Unique Bedroom Decorating Ideas: Creative Way To Position A Bed
If you’re looking for some unique bedroom decorating ideas, start with the star of the show — your bed. It’s the focal point in every bedroom. So, of course, you can dress it up with funky linens and lots of throw pillows. But for something truly unique, how about pulling it away from the wall? Does that make you feel a bit uneasy? Actually, it shouldn’t, unless you adhere strictly to Feng Shui principles. But that’s another story. Anyway, interior designer, Sara Ruffin Costello provides some great ideas for creating a unique space by positioning your bed in non-traditional ways.
Unique Bedroom Decorating Ideas: Move Your Bed Away From The Wall
I always advise a single bold decorating stroke per room, whether it’s a statement piece of furniture or a courageous color combination. Like an adventurous conversationalist at a dull dinner party, a twist on the expected keeps everybody awake.
When it comes to the bedroom, one painless route to design bravery is to modify the furniture arrangement. Even a classicist like myself feels strangled by the rigor of too much stagnant symmetry.
The, um, non-missionary approach would be to “float” the bed slightly into the room. Positioning the bed away from the wall is bound to feel awkward at first. Timorous types may long for the imagined support of a back wall.
But trust me, it isn’t load bearing to the bed. I came across a picture of a floating bed in decorator Vicente Wolf’s lofty New York bedroom. Mr. Wolf, a master furniture arranger, had pulled the bed away from the wall and arranged it on the diagonal.
In so doing, the corner had become something unpredictable. With the biggest piece of furniture freed from its expected position, the room became a little more bohemian.
A more tailored approach, a la decorator David Hicks, would be to create a mini canopy above the bed. By attaching a rectangular-shaped pelmet at the top of the wall or on the ceiling and hanging fabric from it (a piece down the back and one on either side), you create the illusion of a headboard.
For the upholstery-averse, a more DIY path is to pull a swath of fabric through a curtain tieback centered above the bed, close to the ceiling, and let the yardage fall on either side.
Another way to banish boring bedroom décor is to use a folding screen as a headboard. A low (about five-feet tall) and lengthy screen looks modern and suits the scale of large rooms. A tall screen behind a bed can take the place of art.
The bedroom should be a sanctuary for unplugging and recharging—and the bed, especially, a Zen place to escape for a few hours. By making it a beautiful focal point, you might even want to share it with someone. Original story here.
So what do you think? Are you willing to pull your bed away from the wall and make a unique statement? If so, come back and leave a comment. I’m sure everyone would be curious as to what you did and if it felt weird.
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Consider Installing Decorative Partition Walls
You’ve probably heard of decorative screens, but how about decorative partition walls? While screens consist of two or three panels, a wall is much more expansive. With decorative partition walls, you can really create a 3D textured effect in a room. Partition walls have traditionally been used is businesses, but are now finding their way into homes. Maria Cote of The Kansas City Star discussed this latest trend with local architects and designers.
Are Decorative Partition Walls A Viable Option For Your Home?
Once the furniture is in place and the boxes are unpacked, new homeowners face the final challenge: dealing with those big, blank walls.
The artwork checklist starts with proportion and continues on to color and style. And over the past few years, architects and interior designers have been giving more consideration to one more element: dimension.
Three-dimensional wall panels have long been used by businesses, for aesthetic appeal and acoustical properties.
Architect Christian Arnold, with Clockwork Architecture + Design, turned to 3-D artwork for the walls of Westrope, an insurance company in Kansas City. Interlam’s laminate sculptured wall panels add a modern, bold look to the space.
“They’re aesthetically pleasing, but many are also practical,” Arnold says. “We’ve used these in restaurants to hold down noise.”
In his own home, he found an even more practical use for a decorative wall. In fact, he likes to think of it as practical artwork.
“It’s a woven wood panel wall we use as a screen,” Arnold says.
Thin strips of reclaimed walnut were woven into a basket weave, creating a divider between a children’s craft area and a living room.
A local carpenter did the work, Arnold says, and the family is so pleased with the final product that they’re considering getting another wooden “wall” for a guest bedroom.
“We have big windows and big spaces,” Arnold says. “What’s nice about the self-supporting structural wall is that it can break up that loft-like space, but as our family grows and our needs grow, it can move.”
