Inspired Interiors

Simply painting or papering the walls and filling a house with furniture does not turn it into a home. At the risk of sounding slightly soppy what does create a home is that indefinable something: love. Caring about the home and the way the furniture and fixtures work together means that you will take those few extra moments to make it work by adding small touches that round off a room and complete a theme. Below are some of the areas where a small adjustment can make an enormous difference to both the comfort and the appearance of a room.

Light up Your Life:
 
The lighting in any room is paramount. It has been said before that one bright bulb hanging in the center of a room can create a very harsh pool of light and cast dark shadows into the corners – a very surreal stage-set look, which is not conducive to gracious living! Spread light sources throughout a room, using table lamps and standing floor lamps, concealed up- or down-lighters and soft overhead bulbs. Visit Lights World to see a wide range of lamps. Not only does this spread a diffuse light throughout the home, but you can 'layer' your lights, having them all on for a party or get-together, but only one or two on when watching TV or having a movie night.

Set the Scene:
 
Create small groupings of items, or little displays of items that work well together. These small clusters of eye-pleasing objects are called vignettes and they can go a long way to giving a room an air of polish. An example of a vignette would be to have an occasional table against the wall, a beautiful picture hanging near it, and a small grouping of ornaments, objects trouve and perhaps a framed photo, all capturing the essence of the theme, be it seaside (marine painting, a scattering of polished shells and a photo of the children playing on the beach) or summertime (a summertime print or postcard, leaning against a straw-covered wine bottle.) Be sure to introduce elements of the main theme of the décor into the vignettes to make sure that all the small clusters add up into an overall unit.

Colour Ways:
 
Often we choose plain or neutral tones for large items of furniture and carpets, and this is absolutely acceptable and even sensible. However, it can mean that a room can look a bit like porridge – dull and greyish brown! Lift the mood of the room by adding in some small but lavish splashes of colour. Crimson silk and navy brocade cushions can transform an oatmeal or beige sofa into something splendid and elegant. Metallic flashes also add greatly to the texture and depth of a room and can take the form of a practical clock, extravagant curtains or cushions or frivolous and whimsical ornaments.

Bring in a Bit of Nature:
 
Well-tended pot plants look wonderful, especially set in a corner or forming part of a vignette. Choose large plants with only a few broad leaves to avoid a cluttered appearance and for ease of maintenance – those broad leaves just need a quick wipe every now and then to return them to polished glory. Fussier plants with a multitude of small leaves can also look great, but will require more work as the leaves fall off and twigs and branches grow unevenly, while ferns always look great and last very well.

See the Big Picture First:
 
Plan your décor before you start. Draw scale diagrams of the room and plan out colour themes, vignettes, all the furniture you will need and decide between paint and wallpaper. If the latter, spend some time looking at the various ranges of offer as wallpaper can come in an amazing variety these days! Look online at furniture sites to get ideas of what is available and how well it will fit in with your rough diagram, choosing all the furniture items before you buy. Shop4furniture has an excellent range, sure to have furniture to please everyone's tastes. Once you know the effect you want to achieve you are more likely to buy only what you need and you will be very happy with the effect it all creates when put together.

These hints and ideas will help you to put your home together in a way that is sure to satisfy the whole family. It will make all the hard work, and investment of time and money, seem worthwhile when your family and friends express their admiration for your decorating skills!

A Charmingly Crowded Home

Some people like empty-looking, minimalistic home décor. And why not? Such homes are certainly easier to clean, organize plus they can look beautifully refreshing.

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On the other hand, homes full of furniture and decorations charmingly filling almost every corner of each room can give their owners a feeling of warmth and safety.

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There are yay’s and nay’s for both types of approaches to home decoration. Whichever style you choose, you’ll be equally at risk of making wrong decisions and ending up with a not such a pleasant place to hang out.

Charmingly crowded homes: Problem No 1

As mentioned earlier, cleaning can be a great problem in a home with many dust-catching objects. Remember the word “cleaning” when you unleash yourself on yard sale objects. All those shelves, lamps, chairs, tables, unidentified objects formerly known as sofas, etc. will not magically stay shiny and clean all by themselves. Think about how many chairs you actually need in a home and don’t overdo it.

