Fabulous Ways Of Using Curtains

Removing doors and replacing them with full length curtains is not only an inspirational idea in rooms where doors are impractical, they are also make a very elegance and frame through which to look through and an easy way for the eye to be naturally drawn through into the next room and the natural light coming through the window.

The aspect I really find an easy, yet brilliant idea is to have the tie backs up high to enable the space to be fully utilised. Of course, this type of door way is a perfect for any type of interior design, be it traditional, modern or contemporary, it would purely be just a matter of choosing the right style and colour of fabric and altering the pelmet to suit.

With the curtain pelmet touching the line between the wall and the ceilng also adds height to the room. Look closely and you will see that the windows in the other room have the same curtains, also with high tie backs, creating a real sense of cohesion and harmony.

Using tie backs up high would look wonderful on sheer fabrics such as silk and voiles, particularly if you were to use the latest trends of beaded tie backs in a contrasting colour. Opt for opaque beads to allow the sun to make fascinating patterns of subtle colour to give the room a wonderful and gentle focal point.

Much nicer than traditional style of net curtains used in many homes in the UK, predominately to stop prying eyes seeing into other people's houses rather than for their somewhat bland and in my opinion boring and outdated look which do little to enhance the beauty of anyone's windows!

Image: Absolutely Beautiful Things

Tips to decorating A Child's Bedroom

I'm staying with the theme of bedroom for children and teenagers as these rooms often pose dilemmas for parents.

Things I would recommend:

* Children grow very fast, silly statement I know but it's true! You send money and hours decorating it the latest fads of favourite TV characters and before the paint is dry they have changed their minds! Stick with more neutral themes and let them add their own identity by have their favourite toys (of the moment) and opt for cheap duvet covers which can be replaced without spending a fortune.

* Window dressings, always opt to have black out lining unless you want to be woken every morning by your children rather than the alarm clock! You can fit blackout linings to any style of curtain fabrics, and if you prefer to use blinds chose the ones which are made with light blackout fabrics.

* Flooring, this needs to be easily to keep clean. In the UK carpets are now being replaced with stripped floor boards or wood effect laminate flooring which is much easier to keep clean and far more 'accident' proof than carpets! Don't be fooled into thinking it's only toddlers who have 'accidents', as your child enters teenage years 'accident' of a different kind, usually alcohol related, will also take their toll on a carpet!

* Furnishing, trendy beds and furniture made from wood or metal are a good investment for children of all ages. Bunk beds or bunks which have a working space underneath are great space savers.

* Above all keep things simple! The more fancy you try and make the room the more cluttered and untidy it is likely to become. Always have lots of storage space and add shelves to store books, DVDs etc.

Image: Freshome

Hipster Rug

Following on from my last post I had to share this fantastic rug with you! Created by Lil Mo this 'Hipster' rug it has to be one of the coolest rugs you could possibly choose for a teenager's bedroom.

You may not know what all the abbreviations mean but I can assure you with most teenagers using text chat and internet abbreviated speak all the time they will find this rug really trendy and will be the envy of all their friends!

The colours are just as cool and will blend with any décor scheme and style quite easily. It may just shock your kid's to know that you are just as hip as they are even though you prefer not to speak in abbreviations all the time! The rug is available in different sizes and is 100% acrylic giving you the durability you need in a teenager's bedroom!

If this rug is not quite to your liking Lil Mo has created other great designs with kids in mind. Visit Atticmag to see others in the the collection. These may not be cheap rugs but the certainly do cater for children of all ages and tastes and a ideal way to keep your kid's happy!

Your kids will be astounded at your impeccable taste in soft furnishing and they may even teach you how to text at ultra fast speeds...in abbreviated text of course!

Well, you have to LOL occasionally even if you really would prefer to stay straight-faced!!

Decorating Children's Bedrooms

Decorating children's bedrooms can be a real nightmare! It's fine when they are toddlers because you can use the alphabet, animals, circus tents just about any theme and they will be happy!

However, reaching those in between years when they are no longer little and yet not reached their teenage years can be a real problem. I love the design concept of this boy's bedroom, especially the baseballs used on top of the bed posts which add a really individual touch.

Including names of the children who occupy the room has always baffled me! Is this to remind them who they are and which bed they are supposed to sleep in or it a psychological symbol indicating their own individual space?

With that dilemma put aside, I do believe it is important to let children have a say in the colour scheme and style of their room, as they are far more likely to want to spend time there in a space of their own as well as sleeping of course!

Having personal touches is another great way to let them express their individuality, home-made quilts and bedspreads may not be to everyone's liking but they are a great way of showing how much you care, and until they reach the rebellious stage I say 'go for it' in a big way!

Once they reach the age, when it's pointless trying to help them make choices, they can have their own space decorated and kept in whatever disarray they want! If they want black walls and ceilings then agree enthusiastically, you may be surprised to find that if you whole heartedly agree with anything they will want something different! It may be mind games but it works...well nearly always!

Image source: AtticMag

Beautiful Bedroom Designs With A Modern Twist

Finding the right colour combinations for bedrooms is a matter of balance, to create trendy yet serene places of tranquility and peace. Opting for two basic or main colours is always a good idea and then add an injection of one other accent colour to achieve a harmonious and stylish look.

Too many colours and your mind will be full of confusion which is not conducive to restful sleep. Black and white are classical monotone colour schemes which are used successfully in all styles of homes and interior design styles. These colours look great on their own and yet but adding just a couple of accent pieces the whole effect is easily transform.

