The Blind Blog

Summer is just around the corner, so while others are stressing about their beach bodies, you can relax and have some fun decorating your bedroom for the sweltering season. Here's how.

Switch up your sheets
If you don't have AC or don't want to spend the money to put your house on ice, your bedroom is probably pretty warm. It's the perfect time to give your cozy flannel sheets a break and slip your bed into something more comfortable. Take a tip from Hugh Hefner and try something bold like satin sheets: The slippery fabric will keep you cool and give your room a fresh edge. 

Change your custom window treatments
Having multiple sets of curtains on hand to switch every season is a great way to satisfy your decorating craving. In the hotter months, take down your opulent drapes in favor of something lighter, like brightly colored cellular shades. The delicate material can help to let some sunlight into your room and make you more energized and ready to play outdoors. Shades are also easy to adjust, meaning you can filter the light in the heat of day then let it shine as the sun starts to set. Just remember sunscreen when you head to the beach!

Bookshelves are a great way to decorate: They don't take up much floor space and they provide an area on which to store various items. Here are some tips for creating an aesthetically pleasing bookcase. 

Make it functional
Turn your bookshelf into a usable space by arranging a bar set on it. You can also use the space as an area on which to display your collections. HGTV notes that collections are particularly visually appealing because the items are usually similar, but vary enough to keep it interesting. Mix the collection in with your novels to make it eclectic. However, if you choose to install a minibar on the shelves, keep it separate from your hardcovers to avoid exposing them to water damage. 

Put like with like
HGTV also suggests grouping items together based on their color, size or function. For example, arrange a group of white vases of different sizes together on one end of the shelf, and stack a few antique books on the other side. Experiment with odd numbers and asymmetrical design to make it seem as though you put it together off the cuff. Who knows - by arranging your shelves sporadically, you may find a set up that you enjoy more than any organized design. 

Turn it into a stage
One of the simplest ways to turn your bookshelf into something dramatic is by hanging a set of custom window treatments in front of the books and keeping them partially drawn. This gives it the effect of a curtain being pulled onstage, lending a unique feel to the room. This also allows more attention to fall on your books. 

Real Simple also recommends putting empty frames on bookshelves and mantles to obtain a stark geometry - but putting empty picture frames in front of books will also draw more attention to the binding and titles. 

Even if you live alone, it's likely that you spend a decent amount of time each week in your laundry room. The area has the tendency to look a bit bleak, whether it's a cramped space, in an unfinished basement or is part of a multi-purpose area. Here are some tips for brightening it up.

Small laundry rooms
In small spaces, efforts should be made to make the room appear less busy and cramped. One way to do this is by painting the walls white, or any particularly light hue. This will make the room look bigger and feel airier, eliminating some of the stressful feel. You could also try utilizing walls for storage to maximize the amount of available floor space and give yourself more room to move around in. Keep the walls and ceiling smooth and in solid colors, as texture - both visual and tactile - will make the space look smaller than it is. Roman shades, as opposed to blinds, are a great way of keeping the walls smooth. Try to place items in convenient, reachable places, so you're not forced to move around the tiny room as much.

Basement areas
A laundry room in an unfinished basement runs the risk of looking dark and unpleasant. You don't have to complete your cellar in order to reverse this process: There are some simple things you can do to make the space nicer. To make the area seem less gaping, put in a divider. This could be in the form of a privacy screen, or custom window treatments hung from the ceiling. Aim for light or bright colors to counter the tendency of basements to be dark and musty looking. You can further divide the area by strategically placing a table on which to fold laundry in the space. Use a folding table to save money - but cover it with a bright tablecloth to liven it up. Consider putting a rug down in your washer and dryer area: Not only with this distinguish the pseudo-room, but it will also help to warm it up, as basements typically have cold, concrete flooring.

Strive to give yourself ample lighting in your laundry room. Avoid the traditional overhead basement lights and try to use antique looking floor lighting to give the space a unique feel.

Combination rooms
Laundry rooms are often combined with mud rooms or linen closets, which can cause mess and clutter. Make it easier to keep clean by creating a system for yourself. Install cubbies or lockers, or place a chest by the door, apart from your washer and dryer, for your shoes and jackets to help organize yourself. Hide some of your laundry-related clutter by storing your detergent and other items in baskets or other containers, or by keeping them hidden on shelves behind patterned curtains.

