From the Floors Up

Bring Fall Colors Inside

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Autumn thanksgiving decor with candle, sunflower and pumpkin

Outside nature is beautiful. Shades of copper, burnt red and shimmering gold sparkle in the sunshine. Why leave all those lovely colors outside, why not bring them inside and bask in the splendor of fall indoors?

If you have a neutral themed home this is a no brainer. Bring in some faux greenery such as forest green leaves, golden gourds, orange pumpkins, multi-colored flowers, bushes, vines and interesting branches with bright-red berries. A colorful bouquet in the foyer will welcome visitors and immediately convey the friendly ambiance of your home. Perch other autumn arrangements on the fireplace mantle.

For the kitchen, put out bowls of mini-pumpkins, charming little gourds, fresh vegetables, oranges and lush red apples. Don’t forget to hang a welcoming fall wreath on your front door. Buy a pre-made one or design your own from artificial flowers, fruit, pinecones or any other variety of nature’s bounty.

Pull out a cozy throw and some vibrant throw pillows in cranberry red, velvety gold or deep chocolate. Switch your breezy summer curtains for the heavier tapestries of fall. Consider hanging autumn theme prints on the walls. A well-placed piece can bring fall’s unique charm into a room in a moment. Don’t forget to change out your candles. It’s time for the reds and oranges to replace the summer pinks and whites.

Fall is the perfect time to redress your home and yard for cooler weather. Warm colors will “cozy-up” your home psychologically and permit you to keep the thermostat down a little longer. Whether you make temporary changes or more permanent ones, enjoy the wonderful palette that this season provides. Let its reds and greens carry you right on into the holiday season.

Simple Guide to Cleaning Out Your Closet – Part 3

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If you missed Part 2 of Simple Guide to Cleaning Our Your Closet, you can read it here!

Part 3 – Functionality, Appropriateness

In this final installment we are discussing whether or not your clothes are functional and if they are appropriate to the current demands on your life.

Does it need repairs? For how long has this been the case? If it’s gone unrepaired for more than three months it isn’t likely that you’re going to bother. Or, if you love it, then get it repaired right away so you can put it back in rotation. Just don’t leave it hanging and waiting. This includes tailoring, buttons, hole repair, seam tightening, professional stain removal, re-heeling shoes, and polishing shoes.

Is it worn or tattered looking? No matter how much you like the style, it’s not a keeper if it looks old and dingy. This includes snags in silk or sweaters, pilling, holes, unraveled threads, stains, loose seams, over stretching, and dull color.

Is it appropriate to your lifestyle? By this, we are referring to life changes that aren’t likely to be reversed. One example is transitioning from being young and single to caring for children and running a household. In this case, a closet full of nightclub dresses isn’t likely serving you very well. Another example is transitioning from raising a family to reentering the workplace. In this case, comfortable clothes such as yoga pants and sweatshirts need to give way to suits, slacks, and blouses.

Would you buy it today if you didn’t already own it and you saw it for sale at the store? In most cases, all of the aforementioned advice will be enough to make a judgment call. But if you encounter a garment that still perplexes you (meaning you’ve had it hanging in front of your face for more than five minutes,) use this test. If you wouldn’t buy it, then that means you don’t really like enough to keep it.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this series on how to clean out your closet!

Simple Guide to Cleaning Out Your Closet – Part 2

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Part 2 – Style

If you missed Part 1 of “Simple Guide to Cleaning Out Your Closet” click here to get caught up!

Ok now that we know if your clothes are relevant to your life, let’s talk about personal style and functionality. These additional tips will be immensely helpful with your closet purging project!

Is it my style at this point in my life? This one is especially important. Dressing is a way of making a huge statement about who you are. No matter how well something fits or how expensive it was, if it doesn’t feel like “you,” let it go. The only thing worse than it not showing the world who you are, is when it actually detracts to the point that you don’t feel like yourself at all while wearing it. 

Along those same lines, ask yourself – Do you feel good when you wear it? Clothing has a massive impact on the way we convey outward confidence. If it makes you feel average at best, toss it. Even if it’s you still consider it “your style.” Buy new stuff that makes you feel like a million bucks.

Is it a classic that will always be in fashion? If so, and it’s your size, and you love it, keep it. Timeless style looks chic and effortless and should always be a staple part of your wardrobe.

Has it gone out of style? If so, is it a style that will likely be en vogue again in the future? Keep in mind that nearly all styles resurface at some point. Except for uber trendy period pieces. So if you think it’s a safe bet to hang on to it, just make sure it passes the size test we mentioned above.

Next read Part 3 – Functionality and Appropriateness

Show Your Floors Some Love!

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Spending time at home due to Covid and got some time on your hands? We’ve got some tips to help you show your floors some love. You’ll be surprised at what showing your floors some love can do for how you feel about your floors and the room they are in!

