Practical Design of a Family Room

Family Room Interior Design

Family room interior design ties together family entertainment, comfort, and style. Often called a "great room," the ideal family room is a place for all members of the family to relax, watch a movie, read a book, and just enjoy some time together. Such rooms are generally less formal than traditional living rooms. Consider these tips when designing your family room:

Common Family Room Interior Design Elements

A successfully decorated family room needs to incorporate ample seating, entertainment options, and unobtrusive storage.

* Seating - A family room needs seating for the family to enjoy the room's entertainment options and in which to relax. Ideally, the furniture in a family room should be soft and comfortable with separate areas for TV viewing, game playing, and office work (if applicable).
* Entertainment - The family room is the place for that big-screen TV, the Nintendo game console, and the mega-watt stereo system. Guard against designing the entire room around one item, like a flat-screen TV, however. A perfect family room is about enjoying family and friends, not a showcase for a new electronic "toy."
* Storage - In addition to comfortable seating and entertainment options, a family room needs a tasteful and organized place to store books, CDs, DVDs, games, and other entertainment accessories. Built-in bookcases are one option as are entertainment centers with drawer and racks for storage.

Designed for Comfort

A well-designed family room has a comfortable and welcoming feel to it. To achieve this, consider the following design aspects:

* Color - A family room is not the place to try out that bold, "in-your-face" color palette. An ideal family room design is soothing and peaceful, using cool and neutral colors, reserving bright colors for accents.
* Lighting - Lighting in a family room needs to be bright for games and reading as well as low and offset for TV viewing and relaxing. Lights with dimmers are one way to do this, or you can have different types of lighting for each activity.
* Traffic Pattern - A well-designed family room should have a comfortable flow from one area to another. When you enter the room, it should be easy to get to the different seating areas without walking around furniture or squeezing through a tight area. Seating areas may be defined by rugs, by furniture groupings, and/or by color.
* Controls - Another important thing to consider is how to conveniently control the lights, the television, and other entertainment options. Consider placing the light controls and the master console near the main seating area so that you won't have to get up and down constantly when you are enjoying the room.

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Sumer Home Decor Ideas

Summer Home Decor

Summer is finally here and as the heat glares down on us, we try to find new and different ways to cool our surroundings, making our home surroundings comfortable and pleasant for us to stay. So let's take a look at these summers home decor tips and make our homes cooler welcoming the summers with a bright smile.

Light Colors Are The Summer Style
We are all aware that summer is the other name of lighter shades and colors. It gives a cool feeling. So don't limit lighter shades to your wardrobe only but extend them to your home as well. Do away with those bright magentas and reds from your decor. Blacks and browns, no matter sleek they may look, are not the hot favorites for summers. These bright colors are excellent for winter decorations but in summers they work just the other way round.
Instead go for lighter shades like whites, ivories and pastels. The home decor colors that are in this summer are lime greens, light blues and soft yellows. If you are thinking of repainting then it is best to go for these colors. Along with the wall colors the other important thing that you need to do is the use of the right kind of fabrics as well. Silk and synthetics are not made for the summers. It tends to get dusty easily and are best kept reserved for cooler months. Instead go for summer fabrics like cotton, linen or even jute. These fabrics make the living space airy and cooler.

Do Away with the Clutter
Unnecessary things and clutter make even the best of houses look a complete mess. Instead go for a simple and bare look. This is especially useful in summers as clear spaces allow the circulation of air around the house. So it is best to pack away all those extra wall hangings and decoration pieces. The simple way of going about it is just throw in some extra pillows and you have yourself a completely new look. Also if you are too fond of carpets then try to control yourself and keep them packed away for the winters. Bare floors are much better for summers.

Some essentials for summer home decor include the colorful rugs to complete the look. One can also go for bamboo spreads for an ethnic look.

