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      CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty - SMARTER. BOLDER. FASTER.

      You are here: Home / Archives for home improvements

      Bring on the Patterns: How to Combine Designs with Confidence

      October 31, 2014 By CENTURY 21

      Usually when it comes to options, more is better, but that may not be how you feel when you get to a home decor store. There is an overwhelming number of fabric, color, and style options. Don’t worry. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that even the pros use formulas to create the styled rooms we all love. Use these tips and techniques to create a home you’ll love.

      Adopt the Rule of One: One floral, one stripe, one check, and so on. Use this approach to limit your selection to no more than one of each so that you won’t have to worry about similar patterns clashing. Create a cohesive design by selecting similarly colored detail pieces like throw blankets, pillows and vases.

      Start Small: If you’re uneasy about decorating with a large-scale or dominant pattern, use it in small doses. Decorative pillows are a great way to introduce patterns into your space without needing to make a big change.

      Live Large: The larger the room, the bolder your use of patterns can be. To create a more intimate feeling in a big space, repeat a pattern or two. For example, use the fabric from window treatments on a chair cushion.

      Give Texture a Try: Not into big blooms and colorful stripes? Create an alluring room by combining textures like hard wood and rugs and fabric in a variety of textures.

      We hope that these tips help you create a beautifully decorated home. We’d love to know your tips for combining patterns and designs. Connect with us on Twitter and share your advice!

       

      Recommended Reading:

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

      -10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Appear Larger

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

       

      Syndicated via Century 21 Blog. Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/century21/wAvv/~3/KcArNlmPDZw/

      Filed Under: Agents, decor, design, Home, home improvements, patterns

      Ask Our Expert: Christopher Lowell’s Advice for DIY Curtains

      August 20, 2014 By CENTURY 21

       

      Custom curtains are so costly. Got any good tips for do-it-yourselfers?

      —Sara Boling CENTURY 21 Boling & Associates, Inc. Myrtle Beach, SC

      New window treatments can offer a whole new look that will re-theme any space with a brand new attitude. And yes, you can do it yourself! My top three rules for success:

      • When choosing drapery fabrics, keep them solid or texture-driven but pattern-free. Pattern is the first thing to date a room and can easily overwhelm or compete with the rest of the room’s decor.

      • When in doubt, keep it simple. Straight, well-constructed panels are often enough.

      • Mount your rods as high to the ceiling as possible. Then extend them at least a foot past the casings on both sides. This will prevent the curtains from shrouding the window and make the room seem bigger.

      The layered look can save money by helping reduce heating and cooling bills. Here’s how to do it:

      • Use great fabric panels for the look only—meaning they remain stationary.

      • Inside the window casings, add coordinating woven, cellular shades or blinds to handle light and privacy issues. This way you protect your fragile fabrics from repeated open-and-close usage, letting the inside shades do all the heavy lifting.

      • Don’t worry about lining the curtains (which is good for the budget-minded), but be sure to weight them so they hang properly.

      CHRISTOPHER LOWELL, an Emmy Award-winning interior designer and TV host, is known for doable design advice that nets stunning results.

      Recommended Reading:

      -How to Style a Gallery Wall

      -How to Style Your Home on a Budget

      -A Day in the Garden: Paint Palette

      -How to Style a Bookshelf

      Syndicated via Century 21 Blog. Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/century21/wAvv/~3/ww5VeCo6oXQ/

      Filed Under: curtains, DIY, home décor, home design, home improvements, Sellers

      Be My Guest: How to Style a Guest Room

      July 23, 2014 By CENTURY 21

      Hosting friends and family members means that you get to spend quality time with people you love. Make your guests feel at home.

      These tips will help you style a guest room that they will love (yes, even your in-laws).

      Minimal Style: Your guests may have different home decor preferences than you. We recommend choosing a soothing color scheme for paint, bedding, and furniture. Neutral paint colors will create a soothing space.

      Comfortable Bedding: A bed is a focal point of any bedroom and it is essential for getting a good night’s sleep and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Some people prefer hard pillows and mattresses and some prefer softer. We recommend choosing ones that offer medium support so that guests at either end of the preference spectrum will be comfortable. Once you’ve chosen a mattress and pillows, make the bed with soft bedding that your guests will love to sink into at the end of a long day.

      Nightstand: Stock the nightstand with essentials that your guest may need during his or her stay. If you have makeup, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and soap samples, put them in a small makeup pouch for your guest to use if they accidently left anything at home. If you don’t have samples you can place full size bottles in the bathroom for them to use as they get ready. Keep a few books on the nightstand in case they want to read before bed but didn’t pack a book. You may want to add extras like fresh flowers, a candle, and an alarm clock.

      Closet and Dresser: If you have space for a dresser, add one to the room so that your guests can unpack and organize their clothes and essentials. Stock the closet with a few hangers.

      Towels: Place towels on the bed so your guests have something to use when they get ready.

      These guest room essentials will ensure that your guests have a comfortable stay when they come to visit.

      Recommended Reading:

      -Serene Spaces: 5 Tips for Creating a Calm Bedroom

      -5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

      -Sweet Dreams are Made of These: How to Style a Bed

      -How to Style a Nightstand

      -10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

       

      Syndicated via Century 21 Blog. Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/century21/wAvv/~3/veK9hfWKlFo/

      Filed Under: bedroom, DIY, guest, home décor, home improvements, house, room

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