Using mirrors to create the feeling of more space is a common trick of interior designing. If you have small rooms in your home, strategically placed mirrors can help. You can use movable mirrors by placing them near windows or furniture. You can also install mirrors inside cabinets or behind counters.
Method 1 Using Movable Mirrors.
1. Place a mirror along the wall in a narrow kitchen. If you have a narrow kitchen, it can easily feel cramped and uncomfortable. A longer mirror strategically placed along one wall can make a small kitchen feel bigger. Place a mirror running horizontally along one wall of your kitchen, keeping it above cabinets and other furniture so it's visible.
You can buy a long mirror at a department store. Hang it alongside one wall in your kitchen. You will be surprised at how much bigger it looks.
A single mirror in the kitchen is usually suitable to make your space look bigger. More than one mirror may overwhelm in the kitchen.
2.Fake a window using a mirror. Windows can often make a small room feel larger. If you have a room with only one window, you can use a mirror to create the illusion of a window in your living space.
Place a mirror directly across from one window in your home.
The mirror will reflect images of outdoors, doubling the natural light in the room. It will also make the window-less wall look less closed off.
3. Add a mirror above your bed. If you have a small bedroom that's bothering you, try hanging a large mirror over your bed. Place a bigger mirror just above your headboard. If you don't have a headboard, you can simply keep the mirror a few feet up from the end of your mattress.
A mirror over your bed creates a sense of depth. This can make a small bedroom feel bigger.
Keep the mirror on the wall of your bedroom and not the ceiling.
4. Use floor length mirrors behind furniture. In a small space, furniture may feel cramped or cluttered. This issue can easily be corrected by placing large mirrors just behind big pieces of furniture.
Choose floor-length mirrors the same width as your furniture. Place the mirrors just behind the furniture so the top sticks out.
5. Place a mirror near or in an art display. Densely packed collections of paintings and objects can look cramped. Try inserting small mirrors in areas where you display artwork.
If you display artwork on a shelf, use one of the drawers in the shelf to display a mirror. You can also place a standing mirror behind a piece of artwork on a mantel.
If you have paintings or other artwork hung up on a wall, hang a mirror next to the paintings as well.
Method 2 Installing Mirrors.
1. Install mirror doors on your closet. A small closet can make you feel claustrophobic. Have mirror doors installed on your closet, as this can create the illusion of extra space.
Closet doors can also create extra room in your home because you do not need to take up space with floor mirrors.
If you don't have the time or money for a full installation, you can purchase a hanging mirror at a department store and hang it over the door.
2. Use a mirror backsplash. A kitchen backsplash can be made into a mirror to make a small kitchen look larger. If you're renovating, consider a reflective back splash to make the most of your space.
In addition to creating the illusion of more space, mirror back splashes are fairly easy to clean.
3. Add mirrors to cabinet drawers. If you have a tiny kitchen or bathroom, have mirrors installed on the doors of cabinets. This can be done by simply gluing mirrored tiles or small mirrors to the front of your cabinets. This will make your kitchen feel slightly more open.
4. Make use of mirrored tiles. Mirror tiles can be purchased at most home improvement stores. You can create a mirror wall in one room by glueing or nailing mirror tiles to the wall. You can also use them in spaces that feel cramped. For example, in a small bathroom try putting up mirrored tiles adjacent to the shower.
Method 3 Maximizing Impact without Overdoing It
1. Be strategic about where you place mirrors. Do not simply hang up your mirrors everywhere in your home. Always take into account what the mirror is reflecting before hanging it up. You want to use mirrors to maximize light sources and emphasize space.
Mirrors should reflect a light source in order to brighten a room by creating more light. A mirror facing a blank wall will not do much to brighten your space. Instead, place a mirror across from a window or a well-lit area in your home.
You should also avoid placing mirrors in areas where they will reflect things like furniture and clutter. You do not want a mirror to make a room look more cluttered. Instead of having a mirror facing a somewhat messy desk, have it reflect a sleek mantel that only holds a few decorative items.
2. Do not go overboard with mirrors in the kitchen. One strategically placed mirror in the kitchen is enough to make the room more open. Too many mirrors can be overwhelming and even look tacky. Mirrors are not usually necessary in the kitchen, so more than one mirror may look odd to visitors.
For example, if you opt for a horizontal mirror running down one wall, do not put a mirror on the opposite wall. The effect will be overwhelming.
3. Avoid ceiling mirrors. Ceiling mirrors are no longer in fashion. They were popular in the '70's, but many decorators find them tacky. Also, mirrors on the ceiling will not do much to create the illusion of space. Stick to hanging mirrors on the wall.
Mirrors can be great in your bedroom if you want to create more space there, as well as more light. A full-length mirror near your closet can work great if it, say, reflects a window or a lamp.
Tips
Use a mirror as a coffee table surface. This will reflect light upwards and will reflect elements of the room towards the eye when looking downwards.
Using mirrors to create the feeling of more space is a common trick of interior designing. If you have small rooms in your home, strategically placed mirrors can help. You can use movable mirrors by placing them near windows or furniture. You can also install mirrors inside cabinets or behind counters.
Method 1 Using Movable Mirrors.
1. Place a mirror along the wall in a narrow kitchen. If you have a narrow kitchen, it can easily feel cramped and uncomfortable. A longer mirror strategically placed along one wall can make a small kitchen feel bigger. Place a mirror running horizontally along one wall of your kitchen, keeping it above cabinets and other furniture so it's visible.