Curtains and Windows
Sometimes curtains and windows can transform your home from a burning oven to a cool heaven. If you are going for blinds for your windows then go for bamboo materials. Heavy curtains will also do the trick. The aim is to keep the sun away from your home. If you are going for blinds then place them outside your window and not inside. If you have blinds inside the house then though the heat glare may be blocked, but you wouldn't be able to stop your house from getting heated up. On the other hand, if you have them outside the window then the sun's rays don't touch the windows, helping the house to remain cool.

Plant those Plants
One of the easiest and most beautiful ways for summer home decor is going the natural way with plants. Add some indoor plants at the corners in your house to give a cool and pleasant look to your interiors. If there is a restriction of place then put those simple bamboo plants and see the difference in your interiors. Water bodies also create a pleasant ambience in your home. Fill a brass pot with water and float some candles to complete the summer look…

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Christmas Decorating Tips

Are you looking for some Christmas decorating tips to give your home a little holiday magic? Christmas decorating is a special part of most families’ holiday traditions, but many people have a love/hate relationship with it. After all, the mere words “Christmas tree lights” are enough to make many a grown man weep. The good news is that Christmas decorations can be almost as fun as opening Christmas presents. These Christmas decorating tips will take the sting out of your Christmas décor rituals so everyone will want to come home for Christmas.

Planning Ahead – The Most Important Tip

For such a happy, joyous time, Christmas sure can be stressful. The shopping, the Christmas parties, the visiting in-laws – there seems to be an endless supply of upheaval. Of course, you counteract these stressful intrusions by having a plan. You make lists for your gift shopping, you book the babysitter for the nights of the parties well in advance, and you draw a map to the nearest hotel for the in-laws. You should approach your Christmas decorating the same way. Here are a few things you can do to make sure the actual decorating goes more smoothly for you:

* After Christmas, pack everything up neatly and label the boxes. Target, Wal-Mart, and Kmart all have tons of storage containers designed to organize your Christmas decorating materials. If it is too late for this Christmas, remember this tip when you’re packing up next time.

* Decide on a theme or style for your decorating. Whether your perfect Christmas décor is modern and edgy, or if an Old World Christmas is more your cup of tea, having a decoration theme in mind will help you select the right Christmas accessories.

* Before you buy a tree, a tablecloth, a door wreath, or garland for the railings, take measurements.

* Inventory what Christmas decorating materials you have before you pull out the wallet in the shops for new stuff.

Christmas Decorating Tips

With your plan in hand, you’re ready to put your Christmas decorating tips into action. These ideas should help get your creative juices flowing:
The Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is the center of most Christmas decorating adventures, and there are a lot of different approaches you can take with your tree. A tree lovingly decorated with handmade ornaments by the kids and overflowing with ornaments gathered over decades of shared Christmases is utterly charming and works in any home. Popcorn or cranberry garland complete the look.

If you prefer to have a more formal Christmas tree, consider using only two colors to decorate it – silver and gold work well. You can use silver and gold bulbs and bows, with white Christmas lights to pull it all together. For a formal tree, a light hand with the amount of ornaments is key.

Two Christmas tree styles that pass in and out of vogue over the years are colored lights and colored trees. Colored lights tend to have regional followings, and so your feelings on these might depend on where you live. White Christmas trees (either trees that are pure white, or trees that are green with fake white “snow”) can be pulled off. If you like kitschy design, a white tree could be your crowning glory. The rule of thumb - don’t sweat it. Pick what you like.

Other Christmas Decorating Tips

These Christmas decorating accessories will make your home a winter wonderland:

* Wreaths – Christmas wreaths can be made of holly, berries, bells, bulbs or even candy. Wreaths work inside or outside, so stock up. Small wreaths look great hanging from bedroom doors.

* Garland – Put your railings to good use and wrap them in garland. Fake pine garland works best for inside – real pine needles will drop anytime someone goes up the steps.

* Lights – What could put you in the Christmas mood more than some soft, warm lighting? Battery operated candles on window sills are extremely popular at Christmas time, but these candles can be used anywhere in the house you want a warm glow. Christmas tree lights can be strung along your railings or run along the ceiling.

