Tag Archives: interior design

Easy Mini-Makeover Projects to Update Your Home


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Everybody has a different idea of a perfect home. Some people like vintage designs, while others prefer modern. All in all, if you want to redesign your home, you will find everything you need to know here.

But first, let’s talk about preparations now, shall we? You see, you have to know what you really want and need. Decorating is a very exhausting and creative process, which can also cost you a lot of money. Define your budget and think about how much time you can spend on this. If you’re short on time, take small steps and start with one room instead of redecorating your entire house at once. Next, take pictures and measurements of your space and always bring a tape measure with you when you go furniture shopping. If you don’t trust your taste, consider using free interior design services which are available in a lot of major stores.

Color

One of the biggest steps of house makeover is changing the color scheme. You need to think about which colors you like the most, but on the other hand which are also going to look nice in that particular room. If the room is small, you want to make it look bigger (with some lighter colors to open it up) and if it’s too big, you want to make it look cozy (with some warm and darker colors). You can also paint only half of the wall to create that subtle but also stylish statement. Whatever you do, make sure that you don’t overdo it with color variety (3 or 4 different colors is totally enough – sometimes even too much), since you don’t want your house to look like a children’s playground. Also, another unmistakable method is the 50/150 rule. The trick is simple, mix a batch of paint 50 percent lighter than the base with 150 percent darker one.

Furniture

This really depends on your budget. How much are you ready to spend? Do you want to spend anything at all? There are a few simple tricks that don’t take up much time or money; for example, you can paint your inexpensive pieces of furniture white. Yes, it sounds too simple, but you sure noticed that the color white gives that special classy feel to everything. Another fun, game-changing trick is moving your seating away from the walls, since it creates a lot more intimate atmosphere. If you want to make your walls seem taller, make sure that your furniture is low-slung. If you want to buy something new, then a good and innovative idea is to mix styles, for example, buy a totally traditional ‘20s style couch and put a super modern acrylic coffee table in front of it. This will totally change the room’s vibe. Whatever you do in the end, the most important thing is that you’re comfortable, so don’t spare money on comfort.

Decorative elements

The great thing with houses is that you can add basically anything you like, anywhere. Especially now when the interior designers became crazy about mixing and matching. For example, why wouldn’t you put a curtain instead of kitchen doors? Or why does your bedding have to match? Who’s going to stop you from putting a red pillow case, a navy blue cover and white sheets? Who told you that you can’t put an antique mirror in your all – white modern bathroom? What’s stopping you from covering your kitchen wall with plates, or your living room wall with dozens of pictures of different shapes and sizes? You just have to make sure that you don’t over exaggerate with accessories and create a cluttered space. A warm recommendation is that you check out a great range of homewares online because there you will find everything you need to make your house look like it came straight out of an interior design magazine.

Even if you book an interior designer to do all the designing for you, have in mind that your house needs to reflect you and present who YOU are. Put your meaningful items somewhere where everyone who enters your house will see them, even if they don’t fit the rest of the design, you can always find some way to make them fit.

Let There Be Light: How To Achieve The Perfect Lighting For Your Apartment


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Most people who are living in apartments for rent will not pay too much attention on how the lighting in their homes will look like. Most of these people would be focusing on how they can decorate their living space — the type of curtain to use and how they can change the wall color without angering their landlords along with the most common renting decoration problems.

For your information, the lighting of your home can have a great impact on how the apartment will look. Even if you do not recognize it yet, having the right lighting in your apartment can make it look more homey and livable. With that in mind, here are some tips that can help shed light to achieving the perfect lighting in your apartment:

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Let Softer Lights Shine Through

Interior Design with Soft LIghts

In most apartments, you will see bright overhead lights installed in each and every room. While these bright lights are highly needed and wanted in busy home areas like the kitchen and your study area, other parts of your home may benefit from softer lights. These will create a more comfortable ambience and more relaxing vibe.

