The Carpeteria Blog

You’ve read it here and on other design blogs. You’ve probably heard it on design shows on television and seen it in shelter magazines. ‘Pop of color’ is one of the favorite terms of the design world. A pop of color on a sofa or in a room adds interest for your eye. Like texture, color can change the look and feel of an object or room.

Many people buy the big ticket items like furniture and carpet in a neutral color. Builders use beige so much as a wall and carpet color that we now call it builder’s beige.  It is fine to keep these things neutral in color, but that doesn’t mean the entire room or home must be shades of builder’s beige.

Pops of color are great in accessories if you have a neutral room.  How much color and where you put it are up to you to decide.  Putting color on an accent wall is a bigger statement than colorful throw pillows.  A colorful area rug will make a bigger impact than a boldly colored vase or bowl on a table.

Be bold and go for combinations of colors that contrast: yellow and teal; lavender and orange; blue and rose.  Adding in groups of colorful accessories will have more impact than a single object. A pop of color can mean that the same color is carried throughout the room from the rug, to the curtains, to objects on a shelf. Pops of color can bring your attention to an architectural detail or piece of furniture.

We’re not talking the emotional blues when we say bedroom blues. Blue in the bedroom is a beautiful color that creates a soothing and relaxing space. Blue is typically used for boys’ rooms, but this doesn’t mean it has to be a masculine only color. The range of blue colors means that there is probably a blue out there that will work with your floor color and bedroom furniture color.

This Mediterranean style bedroom uses blue accents to bring a pop of color to an otherwise neutral space. Neutral walls and a stone or concrete floor create a cool feeling in the room. Adding in rich blue accents in the throw on the bed and the mirror on the wall add a bit of energy to the room.  The energy isn’t the same as if the accents were red or orange. The cool tones of the blue color are typically thought to be more soothing than jarring.

Blue color on the walls or bedding would create bigger pops of color in this space. Larger expanses of color, no matter what color, will have a bigger impact on the feeling and energy of a room. Keeping the blue accents in this room to two relatively small elements keeps the room feeling neutral.  Layering different shades of blues can also work to create a more sophisticated color palette. Pale blue on the walls combined with richer accessories intensifies the calming feeling of the color. Lots of white in the room will keep the space from feeling too blue.

Furnishings with stylish sleek lines and a minimalist look are the hallmark of modern living rooms. With such a canvas to work with, warmth and visual interest can be created by using these decorating ideas:

• Color—All white or black and white are very popular colors for modern living rooms. However, a pop or splash of a favorite hue can add life to a modern space. A single iconic Egg Chair in yummy mint green, orange or chocolate can be the perfect focal point.
• Texture—Shaggy rugs, velvet upholstery or riotous display of decorative pillows in contrasting textures (and colors) are great additions to a modern décor.
• Pattern—Iconic modern geometric patterns in fabrics, rugs and lighting bring warmth to modern living rooms.
• Emphasis—Multiple objects of interest or a single focal point draws the eye around a modern space and presents a visual resting place. A fireplace, a massive mirror, an impressive work of art—any of these can become that important piece that brings a room together.
• Rhythm—The repetition of color, texture or pattern throughout modern rooms creates appealing rhythm and movement.
• Form—Nothing says modern like the appealing and instantly recognizable forms of Mid-Century chairs. As seen in black in this room, the Egg chair is perhaps the most iconic of all, whether it’s vintage or one of the new ones still being manufactured today. If you’re smitten by the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, that’s another perfect choice for your modern living room. No matter which design you choose, one of these chairs can take a living room from pretty to thoroughly modern.

Do you find it frustrating to make a final choice when confronting numerous options? Sometimes it may seem as though the showroom, or the pumpkin patch, goes on forever and you worry that you may never find the right one to bring home.

If that happens, use the haunting technique to make your final choice. Here’s how to do it.

First, quickly review whatever options you’re considering, then leave the area. You can wander to other parts of the showroom or leave and shop for something completely unrelated. Go to lunch or get yourself a cup of coffee. You can even head home for the day.

