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.

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.

One of our favorite website features is the “How I Live” quiz.  On the left side of our home website page, you will find this feature in our list of website tools.  This quiz asks you some general questions about your lifestyle.  It then takes your answers into consideration and suggests what different types of products would be the most economical, stylish and last the longest in your home.

There are a lot of factors that need to be accounted for when purchasing new carpet.  A few important factors are if you have any children or animals, if you like to entertain, if you’re trying to up the sale price of your home, etc.  We suggest that you take our “How I Live” quiz in order to help you better understand what is best for you.