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.

Would you like to exercise regularly but find it difficult to make time for it? Well, one help is to exercise at home rather than having to run to the gym.

Aerobic exercise is the easiest to fit in. Add a walk to your routine three or more times a week. Once around the neighborhood – with your dog if you have one –will improve your aerobic capability. Add time and speed as you get into better shape.

For strength training, pick up a few free-weights or wrist and ankle weights. Often the package will include some basic exercises. If not, check online or pick up a book or magazine.

Yoga is the best option for improving flexibility. This exercise is manageable for people at any level of fitness. Pick up a DVD or book on the basics to get started. This is one skill where taking an occasional class can improve your form and capability.

Be sure to determine a good location at home for both yoga and strength training. In front of the couch can work well, especially if you can see your TV/DVD from there. Just move the coffee table to the side and you will probably have enough room to stretch out.

If your living or family room has carpeting, just add a beach towel and you are ready to start. If you want more cushioning, or if you have hard surface flooring such as wood or tile, pick up a yoga mat like those shown in the photo. For a small cost you can be comfortable for any floor exercise.

No excuses anymore – start exercising and make a commitment to your health and well-being. You can do it!

As we approach 2011, what do you do to prepare for the New Year? For some people, buying a new calendar and copying over all the birthdays, holidays and family anniversaries from the old calendar becomes almost an annual ritual.

Whether you use a classic printed calendar or have moved to a computerized one, you may want to add something else to your planning for next year – home maintenance.

No matter what type of flooring you have, it’s a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning and sealing your home products. Granite countertops also need regular sealing to stay beautiful and reliable.

In the bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to let these events slip far beyond their due date. By adding them to your calendar now, you have the opportunity to keep up with your home’s maintenance needs. Make it extra easy on yourself by adding in any contact information so that it’s easy to make the call when the requirements show up on your calendar.

So don’t force yourself to remember all the things you do to keep your house at its best – write them down, scheduling those maintenance requirements to work well with the seasons and your other plans for 2011.