Start with something neutral:  Grey is the new neutral.  Be sure to incorporate it or another favorite neutral of yours (white, beige, or even yellow) and then build your color pallet from there.  The benefit of starting with a neutral is that it immediately warms up the space and allows for a consistent feel while offering a good starting point for picking the playful color to mix with it.  Neutral go with everything so you won’t be limited!

Use color to separate spaces:  While a lot of people are scared of bold color in large amounts (like on the wall), they are not as timid about incorporating it in furniture.  For large spaces like a great room or kitchen/dining area that aren’t separated with walls, use color in the furniture to separate the space.  The living room seating may follow a red color pallet while the dining room seating falls into a blue color pallet.  Keep the walls neutral to allow for a flow between the spaces, while the color on the furniture defines each space from the other.

Use colors to create a balancing act:  If you love bright and bold color and want it as the main wall colors, be sure to incorporate a neutral somewhere to balance the space.  You can do this through soft goods and accessories so that the room is not overwhelmed with color, but still feels comfortable and inviting.

Make a statement with color:  You may be dealing with your bathroom or kitchen where tile is an option.  If so, don’t shy away from a funky tile color or pattern as an accent—wall, pattern, or stripe.  Or, you may have fallen in love with a particular patterned wallpaper that is full of color.  Use that statement piece as a starting point and go from there so that the room is in harmony rather than being disjointed.  Visitors will be able to tell when something is an afterthought and doesn’t flow with the rest of the space.

Classic colors are always in style:  Even though many people are afraid of using too much black in a room, it is still a neutral while also possessing the ability to make a statement.  A black and white color combination can work within many different styles—contemporary, traditional, transitional, etc.  It is also a classic and won’t go out of style.

Use variations of the same color in lighter shades: mixing different tones of the same color creates a color story and allows you to go bold or safe while using the color that you like in the doses that you prefer.  Mix it with a neutral so that there’s a balance, and don’t limit yourself to fabrics and walls.  Accessories like lamps, mirrors, and art can all be painted to fit within your color story.

“Bohemian Chic” as Orlando Interior Designs call it, makes a space interesting, colorful, and, above all else, comfortable.  Here are a few ways to add some culture to your dorm space.

Add Patterns!  Ikat is one of the hottest patterns out there, right now.  This affordable tapestry adds culture.  With it’s exotic feel, it’ll bring a taste of the East home.  Diamonds and chevrons (zig-zag) are also interesting patterns that will help to incorporate a global market feel.

Add Texture!  Dig up that old lace pillow sham or Grandma’s homemade quilt.  Don’t be afraid of ruffles and swags, and layer, layer, layer.  Whether it’s with bedding or window treaments, layering different colors and fabrics add texture and depth to something like a small dorm room.

Think big with small things: Accessories are small but they make a big difference.  Don’t go for the easy white desk lamp—check out thrift stores and antique shops for old lamps.  Even if the color isn’t your favorite, a can of spray paint can do wonders for accessories with good shape and bad color.  Storage, sculpture, and wall art are important too.  Find an unusual basket, a black and white vintage poster, or an animal figurine.

Don’t forget the floors!  Spice up the cold dorm floors with warm, patterned rugs.  People often shy away from tassels and fringe but these are exactly what will make a small dorm room look and feel interesting.  The Kilim style rug is  a great option for this as well.

Have fun with your dorm room—express yourself and do something different.

The great thing about beadboard…

Because of all of the detail beadboard offers, it creates sophistication in a home through its straight lines, clean, white color, and finished look.  These particular details of beadboard are nostalgic of the coastal living of New England and Nantucket which fit right in with the cottage feel that Orlando interior designers say is a current, hot style.

Beadboard options

Beadboard is very versatile.  Not only does it come in different panel widths and heights, but it adds visual interest to otherwise boring spaces.  It can be used as shelving, support hanging items, and works in the kitchen, mudroom, bathroom, laundry room, and dining room.  Beadboard can be painted for a warmer, earthier look and also fits into a rustic style.

Additionally, beadboard can be applied to surfaces other than walls.  It works on cabinetry or can be used as a headboard/footboard combo. If you want to get really dramatic, Orlando interior designers suggest trying beadboard on your ceiling!  Another option would be to hang beadboard horizontally instead of vertically, just to mix it up.

Orlando wall covering specialists say that beadboard can work for you in any type of space!

]]> http://www.floridalivingquarters.com/interior_design/blog/beadboard/714/feed 0 http://www.floridalivingquarters.com/interior_design/blog/cozy-comfortable-guest-rooms/708 http://www.floridalivingquarters.com/interior_design/blog/cozy-comfortable-guest-rooms/708#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:15:58 +0000 admin http://www.floridalivingquarters.com/interior_design/blog/?p=708 Having a comfortable place for guests to stay can oftentimes be a difficult task to accomplish.  Creating a space that’s gender neutral, cozy, and inviting may be the last thing on your to-do list considering the laundry list of other house projects you need to get done.  So, here are a few easy ways to make your guests feel welcome at your home.

Don’t play it safe—pick an unusual item that can spark conversation or has a story behind it.  Guests will appreciate your sense of humor and feel more at ease. You can also use the item as a focal point or inspiration piece to design the room around.  Get creative!

Get creative with color—your guest room is a place you can play with and change frequently, if you’d like.  Use fun color and infuse unique items to spice up the space.  Guests will like a change of pace from the everyday practicality of neutrals and “safe” color choices.-they’ll view the space as a getaway.

