How to Achieve the Scandinavian Look in Your Living Room
When in doubt how to furnish or redecorate your living room, a good start is to turn to the masters. And who can boast with a long history of home design and improvements if not the Scandinavians? Perhaps the fact that the Northern climate keeps these people locked inside is the reason why their homes are the pinnacles of interior design. And since us Aussies are fans of the outdoors, we’d certainly benefit to learn how to achieve the Scandinavian balance indoors and freshen up our living room.
Coastal Furniture: Invite Summer Vibes at Home Year Round
So many styles to try out, so little time… I don’t agree with people who just come up with the excuse of not having the budget to bring the breeze of style change at home and do a bit of makeover. You don’t have to buy everything on the market representing a certain style to liven up your living space. A little change goes a long way because you break away the monotony that’s bound to happen every so often. I’ve had my share of playing with different interior décor styles and I’ve come to notice they all came to be out of practicality.
Let’s take the style I’ve adopted not so long ago: the coastal style. I’m sure the first thing that comes to mind to everyone is a home next to the coast, with a beach right by the doorstep – dreamy, I know. It’s what caught my attention in the first place, since I love the beauty of summer and beaches (then again, who doesn’t). It didn’t start out as a style but rather came out of practicality to people who lived along the coastlines and dealt with sand and salt from the sea destroying their furniture so the solution they came up with resulted as a new style.
Great thing about it is even if you don’t exactly live anywhere near the coastline, you can still implement it and bring the charms of the ocean and warm sandy beaches right in your nest with coastal furniture.
What I love about this style is its essence is making it seem like it’s summer year round. It helps create a sense of openness, warmth and brightness altogether due to the soothing colours with shades of white, blue, brown, grey and green, be it from the bits and pieces of coastal furniture, or texture elements such as curtains and rugs as well as the accessories. I don’t have to tell you how effective yoga is in this kind of surrounding as I soak up all the serenity in a single glance whenever I do my asanas.
As Albert Camus, French philosopher and author, once said: “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” It won’t be long until we say bye to summer, but my preferred season won’t be over for me as I get to see it every day whenever I’m spending time home, surrounded by my coastal décor. If you haven’t given this style a try yet, now is as good a time as any to do so. Trust me, it’s not one you’d grow tired of seeing!
Most Common Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
As much as we want to play interior designers oftentimes, there is a reason why this is an academic discipline: because there are rules and theory to be learned before you can practice it. However, some people can’t help it, and the desire to design and decorate their home is bigger than the satisfaction of hiring a professional. And while this is a choice, it doesn’t mean that some of us won’t be good at it. Having a clear idea of how you want your rooms to look like is a good starting point. Avoiding a few common mistakes that literally make designers cringe of disgust is another boosting step you can take to pull out a great interior designing move on your own.
Choosing the wrong sofas + decorating them the wrong way
When I say ‘wrong’ I don’t mean that the sofa does not follow the latest trends; we all have different tastes and preferences and there’s simply no discussion about it. However, if your sofa isn’t long enough or deep enough to accommodate you for an afternoon nap, you’ve made a mistake. Look for modern sofas that are long or have an additional piece which can be attached to one end to provide more length. Also, the sofa needs to be deep instead of shallow, as shallow sofas often look like they belong in a dentist’s waiting room. Most modern sofas today are made with the basic comfort in mind, along with a dose of designer creativity in the looks. Another important thing to have in mind is decorating the sofas. The worst way to do this is by stuffing them with too much pillows. Too much pillows may be a good choice for the bedroom, but not for the living room. Sofas are rather small seating options and limiting the seating space even more is just absurd.
Hanging art work at eye level height
You can’t just place a large art piece on the wall on eye level height. There’s too little space between the colour scheme used on the painting and the colours dominating the sofas and the rest of the room décor. And when these two colour booms meets, you’d have a mess that will cause you a headache every time you enter that room. Art pieces should be hanged at about 1.5 metres above the floor, so they’re pleasant to look at for both you and your guests.
Accessories: small rooms, big rooms
Not taking the size of the room in consideration when you’re choosing decorations is a beginner’s mistake. It’s a rule of thumb that spacious rooms can tolerate a bigger number of accessories, while smaller rooms need as little as possible. That being said, be very careful with decorative elements for your rooms and choose them according to the room’s style and of course, the size.
