*

Nautical door wreath

Wouldn’t you think beach vacation walking into your home with this cute wreath on your front door this summer? Nautical decor is really hot at the moment, so why not jump on board and make your own pretty life preserver with really simple means? You will need a styrofoam wreath form or a pool noodle (you’ll need to cut some inches off and tape the two ends together), as well as some burlap cord or sisal rope and something for the blue and white sections. The wreath in the picture is wrapped with white faux burlap and navy linen, but you may well use yarn.

First of all,  you’ll want to mark off the four quarters of your wreath so the white and navy sections are somewhat even. Then dab a little hot glue to the back of the wreath to hold the yarn in place and start wrapping. When you get to the quarter mark, cut the yarn, secure it with hot glue, and repeat the procedure for the remaining sections. Once you’re done, wrap the string between the sections and finish the wreath with a piece of driftwood, ideally adorned with stenciled letters. Doesn’t it scream beach cottage?

{Source}

Sand and shell displays

Preserve summer memories of ocean waves and soft sand under your feet with a display of shells collected during a vacation. Put them in transparent tubular vases partly filled with sand and if the container is large enough, place a candle inside. For best effects, use medium and large shells. The color doesn’t matter so much – the shells can be same colored or pattered as long as the arrangement complements your décor. With the backdrop of yellowed, handwritten notes looking like a message found in a bottle, these would be perfect on the mantel to remind you of summers at the beach.

{Source}

Lanterns filled with shells and starfish

Lanterns are some of the most charming decorations for every season, but they seem to be just perfect as summertime accents. Don’t fill them with candles, though – decorative lanterns can incorporate some of summer’s finest treasures into a chic coastal look. They make dramatic display cases for shells and sea life collected from the shore. And they come in so many different styles, from modern chic to rustic antique. A collection on your mantel or sofa table will add wonderful ambience and bring sweet memories of your beach vacation into your mundane reality.

{Source}

Oyster shell mirror

If you can’t afford a house on the coast, bring a piece of the coast to you. Oyster shell décor is trending at the moment, so you won’t have problems getting a stunning mirror edged with seashells. But one glimpse at the price tag will probably make you rethink the purchase and turn to a DIY project.  After a few homemade seafood dinners, you’ll be ready to create your very own, one-of-a-kind piece that will bring tons of rustic elegance to either bath or living space. Clean and natural looking as it is, it will both beautifully enhance the crispness of white walls and provide gentle contrast against the colored background.

{Source}

Nautical mantel decor

This mantle décor is such a sweet memento of a beach vacation that you’ll refuse to strip it down even when the summer remains just a faint memory. Starting point was an old barn door that almost instantly conveys the reminiscence of a relaxing stroll on an old, weather-beaten boardwalk. The piece of heavy rope draped across the top has loads of nautical feel, too, with all those coastal treasures and light blue mason jar lids hanging on pieces of twine. On the mantel top, a row of blue mason jars was interspersed with simple candle holders, which perfectly fits into the nautical theme and anchors the design nicely.

{Source}

Shell candles

Sea shell candles are not only extremely decorative – they are also easy and fun to make. You will need a collection of assorted shells (cebu clams, big cockles and large scallop shells work best), some candle wax, wicks with metal tabs,  and metallic spray paint. Of course you may leave the shells plain and natural, but a lustrous coat of silver or gold will give them a glamorous, sophisticated look.

Before you start, make sure the shells are not cold as extreme temperature can cause them to crack. Apply two coats of spray paint to shells and once they are dry, nestle them for support in a small bed of salt or a “cup” made of tin foil. Then preposition the wicks in the center of each shell, melt the wax over low heat in a pot and carefully pour it into the shells. You can stir a few drops of your favorite scented oil into the melted wax to make the candles both beautiful and fragrant.

{Source}

Driftwood headboard

Repurposing weather-beaten driftwood into a headboard is a sure-fire way to add coastal chic to your bedroom and the ultimate example of turning found into fabulous. The addition of fine linen sheeting and oyster shell chimes ties it all beautifully into a relaxing beach look, which is enhanced by the irregular way the boards were attached to the wall. Of course, the options are multiple. Your boards can be of equal lengths and run horizontally. You can also leave spaces between the boards to create a grille effect. This unusual headboard will be perfect for an organic, natural looking bedroom design, let alone it will instantly flood your love den with romantic, rustic charm. If you don’t stand a chance of getting any driftwood, you may well reclaim boards from shipping pallets.

{Source}

Coffee table adorned with shells

Get a coffee table from Ikea (dirt cheap) and turn it into a sea-themed work of art with shells in a variety of shapes and sizes. Before you start gluing, you will have to lightly sandpaper the edges of the table and remove the dust with a damp cloth. To make sure the composition comes out nicely, try to develop an idea of how you want to position the shells by arranging them on the floor in a way that they more or less reflect the design you have in mind. Then starting at one corner of the table, glue the shells one by one – it’s as simple as that.

{Source}

Oars and ladders

Vintage ladders make fabulous alternatives to real Christmas trees, but they also trend as summertime décor.  Here the steps serve as shelves for mason jars turned flower vases, but you can decorate yours with whatever you feel creates a summertime vibe – an odd shell here and there, a tiny driftwood sailboat, candles, etc. The addition of a wooden oar on the wall is kind of self-explanatory… and a great idea, by the way.

{Source}

Driftwood sailboats

Can there be anything more sea-related than a boat? Jeanette from Creating a Life has a detailed tutorial on how to turn pieces of driftwood into rustic little sailboats, and you’re going to love how easy it is. In a “seashell”, drill a hole in the hull of your boat and stick a relatively straight branch inside, securing it with hot glue (this will be your mast). Then lay your boat on its side on a piece of canvas and sketch the shape of each sail with a pencil. Cut out the sails and “hoist” them up the mast using cotton string and small eyelet hooks or simply glue them to the driftwood structure. Just perfect!

{Source}

Shabby chic furniture

Soft pastel, well-balanced shabby chic décor against plenty of white background just screams summer. Maria from Dreamy Whites never fails to stun with her luminous vintage arrangements, and here’s another of her fabulous ideas. Doesn’t the straw hat and booths make you think she just came back from the garden with an armful of flowers? The highlight of this charming design is a French grape harvesting bucket filled with dogwood branches, while the vintage farmhouse table and the distressed metal chair ground the composition in space. Simple, yet fabulous.

{Source}

Hanging flower vases

Here’s an amazing and eco-friendly idea to decorate your summertime outdoor events. Jars, electric bulbs and glass bottles can be easily turned into romantic flower vases to hang on tree branches – a fail-safe way to conjure up magical ambiance and bewitch your garden party guests. Attach pieces of string around the tops of your chosen containers, fill them with water, tuck in some fresh-cut flowers and tie the strings to tree branches or a rope stretches really tightly between two trunks. To give your decoration even more radiance, hang a few jars with candles between the bottles and wait for ceaseless sighs of admiration.

{Source}

Whimsical table decor

Summer is the perfect season to entertain family and friends in the open air, and garden parties give so many fabulous decorating options, from DIY lanterns and hanging flower vases to colorful banner garlands and, of course, drop-dead gorgeous tablescape. Once you plan the menu, have fun arranging the dinner table with summertime accents and plenty of color. Mix and match everyday dishes with china and don’t worry about matching the napkins – a variety of hues, textures and patterns will make your table setting unique and playful. And don’t forget about fresh flowers. Just put them into jars and it will all look lovely!

{Source}

If the dinner is going to be a little more formal and you believe a picnic feel would be inappropriate, dress the table with nautical-themed elements. A white tablecloth, light blue linen napkins, a centerpiece adorned with sea shells and stones used as place cards will make the table look fresh, unique and elegant.

Watering can vases

Whimsical containers such as watering cans, teapots or jars lend themselves to more casual flower arrangements and as such are perfect as summer décor both in the garden and indoors.  This is not to say, of course, that they cannot be used for more formal occasions. There are so many beautiful watering cans out there that you can sure find a perfect accent piece for your needs. A watering can holding dazzling fresh-cut blossoms will bring a room to life with fragrance, color and originality. Depending on your overall décor, use several flower types in one color scheme, such as shades of pink and lavender, or create vivid contrasts by choosing colors from the opposite sides of the color wheel, such as yellow and purple or blue and orange.

{Source}

4th of July decor

If you can’t imagine Independence Day without at least a hint of relevant décor, the summer can’t go without some flag-themed accents. This 4^th of July flower pot is a quick project that will take you more or less an hour to make. Don’t worry if you don’t have a pinch of talent – the rough, aged look of the pot is exactly what makes it awesome! However, if you want the stripes as straight as a runway, you will have to use painter’s tape. Start by paint the whole pot white.  When it’s dry, add painter’s tape and paint the gaps red. Finally, add the stars around the rim of the top, paint it blue, and when it dries, pick off the stars. If you can’t get star stickers, cut out the shapes from electrical tape and they will do just fine. To enhance the 4th of July look, display the pot on a red-white-blue book stack.

{Source}

 Ready to decorate for the summer? Do share your own ideas for vacation themed decor!

