Decorating with dark colors

 Before you set out to redecorate your home, it’s always a good idea to start with a clean slate. That means getting rid of all the junk that’s been accumulating in your home for however long. Studies have shown that a living space free of clutter is beneficial to our psychological health plus it will allow your furnishings to stand out more since they aren’t surrounded by too much stuff.

 

Start with a goal

 

The minimalist approach to interior decorating has become extremely popular in recent years but it isn’t for everybody. Before you even start, have a clear goal in mind of what you want the finished product to look like. If you’re going for a minimalist look then you’ll have to be even more judicious about which things to keep and a lot more liberal about throwing stuff out. How much stuff is too much is up to you to decide.

 

One room at a time

 

Whatever you do, don’t attempt to declutter the entire home in a single go. If you try to do too much, you’re sure to get burned out quickly and that will only serve to discourage you the next time you consider starting again. Treat the decluttering process as a series of smaller projects where each room is a single project. Never do more than one room in a week unless you really feel up to it. Depending on how much stuff you have to get rid of, even the thought of one room might be too much for you. If that’s the case, set a timer on your phone for 20 or thirty minutes and spend just that much time each day. Even if you’re only getting through one drawer or box a day, it will feel like progress and you’ll have the stamina to keep going.

 

Be realistic

 

As you start to declutter you’ll inevitably stumble across things you haven’t used in years but you’ll be hesitant to throw it out. After all, maybe this is the year you’ll need it. Be honest with yourself and consider the likelihood you’ll use it and then get rid of it.

 

When you’re finished

 

When the clutter has been gone through and gotten rid of, a final step is to prep your home for redecorating. A white or off-white base is usually the easiest to work with. Repaint your interior, clean or replace your carpets, and install some white baseboard heater covers and you’re ready to introduce color and texture through furnishings that will really stand out.

 

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Source: dentonrc.com/entertainment/entertainment/2017/05/11/get-house-order

 While some owners prefer the convenience of selecting home décor pieces and furniture from a showroom, others don’t. Often these pieces are expensive and outside your budget. Even if money isn’t the issue, some homeowners prefer one-of-a-kind pieces that allow them to express their individuality and sense of style. If you’re a crafty person with a good eye for potential, you can turn old furniture or thrift-store knick-knacks to create fabulous home décor pieces for your home. Here are a few ideas you might try.

 

Turn an old door into a headboard

 

Headboards are expensive, especially custom upholstered ones. You can make your own for a lot less by using some reclaimed wood, such as from an old door (or two for a larger bed). Using old barn doors and bracketing them to the wall where your bed is can be a quick way to add rustic charm to your master bedroom.

 

Make a bench out of an old bed frame

 

If you can find an old bed frame that has a footboard and headboard, you can turn it into a nice bench that you can place out in your garden or on your front porch. The head board will form the back of the bench to you lean back against. The arms of the bench are made by cutting the foot board into two halves (one for each arm of the bench). For a larger bed frame like a queen- or king-size, you will probably need to cut out a middle section of the footboard since you’ll have excess length to work with. Take the planks from the bed frame that supported the mattress to fashion the seat of the bench. Using screws, nails, and brackets, assemble your outdoor bench. Give it a coat of paint and waterproof it and your bedframe is now an outdoor bench.

 

Convert crib springs into a wall organizer

 

Who couldn’t benefit from having a large wall organizer in the home office or kitchen for keeping track of coupons, appointment reminders, field trip permission slips, and other papers that tend to get lost? If you have an old crib laying around, or if you can find one in a second-hand shop, you can make an over-sized wall organizer in no time at all. Simply unscrew the springs from the crib frame (or use bolt cutters, careful not to leave any sharp or jagged edges) and mount the springs in the desired place. Get some clothespins and you can now clip important papers to the metal wires that make up the springs.

 

Create a collage frame with a cabinet door

 

If you can find an old hutch or glass-paned cabinet, you can remove the door and give it a fresh coat of paint to make a large collage frame. It’s perfect for making a gallery space on an especially large wall in your home. Choose a photograph for every window pane in the cabinet and attach them to the back of the cabinet door so the pictures are against the glass and then mount your cabinet door/picture frame to the wall.

