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Decorating can be pretty expensive, so although we’d all like to be able to fill our homes with all the finest things interior decor has to offer, it is not always possible.
If you’re always looking at luxury apartments for rent with envy or you simply want to have a little more luxury in your life on your budget, the good news is, there are lots of small ways you can make your space look more luxurious, so let’s take a look at some of them right now…
Apply decorative moldings
Decorative, or crown molding as it is sometimes known, is a very affordable way of giving your home that high-end luxurious feel that you tend to find in very big, very old houses owned by aristocrats. You can even apply it yourself - there are plenty of Youtube tutorials that will teach you the basics. Once it’s up, give it a coat of paint to match the walls and it will look fabulous.
Even if your furniture and accessories are not exactly high-end, if they are curved, they will really help to add to the luxuriousness of any room they are placed in. Furniture that has straight lines tends to look a little dull and uninteresting with a lack of designer flair, whereas more curved shapes are stylish, full of life, and even a little bit sexy. So, whether it’s a couch, a lamp, or a mirror on the wall, make it curvy if you want to make it luxe.
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Make it metallic
Metallic surfaces are naturally associated with luxury because silver and gold were once, of course, a preserve of the rich. So, although you don’t need to invest in solid gold candlesticks or a silver mirror, if you want to make your space more luxe, then a gold leaf mirror or sparkling vintage silver photo frame can go a long way to upping the seeming expensiveness of the space without actually costing you too much money.
A Flourish of fresh flowers
Flowers are decadent. Not only do they look and smell amazing but their presence is fleeting which makes it even more special. If you place cut flowers in every room, then it will immediately give the whole space a lift and make your home seem much more expensive and sophisticated, especially when placed in cut glass or crystal vases.
Add an antique
A pretty antique will show your class and add a hint of sophistication to any room, providing it isn’t a novelty piece, so if you can find something good in the thrift store, display it proudly and it will look great.
Lower the lights
Okay, so this may sound a bit weird, but dimming the lights a little can really help to make your space feel more luxurious. When the light is softer and more diffused, everything takes on a certain expensive glow that you would find in high-end hotels and restaurants, and obviously, some of the flaws in your decor will be less visible too!
Stuck on your own room? I'll design it for you. See my online design services →
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Aside from saving our income in order to one day purchase or mortgage a property, the idea of settling down somewhere can take its own space in our forecasting. After all, it can sometimes be that what’s right for other people, or what may have been right for our parents, isn’t quite right for us.
After all, the notion of ‘settling down,’ is something that more and more young people are starting to eschew in favor of flexibility and chasing their careers. That said, a booming real estate market catering to new parents and families hoping to purchase their own land for potential construction also shows trends of people thinking into the long term, rather than drifting from place to place.
The question remains - which style of home are you comfortable settling into, and what variables should you consider when trying to establish and move into your dream home? These questions are worth pondering. It’s that which we hope to do in this post, discussing a few vital insights that can help you curate your future plans more effectively:
Our Family Plans Are Key
Your family plans will determine exactly what kind of home you not only want, but need. This will determine how many bedrooms you may be comfortable with. For instance, if you’re a young family, working as professionals with a child on the way, then it might be the best apartments with two bedrooms could be key for you right now, allowing you to cultivate the best of family living with flexibility and a modern living style. Forecasting our future is never easy, but having a rough plan can help us chart our direction for living.
Deciding On A Commute
Deciding on a commute that works for you is key towards deciding exactly how you’d like to travel, and how far. For instance, it might be that you’re happy to right the train into the city thanks to how close your apartment is in proximity to it. However, it might also be that a long commute is okay for you provided it’s on the way to your children’s school, allows you to drive your nimble car around, while helping you avoid the main traffic routes. Your home isn’t just your home, it’s your anchor point for the world around you. Planning the orbit of your daily tasks around that can help you define your must-haves and deal-breakers.
Luxury & Calming Amenities
It might be that luxury and calming amenities are important to you. For instance, having access to a community pool, or a pool of your own could be key in helping you rest easy and feel able to relax during the summer. Perhaps you wish for space for your own carport, or land in which you can build an outhouse for an exterior office. This kind of approach matters, because it will determine exactly how and what luxurious additions you will be happy with investing in, paying rent for, or raising that loan towards.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily identify and ascertain which style of home you’re comfortable settling into.
