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Home Decorating Tips Everyone Should Know

January 29, 2016 by

You don’t have to be an interior design pro to create a magazine-worthy home; all it takes are some smart tips and some creative thinking. Here are just a few of the most important home decorating tips that every renter should know.

  • Focus on creating balance. No matter how large or how small a space, creating balance through furniture and decor is one of the best ways to make any room feel spacious and comfortable. Rearrange furniture as many times as you need until you can move easily around the room, and attempt to create symmetry whenever possible.
  • Choose a color scheme. You don’t need to go all out with a specific color scheme, but choosing a few key colors and using throughout the room is key for creating a cohesive look. Use things like throw pillows, artwork, and rugs to tie the whole room together.
  • Focus on height. Many people focus on filling the room from side to side without thinking of filling it from top to bottom. Make sure that you add taller furniture, shelves, or large frames to fill that empty top half of the room.
  • Create an ambiance. Even if you have brand new furnishings, your space won’t feel like a home without personal touches. Add lush, green plants, great smelling candles and meaningful artwork to achieve this kind of ambiance.

What are Some Interior Design Tips for Beginners? [wiseGEEK]
Interior Design 101 [Visually]
Top Interior Design Tips for Beginners [Bliss @ Home]

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How to Add Mid-Century Modern Flair to Your Apartment at Reserve at Garden Oaks

January 21, 2016 by

Mid-century modern furniture is having a major resurgence, with everyone from your best friend to your local coffee shop getting in on the trend. If you love the teak woods, clean lines, and hairpin legs that mid-century design is known for, these simple tips will show you a few easy—and affordable—ways to incorporate it into your own apartment.

  1. Think of wood first. While it may be tempting to buy that imitation wood table at your local discount furniture store, to create a true mid-century look, you’ll want to use as much real wood as possible. Teak, walnut, and oak are some of the most popular styles from this era. If you’re on a tight budget, even replacing one or two pieces with a real wood piece will make a big difference.
  2. Go for geometric patterns. In terms of textiles, think bold, geometric patterns combined with subtle tweeds and pops of mustard, rust and teal.
  3. Update the lights. Go for a dramatic arc floor lamp or a shiny bronze desk lamp, or even switch out your kitchen’s light fixture with an oval-shaped hanging pendant.
  4. Switch your sofa. If you can afford it, invest in a low-profile sofa with clean lines and slim legs. This is a surefire way to create a mid-century look with one statement piece.
  5. Add art. Finally, add abstract art with bold colors as the finishing touch.

10 Easy Ways to Add a Mid-Century Modern Style to Your Home [Freshome]
Mid-Century Modern Style Decorating [Wayfair]
Add Midcentury Modern Style to Your Home [HGTV]

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How to Make Your Very Own Succulent Wall Planter

December 17, 2015 by

If you love the look of succulent plants and want to incorporate them into your decor at Reserve at Garden Oaks, there are a number of stylish and creative ways to do so. Instead of planting a succulent in the usual pot, try something a bit more unique by using this fun tutorial for a DIY wall planter.

  1. Start with a shallow wooden box. Think an old drawer, an antique crate, or even a picture frame with wood behind it for reinforcement.
  2. Cover the surface of the box with chicken wire or galvanized mesh. Use a staple gun to attach it to each side, and be sure to snip off the sharp edges.
  3. Add a strip of wire used for hanging photo frames to the back. Be sure to choose something that can handle heavy weight.
  4. Add soil specifically formulated for succulents. Fill it completely to the top of the chicken wire.
  5. Plant your succulents. Position them in between the squares in the wire.
  6. Water once, and then let the whole thing sit flat in the sun for four to six weeks. This will enable the succulents have time to root before hanging.
  7. Hang on a wall that can handle the weight of the plants. Choose a place with a stud behind it, or add a shelf underneath for added support.

