Photo: Collins & DuPont Design Group

Purchase Pieces That Are Handcrafted

Handcrafted pieces are significant for a number of reasons. One of the reasons that they are so important, so significant, is because they weren’t made in a factory, based on a blueprint that was designed by a machine. Instead, they were built by a human being that put their time and their energy into creating a distinct and very beautiful piece of furniture.

No other type of furniture is more indicative of this than Amish furniture. Pieces such as Amish kitchen hutches and Amish bookcases imbue your home with a sense of age, timelessness, and beauty, because those pieces are designed to last a very long time, and gradually, they become an artifact of history in of themselves, lending your home a beautifully nostalgic quality.

Go With The Colors Of Your Wall

Take a look at the colors of each wall in the house. What are those colors? What do they make you think of? How do they make you feel? Unless you plan on painting the walls anytime soon, it’s important to find furniture that goes with the colors of those walls, and matching your existing home decorating!

For example, if one of the colors is blue, and blue makes you feel this connection to the ocean, then you can find furniture that is also blue, as well as pieces that have a similar feeling to them. Some people also just find pieces of furniture in the same color, just in different shades and hues.

Figure Out The Pieces That You Need

Do you need a couch? Do you need an easy chair? What kinds of pieces do you need? What pieces are most important to you? Once you know that, look at the space itself, look at the color of the wall and look at the size of the space, and then consider the kinds of feelings that you want to create within the space itself. But, before you go out and buy anything, consider which pieces are absolutely essential to you.

For some people, the only thing they really need is a great and comfortable couch that they can relax on. For others, they are looking for sustainable furniture that lasts. If they don’t need a couch, but they want a nice chair and they want a table that can fit their entire family of eight. Think about these things, and then, going from that, think about the space and the style of the room. 

Use Classical Furniture

There is a debate as to whether or not the classical styles are as good as the more contemporary styles, and whether or not they are more suitable than those of the contemporary style. In our opinion, the classical styles are far better, because they have been proven, time and time again, that they remain aesthetically pleasing and elegant in their simplicity and overall charm. Not only that, most of the pieces are significantly more durable, made of stronger materials, and they age better due to these facts.

 Put Lights Around Your Home 

These can be lamps, but any type of light will do. Lights are very pleasing, when they are set up in the proper spaces, and they all coalesce to create a rich and inviting home that is filled with light and energy, and a beautiful ambience! By using classical furniture, matching the colors with those of the walls, filling your home with lights, and designing around your needs, you will have an absolutely radiant home!

Photo: Lovers of Mint

Choosing new furniture to adorn your house with can be such a design challenge for some. With so many options out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. From budget IKEA 3-seater Ektorp, to the more high-end Desiree Lacoon Island Sofa, there’s everything for everyone’s taste and budget. Here’s a guide on how you can select the best furniture for your home. Read on to find 4 tips on selecting new furniture for your lovely house:

Consider Where you Want it Placed

Every room in the house has a specific function, and thus need the appropriate furniture. The living room should include at least a sofa set and an entertainment system for lounging. The dining room is where the family gathers to eat, so a decent sized dining table and set of chairs would be great. The bedroom should be a place of relaxation and retirement after a hard day’s work. No doubt it should have a bed and comfortable yet stylish decorating. Dressers, closets, and study are also some of the essentials you may add.

Knowing where in the house you are to place your new furniture gives you an idea on what to get. Getting a basic furniture is easy. But adding complementary items such as lamps, tables, and stools depends on your personal needs and preferences.

Photo: Via Pinterest

Consider the Size, Shape, and Dimensions of the Furniture

No doubt you need to measure your space first before hauling in something from the furniture store. After defining the type of furniture you want to buy, the size and shape should be considered next. Is your living area large enough to cater a sectional sofa? Will your bedroom become too tight for a king sized bed? Depending on the available space in your house, plan out how much square footage you can allot for your new furniture.

Remember not to clutter too much items in a small space that you can’t roam around comfortably. Don’t put furniture too sparingly as well that your house looks blank. Find for the right balance that would strike harmony in your space.

Photo: Style House Interiors

Decide on a Style You Want to Keep for Your Home

The year has brought a lot of home decorating trends that many of us can’t keep up with. If you’re looking to update your furniture to achieve a certain style, go for it and decide completely on the type of look you want to get.

Bohemian style interiors play largely with textures and rich patterns. Moroccan inspired accent chairs and pillows will be a great additions to your living area. Bold and colorful accents are a great way to achieve this look. Apart from boho inspired homes, some popular trends today include: modern industrial, rustic, and minimalist. Don’t be afraid to explore other themes. There are tons of inspiration online that you can seek.

Stick to Your Budget

Buying new furniture can sure cost you a lot, specially if you’re looking into getting big items items like beds, dining tables, and living room sets. Depending on the quality and material of your desired item, a sofa set can cost you from $200 to $1,000. If you don’t have a lot of budget for new furniture, you can always try buying from thrift stores and yard sales. You can also check out furniture warehouses that sell at a lower price.