Stuck on your own room? I'll design it for you. See my online design services →
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Build A Pool
One of the best ways to upgrade your backyard is to build your own pool, because what could be better than taking a dip after a long hot day at the office?! Pools are perfect for bachelor pads and family homes alike, as almost everyone loves to have a splash around or cool off whenever the sun is shining. Using a free pool design software app will allow you to better visualize your ideas, as there are so many different details you need to decide on. Make sure that your pool is the right size as you don't want it to overwhelm your backyard, and spend time sourcing the best weatherproof materials to be certain your build will stand the test of time.
Even if you have no experience in gardening, you need to get down and dirty to make your backyard look tidy and presentable. Fortunately it's pretty easy to maintain an aesthetically pleasing backyard, as long as you have the right tools and equipment on hand! Investing in a good lawn mower should be your first priority if you have any large areas of grass, while a strimmer is ideal for more sturdy foliage that might cause a mower to clog up. You'll need a shovel of some kind if you want to maintain flower beds, as you'll have to turn up the soil and make large enough holes to plant new flowers each season.
Dedicating set areas in your backyard is the best way to help you make use of the space, otherwise you might feel a little lost trying to give your garden purpose. Decide on an area that you can use for al fresco dining, and set up a table and chairs and maybe a barbecue grill to cook outdoors in the summer. If you have little ones, create a space for play that includes some outdoor activities like swings or a sandpit! It's always a good idea to set up a comfy area where you can sit and talk the night away when the light evenings get longer, so find some cushioned outdoor benches or sofas that you can both set up and store easily.
Transforming your backyard has never been such a simple task!
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In this blog, we’ll look at some useful tips that’ll help to ensure that you make the right decision.
Visiting Versus Living
It’s important to remember that there’s a big difference between visiting a place and living there. When you’re in vacation mode, you’ll overlook many details that may later frustrate or bother you. So it’s not a good idea to buy a property on the back of one trip. It makes more sense to stay in the area for one or two months (or longer) so that you can get a sense of what it’s like to live there. If it’s all fine, then you can proceed with your plan.
The Quality of The Neighborhood
When you’re visiting a destination, it’s likely that you stay in a tourist-friendly part of town. When you’re living there, you’ll want to live somewhere else; you’ll want to live where the locals live. So as well as the overall destination, you’ll need to think about which part of town you’re going to live in. Of course, neighborhoods can vary significantly. So it’s important to choose one that will provide a high standard of living, not just for you, but for your entire family. You can usually find this information on the developers’ website. For instance, the Liv @ MB Singapore condo website mentions how there are plenty of good schools in the area. That’d make it perfect if you’re thinking about your children's education.
Another good idea is to ask locals about where the best parts of town are located.
It’s not just the cost of the property that you’ll need to think about. You’ll also need to consider the overall cost of living. You may find a great deal on a home, but if the city has an extremely high cost of living that you can’t afford, then you may want to think twice before buying it. Of course, that’ll be less of a factor if you plan to rent it out rather than live there full-time. And talking of which….
It’s a good idea to have a plan for your property on both a short-term and long-term basis. Are you going to live there forever, or will you rent it out first and move in the future? There’s no right or wrong answer, only the one that’s right for you. But it’ll be a good idea to check that it’s possible to make your plans a reality.
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Rethink your Roof
At some point in your home’s timeline, either a new roof or a roof repair will be necessary due to age or mother nature. Turn to the experts at America’s Choice Roofing to obtain high-quality professionalism and care. When you notice signs of a leak or wear and tear that cannot be overlooked, contact the roofing authorities who make it their business to help you.
When you work with your roofing company, be sure to ask questions so that you thoroughly understand every step. If there has been a storm and insurance will be involved, lean on the roofing company to guide you in the process. Get the correct estimates so that the repairs or re-roofing will be completed as soon as possible.
If you repair the roof, the color and style will be matched to your current roofing materials to blend in for a seamless transition. Should you want or require an entirely new roof, you get to have some fun with the process. Perhaps you are ready for something different. There are a variety of options to select that range from traditional shingles to new polymer synthetics to eye-catching metals. You are sure to find the perfect product to reflect your home’s personality and style.
All of this will be a lot simpler if you do make a point of finding the right roof contractor, however. Although it can take some time and it might be trickier than you at first think, getting hold of the relevant contractor is a really important thing to do. They will know what needs to be done to revamp your roof, taking into consideration your own needs and desires, and you’ll likely be amazed at what a difference this can make.
So seek out a contractor for your roof as a first step, before you try to do anything else.
Once you have the top of your house ready for an upgrade or repair, look down at the exterior. If you have a home built out of brick, look around the perimeter for signs of cracking in the brick and mortar. Inspect the areas around windows and door frames, too.
