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Create a Chic and Stylish Entryway With These Pro Tips

September 20, 2016 by

Your entryway has the power to wow or bore guests as soon as they step into your apartment, so it's important to make sure you spend ample time on its interior design. If you're just getting started glamming up your entryway, here are a few tips that should help get the ball rolling.

  1. Create a vignette. First things first: find an entryway table. That's where you'll put your hallway vignette. It's part functional, part aesthetically pleasing. Include a tray to collection your keys and loose change when you walk in, but also add strictly decorative touches such as candles, flowers, and other odds and ends that reflect your style.
  2. Add a mirror. When you're working with a cozy entryway, you can really expand the space (without knocking down any walls) by just hanging a mirror. Find one that fits in with the rest of your aesthetic, perhaps a round, vintage mirror for last-minute touch-ups before you walk out the door, or maybe a more contemporary square mirror if that jives better with your minimalist decor elsewhere.
  3. Glam up your walls. Creating a gallery wall is a surefire way to engage your friends as soon as they walk through the door, especially if you create that gallery wall using personal photos in artfully mismatched frames. You can also use mirrors of different shapes and sizes, however, for the ultimate space-creating effect.
  4. Throw down a runner. When you're interior-designing, don't forget about the real estate underfoot, either. Spruce up your floor with a chic, colorful runner.

How to Style an Entryway [The Everygirl]
Small Apartment Entryway [Pinterest]
21 Ways to Enhance an Entryway [Real Simple]

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No-Fail Ways to Introduce Print and Patterns into Your Decor

September 6, 2016 by

To make your living space more interesting, experts suggest using at least three different patterns for your room. Mixing prints in a space can add more color and can give your room a unique atmosphere. Follow these simple tips to incorporate color and patterns into your decor without overwhelming your space.

  • Start by choosing a large, bold pattern that will determine the main focal color of your room.
  • Create a uniform look by using different patterns that are close in color.
  • Create a statement wall by using patterned wallpaper. This is a simple way to help choose your main pattern and color scheme.
  • Use a bright patterned rug to create a statement piece that will bring the whole space together.
  • Use dark shades against light or vivid colors to create contrast.
  • Mix up patterned pillows with your wall art or coffee table accessories for a simple pop of texture and color.
  • If you are still unsure about mixing different patterns, select a solid base color to act as a canvas for all of your patterns. This will make it easier to mix in other classic patterns such as black and white stripes.

23 Ways to Mix Patterns in Your Home Decor [Brit + Co]
Ideas and Guidelines to Mixing & Matching Patterns in your Home [The House of Smiths]
Using Color, Pattern, and Texture in Home Decorating [For Dummies]

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Everything Green is New Again With These Cool Ways to Display Houseplants

August 2, 2016 by

Instead of the usual terra cotta pots and windowsill planters, why not try displaying your houseplants in a new and innovative way? If you're feeling a bit blue about the current state of your in-home greenery, try out one of these fun and stylish ways to show off your plants.

  • A hanging air plant. Air plants are truly unique, as these spider-like greens require absolutely no soil to grow. Because of this, it's easy to display them just about anywhere you like! Search the web for hanging ceramic planters that dangle from the ceiling to display your air plants.
  • A framed wall hanging. Love succulents? Rather than displaying them in the usual pots, line a picture frame with chicken wire and moss and grow a succulent garden right on your wall.
  • A zoo of planters. If you're a fan of all things fun and whimsical, create your very own "zoo" of clay plant pots. Browse stores or websites for planters in the shape of animals (you might be surprised just how many you find!) Fill them with succulents, cacti, or small plants and arrange the whole gang on a tabletop or sunny shelf.

Planters [Etsy]
20 Unforgettable Indoor Plant Displays [Decoist]

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Breathe New Life Into Your Bedroom’s Decor With These Simple Tips

June 14, 2016 by

Your bedroom should be a place of rest and relaxation, but in your effort to keep things understated and minimal, you might make the décor seem a bit boring. Here are some ways to breathe new life into an outdated bedroom—while still getting a good night’s sleep.

  1. Switch out your side tables. One of the most affordable ways to update your bedroom is by switching the side tables with something unique. Opt for slim shelves mounted right to the wall if your room is small, or go for something larger than a nightstand, such as a full-sized desk, if you have the space to spare.
  2. Add a duvet cover. If you want to change your bedding without investing in an entirely new set, cover your existing comforter with an affordable duvet in a bold, fun print or spa-like white.
  3. Add a headboard. If your current bed doesn’t have a headboard, create one using a large painting, a rectangular tapestry or even an antique door.
  4. Put some art on the walls. Many people forget about decorating the walls in the bedroom, but it can make all the difference. Frame some black and white family photos or even pretty vintage wallpaper squares in colors that match your décor.
  5. Switch the window treatments. Brighten up a bedroom with sheer curtains—it may even help you get out of bed in the morning.

