that brings the individual pieces of artwork together. Pattern recognition is very easy with these arrangements, which is why we tend to see them as more aesthetically pleasing.

This type of gallery wall is a bit more structured. Image: Mtlapcevic/Shutterstock

How to pull off your own gallery grid

Now that you know what this trend is and why it works, the next step is learning how to put one of your own together. Though this process is fairly simple, we have a few tips that you can keep in mind to help ensure that your gallery grid comes out looking great every time.

Find a theme

The first step in designing a gallery grid is selecting the different pieces of artwork that you intend to use. Rather than just choosing any piece you like, you’re going to want to build this arrangement around a theme. You can go with a topical or color-driven theme, but you must have some sort of common thread to tie the look together.

Work in even numbers

Like we said above, your gallery wall can be as big or as small as your heart desires. It can have as many rows and columns as you’d like. However, if there’s one rule that you absolutely must follow, it’s that your grid must contain an even number of artworks. It will not work otherwise.

Measure, measure, measure

When putting up a gallery grid, measuring is the secret to success. Not only does it need to include an even number of pieces, but each of those pieces should be evenly spaced. Even spacing will ensure greater symmetry and keep the finished product looking polished. In this case, don’t eyeball it, break out your tape measure.

What do you think of the gallery grid trend? Let us know in the comments.

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Bored With Your Interiors? Here Are 4 Inexpensive Ways To Get Out Of Your Interior Design Rut

February 11, 2019 by admin

It happens to the best of us. Sometimes, despite our best intentions of creating a visually interesting room, we get stuck in an interior design rut. When this happens, there’s no other choice than to shake things up and do your best to create a new look. Luckily, this process doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. We’ve brought you four inexpensive ways to breathe new life into your interiors. Read on below to see how you can make it happen.

Try rearranging the furniture. Image: Jodie Johnson/Shutterstock

Rearrange your rooms

It may sound simple, but sometimes all you have to do to create a new look is rearrange your existing furniture and accessories. To start, stick with one room at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed, but consider anything in that room fair game for a change. Rework the layout of the furniture. Put your accessories in different spots. Switch up the artwork on the walls.

The key to making this work is keeping an open mind. Sometimes a new layout can feel so strange and out of place that it can be tempting to immediately set your layout back to the way it was before. We’d advise you to wait at least a few days before giving into this urge. It may take a few days to get used to your new setup, but you’ll likely find that you’re glad you waited it out.

Edit out any unnecessary clutter. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Practice editing

In interior design, sometimes less is more. We’ve already talked about why every room needs to include some negative space and now is the perfect time to make good on that resolution. Think about giving the room a new look by editing out some of the unnecessary clutter, especially if you’re the type of person who likes to hang onto lots of odds and ends.

To do this, go around the room and pick up any items that you think might be considered clutter, one at a time. Then, ask yourself: What purpose is this serving in the room? If you don’t have an easy answer for the item, it might be time to consider donating the piece or tossing it out if it’s in bad shape. In the end, you should have a cleaner-looking, streamlined version of the space.

Stylize your surfaces to help the room look finished and purposeful. Image: Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock

Style your surfaces

Stylizing your surfaces is a great way to freshen up the look of a room. After all, it’s one trick interior designers use to really finish off the space and to make a design look purposeful. If you have bare tables and shelves hanging around your home, you can use them to bring your interiors to the next level. Best of all, depending on what decor items and accessories you have laying around the house, you might not need to spend any money to make this happen.

This maneuver is all about creating groupings. When in doubt, follow the rule of three. Odd-numbered groupings create more visual interest than even-numbered groupings. In particular, three seems to be the ideal number for a grouping as opposed to one, five or even seven because a single item might feel too simple while the latter two run the risk of appearing overly cluttered.

When selecting items to go in your grouping, you want to ensure that they’re different enough to create visual interest while still having a common thread to tie them together. Take the picture above, for instance. While all the accessories have varying shapes, they have a unifying monochromatic color scheme.

When in doubt, switch out your accessories. Image: New Africa/Shutterstock

Swap out your accessories

This last one might cost you a little, but when you’re really in an interior design rut, swapping out accessories is a surefire way to breathe new life into the space. Best of all, even though a few throw pillows and some wall art are an expense, they cost pennies on the dollar compared to redoing the room from top to bottom. When you think about it, you’re still being thrifty.

The key here is to concentrate on bringing accessories into the space that will really make an impact. Choose ones that come in a bold accent color or bring in a dose of pattern. Of course, it almost goes without saying that you also want these new accessories to be different from your old ones in order to create a fresh look.

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These 16 Gorgeous Home Office Design Ideas will give you Total Workspace Envy

February 7, 2019 by admin

Even though your office space will largely be used for work, there’s no reason for it to be strictly utilitarian. We wholeheartedly believe that offices and workspaces can be a beautifully-designed feature of your home. All it takes to come up with stylish office design ideas is a little forethought and planning.

