Contrary to popular belief, home gyms are not just for the wealthy, famous or well-off. Home gyms can be for anyone! There is no need to buy top of the line, high priced home gym equipment if you cannot afford it. You can build a great looking home gym room even if you are on a budget. Check these steps to find out what are the main aspects that you have to cover in order to build a functional and comfortable room for your home workouts.
Steps.
1. Choose the right equipment. Before decorating, take into consideration what type of workouts will be pursued there. Define your fitness or weight loss goals and go from there. Defining your goals will help you to find out what types of equipment do you need. If your main goal is to build or pump your muscles, then you will need some strength training equipment. If you want to lose some weight, then you will need to look for cardio training equipment. If you want to build a fully functional home gym, then you will need both types of equipment. Whatever you decide, please do not forget to check the size of the equipment, as it has to fit in your home gym room.
2. Choose the right flooring. A home gym would not be complete without proper flooring. Vinyl or rubber tiles are best in a home gym. These tiles cushion the impact on the joints during high intensity workouts. If vinyl or rubber tiles are not an option, carpet or laminate flooring works also. However, home gym equipment is heavy, so if you decide to put carpet or laminate, be aware that it can be damaged. Also, some equipment can slide on laminate floors during high intensity workouts, and you have to prevent that. Be sure to either protect the floor, or find something to put underneath the equipment. Home gym mats are a good option for this.
3. Choose the right colors. A bright, happy room full of colors is more encouraging, than a gloomy, colorless room full of gym equipment. Colors in a home gym should be energizing, bright and colorful. And think about the size of your home gym. If your home gym is in a small space, dark colors are not recommended. Putting dark colors here makes that space seem like more of a dungeon than a fun home gym. Also, take into consideration what type of exercises are being done in that certain space. For example, if this room is going to mainly be used for weightlifting, consider a blue hue. Tranquil blues send a chemical from the brain to the rest of the body calming or soothing it. Weight Lifters lift more in a blue room. Blue is also known to increase productivity and suppress an appetite.
4. Personalize your home gym room. Bring in plants, candles, motivational posters or pictures of your family. Putting up pictures of your family may be something to keep you going. Family can be one of the most inspiring things to a person. Anything that is considered inspiring should be in your home gym. This is to be a place of inspiration and hard work. Find something that inspires you to work harder.
5. Other Décor Ideas for Your Home Gym. It may be an option to put a mirror on the wall to watch themselves improve as they work out. Write inspirational sayings and put them up on a wall or mirror; somewhere where they will be seen and inspire. Make it personal as well, adding goals on a whiteboard or a piece of paper taped up on a wall. Perhaps add a stereo or television to your home gym. If there is something distracting enough to take one’s mind off a workout, that workout might become easier or might pass by faster causing them to continue. Hydration is another important part of working out, so perhaps adding a small refrigerator stocked with bottled water or sports drinks would be a good idea. Also, adding clock to your home gym can help keep track of workout times.
Do not create a home gym alone. Bringing in family is a great way to get everyone involved and may encourage the rest of the family to get fit, stay active and spend more time together. If small children are part of the equation, then add a set, specifically made space just for them, so then they can work out alongside their family. Friends are another great group to get involved. Working out with friends is a great motivation tool for workouts. Friends encourage each other to push one’s limits. Perhaps even get everyone to join as a team for a competition, such as, an obstacle course, triathlon, or group running. The most important thing to remember is to have fun creating this home gym. It should not be a grueling process; it should be fun and exciting.
The placement of mirrors is a major element of feng shui. Choosing the correct mirrors, being aware of what your mirrors are reflecting, and placing your mirrors carefully can all help give your home good feng shui.
Part 1 Choosing Your Mirrors.
1. Use whole mirrors. You should be able to see yourself all at once in any mirror you use in your home. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to have a home full of full-length mirrors, but you should avoid tiny mirrors, or mirrors made up of individual tiles. You should be able to see your head and shoulders in the mirror at the same time.
2. Don't use mirrors with distorted surfaces. You should avoid selecting mirrors with distorted surfaces. This also applies to mirrors with antiquated surfaces. It's believed that looking into such mirrors will make you feel distorted yourself, and this is bad for your home's feng shui.
3. Use square or rectangular mirrors. Try to avoid using round or oval shaped mirrors in your home. Square or rectangular mirrors are generally thought to be best for creating good feng shui.
4. Avoid broken mirrors. You shouldn't hang any mirrors in your home that are broken or cracked. If a mirror that's already in your house breaks, take it down immediately.
Part 2 Reflecting the Correct Surfaces.
1. Amplify the outdoors with mirrors. You should place your mirrors so that they reflect nature. This is believed to bring positive chi inside your home. You can reflect the plants and trees in your front or backyard with mirrors to increase this chi.
For example, if you have a large picture window in your living room that provides a view of the trees and plants in your front yard, place a mirror on the opposite wall to reflect that view.
2. Add light with mirrors. Using mirrors to reflect light from other areas of your home is believed to be good for your home's feng shui. Reflecting light in dark hallways is believed to be especially good for your home's chi.
For example, you could hang a mirror near a window to reflect sunlight into a dark room or hallway.
3. Avoid reflecting doors. It is believed that reflecting doorways in a mirror sends good chi back out. Avoid reflecting doorways to keep your good chi in your home.
4. Avoid reflecting certain surfaces and items. There are other miscellaneous surfaces and items you should avoid reflecting in your mirrors. This includes your bed, any flames, another mirror, or sharp corners in your home or furniture.
Part 3 Placing Your Mirrors.
1. Hang mirrors near your entryway. It is believed that hanging mirrors near the entry of our home will activate the Water element of feng shui. Activating Water is part of creating balance between the elements in your home, which is believed to be essential for creating good feng shui
2. Don't place mirrors in your bedroom. It is believed that placing mirrors in your bedroom can disrupt the flow of your home's chi, which creates bad feng shui. If you need a mirror in your bedroom, consider hanging it on the inside of a closet door.
3. Hang mirrors at the right height. You should place your mirrors so that you can see your head and shoulders all at once. When deciding on the exact height, however, you should make sure the mirrors also won't cut off the head of the tallest person in the home.
4. Keep mirrors out of the kitchen. Mirrors are believed to represent the element of water. Given the sources of fire and heat in a kitchen, it is believed mirrors will clash with fire elements of the kitchen.
5. Don't hang mirrors at hallway ends. Hanging a mirror in a long, dark hallway that reflects light is believed to be good for your home's feng shui. However, you shouldn't hang a mirror at the end of such a hallway, as it's believed to attract bad energy.
6. Place mirrors in the dining room. In feng shui, dining rooms are believed to represent the “purse” or the center of prosperity. Placing mirrors there are therefore believed to increase the good energy of a home.
Looking for wall decor ideas to refresh your space? Those empty walls are filled with possibilities—and a few additions can make a house feel like a home. If you're ready to turn those stark, bare walls into stylish centerpieces, keep reading. No matter your style, we've got the tricks that can amp up your walls and bring out your personality and taste. Whether you’re an art collector, a nature enthusiast, or a book lover, your walls can be customized so that you can be surrounded by the things you adore. Discover 20 wall decor ideas that are sure to add style to your home.
Add Texture With a Weaving.
Those ’70s macramé wall hangings have come back in a big way. The weavings add texture and warm up stark walls. Shop for them on Etsy, or try your hand at making your own.
Add Removable Wall Art.
Minted has an incredible collection of grown-up, sophisticated removable wall art. The adhesive murals have a luxurious matte finish and come in a variety of styles. Removable wall art is perfect if you're renting and don't want to damage the walls.
Hang an Oversized Calendar.
A large calendar works especially well on an office or kitchen wall. Keep track of your events while also adding a standout element to enliven your room! Try bright and bold calendars with sans serif fonts to create a modern look and add a pop of color.
Add a Giant Whiteboard or Chalkboard.
A big board is a perfect functional addition to an office, playroom, or even kitchen. A chalkboard lends a rustic air to any room, while a whiteboard is the contemporary alternative—and you don't have to stick to just white (they're available in a variety of shades and prints). You can even take it to the next level and paint an entire wall with WriteWallPaint, which creates a writeable surface.
Create a Basket Wall
Bet you haven't considered this wall decor idea: Add baskets to your wall! Whether you want to go colorful or neutral, you can liven up any wall with an assortment of baskets in different sizes and textures.
Hang a Personalized Map.
Add a large word map to your room's decor. You can order a personalized map of a city, state, country, or the world in just about any color palette. You can make it ultra personal by adding pins to the places you've visited or plan to visit.
Mount Your Television.
Another way to go? Mount your television. Adding a flat screen to your wall can be a great way to free up space on top of your media cabinet, enhance your wall, and update the entire look of your living room or bedroom.
Add Shiplap Wall Paneling.
Shiplap paneling will infuse your space with a fresh coastal feeling—and it works in any room. Whether your dining room, bedroom, entryway, or even bathroom walls need a refresh, consider adding the wooden boards typically used as exterior siding.
Mount Your Bikes on the Wall.
