Author Archives: creatingyourspace

The ABC’s of Design | I-L

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Noting and following the prior elements that we mentioned to use in your design will help set you up for success. To continue the trend and add to the list of must-have ideas, here are some more ABC rules and guidelines when tackling a design project.

I | Innovation

Design is ever changing; throughout the decades, trends have come and gone.  While some designs have proven to be timeless additions to homes, whereas the more “trendy” pieces have cycled through the years and become remastered.  Being innovative in your designing is essential.  Never limit yourself but allow the unexpected.  New, innovations always catch people’s attention.  Designing your space with unique, artsy, and innovated styles can really be a game changer in your design.  Staying up on industry trends, fashions, and contemporary designs can allow you to stay ahead of the curb in the design world, but remember, design is always changing! Adaption can be helpful.

J | Journey

Never rush the process.  So many times, people will choose the quicker or less expensive option of flooring, furniture, or other home improvement items.  Making the right decision can sometimes mean making an investment.  Designing your home can be a journey.  Do not find yourself buying quantity over quality. You will find yourself continually rebuying goods that cannot hold up to everyday wear and tear.   Decide what investments are worth and the longevity of every product you bring into your home.

K | Knowledge

Interior design is not only an art but a science.  Educating yourself is key to becoming better at interior designing.  When you first go to an art gallery, the first picture may be breathtaking, but as you progress your journey throughout the gallery, you may quickly find a new favorite.  The more you research and learn about different styles, genres, and themes in interior design, the more you can tailor your home to the best style suited for you.  Maybe you love one method, but as you deep dive more you discover subcategories which steal your heart even more.  Never neglect to add to your overall knowledge when interior designing.

L | Lighting

Lighting is essential to making your home.  Windows add light to rooms and allow rooms to feel more significant; therefore, light colors are great to add in smaller spaces to let light flow more freely throughout the space.  Light can strongly enhance the overall feel, appearance, and size of your room.  There are at least three categories of lighting you should be incorporating into your home.  Your ambient lighting should be used to give overall coverage to your room.  This is you light which allows you to navigate throughout your home and can be a chandelier, overhead light fixture, or a light rail.  Your second type of lighting is your accent lighting.  This lighting is typically used to evoke someone’s eyes towards a focal point of another point of interest in the room.  Accent lighting can be spotlighted on artwork or even be lighting behind an entertainment center to give it a 3D pop.  Lastly, you want to embrace task lighting.   Task lighting is the light you use for performing different endeavors in your home.  This could be a nightlight to read or lights under your kitchen cabinets to help brighten up as you cut your food.

As you can see the more you know, the stronger your design game becomes. Do not rush the process but learn and grow through your journey of designing. An element as simple as lighting has so much to offer to a space. Never limit your knowledge but allow yourself to have the strongest understanding of design when you start customizing your home.

For more design inspiration, be sure to read The ABC’s of Design | M-P.

The ABC’s of Design | E-H

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Learning different tricks and tips to use in your design theme is essential. Check out these different ABC methods to try using in your home for a more personal experience with your design. Let’s take a look!
E | Engagement
Your design should go beyond the visual appearance.  Your atmosphere’s level of engagement can quickly influence how you or your guests feel in a home.  Think of all your senses.  Your home should have textures to help engage with your sense of touch. Candles and scents are strong attributes to add to your home which can also help with the level of engagement for your company.  You can even think of how one engages with sound.  How noisy an atmosphere is can put a negative connotation on the room’s vibe.  Muting unwanted sounds and adding your own sounds like music, fountains, or even television is an engagement tool that makes your design more interactive and appealing.
F | Focal Point
Adding a focal point is a great tool to use to keep your room’s theme guided.  If you make a bold wall, fireplace mantel, or a painting your focal point, you always have a reference point to look towards when adding more decor to the room.  Focal points give a spotlight on something specific in your room.  Try to pick a focal point that makes sense with the functionality of the room and allows decor to be complimentary.
G | Geometry
Sometimes, you are limited by the blueprint and layout of your home.  Understanding the geometrical layout of your space can give you a leading step on design.  Different design themes work best with hard, sleek angles, whereas other styles may work better with rounded, soft edges.  Your room’s layout, doorways, and windows can give you a leading step towards which path may be best for your design route.
H | Hygge
This Danish word is how your atmosphere sets a mood for comfort.  Your home’s coziness and comfort can reflect into your own well-being.  Mastering hygge in your home is an effective way to help focus on the simple things in life.  Not thriving for elegance, but allowing the simple things like a cozy fire, quality-time with your loved ones, and a warm blanket is a key part to mastering this technique in your home.
These elements of design can help you achieve more harmony with your home. Giving your home the power to set a mood is optimal for design. Do not limit your design to just sight but allow your other senses to enjoy the experience as well.
Be sure to check back next week for The ABC’s of Design: I-L.