Take Advantage of Lamps

Lamp Interior Design

Aside from using overhead lights, one great way to add light into your home is to make use of lamps. You can take advantage of either a floor or a table lamp. The living room will look great with a floor lamp that has lower watt bulbs. On the other hand, a table lamp with a brighter bulb will provide just the right amount of light in your reading area.

Use Night Lights

Night Light Ideas

To set the tone in your bathroom and bedroom, you can take advantage of night lights. With the warm light that night lights give off, your bedroom and bathroom can be turned into a personal sanctuary.

Incorporate Accent Lights

Interior Design Accent Lights

Accent lights are starting to become more and more popular and this is due to lots of good reasons. Accent lights are easy to install and to be removed. More than that, it provides a warm atmosphere into the living space, making it a great choice for you entertainment area or your living room.

Make Your Light the Star Attraction

Lighting Design

More than achieving the perfect lighting, light fixtures can also be used to achieve a well-decorated rental. Instead of settling with an old fashioned lamp, try to find lighting pieces that can make your living space look more interesting. Light fixtures come in a  wide array of sizes, designs and colors so don’t hold back and allow yourself to enjoy the beautiful light fixtures that are made available today.

Lighting plays a much more important role than you think. This is why it is best that you take time to think about your lighting fixtures and needs once you moved into an apartment. That is the best way to make your home look more livable and homey.

Three Home Desk Styles For Different Personalities


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When it comes to the entire world of interior decorating, desks are as utilitarian as a piece of furniture can get. However, just because their existence depends solely on the fact that there are things that you need to be done at home instead of at work does not mean that you cannot pick out a desk that will complement the style of your home.

Below are some of the desk designs that will blend with any home and any personality.

For the Straightforward and Practical

Desk Designed for Practical Work

If beating around the bush is your idea of inefficiency, then you may want to pick out a desk that is sleek and is devoid of the trimmings. The reason for why modern career men and women veer away from the traditional desks is the fact that they tend to have very intricate designs. While these sophisticated designs do not hurt your bid to have a desk that looks easy on the eyes, they can also limit the amount of usable space. Moreover, when it comes cleaning and maintenance, the nooks and crannies can make these desks extremely easy to accumulate dust and difficult to be cleaned.

Aside from the fact that there is more utilizable space on these desks, they are not that bad to look at either. In fact, the angular and sleek lines of these desks make them an excellent addition to homes with minimalist interior designs. These sleek desks are made using laminate, steel and high-quality wood, so if you already integrate these materials in your home, a no-nonsense table with straight lines should be the perfect addition.

For the Nature Lover

Rustic Wooden Nature Desk

If you’re the type of person who wants to bring the outside elements in, then you can always reflect your sensibilities on the type of desk that you have inside your house. A rustic desk made from salvaged wood can be a visual reminder of the fact that while you may have a wooden desk inside your home, that does not mean at all that you like to cut trees. At the same time, the very raw look and vibe that the desk exudes also gives out this air of urgency, helping you to get things done faster.

For the Family-Oriented

Family Inspired Desk

Sometimes, the desk in your home is not your exclusive property. You may have kids around that require a desk for them to do their homework and projects. If you are sharing desks with the little tykes, then remember that you need to pick out a desk that can withstand all of the wear and tear that these little ones can bring. Pick out desks that are not that expensive and are easy to  clean, especially when the little ones fail to color within the lines. Also, be prepared to pick out a desk that offers a lot of space especially when you have more than one child. You can pick out two identical desks and place them side-by-side or back-to-back of each other. In addition, make sure that you place the tables in an area that does not distract the kids.