Dining Cabinets: Furniture Pieces that Can Work Wonders for Your Dinner Parties
No matter how much we love our homes, there’s always room for some improvement style-wise. Just as much as trends change, your style can change. I recently underwent such an experience when all of a sudden I grew tired of my dining room interior. Since I love entertaining guests at home, I love organising family gatherings and formal dinner parties every now and then, so the dining room is the part of my home that gets as many visits as the living room does which is why the décor is more than important. Though my guests come over for hearty delicious meals and entertaining conversations, I like giving them food for the eyes as well through the use of wall ornaments which I like to match in colour with tablecloths and create a certain contrast with the napkins.
Despite this colour play, I still felt like something was missing even though I also used the sideboard as a decorating spot for some candles and flower arrangements. As much as I had the mindset of a minimalist and preferred keeping a rather open space dining area, I felt that it was actually the sideboard that could get replaced. After looking through dining cabinets in shops and catalogues, I had a revealing moment followed by an idea: Why not use a cabinet instead of the sideboard?
Overcoming my minimalist urge to dispose of the sideboard altogether, I found its purpose in the hall (now it serves as the perfect spot for keys) and made way for a cabinet. Cabinets are supposed to be both functional and stylish, so I had to look beyond just storage space and think of the design as well. A design mismatch could result in making the cabinet seem out of place and even create visual clutter so always be careful when choosing.
Having seen a variety of dining cabinets, and spending hours of indecisiveness, I was able to make the purchase. Once I brought the charm of the cabinet in my home, it seems that my style and habits also shifted. I realised I was no longer the staunch minimalist. Though I didn’t go overboard with the decorating, I also didn’t go back to the usual “less is more” rule. Using my mother’s beautiful china as a base décor detail, I tried to steer away from the full china look and broke the pattern with an intricate candle stand, vintage cookbook and display teacups and platters.
I feared I’d get a crammed outcome, but luckily, I still had plenty of space left which I used during dinner parties for storing all the goods, such as cakes and drinks, and kept them at hand without also cramming the table. You can imagine the faces of my family and friends when they saw this drastic change, partly because of being amazed by my decorating skills and the other part because of not being the minimalist they thought I was. After getting all the positive feedback, I now try and create a different look whenever I get the chance to change the dynamic of every party by adding various colour papers inside the cabinet. I haven’t made up my mind yet for painting all of it in either black or white, but it’s a possibility. Cabinets are still very much a trend, all it takes is finding the right ways to decorate them.
Ottomans: Sip Your Coffee and Rest Your Feet in Turkish Style
If you are both a history enthusiast and a home decor lover, then it is safe to assume that you are well familiar with the fact that the Ottoman Turks didn’t take the design of their home lightly. On the contrary, these Middle-Easterners were widely famous for their beautiful decorative walls, their colorful rugs, and, of course, their majestic divans and ottomans. Many families and individuals from all over the world, inspired by the Turkish traditional home design, still implement some of these elements into their residence.
Ottomans are doubtlessly the most popular Turkish piece of furniture, since they can be found in houses, apartments, and even luxurious five-star hotels all around the globe. A hotel room is precisely where I had the first encounter with these simple yet elegant coffee tables/footstools. I know for sure that I enjoyed using them because my only vivid memory of my stay at the hotel includes images of me in a bath robe, resting my feet on a black faux leather ottoman while slowly eating a slice of vegan chocolate cake. It suddenly struck me how undeniably relaxing and comfortable that felt, especially after a long day, so not buying an ottoman for my living room was not an option.
Looking for the right one for me through the pages of furniture catalogs and online stores, I had the opportunity to see many lovely ottomans that can easily be placed in any kind of living rooms. Not only can they complement a room perfectly, but they also can become its focal point. Yes, I am aware that it doesn’t make much sense. I mean, how can such a small item of furniture overshadow an elegant sofa or an exquisite center table? Well, many furniture manufacturing companies make sure they can, using nothing but high-quality, rich textiles and fabrics. Oh, and a killer design.
Now, I know that I have already mentioned that ottomans are used as both coffee tables and footstools, but what I haven’t mentioned yet is that most of them come with a storage space. This can be quite convenient, particularly for families with children that are always scattering their toys all over the place. So, next time someone unannounced comes to visit you, you can quickly put away all of the unwanted objects.
It is no wonder why this Turkish traditional piece of furniture has become a timeless and universal one, right? Believe me, you won’t regret spending your money on one for your home.
Bring Royal Comfort in Your Home with a Chaise Lounge
When we think of our home, we think of it as the place that is built for our comfort as it separates us from the world outside. The home is the symbol of a safe haven, and while you may dream of far off places (especially when you are getting so fed up with all your work), it is home you get back to recharge your energy and relax. This is why the kind of furniture you have is important, be it in the living room or the bedroom as they both are meant to be cosy. When speaking of cosiness we instantly imagine a bed, or at least a sofa, however there is one ingenious design that dates back to the ancient days of the Egyptians that still captivates with its beauty – the chaise lounge.
