Harmony and Contrast

When arranging a space with accessories, one has to keep in mind that the most important thing to avoid here is boredom! This has a lot less to do with the objects you choose than how you choose to display them. To keep an arrangement from putting the neighbors down for their afternoon nap, remember to keep a balance of harmony (things that feel like they go together, like similar colors or styles) and contrast (things that spice things up by being different…smooth against texture, round against straight line, et…) You want a bit of both in your arrangement. Perhaps you could create harmony by repeating a square shape or the color purple, and then add contrast by sitting a smooth candlestick next to a rough basket.

Scale and Shape

Make sure that the items you are using fit into their new homes scale…you don’t want one tiny paperweight on a large kitchen table, and you want to steer clear of using a huge ceiling high arrangement of flowers on a tiny end table. Most people tend to use things that are too small for their surroundings however. If you have small accessories you would like to display, but need to give them more oomph in the arrangement, try grouping them on a plate or a fabric covered box. You can also give them height by perching them atop stacked books or baskets.

Layer and Soften

Once you’ve chosen your objects for the space following the design principles above, now it’s time to layer and soften. Start with a larger, taller piece slightly off center…this will be the defining piece in your arrangement. Now work to the outer edges in layers…Add a taller background layer, a middle sized medium height layer, and your tiniest objects in the front. Keep the eye moving up and down as it purveys the arrangement from left to right for interest. Add some fabric or twisted ribbon to soften the edges of the shelf or table, to bring in color, and to highlight certain objects.

Above all, keep trying new combinations of items until you find an arrangement that works for you. Use things in unusual ways. Tuck flowers or a live plant into an arrangement that seems too static. Even professional designers will occasionally be surprised by trying things in a new way! And remember, if your arrangement still looks cluttered and lost, chances are you are trying to display too much. Develop a prop box or closet where you can keep some of your treasures, and switch them our a couple of times a year for a fresh new look without spending a dime! For an example photo of accessory arrangement, visit this page on our website at http://www.thebudgetdecorator.com/arrange_accessory.html

We have all been in a similar situation. Just how do we accessorize what is possibly the most important part of the room? Well Patricia Buzo, owner of Patricia’s Palette, has come up with eight unique ways to dress up those boring walls.

1. Supersize your artwork with a trompe l’oeil wall mural.
A wall mural can do wonders for a blank, drab space by making the room appear larger and more inviting. The term “trompe l’oeil” literally means “fool the eye”. (Smart Tip: Wall murals can be combined with other ideas listed below such as # 6 and 7.)

2. Embellish your blank space with a hanging tapestry.
Tapestries can be custom ordered in many sizes, bringing in a sophisticated and elegant piece of art. These can be made of fabric, leather, or hand painted canvas.

3. Hang a stained glass window.
Obtain either salvaged pieces from churches and old buildings, or brand new ones made by local artisans. (Smart Tip: Place your old holiday lights behind the window to make the colors in the stained glass really glow.)

4. Accent the area by hanging a decorative screen.
By using a semi-folded screen you can create an unusual 3-dimentional accent for your décor.

5. Create a collage of your collectibles.
These can be anything from scenic photos to your stamp collection. (Smart Tip: To create a ‘garden room’ place inexpensive trailing silk plants in wicker baskets at various heights on the wall.)

6. Fool ‘em with a ‘faux’ door.
Antique doors and windows salvaged from old buildings can be an excellent way to creatively fill up a blank wall.

7. Bring in dimension and texture with fabrics.
Fabric isn’t just for windows. Hang decorative fabrics from wall sconces and rods to create a unique “frame” for your wall.

8. Spruce it up with an antique map.
Unlike your typical schoolhouse maps, these can be applied directly to your wall without the use of a frame. (Smart Tip: For authenticity any map can be “antiqued” with a faux finish for an old world feel.)

It’s no wonder then, that remodeling trends for bathrooms have been doing flips and turns faster than the water going down in your toilet. And more spectacularly, too.

The bathroom has become a proper room in the home, much like a bedroom or a library. Bathroom remodeling has become a much more involved process that takes into account, rather seriously, the varying needs of the people using the space and the various design elements that can be incorporated into the space.

Here are some things that are changing and that you too, with a bit of planning, can change in your own bathroom:

Bigger bathrooms:
Bathrooms are getting bigger and bigger. People are knocking down walls to give themselves more room in the space, making it a veritable room instead of the traditional closet like space that we have gotten used to entering sideways and exiting as quickly as possible. People in older homes are knocking down walls to make room while those building new houses plan ahead for a larger bathroom space.

Fancier appliances:
More room lets you explore the space more. People have been making the best of the larger areas and there has been a surge in high end appliances. Not only is there more room for them, but the appliances are getting affordable, accessible, and people are starting to view them as an essential part of the bathroom rather than as a luxury. This includes steam and jet showers, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, bathroom furniture and cabinetry, to name a few.