Flexibility, says the Kansas City architect, is all-important in designing homes for families today.
“As their lives change, they can let their space change with them.”
Tim Butt, interior designer and owner of Black Bamboo, has created a wall panel so adept at changing with the needs of a family, his clients can take it with them when they move.
“We made it decorative, so it has some aesthetic appeal in the space, but it’s a functional wall that can be dismantled and moved,” Butt says. “We were looking at something that broke up the scale of the loft space, but also that was warm and created texture.”
While Butt has used 3-D panels from companies like Modular Arts, for this project, he hired a craftsman.
“I found a steel fabricator who also worked with wood,” Butt says. “I tell people to look for craftsmen who are truly artists, and who think outside the box.”
The final product, Butt says, is a piece his client adores. “It’s a wall that’s an artwork in itself.”
Arnold and Butt point to areas of the home where sculptural walls could create visual interest or movable wall panels could act as screens. Break a cozy reading area off from a large space in a loft, or create a division between a children’s playroom and a living room without having to build permanent walls, Arnold says.
Butt points out that small spaces, like the area around a fireplace or an accent wall in a bathroom, are ideal spots for artful, sculptural treatments.
Interior designer Carmen R. Thomas, with Tran + Thomas Design Studio, has seen the popularity of 3-D walls grow over the past five years. What was once popular only in commercial design is now making its way into the residential market as well, she says.
“Sculptural wall panels bring a focal point to your space,” Thomas says. “They’re unexpected, and what does a better job of giving a space personality and character than a bit of the unexpected?” Original story.
Personally, I absolutely love the idea of enhancing a wall and giving it texture by installing a decorative partition wall or paneling that has a 3D effect. This is an idea to consider if you want to do something different that will also wow your friends.
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Decorating With The Color Blue: The “In” Color For 2012
If you love decorating with the color blue, this is your year. Well, kinda. You see, Pantone Inc. is the world’s authority on color. And every year they announce their color of the year. For 2012, their color choice is called Tangerine Tango. As you might guess, this is a shade of orange. But Pantone isn’t the only outfit that anoints a color each year. The paint companies do it too. One of those companies has chosen a shade of blue. Jackson Holtz of heraldnet.com shares more details in the article below.
Decorating With The Color Blue
Colors mean a lot. Red can be sexy. Yellow can represent vitality and life.
Blue, the color that trend experts at Benjamin Moore say will be most popular in 2012, conveys a sense of calm and trust. Think “true blue.”
The top color pick this year is Wythe Blue, a blue-green hue with a cool gray cast.
“It’s interesting that Wythe Blue is from our historical color collection,” said Sonu Mathew, Benjamin Moore’s senior interior designer.
“We’ve actually cited it because it has a modern edge, yet it’s so rooted in history and is respectful of what’s classic and enduring.”
About 1 in 5 people who shop for paints rely on these kind of recommendations, said Lloyd Trout, paint manager at Hatloe’s Carpet One Floor & Home in Everett.
This year’s color recommendations have removed pigments that can bring down the tone, Trout said.
“They’re more alive,” he said.
Colors in the blue family often are an ideal backdrop for other colors and materials, Matthew said.
“It’s an excellent partner to various wood tones, and complements the grays and whites that have become current decorating basics,” she said.
Amethyst Shadow, which borders the gray scale while bridging between purple and blue, is another favorite in 2012.
Stardust, Nimbus Gray, Sharkskin, Storm Cloud Gray and Revere Pewter all are “hotties” in the gray-color category.
In addition to whites and neutrals, earth tones are making their way into the color palette this year.
Matthew recommends French Press, Masada, Farm Fresh, Dunmore Cream and Fresh Olive.
Persimmon, with its robust hue, helps offset other colors.
Providing an annual color forecast is meant to help inspire and fuel the imagination.
“This is meant to be a starting point in their color selection process,” she said.
At Hatloe’s, customers often bring in swatches of existing colors in the home, including the carpet, couch and other walls, Trout said. That helps the experts at the store narrow the choices for customers.
High quality paints, such as Benjamin Moore, typically can stand up in all home environments including the bathroom.
Once a color is selected, Trout recommends buying quality painting tools.
Many home painters believe a brush is a brush and a roller cover is a roller cover, “But it’s not,” Trout said. “You’re only as good as your tools,” he said.