Obsession with certain objects can potentially work sometimes, but not often

If you have an idol or a hobby you love, like Spiderman (if you’re five years old) or boats (if you are an ex-captain), you might get away with crowding your room with objects connected to your fascination. There could be some charm to something like this:

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Though filled with boats and drawings of boats, this room emanates devotion and true joy at spending quality time with dear objects and ideas. But try pulling that trick with flowers or hearts (if you’re a fan of romance) and you might end up with a very dull and/or annoying room.

Colours aren’t always our friends:

Another way to go wrong when trying to create a warm, cosy place is to become too enthusiastic about mixing wall paint colours in a way that hurts the eyes. Though colour blocking is very IN these days, even this type of colour-matching adventure has rules that you should follow. So, definitely nay to extremely bold wall paint colours.

Choose every piece of your home lovingly

The key to a safe, happy place that feels like a bear hug is to choose and place objects in your home with care and attention.

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Don’t shy away from “crowding” your home with plants, photos, DIY vintage photo frames, candles, books, oriental rugs, flowers, paintings and even five lamps in one room (if that makes you happy), but do it with style, some common sense and an instinct for the aesthetic. Most importantly, do it with love. Without the love ingredient, you might struggle to create the effect you are hoping for.

That bright summer looking home decor

Summer has been a long time coming this year, and what better excuse to give your home a summer themed makeover? You may be surprised at how simple and affordable it is to revitalize your living space and breathe new life into an existing home.

Most of the suggestions in this article can be done with very little handyman skills, but don't let the man in your life get off that easily. Many hands make like work, so get everyone involved! The kids will love it, and if you don't have kids - your home is probably already spotless, so go and make a ham sandwich.

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To Paint or Not to Paint?

While Shakespeare probably didn't ask this question, it should be at the top of your list of things to consider. Let's be honest here, painting isn't much fun after the first few strokes of the brush. From our experience, it's a job that small humans enjoy - but the cleanup effort outweighs any benefit of getting them involved.

Having said that, a new lick of paint in the main living areas of your home can make a miraculous change to a houses atmosphere. It's also a great way to cover up any faded crayon masterpieces, scrapes, dings and everyday wear and tear.

Regardless of if you are going to repaint or not, take the opportunity to do a really thorough clean of the house. Vacuum under those cushions, clean out the window tracks and do our 3 box cleanup routine. One box is for stuff you MUST keep, the second box stores things that you can give away to charity and the third box is destined for the garbage. Be ruthless! It may be another year before you do another one of these super cleanups.

Don't do this alone. Sell the idea to your family and/or friends. Make it fun! Call it a working bee party.. or something.

Roll Up Those Sleeves

Curtains are often overlooked when revamping home decor, and this is a big mistake. They frame our windows and provide a great source of colour for a room. At the very least, take them down and give them a wash, which will revitalise the colour and remove any musty smells that have built up over the winter months. If your budget allows it, buy new curtains for your main living areas. Choose bright, summery colours to lift the atmosphere in the room and provide some much-needed colour. Try to match the colour with any new cushions, throws or table cloths that you use, which will give the room a sense of unity and harmony.

The key theme for a summer decor revamp should be flowers, bright colours, natural fibres and wood. Go to your local flea market and see what treasures you can find. A piece of driftwood or a raffia rug can transform your room into a beach themed area. Add some sand coloured curtains and a large sea shell full of fresh flowers, and you have a beautiful room fit for summer.

After you update your curtains, cushions, tablecloths and throws with some brighter colours, turn your attention to the wall decorations in the room. A summer themed art print can transform a room instantly, and become a focal point.

You may be surprised how cheap it is to get a favourite summer picture printed on canvas. Check your local print shops or a do an online search to compare the costs. For extra points, get a summer themed picture of the family printed onto canvas, and hang it in the room.

Fresh flowers can be expensive, but a simple outdoor project is to start your own flower bed. This is a sure-fire hit with kids, and they are so excited when the flowers start to appear. Pick fresh flowers and keep them in your home throughout summer. The flowers look wonderful, and the pretty scent is a natural room deodorizer.

