Posts Tagged: home decor


10
Dec 10

Home Decorations: Applying Texture to your Rooms

The way we choose and combine different textures with home decorations and decor in general is as much affected by trends as by our color choices. Felt, once used only as a protective barrier, underlay or cushioning under a more decorative fabric, now makes a serious fashion statement. Plastic used to be seen as horrible, tacky and cheap, but now it’s the last word in urban chic. Concrete was strictly functional and best kept hidden until minimalists rediscovered its potential. Brightly colored laminated worktops are now back in demand.

Texture does not only replace color, but it can also be used exclusively for is tactile and visual qualities. The roughness, smoothness or spikiness of a surface describes its texture. There are endless variations and combinations of textures that can be brought into play to make the home environment a more interesting and stimulating place.

The way to use texture in a neutral palette, for example, could mean using different types of weaves, stripes or smooth surface that can work really well against each other. Try a corded carpet on the horizontal with woven baskets on the diagonal to create an energetic textural contrast. A papier mache bowl could break up the pattern and even smoother stick would add a tactile finishing touch. Texture is also important in the bathroom. If you have an enameled iron bath (which is the case with many old bathrooms), place bright chrome taps and wood paneling on the walls to give it the country look. For the finishing touches, think of the seashell bathroom decor and add starfish, shells, sponges and pebbles effectively to recreate a sense of the shoreline.

Texture will define your rooms through decorative elements or even the way you paint the walls. Do take it into account when decorating your home and you will see how you can improve the look of your home decor in no time without breaking the bank.


21
Oct 10

A Simple Way to Fix Damaged Materials

People may start to ask the question what can I do to fix my upholstery material on my furniture that has been ripped, been stained or has been broken due to UV rays? This is a hard question to answer simply based on the fact that it really depends on the kind of material that you have and what kind of damage you have and to what extent. The only simple fix to any of these problems is that you always have the option of replacing a panel in the fabric. This may sound scary but it is important that you do it right so that it will not end up looking scary. If all is done carefully than you have nothing to be scared or. The fabric is already ruined you can’t make it worse and have nothing to lose. One of the ways to do this is with chairs. Chair cushions tend to show wear and tear way before most other furniture pieces simply because they are used to such a brutal extent. If you choose to replace an upholstery panel you need to make sure that you cut the damaged piece out at the corners and the seam. Then when you replace the entire panel you are able to sew the new material on the existing edge. If this is all done carefully than you will not even know that you have replaced the piece unless you get up close and you see the stitching. This is the same principle for couch cushions. Couch arms are not a good idea to do this with. The size and skill to cover a couch arm should best be left for the professionals. It’s a good idea to try and tackle simple shapes and rectangles though. You might surprise yourself on what you can do and how good it can look. This simple cut and replace method is something that most people do so that they do not lose a great piece of furniture. This idea came from redoing rocking chairs and their cushions. If you think about it all you need to do is to find matching color pieces and you can design your home décor items to not only be custom but new with a fresh look. Try it out and you may save yourself some money.


13
Aug 10

3 Best Reasons Why Union Jack Cushions are Must Haves

Decorating your house in today’s time is indeed a very difficult task. It is not because you don’t know what you want; it’s just that there are so many options to choose from. This fact leaves you in dilemma. When choosing for cushions, certainly you will experience the same thing. With several designs, shapes, and styles coming out of the market today, choosing the best one is definitely a confusing task.

To trim down your choices, here is one trendy cushion which will surely fit your home. In this article, you will find out more reasons why it’s time to take home union jack cushions.

  1. When you search for the image of this cushion over the net (that’s when you totally don’t know what this is), you will find out that it is very nationalistic in nature. It has the British flag in it. By simply purchasing this furniture, you have just shown the world how proud you are of your nationality. It is also another way of telling to those who will see it that you are in unison with the rest of the citizens in their efforts towards a common goal for the sake of the country.
  2. These cushions are also very stylish. As said earlier, this type of cushion will just trim down your choice. However, you still have different designs to choose from. There are even lots of color combinations which are really pleasing to the eye. Thus, when you want to stay in style, this one is a perfect choice.
  3. It is the best way to show your uniqueness. When you are tired of the usual designs you see for cushions and it’s as if you have seen all possible designs there are with every house you go into, it’s time to stand out and break away from the usual trend. When you invite people to go to your house, they will really be amazed and even surprised when you have union jack cushions.