Creating a stylish and sleek wall-mounting system for your bikes will give you more floor space and create an eye-catching focal point that will transform your blank wall. This is one of the most fun and functional wall decor ideas out there.
Use the Wall for Storage.
Short on closet space? Why not show off your finery and create a striking and practical display? Install hooks or a pegboard and hang hats in a cluster.
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Bringing natural elements into your interior decorating can help create a relaxing atmosphere. You should consider using natural materials such as rock, brick, sea shells, sea salt, water and wood. You may also want to bring plant life into your home to help freshen the air. To improve natural lighting in your home, you should consider opening your windows as well as using natural mood lighting. By using natural materials, plants and light, you can create a fresh and relaxing interior décor.
Method 1 Using Natural Materials.
Decorate with sea shells. Bring home some sea shells from your next beach vacation or purchase them at a home decorating store. You could use sea shells to make a variety of decorations such as a glass jar with sea shells, a picture frame or a candle holder.
Try creating a glass jar with sea shells. Collect some of your favorite shells and arrange them in a glass jar. Place the glass jar on a mantle place or on top of a shelf. They will remind you of the relaxing smells and sounds of your beach vacation.
Buy reclaimed wood chairs and tables. You can find beautiful furniture made from reclaimed wood. Wood previously used in barns, houses or other architecture is used to make chairs and tables. You can find reclaimed wood chairs and tables at design stores, antique shops or online.
Purchase unfinished wood furniture. You could buy unfinished chairs, tables or other wooden furniture and then apply your own finish. You can find unfinished wooden furniture online or at wholesale shops. Apply natural stains such as linseed oil or paint it to match your color scheme.
You can find unfinished wood furniture at online retailers and some hardware stores. Whereas some retailers are focused on more contemporary designs, other retailers sell very traditional designs. You can also piece together the parts you need by going to specialty retailers for table legs or other furniture components, which you would then assemble yourself.
Put driftwood on your coffee table or mantle place. Search for driftwood the next time you are close to a beach or lake. When you find a nice piece of driftwood, you can cut it to size and then place it on your coffee table to remind yourself of the place you visited.
If it is covered in dirt or moss, you may need to clean it.
You could wrap twinkle lights around the branches during the holidays.
Create a rock terrarium. You could find or purchase some stones and place them in a decorative bowl. You can purchase stones from a home living store or a precious stones shop. If you go on vacation to a rocky beach, you could collect your own stones. Arrange your stones in a small bowl and place it on your dining room table.
Consider wood flooring. Wood flooring is a great option for adding natural elements to your home, especially if you are in the process of renovating. Choose from pine, oak or other hardwood flooring options. You could also add section of wood flooring to a small area of your house. Solid hardwood, engineered hardwood and prefinished hardwood are common options.
Expose brick walls in your house. If you have brick walls, consider exposing them so that you get to see the natural décor of brick. Brick is made from clay, mud and water, which is fired at high temperatures. It has a nice texture and can give a room a very natural feel. You could make an accent wall with exposed brick and then paint the other walls in your house.
If you cannot alter the walls in your home, you could make a brick decoration. For instance, you could purchase a few bricks and stack them in front of a wall or use them to make a bookshelf.
Add a water element to your home décor. Install a slate water wall in one of your rooms to add the soothing feel of a waterfall to your home. If a slate water wall sounds too pricey, consider placing a small water fountain on your deck or on your living room table. You can find water fountains in a variety of sizes and shapes.
You can find water fountains at home décor, online retailers and some larger hardware stores.
Indoor water fixtures range from approximately $200 to $2500.
There are many different types of fountains such as tabletop fountains, fountains that sit on the floor and water fixtures that hang on a wall.
Method 2 Bringing Plant Life into Your Home Décor.
Plant an herb garden in your kitchen. An indoor herb garden will bring the smells and tastes of the garden into your kitchen. It also makes cooking a lot easier. Start by finding a sunny window such as a south or southwest facing window. Place your herbs in small pots on the windowsill and remember to put a saucepan underneath to catch drainage. Enjoy sage, rosemary, basil or other herbs in your kitchen.
Avoid north facing windows for indoor kitchen herb gardens. They do not provide enough light.
Add a spider plant to your bedroom. Spider plants look great in a hanging basket by a window. They have pretty green and yellow stems. They are very easy to maintain. They require bright or moderate amounts of sun.
Water occasionally when they are new and then moderately after one year.
Put a succulent in your living room. A succulent will add a nice flourish to your living room. Consider placing a few succulents on your mantle place, living room table or on side tables. You could make a succulent center piece for your living room table. On another table, you could put glass jars with sand and air plants or succulents on top.
Use cacti in your living spaces. You could place a small cactus on your home office table. If you are more ambitious, you could create a small cactus garden with different sized and shaped cacti in your living room. Play around with the shapes and sizes of the cacti. It might be best to place the small cacti in front of the larger cacti, so you get a sense of depth in your cactus garden.
Get weekly flower delivery. You can purchase a weekly flower delivery service so that you can look forward to fresh cut flowers every week. This is a great option if you live in a rental apartment. Talk to your florist about the kinds of flowers you enjoy and ask about the availability of seasonal varieties.
Method 3 Adding Light to Your Home.
Get more light into your home by opening up the windows. Remove old curtains or replace old windows that don’t let enough light into your house or apartment. With new windows and curtains that let more light into your home, you will feel a lot more connected to nature and the outdoors.
Consider purchasing natural linen or cotton curtains.
Consider the style of curtain you would like to purchase such as sill curtains, which go to the windowsill, or apron curtains that go over the windowsill. Floor curtains go all the way to the floor.
Add windows to your home. You may want to add a few windows to your apartment or house. Consider whether there are any parts of the house or apartment that would offer a nice view of the outdoors such as a pond or a forest. Also, consider what size of window would make sense and the price of the renovations.
Consider purchasing wooden, double-hung windows. This type of window will cost you a bit more up front but should save you money in electricity costs in the long run while adding a natural look to home.
Add a salt rock lamp to your bedroom. Himalayan salt rock lamps are great for mood lighting in your bedroom or living room. They have a soft glow and have a range of purported health benefits. Made from natural sea salts, they are a nice way to bring some natural light into your home.
Use a natural candle holder. You can find beeswax candles and Himalayan sea salt candle holders. Place some candles in natural candle holders in your living room or bedroom for natural mood lighting.
Warnings.
If you have pets or small children, you should avoid certain house plants such as philodendron, pothos, arrowhead, lily, peace lily, dieffenbachia, oleander, caladium, mother-in-law’s tongue and ivy.
Window coverings like curtains give you a way to control the amount of natural light in your home. They also give you some privacy, especially at night. If you’d like to cover the windows but or prefer not to have curtains, you still have several options available. If you’re looking for a practical solution, try adding blinds or mounting shutters over the windows. If you want your windows to look more artsy, you can apply faux stained glass over the windows.
Placing Blinds or Shades over Your Windows.
Install blinds for a clean, adjustable look. Blinds are a great substitute for curtains. If you'd like to try blinds, you'll first need to measure the width and height of your window. Then, purchase sets of blinds at a local home-improvement store. Begin the installation by hanging the brackets at the top corners of each window. Then, hang the head rail and attach the valence over it once the rail is in place.
Blinds allow complete control over the amount of light that comes in. You can raise blinds during the day and lower them at night, and can also adjust the positioning of the slats to allow more or less daylight into your home.
Choose wood blinds for your office, den, or study. Wood blinds are darker than vinyl blinds (which are typically white) and can bring a rustic look to the rooms of your home. They come in a variety of stained or painted colors, so can be customized to suit your décor. As with other types of blinds, they can be adjusted throughout the day (and night) to allow natural light or close of visibility.
Do not install wooden blinds in the kitchen or bathroom, since the moisture could damage the wood.
Opt for vertical blinds in a window that’s wider than it is tall. Vertical blinds work well in tall, narrow hallway or entranceway windows that are less than 1 foot (30 cm) wide. They cannot be raised and lowered, since the slats are vertical. However, you can still adjust the slats to let in more or less light depending on the time of day.
Installing traditional horizontal blinds in a tall, narrow window would be impractical and look odd.
Use shades for a soft covering that allows ambient light. If you don't want your window coverings to block out too much ambient light, choose shades. Shades are typically made of soft cloth and can be raised or lowered during the day or night, respectively. They also allow more ambient light than blinds and come in a larger variety of styles. Purchase shades at any home-improvement store.
Install honeycomb shades if you live in a cold climate. Honeycomb shades contain many small tubes of air that hold warm air and keep your home warm overnight.
Try woven wood shades in rooms that receive overly bright sunlight. Woven shades are typically made from bamboo. They block a great deal of light, but can still be raised and lowered depending on how bright the room needs to be.
Select Roman shades in more formal dining or living rooms. Roman shades are made of billowy fabric that you can raise or lower to let in more or less light, or to block the inside of your home from view at night. They’re considered a sleek option and are typically custom-ordered for individual windows. Also order blackout Roman shades if you’d like the option to shut out all light from a room.
