Using Colour - Natural Palettes of Shades Part 2

Carrying on from our my last post - once a base colour has been selected and applied to the majority of the wall surfaces, accent colours can be use to highlight feature aspects of the room; nature-based shades of brown, blue and grey work really well but equally splashes of bright, contrasting colours can be used to add interest and excitement; maybe some fuchsia pink cushions and matching throw or a stunning display of bright red silk flowers in a tall vase. You may like to swap and change these from season to season to give your room a quick and easy update.

Texture is very important when using natural shades; it helps to add layers and depth to what might otherwise be a rather “flat” scheme. In keeping with the simple and uncluttered theme of the Natural décor, a few well-chosen and stunning pieces work better than lots of random items strewn around the room. Again, borrowing from nature offers an enormous choice of beautiful items for your room; sea shells, rocks, smooth pebbles, drift-wood, leather, metals, both shiny and matt and natural fabrics like Hessian and calico.

Flooring in Natural palette rooms is well suited to wood (scrubbed floor-boards rather than shiny formal parquet), stone or rustic tiles. This can be softened by putting down rugs to create a warmer feel to the room.

Image: Belle Maison

Interior Trends 2011 - Re-balancing

The third aspect of interior design which will be seen this year is re-balancing – the experts believe that we, the consumers, have become tired of being constantly bombarded by marketing and are looking for products which are personal and enable us to turn our houses into homes. Within this 're-balancing' trend the emphasis is on simple structures and soft natural materials such as wool.

The keywords for spring and summer are Soften, Energize and Excite. As we saw in my last post colours are predominantly ash grey or black with vibrant injections of bright colour. These colours are being described by words such as airy, waxy and silky. The materials and fabric you choose for your soft furnishings will embrace these keywords so look for curtain materials online such as voile, silk, wool and organza. The natural materials such as wool can be used with beautifully designed floor rugs which will also help to ground your chosen colours.

When trying to re-balance the environmental issues regarding new products we'll need to consider energy consumption, disposal, waste materials and renewable fibres. Interior design is not purely about aesthetics but is about embracing the content and thinking about the style of your interior, questioning where and how products are manufactured, how you'll dispose of them and whether they'll help to lower your carbon footprint.

There's a lot to think about this year and as always interior designers are at the forefront of what's available on the market and how products and materials can be translated into our lives effectively.

Image:belle maison

Faux Fur Rugs are Right On-Trend This Season

If you want to be right up to date with the latest interior design ideas then you need rugs – in every room! Not just any old rug will do, the look is all about keeping things in balance along with remembering that although big is beautiful it can overwhelm a room and make it look smaller than it is in reality – sometimes less really is more, so it's worth bearing this in mind with your choice of rugs.

A popular choice for using faux fur fabric is with area rugs - usually the larger the better in this context. Yet there is something so welcoming about a faux fur rug to keep your feet nice and toasty during colder months! White fur is very on trend and is probably one of the easiest and flexible of all colours - in simple white it is far less about adding colour or pattern; it is all about the added texture and warmth which can be used successfully in almost any decorating style. Contemporary monochrome schemes can be given more warmth with a zebra print rug or try a patchwork brown for rustic décor.

Image: Belle Maison

Tickled Pink In The Bedroom!

Pink, love or loathe it? Whichever your stance it remains one of the most popular colour schemes for girl's bedrooms! Maybe it associate with Barbie or just because of the stereotypical colour associated with girls!

Throughout the world all shades of pink are used to create 'girlie' bedrooms! It's a timeless classic which can be used in all styles and designs of homes. Typically teamed with white walls and ceilings for a fairy tale princess look for young girls, pink bedrooms can be re-vamped cost effectively for teenage girls by coordinating black for a dramatic statement look or transformed into gorgeous sensuous places when combined with orange, lilac or indigo blues.

