My ideas
If you have a bookcase or shelving unit with removable shelves, pull the shelves out, paint the back a fun hue and put the shelves back in after drying. This is especially easy with a unit from a big-box store that you assemble yourself, because you can paint the back piece before putting the unit together. Chango & Co. You can then use the items on the shelves to break up the color (by using a lot of white or neutral items) or add even more fun, contrasting hues through colorful books and trinkets.
Style on the diagonal. Coffee tables are often viewed from all sides, so by using diagonal symmetry, you can create a balanced effect. On this table two similarly sized piles of books are mixed with matching hurricane lanterns, and a central floral display nails the look. This idea works particularly well with a square table, or where the seating is arranged on two or more sides of the coffee table. When the candles are lit, the light will be evenly distributed for a cozy and stylish effect.
Choose a low table. In this monochromatic room, the coffee table sits lower than the seats, which allows slightly taller items to be displayed. The glass dome creates height without disrupting the sightline across the table. Orchids are a high-impact indoor plant, offering color and gracefulness, and are a great alternative to cut flowers.
A tête-à-tête chaise is like getting two pieces of furniture in one. With no obvious back or front, a double-ended chaise can be positioned virtually anywhere in a room. For those who find the side-by-side conversation that a sofa enforces a bit awkward, this is the perfect solution without resorting to two separate chairs.
Do you have stylish side and coffee tables? Not only are tables practical for holding lamps, drinks and decor like trays, books or flowers, but also they can make a design statement. These quirky stacked tables are a great example of how to have an impact when mixed with simple furnishings. If you have upholstery that looks heavy — skirted, thick legs or no legs showing — try offsetting them with tables that show more leg for a lighter, balanced feel (and vice versa).
My take on it in terms of home decor is that if you attempt to add an attention-grabbing element to every nook and cranny in a room, you risk having nothing stand out because everything is standing out. A well-placed accent wall helps coax the eye to a focal point in the space. Here, we see how you can use even the deepest and darkest of hues while keeping the room’s vibe light and inviting.
Animal prints aren’t the easiest patterns to coordinate tastefully. Specifically, leopard and zebra can look loud, discordant and somewhat tacky in a room when not styled correctly. Here’s where elegant black comes to the rescue. As shown in this dining room, dark painted walls (and yes, in this photo, all the walls are black) allow the zebra chairs to be the standout feature in the room. A white wall wouldn’t have had the same effect.
This European-inspired guest bedroom is bedazzled with metallic chinoiserie wallpaper. Inset within wall molding, the paper features a typical motif of cherry blossoms, birds and flowers. It's perfectly paired with antique French caned furniture so that the room exemplifies a European mix of styles.
Many of us find it hard to resist a blank portion of wall. When every space contains something to look at, sensory overload occurs and the eye drifts aimlessly without noticing individual objects. Leaving negative space above this beautifully dressed bed lets the eye fall on the lovely luxurious textures and calming color palette.
The designers are also united on a strong preference for drawers over cabinets in vanity units. “Drawers beneath the sink are always preferable to cupboards, which involve stooping to rummage for items at the back,” Byrne says. “Things often fall out of cupboards, which tend to be quite shallow,” Knox says. “Also, as a vanity unit is base-cabinet height, you’d have to bend down and peer into a dark space with a cupboard.”
Tape off a graphic statement wall. Paint a base color on your wall, then tape off sections (these will show through later) and paint the next coat in a contrasting hue. Vary the width of your taped-off stripes to create a random look similar to what is shown here. Hang pictures or just let the wall be a statement on its own.
Generally, warm light is anything 3000K or lower, while cool light is 4000K or above. 3500K, a middle ground often called neutral, can look either cool or warm depending on furnishings and other nearby lights.
5000K LED daylight bulbs might be a good idea in an office that you use primarily during the daytime, but if you have enough daylight coming in from your windows, consider warmer-temperature bulbs instead that will be more comfortable at night.
If you are at home mostly in the evenings, then warmer color temperatures, such as 2700K warm white LED bulbs, are likely the best option. They are more relaxing, less likely to disrupt your sleep patterns and will provide a similar glow to traditional 60 watt incandescent bulbs.
The classic incandescent bulb was easy to dim and create a warmer amber hue when you did. The first LEDs to hit the market did not dim, which was one reason some people didn’t like them. Manufacturers now make “warm dim” LEDs that go as low as 1600K when dimmed, giving off a more traditional incandescent glow.
Ideally, our light would change over the course of the day, just like the sun does. We can re-create that pattern with some new LED light fixtures called “tunable white.” These new products allow us to have daylight-cool white in the middle of the day that matches natural light, giving us the most energetic and active atmosphere when we need it. As the sun sets, tunable white bulbs shift warmer toward traditional incandescent, making it easier for us to relax and sleep.
neutral colors but varying textures
partition w/o walls 3. Open shelves Dividers such as open shelves can enhance the aesthetic appeal of a room and also let light through. You can leave some shelves bare to ensure visibility and display your artefacts or books on the others. Doing so gives the illusion of a bigger space while sectioning off two zones.
contemporary candlelight
Use swish, well-matched containers Picture matching tea-and-coffee canisters on your kitchen counter, an apothecary jar with cotton buds on your bathroom shelf, or a classy liquid soap dispenser on your powder room counter. There’s nothing more designer-esque than charmingly arranged containers for your kitchen ingredients, bathroom essentials and routine storage. Take the time to source voguish jars, bowls, baskets and canisters for these everyday items.
Use red to tone down darker colors. This sexy dining room features black graphic wallpaper, a black floor and a black dining table and buffet. The bright red cowhide rug adds a much needed splash of color to the dark-themed room. The white lamps on the buffet, white painted ceiling and trim, and the crystal chandelier balance all the dark elements within the room.
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