home decor

  Analytics are always interesting when you keep a blog and they can provide insight into your readers likes and dislikes.  I keep a close eye on my blog analytics and also Pinterest. While I look for patterns of pins on Pinterest there often aren't any, but last month was a little different.  Do  these images  indicate what is popular on Pinterest or do they reflect what I like personally or both? Here's a selection of  my most liked/repinned pins in order of popularity from last month: source  source  source  source  source    What we can say ... clean lines are evident in all designs versions of gray are very popular paired with lighter walls texture is a dominant feature especially from wood and brick lighter woods are used to add texture and warmth contrast is an evident characteristic  nature is present in fruits, plants, woods That's what Pinterest told me last month. Of course I know what is popular on my feed is i...

I can't believe that December whizzed by without much thought to home decor  blogging.  The holiday season always puts things on hold. I have to make up for that with a good summary of what 2016 holds in design trends for the home.  How do I know what to write about trends? A good question for sure. Knowledge comes from a lot of reading and looking and being a good synthesizer.   A trend is never  for one year;  all I have to do is look back at what I wrote last year to realize that everything still holds true.  When I write about trends I  like to write about broader patterns I notice in  home decor  that I feel have some staying power. There's nothing earth shattering to report for 2016, but there's usually not major shifts. Plants  and plant motifs bring the outside in   Source  You can also see the use of blue, wire furniture, and natural woods carried over from last year.  Pastels are still creeping in usually mi...

When someone says dining room, what picture appears in your mind?  Try  it.  List the elements. For many of us these words conjure up a dining room set with everything matching, a chandelier and some sort of hutch or maybe buffet.  Probably a picture of some sort will be included.  I bet matching is the most obvious characteristic. It doesn't have to be that way unless that's what you like.  Here are 5 ways you can  make your dining space stand out a little. Mix and match your chairs and table The days of dining sets have moved behind us.  In many magazines you will see all sorts of mixing of styles, materials and colours. I love the look of upholstered chairs with a wood table. They soften the hard edges and provide some relief in the "wood" department. Some adventurous types will go for two different styles of chairs.  Adore magazine  Another option if you aren't too adventurous is to upholster each of your wooden chairs with a differe...

I love serendipitous events that add to my thoughts on an interior decorating topic.  I recently experienced this  as I was preparing to write about neutral colour schemes.  Just like a gift  La Dolce Vita , one of my favourite blogs, appeared  in my inbox with the perfect visuals to support  several of the points I wanted to make.  Paloma always finds the best spaces to present to readers! Check out her blog, you won't be sorry.  Making a neutral scheme work requires skill.  Once you  remove colour from the equation you have to make the most of the  other elements of design especially: pattern, texture, value/contrast and form.  Of course the principles of design remain in tact. Every successful space  has  good balance, harmony, emphasis, scale/proportion and rhythm. Sounds great, but what does that look like in a space? Check out all takes of this  living room  by Bill Ingram & William McLure of Bill ...

Details in decor can make or break a design especially when you have a more minimal look (not a lot of stuff around).  You need something interesting  to draw the eye and provide a  momentary resting place.  It might be a texture, a beautifully shaped stool, or an embellishment.  A space without details is immensely boring and who wants a boring home?   Here are simple ways to add some pizazz to your space. Each  space will have a different starting point.   1. Use art  to create a vignette Eye catching art anchors design source Choose eye catching art and use it to create a vignette.  In this space the yellow chair creates a visual flow from the artwork and it is anchored by the stripes in the rug. Books provide a casual look but other items could be added to the bench to continue the tone set by the art.    2. Add pattern and texture Greek key detailing adds interest source  The addition of pattern to any space inst...