Archive for the ‘Creative Recreation’ Category

Furniture ideas for a small dining space

November 24th, 2011 by admin 1

dining room furniture

If, like most of us, you only have a small dining room (or dining area) you will need to get the right type of dining room furniture for it.  The best dining tables for smaller dining rooms are glass topped dining tables with either a pedestal base or thin, light coloured legs to create an illusion of light & space.  Having dining tables that have room to tuck all the chairs away under it is a must too.  Round dining tables look great in an open plan dining area if the area available isn’t too large, & somehow seem more convivial than square dining tables.  Usually contemporary dining tables are most suitable for smaller dining rooms as they are often designed for apartment living both in dimensions and materials used.

Dining chairs will almost certainly need to be armless too; apart from taking up room the arms can very easily give the impression of clutter. They vary in width too, so get a chair that is wide enough to be comfortable, but no wider. Dining chairs with arms and high backs arms can look fantastic in a large dining room with a solid dining table, but in a tiny apartment they just don’t work. Again, contemporary style dining chairs are often suitable and can be made in semi-transparent plastics or light colours, with thin legs.

It might be a good idea to put a mirror on one of the walls too; it’s an old trick that really does work. And if you don’t have room for a sideboard look at bookcases as possible replacements, as they are much less deep but could still usefully hold glasses, bottles, napkins etc. A low bookcase can have a vase of flowers on top and a nicely designed one could really add to the decor.

If you have a small dining room choose your dining room furniture with care, making sure you avoid buying furniture that will make your room look cluttered or dark, which can make it look even smaller.

Taking the Interior Outside

September 26th, 2011 by admin 0

There are hundreds of ways to take the interior of your home into your garden and with the weather on the turn it is important to make the most of your garden while you can. Generally people treat their gardens and their homes as two completely separate entities; whereas in reality there is no better way to show off your interior than to reflect it in your garden and vice versa.

Garden decoration

Quite a few people neglect their gardens, exclaiming that they are hard work or that they simply haven’t got the time to spend the weekend gardening. In fact creating a stress and hassle free garden has never been easier and there are many ways you can create a beautiful outdoor living space. They may not be the most fun things to do but you should try not to avoid the regular garden jobs which can lead up to a major weeding session if not completed as you go! You could always consider hiring a garden for the basics such as weeding and mowing or go all out with a landscaper to help you create the space you can enjoy effortlessly, for hours and hours without worrying about any pesky weeding.

In the same way your interior has a theme which runs through your home; your garden should reflect your tastes and style. There are a few ways that you can slim down your garden, giving you the space to fully explore your style. The lawn is the most demanding feature of the garden, so when considering whether to keep the feature you should think about how much work you are prepared to put into the garden. If you replace your lawn, or at least part of it, with decking then you can add those little touches which make your garden feel like home.

A modern day gardener has a plethora of tools at his or her fingertips and there are many household items that can be used to jazz up your garden. The garden is now seen as the premier outdoor entertaining space and several pieces can be introduced to change your garden into a romantic outdoor space. Lanterns, solar powered lights, hammocks, pergolas and Gazebos all go some way to creating an indoor space outside.

When having a party why not bring some of your tableware and cutlery outside. By jazzing up your garden table with a tablecloth you can make your garden seem like a dining room. Imagine sitting under the stars, artificially or not, drinking a glass of wine surrounded by lanterns. There is literally no better way to spend and evening.

Garden furniture is no longer the bog standard wooden tables and chairs it used to be, so the possibilities are endless. In the end garden furniture can make the transition between indoors and outdoors, just add a few home touches and you are well on the way to the perfect outdoor space.

Creating a Tranquil Room With Japanese Screen

September 26th, 2011 by admin 2

Tranquil Room

A quiet comer in a busy home can become a tranquil personal space with the strategic arrangement of one or more Japanese screens. A key element of Japanese rituals, festivals and interior decor, standing screens establish a boundary between ordinary life and ceremonial or private space. Byobu screens consist of a set of hinged wooden panels encasing rice paper panels in a latticed wooden framework. Ifyou don’t have enough square footage in your apartment or house for a room of your own, create your own miniature refuge with a room divider inspired by traditional Japanese screens.

History
Heavy, ornately painted standing screens originated centuries ago in China, but the Japanese developed the lighter, portable versions most often used in contemporary interior decorating. In Japanese home decor, the single-panel shoji screen traditionally functions as a door or window, while the multi-panel folding byobu – which translates into “protection from the wind” – often serves as a room divider.

Japanese Screens

Traditionally, the wooden framework was finished with black lacquer, which created a striking, characteristically Asian contrast with the semi-translucent white rice paper. Screens were prized as valuable pieces of artwork, and many were painted and displayed in homes or public buildings. Portable screens have been used as backdrops in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, processions and Buddhist rituals. Space

The panels of a shoji screen can be arranged to section off an area in a bedroom, living room or one-room studio apartment. The multi-panel construction allows you to create a miniature room in a crowded dwelling by angling the screen’s panels to conceal a bed, chair or meditation corner. Use a single shoji screen as a single, understated partition, or place two shoji screens at complementary angles to define your space.

Choosing the right shutters for home

September 22nd, 2011 by admin 0

window shutter

There is a common misconception that the word “shutters” simply refers to the corrugated metal structure that shops put in place during non-trading hours. However if you look deeper, you will find that wooden shutters can actually be a very attractive fixture in any home.

Some people may be taken aback by just how much variety is on offer with these window treatments. Despite what people may think; there are shutters to suit most decor schemes, whether your room has a retro feel or a contemporary modern look. No matter what style you go for however, the level of control over a number of factors stays the same.