More design ideas
To make the room beautiful, explore unusual ways to incorporate useful but elegant design elements. HGTV recommends storing powdered laundry detergent in glass jars with metal scoops to eliminate the sometimes clashing bottles of product. Find a method of drying clothes that is also visually appealing, like hanging a stripped birch branch on the wall and hanging your delicates from it. Don't be afraid to use various wall decorations either - framed vintage detergent ads are a cute way of adding visual interest while keeping with your laundry room theme. You can also try hanging pretty baskets for a unique means of storage with maintaining form.

House Beautiful dubbed the hi-tech man cave one of the top 2013 interior decorating trends, and it's hard to disagree. Who would object to making the sweaty rec room into a more upscale area? Here's how to transform the cave into an elegant but masculine TV room. 

Don't neglect design
One of the worst things about the typical "man cave" is that it looks like a space thrown together with spare parts - a shag rug, plaid sofas and mismatching curtains does not make for the most attractive room. Stick to a specific design in your decor. Both rustic and contemporary design are gorgeous while still being masculine, and they use similar elements. Decorate with a lot of rustic, natural materials like wooden blinds, canvas fabrics or leather accessories, and try to use a muted color palette. 

Keep the team colors to a minimum
As a general rule, vivid green and yellow should not be painted on all the walls to match the giant Green Bay Packers rug you received as a gift from your mother-in-law. That being said, there are other ways to show pride, such as artfully framed photos from the team's winning games, or by putting vintage memorabilia on display. If you want a quirky man cave, derive colors from the uniforms and subdue them in some way. For example, for Packers fans, use a deep green as your primary decorating color and light yellow as an accent and offset these with natural materials. Sports watchers will get the hint, but anyone who isn't an avid fan will find it a tastefully decorated room. 

Up the tech
The man cave is all about comfort, and what's more comfortable than having hi-tech accessories do most of the work for you? Consider installing custom window treatments that retract automatically or a flat screen TV mounted into a frame on the wall, fitted with a DVR to record the games while you're away. You could also set up an overhead projector facing a white wall, so you can watch the game (or your program of choice) on a big screen without the big screen price, or the look of a massive TV in your home. 

Red is always a powerful color when used in home decor. It can be sheer drama in certain tones while calm and dignified in others. Regardless of the shade, if you aren't using this color at all in your home decor, you're missing a great opportunity. Here are a few tips to implement the lively hue in your home and capitalize on its distinct energy. 

Where to use red
This versatile color can find itself at home just about anywhere in the house: A red with orange undertones can add tremendous zeal to a kitchen or parlor while a darker red can make for a relaxing sitting room. Bedrooms can easily be painted with red, either with accessories and textiles or as an entire accent wall. Both girls' and boys' rooms can work well with a darker hue of red as well, especially when paired with other vibrant primary colors.

This color can also be effective outside the home. Painting your front door red will ensure that guests passing through your doorway feel energized and welcome, notes Country Living. A red door is a classic of farm houses and barns, so it's ideal for homes going for a country look. Try pairing your red door with simple window blinds or a white Roman shade to complete the look.

Pairing with red
Since red is such a powerful color, it's a great opportunity to go all-out and use dramatic accessories, notes Real Simple. A red room can host decorations that other colors couldn't handle - for example, retro furniture and accessories repainted funky colors and wild wall decorations like antique vanity mirrors can work without a hitch. Walls in a blushing hue will be a perfect backdrop for other fun installments like backless bookshelves or collections of pottery and plates since you'll still get a peek of the red behind them. 

Although this color can be as dramatic as you please, gentler tones like maroon and brick are more dignified. These colors lend themselves well to studies, home offices and personal libraries. The shade will make you feel warm and cozy as you settle down to enjoy a nice read. 

You may even want to keep your red usage to highlights, which can be just as bold as an entire wall. In rooms with lots of white or neutral-toned decor, a few red items will pop and take bland to bold. Try adding a red throw pillow to a pure white couch and enjoy the effect the stark color combination has on your eye. 

