Metallic accents seem to be forever popular, and for good reason. Incorporating brass or copper into your home design adds some rich color, without it feeling too flashy or opulent. Here are some ways that you can add metallic accents to your home design.

A great way to incorporate warm metallic accents into your home is lightshades. If you have a very large, high ceilinged open plan room you could use large metal dome lightshades. Warm copper lightshades especially can make a large space like this feel more homely. In a smaller room you could try a smaller, stylistically shaped lightshade, which can make a wonderful center piece for a small room. Warm metallic lightshades will also give the light coming from them a rich metallic tint.

If you have a warm wooden bench top, a warm metallic fixture will compliment it very well, particularly a brass one. Warm metallic accents and warm woods complement each other very well, and with a lot of people moving towards warm wooden bench tops, a brass fixture is a great way to incorporate a metallic accent into your kitchen.

Copper kettles are another popular way of adding copper into the kitchen – they look wonderful, and what’s more, copper is an excellent heat conductor, so it makes great kettles.

A much more subtle way to use metallic accents is in small things like cutlery. Stainless steel may be the cutlery standard, but using copper or brass will look great when they’re set at the table. If you use a simple white table cloth, warm metallic cutlery can add some rich color to the table, or if you have a wooden table those will of course look great – warm wood and warm metal are as great a match here as everywhere else. Although cutlery will usually spend most of its time in a drawer, it’ll still look great when you bring it out for dinner parties, or you could keep it out in a jar or something of the like on your bench top.

Copper flashing (very thin sheets of copper metal) are a relatively inexpensive way to incorporate very large amounts of copper into a room. It can be used to cover furniture such as cupboards, creating a beautiful centerpiece from a potentially very inexpensive piece of furniture. You could also use copper flashing on something such as the back of a kitchen island, which would again complement a warm wooden bench top very nicely.

You could also use a metallic room partition/divider, which you could make by covering a partition in flashing. Room dividers are great for breaking up large open spaces, and one made from copper or brass is another great way to incorporate a large amount of a warm metal into a space. This one would work particularly well in large spaces, and is another way to make these spaces feel more homely, as you’re dividing it into smaller spaces, and making it feel warmer at the same time.

If you want your house to really stick out from the rest, you could use copper siding. It can obviously be expensive, but copper siding does last two to three hundred years, and will make your house look really quite spectacular. You could use it just on your roof, which would look especially good on a warm wooden house, or you could go all out and do the whole thing, walls and roof. Or you could of course find a balance in between – there are plenty of ways to go about it.

If you want to add a smaller accent than covering your entire house in copper to the exterior, you could use a warm metallic letter box. You can get beautiful copper, brass, or copper and brass letterboxes, either intricately patterned, or in more simple designs. Letterboxes are an easy way to add a small accent to the front of your house.

There are of course many, many more ways you can use warm metallic accents. You can use them for just about anything – from brass range hoods to copper chairs. Metallic accents can be used in any kind of space – they contrast simple modern spaces well, and they complement more traditional spaces equally well. So if you’re looking for a way to add something more to your space, whatever it might be, try incorporating some copper or brass, whether it’s just a little bit like a kettle or cutlery, a bit more like a light fixture or tap, or by going all out and covering furniture or your entire house in copper.

Your kitchen is one of the most trafficked rooms in your home. You will prepare meals there every day. You will entertain there. You will spend a lot of time with your family and your friends there. It is important that your kitchen not only provides the functionality that you need but also makes you and your guests feel at ease.

If your kitchen was not ideal when you moved in, or if your needs have changed over the years, you can easily get what you need from a remodel. Exploring current design trends can help you get some ideas about what you might like or to provide inspiration that can help you fill in a missing piece for what you already had in mind.

Here are a few top design trends for kitchens to consider for your remodel this year or next:

Gray Finishes

You don’t have to completely remodel your kitchen to get a whole new look. You can repaint the walls or repaint your cabinets, and you’ll feel like you have a new kitchen. White has been the color of choice for a few years now, but grey is edging it out. Plus, it can hide stains better.

Choose a light grey for a more neutral look or a dark grey to make a statement.

