Tag Archives: decorate

Caribbean Appeal: Make Your Home an Exotic Haven By Lana Hawkins

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Caribbean Appeal: Make Your Home an Exotic Haven

Embrace the exotic appeal of the Caribbean, let your household be imbedded by colorful designs, natural fabrics and the complete bohemian rhapsody of the Costa Rican appeal. Dive into the alluring tropical vibe of this sensual design and create a true lush getaway, right there in the serenity of your home. Let these ideas inspire you to redesign your home in an enthralling manner:

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Lots of Color

One of the most distinctive features of the tropical design is definitely its use of color. The areas such as Costa Rica are used to colorful motifs and an extensive use of bright and vivid tones in their home design. The more the merrier they say so do not be afraid to give your household a fresh splash of color. Earthy and natural tones such as light orange, beige, turquoise, white and brown are greatly appreciated as background colors or mere foundation, as it is expected to enliven the space by adding various colorful details.
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Add Some Texture

Another thing that can help you keep things interesting is introducing certain textures and patterns in your home design. Animal prints, foliage patterns and leather wall tiles can help give your home the tropical flair it desperately needs. Using natural objects such as feathers, horns, shells and stones as decorative pieces can also play a huge role in adding texture to the space. It is also a good idea to implement different kinds of lighting, as illumination can interact with certain objects and create wonderful illusions of texture.
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Go Natural

In order to achieve that true tropical appeal, it will be necessary to rely on natural fabrics and materials. You will surely notice that wood is one of the materials that prevails in these tropical home designs, while the use of wicker, rattan and teak furniture is also quite praised. The use of these materials has the ability to capture the true coastal vibe of seaside countries and create a sense of tranquility in the space. Handmade quilts from natural wool, fur covers, grass roofs and handicrafts made from straw are some of the most praised characteristics of this lush appeal and are known to bring that distinctive rustic vibe to the whole setting.
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Let It Thrive

Costa Rica is widely recognized as one of the countries with an enthralling biodiversity, where you can find a high amount of endemic plant and animal species. It is not surprising to realize that their homes are usually embellished with countless of tropical plants, native for this area. These tropical beauties create a majestic blend of colors and captivating scents that form a lush rainforest in your household. Native ivy can be used in various forms in home design, while nothing can beat the oversized, luscious foliage of the cheese plants. Begonias, lilies and dieffenbachia plants are also native to Central America and will surely transform your home into a tropical getaway.
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It’s All About Art

Art is quite a significant part of the Costa Rican culture and as such has found a place in home design. Most of their artwork is focused on native motifs such as the ocean, local people and endemic animal and plant species. This is why it is not uncommon to embellish their homes with colorful paintings or even handmade sculptures and statues. Stained glass is another art form quite popular in Costa Rica and is defined by earthy tones and sensuous lines.
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Get Inspired

Inspiration comes in many different forms, but if you are willing to embrace the majestic appeal of Costa Rica in your home, it is a good idea to seek ideas from various sources. Internet has plenty of blogs and websites where you can draw inspiration from, especially if you search for images of local properties and homes in this Central American country. There are all kinds of properties and houses you can actually buy in Costa Rica, if the opportunity arises for you to visit this rugged country.

Aren’t you tired of the same old sterility and minimalism of today’s home design? Neutral colors, clean lines, geometrical shapes and a completely depersonalized space. It is time to give your home a refreshing makeover that will turn it from a minimalistic manor in a true tropical sanctuary.

 

Author’s Bio: Lana Hawkins is a student of architecture from Sydney. She enjoys writing about inspiring home décor and landscaping ideas. Lana loves cooking for friends, and spending her time outdoors.

 

 

 

How To Craft The Perfect Home Office By Diana Smith

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Having a full time stay-at-home job or simply telecommuting seems like truly great idea. Working in a friendly environment while your loved ones are just few steps away, taking a break whenever you want – this particular kind of job arrangement does offer tons of advantages. But what about disadvantages? Well, it should be mentioned that, while pleasant, your home is not really the environment that allows you to unleash tons of productivity. No problem here. All you need to make it work is an isolated home office. Let’s see how to set one up.

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Find a Proper Space

Ideally, your home office should inhabit the space of some abandoned room or a basement with the door that will physically separate you from all the other household activities and cut the noise to the minimum. If you don’t own such space, you can separate a part of another room with a folding door or simply set up your office in the corner of some of the less populated areas of your home. Alternatively, you can solve this problem by buying a shipping container and using it as a backyard office.