The ABC’s of Design | A-D

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There are a variety of things to learn about interior design and the many skills that come with making a home just right.  We made a simple ABC formula of rules and guidelines to help assist you on your journey of creating your perfect home. Let’s take a look!

A | Aesthetics

Your primary purpose in a designing your space should be creating an aesthetically pleasing environment.  Your room’s aesthetics is how you and others visually perceive your space’s look.  There are underlining philosophical characteristics which concern how people interpret a room’s beauty, artistic styles, and even as far as the mood the room sets.  Some of these rules below are some strong characteristics which help encapsulate your room’s overall aesthetic appeal. 

B | Balance

There are three main types of balances incorporated into interior design.  The first is a formal or symmetrical style of balance.  Rooms that are a “mirror image of each side of the room” use this design principle.  Informal or asymmetrical balance is rooms utilizing the freedom of not corresponding furniture or design.  This allows a room to use different contemporary furnishings, diagonal floor patterns, and noncorresponding decor.  The thirds style is radial, which is usually the least common in residential design.  This is where the room’s focal point is centered in the room and the room mirrors around this midpoint.  This can be used in a room with a round table in the dining rooms or a classic circular fire pit installed in your backyard.

C | Cool Tones

Colors can influence how a room feels.  Cooler tones like blues, greens, and purples can give a room a more laid-back, relaxing feel, whereas reds, oranges, and yellows are known to provide a cozy, warm look. Using colors in your design will help govern the way a room portrays itself.  

D | Decor

Using decor is a powerful tool to use to help strengthen your room’s theme.  Finding pictures, ornamentations, and themed furnishing can quickly give your room a sense of unity.  Decor is a way to make sure that no part of your room lags your theme.  With endless options of decor to add to your home, this is one of the most powerful tools you can use to add customization and personality to your home.

These simple but influential tactics can help you with your next design project.  Do not be intimidated by expressing yourself through design.  The more you know, the more you can use to influence the style of your home. Check out part two to find out more ways to incorporate design tactics in your home.

Spatial Design Awareness

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Today, we are going to discuss spatial design, which refers to an object’s relation to space. If your memory suits, you may be able to remember the way an existing room is laid out and how much space is taken up by design elements. Successful interior designers and architects have this quality down pat and use this technique every day! We understand that you may not be a designer or architect by trade, but the use of the word “spatial” will come up time and time again while designing, and your understanding of it helps with your grasp of interior design.

Spatial awareness is to understand the dimensions of a room, inside or outside. The size of the room will determine the size of the furniture used and where it is placed. A large room, 17 x 20, is defined by its function and the function of a large room is what you put in it. In essence, you will want to buy furnishings according to the scale of the room. You can play with patterns and a lot of texture in a large room. Smaller rooms will require much more thought and consideration. Below we have listed some tips and tricks for maximizing rooms that are smaller in size: 

  • Use a single, preferred color and use the variations and shades from this color throughout the space. A lot of colors throughout a space can weigh down the overall design. Building off of one color in a variety of shades can help create definition without being too demanding. 
  • Keep in mind; you will want to add more texture than patterns in a smaller room. Multiple patterns can feel overwhelming to the eyes, whereas texture still creates depth and definition without being overbearing. 
  • Invest in wall sconce light fixtures that fit close to the ceiling. In smaller rooms, you do not necessarily want to hang lights from the ceiling. This concept will interfere with the spatial flow of your design. 
  • Make sure that you use more than one floor lamp and direct the light towards the ceiling for a greater sense of height. Visually, this will help open up your space. 
  • Use a lighter paint color on the ceiling with a darker shade for the walls. This is another visual trick for creating more “space” in a small room. 
  • If you are using draperies, hang them from the ceiling and let them go all the way to the floor. If you want to maximize the space, you can hang blinds.
  • For seating arrangements, use only one medium-sized sofa with a couple of side accent chairs. This will help create a conversational flow without creating bulky barriers.
  • Always hang mirrors to reflect artificial and natural light from outside. 
  • For artwork, use vertical and horizontal pictures that are on the slim side. This will help to make the wall look longer than it actually is on paper.

