Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Design and Décor 101

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Don’t Pale at Picking Colors: How to play around with seasonal hues

    Don’t underestimate the classic sophistication of white or other neutrals to celebrate the season. Interior designer Jennifer Adams reviews which hues make your home a holiday destination.

    Question: Which are the best colors of the season for now and later? We are going to paint soon.

    White is always right! White gives any space a clean, airy look and blends with every style and taste. Choose a pure white if you prefer cool tones or a warmer off-white. Another option is a very pale gray, sand or tan with brownish undertones—not too pink, not too green and not too yellow. You can easily accent with brighter colors for the time of year or your personal taste.

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Stylish and Space-Saving Small Room Décor Ideas

    Make a small space a place for big living. From tiny houses to studio apartments, these small room décor ideas will maximize any space with both style and storage.

    Less is More

    If you have a small room, keep it simple to make the space feel open and airy. Make sure a room isn’t cluttered with too many decorative items. Pick just one piece to add visual interest instead of multiple items. Embrace a minimalistic mindset by adding only the pieces you love. Adding an oversized painting above the sofa keeps the lines of the room clean and fresh while also giving the room a striking splash of color. Remember, the less clutter, the better!

     

    Paint Walls White

    Two words of advice for wall color: use white. White paint on the walls and floor makes any room feel more expansive. Having a light color scheme also offers the flexibility to play with decorative items, throw pillows and bedding, which can be changed as frequently as you wish.

     

  • Three Classic Dining Arrangements

    Explore how to make every meal a pleasant experience with these three dining arrangements. No matter the placement, a dining table and its accessories must function to make meals enjoyable and allow for loved ones to move around freely. As such, chairs should be placed around 18 inches apart for ample elbow room. Additionally, rugs should extend 18 inches beyond the back legs of the chairs with the dining table in the center.

    Use windows as the focal point

    For sunshine-filled breakfasts and a view to set the ambiance, move the dining room table next to windows. Casters will make this rearrangement doable if this only works for weekends or special occasions. While Mother Nature may be the best accessory, the right type of window treatments will make your décor shine. Roman shades offer a casual style with minimal fabric. Corniced and woven blinds enhance the color and pattern of a dining set when the sun hits it. These blinds also give off a sense of continuity and provide architectural interest. Swags generate a luxurious feel for traditional dining rooms. If you are seeking an unexpected treatment, consider going asymmetrical or creating depth and a dramatic mood with black curtains. Dashes of pink create a whimsical glamour, while traditional draperies in any color provide privacy and light control.

    Invite every loved one

    Thanksgiving and other holidays are the perfect reason to invite a large number of guests to celebrate at your home. Don’t worry about having enough space for everyone; placing your dining table in the traditional position at the center of the room is ideal for a formal atmosphere or large groups. To make any shared meal extra memorable, focus on crafting the perfect tablescape. Gorgeous linens will ground your feast and express creativity. If serving a meal with sauces as part of the piece de résistance, consider darker colors and laundering tablecloths as soon as possible. Try patterns such as paisley in seasonal colors for an inviting look on a large or small scale. While florals for spring may not be groundbreaking, you can select unexpected hues, such as gray or Pantone’s Color of the Year, Ultra Violet. Fabrics can include burlap or velvet for any occasion. Think about layering or using a runner to set the right tone for your gathering.

    Serve the perfect meal on a grander scale

    For a buffet service, push the table right up to the wall. This will leave ample room for traffic in the center of the room. As the host, consider the following etiquette tips to put guests at ease. Serving a bounty of food offers the opportunity to sample a wide variety of dishes. Give guests a tour of the food stations beforehand or while placing dishes on the table. Ensure that there are plenty of tongs, spoons and serving forks to fend off the use of fingers. Encourage guests to place all serving utensils in their original dishes to avoid cross-contamination and allergic reactions. Keep in mind that spills happen. Provide plenty of napkins or paper towels to keep guests from feeling embarrassed. Handle any mess graciously and discretely if it requires more than a few wipes. Announce whether guests can start eating as soon as they are seated or if you would like for everyone to wait until a prayer is said, speech given or guest of honor is seated.

