Outdoor Design Ideas for that curb appeal

If you have been blessed with an open patch- a yard, terrace, a patio or a porch, the lure of the season is truly hard to resist. The weather calls for soaking in the warmth of the sun to beat the winter blues as also those barbeque lunches and dinners that make this season ever so special. Of course what it also means is picking up some cool outdoor décor ideas. So here goes.

If there is one thing that is likely to endear itself to just about all your guests, it is adding a whole lot of colour to your outdoor design. Think colourful outdoor furniture or even adding colourful accents to your existing furniture. The fuchsia or those royal blue cushions will light up your space in no time. Florals, stripes, ikkat prints all come together to create that colourful melee that perks up the space.  An outdoor rug can add just the warmth that the place needs.

Speaking of outdoor furniture, there is a lot to choose from. Take your pick from that bamboo or wicker furniture that will simply enchant you into believing that you are on an exotic holiday! That it is lightweight is an added perk as you can move it around and create either an intimate setting or one that is more spread out, depending on your guests. Consider having a swinging seat bench that can be the perfect retreat for those me-times. Alternately a hammock is just what you need for that afternoon siesta or the times you want to just curl up with a book.

Space need not be a constraint for your outdoor living ideas. If you are short on space and do not have the luxury of a lounging area, even a corner can be tastefully done! Think of a red bistro table, a piece of art on the wall, few punchy coloured chairs and luxe cushions and you are all set for a great time. This is the perfect spot for a steaming hot cuppa sipped alone or with that significant other.

Vibrant lights, especially when it comes to those evening get togethers are an absolute must when it comes to outdoor décor. Bright Chinese lanterns or even fairy strings can go a long way in adding oodles of character to your open space. For that intimate appeal, consider doing up the place in lots of candles. Hanging lights with planters make for one great combination as well and set the stage for those lovely meet ups. Installing a fire pit is another sure-fire way to add oodles of charm to your outdoor space. Whether you want to do some fire gazing on your own or want to play host, it will act as the perfect backdrop.

When in doubt about the outdoor design idea, just remember to keep it simple. After all fuss free is the time you want to spend outdoors and what better way than keeping the décor fuss free.

Read More

Kitchen design ideas that you cannot have enough of

The true heart of a home, the kitchen is one versatile place. Much more than a space for cooking alone, it is perfect for those cosy meals with family or even entertaining guests. It is only right that your kitchen is done up in a manner that leaves everyone in awe of your style sensibilities.

One way of giving your kitchen a great decorative touch is by the use of colour. You can choose to stick to a monochromatic palette and yet add personality to your kitchen. Black and white makes for one great combination. You could choose to induce the combination by way of checkerboard floor tiles. If your idea of kitchen décor is modern, you can go in for bold colours with a glossy finish. Even if you like to do up the walls in neutral colours, you could add to the kitchen’s character by painting its cabinets in bright colours. A cherry coloured cabinet, for example, is just the right foil to a white kitchen wall. Alternately, dark wood cabinets are a great option to add depth.You could also add a pop of colour to the kitchen through a colourful backsplash. A gingham pattern in a backsplash may just be the perfect way to add both colour and pattern to the kitchen.

An important element of kitchen decor is its storage. Opt for smart space saving storage is not only functional but also aesthetic. A multi cubed shelving unit may just be the right answer to store the many knickknacks that you need to store in the kitchen. Lining the back of the shelves with a creative wallpaper may just be the design flourish that your kitchen needs. Floating shelves on the walls also add to the décor.

 

Think of kitchen designs and accents have a big role to play. Think black accent lights that work particularly well for an open kitchen layout especially for small kitchens. Their craftsmanship is sure to divert the attention away from the size of the kitchen. Your kitchen will also benefit from appliances in an array of bright colours to make that style statement. Bar stools are yet another way to add oodles of character. If ornate is your style you could also benefit from having a black, glossy chandelier in the kitchen.  Doing up the kitchen in stylish accents however need not necessarily mean breaking your bank. When it comes to kitchen ideas, you are limited only by your imagination. Consider colouring old plates with acrylic paint and see them become great conversation starters. A chalkboard wall is another great way to add character to the kitchen. You can perk up the place by using it to display the menu of the day or an inspiring quote that is bound to lift up everyone’s spirits. Making room for your cookbooks in the kitchen is also one great way to add tons of impact to the kitchen.  Food for thought, did we hear you say?