Make a Living Succulent Picture [Better Homes & Gardens]
Make your own living succulent art [Sunset]
Let’s Craft: How to Make a Succulent Wall [Modern Mom]

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DIY Halloween Costume Ideas for Parents and Kids

October 22, 2015 by

If your kids are still young enough to partner with you on a Halloween costume, you likely want to come up with a really creative idea. Costumes for kids and parents are some of the cutest combinations, and there are quite a few to choose from! Here are just a few of our favorites:

Garden Duo [parents.com]
Art mimics life in this costume that transforms you into a gardener tending to a precious little flower. Simply wear a gardening outfit or dress as a life-sized package of seeds, then create a flower costume for your son or daughter by gluing paper petals to a headband. Best of all, this costume also works for multiple children (think a whole garden of flowers).

Eaten by Sharks [babble.com]
If you’re a family with a sense of humor, you’ll all get a kick out of this surfer and hungry shark costume. Parents should carry a faux surfboard and wear a wetsuit, while you can make or buy tiny shark costumes for your little sharks.

Westminster Dog Show [huffingtonpost.com]
This incredibly creative costume will ensure that no one else at the party has the same costume as you. Mom or dad can wear a smart blazer with a number pinned to the back to dress as a competitor in a dog show, while your child will look adorable as a prized pup.

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How to Choose the Lighting That Best Complements Your Space

September 3, 2015 by

Want to show your apartment in the most flattering light possible? Use these smart tips for choosing the right type of lighting for every room in your home.

  • Illuminate your foyer and hallway with bright, cheery lighting. Add a floor lamp directly next to the front door that will light your way when you come home at night, and consider placing a bright lamp on a side table in the hallway so that you can easily see where you’re going.
  • Add soft, soothing light in the bedroom, as this is supposed to be a place of relaxation. Try using a small lamp with a lower-watt light bulb.
  • In the living room, you can add a tall, arched lamp next to the couch for a stylish look and to add additional lighting when you’re lounging around at night. If the light bulbs in the overhead light are too bright, switch them out with something less glaring.
  • Add a hanging pendant light right above the kitchen table. There are many options that don’t require hardwiring, so you can easily hang them and switch them out when you move.

How to Choose the Right Lighting for Each Room [WikiHow]
How To Choose The Lighting Fixtures For Your Home – A Room-By-Room Guide [HomeDit]
How to Choose the Right Size Lighting Fixture [LightsOnline.com]

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Update Basic Magnets and Pushpins WIth These Fun Tutorials

August 14, 2015 by

Who says office supplies have to be boring? Here are a few crafty ways to transform your basic pushpins and magnets into something eye-catching, playful, and perhaps a bit chic.

Bottle Cap Magnets and Thumbtacks [marthastewart.com]
Start saving up those used bottle caps, because you’re certainly going to want to try this adorable DIY project from Martha Stewart. Simply glue a small photo inside of each bottlecap, then use contact cement to attach them to the magnets and pushpins and create a tiny photo gallery.

DIY Gold Magnetic Letters [inspiredbycharm.com]
If you loved making silly words and phrases from those colorful magnetic letters as a kid, you’ll enjoy this chic, updated version just as much. Just cover those childish magnets with luxe gold spray paint for a modern, updated look.

Washi Tape Clothespins [designertrapped.com]
By covering affordable wooden clothespins with different types of colorful washi tape, you can create this fun project in less than an hour. Add adhesive magnets to the backs of each clothespin to use them on the refrigerator, or line them up on a wire to hang photos from a wall.

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Interested in Modern Architecture? Explore Your Interest on Pinterest!

July 9, 2015 by

With its sleek, clean lines and open design scheme, modern architecture is fascinating even to those with no architectural experience. Here are two Pinterest boards with so many photos of modern homes and buildings that the possibilities for browsing are practically endless.

Modern Architecture
This particular Pinterest is dedicated to the more traditional styles of modern architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright homes feature wall-to-wall windows and natural elements that bring the outside in, while minimalist buildings designed by more current architects offer a tour of some of the very best modern structures from around the world.

Futuristic Architecture
If you take your love of modern architecture a step further, this board features homes so unique that they’re almost futuristic. Some of these buildings actually exist in cities around the world, while others are simply dreamed up and drawn in a cartoon-like way. Buildings like the twisted Cayan Tower in Dubai and the proposal for the open Hong Kong Alternative Car Park Tower, with its sides cut open in a way that almost looks like the building is sliced in half, are just a few of the fascinating buildings on this board.