With that in mind, we’ve brought you 16 gorgeous office design ideas to help inspire you. Look them over, in addition to our helpful tips and tricks for putting together the perfect office space, and we guarantee that you’ll be ready to give your space a major makeover.

Follow these tips and tricks to design the ideal office space for you. Image: SeventyFour/Shutterstock

Tips for creating the perfect office space

Too often when people design a home office, they get stuck on the idea that the space has to be totally utilitarian. However, we believe that in order for you to love spending time in your office, there needs to be a good mix of functionality and personality in the space. Follow these office design ideas to create an office space that you won’t want to leave.

Create focus areas: Your office doesn’t have to be simply a desk and a chair. You can create individual focus areas for the different tasks you need to accomplish. Consider adding a seating area if you meet with clients or a reading nook for going over paperwork.
Invest in seating: Seating is the most important element of any office, as it’s how you’ll spend the bulk of your time. Make sure to splurge on the chair that feels most comfortable to you.
Bring in plenty of lighting: Nothing’s worse than squinting over paperwork. Do your best to add plenty of lighting to the space so that seeing clearly is never an issue. Remember AAT – Accent, Ambient and Task lighting make for a well-lit space.
Don’t forget your personality: Finally, your office should feel like a space that’s uniquely your own. Remember to bring in a sense of your personality through the colors and prints that you use, as well as accessories like wall art and décor items.

Check out these swoon-worthy office design ideas

Normally, we’d advise against having your furniture line the walls. However, when you’re working with dual desks you can use the whole room to facilitate the feeling that each person has his or her own space. Image: PlusONE/Shutterstock

The goal with any office is to make the time you spend working as enjoyable as possible. Whenever possible, treat yourself to a beautiful view. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Don’t think that using a formal desk and chair is the only way to set-up an office. You can customize your office layout to fit whatever type of work you’re doing. Image: jovana veljkovic/Shutterstock

t’s not about the space you have, it’s about how you use it. Even if you don’t have a formal office, you can still find space to build a workspace that works. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

This workspace proves that size doesn’t matter. Even with the smallest of square footage, you can still design an office space that you’re happy to be working in. Image: Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

Consider a sliding door rather than the traditional option to give your office a more modern vibe. Image: Zastolskiy Victor/Shutterstock

Having a proper seating area is important to any office space. This is especially true if you ever plan on hosting clients or other visitors. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

The area above your desk should always be well-lit so that you can see what you’re working on. Think about including a light fixture that will do double-duty by also adding aesthetic value to the room. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

If you really want to get fancy, consider creating an office that can be hidden from sight when it’s out of use. That way, when work is done it’s out of sight, out of mind. Image: Monkey Business Images

Like every other room in your home, your office needs to have a focal point. The wall behind your desk is a natural choice. Think about making it an accent wall or adding a shelf. Image: Breadmaker/Shutterstock

Built-in bookcases are office classics. However, if you don’t have the budget for that, don’t worry. You can recreate a similar look by placing two free-standing bookcases side-by-side. Image: PlusONE/Shutterstock

This space proves that it’s not only possible, but downright fashionable, to have two workspaces side-by-side. Don’t be afraid to share your space with a roommate or family member. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Your office chair is the most important piece of furniture you’ll buy for this room. Do your best to pick out one that you love. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Your office is your space. Make sure you’re happy there by designing it to your personal style. As you can see, this office’s owner went Scandinavian, but your options are limitless. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

No office would be complete without a place to display accessories. Make sure you have some somewhere to include a little bit of décor in the space. Doing so helps the space feel purposefully designed. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

What are your favorite office design ideas? Do you have a home office you want to show off? Let us know in the comments.

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These 4 Living Room Trends for 2019 will Inspire your Next Home Design Project

January 31, 2019 by admin

Every year, new trends hit the interior design landscape and 2019 is no different. In particular, this year there is an emphasis on living room trends. We’ve decided to take a closer look at them today. Read on to learn about these new living room trends and tips on how to make these looks work in your home. Believe us when we say that you’ll fall in love with these popular design statements.

The bolder, the better when it comes to furniture colors this year. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Colorful seating

If there’s one trend this year that’s totally eye-catching, it’s the colorful seating trend. These days, sofas, accent chairs and barstools all come in an array of bold shades that we haven’t seen in a while. In particular, jewel tones – such as ruby red, emerald green and sapphire blue – are the hues that are turning heads.

If you’re going to embrace the colorful seating trend, there is one thing that you need to keep in mind. Whichever item of furniture you choose to make colorful, it needs to be the statement piece of the room. Be sure to balance out the bold hues by using lots of neutral tones in the other areas of your design. Neutral shades will give the eye a place to rest and help keep the design, as a whole, from feeling overwhelming.