5 Decorating Ideas for Bedrooms [Real Simple]
5 Small Ways to Give Your Bedroom a Big Boost [Oprah]
Freshen Your Bedroom with Low-Cost Updates [Better Homes & Gardens]

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Decorating with Color? Learn the Meaning Behind Your Favorite Hues

June 7, 2016 by

When decorating, follow your instinct and incorporate colors that make you feel energized and inspired. Here’s how to figure out the meaning of the colors that you’re drawn to and how to incorporate them into your home.

  • Blue represents the color of the waves in the ocean and should be used to be calming, healing, and relaxing. It also exemplifies the feeling of security and dependability.
  • Green represents newness and life. It is a balancing color that stands for growth, abundance, and nature.
  • In decorating, red is a very powerful color. It is exciting and powerful and represents luxury, passion and romance.
  • Purple is a very spiritual color that represents abundance and dignity.
  • Yellow is a color that gives you a happy and uplifting feeling. It is a great sociable color so it’s recommended for your kitchen, dining room, or living room areas.
  • Grey represents “the rock” and stands for solidity and support. It is probably the most popular neutral in decorating because it can seem nondescript.
  • White can have a way of making you feel clean, pure, and innocent. It represents hope and openness and is very inviting.
  • Decorating with the dramatic color black can bring a sense of elegance and sophistication to your space.

​Color 101: Learn the Underlying Meaning of Your Favorite Shades [HGTV]
What the Color of Your Living Room Says About You [House Beautiful]
FENG SHUI COLORS: Find out the meaning of colors and how to use them successfully in your home [Feng Shui & Beyond]

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Read All About It: Nifty Ways to Reuse Old Magazines and Newspapers

June 2, 2015 by

You love reading magazines and newspapers, but you don’t love having to throw them out after you’re done reading. Instead of tossing out your old reading materials, use these creative tips for making something new and exciting out of your favorite periodicals.

Starburst Clock [happinessisblog.com]
Use this surprisingly simple DIY project to make a gorgeous mid-century modern-inspired clock that actually works. Simply roll the pages of magazines into small tubes, string them together using sturdy twine and attach some attractive hands to the center.

Recycled Gift Bows [craftingagreenworld.com]
Instead of purchasing pre-made gift bows for birthdays or holidays, make your own out of colorful magazine or newspaper pages. Cut the paper into strips, do some crafty folding, and glue it together to create a bow that looks just like the ones from the store.

Woven Magazine Basket [niftythriftythings.com]
Weave a cute and quirky basket by folding the pages into accordion shapes and securing them with a bit of string. These can be used to hold knick knacks or brighten up an empty shelf.

Nail Art [fashionandpoise.blogspot.com]
Press old newspaper pages onto your fingernails for a unique manicure that you won’t find at the nail salon. All it takes is some nail polish, rubbing alcohol, and a few pages from an old newspaper.

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Get Crafty: Learn Embroidery From These 2 Online Tutorials

January 6, 2015 by

Embroidery used to be something that you associated with your grandmother, but lately it’s become a popular hobby for young people, as well. There are a wide variety of fun, cheeky embroidery projects floating around the Internet, and these simple online tutorials will show you how to get started creating your own silly embroideries.

Embroidery 101! [Instructables]
This fun Instructables course uses simple, easy-to-follow guidelines to show you the very basics of embroidery. It offers high quality photos of each step along the way, and it also provides a detailed list of the tools you’ll need to make the process as convenient as possible. The Embroidery 101! lesson even shows some humorous and hip designs as inspiration for your project.

Start Stitching! A Beginner's Embroidery Tutorial [Pretty Prudent]
Pretty Prudent is another wonderful online embroidery website. The site’s tutorial shows you how to sketch a simple design onto your embroidery hoop and fabric, and then how to properly stitch and execute the design. It also provides links to DIY embroidery ideas for other designs.

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How to Fold a Fitted Sheet Without Frustration

May 6, 2014 by

It's the most dreaded task of laundry day: the attempted wrangling of the unruly fitted sheet. You might think it's impossible to get this oversized, elasticized piece of fabric into a shape that's nice and neat, but it can be done! These three steps take the mystery—and frustration—out of folding fitted sheets.

1. Take the sheet out of the dryer as soon as the buzzer sounds; this will prevent wrinkles and make the task of folding a little easier. Then, lay the sheet on a flat surface, like a table or your bed, and fold it in half width-wise. (To make the corners line up, flip the bottom corners inside out and tuck them inside their corresponding top corner.)

2. Now that you have somewhat of a square shape, fold the sheet in thirds by flipping the bottom (closest to you) up toward the middle of the square. Flip to top down on top of the first fold. Be sure to "crisp" the corners as you proceed.

3. At this point, you should have a rectangle shape. Fold the sheet in thirds again: Bring the left edge of the rectangle to the center, then bring the right edge of top of that. Voila! You should have a perfect square.

Do you have another method for folding fitted sheets? Let us know!

Living Well: 6 Secrets To Folding a Fitted Sheet [Design Mom]
How to Fold a Fitted Sheet [Martha Stewart]
How to Fold a Fitted Sheet into a Nice Flat Rectangle [Lifehacker]

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