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Have You Ever Considered Using Books to Decorate Your Home? Here’s How!

July 21, 2016 by

Books can add a pop of color, add a lot of character, and are a really simple way to improve any room. There are so many different ways to use them for decoration and another plus, they will never go out of style. You most likely have them lying around in your home, so follow these tips to find out how to use them!

  • Look for books with appealing covers. The colors can warm up your space while also adding a pop of color.
  • Pile up two or three books with different patterns on your coffee table.
  • Use a stack of books to add height to your tables or mantels.
  • Use books that are meaningful to you and your family. This will really make your space special and personal.
  • Cut out a rectangle section in a large book and use it as a pot for plants or flowers.
  • Use a stack of large, sturdy books to create a small side table or nightstand.
  • Invest in a tall, wide bookshelf to create an accent wall with your collection of books.
  • Cut your books into block letters to use as monograms to place on your shelf or dresser.

How to Decorate With Books [Ebay]
21 Chic Ways to Decorate Your Apartment With Books [Style Caster]
5 Ways to Decorate with Books [The Everygirl]

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How to Create an Inspiring Home Office

May 19, 2016 by

Whether you work from home or you simply need a quiet space for catching up on emails, many people value having a designated home office space. This area should inspire you to do work free from the clutter of everyday life, and these organizational tips will show you how to create a workspace that promotes productivity.

  1. Use only functional furnishings. If you have a desk that is far too small, switch it out for something larger that you’ll actually use. The same goes for that uncomfortable chair and the rest of your outdated home office furniture.
  2. Add framed photos. Frame a few photos that inspire you, whether they’re works from famous artists or simply clippings from your favorite magazines. Create a gallery wall of eclectic frames that you can look at when you need a boost.
  3. Block out distractions. Whether that means switching your office into a different room or simply adding a room divider, it’s important to create a space that is free of distractions.
  4. Find the view. If possible, position your home office in an area with a window so that you can gaze outside as you brainstorm.

Stylish Home Offices & Decorating Ideas [House Beautiful]
10 Tips for Designing Your Home Office [HGTV]
7 Tips for a More Productive and Inspirational Home Office [The Real Estate Book]

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How to Choose the Right Furniture for Your Apartment

May 5, 2016 by

Purchasing furniture is a big investment, and for most people, it’s something that requires a little bit of planning. If you want to make sure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck on furniture that really suits your space at Metropole, there are some simple rules to follow. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing new furniture.

  1. Measure everything. You always want to measure your space before purchasing large furniture pieces such as a sofa or an area rug. Measure the entire room first, and then determine how much of that space you want the furniture to fill. Finally, take a measuring tape with you to the store and measure the furniture before purchasing.
  2. Consider the doorway. Be sure that you can fit the furniture through hallways and into the apartment itself before purchasing.
  3. Think of its uses. Will you use your sofa mainly for watching television, or will it be a gathering space for large groups of people? Keep the functionality in mind before making any furniture purchases.
  4. Choose high-quality materials. You might be okay with purchasing bargain furniture for your first apartment, but if you really want your furniture to last, it’s best to pay a bit more for high-quality construction. Look for pieces made with real wood, and if it’s a sofa, inspect the seams and cushions to test their quality.

How to Determine Furniture Proportion to a Room [SF Gate]
Choosing the Right Size Sofa: Four Key Questions to Ask Yourself [Apartment Therapy]
Choosing the Right Furniture [Moving.com]

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Where to Shop Teens’ and Tweens’ Room Decor Online

January 21, 2016 by

Tweens and teens love to express themselves through their bedroom decor, but you still want their rooms to look organized and put together. Lucky for the both of you, there are a number of stylish furniture and home goods websites that you and your teen will love. Here are two of the best.

Wake Up Frankie
If your daughter loves things with bold, feminine flair, she’ll simply adore Wake Up Frankie. This website carries a wide variety of duvet covers, pillow shams and sheet sets in crazy prints like chevron and polka dots, and each one comes in bright shades of black, pink, and neon yellow. Matching windows and canopies help to complete the look, while headboards, accent chairs, and chandeliers offer an elegant, vintage feel to any room.

Ikea
Ikea is a great place to find stylish, modern bedroom decor and furniture at budget-friendly prices. The website contains beds that fit in any space, coordinating bedding in fun, minimal patterns, and plush throw pillows and rugs to create a comfortable feel. Ikea also carries unique light fixtures and modern decor accessories to add a pop of color to your teen’s room.

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Where to Shop Unique Art and Wall Decor for Kids’ Rooms

December 17, 2015 by

Your kids' bedrooms should be the most fun rooms in the house when it comes to decorating, and that means that you likely want to keep them as colorful and creative as possible. If you’re looking for wall art designed especially for the little one that will add some flair to their bare walls, these are three great places to shop.

Minted
This hip wall art retailer has an entire section of its site devoted solely to art for kids. Expect to find minimal prints of cute quotes, personalized designs with your child’s name. and watercolor paintings of animals, crayons and other sweet scenes.

The Land of Nod
The Land of Nod is a favorite amongst stylish parents with a flair for all things mid-century modern, and its selection of kid-friendly art is just as adorable. It includes handmade weavings and tapestries in bright colors and soft neutrals, as well as framed prints, fun maps, Periodic Tables, and other educational prints.

Etsy
If you’re looking for something truly unique, Etsy has a number of sellers who create their own handmade art just for the little ones. Simply search for children’s art to discover the best the site has to offer.

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How to Spruce Up a Windowsill

October 22, 2015 by

Do you have a bare windowsill in your home that’s just begging for some decoration? Here are a few great ways to spruce up that unused space, no matter how large or how small it may be.