There are plenty of models of chaise lounge chair and sofa that you can find if you want to have some comfort in the like of ancient kings and queens. It all comes down to your personal taste and the degree of relaxation you are after which makes the difference in shapes and sizes. First things first, before you let your amazement be your guide and steer you towards models far more luxurious than you can allow, you need to have your budget in mind. Once you have a notion of the price you can afford, you should have the size of the space and room in mind of where it will be placed so you do not end up buying a much bigger chair than it can fit and have it cram the space.
When you start with the hunt and purchase, you will find many types of chaise that will catch your eye with their vivid materials and shapes, so you can base your search on the style of your interior which will greatly help in preventing getting a mismatched look. The amount of time this kind of chair or sofa requires maintaining is also another factor to consider depending on the material it is made of. With certain materials, such as silk, suede and velvet, you will need to be extra careful not to have them stained or at least remove stains as fast as you can so you make the most of this investment in the long run. Best way you can prevent such accidents from happening is by buying one that has stain resistant upholstery.
Great thing about this piece of furniture is you can easily find its place wherever it is your home could use more comfort. If you want to stretch up while you are entering the worlds of the favourite books you are reading, you can place it by the library or a window. When used in the living room, it can serve as additional seating and in a bedroom placed by the bed it can help you with putting your shoes on or taking them off after a long day at work. The only drawback of enjoying this comfort is you will get addicted to it, so you might also start looking for an outdoor model for your patio or yard. Find your own lounge chair or sofa, sit back and relax.
Bring Your Outdoor Space to Life with an Outdoor Rug
If you pride yourself on your outdoor space, be it a yard, patio or a terrace, then you sure try to make the most of it by creating a pleasant atmosphere that leaves family and friends in awe. To be able to get a different ambiance, there is always the temptation of following the footsteps of celebrities and their houses and apartments we see all around us, in magazines, on TV, phone, iPad, computer and what not. But before you go bankrupt, remember an old saying in mind: Beauty is in the details. Choosing the perfect furniture is a special process in itself and once you have got that covered you can create a put together look simply by adding a rug.
Rugs have always been present in people’s homes in one form or another, but unlike in the past when they were used because of functional purposes, nowadays rugs are considered pieces of art that have the same decorative value as paintings for instance. Oriental rugs have long been the centre of attention because of their intricate patterns, motifs and the weaving techniques which made them widespread in Europe time before Europeans themselves started making them. From a stylistic point of view, they have the role of a focal point of a room or an outdoor space. And they can influence the surrounding area with their designs. You can extend both the comfort and style of your home by incorporating an outdoor rug in your patio or terrace décor.
There is a vast variety of rugs you will come across, so getting your ideal outdoor rug is up to your taste and the requirements of your outdoor space. You can bring some Oriental flair with a damask patterned Egyptian rug or native Indian folklore with one in a traditional Navajo style that could inspire you to have bonding time with your loved ones, telling each other stories and ancient legends. Sitting on the rug could turn out to be just as adventurous as storytelling around a campfire.
The design of modern outdoor rugs is such that it does not require your special care and attention that you have to fret every drop of rain thanks to the mildew resistant properties. And the UV and fade resistant properties protect them from the unbearable scorching sun of summer days. Most of them are made of polypropylene, synthetic material, as it can repels stains so you will save on cleaning products. In other words, these rugs are as durable as can be.
Because of the durability, they make an investment worth in the long run and you can make use of them to decorate your indoors. Pick your preferred rug and turn your outdoor area into a vibrant place perfect for your relaxing daydreaming and coffee chats.
Make the Most of Your Sleep with a Queen Size Mattress
The society of today has brought about a trend of healthy lifestyle everyday habits that we see on a daily basis whichever way we look, be it TV or computer screens. Part of this of course is the recommended habit of getting eight hours of sleep every night, but sometimes this may turn out to be more of a mission impossible rather than be actually achieved. One of the main reasons why many people cannot seem to go to bed and wake up refreshed after the recommended hours for sleeping is the low quality of bed mattress they sleep on. Since we spend 1/3 of our life sleeping, the type of bed mattress and its condition is crucial to get the z’s we need.
