Home Decor

It’s that time of year again! Benjamin Moore released its 2020 Color of the Year, First Light (2102-70). The color is described as “a soft, airy pink that flatters any space and plays well with other colors.” 

Adding First Light into your home is an absolute must since it can be used in a variety of ways and fits any design style. Here are five ways you can incorporate First Light into your home this upcoming year.

Paint the walls. 

The most natural and most obvious way to add First Light into your home is by painting your walls. The professional painters in Hickory, NC, say that First Light is soft enough to act as a neutral and can brighten up whichever room you choose to paint. Complement the walls through furniture, accent pieces, and other decor in shades of browns, grays, white, and black. 

Add throw pillows. 

A fun and easy way to incorporate new color trends without spending a ton of money is by adding throw pillows. The light pink shade will stand out against darker colored couches and chairs and adds a feminine or romantic touch to generally darker rooms. To make more of a statement, find patterned throw pillows that incorporate the delicate hue. 

Paint your front door.

Your front door is the first thing guests and passersby see when they arrive on your street. First Light is an inviting shade of pink, so it’s the perfect color to welcome anyone who stops by. This color will brighten your home from the first glance and enhance your home’s curb appeal.  

Add a rug.

Since First Light complements browns so well, adding an area rug in the hue will work wonders on wood floors, says Naples, FL, interior decorator Claudia Leah. Not only do area rugs add a pop of color to a space, but they can bring another layer of texture as well. You can also layer area rugs on top of each other to create more interest in your room. 

Repaint an end table. 

Take your current end table and paint it First Light, or buy an end table in a light pink color! If you’re going the DIY-route, make sure you take the proper preparation steps, like sanding and priming, to ensure the color goes on smoothly and evenly. Once painted, you can place the end table in your bedroom, living area, or entryway. 

Incorporating First Light into your home can be effortless when you follow these tips. Whether you decide to paint your child’s bedroom in the color of the year or use it in your accessories, your home will feel lighter and brighter almost instantly.

Used by professional interior decorators and designers, color theory states that the colors in your home have a psychological impact on your mood. As such, it’s important to think about how you want to feel in each room of your house. Once you’ve identified the mood you want each room in your home to have, here are some suggestions on how to achieve it!

Design By Color

• Red. The color red stimulates your appetite, which is why many restaurants implement color theory in their décor.  For weight-conscious people, avoid using red in the kitchen to ensure you don’t overindulge as a result of your paint color. Instead, incorporate red in your dining room where you want your appetite to be stimulated.
• Blue. Shades of blue, which are rarely found in food, can suppress appetite, so if you’re dieting, blue can be a great help in the kitchen. Blue also has a calming effect, so introduce the color in your bedroom or bathrooms.
• Yellow. Studies show that babies cry most in rooms that are yellow more than any other color. Although associated with sunshine and cheer, yellow can actually increase anxiety, so limit this color to transitional spaces in your home, such as hallways and entryways.
• Green. Soft, moss-colored greens act as neutrals and can help make a space feel tranquil. Bright greens in citrus tones, though, invigorate a room instead. To get a jump start on your day, paint your closet or dressing room a citrus green.

Design by room:

• Bedroom. For a bedroom that evokes feelings of a relaxing retreat, incorporate light blue. Studies show that blue helps slow down your heart rate and can also lower your blood pressure. Both of these effects help you get to sleep.
• Bathroom. For a bathroom that feels like a spa-like retreat, consider sage green tones since they have soothing qualities. Incorporate mosaic tiles that include various hues of green. Don’t forget to accessorize with items like green hand towels and soap dispensers. To strike the perfect balance, integrate white throughout the bathroom as well.
• Living room. To achieve a happy, inviting living room, implement subtle hints of yellow. Bold punches of yellow will uplift your mood and fill it with optimism. Too much yellow, though, can make you feel lazy, so choose yellow accessories, but don’t avoid doing an overall yellow paint for every wall.
• Home office. Painting a black accent wall in your home office can motivate you to get to work. If you’re daring enough to attempt this bold color scheme, balance it with white and bright accessories. Avoid a black wall if your home office doesn’t have a window. Instead, opt for a shade of purple, which is said to stimulate your creative jucies.