You can buy a long mirror at a department store. Hang it alongside one wall in your kitchen. You will be surprised at how much bigger it looks.
A single mirror in the kitchen is usually suitable to make your space look bigger. More than one mirror may overwhelm in the kitchen.
2. Fake a window using a mirror. Windows can often make a small room feel larger. If you have a room with only one window, you can use a mirror to create the illusion of a window in your living space.
Place a mirror directly across from one window in your home.
The mirror will reflect images of outdoors, doubling the natural light in the room. It will also make the window-less wall look less closed off.
3. Add a mirror above your bed. If you have a small bedroom that's bothering you, try hanging a large mirror over your bed. Place a bigger mirror just above your headboard. If you don't have a headboard, you can simply keep the mirror a few feet up from the end of your mattress.
A mirror over your bed creates a sense of depth. This can make a small bedroom feel bigger.
Keep the mirror on the wall of your bedroom and not the ceiling.
4. Use floor length mirrors behind furniture. In a small space, furniture may feel cramped or cluttered. This issue can easily be corrected by placing large mirrors just behind big pieces of furniture.
Choose floor-length mirrors the same width as your furniture. Place the mirrors just behind the furniture so the top sticks out.
5. Place a mirror near or in an art display. Densely packed collections of paintings and objects can look cramped. Try inserting small mirrors in areas where you display artwork.
If you display artwork on a shelf, use one of the drawers in the shelf to display a mirror. You can also place a standing mirror behind a piece of artwork on a mantel.
If you have paintings or other artwork hung up on a wall, hang a mirror next to the paintings as well.
Method 2 Installing Mirrors.
1. Install mirror doors on your closet. A small closet can make you feel claustrophobic. Have mirror doors installed on your closet, as this can create the illusion of extra space.
Closet doors can also create extra room in your home because you do not need to take up space with floor mirrors.
If you don't have the time or money for a full installation, you can purchase a hanging mirror at a department store and hang it over the door.
2. Use a mirror backsplash. A kitchen backsplash can be made into a mirror to make a small kitchen look larger. If you're renovating, consider a reflective back splash to make the most of your space.
In addition to creating the illusion of more space, mirror back splashes are fairly easy to clean.
3. Add mirrors to cabinet drawers. If you have a tiny kitchen or bathroom, have mirrors installed on the doors of cabinets. This can be done by simply gluing mirrored tiles or small mirrors to the front of your cabinets. This will make your kitchen feel slightly more open.
4. Make use of mirrored tiles. Mirror tiles can be purchased at most home improvement stores. You can create a mirror wall in one room by glueing or nailing mirror tiles to the wall. You can also use them in spaces that feel cramped. For example, in a small bathroom try putting up mirrored tiles adjacent to the shower.
Method 3 Maximizing Impact without Overdoing It.
1. Be strategic about where you place mirrors. Do not simply hang up your mirrors everywhere in your home. Always take into account what the mirror is reflecting before hanging it up. You want to use mirrors to maximize light sources and emphasize space.
Mirrors should reflect a light source in order to brighten a room by creating more light. A mirror facing a blank wall will not do much to brighten your space. Instead, place a mirror across from a window or a well-lit area in your home.
You should also avoid placing mirrors in areas where they will reflect things like furniture and clutter. You do not want a mirror to make a room look more cluttered. Instead of having a mirror facing a somewhat messy desk, have it reflect a sleek mantel that only holds a few decorative items.
2. Do not go overboard with mirrors in the kitchen. One strategically placed mirror in the kitchen is enough to make the room more open. Too many mirrors can be overwhelming and even look tacky. Mirrors are not usually necessary in the kitchen, so more than one mirror may look odd to visitors.
For example, if you opt for a horizontal mirror running down one wall, do not put a mirror on the opposite wall. The effect will be overwhelming.
3. Avoid ceiling mirrors. Ceiling mirrors are no longer in fashion. They were popular in the '70's, but many decorators find them tacky. Also, mirrors on the ceiling will not do much to create the illusion of space. Stick to hanging mirrors on the wall.
Mirrors can be great in your bedroom if you want to create more space there, as well as more light. A full-length mirror near your closet can work great if it, say, reflects a window or a lamp.
Question : How can I place a mirror to reflect light from a skylight?
Answer : Place it on the wall the sun hits the most.
Tips.
Use a mirror as a coffee table surface. This will reflect light upwards and will reflect elements of the room towards the eye when looking downwards.
Having a washer and dryer in your kitchen can be convenient, but unfortunately can also be unsightly. To hide the appliances, first consider your options. Analyze your kitchen to determine if you have existing areas you can repurpose, another space to install your washer and dryer, or if you simply need to hide them from sight. For options other than hiding your appliances, you’ll need to make sure you have electrical, water, and venting connections before proceeding.
Covering Your Washer & Dryer.
Hang a full-length curtain to conceal your appliances. This works best if your appliances fit into their own space with walls on both sides, and will work with both free standing or stackable units. Use a tension or closet rod to hang the curtains from.
Select a curtain that is long enough to cover almost the entire length from the ceiling to the floor, and coordinates with your kitchen so it doesn’t look out of place.
