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Top 5 Decor Trends for Spring 2008

The warmer weather will be here soon. Everyone is starting to rummage through their home for ‘spring cleaning’ and getting organized for 2008. So while you’re focusing on the home front, why not consider an update to your home decor? According to MSN Shopping there are 5 trends that are really stylish for this spring.

 

Black & White

 

The pairing of these two serve as a perfect backdrop to a full spectrum of hues & shades of color. A current popular combination with black and white is accenting them with aqua and coral. Using them can add a cool, elegant and cosmopolitan appeal to your home. But if you’re looking for a classic look, explore variations of white such as warm ivories and icy arctic white. Using different textures (rugs, wall paper, furniture, etc.) around your space will complement each other nicely.  I have loved the black and white combination since college and in my apartment I have this trend in my kitchen with the ever popular color aqua as an accent color on place mats and dishes.

 

Primary Colors

 

When you think of spring the typical color palette that comes to mind is pastels. However, this year that isn’t the case. Look for more tropical punch color combinations with vivid shades of cobalt blue, ruby red, deep forest green and splashes of juicy citrus colors. You could use this decor element for accent pieces such as pillows, vases and artwork.

 

Nature Inspired

 

The use of natural colors, textures and materials is gradually becoming a more popular trend in home decor. Peaceful colors like pale blues and minty greens work especially well in bedrooms and bathrooms.  And I’ve seen numerous color schemes mimicking the ‘change of color’ season with burgundies, oranges and olive greens. Along with color, incorporating materials of nature such as bamboo and sticks work well in your design. A relatively inexpensive way to add interest and color to your room would be to frame botanical/forest prints.

 

Country Get-A-Way

 

A recent post of our ‘Romantic Get-A-Way on a Budget’ was about creating a one time get-a-way vacation for your loved one. Why not incorporate that into the design of your home instead of just for a holiday? If you particularly enjoy the simple life of country living, then have a room in your home focused around that. Use weathered, whitewashed wall treatments and handcrafted furniture. For inspiring ideas think of a faraway place and let your imagination run wild!

 

Beach House

 

Do you know a better way to have an airy, relaxed and comfortable feel to your home than by decorating it like a beach house? A casual and simple look would be a perfect retreat. Patterns in pastels and stripes work best and your color scheme should be limited to soft, natural shades like sky blue, aqua and peach.  I personally have my bedroom and bathroom decorated in what I like to call ‘beach chic’. I have pale blue, cream, khaki and brown incorporated with bold stripes and touches of the ocean everywhere. To accomplish this look make sure you pay attention to detail by using seashells, driftwood or nautical instruments.

 

For the first time, it appears that I may be up with the trends. My apartment seems to be in good shape for decorating in 2008. What about yours?

 

Source: MSN Shopping; www.msn.com

Top 5 Autumn Decorating Ideas

The change in weather brings chilly temperatures; why not bring new warmth to your apartment! One way to do this is by decorating your home with autumn colors. Rich shades of reds, yellows, oranges, browns and greens will add a cheery and cozy atmosphere to your space.

            

Below are additional ways to welcome your guests in style this season:

                

	A Wreath A beautiful autumn wreath is a great way to greet your guests as they enter your apartment. You could purchase one or create one of your own using a mixture of colorful leaves and berries. Regardless, choose one that reflects your style!
	Pumpkins Galore During this season pumpkins will be all over the place, as it doubles as a symbol for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Make sure you get maximum visual impact in your apartment on both occasions. You can use a variety of sizes and place them all over your house or have a collection placed in the front foyer.  However you choose to use them, they are a MUST for decorating your home this fall!
	Candles When you or a guest arrives in your home, you want it to be warm and inviting. Using fragrant, colorful candles of different shapes and sizes, will help you attain the friendly environment you want while also adding an extra flare for decoration. (Please make sure you don't leave burning candles unattended)
	Calling all Cooks If the atmosphere inside and outside your home is changing, so should your menu! The fall is a great time to break out the seasonal recipes (old or new) and bring your family and guests together. You can even go the extra mile and make the food decorative as well; such as Mini Pumpkin Cakes, or Pumpkin Casseroles, making your feast truly festive for autumn!
	Stunning Centerpiece The piece de résistance to your autumn décor is the centerpiece of your table. Whether its flowers in a gorgeous vase, apples in a basket surrounded by leaves or a candle opera, having a marvelous centerpiece is essential for the final touch for your home.

Best Plants for Apartment Dwellers

I don't know about you, but I am horrible with plants! I always see them in stores and think 'Oh, that one is so pretty', so I buy it and bring it home.  The first couple of days I'll water and nurture that plant but within two weeks I will have managed to kill yet another one. There has to be plants that are low maintenance enough for people like me!

Well, I'm in luck because there are several plants that will survive with me and my apartment conditions.  So I thought I'd share a few of them with you!

These low maintenance or 'hard to kill' plants don't require a lot of care such as specific sunlight for x amount of time or be watered two-three times daily. These plants are perfect for an on the go apartment dweller, like me!

	Ivy Ivy is super easy to take care of, just be sure you don't over water it and leave it in your low light apartment & it'll thrive! There are also a plethora of varieties of Ivy, such as: Glacier and Irish Lace, English Ivy and Persian Ivy.
	Spider Plants They usually do well as hanging plants and with a littler water now and then, they'll stay healthy.
	Snake Plants This plant is extremely common in apartments and is notoriously known as 'hard to kill.'  The snake plants don't require much sun at all and only need a modest supply of water in the summer months (none in the winter).
	Bamboo This may be the ultimate 'hard to kill' houseplant.  All you need to do is occasionally refresh the water in it's water bowl and pull off the leaves that have died & the bamboo will do well.  Simple!

