Redesigning Your Living Room
Your living room is often the first space your friends and family see when they enter your home. It is a space for entertaining, lounging, and enjoying. Discover how you can easily and efficiently turn your living room into the lounge space of your dreams! Ask yourself the following questions to create a plan for your living room redesign.
- What will you use the area for? The first and most important consideration you need to address – how the room will be used. A family of four will utilize a living room a lot differently than a young newlywed couple. Once the room has a purpose, you’ll be better equipped to determine the types of furnishings and accessories the space needs.
- What are the measurements of the space? Take measurements of your living room from wall-to-wall. Measure the windows and doorways and any built-in structural elements the room has, like a fireplace, as well. This will allow you to create a workable floor plan.
- What is your budget? Outline what you have to spend on your living room. Include every aspect, from furniture, to paint color, to any additional services the room might require, like carpet installation or floor staining. From there, you’ll be able to create your wants and needs list.
- What do you need? More importantly, what do you want? When designing any part of your home, it’s important to think about your needs and wants. Once you have your measurements, you’ll be able to get a more accurate idea of the types of furniture and accessories you can fit into the space. For the living room in particular, you’ll need to include the basics, like a sofa, armchair, and coffee table. If your living room has the space, then you can consider adding extra accent items, whether it’s a decorative side table or an accent chair. Once furnishings have been addressed, you can consider your wants, like an elaborate chandelier or a festive accent plant.
- Are there room for upgrades? If you have wiggle room in your budget, allocate those funds to upgrades! Whether it’s the more expensive paint option that doesn’t require a primer coat or an electronic furnishing, these minor upgrades can make a major difference in the design and comfort levels of your living room.
- Have you settled on a theme? When you’re designing your living room, it’s important to choose a style and stick to it. According to the design experts at Colorado Springs painters , knowing your theme will guide you when it comes to choosing furniture, accent pieces, decor, window treatments, and even paint color. For instance, if you want to create an eclectic look, mix and match furniture textures. If you want more of an old-world style, opt for bulky wooden pieces with elaborate carvings. Defining the space with a particular style will help you tie the overall design together.
- Have you focused enough on the living aspect? When designing any space in your home, it comes down to your personal tastes. As long as you feel comfortable in the space you have created, you’ve done your part. If you’ve filled the room with breakable vases, stiff chairs, and other elements that make the room feel cold and un-inviting to your guests. When you’re done with your redesign, give your living room a comfort test! If you’re happy with the furniture, color scheme, and decorative accents, you’ve done your job.
Decorating your living room should be a fun and exciting experience! When you’re done, you’ll be able to enjoy a space that you personally hand-crafted. Follow this sage advice to create the living room of your dreams!
This post brought to you by Westway Electric Supply, and online retailer of electrical supplies, components, and parts.
Furniture That Simplifies
Homeowners are always on the lookout for the newest innovations in home furnishings. Furniture pieces that make our day-to-day lives simpler are what’s trending now. You may be wondering, “How can a piece of furniture make my life easier?” The experts at Jarons Furniture Outlet invites you to discover how to make your home more functional with a few simple furnishings.
- Storage Ottomans. These tiny accessories pack a big punch! They are a functional place for resting your feet, beverages, or snacks while you’re entertaining. In addition, they serve as mini storage units where you can also stow spare blankets, throw pillows, magazines, or books. Keep your home comfortable and organized with a storage ottoman, which you can find in a number of colors, styles, and sizes.
- Pullout Couch. If you’re a homeowner who’s constantly entertaining guests, a pullout couch is a must have. They turn any room into a spare bedroom, instantly adding space for guests to sleep. Plus, pullout couches are now designed to be more comfortable than ever, with pillow-top mattresses in all sizes.
- Hall Tree. When you think about your hallway or entryway, your mind probably doesn’t jump right to storage. Fortunately, there are furniture pieces out there that can transform these spaces into functional storage and make your life easier! Hall Trees are great catch-alls for front entryways, mudrooms, and hallways. Depending on the style you choose, they can provide shelving for books or shoes, as well as racks to hang coats, keys, and bags.