Set up a free-standing room divider to separate your laundry area. You can purchase either a single-panel divider or a multi-panel divider, depending on the look you want and the space you have.
Use a single panel divider if you have the space to keep it in one spot, and still have enough room to move around when the appliance doors are open.
Use a multi-paneled, folding divider to place directly in front of your appliances. Simply fold it up and set it to the side when you need to do laundry.
Apply vinyl covering to your appliances to help them blend in. If you aren’t able to conceal your washer and dryer, make them a part of your decor. You can wrap the appliances completely in a solid or patterned vinyl, or use smaller decals available in various sizes and designs.
Applying the vinyl is typically very simple—clean the area, remove the backing from the vinyl sheet, and stick the vinyl to the appliance. Be sure to follow the included directions.
Hiding a Washer & Dryer in a Closet or Pantry.
Put a stacking washer and dryer in a large pantry with the food. Use one side of the pantry for your laundry appliances, and the other side to store your food. Depending on the layout of your pantry, you may have to modify the shelving to make space for your washer and dryer.
If it will fit, you may be able to put side-by-side units in the pantry, and have top shelving for food storage.
Move pantry items to other cupboards to make room for your appliances. You will need to rearrange your kitchen cupboards to free up space to store food. Once this is done, you can move your food items out of the pantry, and your washer and dryer into it.
Maybe you have one cupboard for plates and bowls, and another for drinking glasses. Think about ways that you might be able to combine the items in the cupboards; perhaps you can move everything to one cupboard and put plates and bowls on a bottom shelf, and glasses on the second shelf.
This might be a good time to declutter and get rid of dishes that you rarely or never use.
Hide your washer and dryer in a nearby closet. If you have a double-sized closet, this should be no problem. You can still keep shelving and hanging rods above the appliances to use for extra storage space.
Even if you have a small, single-sized closet, a compact, stackable washer and dryer set will still fit; you may just need to find another closet or storage area for your other items.
Hide the appliances when you are not doing laundry by simply closing the door. If the closet doesn’t have a door, you could conceal the area by hanging a curtain in the doorway, or make a big statement by adding sliding barn doors.
Installing Appliances in Your Counter Space.
Measure your counter space to determine if you have room to install appliances. If you plan to install a front loading washer and dryer underneath the countertops (as opposed to taking out a section of cabinetry), be sure your counters are high enough and deep enough to accomodate the appliances.
Think about how you can rearrange the items in your cabinets to make space for the appliances. Consider the layout of your kitchen and where it would make the most sense to remove cabinets and/or drawers to make room if necessary.
Choose an exterior wall for proper ventilation if you are installing a dryer. To avoid the risk of fire, most dryers will need to be installed in a space where it can use an existing vent or window to get rid of the exhaust.
If installing the dryer on an exterior wall is not an option, consider purchasing a ventless dryer. These dryers are more compact and will definitely fit under your countertops, but the downside is that they may take longer to dry your clothes.
Remove sliding drawers and cabinets to make room for the appliances. After unhinging drawers and cabinets and removing all slides and tracks from the cabinetry, use a jigsaw or circular saw to remove the rest of the wood and finish carving out the space.
A wood blade will cut the wood if you are just removing extra wooden pieces to install your washer and dryer underneath the existing counter, as well as cut laminate countertops if you are completely removing a section of the counter.
Be sure to wear proper protective gear like safety glasses and gloves.
Connect your appliances and run a test cycle. It may be a good idea to have a plumber or electrician make all of your connections to ensure it is done properly. If you have the proper experience, you can make the connections yourself.
Do a test run on the appliances you are installing to make sure all cycles are working properly and there are no issues, like leaks, before sliding them into place.
Adding a Countertop to Front-Loading Machines.
Measure your washer and dryer. You’ll need to know the depth from the front to the back of the machines, as well as the entire width of both machines combined.
If your machines are placed in a space between two walls, measure from one wall to the other wall.
You may be able to find the countertop material that is already the correct size you need. If not, you may have to do some minor cutting with a handsaw to trim it to size. Be sure to wear proper protective gear like safety glasses and gloves.
Decide what type of material you want for your countertop. You can install a plain sheet of white laminate, stained plywood, butcher block, or stock laminate countertop from your local home improvement store.
Depending on the quality of the products you choose, you can install either of these options for under $100.00, but prices can range up to $400.00.
Set the countertop directly on top of your washer and dryer. It’s that simple! Use the countertop to hold laundry items like detergent and dryer sheets, and also use it as a folding area.
If your washer or dryer tends to shake a lot during cycles, try covering the top of your appliances with non-slip shelf liner before topping with the countertop. This will prevent the countertop from sliding.
Alternatively, if your appliances are between two walls, you can attach 2 in x 2 in (5.08 cm x 5.08 cm) wood strips to the surrounding walls, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above your appliances, to use as support and protect the top of your machines.
Add curtains to further conceal the appliances. Hang curtains directly below the countertop using a tension rod if the machines are between two walls. Simply slide the curtains to the side when it’s time to do laundry.
Tips.
If your kitchen is super tiny and you are limited on space, consider purchasing a washer/dryer combo unit—then you only have to worry about hiding one appliance. It will take a lot longer to complete a load of laundry, but may be worth it if your options are limited.