I can tell you after learning this information; I went out and got a Bamboo plant. With very little maintenance, I have kept that plant alive for over a year now!

What about you? Do you have any other plants that might survive well in an apartment environment? Do you have any stories about plants? Let us know!

What color schemes to choose for your new apartment!?

When trying to create a look for your new apartment, I'm sure many colors pop into your mind. Either you want your favorite color or perhaps a color scheme you had in your old place. Regardless, before you start decorating; check out some helpful tips for color combinations that work well together.      

You could use a monochromatic color scheme, which is a color scheme that uses variations of lightness and saturation of a color. Using a monochromatic color scheme will help you accomplish a clean and elegant look as well as create a soothing effect.  A good suggestion, should you want to use this color scheme, is to use greens and blues since their shades complement each other. As an accent color to the monochromatic color you've chosen, stick with neutrals such as black, white and gray.

                           

Or for a richer look to the monochromatic color scheme, chose an analogous color scheme. This is where the colors used lie next to each other on the color wheel. One color is used as the main color while the other is used to enhance the scheme. An example would be yellow and yellow-orange.

                   

Another idea would be complementary colors. I'm sure you all can recite a color and its complementary color (the color on the opposite end of the color wheel), but did you ever think about decorating your home in such a scheme?  This scheme is extremely high contrasting and draws maximum attention to your room in your apartment.

                        

Other color schemes that you could use include: Tertiary colors, which is any three colors that form an isosceles triangle on the color wheel, or using Primaries which would be using a primary color (red, yellow or blue). Warm colors are reds, oranges and yellows or cool colors such as greens, blues and violets.

                   

                  

While ideally these suggestions would be used for painting, if you live in an apartment community that does not allow you to paint, think of other methods! Use fabrics in the color scheme you choose or creative décor pieces, such as paintings and trinkets. Regardless of what color scheme you do choose, make sure you decorate your new apartment with colors that reflect your personal style-after all, you are the one who has to live there!

What do these colors mean?

If you’re planning on decorating your apartment using color, check out the descriptions below as to what each color means!?

                                     

RED

Red is associated with energy, danger, power, determination, passion and love. It has very high visibility which is why stop signs, stoplights and fire equipment are usually red. Using a little bit of red goes a long way, so use small doses of red and it will be just as a larger surface.

ORANGE
Orange is a combination of red and yellow so it combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with sunshine, the tropics and fall. It represents enthusiasm and creativity. It is highly accepted among young people and is a great attention grabber.  You can highlight the most important elements of your design by using orange.

YELLOW

Yellow is the color of sunshine. It produces a warming effect and is linked with happiness, joy and energy.  Bright, pure yellow is a great attention getter but is used best as a companion color instead of a stand alone color.

                   

GREEN

Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony and freshness. For an outdoorsy, sporty feel, use combinations with green and yellow with black or white.

                     

BLUE

Blue is the color the sky and water. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, confidence, truth and heaven.  It is considered to be beneficial to the mind and body and has a calming effect when used for decorating. When used with warm colors, like yellow or red, blue will create visually stimulating vibrant designs.  When mixed with green, it’ll make for a natural palette.

                      

PURPLE

Purple is associated with royalty.  It signifies power, nobility and ambition. It is coupled with independence, creativity and magic. A purple room can boost a child’s imagination or an artists creativity. A light purple is a good choice for a feminine design.

                      

WHITE

White is associated with goodness, purity and innocence.  It is considered to be the color of perfection.  Like the color Black, white compliments all other colors.

                     

BLACK

Associated with power, formality, death and mystery, black usually had a negative connotation. Although it is considered to be a formal, elegant and prestigious color, it is also the symbol of grief.  It does, however contrast well with bright colors.

Tips for Maximizing Small Spaces

So you've found you're new apartment. Exciting!! You are unloading the rental truck with all your things and you start to notice all the boxes pile up. After you're all done, you realize that you have more stuff than you have room to put it in!

When things seem to look cramped in your new place, you need to start thinking creatively. Here are some tips to help you maximize your small space.

Build up. Living in a 900 square foot apartment that feels 600 square feet? Look for unique ways to store your items. At many local retailers, such as Target or Walmart, you can purchase artistic and eye catching storage units.  This will help you eliminate the clutter of the everyday items you use while also saving some square footage. Another method for building up would be to loft your bed or add bed risers. You'll create space under your bed for additional storage while disguising it from your guests.

And don't forget to use the wall space! The four walls you have in your room can serve as decorative elements.  By utilizing the space on your walls, you are avoiding the clutter on your furniture (i.e. desks, bookshelves, etc.), hence giving the appearance of more room.  So purchase a few inexpensive wall shelves to put your little knick-knacks on and purchase photo frames that hang up.

Also, try to find multifunctional pieces.  A perfect example would be a futon. They serve two purposes, as a couch and a bed.  In a studio apartment this would double as your bed and entertaining area. Or in a one bedroom apartment, you'd be making space for overnight guests.  Another multipurpose piece is storage trucks or ottomans.  While providing storage inside, it will still serve as additional seating in your home.

Another neat trick to invent more space in your small apartment is to fool your guests' eyes. Mirrors is a perfect example of how to do this. Place one or several mirrors on the wall to make the room appear larger. Another tool that creates this illusion is a false window.

I know for my home I've used some of these tips, how about you? Have you put bed risers in your bedroom to use the space underneath? What about decorating on the walls to save space on your furniture? Do you have any more ideas that I have listed? I'd love to hear how you maximized your small space!