  1. Make a garden. Gather some plants in attractive pots and arrange them all over your windowsill. Choose plants that do well in bright light, as the windowsill will likely fill with sunlight during the day.
  2. Create a reading nook. If your windowsill is large enough, create your own reading nook using some comfortable throw pillows and a stack of books. Add attractive bookends to make your own miniature library.
  3. Fill it with candles. Add candles in varying heights to create a romantic effect that even looks beautiful from the outside of the house.
  4. Use it as extra storage. On a wide window ledge, add small storage boxes and use them to hold those extra odds and ends.
  5. Add picture frames. Frame some family photos in frames that stand up on their own and line them up across the window’s width.
  6. Start a crystal collection. Many people think that crystals add good energy to a room, and your windowsill is a great place to display your budding collection.

6 Ways To Decorate & Dress Your Window Sills! [Homedit]
10 DIY Window Sill Displays [Top Dreamer]
10 Fabulous and Cheap Ways to Decorate Your Windowsills [Small Room Ideas]

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Where to Shop Double-Duty Furniture Pieces That Won’t Break the Bank

September 17, 2015 by

Adding furniture pieces that can play double-duty with multiple uses is one of the best ways to maximize space in a rental, but these types of versatile, multipurpose items can be difficult to find if you’re on a limited budget. Here are a few great places where you can shop multipurpose furniture items that won’t break the bank!

Beds from IKEA
The Swedish design staple is consistently a go-to for smart, functional furniture that’s still really stylish. If you’re looking for a bed with a built-in dresser, a comfy futon with hidden blanket storage, or even trundle beds for when unexpected guests stop by for the weekend, you’ll find it all for affordable prices at IKEA.

Wayfair’s Storage Ottomans
Add a chic storage ottoman to get your living room mess under control when you shop the vast selection from Wayfair. You’ll find small, round ottomans with hidden storage compartments that are perfect for studio apartments, as well as spacious storage benches that are better suited for larger living areas.

Wayfair’s Apartment Storage Solutions
From lift-top coffee tables that double as desks to multipurpose room dividers with decorative shelving on the sides, Wayfair is home to a number of creative apartment storage solutions that you might not have even considered.

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How to Style a Sofa With Pillows

June 18, 2015 by

Tossing some throw pillows onto your sofa seems like a no-brainer, but if you want to create a designer-worthy look, it requires a little effort. Here are a few genius ways to choose the right pillows and arrange them on your couch in the most flattering way.

  1. Create symmetry. Begin by choosing two anchor pillows in a pattern or shade that matches the rest of your sofa. These will go on either end to create a balanced effect.
  2. Mix and match. To avoid a drab look, choose a few more pillows in varying shapes, sizes and patterns, keeping in mind the main color that ties it all together.
  3. Add texture. Add at least one textured pillow in a fabric like faux fur, cable knit, or velvet.
  4. Use odd numbers. Most designers agree that using an odd number of pillows is usually best, as it helps you to create a lived-in look that is easy to rearrange again and again. Line them up across the whole sofa, or add more on one side and less on the other.
  5. Think of the sofa’s usage. If your sofa has to accommodate a large number of people, choose smaller pillows or use less of them. If it’s more for show, feel free to go wild with pillows.

9 Pointers for Perfectly Styled Pillows [Houzz]
Throw Pillows: 4 Tips to Style Your Sofa [HuffPost Home]
Tips On Choosing Throw Pillows [DécorLove]

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These Two Wedding Registry Sites Can Help You Take the Plunge

April 16, 2015 by

When it comes time to register for gifts for your wedding, it can be difficult to choose the right places to meet your style and your needs. It’s best to keep in mind that you want high quality items that will last a good while, but at prices that your guests can afford. Here are two great wedding registry websites that will make your decision a bit easier.

Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn’s wedding registry is separated into neatly organized sections that help you to create your registry from start to finish. It features a simple registrant information page that allows you to create your couple profile, and it even enables you to decide where you’d like each gift shipped and your preferences on receiving gift cards from guests. Once you fill out your registry, Pottery Barn also makes it easy for friends and family to find your profile and navigate the gifts that you’ve selected.

Williams-Sonoma
The popular kitchenware store offers an impressive wedding registry site that’s packed full of cooking and entertaining items to help you create the kitchen of your dreams. Easily create and manage your registry with just a few fill-in-the-blank questions, then select the items that you love from Williams-Sonoma’s expansive inventory.

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Check Out Major Home Renovations on These HGTV Shows

December 4, 2014 by

There’s something so entertaining about watching skilled carpenters and designers take an old, outdated house and, with a few coats of paint or some new cabinets, turn it into something entirely fresh and modern. Follow along with some of HGTV’s most popular home renovation experts on these immensely entertaining shows.

Property Brothers
Hosts Jonathan and Drew Scott are some of HGTV’s most beloved hosts due to their quirky personalities and the always-entertaining bond between twins. On their HGTV show, Property Brothers, realtor Drew convinces potential homebuyers to buy a fixer-upper instead of the overpriced home of their dreams. Over the course of an hour-long episode, designer Jonathan completely renovates the more affordable (if less admirable) home into something even better than the house they originally imagined.

Cousins Undercover
On this equally entertaining HGTV show, cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri are on a mission to reward do-gooders in a community with a well-deserved home makeover. The show’s recipients include selfless teachers, single parents, and dedicated doctors, the stories of whom will surely tug at your heartstrings. If you’re a fan of happy endings and beautiful home renovations, Cousins Undercover is for you.

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