* Candles – Battery operated candles are great, but Christmas is also a good time for real candles. Yankee Candle has Christmas themed scented candles that will spread the Christmas cheer throughout your home.

* Windows – Don’t forget to jazz up your windows. Put the kids to work cutting out snowflakes and Christmas characters and display them in the window.

* Christmas Table – If you have a separate dining room table that you don’t use for every day meals, set the table up for Christmas dinner early in the month and leave it that way until the big day.
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Decorating Tricks to Make a Small Space Look Larger

Lots of people live in a small home, a small room, or just a small space. Some people live in a small apartment because that's all they can afford, and they're grateful for it.

Some people live in a small apartment or home because they're tired of taking care of a larger place and want to "downsize."

Others just don't want a large home. Small is beautiful! And easy, and practical, too!

But no matter what your reason for living in a small space, you'll undoubtedly have to make some compromises in your decorating, get really organized, and make some adjustments to your lifestyle in order to make everything fit and not feel cramped.

If you're looking for a cozy, intimate space, you're in luck. By using soft, snuggly upholstered pieces, dark, warm tones, and dramatic lighting, your tiny corner can become a wonderful private space.

But if you really feel the need to stretch out in your small space, you can make some decorating changes to make the area look and feel larger without moving any walls! With color, furniture arranging, and interesting lighting, your space won't feel so cramped.

See if some of our tips will work for your small space.

* Clear Out the Clutter

There's nothing that makes a small space feel cramped more than having too much stuff. Work out ways to get collections out of view, organized behind doors, table skirts, or on shelves. With things neatly arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open.

* Open the Way

With furniture and accessories blocking the view into a room and out to open spaces, a room will look cramped. By moving furniture out and away from walkways, you'll open up the space and make it feel larger. You can also choose short pieces of furniture like an ottoman, an armless, open chair, or a low table, and place large, tall pieces along a wall rather than out in the open space. If you can see the floor, the room will look larger.

* Chooser Soft, Light Hues

Whereas dark, warm colors make a space feel cozy and intimate, light, cool colors make a space feel open and airy. For optimum effect, select soft tones of blues and greens.

* Use a Monochromatic Color Scheme

Choose colors that are in the same color family and use tone-on-tone woven upholstery fabrics, textured wall finishes, delicate tonal drapery fabrics. Cool colors and delicate warm colors on most surfaces give the room a more open look.

* Coordinate Wall and Furniture Colors

Contrasting colors tend to break up a space. Pieces of furniture are less interrupting and tend to blend with the space if they're colored to match the wall color.

* Let in the Light

Any room will look larger if it's well-lit, either by natural light or artificial lighting. Get rid of heavy draperies and open up the windows to let the light of the outdoors into the space. Add more lamps or install track lighting or recessed lighting.
Here are some more things you can do to make a small space at least feel larger, even if the floor space stays the same.

* See-Through Space

By using materials that you can see through, anything beyond will appear farther away. For a tiny bathroom, I got rid of an opaque glass shower enclosure and substituted a clear, frameless one. The room is the same size looks bigger. Now we can see all the way (an extra 3 feet) to the wall at the back of the shower.

You can also use glass or lucite for tabletops. With a sturdy base of wood, stone, or metal, the space around the table will open up the view beyond.

* Reflective Surfaces

You might not like the look of a mirrored wall, but you have to admit that it always makes a room look larger. Instead, use a large framed mirror on a wall or stand an over-sized framed mirror against a wall. You'll get the same room-enlarging effect as a mirrored wall, but with more style. The space and the light will be reflected for a more open feeling.

Top a coffee table or side table with a piece of beveled plate mirror or have a chest of drawers or bureau covered with custom-cut and installed mirrors.

* Believe It or Not, Bigger Is Better!

Use a few large, simple pieces of furniture or accessories in place of several smaller pieces which would make a small space look cluttered. With open space and large blocks of color, the room will appear to be more calm and comfortable.

