how to add natural elements to your home decor

How to Add Natural Elements to Your Home Decor.

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.

November 17, 2019

how to choose rustic chic home decor

How to Choose Rustic Chic Home Decor.

Looking for an inexpensive way to spruce up your living space? Consider picking out furniture and other decorations with a rustic chic aesthetic. Things like wood, metal, burlap and natural materials can lend a rugged, time-worn look to any home. You can deck out whole rooms with rustic chic decor to create a sense of quiet coziness, or mix and match with modern pieces for a progressive look that defies the decades.







Method 1 Redesigning Your Living Space.



Make the best use of your space. Before you get too eager to shop for new pieces, scan the room you’re planning on decorating. Take note of its size, layout, flooring, walkways, doors, windows, cabinets and other features. The rustic furnishings you pick out should be appropriate for the specific look of each room so that the new atmosphere feels like a natural extension.

Some pieces will look better in certain places than others. Whenever you’re picking out your decor, trust your instincts when deciding where in your home or room it should go.

If you could use a fresh set of eyes, seek out the professional opinion of an interior designer.



Stick with a neutral color scheme. Rustic chic decor is by definition muted and minimal. Forget about bright colors, elaborate patterns or gleaming burnished fixtures. Instead, focus on monochromatic pieces in complementary hues and materials. This basic setting will act as a blank canvas so that you can add personality later by using smaller decorations.

Appliances and fixtures in dark, plain shades will go with a wider range of items.

Vary your tones between rooms. The sun room will benefit from light shades like pine and cream, while the bedroom or study can be done in dark grays, browns and blacks with splashes of color.



Keep furnishings simple. Simplistic items are wonderful on their own, but too many of them can easily start to look busy. Resist the urge to incorporate more and more into a room. Get a few essential pieces, like a maple coffee table or a rich brown leather loveseat, and let them speak for themselves.

Limiting the number of pieces in a given room also helps maximize your space.

A room full of items in all the same style or shade can quickly become monotonous.



Replace tired pieces. If you’re having trouble planning an updated layout for the room or deciding on the perfect spot for new decorations, one good place to start would be getting furniture and accessories that you don’t want anymore. Dull, uninteresting items can be sold, donated or discarded to make room for fresh finds. Assuming you’re not ready to part with a particular piece just yet, you could also have it reupholstered and appreciate it from a new perspective.

Sometimes even small changes can make a big difference. You might not have to totally overhaul your living space in order to breathe new life into it.

Give your old furniture a new home in another room, or store it until you find another use for it.







Method 2 Working with Different Materials.



Show off natural wood finishes. Wood is the ultimate staple of rustic chic style. It’s sturdy, idyllic and, best of all, goes with everything. Oak, cedar, mahogany and walnut are all excellent choices for wood furnishings. To complete the rustic aesthetic, look for pieces with attractive staining, irregular angles and other unique touches like bits of preserved bark.

You can find almost every major piece of furniture for your household in one type of wood or another.

Choose paints and stains that don’t distract from the innate beauty of the wood.



Accent with aged metals. On the flipside of sleek, contemporary styles, old-fashioned metals, such as wrought iron, copper and even artificially-rusted tin can instantly give your surroundings an air of dignified antiquity. Because of their shabby chic characteristics, raw and distressed metals are best used sparingly to offset woods and other finishes.

Lamps, bookends and table legs are good places to weave in metal accents.

Use vintage metal containers in the kitchen in place of traditional ceramic jars.



Incorporate elements of nature. When it comes time to cover the walls or fill up blank space, take cues from the great outdoors. Accentuate end tables and alcoves with decorations made from stone, fur or even faux ivory or tortoise shell. Your living space will have just the right amount of wildness while still looking like it leapt off the pages of a storybook.

If you live near scenic surroundings, switch to a more “exposed” layout with uncovered windows and natural lighting to bring a glimpse of the outside in.

Make sure you’re buying from humane sources. Imitation fur and other materials look like the real thing, but are both ethical and sustainable.



