Fall is here and with it comes cooler temperatures, fun-filled family holidays and a whole new color palette to work with. As bright and cheery as summer decor was, bid those long hot days adieu with some crisp colors and autumn-inspired accessories.
Warmer Colors If you want to update a room, there's no better time to do it than fall. The kids are back to school and busy with activities and inspiration is everywhere - just look outside! The cool temperatures in autumn are offset by the barrage of oranges, deep reds and mustard yellows that you find in nature. When decorating with these toasty hues, use white or ecru blinds and shades to keep your space clean and chic. If you want to add cooler tones, use touches of
Deep oranges, burnished browns, deep golden yellows and rich reds. These colors of fall appear in all aspects of home décor during autumn months. Orange may be a secondary color, but it is an exciting one to help accentuate the standard shades with fun accents. Orange has an electric feel when bright, yet that same bright and brash tone can be mellowed out into a muted shade that's more suitable for relaxation and contemplation.
Read on for some tips on using orange in your home decor.
Bright and exciting If you find that you're in love with the color orange,
Decorating a dorm room that's as sophisticated as you are is not an easy task. Everyone wants a cool dorm room, but decorating one can be overwhelming for any new student. Don’t let the pressure lead you to make impulse purchases like hot pink everything or shag throw rugs. The biggest challenges come in the form of tiny rooms, cinder block walls, no-frills flooring and strict budgets. But fear not: There are some ways around all of these obstacles.
Cramped quarters If you have appropriate-sized housing, consider yourself lucky. Most college students have to cope with very small rooms that force them to get cozy quickly with their roommates. And while it's a great way to bond, it's a difficult space to decorate. When choosing pieces that will cover large sections of the room, such as a rug and window shades, opt
Making an older home more eco-friendly can be challenging and expensive. Especially if the structure was built at a time when individuals weren't concerned about preservation or using the most natural resources. It can be more desirable to convert an older home into a green home than rip it down. Many homeowners want to reduce their carbon footprint. With the right window treatments, wall paint and furnishings, you can rest assured you're doing your part to help the planet, regardless of where you live. Here are some key tips on how to revamp certain areas of your old home and make them as environmentally-friendly as possible.
Paint your walls with low-VOC paint Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air, and according to the EPA, is considered one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes. When repainting your older home, use
For most of us, the summer months provide a welcome respite from the short, frigid days of winter. However, as the summer wears on into its dog days, homeowners are often faced with the challenge of staying comfortable as the heat and humidity indices climb. Here are some tips for keeping your home cool and minimizing energy bills in the summer:
Draw blinds and shades Heat from direct sunlight can turn your windows into lenses. Drawing blinds and shades will keep rooms cooler during the day. Consider investing in light-blocking shades or high-quality pleated shades to minimize the effect of sunlight, and prioritize east and west-facing windows, which see the sun's most intense rays in the morning and late afternoon. In addition to the cooling factor, quality
Make the most of National BBQ month by using this time of year as the perfect opportunity to get your home ready for a fun, food-filled BBQ season! Check out these important tips that will ensure that your home will be looking sharp and smelling wonderful all summer long.
Clean the Grill
One of the most essential aspects of a BBQ is a reliable grill. Before you start cooking up some delicious food, it’s vital to clean up and clean out the outdoor appliance. Start with the interior of the grill by deep cleaning the inside surfaces. A soapy sponge or rag should be enough to get the job done. Next, you can make your grill shine by polishing off the exterior. Again, a soapy towel will do, but make sure you avoid streaks by fully drying off the grill’s exterior.
Outdoor patios are perfect for warm summer nights. With a canopy overhead and some dividing custom window treatments to keep the bugs at bay, they're a lovely area for entertaining, or just curling up with your loved ones. Nature-inspired patios blend into the scenery, and, when done right, will barely create a blip in the horizon. Here are some tips for cultivating one of your own.
Create your color palette Decorating with natural colors sounds as though you'd be sticking to earthy browns and greens, but in order to integrate your patio into your yard, you should think about pulling colors directly from your specific landscape. For instance, if you have clusters of birch trees within sight of your outdoor living room, use off-white and deep brown furnishings
With warmer weather moving in, now is a great time to find unique ways to bring your blinds and shades outdoors. Not only will these window coverings provide some much-needed shade, but they can also show off your personal style.
Dress Up a Patio
Your porch is probably a summer staple, so why not find some great ways to make it more enjoyable in the midst of summer’s heat? Incorporating some pretty shades can make a huge impact on not only the amount of heat felt, but the overall appearance of a home. Cellular shades can be a great addition as they come in a wide range of colors and incorporate light-filtering options. If you prefer fabric, adding some airy curtains can catch the eye and block sunrays.
If you don’t have vacation plans or if your summer trip seems too far away then why not turn your home into an everyday personal getaway? Check out these creative and fun ideas that will transform your home into a summer destination of its own!
Create a Cozy Atmosphere
You can makeover both the indoor and outdoor features of your home so you can experience a relaxing atmosphere on a daily basis. Your outdoor decor can be revitalized with a porch swing, firepit or even a simple fan to cool off in warmer weather. The indoors can also be addressed with a new air conditioner, light-filtering shades or light blankets. You can even make the transition from inside to outside more resort-like with the inclusion of sliding doors or plantation shutters. A combination of these features will bring
Spring is finally here and the flowers are blooming! Bring the garden inside by designing your space so that it can blossom year-round, thanks to floral fabrics, wall coverings, and furnishings.
Marie Antoinette Interiors
Florals are a classic print that people just can't seem to get enough of. There's something cheerful, sophisticated and fun about flowers that makes us want to put them practically everywhere, but there are a few tricks for making them work right. Whether you're covering cellular shades with floral curtains or using printed throw pillows, here's how to do it without ending up like your Grandma Bessie's living room.