3 Interior Design Blogs That You Will Fall In Love With


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Trying to find the most inspirational interior design ideas online can be a fruitful but tiring process. The problem nowadays is the sheer amount of sites that all try and do the same thing, trawling through them is a timely activity for sure. But if you decide to avoid the larger names and get down and dirty with the design-driven blogs, you may be barking up the right tree for a change! The online diary brigade has certainly got some sweet stuff on offer and it isn’t that hard to nail down. You can do a search and type in a few choice keywords and there you are. We’ve been kind here and to save you good folk some valuable time, we have listed 3 of the best interior design blogs for your perusal. We’ve also reviewed them but suggest you check out the links and you might just find that idea that’s been eluding you so far – Have Fun!

Fabric of my life – l’apartment

We’ll get the interior design blog ball rolling Fabric of my Life that focuses on Danish concept space. This may seem a little out of left field to many of you DIY fans but it really has a lot to offer. The whole idea is to marry together a rainbow of beautifully colored and patterned furniture with a white backdrop – the walls. You will be amazed at how fantastic this all works out to be and the magnificent color schemes actually have a rather calming effect on the whole image. There are other displays of interior beauty elsewhere on the blog, but we’ll let you feast your eyes on them when you pop over to look for yourself.

Design Milk

Design Milk is a lovely all-rounder that offers so much in the way of visual content as well as a myriad of conversations with some of the world’s leading interior designers. You really get the chance to see how some of these bad boys roll. The site is set up in a way that allows you to choose from the traditional viewing methods or a skimmed milk option that does exactly that! As well as interior design, the bog contains some architectural magic and a really cool set of furniture design links. If you are a fan of canine art, check out the sister blog – Dog Milk.

MoCo Loco

As the name would suggest, MoCo Loco is a little out there as well as offering one of the brightest insights into the world of contemporary interior design. Harry Wakefield is a master at breaking down some of these highbrow designs and really gets right to the skinny for the benefit of you and me. If you are looking for the next coolest designer to help you get that 2014 look and beyond for your own home, you’ve just struck pure gold!

3 Ways To Buck The Trend?

Hey, these 3 beauties are just the tip of the interior design blog iceberg, but don’t let us give you too many ideas, check them out for yourselves!

Innovative Uses For The Space Under A Staircase


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Does your home featuring a staircase leading up to the second level? If so, you should consider taking advantage of the additional space underneath this area. While millions of homes are built with staircases, very few homeowners actually use this additional space underneath them. However, properly decorating and setting up this otherwise wasted space will offer multiple benefits. For some ideas on how to use the space under a staircase, keep reading.

#1 – Home Office

Under Stairs Home Office Storage

One solution that’s incredibly easy and efficient is to turn the area into a functional home office. Depending on the size and shape of your staircase, this may or may not be easy. Traditional non-spiral staircases will typically feature a large space underneath that can turned into a desk area complete with an office chair and file cabinet. All that’s required to accomplish this is to install a desk, electrical outlet and light in the space. Congratulations, you now have your very own office set up directly under the stairs!

#2 – Storage

Hidden Storage Under Staircase Storage

Another innovate use for the space under a staircase is to transform it into a storage area. If you can’t seem to find enough room to store all of your clothes and belongings, then you should turn this area into a storage area. There are several different ways to approach this, but the easiest technique is to install drawers into the staircase. You’ll likely have to custom design them, but it’s well worth it in the long run. Once the drawers are installed under the stairs, you can store additional clothes, books, DVDs, electronics, remote controls, mail or practically anything else you can think of.

#3 – Bookshelf

Under Staircase Book Shelf Storage

A third option is to turn the additional space into a large bookshelf. This technique is especially beneficial for staircases in the foyer and/or living room. Bookshelves offer a unique decorative touch to the atmosphere that’s simply not found in other furnishings. Installing one in the open communal area such as a foyer staircase will provide a stylish touch, helping to achieve a more attractive and complete home decor.

You can even go one step further by installing multiple bookshelves in this area, essentially creating a small library. Individuals who enjoy reading books the old fashioned way rather than tablets will likely enjoy this technique. Libraries are rarely found in modern-day homes, so friends and family members are sure to compliment you on it.