If you like the idea of fabric shades but don’t have a formal room, try an opaque twill tight-weave shade.
Applying Coverings to the Glass.
Attach faux stained glass to your windows for a colorful look. If you’d like to cover your windows while adding a burst of color to your home, faux stained glass is the way to go. Purchase pre-made faux stained glass windows at a hobby or craft-supply store. Depending on the window’s location, either lean the faux stained glass up against it or attach the glass to the window frame with mirror hanging hardware.
Or, you can make your own faux stained glass panes. You’ll need to purchase a glass pane the same size as the window you’re covering, and color it using stencils and glass paint. You can purchase all the items at a craft store or hobby-supply shop.
Layer gallery glass over your windows to create an opaque surface. If you want to make the surface of your windows translucent but don’t want to completely block visibility and natural light, try gallery glass. Gallery glass is a liquid that you can apply directly to your windows that dries opaque but still lets in some natural light.
Follow the directions to apply the gallery glass to your window, and add texture by running a toothpick through the material before it dries.
Purchase gallery glass at a local art-supply store or hobby shop.
Apply window insulation film to the windows to keep in warm air. Window insulation film adds an insulating layer over your windows and will trap warm air in your home during chilly winter months. To apply it, stick the adhesive side of the insulation film directly onto the surface of the window. Then, blow hot air onto the film using a hair dryer. After 3-5 minutes, the film will shrink and fully adhere to the window.
Purchase window insulation film at a local hardware store or any major home-improvement store. The package should clearly state how much glass the insulation film will cover.
Covering Windows with Shutters.
Mount panel shutters over your windows to block visibility at night. Shutters are a common alternative to curtains and blinds. The horizontal slats allow partial visibility, and you can open or close the shutters depending on the time of day and intensity of the natural outdoor light. Purchase shutters at your local home-improvement store. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and materials, so choose an option that suits the size of your windows.
The shutters will come with directions for how to install them. If you’d rather not install the shutters yourself, the home-improvement store can send professionals to install them for you.
Install interior barn door shutters for a rustic look. Indoor barn door shutters are both practical and aesthetic. They give your home a rustic, rural appeal and, like traditional shutters, can be adjusted to let in more or less light throughout the day. Most styles of barn door shutters slide back and forth on track mounts.
Purchase barn door shutters at a home-improvement store near you. Many large online retailers and general home-supply stores also sell barn door shutters, although these may be a lower quality.
Set up plantation shutters for full control over visibility. Unlike panel shutters, plantation shutters can be minutely adjusted from inside of the house by raising or lowering a bar that controls the shutter slats. This allows you to make slight adjustments to the amount of natural light that enters your home as the position of the sun changes. Plantation shutters also fully reduce visibility in at night.
Buy plantation shutters at any major home-improvement store. As with other shutter types, you can either install them yourself or ask the store to send a technician to install the shutters for you.
Covering the Window with Objects.
Mount a shelf in front of a window for partial coverage. A shelf is a great way to partially cover a window without blocking out natural light. Measure the width of your window, and buy a shelf that’s about 4 inches (10 cm) wider at a local home-improvement store. Mount the shelf as directed in the instructions that come with the shelf.
Then, decorate the shelf as you like: for example, add a few houseplants, a couple of books, and a decorative vase.
As an added bonus, you’ll increase the amount of storage space in your home.
Hang a DIY valence made of draped fabric in front of the window. Drive 2 nails (or push pins) into the wall, 1 on each side of the top of your window. Tie a piece of twine or string between the nails. Then, hang 15–20 pieces of fabric over it. Each strip should be between 20–25 inches (51–64 cm) long. Use bandanas, scarves, or a leftover fabric garland.
The valence will fully cover the top portion of your window but still allow some visibility and natural light.
For a more refined-looking valence, hang a curtain rod over your window, and drape pieces of fabric over the rod.
Place 3–5 tall potted plants in front of a window. While plants aren’t technically a window covering, they’re effective at partially blocking visibility while allowing in natural light. Try setting a few houseplants on the windowsill of a kitchen window. Or, if you want to cover a tall, narrow window (e.g., in a hall or entranceway), set a single tall houseplant directly in front of it.
Purchase house plants at a plant nursery or gardening center.
Tips.
One of the few disadvantages of blinds is that the attract dust. You’ll need to clean every slat frequently, or they’ll become very dirty.
These window-covering tips are especially useful for renters, who are often prohibited from installing blinds or curtains. If you rent your house or apartment and are considering making a permanent alteration to your windows, consult your landlord or leasing agency first.
A new home is a blank canvas; you get the opportunity to transform each and every room into a personality filled space that you'll adore. Whether you're tired of your old space or you're moving into a new one, decorating it is imperative to adding coziness and charm. Try changing up large aspects of your home along with incorporating small details, for the best results.
Making Big Changes.
Paint your walls. If you live in a rented space, this might not be an option for you. However, if you’re able to, painting the walls in your house can be one of the quickest ways to freshen up the look and add a bit of interest. Choose a color that complements your personality and fits your space. If you’re bubbly and fun, consider a golden yellow or bright green. Calm and collected? A shade of gray or blue might be more your pace. Paint isn’t permanent, so feel free to experiment with colors until you find a look you love!
Don’t be afraid to try several colors spread throughout your home; although you don’t want many different bright colors, painting each room a different color is totally appropriate.
Although it’s not as in style as it used to be, you can apply wallpaper on an accent wall to add a bit of pattern, if you want. There are even wall decals that act like wallpaper but are removable, if you’re afraid of the permanence of it.
If you’re not ready to paint one whole room (let alone your house!), try adding an accent wall. This is when you paint just a single wall in a room, typically one that gets a lot of attention, a bright or cheery color that matches your décor.
Try out new furniture. Furniture is arguably the most important aspect of decorating; if you’re short on furniture or have been using the same pieces for many years, consider bringing some new furniture into your home. Choose comfortable pieces in colors and styles that match your personality. Don’t be afraid to try something other than what the store model has set up; furniture that truly shows your personality will fit in your space better than boring floor model furniture you pick up because it is on sale.
Don’t be afraid to buy used furniture from thrift stores; it is easy to repaint and reupholster these to match your space.
Mix and match furniture rather than using only matching sets; you’ll end up with a more unique look, and probably save some money in the process.
Use decorative storage. Whether you’re incredibly organized or a bit of a hoarder, nearly everyone has stuff that needs to go into storage. Rather than shoving it under a bed or in the back of a closet, try using decorative storage instead. Look for ottomans that store things in their hollow centers, entertainment centers with doors, and large bookshelves and hutches to hold your knickknacks. By using storage that’s attractive, you kill two birds with one stone.
Cover shoeboxes in fabric or spray-paint store-bought storage crates to create sophisticated solutions to your storage problems.
Book cases can be used to store nearly anything, aside from books. Consider placing one in your kitchen to hold dishes or in your living room for assorted decorations.
When you buy new furniture, look for pieces that have hidden storage available.
Refurbish old furniture and accents. If you don’t have enough money to buy new furniture for your apartment, give your current furniture a makeover. In a kitchen or bathroom, try painting the cabinets a new color or staining them. Use cheap fabric to reupholster your couches or chairs, and try a stain on your floors to change the color. Wood accents (on edges of furniture, the windowsills, trim, doors, etc.) can be painted or stained a bold new color. If nothing else, try moving your furniture into new locations and see the difference it makes on their appearance.
Adding Decorative Details.
Hang up some artwork. Nothing does more for a space than filling the walls with artwork, prints, and posters. Choose a selection of artwork and prints in complementary colors and themes; think nature photography, paintings, concert posters, favorite quotes, etc. Head to a local thrift store or the clearance rack of a department store and pick up some picture frames that match the sizes of your artwork. Then, hang your prints all over your home. A bare wall is a boring wall, so try to have at least a few large pieces and a few small pieces of art displayed throughout your house.
Keep in mind that you can paint your picture frames to match your artwork or furniture.
You can purchase incredibly cheap prints of famous paintings online, making it easy to add lots of art to your home.
Add your favorite pictures/memories. To make your house truly idiosyncratic and appealing, add framed photos of your favorite memories, trips, people, and locations. You can print large photographs from different experiences throughout your life to hang as centerpieces on your walls, or you can print small versions to place in standing frames around your house. People will love seeing your home filled with your favorite pictures, and you’ll always have good things to be reminded of while you sit and relax.
You can find cheap picture frames for your photos at thrift stores, which can then be painted to match the interior of your house.
Try hanging your photographs with assorted artwork in your home in a gallery display. This will allow you to showcase lots of your favorite pieces at once, and add a more personal touch than just paintings might do.
Add floating shelves. Floating shelves are small rows of shelves that are attached directly to your wall, allowing you to hang prints and photos around them. These are great for placing small decorative items and knickknacks on. Add glass bottles/vases of flowers, trinkets, things you’ve collected from your travels, and other pretty things to the shelves that match your interior decorating. These are also a great way to showcase art and photos without filling your walls with holes to hang them up.