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Take Care of the Essentials

And by the essentials, we mean chair, desk, and any other thing you can’t finish your job without. As for the desk, its only requirement should be to provide you enough space to get the job done. If you are short on space, you can get away even with a wall mounted table. The chair, on the other hand, is a whole another story. You will spend a lot of time sitting there, so find the one that is comfortable, adjustable, and offers great lumbar support. Other home office essentials may include PC, printer, scanner or a separate phone line.

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Make the Office Pleasant and Inviting

The more appealing and inviting your home office is, the more time you will want to spend there, and rest assured – that time will translate to increased productivity. That is why you should ditch the utilitarian mantra and make your home office as relaxed and cozy as possible. Hang the pictures of the places you would like the visit, fulfill your childhood decorating dreams or do whatever you want to make the office your little piece of Heaven. It would also be a good idea to use full-spectrum lighting if your office does not receive too much natural light.

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Storage, Storage, Storage

Clutter is poison to productivity. The best way to put an early end to it is to pack your office with enough storage space. Fortunately, various shelving solutions can fit into virtually any space, so you don’t have any excuse for keeping the papers scattered around the office. What you should do instead is to organize storage into distinct sections, mark them with different colors or signs and keep the empty walk and document scavenging on the bare minimum.

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Lose Distractions

We already mentioned that your office should be inviting and pleasant. However, if you go overboard you may hurt your productivity. The first thing you should do to prevent this from happening is to clean your office of all the media you like to consume (If music gets you going, you can make yourself a playlist on the PC, though). Second, lose the unnecessary furniture. Your chair may be comfortable but the sofa will always look more inviting. Third, if you have chosen some gimmick (e.g. music, cottage, industrial) stick to it. Odd elements will constantly distract you.

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If you follow these few tips, your home office will become a neat and well-organized piece of space that will strike the perfect balance between pleasant and productive. You will finally be able to use all the advantages of stay-at-home jobs without worrying that the household will consume you. Enjoy, and have a pleasant day at work.

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Proper Way Of Using Vintage Finds In Decoration By Diana Smith

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Even though early 2000s and 2010s are the era about which many greatest Sci-Fi authors wrote about, when it comes to decoration, vintage and steampunk are all the rage. One of the reasons behind such popularity of this style is that it is extremely versatile. For example, if you were to decorate your home in a contemporary manner, you would have to get your hands on some purpose specific items like tech gadgets, and furniture mostly made from plastic and glass. On the other hand, vintage allows you to decorate with things you find on an attic or buy at a garage sale. With this in mind, here are a few ways of using vintage finds in decoration.

Shabby Chic and Rustic Home

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One of the greatest aspects of the vintage style is the idea of shabby chic. What this essentially means is that when buying an antique furniture, you should be concerned with it looking authentic rather than it looking undamaged. This led people to stop painting old nightstands, while some took it even one step further. Rather than buying genuine vintage items, some people started painting furniture to look more antique on purpose. Others, however, decided to take a different approach. As soon as they get enough shabby chic items in their home, they start adjusting the rest of the household to this style. This usually included painting other wooden surfaces like doors, window frames and even floorboards white.

All About That Lace

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If a vintage army ever had uniforms, it would definitely be made of lace. In fact, lace is the only thing you just cannot add too much in a vintage setting. There are so many awe inspiring ideas, like making pendant lighting from lace or even decorating your candleholders with it. Of course, making small lace ornaments and adding them to pillows, walls and lamp shades also goes, but don’t forget about your persona as well. Like a fashionista chameleon, try to fit in this vintage shrine of yours and reintroduce lace into your own armoire. Those who take a bit more out-of-the-box approach are even known to make lace jewelry such as earrings and necklaces.

French Country or Vintage Glam

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Saying that you want a vintage style in your home is pretty much like saying that you want it to have walls- it really doesn’t reveal much. How tall? How many? What kind? Sure, you may want your home to appear like from another century, but do you want it to look like a French countryside manor or a Victorian villa. For the first impression, shabby chic in combination with natural hues like lavender, burnt rust and hunters green will do you just fine. On the other hand, vintage glam takes a bit more effort. Here, you will have to exploit all that shimmering metallic color palette has to offer. Your closest two allies are pale gold and cream, while satin is your weapon of choice.

