Versatile like a neutral and tranquil, blue is one of the easiest colors to decorate with. It has soothing properties and is the world’s most popular favorite color– it makes a lot of sense why so many homeowners gravitate towards it when decorating their home.

At last year’s northmodern interior design show held in Copenhagen every year, we saw a lot of hits of blue popping up on walls and in accent pieces. White, black and wood tend to dominate Scandinavian interior decor, so seeing hits of indigo in rugs, and deep rich blues popping up on the walls at the show was a refreshing preview of what was to come. More and more brands are designing with blue fabrics and we’re seeing it become an increasingly popular color choice for homeowners buying new sofas.

For social spaces, a good rule of thumb is to select blues with a red undertone. What does this mean? Shades you’d find in the ocean or denim all have red undertones and are warm, friendly colors. Slate is especially neutral, comes off more subdued, but also carries warmth because of its red undertones.

Rooms that require more tranquility like a home office or bedroom are well served when painted a cool blue. Shades like cobalt, ice blue and turquoise all have yellow undertones and often times can help make a room appear bigger. The crispness they provide is also ideal in a laundry room or washroom.

One of our favorite blue pieces includes the Lucense Area Rug – it’s made of wool and silk, reflects light beautifully, and works in a multitude of spaces. The Spirit Sofa is ultra-modern and comes in a variety of color options including a very warm shade of blue, reminiscent of denim. Its clean lines are subtly softened when upholstered in this color. Blue glass accessories are always a classic and can shift from room-to-room with ease. Kartell’s Moon Bowl  comes in a sharp shade of blue and is made of PMMA, mimicking the look of glass, but with added durability. It makes a wonderful serving bowl but also looks striking when placed on a table at an entryway – ideal for housing keys and other items you need to drop off and take away as you enter and exit the house.

Photo courtesy of Carsten Arnold Photograhy.

When you ask a designer about how they decorate their own home the first thing most of them will tell you is that they are constantly changing things up. Their homes serve as the grounds for experimenting with new trends and ideas before they are unleashed into the homes of their clients.

Due to the restless nature of the typical designer, certain elements in their homes need to lend themselves well to change, while others are in constant flux. Here are some styling tips that will help you make solid decisions when decorating your home, whether you’re trying out a new trend or making a longer-term decision for your decor.

White Walls – It sounds cliché, but having white or very neutral walls allows trending furniture, materials, patterns and colors to be mixed in with ease.

Mixing Prints – Poorly mixed prints are a tell-tale sign of a rookie gone wrong. While rules are meant to be broken, it’s easier to look like a professional if you stick to them. When mixing prints a rule of thumb is to mix the scale of the prints. If prints are too similar in size they compete with each other, which is difficult for the eye to take in. You should also go easy on how many colors you use, stick with three or four. Limit the number of patterns in a room to under five and distribute them evenly so that one side of the space doesn’t look heavier than the other. Mix in some solid prints to give the eyes a rest.

Keep an eye on the trends – Your profession may not be tempting you to try out every trend in the book, but experimenting with dashes of them will keep your home feeling fresh and exciting for you. Reading blogs and magazines is a great way to spark inspiration and zero-in on the trends that speak to your sensibilities.

Area Rugs – One common mistake many people make is choosing the wrong size of rug. Most people pick rugs that are too small. Here are some quick rules for how to pick the right size area rug:

1. Measure your seating area and choose a rug that will be 6-10’’ longer on each side of the couch.
2. If you have a big room and none of the furniture legs are touching the area rug, the rug is too small.
3. If you have a smaller room and the area rug is sitting in the middle of the seating arrangement, between the pieces of furniture, that is okay – but make sure that the placement of the furniture legs is consistent. They should either all be on, or all be off the rug.

Greenery – Inject life into a room with houseplants and flowers. Just a dash in any space instantly adds more energy and vibrancy.

Don’t Be Shy – Conversation pieces add personality and charm to a space. Whether it’s a simple, beloved belonging, clever vintage find, or a piece of furniture making the statement, every room needs the personalized touch a conversation piece offers.

Images courtesy of Boscolo

The quickest and most economical way to optimize the lighting in your home is to clean the light fixtures you currently have. It may seem daunting, but all it takes is some basic supplies and clever methods, which you can read about below. Your lights will be sparkling brighter than ever before!

