From the Floors Up

Feng Shui: A West-Facing Front Door

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Where most styles of interior design focus on functionality or aesthetics, Feng Shui has an entirely different approach. Feng Shui is about creating harmony and peace in your home by incorporating elements of nature. Ancient Chinese philosophers studied nature and its elements to come up with five main categories: wood, metal, fire, water, and earth. Feng Shui is the practice of placement.

Creating Feng Shui

The art of decorating with Feng Shui comes down to a nine segmented map. This map is referred to as the Western Bagua Map. It breaks down your home into nine different sections. Eight of which are at each direction of your home: north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, and west. The last sector is the middle of your home. Each direction has elements that best work at letting energy flow into your home.

West Corresponds with Metal Element Colors

When properly incorporating Feng Shui, every direction has a purpose. The west section of your home is 247.5 to 292.5 on a compass. This section is best for metal elements. Metal can be represented through white or gray. Painting your front door these colors can help positive energy enter your home.

Avoid

The counterpart to metal is fire and water. Both of these outdoor elements can hurt metal. Thus, it is best to refrain from using these colors on the west side of your home. Fire is represented by red, orange, pink, and yellow. Water can be represented by blue or black. Keeping the doorway and entrance as white or gray as possible is vital. You can even change out your door handles to a more metallic metal look as well.

Feng Shui is the art of placement. It does not prioritize looks and functionality over proper energy in the home. Incorporating the many philosophies of Feng Shui takes time. Do not be stressed to accomplish it all at first. For more understanding of Feng Shui, make sure to subscribe.

How to Save Money During a Kitchen Remodel

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Are you interested in remodeling your bathroom, but do not have the funds for a luxury renovation? There is no need to worry! With our eight top money-saving tips, you can remodel your bathroom on a reasonable budget. Let’s take a look!

How to Save Money During a Bathroom Remodel:

Make a Game Plan.
A massive mistake during any remodel is not going into it with a game plan. You want to assess the situation and make a plan before you start anything. By going in with a game plan, you will be aware of the costs, you will be able to set a budget for yourself, and you can leave yourself some wiggle room for any unforeseen circumstances.

Do Not Discard It All.
Bathroom essentials can add up quickly and leave homeowners with a smaller budget. Instead of repurchasing items like a brand new toilet or a glamorous mirror, try to revamp your current pieces into something new. With a toilet, you can replace the lid and seat but keep the body. With a mirror, look at the condition of your current mirror. If it is in good condition, keep the physical mirror and replace its frame. By doing these two simple fixes, you can save yourself a lot of money to splurge on other items like the floors or backsplash in the shower.

Leave The Plumbing Be. The most significant way to clear out your piggy bank is by moving around your bathroom’s plumbing. Switching your toilet to a different wall may seem like a good idea at the moment, but you will quickly realize that it is not worth the hassle, time, and funds.

Upgrade Your Vanity. A great way to save money in your bathroom is by using an antique dresser for your vanity. You can search local antique and thrift stores to find a one-of-a-kind piece that will work perfectly in your bathroom. This way, you do not have to purchase an expensive vanity, and you will be able to have a unique piece.

Incorporate Open Shelving. Believe it or not, but open shelving can actually make your room look bigger and more open. Open shelving discourages the use of bulky and overwhelming cabinets by substituting them with a clean line and welcoming storage space. Try using open-facing shelves, bookcases, and stands to create a visually appealing and accessible space.

All of The Lights. Lighting can be an effective remodeling change without breaking the bank. By incorporating more lighting, you can ultimately create a better-looking room. Lighting makes or breaks a design but luckily, adding light fixtures is not terribly expensive, and it can quickly transform your space. Just be sure that you have plenty of natural light and fixtures around the room to open it up and create a welcoming atmosphere.

Do Not Underestimate Paint. Paint can entirely change the overall feel and mood of a room. A lot of homeowners underestimate its value, but it is an inexpensive way to improve the feel of a room. Be sure to swatch your paint colors on the wall prior to application to guarantee satisfaction.

Browse Online. If you think about it, plenty of homeowners have remodeled their bathrooms. The odds are that they have extra supplies that you could use for your own remodel. Before you go to make a purchase, check online resale sites to see if anyone is selling something you need for your project.

Do you have any budget-friendly tips to share with other readers? We would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section. Thanks for reading!

Rethink, Reimagine, and Redesign Your Space

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Part of curating a design from your space is having the creativity to think outside the box. Most rooms have a general guideline which homeowners tend to follow strictly.  For example, a neutral toned, symmetrical layout in a living room with the television above the fireplace has many strengths.  That is why it is usually the generic layout people use.  It has your strong focal point like the fireplace and television centered in the room, the neutral colors leave the room from feeling bias which increases resell value and appeases to the masses, and symmetrical layouts also give the room a strong sense of unity and balance.  However, creativity is one of the most sought-after components in design today.  If you strive to be unique, here are three ways to break that general way of thinking and putting a unique spin on your space:
Asymmetry
There are three types of symmetries used in design themes.  Each type thrives in different ways and environments, but all can be used in your home.  The most common is the symmetrical design.  This is when you can cut a room in half and have a mirror image on the other side.  This is commonly used in bedrooms and living rooms.  Radial design is when the room’s mirror-image is off of a focal point in the center of the room.  Radial design is mostly used in dining rooms with round tables or other rooms that allow for circular seating arrangements; however, not all homes incorporate this layout. You need to rethink, reimagine, and redesign.  Asymmetrical designs will enable you to be unique and express yourself.  You are not limited to buying replicated couches or duplicate end tables. Asymmetry is an excellent choice to help the room remain functional with a unique layout. Doorways and windows can hurt how you put together your room and may block traditional designs.  Using an asymmetrical plan can let you tailor your furnishings and decor to how the space feels.
Mixing Cool and Warm Tones
Color can strongly influence how a room feels.  Light colors can make a room feel bigger, whereas dark tones may make the room feel smaller and unwelcoming. Bold primary colors can have strong ways of influencing how the room feels.  Walking into an all red room can feel completely different than entering a room that is painted in all blue.  There are three types of color tones used in design: neutral, cool, and warm.  Neutral tones are always safe colors to apply to a room.  They never persuade how a room feels but are vital to breaking up the other tones.  Cool tones influence our moods in a more relaxed manner while warm tones can make an environment feel cozier.  Too often people stick to just neutral or maybe use a subtle accent of a cool tone or a warm tone; however, most designs lack balance with these tones.  Be creative and use cool tones and warm tones in your environment to add life yet keep the space grounded and homey.
Breaking the Rules
Remember, it is your house, your space, and your rules.  Breaking traditional rules adds character and personalizes your space.  Perhaps you have a monochromatic room with just shades of grey throughout it; adding a rainbow painting to the wall can make a powerful focal point while breaking your own design rules.  Maybe you have a table that seats four, and you decide to mix and match chair design.  This eclectic look can be done right if your chair choices enhance the space.  Do not feel limited to your standard, mundane styles but feel inspired to express yourself.  Maybe you have a rustic room but want to put a splash of modern.  All these design decisions are ultimately up to you.
Creative thinking is a powerful tool in interior and exterior design.  Study other designs and see what you like.  Usually, pieces that stick out to you are elements that are not seen in common designs.  Let your imagination create your space.  Do not be afraid to break the rules and incorporate what you want in your home. Thanks for reading!

Easy Tips for the Home

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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.

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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