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It's easy to revamp your decor for summer, and you may find that it becomes a yearly tradition. With some simple colour changes, and the addition of some key decorative items around the room, you can transform any living area into a summer oasis!

Let Spring be in your home

The winter is finally leaving which can only mean one thing; spring is here. No more waking up in the dark to cold winds and snowy mornings, no more leafless trees or overcast days. Spring is flowers, colours, new life and new growth. Spring is the time when the days are getting longer, the light is getting brighter and colour starts to come back into the world after a long sleep. This is not something only happening in the park, in the woods or in your garden. Open those windows, let in the fresh air, and make use of some home makeover tips to bring spring into your home.

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This is the ideal time to brighten up the walls around your house with a wall or two of colour. Painting the walls can seem like a daunting job at first but with some careful planning, good dust sheets and some patience even more ambitious tasks can be undertaken by most people. Be adventurous and go for the colours you like. Remember if it doesn't work out, you can always paint it back to its original colour.

Bringing lots of colour into the house doesn't necessarily mean it has to be on the walls. Why not get yourself a colourful rug for the floor? This can often bring a refreshing change and new look to any room that is looking tired after the winter. Rugs collection not to be missed. It won't cost as much and isn't as disruptive and time consuming as painting can be and the best part is that when you fancy a change you can put it in another room or store it away for the next year. Pick your colour carefully as that white rug which seemed like a good idea in the shop will soon lose that fresh look once the kids and muddy dogs have been playing on it.

If you would like to get more light into your home try removing those winter curtains and replacing them with blinds. Heavy curtains are great at keeping in the heat during those months when it's needed but they are also very good at blocking the light. Installing a lighter coloured blind will allow your windows to let in the maximum amount of light they can while still giving you the privacy your need.

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Even the smaller things can give you a fresh look for the new season. In the kitchen you could get a new fruity tablecloth with matching tea towels or surprise those dinner guests with some bright cotton napkins. In the living room make the sofa look like new with a colourful sheet thrown over it or perhaps bring in the flowers with a floral lampshade. A vibrant painting is also a great way to change a wall without the hassle of painting and decorating. In the bedroom why not get lively or floral bed covers. You could also get some dried flowers such as lavender which will look great and give a beautiful spring aroma for all the season.

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Whether it's a big job like painting your walls or just simply replacing the smaller household furnishings there is always an easy way to brighten up your home. It doesn't have to cost a lot and with some simple advice you can achieve that fresh look. Remember be bold, be brave, because the spring is.

Why Bohemian Interior Design Is Back In Fashion

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Bohemian interior design provides authenticity and uniqueness for a price that makes IKEA look like Harrods. Whether it’s the economic downturn or an anti-conformist attitude, bohemian interior design is back in fashion. The term bohemian was first used in the 1800s to describe travellers or gypsies from Eastern Europe (not orange Barbie dolls as Channel 4 would have you believe).
The untraditional Bohemian lifestyle was considered as being non-conformist to social and political views. The fashionable bohemian style was largely influenced by the hippy movement in the late 1960s carrying the same anti-establishment views against mainstream propaganda. Although it is now seen as a mix of fashion with an ‘anything goes’ approach, the style can be very difficult to create within interior design.

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Introducing Bohemian Design into Your Home
With bohemian design there are no rules; you can mix old and new, clash colours and contrast patterns. In other words, it’s easy to create the design but very hard to make it look good. This is the great thing about bohemian interior design compared to traditional designs; you can really get your creative juices flowing!
Don’t assume that you can just throw any old pieces of furniture together or simply hang a rug from a wall. While being an unconventional almost random look, the bohemian design simultaneously needs some consistency to create a theme – it’s relaxed and ‘mish mash’, but not quite so eclectic and quirky as it might appear at first glance.
Dig around your attic or ask a parent for antiques, dated decorations and furniture that will create an authentic look. It is important to not leave any part of your interior design bare or basic, so keep your decor busy and random (without getting too carried away).