With these great reasons, the next best thing that you have to do now is make your move and buy!


17
May 10

Chandelier – Express Your Personality

If you truly want to show your personality in a room, your choice of chandelier can help you do that. It can be a great focal point that will show people who visit your home what kind of person you are. When combined with the rest of your decor it will create a room that you can feel at home in and express your personality. A good example of this might be the candle chandelier which can express that you have a love of history and tradition.

When decorating, most people have specific ideas in mind. Someone who entertains a lot may have more elaborate tastes in decor and will look for items that are extravagant or flashy. On the other hand, a person who is more focused on functionality will likely look for decorative items that are more low-key but will have specific purposes.

The chandelier is no different from any other home decor item. As people choose the decor for their homes, they can make selections from a wide assortment of items. Objects with glass and lights and many different colors may prove to be very appealing and they will certainly gain the attention of anyone that walks in the room but it may not produce the quality of light that is needed for reading or any other activity that requires a large amount of light. If functionality is the main purpose decorators may be more interested in decorative lighting that is simple in appearance but has several selections for lighting that can be change according to need.

Those who are about to purchase a chandelier should think about what purpose it is going to hold in their home. Should it be a focal point in the room or will it be used more for functional reasons? Once purchasers are aware of their needs, they can choose a fixture that will reflect their personality and will add to the overall room decor.


26
Mar 10

The Beauty That Round Rugs Bring

Round rugs add beauty and a classy look to our homes, from the door steps, living rooms, bedroom, kitchen and toilet. Rugs are not only used to decorate and add beauty to the wall alone but also to the walls of the house or office.

Round shaped rugs have bought a new dimension in the world of interior design, unlike square, rectangle or oval shaped rugs, round shaped rugs can fit perfectly in any space without need for a lot of adjustments.

Round Rug Sizes
Round shaped rugs come in all designs and sizes. Just like other rugs, the rugs also are made using different materials from nylon, woolen, cotton etc. The rugs are designed to meet the various needs and functions and this is determined by the size of the rug. There are those rugs meant for wall decorations, most of the time, these rugs 3 foot to 3 foot 10 inches. They are also idle when used as table decorations.
Other sizes in which the round rugs are found range from four foot rugs to nine foot rugs, however we have also the extra large rugs measuring ten foot.

Round rugs that lie between four foot and nine foot are mainly used for floor decorations in various settings. This is because the rugs cover a big chunk of space and this adds more beauty and life to the room. The designs and quality of the rugs is categorized depending on their sizes.
Some examples of round rugs types are; Banister rug, Bamboo rug, dreams rug, entry-way rug etc.

Cleaning Process
The process of cleaning the round rugs is similar to that of other rugs. What has to be considered before cleaning the rugs is the type of material used to make the rugs. Color is also an important factor that should be taken into consideration before cleaning the rugs.

A good choice of the round rug will sparkle you house, this is based on the rug color visa vi the color of your furniture and the color of the interior of your house.


5
Mar 10

Make a Statement With a Shag Rug

You can include a shag rug in your home decor as a way to release the fun side of your personality. Shag rugs come is some of the most beautiful and brilliant colors. Most teenagers would love the opportunity to include a vibrant green, blue, purple, red, or orange shag rug in their bedroom. If you want to really add some fun and flare to a room, a shag rug with swirls, waves, squiggle lines, or geometric shapes should be included in your design plan. Bold, bright colors can bring a spark of life to any room. Your feet would love to wake up to the tickle of a shag rug beside of the bed. You can easily create a fun and casual atmosphere in a family room by including a few shag rugs in there.

If you prefer a more tranquil decor in your home, shag rugs are still an option for you. Neutral colored shags can add a touch of elegance to a bedroom, living room, or bathroom. A small rug placed in a dressing area is quite attractive. A nursery is also a wonderful place to add some shag rugs. A pastel blue, a neutral beige, or a mix of soft colors woven together help create a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere for both you and your baby.