#4 – Lounging Area

Under the Stairs Seating

As long as there’s enough space, you can turn the area underneath a staircase into a full lounge area. The dark, cozy atmosphere is perfect for kicking back and relaxing. Just add a comfortable daybed along with some pillows and you’ll have a wonderfully relaxing lounge area. Lounge areas are ideal for kicking back and catching a daytime nap.

While most people will be resting in their lounge area, it’s still a good idea to install a light socket here. Having a light in your newly created lounge area will give you more freedom and options regarding its use.

Evan is a content contributor for Stair Supplies. Evan enjoys writing about home improvement projects and much more. He suggests going here to find the best stair parts available online.

Work Better In An Organized And Appealing Home Office: 6 Makeover Tips


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Many homeowners these days now have home offices that act as a personal extension of their offices where they can continue to work on unfinished office reports. Chances are your home office is one of the least aesthetically pleasing rooms in your home and since you spend a few hours in the evening and the weekend in it, you might not even notice how disorganized, small and boring it has become. In fact, it may no longer look like a home office anymore nor feel that way either. Do you have a home office that you have not been able to spruce up in a while? Perhaps you need to take some time and determine what is wrong with your home office and apply the necessary changes.

home office

Why You Need To Give Your Home Office A Makeover

In many cases a home office is where most people spend plenty of time in compared to the laundry room. However, your working environment can affect your productivity, energy levels and creativity. It can also reflect you perception of personal success and your confidence levels. So when you have an uninspiring working space that is constantly filled with clutter, you can expect your business goals to be affected. Home offices usually require makeovers not only to improve the appeal of the room, but to help homeowners feel good and work better towards their goal. As such, if your home office lacks personality, is utilitarian in nature, always has clutter, is always disorganized and has decor and colors that does not complement a home office, you need to do a makeover.

1. Remove Clutter

Clean up your clutter and organize your things. Stick to a personalized organizational plan that is tailored to you and your workflow.

2. Create A Floor Plan

Create a floor plan that allows you easy access to all your items on a daily basis. Tailor it to the type of business you have.

3. Design Interior

Start designing your home office with something that inspires you. You can build the room’s interior based on what you love and what you already have. However, you can also bring in character to your home office by incorporating custom furniture or furnishing pieces, such as a stool, table or even mirrors. Custom made pieces speak about your personality better compared to ready made pieces.

4. Sufficient Lighting

Never overlook the lighting in your home office as it has a major impact on the finished design. Make sure that you have at least two sources of light, but it will not harm to have three.

5. Choose The Right Wall Color

First find a wall color to match an item in your home office, and then find items to match the wall color. Just do not make the mistake of matching your wall color to the exact color of the item of your choice. Always use a tone, tint or shade of the item’s color instead.

6. Establish A Focal Point

You also need to establish a focal point which is the first thing you will see upon entering your home office. Focal points are essential in all interior designs, but home offices do not usually have them. You can also make your desk your focal point by hanging grouped artwork behind the desk.

Valerie Kandria is a freelance writer specializing in interior design, custom doors and custom made furnishings. She offers advice on interior makeovers, how to create extra spaces and add style to a cramped home.

Incorporating Reclaimed Wood into your Home or Apartment


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With more companies and contractors seeking LEED certification, it’s not uncommon to see the use of reclaimed wood in remodels and new buildings. What a lot of people don’t know is that it’s simple to use this earth-friendly material in a home or apartment. From reclaimed hardwood flooring to simple crafts, reclaimed lumber isn’t just beneficial for the environment and a green solution for your space – it’s also an investment that’s full of character.

About Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed lumber comes from objects that have had a previous life, such as barns, shipping palettes or wine casks. After the wood has been salvaged, dried and milled, professionals turn it into new products you can use in your home.