Now that you’re well-versed on color theory, contact Houston house painters and take control over the moods in your home.

In the Feng Shui world, mirrors symbolize wealth, health, and happiness. The Feng Shui culture recommends certain places to hang mirrors to promote these ideals and gain the most positive benefits. In addition to happiness and wealth, mirrors are great for making spaces appear larger than they are, providing extra light or serving as a piece of art. Discover the best placement for mirrors in your home in our room-by-room breakdown:

Foyer/Entryway. Placing a mirror in your foyer is a no-brainer. Never hang a mirror directly across from the front door. Instead, install one adjacent to the door or above a console table. Mirrors help expand the appearance of small foyers and entryways and make them feel more open and inviting.

Living Room. One of the best spots you can hang a mirror is in the living room. If there isn’t a lot of natural light already flowing in your living room, hanging a mirror can create the illusion of a window. A mirror could also serve as the focal point of a living room. To do so, hang the mirror at a height where every member of your family can see themselves fully.

Dining Room. Dining rooms are another great place to hang a mirror. When the table of food is reflected, you are promoting wealth and abundance. In dining spaces, the bigger the mirror the better. To really reflect light all around the dining room, line two adjacent walls with mirrors.

Bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, mirrors aren’t supposed to be in the bedroom! According to Feng Shui practices, you should never place a mirror across from your bed or on the ceiling. The best placement for mirrors in the bedroom is on the interior of your closet doors or above your headboard.   Wherever you decide to place a mirror in your bedroom, keep in mind that your reflection shouldn’t be the first thing you see when you wake up.

Bathroom. A lot of people hang mirrors in their bathroom without putting much thought into it. As a general rule of thumb, the mirror should never reflect the toilet. Install a mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink to completely avoid this issue.

When it comes to using mirrors in your home, get creative! For extra drama and illusions of space, line an entire section of a wall with a mirror and place a chest or buffet table in front of it. Place a mirror behind a lamp or light source for a dramatic effect. In rooms with dark paint or patterned walls, mirrors can appear as windows and break up the boldness. If any room has a view of your garden, find a way to hang a mirror to reflect the greenery.

Remember that mirrors are wonderful additions, and placing them in the right spots can create a more positive and peaceful environment. For more help with mirror placement, contact Pamela Ryalls, a San Jose, CA interior decorator.

Daylight savings has come and gone, which means the hours we have of daylight on a daily basis are precious! It’s simple to dress your home’s exterior and interior furnishings in seasonal décor, but that’s not always the case when it comes to window treatments. Lighting plays a key role in creating an atmosphere in your home and the right shades, drapes, or blinds can make or break that vibe. To evoke the right atmosphere this holiday season, consider these tips and tricks for choosing the right window treatments.