     

    Serve meals in any of these three arrangements to create a memorable feast that were inspired by the September 1958 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

  • Cozy and Inviting Dining Room Interior Design Ideas

    Transform a bare or outdated dining room into an inviting, modern space with just a bit of design inspiration. Explore a collection of dining room interior design ideas to ignite a spark when it’s time to plan a perfect place for eating and gathering.

    Lanterns

    Instead of a traditional chandelier, consider hanging lanterns over a dining table. Lanterns feel much less formal and add a unique lighting touch that will start conversations.

     

     

     

     

    Floral drapes

    Create a relaxed dining room with floral drapes in bold patterns. Go big on color, too. Think turquoise, emerald green, bright yellow and even hot pink.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Coastal dining room

    Use rattan accents in a coastal-inspired dining room, such as on chairs and for table settings. You might even drop a rattan light fixture over the table or hang rattan artwork.

     

  • Go Bold with Color in the Kitchen

    Unexpected and bold hues in the kitchen express personality and creativity. The hub of conversation and entertaining is the ideal space to do experiments, both culinary and stylistic. Kitchens can be style standalones, even though white has been traditionally used for cabinets, appliances and walls. If going a bit more daring leaves you hesitant, stick to accents like tiles, seating or counter décor, or simply start over by repainting. Enhance your new hues with multiple sources of light such as recessed ambient lights, pendants and under cabinet lighting. Read on to see which of the following four bold hues will make a statement in your kitchen.

     

    Get tickled pink

    Don’t blush while thinking pink. In the 1950s, pink kitchens were quite popular. The vintage-inspired look can update any modern kitchen with blocks or pops of the versatile color. Pink works by itself or when paired with other hues as a base. When matched with blue or green, the effect is cool and restful. With cherry red, pink transforms into a vibrant shade.  Brave souls can go bold with fuchsia or you can go softer with trendy millennial pink. A pink island in any shade can be delightful, as can backsplashes or retro-style refrigerators. This bold kitchen color may be the blast from the past you need to look toward the future of style.

    Cozy up to turquoise

    Blues in the kitchen can create a welcoming atmosphere by softening stainless steel appliances or lending a splash of ultramodern sophistication. Turquoise goes well with any color. Yellow, black and white are also “go with” colors for turquoise. The centering hue matches well with any wood tone for flooring and cabinets. Team up with red, orange, purple, pink, magenta, deep blue, dark green or beige for an unexpected yet cozy look. To start the transition to this cool hue, consider rugs, tiles, towels, or painting the ceiling.

    Burst with yellow

    Bring the sunshine indoors no matter the season with bursts or blocks of yellow. Forget black and white – pink and yellow might be the perfect color combination. A yellow sink with a pink backsplash can be fun and bold. When pairing yellow with other colors, only emphasize one hue to give the color scheme a base. Sandy yellow can create a rustic atmosphere with darker wood. Mustard or canary can balance out an industrial-styled kitchen. Citrus hues can accent windows and pale yellows can subtly bring life to the most used room in the house.

    Add sophistication with charcoal

    Charcoal is a trendy neutral that announces refinement. With the gray hue, coppery surroundings and accessories gain warmth. The high-style combination of Dresden blue, charcoal and white is ultra-sophisticated. Charcoal does absorb quite a bit of light, so make sure there is plenty of lighting. Natural light is best. However, for north-facing windows or rainy climates, large chandeliers or Edison pendant lights will open up the space. Given its versatile nature, this hue highlights accents such as seasonal flowers, vibrant window treatments and rustic exposed beams.

     

    Make a color statement that lasts the test of time with these bold kitchen hues that inspired by the September 1957 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

  • Add Designer Flair to Your Front Porch for Fall

    Add Fun Fall Decor to Your Porch

    Just because summer’s over does not mean you can’t still enjoy sitting in the fresh air. With autumn weather quickly blowing in, now’s the time to give your porch a makeover. From festive seasonal decorations to thoughtful touches, we’ve pulled together a handful of our favorite ways to add fall decor to your porch.

