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Super-Simple Ways to Add a Splash of Color to Your Home

September 15, 2016 by

Curious about color? Even adding the smallest amount of color to your decor can make a huge difference. Here are some tips to help you add a splash of color to your home—without having to pick up a paint brush!

  • Start out with a generous amount of neutrals. These colors will act as your canvas or blank slate that you can add to.
  • Don’t use too much of one color, or it can become a big blur. You want to stick to a formula of using 60 percent of the dominant color and 30 and 10 percent of two other different colors to balance everything out.
  • Blending masculine colors with feminine colors can really bring a room together.
  • Consider using black when decorating. It will add some visual depth to a space. You could also use white to make a room feel more modern and fresh.
  • Use something with a pattern, like a throw pillow or piece of artwork, to pull colors from.
  • Work with a color palette to help transition the colors from room to room. This helps bring everything together and makes the rooms feel cohesive.

These 6 Lessons in Color Will Change the Way You Decorate [One Kings Lane]
Ideas for Decorating with Color & Pattern [About]
The 12 Rules of Decorating with Color [Pure Wow]

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How to Give Your Bathroom a Spa Makeover

August 18, 2016 by

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a spa in the comfort of your own home? Your bathroom is a private, quiet space and it’s where you go to take a nice relaxing bath or shower to de-stress. All you need to do is add a few more elements to create your own spa atmosphere at home. Use these hacks and tricks to give your bathroom a spa makeover.

  • Use minimal decor and a clean, simple style to achieve a serene and spa-like setting.
  • Soften your lighting and get a relaxing feel by installing lights with dimmer controls.
  • Create a barrier, such as a dramatic shower curtain or large plants, to make yourself feel a bit transported
  • De-clutter your bathroom by keeping your toiletries well organized or hidden.
  • Keep your bath salts and soaps in attractive containers. The presentation of everything will really make a difference.
  • Invest in a towel warmer or use towel-warming bars.
  • Use lavender or jasmine scented candles or oil diffusers. Aromatherapy is a huge part of a spa atmosphere.
  • Create a playlist of relaxing and meditating songs to play while you’re soaking in the tub.

Bathroom Decorating Ideas: 5 Ways to Make Any Bathroom Feel More Spa-Like [Apartment Therapy]
6 Ways to Make Your Bathroom Feel Like a Spa [Popsugar]
10 Affordable Ideas That Will Turn Your Small Bathroom Into A Spa [Improvenet]

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Revamp a Lampshade with these Fast and Easy DIYs

July 21, 2016 by

Finding just-the-right lamp to match your decor can be tricky. Why not get creative and style your own? All you need is a simple base and a shade of any kind that you can revamp. Follow these fun tips to create the lamp you've been dreaming of.

  • Using fabric to cover your lampshade is a beautiful and affordable way to revamp your lamp. All you need to do is make yourself a template with newspaper and cut it out to perfectly cover your lamp. Then, cut your fabric to match your template. Use fabric glue to place it on and you've got a unique, beautiful shade.
  • Line your lampshade with gold using liquid gold leaf paint and stained glass foiling tape. Make sure to use a lampshade with a plastic lining so the liquid leaf doesn't seep through the shade. Use a foam brush to paint it on and put a clear topcoat on so the paint doesn't tarnish.
  • Use spray paint to create a unique pattern on your lampshade. All you need is the paint and a fun stencil to use as a pattern. A chevron pattern can really transform your lamp and can go well with any kind of decor.

How to Transform a Lamp Shade with Fabric [Just a Girl and Her Blog]
Lampshade Decorating [Plaster & Disaster]
4 Creative Ways to Do a Lampshade Makeover [Bob Vila]

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How to Style and Organize a Bookcase

February 18, 2016 by

Sure, bookcases are meant to hold your book collection, but that doesn’t mean that yours should look like a jumbled mess. Turn your overstuffed bookcase into a focal point in your home with these simple, designer-worthy decorating tips.

  1. Organize all of your books in an attractive way. Whether you organize them by color to create a rainbow effect or by height for a unique pattern, you should consider book placement before anything else—it is a bookshelf, after all!
  2. Add knickknacks. While knickknacks may make you think of a cluttered grandmother’s house, modern versions will add an artistic flair to your shelves. Hunt for vintage brass or ceramic objects at local thrift stores, pick up small sculptures on your travels, or simply place green plants throughout.
  3. Fill it with frames. For a personal touch, frame photos of your friends or family and place them upright on the shelves. Or, if you want to create a more unique effect, attach the frame with a small nail to the front of the bookshelf where a corner meets.
  4. Step back and admire your work. To ensure that your bookshelf looks as good from afar as it does up close, frequently back up and reconsider the placement of each item.

How to Decorate a Bookshelf [Decoist]
How-to Beautify Your Bookcase [Coastal Living]
22 Ways to Arrange Your Shelves [Real Simple]
Flip for Decorating: The Bookcase [House Beautiful]

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How to Incorporate Antiques Into Modern Decor

August 20, 2015 by

You love the look of antiques, but you don’t want your home to look stuffy or stodgy. It can be difficult to create a balance between new and old items in your decor, but these simple tips from the pros will show you exactly how to incorporate antiques into an otherwise modern space.