Using lower quality equipment may mean spending more time on second coats or wasting money by not applying paint properly.
If you’re having a tough time deciding on a color, it may be a good idea to buy a sample-size container of several colors to see how the paint will look in the room that’s to be painted.
Light and other colors in the room can change the hue tremendously, experts say. Original story here.
Blue is deemed to be a cool color as far as color temperature goes. So when used on walls, for example, the color will have a soothing psychological effect. This is a nice color for living rooms and dens where you’re more likely to kick back and relax.
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Inexpensive Home Decorating Ideas – Indoors And Outdoors
Looking for some inexpensive home decorating ideas? If so, Marla Ballard of the times-journal.com offers several creative tips for sprucing up your home. As you’ll see, you really can dress up your home without emptying your bank account.
Inexpensive Home Decorating Ideas
Most people live on a budget and cannot afford to purchase the biggest and best of everything. The beauty of your home does not need to suffer because small touches can add up to make a huge difference.
I started thinking about this because one of my neighbors spruced up the outside of their home by simply placing a couple of straight backbenches outside their garage doors. What once looked like a dull garage now presented itself with style. Such a simple idea with very little maintenance and only minutes invested in producing.
While it is true that expensive architecture is the ultimate way to present a fashionable appearance, small touches can present an appealing look. As I drove through the neighborhood I noticed several small touches that added distinction to people’s homes.
Several neighbors disguised their outside trashcan by placing it behind an L-shaped fence just large enough to mask it. While everyone knows what is behind the fence it is much more attractive than looking at the refuse container.
The key to making our homes charming is thinking about how to make them picture perfect. If someone wanted to come and take pictures of your home what would you want to hide or dress up?
It is similar to when we plan to have our photo taken. We might select a colorful outfit or a piece of jewelry to dress things up. Or perhaps there is a feature we want to disguise.
Sometimes it is just a matter of hiding simplicity as with the benches outside a garage.
Other times it is about hiding a mess in plain sight. In our work areas such as the in-home office or around the bathroom sink where we like everything handy clutter tends to gather. The simple touch of using something to make things look organized can make all the difference.
Baskets and decorative boxes with lids are a great way to camouflage clutter.
Creating a splash of color in a room is one of the easiest ways to create change.
A large area rug or some bold curtains are a small endeavor that generates an outstanding alteration in a room’s total image.
If you’re willing to put more effort into the project, paint one wall of the room a contrasting but complimentary color.
When it comes to the ceiling it’s great when you can have a tray ceiling or some unique crown molding.
However, if time or money gets in the way of this feature you can use a simple remedy.
Distinctive (not necessarily expensive) pieces of wall art can create enough pizzazz to draw the attention away from anything lacking in the architectural department.
Keeping things simple does not equal unattractive. Source.
Other ideas include adding decorative and colorful throw pillows and afghans to chairs and sofas; placing flowers and greenery inside and outside of the home; and positioning interesting candleholders on tables, shelves, and mantels.
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Bathroom Towel Warmer: A Luxurious Spa Feature For Your Home
If you love the idea of getting out of the shower and wrapping yourself in a thick cozy towel, then consider getting a bathroom towel warmer. This is an easy and great way to add a luxurious touch to your bathroom and give it a spa quality. Even better, you can get a bathroom towel warmer for a lot less than you might think. Read on.
Which Bathroom Towel Warmer Is Right For You?
Towel warmers are bathroom fixtures that gently warm bath linens. They come in designs ranging from simple, plug-and-use metal towel bars to ornate, even custom-built-ins that can coordinate with just about any bathroom design, from Victorian to Art Deco.
Also called “drying rails,” towel warmers have the added benefit of keeping damp towels from becoming mildewed, and can be used to warm up baby blankets or quilts on chilly nights. They also offer a great place to safely dry delicates such as lingerie. Towel warmers generate radiating, gentle warmth that can even serve double-duty as a primary or secondary source of heat in the bathroom.
There are two main types of towel warmers: electric and hydronic. Electric towel warmers heat up using an internal electric heating element, much like a curling iron, while hydronic units connect directly to a home’s hot-water heater.
