Tips for Keeping Cozy this Season
Since first signing up for redfin notifications years ago, I still check out new listings daily. I love looking into houses on the market, seeing the potential and reaffirming our current house purchase. When redfin reached out and asked me to share a tip on how to make a home cozier this winter, It was a no brainer that I would say yes.
Check out the post here to read some ideas but most importantly, see what I had to share. :)
Based on this image, can you take a guess what my tip was? PS this paint color, Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, also happens to be color of the year for 2021.
image courtesy of Sherwin Williams.
DIY Interior Designing Versus Hire a Professional Interior Designer
DIY Interior designing versus a professional interior designer is a decision that should not be taken lightly if you plan to redesign your space. Should you do it yourself or do you need a professional interior designer?
Let me share a few pros and cons of DIY interior designing versus hiring a professional interior designer.
Scope Of Work
Hiring a professional interior designer would be more ideal if the scope of work is all-encompassing. Most especially if you follow a tight timeline. It is important that you hire a designer with extensive knowledge and experience in interior design.
DIY interior designing may trigger disorganized and feeble outcomes. In the end, you will still be pushed to consult a professional interior designer.
Interior designers may have better and easier ways of designing than doing it yourself such as:
- There would be less room for mistakes and worry about hiring interior designers professionals.
- They know the right materials that your space needs.
- They even know the sources of these materials that may help you with your budget.
Space Planning
Interior designers have proper training when dealing with the challenges you will encounter.. They have the capacity to transform a space planning according to the taste and personality of the homeowner.
Codes and Permits
A redesigning project requires codes and permits that may take time to process if you do it yourself. A professional interior designer knows how to process them that would you can save time and effort. They can handle getting the permits and paperwork. They can even acquire it according to the timeline of the project.
DIY interior designing may cause you to lose valuable time if acquiring codes and permits are required.
Money Matters
Each redesigning project calls for a budget. It can either be a costly or an affordable one depending on the design plan. If you do DIY, you may have the tendency to correct mistakes on the project. Hiring a professional interior designer to correct the mistakes may cost more than hiring an interior designer before commencing the redesigning project.
DIY might be a better option especially if you really don’t have a budget for hiring a professional interior designer.
Timeline Of The Project:
If you have a tight timeline of the project, I highly recommend hiring a pro interior designer. You may DIY if you are not in a hurry on completing your redesigning project.
DIY projects can be completed according to your time availability. It may be stressful to do DIY interior designing projects. Doing It Yourself can also be a weight on the shoulder considering the following methods that are necessary for interior designing:
- measuring
- shopping for décor and furniture
- coordinating deliveries
- troubleshooting issues and delays
- researching options and material
- bargain hunting
You can definitely save time, energy and money if you hire a professional interior designer. You can observe the gradual transformation of the project than doing the legwork of DIY redesigning projects.
Some think that hiring a professional interior designer may be expensive. You can do more research like getting the right professional and experienced designer. Someone that can perfectly understand and blend with your vision on your redesigning project. You may also want to check my previous blog on 5 Things to Ask an Interior Designer Before Hiring Them
Some interior designers offer quality and flexibility according to what you need. Like designstiles that offers full-service residential designs in LA. designstiles has a new program of hiring us by the hour. You may as well check our blog on 5 Reasons To Hire An Interior Design By The Hour.
If you have a living space that needs a makeover, contact designstiles and we will be happy to help you design your living space. Schedule your design consultation today
5 Common Interior Design Mistakes You Can Improve
Interior design mistakes can easily be committed if we are not planning carefully. You’ve got space in your home that looks unattractive but you are unsure of how you can improve it. There are some common design mistakes people make when it comes to decorating and we thought it would be good to take a look at a few.
Don’t Ignore Space Planning
Buying new furniture is exciting but unfortunately, it does not fit in the area where it is supposed to be. Well, this is the part where you must not ignore space planning. If you ignore paying attention to space planning, your space may end up out of place. This is a common interior design mistake.