Which spatial design tip was your favorite? Do you lend yourself more towards one concept or idea? In the comment section below, we would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading and be sure to check back weekly at From The Floors Up for more expert tips and tricks. 

Informal Balance

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Consider all the components that go into a well-designed room.  It may start with a solid and functional architectural base, followed by a theme or design to give the room purpose.  You then can amp the room’s feel with your desired flooring, paints, and lighting options.  Decor can also go a long way.  A room should flow properly and feel unified; however, symmetry is not always an absolute in design.  A critical component to creating your space is allowing the power of asymmetrical landscapes and design help build an essential part of your home’s character. Here are some of the top key reasons why asymmetry is crucial to ironically giving a room a finished and balanced feel. Let’s take a look!
 
  • Apples to Apples
Balance has three types: symmetrical which focuses on replication and exact mirror imaging of the room, asymmetrical balance allows for the room to feel free-flowing and unique, and lastly, a radial balance which works from a focal point outwards on the design theme always referencing to the middle being the balance point.  You do not need to always balance a room, comparing apples to apples.  Most rooms do not have an exact mirror image of themselves when you cut them in half.  Windows, walls, and doorways can quickly make symmetrical design challenging and hard to keep functional.  When you embrace informal balance, also known as asymmetrical balance, you will notice that the room will have more visual interest.  You stray from monotony and patterns and allow for a more engaging experience.
 
  • Never Forced
Too often people force symmetry in a room that is begging for more freedom and difference.  Straying from the typical optical balance of a room allows you to focus more on functionality.  When you do not have to mirror image the other side of your space, you can also allow for more expression in furnishings.  Consider a symmetrical living room.  Perfect symmetry will have two of the same couches facing inwards, identical night stands, and a lot of identical decor.  When you allow informal balance to be part of your design, you give the freedom of adding more diverse pieces of furniture to help enhance your theme!
 
  • Cut Your Room How You Want
Informal balance can allow you to think outside the box.  Whereas, in more formally balanced design, you are stuck focusing on the blueprint of where windows, doors, and mantles are located, you now have the freedom to cut your room how you desire.  Do not focus of making your always facing a focal point; work angles, add character, be creative!  With the freedom of asymmetrical design, you are always welcome to recreate and redesign your room’s flow.  Contemporary paint designs without borders, herringboned floors, expressive light fixtures, all can be used to help amp up your space.
 
Informal Balance is a principle of interior design that many beginners overlook.  Unity does not equal balance; less can be more and functionality outweighs fashion.  Interior design has so many guidelines and principles which can seem overwhelming at first, but they truly can transform you home.  Learning these tips and tricks can help you develop your dream home tastefully and in style! 

Borrowing from The Best

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You have probably heard the terms interior designer and interior decorator interchanged, but what really separates the two genres of careers?  Interior designers must have a vast understanding of all fields including architecture, design, and psychological knowledge of different cultures and styles.  Interior decorators are based on the aesthetics of the atmosphere and how it makes the space feel, whereas interior designers need to worry more about functionality and flow of the space.  Understanding the differences between both fields and how to borrow their styles and incorporate it in your own home is a powerful tool.  Here are three easy techniques to use from each career field to help you design your own home. Let’s take a look! 
 
  • Design Themes and Colors
Designers have a vast understanding of diverse design styles, themes, and colors.  They can take the influence of an urban neighborhood to amplify the design of an industrial-themed space or likewise make a country home rustic-themed.  Different styles and techniques are applied to make a room feel well-rounded, balanced, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.  For example, the rule of 60-30-10 is a guideline many designers use in determining a room’s color scheme.  This rule suggests that the most balanced color is with sixty percent being a primary color to the room, thirty percent is a secondary color, and the remaining ten percent being an accent color.
 
  • Decorating 
Decorating is a blend of fashion, aesthetics, and colors that can help influence how a room portrays itself.  Different decor pieces can be used to enhance a look you are going for in the space.  Decorators use a trick called the “Rule of Threes” when decorating a home.  This principle implies that decor looks better in odd-number groupings, preferably three and insinuating the outline of a triangle.  Using tricks like this throughout your space is a perfect home remedy for decorating display shelves and cabinets.
 