Many homeowners shy away from all-white designs because they believe a white room will seem cold and unwelcoming. Much as this can be true, with the right decor, white interiors can easily become epitomes of domestic warmth, comfort and coziness, plus they tend to appear bigger than they really are.

Actually, a white room is like a blank canvas – you’re not committed to any style or color scheme and can update your decor easily any time you crave a change. Also, white is very forgiving when it comes to some architectural blemishes or construction eyesores such as exposed plumbing or mechanical ducts.

All this said, decorating with white isn’t necessarily easy and might actually be more challenging that color coordination. To avoid unsightly mishaps and disappointment, have a look at some tips to successfully pull off a mainly monochromatic color scheme.

Look for the right kind of white

Don’t be fooled into thinking that decorating with white, especially choosing white paint, requires no philosophy. Even professional designer are unanimous that selecting the perfect white is anything but simple. There are tens of different shades, and there are at least two traps waiting for amateur decorators – not all of the shades match and not all of them look good in all types of interiors.

First of all, remember about the distinction between warm and cool tones. A hint of yellow or pink will be perfect for cozy rooms, whereas whites with a tint of gray or blue are better suited for modern, minimalist interiors. Ivory, cream and porcelain whites are your safest bets for large surfaces. There is basically nothing wrong about pure white, but if you choose a glaringly bright shade for the walls, the room may feel cold and sterile. Conversely, if the shade on the walls is too muddy, the space can seem gloomy and muted.

To avoid monotony and prevent the room from looking flat, you will want to layer different tones of white, but don’t assume two shades will go together well just because they’re varieties of a single color. Always make sure they blend by looking at them next to each other. Ideally, collect samples of fabrics and paint swatches to be able to compare them on site. „You can combine white and off-white, cream and off-white, but going to the extreme and combining white and cream will mostly end up looking like you tried to coordinate the whites but failed”, says color expert and design blogger Maria Killam.

{Source}

Use wise contrasts

Even if you decide to go completely monochromatic, it does not mean the room will be flat and that there is no place for contrasts. A clever trick used by interior decorators is painting the walls and architectural details in different shades of one color, the walls always being slightly darker. If you paint the walls icy blue or very light beige and have the moldings and door trim bright white, the walls will appear further back, thus creating the illusion of depth and making the room seem somewhat bigger than in reality. A similar effect can be achieved if you pair pastel walls with bright white furniture.

{Source}

Create depth with texture

The absence of any color contrast has one serious drawback – unless you’re aiming for an ultramodern, sterile interior, the room might look flat and boring. However, layers of white on white don’t have to be dull. To create depth and give your space visual interest, use a variety of textures and prints. A patterned wallpaper, a quilted bedspread, a faux fur area rug, lace lampshades, woolen blankets, tiles – the interest in a monochromatic room comes from mixing rather than matching.

{Source}

Decorate with architectural details

One easy way to create depth in white interiors is obviously to dress the walls with art, but if you’re not planning to hang any, do consider adding some architectural details. Some design experts claim that the principal characteristic that distinguishes truly attractive rooms is the attention to molding. And much as everything in the decor department is a matter of personal taste, it is true that molding has the power to completely transforms the look of a room.

Whether it is just a simple chair rail or elaborate wainscoting, molding is the simplest way to add style, interest and definition, especially to rooms that might otherwise be considered plain due to lack of color contrasts. If you care for a light, airy look, paint the moldings exactly the same shade as the walls – this way you will not disturb the flow of the white. However, if the room feels cramped and you would like to make it appear a little bigger, paint the walls a slightly darker shade than the moldings and trim.

{Source}

Choose practical upholstery

A lot of homeowners fear that white upholstery not only is a pain to keep clean, but also makes it hard to feel truly comfortable. While these may be valid arguments, they don’t necessarily have to ruin your dream of a snow-white living room. Don’t give up on white furniture just because the color is not practical for a busy home – just use forgiving fabrics that are either stain resistant or washable. Faux leather, suedes and denim slipcovers are perfect solutions for family rooms with lots of traffic or pets. Besides, upholstery stain removers are so effective these days that you really don’t need to worry.

{Source}

Give the eye a place to rest

Broad expanses of one color tend to be overwhelming, even if we are talking about neutrals. A good ideas is to include small bits of black to interrupt the white flow and give the eye a respite from the „colorless” surroundings. A single touch of black is sometimes enough to ground the elements of the design. It might be a throw pillow, a picture frame, a coffee table or just about anything that will give the eye a short break from the whiteness, but not disturb the idea of „all white”. In really large spaces it is best to scatter a few black spots, but in smaller rooms even one will do the trick.

{Source}

Set the tone with accessories

It is no news that accessorizing yields a specific style to a home and it is much the same with white interiors. However, remember that all-white rooms need some extra treatment to have depth, so only ultramodern, minimalist spaces should be left without any decoration. Cutting edge bathrooms or white lacquer finish and steel kitchens can look great without any adornment, but traditional rooms will not.

{Source}

Unless the interior was specifically designed to be cold and austere, it will need layers of objects and different textures to really come together. Dress couches and chairs with blankets and throw pillows, hang artwork, put mirrors behind decorative objects and always try to have fresh flowers in a vase. The cozier you want your space to be, the greater attention should be paid to accessories.

{Source}

Add a gallery wall

A highly minimalist, stark room will become a paragon of style and sophistication if you add a full size gallery wall with eye catching pieces. Don’t worry if you can’t afford new art. Almost anything can have visual impact if you frame it – your kid’s drawings, magazine pages, pieces of fabric, etc. When compiling your collection, do think outside the box to come up with something fresh and personalized – the best gallery walls are ones that tell your personal story and cannot be copied! As far as framing is concerned, there are no real guidelines or rules. It just seems that brightly-colored pieces will look best in white frames, but the choice is really up to you.

{Source}

Add punch with striking contrast

Few things create a „wow” factor like a splash of bold color among a sea of white. Introducing a single vibrant accent in an all-white interior has been a hot trend for some time now and there’s good reason why – it does make a terrific impact! If you feel your white space is flat and dull, a dash of juicy color will give it an instant style update. Depending on your budget and the space you are planning to spruce up, try adding throw pillows, repaint one wall, renovate old dining chairs, reupholster a sofa, get a brightly-colored fridge, etc.

{Source}

Decorate for the season

A white interior is one you can hardly get fed up with as it is so easy to freshen it up with seasonal colors. It is like a blank canvas for you to dream up your favorite landscapes. Whether you love to welcome spring with sweet pastels or usher in fall with the colors of October foliage, it never takes much effort to completely redefine a white room. Just by swapping out throw pillows, area rugs, candle holders and window treatment, you can decorate for every season and holiday, transforming your home as if by magic and making it trendy all year round.

{Source}

 Are you a fan of white interiors? Do you think they can be comfortable and inviting?

*

In-room getaway

Kids love to hide, and there’s nothing like an in-room retreat to set their imagination rolling. Just as adults need a little privacy every now and then, kids too love having their own secret space to sneak away and give themselves to hours of imaginative play without interruption. It might be a small teepee, a nook in the closet, a custom made bunk bed or just about anything that will offer a chance to hide away from the adult world. If you can’t afford custom furniture or the room has no nooks to use, just hang a curtain across the side of a bed so it can be transformed into a cozy den .

{Source}

Reading nook

For a keen reader any place is good to wind down with a book, but kids often need some extra enticement to read. A cozy, attractive reading nook is an easy way of encouraging reading to children as it offers a chance to retreat from reality into an invisible fantasy world. Create one in your kids’ bedroom and obligatory school reading will never feel like a daunting task. It might be a beanbag with canopy, a sus­pended bunk bed or a bubble chair – the rule is to think beyond the ordinary. If you have younger kiddies, arrange a warm place with a cuddle-worthy seat for your shared reading time.

{Source}

Creative storage

Never underestimate the amount of storage that will be needed in a kid’s bedroom. Children accumulate stuff faster than the speed of light and before you know it, the room will be cluttered with clothes, books, sports gear, toys, crayons, souvenirs and all sorts of precious finds. So, whatever you believe to be the necessary number of storage options, create twice that much and exploit every opportunity to sneak in a secret stash, like a bed with built-in cubbies. Make sure there’s a bookshelf consisting of both drawers and shelves so the children can keep some of their belongings on display and others safely stored. One of the latest hits in the storage department is repurposed crates used as shelving.

{Source}

Large scale murals

An accent wall featuring a large scale mural is always a great way to kick it up a notch in a kid’s bedroom, especially when there aren’t too many furniture items and the space seems bland. A colorful mural will not only add interest to the room, but also bring a child’s imagination to life. The choice of wall decals for kids is mind-boggling and you’re bound to find something your littles will simply adore. Those peel and stick decorations are an instant, affordable solution guaranteed to bring huge smiles to small faces. And wallpapers open up another world of possibilities.

{Source}

Awesome bed

Having trouble getting kids to go to bed and stay there? Get them an awesome bed and they’ll want to kiss you goodnight asap every night. There are so many unbelievably cool beds out there – cars, pirate ships, space ships, cartoon characters, houses, custom bunks, etc. – that getting ready to sleep can actually be great fun. If most of the craziest beds are a financial stretch for you, add a large canopy or hang a curtain across the side of a regular bed. This way you will give your kid some space where the imag­i­na­tive mind could fight dragons, explore secret castles and save the planet.