Colored Sinks

Stainless steel has long been the most popular choice for kitchen sinks because it matches any decor and it is easy to clean. However, you can have a little more fun with your sink and make it a player in your design scheme by choosing a color for it. Hues like green and blue will stand out, and they can provide a nice accent against a white or neutral palette.

Make sure you choose a sturdy material for your sink so that you don’t have to sacrifice quality in favor of the fresh new look.

Apron Sinks

Rustic charm is in fashion now. Farmhouse style, or apron, sinks are very trendy right now. These are stainless steel sinks that are set in to the counter top. The edge of the sink basin is revealed at the side of the counter. You can purchase these in a variety of colors, and the cast iron construction ensures that the sink can take a beating without suffering in appearance or performance.

Bold Fixtures

Even updating your fixtures can make a dramatic difference to the look of your kitchen. Don’t settle for simple knobs and pulls. Consider oversized handles, artistic or glass knobs, and ornate designs. Pair new hardware with a fresh coat of paint on your cabinets and drawers, and you’ll have a whole new kitchen.

Continuous Design

In many homes, the kitchen is a completely separate entity from the rest of the house. The design is unique to the room. However, not all kitchens are tucked away behind closed doors. If you have an open floor plan, you might want to consider creating a continuous design in which the look of the kitchen matches the look of the rest of your home. The walls are painted the same, and the cabinets and fixtures are in the same finish as the trim in the rest of the home.

Casual Eating Spaces

The kitchen is often the heart of the home, and many families spend more time there than anywhere else. Create gathering areas for your family outside of a formal dining event. A breakfast nook or kitchen bar are perfect choices. Your family can gather for snacks, casual meals or just time together. You can meet there to talk after school, to review the day at work, or just to enjoy a few minutes while you grab a snack or have a drink.
With an island, you can combine the benefits of a casual eating space with additional area for food preparation and storage.

Every year, new design trends are introduced for kitchens that can help you learn new ways to improve the look of your kitchen, as well as to improve its functionality. This year’s trends can help you plan your remodel just before the holidays or for the new year.

Whatever you decide for your remodel, you will greatly increase the value of your home, and you will enhance your family’s enjoyment of the space. You’ll also make it a lot easier to prepare meals and to entertain guests. Search through these ideas and start planning the kitchen of your dreams for next year.

Your bedroom should be a cozy oasis away from the world. You can retreat there to relax and rejuvenate at the end of each day.

Your bedroom is also a reflection of your personal style. There are many ways to get the same functionality, but the design you choose shows off your unique personality. When you go to your bedroom, you should feel like you are completely at ease — like you are in a space that is uniquely your own.
With so many design options available, you may have a hard time choosing. Your tastes may not be singular, and many decor schemes may appeal to you. Reviewing current trends can help you get some ideas to make your bedroom feel like a special place.

Here are a few top trends to consider for your bedroom makeover in 2015:

Monochromatic Color Scheme

Black and grey may seem like gloomy colors, but when you combine black, grey and white in the right pattern, you can create a stylish decor scheme. You don’t need to go to extreme measures, like painting your walls black. Instead, consider white or soft grey walls with black furniture or accents like a black vase or a black rug. The idea is to use the colors in a complementary manner.

Imagine a room with soft grey walls, a black and white rug in a Greek key design, simple floral silhouettes in black and white on the walls, bedding in grey and white stripes and vases of fresh white flowers. Experiment with the ratio of colors and the different shades to create different looks. Just changing out key accessories can also make a big impact.
Upholstered Headboards

Upholstered headboards are very popular right now, and they create a sophisticated look that can elevate the decor of the whole room. You will be amazed at the difference simply changing out your headboard can make.
You don’t have to buy a whole new headboard to get this look. You can cover your current headboard with foam and fabric. If your headboard features bars or lattice work, you can use a simple piece of plywood as the base for your new, upholstered headboard.

An upholstered headboard can be made of plain fabric or patterned fabric, and it can be the same size as the old headboard, or it can be large enough to touch the ceiling. You can create separate upholstered panels that come together to make the headboard, or you can include buttons and tufting. Each option you choose will have an impact on the final look.

Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Everything old becomes new again. The popular wisdom in fashion is that if you simply hang on to an item long enough, it will become popular again. The same is true for furniture.