Another alternative for extremely tight spaces, is having either a washer or a dryer. You may be able to hand-wash and then use a dryer, or machine-wash and then hang dry. Take bigger items, like blankets and comforters, to the laundromat.
Whether someone is seeking a more minimalist lifestyle or a small space is all that's in their price range, it's very common for people to live in small apartments. You might be wondering how you could possible fit all your belongings into such a small space. Luckily, with some smart creative organizing, you can maximize the space available in your living area, closets, bedroom, and kitchen.
Part 1 Avoiding Clutter in Your Living Area.
1. Attach hooks to the wall in your entryway. Jackets, purses, and bags can take up a lot of space if they’re thrown around. By installing hooks just inside the front door, you’ll have a designated spot for these items. That way you and your guests can leave your jackets and bags here, freeing up space in the rest of the room.
You could also use a standing coat rack for the same purpose. That way, you won’t have to worry about drilling holes in your wall.
There are also sticky hooks you could use that attach to the wall without the need for screws or nails.
2. Hang shoe organizers inside your closets to free up space. You might not realize that the inside of your closet doors have tons of space for storage. Hanging shoe organizers give you storage pockets for all your footwear that might otherwise clutter your floor or closet space.
Mount these organizers inside all your closets to get even more storage space.
Remember, shoe organizers don’t have to only hold shoes. They’re great for storing all kinds of things that might be cluttering your home!
3. Place space-saving corner shelves throughout your apartment. Maximize your storage room by using all of the corner space available in your apartment. Installing these shelves will give you more room for storage, or for displaying decorations to give your apartment some character.
You can either use shelves mounted to the wall, or get a few corner shelf stands.
4. Use floor-to-ceiling bookcases to take advantage of vertical storage. In a small apartment, all your storage must be done vertically. Tall bookcases are a great investment because they take advantage of this and let you store items from your floor all the way up to your ceiling.
Remember, bookcases aren’t just for books. They can store electronics, video games, file folders, or just about anything else that might otherwise end up in a drawer.
5. Find a pop-up coffee table to maximize your space. This type of coffee table opens up to reveal storage space inside. Some types also extend, allowing multiple people to use a seemingly small table.
You can also find a coffee table with drawers. This will still conceal storage space in a functional piece of furniture.
6. Get rid of things you don’t need to prevent clutter. One of the keys to living in a small apartment is minimizing the amount of things you have to store. You might organize your apartment perfectly but still not have enough room. In this case, it’s time to take a look at what you own and decide what you can live without.
Remember to donate things that are still in good condition. Homeless shelters, veterans’ organizations, and other charities would love to have your old clothes and other items.
Part 2 Making Space in Your Bedroom.
1. Get a bed with storage space. Some beds come with built-in storage space. This is a huge space saver in a small bedroom. If your bed has enough storage, you could avoid the need for a dresser or cabinet and increase your available floor space.
Some bed designs have built-in drawers. You could use these as a replacement for a dresser.
You could also invest in an Ottoman bed. With this design, the mattress lifts up to reveal storage space underneath. This space is perfect for clothes and linens.
If a bed with storage is out of your price range, you could also get a raised bed and use the space underneath to slide boxes.
2. Consider a Murphy bed if you live in a studio apartment. Your bed could take up a lot of space in a studio apartment. Murphy beds are designed to fold up into a compartment that looks like an ordinary cabinet. This frees up the space the bed was using saves a lot of room in a studio apartment.
Remember that Murphy beds can be expensive. Even cheaper models can be around $1,000. Consider your budget before making this investment.
3. Mount shelves above your bed for additional storage and décor. There is plenty of space above your bed for one or more shelves, avoiding the need for night tables that take up room.
Remember to test the height of any shelves you install above your bed. You should be able to sit up comfortably in bed without hitting your head, so make a mark on the wall where your head reaches up to.
Make sure any shelves above your bed are installed properly and the items you place on them are secure. You don’t want anything falling on your while you sleep!
4. Add a door hanger to your closet to free up closet space. You can maximize your closet space by installing a hanger rack on the inside of your closet door. This instantly doubles your space by allowing you to hang clothes on the normal closet rack and the door rack.
There are several models of door hangers available. The simplest just hook over the top of the closet door, making installation and removal easy.
5. Hang a full-length mirror on your door. A flat mirror can easily hook to the top of your bedroom door. This takes up very little space, and will make getting dressed a lot easier.
The added bonus here is that mirrors help rooms look bigger. If you're feeling cramped in your tiny bedroom, this addition could do the trick.
Hanging mirrors throughout your apartment could also make the rest of the space look bigger.
6. Get a laundry hamper and keep your dirty laundry in it. In a small bedroom, dirty laundry will accumulate fast. Designate a space for your dirty clothes with a hamper in your bedroom. This will prevent you from leaving clothes on your floor.
Also remember to do your laundry often! Your hamper will fill up quickly and you don't want the clutter to overflow.
Put your clean laundry away quickly too. Don't let a laundry basket take up your space.
Part 3 Maximizing Space in Your Kitchen.
1. Install wall hangers for your pots and pans. These take up a lot of space and you'll probably need your drawers and cabinets for storing utensils and cooking supplies. Take advantage of your kitchen's wall space by storing pots and pans vertically instead.
You could use screws to hang these hooks, or if you’d rather not drill holes in your wall, there are hooks that use sticky backs to attach to the wall.