Floating shelves are great for decorating a bathroom and allowing you to store towels and the like with a small amount of space.
Try using floating shelves in your kitchen to store cookbooks and pretty glassware/china.
Use creative lighting. Generic light covers and shades may come with your home, but they typically lack interest and personality. Mix up your lighting by purchasing new, more decorative options. Look for items to work as your primary light source that match the general style of the room, but that aren’t too bold. Small interesting lamps can be interspersed throughout your home to add light and flare to your style. If you’re interested in DIY, you can purchase old lamps and shades from a thrift store and spray paint or cover them in fabric for a fresh new look.
If you’re using multiple lights in one room, try to vary the sizes, colors, and shapes of the lamps (unless they’re a matching set).
You can never have too much light, so don’t be afraid of using several light fixtures in a single room or a small area.
Hang up some new curtains. Curtains are one of the most underused style tools in decorating a home. With just a bit of carpentry work, you can install curtain rods and add lovely curtains that match your furniture perfectly. Look for curtains that have plenty of color or pattern to brighten up your room. If you’re working in a space you’d like to keep dark (like a bedroom), you can add room-darkening curtains or drapes in dark hues to block out light. If you’re trying to make a space look bigger, add light colored and textured curtains.
Look for matching rugs. The purpose of rugs is dual in nature: cover up unattractive or dirty flooring and add interest and pattern to your floor. Look for rugs to fill up the empty spaces in your home; these will make your house seem full of furniture even when it's a bit bare. Find rugs in colors and patterns that match your décor (or go with it; too much ‘matching’ might look boring). You can also arrange furniture on a rug. There are basically three ways you can arrange furniture on your rug. Rugs can be places in nearly every room of your home, including your kitchen and bathroom, so don’t be afraid of getting several!
You can purchase cuts of carpet and have them finished to create your own rug for your home, for cheap.
There are basically three ways you can arrange furniture on your rug. Rugs can be places in nearly every room of your home, including your kitchen and bathroom, so don’t be afraid of getting several!
All on: The rug is large enough to place all of the furniture legs on top of it.
All off: If you have a small room, keeping all legs off the rug is a great cost-effective choice.
Front on: Put just the front feet of all your seating pieces on the rug.
A new home is a blank canvas. you get the opportunity to transform each and every room into a personality filled space that you'll adore. Whether you're tired of your old space or you're moving into a new one, decorating it is imperative to adding coziness and charm. Try changing up large aspects of your home along with incorporating small details, for the best results.
Method 1 Making Big Changes.
1. Paint your walls. If you live in a rented space, this might not be an option for you. However, if you’re able to, painting the walls in your house can be one of the quickest ways to freshen up the look and add a bit of interest. Choose a color that complements your personality and fits your space. If you’re bubbly and fun, consider a golden yellow or bright green. Calm and collected? A shade of gray or blue might be more your pace. Paint isn’t permanent, so feel free to experiment with colors until you find a look you love!
Don’t be afraid to try several colors spread throughout your home; although you don’t want many different bright colors, painting each room a different color is totally appropriate.
Although it’s not as in style as it used to be, you can apply wallpaper on an accent wall to add a bit of pattern, if you want. There are even wall decals that act like wallpaper but are removable, if you’re afraid of the permanence of it.
If you’re not ready to paint one whole room (let alone your house!), try adding an accent wall. This is when you paint just a single wall in a room, typically one that gets a lot of attention, a bright or cheery color that matches your décor.
2. Try out new furniture. Furniture is arguably the most important aspect of decorating; if you’re short on furniture or have been using the same pieces for many years, consider bringing some new furniture into your home. Choose comfortable pieces in colors and styles that match your personality. Don’t be afraid to try something other than what the store model has set up; furniture that truly shows your personality will fit in your space better than boring floor model furniture you pick up because it is on sale.
Don’t be afraid to buy used furniture from thrift stores; it is easy to repaint and reupholster these to match your space.
Mix and match furniture rather than using only matching sets; you’ll end up with a more unique look, and probably save some money in the process.
3. Use decorative storage. Whether you’re incredibly organized or a bit of a hoarder, nearly everyone has stuff that needs to go into storage. Rather than shoving it under a bed or in the back of a closet, try using decorative storage instead. Look for ottomans that store things in their hollow centers, entertainment centers with doors, and large bookshelves and hutches to hold your knickknacks. By using storage that’s attractive, you kill two birds with one stone.
Cover shoeboxes in fabric or spray-paint store-bought storage crates to create sophisticated solutions to your storage problems.
Book cases can be used to store nearly anything, aside from books. Consider placing one in your kitchen to hold dishes or in your living room for assorted decorations.
When you buy new furniture, look for pieces that have hidden storage available.
4. Refurbish old furniture and accents. If you don’t have enough money to buy new furniture for your apartment, give your current furniture a makeover. In a kitchen or bathroom, try painting the cabinets a new color or staining them. Use cheap fabric to reupholster your couches or chairs, and try a stain on your floors to change the color. Wood accents (on edges of furniture, the windowsills, trim, doors, etc.) can be painted or stained a bold new color. If nothing else, try moving your furniture into new locations and see the difference it makes on their appearance.
Method 2 Adding Decorative Details.
1. Hang up some artwork. Nothing does more for a space than filling the walls with artwork, prints, and posters. Choose a selection of artwork and prints in complementary colors and themes; think nature photography, paintings, concert posters, favorite quotes, etc. Head to a local thrift store or the clearance rack of a department store and pick up some picture frames that match the sizes of your artwork. Then, hang your prints all over your home. A bare wall is a boring wall, so try to have at least a few large pieces and a few small pieces of art displayed throughout your house.
Keep in mind that you can paint your picture frames to match your artwork or furniture.
You can purchase incredibly cheap prints of famous paintings online, making it easy to add lots of art to your home.
2. Add your favorite pictures/memories. To make your house truly idiosyncratic and appealing, add framed photos of your favorite memories, trips, people, and locations. You can print large photographs from different experiences throughout your life to hang as centerpieces on your walls, or you can print small versions to place in standing frames around your house. People will love seeing your home filled with your favorite pictures, and you’ll always have good things to be reminded of while you sit and relax.
You can find cheap picture frames for your photos at thrift stores, which can then be painted to match the interior of your house.
Try hanging your photographs with assorted artwork in your home in a gallery display. This will allow you to showcase lots of your favorite pieces at once, and add a more personal touch than just paintings might do.
3. Add floating shelves. Floating shelves are small rows of shelves that are attached directly to your wall, allowing you to hang prints and photos around them.[5] These are great for placing small decorative items and knickknacks on. Add glass bottles/vases of flowers, trinkets, things you’ve collected from your travels, and other pretty things to the shelves that match your interior decorating. These are also a great way to showcase art and photos without filling your walls with holes to hang them up.
Floating shelves are great for decorating a bathroom and allowing you to store towels and the like with a small amount of space.
Try using floating shelves in your kitchen to store cookbooks and pretty glassware/china.
4. Use creative lighting. Generic light covers and shades may come with your home, but they typically lack interest and personality. Mix up your lighting by purchasing new, more decorative options. Look for items to work as your primary light source that match the general style of the room, but that aren’t too bold. Small interesting lamps can be interspersed throughout your home to add light and flare to your style. If you’re interested in DIY, you can purchase old lamps and shades from a thrift store and spray paint or cover them in fabric for a fresh new look.
If you’re using multiple lights in one room, try to vary the sizes, colors, and shapes of the lamps (unless they’re a matching set).
You can never have too much light, so don’t be afraid of using several light fixtures in a single room or a small area.
5. Hang up some new curtains. Curtains are one of the most underused style tools in decorating a home. With just a bit of carpentry work, you can install curtain rods and add lovely curtains that match your furniture perfectly. Look for curtains that have plenty of color or pattern to brighten up your room. If you’re working in a space you’d like to keep dark (like a bedroom), you can add room-darkening curtains or drapes in dark hues to block out light. If you’re trying to make a space look bigger, add light colored and textured curtains.
6. Look for matching rugs. The purpose of rugs is dual in nature: cover up unattractive or dirty flooring and add interest and pattern to your floor. Look for rugs to fill up the empty spaces in your home; these will make your house seem full of furniture even when it's a bit bare. Find rugs in colors and patterns that match your décor (or go with it; too much ‘matching’ might look boring). You can also arrange furniture on a rug. There are basically three ways you can arrange furniture on your rug. Rugs can be places in nearly every room of your home, including your kitchen and bathroom, so don’t be afraid of getting several!
You can purchase cuts of carpet and have them finished to create your own rug for your home, for cheap.
There are basically three ways you can arrange furniture on your rug. Rugs can be places in nearly every room of your home, including your kitchen and bathroom, so don’t be afraid of getting several!
All on: The rug is large enough to place all of the furniture legs on top of it.
All off: If you have a small room, keeping all legs off the rug is a great cost-effective choice.
Front on: Put just the front feet of all your seating pieces on the rug.
Tips.
Try adding interesting details like houseplants, or changing out doorknobs, or decorating doors for subtle changes that make a difference.