Alternatively, DIY enthusiasts can source reclaimed wood from garage sales, thrift stores, classified ads or retailers that sell salvaged building supplies. If you wish to go the DIY route, be picky about the wood you choose. Always look for lumber that was never chemically treated so you don’t get exposed to toxins. Also, carefully inspect the wood for signs of insects so you don’t introduce unwanted pests into your home.

Incorporating Reclaimed Wood into Your Home

Using reclaimed lumber in your home design is simple, as many designers and contractors offer affordable reclaimed wood options. When working on a wood craft of your own, there’s a good chance you can replace virgin wood from the hardware store with reclaimed wood. Here are some ideas:

Reclaimed Wood Floors

Reclaimed hardwood flooring

One of the main advantages reclaimed lumber has over newly harvested wood is its strength, durability and extra resistance to moisture (because it’s drier and comes from old-growth trees). Consider using reclaimed hardwood flooring in the shared living areas of your home. The unique patina of the lumber, and the variety of available shades, make it possible to perfectly complement your home’s décor.

Decks

Some types of reclaimed lumber resist the elements so well you can use them to build or resurface a deck. Consider incorporating old beams into steps and built-in benches.

Wood veneer panels

Veneer panels made out of reclaimed redwood provide an affordable option that gives you the look of solid wood at a fraction of the cost. Because the panels are more stable than virgin wood, they’re less prone to the effects of humidity and alternating temperatures. Wood panels are ideal for:

  • Walls
  • Casework
  • Frames
  • Cabinetry
  • Doors

Flower boxes and raised beds

With some old shipping pallets and basic building supplies, you can make simple flower boxes and raised garden beds over the weekend.

Cutting board

If you have the know-how, use untreated hardwood (stay away from soft timbers) to make a unique cutting board. If saws and sandpaper aren’t for you, check out stores that sell kitchenware, as many now offer reclaimed wood products such as wine racks and salad tongs.

Birdhouses

Another great weekend project, birdhouses are simple to make (especially with kids).

Reclaimed Wood Frames

Picture frames 

You don’t need many materials to make yourself some amazing picture frames from reclaimed wood. If the wood has an interesting pattern, use a light stain on it.

The use of reclaimed wood is a design trend that’s here to stay. By incorporating this eco-friendly material into your home, you help reduce deforestation and keep perfectly usable materials out of landfills. Talk to a dealer who specialized in reclaimed wood to learn more about its uses and benefits.

Author Bio:

This post was contributed by Viridian Reclaimed Wood, a reclaimed wood flooring, paneling and furniture salvaging and materials company based in Portland, Oregon. Viridian focuses on using environmentally responsible raw materials and manufacturing processes to build products that last generations  and than can in turn be easily reclaimed at the end of their life cycle.

Small Items to Customize Your Apartment


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Apartment renters may envy those with large homes because of the additional space to make a design statement, show off one-of-a-kind objects, or incorporate large, prominent pieces of furniture. If you find yourself harboring those kinds of feelings, there is good news. You can find a world of objects to customize your small space. Although apartments can present a few tricky challenges because of their size, you can get around most of these by focusing on items that have visual punch in spite of their scale.

One of the great things about small touches is that they are often budget friendly. You can do a lot with a little bit of money for a compact living area. First, take a good look at your space, and consider what types of decor items might best suit your small home. Take note of windows, corners, and empty walls to begin your small-space makeover.

Curtains

Many apartment communities and landlords forbid renters from painting their walls. Even if your apartment does allow you to paint, you may not have the funds it would require to add some color to all of your walls. Curtains are one of the best ways to add color, pattern, and visual interest to a small space. By closing a colorful curtain over a large window, you can get nearly as much vibrancy and detail as a painted or wallpapered wall might offer. Think outside of the box on drapes. You can use them for much more than window coverings. Use a brightly colored curtain to divide a small space or to cover a wall as an accent.

