The Blind Blog

A sunroom is a great addition to any home - it's the perfect place to relax and can be a good space for parties. Traditionally, sunrooms are built into the side of a house, but they are essentially any room that gets a lot of sun. There are lots of themes you can explore to decorate your sunny spot: classic, beach-themed and contemporary. But by utilizing elements from Bohemia, you can turn the room into a paradise, totally separate from your day-to-day life. 

Fabrics
Bohemian style decor often utilizes a lot of fabrics, like throws, carpets and floor-to-ceiling drapes. Buy discount window treatments in deep colors and keep them half closed during the day to get the right amount of sunshine. By taking an eclectic bunch of patterned blankets and draping them over the furniture, you can project luxury and add comfort for you and your guests. When it comes to carpets, look for one that is patterned and doesn't necessarily cover the whole floor. If you angle the carpet in such a way that it's not laid out parallel to the walls, it will help your sunroom to feel more like a tent in paradise than a room.

Colors
To create a utopia in your home, you'll need to select colors carefully. A lot of your color scheme should be based on your own tastes, but when going for a Bohemian look, there's a lot of leeway. This is because the traditional Bohemian style incorporates a lot of colors and patterns. The easiest thing to do is to keep the walls simple with an off-white or light orange, and use colors in the fabrics. If you're looking for a more dramatic effect, paint the walls deep red and choose textiles in similar reds and purples. But you don't have to go all-out - you can keep everything neutral and highlight one element with a bright color, like yellow. 

Natural elements
Another feature that a sunroom might have is natural elements. One way to incorporate this is by using bamboo shades as a window treatment rather than drapes. You can get the look of drapes by hanging fabric from the ceiling and using a cloth separator instead of a door. Bamboo shades truly provide a outdoorsy, Bohemian feel, and will let the perfect amount of light into your sunroom. The natural element can also be achieved with lush hanging plants and ferns throughout the room. Line up cacti along windowsills and group them on tables to get a desert look. You can also incorporate wooden materials by decorating with wicker furniture - but not your mother's wicker. Look for uniquely shaped chairs, such as the hanging egg chairs that have become so popular. 

Lighting
A sunroom's main source of light should, of course, be the sun. There are a lot of fun ways to get a small amount of light during dusk for a dimly-lit gathering. You may be hesitant to decorate using string lights, but the right kind can transform a room into an indoor bazaar. Look for lights with round bulbs rather than the pointed ones you typically see on a Christmas tree. There are also bulbs that are encased in small stars, which can bring a truly unique look in your sunroom. Another way to get a small amount of lighting is with hurricane lamps, both hung from the ceiling and on surfaces. The barrier in front of the flame is especially useful in a room that uses a lot of fabrics. 

Feng Shui is the art of maximizing the energy flow in your home. It originated in China, where energy is referred to as chi. Getting a good energy or chi balance in your home can help to de-stress any room and promote positive feelings. Many people in both the Eastern and Western worlds embrace Feng Shui's simple guidelines to improve their home decor.

Energy
Beneficial energy flow is central to the Feng Shui approach, notes India Times. The flow of energy goes from the front door all the way through your home, so it's best not to have any objects in the way. All furniture should be arranged so that you are still able to pass through a room unhindered. Try to position furniture so that the user's back is to the wall - this will help them to feel more grounded and relaxed. Removing clutter before it becomes somewhat of a permanent fixture in your home will help keep energy pulsing as well as make your home feel more inviting.

Materials
There are five main elements of Feng Shui: wood, metal, water, earth and fire, notes HGTV. It's best to balance the amount of each element that is present in a room. There is also a heavy emphasis on using natural materials, so utilizing wood for furniture, decorations and accessories like wood blinds can be very helpful. When using wood, try to mimic the natural shapes and flow of trees. Having columns or other rounded wood shapes can help. A wonderful new option we carry are our bamboo roller shades. They provide a natural look, all light to filter in your room and come in a variety of gorgeous styles.

Fire is another great element to incorporate and you don't actually need a fireplace. Candles will work in many cases or you can view fire more symbolically and use items that evoke a primal feel, like animal prints. With earth, it's also fine to just use things that have the same colors instead of actually using raw materials to decorate your home. Metal is common in many houses and should be used in its full capacity because it is a strong and shapely material. As far as water goes, if you don't want to install a hot tub, don't fret - objects with deep blues and greens will work fine as well.