{Source}

Theme

Give your children a room that brings the mystery and magic of a favorite cartoon or movie into their personal space. It doesn’t necessarily need to cost much. A combination of creative thinking and a little effort can turn those boring four walls into a thrilling refuge that sets the stage for your kids’ imagination. Just make sure you consult all major decisions with them. Decorating a themed bedroom will sure be heaps of fun, but don’t forget who’s going to live there.

{Source}

Art display

Every child is an artist and every artwork your kid brings home from school deserves showcasing. There’s just one problem – not everyone wants their spic-and-span, carefully-designed living room to be wallpapered with princesses, dragons, spaceships and the like. On the other hand, you don’t want your kid to believe their art is not good enough, because you obviously don’t think so. Solution? An impressive, wall-to-wall art display in your child’s bedroom – something to feel proud about, with plenty of black spaces to fill with new paintings, drawings and cut-outs. Curtain wires with tiny dangling clips do a great job of displaying art collection.

{Source}

Growth chart

Take a measuring routine to new heights and keep track of your child’s development with a fun, eye-catching chart. By the way, here’s a great quote by Doe Zatamata ta to put on the wall for your kid to take to heart for the entire life:

{Source}

Cardboard toys

No factory toy can compare to those you’ll make together with your kids, or at least under their careful vigilance. The benefits are numerous. You save up money and show your tots that sparse resources are not necessarily limiting – you teach them how to be frugal and pragmatic!

Also, by observing the creative process, kids develop their imagination and practice patience. They realize certain things can be given new life, which boosts abstract thinking and promotes sustainable behaviors. Perhaps when they grow up, they will be more likely to ask themselves a question: ”Is there anything else I can use this for?”, before they toss old clothes or food packages into the rubbish bin.

By all means, cardboard is a fantastic material for DIY toys, and there’s always plenty of it in the household. Cars, planes, steamships, tunnels, castles, life-size houses and kitchens can all be conjured up from old cardboard boxes for hours of pretend play.

{Source}

Chalkboard paint

No more worrying about crayon marks on the wallpaper. Chalkboard walls have popped up in kids’ bedrooms for some time now, and there’s good reason why. They make a fun, interactive backdrop for your little artists’ space and they’re such a great way to tap into their creative potential. Think about all the potential uses of a wall like that. From spontaneous doodles and drawings that personalize the bedroom to alphabet and number writing practice or funny reminders for kids to do their chores – chalkboard walls are fantastic tools that facilitate both play and learning, as well as help organize life at home.

{Source}

Aren’t they all great? What’s you favorite one? Is there anything you’d like to add to the list?

Ever since Yves St. Laurent interpreted Mondrian’s cubist compositions on a woolen dress, color blocking has periodically made a comeback to the runways. And it was only a matter of time until interior designers found the trend incredibly captivating. Today color blocking is not just for clothes anymore – it has moved from haute couture ateliers to our homes and makes heaps of a difference with its bold splashes of geometric color.

{Source}

What is actually color blocking?

Color blocking is a striking trend that has periodically returned to catwalks since the ‘70s, and is currently extending from the world of fashion to home décor and event design. It is done by pairing bold colors with no particular concern of necessarily matching them with any reason. The idea is to use contrasting blocks of solid color rather than stripes, textures or patterns, hence the name. While it is hypersaturated mixes that lie at the heart of  color-blocking, subtler versions are also possible, which makes the trend quite flexible and universal.

About the color choices

You may think color blocking is too bold an option – because that’s the first impression we get looking at the most popular color-blocked designs – but it is not necessarily true. The trend can be used to create both sophisticated and fun looks, and while it is perhaps most stunning in dazzling color combinations, it is not all about striking contrasts and looks beautiful in subtle, monochromatic versions, too. In other words, the possibilities are endless, from mild to wild.

Mild

The easiest way to take advantage of color blocking for a subtle effect is to keep everything within the same color family, i.e. to choose different hues of the same color, such mint cream, pistachio and sea green or pale pink, French rose and amaranth. You can also use colors from different families, where two could be neutrals and one could be a brighter shade. Color-blocking looks best when used upon neutral bases, so if your space is predominantly “pale”, it only works to your favor.

{Source}

Wild

Color blocking is a dream trend for those who really want to make a statement. Make it wild and neon if you dare, but remember the design can turn overwhelming if there are too many dazzling shades competing for attention. While it’s okay to pair three intense colors, the safest formula that guarantees harmony and good balance is “one bright, one bold, one neutral”. This way you will maximize the impact of each color and avoid blinding your guest. The combination should attract attention, but remain easy on the eye.

{Source}

If you’re not confident choosing colors that work, try to find inspiration around you. Perhaps you could use a palette in your favorite piece of artwork? Flip through magazines for colors combinations that resonate with you or browse the web for palette ideas. Design Seeds is a good place to start, and so are the photo sharing services such as Pinterest, Indulgy or Dwellinggawker.

Of course, you can always take the ambitious road and use a color wheel. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing perfect color combinations: How To Choose A Color Scheme – The Basics Of Color Coordination. Try unconventional color mixes – the trend is all about fun so enjoy it!

Ways to color-block your place

You may not want to go all the way and color-block you walls – there are subtler ways to introduce this vibrant trend into your home décor without much risk. But if you’re not afraid of a major makeover, here’s some good inspiration, too. Check out these ways to upgrade your living space with Technicolor!

Table decor

If you’re too timid to go for permanent, expensive or big-scale changes, the easiest way to try out color blocking with little risk is to dress your tablescape with a dazzling palette. Your plates and napkins do not have to match perfectly. In fact, if you mix and match two or three solid, complementary color shades, your dinner decor will stand out beautifully and make the time spent at the table real fun. And don’t limit yourself to just napkins. Seat covers, table cloths and runners, plates, glasses, vases and flowers are all perfect “screens” to display some color love. The key is to arrange the elements in such a way that they remain in contrast and set one another off nicely.

                                   {Source}

Accessories

A simple way to incorporate color blocking into your home décor is to accent sofas, chairs and beds with contrasting solid colors. If you have plain couches in your living room, a set of bright throw pillows will add flavor to your space and help make the sitting area a focal point in the room. The choice of colors will really depend on the color of your sofas and chairs, as well as on the effect you want to achieve. If you like high contrast combinations, you may try mixing pink and orange, turquoise and lime or purple and mustard. Also, a lot of stores now offer pillows that are color-blocked themselves with bold stripes, and therefore do a lot of the work for you.

{Source}

Another surefire way to spruce up your neutral décor is to add color-blocked curtains. Since the trend is really popular at the moment, you shouldn’t have difficulty finding something fabulous, but if you have a basic skill in sewing, you can make beautiful color-blocked curtains yourself by just combining strips of solid colored fabrics you love. Complement your new window treatment with some coordinating accessories like a lamp or pillows to pull the whole room together. Or do try color-blocked shower curtains – they really rock in totally white bathrooms.

{Source}

Wall art

Color blocking in fashion and later in home décor was inspired by art, so it is only natural that it will look great on your walls. You can quickly make your living space a modern masterpiece with large color-blocked pieces or even brightly colored mats in your picture frames. If you’re a DIY enthusiast or you want to save a little money, you can easily make your own minimalist wall art piece. It can be something as simple as solid colored geometric shapes painted on a white canvas – if you coordinate it with other accessories, you will end up with a chic, tasteful design that really stands out!

{Source}

{Source}

{Source}

Furniture

Pops of color used in pieces of furniture always make high impact on the overall décor, even if it’s just one bright chair or a table lamp. The key to making color-block makeovers successful is to give them a proper background. Whether it’s a designer piece or an old flea market find that you give new life to, they will enhance your rooms a great deal if you use them upon neutral bases.

{Source}

Vintage furniture salvaged from yard sales can get a totally modern look with a coat of paint or refreshed upholstery. If you have some classic pieces that do not suit your contemporary design, do try to use them as tools for applying color blocking in your home. You can incorporate the trend into any number of pieces, but it’s best to avoid excess and have enough neutral background to balance the design.

     {Source}

Wallpapering or painting the interiors of cabinets or shelves in alternating hues is a fun way to work a good dose of color blocking into your décor.

{Source}

You don’t need to limit yourself to just two or three shades. This kitchen is a stunning example of how color blocking can transform a bland, simplistic space into a totally unique, artful design. The cabinets bring in tons of personality and fanciful rhythm, but the white backdrop keeps them from looking circusy. Sometimes “going all out” is what makes all the difference.

      {Source}

Walls

Not scared to make a dramatic statement and thinking of a big splash of color on your walls? Color blocking may be just the technique you’re looking for. One way to incorporate the trend is to paint one or two accent walls in your favorite contrasting shades and scatter complementary items throughout the room to tie it together.

{Source}

Another popular trend is to select zones on a wall or ceiling and paint geometric shapes that stand out from the main wall color. It is a relatively easy project to carry out, but do pay attention to detail and prepare well before you grab the paintbrush. Measure your shape on the wall, drawing very lightly with a pencil. Then use painter’s tape to make sure the lines will be perfectly straight and apply small amounts of paint so it does not seep outside the lines. If you want to paint circles or other shapes with curved lines, it’s best to use a stencil.