Siding is a popular choice for house exteriors. The materials used can range from vinyl, stone, and fiber cement to engineered wood. Regardless of what type of material your home is surfaced with, it is essential to make repairs to fend off unwanted wetness, bugs, or animals that will cause further problems.
Your home’s facade is how you present the first glimpse of yourself to the world. If major repairs to the siding or brick are needed, consider a color change as you replace the old exterior. Go for that look you have had on your dream board for years. Give yourself the go-ahead to try something new. Deciding to keep your current siding or brick is a cost-saving alternative that you can make look new again just by taking a few steps to clean it.
While you are mulling over colors for your house, do not forget the front door. Take a look at this video to get inspiration. The front door can be an attention-grabbing statement in contrast to the rest of your exterior or complement beautifully as an accessory.
Making changes to your home’s exterior is great for curb appeal. It is also an essential task to protect it and stave off any unnecessary damage before it occurs. Inspect your roof seasonally and contact the experts for quality service. After that, you can sit back and enjoy the view.
Stuck on your own room? I'll design it for you. See my online design services →
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Mount TVs
If you have a TV in any room, make the most of the space and mount it on the wall, whether this is your living room, kitchen, or bedroom. Entertainment units can be cumbersome and take up large amounts of space you might not have.
When it comes to the color schemes and optimizing space the best options are to keep it neutral. Lighter neutrals will help make rooms feel bigger and brighter and when teamed up with neutral lighting and mirrors can create the illusion of more space.
Clutter not only makes things look messy and feel disorganized it will make a room look and feel much smaller too. Keep all surfaces free of clutter by finding a home for everything. If you cannot find a home then buy a storage box to keep odd bits and bobs such as stationary, remote controls, and chargers out of sight.
By opting for furniture that shows the legs, preferably thinner legs it shows more visual space and creates the illusion of a larger space.
Whether you put up shelves in your living room or hang kitchen utensils in your kitchen making the most of available wall space is another way to get the most out of the space you have available.
When it comes to your dining table opt for a small table that can be extended as and when it is needed. You could even invest in a small fold-away table that can be completely folded away and put out of sight when not in use freeing up space.
Mirrors are an age-old trick that interior designers have been using for years to make a space feel bigger and brighter than it is. You can do this too by strategically hanging mirrors opposite natural light sources. This will then reflect the light and give the illusion of a larger space.
If your home has lots of quirky nooks and crannies or areas of space that could be better used with storage consider employing professionals to custom build storage to fill in the gaps. Having purpose-built storage will not only fit perfectly in any given space in your home it can be designed to store any items you need. Custom-built storage will be more expensive than generic items found at the local furniture store but it can have a real transformative effect in your home.
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While everyone is probably aware of the fact that good home maintenance and interior design can make a home more visually appealing, and can improve its curb appeal when it goes back on the market, the idea of these things having an impact on your day-to-day level of productivity may be less obvious.
In recent times, more and more people have been working from home at least part of the time, and ongoing changes in the global professional landscape seem to suggest that this trend is set to continue uninterrupted for some time.
Whether you are working on a particular project or side venture of yours, are working in a professional capacity, or just want to get your chores done more efficiently, finding ways to boost your day-to-day levels of productivity can be very useful.
Here are a few ways that good home maintenance and interior design can boost your productivity.
By reducing irritants that can negatively influence your health
Unfortunately, it's quite common for many homes – and in fact for many buildings in general – to contain a significant number of different irritants that can cause negative health effects, ranging from relatively minor, to quite severe.
If your home has been subject to water damage recently, it's important to contact Water Damage Restoration Services for the sake of protecting the aesthetic appeal of your home, but also in order to combat things like mould that might have accumulated as a result.
If you are constantly dealing with allergens, irritants, and pathogens in your home environment, it's likely that your energy levels will be significantly lower, that you'll be more prone to falling ill, and that you won't sleep as well, either.
Taking care of these issues can, therefore, significantly contribute to enhancing your productivity.
The way you design and decorate your home can have a major impact on your overall mood, and how you feel with regard to things like your own personal capabilities.
Homes that feature good lighting, uplifting art and ornaments, and a clean and uncluttered aesthetic, can all contribute significantly to helping you to feel more in control and more positive, driven, and motivated on a daily basis.
On the other hand, if you are trying to be productive in a poorly illuminated basement conversion, you’ll probably find that the atmosphere ends up making it significantly more difficult for you to get into the right frame of mind and stay there.
By reducing sources of distraction in your environment
By maintaining and designing your home carefully, and keeping it relatively clutter free, you can actively remove many potential sources of distraction from your immediate environment, and can therefore make it much easier for you to work on one thing at a time, without having your attention dragged this way and that.