As you do this, often one choice stays in your mind. You may find yourself dwelling on a particular tile, or imagining that carpeting in your own bedroom even when you’re focusing on something else. Well, congratulations, you have just been haunted by your actual favorite selection.

When this happens, go back and choose that flooring, or that seasonal vegetable accessory, and bring it home knowing that you found just the right one for you.

And when you stand back and admire how well your purchase fits the look and style of your home, it’s time to appreciate a type of haunting that doesn’t scare you, but helps you make a decision that you will be happy with for years to come, or in the case of your pumpkin, the next week or so.

Some rooms seem to have drama built in, although it’s often difficult to determine how. Let’s take a look at this lobby for a foreign hotel that caters to international travelers. The designer has managed to create a comfortable and inviting space without sacrificing drama and interest.

It all starts with the flooring. The light-toned maple in a wide plank is sturdy enough to handle traffic and frequent cleaning. However, the diagonal installation moves it from traditional to a more daring approach. The flow of this floor also encourages guests to pause and move to one of the seating areas.

In contrast with this diagonal, the rest of the room marches down the length of the space. The columns set the tone. Their style and rough white look establishes the room as part of its construction by reflecting the style of this older interesting building. White walls and chair cushions connect with the columns while establishing a contemporary connection.

The simple modern rattan furniture and other elements work exceptionally well in tandem with the rich historic oriental rugs. The pattern variety combined with the standard reds and blues common to many orientals turn the rugs into artwork in the room. The simplicity of the rest of the décor helps the rugs stand out in the space.

Contrasting choices and a simple light diagonal flooring work together to make this space dramatic without being overbearing. Can you take advantage of a diagonal approach to your flooring or use variety in color and style as demonstrated in this room to create more drama and interest in your own home?

If you love bright light colors, you may have been frustrated about finding flooring that can handle a variety of vivid shades. White carpeting would be beautiful, but demanding to maintain. Most tile has a cream or beige tone, and white tile in a living area might feel cold, no matter how much color you add.

Light wood floors provide the perfect solution. As this photo shows, a light floor can handle bright colors while still feeling warm and inviting.

This particular color is similar to Pantone’s color for 2011: Honeysuckle. Pantone provides many color palettes for graphic artists and designers. The appealing reddish pink works beautifully with a light wood. Notice also how well the light blue shade on the book cover connects with the maple floor.

The other advantage to a light wood floor is flexibility. By choosing neutral shades for the primary furniture and bringing in color through pillows, area rugs and accessories, you could easily change the colors in this room to suit your mood or the season.

When you’re planning a child’s bedroom, consider light wood. As their tastes and color preferences change, this wood choice will continue to work with their plans. Add to that the durability and longevity of wood, and you have the perfect flooring for today’s and tomorrow’s needs.

After a long and tiring day at work, wouldn’t it be nice to find a spot in your home where you can just curl up, relax and read a good book? If you’re thinking, “Yes!” then it’s high time you created a comfy reading nook all your own.

Creating a reading nook isn’t complicated. All you need is a small unused space in your home, a comfy chair, an ottoman, a bookcase and a small table accented with a plush area rug and a reading lamp and you are good to go. Oh, and don’t forget the latest book you can’t put down!

First, find a perfect spot in your house where you think you can relax. It can be in a corner of your bedroom, beside a window where you have a relaxing view, or wherever you would be comfortable. It doesn’t matter which area you choose so much as it does making sure it is away from any noise. This will make for a very relaxing experience and keep you deeply engulfed in your reading.

Once you’ve selected the spot, it’s time to accessorize your nook. First, define the space by putting a plush area rug underfoot. Selecting the right area rug can set the mood for your nook so make sure that you select a pattern that is relaxing and comfy.

Then place a comfy chair or chaise atop the rug. Make sure your seating is uber comfortable, so you can enjoy spending hours there with the company of your good book.

Good lighting should also be a part of your list when creating your reading nook. You don’t want to have a headache from reading due to poor lighting. So choose one that casts a sufficient glow for reading comfortably without being too dim or to bright.

And lastly, place a table or bookcase where you can put and organize your books and your cup of coffee.

Any book lover dreams of having a place where they can escape and a cozy reading nook can make it a reality.