Not all foyers and entryways are whole rooms, and as a result, they frequently go without attention to design. In addition to serving an important function in your house as a convenient area to keep your coats, the foyer is also the prelude to the rest of your home. Not only should your it be a visually appealing area, it should also be well organized in order to maximize its accessibility, and to keep you on a steady morning routine. Read more for some tips on how to decorate your entryway.

Assess your need
Before lifting a paintbrush, think about what you use, or hope to use, your foyer for, who else in your home uses it and where your home is located. Houses at the end of a driveway don't necessarily have to worry about blocking visitors' view of the outside, and have the option of having sheer custom window treatments, while others ought to consider using wood blinds. Even if it's your first apartment fresh out of college, a put-together entryway can help your space to feel grown-up and keep you organized. If you have children, the almost-room can act as a barrier between the muddy outdoors and your living room carpet, and if you live in a chilly climate, you can free up some closet space by stowing your coats and jackets by the front door.

Choose a mirror
A mirror is an entryway staple: not only does it provide you with a way of checking your hair and teeth quickly before running out the door, it also makes the traditionally tiny space appear larger. Kevin Sharkey of Martha Stewart recommends avoiding antiques with filmy glass for this room, and choosing a mirror that suits the size of the area. For instance, if your entryway is tiny, don't overwhelm it with a bulky mirror, but if you have the space, a full-length model could be advantageous. In most cases, it's best to hang the mirror securely rather than propping it up to save yourself from awkward angles and the risk of it falling and shattering.

Pair a console table and tray
Any surface on which to put your keys, mail, watch and other items to grab before dashing is useful, and is even more so when right next to the door. By topping a handsome console table with a rimmed tray, you can gather these things in a more organized fashion, and minimize the chances of knocking your car keys into unseen territory. A classic focal point can be easily made by hanging your mirror above the table, and you can add some interest to the area with a floral arrangement or patterned table runner.

Select your organizational tools
Your organizational tools should reflect the number of people in your home - if you live with one person, a coat rack or series of hooks should suffice for storage, but if you have multiple kids, you should consider installing wooden cubbies or lockers. An alternative would be to purchase a chest in which to keep boots and outdoor toys, which could also act as a place for people to sit when removing their shoes. Try to match your mirror, table, tray and storage units in either style or color for consistency.

Decorate
With the function aspect of your entryway complete, you can focus on making your foyer pop. One inexpensive way of doing this is simply to paint. Draw color inspiration from both the area directly outside of your home - foliage, the color of your house, etc., in addition to the room adjacent to your entryway. While the two rooms should sport similar features for consistency, your foyer should be able to stand on its own.  Consider painting wide strips or zigzags using painters tape to create a fun and creative prelude to your home, or color your walls a bold blue and decorate with neutral accents.

Rather than holding seasonal items in dusty piles in a damp corner, a finished basement provides both storage and more space for yourself and your family in the form of a recreation room, family room, man cave or your area of choice. However, it's easy to capture the feel of a finished basement without breaking the bank on flooring installation and woodwork. Here are some tips on polishing your basement into a livable space. 

It's easy to forget custom window treatments, a nice carpet and comfortable furnishings in your underground lair, but these are the finishing touches that will make it feel homey and accessible. Arranging your unwanted furniture in the basement does not make it a living space - to make it cozy, the accessories ought to rival your upstairs. Either reupholster your old lounge chairs or consider bringing pieces down from other floors to complete the room. This could be the perfect excuse to do some redecorating in the main living spaces.

Little touches like blinds and shades and a clean carpet are necessary for keeping your downstairs from resembling a dusty cellar. Don't forget the small stuff that you use in your upstairs room, and your basement will look finished in no time. 

As an often neglected part of your home, the level of design that your bathroom sports can be the telling point of how well your home is decorated. Standard powder room styles are easy to pull off - just add matching tiles, towels and a mirror. To create a unique bathroom, you don't have to buy expensive appliances like a shower that doubles as a sauna. Just choose a quirky feature and decorate around it. Read more to get some ideas on how to make your restroom stand out. 

Wall decor
Bathroom walls are usually plain, and hanging an artistic poster doesn't make much difference. HGTV recommends using items from thrift stores and flea markets to adorn your commode. A small dresser's drawers, when removed, can be secured to a wall to create shelves, and add even more visual appeal when the inside bottoms of the drawers are decorated with paint or photographs. The same technique can be used with antique mirrors - hanging a few above your sink serves a purpose while also contributing to the decor.