Space planning helps you to define what you can fit in your area or space appropriately. It even helps you organize your home with good space planning. You may also check out our previous blog on Home Organization Tips and Benefits Straight from an Interior Designer.
It is crucial to ensure that your area or space is serving its purpose correctly. One of them is making sure that the traffic flows easily and your interiors are scaled appropriately. Thus, when you start home, it is best to measure the square footage of the space including the architectural elements of windows, doors, or archways.
I highly recommend hiring a professional interior designer in order to achieve good space planning on your design project. You may also check out and learn more ideas from our previous blog 5 Things to Ask an Interior Designer Before Hiring Them
Don’t Put Furniture Against the Wall
Putting your furniture against the wall is the top common interior design mistake. Some of their reasons are to make space look bigger. Yes, this may work with smaller rooms. But it may look weird to bigger spaces.
Don’t Be Afraid of Playing With Colors
Choosing the shades of your space and to blend it with your interior decors may sound easy, But it is actually an overwhelming task and if doubt comes you may just simply go for neutral colors. Neutral colors may be the safest option but I suggest NOT to be afraid to explore the art of colors to your interior designs. Playing with color shades could add energy and interest to your space. This is not really an interior design mistake but I recommend exploring more on colors. Colors can speak much on the homeowner's taste, style, and personality.
Don’t Stick with One Source of Lighting
One of the overlooked elements in interior design is lighting. Lighting can have a huge effect on the mood and tone of the space. Don’t stick to one source of lighting as much as possible. You may also make use of table lamps that offer softer lights. I also suggest going for overhead lighting with options to control the brightness according to what you need. There are a lot of options you can have with varied sources of lighting like candle lamps, standing lamps or even spotlights or fairy lights that will suit the ambiance of the space.
You can make use of natural lighting from the sun. This can be done by putting up skylight on your roofing so you can gain natural lighting during the day. Natural lighting evenly distributes the light all throughout the space.
Don’t Go For Blind Buying
With the trend of online shopping nowadays, buying different kinds of items that you need is very easy by simply clicking the button. But one of the many drawbacks of buying online is that you are blinded by quality, material, and size.
It is important that when you buy furniture or interior decorations for your home you will buy it in person. Seeing it personally, feeling the kind of material that is and how the designs and shade combinations are will help you decide if that is what your space needs. If you do not have the knowledge of quality and construction of what you are buying, you will most likely end up blind buying a piece of furniture that doesn't meet your expectations in style, durability, quality, size, or color.
Blind buying can be tempting to interior design mistakes. But again, it is best to buy the decorations and furniture in person.
In the world of interior design, space is a vital commodity. Thus, it is essential to boost every square inch of your space no matter how big or small it is. Don’t waste the space in your home where you can transform it into one of your favorite living spaces.
Do you need help in interior designing, let me help you transform your space into a beautiful area that you could ever imagine. Schedule your design consultation and learn how you can hire us by the hour program by clicking the link: https://www.designstiles.me/consult
5 Things to Ask an Interior Designer Before Hiring Them
When looking for an Interior decorator, you and the interior designer should be the right match and be on the same page. The search for an interior designer is fun and exciting but the process of finding the right interior designer (for you) can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming.
Interior design is more than accent pillows, paint colors, or interior fittings. The combination of purpose and fashion to create a harmonious home that is tailored to your needs, personality and style are the ingredients to exquisite Interior Design. Most of all, it should be a true reflection of you and your family's lifestyle.
As a passionate interior designer to my craft and work, I understand that hiring an interior designer is a commitment. This is why it is important to know exactly what you are looking for and someone who would be the right fit for your interior design project. Here are 5 questions to ask an interior designer before hiring them:
What interior design services do you offer?
This is a simple yet very important question. You want to make sure that you are working with a firm that is dedicated and excels in the services that you are looking for.