Think of the orangey pink glow as the sunsets to create bedrooms which are warm and inviting. Add embroidered or beautifully embellished duvet sets to bring a pink bedroom right up to date in the world of interior design. Add boudoir style cushions, boa feathers along with beaded chandeliers and pink bedrooms can become far more inviting than you may think!

For a spring-time fresh look team fuchsia pink with apple green for an exciting and vibrant appearance which is crisp and clean to liven up a dark and dreary room.

Next time you think 'pink', step outside the stereotypical box and be inspired with a colour which is available in a wide palette of different shades to invigorate your home beautifully.

Image: My Notting Hill Blog

Creating A Unique Look To Your Home

If you like the fascinating grains found in natural wood and yet prefer not have the usual wood tones, opt for roller blinds with a wood grain finish! This is a great way to bring a touch of nature into your home which is a little more unique and interesting.

Roman and roller blinds remain to used as a primary window dressing for many reasons. They are a great way to enable as much light as you want, when you want it into the room.

Roman blinds are available in a wide range of plain and patterned fabrics ready made or are easy to make yourself with a Roman blind kit, all you have to do is select the fabric to suit the colour and design scheme of your rooms. This is ideal for people who love to have bespoke items in their homes, and this must be one of the most affordable bespoke items you can have!

Okay, you can make cushions and throws from unique patterned materials and they would also be bespoke! In fact anything you make yourself falls into this category as there will never be an absolutely identical one anywhere to buy!

That is one of my favourite aspects of interior design, if you create a room yourself it is bespoke and you can't get much more unique than that! If you are feeling the pinch at the moment it may be the right time to spend some time and little money on making your own fabulous blinds, curtains and cushions for you home, with the number of great discount fabric suppliers online you really can have exactly what you want, they will even send fabric samples so that you be sure of the colour and quality of the fabric.

Image: The Peak of Chic

Break The 'Rules' With Bold Curtains And Fabrics

Finding new and innovative ways to dress your windows has never been easier with the vast range of colours and styles of fabric which are widely available both on the high street and online.

Go for something daring and bold which brings nature into your home by selecting fabric which has a bold floral print in this season's in-trend colour of gorgeous lime green and white. To add further individuality and chic style to your home rather then opt for a classical curtain at each side of the window, use one wide curtain or length of fabric and sweep it from the top of the window to one side and hold in place with a tie back.

This enables the beauty of the pattern and the fabric to be seen at all times not just when the curtains are drawn together in the evenings. If floral patterns are not to your taste this style of window dressing works equally as effectively with any bold print as well as plain fabric. Keep the weight of the fabric in mind when making your choice as the lighter the weight the more fluidity it will provide.

Coordinate the colour with the rest of your interior design colour scheme or alternatively opt for a deliberate clash of colours to inject vibrancy and a sense of fun into a room. The latest colour clashing is in-vogue in a big way at present which enables you to opt for your favourite colours and do away with the usual 'rules' of interior design, which is an absolute joy for those who can never seem to get their colours coordinated correctly!

However, although colour clashing is in-vogue you do need to be a little careful otherwise you can end up with a miss-mash of colours which look more like an interior design nightmare than chic style!

Image: Avant-Garde

Tips For Achieving Trendy Teenage Bedrooms

Decorating a teenage girl's bedroom can be extremely difficult to achieve due to the ever changing fashions in colours and interior design trends. Making a striking yet simple, practical and very functional bedroom can be achieve with a little ingenuity even on a limited budget!

Those who are handy with a sewing machine can choose fabric to suit the colour trends and transform bedrooms into chic places with coordinating bed covers, curtains and blinds which also offer a different stance on a typical bedroom design by having curtains which close across the bed!

In the past curtains were used to provide extra warmth in cold houses and much needed privacy in days when rooms were shared by the entire family! Modern homes no longer to use bed curtains for either of these functions and yet providing a 'private place' for teenagers is essential in today's modern world!