  • Functionality
Both designers and decorators know the importance of functionality.  While architects make the blueprint and layouts of the home, it is essential to keep the room functional.  If a room is circular, roundtables may be the route to go to prevent unwanted loss-of-space.  A room should always be easy to navigate and never confusing; think of pathways and accessibility when decorating and designing. 
 
Using these general but helpful tools in your own space is the perfect way to imitate a designer and decorator.  While both designers and decorators have a whole arsenal of tricks to use, these are some good general guidelines to help you with your own home. For more great tips and tricks, visit us at From The Floors Up. As always, thanks for reading! 

Pastels

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When it comes to design tones, there are warm, cool, and neutrals tones. These tones originally were used to indicate skin tones.  Warm hues to the skin like red indicate a warmth in the body, whereas a blue tint to the skin could depict a colder body temperature.  Today in design, these tones can set the mood of a room.  Reds, oranges, and yellows are considered warm tones, and they are incorporated in rooms to enhance the energy.   Cool tones like blues, greens, and purples are used to set a more tranquil, relaxed atmosphere.  Neutrals are perfect because they do not favor towards either warm or cool tones and can be used with either or by themselves; however, a neat look that is making a comeback in the design world are pastel-colored accents. Here are three reasons pastel colors are perfect to add to your home:
 
  • Neutral Accents
Pastel colors can act as a neutral accent.  If you want to add reds, greens, blues, and oranges to a Scandinavian or modern design room, it can quickly look disheveled and thoughtless.  Pastel tones allow colors to be used to liven the room yet can stay subtle enough not to influence a warm or cool tone atmosphere. Adding pastel throw pillows, rugs, and curtains can make a room feel more lively and energetic without changing the room’s intended feel.
  • Soothing Approach
Pastel colors are also great for being a subtler approach to strong, harsh bold colors. A bright red wall can quickly become a rooms focal point, but change that wall to a pastel pink, and it transforms into an accent, complimentary wall to your space.  A fun splash of pastel colors in any room can help brighten up the space without seeming overwhelming.
  • Hard Contrast
Pastel colors can also strengthen bolder colors in the room. A pastel robin’s egg blue wall with a bold sapphire stripe will pop very dramatically.  Pastel colors can also allow true whites and blacks to appear as harder contrast. White shelving or a black bookshelf against a pastel wall can make a strong statement in a room.
 
Adding pastel to your rooms color palette is a great way to enhance your design style.  Consider the benefits of applying pastel colors to your home and decide it is right for you. For more tips, visit us at From The Floors Up. 

Why Blue?

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Interior designers are always looking for ways to change how a room feels and flows. With so many outlets for themes and styles, there are endless possibilities for designing your space. Colors are one of the most powerful influencers when it comes to setting the tone and mood for a room. One primary color that designers love to incorporate is blue. This tranquil color can really give a room a relaxed, passive vibe throughout it. Here are our top three reasons why you should consider using blue in your next room design:
 
  • Relaxed Atmosphere
Blue is the perfect color to use to set the mood for a peaceful environment. This color has a calm nature which can help the room feel more opened and tranquil. With so many shades available, such as sapphire, royal blue, navy, robin’s egg, Prussian blue, azure, and more, this color has a broad spectrum of tones and hues to choose from for your room. 
  • Cool Tone
This calming tone is perfect for transforming a room into a cooler toned atmosphere. Using blue with other cool tones or neutral colors can help obtain a more secure feeling atmosphere as well. This color can go great in a boy’s room, living room, or any room that you are looking to make a relaxing environment. Blue does not have to be used in only boy’s rooms though because it has an equal appeal to both genders. Using blue in a girl’s room as well can add character to the overall atmosphere.
  • Trustworthy
Blue is used in many commercial and residential designs today. This trustworthy color has passed the test of time and proved itself loyal in enhancing homes. Blue is known as the color of loyalty, belonging, generosity, and passivity. Using this color is a robust way to help make a powerful statement in your space and create the vibe you want. 
 
Adding blue to your space would make a significant home improvement. Blue is one of the primary colors that always stands out and transforms the design of a room. If you feel like life is too fast-paced, and you need a place to relax, add blue to help you reconnect with your home and unwind. For more great tips and tricks, visit us at From The Floors Up. 

