From the Floors Up

What Décor Does Your Design Style Demand? | Part One

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Interior design is a way you can tailor your home to the aesthetics you love and need. Different themes have been created in interior design over time. A theme is an idea that encapsulates a work of art and creates a particular setting or ambiance. There are hundreds of themes we use today, which can give us great guidelines for creating a beautiful atmosphere. Interior design themes develop strategies to help you successfully balance any room.

Several of the most common themes today consist of Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian, Rustic, Shabby Chic, Bohemian, and Industrial. While thousands of styles are still available, these are traditional concepts that have lasted the test of time. With these guidelines, each style has décor that will work for it and décor that can clash with it. Let us explore each theme and what décor can best go in each design to help tailor your décor to your home!

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern is not to be confused with Contemporary. Mid-Century Modern is a style that was used in many home designs during 1933-1965. This style offered an open layout, streamline furniture, and a light, airy color palette. When adding décor to these spaces, pay attention to the lines. Most furniture in Mid-Century Modern is very simple, prioritizing functionality. Minimalism is the core root of this style, so décor should be minimum but impactful. Look for unique, simple décor that can pop and make a statement, yet not rob the room of its simplicity.

Scandinavian

Scandinavian is the design theme you see with Ikea furniture. This style is a very simple color palette with white, beige, grey, and black being nearly as colorful as it gets. If you were to add color décor, keep it very muted with pastel colors. Scandinavian design always uses light-colored woods. This feature can work great with accent décor as well! Another important characteristic is comfort. Comfort can be achieved with cozy textiles like throw pillows or other variables of comfort.

Rustic

Rustic design is naturally influenced by natural stones, hardwoods, and other components of nature. Many of the furnishings take pride in the rough, more gnarled-size wood has to offer. This look can be a great tactic to use in your design. Galvanized metals, wood trinkets, forest-influenced décor, and candle lighting are all tremendous, authentic tricks to put into this styling.

Every design style has its own guidelines, which can help create the style. Knowing your style and some of its criteria to enhance it can help you master your design. Remember, interior design is expressive and only works if you love it. These strategies can help you master your own design and take it to the next level. Make sure to check out part two to explore even more common design styles and décor tactics.

Choosing a Theme Style for Your Home

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Now that you have a new home, you can officially begin designing it. However, you may quickly realize that there are hundreds of design themes. How do you choose the right one? Rustic, Contemporary, Mid-Century Modern, and Shabby Chic are all great styles. Yet, choosing the right one can be hard. There are several great tools to help you narrow down the right choice for your own home. Here are the best ways to help guide your theme selection:

Personal Touches

Cabinets, flooring, and countertops are already tailored to the look you want! Instead of dwelling on what style will work best, simply add your own personal touches. Vases, pictures, throw pillows, wall art, and décor are all great ways to make a house your home. Interior design is expressive and a chance to individualize yourself. Take advantage of the opportunity and embrace your internal design desires.

Architectural Features

Another significant guiding factor in designing your space can be complementing your architectural influences and home’s surrounding environment. For instance, many homes in Arizona are designed with southwestern design themes. This factor is a great design style to emphasize your own design and help bring to life. You would want to try to incorporate rich textures and earthy tones into your atmosphere. Woven fabrics, suedes, and leathers can also be facilitated to amplify this effect. These are some great tools used to create a Southwestern atmosphere.

What You Already Own

You should also allow your current furniture and belongings to help guide your theme. What kind of preexisting furniture are you bringing into your new home? What colors, fabrics, rugs, pictures, and décor did your old design have? If you did not have a very balanced design, you could begin to look for what works together and creating a design. Perhaps, you have had a very eclectic design but notice many earthy tones in half your furniture. This factor is a great start in transforming your space into a Rustic design theme. You can slowly replace the odd and unmatching décor and furnishings to create a new theme.

Designing your space should be fun and expressive. In fact, it is the best part of making a house your home. What design tricks do you plan on using in your new home? We would love to hear from you! Let us know below in the comment section.

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.

Six Different Types of Kitchen Layouts

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There are typically six different kitchen layouts used in homes today. Each one of these kitchen layouts can offer a different set of aesthetic appeal and functionality to your home. If you are preparing for a kitchen remodel, knowing these layouts can best help you create your optimal design.

Single or One Wall

The simplest layout would be a single or one wall design. These kitchens have one countertop directly on one wall, and this countertop can be the home to your range, dishwasher, and kitchen sink. It is a simple layout but works great in open layout homes.

Galley

A traditional style you can see in older homes is a galley kitchen. These kitchens can have a hallway feel by being enclosed with countertops on both walls running perpendicular with one another. This option is great for prepping food and has two separate areas of countertop space. You will see these in kitchens with long length dimensions, great for setting up buffet-style serving.

G-Shape

The G-Shape kitchen can also be referred to as a peninsula kitchen layout. This design is a large kitchen layout with plenty of countertop space. It has countertops on all four sides with an opening at one point to enter. This option can offer some of the most countertop space an allow you to access all countertops directly from the middle.

L-Shape

An L-Shape kitchen has two countertops running off each other at 90 degrees. This two-countertop layout is simple but offers more countertop space than the single or one-wall layout. It also has the countertops touching, unlike the galley layout, which may be preferable depending on your needs and wants.

U-Shape

The U-Shape is a wide access kitchen. With three of your four walls having countertop space, this design works great in open layout homes while offering plenty of countertop space.

Island

The last style is island kitchens. These kitchens can be the shape of a U or L and offer a disconnected island of countertop space. These islands provide countertop space that doe not impede the rest of the kitchen. Set out food for your guests to grab and hang out while you can freely maneuver the kitchen.

These six kitchen layouts are all very common. They do not all work in every home, but several can. Decide which is best for your home. They can all add different levels of aesthetic appeal and countertop space. For more insight on kitchens and countertops, make sure to subscribe.

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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