From the Floors Up

Best Lighting for Rooms Without Ceiling Lights

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Many homes and apartments today come without overhead ceiling lights. This feature is great because it gives you the freedom to select your own lighting, yet it can also be problematic because you start off without any general lighting. The first thing to do is to make sure the light your get serves the right purpose. Since your room is missing general lighting, this light feature’s task is to illuminate the whole room. With this in mind, a simple end table lamp may not do the trick. To help, here are some great options to consider for rooms without overhead ceiling lighting:

Plug-in Ceiling Pendants

If your room has no overhead lighting, you probably have an outlet that will provide electricity when the light switch is flipped. First, you will want to locate this outlet then you can purchase a plug-in ceiling pendant. A pendant is a light fixture that is mount to the ceiling and hangs down from a rod or chain. These lights can come in thousands of styles, so find one that works with your home design. Try to tastefully secure your wire to the wall and down to your outlet when installing these pendants.

Plug-in Light Rail

Light rails can also provide an excellent source of light for your room. You will want to install the lighting rail in an area that will allow your lights to cover the entire room. Plus, plug-in light rails can usually have several lights installed on them, so you will want to angle your lights to help provide balanced lighting throughout the entire atmosphere.

Large Floor Lamp

There are many large floor lamps available on the market today as well. This option may be your best bet if you do not want a wire running up to your ceiling. Floor lamps are a common remedy for dark rooms. Just make sure you find a floor lamp that provides adequate lighting for your space. Some lampshades may not be transparent enough to allow light to cover the whole room properly, so be sure to look for the right lamp for your space.

While not having overhead lighting may first seem like an inconvenience, there are still a lot of great options to explore. You have the freedom to choose the lighting style you want. Try to look for a lighting option that works best with your design style by incorporating one of these ideas. Thanks for reading!

Oil vs Acrylic Paints

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A fresh coat of paint can turn a scuffed-up wall or scratched piece of furniture into something brand new. Paint gives new life to things and can be a valuable asset in almost any home improvement project. However, a good paint job begins with getting the right paint for the job. Before you even choose your paint color, you have to determine what type of paint is best for your project. When it comes to paint types, your two basic options are oil and acrylic. Which one you use depends on what you are painting and your method of doing so. Knowing the specifics of each paint will ensure you get the right type for the project, and the best results every time.

Oil Paint

Oil-based paints, also known as Alkyd paints, are the slowest drying type of paint. The longer dry time and the fact that oil paints blend better than other paints make it the best choice for painting a large area of space such as a wall or ceiling. Oil-based paints emit strong fumes and can sometimes even be toxic. If you choose to use an oil-based paint, make sure the room you are working in is well ventilated and consider wearing a mask to reduce the amount of fumes you inhale. Additionally, if you are using an oil-based paint, make sure you have mineral spirits or paint thinner handy to clean your brushes or rollers.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paints are water-based, making them the most popular of the choices. Clean up is much simpler than it is with oil, all you need to clean your supplies is use water. Plus, acrylic paints dry more quickly than oil, so using them to paint larger areas without streaking or leaving brush marks can be difficult. They can also have trouble adhering to things that were previously painted with oil-based paint, so it is essential to use a primer when going over anything previously painted with oil. Acrylic paints are an excellent option for painting door frames, window frames, and furniture.

A project is always easier if you start with the right materials. Knowing the basics of acrylic and oil paints makes choosing the best option a simple task. Next time you want to bring a fresh color to a wall or new life to a piece of furniture, make sure you use the right type of paint for the job.

Color of the Year 2020: Classic Blue

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Did you know that every year the color authorities announce a new color of the year? In fact, this color is selected by a team of color experts at Pantone Color. They research and explore what color seems to be most influential and significant in the world at that given time, and the color is selected in December for the following year. This color is then used by businesses throughout the next year in design and marketing.

Classic Blue

The year 2020 will kick off with the new color Classic Blue. This classic color is construed of the deep and passive shade of blue with undertones of indigo to help create more serenity. Classic Blue is a very stable and reliable color. This traditional color was chosen to allow your mind to wander. In fact, Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone Color, says, “what’s the future going to bring as we move into the evening hours?” is the thought this color can help provoke. The team at Pantone Color believes that Classic Blue is more than just visually stimulating but also helps to awaken all your senses.