For a cheap option look into ways to decorate with paper.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere and every spring in the southern hemisphere. It usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. Celebrations may involve family feasts, colorful decorations in homes and temples, and prominent displays of light. Making or buying festive illuminations and decorations for your house is a great way to decorate your home for Diwali.
Adding Festive Decor to Your Home
Clean your home thoroughly before you decorate. Dust, sweep, do the laundry, clean all the rooms. It's customary to thoroughly clean your home to help welcome the Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and fortune, during the celebrations. Diwali also marks the start of the new year, so getting rid of old clutter and negativity feels like a fresh start for many.
Many Hindus and even non-Hindus also wait for Diwali to redecorate and paint their walls. To add some extra style without painting the whole house, you might sponge paint your room or just a single wall.
Usually, the guests and relatives are seated in the living room during celebrations. So you can take a little extra care to decorate your living room. Don't worry if your living room is not very big or fancy; having a clean, aromatic and well-lit room does the trick.
Use colored rice, sand, or painted materials to create rangoli. Rangoli, traditional art designs made on the floor during Diwali and other Hindu festivals, are traditionally made of colored granular substances, such as rice or sand. You can buy stencils to make rangoli on your own floor easily, or you can use chalk to draw the design for your own rangoli on the floor. Then use a funnel with a small opening to slowly pour the rice or sand on top of the design.
You can usually buy colored rice or sand at arts and crafts stores. However, you can also create your own colored rice by mixing 1 cup (240 mL) of rice, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of vinegar, and 10 drops of food coloring in a container, covering the container, and shaking the ingredients together for 2 minutes. Make any pattern of your choice like flowers, the Goddess Lakshmi, a Mandala, etc.
If you’re on a budget or simply don’t want to deal with the hassle, simply paint elaborate designs on cardboard or pieces of wood and lay these on the floor as your rangoli. Make your wooden rangoli more elaborate by placing stones, mirrors, or beads on top of them to enhance the painted designs.
The general purpose of rangoli is to add decoration to your home and to bring good luck for your family. In some parts of South Asia, unmarried young women draw rangoli during the month of Margazhi to welcome the god Thirumal into their home and to hopefully find a husband in the near future.
Hang a colorful toran from your door. Buy and hang up prefabricated toran/bandankar or make your own out of greeting cards, craft paper, glitter, and beads. To keep with tradition, add marigolds or mango leaves to your toran and hang it across the outside of your front door for an auspicious and colorful piece of decor.
Most toran have flowers or leaves on them. However, if you don’t have any fresh flowers, you can also fold paper flowers or [[Fold a Paper Leaf|leaves out of decorative paper, or simply cut pieces of cardboard or craft paper into flower shapes and hang these from the toran.
Beyond simple decoration, toran also serve a religious purpose: they’re used to attract and welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into your home.
Put up Tanjore paintings to brighten your prayer room. Many people take time during Diwali to add decorations to the prayer room in their house and make it exceptionally clean. To enhance your prayer room’s aesthetic, hang vividly colored Tanjore paintings in it and illuminate them with soft lighting.
For a more decorative look, hang paintings that also contain gold, glass beads, or precious gems.
Tanjore paintings are generally used as devotional icons. If you’re hanging paintings, especially for Diwali, they should ideally be compositions of Hindu gods, goddesses, or saints.
Decorate your walls with colorful paintings, murals, and designs. You don’t need to limit your wall decorations to your prayer room. If you have more paintings and murals, hang them on every wall in your house to make every room brighter and more colorful.
If you don’t have any paintings or murals, consider making your own wall decor out of old CDs, newspapers, greeting cards, craft paper, or just pieces of cloth.
Painting traditional motifs and designs on your walls is a great way to add vibrancy and color to your walls, as long as you’re willing to paint over them later!
Add color to your home by hanging garlands of flowers or pompoms. String together colorful bunches of flowers, pompoms, crepe paper art or any other vibrant and lightweight pieces of decor. Then, drape these garlands from the ceilings and across your household items to add a final bit of color to your home.
Any species of flower will do for your garlands, so long as they’re colorful! Get creative and make paper ring decorations and make shapes and patterns on the walls. These are cheap and easy to customize for your decor.
There are some species of flower that are believed to be preferred by certain Hindu gods. For example, Kali prefers red hibiscus, Lakshmi’s favorite flower is lotus, Lord Ganesha enjoys marigold, and jasmine is Lord Hanuman’s favorite flower.
The lotus is a symbol of spiritual liberation and knowledge. The Goddess Lakshmi carries it in her hand.. Make your home more inviting to the Goddess Lakshmi by making lovely paper lotus flowers and placing them near the light display so she sees them clearly.
Illuminating Your Home
Make plain candles festive with pressed flowers. Embed flowers in a plain white candle by placing a small amount of glue on them and pressing them flat against the candle. Then, heat some clear wax in a double boiler to 150 °F (66 °C), dip the candle in the wax for 30 seconds, then dip it into cold water and dry.
You should be able to achieve your desired thickness with 1 dip in the wax. However, you can repeat the process of dipping the candle in the hot wax and then dipping it in the cold water until you achieve the preferred amount of thickness.
Make sure you dip the candle in and out of the wax in a smooth motion to avoid making it lumpy.
The water you use doesn’t have to be ice cold; it just needs to be colder than room temperature.
You can use flowers of any shape, size, or species to press into your candles, so long as they’re colorful! If you’d like your candles to have more religious significance, some examples of flowers preferred by Hindu gods include red hibiscus, lotus, marigold, and jasmine.
Make this activity fun for kids by having them fingerprint a design on your candles.
Draw henna designs onto plain white candles. Use henna paste and a henna tattoo cone to create beautiful, auspicious designs on your candles. Leave the henna designs to dry for at least 1 hour or overnight for best results.
Your designs can be anything you wish. Traditional henna motifs include flowers, stars, water drops, spirals, and leaves, but feel free to make your own design as well!
Decorate with diyas. Diya oil lamps are a very common decoration during Diwali, used throughout the Indian subcontinent. You can easily buy cheap earthen diyas. Alternatively, you can try using fruit or seashells for easy homemade diyas, as long as they're sturdy. To make your own unique and original diyas, carve out the inside of a piece of fruit and place a candle inside it, or simply put a candle in a large seashell with a flat bottom.
For best results, use a fruit with a rind that is easy to keep together and manipulate, like an orange or an apple.
You can also use prefabricated diyas made of more traditional materials, such as clay or brass. These can be bought at most South Asian grocery stores. Try making oil lamps at home. You can make them colourful and use the scented oil of your choice.
Diyas are very significant in Hinduism; they symbolize knowledge, enlightenment, and one’s submission to a higher power. If you have a special design in mind or are keen to make unique diyas of your own, you can create beautiful patterns on plain diyas with colours, flower, stones or even try using recycled materials.
Create interesting light displays with lampshades and lace candles. You can use traditional string lights that suit your decor, or make your own lampshades. Draw floral patterns, stars, or other designs on the sides of a small cardboard box and cut them out. Then, place the box over a lightbulb to create festive displays of light. Alternatively, wrap lace around a mason jar and place a candle inside to produce a similar effect.
Experiment with different colors and designs of lace to see which best create the atmosphere you’re trying to bring about in your home. For Diwali, colorful lace works best!
If you have access to a colorful cardboard box, use that instead of a plain box to make your lampshade more festive.
If you’d rather not make your own lampshade, there are plenty of prefabricated lampshades with cutouts available online or in home decor stores.
Wrap cinnamon sticks around your candles to spice up your home. Tie a number of cinnamon sticks around a mason jar or glass. Then, place a candle inside the glass and light it. Cinnamon candles not only add a woody theme to your home, but the heat from the candle will also cause the cinnamon sticks to release their fragrance and fill the area with the smell of cinnamon.
If your candle is relatively thick, simply place your cinnamon sticks directly against it and wrap them together with a rubber band.
Hang colorful strings of light bulbs and paper cups. Place colorful paper cups, seashells, or doilies over light bulbs on a string and hang them across the tops of your walls for a dazzling display of light and color. Or, simply opt for colorful varieties of fairy lights and hang these for an easy yet effective light display.
Colorful paper cups and doilies can be purchased at any crafting store. You might also be able to find seashells in crafting stores, although you can also just find them along the seashore.
Place lights inside colored glass bottles or jars to make lanterns. Find any empty glass bottles or jars that are lying around your house, especially ones that are colored, and make sure their interiors are clean. Then, place candles or light bulbs on the inside to make beautiful colored lanterns.
If you have empty bottles or jars that aren’t colored, simply cover them with bright cellophane paper to give them some color. You can also create designs in the paper for added effect.
You can make Mason jar candles and scented candles to fill your home with delightful fragrances.
For the best aesthetic appearance, use Mason jars and glass bottles with unique or elaborate shapes to them.
Living in a house smaller than some people's walk-in closets may not be for everyone, but those who are able to do so reap many benefits for themselves and for the world around them. Here are some steps that may help you with choosing the best type of small house for you and how to simplify your life so living in a small house is enjoyable and not confining.