    Stay warm

    First, make sure your porch can be used during autumn. If you live in an area where fall brings cooler temperatures, gorgeous crisp evenings can turn into cold nights. Invest in either a propane or electric patio heater. There are many models on the market. Some of them are set on the ground to warm your feet, while others are hung overhead. A few models look a lot like indoor lamps, adding a warm, room-like feel to your porch.

    In addition to heaters, set out a couple of wool blankets for guests to put over their legs. Not only do blankets keep loved ones warm, they also give a cozy vibe that inspires conversations to run long into the night.

    Buy new patio furniture

    Most people buy new patio furniture during spring and summer. It’s in fall, however, that you should head to your local home and garden stores to check out items on clearance. Choose durable fabrics in neutral colors so the furniture will match any season. Design the rest of the porch around your new seating areas.

    Fall foliage… right to your front door

    Tis the season for collecting brightly  colored autumn leaves. Why not take things one step further by making an arrangement of leaves to enjoy year after year? Pick up a handful of faux leaves from a local fabric store and coat them to handle the weather. Add a little sparkle by sprinkling glitter of various colors over the project as it dries. Try out similar projects with found objects such as pinecones. Finished arrangements can be hung on windows or your front door. Make a large fall wreath by using a pre-assembled twig wreath and decorating it either with silk flowers or fresh marigolds from a local florist.

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  • Mid-Century Modern Décor Ideas

    Mid-century modern décor is having another moment. You may have noticed the Danish sideboards and colorful sofas gaining popular. Arguably, the style may have never fully left the design sphere.

    Although the official movement has long passed, people are still obsessed with the clean lines, sleek structure and inspiring color palettes associated with mid-century modern décor.

    The aesthetic is by nature minimalistic, with the form being inherently functional. When done right, mid-century modern is organic, fluid and universal. Executed the wrong way, it can look like a Brady Bunchesque nightmare.

    The key to maintaining the proper mix of history and modern – to recreate a version of the perfect abode that incorporates comfort, beauty and ingenuity – is to understand the core tenants of mid-century modern. To realize that the style that grew out of early 20th-century modernism and spanned from roughly 1933 to 1965 is based on simplicity, creative use of materials and a strong (but artistic) connection to nature.

    The mid-century modern design movement encompasses architecture, interior design, industrial elements and graphic design. Made famous by designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Richard Neutra and Harry Bertoia, mid-century modern focuses on small spaces, expansive use of glass, multi-purpose furnishings and other elements of design that are clean, contemporary and creative.

    Less is more

    You can incorporate mid-century design principles into your home by adhering to the “less is more” concept made popular by Mies van der Rohe, a German architect and leader in the movement. By adding thoughtfully and subtly crafted pieces, like marble-topped tables and molded Eames chairs to kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, you’ll present a contemporary and classic vibe that is straight out of the 1950s.

     

    Clean lines and natural hues

    Mid-century modern furnishings have clean lines and neutral colors. Often, wood pieces made from teak are used to showcase natural beauty in a home. A mid-century modern dining table with teak legs or frame topped with a simple sheet of clear glass is a beautiful addition to a home.

  • Unique Kitchen and Bath Design Trends for 2018

    Style changes over time. For example, in the 1970s, laminate countertops and dark wooden cabinets prevailed in the kitchen, while in the 1980s and well into the 1990s, super-saturated primary colors were found even in the bathroom. Are you up for a home improvement project? Let us tell you about some of the unique kitchen and bath design trends for 2018.

    Smart technology

    Move over, George Jetson! Over the last few years, home technology has quickly advanced. A smart kitchen doesn’t necessarily need to be expensive. Kitchen faucets can be equipped with motion sensors that allow them to come on automatically. Lighting can be controlled by your smartphone. And coffee makers can be programmed to brew a cup of coffee without you ever pressing a button.