Researching their portfolio and design services will help you better understand how their interior design firm will give you a good idea of their overall project experience and design style. You should consider looking for an interior designer with experience in space planning and interior architecture of every decor and furnishings.
Some follow up questions you can ask are:
- To what extent do you offer a “full service” design experience?
- Which do you prefer, the client is involved in the project or client is laid-back from the project?
- What is your project-management style like?
Follow up questions like these can help you better understand expectations before hiring and give you confidence the interior designer you choose is the perfect match for you Some interior designers prefer the client not to be involved in the actual project management aspects but there are clients who enjoy more involvement throughout the design process. It is good to know, from the start, of your project how your designer prefers to manage projects which will help avoid any project miscommunications or delays.
What are your design styles and inspirations for your work?
Asking this question is simply a way to get to know an interior designer. This is one good way to get to the heart of the personality, style, and aesthetics of the interior designer.
You are digging the sense of creativity on the craft and where they are coming from. This is a huge question that can help you so much in your search for the right interior designer.
You can also throw some follow up questions like:
- What are your design signatures and your favorite design projects?
- In your design projects, what are your favorite colors to use?
- What part of the home is your favorite space and why?
- Where is your favorite travel destination and how do those elements reflect in your work?
How will you make me understand your design concept and ideas?
It is vital that the interior designer is able to fully communicate the design concept and ideas to the client. So you will understand what the process will be and what will you be expecting from the outcome of the interior design project.
Most of all, seeing and understanding the concept and ideas will make you comfortable with the plans before spending too much investment on the project.
This is a broad question that you may not be able to get the exact answers that you are looking for. It is best to throw follow up questions that would give a better understanding of the interior designer’s process as a whole in dealing with the project.
- What happens if I don’t like the design?
- How long will it take to complete the project?
- What are the specific details of every material and decor that will be used?
- How many staff will be working on the project?
- Can I see the actual samples of every material that will be used?
- Can I get demo access to the project management system?
There may be circumstances that along the way you and the designer will not be on the same page. So, it is best to know beforehand, how will your designer deal with uncontrollable situations and that both of you will be in a win-win situation.
It is also great to know who and how many people in the team will be working. Perhaps you may be just speaking your thoughts on the project but in fact, another designer will be assigned to your project. Seeing the materials to be used and having a visualization of the design plan of the project will be helpful.
Can you work within my budget?
This type of question can either make or break a deal if you are trying to decide on the right interior designer. Nonetheless, this is one of the important questions you should not miss asking the interior designer.
Every interior design project you will do, be it small or big projects involves money. It is just ethical for both the client and the interior designer to be transparent on the budget and cost of the project. Both should be on the same page on how much the project will cost and if the interior designer can work with the client’s budget. Unless the client will declare that money is not a problem but just to achieve and turn his dreams into reality.
What would be the 2 main reasons why you will not go for a project?
This question can be asked positively but I’d rather throw one negative question in order to find out how well the interior designer will carry himself or herself to answer such a question. This is also one way how they easily get the point of this question and give you a direct answer based on their personality and approach to every client.
With this question, you will get to understand as well the limitation of the designer in dealing with the project. The professionalism of the interior designer can be gauge through dealing with negative situations. As well as how committed they are in every design project.
There you have the 5 things to ask an interior designer before hiring them. If you need help with your design project, contact designstiles today. Schedule your design consultation and learn how you can hire us by the hour design option. Click here to learn more: https://www.designstiles.me/consult
Window Treatment Ideas
In the world of interior design, we can probably all affirm that windows can either make or break a space. The windows in every home are the connection to the outside world. How it is being treated speaks about your personality, taste and style in interior design. Nevertheless, the significance of window treatment is often neglected.
Window treatments should be wholly decorative and functional. It can also strike a balance depending on the space and the amount of natural light coming in the room. There are a lot of window treatment ideas but again, homeowners normally choose beauty over functionality of treating their windows at home.