* Keep the Upholstery Plain

Select plain colored upholstery for furniture instead of bold plaids, stripes, or prints. Use texture for interest and stick to neutral tones if you can.

* Airy, Light Fabrics

Sheer fabrics allow light to pass through window treatments, bed skirts, table covers, and furniture slipcovers. If you want something other than plain colors, find soft floral vines or simple stripes to keep the look simple.

By following some of these simple rules about decorating a small space, your home will feel comfortable, not cramped. You'll have an intimate space that suits all your needs.
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Baby Room Designs

Today’s baby room designs are no longer simply just pink or blue but can be as individual as each newborn. Planning a nursery design is often one of the most meaningful and enjoyable interior decorating experiences. Not only is excitement in the air, it is also a unique opportunity to explore diverse options in color, shape, texture, and pattern.

The Modern Nursery
For a new twist on traditional baby room designs, many people are leaning towards a fresh modern look. This contemporary style can create a nursery with clean lines and simple colors or produce a cool, funky motif. The best place to start is with the baby furniture, since this will be the foundation of the nursery design. Then add bedding and accessories with a minimalist modern feel or maybe try a fun, retro modern print. Choose a paint color, wallpaper pattern, or wall mural which brings out your favorite hues found in the textiles and accents.
The affordable, down-to-earth crib collection from Ikea brings modern style into everyone’s price range. Their practical designs are also smart since most of the models convert into a toddler bed for even more value. Ikea also carries a nice assortment of inexpensive and stylish baby bedding to complement their contemporary cribs.
For a high style modern nursery, check out the Stokke Sleepi™ crib system. With a suggested retail price of $749 to $1,089, their convertible baby bed gives you plenty of bang for your buck. The Sleepi crib starts as a small bassinet and then transforms into a crib, toddler bed, youth bed, or two club chairs. This clean lined crib features a distinctive oval shape that is not only unique but also comfortably curvy for baby. The three modern Stokke bedding sets utilize high quality fabrics which can be mixed and matched with solid colors for custom baby room designs. They offer sheets, bumpers, and blankets in just the right size for each Sleepi bed configuration.

The Neutral Nursery
Choosing neutral colors for a baby’s bedroom will create a soothing, serene sanctuary which can easily change as the child grows and their interests change. A neutral color palette may be a necessity if the parents have chosen to keep the baby’s gender a mystery until the big day arrives. Likewise, when multiples or infants of different genders will be sharing a room, choosing neutral hues provides a happy medium and makes a nice alternative to primary colors.
Neutral color selections can expand beyond earth tones, beiges, and whites. Think about other easily adaptable shades like sage green, sherbet orange, icy blue, and buttery yellow. If an earth tone is desired, consider a rich chocolate brown or a sandy tan color to add a little warmth and depth to the nursery. Using a subtle wall color will allow for the addition of colorful bedding and accessories which can effortlessly be updated as needed. For truly calming baby room designs, continue the neutral colors from the walls to the textiles and accent pieces. At Baby Age, shoppers can sort bedding sets by color, gender, and theme. Gender neutral linens can quickly be found along with bedding in neutral color schemes such as Sweet Vanilla by Baby Martex.
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Small Kitchen Design

In this apartment kitchen, the small space is best offset in a variety of ways that are possible for all small kitchens. Notice the kitchen table and chairs... the table is small and minimalist, and the chairs are transparent which gives the illusion of having a larger space. Window space is maximized, while a mirrored backsplash also creates a larger appearance for the small countertop space. The stove is built right in to the counter
top, and wall space is utilized by a contemporary shelving unit holding spices and utensils.

In this example of a design for a small kitchen, the counter top space is best utilized with a highly functional kitchen sink, built-in stovetop, hanging utensils, and innovative use of drawer space underneath the main set of kitchen cabinets. The dark colored backsplash could be lightened to create a larger feeling space.