With such a vast variety of mattresses to choose from, finding your ideal one may not be such an easy task. Most people point out the importance of the material a mattress is made of for its quality, however you will see size is just as crucial to get the good night’s sleep. As the Latin quote goes “Aurea mediocritas” – the golden middle, meaning goodness can be found in the middle, nothing could be better than choosing a medium sized mattress which happens to be the queen sized. No matter the material of your preference, whether it is orthopaedic pillowtop, memory foam, spring or latex, you have plenty to choose from the models of queen size mattress for sale.
The two things a mattress should provide you with, are enough support and comfort. Considering the queen size mattress is in just the right size, not as small as a twin or full mattress and not as big as a king size one, you can rest assured you will have the right amount of support your body needs and the comfort for quality sleep. You can use the opportunity of modern shopping and look for a queen size mattress for sale online so you will not have to worry about transport and you can compare the prices and material descriptions easily to make your choice wisely. The reason support and comfort are important features is because our bodies need the right amount of firmness, not too soft and not too hard so you do not wake up with aches and pains in the morning.
The queen size mattress will keep your body well aligned during sleep and make you feel you are in a five star hotel instead of your bedroom as well as provide a perfect weight distribution so that any increased amount of pressure is removed from your muscles and joints. The queen size mattress is made for absorbing any movement, so you and your partner will not bother each other while turning in bed. Plus, it is the right size for all the morning family cuddles as well.
Why Hire Professional Commercial Removals to Move Your Office?
To be honest, when I started working in my current company, the first thing that came to my mind was that I need to find another job quickly because I was going to suffocate in the small office I had to sit for 8+ hours. There is nothing worse than working in a small office; there’s not enough room for all your stuff, not enough space for windows so you can get enough sunlight and fresh air and even if you do manage to find a place for all your things, you’ll overcrowd the place so much it will eventually kill your concentration.
Luckily, I love my job, so I managed to work my way towards getting a bigger office: one with large glass wall on one side and a killer view, a large desk for my computer and work papers, a shelf for my belongings and a seating area for my clients – you know, a real Harvey Specter-like office. And while I created the perfect picture in my head on the entire office design, there was another problem: moving everything a few floors up. I can’t do an entire move on my own, so I decided to do things the professional way: I hired a commercial removal company.
Let me explain to you why you need to hire a commercial removal company instead of ordinary removal company: regular removalists are specialised in their job that’s not debatable, but commercial removalists are experts in handling sensitive equipment like art pieces and equipment, medical machinery, and similar stuff. Also, offices that include a lot of paperwork and folders containing sensitive papers need to be organized and carefully transported to the new destination so nothing gets lost or damaged. And you don’t want to leave that to amateurs.
Another aspect to consider is the plan and budget for the relocation. If you thought that moving an office or an entire corporation from one destination to another is going to cost a little and will be performed in a day or two (because hey, that’s just a simple move action, right?), you were fooling yourself big time my friend. While you can negotiate the price and find an option that’s going to cost you less, you shouldn’t compromise on quality and good organization of the move.
And finally, who would allow an amateur, or even worse your Chandler from Friends-alike friend to perform the relocation of your overly-expensive office furniture? You know how wall corners can literally destroy your sofas, how your chairs can largely suffer from improper move and how your wall pictures can be all of a sudden “torn” to pieces? Yes, that’s from lack of attention and a very irresponsible handling of stuff.
So bottom line, be smart and hire a commercial removal company to do the heavy job for you; you’ll be at peace for your office furniture, the job will be done perfectly on time and all you’ll have to do is take care of designing it. The best part of it all.
Home Furniture Pieces That Will Always Work No Matter How Your Taste Evolves
How nice would it be to be able to change your furniture as often as you like? A new trend pops-up on the interior design scene and you have it delivered to your door and incorporated in your overall room design in the blink of an eye. Yes, that would be amazing, but also pretty expensive and rather time-consuming. Instead, how about carefully choosing the elements that are going to be the base of your room design and then simply altering their appearance in accordance to the latest trends and desires? That would be much less stressful in both aspects – time and money. And while on this part of home furniture lessons, the pieces on which you should pay a considerable amount of attention when you buy them are the ones that are going to stay in your home for many years, no matter your taste.
Mirrors: As Seen By a Homo Decor Sapiens
Wall art and framed photos don’t have to be the only decorations you can use to beautify the walls in your rooms; especially if you live in a small apartment, or you simply don’t enjoy the luxury of spacious rooms in your house. In that case you definitely need to turn to another type of decoration, the type that gives you the sense of a larger space and breaks the monotony of an otherwise boring white wall: mirrors.