Mid-century modern furniture has made a big comeback in the last couple of years. This furniture — popular during the 1950s — features clean lines and simple designs. It is similar to Danish furniture. Options include low-lying beds with simple headboards, plain boxy dressers, and simple night stands. Take a look through an Ikea catalog and you’ll see plenty of options.

Floral Wall Art

Floral prints never seem to go out of style. Right now, floral wall art is a hot choice for bedroom decor.
Don’t think that your choices are limited to gaudy, frilly displays. You don’t have to choose Victorian-style oil paintings. Modern floral wall art can include silhouettes, geometric patterns, and even simple line graphics. Wall art can include traditional paintings, screen prints, graphics, or even vinyl decals.

You can choose a large print that covers the whole wall, or you can choose a series of postcard-sized prints that you put together in a collage-type display. As with many other bedroom trends, you have a lot of options to customize the style to match your personal tastes.

While you don’t want to chase trends to design your home, you can review yearly trends to get a few ideas about how to decorate your space to make it feel more like your own. You can adopt one of the trends for your space, or you can adapt it to suit your needs.

These design trends can make your bedroom feel more stylish and inviting. Consider trying out one of these decorating options in your room this year. You’ll makeover your space and feel like you are living a life of luxury. Your bedroom will feel like a haven away from the world.

Christmas is upon us once again and you definitely want to make your house the perfect place to spend the holidays. Modern decor makes life a lot easier with simplicity and style. You can quickly turn a dull, uninviting house into an inviting home with creative decorating ideas for Christmas.

In this post, you will learn a few stylish Christmas decoration ideas you can use as inspiration to decorate your home this holiday.

The Christmas Tree

Let’s start with the Christmas tree, the almighty, unmistakable symbol of the festive season. The Christmas tree has its own magic and is usually the centerpiece of a home’s Christmas décor.

If you celebrate the holidays the traditional way, then probably it is never Christmas unless the tree is the classic evergreens – fir, cedar, or pine trees.

That said, there are many awe-inspiring artificial Christmas trees worth checking out. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and are typically made from plastic or aluminum. You can choose from a range of custom color palettes so your tree will smoothly blend with the rest of your interior décor.

Decorating the Mantel

The mantel is another key focal point of your home’s Christmas décor. Like the tree, a well decorated mantel captures the magic and essence of Christmas and for many families, it is the point of convergence when unwrapping Christmas presents. Red, green and white are the classic colors for decorating the mantel.

However, with a few tweaks and some clever accessorizing, you can give your mantel a modern, stylish look that gives your house a coolly festive feel. For instance, an all-white ensemble of marshmallows strung around a nylon filament creates an inviting wintry look around your mantel. It is a simple yet elegant style that manages to create a holiday mood around the house with ease.

Depending on the accessories you choose, it’s easy to achieve a modern look using classic colors and decoration ornaments. For instance, instead of hanging plain red stockings above the mantel, use green ones adorned with white or multi-colored embellishments. A mix of green and red embellished stockings can also give your mantel the edge.

To complete the festive look, line the top of your mantel with white tinsel and complete the look with multi-colored balls placed on top, rather than the more common red color pops. Better yet, swap brightly colored geometric shapes for balls or color pops. The point is to experiment with colors and shapes to disguise the traditional red and white look.

The Dining Room

The eating area is doubtless a special place at Christmas so you need to create the right holiday mood for your family. Start by replacing your ordinary cutlery and tableware with Christmas dining crockery and dinning sets. There’s a wide variety of Christmas decorated dinning sets with countless color combinations. The color scheme in your house should determine the color combinations you choose.

In addition, there’s a whole range of table accessories, ornaments and decorations you can use to adorn your dining table. As with all traditional Christmas décor, rich reds, greens, and plain white are the primary colors for festive dining room décor. Feel free to experiment with more colors. Gold decadent textiles are popular for table tops and runners, for instance.

If you want a style that is more modern and elegant, a neatly dressed table with a towering centerpiece will liven up your dining room. A floral topiary (or any greenery detail), a bunch of roses embellished with fresh fruit, a nicely decorated pine cone, or shimmering metal ornaments can all make for a stunning table centerpiece.