Color
Bright colored bathrooms risk being reminiscent of a teen's restroom, but with grown-up tiling and accessories (and without the furry bathmat), hot pink walls can be an inexpensive way of adding interest to the room. Offset the blazing blush with hardwood floors and tiles that complement. Another way to add color is to truly go all out - like with a royal blue. Carry the hue through towels, paint and the shower curtain: It takes commitment, but the bold look pays off.

Accessories
Noticeable accessories are a great way to make your bathroom stand out - like sophisticated looking roman shades, chandeliers or a floating sink. The best way to design a powder room away from the norm is to strive to do what others are not. 

In the chaos of everyday life, having a calm space to relax is a must, and when it comes to uncluttered and sleek, modern design is the way to go. Modern decor features clean lines and creates a comfortable atmosphere: the perfect sanctuary for busy people. Here are some tips for decorating a modern bedroom.

Choose your palette 
​The Freshome blog notes that this style of design tends to place a bright color as an accent against mostly neutral hues. When choosing a palette, take into account the furnishings that you're planning to use. For example, if you have a dresser that's painted an antique white, consider using that shade as your main wall color and painting a blue accent wall. The neatness of modern furniture allows you to play with pigment without risk of busyness. 

Use natural materials 
Another common feature of modern decor is the use of natural materials - hardwood floors, wood blinds and the use of plants as decoration are all frequently aspects of the theme. Painting with colors found in nature can lead to a serene environment and add consistency if you choose to use natural materials. The abstract designs that occur in nature can also be seen in motifs and patterns in modern homes - like a wall decal that appears to imitate a cluster of tree​ branches.

Find a focal point
A modern room typically features many beautiful pieces of furniture, but the sleek nature of the design trend usually means that there is a clear focus in the room. In a bedroom, it could easily be a bold pattern or color on the comforter or headboard, but an underused part of the room is often the window. You can draw more focus to your view with dark colored wood blinds - the contrast between the slats and the light create a clear point of interest with heavy texture while still utilizing clean lines.

Accessories
To keep your room clutter- and stress-free, storage is vital. Try to keep your surfaces relatively free of items by using plenty of storage tools. A wooden chest at the foot of the bed could add to the natural feel of the room while providing a space to put spare sheets or clothing, while organizational canvas boxes in your closet and under the bed continue the clean lines while preventing messiness. 

If you're tired of your kitchen feeling cramped or uninviting but don't want to remodel the entire thing, there's good news for you - it can be done. With a little fresh paint and a few new accessories, you can have the kitchen you've always wanted without having to go through the costly renovation process of installing new countertops and cabinets.

Country kitchen
If you live outside the city or just want to make your kitchen feel more homey, try adding some fun, folksy decorations, notes Midwest Living magazine. Oversized, decorative serving trays, milk pails and stools all look great in wood and can easily be painted to match the decor you're going for. In addition to the customizable potential of this project, you can find these materials in retail stores as well as thrift shops, yard sales and flea markets if you want to save some money and make your kitchen feel even more authentic. For paint colors, you may want to use light blue, pale brown or plain white for the walls to create the simple, rustic feel of a country kitchen. Creating a good spot to sit and gaze out the window is a nice touch, so try putting a comfortable chair and small desk in front of a window and using wood blinds to match the country theme.

Modern kitchen
Although it may seem challenging to create a modern kitchen without installing stainless steel appliances and sleek countertops, you can still get a contemporary feel with just a few accessories. The key is to maximize your existing countertop space, so try to keep all surfaces free of clutter and stationary objects to maintain that streamlined look, suggests TLC. 

You don't need to totally redo everything in the room in contemporary finishes, but a few stainless steel touches will help create a modern feel. Try tucking wood and plastic spoons into a steel bin that contains all your cooking utensils. Not only will this add more of that contemporary gleam to your home, but it will also keep everything neater and tidier, which is key in a modern kitchen. As far as windows and window treatments go, it's best to have plenty of light, so try installing some cordless shades or celluloid shades to let in plenty of light while maintaining the minimalist look.