Read More

Natural elements adding pizzazz to your decor

Including natural elements in home décor has become the trending topic of the day. They add natural charm to a place and are one of the most effective ways of adding colour and freshness to a space, whether indoor or outdoor. Not everyone is blessed with a green thumb or has the time to clean the dirt associated with potted plants, which is why artificial plant décor is gaining so much favour. They lend the space the same earthy appeal without any of the maintenance hassles associated with natural plants. Also they are highly cost effective and last a long time making the investment well worth it.

A great design idea for decorating a living room is to combine natural artificial plants with natural flowers. Brighten up a dark area with corner flower vase arrangement; roses, orchids and sunflower are the most commonly used flowers. They add bright pops of colour while giving the space a natural earthy appeal.  Your reading nook can particularly benefit from the natural texture and good energy of plants.. Artificial palm trees are also frequently used for living room decor, as they add to the natural look and feel. You can achieve a beautiful mix of both natural and artificial by combining a beautiful centre table arrangement of natural flowers with artificial potted plants. 

Potted plants are also the perfect way to decorate a small balcony. If you are worried about using up floor space, consider hanging planter boxes for balconies, a beautifully natural way to cover up the railings. Not only do they provide both shade and privacy to the balcony, they also add colour and freshness to the space.

An important part of outdoor décor is outdoor garden furniture. A small balcony can also be made to look beautiful and elegant by adding a few well thought pieces of outdoor furniture. You can also give it a bistro feel by simply adding outdoor chairs in bright colours and pairing it off with a small round coffee table. Made of rattan, artificial wicker or even metal, outdoor furniture adds an unmistakable touch of class. Folding tables and chairs offer the extra convenience of moving the seating around as required. Ottomans and chaise lounges are also great options for outdoor furniture if you are looking for a more eclectic kind of seating arrangement. Simple chairs and tables can be made to look great when accessorized with bright patterned cushions, throws, table runners and rugs, especially when it comes to outdoor décor. You could also add to the eclectic décor by using unusual containers for plants such as tin cans, buckets, old tires and teakettles. You could even consider using an old bicycle decorated with flowers. Now this one will have al your guests in awe.

Whether you have been blessed with a small patio or a large garden, outdoor furniture and plants make for one great combination for a stunning décor. You may as well get used to the many compliments that are sure to come your way.

Read More

Bathroom decor ideas that will pamper you like never before

It might be the smallest room in the house, but that does not mean that its décor does not need inspiration. A dated bathroom décor does not make for an invigorating bath and can in fact act as a mood spoiler leaving you feeling even more tired and jaded than before. It takes only a few design choices to transform your small bathroom into an oasis of beauty and tranquillity. Forget replacing expensive hardware, updating your bath products and including a few modern bath accessories can do the trick far more effectively and without emptying your bank balance.

The first rule of bathroom accessorizing is to remove the clutter. A cluttered bathroom can be a big turn off making the act of taking a bath itself seems like torture. Bring order to the chaos by adding bath and storage solutions that themselves feature as pieces of bathroom décor.

Updating your bathroom is incomplete without paying attention to bath towels and linens. They are the first bath product to draw attention, also because they happen to be the most frequently used. Instead of random towels, add complete bathroom sets of hand and bath towels, if possible add small makeup towels as well and display them stylishly on a wicker tray on the vanity. Why should you need to go to a hotel to get the feeling of being pampered? Stacking beautifully rolled pristine white towels in your bathroom, either in wire baskets or drawers can play delightfully on your senses.