Lamps

Dark spaces look smaller to the human eye, so add some light to your apartment to give the illusion of a greater size. Lamps also provide warmer, less intense light than ceiling fixtures do, so they are great for creating a comforting, homey feeling in an apartment. Lamps are good for more than providing a source of light. Choose accent lamps in bright citrons, fuchsias, or ocean blues for a pop of color, or opt for metallic lamps to add some beauty to otherwise drab areas of your home.

Mirrors

Like lighting, mirrors can provide the illusion of a larger space. Hanging a large mirror in a small room can have the effect of doubling the size of the area. Even if you go for a collection of tiny mirrors in elegant gold frames, such accents will create visual centerpieces for your home without a huge injection of cash.

Art

Handmade art comes in all shapes and sizes, and you can find it anywhere from galleries to second-hand stores. Including some art in your apartment will create a more personal, inviting environment, and it will make a statement about your interests to your guests. Acquire a small painting or sketch at a craft fair, or look for small ceramic sculptures at neighborhood yard sales. Many shops and retail stores also offer small sculptures, glassware, and framed art that will fit any budget or small space.

This is a guest post by DIY and Home Improvement enthusiast Charlie O. for Worldmarket.com, a great source of world market furniture. You can find all kinds of home accessories and furniture to customize your rental or refurnish your home.

Learning To Highlight New Areas Of Your Home


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There are all sorts of fun ways to revitalize a home. Finding yourself tired of looking at the same four walls day in and day out? Maybe it’s time for some change. Today, we are going to discuss a few great ways to create a new and exciting home atmosphere in order to build a whole new year and a whole new you.

Putting Focus on What’s Most Important

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What’s ‘important’ depends on your personal preferences. Maybe you want to show off that new Eagle artwork you found at a local sale or the amaryllis display your sister bought for your birthday. A great way to show off the things you love most and give your room a comforting feel is to use spotlights. These lighting options can be hung from the ceiling or pointed up from the ground or a table, for depth. While most people reach for natural colored lighting, for a more unique effect, experiment with different color options, i.e., pinks, blues, yellows. Since spotlights are adjustable, it is very easy to make changes as you update your home.

For outdoor use, motion sensor lights are a fantastic way to offer the perfect amount of lighting for barbecuing with the family. Installing sensors not only on your walkways, but also your driveway can mean a much safer arrival each and every time you or a loved one stops by. Just like inside the home, lights can be used outdoors to put additional focus on areas you are most proud of, such as your newly painted door or the plants bordering your front porch.

Walls and Ceilings: Spaces Commonly Forgotten

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While many homes are full of white walls and white ceilings, if you’re looking to make the space more inviting, why not reach for colors that are going to blend beautifully with your current design? Begin by finding a color that appears somewhere within the location. Inspirations can be found in your favorite blanket, painting, or stuffed animal. The trick here is, you don’t want to choose a color that is used too often throughout the room because this will generally overwhelm the senses, e.g., a red velvet bedspread and completely deep red walls. While there are always exceptions to the rule, it’s typically best to select a hue that won’t consume the entire space. Sometimes you’ll find that the best colors to choose are a shade or two lighter or darker than the color you got your inspiration from.

Not ready to take on a painting job just yet? Maybe it’s time to upgrade the room by swapping out for an updated chandelier or installing one for the first time. There are ornate crystal options, which can have real or fake candles, stunning black onyx or even those in the shape of a teardrop; just to give you a few ideas. If you’re looking for dual functionality, consider adding a ceiling fan. This will give you a bit of style and the comfort of additional temperature control.

Instantly Get More Use out of What You’ve Got

Mom in reflection

There are many areas of a home that are easy to forget to decorate. For instance, instead of leaving your sliding closet doors empty, why not add a mirror to the front? This will not only make the room appear larger and offer additional light but will give you a place to prepare for your day, getting ready for work and making sure your outfit looks just right before stepping out the door. When you have a large family, bathroom mirrors may not be quite enough, especially first thing in the morning.

