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Instagram Inspiration: Interior Designers to Follow

February 3, 2015 By

The goal of decorating your home should be to reflect your taste and to create a space where you enjoy spending time. Stay up to date on new interior design trends to inspire your design updates. Whether you’re moving to a brand new home, or sprucing up your old one, there’s always room for inspiration.

Follow your favorite interior designers on Instagram for instant inspiration. Here are a few interior designers we admire.

1. Jonathan Adler: Jonathan Adler’s Instagram feed is beautiful rooms filled with colorful throw pillows, duck figurines, and gorgeous flower arrangements. Follow Adler for inspiration on decorating with bright colors, patterns, and quirky accessories.

 

2. Emily Henderson: This interior designer turned style blogger keeps her Instagram feed filled with colorful art and sleek design trends. From serene bedroom setups to brightly lit sunrooms, you can find plenty of insight on her feed.

 

3. Grace Bonney: Bonney has an eccentric, abstract design aesthetic. From geometric patterns to colorful quilts, Bonney is bound to make you want to add some life to any room.

 

4. Kate Arends: Arends has a simplistic design style. She favors clean lines, white walls, and a clutter-free home. Follow her if you hope to achieve a clean, modern look for your home.

A photo posted by Kate Arends (@witanddelight_) on Jan 28, 2015 at 3:52pm PST

 

5. Caitlin Wilson Textiles: Caitlin’s feed is filled with crisp, simple spaces with vibrant pops of color thrown in. Caitlin is known for her textiles and her pillows, furniture, and decor that can complete any room. Try adding a few pillows to your couch or bed for a budget-friendly upgrade.

 

6. Studio McGee: Syd and Shea McGee, the husband and wife behind Studio McGee have a classic, timeless, and preppy aesthetic. Their designs often incorporate white, gold, and pastels. They certainly follow their motto which is to, “Make life beautiful.”

A photo posted by Studio McGee (@studiomcgee) on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:45pm PST

 

You should make your home decor decisions based on what makes you and your family feel good. Advice and inspiration from professionals is just an added bonus that might spark your interest to try something new!

 

Recommended Reading:

-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low-Cost ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-5 Ways to Take Your Living Room from Good to Great

 

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How to Incorporate Collections into Your Home

January 26, 2015 By

Your home should be a reflection of you and your family. Incorporate your personality into your home decor by displaying family collections. Your collections tell stories that deserve to be told – and represented throughout your home.



Get creative and find a place for all of your cherished collections. Here are a few sample ideas to get you started. Modify them according to your collection of choice.

1. Stamps: Do you have a bevy of vintage or one-of-a-kind stamps? Frame pages of stamps. Display your framed collections on mantels, in your entryway, or even create a gallery wall.

2. Crystal Figurines: Display your figurines in glass cases or on a shelf near a window. The light from the windows and glass will reflect on the figurines and make them sparkle beautifully.

3. Matchboxes: If you have a collection of fancy, beautifully designed matchboxes, put them out for show. Group them together on an end table or in an armoire with glass panels.

4. Antiques: One of the most popular collections to display in a home is antiques. Whether it’s antique furniture, picture frames, or something as small as a breadbox, place them in their appropriate room for added decor. Display them in different rooms so that you remember the story behind them whenever you see them.

5. Travel Souvenirs: Save travel souvenirs like museum tickets, plane tickets, and even currency. Put them in memory boxes and frame them throughout your home. Hang a map with pins representing every place you’ve traveled as a family.

6. Any other quirky item: Any collectible has the ability to be hung up on a wall. Creating a gallery wall is the easiest, no fuss way to display your items. Grouping similar picture frames, silver trays, or any other like items on a blank wall in your home creates a focal point of beautiful decor.

Displaying your beloved and timeless collections throughout your home is not only a great way to display your interests, but it’s also a great conversation starter.

Recommended Reading:

-5 Creative DIY Projects You Can Do with Wallpaper

-Old to New: Tips for Rearranging Your Furniture

-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories

 

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How to Turn Your Bathroom into a Spa-Inspired Escape

January 22, 2015 By

Your home should feel like a calm and comfortable space where you can unwind, relax, and recharge. Here are tangible ways to let the soothing qualities of a day at the spa inspire your bathroom decor.

