Be Inspired by Mother Nature

Look at the different types of textures that Mother Nature has to offer, see how serene a Silver Birch is for example and the shine of its bark could throw up many an interior design ideas to decorate your house. Look at the texture of a pine-cone and think how you could incorporate that look in a rustic way; maybe it reminds you of winter, therefore simply by adding brown rugs you can replicate the thoughts of the warmth a crackling open-fire brings.

Likewise, this season (it's now officially Spring!) conjures up thoughts of nature casting off its winter coat and springing into life with green buds giving up bursts of colour, daffodils, blue-bells and tulips provide us with vibrant colours – use these in your home as accessories and soft furnishings such as cushions and throws, rugs, ready made curtains and ready made blinds and make your home burst into new life!

Having a well balanced and well thought out room that is decorated from the inspiration that nature gives us, is perhaps one of the best themes to have going through your home, especially if you are lucky enough to live in the country, but even if you are not, you can bring the countryside in to your home where ever you live.

Image: Belle Maison

Interior Design Tips for Decorating A Nursery Part 2

In this post I'm going to carry on sharing interior design ideas for your baby's nursery; this time looking a colours, possible wall decoration, and window treatments.

Colours:
Colour is very important in decorating and when it comes to a nursery, you should keep the baby's development in mind. Newborns see everything in black and white while reds and yellows are the first actual colours they can perceive. You might want to avoid red and yellows, as they will kind of jump out at your baby from a what they see as a colourless room. Instead, use pastels, blues and violets in your nursery decorating attempts.

Decorating Walls Budget Style:
Are you looking for some economical options for wall art? For a few pounds, you can frame pages from your favourite childhood books. This is a simple and cost effective way to add colour, decoration and a bit of nostalgia as well. Baby blankets and quilts your child has outgrown are potential wall decorations as well. As your child grows you can use this same principle with album art and film posters.

Window Treatments:
Childrens curtains with blackout lining will help your baby sleep during daylight hours. There are a whole host of plain or patterned children's curtain fabrics online in a wide variety of gorgeous colours to compliment your nursery furnishings and colour scheme.

Decorating the nursery is an exciting endeavour for first time as well as repeat parents. There are all kinds of themes you can use from simple gender specific colour coordination to licensed character décor such as Strawberry Shortcake, Sponge Bob Square Pants and Toy Story or Shrek. Remember to choose age appropriate toys and accessories for safety sake and use furnishings that are easy to clean.

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Interior Design Tips for Decorating A Nursery Part 1

If you are expecting your first baby, decorating the nursery is new territory. The first order of business will be to choose an overall theme, if you plan on using one. For example, many parents to be will wait until they can determine the sex of the baby and then choose gender appropriate themes. Princesses for little girls and sports themes are common for boys, though these are far from the only option. Current animated television shows and films are often used to decorate a new baby room.

Lighting:
A nursery should have a variety of lighting options. Overhead lights are great most of the time however, there will be times when you want nothing more than a night light for late night feeds or area lighting for specific tasks such as reading to your baby at bedtime. One simple way to create mood lighting is by installing a dimmer switch. You can also use strategically placed cheap table lamps and small night-lights.

Flooring:
As your baby grows, messes are going to be a familiar occurrence. If you want to protect your carpet while adding a splash of colour to the room look into a large area rug. You can use one large rug or several smaller area rugs, either way make sure they are made of easy to clean materials as they will take the brunt of the dirt and damage.

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Enjoy Your Decorating!

Creating your personalised home décor does not have to be difficult, but it may take some time to get it all down 'pat'. Do not look at home decorating as a chore but more as a challenge if you will. It might be challenging to try to figure out how to pull your home together, but it is not impossible. Talk to friends and family throughout this process; they will be more than happy to give you feedback on your decorating and interior design ideas!

Need more space?
There are many ways to give the illusion of space in a small room. Light colours, good lighting and carefully chosen and place furniture are just a few tricks you can use to open a small room. You will also want to avoid installing shelves or other protruding pieces on the wall. You can make a huge difference in a small bathroom simply by removing shelves!

Add something new to lift your mood!
Add cheap rugs to brighten up dull or faded flooring – it's an inexpensive way to create a whole new look, especially if you coordinate the colours with your curtains, cushions and throws; and no one need know that they're not designer labels!

Image: Belle Maison

Contemporary Interior Design Ideas: In The Bedroom

Who said the only furniture in the bedroom has to be the bed, bedside tables and dressers? When you want to add form and function to your bedroom consider adding some seating. This will of course only be possible in a larger bedroom, but if you have the room, an elegant chaise can completely transform it into an luxurious parlour. You could also create a cosy corner with an overstuffed chair, end table, small lamp and a footstool. When you need to create a place of escape within your home, this is a good option.

Add elegance to your bedroom with full length pencil pleat curtains in a soothing, chic colour – again if you've got a large bedroom – have the curtains extend further than the end of your windows to create a chic hotel look. Statement headboards are also part of the contemporary design scene – make your own by choosing fabulous patterned curtain material online. It's a good idea to add extra height to get the full effect and if you can tie-in your bed's valance with the same fabric it will bring a sense of balance and cohesion to your room.

Image: Belle Maison

Contemporary Interior Design Ideas - Squaring

One thing that stands out about contemporary and modern design is its sharpness, its concern with function and function as the design itself. Square angles are incredibly functional – it its basic form it maximises space, it is most conducive to guests facing each other while they sit, it gives the easiest option for placement of tables and other accents.

The look of the square design in a lounge is about creating a subtle paradox – the angles and placement are square and sharp, but some of the pieces are curved and sleek and all serving an exact purpose and function. It is related to the use of and shape of the people who are in the room and this creates a really cool relationship between the people, the design and the pieces.

By having this style and it's objects placed in a square fashion, not only does it increase space – which of course makes everything seem bigger and more open, it gives the visitor more time to reflect on what is in the room and its relation to the space.

These shapes also cause us to be extra aware of the space around the object. A square shelving unit on the wall for example, holding books or decorations inside, but carrying nothing on top is a bit of fun tricking on the mind's eye. It is about function and here is a spot where the function is ignored – it can be used, but is not. This causes us to reflect on the space around it and thus on the piece itself.

Take some of the latest interior design ideas and use them in your home – you'll be amazed how different your rooms will look!

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Using Colour – Going Green

We're probably all getting fed up with the cliché 'going green' and yet this timeless classic colour has survived through the decades in various shades and continues to be many people's choice of colour in any room in their home.

Darker shades of green, Regency or racing green for example, are ideal for large living areas. Going dark on an accent wall and bringing the room together with dark green ready made curtains, cushions and throws can creates a refined and sophisticated look. Paler shades are ideal to team with soft pinks for an on-trend look which suits all styles of homes; while acid or lime greens are the perfect colours to use with white, aubergine or hot pink in contemporary living spaces.

You don't have to go over-board, as too much of one colour can be very overpowering, however, buy adding pops of green, such as lime green curtains or a green rug, you can rejuvenate a tired looking room instantly without having to carry out a complete makeover.

Green symbolises growth and new life, making it's the ideal colour to use to give your home a fresh new look this spring. Add floral designs in soft furnishings to create a country cottage look, a majestic and sophisticated look can be achieved using darker hues and for those who want to inject the latest trends should opt for lime, neon or acid greens!

Image: Belle Maison