Most Common Decorating Challenges: Design Tips To Help You Tackle Your Summer Decorating Projects With Confidence

Photo Credit: FamilyHoliday.net

Summer is in full swing and for many of us this means tackling some of those home decorating projects we tend to put off during the more hectic fall and winter months.  As a decorator, I am asked advice from my clients on a variety of subjects but, some things always cause people more difficulty when it comes to decorating their home than others. I have put together a short list and some tips to help you with your decorating adventures this summer:




Designing The Monochromatic Room  

Interior Design by Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

Designing a monochromatic room can be daunting but, when done well, the result can be spectacular.  Tips for decorating rooms in one color:

• The exact same color does not need to be repeated over & over throughout the room. Use various shades or tints of the same color. The elements of this dining room all have various shades or tints of the same hue.
• Adding lighting from various angles will provide a range of shadows that give the room more depth. Here, overall lighting is provided by the chandelier that is placed on a dimmer and, additional accent lighting is provided by the wall scones and candle lanterns on the table.
• Utilize patterns, in this case circles and diamonds, to break up the monotony. Design is all in the details so try to repeat these patterns throughout the room. The diamond pattern is repeated in the sconces and fabric on the back of the two captain chairs. The circle pattern is repeated throughout the room.  In the medallion wallpaper.  The curves of the chairs, dining stools and table legs. Then again with the shape of the mirror and chandelier.

The Dark and Uninviting Basement

Interior Design by Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

Basements can be dark, dreary and hard to decorate. But, with the right light, colors and accessories, a basement can become just as beautiful as any other room in your home. Here, recessed pot lights were added in the ceiling to create optimal overall lighting throughout. A light wall color paired with bright colorful fabrics and artwork all work together to help uplift the space. Window treatments in a fun pattern help elevate a small and otherwise unattractive window while grass cloth wallpaper bring in natural texture and interest.

The Double Duty Living & Family Room

Interior Design by Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

A living room is often a gathering spot for the family to relax and spend time together. Create a casual & practical space with the use of durable fabrics, sturdy furniture and extra storage for games & toys.  Here, an investment was made in comfortable, quality crafted Canadian made furniture upholstered in durable heavy weight fabric.  When choosing upholstery, look for flat weave natural fabrics such as a twill, velvet or wool with a touch of synthetic fiber such as a polyester or viscose woven in. They will hold up to a lot of use and disguise stains well.  Always request a stain resistant finish.

Rugs are lifesavers for protecting the floors from kids! Jute and sisal are most durable but, can be rough underfoot. Here, a softer wool blend with a repeated overall pattern was used which wears well and helps hide stains.

Extra storage is always a good idea in a kid friendly living space.  Opt for easy accessible storage like these cubed ottomans. They are easy for kids to find what they are looking for and then put it away in the end. 

Hope you enjoyed this post and found these tips helpful. Hope they help make your summer decorating projects easier and more stress free!  Follow Wish Decor Blog for more tips and ideas to help you with all your decorating needs.  Like us on Facebook for daily tips and inspiration.

Happy Decorating!

Niki

Quick Reference Guide to Essential Interior Design Measurements

It is a new year and many of you maybe thinking of doing some remodeling when it comes to the decoration of your interiors. The key to a good and successful design is allowing for proper measurements. Measurements matter, and they matter a lot.
Here is a quick short list of key measurements that make the difference between a room that looks great and flows and works nicely, to one that is overstuffed, cramped and painfully non-functional.


4-6" - The ideal height above a dresser or console table at which to hang art. Above a sofa, you can go up as high as 7-8".  Most people hang art way too high. Offenders, you know who you are..

Photo: Centsational Girl

Photo: Sarah Richardson

36"- 42" - The bottom of a dining room chandelier should hang 36"- 42" above the table.  Almost everyone hangs the dining room chandelier way to high.

Photo: Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

24"- This is the minimum space behind a dining chair and the edge of the rug upon which the chair sits. 30-36" is ideal and usually much better.  So make sure when buying a rug for your dining room that you are purchasing at minimum an 8'x10'.

Photo: inesblank.com

36"- This is the minimum measurement you should have between the different elements in your room to allow for adequate traffic and passage flow in key traffic areas throughout the house.   It is the standard measurement used in all kitchen and bathroom planning and many times 42" is used whenever possible.  36" is the standard opening for doorways and passages.

42" - This is the ideal space between a bed and a dresser or a buffet server and a chair.

Photo: Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

8'-10'-  This is the maximum comfortable distance between people in a seating area for a comfortable seating a conversation grouping.

