We Answer Wednesday - Spring Home Decor Ideas

"Spring is almost here.  What are your favourite spring home decor ideas?"

Spring really is a wonderful time of year! Both us of have spring birthdays...but that's not the only reason why we love spring!  Spring is fresh, fun and a new start.  Spring offers so much colour - just look around and you will see it every where.

We have a few favourite ways to bring spring into home decor.

 

Kristi's favourite spring home decor ideas:-

 

Greenery -  

yes, this is THE colour of the year but for me, the first spring home decor piece I add to my home is a beautiful floral arrangement (or potted plant).  It just brings a burst of life into your space especially after these long and snowy winters.  It's so fresh to see 'green' again! I love to see fresh flowers on a kitchen or dining table but I also love them in my bedroom - it's so lovely to wake up and see a touch of nature!

 

 

Let the light in (and the air, too) -

we are stuck at home all winter long and when that warm spring sunshine is out I want to bring it in - along with the fresh air.  I pull back the drapes and pull up the blinds and open the windows (even if it's just for a little bit).  Our spring season here is still pretty brisk but letting that light and fresh air gives the home a good boost. That beautiful natural light and fresh air can really make a difference!

Switch up my textures -

if you don't know this about me yet, you will soon figure it out.  I don't decorate my home with a lot of colour (unlike Maddie) but I love texture! Faux fur, leather, wood, wool knits, cow hide, metal and well any texture.  But once spring is here - I tuck away my furry pillows and blankets.  I give them a wash and hide them away until the fall.  They just add a winter-like feel to my space and who needs winter all year long? Instead I have added some Stonewashed Belgian linen pillows in some different earthy tones and a few with some print.

 

Maddie's favourite spring home decor ideas:-

 

Colour -

I love colour.  I love all colours.  One of the reasons I have a lot of white and grey in my house is so I have a lot of freedom to play with colour.  Since I have lived in my home (coming up on 3 years now) I have played with shades of aqua and blue, teal and orange and now I'm on a pink kick!  (My office has a bold and bright pink accent wall) Colour is a great way to bring spring into your space.  Take some cues from your spring flower garden, green grass, robin eggs and all that the spring season presents.  Use colour with decor items, art, and pillows.

 

Pattern -

I also love pattern.  I feel a room without pattern is pretty much incomplete.  Every room needs some pattern.  For spring think floral pattern - you might be thinking that it's not modern enough for you or it's too feminine - think again! There are so many options for floral pattern, I love and have some of these Bluebellgray pillows at my place.  I have it mixed with some other more geometric prints and my bold abstract art. I love the bold colours mixed with an abstract watercolour print against my gray sectional. If florals aren't for you, try adding a bold pop of colour - one colourful print item can total change up your look (and maybe inspire you to add even more to your space).

 


Spring is such a great time to refresh your home decor - many of the new collections are out in stores at the end of winter and that's when we have a ton of choices - colour, texture, print and pattern - you don't need a lot to make an impact ...just a few pieces can put a spring in your step!

What is mid century modern design?

We hear this term a lot and especially lately - but what is mid century modern design?

It is an architectural, interior, product and graphic design that generally describes mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965.

So why are we seeing it more and more these days? Well some may say that popular culture has made an impact.  Popular TV shows like 'Mad Men' has really helped bring this era of home design, decor and fashion in the spot light again.

 

Why is it so appreciated? Midcentury modern's emphasis on pared-down forms, contemporary patterns, natural materials and a seamless flow between indoors and out create a mix functional comfort and chic style. The look bridges the organic and the man-made, with one foot in the natural world and the other in brave new territory that still has the power to surprise us today. Clients are really like the 'throwback' feel and blending it with more current and organic styles. We love how all of these images look current and not like they are trapped in a time warp.

So what mid century modern decor elements are we seeing a lot of now? And how can I bring some of this 'mid century modern' style into my space?

When it comes to style be unique.  We always recommend bringing in pieces you love - if you love it, you will make it work. Never feel like you have to fully commit to one style and one style of decor only.  You can easily bring in mid century modern elements into your space without a total overhaul of what you already have.  Any time you start to mix styles, it's a good idea have a few elements of that style so that the overall look is cohesive and not random.

