Blog posts of '2018' 'April'

Everyone likes a great ambiance when they sit down to a meal.  Once you have established the basics of the room like furniture, you can keep the look of your dining area fresh by rotating seasonal decorations and room accents.  Here are a few ideas for keeping it fresh. First, you need to set the baseline of the year round theme of the room.  Make sure that the accouterments of the room like wall art, vases, and statutes are related to the design school on which the furniture is based.  So uniformity will help keep everything look like it was meant to go together, but that does not mean that you cannot get creative and have an antique or two in a mid-modern setting. The occasional piece that is odd, will highlight your main design as long as you have paid attention to the overall scale and proportions of your dining room. Next, have a color theme to the seasonal decorations.  Match your seat cushions or slipcovers, vases, and wall art with complementary or contrasting colors.  For example, in summer, do a blue and orange theme will create the feel of being outdoors in the fresh air.  Bring the outdoors in with fresh flower of purple and orange or pink and yellow. Pay attention to the colors you have in the room all year and use the color wheel to pick the complimentary colors you want each season. Keep things easy to change up.  You don’t want to be moving furniture around each season just to change the look.  Having removable upholstery for your hardwood chairs like slipcovers will help keep them in good condition.  You can use them all year round or pull them out for parties and special occasions when the chairs will be getting extra use.  The slipcovers will protect the legs and built in cushions from scratches or falling food. You can have multiple sets to match the color theme for the season. No matter what holidays you celebrate throughout the year, keep some decorations on hand to brighten up the room.  Centerpieces for the table or ivy for the furniture will add a festive accent to the dining room for friend and family gatherings.  Make sure that the decorations that you choose coordinate with the slip covers and cushions you are using during that season. The last thing you want is for everything to clash. If you follow these simple tips, you can be the expert interior designer in your own home.  Keep it fun, keep it creative, and keep it simple. If you do, then it will be easy to make the changes every season.  

Regardless of your budget, you can revitalize the looks of your living room. While daydreaming about making an upgrade is fun, reality sets in when you have to pay for improvements. Instead of adding new looks all at once, establish a decorating plan that you can incorporate over time. For example, if your budget is limited (around $100), declutter your living area and rearrange the furnishings. To add a bit of interest, paint an accent wall. By removing the clutter, your space will look instantly larger. Plus, modernizing in this way is absolutely free. The same is true for rearranging the furnishings. If your sofa is situated against the wall, move it toward the center of the room. Match the paint for the accent wall with the color of your couch.

Add New Artwork and Plants

If you have a bit more to spend, declutter your living space, paint the walls, and include new art and plants. Begin with smaller plants to save cash. Choose a piece of art that is either a limited-edition print or an original painting. If you cannot afford a limited edition or painting, include a collage of photos—in gallery picture frames—of nature scenes.

Add Some Pillows

Can you spend around $500? If so, declutter, paint, include plants and art, and warm up the space with textiles. For example, the addition of a throw over an armchair or an arrangement of cushiony pillows on the couch will instantly modernize your space’s appearance. If you have extra to spend, buy some new curtains, Venetian blinds, or shutters.

Install New Lighting

If you can spend around $700, get rid of the excess clutter, paint the wall, add plants, hang artwork, include textiles, hang curtains, and install new lighting. For example, you might consider adding an overhead light, or if you have a ceiling light, install a dimmer switch. Recessed lighting can also be installed to provide a soothing ambience.

Re-upholster a Tired-looking Chair

If you have a fairly large amount to spend ($1,000), do all the things previously outlined plus replace some of your furnishings. For example, maybe a chair looks tired and needs updating. If the frame is in good condition, you might consider having it reupholstered or doing the work yourself. By reupholstering the chair, you have increased choices with respect to colors and fabrics. If you find a new chair you like better, you may also consider switching out the old furnishing.

Add a New Rug

Do you have a bit more to spend? Trying adding a new rug to the living area. Make sure the accessory adequately fits the space. One of the most common decorating errors is featuring an area rug that is too small. A rug that is generously sized enlarges a room’s appearance, yet makes the space look cozier and more inviting.

Replace the Sofa

If you do not have any budget constraints, put out the money for a new sofa too. This is more of the most notable changes you can make to a living room. A better sofa will last a lot longer. Therefore, select a couch that is the highest quality for what you wish to spend. If you have pets or kids in your home, select a darker-hued, stain-resistant material. Refreshing your living room is easier than you think. Even on a small budget, making some upgrades can make a big difference in how a room looks and feels.