When you look at this room, its basement origins are hidden behind the daring and sophistication of its design.

Let’s start with the most powerful element in the room – the staircase. The homeowners made the wise choice to allocate the bulk of their redecorating budget to open up the basement stairwell and replace it with this almost sculpted staircase. The dark metal structure and brown wood stairs work together, making the space feel like a destination rather than a basement afterthought.

Notice the power of the floor in this room. This second design decision also defines the space as out of the ordinary. By choosing a surface with an almost commercial feel but adding the rich glossy finish, the floor echoes the staircase in its depths and provides an intriguing contrast to the matte finish of the sofa and loveseat. This flooring is not as expensive as other choices, but works so perfectly that it doesn’t feel like a budget-based decision.

The furniture and art also maintain the sophisticated modern look so effectively presented in this room. The sleek lines of the sofa and loveseat coordinate well with the daring zebra print on the area rug and the simple black and white vases on the coffee table.

The art wall creates the mood of a gallery, but the cost was minimized with the use of simple contemporary prints matted with off-the-shelf matching frames. It’s the number and the layout that creates an upscale image.

These homeowners wanted to turn their basement into a destination for family and visitors alike, and their smart design decisions helped them succeed.

Is your current bedroom merely the space you sleep in? The bedroom is a room that is only used by you. Why not turn it into a haven where you can relax and re-charge your batteries? When your bedroom is peaceful, you go to bed at peace and wake up in a peaceful manner. Read along for ways to transform your bedroom into a personal sanctuary.

Walls should provide a soothing calmness, no matter if you are using paint or wallpaper. Lighter colors such as light gray or light sea foam blue, are calming and fresh all at the same time. Adding “freshness” to the walls further enhances the crisp clean feel provided by bed linens.

Bedding should look great and feel great to the touch. Cotton sheets are soft and breathable. Sheets that breathe allow air to pass through and maintain a comfortable temperature.

Incorporate intimate lighting, whether that is bedside lamps or a dimmable chandelier. Low lighting promotes rest and calmness. Low/Dim light can be provided by selecting a lower wattage bulb and a shade that filters light to produce low, intimate light. Natural light is desired in all spaces, the bedroom is no different. Window treatments should provide privacy. Use patterned sheers if you want to let light in the mornings. Use blackout panels if you wish to keep the room dark allowing yourself to sleep in. Allowing light in or keeping light out is a personal preference. No matter your preference, window coverings should provide privacy, making yourself completely comfortable in your private sanctuary.

A fluffy rug is really nice underfoot when you get out of the bed. You can either use a soft cozy area rug, or a smaller accent rug placed precisely where your feet hit the ground when rising out of bed.

When decorating your sanctuary select items that promote comfort, freshness and relaxation. The bedroom is the one room in the house that is strictly used by you and is rarely seen by guest. Make this space your own!

Have you noticed that rooms in magazines have everything perfectly lighted? Special architectural photographers may spend an hour or more setting up a shot and lighting it, and then take dozens of shots from different angles to find the perfect way to show a decorated room at its best.

If we want our homes to look more like the magazines, we need to pay attention to lighting the way professional photographers do.

To start, notice that this photo-shoot combines lights with reflectors. In your home, walls, ceilings and floors can act as reflectors, and windows can serve as lights. You need your living area to look good both during the day and in the evenings. For good daylight in a room, choose window coverings that can open or be raised during the day and closed at night for privacy. If windows get full sun, you may want to consider one of the new adjustable translucent window coverings that can be positioned to bring in light while keeping glare to a minimum.

In the evening, use a combination of overhead lighting, lamps and ceiling spots to create an inviting mood. A plain overhead light may work from a task-lighting standpoint but doesn’t really contribute to the ambience of a room. Look for table lamps and up-lighting from torch lamps to create the look you want.

Mirrors can also distribute light. Positioned opposite a window, mirrors can increase natural light in a room. Choosing light walls or flooring will also brighten a space. Look for shiny or metallic surfaces to reflect light also.

Your home may not be able to match those well-staged photographs in lifestyle magazines, but you can use light and reflections to highlight your home’s best features and create the mood and style you want.