Opt for a robust fabric for the bed cover to transform the bed into a settee style seating place which can be used during the day. Scatter cushions add the all essential finishing touches which also can be used to inject further colours and texture, combine these with this year's trend of chandelier style lighting to achieve a stunning look which will be envied by friends! Just the type of personal space a young person needs!

Of course the colour combinations can be anything your teenager likes, this style of bedroom design works well with both plain or patterned fabrics, whether the room is left uncluttered is of course down to the young person, however by giving them a space they really love you may be surprised how neat and tidy it will be!

Image: Habitually Chic

Boost Your Morale With The Colours Of Summer

The colours of summer are a great way to boost your morale and inject vibrant colours into your living space. Interior designers are going against the 'grain' and using clashes of colour with great effect!

Bright and airy rooms cannot help but make you smile and feel happy! As many people are feeling gloomy due to being made redundant or struggling to make ends meet, having vibrancy within your home is a great tonic to lift your mood and inspire you to try new ventures.

Whether that be a complete change in career or the decision to start your own business. Keep positive and there are many ways you can make the most of hidden talents you never even knew you had!

I'm not implying that everyone should become interiors designers, far from it, but whilst you have time on your hands it is the ideal opportunity to get round to finishing all of those niggling little decorating touches you never quite got round to completing!

You could simply move your furniture round to give a completely new and refreshed look to you home, add cheap cushions and throws in beautiful colours which bring touches of different colours into your home. Think of stripes which may in some ways remind you of circuses, seaside fun and gorgeous colours of natural flowers which are prolific in many gardens at this time of the year and have these as easy to hang tab top curtains or in a rug.

Open the windows and let the smell of the rain or freshly mown lawns fill your home with natural cleanliness may be just the pick up you need!

Image: Belle Masion23

Times, Trends And People's Perceptions Have Changed – Thank Goodness!

Times are difficult for many people, from all walks of life and in a variety of different ways as the credit crunch is making life pretty bleak for some, whilst others are struggling to hang to their jobs or working in places they would rather not be.

As such, finding peace and tranquillity at home is essential, irrespective of how old you are, whether you live on your own or have a partner. Homes are what you make them and whilst spare cash may be sparse there are some great ways you can add some great style to your home without it breaking the bank.

If you can't afford or simply opt to only have one curtain as your window dressing, you have different ways you can choose to let the light in, which is a great way to add quirky yet practical fun to your living space!

Sweep it back to the right or left of the window, depending on where the most light is coming from and how much heat you want to let the sun bring you and hold in place with tie backs or simply gather it together in the centre and hold in place with a length of ribbon or contrasting fabric.

You don't even have to have wall to wall carpeting any longer, as plain floors with rugs are more in-vogue than the latter, and where in the past those who couldn't afford fitted carpets where considered by some to be those less well off, roles have reversed and in today's world plain and simple is definitely hip and chic!

Image: Vintage + Chic

Inspirational Design Concepts

Take an old concept and transform into a new revelation in your home!

Niches were commonly used in the past to have a bed situated which was then curtained off to give privacy, this was back in the days when families shared a room! This was more commonly used by country folk or those who had limited space. It was also a way to keep warm in the winter!

Having a bed with drapes and curtains was also employed by the wealthy in the form of four poster beds. These had lavish heavy weight curtains to keep the occupants snug and warm.

Many antique beds were specifically designed to fit either into a niche or against a wall. Some of the fabulous wooden bed frames can be found in antique and house clearance warehouses. Look out for the styles which have beautiful carvings on one side, the side which was not pushed up against a wall to give you an indication as to authenticity.


Restored and renovated homes can use this idea and rather than have a bed within a niche use the space to include a bath! Provide privacy, along with a stunning interior design feature, by hanging curtains from a metal curtain poles to create a country cottage look. Use neutral tones for a rustic look which offers a great place to relax and unwind.

A great alternative to an en-suite bathroom and a new twist on an age old way of utilising a niche!