A bamboo shag rug offers you the perfect opportunity to make the statement to others that you are concerned about environmental issues. These rugs are not only beautiful, they are ecologically friendly. Including these rugs in your living area or bedroom adds an element of sophistication to the room. With a choice of colors such as black, chocolate, beige, or crimson, it should be easy for you to find a bamboo round shag rug that will blend with or compliment your color scheme.


14
Feb 10

A Round Rug Can Be The Icing On The Cake

Sometimes corners and triangular areas in your home can be tricky to furnish, but a round rug can be just what is needed to pull the area together. Triangles love circles, and a round rug in a corner space can provide the balance for a sitting area, as well as draw attention to a showy piece of furniture in the corner itself. It is also a perfect compliment to place under a smart looking round table, or even as a wall hanging.

Basically, there are two ways that circular rugs are fashioned: braided and sewn together, or traditional loop design. The materials that are used will “fashion” the price. Natural fibers can be common like wool and cotton, or more exotic such as: jute, sisal, abaca, seagrass, and hemp. Of course these textures vary greatly, therefore you will need to have in mind what “look” you are going for, and how much you’d like to spend. Synthetic fibers usually fall into the nylon, acrylic and olefin categories. These fibers are more resilient than natural fibers and generally cost less. Since they are a bit more forgiving, they require less care.

With these things in mind, assess the area you want to cover and the traffic that it will receive. If you are looking for a room-sized rug that will be heavily trodden, you might want to consider one of the more durable fibers. One nice thing about a round rug is your ability to “spin” it without incurring geometric floor plan problems. For example: if you have an area that is getting brutalized by traffic, you can simply give the rug a 90-180 degree turn, and no one will be the wiser.

Whatever the size or motif you desire, there is an attention getting round area rug out there for you!


1
Feb 10

5 Tips for Buying High Quality Used Furniture

Buying used furniture isn’t hard – it’s for sale everywhere, and one need only to spend the money to buy an item. However, there’s a bit more to it than that if you’re not just looking for any old sofa to sit in your living room, but are instead hoping to outfit or decorate your home with high quality second hand furniture. In this article, we’ll look at 5 tips for buying used furniture that’s still in great shape, yet won’t break the bank either!

1. Don’t be scared to ask questions.
You shouldn’t be scared to ask the seller questions about why they’re selling the item, where it came from, and how it’s been stored (and for how long) up until now. In fact, consider it a friendly game of “21 questions”! The more you know about the item in question, the easier it is to both assess it’s value and leverage your buying power as a possible buyer.

2. Before making an offer, see it in person.
It might be tempting to seal the deal and tell a person you’ve found selling something online that you will buy their antique armoire closet for $500 in order to make sure that it’s yours. But this strategy can easily backfire. It’s nearly always better to wait to see the item in person before committing to a price.

3. Know how to inspect the item you’re looking at buying.
If you’re looking to purchase a used car, you need to know how to assess its condition. The same is true for used furniture, be it a Pandora wardrobe closet or a fine dining table and chair set from Sweden. The point is that the more familiar you are with what you’re looking at, the better chance you’ll have of striking a good deal.

4. Use the internet liberally.
Buying used furniture and doing it online pretty much go hand in hand these days. With the absolutely popularity of sites like Craigslist for buying and selling goods and services, directly between a buyer and a seller, the internet is a godsend for finding bargains. Just be sure not to get duped. Definitely don’t ever wire anyone money or agree to pay online first – anyone asking for such payment terms is a con artist, and they are all over Craigslist, so just use your common sense and you’ll be okay.

5. Use the internet but don’t forget about actual antique shops and other stores.
As mentioned, going online and looking for used furniture is easy and quick. However, don’t forget about the real world of shops and stores! Nearly every town has a few antique dealers or used goods shops. Check these places out for their furniture and see what’s in stock. Some specialty antique shops may be able to find something for you too even if they don’t have it – for the right price of course. The point is to keep your options open though, and don’t forget about the option of actually going into stores and looking directly at the furniture without using the internet as your intermediary!