Electric warmers can be freestanding units plugged into a standard wall outlet or they can be integrated into a home’s wiring like any other built-in home appliance. In some high-end bathrooms, towels, robes and slippers are warmed in specially heated, pullout drawers, hardwired into the bathroom vanity. Both freestanding and drawer electric warmers heat up in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Plug-in floor units are the most affordable way to bring warm towels into a bathroom. Models start at around $100 and come in a variety of styles, colors and finishes. One advantage is that they can be moved into other rooms as needed, but they can take up valuable floor space in smaller bathrooms.
Wall-mounted electric units come in both plug-in and hardwired versions, and each is available in a variety of styles and finishes. They range in price from $200 to $800. One popular option is the swiveling, wall-mounted towel warmer, like those offered by WarmaTowel, which allow you to pull the rails out when you want to use them, but also to swivel them flat against the wall to conserve bathroom space.
Both electric and hydronic towel warmers are relatively energy-efficient bathroom luxuries, costing between 25 and 60 cents per day if left on continually. But many models come with a programmable timer, allowing homeowners to wake to freshly warmed, fluffy towels each morning, while saving on utility bills. Source.
For a double whammy of warmth in your bathroom, you should also consider installing a warming bulb or light. These are installed in the ceiling and will engulf the whole room in a gentle warmth. You may not want to come out.
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How To Organize And Declutter Kids Rooms
Without a doubt, it’s a challenge to declutter kids rooms and keep them organized. Between toys, clothing, school supplies, electronics, and everything else, there’s just not enough space to keep it all under control. Fortunately, I found an article on the oregonlive.com blog that captures some great tips and ideas used by local moms to organize all the stuff associated with their kid’s lives. Check out the list below.
Ideas To Organize And Declutter Kids Rooms
Noelle Crombie says it took the birth of her third daughter to motivate her to get organized — that and the regular arrival of huge boxes of toys and clothes from Gramma and Grampa.
– She stores art supplies in a built-in cabinet in the dining room. “That way, everything the girls need for craft projects is at hand but behind cabinet doors and inside drawers so I don’t have to see them.”
– She re-uses small glass condiment jars for storing beads, shells and other crafting supplies. Craft supplies, including glue and string, go into one of the cabinet’s built-in drawers.
– Use baskets from Goodwill to store dress-up clothes. “Three girls means a lot of frilly dresses, ballet shoes, scarves and fancy hats,” she said. “They all go into a couple baskets in a corner of the dining room.”
– Regularly weed out toys and books. If something doesn’t get played with for a while, tuck it out of sight. “If the girls don’t seem to miss it after a few weeks, it goes into a box bound for Goodwill,” she said. “I regularly weed out unwanted or neglected toys, games and puzzles so there’s room for new stuff when the next box of stuff arrives from Gramma.”
– She stores large toys — a dollhouse and wooden kitchen — out of sight. She said these toys took up a lot of real estate in her dining room and kitchen and yet her daughters rarely played with them. “Now they are wrapped up and stored in the basement,” she said. “Ironically, getting them out of sight has meant that both get played with a lot more. Every few weeks the girls ask to play with their kitchen or the dollhouse and we bring them upstairs. Once they’re done, we bring them back downstairs.”
– Same goes for the girls’ board games, puzzles and toys. She picked up a metal shelving unit off Craigslist to store her daughters’ things and put it in the basement. “Now when they want to play Jenga or work on a puzzle, they bring it upstairs,” she said. “When they’re done, they pack up the games and return them to the shelf.
– Staying on top of the girls’ clothing – three different sizes, four seasons – is a big job. She sorts clothes by size and season, then stores them in plastic bins with easy-to-read labels.
– Look for alternatives to plastic bins. “I wanted an alternative to the containers that were multiplying in my basement so last year I picked up a couple free wooden dressers off Craigslist,” she said. “Now each drawer serves as storage for camping clothes, winter hats and scarves, and swimsuits. Each drawer is labeled clearly so when it’s time to pack for a camping trip or an outing to the pool, the girls get what they need from the dressers.
– The dresser also has a drawer filled with rainy day activities – basically small, easy-to-do crafts. Noelle said, “They’re my go-to answer to the cry, ‘Mom, I’m bored.’”
When it comes to managing clutter, Kjerstin Gabrielson, mom of a 9-year-old and 12-year-old, offers these tips:
– Take a “clothesline” approach to kids’ art, using clothespins to hang unwieldy creations, rotating them in and out.
