From the Floors Up

Simple Guide to Cleaning Out Your Closet

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Part 1

Women are notorious for closets that are bursting with apparel, but in most cases, they are only wearing about half of it on a regular basis. We’re all guilty of saying, “I don’t have anything to wear,” while staring at a closet chock-full of clothing. The problem lies, in part, with not knowing what needs to replaced or filled in.

If you were to get rid of all of the garments you don’t actually wear you’d have a much better idea of what you need to buy on your next shopping trip. Here’s a handy list of questions to help you clean out your closet fast, so you can create an immediate excuse for saying, “I simply must go shopping! I don’t have a thing to wear!” What woman doesn’t want to be able to say THAT in good conscience?

Does it fit? If it’s within one size either direction you can keep it because our weight fluctuates all of the time. For example, if you’re a size 8, and you have things you like and will wear when a size 6 or 10, go ahead and keep them. But get rid of anything that’s off size more than that.

Do you feel amazing in it? If you don’t feel amazing make room for something that makes you feel good about yourself.

Have you worn it within the last 12-18 months? A lot of organization experts recommend making this judgment based on just the past year. However, there are events and occasions that happen less frequently and they often require a specialty garment. So give yourself and 18-month window, but then be strict with getting rid of everything you haven’t worn for longer than that.

Does it have sentimental value? If so, but you don’t actually wear it you can still keep it. However, it now belongs in a box with your other keepsakes. Not clogging up your closet and brain when you’re trying to get dressed for the day.

Stay tuned for more closet tips in Part 2!

A Furniture Style Guide for the 20th Century

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Do you often wonder what furniture styles properly describe your tastes? Unless you took a furniture history course in school you might not know what style particular furniture pieces are. Here is a quick guide to help you recognize the characteristics from certain time period pieces.

Art Deco is a popular furniture style, originating in the 1920’s. Once you know what to look for it is easy to spot this type of furniture styles. Look for bright red, blue, orange and teal finish colors. This style used bold geometric patterns with sharp angles and the use of zig zag patterns.

Modernist was prevalent during the 1930’s and 1940’s. This particular furniture style uses simple and clean lines as well as contrasting colors. This style also uses contrasting textures as well. Popular color choices of this time are black, white, red and orange.

Mid-Century Modern is made up of clean lines. Minimalist design was very popular back then. Surprising colors were used. Look for pastel colors as well as blues, greens and especially rust colors.

Minimalist was the style for the 1960’s. Furniture design was heavily influenced by Japanese styling. The focus on negative space became apparent. Popular colors for this time period was the primary colors, red, yellow and blue; as well as black and white.

The 1970’s was a time for self-expression. There was a combination of hi-tech and natural elements. Bold patterns were used with earth tones. Brick red, avocado green, pink and rust were all very popular colors.

The 1980’s was an age of over indulgence and comfort. The furniture was large and upholstery pieces were overstuffed. Floral patterns and prints were very popular with bold colors. Jewel tones and pastels were popular color choices. Burgundy, mauve and gold were also popular color choices.

The 1990’s was a time where previous furniture styles were kind of fused together. There was a mix of Art Deco, Minimalist and Modern elements in furniture. Greys and beiges became really popular as well as the use of hunter and mint green. Peach was a popular color that was often paired with grey and beige. Natural elements such as metal and glass were incorporated as accents.

Have fun with this new knowledge!  What decade best describes your tastes?

Updating Your Space

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If you’re spending all of your time at home these days and find your interior spece is tired looking, we’ve got some tips for you! Don’t worry, you don’t have to redoecroate the entire space and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

Rearrange what you already have! Rearrange shelves, china cabinets and bookcases. Simply rearrange the items. Try adding or removing items to give your space a more updated look. Try turning items horizontally and vertically. Add items on top of stacked items. Introduce different textures. Consider adding items from other rooms that you wouldn’t normally consider in a particular cabinet or bookshelf. Have fun, get creative!

Re-evaluate your color palette. Are your colors outdated? Does your home feel too dark? Have your tastes changed? You may need to streamline your colors by using more neutrals with less pops of color. Maybe it’s time to introduce pops of color! Would a new area rug introducing new colors make your space feel different? Ask yourself how your current color palette makes you feel. If you don’t love it, start making changes to update your color palette to your current tastes.

Emphasize vertical lines. This will elongate your ceiling height and make your space feel larger. One way to achieve this is to hang mirrors vertically. Install drapery that hangs down to the floor. This will give the appearance of a higher ceiling and a polished look. Once hung, you can let the drapery hang naturally or use interesting tiebacks. This method can also be used for shower curtains to introduce a new look in the bathroom.

Get organized! If you have visual clutter, start working on finding a place for all of that clutter. For example, keep smaller items in decorative baskets or boxes or use a tray to keep television remotes together. Once you have organized clutter, your space will look updated and clean. You’ll be surprised at how much better your space looks after some decluttering!