Modern lighting often exposes the lightbulb, and when you clean it properly, it can give off up to 20 percent more light. The best way to clean a lightbulb is to wipe it with a soft cloth, if the grime on the bulb requires a bit more elbow grease, use a damp cloth, but don’t spray cleaning solutions directly on the bulb. Before removing a bulb from the light fixture turn off the light and wait for the bulb to cool off.

Fluorescent tubes should be cleaned using a damp cloth.

Ceiling fixtures are often very intricate and look like they’d be a nightmare to clean, but they aren’t so bad! Take the fixture cover or glass shade down and soak it in sink filled with soapy water. Before filling the sink, line it with a towel to protect the fixture cover from getting damaged. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the fixture cover. When drying the cover, a great trick is to lay it on a puppy training pad – the top layer is absorbent and the bottom layer is plastic, so excess water will remain contained.

When cleaning pendant lights you don’t have to remove any parts. Turn the lights off first and let them cool, then clean the outside of the pendant with a microfiber cloth and cleaning solution. Clean the bulbs with a soft cloth, and the extension rods and cables with a dry cloth.

To prevent dirt buildup chandeliers should be dusted weekly, but for a deeper clean, take the chandelier down and rest it on a table covered with a towel. If it’s a chandelier with dangling crystals, you can clean the crystals with a cloth dampened with either water, or a crystal cleaning solution. Make sure the crystal cleaning solution doesn’t come in contact with the metal parts of the chandelier as it could cause damage.

For lighting fixtures made with wrought iron you can clean them with a soft cloth or soapy water, make sure you rinse it off properly afterwards.

When you think of wall art the first thing that may come to mind is the traditional painting. While this definitely falls into the category of wall art, many homeowners are beginning to broaden their approach when decorating the walls of their home. Today we’re going to tackle how to arrange wall art, and what items you may want to consider when hanging art in your home.

Many of us have begun incorporating gallery walls into our decor. The look, intended to be a procurement of art hung on one wall, is a true feast for the eyes. It tends to carry a more casual feel, but, depending on how uniformly or informally it’s executed, a gallery wall can vary from looking more formal, to downright whimsical.

For a more straight-laced and traditional approach to the gallery wall, the art must be framed in a uniform fashion. The more similar the medium, i.e. all black and white photos, the more formal the look.

To create a more whimsical gallery wall, consider choosing not just traditional photos, prints and paintings, but also some 3D elements (clocks, antlers, plates and mirrors are all easy-to-find, attractive options). The photos do not need to be hung in a linear fashion, and the frames can vary.

For a gallery wall that carries some whimsy, but isn’t too far out, stick with artwork and photos. When selecting art and frames choose pieces that are different sizes. You can use different frames, but choose matting in the same color.

A big trend that we are seeing emerge as the antithesis to the gallery wall is big canvases. They either are independently occupying the entire wall or hung side-by-side. This creates a big impact on the wall, saturating it with color and draws the eye up and down.

If you’ve got a half-finished gallery wall hanging in your home, have no fear. We don’t see this trend vanishing anytime soon. Many influential designers have incorporated the look into their signature aesthetic and if you love it, you should keep it regardless!

One favorite is a wall of plates arranged in a non-linear, arched shape. It has a great flow, and is completely unexpected. Another innovative approach is to use antique, hand-held mirrors to decorate the wall of a powder room.

Images courtesy of Emily Henderson.

Downsizing your home is a natural step for many empty-nesters looking to live in a more easy-to-manage home. Using this notion as your guiding principle is the best way to stay on track when editing your belongings to prepare for living in a smaller space.

Look at the rooms in your current home and compare them with their counterparts in your new place. Some rooms in your current home i.e. the kitchen and dining room may now be united as multi-purpose spaces in your new home, which means you may need to eliminate some of your furniture.

Take thorough measurements of your new space, this includes doors and windows as this will affect furniture placement. Measure your current furniture and start planning a layout in order to determine what furniture you will need to keep, sell or replace.

For multi-purpose rooms choose furniture that can perform double duty. A desk like the BDI Cascadia Console works well in a living room but can also serve as a buffet table when entertaining guests. Ottomans are also high-functioning in a multi-purpose room. The Otis Ottoman delivers storage, seating, and its lid can be flipped over to act as a tray.