If your dining room is spacious, adorn your windows with ribbon or floral wreaths to create a warm festive atmosphere. Wreaths are traditional Christmas decorations so they shouldn’t miss in your Christmas décor.

The Outdoors

Turn your backyard into a coolly festive space with sparkling white lights and paper lanterns on trees and mini lights on the fence. Festive decoration for the outdoors is mostly about lights and Christmas greenery. They add beauty and bring your garden to life with the al fresco Christmas mood.

If you don’t have space constraints, you could add a decorative Christmas tree in your garden, complete with white or multi-colored lights.

Wrapping Up

Preparations for the festive season are starting to take shape and you should be thinking about how you are going to decorate your home this year. Hopefully these ideas will be handy if you’re stuck in a bit of creativity rut.

Your bathroom is not just a functional place. With the right design and the right features, your bathroom can feel like an oasis away from the world. You won’t feel like you need to go to the spa. You can just open the door to your own master bath and feel like you are at a luxurious resort. Even if you have a small bathroom, you can make it feel more expansive than its four walls.

Checking out some of the latest home decorating trends can give you some great ideas for transforming your bathroom. Here are a few of the hottest design trends of 2014 to give you inspiration for your bathroom:

Framed Mirrors

Builder’s mirrors are a common feature of bathrooms. They are the plain mirrors that are stuck to the wall with those tiny metal or plastic hangars all around the sides. They do the job, but they aren’t that pretty.

You can easily frame a mirror with a piece of wood molding, tile or some other decorative border. It’s a quick DIY project that will make a big difference. You can also hire a handyman to do it for you if you aren’t sure about your skills.

Designer Lighting

You don’t have to settle for a simple recessed light in the ceiling or track lighting over your vanity. You can install luxurious lighting anywhere in your bathroom, such as a crystal chandelier over your bathtub or a designer pendant light over the vanity.

A well-placed and well-chosen lighting fixture can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your bathroom. Plus, it’s a simple change that doesn’t cost a ton of money.

Fireplace

If you want really dramatic lighting, you can install a fireplace in your bathroom. You’ll need to have some space to make this one work. However, if you’ve got the square footage, you can install a fireplace next to your bathtub for some romantic or cozy ambience.

A traditional, open fireplace would look great next to an old-fashioned claw-foot tub, or you can install a glass, gas-powered fireplace next to your garden tub. Create a soothing place to relax and forget your cares.

Glass Tile

Tile is the perfect choice for bathrooms since it is resistant to water damage and is easy to clean. Your choice in tile can make a big impact on the look of the bathroom. Think beyond color choice. Glass tile can create a shimmery, almost underwater appearance to your bathroom, especially if you select a blue or green hue.

Experiment with different colors of glass tiles to create different looks. Larger, red tiles, for example, can create a sophisticated and luxurious look.

Floor Heating

Stepping out of a hot shower or bath onto a cold floor is jarring — not at all what you want when you’ve had a soothing and relaxing soak. One of the biggest trends of 2014 is floor heating. The tiles or planks are heated by coils below the floor, which creates a comfortable, relaxing environment. You’ll be surprised at how much the floors can warm your whole body from the feet up.

Curbless Showers

Curbless showers offer a streamlined look that is modern and stylish. Instead of a demarcation between

The shower and the floor, the room runs continuously into the shower. A drain is placed at the center of the shower to funnel the water down, or the drain can be placed under the shower door, catching the water before it has a chance to run out onto the floor.

Water Efficiency

Green is the new black, and eco-friendly designs are popular for every room of your home. Water-efficient toilets, showers and sinks are in style for bathrooms. Check out toilets that give you different flush options for different types of waste and low-flow sinks and shower heads. You’ll save money, and you’ll be doing your part to preserve our precious natural resources.

Multi-Head Showers

On the other end of the environmental spectrum is indulgence rather than conservation. Multi-head showers allow you and your partner to enjoy a warm shower at the same time, with neither one of you standing in the cold while you wait your turn for a rinse. Of course, you can also enjoy the shower by yourself if you want to feel like you are under your own personal waterfall.

If it’s time to give your bathroom an update, consider trying out one of these decorating trends for 2014. You’ll create a new look for your bathroom while also improving its functionality, creating a spa-like space in your own home.