Entertain the Kids: How to Engage Children in Simple Decorating Tasks.

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It’s summertime, so lets all take a moment to celebrate. This also means that there are some kids walking around reminding you how bored they are now that school is out. So you know what this means, craft time. Here are some simple ideas that your children can participate in that won’t break the bank, and will be a blast for them.

 
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Do you have some figurines lying around that could use some sprucing up? Then this project will be a breeze. If the kids can’t bear to part with any of their toys no worries, have the kids come along to the store and pick out a few new toys for this venture. Once you have gathered up a few figurines you will need a block of wood or a plaque, depending on the intended use, to attach the toys. Attach the toys to the wood by hot gluing them. After the attaching process is complete you can have the kiddos paint these lovely creations, if your kids are old enough pick a fun, bright color of spray paint and take them in the back yard for some fun.

 

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Since it is summertime, it only makes sense to want to be outside, enjoying the weather. So why not add some personality to your outdoor space as well. The first project is a very simple one; all you need is a colander, string, and beads. Children can run the string through the colander’s holes and put the beads on the string as they do so for a very easy, carefree look.

The next project for your outdoor space is a mosaic style birdhouse. Apply liquid nails to small sections of the birdhouse and have your kids place rocks and other trinkets.

 

 

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This last project is probably my favorite. For a colorful creation that any age will love to participate in, take a canvas and with painting tape mark the childs initial or any shape for that matter. For a less messy approach you can have your child paint all over the canvas using paint brushes. But for a much messier, but much more fun approach fill eggs with an assortment of colors, place the canvas outside and watch the colors fly. You’lll have a hard time resisting jumping in and throwing a few eggs yourself, trust me.

All of these little projects are simple and great for kids. If you’re looking for a little touch of personality to any space or just want your kids to have something that they can be proud of creating choose any one of these ideas and get ready for some fun!

The Sizzling Colors of Summer.

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Let’s talk about color! The temperature isn’t the only thing sizzling this summer; these trending colors are on fire. Radiant Orchid was voted Color of the Year by none other than the color experts themselves, Pantone. Radiant Orchid and other colors such as Dazzling Blue and Celosia orange were on Pantone’s list of trending colors for summer 2014. 

Radiant Orchid     

 

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Celosia Orange

 
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Dazzling Blue

 

 

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When decorating any room the most important part is choosing the colors. We just looked at the top trending colors for summer 2014, but let’s look at how to add these colors to your space. Adding bright colors into your home can seem a bit overwhelming, so here are three ways you could add a pop of color to any room.

1.  Spicing up your front door is one way of adding color. This is one of my favorite ways to add color to a space; it is simple and easy to do. Painting your door a bright color can really add some character to your home before anyone steps foot through the door. Radiant Orchid is a great color for the front door!

  

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2.  Accessories! Adding accessories to a room such a curtains, flowers, or pillows can make a room pop. Here we are seeing Celosia Orange being used for the curtains and other small accessories such as pillows on the couch, the rug on the floor, and even the books on the end table.

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3.  Another way you can add color to your space is painting your walls. Here we see Dazzling Blue making a bold statement in this dining area. Painting your walls bright colors can give personality to a room that has neutral furniture and accessories.

 

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For more trending colors you can go to Pinterest and see more of Pantone’s top colors for the summer!

The Fashion of Style: From the Runway to the Living Room.

 Interior design and fashion have always been connected, and originally furniture would not appear until five or six years after it made an appearance on the runway. But times are changing. Now there is hardly a gap in turnaround. Color palettes of garments and outfits inspire us because we want our interior to tell the same story.

 

Dior’s Fall 2012 runway set featured thousands of flowers, perhaps taking an overly aggressive approach to femininity.

As you can see this wallpapered kitchen gives a similar sense. The bold colors and texture invite the same feeling of over-the-top femininity as the Dior runway.

It is not only runway shows that inspire us to bring personality to the spaces we live in but also trends. Think about the nude trend, everything is neutral from clothing, to shoes, to accessories, and even makeup. This transitions fabulously into the interior design. Neutrals soften the hard edge of spaces and convey a relaxed, tranquil feeling.

