The Summer is a Great Time to get into Leather Furniture - Home Design Interior

Home Design Interior - Summer is a great time to start considering updating and improving your home, making it more refreshing and comfortable for yourself, your family, and your guests. Adding new furniture, or simply updating and replacing outdated furniture, can go a long way to improving the quality and comfort level of a home.

One of the best ways to update your furnishings (and home décor) is to replace outdated furniture with new leather furniture. Just about anyone would love to have a new recliner or sofa in their den or living room to be able to comfortably relax while they unwind from the day. If you’re looking for a way to live out that dream in your own recliner or wingback chair, check out this website for a great place to buy a leather chair in Toronto. If you don’t live in Toronto, just do your research and look around! Ideally you want a retailer that provides a wide selection, has been in business a long time, and has a history of satisfying its customers.

Leather is a very high quality material that has always been a gold standard when it comes to comfort, durability, and breath ability. There really is nothing better than relaxing on your new couch with the windows open and a glass of lemonade (complete with a sprig of mint) by your side. A lot of people seem to think that leather is a bad choice for summer, but it’s actually the opposite! It is cooler than your body temperature, and because it breathes so well you don’t end up sweating as much as when you sit in a fabric chair. Just ask the experts at your local furniture retailer, such as the Chesterfield Shop in the GTA, about the advantages of it as a material in the summer months.

In regards to durability, leather outlasts furniture made out of fabric by a ratio of four to one. That’s probably because it doesn’t tear anywhere near as easily, and it is easy to keep clean if you have pets, children, or an extremely messy partner (or if you’re the clumsy one yourself!). It’s also fire resistant and doesn't release any toxic fumes when it is exposed to heat, which is definitely a huge plus.

Unlike fabrics, leather doesn’t wear or fade over time, but actually becomes softer and more attractive, meaning you’re less likely to want to replace it in the future and can safely spend your money elsewhere. If you purchase a new piece of furniture from a quality retailer like the Chesterfield Shop, you can expect to get fifteen-to-twenty years of use out of it, as opposed to the four to five years that someone might get from fabric made sofas and recliners. When you consider what you’re getting and how much you’re going to spend, there’s really no excuse for going with a sub-par material for your new furniture purchase!

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Your Renovation Could Save The World! - Home Design Interior

Home Design Interior -

Doing a renovation is the most popular way to make your home everything you want it to be. You might have been dreaming about certain changes for years. Now, they’re just around the corner! There’s another side to the coin though. If you’re particularly concerned for the environment, then you may want to find ways of making your renovations as green as possible. Here are some handy tips to use.

Firstly, look into passive design. Passive design is almost completely unheard of among a lot of homeowners. However, if you’re looking to save the planet we live on, it’s something you should really be looking into. This technique uses the physical orientation of your home, and the chaos of the seasons, to form rooms that require minimum heating and cooling. These include glazing, insulation, thermal mass and airflow. For example, because the sun hits the north before anything in winter, you could open up that face of an extension in order to heat up a wall or floor. Through orientation and thermal mass, this will keep your home warmer and lessen the need for heating. This is just one of the ways you can use passive design to make a greener home.

Your plumbing is another important area to plan out when you’re aiming for a green renovation. This period will be a pretty rare opportunity to re-engineer your pipes, and help the water deficit we’re currently dealing with. There are many different ways of using and re-using water in a home. Each system is made for a different kind of water, but they’re all made for the same noble cause. Rainwater is chlorine-free, and can be used safely for washing machines and flushing toilets. If greywater is treated properly, it can also be used for toilets and washing machines. Blackwater (toilet water) needs rigorous disinfection to be re-used. You can do this yourself, but it’s hugely important to make sure you’re using the right system. Negligence could be a health risk for you and your whole family.

The materials you choose for the construction is also an important consideration for your green renovation. Sourcing green materials may take a little extra effort. In the long run though, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s worth it! Various companies sell reclaimed wood flooring directly, but it certainly doesn’t stop there. You’ve probably had to do some kind of demolition work to get your home ready for the renovation. Go through the skip, and take out any materials which could be used for other areas. When picking out materials, keep the lifespan of your renovation in mind. If the materials are still in a good condition long after you’re gone, it will reduce the need for more deforestation and mining. Green construction is all about thinking ahead, and considering how every little choice will affect the eco system.

Having a renovation done on your house doesn’t have to mean harming the earth. Take your time with the planning, choose materials wisely, and your extension will stay nice and kind to mother earth.

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Luxury Bathroom Design: What The Pros Won’t Tell You - Home Design Interior

Home Design Interior -

Your bathroom should be your retreat from the world. It should be the place that you go after a long and stressful day. If your bathroom isn’t a space that’s calm and tranquil, then there’s a problem. If your bathroom just isn’t as beautiful as it used to be and has started to look a little rough around the edges, it’s time to take action.

When it comes to home design, a lot of us struggle, simply because we don’t know the best ways to go about. There’s so much conflicting advice when it comes to interior design that it can be hard to know the best way to go about updating your bathroom. Even more so if you’ve got a certain style in mind, such as a luxury design, for instance.