Stir up fond memories—use objects and patterns to give your guest room a resort feel and cause guests to think of places where they vacationed as a child.  Whether it’s farmhouse rustic or coastal cottage, it will makes guests feel as if they are on vacation, regardless of where you live.

Make room for the kids—guests may have their children with them when they come to visit, so be sure to have some accommodations for children.   This can come in the form of a bunk bed or some children’s books or toys that are available in the room.

Make it suite—If you have the space, include a seating area and/or a writing desk in the room.  These extra areas allow guests to spread out and use the space more like they would their own home.  Or, include a tv if you really want them to stay awhile!

Have a collection?  Be sure to display it!  The space above a bed is always a focal point in the bedroom.  Use your collection as a headboard by mounting items on the wall above your bed.

Like wallpaper?  Many people can appreciate the beautiful patterns and textures available in wallpaper but are scared to cover an entire wall with it.  Add a punch of color, pattern, and texture by wallpapering a closet door.  It can add that pop to a somewhat dull space and allows you to infuse a little of your own funky taste into the room.

Looking for vintage?  Shabby chic is all is a hot topic among Orlando interior designers and decorators.  For some, they want it in their entire space.  For others, just a little goes a long way.  If you are the latter, use that special vintage piece you found {and couldn’t live without} in your room.  Maybe it’s an old suitcase used as a nightstand or an old window to hang jewelry from.  If you love it, it belongs in the room.

Animal lover?  Most people have very strong opinions about animal print-either they love it or they hate it.  If you love it but are worried how it will fit into your space, add a small dose.  Orlando color and pattern specialists say animal prints can work well in most spaces when properly placed.  The bold colors and soft texture cozy up a space easily and is an easy way to show off some of your own personal flair.

Any space that you live in should reflect your style.  Be sure to find easy ways to incorporate this into the design of your home.  Then ensures that you are happy with the space and it will fit your needs for a very long time.

There are numerous types of maps for display-topographical, subway, maps of the world, and nautical charts.  They also come in various shapes and sizes; framed maps, wall maps, roll-down maps, antique maps, and even map wallpaper!  Maps are completely affordable, too.  Orlando decorators will search any kind of store to find that perfect accessory or wall décor.  They will often find maps available at dollar stores, teaching supply stores, and even IKEA. Poster and print stores also carry them online.

Maps can come in various colors, therefore they provide an easy way to tie-in multiple room colors, while monochromatic black and white maps are also available.  If your room theme is minimalist but you’re looking for one little splash of color, a map offers that perfect piece of visual interest to stand out.

Because maps are printed on paper, they can be used on numerous other objects; decoupage a map on a plate, modge podge a map onto a stretched canvas, or frame it (all in one frame or divided into sections in multiple, smaller frames). Make the map work for you!

A few simple ways to incorporate pieces from nature in your own home include:

-display it under glass:  place stones, shells, or dried plants in a vase or under a bell jar.

-group it: gather branches or large stones and lean them against the wall to fill-up an awkward space or frame a window.

-make it work for you: use a large tree trunk as a coffee table, or driftwood mounted on the wall as a shelf.

-frame it: find large shells or dried leaves and place them in a shadow box or frame as wall décor.

Highlight an architectural feature: mount antlers or a drift wood mirror above a mantle or a hang nature-inspired light fixtures from your ceiling.

Rejuvenate with Rugs:  Rugs not only add a soft, cozy feel to a space, but they can also define a conversation area, compartmentalize a large open expanse, and add color.  Since the popularity of hard flooring materials has increased due to sustainability and convenience, rugs have become an easy way to add a pop of color or pattern in small doses.  Additionally, they come in every shape, texture, pattern, and size you can imagine!  Once you choose the perfect rug for the space, build off of it for the rest of the room.

Accent Architecture:  Depending on where you live, your home may have a permanent architectural element that could be the perfect focal point in your home.  It may be a fireplace, archway, niche, columns, or staircase.  Whatever it is, find a way to highlight it.  Using something that’s pre-existing will save money and draw attention to the unique qualities that your home already possess—especially since these types of elements often determine the style of your home, anyway.  Don’t be afraid to use paint, wallpaper, fabric, or even stone and brick to incorporate these features and set the mood for your re-design.

Accessorize with Artwork:  It doesn’t matter if you’re an art enthusiast or you just think it looks pretty, artwork adds a whole new dimension to decorating.  It has the potential to add color and texture in a space while also setting a precedent for the design style in a home.   Artwork is great for small spaces because it isn’t a huge commitment and can be very inexpensive.  Don’t be afraid to wrap your favorite fabric around a piece of canvas or frame a picture your child made in art class at school—using items like this also add a personal touch.

Coordinate with Color:  Don’t be afraid to use your favorite color in your home.  Paint makes a statement and is inexpensive.  Painting one accent wall or even a whole room is an easy place to start when re-decorating a space.  From there, you can pick accent colors and patterns that coordinate well.  If a lot of color isn’t your thing and you’d rather have it in small doses, try painting a primary piece of furniture or recovering a chair using that color.  You can use that piece as inspiration while you finish the rest of the room…or even the entire house.

Rugs, architectural elements, artwork, and color are all simple places to start any re-design.  Selecting even just one can determine the style director of a room and then building off of it is easy.

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