Who Decides the Color of The Year

In 1999, Pantone Color became the global authority on color. Each year in December, they select a color that seems very influential in the world. They look at different aspects of life and carefully choose the color they see most meaningful at the current time.

Where You May See This Color

Every year these colors make history by being used by many major companies. Many large and small companies can use this trending color to help promote themselves. If you are looking to keep your home or business up-to-date, consider giving some homage to Classic Blue. You may notice it being used in apps, phone colors, paint themes, clothing, and other materials more frequently.

In 2020, be sure to keep your eyes out for Classic Blue, and see if you notice it in marketing, design, fashion, or other aspects of life. You will be surprised how common this color becomes in the following year.

Interior Design Styles Trending Around the World | Part Five

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As this series comes to a close, we can see how diverse the world of interior design and trends are. Exploring all the countries and their trends can help you find the right style for your own home. Today, we are going to take a look at the final five countries. Let’s get started!

Ukraine – Dark Contemporary

Located in eastern Europe, much of Ukraine’s influences come from surrounding areas like Russia and Romania. Many homes have taken a liking to the darker, more deep-toned contemporary style. This look can help give a sophisticated and mature look to a home’s design.

Venezuela – Stripes

Stripes are trending significantly in most of the current design trends. In fact, Venezuela’s homes and businesses will incorporate stripe patterns in very unique places, including walls, ceilings, and décor. These stripes can help uniform the design theme and make the designs look and feel more balanced.

Wales – Modern Farmhouse

Wales is closely linked to the United Kingdom. While Rustic design has been common for some time, we see a change in the significance of this design. Now, the most common style being put in homes is Modern Farmhouse. With slight Modern edges, we see the small change from the normal Farmhouse and Rustic layouts to a more Modern Farmhouse design.

Yemen – Middle Eastern

Yemen is a strongly influenced Middle Eastern country. Their homes are inspired by Arabic design. While not everyone can invest in designing their homes, the wealthy will add gold accents and deep, rich, colorful patterns to establish wealth in their design. The less fortunate enjoy filling their homes will colorful, handmade textiles to brighten the color palette of their concrete-constructed homes.

Zimbabwe – Sophisticated with a Splash of Color

Zimbabwe is the second poorest country in the world, currently. The few people that have the privilege to dabble in designing their homes love to add color. It is not unusual to see the wealthy households flourished with colors and windows.

Were you surprised by some of the common design styles in the world today? Which design trends are your favorites? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section, and make sure to subscribe.

Interior Design Styles Trending Around the World | Part Four

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Every culture and country has a unique perspective on interior design. While some countries share similar preferences, many trends come and go at different times. Variables such as wealth, locations, social influences, and events can all contribute to these design trends. Today, we are going to further explore the world of design and the interesting trends each country has.

Portugal – Personalization

Portugal has gone through many changes in design styles and trends. They all seem to come and go. Now, Portuguese, more than ever, are using their interior to express themselves. Interior design is an outlet and a way to put your own personal touch into your home. Currently, the country is very influenced by tailoring their own homes to personalize them to the individual.

Qatar – Luxury and Ornate

When it comes to beautiful and intricate design, Qatar does not hold back. Their trending design is lavished with luxurious and ornate details. From fine art, intricate wallpapers, the highest quality flooring, and pristine furniture, they make sure to leave no stone unturned.

Russia – Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern is a style that came about in the early 1930s and lasted until 1965. It brought forth a cleaner cut and open layout style of living. With a neutral color palette and less obstructive atmosphere, functionality was key. Russia is continuing to add this styling into many of their homes. With functionality at its core, it will never truly be outdated.

South Africa – Patterns and Prints

South African trends continue to keep elaborate prints and colors. Patterns are a large part of South African culture. It is no surprise that we see the trends of many textiles in the home, including these designs. Curtains, rugs, and blankets will all have African-style prints and patterns to give pride to the culture.

Thailand – Indoor/Outdoor Living

Thailand’s culture is at one with nature. Much of their current interior design influences indoor/outdoor living. Most homes have easy access to outside of the home, with elements of nature being brought inside the house. Woods, plants, water, and stone can all be found in many of Thailand’s trending styles.

Interior design trends fluctuate throughout the world. We are privileged to see many trends within our own culture. There are still some more countries to explore, make sure to check out the last part of the series to see the latest trends around the world.

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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