Because of this, a lot of people opt to hire an interior designer when it comes to doing up their bathroom. However, if you don’t want an extra cost to deal with, it’s best to go DIY. To help you create a bathroom as beautiful as one, an interior designer would create, below are a list of tips and tricks. These are all things that the pros swear by but would never tell you.

Don’t be afraid to break the rules

We’ve all heard the various rules of decorating. There are so many things that you should and shouldn’t do. Look at the work of any interior designer, and you’ll see that they constantly break the rules. The truth is that when it comes to creating a beautiful space that you love, the rules of design are there to be broken. Don’t be afraid to get creative; sometimes the best work comes from a random act of creativity.

Work with neutrals and add touches of colour

For a luxurious space, we’re always told to stick to neutrals. However, while neutrals can create a fantastically calm and tranquil space, they can also be a little boring. To jazz up your bathroom and make it a more ‘fun’ space, incorporate splashes of colour. These don’t have to be anything too bright and bold, just small touches here and there. The best way to subtly add colour is, of course, via accessories. Think rugs, towels, wall art, soap dispensers, and other cute, little bits and bobs.

Make the features the focal points

What interior designers have told us is that every room needs a focal point. What they haven’t let on, however, is that furniture or features like a bathtub can make the best focal points. Things like claw-footed bathtubs, for example, can make fantastic focal points. You can pick up a lot of stylish designs for low prices on second-hand selling sites, so make sure to check these out. Or, how about using a beautiful double sink vanity as your bathroom focal point? There’s a variety of double sink vanities online to choose from, should you opt to go down this route. Pick features that you love and use them as focal points for the room - the effect will be amazing.

Get creative with wallpaper

Last but not least, consider getting creative will wallpaper. Wallpaper isn’t just for covering every wall in; it has plenty of other uses too. How about wallpapering your ceiling, for instance? The ceiling often gets forgotten about, but it can be easily spiced up with a cute roll of wallpaper. Or what about adding an accent wall using a wallpaper design that you love? There are so many ways that you can get creative with wallpaper; it’s not just an alternative to paint. Look at the work of any professional designer, and you’ll see what we mean.

The above advice should give you everything that you need to start planning your bathroom update. Of course, before you get started it’s wise to get some inspiration. The more inspiration and ideas you can get, the better.

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Home improvement ideas to add big value before selling - Home Design Interior

A Few Simple Tips and Tricks to Add Stylish Updates to Your Living Room - Home Design Interior

Home Design Interior - The living room is one of the rooms in the home that you want to be cosy and comfortable. You will want it to be stylish too. We spend quite a bit of our time in it, and it is where we take guests when they come to visit. So we want it to look stylish, right? Here are some of my thoughts on how you can easily add a stylish update to your living room.

Choose the Color Wisely

The color that a room is can affect the mood of the people in it. There has been a lot of history behind the psychology of color and the findings are interesting. Cool colors like blue and white can make the room feel relaxing. It can make the room feel spacious, open, and fresh. Bolder colors like red and purple add a luxurious feel but can make the room feel a little smaller and dark. Warm colors like orange and tan can be nice and homely and help you to feel relaxed. So think about the ambience that you are trying to create and then go with the colors from there. The good news is that changing the color of the room is easy to do. Just get a paintbrush or some wallpaper. It could be done in one day if needed, so it’s a bonus.

Think About a Focal Point

When you walk into a room, it is always better if there is a focal point in the room. In a living room, a fireplace is a natural focal point. There is nothing cosier than being able to snuggle up by a fire in the living room. There are so many options that you can choose from, though. You can even get electric fires or remote controlled ones these days. You could choose to have a wood burner or an open fire place. These are all great options, but might be better if you don’t have young children. You could get a fire guard, though. You could mix it up with logs, coal or even Fire Glass. So think about the style of the living area and decide what would look best.

Comfortable Seating

One of the most important parts of a living room is being able to sit down and be comfortable. It might be for cosying up to watch a movie, or just to entertain with friends. Whatever you use it for, the seating you have is so important. Think about the layout of the living room too. You want it to be easy to make conversation and for everyone to see each other. It can be tricky, depending on the size and shape of the room. So have a play with the furniture to see what will look best. It is also a good idea to get something like a bean bag or large pillows that can be moved around the room. Then it changes up the options for seating, depending on the number of people.

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7 Ideas for an Instant Bedroom Makeover - Home Design Interior

Home Design Interior -

Giving any room in your home doesn't have to be expensive. Follow these seven makeover ideas to transform your bedroom instantly. 

Choosing colors and textures

The hardest decision of all is selecting a color scheme. Firstly, find some inspiration on Pinterest and decide what type of bedroom you are drawn to. You can then start putting together a mood-board of colors and features that appeal to you.

Once you've chosen a color scheme, you can start to decide what kind of finishes and textures you like. Combining different textures can give you room depth, so consider choosing a few. 

