Back To University – Budget Decorating Ideas

Whether you've managed to get a room in the Halls of Residence, a bed-sit or sharing with a friend you'll want to make your living space your home by the trendiest yet cheapest ways possible!

Try to choose furniture with modern, clean lines and neutral colours - choose quality upholstery/materials that have more staying power such as a leather upholstered desk chair. Such items will transition into a multiple of styles when you do decorate your first home.

Accessories are needed in a study/bedroom as the universities rarely offer much more than white walls, a standard single bed, desk and a shelf. When considering décor pieces, imagine what you would like to see in your first apartment - will it be self-graffitied files or sophisticated ones made from leather? Do you want a beautiful house plant or will it be a plant-pot full of loose coins, spare pens and cocktail straws? Coloured glass is a pretty accessory in various forms and is a timeless décor piece. Just remember to take care of your plant with adequate water and light!

Hide a shabby or threadbare carpet with cheap rugs; opt for bright colours and bold patterns to bring a 'zing' into your new 'home'!

Image: a life's design

Maximising Space

In an apartment that just accommodates all of your belongings but with little space to spare, some clever design tips are in order. When choosing furniture for the lounge, do look for slimmer forms that don't bulk out your room near to explosion; plus, a sofa without arms is going to give the impression of more openness. Armless furniture helps a great deal when you want to have a more airy feel in the lounge or dining room should you have one. Furthermore, with the sofa in place you should figure out the best layout for other pieces that make the most of your limited space whilst still allowing for good human traffic. Bring your furniture to the centre of the room as opposed to pushing up against the walls and anchor this zone with a statement floor rug (just don't have too much busy pattern or colour going on).

This moving around actually creates another dilemma for some - those who can't stand to see the back of the sofa and the seemingly wasted floor space. Don't stress; I suggest pushing a console table to the back of the sofa that is both slim and at the ideal height (about a foot lower than the sofa back) - a glass top is particularly good to increase that open feeling. The console table can double up as a decorative piece and a home study/work area with a funky table lamp uk and vase of fresh flowers.

Interior Trends 2011 - Re-balancing

 The third aspect of interior design which will be seen this year is re-balancing – the experts believe that we, the consumers, have become tired of being constantly bombarded by marketing and are looking for products which are personal and enable us to turn our houses into homes. Within this 're-balancing' trend the emphasis is on simple structures and soft natural materials such as wool.

The keywords for spring and summer are Soften, Energize and Excite. As we saw in my last post colours are predominantly ash grey or black with vibrant injections of bright colour. These colours are being described by words such as airy, waxy and silky. The materials and fabric you choose for your soft furnishings will embrace these keywords so look for curtain materials online such as voile, silk, wool and organza. The natural materials such as wool can be used with beautifully designed floor rugs which will also help to ground your chosen colours.

When trying to re-balance the environmental issues regarding new products we'll need to consider energy consumption, disposal, waste materials and renewable fibres. Interior design is not purely about aesthetics but is about embracing the content and thinking about the style of your interior, questioning where and how products are manufactured, how you'll dispose of them and whether they'll help to lower your carbon footprint.

There's a lot to think about this year and as always interior designers are at the forefront of what's available on the market and how products and materials can be translated into our lives effectively.

Image:belle maison

Using colour – It's Yellow in 2011!

 
 If you want to incorporate this year's interior design colour yellow into your home there are some great shades available for both contemporary and traditional interiors.

Contemporary:
Vivid yellow - think of lemons and a bright summer sun - can be used in a contemporary setting to create a modern and edgy vibe in your room. Vivid colours give high impact and need good natural light to be seen to best effect. Preparation is all important when using such a solid flat colour as any imperfections will be all too easily highlighted. Accessories need to be in keeping with the bold theme of the room and give that wow-factor; the more unusual and eye-catching the better! Look for a range of fabulous plain and patterned curtain fabrics online to make your window dressing and soft furnishings.

Traditional:
Deep yellow is a good choice if you want to create a timeless and traditional interior; it also has the advantage of working well in rooms where natural light is limited and carefully placed lamps and lighting are utilised. Deeper shades of yellow lend themselves to a more relaxed unstructured look so an eclectic mix of simple, uncoordinated accessories such as faded rugs and old leather-bound books will transform you room into a warm and inviting space.

Image: Atticmag

In High Spirits Part 1

 

 We are high-spirited going into the first week of the New Year and what better way to celebrate than with some whimsical décor inspiration? A touch of whimsy can be achieved by doing something surprising and unexpected with your décor – whether it be an eclectic mix, adding in humour or being creative and playful...something that will raise an eyebrow or two!

Try using garden accessories such as tin watering cans to place flowers in or outdoor lanterns hung above the island unit/dining area. Are you a culture junkie? Show off your travels with items from different corners of the Earth – a Chinese paper lantern, Moroccan mosaic tiles as a back splash and a large African drum as décor – whatever floats your boat!

Also popular with barstools and dining chairs, is having a mixture of styles but all painted in white for a more cohesive look. If you have come this far, why not highlight this whimsy with some interesting lights above the island unit – think about industrial lights in a country kitchen or the use of tinted bulbs. Add splashes of exciting colour to your rooms by choosing brightly coloured and patterned rugs in every room, including the kitchen – it's surprising what a 'lift' adding cheap rugs can do!

Image: House of Turquoise

Beautiful Black Bedroom Ideas

 

 I am full of anticipation for this intimate bedroom; just because I know many initial thoughts will be negative – so much black you ask? How does it work without feeling Gothic or moody? I guess you have to appreciate the darker side of decorating a little to accept this idea; but it is really interesting how you can play with texture and pattern when sticking to one colour.

Of course, no idea is legitimate without the possibility of taking it and doing your own thing with it – if you want a little more white, if you want a little less black; just go for it and see how it unfolds. Back to black – three walls coated in matte black and the wall behind your bed head is papered up in a black matte and metallic print.

Bedding comprises of a black duvet but different textures give it detail – try a black satin duvet cover, a mixture of black silk and velvet cushions and a leather upholstered headboard; you can't tell me this doesn't sound inviting! You can lighten the room with mirrors, inclusive of mirrored furniture. Add the final touch with bedroom rugs - black and grey check print is so very appropriate!

Image: PadStyle

Faux Fur Rugs are Right On-Trend This Season

 If you want to be right up to date with the latest interior design ideas then you need rugs – in every room! Not just any old rug will do, the look is all about keeping things in balance along with remembering that although big is beautiful it can overwhelm a room and make it look smaller than it is in reality – sometimes less really is more, so it's worth bearing this in mind with your choice of rugs.

A popular choice for using faux fur fabric is with area rugs - usually the larger the better in this context. Yet there is something so welcoming about a faux fur rug to keep your feet nice and toasty during colder months! White fur is very on trend and is probably one of the easiest and flexible of all colours - in simple white it is far less about adding colour or pattern; it is all about the added texture and warmth which can be used successfully in almost any decorating style. Contemporary monochrome schemes can be given more warmth with a zebra print rug or try a patchwork brown for rustic décor.

Image: Belle Maison