Make your apartment a Home!

Are you renting? Not a problem, we have tips for you! You do not have to be a home owner to make your space, YOURS! Here are some great ideas to add space and flavor to your apartment.

Tip #1:
Less is More! Space allows the eye to travel.

Tip #2:
Remove Doors! Interior doors to bedrooms and closets, etc take up space and stops the traveling eye. Replace your interior doors with curtains of your choice. Curtains allow both rooms to blend together which makes the space appear larger.

Tip #3:
Organized Closets! Organize your closets with shelves, shoe racks, etc. If your closet has no lighting, add some. A small table lamp will be good enough.

Tip #4:
Variety of Lighting! There should be more than one source of lighting in your apartment. Most apartments do not come with installed ceiling lights so have a variety of lamps. Table lamps, floor lamps, natural light, up lights and accent lights. If you collect anything like artwork, give it a seperate light to showcase it.

Tip #5:
Rope Lighting! LED rope lighting is a great asset for clostes, and under/over cabinet lighting.

Tip #6:
Mirrors! Mirrors will never leave the world of design. They are the one piece that can be placed anywhere. Bedroom, Living room, Dining room, enrties, you name it. Mirrors come in a huge variety of shapes, styles and sizes. Dont be afraid to mix it up!

Tip #7:
Color! Creat color contrast in your space. If your floors are dark, do light paint on your walls and vice versa.

Tip #8:
Big Furniture! No matter what the square footage of your apartment is, use big furniture. Big head boards are such a cool accent to small rooms. It will actually make your room look bigger than it is. Large sectional couches for the living room are also great. Replace the small tv for a 50inch flat screen. If you are not into big furniture, purchase big accessories for your apartment. Big mirrors, flower vases, paintings, book shelves and much more.

Tip #9
Floor to ceiling Curtains! If you are hanging curtains, be sure to use floor-to-ceiling curtains. They will make the walls in your space appear taller. Do the same for your shower curtain.

Tip #10:
Clean windows! Clear glass windows are always a plus. Dirty windows distract the eye. Do the comparison and see what a difference clean windows make.

How to get a sharp Edge & Line!

It has been said that blue painters tape is the way to go when you need a clean edge or line. From personal experience, the blue painters tape did not give a clean and sharp line. At first I thought it was just because of the texture of my walls. Turns out, everyone I know that has used blue painters tape was not satisfied with their end results.

The solution to get a clean, sharp line and edge is to use "Frog Tape." Frog tape is the best! It seals 100% better than blue tape to give you that clean edge or line. You are sure to be satisfied with Frog Tape. Frog Tape is sold at Sherwin Williams paint stores, and your local home improvement stores. Instead of blue, go with Green Frog Tape!

Outdoor Kitchen Tips!

1. Decide whether you want a self-sufficient outdoor space or an auxiliary Kitchen. Making this decision will determine if a frige, sink and large amount of counter space is needed

2. Design the Outdoor kitchen in divisions. Have a Hot and cold, wet and dry section. Have the grill on one side and the sink, drinks and frige on another.

3. Choosing the right countertop material is very important. When shopping for a countertop material, get a sample and leave it in direct sunlight for a few hours to see whether it holds heat, or is heat resistant. Stainless steel is HIGHLY non recommended for outdoor kitchens. Limestone is good, but be aware it will show grease stains. Soapstone, granite, slate, etc are great for outdoor countertops. Follow the fabricators advice about sealing.

4. A drip edge is highly recommended for countertops. To have a drip edge, you cut a small groove on the underside, a quarter-inch back from the front edge. Drip edges keeps water from running onto the top of the cabinets. The less water that hits the cabinets, the longer they last!

5. Countertops should be slightly tilted down 1/16 of an inch at the front, so that water does not build up at the backsplash when it rains.

6. The outdoor kitchen floors should have a variety of color and texture to hide stains.

7. Outdoor entertainment is always a great asset to outdoor living spaces. Include some wiring for outdoor speakers, tv and cable.

13 Fabulous Decor Tips!

Here is a list of great and simple things you can do to change up your space. Enjoy!

1. Pillows- Use 2 or more different types (colors, textures, sizes & patterns) of pillows on your sofa and/or bed.
2. Big Bed- Small or large room, use a high bed with a tall headboard.
3. Dark Walls- Some say that dark walls only make a space look smaller, but it can also make a room appear larger. Dont be afraid!
4. Wallpaper- wallpapering closet doors is very unique and can make a great focal point.
5. Chairs- Instead of a sofa, use chairs in living rooms. A variety of chairs will look great and add greater detail than a sofa. If a sofa is mandatory for you, use one large sofa and replace the love seat with two chairs.
6. Neutral Colors- Color is always fun, but it is OK to have a entire neutral room. A Variety of Whites, beiges, and tans are great!
7. Throws- Throws are a great accent for sofas and beds. For sofas, fold the throw length wise then in half and tuck it into the sofa. This gives a very appealing and sophisticated look.
8. Ottoman- It is time to retire your coffee table and hire a ottoman. Ottomans make great center pieces and can be used for additional seating when entertaining. Also, sitting a food tray on top will give a great rustic look.
9. Skirted Furniture- Skirted sofas and/or chairs are always a great idea for a living space. It is softer on the eyes instead of seeing so many wooden chair and sofa legs.
10. Gold- Gold is back and beautiful! Dont be afraid to incorporate a few gold accent pieces into your space. It gives your space an amazing and clean look.
11. Plants- Ypur space needs oxygen and that is where plants come in. Plants are great for corner spaces that you have nothing to do with.
12. Chairs- Leather and Vinyl chairs are great for any area. Breakfast nooks, dining rooms, living rooms, etc.
13. Mix up Seating- It is time to dress up your dining room table. Get rid of those 4-8 or more identical chairs and use a wooden bench, and two leather or vinyl (printed/non-printed) chairs for the head of the table. This will add a traditional yet contemporary feel to your dining room.