1. Use heavy fabric. Materials like velvet and wool can instantly bring warmth into any room in your home. These textures provide visual warmth and physical insulation, helping to keep the heat you’re pumping into your home from seeping through any cracks in your window caulking. In addition, heavy fabrics like these offer total privacy when closed.
2. Consider room darkening options. If you’re a shift worker of any kind, room darkening curtains can be a lifesaver no matter what time of year it is. You need your room to be dark so that you can rest at any given time of the day. Room darkening curtains give you that option. In addition to eliminating natural light completely, room darkening curtains can help prevent cool drafts from coming in as well.
3. Let the sun in with sheers. For those of you looking to let as much sunlight in as possible, sheer curtains are your best bet. This lightweight fabric was designed to let as much daylight through as possible, making it perfect for the short autumn days. Cheryl Smith, a Chatham, NJ interior decorator, recommends using sheer curtains in common rooms like your kitchen, living, and dining spaces. These rooms demand natural light and typically don’t require that much privacy.
4. Accentuate with window treatments. If you’re looking for a simple way to incorporate color, pattern, or texture into a room, updating your window treatments is a quick, effective solution. The expert Jacksonville, FL painters suggest choosing curtains or drapes that feature a bold, autumnal color scheme, like burnt sienna or oxblood. These colors will translate seamlessly into the holiday season as well. This quick update will make a statement and help to usher the holiday season in.
5. Choose the right style and length. The length of the window treatments you choose depends on what you’re trying to achieve in a room. For example, if you’re looking to make the windows in your family room appear larger than they are, you’ll want to find curtains that are 60-80” long. Hang them far enough above the window so that they just graze the floor. Conversely, in a kitchen, for instance, you’ll want simpler window treatments, like wooden slat shutters or a valance for that window over the sink.

Before you upgrade your window treatments, it’s important to consider the space, it’s current design, and the goal you’re looking to achieve. With so many options available, finding the window treatments that are right for you and your home can seem challenging. For the best assistance in home design, contact Decorating Den Interiors today.

Decorating a space can seem extremely challenging – decorating a space on a tight budget can seem impossible. With the help of some interior design experts, at Jarons have put together the most important things to remember when you’re designing on a budget.

1. Invest in the right things. No matter what, you’re going to have to spend some money to update the look of a room. If you prioritize and budget, you can spend money where it counts, like quality furniture. If your feeling extra thrift, scour local outlets, or garage sales for old-but-sturdy furniture staples. Use these pieces to anchor the room, then start decorating with accessories.
2. Splurge on paint color. When you break down the cost of paint, it costs just pennies on the dollar. Plus, if you use the right technique, you can really get the most out of your investment. Choose a color that suits your tastes and the space you’re decorating. The expert Waldorf painters recommend following the 60-30-10 rule – 60% of the space you’re decorating should be in a neutral shade (in most cases, this means the walls), 30% should be in your accent color (whether this is an accent wall or accents in furniture and other decor), and 10% should be in your boldest color choice (candle sconces, throw pillows, etc.).
3. Re-purpose what you have. These days in the world of design, you can pretty much DIY anything, and sometimes old is the best kind of new. If you’re looking to update your home, try giving new life to some of your existing decor. Hang a small collection of your favorite photos is a quick fix to any dull wall in your home. Display vacation memorabilia on shelving units or unused surfaces around the room. With the right attitude and a design in mind, you can change the look and feel of a space with a simple coat of paint. By updating a few smaller items in a room with a more modern look, you’ll save time and money, which can be used to splurge on a new decor item elsewhere in the house. If you aren’t so handy, contract the help of family or friends.
4. Keep it simple. If you play to your interests and keep your design ideas minimal, you’ll avoid overspending or over-cluttering a space with too many design elements. Accessories should be tasteful and not overbearing; lighting should be plentiful and unobtrusive; furniture should be comfortable and purposeful. Overall, the space should be functional, livable, and true to you.

With these budget design tips in mind, you can update the look of a space in no time, and at little cost. At the end of the day, if you’re happy with the space you have created, you’ve done your job well! For more budget-friendly decorating tips, contact Kimberly Paulus, a Sienna Plantation, TX interior decorator.

Embracing the farmhouse design style doesn’t mean you have to live in the country, on a farm, or anything of the sort! This increasingly popular style often referred to as “Farmhouse Chic” incorporates rustic design concepts in a variety of ways to create a space full of country charm. Check out these design tips to help you achieve this style in your home!

• Light Walls and Flooring Options. If you are completely revamping an entire room, opt for wood flooring, which embodies the best of country chic. Pair this flooring with light-colored walls, such as ivory or cream. Build onto this simple paint color with easygoing patterns, but avoid dark colors, as this will take away from the open feeling of the room. Light colors make a room feel larger than it actually is, and the combination of these colors with wood floors will establish an inviting mood within your space.