In this article, let’s talk about the different window treatment ideas to help and protect your privacy while showing off your personality, taste and style. And who knows, treating your windows correctly by choosing the right materials and proper arrangement you will gain one of its benefits like lowering the cost of your energy consumption.
Blinds
Generally speaking, blinds or some may call it shutters are available in different materials and styles such as faux wood with embossed colors that look like real wood, and vinyl that’s arranged into slats. But using organic material for blinds would be a wise choice.
Blinds can also be horizontal or vertical and either corded, cordless, or motorized. The blinds are the most affordable choices in window treatment. It may have interior or exterior kind of blinds. Both kinds of blinds help reduce the heat of the sun while maintaining the desired light, ventilation and privacy.
These blinds can be mounted inside the window frame to create a clean look or outside to make a small window seem larger. It is best to position this in the South and west-facing windows.
In window treatment, you have to take the measurement of your windows.
For Interior (inside-mounted) Blinds:
- Take widths at the top, middle and bottom of the window, inside the frame.
- Use the narrowest width
- Take length measurements from the left, middle and right sides, inside the frame
- Use the longest length
For Exterior (outside-mounted) Blinds:
- Measure the width to the end of the window frame
- Add 1 ½ inches to each side to account for overlap
- Measure the length to the end of the window sill
- Add 1 ½ inches
Just a friendly tip from a professional interior designer, in choosing blinds, Get rid of the mini-blinds. Go for a wider slat. Look for 2.5″ slats on your blinds to maximize view, light and easy to clean.
Normally, many opt for a clean white blinds if the dominant color of the room is a neutral shade. Nevertheless, trying out earthly colors, also gives a fantastic impression especially if it complements with the theme of the room. Most of all, it also depends on how your personality and style speaks.
Shades
Shades are made of fabric and come in varying levels of opacity. The shades is the simplest and most effective way to save energy with window treatment. Choosing shades for window treatment in lieu of the blinds as the primary window treatment is trending especially shades made from natural woven fibers, such as bamboo or matchsticks.
There are 3 types of shades:
- Roller shades roll from a tube-shaped piece at the top of the window.
- Honeycomb shades fold down from the top of the window in pleats.
- Roman shades are arranged in careful, elegant folds. Flat Roman shades fold up at the top when fully raised and lie flat when lowered, creating a low profile look that works with a wide range of fabrics and prints.
The window shades should be installed properly. It should be mounted as close to the glass as possible and right up against the adjacent wall creates a tight seal that minimizes both heat gain and loss.
You may follow the steps from the blinds in taking measurements of windows for the shades. While you may either choose a neutral color or match the room’s dominant color if you are for solid shades. If you’re using patterned shades, try to match one of the colors in the print to your accent color.
These window shades with dual layers of fabric like combing a light color on one side and a darker color on the other, add more functionality. You may interchange the placement of colors based on the season. Keep in mind that the light color will reflect heat in summer, while the dark color will absorb heat during winter.
They can be used in any part of the room in your home. You may choose a neutral shade or one that’s close to the room’s dominant color to blend in your window. And if you want to highlight a window feature you should opt for contrasting shade.
Drapes
Drapes are one option you can use for window treatment. These helps insulate your home from the heat of the sun in summer and coldness of winter. They are attached to a rod above the window and hanging down beyond the frame. It offers the most variation in price because they come in a variety of materials, colors and patterns. They are available in either stock and custom-made sizes.
It should be tightly sealed and hang right up to the ceiling down to the floor in order to achieve maximum performance of the drapes . It is also best to position the drapes as close to the window as possible. Drapes are flexible and can be positioned in any location and orientation.
Here are the steps in taking the measurements for drapes:
- Determine the length of your curtain rod
- Measure the width of your window
- Add 3-8 inches to either side, depending on how full you’d like your curtains to be.