Add some personality

Wallpapering or painting one wall in your bedroom is an excellent way to add a splash of personality. Feature walls are a quick and easy way to give your bedroom a makeover. It's unlikely you'll need to move furniture, too because it's just one wall.

If you're not ready to commit to painting or wallpapering one wall in your bedroom, then that's okay! You can add personality by adding throw cushions to your bed or changing the curtains. 

Invest in new bedding

If you can't invest in a new mattress, then at least treat yourself to some new bedding. Choose a duvet that is one size bigger than your bed, and double up on pillows.

Buy a fresh set of sheets and pillowcases (plus you'll need if you've got a new duvet!). Opt for white Egyptian cotton for a luxurious feel. 

Let there be light!

Lighting impacts our mood, so it's crucial that this is in the forefront of your mind when decorating. Consider installing a dimmer, to adjust your lighting, depending on how you feel.

LED fairy lights are also an excellent alternative to the bedroom if you don't fancy having a bedside lamp. They can add a touch of sparkle while not overpowering the room.

Not sure what type of lighting you want? Check out lighting stores online for lighting inspiration. 

Wall art and decor

Looking on websites such as Etsy for handmade pieces though can be a great place to start looking. You'll find something unique and handmade especially for you.

If you want to decorate your bedroom with unique pieces of art and decor on a budget, though, why not make your own? DIY home decor tutorials are the perfect way to add personality to your room, while sticking to a theme. 

Hide the clutter

There's nothing worse than unwinding in bed, and finding yourself surrounded by clutter. Clear your surfaces and tidying away your clothes, so that you can relax in a clean bedroom.

Perhaps organize your belongings into a closet, or tuck them away under your bed. 

Don't forget to look down!

So many people forget to look down when they are decorating their bedrooms. You don't have to tear up the carpet to change the style of your room. Choose rugs that suit the style of your room. There’s nothing better than a cozy rug under your feet on a winter morning, too!

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How to Create Vintage Looks in Your Home - Home Design Interior

Home Design Interior -

At the moment, there are quite a few modern home decor trends that are popular. Think monochrome or scandi styles for example. They are styles that people are getting quickly bored of, though. They look good for a little while but it can easily become outdated. It can hard to keep up with too. Imagine trying to keep an all white room pristine and crisp, when it is a nursery for your toddler? Not going to happen. So they can look great. They just aren’t that practical. One look that is always a winner, is choosing a vintage look. It is easier to maintain and you won’t need to get a whole lot of new furniture for it either. So it makes it a more affordable option than other styles. It is more feminine as well as being sweet and charming. So here are some tips for creating the vintage look in your own home.

Make Things Yourself

The vintage look isn’t all about having lots of technology or modern accessories. So one way to create the vintage look in your home is to make some of the accessories yourself. How about making your own curtains? You could update some that you have already. You could add new stitching or applique some netting or beading on to them. You could hang some lace over your window, to create a vintage style lace blind. You could try making your own photo frames or word art for your walls. There are a lot of possibilities of things that you could create yourself. It is a lovely way to decorate in the home and will leave you feeling happy that you created it all. Rather than just buying it all.

Upcycle Furniture

One way to get the vintage look is by upcycling furniture. You could update chair cushions by altering the material and then reapplying it. You could sand down something like a dresser or a sideboard. Then you could repaint it to update it. Lighter colors work well for the vintage look. White or cream coloured furniture, that has been distressed slightly works well. Pastel colours also add to the look and can look so pretty. Try not to go for deep, bold colors like navy or reds. If you wanted something that isn’t as plain, you could use something like mod podge to stick patterned fabrics or papers to the furniture. If you have a bookshelf, you could attach them to the shelves, so you see a pattern through the books. You could attach them to the front of a chest of drawers, to add a different dimension to the drawers.

If you already have some furniture to update, then great. Have a look around and get creative. If you don’t, you could look around some oak furniture stores to choose something. Real wood furniture is the best to upcycle and alter. 

Style with Florals

Florals scream vintage and retro, right? So make sure that you use plenty of it. It doesn’t all need to be the in the same room of course. Just add touches of it, with throws, tablecloths, and soft furnishings. Having actual fresh flowers helps to channel the vintage vibe. Think classic roses or something like peonies. They just ooze style and are full of color. They will compliment the colors that you have in your home too.

Think About Accessories

Accessories are key to completing the vintage look. If you have a French style dresser, think about getting some mirrored trays or mirrored storage boxes. You can buy these things in the stores that you would normally shop at. You can also get them from thrift stores too. Then they will be real vintage too. So pretty much perfect for trying to achieve a vintage look. Change up drawer pulls or door knobs for pretty and detailed ones. They will change the look of the furniture and be channelling the retro vibe.

Photo frames and little trinkets are big for a retro theme. If you have shelving or a dresser, fill it with little retro trinkets, vases or photo frames. Go for different sizes and styles. When things are mismatched or eclectic, it looks much more vintage. Frames or mirrors that are uniform do not help to create the look.

Have you got any tips or advice for styling a vintage look in the home? Is it a look that you like? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this and what tips you might have.

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