Photo: Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

3X- To find the maximum TV viewing distance, multiple your diagonal screen size by 3 and this will give you the maximum viewing distance between your sofa and your screen.  If your TV is 50" you should not have more than 150" or 12'.5" of distance from your screen.

Photo: Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

26' - The measurement of a functional "work triangle" in a moderately sized kitchen.  When planning out your kitchen, the sink, stove and refrigerator should form a work triangle of no more than 26 feet. Each arm of the triangle should be between 4' and 9'.  If you have a galley kitchen, ideally, you should place your sink in the middle and then aim to have 36" between the fridge and the sink, and at least 15" between the sink and the range.

Photo: Wish Decor www.wishdecor.com

6"- Ahhh! This is usually the amount of space people will often struggle to find when planning a kitchen, or even a living room layout!

A beautiful and functional design is all in the details and, there isn't any detail that is more important than having the right measurements.  Measure, measure, measure!
Follow my blog for more free design and decor tips on creating beautiful and functional homes.
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Happy Decorating,
Niki

Christmas at the Lake: Decorating Your Lake Home for the Holidays

Photo: Between Naps on the Porch

Everyone knows that I love to decorate! I especially love to decorate during the holidays. There is something extra special about decorating a home for Christmas that makes me truly happy. I love seeing all the lights, the fireplace, the vintage ornaments and decorations that remind me of Christmases past, old traditions and precious memories shared with loved ones. I feel that life gets a little better...a little more peaceful...a little more magical.
I have always dreamed of one day owning a home by the lake where I can gather all my family and friends to enjoy a peaceful and restful holiday season. I became more inspired to do this due to a recent project I have been invited to write about, Waterfront Real Estate CT. What better way to celebrate the beautiful and delightful season than at the lake, removed from the fast paced everyday life we all seem to live nowadays.
Ah, until then a girl can dream, but for all you lucky ones with a lake home to enjoy this Christmas, here are some decorating ideas to help you bring in the magic of the season without breaking the bank.


Surround Yourself In Nature

The best way to decorate a lake home for the festive season is to bring the beauty of the surrounding outdoors in. Decorate by using natural elements like pine cones, twigs, and acorns. Keep things simple, naturally organic and not too fussy. 

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Passion Décor

While you deck the halls, don't forget nature's friends. My personal favorites are deer. They hold some of the magic of Christmas that fill little hearts with delight after all!

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: brooke-elliott.com

How Lovely Are The Branches!

When looking for a tree in an all-white nature space like the lake, nothing would be prettier than an all natural evergreen like a fir or pine tree. Beyond their fragrance and appeal, evergreens are 100% biodegradable and once the season is over, can be recycled for a variety of purposes benefiting wildlife and nature in general.

Photo: bhg.com

Photo: Stylish Eve



Photo: thehappyhousie.com

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Good home cooked food and good company is everything during the holidays. Why not highlight all the delicious delights within your decorating and put food on display.

Photo: A Blissful Nest

Photo: Pinterest

Add a little special treat for all of your younger guests by including a kids station where they can go and make their own hot chocolate to warm their toes, fingers and nose.

Photo: savvysassymoms.com

Spread the Cheer

Try to add a little bit of Christmas in every room of the home, especially the guest rooms. It will help everyone feel welcomed and right at home.

Photo: El Mueble

Photo: tulips flight suits

Photo: Lowes

One of my favorite things to do and share with my children is to include a Nativity scene as a node to what Christmas is all about.

Photo: Southern Hospitality

Relax, You Are On Lake Time

One of the greatest advantages of spending the holidays at the lake cottage is that you can take the time to relax and enjoy your family and friends. For me, there is no better way to relax and have fun than to take in a Christmas sleigh ride or go skating and watch my boys play hockey on the lake!

Photo: my sweet savannah

Photo: Banff and Beyond

Christmas is a special time of the year. A time to slow down a little and spend some quality time with people that we love. This time we can spend with our family and friends is the greatest gift that we can give and receive during this marvelous time of the year. 

Wishing you all a season of joy, a season of cheer, and to top it all off, a wonderful year! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Niki














Chic and Stylish Fall Decorating for Thanksgiving

One of the best parts of fall is the colors that mother nature puts on display. It's my favorite season because of all its natural, organic and unrefined beauty. I always love decorating for this season, especially during Thanksgiving, when celebrating fall and its abundance means welcoming family and friends.  If you are like me and you are either short on time or not really into the homemade arts and crafts look, here are some  chic, simple ways that I found most inspiring for you to welcome the arrival of fall and your Thanksgiving guests.