Give your floors a good clean.

Properly and thoroughly cleaning your floors can change the look and feel of an entire room. If you’ve got a stubborn stain that has become an eyesore, removing the stain can visually make the room feel completely different because the focus is no longer on the stain.

If the stain is too old to be removed and the room is a high traffic area or common place for stains, you might want to consider newer floors that are either lower maintenance or a different color that hides stains better.

Click here to see how to properly clean most any stain our of all types of flooring.

Rotate your area rugs.

Rotating your area rugs will help the rug wear and age evenly. Area rugs should be rotated annually unless they are in a heavy traffic area. In this case, they should be rotated twice a year. Rotating your area rugs will help hardwood floors that receive sunlight fade evenly. You’ll thank us later when it’s time to move or change the room and you’ve done the work to avoid uneven fading.

Add an area rug.

Don’t have an area rug? Adding an area rug can completely change the look of a room. Consider adding an area rug that introduces color to the room or a pattern that helps the room feel larger. Adding an area rug and a few decorative items can refresh a room and breathe new life into it!

Read this post on to get more ideas on decorating with area rugs.

Clear out the clutter from your door mats.

Dirt and other aggregates can collect in your doormats. Once enough dirt and debris collect in your mats, they no longer serve their purpose. The dirt and debris on top just gets carried into your home via your shoes as if you didn’t have one at all. If your doormats are work or too hard to clean, consider replacing them. Doormats have come a long way! There are doormats with cute and clever sayings on them as well as classy and decorative looks that are easy to maintain.

We hope these tips help you fall in love with your floors or your room again or at least give them a fresh feel!

Encapsulating Autumn with Decor

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Seasonal decorating is a tradition many families will integrate into their homes.  When winter comes, the Christmas tree and lights go up, and when spring comes, flowers are planted around your house.  Autumn is a great season filled with holidays, festivities, and seasonal amenities which are fantastic to include in your home design.   

It’s also a great time to spice up your space with new floors and countertops. In fact, flooring and countertops can set the stage for your design. From hand-scraped to wire-brushed trends to marble looks, the design possibilities are endless in 2020. Plus, with innovations in the industry, you do not have to settle for only one type of flooring in your home.

We put together a list of five Autumn décor ideas you will want to include in your home to express your festive-side:

Plaid

Fall has a sense of being cozy when you are indoors and a sense of adventure when out and about.  Adding plaid blankets or a new area rug to your floors will give your house a nice warm and cozy feel.  You can try adding plaid designs outside through welcome mats, outdoor pillows, and blankets. 

Fall Plantation

Including fall harvest inside your home is another excellent way to make a statement.  Outside your home, you can add straw, autumn flowers, or corn stalks. Inside your home you can take these same elements and create an arrangement for your countertop to set the mood for fall.  Add pumpkins as a centerpiece on your table or you can even have a basket filled with fall foods like corn, squash, and baby pumpkins.  Including faux wheat is another excellent decor piece to add to vases or pitchers around your home.  Go a step further and add fall scents. You can incorporate things like cinnamon soaps or cider scented candles to help capture the fall feel.

However, if you notice that your countertops are not as pristine as they once were, you can have your countertops replaced. Currently homeowners love the natural, one-of-a-kind beauty of marble and quartz countertops. Marble countertops feature an authentic, beautiful veining that is unmatched by any other countertop. However, if you are looking for a more durable & low maintenance countertop, quartz is a great option, you can opt for beautiful quartz countertops. Quartz is composed of natural crystals, which makes it an insanely gorgeous countertop option. Plus, quartz countertops are perfect for homeowners who love to cook because they are scratch-, stain-, and heat-resistant.

Wood

Adding pictures with wood or incorporating wood into your home design can add to the overall warmth of a room.  You can start using your fireplace more and decorate your mantle with festive fall décor.  Put fallen leaves into picture frames and display the beautiful countryside colors of fall for an added touch.

Think Rustic

Rustic colors will make a substantial impact on your home’s decor and what you are trying to convey.  Adding rustic display items and antiques will help fully encapsulate the fall spirit.  Woven baskets are great to use in your home and can hold your plaid blankets.  Adding warm reds to your home through curtains, throw rugs, area rugs and floral arrangements can give a rural influenced aesthetic in the fall season. Try adding rustic display items as a centerpiece to your kitchen island!

Pillows and Pictures

A simple, cost-effective task you can add is swapping out your current pictures and pillows.  This is an easy tradition you can do for every season.  Plaids and stripes with autumn hues can help bring your room full circle, but you do not have to commit to the look year-round fully.

Autumn can have so many fun decorations to add to your home.  Try including some of these tricks and tips this fall season to your home.

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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