  • Pick the right items. Instead of buying something at an antique store just because you like it, consider whether or not you can actually use it in your home. A large antique bicycle is probably not the best choice in an apartment, but an antique mirror certainly is.
  • Don’t spend too much. Browse thrift stores and yard sales to find low prices on hidden gems instead of making an impulse purchase at an overpriced antique store. That way, you’ll feel good about saving money on something that you really need.
  • Choose furniture. Antique furniture is a great investment because it’s often higher quality than modern pieces from big box stores. Things like dressers, credenzas, and desks are all great options that will stand the test of time.
  • Be sure to contrast. If you’re worried about your antiques making your home look dated, spread them out and use modern elements in between as contrast. Place a vintage coffee table near a modern sofa, or hang an antique frame in an updated bathroom.

Add Antique Accents To Your Modern Home Décor [The Accent Wall]
How To Mix and Match Antique Furniture In Modern Spaces [Build Direct]
Can You Mix Antique Furniture with Modern Furniture? [Savvy Examiner]

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Seeking Original Artwork? Here’s Where to Shop for It Online!

April 16, 2015 by

Furnishing your home with original artwork is a very fulfilling hobby, but unfortunately it can also be very expensive. There are quite a few websites that offer artwork created by independent artists for much less than gallery prices, which makes them beneficial to both you and the artist. Here are a few of the best.

Etsy
Etsy has become the internet’s go-to spot for handmade art and home goods, and for very good reason. This online marketplace enables independent artists to create an online shop and sell their goods, whether those goods are paintings, sculptures, or even wall hangings made out of old license plates. Best of all, you can search Etsy by keywords to find exactly what you have in mind for any room in your home.

Fine Art America
If you’re looking for more traditional paintings or photography for your home, Fine Art America is a great resource. This site features artwork from artists and photographers from around the world, at all price points.

Zatista
While many online art stores sell reproductions of famous works, Zatista offers only unique, original works that none of your neighbors will have. If you live in a small town or city that isn’t teeming with art galleries, this is the ideal way to browse thousands of pieces from artists who could be the next big thing.

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How to Reuse Everyday Household Items and Reduce Waste

November 20, 2014 by

In our throwaway culture, the habit of mindlessly tossing things into the trash can be a tough one to break. However, many everyday items can be easily repurposed, helping you to reduce household waste—while also helping you to save some money in the process! Here's how to breathe new life into old, everyday household items.

1) Sharpen scissors with aluminum foil. Finally, a use for those leftover scraps of tin foil! Simply fold a piece of tin foil in half several times, then snip through it with scissors to sharpen and hone the blades.

2) Portion and store food in old egg cartons. Clean a Styrofoam egg carton to repurpose as frozen food storage. The carton's compartments make portioning easy, especially for make-ahead recipes such as cookie dough and meatballs. Alternatively, you can use the egg cartons to store small odds and ends, like thumb tacks, miscellaneous screws and nuts, paper clips—even smaller holiday ornaments!

3) Use paper towel tubes to organize hair bands. Wrap elastics around the tube to keep your hair accessories neat and all in one place. Paper towel tubes can also double as boot trees, which prevent taller boots from flopping over and creasing. Or you can rely on the tubes to corral plastic bags: Simply stuff the bags into the tube.

Reusing Things: 100 Ideas of How to Reuse Commonly Thrown Away Items [Mother Earth News]
Best of 10 Uses for Common Household Products [This Old House]
10 Ways to Rethink Household Items [Real Simple]
10 Ways to Reuse Common Household Items [Wise Bread]

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Five Easy Decorating Tips for Renters

July 24, 2014 by

A new apartment is great because everything is clean and untouched, but it can also seem a bit impersonal. If you want to make your rental your own without making any permanent changes, these easy (and inexpensive!) tips can help.

  1. Dress up your windows. Every renter loves windows because they fill your apartment with natural light, but they can look a bit bare with just the standard issue white blinds. Add some colorful curtains, chic bamboo blinds, or patterned roller panels to give your windows your own character.
  2. Hang a gallery wall. From personalized photographs to brightly colored movie posters, a gallery wall allows you to decorate your walls with all of the things you love. Though many renters think that they can’t hang frames because of the nail holes, there are a number of removable frame hanging tools that won’t puncture the walls.
  3. Add some greenery. Not only do plants brighten any room in your apartment, they also clean the air and make everything feel fresher. Potted succulents and cacti are especially ideal for apartments because they require less care than most other indoor plants.
  4. Experiment with creative storage. If your new apartment is lacking storage space, don’t sweat it. Line a wall with white bookshelves to make them look like built-ins, add closet organizers to maximize that small bedroom closet, or invest in multipurpose furniture pieces with hidden storage.
  5. Don’t forget the rugs. Colorful rugs add personality to every room in your apartment, and they protect the floors to keep your security deposit safe.

24 Ideas to Steal for Your Apartment [BHG]
11 Decor Ideas That Will Change Your Apartment [Huffington Post]
Design Ideas and Tips for Renters [Remodelaholic]
10 Tips on Decorating a Rental [Sunset]

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