– Use a sturdy magazine rack to organize kids’ assignments. She has a bin for each kid’s schoolwork, one for her “volunteer duties” and one for their magazines.
– Use pushpins and a bulletin board to organize your tweens’ necklaces and earrings.
– Have the kids paint a small garden bucket and use it to store toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste and such next to the bathroom sink.
Helen Jung relies on a couple of tried-and-true items to keep her daughter’s things organized: hooks and shoeboxes. She uses hooks in closets and on walls for easy storage of backpacks, coats, dress-up clothes and sweaters. One trick: Install them low enough so her daughter can put her own coat away.
She buys plastic shoeboxes in 5-pack bundles and uses them “for a zillion things.”
“They hold crafts tools and art supplies; all my thank-you cards, envelopes and loose greeting cards that I buy to have on hand; all the pieces to my daughter’s tea-party set; other small toys.”
Amy Wang, mom of two boys, admits taming clutter is a struggle. “Asking me for anti-clutter tips is like asking a wolf how to eat vegetarian,” she said. “Clutter is the fifth member of my family.”
But here’s what’s worked for her:
– Make the most of closet space. “I noticed a lot of empty space under the hangers in my kids’ double-wide closet (they don’t own a lot of clothes that require hanging), so I bought a four-cubby stand and moved it into one half of the closet for easy cleanup of random toys – just open the closet door, throw things in the cubbies and shut the closet door.
“In the other half of the closet, I placed a three-drawer dresser where I stash clothes the older boy has outgrown until the younger boy is ready for them.”
– Use a hanging shoe organizer in the closet for storing hats, gloves and other items that don’t get regular use.
– Stash school library books in a designated spot next to the boys’ bedroom door “so they stay visible all week as we go in and out of the room.”
Her older boy sleeps in a loft bed, creating more space in the boys’ shared bedroom. “In the space created underneath, we put a second bookcase, which got a lot of books and toys off the floor,” she said.
– Make use of the space under regular beds. “My older boy has a Bey-blades ‘stadium’ that I got tired of tripping over – it’s more than a foot across. Fortunately, it’s only a few inches high. So now it lives under the younger boy’s bed.” Source.
Another standard rule that applies to declutting kids rooms (and all rooms) is to donate or trash what isn’t used for a long time. Kids grow up fast and they will get bored with certain toys, clothes, etc. So keep an eye open for things that haven’t been used or worn in a year or two. These are things that could be passed on to younger nieces and nephews or donated.
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How To Organize Your Kitchen And Regain Your Sanity
If you’re looking for some tips on how to organize your kitchen, you’ve come to the right place. Lisa Abraham of the Akron Beacon Journal tagged along to record the advice that organizing expert, Jamie Escola gave to homeowner Marcia Cianchetti of Tallmadge, Ohio. Marcia’s kitchen was getting out of control. Here’s what Lisa reported.
How To Organize Your Kitchen
Professional organizer Jamie Escola, of Calm and Collected Organizing of Canton, Ohio, said Cianchetti’s situation is typical. “It’s human nature. If we have the space, we will fill it up,” she said.
Escola gave a walkthrough of Cianchetti’s kitchen to offer tips on how to get a kitchen organized and keep it that way.
She likes to practise a technique known as SPACE, created by organizer Julie Morgenstern:
S – Sort through stuff.
P – Purge anything that is expired, broken or unused.
A – Assign everything a home.
C – Contain your items.
E – Equalize your space.In Cianchetti’s case, her kitchen offers ample storage – two large pantry cupboards (one for food and one for equipment) and a generous number of cupboards to hold dishes, glasses and other items. All of them are filled.
Escola said to begin by sorting all of it and purging.
For food in the pantry, refrigerator and freezer, get rid of expired packages, stale items or food that you know won’t be eaten. If, at Christmas, you were given a bottle of tarragon-garlic vinegar, and you know tarragon-garlic vinegar is something you’d never use, give it to a friend who likes that flavour or donate it to a food bank. Do not shove it to the back of the cupboard, where it will be forgotten until it expires and eventually thrown out anyway.
Escola advised Cianchetti to ditch about 25 percent of what was in her pantries. For cookware, that means examining what she has and eliminating items she doesn’t use. For items that are seldom used, such as holiday platters, Escola recommends storing them in the basement or shed, where they aren’t taking up space the whole year. Make sure the things in the kitchen are things you are using regularly, she said.
