Inexpensive Summer Updates

Looking for tips on how to update a tired space for the summer season? There are many options that are cheap and easy to install in your space that will give it life for the upcoming warm season. Here are some tips on how to lively up your space:

1. Add color: Adding color is always the best way to add life to a space, no matter how it is incorporated. Painting can be tough to do in a leased space, so get creative and make some artwork to decorate your walls. No time for painting? Buy a decorative frame and fill it with greenery or a vintage scarf you find at a local shop or flea market.
2. Bring the outdoors in: Incorporating outdoor elements can bring a breath of fresh air to the indoors. Fresh flowers are always an obvious choice, but they can be pricey for the little amount of time they last. Fake flowers are a great alternative for they give the same amount of liveliness to the space. Love flowers more for fragrance than beauty? Diffusers are a great way to give great fragrance and elegance to a space.
3. Change out your decorative elements: Adding new decorative elements in your space can emphasis the changing of seasons. Summer brings out a lot of bright colors, so reflect them in your decorations. Bright blue or green vases will add interest and mimic the colors outdoors. Changing out your kitchenware is a great way to bring out the feel of summer as well. Fill your cabinets with cheap, bright cups and plates that will make you feel like hosting an outdoor summer party.

Mirrors, Mirrors on the Wall

Mirrors are a design element that can often be overlooked in spaces. Boring, stale frames leave mirrors hanging lifeless on walls.

Here we provide a different (cheaper!) way to dress up your mirrors:

Creating a collage offers a great way to mix different styles of art and can also work for mirrors. By purchasing different miror shapes, sizes and styles you can mix and match to create your own work of art. This idea works for all different types of spaces from modern to eclectic. It’s just a matter of picking out which mirrors work the best for you. If you place them close together, it will give the appearance of one large mirror; or, feel free to space them farther apart for more visual interest. Painting all the different styles the same color makes your mirror-collage more unified (avoiding the eclectic). Also, it creates more appeal and gives off the illusion that the room is larger than it actually is.

Ways to Go 'Pink'

Pink isn’t just for Valentine’s Day anymore and can be a great way to brighten up your space, something that's always important during the dreary winter months. Even the smallest amount of color will draw attention and please the eye.

Scared of that much color?
Try using a muted coral or blush. From a piece of furniture to a single flower, pink can give life to any space you put it in.

Fun & Functional Design Idea

Documenting memories, to-do lists, and things to remember can usually end up looking like a jumbled mess. It's hard to find bulletin boards that have much character and ones that don’t require a hammer and nail to install. The new alternative to this is found in either white board or chalkboard paint. Both are cool alternatives to display random artwork, memories and quick notes. Both are reasonably priced and can be applied to any clean wall. Be creative and paint them in different shapes or class them up by adding a surrounding frame.

Both products can be purchased at most hardware stores and only require regular painting supplies for application. Prices starting at $10

A Comfy Way to Remember 2010

This topical pillow is the perfect way to both remember the past year and start 2011 anew. Not to mention, it's a great conversation piece for any room.

You can purchase different versions of these fun pillows through Etsy's website.

Take a Shot...On Art

Of all the ways to hear about a cool, new trend, a family member of one of ours received a BevShot as a Christmas gift.

BevShots are extremely colorful, posh prints of alcoholic beverages taken through a microscopic lens. The funky images are so fun and out there that they can add a fabulous pop to any room, creating a modern, abstract décor look.

If that isn't enough, the makers of BevShots have included a section on their website dedicated to helping customers find their perfect artistic match through tips from actual interior designers. Interested? Click here.

Declutter Your Closet

With the dreaded finals week coming up, getting organized is a great way to relieve stress. By organizing your things, you may feel more in control and ready to take on anything. Organizing your closet could be very beneficial and help you relieve stress. Here are some quick tips to getting started on organizing:

1. Remove out of season clothes. Exchanging your summer dresses for lumpy sweaters may be a little depressing at first, but it is practical and will save you time in the long run.
2. Get rid of clutter. Go through your clothes and finally get rid of that shirt you’ve only been holding onto for sentimental reasons. It’s always great to donate your clothes to someone in need.
3. Keep jewelry/ accessories in containers. Find or make a cute box that can store all of your jewelry and adds some flair to your space. Keeping all of your stuff in one place makes it easier to find when you’re in a hurry.
4. Invest in some staple storage items Shoe racks, canvas bins, etc. can all be multi-functional and make your organization process a lot easier. Many stores have stylish alternatives to a usually boring closet accessory.

Interior Design: Color Forecast Part Two

Trend to note: Native American Inspiration

Design is always a great way to express one’s cultural interests. No matter where you live it can always be fun to be inspired by different people and places. This color forecast takes a look at the culture of Native Americans and their bold color palette that’s inspired by their natural habitat.

The color palette associated with this culture is very vast, but is always recognizable. Bold colors like turquoise or orange are great accents to pair with more subdued natural tones. Bright colors placed near one another will help reflect this unique style. Purples, yellows and reds are all suitable colors as well because of their connection to nature.

Native American culture is very centered on symbolism and distinct patterns. Mixing and matching different patterns is an important element in achieving this very original style. Geometric and ikat designs (see pillows above) are probably some of the most recognizable patterns true to this culture. Incorporating some natural influences like that of wildlife or landscapes can also enhance the appeal of your space. Pick out a piece of art or an accessory that reflects these objects to fully incorporate this style.

So don’t be afraid to take inspiration from this historic and beautiful culture. After all, it is the month of Thanksgiving!

-Katie Munks

Interior Design: Trend Forecast 2011

Design, just like fashion, is all about looking forward to upcoming trends. Fabrics, upholstery, furniture and paint colors change every season. For 2011, a lot of the color trends are fashion inspired. From light pastels to bold colors, upcoming trends are spanning many different styles, such as eclectic or traditional. You can find your perfect style match with any of these colors. When you know what the next great thing will be, your design will be ahead of the rest.

Trend to note: Natural Inspiration

The “green” movement isn't limited to promoting environmental friendliness; nature is also helping to inspire new color trends. Nature has always been a source of inspiration for design, but now it is really a great source from which to choose colors.

A great amount of inspiration for color is coming from the Earth, like that of mossy greens and botanical inspired bright colors. Dark greens, purples, reds and yellows are going to be popular in the coming season. Along with these vibrant colors come neutrals that are a perfect way to subdue that pop of color. To accent any of these colors in your space, you can also use natural printed fabrics, like that of an animal print or a leaf or floral design.

The main point of this nature-inspired trend is to have balance between your space and the outdoors. By mixing these neutrals and pops of color, your space will mimic nature in a way that is comforting as well as chic!