    Meanwhile, in the bathroom, fans can be installed that run when they sense a certain level of humidity. For the ultimate in relaxation, waterproof televisions can be installed so you can catch your favorite show while taking a bath. It’s even possible to install a toilet that cleans itself, albeit with a high price tag. These toilets come equipped with a toilet-cleaning robot.

    Hardwood and alternative flooring

    Over the last few years, do-it-yourself aficionados popularized the look of reclaimed hardwood flooring,.a trend that isn’t going out of style in 2018. In fact, it’s more popular than ever. Look for wooden flooring in old homes and barns, and work with a flooring expert to install it in your home.

    Other flooring options that are becoming popular are bamboo and cork. Both materials are eco-friendly, work well in either a kitchen or bathroom and, if properly cared for, can last for decades.

     

    Dark colors make a comeback

    If 2017 was the year of white-on-white, 2018 is the year of variety. White is still a popular option, but greys are also a great choice. Surprisingly, adding bursts of color have returned full-circle from the 1980s. Rather than primary colors, the ones that have made their way back are now softly muted. Look for dark ruby red, emerald green and deep peacock blue. If you decide to redesign with color, make sure it won’t take over the room. In small rooms, color should be used as an accent. In large kitchens or bathrooms, feel free to experiment.

  • 4 Ways to Create the Effect of a Luxurious Bathroom Makeover

    You always know a luxurious bathroom when you see one. It sparkles, shines and looks like something straight out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. However, a luxurious bathroom makeover doesn’t have to be expensive. You can increase the value of your home and achieve the effects of a luxury makeover by implementing these unique, budget-savvy renovation tips.

    1. Pay Attention to the Decorative Details
    The details in your bathroom make a powerful statement. Ignoring them can make the space look mediocre and plain. To achieve the effect of a luxurious bathroom on a budget, place importance on the small things instead of large, costly items.

    Ornamental items, such as artwork, statues, candles and other décor can change the appeal of the entire space. Think about the tones that are often associated with luxury, such as gold, silver, chrome and sparkling, shiny elements. Focusing your decorative details on fancy materials and colors will add a spark of luxury.

    Additionally, the color of your bathroom holds great power, as it can create an astonishing visual effect that impacts the ambiance. Keep this in mind when choosing decorative elements.

    2. Add Character with an Accent Wall
    If you’re not looking to do a complete renovation, focus your luxury design aspirations on an accent wall. Pick one wall and add crucial details that will take your bathroom to the next level of luxury.

    Finishes and textures can be expensive if you’re adding them to the entire room. They’ll also blend in rather than making the powerful statement you want to achieve. An accent wall is an affordable way to add impact.

    Add textured wallpaper that has the appearance of luxury materials, such as stone or marble. It’ll instantly add dimension and elegance into the space.

    Match luxury finishes to your accent wall to create the effect of a luxurious bathroom makeover. Add large decorative details such as mirrors with a gold frame, or large art pieces that will turn a plain wall into a masterpiece.

    3. Natural Materials are Timeless and Luxurious
    If you look at any luxury bathroom, you’ll see one common element – almost all of them incorporate natural materials into the space. Whether it’s on the walls, floors or in the small details, fancy spaces take advantage of natural aesthetics. They’re timeless, elegant and can instantly increase the value and style of your bathroom.

    Marble and onyx are certainly among the top natural materials used in luxury bathrooms. However, they’re also among the most expensive options. The good news is that any natural material will work wonders when trying to achieve a fancy ambiance.

    New wood flooring, wooden vines and green plants can add a spark of nature, ambiance and luxury into the space for a fraction of the cost. You receive all the benefits of luxury without the big price tag.

    4. Lighting is Everything
    If there’s one thing you’ll continuously hear associated with flawless interior design, it’s lighting. Lighting holds the power within any space. It can make a small room appear larger, a dark room appear livelier and a boring room appear more luxurious. Lighting affects the ambiance and design of your home, which is why it’s so important when creating the effect of a luxurious bathroom makeover.