Design Styles That Stood The Test of Time

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In today’s broad spectrum of design themes and ideas, it is no surprise that most of their roots have been inspired and transformed throughout history. Interior design is an ever-changing approach to incorporate functionality, aesthetics, purpose, and detail into a space. Through the centuries, old design themes have dynamically morphed into more contemporary and modern designs while still paying respect to there predecessors. Here are four longstanding style designs that have survived the test of time and are even a go-to in many design themes today. Let’s take a look!

  • Shiplap

Shiplap was an old method that shipbuilders would use when constructing a boat. By overlapping boards with one another, it helped prevent water from entering the vessel. Today, this has made its way into some of today most popular design themes. Shiplap looks great on walls and ceilings. It gives a room a unique rustic appeal and is a great option to make bare walls strong, bold focal points.

  • Brick

Brick has been dated back as far as Jericho in 8000 B.C. While there are many different variations of bricks used today, brick can add bold character to a home. Brick is a multifunctional renovation to add to your house because it can encapsulate a natural outdoor feel while also feeling modern and urban. With so many design, textures, and colors, this is a customizable fantasy that designers love adding to their interior design. Make a strong urban accent wall or historically-rich nostalgic entryway through the use of timeless brick. Using brick on the floors, walls, and ceiling can help transform your space into many different themes and strengthen the overall atmosphere.

  • Exposed Woods

Exposed wooden beams on the ceiling and walls really showcase the architecture of your home. While this design faded away, it made a strong comeback over the last century by adding more character to the room. Industrial, Rustic, Mediterranean, French, and Country style themes all know the importance of exposing timber throughout the home. Raw nature is always the purest way of adding beauty to your home. Using exposed beams add a visually-appealing aesthetic to a space that is ideal for a fresh, carefree ambiance.

  • Edison Bulbs

This antique, decorative light bulb can add a great look to your home. With its yellow blanketing, soft glow illuminating your home, these will make a great addition to any room. These light bulbs may be little but can make a powerful statement in your home and help push your design to the next level. Never underestimate the power that light can have on the ambiance of your space. Consider adding Edison Bulbs to a home to give a more antique look.

When it comes to the test of time, these timeless design amenities will transform your home. From the floor up to the ceiling, design is a way of expressing yourself. Consider these beautiful elements to help make your home feel more personalized and expressive to you while giving respect to the past. For more great tips and tricks, visit us at From The Floors Up.

Farmhouse Style

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Personalization is one of the best parts of designing your space. You can create your home featuring many different aspects including pieces from contemporary art, eclectic colors, or even a simple rustic design. Letting your living environment influence your design is another creative way of developing your design theme. Urban and industrial designs work great in city lofts and other more city-based areas; however, if you are living in the country, embracing farmhouse decorating is a great way to have your environment blend with your natural surroundings to create a beautiful, welcoming environment. Here are four great ways to add Farmhouse Design in your own home to give it a more natural, countryside appeal:
 
Rustic Design
Rustic design is perfect because of its simplistic design elements and its effortless ability to blend with nature. Adding exposed wooden beams, shiplap, bricks, stones and other features from the outdoors is a great way to add character to your farmhouse decor. Distressed furniture and leathers also can strongly influence the Rustic Style design.
 
Warmth and Hygge
Hygge is the quality of coziness your home portrays. It is not necessarily through just furnishing but a statement of peace and contentment in your home. A rustic design will have a neutral, earthy color palette, but do not limit yourself to bring warm color tones from the earth; consider using your accent pieces as earthy tones and incorporating bright whites to keep the room feeling open and free. Add autumn colors like reds, oranges, and yellows to bring warmth to your space, or capture a more tranquil environment by including forest greens and river blues.
 
Countryside Décor
Encapsulate the beauty of the countryside by adding farm décor. Pitchforks, hay, barn doors, and even pales can add to your home’s theme. Gallery walls are also great add-ons for rooms to make a distinctive focal point. Less is more in most rustic designs, but in farmhouse style, use the appropriate amount of décor to make the space feel lived-in and homey like an actual farm. 
 
Functionality is always critical to any design, but comfort, warmth, and a welcoming environment take precedence in this homey country-style living. Remember to keep your space balance with the right amount of décor and comfort. Smaller elements like candles and home-cooked meals add to this welcoming style. Incorporate aspects of Hygge to create that lovely warm and comfortable styled Farmhouse. 
 
We hope you enjoyed! Be sure to check out our other posts at From The Floors Up.