- Measure the length by starting at the point where the rod will hang and measuring to 1 inch above the floor
Here are more essential tips in window treatment:
Use different treatment of the windows especially if you have many windows in the room. This will ease out boredom. It is just like telling a story and each side of the space in your home could speak about your personality and style.
Hang your drapes high and wide to make your space look bigger and luxurious. Make sure to hang the drapes at least 12 inches above the window frame or all the way to the ceiling and extending your curtain rod out three to six inches on each side.
Avoid hanging drapes right above the window frame as it gives lesser light. It also makes your space look crowded. Keep in mind that, when open, your curtains shouldn't fall more than two inches inside the frame on each side.
Layer your window treatment aims for better insulation. But don’t forget to boost your taste and style and make sure to make your windows the focal point of design.
Window treatment also rely on the window finishes like frosted glass. This provides privacy without killing the view. Etching the glass windows creates a frosted glass windows. The semi-transparent contact paper is used to cover and make up the frosted glass windows. Some are using spray products to cover it. You may treat it partially or whole part of the window depending on your needs.
Again, homeowners often neglect window treatment to their homes. But it is best to give importance to these details to give your space an impressive look. Thus, you to trust your instinct when styling and treating your windows. Always remember that your goal in window treatment is to treat the light, the noise and temperature based on the need of the space.
Do you need help in window treatment, allow designstiles can help and guide you from design concept to completion. Schedule your design consultation and learn how you can hire us by the hour program by clicking the link: https://www.designstiles.me/consult
Do’s and Don’ts For Designing The Perfect Nursery
Designing the nursery is one of the fun experiences of pregnancy. You get to choose the furniture and all the baby items. There are many do’s and don’ts when it comes to the nursery that isn’t always shared in magazines and online, but they’re important!
Keep reading for some tips on the do’s and don’ts before you put your nursery area together.
- Do Pick a Specific Style or Theme But Don't Go Overly Themed
In designing a nursery room, you should pick a theme and a color palette so you have a starting point, which helps you design the entire nursery room. This doesn’t mean you have to stick to the theme you’ve picked.
Don’t limit yourself to blue or pink. Look for other pastels, which can suit the child’s room and fit into your house’s overall decor. Choose decors that will grow with the baby so you don’t have to shell out a ton of cash too soon for another design.
- Do Install the Right Lights and the Nightlight But Don't Use Harsh Lighting
In designing the nursery room should have a lot of light. But they have to be placed far enough from the crib so they don’t affect the baby when they are on.
Go for the dimmer light which can be adjusted according to your needs. You also need to install a nightlight, which is going to comfort the baby. It can also be used during the nursing time or bed-time reading.
- Do Keep Safety in Mind and Don't Put Loose Items Above the Crib
Choose pieces that help to create a peaceful, calm and happy space in designing your nursery room. You and baby will be spending a lot of time in this room, so make it somewhere you want to be. Keep in mind to design the space with safety, no sharp edges on the tables and furniture.
Avoid putting decors above the crib. Your baby will eventually try to grab it. It ever, there's an earthquake or another occurrence that will make the wall move. all those sharp cutesy decorations on the geometric wooden shelf are going to fall on him. Opt for decorating the wall with fun painted patterns, with decals, or with flat well-mounted letters instead.
- Do Buy the Essential Needs of the Baby But Don't Buy Expensive Cribs and A Changing Table
Keep the nursery room simple. Just stick with the essential need of the baby and the mother. in feeding or changing the baby.
A soothing music player is best in the nursery room than putting a television set or a computer set. The electronics emit a bit of radiation that newborns just don’t need. Put a rocking chair and enough spaces for the diapers will add points to your nursery.
Expensive cribs and costly changing tables are quite unnecessary for the nursery room. Using a dresser as a changing table is a piece that can grow with the baby well into the teenage years. Simply place a changing pad atop and the dresser is a perfect storage solution for clothes and toys.