- Rolling Cart. If your kitchen is on the smaller side, you know the struggle of finding enough counter space to cook a meal. With a rolling cart, you can instantly add an extra countertop for meal prepping and serving. You’ll find options that are collapsible, making them easy to store when not in use, or more permanent options that can serve as a desk or homework station when not being used for cooking. Look for one with wheels that lock so that you can have the extra space where and when you need it!
- Storage Chest. Incorporating a chest into the layout of your master bedroom adds storage for bulky blankets, sheets, and pillows. It also creates a resting place to get ready in the morning, or to set your clothing out on the night before. In addition, a chest at the foot of your bed can make packing for trips easier, as you can rest your suitcase on it without worrying about mussing up your bed. Chests come in a variety of styles, including padded chests that can serve as a bench for added seating.
Make your furniture work for you! Find all of the furniture you need to simplify your life at Jarons Furniture Outlet.
Clever Bedroom Storage Ideas
Finding a luxuriously large bedroom equipped with a walk-in closet isn’t easy. In fact, finding storage for all of your belongings can be a challenge in any size room. Fortunately, with a tiny-to-mid-sized bedroom there are clever ways you can create storage. Regardless of the size of your room, clutter can make the space unappealing, causing stress. These clever bedroom storage ideas will keep you clean and organized, no matter how big your bedroom is.
- Buy a bed frame that doubles as storage space. Some bed have drawers and shelves built right into their frames. Depending on what you want to place in drawers, you may not even have to get a bureau or armoire to house the rest of your things. If your bed frame lacks drawers but has space between the floor and the box spring, use plastic containers to stow extra bedding.
- Go vertical and hang shelves. Every inch counts when it comes to figuring out ways to create storage in small spaces. Use the entirety of your wall from top to bottom. Place a floor to ceiling unit next to the nightstand beside your bed to create an appealing visual. Hang shelves to get items up and off the ground. Consider over-the-door hanging storage for bulky items like shoes, scarves, and hats. This is also a great place to stow jewelry!
- Make your own built-in storage unit. If a part of your wall juts out, this creates the perfect opportunity for more storage. Installing custom cabinetry into the wall allows more room for clothes or accessories. The experts at Birmingham painters can help you match the doors of your cabinets to your existing wall color to give off a secret passage vibe, or use glass paneling so you can see what you’re looking for before you even open the doors.
- Mount a nightstand next to your bed. Traditionally, nightstand tables sit next to the bed, taking up valuable floor space. If you mount your nightstand to the wall, you can use the space under there for shoes or miscellaneous items that you don’t want laying around. If there isn’t space for a full on nightstand, a wide shelf mounted on the wall next to your bed can be a makeshift table top.
- Create a display using a bookcase. Are you a shoe fanatic or a lover of handbags? If you consider these items a work of art, use a bookcase or staggered shelves to showcase them! Doing this can give off the vibes of an art installation right inside your bedroom and save valuable space in closets.
- Don’t neglect the space above your headboard. Instead of hanging a painting or photo above your headboard, shelving or cabinet units can be a great installation above your headboard. Display a few of your favorite collectibles, but avoid cluttering the space, as this area will quickly collect dust.
Don’t feel discouraged by the amount of storage space in your bedroom. Using these tips can help expand the storage options in fun, clever ways. For more storage tips, reach out to St. Johns, NL interior decorator Robin Stairs.
7 Ways to Repurpose Old Furniture
You know it’s summertime when you drive by multiple yard sale signs. You might find a new table to use in your hallway, but have you ever thought about what you could turn that table, or anything else you might discover at a yard sale, into? With some creativity and a little elbow grease, you can turn almost any yard sale find into something one-of-a-kind.
- Adorn old drawers with colorful wallpaper. If you find a chest with a set of drawers that are looking a bit worn, cover the exterior of the bottom drawer with wallpaper. To do so, start by cutting the desired covering to the length and width of the drawer. Then, glue it down with Mod Podge and let dry. For an added pop, glue wallpaper on the left and right sides of the drawer. The color will not be seen unless the drawer is pulled out, giving you a colorful surprise each time you open it!