    There are two options available. You can go grand and extravagant with large, statement light fixtures, or you can go with a subtler approach and use strategically placed accent lights. Both will have a similar affect when used properly.

    Large light fixtures such as a gold-toned chandelier will achieve a powerful statement of luxury, while spotlights throughout the space offer a sweet, softer glow.

    Since the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home, it’s time to give yours a little TLC. Bathrooms are a huge selling point when you decide to list your home. Create the effect of a luxurious bathroom with these home decorating tips, and increase the value, aesthetics and enjoyment of your home.

     

  • Kitchen remodel: 8 must-know tips before you get started

    There are a number of reasons why a kitchen remodel is trickier than most other rooms in a house: furniture arrangement is less flexible, high expenditures are required on appliances, and a number of functions have to be accommodated by the layout. However, remodeling a kitchen is also a solid investment as it can drastically increase the value of your property. So, before you get started, check out a few tips that will help you make the process more time- and cost-efficient.

    1. Identify the purpose
    Before you select a color scheme or even get a contractor, make a list of the different functions of this space. Is the kitchen going to be used solely for cooking or will it also serve as a dining area? Do you have children who will hang out in this area with their friends after school? There are numerous ways in which you will use the space outside of the primary purpose of making meals, so think through each and every one of them and evaluate whether they all can be incorporated in the design or if you have to prioritize.

    2. Prioritize your investment

    There are items that are worth investing and those that you can try to save on. Of course, if you have your dream budget then there is no reason not to go with top-of-the-line products for everything. However, for the most part it is a puzzle game as we try to put together more expensive pieces with more affordable ones in a nice cohesive image.

    Here are a few things that are worth the investment:

    • Countertops: quality materials, such as marble, will both last you a very long time as well as increase the value of your home should you decide to sell at one point.
    • Proper drainage: there is a lot of waste that we dispose of in the kitchen, often times using a sink – cooking oil, for example. Make sure that you invest in a proper disposal system as well as install quality pipes.
    • Energy efficient and smart appliances: if you have to pay more for an energy-efficient appliance – be it a refrigerator or a microwave – do it. You will get this money back in reduced energy bills and, once again, if you ever decide to sell your house together with the appliances, you will be happy that you invested in energy efficiency. When it comes to smart technology, we are not talking about a fancy coffee maker, but rather a smart fire alarm system.

    There are also a few items where you can cut corners:

    • Hardware finishes: knobs and handles are not worth the investment. When selecting kitchen cabinets, pay attention to the quality of the cabinets, not the design of the knobs on them. You can purchase a different knob or a handle for as little as $4-$5 and it is easy to replace these elements.
    • Tiles: porcelain tiles are often recommended for kitchen floors as they resist chipping and cracking, while also being affordable.

    READ: HIGH VALUE ROOMS: IMPROVING YOUR KITCHEN TO BOOST HOME VALUE

    3. Design based on your habits
    How often do you cook? What is your cooking routine? For example, do you tend to cook 3-4 meals at the same time or in portions? How much counter space do you need? How often do you bake? How much food do you freeze? Do you usually cook alone or with another person? These are all the questions you should ask yourself before you remodel your space. No detail is too small. For example, does it make sense for you to create a sub-cooking space where other family members can microwave their food or wash dishes without interfering with your cooking process? How many items do you need to be easily accessible – from pots and pans to a spice rack? Do you purchase in bulks? That will determine the design of your storage space.

    4. Pay for the design
    Once you have identified what you want and what you want it for, allocate some of your budget for a professional design. Even if you think that you have thought through every possible detail, you will be surprised by how many items you couldn’t even envision that come up when you consult a professional. You may be able to create a pleasant color scheme. A designer will create a stunning one. You may be able to create a detailed storage plane. A designer will figure out how to use dead spaces in the kitchen for storage. You may be able to select quality materials. A designer will explain which materials work best for your maintenance needs. A designer will be able to take your idea and perfect it. This is something worth investing in. The best part is that it can be affordable as well. For example, you can use Arcbazar to crowdsource a dozen of designs from the network of thousands of architects for a fraction of the cost.