 

Other ways to transform your home’s look on a budget

 

If you’re not especially crafty, there are still simple ways you can transform your home’s look with minimal cost. Repainting your home’s interior, installing new cabinet hardware, swapping out light and sink fixtures, or installing baseboard heater covers are all quick and inexpensive home improvement projects that produce noticeable results.

 

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Source: realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/furniture-hacks-upcycling/

Spring is the ideal time for home improvement projects. The weather is just right for exterior projects and if you need to open up the doors and windows to get some fresh air in after doing some interior painting, your energy bills won’t skyrocket. But many homeowners won’t be remodeling this year because of the high costs for many remodeling projects. If you would like to do some remodeling and add some value to your home, but don’t have the financial means, you might want to consider one of the following six projects that are great for springtime and inexpensive as well.

1. Siding repair

Your home’s siding can take a beating so it’s always a good idea to assess the state of your siding each spring. Completely replacing the siding will cost a few thousand but as long as there’s no extensive damage, you can just repair the problem areas for a few hundred.

2. Paint the front door

Instead of spending several hundred on a new entry door. Give it a fresh coat of paint. It won’t cost more than a few bucks if you already have painting supplies and less than $100 either way.

3. Re-stain your deck

Now that the weather is warming up you’ll want to entertain guests on your deck. But after the winter there’s a good chance it could benefit from being re-stained. You can do it in a single weekend.

4. Clean out air ducts

After running your heat through the winter, chances are your air ducts could use a good cleaning. This is especially important if anyone in your home is allergic to dust. Plan on spending a few hundred dollars for a professional cleaning, maybe a little more if you have an older home and your ducts need some upgrades done.

5. Spruce up your front lawn

Boost your home’s curb appeal by paying some attention to your lawn which is probably looking pathetic after the winter. The cost to re-fertilize it is minimal and it’s a job you can do yourself if you want to save even more money.

6. Install baseboard heater covers

If you want to make some aesthetic upgrades to your home’s interior, there are few projects easier than installing baseboard heater covers. Simply measure how many feet of covers you need. Once it comes in the mail, simply snap them into place.

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Source: fairfaxtimes.com/articles/five-spring-home-improvement-projects-for-under/article_91ffa280-31bd-11e7-96ee-e31030aa5fda.html

There’s something about cold dreary weather being replaced with warmer, sunnier weather that makes us want to freshen up our homes. While you’re planning out your home improvement projects this spring, here are six interior decorating ideas you may want to try.

1. Invest in new artwork

New artwork can be a great way to liven up a space. Go with a large canvas of abstract art. If you’re the artsy type you may even consider creating your own artwork to hang on the wall. If you’re on a tight budget, you can sometimes find good quality art at thrift shops.

2. Bring vacation to you

Is there a place you’ve been dying to go on vacation to but you just haven’t been able to set aside the money or the time? If it’s not feasible to travel there anytime soon you can incorporate design elements from that destination into your home’s design. The internet is a great resource for getting interior design ideas for any region in the world.

3. Brighten things up

Spring means lots of sunshine and you want your home’s interior to reflect that. Swap out heavier curtains for sheer ones. Hang some mirrors across from windows to reflect more natural light throughout your home. If your home is naturally darker even in broad daylight due to fewer windows then you can do a lot to increase the artificial light in your home by replacing a simple light fixture with a chandelier or by swapping out darker lamp shades for lighter ones. You can also make a room appear brighter by simply incorporating a lot more of the color white into your interior design.

4. Incorporate organic elements

Since spring is when flowers start to bloom, it just makes sense to incorporate some flowers and other plant life into your interior design. You can arrange your own bouquets or have a florist do it.

5. Add visual interest to the walls

If you’re looking for a more dramatic change, one of the most cost effective ways to achieve it is to change the walls themselves. You can paint them a new color or if you’re really feeling brave, you can wallpaper them with a bold print. If you’re worried the paint color or wallpaper you’ve chosen is too overbearing, just paint or wallpaper a single accent wall. Go with removable wallpaper so it won’t be difficult to remove if you do change your mind.

6. Install baseboard radiator covers

Another inexpensive way to drastically change the look of any room in your home, and one that’s very easy, is to install baseboard radiator covers over your baseboard heaters. Simply measure how many feet of covers you need and order them. When they arrive, they simply snap in place so virtually any homeowner can do it themselves.