Modern bath accessories have made the task of decorating the bathroom so much easier. Add a beautiful collection of soaps, from unscented to scented ones in a glass canister and you have created a vignette corner that can give your bathroom a spa like essence. If you have the space, go for an all out spa look and feel by adding vignettes like bath salts, sea shell soaps and stylishly bottled perfumes, lotions and serums. Go the whole hog and add scented candles and diffusers to give your bathroom a Zen like vibe.

Your vanity is the first thing that draws the eye upon entering the bathroom, which is why adding even one accent piece like a gorgeous marble soap dispenser can uplift the entire décor. You can even think of adding a blended set that includes toothbrush holder and soap dispenser for a further touch of elegance. Modern soap dispensers are available in a variety of materials, shapes and designs like the classically elegant Rattan or the moulded glass soap dispensers to make the task of decorating that much easier.

Bathroom Mats are another element of bathroom that combines functionality with décor. A good design choice is to pick out a shower curtain and mat in the same design and colour to give your bathroom a coordinated elegant look. Vinyl mats and shower curtains are a good choice for both decorating and safety; they prevent slippages and are available in lots of beautiful designs to go with any bathroom look.

Another fairly new addition to modern bathroom accessories is the bathtub tray. It is just the thing you need while pampering yourself with a luxurious tub bath. Adding a bamboo or teak bathtub tray makes it a convenient place holder for not only toiletries but also a glass of wine, candles and even a book.

Read More

How to Make Your Home Decor Shine With Lights

A golden rule of decor which has existed since time immemorial is that if you want something to stand out from the rest you put focus light on it. Light fixtures; be it ceiling lights, floor lamps or even hanging lanterns have an important role to play in the decor of a house. Their role in home decor is similar to the one played by jewellery in dressing oneself up. They can add to the beauty of your dress or conversely bring down the overall appeal simply by their presence. Light fixtures should not be chosen merely on the basis of the light that they emit, but also on the basis of their architectural design. In fact there are many factors to consider while buying lights to add to the decor of your home, colour, style, size and shape all matter when it comes to choosing which light is best suited to illuminate different parts of your home.

Ceiling lights can play two very important roles in dressing up a home interior. They are required for general ambient lighting, almost all the rooms in the house need ceiling lights, whether it is the bedroom, living room, kitchen or dining room. Ceiling lights can even be used to dress up the foyer and make a definitive decor statement right at the entrance. From antique chandeliers to trend setting contemporary pendant lights, there is a wide range of ceiling lights to choose from. Each room in the house has its own unique requirement, for instance a beautifully elaborate chandelier might make a beautiful statement in the living room while island lights might work beautifully for a kitchen. Look for both beauty and function while choosing ceiling lights and you will not be disappointed with the way your decor lights up. If you are looking for something uniquely creative in overhead lighting then hanging lanterns might be a great choice. They look great indoor or outdoor and complement both modern and traditional decor beautifully. Hanging lanterns made with clear glass and arranged in the form of a chandelier can add a wealth of beauty and grace to a small space.  

Floor lamps and table lamps on the other hand are required more for task or accent lighting and to supplement overhead lighting. The best part about using floor lamps and table lamps is that they can easily be installed and moved around the home, allowing you to change the decor of a room simply by switching table lamps and floor lamps. Floor lamps are a great way to light up dark spaces and add to the beauty of the overall decor. Table lamps by the bedside, in the study or in children’s bedrooms can be used to provide both task lighting for studying or reading and to complement the decor of the room.

The bar is one of the most difficult areas to design simply because not many homes come with bar provisions and you need to carve one out of the available space. It is a good idea to choose the light fixtures when you are looking for bar furniture online India, this way you can ensure that you have the right complements for a stand out bar decor. 

Read More

Being Creative with Interior Decorating Ideas

Designing the interiors of your home does not necessarily mean throwing out the old furniture and decor to replace it with new. This can end up causing you lot of heartburn in terms of money and effort. If you are bored with your current decor and want to bring in a fresh new feel, even replacing or re purposing a couple of old items can help give the room a whole new look and feel. The best interior design ideas are the ones that allow you to use your creativity to give a new spin to an old piece of furniture or decor. This is as true of the living room decorating idea as it is of bathroom decor ideas. You can either choose to start from scratch or simply add or replace parts of the existing decor to bring new life and character to an existing space.