The space about your cupboards may not be an area you remember to clean often, let alone see. But, it is one of the best places to display some of your favorite, and most fragile items. Have porcelain plates or dolls that were your grandmothers? Instead of having them tucked away in a box where you’ll probably never see them again, why not show them off? The area is high enough that you won’t ever have to worry about them getting broken or being touched but your guests can enjoy them with you.

Keep it Simple: Keep it ‘You’

We cannot stress enough how important it is to stay true to yourself when making changes to your home. Don’t take on large projects if you don’t have the budget or time for it. Figure out what areas of your home you enjoy most, and which ones aren’t quite as exciting. Take note of the colors in those rooms, what items draw your attention and so forth. This will help you move in the right direction to a home that will make you feel energized all over again. Switching things up, even if just by moving furniture between rooms, is a great way to keep a home from feeling dull.

The guest post author for today is William Rimmington. An interior decorator by profession, he believes in carrying out eco friendly changes to homes and higlighting new areas of the house with unique designs. For ceiling tasks, he often approaches Pro ceilings as they are the best ceiling contractors in Perth

Color As The Key To Modern Interior Design


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Transforming your home or business space through color can be an affordable solution to any decorating project. By selecting and thoughtfully using various colors through paint, fabrics, textures and artwork, you add light, drama, balance and a modernized feel to any space. The following are some handy tips to incorporate color into your interior design projects.
Bold color usage for a modern design theme

Layer Your Colors

If you’re looking to make your work or home environment more dynamic and visually interesting, try adding a layer of colors to your room space. Begin by painting one wall a darker color and use a shade or two lighter for the other walls within the room. Hues within the same color scheme usually look best and for a less dramatic effect use only two shades on the room.

Bring Color in Through Fabrics and Materials

Another inexpensive way to change the look of any room in your home or business is to change the upholstery on your furniture. Paint the colors of your walls one solid color and bring in matching patterns and materials through fabrics and prints for your sofas, chairs and love seats. You can also pull any room together with accent pieces such as artwork, matching throw pills, vases and decorative rugs.

Modifying window treatments and curtains is another affordable way to add more color to your work or living space. If you’re looking to create an intimate environment, keep the window treatments and walls similar in color. However, if you’re looking to create something a little more dramatic, you can select patterns and rich tones that accent your wall colors. Bed sheets, lace and bolts of fabric make affordable window coverings.

Pull Color from Artwork

If you have a particular piece of artwork that you love hanging in your home or office space, you can decorate to pull specific colors from the piece. Concentrate on a certain accent color or  repaint the wall that the piece hangs on to bring out it’s brilliance. You can also easily change the matting or frames of your art to create a totally new affect in your room.

Room Colors and the Effect on Your Mood

Colors typically affect a person in one of three ways, neutral, energetic, or calming. Reddish hues can bring energy and excitement to a room. Try hanging a red print, curtains, or other accent to stimulate conversation and get the heart pumping more than any other color. Yellow is a cheerful color that can instill happiness and warmth in a room. Kitchens and bathrooms in the home and office that are popular choices for a yellow color theme. However, studies have shown that young infants tend to cry more in nurseries painted in yellowish tints. If you’re looking to create calm and relaxation in any of the rooms in your home, blue and green have been shown to bring down blood pressure and promote comfort. Neutral colors create more of neutral mood and may have less affect on energy or comfort level.

If you’re looking for ways to change the mood of your work or home environment, incorporating color through paint, fabric and textures are affordable options. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to bring about drama or relaxation through just a few simple touches.

Author and Free-lance artist Molly Pearce also enjoys exercising her creativity and love of vivid color in the rooms of her home and studio. Artismo.com is an online resource offering high-quality, framed art reproductions featuring every color of the rainbow, from a fiery, red print to a black and white pen and ink illustration to a multi-colored landscape painting.