From the Floors Up

A Zen-Inspired Design

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Zen is the philosophy of encapsulating the peace found in nature and bringing it into your home. While this minimalistic style is visually aesthetic, it also can create the perfect relaxing environment. When you think of a Zen-inspired atmosphere, you probably envision a spa. With some simple tricks, you can capture this peace and relaxation and put it into your own home. Zen is the structure of tranquility in a home, so here are several ways to help create this feeling in your own home:

Flow

To create flow in your atmosphere, you will need to make a less obtrusive environment. This reason is why most Zen designs are very minimalistic. Doorways are an extremely vital aspect of allowing energy to travel between the rooms. A good Zen atmosphere will let doors be unobstructed. It does not take much décor to help create this flow. Try to stick to a very nature-influenced design.

Natural Elements

When adding elements of nature, try to add stones, water, bamboo, and candles. Even scents and aromas can have an impact on mellowing out the atmosphere. A truly Zen-inspired design has peace at its core. Try to involve all the senses from music to the warmth of the room. All these small details can allow your atmosphere to feel authentic.

Reflection

Have an area to reflect and relax. Some individuals will allow this spot to be outdoors since natural elements have some considerable influences on the design. You can create this by making a Zen Garden. Most Zen gardens will have simple seating to reflect. Plus, they incorporate running water as well as stones. Creating this tranquil garden outside your home is a great way to capture the values of Zen.

Zen takes the elements found in nature and emphasizes them in helping you find peace. Therefore, make sure to incorporate nature into your design. Peace can be found through your color choices, fragrances, space, and lighting. Allow minimalism to work its magic in your home by giving everything more meaning. Remember, the less you use, the more impactful the object you do choose can have.

Save Space with Loft Beds

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Remodeling a room can be a daunting task, mentally and financially. Sometimes, your creativity can be limited by the size of the room and your budget. If you are running out of space in your home, adding a loft bed may be the perfect practical solution. In fact, loft beds are great for adding extra space to smaller rooms by taking your bed off the ground.

Whether you are in a studio with limited space or renovating a room in your home, loft beds can optimize your restricted floor space. Like a bunk bed, loft beds are designed to allow you to have space underneath your bed. It may sound cliché, but loft beds do not use up your room’s square footage by enabling you to facilitate the room’s height for space. With the space under your loft bed, you can incorporate tons of different room uses. Whether you purchase your loft bed or decide to build your own, here are four ways you can use your loft bed to add more to your room:

Storage

When you think storage, you probably are considering some generic shelving, but you can add so much more design to this storage. Perhaps you can add a bookshelf with display items and your favorite novels underneath your new loft. Treat the loft as a separate entity of the house, and if you build your own, install decorative cabinetry below the loft bed. You can even make your loft bed over the main entrance to the room and decorate it to make it a clever vestibule.

Closet

Instead of just hanging a bar below your loft for clothes, consider installing a walk-in closet below your loft bed. You can have departments for your shoes to be stored and areas to hang clothes. You may want to place a stool in there to use when putting on your shoes. Hanging a mirror underneath can make your new closet space feel like a more welcoming changing room to get ready for your day. Also, placing a vanity underneath your loft will allow you to use your new space more, just remember to install efficient lighting.

Sitting Area

Placing a futon underneath can be a great way to turn this space into a sitting area. Add seating with built-in storage compartments is an excellent opportunity to capitalize on your allotted space. Plus, having furniture that can easily tuck away or work as multipurpose storage can allow you to get the most out of your room. While seating areas can feel like a quaint home remedy, try to make a seating area that you will want to continue to use by having a television or another reason to draw you back. If you are in a studio, you may wish to have your living room couch underneath your loft bed or a table. By adding a table, you can allow this sitting area to be your main area for dining. The possibilities are endless when using a loft bed.

Office

Turn your guestroom into a multifunction office by using a loft bed. Some loft beds are predesigned for this exact purpose. Simply install your desk and computer beneath your loft to give your office some privacy. Just be original with your office; you can have your computer against the wall or even set up a desk for face-to-face interactions with clients. With added storage compartments, you can tuck away different components to your computer for a much cleaner, minimalist setup.

Being confined or limited by the amount of space your home has can be quite tricky for designing a room. Think outside the box by adding a loft bed and freeing up some space. Whether adding an office or a walk-in closet, the space you save with a loft bed can make a significant impact on your home. In fact, studios have been incorporating this design for years. Lofts bed can be out in the open but still provide privacy with their height. If you feel limited on space, considering adding a loft bed to your home.

Decorating Do’s and Don’ts for Your Apartment Walls

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Getting a new apartment can be exciting! You have a fresh start and the ability to fill your space with your own furniture and belongings. However, many apartments have rules and regulations on what you can do. Since walls are in every room, they . can be a quick way to express yourself. However, your landlord probably will not be happy if you use them as your canvas and graffiti all over them. But this does not mean you cannot decorate your walls. To help you let your creativity flow, here are several do’s and don’ts to decorating your apartment walls the safe way:

Do Not: Paint

Paint is one of the quickest and most effective ways to transform the feel of a room. However, many leases will forbid you from painting the walls. This means you will most likely have neutral colored walls with little to no color.

