Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to get cracking on the holiday gifts (unless you’re one of those super-organized people who finished shopping in July). Since the holidays come out in the winter time, we tend to give (and … Continued
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I get so inspired to work on my house around the holidays! It might be weird, but almost every Thanksgiving no matter what house I’m living in, I start painting walls. It makes for a little bit of Christmas decorating chaos, but it’s worth it :). This house is no exception, we are finishing up […]
This article {Inspired By} A Color Scheme for Your Home is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.
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It’s that time of year again.
You’re out of time…
You have people coming over in a few days…
And you don’t think your home is ready…
You want it to be beautiful, but livable.
Decorated, but kid-friendly.
Polished, but inviting.
Finished, but not overdone.
Is that too much to ask?!
Although it might be tempting, now is NOT the time to get out paint rollers, to buy new furniture, or to start an elaborate DIY project.
You just need a little interior styling magic—the secret finishing touch that can take any room from blah to beautiful and guest-ready in a hurry.
You might have heard of interior styling in terms of getting a room ready for a photoshoot. Interior Styling is what makes a space beautiful, decorated, and finished. But professionally styled rooms aren’t usually livable or kid-friendly, because they’re catering to the camera not to real life. The rooms look gorgeous, but the average homeowner takes one look at them and rolls her eyes because she knows they aren’t practical.
Then why should you use interior styling? Because there is a balance you can find between styled and livable. A happy medium where your space looks put together, but still comfortable.
Many of the styling tricks the pros use to make a room magazine cover-worthy aren’t practical for everyday living. But interior styling helps teach us some classic principles about layout, composition, and arrangement. We can take those guidelines and use them to make any room look amazing and pulled together in no time.
Let me show you an example of what interior styling can do. With the styling secrets, I took my husband’s nightstand from blank slate to beautiful (and still manly).
Then, I repeated it on my side (with a more feminine touch).
Now, I don’t want you to think for a second that this is just about making things look pretty. Good interior styling strikes a balance between pretty and practical. You can use interior styling to decorate at both ends of the spectrum. Sometimes it’s easiest to start with the prettiest option and then scale it back or modify it to make it practical for everyday.
That’s exactly what I did with the ottoman in our living room. I tried pretty first. This look reminded me of something you might see in a furniture store catalog.
Knowing that wasn’t realistic for our everyday life, I paired it back to still pretty, but much more practical.
It still wasn’t quite us. We are a two-boy, two-dog home. But using the styling secrets I was able to create a totally practical ottoman tray and it still looks pretty.
Well, there’s seven of them actually. I call them the 7 Simple Styling Secrets. They’re easy to follow formulas and tricks that will help you make any space more stylish. I’ve teamed up with Cassity to share with you an exclusive free online workshop so you can learn them all.
Interior styling is one of my favorite topics to teach because you can instantly see the improvement and you can get started right away…without buying anything new.
I’ll to teach you the principles I’ve learned from following interior stylists and experimenting with styling in my own home. I’ll break it all down with simple formulas to show you how to get those “designer looks” at home.
These 7 secrets will change the way you decorate forever. Within 15 minutes of the workshop ending, you’ll have your first surface restyled. And fair warning: the styling secrets are so addictive you just might find yourself restyling spots at your friends’ houses too (and they’ll love you for it).
This online video workshop starts streaming on Sunday, Dec. 6th. You can watch anytime of day 24/7 (whatever is most convenient for you), but the workshop will only be available for four days. The class is free but you must register to get access: Click here to learn the styling secrets.
Disclosure: Remodelaholic is an affiliate for School of Decorating. If you join School of Decorating after clicking a link in this post, I may receive an affiliate commission. We only recommend products we believe in 100%. School of Decorating gives you the decorating courage and know how you need to create a home you love, and we’re sure you’re going to love it!
The post How to Style Your Home Like a Pro appeared first on Remodelaholic.
This article Shop My House and Gifts for Everyone is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.
Award winning designer Tamara Magel has a knack for creating comfortable, stylish homes with a variety of textures, colors, and natural materials. Her most recent project was transforming a young couple’s unit in a luxurious New York skyscraper. While this home is filled with luxury textiles, one-of-a-kind light features, and original artwork, you can achieve the same aesthetic on a budget by following Tamara’s design techniques.
Tamara’s Parisian farmhouse chic look is achieved by using black and white decor as the base for each room. Gold accents and strategic pops of color add to the sophisticated, luxurious feel. Read on to view stunning photos of Tamara’s work, along with tips for creating your own luxurious home using black and white decor.
To make a sophisticated statement without going overboard, pick a black and white patterned wallpaper for your entryway. Take Tamara’s lead and add artwork with a splash of color to complete the space.
By adding deep purple chairs to this living room, Tamara creates a focal point while adding depth to the otherwise white, black, and gold decor. If you’re not ready to commit to colored chairs, opt for throw pillows in a bold hue to achieve a similar effect.
Here Tamara demonstrates the power of a bold color like royal blue or emerald for dining room chairs. Keep everything else neutral to achieve this stunning effect. A black table with a centerpiece of white flowers and gold vases creates an inviting, laid back atmosphere.
Combining different black and white textiles, like Tamara did in this bedroom, creates wonderful texture. Take your black and white palette a step further by painting an accent wall a deep charcoal or black as seen here. Complete the look with a timelessly elegant, crisp white bedspread or duvet cover and a fur throw for a hint of pizazz.
For a streamlined look, aim to follow Tamara’s lead and incorporate a black and white palette into every room in your home. You’ll find a bathroom benefits greatly from this clean aesthetic. Gold and silver hardware, combined with crisp white towels trimmed in black, add an unmistakable hint of luxury and glamour.
If you’re lucky enough to have a walk-in-closet or dressing room, paint the walls and any furniture a crisp white. Add a beautiful rug for a pop of color and a unique pendant light or chandelier to showcase your sense of style.
Images courtesy of Tamara Magel and Wunderlich Kaplan Communications.
Check out other Remodelaholic articles like Black and White Master Bedroom Reveal, Black & White Painted Bathroom Remodel, and How to Decorate with Winter Whites.
The post How to create a luxurious home with black and white decor appeared first on Remodelaholic.
