Living Walls

This indoor garden trend involves hanging boxes with plants growing vertically. Succulents are currently popular, with geometric shapes and interesting lines that match the modern aesthetic. They’re also hardy and don’t need a lot of tending. Herb gardens and small rainforests may suit your personal style better. Living walls are green in more ways than one, as they improve indoor air quality while making a statement. You can get everything you need in a kit, or if you’re handy, hit the hardware store.

Window Seat

A classic for good reason, a window seat combines cosy comfort, a nook filled with natural light, and practical storage. Indeed, a thick drape in something sumptuous like suede cloth or brocade could enclose a window seat for the perfect indoor escape, or forgo curtains to create an inviting focal point. If you’re averse to carpentry, bench furniture and pillows can create the same effect. Besides the romance of it, every house could use extra seating and another cupboard.

Low Bookcases and High Art

To highlight collections and art pieces, flank the window with matching shelves that are low and use the vertical space as your gallery. Don’t be afraid to go near the ceiling, further than the top of the window frame, just as long as the higher pieces don’t have details that would be lost. Choose bookcases that are the same size and colour, if not identical. A unifying scheme works well in these intentional displays, but if you want a jumble of everything in your gallery, you can bring it together by painting all the frames the same colour.

Think Outside the Blinds

As with all things décor, don’t limit yourself to framing windows at the home goods shop. What unusual materials can you use to manage light, views, and visual appeal on your windows? Further, vintage lace, beaded curtains, even macramé are coming back in style. Install cast iron twists, old fireplace fenders, and pieces of fences upside down at the top of a window to create a unique frame. Painting on the glass (if you’re artistic) or applying vinyl clings (if you’re not) lets light through and shares it with the world outside.

Learn More About Framing Windows

Contact Lisa Lewis Interior Design to schedule a consultation here.

The post Let Light Be Your Guide When Framing Windows appeared first on Interior Designer for Richmond & Dorset.

Role of Textures in Light Reflection/Capture

Different surface textures attract and reflect light from various angles. Additionally, direct light on texture boosts it. However, if it is diffused light, it makes the texture appear dull. A room with more light allows surfaces to reflect more light.

Surface Textures That Brighten Spaces

1. Rough or coarse texture — reflects less light portraying a warm feeling while making the room feel dense and rustic. These textures provide a sense of intimacy. Examples include carpets, embroidered fabrics, rugs, or Maltese stone.
2. Smooth or shiny texture — reflects more light projecting a cool feeling. It makes a room feel light, sleek, more sophisticated, and more modern. Indeed, such textures include stone countertops and silky pillows.
3. Soft or raised texture — tends to take in more light making a room feel warm, for instance, embellished furniture.
4. Shiny and reflective texture — reflects more light. It is ideal in darker and smaller rooms as it makes them appear bigger and brighter. Examples of such texture include mirrors, wooden floors, lattice tables, or ceramic tiles.

Conclusion

By having a mix of light and heavy textures in varying sizes, you will create a perfect ambience in your home. You can also alternate between rough and smooth texture to bring out an interesting scheme in a space. Glossy textures are more modern while natural or rough textures are laid back and rustic.

To learn more about how to infuse surface textures to brighten your space, schedule an online/virtual consultation with us today.

The post 4 Surface Textures That Lift a Room’s Mood appeared first on Interior Designer for Richmond & Dorset.

Storage, Storage, and More Storage!

You’ve probably heard the saying, “A place for everything, and everything in its place”. It’s important that we indeed do have a place for everything, and in many cases, storage is the answer to the dilemma. Some elements will need to contain items long-term (like quilts, photo albums, old letters), while others will simply be a place to hang items that are used every day, such as keys, hats, purses, etc.

Depending on the available space, it’s a good idea to keep the type of item in mind before acquiring it. Large spaces may benefit from curio cabinets and extensive shelving units, while a smaller room might be better served by dual-purpose furniture, such as a bench with hidden storage underneath.