   {Source}

Ready to color block your pad? Do you like the trend or perhaps find it too whimsical for your home?

Bedside tables of today are no longer those hardwood, boxy pieces with drawers we are used to. They have transcended their basic functional role and evolved into major contributors to the ambiance of a room. Instead of buying a new nightstand, use these ideas and convert useless possessions into a unique decorative piece capable of standing on its own.

*

Dreaming of a truly romantic bedroom? One thing that instantly adds a romantic quality to a room is a well-balanced shabby chic décor. A time-honored, heavily painted folding chair will look awesome next to a bed dressed in white, frilly linen – the seat will work perfectly for holding an alarm clock, a lamp eye drops and reading material. If you want to add a little country cottage ambiance, try leaning an old shutter against the wall behind your new nightstand.

{Source}

Who doesn’t love the look of repurposed ladders! Ladder decor is trending at the moment, so why not make climbing out of bed a little easier? In this arrangement, the rungs serve as shelves for books, glasses, jewelry and a clip lamp, but you may well use it as a rack to hang a robe or whatever else you like to put on first thing in the morning.

{Source}

It’s good to have a leg up for sky-high cabinetry or changing light bulbs, but what’s there to do with a vintage step stool that cannot be folded and hidden in the pantry or slipped under kitchen furniture? A wooden stepladder can find new life as a bedside table, with comfortable shelves for  more than just a night lamp and a book.

 {Source}

So you need a nightstand and can’t affords more than $5 to get one? Just have a look at how an ordinary crate can be transformed into a wonderfully practical accessory. And it’s such a great way to  add a rustic touch to your bedroom!

 {Source}

If you have an industrial look in mind, a basic filing cabinet will be a cool and affordable choice (Ikea has them in different colors for around $40). And think of all the stuff you could stash in there!

{Source}

The best thing about this project? You take something that’s literally garbage and turn it into something beautiful and functional. An old, metal trash can will look perfect in shabby chic or industrial settings, and most importantly, can easily double as storage. Just scrub it decently, give it a fresh coat of metal paint, and voila!

{Source}

Scour your local flea market for an antique trunk and use it as a cool nightstand with an old-world charm. There’s something really special about incorporating a trunk into home decor. Whether it’s made of leather, wood, metal or wicker, vintage trunks can really add heaps of charm and character to your space. And the best part is they are big storage options for those of us who struggle with space limitations.

{Source}

The sound of drums may not be the most desirable thing in the morning, but a drum nightstand is another cup of tea. Funny, cheeky, and probably cheaper than buying traditional furniture if you can find a second-hand instrument at a thrift store.

{Source}

If reading in bed is your daily ritual, you will love the idea of making a nightstand from old magazines or your favorite books  (wouldn’t it be great to always have them at hand?). To make the pile more stable and reliable, tie it with a string or ribbon, or just hot glue the magazines together if you’re not planning to browse through them again. On top of the pile there’s enough room for a little lamp and a few nighttime necessities.

{Source}

Don’t be limited to flower arrangements – bringing the wider outdoors into your home is not really difficult. Actually, having a natural, organic nightstand just can’t get any easier. All you have to do is get a short log and give it some easy treatment. Before it lands next to your bed, remove any remaining bark, sand the log properly and treat it with several coats of wood sealant, just in case there are some bugs lurking inside. A log nightstand does not  offer ample storage room, but it looks soothing and gives you a nice feeling of connectivity to nature.

{Source}

Here’s another great excuse to check out your favorite thrift stores. Vintage suitcases are perfect for repurposing projects because a) they’re beautiful, and b) they boast ample room to store some of the personal belongings that cannot or  shouldn’t be showcased. One of the most awesome ideas using vintage suitcases is to make a one-of-a-kind nightstand with plenty of storage space for blankets, towels, bed linen, etc.  Just get two or three old suitcases, paint them in coordinating colors and stack them to form a bedside table that can be topped off with a tray or mirror.

{Source}

In a more traditional, elegant space, skirt a round table with a simple, floor-length stretch of linen and top it with a piece of glass.  The gathered white skirt in this design beautifully matches the clean, crisp bedding and tops off the rooms feminine character. Also, a maxi-length table skirt is a great way to disguise extra storage. If you’re using glass on top, you may want to choose a lamp with a glass base to further enhance the airy feel and create a seamless connection between the two pieces.

{Source}

Your little princess or ballerina could do with an original nightstand as well. Before you get rid of a worn-out kitchen stool, have a look at how it can be given a quick and easy makeover into an enchanting bedside table. It takes as little as a pastel tutu and all-purpose glue or a double-sided tape. Just secure the skirt to the edge of the seat and a fabulous kid’s room decoration is ready. If you have a boy, you may want to swap a tutu for something less girlish, e.g. a piece of checkered fabric (cowboy style) or a space blanket (for a little astronaut’s nightstand).

{Source}

 So what do you think of them? Have you done any similar projects?

*

Help the world to be a better place and give a new lease of life to a couple of old transparent light bulbs. Once the wiring is removed, the bulbs can be easily turned into romantic flower vases to hang on tree branches, chandeliers or window garlands. Free People has a great step by step tutorial – just make sure you’re taking all necessary precautions as you’re going to work with glass. The metal part at the bottom of the bulb can be left visible or covered with a piece of colorful fabric for a total vintage effect.

{Source}

With a little imagination and creativity, you can use almost anything to add Easter cheer to the upcoming holiday tablescape! Would you believe an ordinary egg crate could look so amazing as a centerpiece?  Just fill the holes with transparent plastic cups and put fresh flowers inside. This can make a fantastic gift for your friends – something simple and inexpensive yet beautiful and extraordinary.

{Source}

Tealights are generally not thought of as extremely decorative accessories, but it turns out you can transform them into charming little gems and give your tablescape a serious color therapy. All  you have to do is choose a few rolls of decorative tape with cheerful patterns and glue it around the candles. Washi tape was used in the example below, but it may well be any other kind of tape you love or just strips of fabric. When the candles are ready, put them on a nice tile to boost the effect and avoid nasty heat marks on your furniture.

{Source}

Monograms are one of the hottest trends in home decoration – they look great on the wall,  on mantels and on the entry doors alike. And what better way to finish them off in early spring than with imitation of grass? Just get an oversized chipboard letter or cut out letters from a piece of cardboard and cover them with moss allover using hot glue applied section after section. Depending on your taste and the way you’re going to use the monogram, you can leave it plain or embellish it with tiny flower buds and attach colorful ribbon to the top. So pretty!

{Source}

Fresh flowers are always a good idea (unless you’re allergic), and they don’t need extra adornment to make impression, but this flower-and-egg centerpiece is nothing but perfect. You will need a tall glass or thin vase filled with water, a large transparent canister to place the vase in, and a number of eggs died in sweet pastel colors to fill the space between the two containers. Oh, and the flowers! Tulips, roses, hyacinths and gerbera daisies will make a dazzling bouquet.

{Source}

Looking for an idea to decorate your spring mantel? How about these adorable pinwheels made of scrapbook paper? Pinwheels are not only cute and whimsical little decoration, but they are also  super easy to make and can be used for different occasions (find a detailed tutorial here). To give your mantel a decidedly spring-like look, add wooden letters covered with decorative paper and use a sheet of green burlap as the base to bring a little more texture and interest. By leaning a small chalkboard against the wall, you are giving yourself an extra hip of decorating possibilities.

{Source}

Your Easter or spring wedding table won’t need much decoration if you adorn it with an interesting runner. Chevron is still one of the hottest trends when it comes to patterns, and the golden yellow brings to mind those warm sunny days we’re hoping will be aplenty this year. Of course, there are other options. Moss runners are an extremely popular idea – a beautiful and unique way to bring the lush outdoors to any event.  Decorated with Easter eggs, candles and touches of flowers, a moss runner will make a stunning centerpiece for the coming holiday.  

{Source}

Making mini vases from egg shells – could it get any easier than that? Not just pretty, but you’re giving an awesome example of household waste recycling. First you need to carefully remove egg whites and yolks by making holes on tops of the shells (they don’t need to be super pretty and regular). Now, wondering how to stand the eggs without breaking the bottoms? Use an old photography trick and stick them onto a small mirror using candle wax. Once the mini vases are secured, fill them with water and put your favorite flowers inside. Display anywhere you need a gentle touch of Easter.

{Source}

Let  your ordinary solid-toned tablecloth come into full bloom and make every meal feel like a special event. A bunch of paper or fabric flowers in delicate pastel colors will go a long way in turning your dining room into a spring garden. The flowers can be magnet-fitted, attached with a safety pin or sewn to the tablecloth. Design Sponge features a list of fantastic paper flower tutorials, including instructions on how to make amazing crepe paper bouquet and beautiful peonies from coffee filters. If you’re not into DIY, look for nice fabric flowers in a local crafts store or garden center.

{Source}

When spring knocks on your door, make sure you welcome it with all honors. A bouquet of tulips in an original “vase” should do.  A pretty polka-dot ribbon tied halfway the umbrella will create pockets that you can fill with flowers or stuff with paper and then top with Easter-themed decorations of your choice, e.g. died eggs, moss or bird’s nests. If you want to keep the flowers fresh, put the stems in water vials. Or simply use artificial flowers and enjoy your front door decoration for much longer than just holiday time.