For great inspirational interior design concepts and image source visit Bloomacious

Hana Stretch -Modern Table Lamps Inspired By Nature

Shige Hasegawa Design in Tokyo have been inspired by nature to create a wonderful coffee table and coordinating lamps. The designers have also been inspired in utilising the art of origami in the construction of the coffee table. It has no bolts or screws, being held together by skilfully interlocking the five plywood flower petals with shaped legs with the glass resting on the top.

The set includes these gorgeous modern table lamps with a simple flower structure to coordinate beautifully with the coffee table.

Hana Stretch (the name Hana means flower in Japanese) is made from stretched white fabric to create a gentle and beautiful lamp to grace interiors with their sleek simplicity, creating wonderful muted lighting effects.

I hope you agree that these beautiful lamps are simply stunning and would look amazing in modern and contemporary interior design styles of homes. Of course being white they would blend effortlessly with any colour scheme. Their natural flower design and non fussy look has such charming appeal!

Grouped together Hana Stretch would make a subtle and gentle alternative to floor lamps. With the two different height lamps emitting subtle diffused light to gently lift quite areas of a living space, including bedrooms, for a superb calming and tranquil atmosphere which is much needed in many people’s lives and their homes.

For further information and image source visit freshome

Denim Chair by Scrap Lab

Ever wonder what you could do with your old jeans? This ingenious design has been created by Scrap Lab.

Their mission is to use materials which are other’s ‘left overs’. The off-cuts and scrap can be wood, metal, nylon, plastics, paper, foam and fabrics and are obtained mainly from industrial sources.

Scrap Lab have clear aims and missions which focus on both global and economic concerns as well as using environmental issues regarding using sustainable sources, by working closely with manufacturers to rejuvenate and re-use their scarp materials to create positive and dynamic designs. They believe their sources will provide them with a continuous supply of materials for them to continue their design activities.

This denim chair cover can also be unbuttoned and used as a wrap round blanket or folded into a neat square floor mat. Easy to remove from the frame and transport makes this design very practical.

As the country’s economic downturn continues we are seeing designers create the most ingenious and innovative design styles. Great ways of using unwanted materials and fabrics.

This denim chair cover look so comfortable and would make the ideal inexpensive seating to charm any modern homes interior space. Team it with dark blue curtains and a floor rug and you have a low cost, yet stylish and effective room style.

I admire Scrap Lab and other creative designers who have taken principles such as patchwork from the past, as seen in this chair design, and brought it into the 21st century with panache and confidence.

Image source: Scrap Lab

Patchwork Beanbag Sofa

The new ‘going out’ is staying in-a bit of a contradiction of words I admit-but with the continuing downturn in the country’s economy experts are suggesting that more and more people will be making themselves comfy in their living rooms rather than spending money going out.

Snuggle up on this great Beanbag sofa designed by Bertjan Pot. It reminds me of knitted patchwork squares made by the WI and other institutions which are turned into blankets!

The great thing about patchwork-knitted or fabric-is that you can basically use any colour combinations and textures and still arrive at an unusual design. These types of random patchwork squares mean you don’t have to adept at coordinating colours or creating symmetrical patterns. You can simply make squares and join them together to make all manner of soft furnishings. Cushions and throws would be smaller and easier beginner projects and once you have mastered the art larger projects can be taken on.

Why not make patchwork curtains? There would be no need for complicated headings as that would spoil the ‘home-made’ effect. You could use a curtain pole to either make a simple overlapped topping and slide your new curtains onto the pole. Alternatively using wooden curtain rings would give a real in trend ‘shabby chic’ appearance very effectively.

The world is your oyster so to speak! Make use of your new at home time, be inspired with bright colours which remind you of nice comforting things. An excellent way to recycle old curtains, clothes-anything you can get your hands on really. Experiment, have fun and enjoy spending time at home.

For further information and image source visit: notempire