In recent times, many writers and commentators on productivity — including Cal Newport, the author of “Deep Work” — have noted that even relatively minor distractions can significantly impair productivity, and can prevent people from doing their best work.
Messy and chaotic home environments naturally tend to provide more sources of distraction.
Stuck on your own room? I'll design it for you. See my online design services →
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You’ve finally decided to renovate your home. You know that this will be a long and challenging process, but you are excited about the outcome. The first thing you need to do is plan your renovation goes as smoothly as possible. To make sure everything else goes well too, here is a list of 4 activities you should plan for during your home renovation:
Demolition means tearing down a building. It is often the first step in the construction of new facilities or renovation of existing ones. Still, you can also do it for other reasons such as fire damage repair and environmental contamination cleanup.
Concrete demolition plays a vital role during home renovations because you will need to get rid of old materials that you cannot reuse before starting your project. However, keep in mind that different types of renovation require different levels of demolition work, so make sure to plan carefully how much time you want to spend on this activity.
If you’re planning to renovate your home and the time has come for a thorough cleanup, hiring professional help can be very beneficial. This is especially true if this will not be part of your renovation budget. A good cleaning service can have your house looking beautiful again in no time.
They will handle all the basic chores, including mopping floors, washing windows and drapes, and scrubbing kitchen counters. In addition to this more traditional service, they can also do a more specialised job of removing construction dust from electronics such as computers and television sets.
Decoration and arrangement of the house are the two most important activities of renovation. First, you should decide what new decorations you need for your home and arrange them inside the rooms. For example, if there is a space in your living room where you can place some furniture or other things that will make it more interesting, go ahead and do so.
You can always buy new decorative pieces like paintings or vases to break up any monotony that may be present on walls, which might otherwise seem dull after painting them with new color schemes.
Also, remember not to overcrowd one area; keep an eye on balance while decorating spaces, so they look less cluttered than before renovations began rather than too cramped-up with stuff. Finally, it would help if you did decorations to complement the overall look of your house.
When it comes to home renovation, there are many activities that you should plan for. One of the most important tasks is choosing a temporary housing place during your work weekdays. The best option will be staying at your house if it’s nearby or with your family and friends if they live close by.
If you can’t access these options, go for a hotel or even rent an apartment to stay in during renovation days. You can also ask for help from your neighbors, but that’s not always possible either, so relying only on them wouldn’t be good.
A home renovation can be an exciting process, but it can also be stressful. By taking the time to plan your renovation before you start working on your home, you’ll make things much smoother and easier for everyone involved!
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So you’ve found the perfect home. All the purchase work is done. You’ve picked up the keys. Now all you have to do is move in and make it really yours. If you’ve moved before, you’ll know that this is often a challenge but can be a lot of fun. The key to keeping it fun is to set a realistic budget and stick to it. Here are some tips to help.
Start with an overall budget
A good rule of thumb is to allow 10% of your home’s purchase price for interior design. Then try to stay within 7% of the purchase price. That will allow you a bit of breathing space if you misjudge and/or if your plans have to change.
For clarity, your interior design budget is separate from the budget needed for any essential work on the house. For example, if your new home needs replacement windows then it’s advisable to budget for those separately. The main reason for this is that you don’t really have a choice about these tasks whereas you do with your interior design options.
A reasonable approach would be to add the cost of these to the purchase price of your home (since they are essential updates). Then allocate 10% of the cost of the update to your interior design budget.
Setting a budget of 10% may sound high. If you think about it, however, it is intended to cover all materials and labor for your whole new home with room to spare. If you already have furniture, you may be able to nudge down the budget by reusing what you have. Even if you don’t, you may choose to update your home in stages to make the costs more manageable.
Once you’ve set your budget, your next step is to allocate it. Generally, this is best done in two stages. Firstly, you’ll set a broad allocation. Secondly, you’ll finesse this broad allocation to suit your particular needs and wants. There are a couple of ways you can set a broad allocation. The first is by category and the second is by room.
If you’re setting a budget by category, then a good guideline to follow is:
Furniture 40%
Floorcoverings 15%
Wallcoverings 15%
Lighting 10%
Window treatments 10%
Accessories 10%
The reason wallcoverings and floorcoverings get a relatively high allocation is that you will often need professionals to install them for you. Even if you’re handy at DIY, the convenience and quality of work you get from professionals are often well worth the money. Remember, your time and energy both have a value.