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Source: sfchronicle.com/homeandgarden/article/7-tips-to-refresh-your-home-for-spring-11058422.php

Any interior decorator will tell you that the most appealing homes have an eclectic style. The furniture, accessories, textiles, and other décor come from different periods and styles. While nothing quite matches, it all comes together for a cohesive look in the end. Lucky for homeowners, that means that you don’t have to go to an expensive home décor or furniture store to decorate your home. And in fact, it may be better not to.

One Connecticut homeowner named Charlotte Smith recently purchased a historic home that needed a lot of updating and she decorated entirely with thrift shop finds. Here are a few tips that she says will allow you to decorate your home without spending much money.

Dress the part

When going to thrift shops or flea markets, you want to leave the designer handbag at home. That doesn’t mean you have to look shabby. Just don’t wear your finest and fanciest clothing. You’re much more likely to get shop owners or vendors to come down on prices if you don’t look like someone with lots of money.

Think outside the box

The things you come across at thrift stores can often be repurposed. Charlotte was purchased a woven basket and fashioned it into a light fixture. She used the insides of an old piano to create artwork which now hangs in her home. As you look at items and you come across something that looks cool, don’t worry so much about their intended purpose of the item but think about what it can become. The good thing about purchasing décor items through thrift shops is that if you end up not liking how it looks in your home, you haven’t wasted much money so feel free to be creative and take risks.

Ignore color

Perhaps you’re on the hunt for items of a particular color that will go perfect in a certain room in your home. Don’t let the wrong color stop you from making a purchase. In fact, train yourself to ignore color completely when shopping at flea markets and thrift stores. Spray paint is cheap and you can make any item the color you need it to be.

Know the difference between easy fixes and expensive projects

Some of the things you come across will be broken, scratched, or faded but otherwise perfect for your home. If you’re trying to save money then don’t waste your time with anything that you can’t fix yourself. If the upholstery is torn but you know how to reupholster, buy it and fix it. If the leg wobbles and needs the work of a professional carpenter to make it functional, don’t buy it.

What about things you can’t find at a second-hand store?

Of course, there may be a few things you won’t want to purchase second-hand such as a mattress or sofa. Likewise, an older home may need upgrades that you can’t buy in a shop. You can still save money by waiting for sales and being patient until you find the right deal. One last consideration when decorating an older home, don’t spend a fortune trying to bring the home entirely into the 21st century. Some of the older aspects of a home are what give it its charm. Instead of replacing a baseboard heater system with a more modern central heating and air system, for instance, you can purchase baseboard heater covers to update the look while saving a lot of money.

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Source : wtnh.com/2017/03/28/tips-for-decorating-your-home-with-thrift-store-finds/

A home office is a place where you can let your personal style shine while still giving yourself a professional environment for doing your work. Here are some ideas you can use to decorate your home office.

1. Reading for kids

If your kids are going to be using your home office to do their homework, then designing a space that motivates them is definitely a good idea. Use bright, fun colors that get them excited to learn. You can put painted letters on the wall for the alphabet, and bookshelves stocked with books can help too. If you want the space to double as a reading area, add some comfortable seating, so your kids can spend hours in the space adventuring into books.

2. Multi-purpose space

One common challenge people have when decorating their office space is that a lot of people don’t have a full room to dedicate to an office. In fact, many people simply use nooks or corners of their home with a desk to work as their “office” area. This works just great.

The biggest thing to remember when you are using a multi-purpose space for your office is to try and find ways to separate it from the rest of the room still. Maybe you could paint the nook you are using in a different color or put up some wallpaper to differentiate the space. Even just one wall of a different color in your room may be enough to make the distinction between living room and office or bedroom and office.

3. Wallpaper vs paint

Wallpaper was really popular for a while, but then it became a bit of a taboo in the design world. Now, it is back again in all its glory, and people are doing amazing things with it. Wallpaper can really liven up your space without anyone having to spend hours hand painting a design on the wall. There are also many wallpapers available that are easy to remove later if you change your mind. Adding a little bit of design to your wall can really change the look of your office space and may make it feel less boring.

