From the Floors Up

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 Are your colors outdated?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!

Expert Tips for Refreshing Your Living Room

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Whether your style leans more towards traditional, modern or even bold, you should love the way your living room looks. After all, it is the place where you will most likely be spending quality time with the family and entertaining guests. What many people do not know is that there is an art to decorating a living room. Before you tackle the task, check out these few expert tips:  

1. Contrast Neutrals. If you enjoy a traditional style living room, neutrals are probably your go-to when comes to decor. While hues like white and black add an air of sophistication, contrasting neutrals is the key to making this space feel warm and welcoming. Using colors like white, beige, grey or other neutral shades within the same room will help bring out the undertones of each color.  

2. The Right Mix of Dark and Light. Achieving the right mix of dark and light is crucial. When a living room is too dark, it can bring down the mood and feel like you are hiding in a cave. On the other hand, if the space is too light, it will come off as unapproachable. Achieving the right balance will help to create a dynamic look with more depth and dimension.   

3. Say Yes to Wood Accents. A living room just is not a living room without wood accents. Adding hints of wood instantly adds a sense of warmth and there are so many ways you can do that. You can introduce wood through side tables, carved artwork, entertainment console etc. The warm details of the wood will help to bring back comfort and coziness to your space.  

4. Mix Upholstery. Having trouble deciding between a leather or linen sofa? Why not both? You will find that most furniture stores give you the option of purchasing an entire sofa set with matching upholstery; however, you are not required to do it. Welcome in a mix of furniture in different fabrics and shapes. This will help to give your living room a more trendy look.   

5. Durable Fabrics. The living room should not only be comfortable but you will also want to preserve it. This is done by opting for fabrics that are durable and that can be easily maintained. This is especially important if there are pets and small children in the household. Just be sure to find a fabric that withstands your household’s activity levels.   

We hope you enjoyed these expert tips! Be sure to check back next week for more expert advice. 

What Décor Does Your Design Style Demand? | Part Three

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Interior design is a science and an art. It balances aesthetics as well as functionality. Some styles and themes have been created throughout time, which have mastered not only the look but the functionality. They are thoroughly created with guidelines and structure yet give homeowners the freedom to create and design their own version themselves! The structure and guidance can create a science where the freedom to express and break the rules can come down to your own artistic touch.

When designing a room, there are many elements used to create the space. From colors, flooring, lighting, furniture, and even architecture, we see many design themes that flourish with these features. As we have seen in some of the prior themes, the décor you choose can help express yourself while also enhancing your overall design. We previously looked at some of the most popular designs and saw how some styles could use fine details to capitalize on our design themes. Well, we realized there are still many popular themes to explore. Here are several more themes that you may have in your own home:

Southwestern

Southwestern design is a blend of Latin American culture and West Coast styling. It uses earthy tones and accent colors of turquoise, reds, oranges, and yellows. With enriched textures and upholstery, this design prides itself on traditional Latin American styling. Help enhance your space by adding clay vases, culturally-influenced patterns, and vibrant accent colors to pop against your earthy toned atmosphere.

Eclectic

This style can be the easiest yet the most challenging. Eclectic is a style that blends and mashes many designs together to create a unique, artsy styling. From the most contemporary elements to the eldest antiques, every piece of décor has a purpose and meaning. All colors are welcomed; however, this design can be the most challenging to prevent from becoming too chaotic. Additionally, it is not uncommon for a dining room table to have several different, unmatching chairs. The pride of every piece’s individuality works together to create harmony. Remember, nearly all décor is welcome, yet understand how everything works together and flows.

Traditional

Traditional interior design was inspired by the 18th and 19th centuries. These designs have very bulky and ornate furniture. While these pieces can take up a lot of space, they are very well-crafted and made to last. This design is a very orderly and relaxed environment. Symmetry is at the forefront of the styling. Two matching chairs, two matching end tables with duplicate lamps are very common. Keep this in mind with your décor. While nothing is really a focal point, focus on balance and symmetry with your antiques to master this style.

Interior design themes are great to use in our own homes. We all love different styles for many different reasons. So, make sure you get the most out of your designs by adding the right décor since it is the best way to express yourself in your design.

A Zen-Inspired Design

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Zen is the philosophy of encapsulating the peace found in nature and bringing it into your home. While this minimalistic style is visually aesthetic, it also can create the perfect relaxing environment. When you think of a Zen-inspired atmosphere, you probably envision a spa. With some simple tricks, you can capture this peace and relaxation and put it into your own home. Zen is the structure of tranquility in a home, so here are several ways to help create this feeling in your own home:

Flow

To create flow in your atmosphere, you will need to make a less obtrusive environment. This reason is why most Zen designs are very minimalistic. Doorways are an extremely vital aspect of allowing energy to travel between the rooms. A good Zen atmosphere will let doors be unobstructed. It does not take much décor to help create this flow. Try to stick to a very nature-influenced design.

Natural Elements

When adding elements of nature, try to add stones, water, bamboo, and candles. Even scents and aromas can have an impact on mellowing out the atmosphere. A truly Zen-inspired design has peace at its core. Try to involve all the senses from music to the warmth of the room. All these small details can allow your atmosphere to feel authentic.

Reflection

Have an area to reflect and relax. Some individuals will allow this spot to be outdoors since natural elements have some considerable influences on the design. You can create this by making a Zen Garden. Most Zen gardens will have simple seating to reflect. Plus, they incorporate running water as well as stones. Creating this tranquil garden outside your home is a great way to capture the values of Zen.

Zen takes the elements found in nature and emphasizes them in helping you find peace. Therefore, make sure to incorporate nature into your design. Peace can be found through your color choices, fragrances, space, and lighting. Allow minimalism to work its magic in your home by giving everything more meaning. Remember, the less you use, the more impactful the object you do choose can have.

How to Add Character While Using Neutrals 

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Neutral color themes in homes are always a great choice. They are traditional and timeless designs that work in any environment. However, neutral colors are not typically found on a color wheel. They agree with almost any color without giving influence to a warm- or cool-tone atmosphere. That being said, colors are wonderful for adding character to a room. So without adding color, is it possible to achieve a full-of-character space? Of course, it is! Neutral colors can still have powerful impacts. Understanding other elements in your design theme can allow you to indulge in the neutral color palette and still create a very versatile and lively atmosphere.

Texture

While color can add a dramatic effect to your space, texture is another great tool to consider. Think of a room that was completely white from the floors and walls to the furniture and décor. What makes this room “pop” is the textures. A marble countertop has an entirely different texture than stucco walls or a plush carpet. Putting together different elements of texture like smooth, rough, fine, or coarse can make a room have more appeal. It does so by allowing each texture to stand out against one another.

Hard Contrast

When you are designing with all neutral colors, you are using colors like beiges, browns, blacks, whites, and grays. To create more depth to your design, allow for hard contrast. Black and white are very opposing colors. Having a white marble countertop with black cabinets can create a very hard contrast. These hard contrasts help create depth in your design. This depth is a great way to allow neutral colors to have an even more powerful influence in your home.

Metals and Woods

Neutral colors are commonly called “earthy tones.” Without incorporating warm- or cool-tones, you can still mix in woods and metals to your design. These materials will also add more character to your room since wood is full of character with its grainy texture and design and metal can also add a sheen or shine to your design.

These subtle but powerful tools will create your neutral-themed design and make it truly awe-inspiring. Neutral themed designs are perfect for any home, especially a home going into the real estate market. While not everyone may want a room with painted pink or lime green walls, generally speaking, neutral colors are accepted by everyone. A home can always feel the move-in ready with these tips and tricks.

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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