The added bonus here is that your pots and pans will be easily-accessible, and you won't have to dig for them in a cabinet.
2. Mount spice racks to the wall to save space. You’ll probably run out of drawer space quickly in a small kitchen. Spice racks on the wall will give you room to store all your ingredients and keep your drawers free for utensils.
You probably have room for several spice racks, so feel free to install more than one for even more storage.
You can also use spice racks to store other things like napkins, cups, or salt shakers.
3. Use stackable shelves in your cabinets to stay organized. Cabinet space is precious in a small kitchen, so you have to make the most of what you have. By installing shelves in your cabinet, you can add two or even three rows of storage space that you didn't have before.
When stacking items, remember to organize them by weight. Heavy items like a crock pot should be on the bottom, and lighter items should be on the top.
4. Attach a folding table to your wall. If your kitchen or living area is too small for a table, there are models that hook to your wall and fold up. Like a Murphy bed, these tables free up space when not in use.
Some folding table models also include even more storage space inside the cabinet that houses the table. You can use this to store away any glassware or silverware that you might not know what to do with.
To further save space, consider pairing stackable chairs or stools with this table. Like the table, these can store away when not in use.
5. Store items above your refrigerator. There is more room up there than you think! The unused space above your refrigerator can add some more storage or decoration to your kitchen. For example, you could install shelves there and store cups, dishes, or even cookbooks.
A wine rack could also be a nice addition above your fridge.
6. Utilize the space above your cabinets for storage. Rather than collecting dust, this area can maximize the storage in your kitchen.
Extra pots and pans could fit nicely in this space. This would be convenient while you cook.
If there is enough space, you might even be able to install more shelves up here. This can store more silverware, or you can use it as an overflow area for some of the things in the rest of your apartment.
It's tempting to view these spaces as a junk area where you just throw things you don't need. Avoid that temptation! Keep these areas was well-organized as all your other spaces.
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.
Pastel colors are comforting and whimsical. Though they have been used in homes for years, pastel colors have become a popular color palette. Pastels are often used in a child's rooms or beach house, but they can be used in any room in your home. You can start by adding splashes of pastels, paint with them, or decorate with pastel furniture.
Method 1 Starting with Splashes of Pastel.
1. Look for pastel accessories. If you only want to add small touches of pastel to your home, then adding small accessories is the best way to do it. For example, in the kitchen you could put out a light blue butter dish. In the living room, look for light green coasters. In the bedroom, add a lampshade in a light pink or purple color.
For a bold look, choose all pastel accessories. Or, simply add a few here and there.
2. Add pastel pillows. A good way to add a touch of pastel to your home is to put pastel throw pillows on your couch, chair, or bed. Consider the colors that you already have in your room when choosing pillows. Choose colors that would pair well with the existing colors in the room. If you have a lot of neutral colors in the room, almost any color will work, like light pink, green, blue, or yellow.
Colors like light yellow and purple are great for creating a relaxing environment.
You could also put a pastel throw blanket on your couch or bed.
3. Put out pastel tableware. To add pastel to the kitchen, buy pastel plates and cups. This will add a touch of pastel to the kitchen without being too overwhelming. You can leave them set out on the table to show off at all times, or only set them out when a meal is being served.
Look for pastel tableware at any home decorating store, or at big-box stores.
For a feminine and glamorous feel, pair the pastels with metals like gold and brass.
4. Set out pastel planters. You can use planters to decorate both the inside and outside of your home. If you can't find pastel planters, you can paint them on your own. Set them outside of your door, or put your indoor plants inside of them. You can choose one color, or choose an array of colors for a cheery look.
Put a few planters in various sizes and pastel colors together for a fun, colorful vignette.
5. Buy a pastel bedding set. A pastel bedding set will add more than just a splash of color to your room, but it won't overtake the room if it is the only pastel. Look for a bedding set with a comforter (or duvet cover), sheets, and pillowcases. They can be in a solid color, or in a design, like stripes. If you don't want all of your bedding to be in pastels, just buy a comforter.
Pastels can add a soothing effect to your bedroom.
If you don't want the bedroom to appear to “girly,” you can choose pastel colors like light blue and green.
Method 2 Painting with Pastels.
1. Use stencils to create a pastel design. If you don't want to commit to painting your entire wall, you can use stencils to add traces of pastels. You can find stencils at many art and home improvement stores. Choose a stencil in the design of your choice. Buy a pastel paint in any color, like light purple or yellow. Hold the stencil up against wall and paint the color onto the wall.
Stencils are usually made of flexible plastic. Stencils in the shape of flowers and geometric patterns are especially common for walls.
Make sure not to get paint outside of the stencil.
You can stencil an entire wall, a single strip or section, or anything in between.
2. Choose a pastel color for the molding if you want a subtle look. Painting the wall molding in your home is another way to add some color to the room without painting the entire wall. You can choose to paint just the molding near the ceiling, or all of the molding in the room. Consider the color your wall is before choosing a pastel color.
For white or black walls, any color will do.
For blue walls, consider a light yellow.
For red walls, consider light blue or pink.
3. Paint one wall to create a focal point. Painting one wall in a room is a way to make the pastel very noticeable without taking up the entire room. The best wall to paint is the one that is directly in front of you when entering a room, or the wall that the couch side tables are in front of. Choose a color like light blue or green for a relaxing vibe. Choose light pink if there are reds in the room that you'd like to tone down.