Small Space, Think BIG!

Have a small bathroom, dining room or area in your home that you feel you cant do anything with? Well fear no more. These tips will allow you to enjoy small as if it was big.

Tile:
For you small space, it is good to use large tile. Using small tile will make your space appear even smaller. Plain-colored tile (self-adhesive vinyl) are easy to install and cost effective. Tile can be purchased at your local home improvement store.

Use Glass:
Glass has the ability to make any small space appear larger. Add mirrors to any room to brighten and visually expand your space.

Clear Floor Space:
Having clear floor space is everything. The more floor space you have, the bigger the space looks. Some things have to be placed on the floor, but not everything. For example, use wall mounted lamps instead of floor lamps. Simple changes will make a HUGE difference in space.


& Remember, Always have FUN!

choosing the best color for your space!

The most affordable way to spice up your space is by painting! Paint is inexpensive and makes a huge difference in a space. Paint comes in over 3,000 colors, and a variety of different finishes. Just as paint can spice up your space, it can also ruin your space by choosing the wrong color and/or finish for that particular room or area.

Choosing a paint color is a fun and exciting experience, but also pretty challenging. For Example, lets say you know without a shadow of doubt your want your living room to be green. Ok thats pretty simple. The challenging part kicks in when you arrive at the paint store and see that there are 100+ shades of green. This is when decision making takes place (the not so fun part). So, all the greens appeal to you, but which one do you go with?

By looking at the small paint swatch it is hard to determine how that color will look on your walls. Feel free to ask the associate for a larger swatch. Once you have the larger swatch, do not rush your decision. It is OK to go back & forth until you find the color(s) that you cannot live without.

For $3.00 you can by a sample of any color(s) you want to take home and demonstrate on your walls. This will allow you to see how you genuinely feel about the color(s). You will witness how light affects the color(s), how well it blends or stands out from your furniture and accessories, etc. After 2-5 days your mind will be made.

Your walls are painted and it is not the "green" you expected. No worries, paint is the most forgiving product in design. Purchase the combined paint and primer and go with the "yellow" you were considering. :)

Most of all...Always have FUN!

Ways to Go GREEN!

Going Green is the hottest new thing in the world of Interior Design. Whether you are renovating, having new construction or just want to reduce your carbon footprint, these steps will benefit you:

1) Substitute wood for metal (preferably: new construction or renovation)
2) Use 0-low VOC (Volitile Organic Compounds) Paint
3) Wallpaper
4) Restore furniture instead of purchasing new furniture
5) Use Green materials (Trinity Glass, Vetrazzo, Cement, Porcelin Tile, Linoleum, etc)
6) Energy Star appliances dishwashers, washer/dryer, water heater, & shower head, toilet
7) Use local manufacturers, distributors and companies
8) Electric Fire Places
9) Hire a LEED certified Green Consultant
10) Lighting should be TITLE 24 Compliant

Difference between a Decorator & Designer

Many people believe that Decorators and Designers are the same, while some simply do not know the difference between the two. This post will help you to have a clear understanding of how the two differ.

Interior Decorator:
An "Interior Decorator" is someone who deals with colors, furniture, finishes and primarily works in residential boundries. An Interior Decorator will arrange furniture in a space, or put together colors and finishes to create a palette that the client can choose from. They also charge a "mark-up" on all furniture and products they sale to clients. Mark-ups can range anywhere from 20%-50%. Decorators are reluctant towards contracts and/or letter of aggrements.

Interior Designer:
An "Interior Designer" is someone who can complete an interior design project from start to finish, including preparing construction documents for bidding and permitting, as well as supervising the construction and installating of the work. This person in essence becomes your agent to deal with local building codes and building departments, and licensed contractors. They have the expertise to handle all of these different players, whereas you may, or may not have the time or inclination.

Interior Designers cover all types of projects from commerical (offices, medical facilities, retail shops, restaurants, hotels, retirement and nursing facilities, etc) to residential. Typically an Interior Designer has a lot of education and experience, as well as possibly having sat for one or more examinations in order to test their competency and to attain state recognition of their profession.

*For a list of Certified Interior Designers in your area visit the CCIDC website at www.ccidc.org or call the CCIDC office in San Marcos, CA at (760)761-4734.


Reference:
CCIDC

Welcome!

Hello & Thank you for stopping by. This is a great place to learn how to spice up your space on any budget. Everything from accessorizing to renovation tips will be here at your finger tips. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.

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