Start paring down and organizing your belongings three months prior to moving. This will give you time to donate, sell and recycle items instead of throwing them away in a last minute rush.

It is normal to have items we feel sentimental about, but in order to help determine which ones to keep, make a list. The items that actually come to mind are the ones you should hold onto – leave behind the ones that don’t make the list.

For those sentimental items that do make the list there are ways to keep them around without having them collect dust in a box. Put them on display!  One of the most creative ways we’ve seen this employed was by a family friend who could not part with the adorable swim trunks their son wore as a baby. They ended up framing these pint-sized trunks and they are now proudly hung up on a wall at the family cottage.

It’s inarguable – selecting your bed is the most important furniture choice you will make when decorating your bedroom. It serves as the focal point, and sets the tone for the rest of the room. Finding the right bed and bedding to accompany it will encourage a restful night’s sleep and peaceful greeting in the morning. Here are some items to consider when picking an ideal bed setup:

Bed height and type: For a modern look, choose a low bed like the Secret Bed or the Catalina Bedroom Collection.

A classic bed height is approximately 23 inches from the floor to the top of the mattress. To create a modern, airy and elegant look, ditch the bed skirt and pick a bed that sits up on legs.

For an ultra romantic look, choose a canopy bed. If you like the architectural intrigue a canopy bed offers but don’t want loads of fabric enclosing all four posts, opt for one or two pieces of fabric the run from the front of the bed to the back.

Bed linens: Keep in mind you can never go wrong with crisp, white sheets.

When choosing sheets take a look at the thread count. This represents how many threads horizontally and vertically make up one square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the more durable and softer the sheet. For a standard quality sheets choose a thread count of 250. For something extra luxurious and soft, opt for a thread count of 600.

To ensure proper neck support, let the way you sleep dictate the firmness of the pillow you choose. If you sleep on your stomach you should choose a soft pillow, if you sleep on your back choose a pillow with medium softness and if you sleep on your side, opt for a firm pillow.

For those who prefer a more paired-down bed, a simple duvet and cover are your best bet. If you like a more artful, layered look a comforter and its matching linens are a great option. For cooler evenings, have a quilt or blanket on hand to add an extra layer of warmth and coziness.

When cared for properly, hardwood floors can be enjoyed for decades. Easier said than done though. We put our floors through a lot, especially during the holiday season with family members and guests trekking through the house, sometimes while wearing heels.

We’ve compiled some of our favorite tips for helping to keep your floor in the best shape possible.

1. An easy one – wipe up any spills right away. This will prevent liquids from seeping into the floor and leaving stains.
2. Put felt padding on the bottoms of furniture legs to prevent them from scratching or putting indents in the floor.
3. Try to avoid exposing the floor to direct sunlight. During peak sun, try to keep the drapes in areas with high concentrations of direct sunlight closed.
4. Light scratches: To touch up light scratches, wax sticks and wood stain markers are going to become your new best friends.. They are available in a variety of colors at most hardware stores, so you can find a perfect match to cover those scratches.
5. Dark Spots: Stains and watermarks can be buffed out using steel wool.
6. Keep Fluffy’s nails trimmed: A pet’s claws can do some serious damage to otherwise pristine floors.
7. Regular cleaning: At the end of each day, give the floors a quick sweep. This will prevent dirt and crumbs from building up, and makes deep cleaning easier and more effective. When vacuuming, use the wand attachment. When mopping, make sure you squeeze the mop very well, and avoid cleaning the floor with ammonia, wax-based products, or anything acidic, as it could damage your floors. Never pour water directly on the floor, it will damage the wood.
8. Place area rugs and mats in high traffic areas to avoid damaging the floor. These will need to be moved around though, because floors need equal exposure in order to keep a unified color.

Living in a condo or a small space encourages people to think about decorating their homes in new, clever ways. When sharp focus is placed on how rooms are truly utilized, it leads to a carefully edited, pared-down home. This can be very rewarding as it helps streamline day-to-day tasks and daily life.

The tiny home trend is impacting mainstream design and architecture with new homes and condos being built smaller. This of course has a trickle effect, as we are seeing an increase in home furnishings designed for smaller spaces. The amount choice for homeowners living with limited square footage is greater than ever before, as more emphasis is being placed on versatile pieces that are both luxurious and comfortable.