There is but one room in the house, apart from the kitchen that can claim to be universally loved by one and all and that is the living room. Modern open layouts require decorating ideas that allow for a seamless flow of decor between kitchen, dining and living room. The best interior design ideas are ones that allow the living room decor to acquire a style of its own while also making it a part of a larger theme. Create visual interest in the living room with a clever use of lighting, colors and textures. A beautiful antique chandelier and Persian rug can give the room a formal luxurious look while modern furniture and accessories can give the room an eclectic contemporary vibe. Don’t forget to decorate the walls with a stand out wall paper, painting or wall art that complements the rest of the decor.

When it comes to bathroom decor ideas however, the design choices are vastly different. Very few look for flamboyance in their bathroom decor, what they prefer is a bathroom that is functionally organized with a calming ambience. If you want to change the decor of your bathroom without changing the layout or hardware then look for bath accessories that can help infuse new life into the bathroom. From bright colored bath mats to luxurious cotton towels, coordinated soap and dispenser sets to shower caddies and curtains, you can use bath accessories in a thousand different ways to infuse the tiny space with color and beauty.

Even a single small item can brighten up the space like choosing a beautiful bath mat online India. Apart from providing a soft comfortable place for wet feet to land on thereby preventing slippages and falls, bath mats give the finishing touches to a beautiful bathroom decor. Choose a colorfully patterned bath mat to bring textural beauty to your bathroom, supplement it with shower curtains in similar patterns and you have a decor that speaks volumes of your decor style. You can even re purpose old glass jars and tea cups to serve as beautiful toiletry holders and use natural plants to give your bathroom a natural earthiness.

Read More

Master Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Designing your dream home is never an easy task especially when you have to work within the constraints of space, time and money. But it can also be a fun learning experience provided you treat it as such. Luxury is a state of mind and it is possible to create a luxurious home without having to spend the bulk of your savings. A few accent pieces, a bright new paint or even some interesting wall décor can all give your home a sense of luxury and a definitive personality. Whether you like it or not, first impressions matter which is why your home décor ideas need to start right from the entryway going all the way up to your backyard and beyond. Home décor is not about filling up a space with furniture, it is about ensuring you arrange furniture and accessories in a manner that they talk to you as well as about you.

There is one room in the house, however, that you would rather keep away from prying eyes. Even on days when nothing seems to be going right in your life, it is your bedroom that gives you the solace and comfort you need to rejuvenate yourself to face yet another day. The bedroom is your sanctuary besides being the room which houses your most intimate secrets. Look for master bedroom ideas that allow you to be yourself while also creating a peaceful retreat that is soothing and relaxing. A good place to start is to look for modern wooden beds online since retail stores offer limited variety. Platform style wooden beds are a great choice for small bedroom interior design since the low profile of the bed helps in making a small bedroom appear larger. Shopping for modern wooden beds online India is also recommended because there are more options to choose from including ones with storage. You can even choose to custom order a headboard to add more style to your bedroom interior design. In fact if you are one of those for whom the bedroom walls mean pastel, muted colours, a colourful headboard is just the way to add a dash of energy to the room.

Successful home décor ideas are ones that pay attention to detail. For instance, you could create a separate nook in the bedroom with a two-seater recliner sofa fabric. A recliner sofa is a perfect choice as it allows for both fun and relaxation. Leather recliners have been the traditional favourite due to their attractive features but fabric recliners are slowly gaining the upper hand. Few things in life are as relaxing as stretching out on a two-seater recliner sofa fabric while watching your favourite show after a hard day at work. The best part about choosing two-seater recliner sofa fabric is that there are plenty of customizing options. You can choose the style, pattern, colours and designs from a huge collection of contemporary designs allowing you to create a décor that is uniquely yours.

Read More