Switch around your accents. Take a look at the accents in each room and try them out in different rooms or spaces. You already know you like the items so trying them out in a different room can give new life to something you already own. Try moving smaller tables from one room to another and see how they look. Swap out accent pillows and throws from one room to another. Move rugs around within the room. Play around with your furniture layout. This is a great way to achieve a fresh look!

Relocate your artwork. Hang new artwork or switch out artwork from one room to another. You might be surprised at how one piece of art can transform a room with different light or different surroundings.

The end result of these exercises is to breathe new life into a tired space. It is much easier to do than one would imagine. Have fun and think outside the box, then enjoy your new interior!

American Southwest: A How-To Decorate Guide

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A theme in decorating is more than just a plan to keep the colors from clashing.  A theme makes a statement about the area we live in, our hobbies or even our background. A theme can also be a look and feel that speaks to you, but has little to do with where you live or where you are from.  Decorating around a theme is often the best way to create a room that is impressive as well. No more wondering if a new item will be just the right color.  Extra consideration is not needed wondering if that accessory will fit in with your decorating scheme.  Instead, you can quickly and confidently say ‘yay or nay.’ Either it works with the theme or it doesn’t!

We have picked one theme – American Southwest – and created guidelines to make this theme easy and fun.  Don’t’ worry about following the list to the letter.  Just choose the items that speak to you.  Use the other items as inspiration! When going about it this way the overall project seems less daunting. Just pick what you like and work it into your plan!

In this post we are going to discuss the earthy beauty of American Southwest art and design. This very unique aesthetic produces an effect that is both welcoming and exciting.

  • Colors:
    • Warm-toned neutrals, used abundantly
    • Forest green
    • Sienna red
    • Brown
    • Turquoise
    • Slate blue
  • Accessories
    • Wall-hung rugs in bright patterns
    • Kachina dolls
    • Dream catchers
    • Baskets made of natural materials
  • Materials
    • Turquoise
    • Silver
    • Wood should also be prevalent and appear close to its natural state rather than highly processed
  • Lighting
    • Floor lamps with beaded or faux leather shades
    • Dimmer switch on any overhead lighting
    • Candles
  • Furniture
    • Soft, worn leather couches and chairs, ideally large and very comfortable
    • Lots of wood, appearing close to its natural state
    • Angular lines, exposed fasteners, nails, etc
  • Walls
    • Stucco
    • Textured faux finishes
  • Floors
    • Native American area rugs in bold colors, statement piece
    • Aged hardwood
    • LVP or laminate that looks like aged wood. The best vinyl plank flooring can mimic the look of just about everything, and what is laminate flooring if not a fantastic hardwood alternative?

Is there anything that you would add to this list? Do you have a Southwest inspired home? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comment section!

Home Check-Up List

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With how much time people are spending at home, we thought now would be a good time for a home check-up list. Here are five things you should do every year to ensure you’re running a well-oiled machine.

One: Replace the batteries in the smoke detector

Ever heard of the old adage “better than safe than sorry”? Yes, every year you should be switching out the old batteries in your smoke detector for new ones. Modern smoke detectors feature hard-wired backup batteries that must also be replaced. However, it doesn’t stop there. After trading batteries you should ensure that all the smoke detectors throughout the house are in working order.

In addition to the smoke detectors, you should also check your carbon monoxide detectors. Every year thousands of deaths occur due to faulty carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure you change the batteries at least every six months to a year.

Two: Inspect the chimney

Before you fire up your fireplace during the cold winter months you must fire perform a thorough inspection of your chimney. Make sure the gas logs are positioned correctly, look for cracks in the glass door and make sure the burner holes aren’t clogged.

Even when the fireplace is not in use it should be inspected because the chimney has dangerous gases that can be carried to the stove and that shouldn’t be inhaled. Be sure to clean it periodically or make an appointment to have it serviced by a professional.

Three: Gutters

Gutters that become clogged with leaves and other debris restrict the water from flowing easily preventing them from doing their job! This preventative maintenance will save you time and headaches down the road. If you aren’t comfortable on a ladder, hiring someone to do this for you will be worth it in the long run.

Four: Doors and windows

Before winter hits, you should perform an inspection of all the doors and windows in your home. Check for weather stripping around the front and back door. Look for cracks in the windows and tears on the screen. Checking for signs of wear around the window frame is important for safety issues.

Five: Rotate Area Rugs

If you have area rugs that get any exposure from the sun, you’ll want to rotate them to ensure that your rugs receive the same amount of sun exposure on each side for even fading. This is normal and natural for any material that receives exposure to sunlight. If your rugs are on top of hardwood floors, you will want to rotate your furniture where possible so that your hardwood floors receive the same amount of sun exposure for evenness as well.

We hope you find these tips useful in maintaining a healthy home. Take care of yourself and 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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