Steps.
1. Do your research. There are many types of tiny homes, from as small as 9 square feet up to 837 square feet. Look at the designs, which range from traditional to ultra-modern in design. Some incorporate off-the-grid designs like solar/wind power, rainwater collection, and composting toilets.
2. Decide what you need from your dwelling and what you want from your dwelling. Most people need a comfortable, dry, quiet place to sleep; a clean place to perform personal hygiene (toilet, shower); a comfortable place to sit or lie down during the day; a place to store, prepare, and eat food for the day. You may want other creature comforts such as long-term refrigerated food storage, a clothes washer and dryer etc. But think of combining these appliances in one machine. Do you really need a dryer or could you dry your clothes outside ?
3. Look at the benefits of "living small:" less space to clean; less pack-ratting of unneeded clothes, broken appliances, etc.; lower energy bills and a greener environmental footprint; fresher food that is purchased, caught, or harvested on a more daily basis; more time available for outdoor activities and entertaining; no need to sell your home when you relocate (if your tiny home is towable).
4. Realize that small houses cost more per square feet than large houses. Designing for smaller areas is more complex, as items such as built-in furniture have to be custom made to take advantage of all the space. Compact appliances sometimes cost much more than full sized appliances. If you are designing or building your own home on a trailer bed, you need to take plumbing (grey water and black water storage and disposal) into consideration.
5. Decide if you will build your own home from plans, or if you will buy an already made home new, or if you will buy a used home. There are also "kits" available which come with all or most of the supplies for building the house, along with instructions. The cheapest option for small living is to buy a well-maintained used RV or travel trailer. Craigslist usually will have several listings under $5000. You get the advantage of having something already designed and constructed, but you have the disadvantage of not being able to fully customize your home to your needs and wants.
6. Pare down your belongings: we spend about 80% of our time wearing 20% of the clothes we own, so by getting rid of most of that wasted 80%, your life becomes immediately simpler.less laundry and less indecision about what to wear that day. Instead of having 3 TVs, 2 computers, a VCR, DVD, Blu-Ray, and 3 different game stations, reduce to one computer--transfer your movies to a hard drive and a flat screen monitor can double as a TV. A laptop with a TV tuner is even more energy efficient.
7. Be creative about storage and multi-function furniture: a bed platform could have clothing storage drawers underneath. If you make a built-in sofa (without a bed) you can use the space underneath to store lots of things. A table can be made with shelves for storage underneath the table surface. Or you could design a table that folds out of the wall, then folds up and down to become a bed. Use broad, deep shelves (including built-in) and drawers, and wall and ceiling mounted items, to minimize the proportion of wasted space above, below, and around the edges of items (due to packing geometry or falling-off-the-edge risk). Consider metal furniture to reduce the amount of space consumed by the furniture itself.
Question : Is it true that in most states people not allowed to live in homes on wheels?
Answer : In North Carolina, as in most states, I think, the prohibition against tiny homes on wheels is county by county rather than state law. We know of at least two counties in Western North Carolina that are tiny-home-friendly, and two others that are not. It takes a lot of research to find a welcoming tiny home community in any state.
Question : Is a tiny house practical for a musician who plays a piano and flute and owns a lot of books and music?
Answer : Your walls will be your best friend for storing your books and for the acoustics of your flute. Although it may be difficult to fit a piano in a tiny house, they make small electric pianos that have very good sound.
Question : How do I locate a tiny homes in my area?
Answer : Your local realtors should have listings. The movement has gained so much momentum, so it shouldn't be hard to find one. Texas, Tennessee, Colorado, Washington state and Oregon have the most tiny homes for sale. Many states sell kits to build them yourself or sell the blueprint/plans for you to base your home off of.
Question : How does it work if I want to get internet in a tiny house?
Answer : It works the same as getting it anywhere else, as long as your house is electrically sound and accessible.
Tips.
To "test drive" tiny house living, you can rent an RV for a limited period of time (like six months) and get a feel for what you need - and don't need - in terms of space.
Build/design for your needs and prioritize your wants and add them one-by-one to the house until it is the perfect balance of desires and space.
Don't try to cram too much stuff into your small home--it will make it appear very cluttered. This goes double for furniture: a full size sofa, a king size bed, a 6-person dinette and a large Club chair or reclining lounger won't leave a lot of space for you to walk around. An armless sofa, double-size or queen-size bed in a loft, and a folding table with 2 folding chairs that would allow you to seat 4 for dinner (using the sofa as seating) is more reasonable.
Warnings.
Not everyone will share your enthusiasm for living small. They will think you to be a little crazy to live full-time in something that they would consider living in only for one or two weeks per year at the most. If you are dating or married, be sure you and your partner are in full agreement on the subject of small living. If you are planning to have kids, be sure you know what will happen to your house at that time: will you build another small house and connect them together, or will you build a brand new house?
Be careful about air quality in a tiny house. Particularly if the house is constructed very 'tight' against air infiltration for energy savings reasons, and also particularly if more than one person is living there, or with pets. In a larger home, the larger volume of air inside the home is protection against a build-up of CO2 in the air that the occupants are breathing. With a smaller volume of air, and if the home is very tightly constructed, mechanical ventilation may be needed to replenish fresh air and avoid headaches or other symptoms of poor air quality. Of course, during good weather you can just open a window. During the colder months, air-quality can suffer.
There is a substantial investment involved in building or buying a tiny home. Be sure you are physically and mentally prepared.
Check local zoning codes for restrictions on minimum room size and RV/manufactured housing on residential lots. Many codes restrict houses to at least one room of 120 square feet and other rooms of a minimum 70 square feet. Some require the house to be built on a minimum percentage of the lot. You may be able to get exceptions granted to you, but be aware that many communities see small houses as something that depresses property values. Other communities see well-built smaller houses as something good for their infrastructure--less strain on the electric, sewer, and fresh water systems--and welcome them.
Used RVs and manufactured housing are prone to water leaks, so check for any if you choose to buy something pre-owned. If you design or build your own house, be sure to pay attention for potentially damaging water leaks.
Designing and appointing the interior of your home can be a daunting prospect. The time and effort required is a major constraint, as is knowing how to coordinate pieces of furniture and décor to achieve a personal, cohesive look. Furthermore, hiring an interior designer can be inaccessibly expensive. To overcome this hurdle, you may want to learn how to be your own home decorator. Decorating your own home involves drawing inspiration from available resources and buying pieces that reflect your own personal style.
Steps.
Browse design blogs and magazines for inspiration. Fortunately, interior design inspiration is abundant. Pick up a few interior decorating magazines at the store and browse through some design blogs online. Bookmark, dog-ear, and save photos that appeal to you, whether they depict entire rooms or simply a single furnishing or piece of artwork.
Another source of inspiration is TV programming that focuses on interior design. The only drawback to this type of inspiration is that you cannot easily save photos drawn from it for later use.
Create a notebook to store your inspiration ideas. A great way to begin bridging the daunting gap between finding inspiring photos online and decorating your own home is by creating an inspiration notebook. Print appealing photos from design blogs and clip pictures out of magazines. Use paperclips or paste to secure these pictures into a notebook.
Work your new design ideas around your existing décor. Redecorating your home entirely from scratch is not generally feasible. The first important step when accommodating your existing décor is deciding which pieces to keep. Keeping large, basic pieces like sofas and tables will save you money, and their appearance can be changed dramatically through the use of accessories like throw pillows.
Furniture and décor in neutral colors can be accommodated in nearly any design scheme. Even a drab beige sofa can be livened up with brightly colored pillows. When a major piece like a sofa is brightly colored itself, this tends to constrain your design possibilities more.
Use your redecorating ambitions as an excuse to discard or give away any décor that you are tired of or don't like. Keeping too many of your old furnishings will hamper your ability to create a new space anyway.
Introduce new pieces into your space gradually. Avoid buying whole rooms full of décor at once; if you decide you don't like it, you'll have a tedious returns process on your hands. Rather, look to your inspiration notebook for some of your favorite pieces or motifs. Search for similar pieces online or at home décor stores, and begin introducing them into your room. As you work, decide what does and doesn't suit your taste, and which pieces work with your existing elements.
During this process of introducing new décor, you'll need to decide on a clear direction in which to take your style. Is it traditional or modern, subdued or lively, matching or eclectic, casual or formal, sparse or cluttered? When purchasing new pieces, ask yourself not only if you like them by themselves, but also if they'll fit well into your design scheme.
Work one room at a time. Note that each room of your home does not have to follow the same exact template; some rooms can be more formal than others or more sparsely decorated. However, you do want to consider some overarching theme that makes your entire home cohesive.
Tips.
If you are working with a limited budget, consider shopping for large, basic pieces at low prices and limiting your expensive splurges to small accent items.
Don't be afraid to shop at thrift, antique, and consignment stores for design inspiration. Mixing new and vintage pieces is an effective way to give your home a lived-in charm no matter what your overall style is.