Deciding what to keep and what to get rid of can be difficult. Escola said saving items like baskets that came filled with flowers or food, or tins that once held cake, isn’t a bad idea if you are likely to give somebody else a basket or tin of cookies. But you can’t realistically save more than a few.
She suggested setting a small number to keep, to be stored in the basement. But don’t let them accumulate.
When it comes to storing in the basement or garage, Escola said again it is important to set a limit; otherwise you will fill up the basement. Assign three shelves for kitchen overflow. When that space is filled, it’s time to purge again, she said.
Sometimes, Escola said, you have to give yourself permission to get rid of things and donating is always a good option.
“Ask yourself, ‘Is it something I really need or that adds to the enjoyment of my kitchen?’ If it does, you need to create a home for it. It’s about weighing the positives and the negatives and about letting go,” Escola said. Anything that doesn’t have a purpose or a place is clutter.
Assigning everything a home is the next step, and is crucial to getting and staying organized. If you always put coupons and receipts in the same place, then you’ll always know where to look for them when you need them, Escola said. The space doesn’t have to be an organized file. It can be just a box or drawer. But as long as you use it for paper and only paper, you’ll always know where to find items.
The time to buy plastic bins, containers and other organizers is after you have given everything a home, so that you will buy the right container for the job. Resist the temptation to go out and purchase new containers, products and organizing tools before you know what you need, Escola said.
She is a big fan of baskets or plastic bins for holding like items – for example, bags of nuts and baking morsels. They keep supplies together, and can be pulled in and out, creating drawers on shelves.
The final step, equalizing, is about maintaining the new order.
When she examined her cupboards, Cianchetti discovered that she had four bags of marshmallows, and didn’t even remember buying them.
Before going grocery shopping, Escola said, “Shop your pantry first.” If you have three bags of rice, then plan some meals using rice to help pare it down.
Now that you have a plan, getting started can be the hardest part.
Escola recommends starting with all flat surfaces first – counters, islands and tabletops. Eliminating the visual clutter will immediately transform the kitchen’s appearance, and it will give you space to work when you tackle what’s inside the cupboards and drawers.
Countertops are a constant trouble spot, but they also can be an indication of what a kitchen is lacking. If your counter is cluttered with keys, mail, sunglasses and everyone’s cellphone charger, it’s probably because there isn’t an assigned spot for those items. Hooks by the door for keys work well, and so does a basket for items like school papers that need to be signed and invitations that need replies.
At the end of each day, make sure your kitchen counters are clear. Source.
What I’ve discovered about keeping clutter under control is that it can’t be a one-time or once-a-year thing. You actually have to incorporate it into your lifestyle. When you see something out of place or messy, you have to address it quickly. This might seem like a pain initially. But over time it’ll become habitual and you won’t give it a second thought.
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Red Decorating Ideas For Valentine’s Day And Beyond
Valentine’s Day always sparks a rise in searches for red decorating ideas. As well it should because Valentine’s Day is all about love, romance and making your partner feel special. Of course, red is a strong color, but its use doesn’t have to be limited to one day. Joanne Fox of siouxcityjournal.com sought out some ideas for how you can decorate your home with red year round. Read on.
Red Decorating Ideas For Valentine’s Day And Beyond
Sure, you can throw a cardinal-colored, heart-shaped pillow on the couch and call it good, but an interior design instructor at Western Iowa Tech Community College suggests thinking outside the box.
And that means outside the box the candy and/or flowers came in.
“Some Valentine’s Day decorations are appropriate only for this holiday,” acknowledged Rose Hanson. “But there are a number of strategies you can use with the color red to celebrate the holiday.”
Red mixes well with a number of color schemes, but the key is not to go overboard.
“Maybe you don’t want to paint all your walls a striking, bright red,” Hanson said. “But paint is an inexpensive way to change-up a room and if red is balanced with other colors, then it will not be so intense.”
Red may be the color of passion, but it’s also a color used for danger — think stop signs and fire engines. Too much and you may be seeing red — literally.
“Decorating a room with red depends on the room,” Hanson said. “In a powder room or a guest room, a dynamic statement can be created through the use of reds on walls, floor, furnishings, accessories, and so on. In a family room or a room that is greatly used, though, you may tire of being surrounded by red. Here is where you can balance a high chroma red with lower chroma colors, making it a bit more palatable for every-day use.”