Finish with gorgeous quaint accessories. Put the finishing touches on a room with the same types of items you would ordinarily use to ornament your home, but with a twist—here is where unique fabrics and designs will come into play. Smaller accessories are also the best place to work fanciful designs into the room’s furnishings.

Instead of ordinary throw blankets and pillowcases, go with more eye-catching variations like Navajo or wove saddle blankets and beadwork pillows.

A beeswax candle or wind-up clock will make for a tasteful nightstand display, while blown glass bowls and vases can be substituted for a lifeless dining room centerpiece.







Method 3 Finding Rustic Chic Decor.



Visit your local furniture store. There’s no need to venture all the way to the Alaskan frontier or remote outposts of the Rockies in order to find good looking accoutrements. The rustic look is in, so it shouldn’t be hard to track down a few things that suit your preferences at major home goods stores. You’ll have the most luck when shopping for bigger items like tables, chairs and bedding in these places.

Chain stores like Crate and Barrel, Hobby Lobby and Pottery Barn specialize in rustic home decor.

Furniture outlets tend to charge more, so if you don’t like the idea of paying as much, thrift stores and DIY distressing techniques may be the way to go.



Go thrift shopping. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon forgotten treasures at secondhand stores and vintage boutiques. These are often items that you can’t find anywhere else, and you’re guaranteed a good deal. If you’re remodeling on a budget or looking for one-of-a-kind pieces, a thrift store may be your best bet.

Many old pieces will be ready to display in your home as-is.

Be sure to check beck regularly, as store inventories change constantly.



Distress plain pieces. Rather than scouring various stores and shops for wares with the right rustic vibe, buy furniture and accessories new and modify them yourself at home. Distressing furniture is fast, fun and could hardly be easier. All you need are a few basic tools like paint thinner, sandpaper and specialty paints and brushes. When you’re finished, you’ll have a collection of items that are truly one-of-a-kind.

Painted wood furniture can be weathered to expose the beautiful grain underneath, and metal objects can be strategically rusted or painted over with a matte finish.

Change out the hardware on any dressers or cabinets you happen to come across to customize their appearance.



Repurpose old items. For those little extra touches, look no further than your own attic or garage. Most homes are loaded with scraps of materials that are infinitely useful if applied correctly. For instance, you could use a roll of butcher’s twine to wrap drawer pulls and cabinet handles, wire lanterns for indoor lighting or frame an assortment of old fishing hooks to make wall art that’s anything but commonplace. With a few innovative ideas, you’ll start seeing your junk drawer in a whole new light!

If you have a certain item that you want to use but it doesn’t quite go with the rest of your furnishings, try painting, sanding or distressing it to make it a better visual fit.

Get creative! As your own personal interior decorator, you’re only limited by the scope of your imagination.





Tips.

No matter where you live, you can bring a sense of humble elegance and timelessness to your home by outfitting it in a rustic style.

Come up with an estimated budget that you’re willing and able to spend before you embark on your redecorating project.

Add to and take away bits of your current decor over time to let the look of your home gradually evolve.

Break up the neutral theme of rustic decor with fresh flowers, potted plants, hanging ferns and other greenery.

Head down to a superstore like Walmart and Target to pick up small, inexpensive odds and ends that help tie everything together.

Browse craft websites like Etsy and Pinterest for more ideas and inspiration on how to decorate your home.



Warnings.

Beware of lead-based paints on vintage finds. Lead paint has a tendency to flake off when it ages and can be dangerous to inhale or ingest.

November 18, 2019

how to decorate an open plan home

How to Decorate an Open Plan Home.

An open floor plan is a feature of many contemporary homes. These floor plans help create the illusion of more space, and they help encourage interaction with other members of the household. To decorate them, though, you need to plan ahead and define each "room" you want to create in the larger space. However, you don't want too much separation; the whole space should have elements that help create cohesion.

Part 1 Designing Rooms in the Space.

1. Plan ahead for space. Before you ever move your furniture in, decide what areas are most important to you. For instance, if you entertain often, you may decide a large dining area is important to you. On the other hand, if your family loves to have movie nights, you might want to spend more space on the living room.