Many of today’s homes no longer have a designated dining room and instead families are eating meals exclusively in the kitchen. This sometimes poses a challenge in smaller kitchens where there isn’t enough space for a dining room table, but there is an occasional need for extra seating when entertaining.

Cue the Myles Table. This piece is a great example of modern furniture designed for a small space or a home that doesn’t have a dining room. It’s a standard size round table at 48-inches, seating four people, but its leaves allow it to extend to 75-inches and sit six.

Remember tiny home doesn’t equal tiny furniture. The best way to ensure that you make the most of your small space is to pick full-sized furniture that is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Often times when homeowners live in a tiny space, they gravitate towards smaller pieces thinking it’s the appropriate scale for the room. This often causes people to stuff more pieces into a smaller space, creating clutter. Focusing on versatile pieces like the Myles will give you mileage and comfort.

Kids’ rooms offer the perfect opportunity to have fun decorating. Here are three rules of thumb we follow when decorating a space for young children:

1. Be collaborative: Make decorating the room a project for both yourself and them. Kids may have a big, dreamy wish list but there may be some easy wins like paint color and ways to boil down big ideas into fun concepts for the room. If you have a budding artist, why not incorporate an art station into the room? The more kids feel like they have a role in decorating the room, the more likely they are to take pride and ownership (and by ownership we mean clean up) of the space. Include them in the decorating process and let them have fun helping you with shopping and selecting items they like. Let them paint a small patch of the wall – even if you have to paint over it later.

2. Think about how they are going to use the room: This rule always rings true when it comes to décor, but when it comes to a kid’s room it often varies. If your child already has a playroom or a primary space where they play, their room in reality is more of a space for them to wind down before bed therefore it should cater to that by having less stuff. If they will be using the room for play and homework, a desk and extra storage for toys will be necessary. 

3. Be trendy: Since kids tend to be less inhibited when it comes to style and more concerned about what they truly love, their rooms are super fun to decorate because you can afford to take bigger risks. Why not try a chalkboard wall or a light up sign in their initials? Curious about wallpaper? Let them choose some for an accent wall! You can often boil things down to five choices you like, and then have them make the final decision.

Adding stylish outdoor furniture into your backyard can truly expand the living space of your home and your enjoyment of the outdoors, especially during the summer months or better yet, if you live in a place that experiences warm temperatures year-round.

Selecting pieces with generous cushions and great structure will add to your outdoor comfort and relaxation. Many of today’s outdoor furniture options bear an uncanny similarity to pieces you would typically find indoors, but they are built from more durable materials in order to withstand weather conditions. Despite its sturdy construction, this type of furniture requires proper care to maintain its durability.

We’ve composed a list of tips and tricks on how to care for different types of outdoor furniture:

Wicker Furniture: Made from woven reeds and plant fibers, wicker furniture is sensitive to the sun so it needs to be covered and protected from the elements, if it going to be outside for more than two weeks. As for cleaning, the most gentle method of tending to wicker is to dust regularly using a microfiber duster, dry paintbrush or soft cloth. If it needs to be cleaned more thoroughly, use mild soap and warm water.

Metal Framed Furniture: These pieces are made from aluminum, steel and wrought iron, which are very strong, and most are now rust resistant. To clean them, use mild soap and water. If a rust stain does occur, gently sand down the area, wipe it clean, then follow up with couple of thin layers of paint.

Wooden Furniture: During the winter months, wood furniture needs to be stored indoors. The exceptions are cedar and teak, which can withstand the harsher winter conditions. Clean wood furniture using soapy water, but make sure to give it a good rinse afterwards to remove any soap residues. Do not use a power washer on this type of furniture as this can damage the wood.

Fabric Furniture: Acrylic is the most commonly used fabric for outdoor furniture because it is easy to clean and quite resistant to mildew. To further increase its resistance to mildew and dirt, sponge clean stains using mild soap and water. Rinse carefully to avoid soap residue remaining on the fabric. To prevent mildew, make sure acrylic cushions are finished drying prior to storing them.

Canvas cushion covers can be put in the washing machine on the gentle cycle. Hang canvas to dry outdoors and to avoid shrinkage, stretch the fabric over the frame of the furniture. If you cannot remove the canvas from the furniture, use a scrub brush, soap and water to remove stains. Feel free to scrub the fabric until the stains are removed. Rinse off all the soap with a hose afterwards.