Setting a budget by room can be a lot more challenging because there are so many variables. There are, however, two guidelines you may find helpful. The first is to think about the practicalities of the room (including its size). The second is to think about how much you will use the room.
These considerations should help to guide you to what percentage of your budget you should allocate to each room. You could then subdivide your budget into purchase categories based on your needs in that room. For example, a “living room” could also function as a dining room and office. This could justify it having a relatively large share of the budget.
Realistically, a lot of the time, you will probably need to use a combination of these two approaches. For example, you might have floorcovering and wallcovering budgets for the whole home but assign your budget for the other categories per room.
Prioritizing your budget is also best done in two, if not three, stages. Your first stage is to work out how much commitment each purchase involves. For example, you generally want to pick your furniture first because this typically has the biggest impact on a room’s functionality. Once you’ve picked your furniture, you can make all further design decisions with it in mind.
Your next priority should generally be your floorcoverings. Ideally, you’ll choose them immediately after you’ve chosen your furniture (or at least the main pieces). This is because floorcoverings can be disruptive to install. Even if you’re sticking with your existing floorcoverings and just adding rugs, it’s preferable to put down large area rugs before you add furniture.
After this, your priorities are essentially your preference. As guidance, however, a practical order would be lighting, window treatments, wallcoverings, and accessories. This essentially reflects both how much impact each category tends to have in a room and also how easy it tends to be to make changes.
As before, once you have a basic plan in place, you can then fine-tune this to suit your own situation. Essentially, you should be guided by the principle of allocating your budget according to where it makes the most difference. For example, if you don’t have a guest room, you might choose to pare back on accessories so you can afford a really high-quality sleeper sofa.
Splurging and saving
Unless you’re lucky enough to have an unlimited (or at least very high) budget, you’re going to need to get to grips with the concept of splurging and saving. The lower your budget is, the more important this concept will become.
As a rule of thumb, if you lie, sit or stand on it, you should splurge on it. You can save anywhere else. Saving can mean either going without (if only temporarily) or buying affordable pieces as “placeholders” until you can afford something better.
Paying close attention to this principle can lead you to unexpected but effective buying decisions. For example, if you need a new bed, then you generally want to spend your money on the mattress rather than the frame. Even though the frame is a lot more visible, it’s less important to the overall functionality of the room (and your comfort).
By contrast, you might want to spend extra money on furniture such as poufs. These are typically used either as footrests or for seating. Either way, investing in quality will give you a more comfortable experience. This in turn will create more flexibility. For example, you might even be able to use your poufs as backup dining chairs.
Stuck on your own room? I'll design it for you. See my online design services →
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Whether it is a renovation or adding some touches, here are top-rated ideas for turning your home into a dream home.
Adding lighting fixtures will make your home feel welcoming, warmer, and fresher. You can also make your rooms look bigger by adding larger windows for more and better illumination. Instead of keeping your home darker, make the most of the natural light with energy-efficient windows.
Table lamps and other lighting features are also a great way to make your rooms livelier. Wall and ceiling lights are also a better way to make your home look and feel cozier.
Right now, interior designs and features are taking inspiration from nature. Since sustainability is becoming a significant factor in every life aspect, you should consider going green with every renovation idea. For instance, you may want to consider these tips:
- Go for energy-efficient features and renovation solutions.
- Add more indoor plants to your living space.
- Create a compost pit from your leftover foods.
- Use LED lighting fixtures.
- Consider using recyclable products.
Swapping out old fixtures and replacing them with new features is one of the best ways to transform your home into a dream home. The little things can sometimes make a difference when done right. For instance, bring in the styles and finishes you love by swapping door knobs, hinges, and faucets. Other additions, such as a swyft sofa in a box, can make a small living room look more welcoming and attractive.
Patios and decks can help transform your small home into a dream living space. Other outdoor fixtures and furnishing can also make your home more comfortable. Invest in weather-resistant rugs, outdoor patio furniture, and wrought iron dinette. Adding a fire pit and fountain can also make your home look more appealing.
Art pieces can spruce up any home. Accordingly, art can add a personal touch to your living space as you display your favorite images, patterns, and colors. Do you need inspiration at home? Use art to spark emotions and make your home feel more motivated and happier.
Do you have green hands? Your home garden can make a significant difference to how your house feels and looks. A garden is somewhere you can look into for inspiration when chilling in the backyard. Additionally, you can use this space to go green and plant some food. The good thing about plants is that they have a myriad of uses, ranging from landscaping purposes to consumption.
The bottom line
Do you want to create the perfect home for yourself? Use these tips to turn your house into a dream home without breaking the bank.
