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Turn Your Apartment Into a Happy Home With These 5 Mood-Boosting Design Tips

September 23, 2016 by

Your home should be a place for inspiration and relaxation, not just a place to store your belongings. Improve your rental's overall mood with these design tips that are sure to bring the "happy" back into your happy home.

  • Improve the lighting. It's no secret that natural sunlight improves your mood, so you want to maximize the amount of it that flows through your home. Switch out heavy draperies or blackout curtains with light, sheer curtains or bamboo blinds, and even replace fluorescent lightbulbs with modern bulbs that mimic the look of sunlight.
  • Create a place for everything. Target the areas in your home that collect clutter, such as the area around the front door or the always-overflowing recycling bin. Think of smart solutions for the storage in these areas to create a better flow throughout the home.
  • Add some plants and flowers. Studies show that adding some green to your home makes you happy, so fill small pots with leafy green plants, stylish succulents, or blooming flowers.
  • Redecorate in soft colors. If you're having trouble relaxing in your bedroom or feeling inspired in your home office, try switching up the color palette. Adding stark white bedding or soft colored throw pillows will create a calming effect in these frequently used areas.

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How to Decorate Using the Principles of Feng Shui

September 20, 2016 by

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese belief that states that the way your home is organized will, in turn, influence everything else in your life. From your finances to your inner happiness, the aspects that feng shui influences are limitless. If you want to decorate your home in a way that better serves your feng shui, use these basic principles.

  • Keep things minimal. First and foremost, improve your home’s feng shui by getting rid of everything that you don’t need—including furniture, clothing and even kitchen supplies. This will leave you with more space for movement, creativity, and positive energy.
  • Maximize natural light. Take down heavy drapes and blinds and replace them with sheer curtains that allow in as much natural light as possible.
  • Add plants. Feng shui emphasizes the importance of having green plants to clean your home’s air and add a peaceful look to every room. Try options like jade plants and aloe plants that require little maintenance.
  • Leave entryways clear. Feng shui says that the doors allow positive energy to flow into your home, so be sure to leave yours clear.
  • Face the doors. Important pieces of furniture, such as your desk and your bed, should always face the door of the room without sitting directly in front of it.

Feng Shui 101 for Your Living Space [Wonder How To]
10 Easy Feng Shui Rules You Should Follow [Kris Carr]
Feng Shui Decorating Tips [Real Simple]

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

September 9, 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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Redecorating? Here’s How to Get Gutsy with Color and Design

August 26, 2016 by

Bold style and colors can transform your home to make it feel more fun and happy. If you’re looking to liven up your home and really make your space more exciting, follow these tips for some inspiration.

  • Use a large, oversized reflective object, such as a light fixture, to assert dominance on everything else in the room.
  • Experiment with design objects and put them out of their element. Something like placing a rug on the wall can really make a statement.
  • A patterned piece of furniture can be a great addition to your space. Something like a floral pattern on a sofa or polka dots on a chair can make an impact.
  • Turn one wall into a modern piece of art. Even using a simple splash of color on one of your walls can make a huge difference.
  • Use a patterned light switch plate instead of the plain old white ones for a fun little pop of color.
  • Instead of filling a vase with flowers, use a large leaf with a unique shape.

12 Bold Color Tricks to Try in Every Room [HGTV]
22 Ways to Be (a Little) More Daring With Your Decorating [HGTV]
Daring Decor Additions: Take Your Design Up A Notch With These 5 Striking Style Ideas [Apartment Therapy]

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How to Hang Curtains the Right Way

August 2, 2016 by

Something as small as adjusting your curtain rods can quickly change the look of your home. Follow these tips to create a better look for your window and the rest of your space!

  • Always hang your curtains up high to the ceiling. It makes your ceilings look higher and your space look larger and will enhance the overall atmosphere of your room.
  • If your curtains aren’t wide enough it will block light and make the window look smaller, therefore making your whole room appear smaller. When the curtains are pushed open, you want to see almost all of the window.
  • The most common mistake in hanging curtains is hanging them too short making it look awkward. Make sure the bottom of the curtains just kiss the floor.
  • You can also make the curtains puddle on the floor to give your room a romantic, feminine, and European vibe.

Quick & Affordable Home Makeover Task: Adjust Your Curtain Rods [Apartment Therapy]
Hanging Curtains All Wrong [Emily Henderson]
It’s Curtains, Hang Em High [Home Goods]

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Love Home Decorating? These 4 HGTV Shows Will Give You Major Design Inspo

July 29, 2016 by

If you consider decorating your home one of your favorite hobbies, then you're likely always on the hunt for new sources of inspiration. Tune into these four popular HGTV shows during your next lazy Sunday on the sofa!

  • Flip or Flop. With its high stakes gambles in the risky house-flipping market, this fun show is one of HGTV's most exciting. You'll love watching as married hosts Tarek and Christina bid on foreclosed houses and renovate them for resale.
  • House Hunters. This classic HGTV show is now in its 18th season, but you'll never grow tired of watching real people purchase homes in places around the country.
  • House Hunters International. If you love House Hunters, you'll especially love watching Americans purchase their first homes in other countries around the world. From France to India, this show gives you a glimpse into the housing market all over the globe.
  • Fixer Upper. Watch as married couple Chip and Joanna renovate houses all over the Waco, Texas, area. By purchasing older homes and renovating them on a budget, they give their clients a chance to live in their dream neighborhoods.