{Source}

The ability to turn humble objects into something beautiful is an inspiring gift. A variation of the umbrella flower “vase”, this rustic front door decoration is not less attractive and will add heaps of charm to a vintage or country cottage style home. The watering can doesn’t need to be new – in fact the more signs of wear and tear it has, the better the effect. Fill it will floral foam to secure the flower stems, add some greenery, and if you want it to be a specifically Easter-themed decoration, glue a couple of blown-out eggshells on top.

{Source}

If you’re a fan of more traditional front door decorations, this wreath will make a perfect spring project to express your creativity. You will need a medium-sized grapevine wreath, burlap ribbon in two widths and approximately 20 tulip stems. Try to look for really nice flowers – real tulips would last no more than a day, so you have to settle for fake ones, but if you choose good quality product, they will not look cheap and kitschy. The wreath is really easy to make. You will find a detailed tutorial at Polka Dot Chair.

{Source}

Wondering what to do with a bag full of fabric scraps? How about a fun, colorful wreath that takes an hour to make and absolutely no DIY skills except for tying knots? You will need a simple wire wreath and scissors to trim the scraps – make them a little longer than the target length because if you start with pieces that are too small, it will be really hard to tie them. Once you try this cute and super easy project, you will want to repeat it for different holidays and seasons.

{Source}

Everyone craves a change from time to time, especially when we’re trying to shake off the last bits of winter, but a major redecorating project is not always the solution we can or want to go for. The easiest and affordable way to give your room an instant makeover is to add a set of decorative throw pillows. Invite spring to your living room by throwing some pastel colors and flower appliques on your sofa. The choice of beautiful pillows is tremendous, and if you don’t mind a little DIY, the web will flood you with inspirations. Just check out those patchworked sprocket pillows or this felt petal applique.

{Source}

Make a fun statement on your Easter table with these floppy-eared, polka-dotted bunnies. Hot Polka Dot has a picture tutorial that will help you fold your own bunny napkins in split second.

{Source}

A bouquet of baby artichokes will add a fun flair to your spring home décor. It makes a nice alternative to flowers and will last for much longer, especially if you store it in the fridge at night. To make a nice arrangement, put floral foam into a vase, stick the artichoke heads on wooden skewers and put secure them in the foam.

{Source}

Pom-poms are such a cheerful decoration, and they’re easier to make than you think. You just need to fold fabric circles and glue them all around a little Chinese lantern. For some time now, pom-poms like that have been a popular project for weddings, but they have more creative uses and seem perfect ideas for spring home decor. They can be hung in kids’ rooms, above tables or on tree branches when you’re throwing a garden party. Oncewed has a good tutorial with pictures. Have fun!

{Source}

Put a little spring onto your plates with these easy-to-make napkin rings. Paint wooden rings any color you like and attach real or fake flowers with hot glue. It’s as simple as that.

{Source}

Whenever you think you’ve seen the most adorable centerpiece project, something else comes along and totally wins your heart. This field of sweet gerbera daisies is such a mind-blowing decoration that it’s bound to draw looks of envy to your spring tablescape. Just plant wheatgrass in a long wooden box, make holes in the soil with a pencil and stick flower stems inside. To make the gerbera heads face up nicely, slide each stem into a drinking straw. If you water the soil lightly, the flowers will stay fresh and the arrangement will last for longer.

{Source}

Looking for a beautiful Easter-themed centerpiece that’s cheap and easy to make? Set some beautifully colored eggs on a vintage candelabra (use hot wax if you want to secure them in an upright position).

{Source}

So, which idea did you like best?

Understanding how colors interact is crucial when you set out to decorate your home.  how colors interact, or color harmony, will make any room look like it’s posing for a magazine. No matter how tolerant we are, some colors are just not meant to be used together, and they will literally feel like an eye-sore. On the other hand, there are groups of colors that make particularly appealing combinations, and luckily, there are some strict rules governing their selection. It all boils down to a color wheel and the basic color theory.

Basic Color Theory

A color wheel consisting of 12 segments is based on 3 primary colors:  red, yellow and blue. When combined, the primary colors give secondary colors: green, orange and purple. The remaining segments of the wheel are filled with combinations of primary and secondary colors, and are named accordingly, e.g. red-orange.  It’s as simple as that.

{Source}

A color wheel consisting of 12 segments is based on 3 primary colors:  red, yellow and blue. When combined, the primary colors give secondary colors: green, orange and purple. The remaining segments of the wheel are filled with combinations of primary and secondary colors, and are named accordingly, e.g. red-orange.  It’s as simple as that.

The thing that seems to be most confusing is the terminology applied to different variations of a single color. We’ve got tones, shades, hues, tints, values… How to distinguish between the? In color theory, a hue refers to a pure color – this is what we usually mean when we ask “what color is that?”  A tint is the mixture of a color with white, which increases lightness, and a shade is the mixture of a color with black, which reduces lightness. A tone is produced either by mixing with gray, or by both tinting and shading. Finally, when we describe a color as “light” or “dark”, we are referring to its value.

Using a Color Wheel

A color wheel in itself is of little help if you don’t know how to use it. Of course you may act intuitively and go for colors that you think look good together. But for those who don’t want to rely on instinct, there are several predefined color scheme standards that can help us choose appealing color combinations. These combinations basically fall into two large categories: harmonious (analogous) schemes, which are based on adjacent colors, and contrasting (complementary), derived from opposite segments of the wheel. So, the classic color schemes are:

Monochromatic

The monochromatic color scheme uses all the variations you can have in lightness and saturation of a single color. You just pick one color and work with its tints, tones and shades. Monochrome is the simplest color scheme to accomplish, since it is almost impossible to end up with something jarring and ugly when you operate with a single hue. Generally, monochromatic schemes look clean,  soothing and elegant, but they might seem a little dull and overwhelming at times. Plus it can be hard to create focal points in the room. A good idea that gives a modern, striking effect it to break from the predominant color with a bold accent (e.g. grays contrast fabulously with juicy pink).

{Source}

Analogous

The analogous color scheme uses three colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel,  like yellow, yellow-green and yellow-orange. It is a very naturally looking scheme that retains the simplicity of the monochromatic design and is almost as easy to create, but it offers more variety and has a lot more interest.  It is certainly not as rich and vibrant as the complementary palette, but allows for mild contrasts when used properly, especially that you can manipulate with the value of any of the three colors by making them lighter or darker.

The best way to work with an analogous palette is to pick one dominant color that will take up the most visual space, support it with a substantial amount of another color, and finally, use the third color for accents. Using equal amounts of each color in this scheme is not a good idea. Combining warm and cool colors should be avoided as well.

{Source}

Complementary

The complementary color scheme is a high-contrast combination of two colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, like yellow and purple or blue and orange. It is a good option if you want to make something really stand out, but there are some rules to stick to if you want to avoid a jarring, kitschy effect. First of all, the rule of thumb is to always favor one color over the other, or alternatively, use both of them for accents against a neutral background. This scheme looks best, however, when you choose a dominant color for the background and use its complementary color for accents.

Another thing to remember is that using colors that are exact opposites with the same value right next to each other can be difficult on the eye. This is best avoided by changing the tint of one color and the tone of the other, or by adding a transitional color between them. So, if you want to use blue and orange, go for pale blue and make the orange darker. Also, consider the split complementary scheme, which is very similar to the complementary scheme in terms of using contrasts, but offers more variety and is easier to balance.

{Source}

Split complementary

The split complementary scheme is a variation of the standard complementary palette – it is intrinsically a high-contrast option, but offers more variety and seems a little less tense that its precursor. This is because split complementary schemes uses a base color and the two colors that sit next to its complementary. In other words, you take one color (yellow), determine its complimentary color (violet) and use the two colors next to the complimentary color (red-violet and blue-violet).

The split complementary scheme is a good choice for beginners who want to work with bold combinations, but do not have much experience with color blocking. To make sure the effect is not overwhelming, it is best to use substantial amounts of neutrals to break up visual space. The split complementary scheme may be less flashy than the standard complementary palette, but it retains strong visual contrast and calls for moderation.

{Source}

Triadic

The triad is yet another scheme that uses three colors, but this time they are evenly spaced around a color wheel, like purple, orange and green. Triadic color palettes tend to be quite vibrant, even if pale or unsaturated versions of the hues are used, but they are less jarring than the complementary schemes. The triad offers high contrast, but it retains good balance and harmony. To use a triadic scheme successfully, let one color dominate and accent with the other two. If you want a really vibrant room, use fully saturated versions of all three colors, but if this is too much for your eye, dilute the colors and incorporate neutrals.

{Source}

Tetradic

The tetrad is the richest of all schemes and offers the greatest variety, but at the same time it is the most difficult scheme to pull off effectively. It uses four colors spread equally around the wheel, which means we end up with two complementary pairs (the scheme is also called ‘double complementary’).

The tetrad works best if you let one color dominate – otherwise the scheme may look busy and unbalanced. In other words, you should avoid using solid colors in equal amounts, and  if you really want to spread them equally, make sure you balance the design with a neutral background. To make the palette less gaudy, it is advisable to dilute at least of the four colors.