1. Aromatherapy: Choose scents that match your desired mood and intention. If you are stressed, nervous, or can’t sleep use scents like bergamot, chamomile, cinnamon, lavender, clove, rose, sandalwood, or vanilla. If you are feeling a bit melancholy, use scents like clary sage, cypress, or marjoram. Tired and fatigued? Try cinnamon, cypress, eucalyptus, fennel, lemon, peppermint, sage, or spiced apple. Learn more at Underground Health, then set up a collection that makes scents for you!

2. Vanity: You’ll feel like a celebrity when you do your makeup at your vanity. As an extra perk, you can keep all of your beauty products and jewelry organized and accessible.

3. Mood Lighting: Skip the florescent bulbs. Your lighting affects your mood. Take some cues from the New York Times article, LEDs Change Thinking About the Light Bulb.

4. Calm Colors: Use the principles of color psychology when you choose your paint colors. In an interview with WebMD the color consultant Leslie Harrington recommends painting the bathroom in shades of blue, green, or turquoise. These colors, “give a sense of being clean and fresh — and calm.”

5. Little Luxuries: Incorporate little luxuries like, fresh flowers, a heated towel rack, pretty soaps and storage containers, a bath pillow, bath salts, fluffy bathrobes, and an additional shower head.

6. Storage Space: Keep your bathroom clean, open, and clutter-free. Recent studies have shown that clutter causes stress. Don’t let a mess ruin your at-home oasis.

Now the only thing left to do is to draw a bath, pick up a good book, and relax.

Recommended Reading:

-5 Ways to Make Your Home Cozy for Fall

-5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

-Be My Guest: How to Style a Guest Room

 

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5 DIY Projects to Tackle this Year

January 6, 2015 By

With the New Year in full swing, take this fresh start as a time to complete some fun DIY projects. You’ll save money and get the satisfaction of having made something yourself. Take out your paint brush and your tool kit and get started.

Tackle one project at a time and you can have an improved home in no time.

1. Install a new backsplash: You can instantly alter the aesthetic of your kitchen by sprucing up your backsplash. There are lots of creative ways to DIY a backsplash. Tile, stainless steel, glass, chalkboard, or mosaics are all lovely options. Regardless of what you choose, you can pay a fraction of the price by doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional.

2. Change your architecture: Change your architecture – without hiring an architect or needing a wrecking ball. Add a chair rail and/or crown molding to give your room texture and depth. Take the proper measurements, then head down to your hardware store to get the materials you need.

3. Paint cabinets: Whether it’s your bathroom or your kitchen cabinets, adding a fresh coat of paint can make the room feel brand new while also adding value to your home. This DIY project doesn’t take much time or money.

4. Curb Appeal: Make a good first impression. Paint your front door, change the address numbers, add a unique knocker, and repair or paint the exterior trim. This is another quick and easy DIY that project that can make your home feel new again.

5. Paint: Paint your interior for an instant upgrade and shift to your decor. Change a light colored wall to a dark one for a completely different look, or simply repaint with the same color to make the room look fresh again. You can also put up wallpaper to add a more detailed design.

DIY projects don’t have to take a lot of time or money. Projects like these can be done in a few days and you could end up with an improved home at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional.

Recommended Reading:

-Creative DIY Projects You Can Do with Wallpaper

-Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

-How to Style a Gallery Wall

 

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7 Ways to Combat Clutter in the New Year

January 5, 2015 By

The New Year is the time for a fresh start. It brings a feeling of starting over, and an opportunity to improve all areas of your life. In the New Year, take some time to complete projects you’ve been putting off for months. You can create an even better home for you and your family by decluttering and organizing your home.

Follow these tips for easy and quick ways to declutter your home.

1. Keep things at arms reach: Keep items you use daily somewhere where they can be easily reached, whether that’s in a basket, on a shelf, or in a cabinet. Store everything that is used sparingly on a higher shelf or in the garage or attic. It will be easier to find what you need when you need it.

2.  Add shelves: If your home is cluttered adding more furniture won’t help. Instead of adding a bookshelf or desk, add wall shelving.  You’ll have room for books, picture frames, paperwork, and even a television without cluttering your home with more furniture.

3. 12-12-12 Challenge: This challenge comes from BecomingMinimalist.com, and is a simple project to add to your routine. Clean and organize by choosing 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 to return to a proper place in your home.  This helps you organize, declutter, and give to a good cause all at the same time!

4. Garage storage: Make your garage your main storage area. Use old dressers and other furniture to store seasonal items and items you don’t use daily. Paint the furniture the same color to create a unified look.