Nothing transforms an ordinary room faster than adding some metallic. Not only does it brighten up your space, it instantly adds a touch of glamor and modernity. However, like with many trends, it’s important to keep from going overboard. A sophisticated room can turn into a funhouse with just a few too many metallic accents. If you’re interested in using metallic in your home décor, there are a few design techniques you should keep in mind.
Part 1 Adding Accessories.
1. Start small. If you’re new to this trend and haven’t played around with metallics before, don’t go big right away. Try adding a few small pieces to a room first, just to get a feel for how it works in your home – and to confirm you like metallic décor! Adding a metallic gold vase as a table centerpiece or hanging up a mirror with bronze trim are examples of ways you can add a bit of bling to your space without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Purchase versatile items. If you aren’t a professional interior decorator, you might not have a grand vision for your space. That’s OK! You can always buy a few items that can work in several places around your home, and you can play around with them. Look for pieces that can work in your bedroom or your living room, or the bathroom or the kitchen. You can move things around and experiment.
A metallic picture frame is a small touch that can add a lot to a space, but can also work in virtually any space. The same goes for metallic lamps, trays, bowls, and so on.
3. Try out things that aren’t permanent. If you aren’t ready to fully embrace this trend yet, why not purchase a few temporary metallic accessories? For example, consider using fun golds and silvers in your holiday or seasonal décor. You can find festive throw pillows, table settings, display trinkets, and so on. If you still love the metallic trend when the season or holiday ends, you can get some décor that is more permanent.
4. Use one metallic statement piece. If you don't want to fill your home with various metallic pieces, or simply only have one metallic piece that interests you, why not just use it solo to make a statement? Whether it's a metallic tea tray on your coffee table or one metallic piece of art on your mantle, one statement piece will draw the eye immediately. You don't need to add metallics to every corner of the room to embrace this trend in your home.
Part 2 Choosing your Metallics Wisely.
1. Consider the different types of metallics. After all, not all metallics are created equal. A shiny, smooth gold will create a different effect in a room than a hammered gold. Any metallic with an antiqued finish will look darker and older, and a metallic with a brushed finish will be more matte. If you’re not interested in traditional gold or silver, don’t overlook copper and bronze décor! Also, don’t be afraid to mix and match metallics to create a lot of interest.
Again, if you aren’t sure which one you’ll prefer over time in your home, try out a few smaller, temporary pieces! You can get an idea for your personal preference without committing to anything or shelling out a lot of cash.
Don’t buy a certain type of metallic simply because it’s recommended with your color palette or someone suggested it. Choose a metallic that you personally love, and you won’t get sick of it.
2. Gather inspiration from the professionals. If your space needs a makeover, try heading to Pinterest before heading to Home Goods. You can also find decorating ideas from interior design magazines and websites. Even if you have experience decorating your home, it never hurts to check out what other people are doing. You can see how the professionals are using metallics in homes, and you might discover combinations or ideas that you never considered.
3. Repurpose things you already own. Giving your own furniture or décor a metallic makeover is a great way to save a little money and extend the life of your belongings. Instead of tossing that plain wooden dresser you’re sick of, give it a makeover. A coat of black or white paint with some metallic knobs or accents will make it look like a whole new piece. The same goes for old chairs, tables, desks, and so on. You can find metallic spray paints in every hue at a home improvement store.
Part 3 Balancing Out the Space.
1. Pair metallics with soft fabrics. To bring balance to the room you’re decorating, it’s a great idea to pair opposites. In other words, try blending your metallic décor with soft fabrics. A vibrant gold bowl placed on a faux fur place mat creates a beautiful contrast. Adding a metallic throw pillow to a soft velvet armchair strikes that same balance.
Not only do these pairings create balance, but they also allow the metallic element to really stand out.
2. Use a neutral color palette. Using metallics to decorate your home is a pretty bold choice, and it’s typically best to let those elements be the focal point. In order to do this, try to keep the rest of the room fairly neutral. Pair your metallics with colors like gray, white, cream, black, and so on. Not only is this extremely modern and on trend, it’s also much more welcoming and “livable.”
Pairing some already flashy metallic décor with colors like hot pink or electric blue is certainly a bold choice, but you’re likely to get a bit sick of it after awhile.
3. Let the metallics have the spotlight. The other tips have alluded to it, but the key to using metallic in your home décor is to let those pieces have the spotlight. By keeping the rest of your décor neutral, soft, and simplistic, you’ll ensure that your space doesn’t become overwhelming. For example, if there’s a metallic coffee table that you love, go for it! Just keep the couch and rug neutral, and let that table have the spotlight.
The added bonus of keeping your spaces pretty neutral is that you will be able to swap different metallic pieces in and out as you like!
The iconic colors and smells of fall evoke feelings of coziness and warmth. Whether you live in a location that goes through the four seasons or not, preparing your home for the fall means incorporating the crisp scents, warm colors and all-around comfort of shorter days and longer nights. Create an oasis of the season with a few simple touches both inside your home and out.
Method 1 Incorporating Fall Colors.
1. Gather leaves and pine cones. Collect leaves, branches and pine cones from your backyard or a nearby park. Individual leaves and branches surrounding battery-powered candles on a tray or charger plate is a subtle but beautiful accent. You can also press dried leaves flat and arrange one or two in a picture frame. For a more dramatic centerpiece, cut medium- to large-sized branches with changing leaves and place them in a large vase.
As fall progresses, the leaves that change color vary so you can continue to collect different hues and patterns throughout the season.
If you don’t live in an area that experiences fall, purchase fake pine cones, branches and leaves to reuse each year.
There are endless ideas to decorate with dried leaves and branches. Use your creativity!
2. Buy decorative pumpkins, gourds and squash. Decorate your dinner table, sideboards and coffee tables with pumpkins and squash of all sizes. Add some dried wheat, dried Indian corn and fall-themed ribbons to create an entire centerpiece or focal point. Place the pumpkins, gourds or squash on a fall table runner or in cylindrical vases with vines or branches. Accent these festive centerpieces with votive candles.
Buy carving pumpkins early in the season to use as decoration for the fall, and then carve them when it comes time for Halloween.
Yellow, green and purple squash can double as decoration before you prepare it for a meal.
3. Add baskets to hold seasonal items. Place kindling or pine cones to throw in the fire in a basket near the fireplace. Baskets can hold seasonal soaps, lotions and tissue in the bathroom. Use a large bushel basket to hold extra blankets near the sofa. A basket by the front door can be a holder for umbrellas.
4. Add throw pillows and blankets. Find accents in colors like gold, crimson, red, orange, vermilion, tan, beige and maroon. Arrange seasonal pillows and throws by layering colors and adding in a few patterns and textures. Pick patterns and textures with similar shades to keep the arrangement cohesive.
Work from the outside of the sofa and move inwards as you arrange.
To save some money, buy pillow covers that you can put on the pillows you already have.
Don’t be afraid to add in extra large pillows or odd shapes to mix up the look.
5. Drape fabric in fall colors over your window covers. Don’t worry about purchasing new curtains or drapes for the season, but instead purchase a large piece of fabric that you can drape across the curtain rod for a cozy touch.
Make sure that the fabric lays evenly on both sides.
6. Put up fall wallpaper. Before installing, wipe down the wall you are planning to cover and let it fully dry. Unroll the wallpaper and place a few heavy books on the corners to help flatten the curled edges. Cut the panels of paper according to the space you have and lightly mark the wall with a pencil where the edges of the panel should go. Stick the paper to the wall and smooth out any creases and bubbles.
Temporary wallpaper makes it easy to switch out your look for each season.
Peel and stick wallpaper typically runs for less than $50 a panel.
Be sure to measure the space you plan to cover carefully before purchasing the wallpaper panels. Consider purchasing more than you need to be sure you have enough.
Ask a friend to help. The process is much easier with two sets of hands.
7. Add new rugs near your doors. Large rugs can change the look of a room but are pricey, so you can just focus on switching out rugs near your home’s entryways, in the bathrooms and under the kitchen sink.
Instead of purchasing Halloween or Thanksgiving rugs, consider purchasing fall themed rugs to keep all season.
Method 2 Making Your Home Smell Like Fall.
1. Buy fall candles. Look for spicy, sweet and harvest-oriented scents like cinnamon, pumpkin spice and apple. Light a candle to spread the scent throughout a room, and the natural light of the flame can help add to the coziness of your home.
Avoid lighting too many candles at once so that the scent doesn’t become too overpowering.
Always blow out candles before leaving the room in which they are located.
2. Boil cinnamon sticks and cloves on the stove. To make a simmer pot, fill a medium sized pot with water and turn the stove on high. After bringing the water to a boil, let it simmer and add in the cinnamon sticks. Add in orange rinds, apple peels, vanilla, anise or nutmeg as well. Keep the water simmering for hours.
You may need to add extra water every 30 minutes or so. Keep an eye on the water level.
Use a crockpot to simmer the water all day long without much hassle.
These simmer pots are primarily for scent and shouldn’t be consumed.
3. Light a fire. Add kindling and a couple of logs near the back of your fireplace and use a large lighter to get it started. Use a fire poker to keep the flame going evenly. Cover it with a metal grate.