Warm Things Up

One of the easiest ways to add a snug and welcoming feel is by swapping your regular throw-pillows for velvet ones in rich fall shades. Then add a few coordinating throws and blankets and get ready to cozy up by a nice warm fire.

Photo: www.wishdecor.com

Photo: Sarah Richardson Design


 

Create A Warm Welcome

 

There isn't a better way to celebrate fall than by bringing the outdoors in. As the leaves change and their vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow emerge, use the natural colors in your decor. Choose  vases in various shapes and sizes and fill them with different colors of leaves and fall flowers. Place them on your entry table to warmly welcome guests and throughout your home to add elegance and color.

 

Photo:HGTV Ca

Photo: HGTV Canada

Photo: HGTV Canada

 

 Put Blessings on Display

 

Giving thanks and reflecting on your blessings is what Thanksgiving is all about. Why not create a message board for family and friends? Have them write what they are thankful for on a paper leaf and pin it up. I love this idea because it is a delightful way to bring everyone together. This frame was constructed using a linen-covered foam core and an old frame. Cut paper leaves from scrapbook paper in different fall shades and pin them on the board.

 

Photo: Midwestliving

 

Frame-Up Memories

 

This is one of my personal favorites! Pop family photos in frames and create a gallery wall so everyone can enjoy a sentimental stroll down memory lane. What better way to celebrate family and friends!

 

Photo: Buzz Feed

 

Photo: HGTV Canada

 

Company is Coming

 

We all enjoy and look forward to connecting with those we hold near and dear over a well set table and delicious food. Create simple and chic nature-inspired center pieces that add color and pay tribute to the season and all its beautiful colors.

The best and prettiest arrangements are the ones where we use what we have. Opt for earthy elegance and create an inviting dining experience simply by using fruit. All you need is a pair of scissors, a tray or a linen or burlap table runner, eucalyptus or greenery of your choice and 2-3 varieties of fruit.  Simply snip pieces of eucalyptus and add to the corners and middle of your tray.  Casually disperse fruit pieces and intersperse a few additional snips of greenery in nooks or open spaces and you are done. You can also simply disperse pieces of eucalyptus along a burlap or linen table runner and add candles of various heights with pieces of fruit in between.

 

 

Photo: Julie Blanner

 

Photo: Julie Blanner

 

Want a more traditional look? Add pumpkins and grapes or other hoards of gourds to bowls and add greenery around them to create a colorful and festive table.

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: HGTV Canada

 

If  keeping things sleek, simple and stylish is more your style, try wrapping dried cornhusks around small votives. They cast a soft glow and serve as a reminder that corn was part of the first Thanksgiving feast.

Photo: Martha Stewart

All you need is dried cornhusks, double-sided tape, small ribbons in the colors of your choice, a pair of scissors and votive holders. Simply cut the widest part of the dried cornhusks to the height of your votive holders. Then apply double-sided tape around a votive holder about 1/4 inch from the bottom and add 2-3 cornhusks overlapping the edges to the holder. Finish by tying with a ribbon and you have classy elegance in minutes.

Want something more colorful and vibrant? Give fallen leaves one last chance to shine by using them as decorations on glass candleholders.  Against the candlelight, the leaves look like beautiful flames.

 

Photo:BuzzFeed

 

Simply apply spray adhesive to the backs of leaves. Then, wrap leaves around the candleholder, letting the stem of each extend slightly past the base. Cut off leaves overhung along the bottom of the candleholder and place them around your table for a more modern majestic glow.

 

It's A Family Affair

 

Don't forget about the littlest pilgrims of them all. Have them join in the fun and help them create a fun, colorful table of their own. For this great DIY all you need is a burlap or linen table cloth, acrylic or fabric paint and a paint brush. Simply choose an autumn color palette and paint polka dots and let them dry. Then start setting the kids' table!

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: shopruche

 

Finally, direct guests to their seats with fun and creative name cards. Keep things simple and invite guests to take a seat by writing their name on a dried leaf , or tie their name around a gilded pumpkin or piece of fruit. 

 

Photo: Country Living

Photo: Martha Stewart

 

This is one of my favorites. Direct guests to their seats with name cards topped by leaves that look like they just blew in.

 

Photo: Martha Stewart

 

All you need to do to make these lovelies is to fold a piece of brown colored covered weight card in half and write a guest's name with a white gel pen. Then cut one or two notches about 1" wide in the card, at an angle. Slide fallen leaves into each notch and voila! Instant charm.

 

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because of the time I get to spend with all those who I hold dear and because it's a time to reflect on all the blessings I have in my life. Hope these tips inspire you to create a warm, inviting, personalized home for your guests this year. Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Cheers to great food and great memories! Safe travels too!