Think about the size of your furniture and how it will work in the space. It can help to make a blueprint by measuring the space and creating a drawing of it. Then you can make your furniture by creating small cards that are cut to scale. Move the furniture cards around in the blueprint of the room to see what works.

2. Decide what room needs to go where. "Rooms" next to each other are called adjacencies. When planning out your spaces, you need to think logically about what belongs next to each other, such as the dining room next to the kitchen. After that, it's up to you what you put next, but it should make sense for how you live.

For instance, if you work from home, it might make sense to add a little office space off the dining room, so you have a place to work. On the other hand, if that area will have too much traffic, consider having a little sitting area so people can gather and talk while dinner is being cooked.

If you have young kids, a play area near the kitchen might make sense, so that you can see them while you're preparing food.

3. Think about natural light. Placing your dining table where there's natural light creates a happier, brighter space. However, you may want to keep your television in an area that doesn't get as much natural light, as it can create glare on the screen.

Observe the room to see where light slants in the morning and evening. That way, you'll know how to plan the area better.

Also, consider where you'll be at different times of day. For instance, you might not like glaring afternoon sun across an office space because it will heat up the room.

4. Add walking spaces. In an open floor plan, it can be easy to forget to add in "hallways." However, people still need space to walk, even if it's not defined by walls. Add walking spaces that are at least 3 feet wide that will allow someone to walk through the whole room.

Part 2 Defining Areas in an Open Space.

1. Use rugs to define rooms. One way to define each room is to lay out area rugs. For instance, have a rug for the living room, a long rug for the entryway, and a different rug for the living room. Rugs will visually break up the space while keeping the openness of the floor plan.

The rug should be big enough so that the furniture can partially sit on it. A couch should sit about half a foot into the rug.

2. Define rooms with furniture. Another way to define each room is to arrange the furniture so it breaks up the space. For instance, having a couch in the middle of the room can help separate the space into the living and dining room. In addition, adding an entryway table or sideboard directly behind the sofa can help give a sense of division.

3. Create taller dividers. Most furniture is fairly short, so it doesn't divide the space visually as well as it could. To help, add in taller pieces, such as placing a lamp or another decorative piece on the tables that divide up the space. Plants can work well for this purpose.

4. Add different lighting to each area. You want your lighting to be cohesive, so choose fixtures that are similar to each other in material and color and that go with the rest of the room. However, to help define the space, try picking fixtures in different shapes to help delineate each space.

5. Make a focal point in each area. Every room should have a focal point, and that rule still applies when creating smaller spaces within an open floor plan. You can use focal points such as a television, a large window, a painting, or really anything you want to create an area around.

Part 3 Creating Cohesiveness.

1. Continue colors in the whole space. When a kitchen flows into a dining room and then into a living room, you need to keep the colors going. If you use drastically different colors, it can be jarring instead of creating the flow you want.

For instance, if your kitchen cabinets are a light green, pick up the same color in your sofa fabric or throw pillows.

2. Add similar textures and fabrics. Another way to continue a certain look is to repeat fabrics and textures across the whole space. You don't have to use the exact pattern, but they should be similar enough to bring it together. For instance, you could use one fabric on your dining room chairs, and then use a complementary fabric as curtains in your living room.

3. Continue storage along the same wall. If a kitchen wall flows into the living room area, consider keeping the storage going, morphing it into bookcases and built-in cupboards. It will create cohesion and give you more storage space.

4. Use a single flooring type. One way to make the area look cohesive is to use the same flooring throughout the space. For instance, continue the same hardwood floors throughout the area, bringing the whole space together.

Desember 27, 2019

how to decorate your home with velvet

How to Decorate Your Home with Velvet.

Velvet is a fabric that has stood for luxury for centuries. It's still not a cheap fabric, but it's much more accessible than in the past. You can use it to add texture in the background to your home. You can also add touches of glam throughout your house and bedroom by using velvet as a main feature or accent.







Method 1 Adding Velvet to the Background.