Light
Taking advantage of natural light plays an important role in Feng Shui as well. Keep all your windows free of obstructions and try to use blinds and shades made of natural materials whenever possible. Hanging mirrors are also a great way to boost the light in your home, as keeping it bright is good for the mood.

Eco-friendly interior design is the new norm these days, not only because it's better for the Earth, but because natural elements look fresh and modern. If you're looking for ways to improve the aesthetics of your space while making Mother Nature happy, consider incorporating these three materials into your interior design plans.

1. Bamboo. From bamboo floors to bamboo curtains, this material is ideal for adding inexpensive style to your rooms. It's long-lasting, attractive and eco-friendly because bamboo is a quickly renewable crop.

2. Wood. It may seem obvious, but wooden elements make for a wonderful, sustainable design scheme. Whether you make your own wood vase with tree bark, twine and a little help from Martha Stewart or invest in unique, rough wooden furniture, you're doing your decor and the planet a favor.

3. Cork. Cork flooring is not only attractive, but the cork tree is a sustainable resource and many tiles are made from scraps left over from the cork wine-stopper industry. It's durable, fire-resistant and soft under your feet to boot! Even cork bulletin boards are design-friendly.

As you walk throughout your house, your rooms should flow seamlessly together so their decorative feel works in perfect harmony. This synthesis between each space can come from a variety of techniques that implement color, style and design. Here are a few tips to making each room flow.

Color coexistence

One of the most notable characteristics of a room is the color. While the hue or tone is up to you, HGTV notes that the similarity of color from one room to the next will be conducive to the flow. For simplicity, you can make each room the same color, and to add some flair, put up a wallpaper border. If you do choose to go with different colors, it's a good idea to pick tones that will match. Go with something light or subtle so there isn't a jarring effect. For example, a light pink will work beautifully with a sky blue or a peach.

Decorations

Having similar decorations will also help establish a synthesis between rooms. If you're a fan of pop art, perhaps you have paintings of Andy Warhol's ilk in each of your rooms. They don't have to match or have the same color scheme, but their look and feel may be similar. This aesthetic could apply to anything, from ornamental figurines on your tables to bamboo shades on your windows.

Furniture

The furniture in each room should also serve to complement each other for a synthesized flow. Of course, you don't have to go furniture shopping for each room in your house, but every time you choose to replace something you may want to keep your other pieces in mind. Maybe you enjoy varnished woodwork with ornate patterns or the minimalist post-modern design made popular by IKEA - whatever you choose, it's wise to stick with it.

Solid colors are great and all, but don't you think they're kind of boring for use throughout an entire room? Sure, colorblocking is a huge trend in the fashion world, but there's a reason why patterns exist - they help shake things up when it comes to interior design. One of the most notable patterns, which you probably have a lot of experience with already, is stripes. If you're buying bamboo blinds or wood blinds, or even have a room with wood-paneled walls, you might already have touches of these dynamic lines. But if you want even more stripiness, consider these tips to make them work with your current decor.

1. Make stripes the accents. You probably know that an entire room full of stripes would be a lot busier than any space should ever be. Avoid using too many stripes in your design plan - it's much easier (and better looking) to use them as accent patterns that add pops of pizzazz to the area.

2. Don't play around too much with the scale. When it comes to using patterns in rooms, there's one golden rule that should always be followed, and it has to do with size. Basically, prints that are large belong in rooms that are big, while patterns that are small should be placed in rooms that are tiny. Think about it - if you put an item with huge stripes in a small room, you'd probably have a lot of trouble focusing on anything else. And if you placed a petite print in a large room, you'd barely notice it.

3. Get creative with other patterns. Stripes are great on their own, but if you want to create an eclectic space with plenty of surprises, you might want to mix in a few other patterns, like polka dots, zig zags or florals. As long as something is similar in each piece, they should blend well. That could be a similar color palette, texture or size.

4. Realize that the choice between horizontal and vertical is important. You might not care either way, but there are reasons why you should pay attention to whether you're using vertical or horizontal stripes. Vertical stripes can help make a room feel taller, which might come in handy if you have low ceilings. Horizontal stripes can widen a space, making it seem bigger. Maybe using both would make your room look huge!

When you're redesigning a bathroom, bamboo probably isn't the first material that comes to mind. After all, ceramic tile, glass and porcelain are what typically dominate in the bathroom. But there are plenty of reasons why bamboo is the ultimate choice, and just as many ways to use it.