4. Baseboard heater covers

Get some baseboard heater covers to put over those old baseboard radiators to give it a brand new look. The covers are great because they snap into place very easily and make it as if the heaters blend in with the baseboards.

5. Floating shelves

A great way to add storage space and give you a beautiful design element is to add floating shelves to your office space. Instead of a giant, blank wall, you can put up these shelves. It creates functionality and a beautiful design element. It can also break apart a blank wall with nothing but a coat of paint on it.

6. Bold colors

In office settings, usually there are neutral colors so as to not offend anyone or say too much in the design. However, when you are in your own home, you have the ability to use big, bold, bright colors in your design. If you feel uncomfortable painting a whole wall in a bright color, then you can choose to add the bold colors in your design elements such as cushions and artwork.

7. Long desk

Rather than one small desk big enough for one person to work at, you can get a really long desk that multiple people can sit at while working. In an office space, that might be uncomfortable because people are often private about their work. However, in your home, it might be nice to be able to collaborate more easily with your children or spouse or even coworkers on projects you may be doing. A long desk space with multiple seating options is the perfect design element to add to any office.

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Source: realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/home-office-ideas

Old houses are unique and have a lot of character in them. It is a great place to live if you find the right home that doesn’t have a lot of problems to fix. However, you still might want to put a little bit of work into upgrading a few things for yourself. Here are 7 home upgrades you can put unto your place that won’t take much time.

1. Add a stair runner

While the hardwood on your stairs is probably beautiful, it can get really slippery which is a problem, especially if you have little kids. Instead of covering it up completely with carpet, you can get a stair runner or make one for yourself. Plus, with a stair runner you can change it out anytime you want with something else, and there are a lot of styles you can choose from.

2. Baseboard heater covers

The modern-day convenience of forced heating and air is really nice, but you probably won’t get that with an older home. Instead, you’ll have baseboard radiator heaters. And unfortunately, they are necessary to keep you warm in the winter. But you can get baseboard heater covers that simply snap into place and completely update the look of your room.

3. Paint everywhere

Whether it is an old house or not, you probably will want to consider a few paint jobs around your house. You can paint the walls, your cabinets, or even the door. A fresh coat of paint can really individualize your home and makes it feel clean and new again. Make sure you remove the old paint before you get started. In a lot of older homes, there are so many layers of paint on the walls that it makes it look cakey instead of like a fresh paint job.

Be warned that in older homes there are often problems with lead in the paint, so be careful to follow safety precautions when removing old paint.

4. Caulking everywhere

It is always a good idea to check all the caulking throughout your home when you buy an older house. It can quickly split apart letting in bugs from the outdoor or letting in water from the sink. Head around your home with a caulking gun for a quick and easy project that will take an hour or two but will ultimately protect your home. It is a worthwhile project for sure.

5. Refinish things

Part of why you bought an older home is for the character that comes with it. Refinish things in the home instead of replacing them including the hardware, the doors, the floors, etc. If it looks like it would be a really cool design element if it was just brand new, then you can refinish it and make it feel like it was brand new the whole time.

6. Add a bathroom vent

The vent in your bathroom is not just so people can’t hear you going to the bathroom as well or to get rid of stink. In fact, it is mostly there to help ventilate the room and prevent mold growth. Because of this, it is a really good idea to install a bathroom vent in your older home. It will help keep your family from getting sick and protect your bathroom from having to be remodeled.

7. Put in ceiling fans

A ceiling fan is really nice because it circulates the air in the room and helps maintain a regular temperature. In the summer, it can help cool the rooms while in the winter, it can actually help circulate the warm air around the room. Adding fans in your rooms is a really great project to do in your older home.

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Source : thisoldhouse.com/ideas/21-quick-and-easy-budget-upgrades

In most homes, the basement feels like a cold, dark jail cell. Usually, the paint is boring and neutral and a lot of the time there is exposed brick or cement in the basement making it feel even more dreary. Add to that the fact that most older homes have small windows letting in very little light, and you start to feel like you are in a cave. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some ways you can make your basement feel bright.

Open Concept

One thing that always helps make an old room feel bright again is to make it more open concept. If you are able, you can knock out walls to create one nice, big space that is comfortable for everyone. A room that feels open is more comfortable and has a lot more opportunity for positive change.