{Source}

Getting inspired

Now you know the basic color theory, but you may still have trouble picking the perfect scheme for your next decorating project. Besides, compliance with the color wheel theory is not the one and only determinant of success. Here’s what can inspire you and get you started.

Your Favorite Color

Don’t go for certain colors just because they look good together. The most important guideline should be your personal taste, so make your favorite color the base of the scheme and then work with the wheel (and other sources of inspirations) to complete the palette. If you love yellow, let it dominate in the design, and pair it either with a harmonizing or contrasting color, depending on how vibrant you want the room to be. If you love really bold colors, make the background neutral, and use your favorite hue in furniture.

{Source}

Rug

A good rug ties in the elements of your décor and makes a foundation for a room, so why not use it as a springboard for the rest of the room décor. If there is a fabulous rug that you love,  let it be the starting point and lead the way to your room’s character. The colors and patterns on an eye-catching rug can inspire the selection of wall color, upholstery, throw pillows, curtains and other accessories. Remember about good color distribution. Let one color dominate, and make others either support or accent it.

{Source}

Wallpaper

Richly patterned wallpaper can be a great foundation for your color scheme as it already contains a well-balanced combination of colors.  In the design below, the yellow-green and pink floral pattern against a black background on the wallpaper inspired the use of the same colors, but in reversed proportions . To avoid monotony, different variations of the dominant color (purple) were used.

{Source}

Wall art

What can be a better model for a well-coordinated color palette than a piece of art? Draw colors for your decorating project from a fabulous painting or poster, and you shouldn’t have much difficulty pulling off an appealing scheme. When choosing color from your artwork, make sure the walls are light enough for the art to pop.

{Source}

Furniture

If you want to base your décor on the color you love but it is too bold for walls, incorporate it in furniture. An eye-catching sofa will make a great focal point to center the room around. To complete the scheme, choose colors that coordinate with the dominant furniture piece and keep most of your décor subdued. You may accessorize with pops of color, but make sure your principal color stands out nicely.

{Source}

Theme

Most decorating themes – nautical, eco, Scandinavian, etc. – are associated with a set of characteristic colors, so you can hardly go wrong with that. Just browse the web for some examples and recreate the palette in your design, using the rule of uneven color distribution.

{Source}

Atmosphere

Think how you want to feel when you enter the room and pick colors that will help you create this ambiance. If you’re designing a space for creative, artistic work, consider bold, vibrant hues, but if go for white, beige or pale blue if you care for a relaxing atmosphere of a beach house. Planning a bedroom? Pale pink, lavender and light blues will make it sweet and romantic, but crimson or purple will set the stage for a passionate romance. Just make a list of feelings you want your room to inspire and choose colors that you associate with these emotions.

{Source}

Color palettes

Browse the web for ready-made color palettes and recreate one you truly love in your room. Design Seeds is a good place to start.

{Source}

Pinterest

Photo sharing services such as Pinterest, Indulgy or Dwellinggawker are limitless sources of inspiration for decorating projects. Trying to recreate the look from A to Z might be a little frustrating as you won’t always be able to find close equivalents of furniture and accessories in the pictures, but it’s definitely worth a try if you really don’t want to trust your own choices and judgment. By creating an inspiration board and collecting images that appeal to your taste, you’ll soon start to notice certain tendencies in things you like, so coming up with your very own design will be easier.

{Source}

Putting ideas to practice

Even if you have a definite plan and there’s no doubt you want to use a certain color scheme, there’s one more step you might want to take before you grab a paintbrush or go shopping for furniture – visualize.

Make a mood board

Interior designers often use mood boards to make sure the colors and their distribution will  really work. Before you decorate, collect samples of fabrics, wallpaper and paint colors, cut out pictures of furniture and accessories from magazines, and lay it all out on a plain board. If there’s something that doesn’t coordinate well,  remove it or replace it until everything looks coherent. You can also create mood boards online, for example here.

{Source}

Design your room online

Some websites offer you the opportunity to see how the colors of your choice will work together in sample rooms. These are not very sophisticated tools, but give you quite a good idea of what looks good and what does not. You may try Dulux MousePainter or a virtual designing tool such as Roomstyler.

Your hall should receive as much TLC as the rest of your home.  Even if you think it’s the smallest and most incommodious hallway in the world, there are some things you can do to make it look smashing.

Brighten it up with color

There’s nothing wrong in using dark colors in a hallway, but if yours is particularly small or long and narrow, do brighten it up with lighter colors. It doesn’t necessarily need to be white. Pale blues, greens, grays and beiges will work just as fine – the key is to used cold hues as they appear to be receding from the eye and stretch the space. A hot trend that’s been around for years is to provide a vivid contrast by painting the front door a bright color. Not only does it look hip, but also alters the appearance of a really narrow hallway. If you use a lighter shade on the long walls, and a pop of color on the door or the far wall, the space will automatically appear a little wider.  And just in case you’re thinking of using a darker, contrasting color beneath a dado rail – don’t do that as it will make your narrow hallway feel even more claustrophobic.

{Source}

Make stairs a focal point

If your hallway isn’t blessed with too much light and space, it’s better to keep the walls plain and neutral, but it doesn’t mean you need to entirely give up on patterns and lively colors. A great idea and quite an easy way to add fancy appeal to a hallway is to paint or wallpaper the verticals of the steps. With such an amazing choice of paints and wallpaper patterns, the sky’s the only limit to your imagination. If you live in a period house or prefer more traditional solutions, put a colorful runner on the stairs, leaving the edges smartly painted so the match the rest of your woodwork. If you have wooden stairs, you can also paint a runner, but remember that with so much footfall, the paint may wear real quick.

{Source}

Consider wallpaper

 As the ‘meet and greet’ area right next to the front door, your hallway is the first impression people will have of your home as they enter. The problem is that hallway walls can get grubby easily, so if have small children or a large dog that would shake off water after a morning walk in the rain and leave muddy spots all over the place, consider a wallpaper. A large scale pattern will successfully hide finger marks, scuffs and other blemished, but it will also add character to your hallway. If you a choose a design with a white background and match it with light flooring, the print should not make the space appear considerably smaller.

{Source}

Ensure good storage

Shoes, schoolbags and sport gear piling next to the front door are never a good welcoming message, and this is often the case when there are a lot of people living under one roof. Ample hallway storage is a cornerstone of a well-organized home, but a narrow hallway will look cluttered as much with full-sized pieces of furniture as with stuff. The key it to invest in some clever solutions that look good and don’t take up the already limited floor space. If you can’t pack more furniture into a narrow hallway, utilize understairs space with built-in custom cubbyholes, add narrow overhead shelf racks for bags, hats and scarves or turn old crates into cute wall-mounted storage boxes.

{Source}

Be creative with hanging space

Never underestimate the amount of hanging space you will need for your hallway, especially if there’s no closet to hide the outwear your family is currently using. If you stick to just a few hooks fixed up next to the entrance, the concentration of several coats and jackets in one place will not look good and may block the door, so it’s best to distribute the hanging space wisely. Besides being a practical addition,  wall-hung are a great opportunity to character to your hallway – just check the web for all those fabulous DIY projects you can accomplish in a couple of hours. Also, consider putting a nice coat stand in the corner, and if you’re looking for a more contemporary alternative, think of a tree coat peg wall decal.

{Source}

Add interest with a gallery wall

Gallery walls are a perfect way to add personality to your home, and a well-thought-out collection of pictures will help transform your hallway from corridor to room. The choice of pictures and frames is largely a matter of personal decorating style, your hallway design and the images you want to display. Some people prefer to keep personal images from being too much in the public view, but a set of botanical prints or black and white architecture photographs can also make an attractive display. A modern space will benefit from a uniform gallery, while eclectic hallways welcome a mix of colors, dimensions, textures and mat sizes. Just remember not to overwhelm a small hallway with too much wall décor.

{Source}

Let light in

Long, narrow hallways tend to be  dark and gloomy, so use every opportunity to let some light in. If it’s possible, have glass panels installed in your front door and remove interior doors or at least have them glazed to allow the light to flow freely. If there’s a window in your hallway, give up on elaborate drapes and use delicate sheers or short valances instead if window treatment it’s necessary at all.

{Source}

Get the right flooring

There’s nothing more annoying than having to sweep and mop the floor all the time because even the tiniest fluff or speck of dirt stands out a mile. When it comes to a hallway, choose flooring that’s easy to care, resists moisture and hides dirt better. Ideally, opt for darker tiles  or something with a pattern to conceal minor spots, and balance it with light, neutral walls. For long, narrow hallways, consider a large scale chequerboard effect. Classic chequered floors will always be trendy and they will optically widen a slim corridor.

{Source}

Add comfort with a runner

Since hallways are high traffic areas, where muddy boots, dirty sport gear and dog paws come into play on a daily basis, carpeting is not the best of ideas. On the other hand, the coldness of tiles does not help in making the space comfortable and inviting. Having some softness underfoot would be appreciated, so it’s best to opt for an attractive area rug or a runner that repels moisture and is easy to clean. It will protect the floor from scratches and make your hallway feel a lot cozier. If you’re keeping the walls neutral due to space constraints, a patterned runner is the easiest way to introduce some vivid colors into your hallway.