We’re trying to use less chemicals in our home these days, and sometimes all you need are basic things you can find around your house! To make these stains you probably have everything you need already!

The stain you’re going for depends all on the ingredients you use in your homemade wood stain. Copper, vinegar, and coffee are some of the ingredients in these wood stains. Here are our favorites!

1. Apple Cider Vinegar and Steel Wool

This stain is perfect for those who want a ‘grey weathered look’, and all you need is steel wool and apple cider vinegar. Soak the steel wool in the vinegar and allow it to sit for at least 24 hours.

2. White Vinegar, Pennies, and Hydrogen Peroxide

These ingredients produce a beautiful green-blue shade. Make sure the pennies are from the 1960s! If you can’t find any pennies from the 60s, you can always use copper wire.

3. White Vinegar, Coffee Grounds, Tea, and Steel Wool

This mixture creates a beautiful, worn, rich color. This is great if you want a warmer stain on your wood.

How to Use:

Always leave the mixtures to sit for at least 24 hours. If you want a richer stain, allow it to sit for up to 1 week. Apply the stain with a paintbrush, and don’t forget to seal your project!

Photos: DIY Network, 500 SQ, One Fine Gardener, Upcycled Treasures, Kindred PDX.

Wallpaper can have many uses, not just to adorn your walls. Decorating furniture, adding it to your stairs, lining your drawers, and many more! Freshen up your home on the cheap with these creative ideas!

1. Line Drawers

For a pop of color, line your kitchen or office drawers with a fun wallpaper. This is great for people on a budget, and you can find cheap rolls of wallpaper on Ebay, or samples at your hardware store.

2. Wall Art

Choose an artistic printed wallpaper for instant wall art. Add wood panels to frame the wallpaper, and choose a contrasting color for the rest of the wall to really make them pop.

3. Transform TV Trays

Turn boring TV trays from drab to fab with wallpaper! Cut the wallpaper to size and adhere it with spray mount. Seal it with clear contact paper.

4. Decorate Furniture

Add wallpaper to your dressers or cabinets to dress them up. We love the pink-on-pink on this TV cabinet!

5. Light switch Covers

Dress up light switch covers with wallpaper and Mod Podge. Easy and inexpensive, you can complete it in an afternoon! Tutorial here.

6. Wallpapered Stairs

Add some spunk to your stairs with wallpaper! Pick a fun pattern and paint the rest of your stairs a complimenting color.

Photos: Decor Pad, Lus Home, House Wives of Riverton, Modern Home Interior Design, How About Orange.

There are certain rules everyone seems to follow when decorating their home. These rules are never questioned, and people don’t feel comfortable doing things out of the ordinary because of these so-called rules. Most of the things you hear about decorating are guaranteed myths, and we’re here to tell you that you don’t have to follow along! Take a look at our top 7 decorating myths, and think outside the box!

1. Sofas Always Go Against a Wall

This has got to be the most bogus rule we’ve ever heard! You can put the sofa wherever you like! You don’t have to push it against a wall, put it where you think it will look good! Putting the sofa against the wall does give you a lot of floor space, but it also changes the flow and feel of a room if you angle it in a corner instead.

2. Low Light Hides Dirt

If the lighting in your room is dim, this can actually make the room look dirtier. If your furniture and decor is worn and old, and you don’t have much money to spend to replace it, try investing in more lights. A bright room looks newer and cleaner.

3. All Ceilings Must Be White

People usually paint their ceilings white because it opens up the room and adds more light. The lightest color in a room will always draw the eye. So, if your ceiling is bright white, it will draw people’s attention upwards. If your ceiling is darker in color, eyes will be drawn to other areas of the room.

4. Small Rooms Need Small Furniture

Having a few large pieces in a small room instead of many smaller pieces of furniture can be more efficient. A love seat and a chair with thin arms and backs can seat more people than two chairs in less space. Adding a day bed gives more sitting space, and it has storage underneath. The key is to minimize the amount of clutter in a small space.

5. Pick Rugs Last

The rug is always the base of your room design. Designers always pick the area rug first to define the palette of colors for the room. Basically, the area rug needs to tie the other colors of the room together. Buying the rug last makes it more difficult to find one that matches all your other furniture. Pick a rug first and build the rest of your room around that.

6. White Rooms Look Bigger

When people’s eyes move across a space, their eyes go from dark to light. Uniformity in color keeps your eyes steady. Walls that have different colors make your eye move between them to differentiate the distance between the walls. Basically, uniformity is the key that gives rooms a bigger feel.

7. In Decorating, There are Rules That Need to be Followed

Actually, professional decorators break rules all the time. Have fun, and be creative when decorating your home. Always remember that you’re never breaking any rules, only starting new trends.

Photos: West Wing, LPC Furniture, The Budget Decorator, Vissbiz.