- Do Organize But Don't Forget to Allow Room for Growth
An organized nursery makes your life so much easier. Sort and classify all the stuff that you and your baby need. Moreover, you have to think of long term plans when choosing your furniture in your nursery room. Keep in mind that your baby is growing and you will need to change some of the stuff in the nursery. Thus, planning ahead will ensure you get the most out of your money and your space.
This can all seem like an overwhelming task, especially for first-time mommies. But the desire to create a safe, warm, beautiful place for our babies is instinctual—it’s called nesting. So trust your instincts and enjoy the process!
>>>https://www.designstiles.me/consult
Home Organization Tips and Benefits Straight from an Interior Designer
Having an organized home is such a cheerful thought. We experience plenty of stress from jobs, finances, and other areas of our lives. When we come home, we want to feel like we’re entering a safe haven from the demands of life.
Does your home provide a refuge from stress? Or is it causing you additional stress that you might not be aware of?
As the new year begins and we are hopeful of a fruitful year. One way to start out is bringing some better organization to your life. You can start organizing your home. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Start with One Small Area!
Home organization can start in an area where simple decluttering can be done. Pull every single item out. Then start with putting things you use most often just below eye level. Put heavy items closer to the bottom and items used not as much up high.
Living in a cluttered home can create constant low-grade stress and subtly drain your energy. Thus, organized home can reduce stress related to lost items or lost information. You can manage many activities and deadlines more efficiently.
Home organization gains valuable storage space within your existing quarters. It helps you gain more energy and peace from your organized home while eliminating unnecessary tasks.
Rearrange the Bookshelves!
If the vertical books are 12 inches tall, place three to four books horizontally up to four inches high. Organizing 60 percent of books vertically and 40 percent horizontally on the shelves creates balance yet spontaneity. I suggest stacking the horizontal books lower than vertical ones:
Having an organized home can instill confidence by knowing where things are in the home. It also means having more time to do things you really want to do. Most of all having a more attractive and inviting home
Declutter Thoughtfully!
Keep the things that you don’t use every day. You can also sort the things that you don’t use at all and donate it. These things may not be useful to you but there are still many others who can use it. Plus, spreading a little kindness is quite a fulfillment.
Label your things, jars, bins so that other members of the house can easily sort things well when they are cleaning up. Home organization should not only come from one person in the house. The cooperation of every member of the family can make a difference as well.
Home organization can be overwhelming, especially if you try to tackle everything at one time. I suggest going room by room and incorporate everyday tips and tricks that will help keep your home much more organized than it was before. This will help you save time by not spending time looking for things. You can save money by not buying items you already have.
Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct. They are matters of education and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them. A home that is well organized brings more good things. It is also best to teach your child as early as possible in organizing things
Many believe in feng shui that a well-ordered home aligns vital energy in your life to bring good fortune in other areas of your life. Whether or not you believe that feng shui brings special good fortune. It’s hard to argue that an organized home wouldn’t bring additional benefits and reducing stress.
Any time is the right time to create an organized home. You can simplify your life and reduce the daily stress you experience by putting in relatively minimal effort to de-clutter, organize, and decorate your home. Let your home be your sanctuary.
Do you want to begin your new year free from stress?
>>>https://www.designstiles.me/consult
The Interior Designer's Tips on Holiday Decorations
It’s this time of the year that interior designers and design lovers are busy showcasing their style and decorating skills. The home has many rooms and spaces to play with holiday decorations.
Let’s talk about holiday decorating ideas. Let’s start with the Christmas Tree which is always the focal point. .You may get a fake or real tree but pay attention to the type and color of the tree that you choose.
- I suggest you invest in a high-quality artificial tree. High-quality trees are more durable. It can stand up to the test of time all whilst maintaining its beautiful look. Choose a fake tree that offers easy setup and storage in order to prevent wear and tear on the Christmas tree.
- Fluff and shape the branches of the Christmas tree would help make your Christmas tree look fuller and more natural. Separate each branch and bend individual branches to fill in gaps.