First of all, bamboo is a super eco-friendly resource that doesn't have a negative impact on the environment. It can grow up to three feet in a single day and thrives without the use of pesticides, making it a wonderful crop. It even releases more oxygen than other plants, helping to freshen up the atmosphere! It's also extremely durable and resistant to bacteria, making it perfect for use in a bathroom.

Of course, bamboo accessories aren't just about function - they're also attractive. When you use bamboo window blinds, bamboo floors and bamboo textiles, you lend your bathroom a clean, spa-like vibe that's perfect for the space. The decor possibilities of the material are endless, but if you're looking for a few ideas, check out some of Martha Stewart's suggestions.

As you watch the mercury climb higher every day, you've probably begun thinking about how much money you'll be spending on energy to cool your home this summer. Air conditioning can be an expensive luxury that may make saving for family vacations or other fun activities a chore, so it's nice to know that there are affordable methods for cutting down your electricity bill that are also eco-friendly. Here are a few home design tips to keep in mind.

Ceiling fans
If it's a warm day outside, you can help cool things down indoors with classic ceiling fans. These devices are great for circulating fresh air around your home without breaking the bank. You can also use these in combination with custom window shades to limit the amount of direct sunlight that comes through your windows to keep your house comfortable when the sun is high in the sky.

Weatherproofing
During the summertime, cool air from your home's interior can leak out through gaps around your windows and doors. To help keep the cold in while blocking the heat outside, make sure that you properly weatherproof entryways and portals. Rubber strips, a door runner and outer storm windows are all effective means of doing this.

Smarter appliance use
Believe it or not, your home's appliances and electronic devices generate a significant amount of heat when they're in use. This is particularly true for items such as your dishwasher, washer/dryer and desktop computer. To reduce the amount of heat these appliances add to your home, consider using them primarily at night, when temperatures outside are cool. Nighttime off-peak energy hours will also mean that you're saving on energy consumption.

Window Treatments
Blinds and shades block the sunlight from entering and heating up your house. Solar shades tend to be very popular in that they block some light, yet have tiny openings that won't eliminate your view. 

No matter how well you decorate your living room, it won't do much good if there isn't enough light to show off your interior design skills. Fortunately this problem can be easily remedied by following these simple steps.

Mirrors

Besides adding extra depth, hanging up a few mirrors will help reflect and multiply the light that is already in your living space. You can go to antique or second hand stores to find great vintage mirrors that have ornate wooden frames, or you can buy one and add a custom frame. In order to get the most out of your mirrors, especially if they are aged, you may want to apply glass cleaner and give them a good scrubbing.

Colors

Having a light-colored room will bring an element of brightness to your home, no matter what time of the year it is. There are limitless options that range from sea foam green to peach, and each one will bring about a light-hearted feel that is sure to elevate the mood. InteriorComplex.com suggests semi-gloss or full gloss paint to reflect light and add brightness.

Shades

If you have drapes or shades that hang over your windows, you may be losing out on precious sunlight that could be pouring into your room. It's a good idea to invest in some bamboo window blinds or cellular shades that you can put up if need be, so you can bring the sun's rays into your home whenever you feel like it.

Lamps

Sometimes living spaces are too dark simply because there aren't enough sources of light. You may want to add a few extra lamps, which can either stand tall in the corner or sit on a nightstand next the couch. You can also choose smaller or more translucent shades that do not block as much of the light.

Even if you don't live beachside, consider adding a nautical theme to your living space to establish a refreshing atmosphere that goes hand in hand with the open seas. With a few of these helpful tips you'll be feeling the ocean breeze in no time.

Nautical-ize Your Furniture

Most of your furniture and appliances can be remodeled in order to make seem fit for the sea. HGTV suggests wrapping hemp twine around your lamp with some super glue in order to infuse your lighting with a nautical feel. You may also want to add beach-themed throw pillows to your couch that have images of starfish and old wooden vessels embroidered on them.

Decorations From a Ship

You can adorn your walls with great accent pieces that look as though they were taken from a ship. You should check your local antique shops or look online to find old steering wheels that were used to control the rudder. You may want to sand them down and apply a fresh coat of varnish to give them that refined and antiquated feel. These will perfectly match bamboo window shades.

No nautical theme is complete without anchors. You may be able to acquire an old metallic anchor that will look great leaning on your hearth or take up space in a vacant corner. You can get a wallpaper border that has images of anchors as well.

Seashells

Seashells are visually appealing and inexpensive - just wait for your next trip to the beach! A good way to display your shells is to put them in a decorative dish that is filled with sand. You can also create a shell collage by gluing them onto a piece of canvas and hanging it on your wall.