Make sure you clean your fireplace before each season.
Be sure to crack a window or door so your home doesn’t get too smoky.
Never leave a fire unattended.
4. Cook a hearty meal. Dishes centered around root vegetables and squash are warm, filling and nourishing and can make your home smell like heaven. Chili, stews, casseroles and other baked one-pan dishes are comforting and can be modified to fit your specific tastes and diet. Cook with fall spices like cinnamon, turmeric, rosemary, ginger or paprika.
Method 3 Decorating Your Home’s Exterior.
1. Buy a fall wreath for your door. Purchase a wreath with wheat, squash, nuts in shells, apples, etc. – any fruit or vegetable harvested in your area at this time. Weave in fall-colored ribbons, braid, lace, etc. to spice up the wreath.
2. Plant fall mums. Purchase fall mums at a local grocer or garden center already potted or plant them in your own pot. Colors of burnt orange, deep red and warm yellow are ideal.[8]
If you live in a hotter climate, look for mums with a higher heat tolerance.
Mums can also be planted in the ground.
These flowers bloom for weeks and add eye-catching pops of color.
Mums can be planted as annuals and live for more than one season. Consider planting them in the spring or summer.
3. Add hay bales and corn stalks. Few things scream fall more than hay bales and corn stalks. Adore your home’s front door or front porch with these items. Put an equal amount on each side of the door.
Consider adding fall ribbon or using these piece together with other decorative items, like flowers, rustic wood or an outdoor rug.
Corn stalks are narrow making them ideal for small front porches.
4. Incorporate rustic elements. Reclaimed wood screams fall, so think old ladders, rocking chairs, pallets and more to your porch, front yard or backyard. Old pallets can be used as planters for herbs or flowers.
Tips.
You don’t have to change out your entire home’s decor, adding accents to a neutral palette can make a big difference.
Use fall as an opportunity to clean your entire home. While spring cleaning might be more commonly known, fall is a great time to start with a clean slate as the time spent inside your home grows longer during this season.
Fall is a great time to experiment with baking and cooking and will make your home smell like heaven.
However you’re looking to improve, update, or add to your home decor (whether it’s with a new carpet, new curtains, or new coffee table), there are several choices you can make to keep your home eco-friendly. An important first step is to research which product materials to avoid and which to favor. From there, you can lower your decor’s environmental footprint even further by debating where to shop and what to shop for. Additionally, thinking about your own energy usage and how certain decor can affect it can further reduce your impact on the environment.
Method 1 Being Selective with Your Decor’s Materials.
Avoid plastic. If you’re concerned about the environment, treat plastic as your #1 enemy. Whether you’re looking for a new lamp, flooring, or furniture, scratch any products made from this material off your list. Expect plastic to have wide-ranging consequences on the environment. For instance.
The chemicals in plastic are poisonous to wildlife. This is a particular threat to marine life, which are more likely to ingest plastic.
Plastic debris in oceans and waterways provides transport for both plants and animals. This can introduce invasive species to new environments with devastating results.
Plastic can endure for centuries or even millennia with prolonged negative effects on the environment.
Nearly 10% of all oil production is devoted to the manufacturing of plastics.
Be discerning with fabrics. Any time that you use fabric to touch up your home decor (such as with curtains, bedding, throw pillows, or rugs), check which materials are used. Expect some fabrics to be non-biodegradable. Additionally, be aware that some are highly consumptive of energy during production and/or otherwise harmful to the environment in less obvious ways (such as utilizing pesticides during production).
Fabrics with negative impacts on the environment include non-organic cotton, nylon, polyester, rayon, and non-organic wool.
Sustainable fabrics include bamboo, organic cotton, hemp, linen, and organic wool.
Also be aware that dyes, bleach, and formaldehyde are often used in the production of fabrics, which should also be avoided.
Favor sustainable non-toxic materials. Whenever you purchase new home decor, consider both the before and after for each product. Choose materials that cause minimal negative impact on the environment both in terms of production and future impact, like wood, metal, and glass. Whether you’re looking to paint a room, carpet a floor, or just buy a picture frame, research your options and become an informed consumer.
Recycled materials (such as plastic lumber) are also a popular choice, since they often use relatively little energy to make without bringing any new harmful materials into existence.
Method 2 Lowering Your Decor’s Environmental Footprint.
Shop for durability. Whether you’re picking out new furniture, redoing your floors, or painting your bedroom room a new color, think long-term. Recognize that constantly updating or replacing your decor will have negative consequences on the environment, even if you’re using eco-friendly materials. Avoid impulse shopping or immediately going with what seems like the cheapest option. Instead, make choices that will satisfy your tastes for years to come and invest in decor that will last a long time. For example:
Say you want a new armchair, but your current budget is limited. Although you may be tempted to go with the cheapest option available, wait it out and save more money for a future purchase, since a cheaply constructed chair will likely break down in a shorter amount of time. This will increase your footprint with physical waste plus more energy consumption through production and transportation.
Shop locally. Between globalization and online shopping, the marketplace for decor is as wide as the world. However, keep in mind that the farther a product has to travel, the larger your footprint is due to the energy consumed during transportation. Although there may be great deals out there from far-flung sources, prioritize local ones to minimize the amount of pollution and lost resources that transportation causes. Apply this mindset not only to local vendors, but their sources as well. For instance:
If you’re buying new wooden flooring from a store just down the street, the amount of distance your flooring has to travel from store to home is next to nil. However, if the store gets their timber from half a world away, shopping at a store one town over may be preferable if they get their timber from sources closer to home.
Favor used products. Remember that even with sustainable materials, the act of production creates pollution and uses up finite resources. Reduce your contribution to this unfortunate effect by using secondhand items to furnish and decorate your home. Visit thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets. Utilize the internet to find items for sale (or even freebies) through social media and online classifieds. Ask friends, family, and neighbors to let you know when they plan on getting rid of any items that you might want or need.
Don’t let pride get in the way. Keep your eyes peeled for items being tossed out with other people’s garbage. Find out your sanitation department’s schedules for bulk pick-up in your area and go cruising. If you live near a college town, take advantage of the fact that many rental leases expire at the same time of year, which means the streets may be lined with discarded furniture and items.
Repurpose old items. Eliminate the environmental impact of both production and transportation. Use items that you already have to fill new roles as part of your home decor. There is no limit to the DIY projects that can transform one object into another. You can do anything from.
Make a new ottoman out of a plastic milk crate.
Transform empty tea, cookie, or popcorn tins as flower pots, pencil jars, candleholders, or umbrella stands.
Use an old door as a tabletop for a new coffee table.
Utilize nature. Decorate your home with plants and indoor potted trees. Not only are these sustainable decor choices, but they can improve the overall health of your household. Use these to combat toxic pollutants like formaldehyde that items like cleaning products and furniture components can introduce to your home. In addition to live plants, consider other natural materials that can be incorporated into eye-catching decorations, like.
Pinecones, Stones, Antlers, Driftwood.
Choose paint colors that will last. In addition to seeking out toxic-free paints, lower your footprint even more by carefully considering which colors to use. Remember that even your toxic-free paint will still create pollution and use up resources through production and transportation. So, when deciding which color to paint a room, consider how much sunlight that rooms receive. Even if you have your heart set on a dark color, go with a lighter shade if it receives a lot. This way any fading will be less noticeable, which means each paint job will last longer.
Method 3 Using Decor to Reduce Your Own Energy Usage.
Utilize daylight. Let the sun light your home for you rather than rely on electric lighting during the daytime. If possible, install skylights for increased lighting. Switch your solid outside doors to ones with paned glass. Leave your blinds and curtains opening between sunrise and sunset. If privacy is a concern, use other home decor to maximize the natural light while partially blocking the sun with sheer or wooden blinds. For instance, you coul as.
Use light colors to paint your walls.
Add mirrors and other reflective or shiny surfaces to each room.
Keep your windows clear of any furniture that would block the light.
Make smart choices with electric lighting. For bulbs, use CFL (compact fluorescent light) or LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs rather than incandescent ones, since these two types last much longer and add up to less waste. With fixtures, install or keep as many as you need in order to see comfortably, but seek out ways to avoid excessive lighting. For example:
If your ceiling fan holds four or five light bulbs, but only two or three are needed to light the space, remove the unnecessary ones.
Give yourself some options by, say, providing a table- or standing lamp in a room with track lighting so you can alternate between the two depending on your needs.
Invest in some solar-powered lamps to keep near windows and other sources of natural light.
Make your windows energy-efficient. Replace your existing windows with ones that have been treated to reflect heat, so hot air stays outside in the summer and your heated air stays inside during the winter. If this isn’t possible, caulk your windows and add weather-stripping to reduce leakage. Add storm windows for additional insulation. Keep the temperature inside your home as consistent as possible to minimize active use of your heating and a/c units.
Give your windows extra help by choosing thermal-backed curtains and blinds. Although this may contradict the tip about keeping curtains open for sunlight, keep them closed for more insulation during extreme temperatures, since your heating and cooling units use more energy than a couple light bulbs.