4. Paint the room in pastel colors for a bold look. It is also an option to paint the entire room in a pastel color. If you do this, you should only have a few other pastel details or none at all. Too much pastel can take over the appearance of the room. That may, however, be your goal. Choose a color that can go with a range of furniture, like light blue or light yellow.
Painting a room in a pastel shade can make a small room appear larger.
Method 3 Decorating with Pastel Furniture.
1. Paint chairs for an accent feature. Update wooden patio or kitchen chairs with a fresh coat of paint. If you don't already have wooden chairs, you can look for some at vintage shops or yard sales. You can choose to paint all of the chairs one color, or use a different color for each chair.
Light green, pink, and purple would look nice together for patio chairs.
2. Paint cupboards to spice up your kitchen. Painting cupboards is a way to add an accent of color without a large commitment. You can update your own cupboard, or choose to buy one from a yard sale or vintage shop. If you're painting one that is wooden or a different color, make sure to use a white primer first.
3. Reupholster the furniture in solid pastels for an understated feel. If you don't have furniture that you can paint, it is an option to reupholster old furniture. You can reupholster on your own, or you can take it in to have it reupholstered. If you aren't sure how to reupholster furniture, then it is best to take it to a professional. If you are reupholstering on your own, make sure to purchase fabric made specifically for reupholstering furniture. It will only be a decorative piece of furniture if you don't.
You can find upholstery fabric at arts and crafts stores, like Jo Ann's, and at most fabric stores.
You can find upholstery fabric in several types of materials, like leather, wool, cotton, linen, polyester, and wool.
4. Choose printed pastel furniture for a fun look. If you don't want a solid shade of a pastel color, look for furniture that incorporates pastels into the design. You may want to look for a chair that is mainly light pink, but has black stripes. Or, you can look for a black chair that has yellow polka dots. If you're reupholstering furniture, look for fabric that has pastel shades in the design.
Another example of printed pastel furniture would be a couch with a paisley pattern in pastel colors.
If you don't want to change your furniture, you can add pastel ottoman in front of your chairs and/or couches in a pastel color, like light blue or green. The light colors, however, would be more likely to show dirt.
Tips.
Put out flowers in a light pink or yellow flowers to add a temporary, but noticeable touch of pastel to your home.
Using a lot of pastel colors can create a feminine look, which can be balanced out with dark, solid colors, if desired.
You can use pastel to tone down brighter colors in your own, or use it to contrast dark colors.
Warnings.
Using too much pastel can make the interior in your home look childish or like an Easter egg. Unless you desire this look, try to not use too much pastel in one room.
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.
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.
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.
If you wish to give household cleaning items such as dish cloths and tea towels as a gift, with just a couple of these items and a few pieces of ribbon, you can easily create adorable Towel Angels to liven up a somewhat utilitarian gift. If you want to give hand towels and bath sponges at a shower or give a practical housewarming gifts or give anniversary or birthday party favors, these Towel Angels are ideal. Read on from step one to start creating Towel Angels.
Steps.
1. Prepare the items you'll need to complete your angel. Note: The nylon pot scrubber is missing in the photo. You could also use a small oval decorative soap for the face.
2. Lay kitchen/hand towel flat and fold into 8 equal sides. Make sure both sides fold so the finished end is at the back. Pressing as you go helps.
This is how it should look when done.
3. Roll facecloth and tie ends as shown.
4. Cut a long (about 18", better too much, than not enough) piece of curling ribbon, thread through the plastic hook (optional).
5. Lay the rolled face cloth on top of the potholder and gather with ribbon as shown. Tie ribbon tightly. Do not cut ribbon.
6. Wrap folded kitchen or hand towel around nylon pot scrubber (or small oval soap) to form the face. Note how the finished edges of the towel are facing to the back.
You now have your angel's body and wings complete. Put them together!
7. Place the body on top of the wings as shown. Center of wings should line up with the 'nape of the neck' section of the 'body'.
8. Using the ribbon from the 'wings', bring each end around to the front. Adjust the 'head' and 'body' until you are satisfied. Tie securely with a double knot, creating the 'neck'.
9. Pull ends of facecloth together, adjusting as necessary, and tie all ribbons together to form clasped hands.
10. Once all ribbons are tied securely, curl and trim ribbon to your liking.
11. Substitute nylon backed dish cloths for the potholders on your angels if you wish. Add candy canes to the arms of your angels if you're making them as Christmas gifts.
Tips.
Save the plastic hooks that are used to hang the towels (and many other things) on the store display racks. You can thread the ribbon through the hole before tying the wings (potholder) to the arms (rolled facecloth). This gives the option of hanging the angel.
Use themed or colored towels to suit the occasion. If making these for Christmas gifts, use some Christmas themed towels.
Use yarn or whatever you choose to make your angel, then decorate neck and wrists with fancy ribbon. Add some clothes pegs if you think it'll help.
Add beads to make bracelets or necklaces for the angels. Be careful that these items are not treated as toys if you add anything that could be a choking hazard to babies or toddlers
Make a sign or card and attach to wrists with ribbon or yarn.
Use a steam iron to press folds into the towels. You could also use rubber bands or place something heavy on the folded towels to set the creases. Or, if you choose, no folds at all!
Things You'll Need.