Bright red may be better utilized as an accent color.
“It’s there for the ‘wow’ factor,” Hanson pointed out. “Red is a color that symbolizes energy, passion, even drama. So in general, using red makes a statement about the people living in or occupying the space.”
Red highlights in a kitchen may be particularly effective.
“The use of red here on the walls can be used successfully because the cabinets take up a great deal of visual space, which helps to balance the red,” Hanson said. “In a room where it is all sheet rock or plaster, that may be too much red to live with every day.”
Choosing reds for your accessories is not as complicated as the palette for the wall, Hanson felt.
“You can find red vases, red ceramic pieces, slipcovers, pillows, stemware or those items in which red is mixed with other shades for a completely different feel,” she noted.
For example, a Ralph Lauren paisley material with reds and oranges swirled around takes one from cozy to classic, Hanson explained.
“It’s a more formal look,” she said. “It’s also a timeless look.”
Hanson suggested being resourceful when incorporating red around Valentine’s Day and not impacting your savings account.
“You have a white tablecloth, maybe get some red tulle to put over it,” she said. “Think about using inexpensive materials, such as craft paper or scrapbook paper and combining them to make your own table runner or placemats for seasonal decorations. They are unique, inexpensive, and handmade.”
Those crystal bowls sitting in your hutch? Hanson recommended bringing those out.
“Cluster them and fill them with red candy,” she said. “Or if you want to make a ‘healthy’ statement, fill them with red fruit.”
Because your rooms are your personal space, Hanson encouraged decorators to involve the family in creating a feel for this holiday time.
“Kids can make decorations on butcher paper in red of their own creations,” she said. “Grandparents can invite their grandchildren to come in and do the same. Artwork with bold red and other colors can be displayed anywhere in the home to make a happy mood.”
With the mild, temperate weather, Hanson urged decorators to look outside their homes.
“Red spray paint can be used on twigs and paired with some other items, it can be a very subtle addition to decor that includes some different textures,” she said. “You don’t have to get a red sofa to give a room a feeling of sophistication.” Original story here.
I must admit that I don’t use a lot of red in my home. But I do use in a couple of area rugs to ground furniture and its in throws and throw-pillows. I think it’s a wonderful accent color and gives a space that certain pop to bring it to life.
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Great Bedroom Decorating Ideas For Your Makeover Project
Looking for some great bedroom decorating ideas for creating a beautiful space? Then read on because Mary Carol Garrity is redoing her bedroom and offers some inspirational tips.
Great Bedroom Decorating Ideas
Before you think about fun stuff like colors and fabrics, make sure your bedroom is fully functional. Start by drawing up a floor plan that works for your daily life. For instance, if two people are going to share the bed, you don’t want one side of the bed pushed up against a wall, making it difficult for the person on the inside to get out of bed easily.
As you think through your floor plan, determine which pieces of furniture will stay, which will go and what you need to add to make the room work better. If your room feels tight and cramped, consider paring down your furnishings. For example, if you have a TV in your bedroom that’s housed in a large cabinet, replace the cabinet with a console table that eats up less room.
If your room is large and lofty, you might need to add a few larger pieces of furniture to ground the space.
Many new homes have lots of built-in storage in closets, minimizing the need for dressers in the bedroom. But I still encourage customers with large spaces to fill to add a dresser, armoire or bookcase to give the room some visual appeal and balance.
After 12 years, I’m redoing my bedroom, so I’m going through the same process myself. The doors and windows are configured in such a way that there is really only one place I can put my bed — right in front of the window. Since I can’t use a large headboard to anchor my bed in the space because it will cover up the window, I’m going to anchor my bed in an unusual way. I’m going to place a mirrored screen on either side of the bed, then put bedside tables in front of the screens. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
I think that picking out textiles, like bedding, window coverings and upholstered furnishings, is one of the most fun parts of redesigning a bedroom.
And “fun” is the optimal word when you’re talking about my friend Rich’s bedroom. You can’t bask in the tangerine glow of his bedding ensemble and not smile. Rich is a master at designing with bold colors and pattern. He intuitively knows how much bright color and strong pattern will fill a room with energy but not overwhelm the senses.