{Source}

Use a variety of lighting

A dark, gloomy hallway can say all the wrong things about your home. One way to make it a more welcoming space it to brighten it up with color, but let’s not forget the importance of good lighting. Your home should be bright when you or your guests enter it, so ceiling light is a must for a hallway. A glam chandelier in the center could make a stunning focal point and an eye-catching element when people walk in. To be able to create an ambiance, use dimmer switches or add additional lighting, such as wall scones, lanterns or an elegant table lamp to put on a chest or console.

{Source}

Give it some reflection

A mirror in the hallway not only offers you a last minute beauty check before you leave, but also helps to open up a small room. Large floor to ceiling mirrors that encompass a whole wall are by far the most effective way of creating the illusion of space, but actually any kind of reflective surface will help (e.g. a glass console table).  Mirrors and glass amplify natural and artificial light and radiate it throughout the room, making the interior brighter and thus seemingly larger. The best place to install a mirror in a cramped hallway is to the side wall, preferably behind a source of light.

{Source}

Organize your stuff

Banish piles of mail, coupons and bills on the hall table, never look for your car keys again and always have your favorite accessories at hand. A small console or a slim chest in close proximity to your front door is really helpful. Ideally, it should have drawers so that clutter can be concealed and the surface kept for a vase with flowers, but otherwise, you can store incoming papers in a pretty magazine file placed on top of the table.  If your hallway is too small for an extra piece of furniture, think of a long narrow shelf or a wall-mounted organizer that will serve the same purpose without taking up floor space.

{Source}

Add a seat

Sometimes creating a stylish hallway is all about choosing some chic seating option. It’s not much of a problem if you have a large, airy foyer – a bulky accent chair with a vintage frame or a fabulous chaise longue will do the talking. Not everyone is so lucky, though. When decorating a smaller hallway, you will have to be a little more creative and find a way to add a seat that doesn’t clutter the space. It might be an acrylic chair, a hall tree that comes with a seat, a narrow bench with cubbies for storing shoes,  a sleek ottoman or a small pouf that can be tucked under the hall table. If possible, choose seating options that can double as storage.

{Source}

Be transparent

Even furniture pieces that are moderate in size can make a small space feel cluttered. Acrylic furniture is a great way out if your hallway is rather cramped, but you want to have a place to drop you keys or a chair to put your shoes on. Transparent furniture pieces blend seamlessly with the interior and look as if they weren’t there at all, so they do not become a visual block. At the same time, they stand out enough to make a powerful style statement and give an instant upgrade to any decorating scheme. Lucite chairs and consoles are among the most sought after furniture items in the world and their timeless appeal is bound to last forever.

{Source}

Use the stairway landing

Think of the stairway landing as the continuation of your hall – it is all too often a wasted space, and there are so many fantastic ways to utilize it . First of all, it can be used to store season coats and footwear that cannot be packed downstairs. But it can also be a strong design element. If you make the landing pop it will draw attention away from an entryway that’s small or unattractive. Some of the best ways to do that is to install floor-to-ceiling library shelves, hang an eye-catching large-sized piece of art, or create a snug reading nook, where you can curl up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.

{Source}

One of the most effective ways to accent your décor and finish off the look of a room is to add a rug, but don’t be lead to believe that it is all about patterns and colors. Decorating with rugs is to a large extent based on the principles of proportion and usage requirements, so you will have to learn a bit about this as well.

Of course, you must love the rug – it is not like throw pillows that you can change every season, but something that should last for years. However, be careful not to fall into the trap of getting a rug simply because you like its design or texture. For the best fit, do  consider some guidelines specific for your lifestyle and your rug’s target location.

At the same time, you need to decide whether you want your rug to be neutral and blend into the space or make a dramatic statement and be the focal point of the room. Do you want it to unify the elements of décor or are you trying to visually separate different areas of a larger space?  Read on for some helpful tips and design inspirations.

Size and location

The color scheme of your new rug might be the principal consideration for you, but its size is also important for the way it will fit in with the rest of your decor. A small rug in front of a large sofa will seem skimpy, and the other way round, a wall-to wall rug in a modern, minimalist arrangement would be way too generous. So, you choice should be based on a good balance of what you love and where the rug is going to be located. Obviously, the right size can differ with each room in your home.

Living room

A common dilemma when choosing a rug for a conversation area is a question whether the legs of sofas and chairs should be on or off the rug. While it is mainly the question of personal preferences, different sizes of rugs yield different feels to a room. A large rug that frames the sitting area gives an elegant, calming effect, whereas a smaller rug that sits under the coffee table is just enough for a minimalist, contemporary home design. A very popular option, though, is to strike a compromise between these two options and place only the front legs of the furniture on the rug.

{Source}

Avoid placing very small rugs in front of a lone sofa just for the sake of not leaving the floor completely empty – they will look like a doormat! The area rug that you place in front of seating furniture should be slightly longer and wider than the piece itself, and placed not too far from the seating. When a rug sits inside a conversational area, between sofas and chairs, it can be a little smaller but large enough to accommodate all four legs of the table.

{Source}

If you have a conversational area placed centrally in a living room, a large rug that accommodates all the seating furniture is a great solution that unifies the space. In this case,  it is best to leave an equal amount of flooring exposed on all sides to frame and accent the sitting area. Also, leave a sufficient margin around the furniture to avoid the impression that the pieces are balancing on the edge of the rug.

If you’re planning to have sideboards, cupboards or armoires placed against the walls, it’s generally best to keep them off the rug. Of course, it’s not a decorating crime if the front legs rest on the rug, but you need to ensure the pieces stand straight and don’t wobble. The easiest solution is to place furniture coasters under the back legs to level them with the rug.

{Source}

Dining room

An area rug is important to a dining space for a variety of reasons. It adds comfort, finishes off the look and defines the space by framing the table, which is particularly important in open floor plans.  A rug also deadens the sound of moving chairs and protects the floor from scratching, but there’s one rule you have to remember – the rug needs to be large enough to allow sufficient room for sliding the chairs out from under the table.

In other words, the chair legs shouldn’t fall off the rug when people are pulling the chairs away from the table to seat themselves. The minimum that allows for this is about 29” added to each of the four sides of your table measurements. If you’re planning to get a patterned rug for you dining room, remember that the center of the rug will be covered by the table and chairs, so you may want to choose a design whose most interesting part comes close to the edges of the rug.

{Source}

Bedroom

Treat your feet with a soft plush rug rather than the coldness of the floor and alleviate the shock of a morning wake up call. When it comes to rugs in bedrooms, there are two popular options. One is to place a square rug underneath the bed so that it create a perimeter around its lower two-thirds and stops short of the side tables.

The other option is to place a small runner on either side of the bed, with rug pads underneath to prevent sliding. The colors on the rug will be determined by the bedroom style and the style of your bedding. If you prefer solid-colored linen and there are no bold patterns on the walls, you may go for something fancy and decorative. If there are already some patterns in the room, keep the rug neutral to balance the whole design.

{Source}

Open floor

Furniture in open floor plans often lack a “common denominator” and create the illusion of floating. While it is not the best idea to anchor them with one large rug, several smaller rugs carefully placed in different areas of an open-plan living space will help define specific zones and create a cohesive look between them. The rugs don’t have to be identical, but they should be tied together with color, design, or texture to provide a linking element. Of course, they need to complement the furnishings in a space and work for the overall decorating scheme.

Remember about balance and harmony when choosing patterns and colors – unless you’re decorating a boho-style room, it’s better to complement patterned or brightly-upholstered furniture with neutral rugs. And the other way round, a solid, pastel-colored furniture will enjoy the company of a bold rug design.

{Source}

Entryway

There’s nothing more annoying than a rug that wrinkles every time you swing your front door open, so make sure you take proper measurements before you purchase anything and keep the door’s pathway clear. Generally speaking, less in more in spaces that receive a lot of foot traffic, but if you insist on having a rug in transitional places, get one that’s easy to clean.

For a hallway, choose a runner that’s neither too long, not too short. It should fill the central space and allow even room on both ends for balance. If you want to place furniture in the hallway, they should ideally be kept off the rug. Square-shaped entryways and large foyers look best with round or irregular area rugs centered under the source of light.

{Source}

Colors and patterns

A rug can be a great way to introduce color and texture to a bland room or serve as a springboard for the rest of the room décor: wall color, furniture selection and accessories. Whichever decorating option you go for,  you need to ensure the rug balances against all the other elements in the room. Consider the following factors:

• A rug is often thought of as an accessory that comes last in the decorating process, but you can work the other way round as well. If there is a fabulous rug that you love,  let it be the starting point and lead the way to your room’s character. The colors and patterns on an eye-catching rug can be a springboard for the selection of wall color, upholstery, throw pillows, curtains and other accessories.
• When you’re trying to fit a new rug into a fully decorated room, make sure the patterns on the walls and upholstery do not compete with the rug. A busy pattern on the walls, curtain or upholstery should be balanced with a subtler rug design. If the room décor is neutral and minimalist, you can try a bold rug to add some pizzazz to the room. For foolproof coordination, a rule of thumb is to match  a solid rug to the secondary color in a patterned sofa or a solid sofa to the secondary color in the rug.

