Attempting to arrange your home using some of the principles of feng-shui can seem challenging and at times counter intuitive. Here are several easy tips to make the spaces in your home more balanced.

In the living room the goal is to create a comfortable, nurturing environment that promotes relaxation. This space should also be an intimate spot for family to spend time together. Place the sofa right against a wall. Place other seating elements, such as lounge chairs and love seats by windows. The paint choices should be neutral with pops of color achieved by using accents and accessories. Make sure the clutter is kept to a minimum, by housing storage that hides toys and other items, when not being used. There should be life within the room.  Keep a live plant as well as cut flower arrangements. The space should also be light and bright. Use mirrors on the wall to reflect the light and help make the area feel more open.

The kitchen is a very important room to the home. This space should promote nourishment and happiness. Keep the counter tops free of clutter. Make sure there is plenty of storage to mask kitchen equipment and other items that can clutter the space. The paint color should remain neutral, paired with warm accent colors. A warm yellow is a great accent to help promote cheer and warmth. This space should be well lit to promote energy and positivity. Use several different types of lighting to keep the space bright.

Bedrooms should be a place to rest and find peace. Keep computers and TVs out of this room. Make sure the bed is not placed across or adjacent to a door. Two night stands or bed side tables should be placed on either side of the bed to anchor it and provide balance. Do not use the space under the bed for storage. This blocks energy flow; therefore it should be free of obstruction. Paint colors need to be calming. A subtle mint green or lilac purple color is perfect for accent walls or accent colors. Paint the walls a warm color, like dark tan to create a warm and restful space.

Interior design truly is all about the details. Find out what details to use when making improvements or when building a new home!

Doors are noticed by all. The front door should be interesting as well as the interior doors. Do not try and save money by using the least expensive doors. Look for doors that have details that will incorporate well with your home. Raised panel doors or doors with applied molding make a space feel welcoming.

Trims and moldings are an excellent finishing touch to any interior or exterior. Paint the trim or moldings a color that will contrast the wall. White always looks clean and crisp. White moldings also have a classic appeal. Dark moldings are used to make a statement. Make sure when doing this method that you are highlighting a feature where you want to focus the attention.

Select interesting lighting fixtures. People always notice if lighting is upgraded in any home. Choose lighting that is right for the space and fits in with the interior and exterior styling. It is always a benefit to add light kits to ceiling fans. A room with no overhead lighting can feel incomplete. Place wall sconces and pendant lighting in appropriate spaces. A hallway lined with attractive wall sconces is a treat. Pair can lights with chandeliers and pendant lighting. Lighting is like adding jewelry to any space.

Hardware is a finishing touch detail that should not be taken lightly. Attractive hardware makes or breaks cabinetry and doors. Make sure to select an attractive hardware that fits your style and the style of the item where it will be installed. Hardware does not have to be ornate to be attractive, it just has to be a little different than the expected.

When designing a space keep in mind the details. Do not leave this process of selections as an afterthought. Therefore plan the details during the entire selection process for your home. You will be glad you did!

Spring brings new life and growth and many of us get an itch to redecorate during this season. Yet sometimes our budgets aren’t ready to work with our blooming inspiration! Getting your wardrobe ready for spring and summer is easier in a sense because you can inexpensively change your look each season with a few new pieces. But in the home, all the finishes, furniture and walls are so big and expensive! You’ve probably heard it said repeatedly that the most inexpensive way to create a fresh new look is wall color. We agree, and we also have a few more ideas. Here are some ways to inexpensively refresh your look this Spring.

Bring the Spring Inside

Give some love to those houseplants by repotting them in new pots. Buy new floral arrangements for a couple different rooms. Maybe now is the time to buy that big vase you’ve been eyeing and fill it with tall branches to make a statement in that empty corner you never know what to do with.

Rearrange

Sometimes buying nothing and using what you already have can be the most fulfilling way to redecorate. Collect all your throw pillows, decorations, lamps, art, everything you can move easily, and put it all in one room. You’re essentially creating a little store of all your own things and repurposing from there. Switch area rugs, rearrange furniture. It’ll be fun and everything will feel new!

The Obvious

If you feel like shopping for new things—go for the obvious and most impactful. Throw pillows, lamps, area rugs! Then change the wall color in a couple rooms and you’ll feel a big impact with only a few changes!

Go for a New Look

This one could take some spending and planning over a longer period of time, but if you’ve been wanting to change your home décor style, what better time to start than now! Start small by searching online and in stores for one or two key pieces that reflect the new style you’re going for. Then you can use those items to fuel your inspiration as you plan for bigger changes later. For example, if you’re changing from traditional to modern, look for a bold graphic painting (or whatever reflects your modern tastes) to replace with a more traditional piece you already have. You can change a few lamps and area rugs. Maybe find a couple small pieces of furniture that will coexist with your old style until the style change is complete. Just remember to take your time and find the right pieces that will help keep the momentum of change going for you.

Enjoy the new season! We’d love to hear from you in the comments if you decide to make some changes this Spring!

Fancy a classic interior that will look beautiful for the upcoming decades? There are ways to achieve this and preserve beauty for years into the future.

Preserve elements of an older home that can be appreciated for years to come. For example, save bronze hardware, interesting lighting and claw foot tubs. By keeping original elements, there is a feeling of preservation that resonates within an old, yet upgraded home.

Select classic looking cabinets with clean lines in style and simple hardware. This will ensure you maintain a classic look the never goes out of style. Classic styled cabinets have white or cream painted finishes or wood stained with a dark finish.

Take advantage of anything with clean lines. Use lighting with very clean lines stay away from ornate or elaborate decorative hardware. Select furniture pieces that have tapered legs and clean edges.

Select warm and light neutrals for paint colors, which will never feel too bold or overpowering. Soft cream, light grays and very light blues can also achieve this classic look. Stay away from bright or bold paint colors, which inevitably will go out of style. Also avoid wall paper, wall paper grows old at a much faster rate than a stylish paint color. Make sure to incorporate classic styled crown molding with dental moldings or tongue and dart details. Do not forget to add base board moldings as well. This will frame out the spaces and add classic details.

Understated neutral draperies are important to achieve timeless design. Stay away from highly decorative trim and use clean attractive tapes with geometric patterns that are not fighting with the pattern of the drapery itself. Use pinch pleats and other types of classic pleats as the headers for draperies.  Simple draperies with clean lines help polish off a timeless interior.

Stay away from bells and whistles. Technologies are ever-changing and become outdated very quickly. If you must use high-tech gadgets make sure they are hidden from the sight.

Tile and wood flooring are more formal and never seem to go out of style. Make sure you’re using neutral colors that will maintain a classic look.