Kitchen dish towel or bath hand towel, Face towel, Potholder (square or rectangular. not mitt style).
Nylon pot scrubber, Curling ribbon, Plastic display hook (see Options section).
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.
Here's a unique way to present a housewarming gift of a set of kitchen towels. Poems about angels are optional...
Steps.
1. Gather the supplies needed. These are listed under "Things You'll Need" below. Launder the towels if they are not new.
2. Loop the two hairbands together. They will hold everything else in place.
3. Lay the hand towel/dish towel flat.
4. Starting with one long edge, accordion fold the entire towel in widths of one inch (2.5cm).
5. Fold the accordion in half lengthwise and set aside.
6. Lay the washcloth flat.
7. Accordion fold the washcloth in 1 inch (2.5cm) width folds.
8. Fold the washcloth accordion in half and sandwich it around the fold of the hand towel.
9. Starting at the loop side, accordion fold the potholder.
10. Position as shown.
11. Place one hair band around one end of the potholder, then wrap it around the nested towel/washcloth pair. Loop the other end of the hairband pair around the opposite side of the potholder.
Moving to a smaller place? Over time, we tend to accumulate stuff - lots of stuff. We have drawers full of stuff, gifts that we have never used (and never will), furniture we don’t really need but keep “just in case” and items that we’ve had for years may be difficult to part with due to nothing more than familiarity while serving no functional purpose.
Now is the time to get rid of excess baggage (literally!) and pare down to the essentials.
Steps.
1. Assess your actual needs. Someday, you may take up exercising, but the treadmill/Stairmaster/Bowflex has been gathering dust for some time. Wouldn’t a good pair of walking/running shoes be more useful and take up significantly less space? Does anyone actually sit in the chair in the corner? How often do you eat at the table? When was the last time you used your stereo? Deciding what you really need requires a good long look at how you live your life daily and prioritizing the activities and items that are already a part of your actual lifestyle--not those activities or items that you want to be part of your lifestyle, but haven't gotten around to yet.
Take a walk through your house or apartment and evaluate everything you come across (furniture, books, food, etc.). Ask yourself if you've used it in the past year and, if so, how often? Be honest with yourself. If you think you could live well without it, out the door it should go. Make a note of it.
Consider that most of the stuff people keep without using is a tribute to an unmet goal. The most common example is probably exercise machines that we always say we'll use, but don't. Then there are those books we intend to read, that table we eventually want to have dinners and brunches on, etc. We keep things around "just in case", or hoping that their presence will eventually encourage us to use them. But let's be realistic, if seeing that treadmill get a coating of dust hasn't inspired you yet, what makes you think it ever will? Make room for the things you'll actually use.
For stuff that you really have a hard time getting rid of, make this agreement with yourself: Put the items in storage. If you don't need or use them within 6 months, give, sell or throw them away.
2. Go through your home, every cabinet, shelf and closet should be cleared. Only put back the things you couldn't live well without. That means that if you use a whisk every other day it stays but the melon-baller when you don't even like melon... Out it goes. Put these items in boxes, crates or bags in a garage or other storage area
3. Measure your furniture. You will need to know how your furniture will (or won’t) fit into your new space - particularly large items such as your sofa and your bed - so measure everything.
You will also need to get the room measurements of your new space. Ask if you can take measurements or if there is a floor plan available to you. Don’t forget about the location of doors and windows as this will be a factor in furniture placement. Once you have these measurements, make a floor plan using your furniture’s measurements. Try using Better Homes and Gardens’ Arrange-A-Room online software to simplify the process (requires registration but is free). This will give you a much better idea on what you can keep and what will have to go.
4. Assess your new storage areas. How many times have you moved into a new place only to realize - too late - that you have overestimated the amount of storage space? While you’re getting room measurements, make sure to properly assess the storage situation you’ll be inheriting. Will you have fewer kitchen cupboards? How many closets will you have? If you are moving into an apartment, does it have a storage locker and, if so, what are its dimensions? Assessing exactly how much of the new space is dedicated to storage will give you and idea of the volume of items you need to dispose of before moving in. Don’t forget hidden storage areas you currently use in your old place. If you place a lot of items above the kitchen cabinets in your current home, for example, find out if the cupboards in the new place have storage in that area as well.
5. Ransack your old storage areas. Go through your storage areas first (attics, basements, closets, etc). You will be surprised to find out what you’ve put away instead of gotten rid of. If you’re like most of us, you will find boxes of items that haven’t seen the light of day for years and there’s a reason for this: you don’t need them. Get rid of them at once. Hesitation will only melt your resolve.
Don’t forget to go through your bathroom cabinets, kitchen and “junk” drawers. We have a tendency to accumulate unnecessary items in these places. Get rid of empty bottles, balls of twine, expired medicines and beauty products, and your collection of plastic margarine containers. Be brutal.
How you dispose of these unnecessary items will depend on how much energy and/or time you have. The easiest thing to do is to load them up on a truck and drop them off at the nearest thrift shop.
Join a Freecycle group to give stuff away (www.freecycle.org)
If you live in an apartment building or townhouse complex, notice boards and drop off areas for giving unwanted items to neighbours is sometimes provided.
Call up your friends and relatives and see what they need. You may be able to enlist their help in the move for a promised dresser/bed/armchair!