Less limiting designs:
The options open to someone remodeling their bathroom are limitless. Part of this comes from the new found perception that bathrooms can be aesthetically and stylistically interesting places and people’s newfound willingness to make them so. But new materials, like specially treated, water resistant hardwood flooring, paint, lighting options, furniture, cabinetry and hardware appropriate for the bathroom and specially designed for it have made their way onto the market. For example, while most people still opt for traditional, porcelain, white sinks in the bathroom, there are many other options available, like colored glass bowls, antique-looking ceramic bowls and even stainless steel bowls. Additionally, vanity designs span the entire spectrum from antique designs to the ultra contemporary. New flooring options can also transform the space completely. The addition of color and mixing of materials in the bathroom are both on the rise as well.

Easy does it:
Bathroom remodeling is easier than ever. There are tools on the internet that let you roughly design your new space and go from there, establishing a more detailed palette. There is also a plethora of remodeling companies that offer free bathroom remodel estimates in your home to help you plan and visualize the renovation you want to accomplish and help you figure out the most efficient and effective way to transform the space.

The bathroom has evolved from a simple necessity in the home to a retreat, where people are spending more and more time relaxing and regenerating. Bathroom designs have followed suit, growing more elaborate and comfortable while at the same time acquiring an aesthetic flare all of their own.

1. Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)

3. Bring In Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don’t have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that its hard to distinguish them from the real thing.

4. Lay An Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table.

5. Hang Pictures or Mirror- Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects and nice view or an interesting architectural element.

6. Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles. Show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try and vary the shapes.

7. Add Decorative Pillows- The good news about decorative pillows is that they are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room. Still better, they can be changed to jazz up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.

8. Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.

9. Add A Throw Or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and man made fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like.

10. Eliminate Clutter- Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items that take from the personality of a room.

It’s no wonder then, that remodeling trends for bathrooms have been doing flips and turns faster than the water going down in your toilet. And more spectacularly, too.

The bathroom has become a proper room in the home, much like a bedroom or a library. Bathroom remodeling has become a much more involved process that takes into account, rather seriously, the varying needs of the people using the space and the various design elements that can be incorporated into the space.

Here are some things that are changing and that you too, with a bit of planning, can change in your own bathroom:

Bigger bathrooms:
Bathrooms are getting bigger and bigger. People are knocking down walls to give themselves more room in the space, making it a veritable room instead of the traditional closet like space that we have gotten used to entering sideways and exiting as quickly as possible. People in older homes are knocking down walls to make room while those building new houses plan ahead for a larger bathroom space.

Fancier appliances:
More room lets you explore the space more. People have been making the best of the larger areas and there has been a surge in high end appliances. Not only is there more room for them, but the appliances are getting affordable, accessible, and people are starting to view them as an essential part of the bathroom rather than as a luxury. This includes steam and jet showers, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, bathroom furniture and cabinetry, to name a few.

Less limiting designs:
The options open to someone remodeling their bathroom are limitless. Part of this comes from the new found perception that bathrooms can be aesthetically and stylistically interesting places and people’s newfound willingness to make them so. But new materials, like specially treated, water resistant hardwood flooring, paint, lighting options, furniture, cabinetry and hardware appropriate for the bathroom and specially designed for it have made their way onto the market. For example, while most people still opt for traditional, porcelain, white sinks in the bathroom, there are many other options available, like colored glass bowls, antique-looking ceramic bowls and even stainless steel bowls. Additionally, vanity designs span the entire spectrum from antique designs to the ultra contemporary. New flooring options can also transform the space completely. The addition of color and mixing of materials in the bathroom are both on the rise as well.

Easy does it:
Bathroom remodeling is easier than ever. There are tools on the internet that let you roughly design your new space and go from there, establishing a more detailed palette. There is also a plethora of remodeling companies that offer free bathroom remodel estimates in your home to help you plan and visualize the renovation you want to accomplish and help you figure out the most efficient and effective way to transform the space.

The bathroom has evolved from a simple necessity in the home to a retreat, where people are spending more and more time relaxing and regenerating. Bathroom designs have followed suit, growing more elaborate and comfortable while at the same time acquiring an aesthetic flare all of their own.

1. Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)

3. Bring In Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don’t have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that its hard to distinguish them from the real thing.

4. Lay An Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table.

5. Hang Pictures or Mirror- Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects and nice view or an interesting architectural element.

6. Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles. Show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try and vary the shapes.

7. Add Decorative Pillows- The good news about decorative pillows is that they are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room. Still better, they can be changed to jazz up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.

8. Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.

9. Add A Throw Or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and man made fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like.

10. Eliminate Clutter- Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items that take from the personality of a room.