decor
Just don’t consider the decluttering done until you have actually removed the items you don’t want from your home; otherwise, it will have a way of working itself back into your closets, cupboards and drawers. If you know you will have many items to donate (especially if some of them are furniture), see if a local charitable organization is accepting items and will do a pickup — having a pickup scheduled can be a good way to get motivated to get the work done.
a light should hang at least 12 to 18 inches below the ceiling plane for a typical 8-foot ceiling. In taller rooms, you should add 3 inches or more for every foot so the light doesn’t look like it’s unnaturally hugging the ceiling. For fixtures where a decorative chain is part of the look, hanging it lower will expose more of the chain, so you can hang it as low as task light height, or somewhere in between. Keep in mind that many pendants have a significant minimum distance they must hang, and some have no range at all and can only hang at one set distance. larger pendants (when hung high) will make the inside of the shade visible. In this case, an interesting finish on the inside will add an extra bit of drama to your look. This will tint the light, however, so try a warm shade to get an inviting glow.
Pick the right ceiling fan size for your room. Size is important. If your ceiling fan is too small for your room, it won’t move air efficiently or effectively. If it’s too big, it could create the feeling of being in a wind tunnel. The following ceiling fan size guide from the American Lighting Association can help you determine which size is right for you. o Rooms up to 75 square feet: 36 inches wide or smaller o Rooms up to 144 square feet: 36 to 42 inches wide o Rooms about 225 square feet: 50 to 54 inches wide o Rooms larger than 225 square feet: an oversize fan or multiple ceiling fans Ceiling fan measurements come from their blade span, which is the diameter of the circle their spinning blades create, also called their “sweep.” For a ceiling fan with an even number of blades, measure the fan’s diameter to determine its span. For a ceiling fan with an odd number of blades, measure from the center of the fan to the end of a blade, and multiply by two. When it comes to airflow, the motor and the blade pitch are most important. The American Lighting Association recommends a 12- to 15-degree blade pitch for optimum air movement, although plenty of companies offer ceiling fans with...
your bathroom will have a tile floor, but the hallway or room it’s connected to will have something totally different, like hardwood. The transition between these two spaces and materials is something that’s tough to get right.
most tile is sold in European sizes (millimeters), and the quoted size might also factor in a grout joint
basket for towels
Pros often paint doors in place, but they can also be removed relatively easily and painted, or repainted, as needed.
Windowless closets provide an ideal environment for hanging a pretty paper that’s personal to you. And because a closet is more or less a contained space that’s rarely seen by guests, you can go as wild as you like and do something that’s a complete departure from the rest of the style in your home.
To infuse a bit more pizzazz, consider wallpapering the back of your bookcase in a fun color and pattern.
A common — and lovely — way to add a touch of whimsy to a room is to paint the back of a bookcase a spectacular color. This will give a dramatic background to your books and display items, creating a focal wall that’s slightly more subdued than painting a full wall a bright color.
using an open bookcase to separate areas because it serves double duty: division and storage. Be cautious how you dress the shelves, though. I highly recommend that you do not stuff your bookcase to the gills. Leave some open space to allow brightness to filter through and highlight the objects. Also, choose a high-quality, sturdy unit. This is not a piece to skimp on because you do not want this unit to tip over. You should always anchor and secure a freestanding unit that you’re using between spaces. Or, as in the example shown here, the bookcase unit is attached to the ceiling above and a pony wall below, ensuring it stays in place.
Paneling can be functional and also decorative. It can help protect a wall in a high-traffic or moisture-prone area, similar to tile but less hard (and generally less expensive). If you move furniture around a lot or have rambunctious children at play, molding will take impacts better than drywall and usually will be easier to wipe clean, although this depends on the paint or finish on top.
Wainscoting is a specific form of panel molding, typically defined simply as paneling that runs only up to the height of a chair rail or lower — 32 inches and below. Collectively, trim, paneling and wainscoting are often referred to as millwork.
One simple way to create a cohesive feel is to use a consistent paint color on the walls of connecting spaces. “Particularly in homes that have more of an open floor plan, it’s best to choose one color that is going to serve as your main color or your neutral. the foyer, the hallways and that main connector room should all be the same color because you want to have that dominant color in your space.” When you’re standing in the living room, what other rooms will you see? If you have a view into the kitchen, the dining room and the foyer, then the colors for those spaces need to work well together. select one or two colors and then use variations of it. Accent colors can change from room to room, but continuing one consistent color throughout the home can help create a sense of continuity. using analogous (or adjacent) colors on the wheel will create less contrast and a more calm feel, while choosing complementary colors (across from one another on the wheel) will create greater contrast and a higher-energy room.
Painting is the most cost-effective way to freshen up a space. Freshly painted rooms feel updated, clean and crisp, without leaving a major dent in your wallet.
Selecting and placing furniture that fits the scale of the room can go a long way in making the space feel larger than it actually is.
Murals
Wallpaper embellishments come in all shapes and sizes and are often done in a contrasting color or finish against a solid background.
can take a plain old bookcase and line the wall behind it with wallpaper.
fluted millwork feature accents the headboard wall, with a shelf above for artwork
ceiling lights
partial curtails not starting at the top and not going to the bottom for kitchen/living room
pulls for all drawers, and knobs for doors,
recessed lighting in the soffits
ceiling light
stair railing
linen Roman shade with embroidered tape trim
awning window
themed tile inset
statement chandelier decorative shadows
paper towel holder
Use Found Objects as Planters Add a quirky element to your garden
Vary Shape, Not Color For an easy mix that works in any space, take two tile designs in the same color but different shapes and let the grout lines form the pattern.
One of the most important tips for mixing tile well is to create balance by combining small- and large-scale patterns.
Use small statement tiles, such as these small glass tiles, to create a feature on a backsplash or another small area rather than across an entire room. Combine them with large-scale plain tiles and you’ll avoid a design that makes your eyes go funny.
imbedded dog food bowls
Nemo’s Sindara Mix C tile, with its delicate mixed-pattern surface, from the Elevate collection.
Patterned tiles are as popular as ever, but many are showing up this season in subdued shades, like Emser’s new Design collection, shown here in the Art pattern, a faded, distressed look on a 9-by-9-inch tile. The collection also includes geometric patterns in subdued shades of black, gray and blue.
Kohler’s Artifacts Deco handles, which were previewed last year, are now available. Choose from Howlite marble, shown here, or Nero Marquina marble.
The swirling fixture uses an integrated LED bulb that projects light inward for a soft glow.
unique ceiling
floor tile pattern
Daylighting means using natural sunlight to illuminate a space, and it can make your home a happier place. Research suggests that sunlight helps the brain produce serotonin, a mood-lifting chemical — which helps explain why so many of us feel good on sunny days. Increasing the amount of daylight in your home can even reduce symptoms of seasonal affective disorder such as low energy, lack of focus and feeling blue.
wallpaper
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