Let There Be Light

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Finally, no matter what you do with the rest of the home, proper lighting fixtures can make or break the entire impression. This is why going with modern lamps or contemporary downlights simply won’t do. The safest choice you have is to go with elegant yet subtle led wall lights. When buying, however, try to avoid looking at them as a separate items and try to focus on what they will look like in your household. In fact, this advice is something you should take in general, not just when buying lights.

Whenever you encounter a perfect vintage item, you need to ask yourself two questions. The first one is  ‘does it fit with your home’. If the answer is no, then you need to ask the following- ‘can I make it fit?’ Some finds are just so perfect that it can be worth your while to redecorate your entire place just to integrate them.

How To Paint Cabinets – Video Tutorial

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Here is a good tutorial on how to paint your cabinets!

Click here for more information:

How to Paint Cabinets | Video Tutorial | Purdy

How To Make Your Living Room More Inviting By Lana Hawkins

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There is that one thing that every living space should have in order to feel complete, and that thing is ambience. Creating a comfortable atmosphere in this space is one of the key aspects as it guarantees comfort, serenity and a more welcoming setting. But don’t despair, if you’re looking for simple ways to make your living room more inviting, you can rely on these few tricks.

Living Room Style

A Creative Focal Point

One of the biggest mistakes in living room decoration is putting accent on the wrong things. Having a focal point is a great way to put focus on something that will enhance the beauty of the space and create a more appealing ambience. Unfortunately, instead of putting focus on artistic centerpieces or accent walls, many people will choose to highlight the television set for example. This creates distractions and should be avoided at any cost. Also, try to go beyond a classic fireplace centerpiece and opt for an art piece instead, a sculpture or even a mixture of exotic plants. If you are feeling creative, keep in mind that a nice view can also serve as a great focal point.

Experiment with Colour

A clever colour combination can create a wonderful ambience, put focus on certain objects and even connect different spaces. Choosing a good colour scheme for your living room can be perceived as tricky, but the best solutions is to opt for warm shades that will ensure comfort and ease. If you wish to go a step further and experiment with something bold, you can always choose wallpapers with unusual textures and patterns. Keep in mind that, when choosing colours and patterns, balance is the key, but do not hesitate to add a dramatic twist or a simple splash of colour in order to bring the room back to life.

Home Decor

Mixture of Styles

While many would prefer to stick to just one style during their decoration ventures, sometimes doing something unconventional can truly affect the atmosphere in the space. For instance, if your living room exudes the minimalist fashion of the modern era, it’s a good idea to try and incorporate a dash of that charming Victorian style. At first, this might seem a bit unrealistic and rather tasteless, but those who manage to subtly blend these two styles together can indulge in an exquisite ambience of elegance, luxury and amenity.

Consider The Arrangement

Another important aspect of creating a more inviting atmosphere in the room, is carefully choosing your seating arrangement. There are a few factors that can greatly help you achieve that welcoming setting in your living room. Firstly, you will want to choose furniture that is not just aesthetically pleasing but also comfortable. Consider the arm rests, the height and the depth of the furniture pieces. Also, make sure to create a suitable balance between different pieces like tables, armchairs and sofas in order to achieve a structured setting. Keep in mind that the overall shape of the furniture but also the room itself can greatly influence how your seating arrangement will look like. Lastly, make sure to carefully place your furniture so it would allow good traffic but also make it easier to observe and communicate with your guests.

Living room

Enhance Your Senses

The thing that mostly affects the ambience in a room is creating a way to please all of your senses. Scented candles and incense sticks have the ability to create a relaxing and soothing ambience, while certain sounds and music can have calming effects However, the choice of lighting is one of the most important things, and as such, should be considered carefully. Allowing natural light in the room is always a good choice, while combining accent and decorative illumination will certainly give your room a wonderful look.

Most people have a tendency to spend too much time embellishing their living rooms in order to create a space that will please the eye. Of course, you can spend ages decorating your living area, making it feel more chic, modern and even functional, but in the end you will feel like something is missing. By implementing these few tricks, you will be able to experience the true sensation of your living space.

 

Author’s Bio: Lana Hawkins is a student of architecture from Sydney.  She is the editor-in-chief at Smooth Decorator, and she loves writing about inspiring landscaping and interior designs. Lana finds her inspiration in sustainability and green design.