 

The Pantone color palette is not only meant for the fashion industry. The Pantone Fashion Color Report provides a palette of popular hues seen on the runway. These selected pastels, neutrals, and brights offer fashionable inspiration for interiors as well.

Lets take a look at 2014’s Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid. It’s a bold purple, which is great to use as punch of color on upholstered pieces and artwork and accessories.

We are always looking to different places for inspiration, the fashion world just happens to be the place that is a little more dramatic and the most talked about. The same things, nature, architect, even the past often inspire fashion and interior designers, so it only makes sense that they would also inspire each other.

It's Offically Summer! HOT Trends in Decorating.

May 29th, 2014

Summer 2014 is just around the corner, and the trends are HOT! You may have just brightened your living room for spring and may be wondering how you can change up your space for summer, we’ve got some insight on what you can expect to be trending for summer 2014.

H&M’s Spring/Summer collection show the hottest summer trends, using different geometric patterns in a room can add texture throughout the room. I think we can expect to see a lot of pattern mixing.

Another hot trend this summer is using neutral colors for walls and furniture and accenting them with bright colored pillows or accessories.

 

Other trends that are included for summer is floral patterns and stripes, the popular colors for the summer are mostly earth tones, reds, and blues.

5 tips to give your interior a quick, cost-effective lift

1.     Pull furniture away from walls.

When furniture is pushed back against the walls, it makes the space feel uninviting and disoriented.  Floating furniture in the room allows you to have conversation groupings and give the space a more intimate feel.

2.     Two feet on the rug.  Make sure at least the 2 front feet (if not, all 4) of your furniture are on the area rug.  Avoid floating a small rug in the middle of your seat grouping, it looks awkward and calls attention to sizing mistake.  If your rug is too small to allow your pieces to sit on it, remove it from the space. It is better to go without than to have a rug that is too small!

3.     Group your artwork. Pictures and artwork are so much more impactful when clustered together on one wall versus spread out individually on every wall.  There are so many ways to group things to create visual interest, and you can even use groupings to hide unsightly elements like a thermostat in the middle of the wall.  Don’t be afraid to mix various sized items together if it makes sense.

4.     Keep your accessories trendy.  If you are in love with the chevron print that is currently so popular, you can buy some new throw pillows in that pattern and spruce up your sofa.  The benefit of keeping trendy patterns and colors in your accessories is that you never invest too much money in those items and they are easy to change when you tire of them.

5.     Paint!  Changing the paint color of a room is the most inexpensive way to update it.  A fresh color allows you to see your furnishings in a whole new way, as well.  Don’t be afraid to try a new color, you just may fall in love with it

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It's time for professional interior design when...

You’re a DIY-er, and you’ve got skills.  You’ve built cupboards, reupholstered chairs, and painted your heart out.  But even though you are qualified to tackle just about any project, there are times when you know it’s time to seek professional help. 

For example--when you have more empty cans of Drano than you care to admit, and your sink is still stopped up, it’s time to call a plumber.  But how do you know when it’s time to use a professional interior design service?

Here are some tips:

An interior design service can help when:  

1. You take back many, if not all, the pieces you buy because "they're just not quite right."

2. You have a stack of paint chips from the home improvement store but your walls are the same color they've been for the last 8 years.

3. You know how you want your room to look and feel but you have no idea how to make it happen.

4. You're terrified to make a mistake so you never make major changes to your home.  

For more info on how professional interior design can help your next do it yourself project, visit www.outoftheboxroomdesign.com.   

Bring the Outdoors In!

One of our favorite design trends is also one of the most unique:  bringing the outdoors in.

That can be easier to say than it is to actually DO, though (a great example is the gorgeous-but technically challenging--indoor "tree" (pictured at left).

So how can a thrifty (and realistic) DIY-er accomplish this look?

Just like the outdoors itself...keep it simple.

Look for (or create for yourself) accessories that give your space a rustic feel, without being overwhelming. This  antler wall hanging (pictured at right) is a great example.

Smart furniture choices can also do the trick--and allow you to accomplish your goal without spending a lot of time and DIY hours.

In fact, one rustic piece, integrated in even the most traditional or even high-tech design, such as the kitchen pictured at left, can give any room a dash of the outdoors.

Whatever you do, make sure it fits your general style, whether that is bold, understated, quirky, or luxurious.