Definitely lighting.  Mid century modern lighting is huge right now.  It's a great way to make a statement.  Mid century modern lighting has a great sculptural element as well. This dining room with mid century modern lighting (and dining furniture) still looks current.  The organic wood beams add character and some texture and offer great contrast with the brass finish light and accents.  But the textured wall paper accent wall with oversized mirror makes this dining room big and bright - giving it a new and fresh look!



How can we keep this vintage light fixture look current? Think about placement!  Try adding a mid century modern light fixture in an unexpected room like a bedroom for instance. the mid century modern lighting in this room makes a bold statement and paired with a sideboard from the same era keeps a common thread in the room. The comeback of gold is also a nod to the mid century modern trend.  We are seeing gold in lighting but also decorative accents.

 

Mid century modern furniture classics are also very popular - dining chairs, armchairs, coffee table, bookcases and more are all being mixed into rooms of all styles. This living room corner below has a mid century modern bookcase and chair but the black and white clean contemporary styling and accessories makes this room look cool and current.



Colour was something that was popular during that era - rugs, tile, art, wallpaper and more....add some pops of colour and some great combinations of colour. You will also notice this was an era that wasn't afraid of mixing patterns and colour and texture!




 We are also seeing a resurgence of the shapes from this mid century modern era. shapes play a big role in this design period - take a look at the geometric patterns in fabric and art.  We are definitely seeing this trend in current day.



If none of these suggestions work for you - here's what we suggest! Have fun with your decor and don't be afraid to take a risk!  

We Answer Wednesday - Update a Black and White Room

"I live in an open concept condo space.  I chose a black and white theme - it's timeless and stylish but also easy but I'm in need of a bit of an update.  How can I keep my main theme of black and white - what are some easy updates to my theme?"

You are so right that black and white are timeless and of course, chic! We love a black and white decor scheme but every now and then no matter the theme, an update is in need.

When it comes to an easy and affordable update you need to stick with what you currently have and just add to it. The good news is you don't need to add a lot to make this change. The even better news for you is that black and white work with just about everything and you have an endless supply of ideas - it really just comes down to what works for YOU!

Here are some ideas....

GOLD.  Adding a touch of gold to a black and white room just gives the whole space some extra glam and luxury. this about gold pillows, lamps, art and accessories.  Even just the smallest touch of gold can go a long way.  Gold never goes out of style but right now is it hot, so you will see gold everywhere!
If gold isn't for you, try silver or rose gold. The gold and rose gold add warmth and a touch of glam to a space the silver is a bit sleeker but all of them work


 

 

COLOUR. Because black and white are classic neutrals - they 'go' with everything! So add a pop of colour - red is a classic combination with black and white.  If you want to try something a bit different try something equally bold like bright pink, turquoise or lime green.  This looks great in a contemporary style. This pillows and art for a colour injection!



PASTEL. Rose quartz is the hot colour for 2016, so add it to your black and white motif.  You don't need a lot to make a splash. And even though this colour is soft and subtle it really makes a statement.  We love mixing some solid pastels with pattern black and white.



FUR. Texture is another great way to add a designer look to a room and fur is another hot textile this year.  We opt for faux options - it's friendlier, easier to clean and you have a ton of possibilities.  what we really like about mixing fur and black/white is that you are once again playing with neutrals so you can choose a white fur, black, grey even beige - it all works! We are seeing fur used in many ways - area rugs, throws, pillows, full blankets, poofs and ottomans.  Don't over do it - just one fur elements can do wonders!



 PATTERN.  Too many solids in one space can look flat, so mix it up with some prints and patterns.  Don't be afraid to mix your patterns - it's so chic! Patterns are best on items that are accent pieces - think pillow and rugs.  Keep the other elements in the room like the main furniture pieces, wall colour and drapery pretty basic if this is a look you want to explore.



When it comes to 'playing' with your black and white palette you can mix a lot of these, so add a touch of metallic, some fur and a pinch of colour. Find the balance that works for you!