Fresh coat of paint

It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for a space. I recently painted my basement walls that were a brown to a light gray, and it made a huge difference in making the room feel bright and clean again. Plus, you can put baseboard heaters covers over your baseboard radiators, and you’ll have a completely clean, finished look.

Figure out your lighting situation

If you have the means, knocking out your tiny windows and putting in some bigger ones really helps bring in natural light. The more natural light, the brighter the space will feel. If that’s not a possibility, you will need to add more lighting to the rooms. Can lights can help evenly distribute throughout the room, and extra lights here and there make a big difference. Get lamps for darker corner, and pick up some light-strands to light the edge of your TV or entertainment center.

Use a lot of color

One trick to making a space feel brighter is to add some bright colors into the decor. Whether that is painting one of the walls a bright color or just getting some really colorful artwork, a bit of color will do you some good. Unless it is a theater room, you should try to stay away from darks. Choose lighter, brighter colors for your walls, furniture, pillows, and decorations.

And if you do want to get darker furniture or wall accents for the room, make sure you at least balance it out by having a lot of whites. For example, if you choose to do a really dark wall, then throw on a bright, white baseboard and baseboard heater cover and use a white couch for the room. As long as there is balance, then you are okay to use dark colors.

Don’t forget your flooring

Many people don’t even consider changing the flooring unless the old stuff needs to get replaced. However, the floor can really affect the overall look of your basement. A lot of people choose to get carpet to counteract the cold feel of the room, and that’s not a bad approach. Another option would be to get shiny hardwood floor sto bring out the character and overall look of the space. Plus, the shining floors will make it feel brighter as the lights reflect off of it.

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Source : southbendtribune.com/life/at_home/how-can-you-update-your-dull-basement/article_929d43a2-af1b-5e1e-802a-a7d1c0a9ab7c.html

Bathrooms are an important space in a home. Most people don’t even realize how much of their day is spent in there. It is also one of the most neglected areas in your home when it comes to decorating and design. You deserve more than boring, bland walls. Here are some paint designs that are trending that you could try in your bathroom.

Bright Yellows

A popular trend in the bathroom market is to add splashes of yellow to your otherwise boring, white and gray bathrooms. There are so many different shades to choose from, and golden yellow is one of the most popular ones right now. Add a splash in the tilework behind your sink, or bring in some yellow flowers to decorate the space. Some people even choose to paint the entire room yellow. We recommend doing just one wall so as to not overdo it.

Bold with black

Another trend in the market right now is to go all out with black in your bathroom. Black and white bathrooms are all the rage from your tilework to the colors on your walls. With white baseboard heater covers, you can make it look as through your radiator heaters blend right into your baseboards helping to complete the look.

Bring in the outdoors with green

Green is a pretty common color for decorating simply because greenery is a popular decorating tool. But green as a paint color hasn’t been a huge hit until recently. People are painting their cabinets green, their walls green, and even using green flooring in their bathrooms. Whatever the case, green isn’t just the color of leaves anymore: it is a bold new bathroom color statement color.

Light blues and purples

Dark, bold blues have been in style for a while, but we are starting to see a shift back to lighter, powder blues and purples that give the room a bright, airy feel to it. This is especially true for people looking to create spa-like atmospheres in their bathroom. The lighter color makes people feel calm and is definitely a bathroom favorite. Use it on your walls or your cabinets, and accent with a lot of lighter colors to offset it.

Metals

Another popular trend for bathrooms right now is metal colors. People are using silvers, golds, and bronzes on more than just their faucets. Make sure to offset the ultra-rich color of metal with some white tones throughout the room so it doesn’t feel tacky

What’s not in style?

Well, hot colors like reds and oranges and pinks are not trending for bathrooms right now. People prefer a calming feel to their rooms, but it is difficult to accomplish when you have the strength of hot colors in your face. Lighter pinks, oranges, and reds aren’t bad, but it is still a little too loud for most people’s bathrooms. If you want to use a brighter, bolder color, make sure you stick with accents instead of painting with them.

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Source : hgtv.com/design-blog/design/bathroom-colors-to-try-in-2017