6. Sell your stuff. If you’re in need of a pre-move windfall, try these.
For a large number of items, have a yard sale (or a series of yard sales), or if you have a lot to sell quickly, consider a service to take care of it for you (e.g., Google liquidation estate content sales).
If you have time before the move, utilize sites such as Craigslist and eBay to sell off the best stuff. You’ll likely get more money for your items this way but it is more time consuming.
Craigslist is a good avenue for selling larger items such as furniture, appliances and home décor items to people living in your area. If you have the means, offering delivery will often produce quicker sales.
eBay is a good venue for selling collectible items such as old albums, comic books, and figurines. Make sure to take good quality photos of the items and offer good descriptions. Remember that you are a salesperson. Sell those products!
Used designer clothing can be resold in consignment shops. These stores can be found in your local business directory. Be sure to shop around. Some stores offer better rates than others.
7. Get organized. Before you move into your new place, it’s a good time to work out some storage solutions for your stored items. You can do this as you pack. Place your storage items in decorative storage boxes that can be moved and placed in the new storage areas without much effort. Plastic bins are great for moving and storing, come in many sizes, are stackable, and the see-through ones make finding what you need a snap. The measurements taken of the new storage areas will ensure a good fit. Come moving day, these boxes will be much easier to deal with.
Label everything by room. Don’t think that you will remember big television box is actually full of pots and pans. You won’t.
8. Move large items first. Move your furniture into your new home first. You will have the most energy for this task at the beginning of the move and it will also give you a better indication of where the smaller things will go. Do not merely fill a room with furniture with the idea of sorting it all out later. There is nothing worse than trying to navigate through small rooms littered with boxes and stacks of furniture after a day of moving.Place furniture in the rooms as you go, according to the plan you made earlier. If you have done your homework correctly, your big items should fit in nicely and already give you a sense of home (and a place to sit while taking a break from all of your hard work!)
9. Put away storage items. Contained items that are meant for storage can be placed directly in their allotted spaces where they will be out of the way. By putting these things away as you move in, you’ll be saving yourself the stress of trying to maneuver through tiny, packed rooms during the next few days.
10. Organize boxed items. Your labeled boxes can now be put into their respective rooms and the unpacking can begin. Begin with the bathroom, as that is the room most likely to be needed immediately. If you have only kept the basics, unpacking this room will be a breeze.
11. Organize your space as you unpack. Utilize closet and cupboard storage solutions as you unpack. This way, more can be stored in these tight spaces and you will be setting a precedent for how your new, smaller space will be used. Don’t fall back into lazy habits or your downsized place will get you down.
12. Relax and enjoy! You have now entered the realm of living small. You no longer have to worry about the financial burden or time draining tasks of maintaining a home too big for your needs and you have simplified your life by surrounding yourself with only those things that are most important to you. Rejoice!
Question : I need to hire a helper to do my bending and lifting as I sort through my stuff. I have young friends. How much an hour should I pay?
Answer : $10 to 15.00 per hour is good if you don't plan on feeding them. That said, depending on how good of friends they are, you can give them a flat $20, $40 or $60 dollars for the day, depending on how long you have them work.
Question : My mother is moving to assisted living. I'm thinking of hiring a professional downsizer. How much should I expect to spend for someone to manage all of the above?
Answer : Hiring a professional to oversee a move may cost $2,000-$5,000 depending on the size of her home and the size of her assisted living space. If she is a hoarder, triple or quadruple the estimate.
Question : How do I get rid of knick knacks that have been in my family for years without breaking my heart?
Answer : Donate them to charities and tell yourself that they can give joy to others. You are blessing other people by giving up what you no longer need.
Question : With my husbands health I am doing everything and still working full time. I could use someone to come in and help clean good, than keep up with it until I retire. Is there such a person?
Answer : Yes, you could hire a maid or a part-time student to help. You could also ask your neighbors, in-laws, friends or someone else you trust to help you out. There are lots of resources.
Question : I'm trying to start downsizing. How do I start?
Answer : Choose a room and start sorting, determining which items to keep and which to discard.
Tips.
If you find yourself in economic straits, downsize as quickly as possible. The longer you try to hang on to a lifestyle you can no longer support, the deeper the pit you’ll be digging. Take your cue from business strategy - restructure.
Once you're in your new small space, enact a rule to keep your stuff from accumulating: Every time something comes in, something has to go. The item(s) you get rid of should be about the same size as the one you brought in.
Use your computer to replace other electronics taking up space, for example, Do you really need a DVD player, CD player, and a DVR, When you have a computer with a DVD-RW drive. (Plays and records DVDs/CDs.)
Make use of "negative space", especially with small and sentimental things. For example, fill Grandma's old vase with the sea-shells you collected together (rather than in a box somewhere). Store Dad's casino-chip collection in his favorite beer-stein. Fill an heirloom milk-can with Ziploc bags full of pictures that you haven't decided what to do with. De-cluttering is important, but so is being efficient with the stuff that you DO keep!
Avoid adding storage space. The more storage space, the more you are likely to clutter. In fact, attempt to minimize storage space.
Warnings.
Do not flush or throw into the trash any expired/unwanted medicines. They will contaminate the water supply. Any drugstore will dispose of these items responsibly, free of charge. You can also see if your city has a hazardous waste disposal facility.
Don't throw away anything valuable, If something might be worth a good amount of money, sell it.
