As the year turns another leaf, many people welcome the New Year with delightful changes from a list of resolutions, to a beauty makeover, and other such improvements such as a spruce up project to change the look and feel of their homes. From the long months of economic crisis and long running New York housing crunch, what better way to breathe in a fresh change into lives than with undertaking projects to further enhance everyday living, making lifestyles notches better even through the constant hustle and bustle? This article lays out fast home improvement ideas for a new look this coming 2011 perfect whether you are in Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island.
Dress Up the Walls
One of the least expensive and fastest home improvement ideas to take on with the greatest impact to the overall look and interior design involves the walls. Being a dominant surface in every room, a change in the walls can easily recreate an entirely new ambiance. There are various ways to do this, and some of the most common include:
Interior painting- a whole new look to rooms can be achieved. The key to this project is proper wall preparation. You can go for simple solid paints adding variety through the trimmings, or go creative with faux finishes from simple techniques to lavish murals. Wall papering- for added texture and a richer feel to rooms, this is a great idea to pursue. You can also choose to combine this with painting for a more unique touch.
When considering one or a combination of these, you might want to get trendy with your project by implementing the fashionable colors of 2011 in these home improvement ideas. Such ‘in’ colors include
Let There Be Light
Home improvement ideas laid out in this category will not only make up for a gorgeous new look for your interior but can also pave the way to more efficiency in homes. This can be done by adding or widening windows, but with the snow, this idea can wait until the summer months. For a fast fix, you can opt to replace and add lighting fixtures. When undertaking such home improvement ideas, maximize effects through:
Placing lights on task-designated areas such as under cabinets to illuminate kitchen counters. Highlighting interesting décors to divert attention away from structural flaws. Making rooms suitable for whatever purpose they serve. E.g. brighter lights for study or office areas, dimmer lights in bedrooms for a more intimate and private looks, etc. Cutting back on monthly bills by choosing energy efficient lighting fixtures.
Refinish
There are materials in your home that will only need some refinishing to make them looking as good and beautiful as of they were new. Home improvement ideas that involve refinishing are also great ways to trim down on spruce up costs as well as save yourself from the hassles of buying and installing new home features. Some of the areas that you might consider include countertops, flooring, and cabinets whether in the kitchen or bathrooms.
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The best way to approach bathroom decor is to begin by selecting a theme. Since bathrooms are relatively small areas, it’s best to stick with a single primary theme. Once you select a theme, you’ll want to choose wall art, a shower curtain, rugs, and storage items that coordinate with each other. Be sure to select items that blend with your existing wallpaper or paint color, unless you’re planning to change the walls when you update the decor.
Nautical Bathroom Decor
Those who live near the water or enjoy spending time on the water often choose to decorate their bathrooms using a nautical theme. If you like the idea of a nautical theme, you’ll be able to select among a variety of different types of bathroom accessories. Sailboats and tall ships are very popular nautical design elements, and are typically a combination of dark wood, navy blue, and tan colors. Be careful when choosing your blues to go on the wall of your bathroom as the room could end up feeling too cold and uninviting.
Seashell Bathroom Decor
Seashell theme decor is used in many bathrooms designs. Because most natural seashells are light in color, accessories based on this theme tend to be in light shades of beige, pearl, and a variety of pastes. You can incorporate a combination of real seashells and decorative elements that feature depictions of shells, such as wall art and towels, into your bathroom design scheme.
Fish Bathroom Decor
Bright, primary colors are commonly used in fish bathroom decor. This is a popular theme for children’s bathrooms. Kids love clear shower curtains stamped with bright, bold fish and walls painted with the coordinating bright shades. They’ll also enjoy drying off with bright towels covered in matching fish. This is a great way to make having a bath fun for the children. You could have toys that are similar to the colors and the styles and make it feel like their own special room.
Dolphin Bathroom Decor
Dolphins are a very popular collectible item throughout the home. Many people incorporate dolphins into their bedroom den, and bathroom decor. There are many different types and styles of dolphin bathroom accessories, including wall art, towels, shower curtains, trash cans, and much more. Many people chose to decorate the bathroom blue when using dolphin styles. You could also use a shade of white or cream and user the dolphins to give the room some extra color.
Angel Bathroom Decor
Another very popular theme for bathroom decor involves utilizing angels as a decorative element. There are many different styles of angel decor, ranging from Victorian era angels to cherubs. Regardless of the type of angel you prefer, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of bathroom decor items that feature an angel theme.
So as you can see, there are many options available to you when you are choosing your bathroom decor. Choose wisely and you will have a room that the whole family will enjoy using.
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Lighting is essential in every aspect of living and so this of course is important in our place of dwelling. Proper home lighting can contributes to the improvement in the aesthetic quality of someone’s home. Not only can it adds to the functionality but also it can also bring out an aesthetic and sensual enjoyment for those under the roof. Needless to mention that proper lighting is also a major factor in establishing a comfortable ambiance in any home.
In choosing and shopping for the lighting equipments and fixtures for your house, an important note to remember is the visuals of a light furniture can easily be the source of attraction and beauty of a room. The design and purpose for which the lighting will serve should not be compromised. In planning for lighting, the home owner should consider the activities each of the room of the house is used for and the room’s size before choose the appropriate one. Keep in mind and understand that improper lighting can affect our health as well. The mind is kept fresh, agile and strong when there is enough light in a room, while dimmer and dark interiors can induce negativity to our overall thinking and creativity. Depending on your purpose, some may choose to opt for a dimmer lighting for create a mysterious feel in the room.
There are three basic types of lighting found in a house: ambient, task and accent lighting.
Ambient Lighting is commonly referred to as general lighting that makes a comfortable and visual environment, it enables one to move about easily and safely and defines the space. A basic floor lamp can be used in homes but there are some fixtures in the market that can as well be used to achieve this:
Torchiere lamps are fixtures to direct the light in the upward direction and generates soft and diffused light. Wall Sconces are wall mounted light fixtures that provide a subtle background. Spotlights are prevalently utilized for a beautiful looking walls and ceilings. Can lights are installed in the small opening of ceilings that projects light downward. They also conserve space as they do not take too much space and are used in narrow spaced rooms such as bathrooms and spaces near the staircases.
Task Lighting functions by providing mostly concentrated light in the workspace, for reading, cooking or eating. It is required for this lighting to be glare-free and focused on specific area. Some light fixtures that achieve the purposes of Task Lighting are:
Table lamps are common fixtures for lighting that focus light directly where it is needed. Wall Sconces, though can be used to provide general illumination, may as well be placed on either side of a mirror for shaving or combing inside a bathroom or bedroom. Ceiling pendants or chandeliers may be installed in dining areas for eating purposes.
Accent Lighting makes something special visible, drawing in the eye and provides dramatic interest. It directs our focused to the lit area, these lights can appear to be three times as bright as ambient lights. Often used to highlight selected areas and items such as artworks, paintings or sculptural pieces.
Spotlights is a common lighting fixture for accent lighting. Chandeliers may also be used in providing light that emphasizes particular objects on a room.
A general rule in simplifying lighting design in a home is that’s a minimum of two light layers should be present in every room. Every room should contain an ambient light source and either accent or task lighting.
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