This modern contemporary small kitchen design goes far beyond the bounds of a traditional small kitchen. Beginning with the color scheme, this decidedly minimal, yet entirely functional small kitchen space is very 'bold' and clean. Notice how the bright work areas create a largeness along with the use of a glass bar top that doubles as an eating area.

The earthen color tones in this kitchen gently contrast and lift out the black countertop and refrigerator. Double stacked kitchen cabinets help to create a more versatile storage space, while the glass cabinet doors add to the spaciousness of the lighter colored wood cabinet doors. The high ceiling also helps to alleviate the small kitchen effect.

The white walls that so obviously contrast with the darker color of the kitchen cabinets give this small kitchen add to the perceived space, while the horizontal grain of the wood cabinets helps to spread the perception of increased size.

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Window Treatments Basics

Window treatment basics is a complicated subject, especially when faced with the countless choices that are available. The two main families of window treatments are hard and soft. Depending on the decorative and functional needs of your room, hard and soft window treatments can be used alone or in combination with each other.
Hard and Durable

Hard window treatments include blinds, shutters, screens, and specialty glass applications:

* Blinds are offered in numerous forms such as Venetians (or slat blinds), miniblinds, verticals, and woven wood. The two most fashionable trends in this category are wooden slat blinds and woven wood blinds. Wooden blinds are generally constructed of horizontal wood slats about 2” wide and come in a wide selection of stain colors. A popular variation on the wooden blind is a faux wood blind made of synthetic materials that simulate wood. Woven wood blinds consist of split wood or bamboo and are interwoven with fiber or yarn. This exotic look is becoming more mainstream and can enhance traditional or contemporary rooms by adding subtle texture.

* Shutters are a classic window treatment that is still in high demand and not likely to go out of style anytime soon. Due to their detailed installation, shutters can be one of the most expensive hard window treatments. Shutters can be built with wood or faux wood materials, and they provide excellent insulating value.

* Screens are another hard window treatment which includes Japanese-style shojis and grills. Shoji screens are wooden frames with rice paper panes that permit light to gently filter into a room while providing privacy. Shojis are suitable not only for Asian themed rooms, but also for minimalist and contemporary interiors. Grills have a long history in both Spanish and Middle Eastern window designs. These pierced or grillwork screens employ striking patterns and a variety of metallic finishes.

* Specialty glass encompasses window treatments such as stained glass, beveled glass, glass blocks, frosted glass, and liquid crystal technology. Stained glass is particularly useful for a window that has an undesirable view or for a window that is not likely to be opened on a regular basis. Custom stained glass windows can be permanently installed or a framed piece can be hung on top of an existing window. Liquid crystal technology allows a window to change from clear to opaque with the flip of a switch. These pricey modern marvels use liquid crystal droplets and electricity to achieve this effect.
The Softer Side

Soft window treatments include the use of fabric such as draperies, curtains, shades, and valances:

* Draperies are heavy fabric panels which help regulate a window’s privacy, light, and temperature. They are usually installed with a traverse rod which draws the drapes across the length of the window. A less functional yet very chic option is the fixed drapery panel which remains at the sides of the window and mainly serves to beautify the room. Curtains are very similar to draperies, but are made with lighter weight fabrics which are more casual and mostly just decorative.

* Shades are increasingly popular and include Roman shades, Austrian shades, pleated fabric shades, roller shades, and interior sun control shades. Romans are very versatile and can be flat, hobbled, or pleated. This shade softly folds horizontally as it is lifted up by a cord. Interior sun control shades began as a commercial application (you may have seen them in your favorite restaurant’s windows). Sun control shades have the unique feature of reducing glare and heat without blocking sunlight or your view of the outside.

* Valances are non-functional window treatments that adorn only the top portion of a window. The shape of valances can be fashioned into swags, cascades, or jabots. A variation on valances is the cornice top treatment. Cornices are assembled pieces of wood, metal, or foam which are custom shaped and then typically covered with fabric.


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