Let your artistic side loose and express your personality throughout the design. Choose furniture with a bit of history and meaning behind it that may tell a story, such as your great granddad’s rocking chair or a sofa full of fond memories. Bohemian design is often associated with the Moroccan style and can be created by using a variety of textiles on sofas, rugs, walls and chairs to be topped off with a cacophony of cushions.
It’s very effective in creating a relaxing ambiance and tranquillity in style which is why, in my opinion, it is becoming increasingly popular in today’s ever-more-hectic lifestyles!

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Back in Fashion?
Bohemian interior design is on the rise with an increase of people looking to be different and stamp their individuality on their homes. Fashion always looks to recycle the old and make it new and trendy, seemingly opting for the unconventional look. The uniqueness that the bohemian design provides gives people a great amount of creativity with endless options in design that can produce a nostalgic feel, rather than the standardised, ‘cold’ modern design so often found on the pages of interior design magazines.
Do you think bohemian interior design is the new blue? Or just an excuse to have tacky furniture?
Visit Litecraft to see exciting range of lighting for your home and garden.

Creating an Inspiring Mood Matching Scented Candles and Color

Summer is the time of to redesign and renovate your home, so what mood do you want to create? There are lots of possibilities for the type mood you are looking for and what elements of decor you can use to achieve it.  Inspiration comes from an uplifting feeling that can be produced in your home by matching color with scented candles that highlight the feelings that color inspires.

Whether we realize it or not, color is big sensory stimulant.  Without getting into color theory there are few basic examples of how colors work to create the mood of your environment.  The color blue is often associated with cold and calm, as well.  Many people describe a cooling sensation when being in a blue room for a period of time, or can also experience a feeling of relaxation.  Usually the information on a scented candles label will give a description of the therapeutic or mood elements of the scent.

 

Depending on the season, blue can have a slightly different affect.  In the winter, you are more likely to have a cold sensation in a blue room, and during the summer when it’s hot, it may have a pleasing cooling affect.  So if you live in the North East, you may want to explore some warmer colors to balance with the weather, but in Florida it may be just the thing to combat the heat.

OK, we get the idea of how color can affect the mood of the room and what effect it may have on the occupants.  For now let’s focus on warm/cozy and cool/refreshing as the moods we want to achieve.  With the picture of the bright and refreshing blue children’s room above, there is a very summer quality happening.  Yellow is categorized as a warm color as opposed to blue, and it goes well with the opposing color, because it can be associated with the sun and further compliment the summer atmosphere.  The yellow and blue used here creates a nice balance of mood.

Scents can stimulate your mood almost instantaneously.  For a refreshing an invigorating scent, orange and lemon scents can illicit an extremely positive mood.  Orange stimulates a sense of well-being and clarity.  Similar citrus scents, like lemon and lime also are favorable for creating a refreshing room. One of favorite refreshing scents is peach, and peach cobbler is great for the warmer/cozier moods.

 

Speaking of warm and cozy, let’s say you live in a colder climate, and you want to warm up the room with some deeper colors and a bit of warm spiced scents to increase the comfort level. Apple cinnamon is a reminder of fall and the holidays.  I think of Thanks Giving in particular, a time of gathering in the family home and the beginning of the warm spiced aromas of the cooling season.  Deep mahogany, maroon, brown suede, copper, and bronze hues are great ways to create a warm and cozy mood; they each work individually, or different hues can also work nicely together.

 

There are some delicious scented candle combinations that would accent a room like the one above quite nicely.  Candy corn, which has a sweet vanilla aroma, would be nice. Check out blueberry muffin, banana nut bread, or even butter rum; these may induce you to eat a candle, though.  These tastes and colors together make me want to be in front of a fireplace with a coffee and good book, and that’s the point.

No matter what your tastes or needs are, use your instincts to make your mood match the decor.  Find what combinations inspire the feeling you are looking for by starting with the scented candles.  Chances are your sense of smell will guide you in your search for a matching color.  Smells are very stimulating, and you can always test out a hundred different candles, but you can’t paint your room a hundred times, or at least you wouldn’t want to.