- Design around a theme before choosing your decorations sets the tone for your materials and gives you a clear idea of how to decorate your tree.
- Start with the lights first and continue wrapping the lights evenly around the branches nearest to the trunk, and then weave it upwards from the middle of the crown.Next, you may want to have a festive look on welcoming your guests to your home. Thus putting holiday decorations to your door would be a fascinating view of the yuletide season. The combination of the garland, wreath, lights, and baubles would make up a great holiday decoration. Colorful ornament wreaths are eye-catching and fun.
Then the Christmas Stockings which makes every morning of the Christmas season even more magical for the whole family. You may hang them in the fireplace or sideboard, stockings are great for holding stocking fillers – and, of course, they're the perfect finishing touch to holiday decorations.
The creation of a mini Christmas village would be a great addition to your holiday decorations. Creating a Christmas village as one of your holiday decorations is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, you have to determine the size of your village. Then, choose a theme that you want for your Christmas village. There are many varieties of themes for Christmas villages e.g. Victorian Christmas Village, whimsical elf Christmas Village or Winter in the woods. It is great to have a village map so it will be easier to place the decorations.
Now, let’s jump to a festive table setting, Celebrating the yuletide season means many get together and parties, hence, you should set the table with the theme that goes with the occasion.
- A decorated Christmas dining table with champagne glasses and Christmas tree in the background
- A good centerpiece can uplift the whole dining room, and bring the mood up along with it.
- Think about what kind of color palette you want to use and how it relates to your home.
- Metallic accents add a modern twist to the ritual, and you might even consider throwing in a calming neutral shade to balance out the look.
- Flowers and plants always give a soothing welcoming impact to any setting. A simple or well-crafted bouquet on the table is a time-tested centerpiece, You may also add a touch of greenery pieces like sprigs of fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme.
These are just a few tips on your holiday decorations. If you plan to decorate your home and looking for professional help, contact designstiles. For a limited time, hire us by the hour, for design projects small and large! With as little as a 1-hour minimum, we can make sure you get exactly what you need for the project at hand.
Click here to request your discovery call and see if this is the perfect fit for you!
5 Reasons To Hire An Interior Design By The Hour
We spend the majority of our lives in our homes, yet some of us don’t love the place we’re living in. Not because there is anything wrong with the walls, the yard, or the bones on the house, but because it’s not truly a HOME. A home doesn’t happen just because you move in. It happens when your surroundings reflect your personality, way of life, and ideals. That’s what a designer can help you achieve.
Even those with style for days may not have an eye for interior design. There’s no shame in it, we all have our talents in life. But, instead of trying to force it, and most likely failing, at creating a cozy, comfortable, stylish space, here are 5 times that hiring a designer (even for the small stuff) will pay off in spades. Now that we’ve created our Hire-By-The-Hour Packages ( Contact us here: http://bit.ly/designstiles-hourly) We wanted to show you a few ways you could leverage this amazing offer for your next project!
- Space Planning - When designing a space, we need to look at the size of the room, the elements, the way it flows, the natural light, and many other elements to determine where the best places are to situate furniture, rugs and decorative pieces, and many other elements. This is one of the first and most important steps in creating a space that feels cohesive.
- Color Palettes - Selecting the right paint colors is crucial to achieving the look and feel you’re after in your home. Too light and it can feel cold. Too dark and it can feel eerie. Too bright and it can feel tacky. And just one shade off can throw the whole design. The paint stays no matter what furniture inhabits a room. Don’t risk it, work with someone who knows just what shades, tones, and hues will work for you.
- Furniture Sourcing - Have you ever looked at a glossy home magazine and wondered “where do they find such beautiful, unique pieces?”. A question we get from our clients, and non-clients, all the time is “Tell me where to buy the right furniture!”. While it’s not information we give out freely, you can hire us (by the hour, now! Visit http://bit.ly/designstiles-hourly) to source furniture FOR YOU! We’ve spent the last decade building relationships, searching shops, and developing go-to spots for the right pieces for any space. Leverage our experience and connections to get the right furniture, lighting fixtures, and decor that you’ve been dreaming of.