5. Get rid of broken items: There’s no point in keeping items that are broken or unused, they’re just taking up precious space in your home. If you haven’t used it or gotten it fixed in the past six months, you probably never will. Throw it out or donate it to make room for something new.

6. Use things up: It’s a habit to save special items for special occasions, whether it’s fancy bath soap or an expensive spice. Stop saving these things for the right time, use them and enjoy them now. Use what you have before you buy something new to help keep clutter at bay.

7. Deal with one room at a time: Take it step by step. Organize and declutter one room at a time, makes it easier to focus on the task at hand. If you try to juggle too many rooms at once, it may never get done.

Go through these tasks every few months to help maintain an organized home. A decluttered home can give you and your family peace of mind – and room for something new.

Recommended Reading:

-Old to New: Tips for Rearranging Your Furniture

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low Cost Ways to Make Your Home Appear Larger

-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories

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How to Survive the Holidays With Your Family

December 18, 2014 By

The holiday season is about being grateful, giving back, and spending a copious amount of time with your family. Sometimes being around your family so much can go to your head. If you have a dysfunctional family filled with big personalities, it can be treacherous at times. Here are some tips to help you get through the holidays with your family.

1. Smile and nod: The best way to avoid probing questions and unsolicited advice is to agree. Make like a bobble head doll and smile and nod.

2. Stay in the kitchen: Hide in the kitchen. No one will come in because that means they’d have to help with setting the table or washing dishes.

3. Overpowering Christmas music: When things start to get heated at the dinner table take to the radio to blast “All I Want for Christmas is You” at a ridiculous volume. Tune out the fighting. Everyone will thank you – and hopefully start singing along.

4. The kids: Pull up a chair at the kid’s table. They’ll keep you entertained, and they don’t have strong opinions on politics or your life. They probably won’t ask you why you aren’t married yet or whether or not you are dating someone. Kids always save the day, plus they have coloring books and would rather discuss Play-doh than Plato.

5. Read a book: Get lost in a good book. There are so many good reads to help you escape the drama and make your family seem normal. For example, check out Where’d You Go, Bernadette or Beautiful Ruins.

Good luck.

 

Recommended Reading:

-8 Things You May Have Thought When Your In-Laws Stayed Over

-5 Stages of Having Your Kids Home From College

-How to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

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Deck the Halls: 10 Things to Do Leading Up to Christmas

December 17, 2014 By

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. You have to buy and wrap presents, decorate the tree, cook, bake, and more. Preparing your home for Christmas may seem stressful but it doesn’t have to be. Here are small things that you can do every day leading up to Christmas. Your home can be more festive in no time.

1. Create a Christmas card display: Arrange the Christmas cards you’ve received over the past few weeks on a mantel or in a nice Christmas wreath. This adds a sentimental value to the holiday and shows your family and friends that you appreciate them.

2. Plan Christmas menu: Knowing exactly what you’re cooking makes grocery shopping faster. Plus you won’t have to run out because you forgot milk…again.

3. Put out smaller decorations: There is no such thing as too many Christmas decorations. If your tree is up and the outside of your home is decked out, adding small touches inside the home is the next step. Hang wreaths, display nutcrackers, snow globes, and hang the stockings — this added decor brings the Christmas season full circle.

4. Display presents under the tree: As you are finished wrapping presents for your family and Christmas guests, display them under the tree. You’ll remember where you put the gifts and you’ll get excited every time you see them under the tree. Note to Self: Stop hiding gifts and forgetting where they’re hidden.

5. Prepare for guests: If you have family staying over during the holidays, prepare in advance. There’s no need to run around on Christmas trying to cook, clean, and get things together for guests. A few days prior to the holiday, put out extra towels, bedding, and anything else your guests may need. If you have enough time, use these tips to set up a great guest room.

6. Bake, bake, bake: A night or two before Christmas, get all your baking done. It’s a fun activity to do with your family and you’ll take care of something else on your to-do list.

7. Deep clean your home: A clean home is a happy home, especially during the holidays. Clean your home a few days before Christmas. A mess may ensue during the holiday but at least the meticulous cleaning job is done.

8. Set the table: Don’t set your table in a hurry. Take some time to make it beautiful. Set up a runner, put out candles, and add a festive centerpiece.

9. Set out seating: If your home doesn’t have the capacity to hold all your guests, make arrangements in advance. Borrow or rent extra tables and chairs so there is room for everyone and everything.

10. Burn candles: There is nothing like the fresh scent of a Christmas candle. Light a few before your guests arrive to help make your home look and smell beautiful.