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Create a Cozy, Chic Look in Your Bedroom With These Simple Steps

July 22, 2016 by

To improve your sleep, create a relaxing atmosphere, and add a chic look to your bedroom, all it takes are a few smart upgrades. From incorporating plush textures to changing up the color scheme, these simple tips will show you exactly what to do.

  • Replace your current bedding with crisp, white bedding. If your current sheets and duvet feel drab and outdated, upgrading to chic white bedding will give your bed a timeless look that's just like a four-star hotel.
  • Create storage for every loose item and stray article of clothing. If you constantly find yourself tripping over clutter, head to the home goods store and invest in additional drawers, bins and other storage items.
  • Frame some art to dress up your walls. Choose soothing nature scenes, neutral abstract prints or framed family photos that will make you feel calm and relaxed.
  • Add throw pillows and blankets that will add additional depth to your bedding. Choose one statement pop of color or something in a fun faux fur for some soft, eye-catching texture.
  • Update the lighting by replacing the current bulbs with muted lights or bulbs that imitate natural sunlight.

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Bring the Outdoors In: How to Decorate Using Natural Elements

July 8, 2016 by

One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to decorate your home is with natural elements. Use natural materials from the outdoors and colors inspired by nature to decorate for any season. If your space could use s breath of fresh air, follow these tips and get this organic look in your home.

  • Use unique pitchers or containers to keep flowers in to give any bouquet a fresh look.
  • Add three-dimensional antlers or any kind of faux taxidermy to your wall to break up some of your framed pictures on your wall.
  • Gather some branches in your backyard to put in a vase to make a centerpiece for your table. You can also use a piece of driftwood for a centerpiece as well.
  • Use a large twisted branch to hang on the wall to add some modern dimension to a room.
  • Use clear glass lamps and fill them up with pinecones, seashells and sand, moss, or anything else you can find.
  • You can also use bowls or trays to fill up with the pinecones or shells.
  • Hang artwork with an earthy theme to hang on your neutral colored walls.
  • Place a collection of small green houseplants in different sized pots on your wooden table to add some natural character to your dining room.

15 Ways to Decorate with Natural Elements [Ebay]
Decorating with Natural Elements [Better Homes]
12 Easy Decorating Ideas Inspired by Nature [Houzz]

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Looking for a Unique Design Element? Try Decorating With Citrus Fruits!

June 17, 2016 by

Now that summer is here, you're likely looking for fun, colorful ways to brighten up your home. If you want to add a pop of color and a burst of freshness to your kitchen or dining space, try decorating with something a bit out-of-the-ordinary: citrus fruits! Here are a few ways to decorate with oranges, lemons and more.

Dried Citrus Ornaments
While these types of dried citrus ornaments are normally used around the holidays, they look (and smell!) just as great in the summertime, too. Try drying your fruits and hanging them on a garland of eucalyptus over the kitchen window, or forage some branches, pop them in a vase and hang the ornaments on the ends.

Lemon Centerpieces
Planning a dinner party or a weekend brunch? Create your very own centerpiece made with bright, fresh lemons! If you're pressed for time, simply fill an attractive bowl with whole lemons for a subtle scent and a pretty pop of yellow. If you have a bit more time to spare, try filling a glass vase with water. Cut lemons into thin slices, and then submerge them in the vase for a more unique look.

Preserved Lemon Jars
This one plays double-duty as both a decoration and a helpful baking ingredient. Quick-preserve your lemons using just lemon juice and kosher salt, and then store them in large jars around the kitchen for a rustic, farmhouse-inspired look. Reach into the jars whenever you need something to zest up a pasta dish, roasted chicken or even a dessert!

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Three Awesome Ways to Decorate With Maps

June 7, 2016 by

These days, mobile maps can definitely be more useful for traveling than a paper map. However, paper maps are beautiful to look at! So why not use them in your home decor? Here are three creative ways you can decorate with a map.

  • Use a map to revamp your lampshade and give it a warm, vintage feel. All you need to do is find an atlas with pictures of beautiful maps inside, a lamp with a shade, and a few craft items. Make a template for your shade and test it out to make sure it fits perfectly. Then, just lay out your template on top of your map pages and make the pages match the size of the template. Finally, use some rubber cement to glue your map on and you're finished!
  • Cover the drawers of your plain-looking dresser with a map. You're pretty much going to use the same process you did for the lamp. Make sure to measure everything out perfectly and remember to cut out tiny circles for the knobs.
  • Give your living room a unique, vintage feel by covering the top of your glass coffee table with a map. If you have a large enough coffee table, you may even be able to see the whole map.

Vintage Map Lampshade [Pretty Handy Girl]
10 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Maps [Babble]
7 Ways to Decorate with Maps and Globes [Conde Nast]

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