Do: Pictures or Gallery Wall

Instead of painting, consider adding pictures. Pictures are worth a thousand words, and this is a sure way to make your home feel tailored to you. You can even make a gallery wall of a collection of all your favorite pictures in all shapes and sizes.

Do Not: Wallpaper

Wallpaper has come back into style, and many homeowners love adding this stylish design to their homes. Unfortunately, wallpaper is hung with adhesive being applied to the walls. This adhesiveness will most likely be difficult to remove without leaving a sticky residue and lead to getting charged later.

Do: Tapestry

Instead of wallpaper, consider hanging wall tapestry. There are many designs and patterns available that can still give your room the flair that you are looking for in your home.

Do Not: Backsplash

Backsplashes are gorgeous as well as functional. Nevertheless, if your bathroom or kitchen did not come with one, it is not worth the investment. Investing in a tile project can be something you save for your own home later!

Do: Wall Décor

Consider adding some wall décor. Three-dimensional wall art can give your room character as well as adding depth to your space. There are hundreds of genres of wall décor to choose from, ranging from rustic to modern and even more!

To go above and beyond, make sure you touch up your walls when your lease has ended. You do not want to get gouged with an expensive fee for putting holes in the walls to hang pictures. Plus, this step can be a quick and inexpensive process.

In the end, just remember to use your walls to express yourself in your home. Do not let the fact that your leasing stop you from being creative!

Three Weekend Projects to Increase Your Curb Appeal

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In today’s chaotic and busy society, it can be challenging to set aside time for home projects. We avoid starting projects that we cannot finish. However, not all home projects take months to complete. In fact, we put together some easy-to-complete weekend projects. With the right task and a focused mindset, you can spruce up your home simply over the weekend. Here are our top picks to tackle this weekend on your home:

Painting Your Front Door

Your front door’s appearance can make or break your curb appeal. Painting your front door can take a couple of hours, but the bold statement it can make is well worth it. Consider applying primary colors to make a strong statement like blue, yellow, or red. These can really stand out and transform the look of your home.

Build a Fire Pit

This outdoor remedy is cost-friendly and can be very rewarding. Simply add a fire pit to your yard. Dig an area and build a stone pit around it. This cozy area can make your yard feel more welcoming. With a couple of bench seats or chairs, you can turn an empty area in your yard to a summer night hang out for you and your friends and family!

DIY Dutch Door

This project is a great home renovation for families with young pets or children. A Dutch door is a door that is horizontally cut in half. You will need to relocate your hinges and buy another set to secure the top. First, make sure your door is solid wood. Cutting hollow doors can leave unfinished, awkward seam points. Be very accurate with your cut. This project can be great to allow you to keep an eye on your children or pets in a room while they cannot escape.

These simple weekend projects are affordable and time friendly. Try doing some of these this weekend. There is no greater feeling of accomplishment than a fun DIY project in your own home. We would love to hear from you. Comment below what are weekend projects you suggest.

Understanding Colors & Their Influence on Your Design

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Colors can be very impactful in an environment. We use color to add character to a space. From warm and cool tones, every color can help change the overall feeling of your home. Trying to find the perfect blend of colors to complement each other can be tricky at first, but understanding some basic tricks can help you master the skill. Today, we look at some of the simple aspects of color and how you can use them in your design. Knowing these can better help you facilitate different colors in your home. Let’s get started!

Tones

There are three types of tones that can be used in a room. You can create a warm-tone, which makes an area feel more inviting. This tone can be accomplished by using colors like red, yellow, pink, and orange. Or, you can create a cool-tone atmosphere by using colors like blue, green, purple, and indigo. This tone will make an area feel more relaxed and laid back. Lastly, you can create a neutral-tone. This tone is done by using beige, grey, white, black, or other colors that have no direct correlation with setting a tone. Each has their time and place in your design. Try to match the right colors to the feeling you want to provoke in each room.

Textures

Texture can also be very valuable in your design. When designing a room, you will typically stick to around three to four colors in general. However, with only three to four colors, some areas tend to blend together. For instance, having a beige couch against a beige wall can seem to mix together. This bland look can be fixed through the use of texture. So make sure you have plenty of texture throughout each space. You can have some carpet, grainy surfaces, or silky pillows. These types of texture will help create a dramatic effect and allow objects to pop off one another.

Complementary

With the use of more than one color, you will want colors that complement one another. While each color by itself can create a color meaning, using colors together can also be an effect. Consider the color green being used monochromatically throughout a design space. With all this green, you can evoke feelings of life, revitalization, or even envy. The color green has several psychological influences in an environment. Now take that same room and add the color red. You probably would quickly recognize this color combination as festive or Christmas-influenced. Pay attention to how the colors in your room complement one another and how they portray a feeling.

Color is one of the most powerful tools to use in design. A better understanding of how to use color can help you master your design. Since every color has its own psychological influences, these tricks can be great tools to take your design to the next level. While design is about aesthetics and functionality, how your design makes you feel is equally important. This can all be accomplished through the power of colors.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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