- Repurpose a vintage chest to use as a coffee table. Not only will it give your living room a unique piece of furniture, but it will also provides hidden storage space! Think of the blankets, remotes and magazines you can hide when you have company over. If you feel so inclined, you can strip the chest and re-stain it to a color that better matches your existing furnishings, or situate it as is for that old-world charm.
- Turn an old chair into an outdoor swing. Do you have a large tree branch in your backyard that’s waiting to be used? If you find an old kitchen chair at a yard sale, you can turn it into a backyard swing. Simply remove the arms and legs of the chair, sand it, and apply a fresh coat of paint. Then, drill four holes into the chair and thread through heavy-duty poly rope and hang the rope securely over the tree branch. To ensure you do so safely, read the full instructions here!
- Create a room divider with a bookshelf. If you have old books collecting dust in your basement that could fill a bookshelf, scour yard sales for one. Use this old find to serve as a storage unit and a room divider. Separate a large room to create two unique spaces with a repurposed bookshelf.
- Use a dresser as an outdoor planter. Seek out a dresser with three drawers, as that will work best for this project. To transform it into a planter, open the bottom drawer completely, and then open the middle drawer about halfway so they resemble stairs. Fill the drawers with soil and plant the flowers and herbs of your choosing. To properly create this masterpiece, find the full instructions here.
- Transform a wooden ladder into a blanket hanger. Create a rustic blanket hanger, which would normally cost a fortune in a furniture store, from a recycled wooden ladder. To prevent splintered wood from making its way into the fabric, sand the wood and apply a coat of stain. Once that dries, simply lean the ladder against a wall and hang folded blankets along the rungs. To further prevent damage to your walls or floors, purchase felt pads to place on the feet of the ladder.
- Craft a window shutter into a mail holder. Paint a window shutter any color you please and install it in your kitchen. It can be used for holding important bills, invitations, or reminders. You can also add hooks at the bottom to hang your keys!
The sky is the limit with what you can create from yard sale finds – all you have to do is be resourceful! For more home décor and renovation ideas, check out Jarons Furniture on Pinterest.
Why You Shouldn’t Paint Your Kitchen Your Favorite Color
When it comes to interior design, there are no set rules that need to be obeyed, but there are suggestions that should be followed. This is especially true when it comes to kitchen design. The experts at CertaPro Painters of Mesa/Tempe say you should think twice before using your favorite color on your kitchen walls. Here’s why:
Design trends are constantly evolving. The media consistently tells us what’s hot and what’s not, and that includes home design. Think about it. Pantone and Sherwin Williams announce a new “Color of the Year” every year, and countless homeowners head to a home improvement store for painting supplies. Opt for a design that stands the test of time, like a monochromatic color scheme in a neutral color like white, beige, and gray. These shades are everlasting and are easily paired with pops of colorful accessories.
With neutrals, you’ll always have a clean slate. Your decorating possibilities are endless when you paint your kitchen a neutral color. By keeping your kitchen walls monochrome, you can confidently incorporate various colors and trends in your furniture and accessories. If you were to opt for a bold hue, you would have a much more difficult time accessorizing your kitchen.
You can create more space. Neutral shades do a wonderful job of giving the illusion that the kitchen is much larger than it actually is. Soft shades of white and cream help open a room and make it feel more spacious, while bold colors can overwhelm a space and shrink its appearance.
There’s more freedom in cabinet color choice. By no means does painting with a neutral hue mean that you are stuck with a dull and colorless kitchen. Painting your kitchen with a clean palette, you are able to accessorize with which ever colors and patterns your heart desires. Monochromatic wall colors mean you can choose dark or light cabinetry without having it clash with the walls.
Your kitchen will always appear fresh. A kitchen is one of the most utilized spaces in a home. You spend a lot of time in there, whether you’re preparing a meal or entertaining guests. Using a neutral color in the kitchen and playing with the accessories and decor will constantly make your kitchen feel new and refreshed without having to do an elaborate redesign.
While you may be tempted to be adventurous and paint your kitchen a bold color, keep in mind all of the benefits a neutral-colored kitchen provides. Use a color that is soft and clean for your kitchen, and play with bold colors on accent walls or in other rooms around your home.