Making Storage an Attractive Matter

Now is the time to get creative and really tap into your inner designer. Look around each room and try to envision unique and practical ways to reduce that mind-altering clutter. Examples might include:

• An antique shelf by the door for shoes
• Some rustic pegs on the wall
• A work desk with lots of compartments
• Bookshelves
• New closets

Learn More About Storing Items in a Visually-Appealing Way

Of course, all the basics of design apply in these decisions; choose the colours, wood types, and styles that compliment your room and add visual interest. Let your personality shine through each of your choices and you’ll find that the new look will fit into your lifestyle!

The post Create Visually-Appealing Storage in Every Room appeared first on Interior Designer for Richmond & Dorset.

Use Vertical Space

Your walls aren’t only a place to display art; when designing a room that is going to serve multiple purposes, walls are prime real estate for storage options. Wall-mounted bookshelves and hooks  free floor space and keep your belongings organised. Consider using hanging planters for houseplants, for example. Anything that you can put up and away will help your space feel more open.

Consider Murphy Furniture

The Murphy bed folds up against the wall when not in use. However, these days, beds are not the only type of furniture designed to be neatly stashed away. Desks pull down from inside bookshelves, kitchen tables fold up against the wall, and seating options fold flat when not in use, or even double as additional storage. Space savers such as these can be both stylish and functional.

Divide Your Room

If you need to share your space with others but would like some additional privacy,  a room divider could be a great solution. Stylish screens and curtains easily store away or for a more permanent solution, a bookshelf can be used to divide a room.

Find Smart Storage Solutions

A room feels more peaceful and orderly when things are stored  within easy access. Just because your room is multi-functional doesn’t mean it has to be cluttered. Consider decorative boxes or opaque storage containers to keep like objects together. If your living room doubles as a home gym, finding a place to store your dumbbells when not in use can make a huge difference in the feel of the room.

Learn More About Designing Multi-Functional Rooms

If you keep these tips in mind, you will be well on your way to a successful result. Creating a spacious-feeling living space that suits your lifestyle is possible for everyone. If you would like personalised advice for your unique living situation, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The post Designing Multi-Functional Rooms: Tips From a Professional appeared first on Interior Designer for Richmond & Dorset.

Through a survey published by the Association for Psychological Science, most people believe the type of ambiance influences their emotions in a room. It is against this backdrop that excellent bedroom design is essential in promoting positive feelings.

Therefore, this article offers insight into various design trends you can apply to have a superb bedroom experience.

1. Hushed Palettes in Bedrooms

Most homeowners are slowly getting rid of big master suites by replacing the space with a larger closet and bathroom. Further, colour palettes are giving bedrooms a new relaxing and classical experience.

 Monochromatic colours are one of the most preferred painting trends that are picking momentum among most interior designers. Opposed to earlier, when interior designers used only a single floral pattern in bedroom decoration, the current approach offers a new touch in the general bedroom decoration.

2. Statement Textiles

Decorating your bedroom walls using Wallpapers and draperies give your room a gorgeous outlook. With the hectic current lifestyle, people enjoy seeing around soft luxurious fabrics when they go back home. In this case, wallpapers give your bedroom an excellent colour and pattern combinations that make a kids room more appealing

3. A Place to Unplug

Avoiding plugged in devices all over the bedroom gives the bedroom a great outlook. Most electricians are becoming more creative through better installations that don’t allow scattering of electrical installations all over the room.

The majority of homeowners are getting rid of TVs in their bedrooms. Instead, they invest more in beddings and window treatment to give the room a soft, serene lighting experience. Indeed, investing in soft textures and natural materials is an area of focus for most homeowners.

4. Elevating the Luxe Factor

A luxurious, gorgeous bedroom outlook boosts the mood and ambiance. The large headboards extending behind the nightstand provides comfort and a luxe outlook. Most people experience an elegant atmosphere when they spend time in various travel destinations. Contact us to learn more.

The post 4 Timeless Design Trends for Your Home’s Bedrooms appeared first on Interior Designer for Richmond & Dorset.