If you do one small thing each day before Christmas, your home will be prepared for the actual day. As a host, you will be able to enjoy the holiday more knowing everything is taken care of.

 

Recommended Reading:

-How to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

-5 Ways to Reconnect this Holiday Season

-Winter is Coming: How to Prep Your Home for Winter

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At Home Magazine: How to Install Flooring

December 12, 2014 By

Laminated planks offer the look of wood or stone, but they provide greater durability and convenience. Looking to make a few renovations this winter? You can install flooring using these simple steps.

1. Allow flooring to acclimate to the room. It should sit for at least 48 hours prior to installation in order to contract or expand in relation to room’s temperature.

2. Remove existing base molding and flooring. Save molding to reinstall at the end of the project.

3. Install foam underlayment, ensuring the surface is clear of staples and nails from old flooring.

4. Plan your layout.

5. Measure and cut your first piece.

6. Install the first row with the tongue side facing the wall, cutting the tongue edge off of these planks.

7. Connect planks to each other using the tongue and groove.

8. Allow for expansion; leave a one-quarter-inch gap between the planks and the wall.

9. Cut the last plank to length.

10. Install additional rows, allowing at least 12 inches between the seams of adjoining rows.

11. Install the last row.

12. Cut around door casings using a jamb saw.

13. Reinstall base moldings. Install shoe moldings over expansion joints, caulking around the perimeter before installing if in a bathroom. Use transition strips to connect the laminate floor to adjoining surfaces, such as carpet.

Voila! Enjoy your new floor (and the fact that you saved money by doing it yourself)

Recommended Reading:

-Old to New: Tips for Rearranging Your Furniture

-6 Inexpensive Remodeling Ideas for Your Home

-Ask Our Expert: Budget Friendly Bathroom Update

-Done in One Hour: How to Install a Faucet

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Snow Safety for the Home

December 4, 2014 By

When the winter months hit, one thing is guaranteed — snow. A wintery white wonderland laid out on your lawn is a beautiful sight — when you’re cozy and safe inside your home.

However, snow can be very dangerous when it’s not handled properly. Here are three ways to help keep your family, and your home, safe this season.

1. Prep beforehand: It’s always best to be prepared when you know there is a snowstorm coming. Have an emergency kit, snow removal tools, and flashlights on hand because once the storm hits you won’t be able to leave the house to acquire these items.

2. Remove snow from entryways first: When you go outside to shovel, be sure to remove snow from basement stairwells, windows, and walls first. Getting the snow out of these places quickly will prevent the snow from entering your home when it melts.

3. Pay attention to where snow accumulates: If snow is building up on the lower part of your roof, be weary of removing it. When you’re removing snow from a higher level, it can cause damage to you and your home. If there is too much snow, or you are worried for your safety, call a professional for help.

Now that you know these snow safety precautions, enjoy the weather. Go sledding in the backyard or curl up by the fire with hot chocolate and a good book.

Recommended Reading:

-Fall into Fall: 5 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall

-Cents and Sensibility: 5 Mistakes that Could Decrease Your Home’s Value

-Things Your Inspector Missed That You Could Still Catch

 

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Snow Safety for the Home

December 4, 2014 By

When the winter months hit, one thing is guaranteed — snow. A wintery white wonderland laid out on your lawn is a beautiful sight — when you’re cozy and safe inside your home.

However, snow can be very dangerous when it’s not handled properly. Here are three ways to help keep your family, and your home, safe this season.

1. Prep beforehand: It’s always best to be prepared when you know there is a snowstorm coming. Have an emergency kit, snow removal tools, and flashlights on hand because once the storm hits you won’t be able to leave the house to acquire these items.

2. Remove snow from entryways first: When you go outside to shovel, be sure to remove snow from basement stairwells, windows, and walls first. Getting the snow out of these places quickly will prevent the snow from entering your home when it melts.

3. Pay attention to where snow accumulates: If snow is building up on the lower part of your roof, be weary of removing it. When you’re removing snow from a higher level, it can cause damage to you and your home. If there is too much snow, or you are worried for your safety, call a professional for help.

Now that you know these snow safety precautions, enjoy the weather. Go sledding in the backyard or curl up by the fire with hot chocolate and a good book.

Recommended Reading:

-Fall into Fall: 5 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall

-Cents and Sensibility: 5 Mistakes that Could Decrease Your Home’s Value

-Things Your Inspector Missed That You Could Still Catch

 

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