How to Pick an Accent colour for Your Home

We think most people get hung up on choosing and playing with color, because they think they have to choose a lot of colors for a colorful result.  Totally untrue.

Would you agree that this living room is colorful?  Excluding the neutrals, like the gray couch, off white rug and cream chairs, how many colors do you see?




 That’s right, two.  Yellow and Blue.  It is the amount of color and the number of times it appears throughout the room that makes the room colorful, not the number of colors used.

 Okay, let’s do another one.  Here another living room.  How many accent colors do you see which are used in 3 or more places?

 

In this image, we see 3 repeating colours - aqua blue (sofa and lamp), fuchsia (in the art, skinny vase and flowers) and yellow (in the art and flowers)  Again, it is the number of times the colors are used throughout a room that makes it colorful, not the number of different colors.
  You don’t have to choose a lot of accent colors or bold accent colors to make your space colorful.

Accent colors are used throughout a room on art, decor, textiles, and sometimes furniture.  A well-defined accent color palette can help your home feel cohesive.
There are 3 must-know principles about using accent colors for maximum effect, minimum effort (and minimum color decision-making angst).

3 Accent Color Principles:

1. Use a small palette of accent colors throughout your home. You don’t need a lot of different colors to make a space colorful.  Unifying accent colors across rooms helps your home flow. It also makes redecorating easy because you can move accessories between rooms. With this principle in mind, when considering new accents make sure they can be used in at least 3 different rooms. Choosing accents that work in more than one place gives them staying power in your home.
2. The main accent color in a room should appear at least 3 times in different areas of the room to look intentional and draw the eye around the room. The accent color isn’t limited to small accessories, it can also be used on upholstery, painted furniture, and art.
3. When choosing different colors that go well together, it is easiest to stick to all clean colors or all grayed out colors.  Clean colors are crisp and clear (the inner circle below).  Grayed out colors are muted and played down (the outer circle below).  Mixing clean colors with grayed out colors is harder to pull off, so stick to one or the other.

Once you have your entire home colour concept planned, you can move onto choosing your accent color palette. When you choose accessories for your home, you will draw from this color palette along with your wall color palette.

Accent colors are a whole different ball game than wall color. Your wall colors need to be livable and relatively neutral because they cover a large surface area and are more permanent, but your accent colors can be less rigid. You can have more fun and take more risks with small accents.

A few questions to consider when you are choosing your accent colours: 
- What are your favorite accent pieces you already own?
-  How do you want your accents to show up in your home? stand out or blend in?

Monochromatic (Blend in)

Choose a tint or shade that is only one or two steps off of your bold wall color.  For blue-green, that would look like this: 
Choose one of the analogous colors to your wall color, that is one of the colors right next to your wall color on the color wheel.  Analogous colors have less contrast and are more restful.  Because they are so close to each other on the color wheel, the accent color will be a subtle difference.  For blue-green, an analogous option would be blue or green.

 Make those accents pop or stand out

 For a single accent colour try one of these 2 ideas : Choose a complementary color to your bold wall color.  For blue-green, the complement is red-orange
 


 

 Or,
Choose a monochromatic color that contrasts with your bold wall color.  Choose a tint or shade several steps lighter or darker that stands out against your wall color.  For blue-green, that would look like this: 







 

Example of a room with one accent colour:
 


For two accent colors that pop, try one of these methods:

• Choose split complementary colors to your bold wall color.  For blue-green, the complement is red-orange.  The split complementary colors are red and orange.