One of these factors is the amount of light in a room. Some window treatments only allow a limited amount of control over this due to their opacity; however wooden shutters are easily adjustable so the user can set any mood they want in the room. The shutter slats can either be fitted horizontally or vertically, but neither affects the amount of light control as they can be positioned at any angle desired with the use of the string mechanism. On a similar note, these panels can be adjusted to maintain a level of privacy in the home too, depending on the home-owners demands.

Perhaps one of the most time-consuming parts of purchasing wooden shutters is trying to find some that match your current colour schemes. As with all window fittings, there is a wide variety to choose from with some proving more convenient than others. If you’re struggling for time or simply want to take the easy option, then you could kit your room out with plain white shutters or maybe ones that have a natural oak or pine look. Whilst this gives a bit of simple sophistication to the room, some people may see this as a boring option.
Sometimes it can prove a struggle to find your perfect shutters ready-made, if this is your problem then the solution is simple. If you have a bit of spare time you may want to purchase some of the aforementioned oak or pine blinds and paint them yourself to give your room a unique feel. This makeover doesn’t take too long and can be repeated several times to ensure the room always has a fresh feel to go with the ever-changing times.

It is perhaps the simplest of tasks, but also one of the most important to ensure that you know exactly what you want when purchasing your shutters. Your experience will be enhanced to no end if you make sure you have the correct measurements and style in your head when you make your purchase. This way it can be as fuss-free as possible, and you can start to get the most out of your window treatments as soon as possible.

Colour blocking In your home

September 15th, 2011 by admin 0

white interior decor

Colour blocking is the use of solid colours in random or geometric patterns to create visual interest. It is used successfully in fashion design, interior design and home accessories. Interior designers have experienced a volume of clients who have chosen colour blocking to bring life and energy into their homes.

Do-it-yourself-ers are finding that they can colour block in their own homes with a little information on how to do the job. Though many people think that colour blocking should only be used in a modern setting, the technique can also be used to bring energy into a traditional home as well.

Colour blocking can be achieved by using solid blocks of complimentary, or contrasting and sometimes even clashing colours. Painting the walls in blocks of colour is one way of colour blocking. But a do-it- yourself homeowner can start a project simply by laying down throw rugs of a solid colour, or of geometric shapes of bright colours. Fabrics, upholstery and art are other choices of colour blocking.

Paint

Neutral colours may be used as background for squares, rectangles or circles of colour. Or a coloured wall with shapes of a complimentary or contrasting colour might be desired. Lines of colour can be placed side by side and follow a horizontal or vertical direction. Horizontal lines of colour tend to visually lengthen a wall and vertical lines make the walls appear taller.

Shapes of colour can be solitary and used as a backdrop for art, or shapes of contrasting colour, grouped together, can stand alone to draw attention. Shapes of clashing colours should be applied to walls of a neutral colour. For a more finished look, large shapes of colour can be outlined in neutral or contrasting shades. Imagination and creativity are helpful, but not absolutely necessary, if care is taken not to overdo the project.

Painting the inside of open shelves in a variety of contrasting shades is a simple and easy method of applying colour blocking. A kitchen backsplash is another option for an easy way to incorporate colour blocking into the home’s design.

Fabrics And Upholstery

Fabrics are used throughout a home in the form of window coverings, furniture upholstery, towels and washcloths,orange & gray room decoration wall hangings, throws and decorative pillows. A choice of window coverings may be roller blinds or roller shades that are not only manufactured in a variety of brightly collared fabrics but also in natural grasses and reeds for a lush textured look. These blinds are durable and may be sheer, to allow light to enter the room, or more densely woven to keep sunlight outside.

An upholstered headboard can bring a splash of colour into the bedroom. Add the same or complimentary colour to the windows and toss some colourful pillows onto the bed, and watch the room come to life. A few bright accessories such as a fabric lampshade can add to the fun of energizing the room. Follow through by using the same colour of towels and washcloths in the adjacent bathroom.

Art

Identical frames surrounding mats of different but contrasting colors can be hung on the same wall to create an eye catching display. Abstract art in a frame that has been painted to match a favourite colour in the piece may be hung on a contrasting coloured wall.

Whether decorating a child’s bedroom or the entire house, colour blocking is a technique that will enliven any living space.

Trendy and comfortable bed selection for teens!

September 3rd, 2011 by admin 0

teens bed

Selecting a comfortable bed is not always a piece of cake, especially for teens, their room is very important because this is the part that is their real world. So they take care about their bedding the most. For the autumn, they are seeking a bed worthy, trendy and comfortable to start the school year. Here are some tips if you are looking for comfortable & stylish bed for your teens.

The single bed: If your teen does not have much space in his room, better keep a single bed. Choose a model that moves away from the world of children opting for the metal or dark colors. Think of the beds that include built-in shelving or even drawers, it will be very handy. If you are looking for Cheap Beds, you can check the discounted deals offered by different suppliers on the internet.

The double bed: If your teen’s room is large enough, you can absolutely offer him a double bed that will give the impression of being an adult. Generally, girls are often anxious to get to this size. There comfortable beds are also offered by Bed SOS.  Choose a model quite low and very contemporary lines that best fits the bed in his room for several years.

Custom Bed: Finally, if your teen does not have much place in his room but loves to entertain his friends, think of the raised bed that will not take place on the ground! You can then install a sofa under it to receive friends. It is best to choose a convertible to take advantage of an extra bed.