- Contractor Liaison - Are you preparing for a remodel, and you keep hearing what sounds like gibberish come out of your contractor's mouth? They’re asking for heights of decorative pieces, finishes of handles, shapes, styles, and colors - and you draw a complete blank. Don’t let inexperience cost you a fabulous remodel. Hire us (in our new hire-by-the-hour package) to be the liaison between you and your contractor, telling him the right heights, colors, widths, depths, and shades, as well as sourcing materials and finishes on your behalf. Make remodeling easy by working with a designer!
- Interior Decorating & Refreshing - Sometimes, you may not need a top to bottom home redesign. You may need a refresh in decor, or someone to arrange things in a way that actually looks good. You could be hosting a holiday party and want the perfect mantle, tree, and tablescape. You could be changing the style of your sunroom or the accent colors in your kitchen, and want to bring in an expert to make the choices quickly, easily and beautifully. That’s the perfect time to hire a designer.
- If you’re thinking about layout, color palettes, interior finishes, remodeling, or refreshing your decor, you can now work with me and designstiles BY THE HOUR! Our clients have been nudging us to add this option for years, and we finally caved! >> http://bit.ly/designstiles-hourly
This gives you the opportunity to work with us on projects big and small, no matter what your needs are. Click here to request a quick discovery call so we can figure out how many hours you might need for the projects you’re thinking of!
>> http://bit.ly/designstiles-hourly
I can’t wait to speak with you!
Children's Bedroom Design: Timeless Ideas To Consider
Designing a children’s bedroom can be as fun for you to do as it is for the kids to enjoy afterwards. Children’s rooms are a whole new ball game for colors, shapes, storage ideas, and furnishings. Coming up with creative ways to include the practical elements of a bedroom is a fun challenge.
You might even see how excited the children are when it’s finished, making the project rewarding. Whether you are looking for inspiration or considering a redesign, here are the things that you should know for designing a room that has everything a kid could want. The more innovatively you can combine fun and function, the better!
Make it a happy place
A child’s bedroom should make them feel content. Think unique color combinations, mixing fun patterns and incorporating some of their favorite animals or accessories in the room, which can easily be swapped out when they're no longer obsessed with aforementioned item.
Ensure there is space for creativity
In this bedroom we redesigned, we incorporated a reading nook, a cozy little corner in this bedroom, as a place that little ones, or mom and dad could lounge in during story time. This encourages learning in a relaxed environment.
Let Imagination Run Wild
Kids bedrooms are for more than just bedtime! Their rooms should be fun and inspire creativity as well. Turn the space itself into an exciting place to be, rather than just a room containing a few essentials. I’d like to discuss more high end ideas vs. the traditional "little kid" stuff.
You could build an indoor tree house that they can climb a ladder to get into. Paint their desk with chalkboard paint so they can show off their art skills! Make a building station that encourages critical thinking! Giving kids a creative space allows them to be imaginative and think outside the box. Parents lives will also be much easierif their children really enjoy being in their own rooms!
Make it cozy
Kids need to feel safe and secure, so fill your child’s room with items they can use to self-soothe, like a large soft blanket with enough weight to feel like a hug. Bedding, pillows, and rugs should be soft to the touch, so feel all materials before bringing them into the room.
Have fun with wallpaper! So many options are full of personality. In the coral bedroom shown above, we used wallpaper on the ceiling to draw the eyes up, and truthfully, mother wanted to avoid her daughter peeling the paper if it were on the walls. By installing it on the ceiling, it created an element of surprise.
So let your creativity go wild when it comes to designing your child's bedroom, they do after all deserve the most beautiful room in the house.
If you’d like to talk about decorating a child’s bedroom or you want to add a touch of luxury elsewhere in your home then contact designstiles now for a free consultation!