• Try creating a color triad starting with your bold wall color.  Here you are choosing colors at the corners of an equilateral triangle on the color wheel.  For blue-green, the two colors that complete the triad are red-violet and yellow-orange.  
• Choose an analogous palette of the 2 colors in a row next to one of your wall colors on color wheel.  For blue-green, here’s what the options look like: 
•  Example of a room with 2 accent colours (analogous palette) Red and orange are side by side on the colour wheel: 

• For three accent colors, try one of these methods:
• Choose a tetradic color combo.  Imagine you are choosing 4 corners of a rectangle on the color wheel.  Notice a tetradic combo includes the complement of your starting color.  And, the two colors forming the rest of the rectangle are complements to each other.  For blue-green, the tetradic combo includes red-violet, red-orange, and yellow-green.  
• Try an analogous palette, meaning three colours that are side by each on the colour wheel
•  

 Example of a room with 3 accent colours:

 

Budget Friendly Bedroom Updates

So often we hear of people who are getting bored of their surroundings. Many can’t afford to completely gut and start from fresh with their existing style and are looking for fun, inexpensive updates to spice up their bedroom décor. Here are a few budget friendly, simple fixes for those who need a little change!

1. Change out your existing drapery. There is so much great pattern and colour out there that this is an easy and effective change. Ready to hang blinds and drapes are in tons of big box stores and come in great fabrics, colours, patterns and at an incredibly affordable price!

 

2. Purchase new lamps or lamp shades! This is a great, and inexpensive swap as well. Of course, there are some lamps that are crazy expensive, but there are also a lot of really affordable options. So many great stores offer colourful lamp bases, colourful shades and shades with patterns. These touches will make a difference, even though they may seem minimal. A new lamp or lamp shade will freshen up the space.

 

3. New throw pillows and throw blankets. Add pattern! Change your existing colour scheme! Do both! There are zillions of options for great throw pillows, and will be a welcome addition to your existing décor. Remember, we are freshening the space, and this is probably the most inexpensive way to do so. And don't be afraid to mix colours and patterns! The easiest way to do this is to have one common element through your selections. Maybe they all have the same pattern but come in different colours, or have the same colour but come in different patterns. The combinations are endless!

 

4. Paint an accent wall! Of course, a new paint job is also a fabulous option, but depending on the size of your room, this has potential to soar into the hundreds. Painting one wall can add new life to the room and is not overly expensive. This can most likely be done with one can of paint and will make a huge difference. You can chose to go bold and make a drastic change, maybe paint some stripes into a pattern on your wall, or maybe chose a shade that is a tad darker than your existing colour. Either way, change is change! It will be different than what you’re currently bored of and that’s what we’re trying to achieve, right?

 

 

5. New comforter or duvet cover. This is an easy change. It will run you less than a hundred dollars if that’s what you are aiming for, and the bed is typically the main focal point in the room. It will be hard not to notice (and LOVE!) brand new bedding!

 

Express yourself with colour!!

When it comes to paint, there are trends but this season there is something for everyone. Express yourself with paint! It is the easiest and least expensive transformation you can make. Paint can add personality, pop and make a room feel new and fresh.

Clean Whites

What does it mean when experts talk about “pure” or “clean” whites? The terms refer to whites with no deep pigment, and thus no undertones peeking through (hints of pink, yellow, blue, etc.). Clean whites tend to be a favorite of decorators who want a pure white to showcase fabrics, art and furnishings.

Nordic Notions

Pale, summery colors don’t have to be confined to the beach: draw inspiration from the Swedish style, where lots of pale blues and greens make wintry interiors feel fresh, breezy and unconfined. In a part of the world where summer is in short supply, color can supplement the season—any home decorator can do the same.

Bookshelves With Bite

Looking for a spot to inject some vivid color, without overwhelming a room? Try painting the backs of bookshelves or open cupboards a bright, unrelated shade. Pumpkin, apple green or Chinese red can make a delightful color accent peeking over book spines or as a vibrant background for collectables.

Orange You Glad

Orange is back in home interiors, but the new shades are a far cry from the color’s brassy, op-art, 1970s incarnation. Instead of fluorescent orange, persimmon, pumpkin, and melon colors are featuring prominently on the decorator’s menu, with some splashes of zesty tangerine.

4 Easy ways to make any room more interesting

I am a big believer that you do not have to spend a lot of money to make your living spaces attractive and functional. People often ask me about tips and tricks when it comes to decorating their spaces. Here's a FAQ that I am asked quite often.

How can I make any room more visually appealing?

The answer is simple add these four elements - colour, pattern, texture and shine. But don't go overboard. small splashes of these four elements can go a long way. Here are some examples of each element.