You can do wonders to your interior design using mirrors: you can create the illusion of a wider room, or when you simply can’t find another more suitable decorative element (which I hardly doubt, but hey, perfectionists know best) a mirror will fill in perfectly. Speaking from personal experience, my bedroom is rather small and I kind of hate small spaces. So, I added a large round mirror with metal frame; it fitted in with the whole ambiance perfectly and since it’s facing the windows it creates a feeling that the room has no walls. I kind of liked playing with mirrors in my design, so I chose a few other design ideas to try out. Take a look.
A Mirror in the Outdoor Area
I have a patio and a lovely seating set in my small backyard. I spend most of the spring/summer days and nights there with friends, so I wanted that space to look really cozy and comfortable. Adding a mirror just above the coffee table and the sofas creates the perfect lighting effect by reflecting the light from the candlelights that are hanging from the ceiling.
Mirror on the Windows
I wouldn’t suggest you disturbed a perfect view from a glass wall or large windows by attaching a mirror on it. But, if your room design doesn’t make any sense and has no focus, then this can be a great idea: place the mirror on the windows so it can create a focal point; that way when you sit in that room, your eyes will instantly turn towards the mirror.
In the Hallway
The hallway doesn’t have to be the boring, narrow space where you pass through to enter your home. Here you need a large mirror; whether you choose a round or a rectangular one, it needs to be large enough so you can see yourself entirely before you leave the house. Pay attention to the frame though; make it blend with the rest of the design in colour and style.
Make Small Kitchens Look Large
Kitchen cabinets offer one large advantage: you can cover them with mirrors and create this large mirror surface that will reflect the ambiance of the space facing it. This is especially convenient for small kitchens which you want to make look larger and more spacious. However, the kitchen shouldn’t be surrounded by 4 walls; there’s no point having a white surface facing the mirrors.
A Touch of Elegance in the Bathroom
Be creative here; aside from the vanity mirrors which are a necessity, you can attach one large mirror right beside the bathtub for a dose of elegance and sophistication. Think Venetian-style mirrors; metal frame and a rich shape. And don’t let me get started on all the “plus” benefits from having a mirror in the bathroom.
The History of Chinese Plates, Plus Factors to Consider When Buying
Plates may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about China, but they definitely are a significant mark of their cultural history. It’s a known fact that porcelain dinnerware and vases made by the skillful hands of Chinese craftsmen are among the most expensive decorative elements you can buy for your home and also, among the most precious auction pieces collectors fight over. So, what makes these pieces so valuable and so desirable by interior-design obsessed women over the world and collectors who give insane amounts just to have them in their armors of valuables?
In the first place, it’s the history these pieces carry with them. Among the most common elements on auction shelves and stores are Chinese plates. Because they’re so unusual and decorated so perfectly and creatively, these plates are mainly used for decoration instead for any eating purpose. And it is quite understandable, actually. However, what makes them so special is the fact that they’ve managed to survive for so many years not just as antiques, but also as a tradition and a cultural mark of one very rich and progressive nation.
- It all begins with porcelain, which originated in China somewhere in 1600-1046 BC during the time of the Shang Dynasty. Throughout the years, perfectly designed and quality material pieces were exported in the Islamic corners of the world.
- The phase that placed Chinese porcelain on the world stage is the rule of the Song Dynasty, when emperors established factories whose main goal was to produce porcelain for the royal family, since at that time, Chinese plates and other dinnerware were extremely expensive and considered a luxury for the highest level of society.
- During the rule of the famous Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the easily recognizable blue-white pattern that people mainly associate with fine china along with the decorative painting over glaze technique, become widely known and asked for.
- Finally, during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Europe became the export destination for Chinese porcelain products. Along with the enormous demand for all types of pots, cups and saucers, Europe embraced the tea drinking techniques coming from the Far East. Of course, all that had a market trade motive: every drink needs a special cup for drinking, which means a greater demand for Chinese products.
When it comes to choosing some of these valuable pieces, it all comes down to your taste preferences and decorative needs. The most popular ones are those with the blue and white colour pattern – the classic Chinese dinnerware. Now, since these plates and vases and other pieces became so popular in Europe and the rest of the world, people started replicating them or producing something similar.
France became the leading competitor to China with their soft-paste porcelain which doesn’t have kaolin in it like Chinese porcelain does. Germany produces hard-paste porcelain and they mainly put the accent on producing figurines. England leads in pottery made from bone china.
Thanks to all these facts, you can now know which product is of the best quality when you choose yours. As for collectors, the offer of antique and vintage china is so wide you can choose according to your budget and collection needs. Make a wise investment.