His knockout bedding includes a bright orange quilt and zebra-pattern Euro shams.
In my bedroom redo, the window panels will be made out of a linen fabric that sports a muted animal print in shades of camel and cream. The bedding will take its cue from the drapery panels, and will be a soft, textural mix of different shades of cream and camel.
When you pick your color palette for your bedroom, make sure it’s something that warms your heart.
Once you have the right furniture in the right places, and your bedding and window coverings are magnificent, it’s time to finish off the space with interesting art and accents.
If you have a collection, feature a few choice pieces on your bedside table or dresser top. Or work in a few special family heirlooms. How about some snapshots of family and friends?
Finally, fill the walls of your bedroom with fabulous artwork. In my newly redecorated bedroom, I’m going to feature a montage of tasteful nudes, mixing classic styles with pieces that are more contemporary. I’ve been collecting the art through the years; now I’ll have a place to hang the works all together in one dramatic grouping. Original story here.
I love Mary’s idea for dealing with a bed that can only be located under a window. This is a frustrating challenge for designers because it usually means the builder wasn’t thinking straight when the home was built. But thank goodness for decorative screens. They are actually great for solving a whole host of problems, whether it’s grounding a bed, separating a space, covering a window, softening a corner, and more.
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Feng Shui Bedroom Cures For Peaceful Sleeping
If you have a touch of insomnia, then try these Feng Shui bedroom cures for a better night’s sleep. Feng Shui expert, Ken Lauher offers up seven tips for putting you back on the path to slumber-land.
7 Feng Shui Bedroom Cures For Peaceful Sleeping
1. Choose the right bedroom colors. – Light greens, light blues, and flesh tones are restful and peaceful. These “yin” colors promote a good night’s sleep. If passion is important to you, as well, consider red accents, but avoid too many “yang” colors like red, yellow or orange if the goal is a good night’s sleep.
2. Block out light. – New York City living creates lots of light pollution from passing cars, streetlights and buildings. If you live in an urban or suburban area, use black-out curtains or shades to keep your bedroom dark and re-align your body’s circadian rhythms (natural cycles of sleep and wake time) with your schedule. As an added benefit, many black-out curtains and shades also provide better energy efficiency, keeping your room cooler in the summer and holding heat in during the winter.
3. Use the right sheets. – Pure, organic cotton bedding is good for the environment and good for you. It feels incredibly soft and natural, and is free of any dyes or artificial ingredients that can cause illness, allergies and discomfort.
4. Set your bed in the command position of the room. – You should position your bed so that it has a view of the door but is not directly in line with the door. Any other positioning may leave you feeling tired come morning, and can contribute to illness or headaches.
5. Celebrate nature. – In my Feng Shui consultations, I often recommend potted plants or fresh cut flowers. If you don’t have a green thumb or don’t have enough natural light in your bedroom to keep a plant alive, you might also introduce a rock garden, a seashell collection, or even a painting or photograph on the wall that depicts a beautiful, natural scene. You might also play nature sounds on your iPod before bed; the sounds of rain falling gently or the ocean’s roar is soothing and can lull you to sleep.
6. Don’t go overboard with technology in the bedroom. – In general, it’s a good idea to keep computers, television sets and other electronic equipment out of the bedroom. If you have no other place for it, or if you like watching T.V. in bed, turn them off and pull the plug when you go to sleep. This equipment emits electromagnetic fields which may prevent a good night’s sleep and some studies show that sleeping in close proximity to these devices may even be harmful to your health.
7. Use the power of scents for a good night’s sleep. – Lavender, sandalwood, chamomile, rose, cinnammon, vanilla, bergamot, and honey are all proven to create a calming effect and bring on sleep. (Sandalwood, cinnamon and vanilla are also shown to be aphrodisiacs for another bedroom benefit!) Light incense, use a reed diffuser, inhale essential oils, or spray an all-natural linen spray on your sheets before bed for aromatherapy to sleep. Make sure you do not use artificial air fresheners that are loaded with chemicals. Original article here.
Another Feng Shui tip for the bedroom that I came across somewhere else is to not put lots of junk under your bed. It’s believed that a crowded under bed creates negative energy and prevents the flow of positive energy.
Do you know other people who could use a good night’s sleep? Well do them a favor and share these Feng Shui bedroom cures.