Go Victorian with velvet curtains. Curtains are a great way to add velvet to your space. Velvet will block out light well, making it a functional option. In addition, it can also lend a Victorian air to a room, depending on the style and color you go with.

If you want something more understated, choose white so the velvet doesn't stand out quite as much.

Velvet is a great insulator, so your curtains will help keep the cold or the warmth from seeping through your windows.



Try velvet wallpaper for a luxe look. An even bolder choice than curtains is velvet wallpaper. Stick to a solid color if you want the effect to be more subtle. If you want it more bold, try a a velvet wallpaper with an interesting pattern. Your guests won't be able to resist touching it!

Avoid using velvet wallpaper or moisture-prone areas, like the kitchen or bathroom. Velvet is difficult to clean and repair, so it’s best used in areas with less traffic.



Don't go overboard. Velvet is a rich fabric that can look luxurious and add texture to a room. However, it shouldn't be the only fabric you use, as it can easily be too much. Add other textures and fabrics to every room, as it will give the rooms more depth and interest.

Plus, since velvet is expensive, you can be kind to your wallet by not using it everywhere.

Using velvet as an accent creates a classy and glamorous feel.







Method 2 Using Velvet Throughout the House.



Use velvet throw pillows or blankets for a hint of glamour. Using velvet in throw pillows or blankets is a great way to dip into this fabric without going overboard. A few pillows won't break the bank, and you can decide if you like the fabric or not. Plus, you can even do it yourself by making covers out of velvet for pillows you already have.

Even just a touch of velvet can make the whole room seem more sophisticated.

Another option is a velvet throw tossed over the arm of a couch.

Velvet comes in many colors and textures (like crushed velvet) so your options are limitless.



Add it to the dining room for a luxurious accent. Another place to squeeze in a little velvet is in the dining room. Try covering your chair cushions in velvet for a luxurious effect. Alternatively, add velvet pillows to larger chairs, making them more comfy for your guests.

Alternatively, get a velvet runner in a rich, jewel-tone for your dining table.



Go all-out with a velvet sofa. If you really love velvet, consider making it the focal point of your living room with a velvet sofa. The fabric feels great when you're lounging around, plus it's able to hide stains fairly easily. All-in-all, it can add a whole lot of glam to your space without you having to give up comfort.

Keep in mind, though, that velvet is not a great fabric to have around kids. Because it has a nap, it will hold onto things like peanut butter and other sticky spills.

Velvet is a timeless fabric that matches various styles from high-luxury to casual eclectic.



Add an accent chair if you just want a hint of velvet. An accent chair in velvet can make a statement without being quite as overwhelming as a full sofa in velvet. Plus, a high-backed armchair in velvet lends a classy air to the room, as it's a truly traditional look. In fact, if you find an old, much-loved armchair, you can have it reupholstered in your favorite color of velvet.

If an accent chair is too much, consider just an ottoman or other small piece in velvet.







Method 3 Using Velvet in the Bedroom.



Add a velvet bed skirt for a traditional look. One place to add velvet is around the base of your bed. Alternatively, cover a box springs or base in velvet for a more contemporary, clean look. Either way, the velvet will add a touch of sophistication.

As an added bonus, you may not need a frame if you cover your box springs in velvet. The velvet will give it a clean, finished look.



Use a velvet headboard as a statement piece. A headboard is a great place to use velvet. It's a soft fabric that creates a comfortable, yet luxurious look. Plus, it makes a statement in your bedroom without covering the whole room in velvet, which can be a little overwhelming.



Put velvet blankets or pillows on your bed for added comfort and style. A velvet throw at the foot of the bed can add a pop of color. Alternatively, you can use a few velvet throw pillows to accent your bed or a chair in the room. Both add just enough velvet to the room without drawing too much attention to the fabric.



Incorporate velvet accents to add sophistication. You can also use velvet in accent furniture to add glamour to your space. Opt for velvet lampshades or a velvet-cushioned bench at the foot of your bed. Just be sure to choose a color that complements the rest of your room.

November 19, 2019