Everything gets a splash of color this year, even the ceiling. Image: Artazum/Shutterstock

Statement ceilings

Statement ceilings have fallen in and out of favor over the years and it looks like they’re set to make a big comeback. However, this time, the trends are skewing darker than they have before. There’s an emphasis on dark browns, blacks and grays that hasn’t been as prevalent in the past. We have to say that we’re loving it.

However, you should not let those colors be the only ones in your design roster. The key, here, is that you incorporate colors that you’ve used in other applications throughout the room, much like you see in the picture above. In addition, you should also consider using materials beyond paint. Wallpaper or temporary wall decals will make a fine statement on your ceiling.

When it comes to art, make it big. Image: ImageFlow/Shutterstock

Large-scale wall art

In 2019, artwork is also set to make a big splash. In particular, we’re seeing an emphasis on large-scale prints. Just like the color trends that we’re seeing this year, current wall art styles are big, bold, and in-your-face. These days, it’s not uncommon to see prints that take up the better portion of an entire wall as the focal point of the room.

If you’re worried about picking a piece of wall art that works, take a look at our artwork sizing guide. However, conventional wisdom states that artwork should take up four-sevenths of the wall on which it is placed. To figure those dimensions, start by measuring the length and width of the wall. Then, multiply each number by 0.571, which is four-sevenths as a decimal.

Take seating arrangements to the next level. Image: United photo studio/Shutterstock

Purposeful arrangements

The last trend we’re talking about today is purposefully arranging furniture. Gone are the days where it’s acceptable to shove a couch up against the wall and leave a cavern of space in the middle of the room. The coming year will be all about creating room layouts that make sense from a functional standpoint, as well as looking aesthetically-pleasing to the eye.

In terms of what constitutes a functional layout where living rooms are concerned, it’s all about creating an inviting seating area. Start by adding an appropriately-sized area rug to help ground the space. This also adds more visual interest to the room. Then, arrange your seating around a central focal point like a fireplace or television.

What do you think of these living room trends for 2019? Let us know in the comments.

The post These 4 Living Room Trends for 2019 will Inspire your Next Home Design Project appeared first on Freshome.com.

4 Simple Ways To Use Wallpaper In A Bedroom To Create A Fresh Look

January 30, 2019 by admin

Lots of people have tried to use wallpaper in a bedroom, but only a few know how to utilize this material to its fullest potential. Wallpaper shouldn’t just be thrown up as a way to do away with blank walls. Rather, it should be a major player in the design of the room as a whole.

To that end, we’ve brought you four fresh and simple ways to use wallpaper in a bedroom. Look them over to see which suggestions will work best in your bedroom’s design. With any luck, the wallpaper may just become your favorite feature of the whole room.

Let your wallpaper dictate your color palette. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Set the color palette

One way to use wallpaper in your bedroom is to have it set the color palette for the entire project. For example, you can see that the picture above features a chic monochromatic palette. In it, everything from the wallpaper to the blankets, bedding and throw pillows come together to form a cohesive look.

If you decide to go this route, the key is to pick out a wallpaper that you love first. Then, build the rest of the room around it. While you can, of course, go with any aesthetic that you’d like, remember that the size of the pattern is important. It should be in proportion with the size of the room. Bigger rooms can handle bigger patterns and vice versa.

Use wallpaper to create an eye-catching accent wall. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Create an accent wall

Since wallpaper tends to be a style statement, it’s a natural fit to adorn an accent wall. Accent walls are meant to draw the eye, so this should be where you use your biggest patterns and boldest shades. Don’t hesitate to go all out here.

In this case, the placement of your wallpaper is your most important consideration. Ideally, you’ll want your accent wall to highlight the focal point of the room since it’s bound to capture viewers’ attention. Most of the time, in a bedroom, this means choosing the wall at the head of the bed. However, as you see in the photo above, sometimes exceptions can be made, especially if you’re going with a more mural-like pattern.

Don’t go without a headboard. Create one from wallpaper instead. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Make a makeshift headboard

Let’s face it, furniture is expensive. If you’re not quite ready to go out and invest in a quality headboard, wallpaper could be a cost-effective solution for you. Rolls of wallpaper cost pennies on the dollar and this material can be used to fit a variety of aesthetic tastes.

In this case, the actual application is your biggest concern. First, you have to size it correctly. You should measure out the wallpaper so that it is slightly larger than the width of your bed. A good rule of thumb is to leave a two- to three-inch border on either side. Then, there’s the placement. Do your best to apply the wallpaper on a wall that’s smooth and without pockmarks. Doing so will decrease your chances of finding annoying air bubbles in the final product.