Colour - Doesn't necessarily have to be bold. That is really up to the individuals personality, some like it bright (think oranges and fuchsia). But it could be calm colours such as light blues or greens. Where to put the colour? I like it in art or throw pillows but some people like to make colourful statement with painted walls and tile. Again, how you use your colour is up to you, make sure it suits your personality but don't be afraid to experiment.

Pattern - You will likely see pattern in your textiles, so drapes, pillows, throw blankets and rugs but we are seeing a trend towards wall tattoos and wall paper on accent walls so make a splash with some pattern but remember if you want to mix patterns (which is totally acceptable) just be sure to have one bolder one and the others more in a supportive or lesser role and be sure to pick multiple patterns in similar colour tones.

Texture - This is also very common in your textile choices. Textures can be both smooth, rough, soft and sleek and combining all of them is the best way to go. This year we are seeing a lot of sweater knits and furs used as throws or decor pillows. Texture can also be used with decor pieces particularly anything that is handmade such as pottery or blown glass pieces.

Shine - Some sparkle is always needed and this can be found anywhere but mostly in decor items although this season you will be seeing some wall paper and area rugs with sheen. Glass, stainless steel,mirrors and glossy ceramics can give you just enough shine in your space.

See the photo above as an example of color, pattern, texture and shine. The cotton chenille couch with canvas pillows add some cozy textures. The coffee table also adds some smooth texture to the space. The glass jars also add texture but also some shine (double duty). The colour can be seen in both the pillows and artwork - yellows and greens transfer from season to season and they always look fresh. The pillows, artwork, armchair and wire side table bring in pattern, notice they are not exactly the same but they work together. some more texture could be added with some rattan or knitted pieces but this is a great example of how to blend all 4 elements and still keep a very classic living space.

Colour blind

Do these colours work together?

Does this match or coordinate?

Do you find yourself asking yourself these questions? Or, questions similar to these? Whether it is your wardrobe, your furniture or your home's exterior many people find creating a colour concept very challenging.

A fool-proof tool for facing this challenge is the colour wheel.

The colour wheel is used in all art fields including interior design.

On the basic colour wheel there are two families of colours - the primary colours (red, yellow and blue) and the secondary colours (orange, green and violet). If you want to coordinate your colours to have a punch in your room like a pro, use this tip - the colours that are opposite to one another on the colour wheel are called complementary colours and they always work well together.

Take a look at the image of the colour wheel above, the complementary colours are yellow and violet, orange and blue, red and green. You'll see these colours in a lot of team uniforms, look at the LA Lakers and the Edmonton Oilers for example.

When choosing your colour concept you do not have to be so literal and follow the colour wheel to the tee. Any variation of the complementary colours will also work, for example - a navy sofa with terra cotta pillows looks really rich, a red brick house with an olive green door - these are some ways to add a splash of colour to your surroundings and pull it off like a pro.

Bold statement

Want to make a bold statement in any room?

We have all seen the design shows where the snotty designer dressed in all black leaves a room screaming because of the dreaded ceiling fan. But the ceiling fan has come a long way, there are many styles but they can get expensive. From an eco-friendly perspective ceiling fans can also drastically reduce the energy consumption in a household. A punch of colour upgrades a ceiling fan from merely functional to a bold focal point (and a conversation piece).

Here's a great DIY idea to use an existing and practical ceiling fan and make it pop!!

1 -- Remove the ceiling fan and medallion from the ceiling.

2 -- Use a screwdriver to take of the blades and open the motor casing.

3 -- Lightly sand all surfaces to be painted (it looks best when the entire piece is painted)

4 -- Cover ventilation holes in motor casing from the inside with painter's tape.

5 -- With a damp cloth wipe the ceiling fan clean

6 -- Evenly spray all fan parts and medallion with Rust-Oleum paint (comes in all colours - brights and neutrals even metallic), which is the only one to use as it can withstand the heat from the motor.

7 -- Once the paint is completely dry, re-install and voila!

Be an individual and make your ceiling fan one too!