• Open Storage Options. Country style is all about open, livable spaces, which shelving will become your new best friend! Accessories throughout the room are great, but when it comes to storage, shelves reduce clutter on the floor and provide plenty of space for both accessorizing and simple displays. Closed storage may be used to hide items you don’t want to be seen on a regular basis, but build and utilize shelves on your walls for unique displays of interesting items that go well with the farmhouse design style. Old books, rustic looking picture frames and other pieces will dress up your room without creating a clutter throughout the space.

• Vintage Is In. Outside of shelving, you will need to accessorize in other ways to create your ideal atmosphere. From tabletops to wall pieces and furniture additions, look for farmhouse style decor that brings a vintage vibe. Mason jars are a fun and easy accessory, as they can be painted different colors or used in a multitude of ways! For an eye-catching side table accessory, fill a mason jar with flowers and lightly coat the outside in various shades of gold for a classic touch. Quilts and blankets can be folded on top of couches or chairs, but look for ones that match your theme. Linen, burlap, and cotton are your best possible material choices, so get creative and accessorize!

• A Touch Of Family. One of the best ways to build on this design style is to bring your own personal touch. Family heirlooms or family-inspired signs and wall decor add a unique sense of comfort that builds on the traditions of you and your family. Inspiring and loving messages hung on the wall encourage positivity, and you will love the memories that come with the inclusion of family treasures.

No matter how you take on this design style, farmhouse chic incorporates rustic pieces and open concepts to create a breathtaking space. Light walls, wood floors, vintage accessories and personal touches come together to give your home a charming touch!

Are you a pet-friendly household? When it comes to our pets, they are an important part of the family! Whether you are a new pet owner or have had your loving companion for years, your furry friend deserves a unique space within your home for them to call their own. This doesn’t mean you have to build an entirely new section to accommodate them. Instead, check out these design tips for how to turn any space into a pet-friendly dwelling.

• Choose Your Space. When beginning your design, the first step is determining how much space you will need. Some parts of your home may be more pet-friendly than others, and it’s your decision where you’d like to create the sanctuary. Ideally, the spot you choose will be close to gathering spaces (think family and living rooms), but far enough away to give your pet some privacy if they need it. You don’t want to have their area directly within rooms that are highly populated, as this may be overwhelming when they are looking to escape the hectic times of the day. Choose a space that will make your pet feel safe and secure, even when they’re away from you.
• Accessorize to Meet Your Pet’s Needs. From crate trained to free-roaming animals, we all have pets with different needs. If your pet has been trained to sleep in a crate, find some fun and cozy accessories to include inside. Soft blankets, a food and water bowls, and multiple toys are great things to make a create feel more like home. If your pet has passed the crate stage, accessorize in other ways throughout the room! Wall decorations will add a creative touch, and play toys can be organized in a toy chest or other colorful storage bin. Shelves also help you keep many items off the floor and allow you to maximize the space you are using. 
• Color and Design Choices. One of the most important things to think about when designing a space for your pet is how your choices will impact their well-being. The expert Bothell, WA painters recommend bright, stimulating colors may encourage more playful activities, but at night when everyone is heading to bed, this isn’t the best time for play. Instead, find a way to incorporate fun colors in small aspects of the room, such as in play toys, wall decor or other accessories. If you are dedicating an entire room to your pet, opt for a softer, cool wall color, such as light blues, soft purples, or classic beiges and whites. Light versions of other colors, including yellows and greens, are also great choices, as long as the hues are not too harsh or bright.

Your pet is another member of your family and deserves a space designed to meet their needs. From full rooms to small nooks, there are many places within your home that you can turn into their very own getaway. Design aspects like color choices should encourage calm feelings, but accessories throughout the space may bring out the playful emotions. Have fun with your design and create something your pet is sure to love!