If you’re renting and don’t want to have to deal with taking down wallpaper at the end of your lease, don’t worry. This DIY project is still an option for you. You’ll simply want to use removable wallpaper instead.

Use wallpaper to bring texture into the room. Image: 2M media/Shutterstock

Add some texture

Finally, wallpaper can be used to add a much-needed dose of texture to any room. Remember, in interior design, texture refers to the way that something looks like it feels. Incorporating a variety of textures into a room is one of the major tenets of interior design because it makes the room more visually interesting.

No matter what type of print you use in your bedroom, your wallpaper will have a texture. This is due in part to the materials used in its construction. However, you can certainly amplify the feeling of texture by choosing a rough-looking pattern like the one shown above.

For this, we recommend going with a print inspired by natural materials. Natural-looking prints like wood and stone are very on-trend at the moment and will serve you well in creating a look that’s both modern and nuanced.

The post 4 Simple Ways To Use Wallpaper In A Bedroom To Create A Fresh Look appeared first on Freshome.com.

These 4 Temporary Decorating Ideas Will Help You Keep Your Security Deposit Safe

January 29, 2019 by admin

Decorating a rental can feel like a tedious task. On the one hand, you want to be able to create a space that feels like your own, no matter how long you intend to live there. On the other, you don’t want to get so into personalizing the space that you put your security deposit at risk.

With that in mind, we’ve laid out some temporary decorating ideas to help you along the way. Use these to achieve a homey look that can be taken down as soon as your lease is up.

Use area rugs to bring visual interest to the space. Image: Breadmaker/ Shutterstock

Invest in area rugs

Area rugs are great for livening up any living space, but they’re especially useful when it comes to rental situations. Put simply, they pack a big punch of visual interest but are just as easy to roll up and put away the moment your lease is done.

As far as how to pick out a good rug, in this case, aesthetics come first. If your rental is fairly basic when it comes to decor – we’re talking white walls and neutral flooring – you’re going to want to pick a rug that easily draws the eye.

Your next consideration is size. Unfortunately, rugs come in only a few standard sizes that you’ll need to work around. To help, here are some guidelines for you to keep in mind:

If you’re choosing a full room rug, remember to leave room for a border of flooring around all sides. 18 inches is considered the standard border measurement.
If your rug will be grounding a seating area, measure the length and width of the seating area in its current layout and buy the next size up.
If the rug is meant to highlight a piece of furniture like a dining table, make sure it’s big enough to extend beyond the piece with room on all sides. For a dining table, 24 inches is standard. However, it should be less if you’re working with a smaller piece, like a coffee table.
When in doubt, bigger is better. You can always hide excess rug under a piece of furniture, but a too-small rug will stick out like a sore thumb.

Temporary products like removable wallpaper can make a huge difference. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Reconsider removable products

While you may be tempted to write off wall decals and the like as products for children, we’re here to urge you to reconsider. These days, removable wallpaper and similar applications are sleeker than ever before and they come in a range of modern patterns and hues.

With removable products, your biggest concern is the quality of the walls themselves. You want to look for smooth walls, without texture or pockmarks. Smoother walls will reduce your chances of getting air pockets under the product during installation and ending up with a bubbly look.

Layer lighting to complete the look of the space. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Add your own lighting

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: having the proper lighting in place can totally change a room. Oftentimes, in rental scenarios, you start out with the bare minimum, like harsh overhead lighting that’s flattering to no one. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t round out the space and soften it up by adding lighting of your own.

Remember, dealing with lighting is all about creating layers. There are three different types of lighting that you can use to your advantage:

Ambient: Also known as general lighting, ambient light fills the majority of the room and allows you to move around safely. It usually comes from recessed lighting, track lighting or wall-mounted fixtures.
Accent: Accent lighting is used to highlight a particular focal point, such as a piece of wall art. Picture lights, wall-mounted-fixtures or track lighting are common, and dimmers are often used on these features to provide mood lighting.
Task: As the name suggests, task lights are used to assist you in completing a particular function. This could be anything from desk lamps to pendant lights that hang over a kitchen island.

Mounting ambient lighting to the walls may not be possible in a rental. However, a variety of task lights like floor and table lamps will certainly do the job.

et stylized surfaces round out your design. Image: Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Stylize your surfaces

Lastly, keep in mind that decor does not need to be hung on the walls in order to play a role in your home. Stylized surfaces like coffee tables, dining tables and shelving units go a long way towards making your rental feel like it allows your personality to shine through.

Effectively stylizing surfaces is all about creating groupings of accessories. They can match, like the place settings on the dining table in the picture above, or they can simply coordinate, like the items on the shelves.

When selecting items to go in your grouping, you want to ensure that they’re different enough to create visual interest while still having a common thread to tie them together.

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