Add an accent colour by including a cushion or bedspreads neatly folded in half across the bed for a more conventional look or folded in thirds to make one of the latest trends of bed runners across the bottom third of the bed.

At least with bedspreads you can pull them up if you feel cold, whilst these latest trends of bed runners are purely for aesthetic appearances or for keeping you feet warm!

Rooms which are coordinated do not have to be stuffy and old fashioned looking if you choose your colours carefully. If you opt for the totally coordinated style opt for plain bedspreads, duvet covers and curtains as well as plain walls as these provide a sense of cohesion to the room.

For great inspirational ideas and image source visit A Life's Design blog.

Finding The Right Colours In The Bedroom!

Neutral colours create a relaxing atmosphere which are ideal for guest rooms or for those who prefer a non flashy style of design. Neutral tones are perfect for creating a serene ambience which can give the illusion of more space which is a real asset in small rooms.

Master bedrooms are intimate places which are rarely shared with anyone but the houseowners, irrispective of age. Keeping bedrooms private places enable people to have much needed santuaries of peace and privacy in modern hectic lifestyles.

If you are able to keep your bedroom private and child free, at least for some of the time! you will sleep better and furthermore feel better. I know that I'm a clutter free freak, however if there is only one place that should be kept immaculate it has to be the bedroom!

Get into the habit of putting clothes away, either by re-hanging in the wardrobe or putting them into the laundry basket. Always make your bed after an airing. Walking into a bedroom which has an unmade bed is one of the quickest ways to deflate you!

Add injections of colour in neutral colour schemes, this is a great way of keeping up with the latest design colour trends, scatter cushions, beautiful bed sets, bedside table lamps and personal touches by way of photographs or your favourite objects. Remember uneven grouping always looks far more styish, three and five are perfect!

Luxury bedding in deep rich colours offers a sensuous and very stlish look to a bedroom. Make your bedroom your personal space which is not shared by anyone but your partner!

Image: So Chic Interiors

Appealing Summer Design Styles

There is something about this room design which I love, not my usual type of style, however the more I look at this room the more aspects of it I like!

In a nutshell that is what good design style is all about, liking the look, loving the colours and feeling comfortable with the style. This is a room which would suit many homes and could so easily be copied, even if you were to follow the design principles if you are not keen on the colours a striking style could be achieved very cost effectively.

If you are not adept at painting features and focal points on your walls there are lots of places where you can obtain transfers which are quick and easy to apply.

Of course the room has lots of white, well I doubt I’d like it so much if it didn’t! along with some beautiful striking summer colours in the cushions, mural and the ready made curtains. The white coffee table has all the hallmarks of a sixties style which only has the all important three objects placed on it.

Always display objects in uneven numbers as this is far more pleasing to the eye. The other thing I love about this room s there is no clutter, which I admit is one of my greatest dislikes!

The flooring makes a pleasant change in mustard yellow, however I’m not a lover of wall to wall carpets and would change this for a large rug on stripped floor boards or ceramic tiles in a neutral shade.

Image: Decorology

Using White In Your Home

White and so chic this is the ideal hallway for me! Simplicity really is a matter of less is more in many styles of interior design and this is one of those designs where nothing more is needed, its striking simplicity speaks volumes!

Injections of colour are all in-vogue within the world of interiors, however white continues to be the most favoured of colours. purely because it look stylish on its own and even more stunning when a natural wood table on which a few objects, including plain table lamps, nothing fancy or flashy, are placed. Natural coloured flooring is used as a purely functional necessity and to make this design feel homely.

The great advantage of using white is that it looks good however old or new your home, unless you are trying to replicate a particular period of time, such as the Victorian era or before, then white is an excellent option. (you shouldn’t include brilliant white paint if you want authentic looks in Victorian homes for the simple reason it hadn’t been invented!)

Any room of your home can be predominately white, of course total white is also acceptable but needs to be used carefully and skilfully otherwise it can look very cold…think of snow and ice and you will realise what I mean!

Injections of any colour, pale pastel to vibrant neon will lift the coldness and turn your room into a chic and very stylish place to be!

For great interior design inspiration and image visit Decorology

Wishing On A Star!

This gorgeous bedroom has the most beautiful uninterrupted view, with the curtains being used as a divider for privacy within the house rather than the more conventional use of being a window dressing.

A wonderful twist on the use of curtains and is a great way to show their versatility around a home.

Curtains with tab-tops or eyelets and becoming an increasingly popular method of creating functional wardrobe space in alcoves but rarely used as a simple yet gracefully elegant room divider.

I love the concept of sleeping under the stars and not being in a tent….

I’m not sure about the audio protection this curtain would provide. Having said that anyone who lives in such a beautiful home is unlikely to have children and no doubt guest rooms are far away in another area of the house so noise wouldn’t pose a problem.

There are obviously few worries of having to provide window protection from prying eyes with a room so open to the world. This is an aspect that few of us are able to do and typically spend our lives trying to find effective and stylish ways to stop people from intruding on our lives by covering our windows with vertical blinds or net curtains both day and night!

Waking up to such a beautiful view must be lovely, a dream come true, however surely you be quite literally be awake at the crack of dawn as the sun rises…or maybe that is something you would just get used to and learn to ignore! However, being woken in such a natural, gentle and unobtrusive way would make a lovely start to your day!

Image: Freshome