{Source}

• In open floor plans or large rooms, use different rugs to differentiate between specific sections, but always choose colors that coordinate and ensure a cohesive look.
• Oriental and Persian rugs lend an elegant and traditional air to a room, while large geometric patterns work best with contemporary  designs. In eclectic rooms that welcome a combination of seemingly unmatched patterns, try a colorful shag rug – it will add an easy-going feel to the room and enhance its liberal character.
• The principle “the lighter the colors, the bigger your space appears” works for rugs, too. If you’re struggling with limited square footage, choose a lighter-colored rug to add a sense of space.
• A rug with an eye-catching central pattern is a great option if you want to create a focal point in your room. However, if there is already an obvious focal point in the room, such as wall art or a fireplace and you don’t want it to appear secondary, a rug with a more repetitive pattern or no pattern at all.
• In a dining room, avoid rugs with elaborate central patterns. The pattaren will be obscured by the table and chairs anyway, and there simply might be too much going on under the table. It’s best to choose a rug that’s plain in the middle and decorative along the borders or a rug with a subdued repetitive pattern.
• Take into account how much foot traffic the rug will receive. In busy areas, light colors will quickly catch dirt and every little stain will show. The most practical option for high-traffic areas is darker colors and detailed patterns.

{Source}

Fabrics

Different fabrics create different feels and personalities.  While some people may insist on the superiority of natural fibers over synthetic options, it is not so much about which one is best, but which one is most suitable for your space and needs. Factors such as foot traffic and ease of cleaning will have to be taken into consideration. While hallways and dining rooms will require rugs that can withstand spilled drinks or muddy shoes, bedrooms and living rooms can go with something less resistant to heavy wear.

Natural fibers

Natural rugs are woven using a range of fibers extracted from natural products, including cotton, wool, jute, sisal and hemp. They are generally valued for their resistance to heavy wear and are recommended for high traffic areas.

• Wool provides the greatest feeling of warmth and comfort, and for a long time has been the reference standard for all rug fibers. It is durable and very easy to clean, but tends to be in the highest price range and requires professional cleaning.
• Cotton is even softer than wool, comes in a variety of color options due to its high dyability, and can often be machine washed, but it’s slightly less resilient than other fibers.
• Jute, seagrass, and sisal are really tough fibers (sisal being the strongest) perfect for high traffic areas and offering really interesting textures. The drawback is that they don’t respond well to moisture and may change color upon long exposure to direct sunlight.

{Source}

Synthetic fibers

Synthetic fibers (acrylic, polypropylene, nylon, polyester) have the advantage of being much cheaper than the natural ones, and now offer a wide range of choices, including rugs that bear close resemblance to wool. Of course they cannot compare to natural fibers in terms of quality and comfort of use, plus they are not sustainable resources, but in certain contexts, they might even be a better choice.

• If your rug will be exposed to moisture, you might want to look into acrylic, mostly found in bath mats and rugs.
• Polypropylene would be great for entryways and dining rooms as it’s the most stain-resistant fiber among the synthetic varieties and repels water well.
• Nylon works great in high traffic areas. It is durable, easy to clean and comes in a variety of long-lasting colors, but can be vulnerable to stains from food and strong cleaning agents.
• Polyester is the cheapest and the least resilient carpet fiber. Although its quality has been improved considerably in recent years, it is recommended for low-traffic areas, especially when you’re looking for an inexpensive short-term carpet.

{Source}

Why get a rug pad?

A rug pad is a useful purchase for a variety of reasons. First of it prevents the rug from wrinkling and sliding all over the place, which is important to keep the rug properly positioned, but also to prevent dangerous accidents. A pad will also limit the impact of feet, protecting the rug from the everyday wear and your flooring from being scratched by the back of the rug. Finally, a rug that doesn’t slip is so much easier to vacuum! Ideally, choose a pad with a natural rubber bottom so it won’t stain wood floors.

1. Cable wall art

You hate to see cables all around the house? Well, a curse of tangled cords is the price we pay for the blessing of life-improving electronics … a kind of an inescapable dependence until wireless energy transmission becomes widespread. For now, we can do two things: hide whatever can be hidden and camouflage what has to stay in sight. An example? Creative pins that give a funny twist to a room and make you think the cable’s there to serve as decoration rather than just carry electricity.  If you can get rid of something, try to find ways to tap into its potential and make the best of what you’re doomed for.

{Source}

2. Wall storage bins

Never underestimate the power of first impressions. Just as inappropriate clothing can rule you out at a job interview, your entryway pretty much sets the tone for how your guests will feel about you as a host. Shoes piling next to the front door are never a good welcoming message, and this is often the case when there are a lot of people at home and everybody needs to have at least 2 pairs easily accessible. If you can’t afford nice shoe cabinets or you can’t pack more furniture into a narrow hallway, take old crates, paint them in beautiful pastel hues and then attach them to the wall. It’s cheap, functional and adds a lot of charm.

{Source}

3. Hidden laundry center

Washers, driers, laundry baskets and detergents are not particularly attractive sights, a full-size laundry room to keep all this out of sight is rarely an option in an apartment. If the space for washing appliances is limited, the best design solution is to hide them behind a set of doors. Front-loading washers and dryers fit neatly into closet-sized areas or any space carved out of the kitchen or bathroom. Accordion doors can be added, leaving plenty of room to install shelves for storage. Alternatively,  the closet-turned-laundry area can be hidden behind a curtain suspended from a shower rod – a nice way to add pattern or color to a room.

{Source}

4. Mail organizer

We all know how quickly a home can get messy with daily incoming papers. Banish piles of mail and coupons  on your kitchen counter or in the entryway with a pretty filing center mounted on the wall or placed on a chest by the front door. This cute wooden organizer found at Etsy has plenty of room to hang you keys and coats, a chalk board to jot down appointment dates or welcoming messages, a place to drop letters right as you walk in the door and a simple vase to store pens or put a little bouquet of flowers. Both functional and beautiful!

{Source}

5. Shoe box charging station

How many times have you looked for all those charging cables for your Blackberry, iPad, camera and other devices … or cursed the world trying to untangle them? What would you say about a stylish DIY charging station that solves this problem? With simple means and little effort, an ordinary shoe box can be turned into a neat tech organizer to store all of those unsightly cables in one place. Just take an old shoe box, wrap it in colorful fabric, cut out eyelet holes along the long sides and attach metal grommets. Recharging your portable electronics will never cause any frustration again.

{Source}

6. Creative bike storage

Parking the bike indoors when you live in a small downtown apartment can be a real challenge. Bikes are large, oddly shaped, they do not fold and always get in the way, not to mention that they disturb your home décor when they’re left resting against a wall. Fortunately, there are some clever storage solutions that can turn your bike precisely into a decorative accent. Theirs is a growing tendency to incorporate bikes into gallery walls, for example to hang them inside large picture frames among photographs and paintings. Wall mounted bike racks that double as shelves are a great idea too. Storing your bike on an empty wall is not only a practical space saving solution, but it also adds a unique edge to your home decor.

{Source}

7. Crafts armoire

Not everyone can enjoy the luxury of having a full-size room to devote to crafting supplies, and all of you crafters know how much space wrapping paper, threads, beads, ribbons, fabrics and glue guns can take. It’s not a secret either that keeping all your supplies out in the open is the best recipe for clutter and having them tucked in a dozen places around the house is hugely impractical. A great solution to contain your crafts in one place and still have a functional living space that doesn’t look messy is to corral them in an armoire. Vintage armoires are fairly inexpensive and interesting enough to have in your main living space, so you end up with a beautiful piece of furniture and your crafts supplies perfectly accessible whenever free time calls for a happy DIY session.

{Source}

8. Make-up magnet board

Unless you have a vanity with ample drawers, chances are your make-up products are tossed haphazardly in a wicker basket that sits on your bathroom counter. Not pretty, and definitely not practical. One thing is that it’s hard to grab what you need without wasting time, and as you’re digging through the items to find what you want, eye shadows and other pressed products can crumble. A magnetic board wrapped in beautiful fabric or a sheet of metal tucked into a picture frame is a stylish solution to this problem. With a display like that, your morning make-up routine will be so much easier and more artistic.

{Source}

9. Toy car display

Toy cars are evil. And it’s not because kids fight over them. It’s because you step on them with a bare foot all the time! Your little ones tend to leave toys all around the house, so how about giving them a reason to want to put their Matchboxes and Hot Wheels back in place? A few simple magnet knife holders attached to walls will keep the toy car collections on display and your kids are bound to find this system great fun. If the cars don’t hold (they are mostly plastic today), try sticking pieces of magnet tape to the bottom of each toy.

{Source}

10. Sink skirts

Sinks with exposed plumbing are a real eyesore, but fortunately, there’s an ingenious  way to turn them into something both attractive and practical. It’s enough to add a pretty skirt that breathes new life into a room and can be easily accomplished even if you have no idea how to sew. Velcro will do the hardest job – you just need to attach the tapes to the sink and the fabric of your choice. Best of all, a skirted sink can provide you with additional storage for space for towels or cleaning essentials – there’s never enough of storage space in the kitchen and bathroom!

{Source}