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How to Get the Best Prices on Furniture

April 16, 2015 by

Purchasing furniture can be a big investment, and it can take quite a toll on your bank account no matter your budget. Here are a few smart ways that can help you save money on furniture while still investing in high quality pieces that will last for years to come.

  • Don’t fall for zero percent down. Many furniture stores offer deals like this in order to get you to purchase all of your furniture at once, but it usually isn’t worth it. Instead of paying a large markup for zero percent down, be patient and space out your purchases to get what you really want.
  • Visit estate sales. If you’re searching for bargains, estate sales are a great option. You can often find gently used furniture that was once very expensive at a markdown, provided that you don’t mind hunting for buried treasure.
  • Seek out floor sample sales (and ignore most other types). While most furniture sales are gimmicks or hardly very helpful, you’ll get the best bang for your buck from a floor sample sale. Because these items are technically “used” (though only in the store), they’re always marked down significantly.
  • Shop at furniture outlets. Instead of shopping at discount furniture stores full of poor quality pieces, shop high quality items with very minor damage at a furniture outlet.

Furniture Shopping Tips: The Best Secrets For Furnishing A Home On A Budget, From Real People [HuffPost Home]
How to Save Money When You Buy Furniture [About Home]
How to Buy Furniture [WikiHow]

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Put a Spring in Your Step With These Springtime Decorating Tips

March 13, 2015 by

After spending an entire weekend checking off items on your spring cleaning checklist, you’re likely ready to add a few fun, spring-themed touches to your freshly cleaned home. It doesn’t take a big budget to decorate your home for the changing season, however; all it takes is some creativity and these adorable decorating tips.

  • Use natural items wherever possible. Go outside and gather blooming branches, pebbles, and other organic objects to use in your DIY decor. Arrange them in a clear bowl on the center of the table, or corral them in a wicker basket for a chic, natural look.
  • Switch out your throw pillows. Add a burst of citrus-inspired color to your living area just in time for spring by replacing your usual throw pillows with bright, cheerful alternatives.
  • Add a bit of green. Nothing says springtime like live plants in the home, so make a stop at your local nursery to pick up a few for your home. Ferns are an especially good idea because they make a big impact and are easy to care for.
  • Change your doormat. If your current doormat looks a bit worse for the wear from all of those heavy winter boots, switch it out for something fun and colorful or even a mat with a cheeky greeting.

Easy Spring Decorating Ideas [Midwest Living]
Inspired Spring Décor [Better Homes & Gardens]
10 Decorating Ideas for Spring [Style at Home]

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Interior Design 101: Decorating Tips for Beginners

March 6, 2015 by

So you didn’t go to school for interior design? No big deal; you can still transform your home into a designer-worthy space using just a few simple tips. These handy tricks will show you how to inject a stylish, inspiring look into any room in your home.

  1. Use symmetry. If you’re unsure of how to arrange the furniture in a room or hang frames on a wall, simply keep the idea of symmetry in mind. Symmetrical rooms are more pleasing to the eye, so try adding two sofas facing one another to help balance your living room.
  2. Consider the scale. Be sure to choose furniture in a size that fits your specific room. Choose large, overstuffed items for more open rooms and compact, apartment-sized furniture in smaller spaces.
  3. Choose a focal point. If the majority of your furniture is fairly plain, invest in one statement piece as an accent. Try a colorful chair, a large, framed painting, or an ornate rug.
  4. Use color to your advantage. Choose the color scheme of a room based on what type of emotion you want the room to convey. For example, use soft, soothing tones to encourage relaxation in a bedroom.
  5. Mix new and vintage pieces. While a room full of thrift store furnishings may look mismatched, using all brand new furniture looks impersonal. Combine the two styles for a designer look.

Top Interior Design Tips for Beginners [Bliss at Home]
Interior Design 101 [Visual.ly]
What are Some Interior Design Tips for Beginners? [Wise Geek]

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