What is minimalistic design and how to achieve it?. How to overcome this urge to fill every space in your home and make it look elegant at the same time?. In this blog we will teach you the fundamental steps to go minimal and create this modern minimal look that every one is looking for
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1- Less is more
The first thing you want to think about is getting the staple pieces of furniture you want in your space. Write everything you need in a piece of paper, then start deducting items until you are down to two or three essential pieces. Remember, you can always add more, but it’s hard to have more stuff than go over the returns with the retailers, so GO LESS and choose BARE ESSENTIALS
2- Have a Focal Point:
After you have decided what the essential pieces you need for your space are, think about the focal point. AKA, your show stopper or the first thing you want your guest to see when coming in the room. It needs to look unique, elegant, and functional. Take a look at this beautiful velvet sofa in dark blue from Amazon.
Somehow, it brings the space together and makes it look elegant, especially if it is in a color that complements the dark blue velvet pallette. Check out these beautiful blackout curtains
A good size rug will define your space and make it look elegant and completed. Nothing screams minimalistic more than a subtle abstract rug with colors that go with our chosen pallette.
You don’t need tons of accessories in your minimalistic look, just two or three jaw-dropping pieces that will give this perfect subtle finish to your space. Thinks this 2 piece table candle holder/ vase
Now that you have all the pieces you need for a minimal look, try those steps in other areas of your house like your bedroom and see how much effect it will have on your style
All the families I have worked with through the years struggle to create a home that is safe for their kids to thrive and yet look aesthetically pleasing. It’s not impossible to achieve that but it needs some advice from the experts. In this guide blog, I will be sharing with you my top 10 fail proof tips to design your home in a way that is family friendly , functional, and beautiful.
Tip #1: Declutter
Office Design
It might be something that feels like a no brainer but lots of families underestimate its power. Decluttering your home and going minimalistic will save families tons of time to focus on their family. Get into the habit of decluttering every room of the house at least every 6 months. Go into one room at a time and don’t go out until you purged everything you don’t need or don’t wear any more to make room for new things in life. Decluttering saves time and energy and it has an amazing calming effect on people. It also makes you feel your space got bigger and kids have more room to run and play.
Tip#2: Open up the floor plan
If you have a smaller home and need to make it feel bigger, consider opening up the kitchen and the living room. Adding an island or peninsula to your kitchen overlooking your living room not only opens up and transforms your space completely, but also gives parents a chance to watch their kids while they play.
It is first thing that comes to homeowners’ minds when designing their house. But it’s always difficult to choose with kids in the house and the fear of it being scratched or stained in a way that will be impossible to clean or maintain. Luckily, paint manufacturers like Sherwin williams and Benjamin more have a line of paint that are kids and family friendly. They have zero VOCs, scratch proof, stain proof, and they come in thousands of colors so that kids can do whatever they want with it and still looks great.
Tip #4: Consider wooden furniture over metal
Beach theme Bedroom
Metals can be loud and cold which is not identical for a more quiet and cozy environment the family is looking for. Wood is environmentally friendly, natural , and can handle dents or colors by developing a beautiful patina to remind you that your kids were thriving at your home
Tip #5: Invest in a stain resistant furniture
Lets’ face it, kids and pets are messy. Families go through two choices when choosing furniture. Either they buy a cover for their furniture, which is not so appealing, or very expensive, or they buy stain protection spray which can contain harmful chemicals and they need at least 72 hours to get absorbed into the fibers after application. So if you are not spraying it and tend to leave the house for the weekend, that would be pretty hard.Good news is, the furniture manufactures developed sturdy furniture that can last +10 years with stain resistant fabric or the option to spray your favourite no resistant fabric with stain resistant spray that is chemical free and hypoallergenic before delivery. Those stain resistant sprays can last as long as the furniture lives so families can rest assured they are covered.
Tip #6: Choose durable materials
Kids Friendly Washroom Design
Ok this is a little bit challenging but I will try to simplify it. Materials like countertops need to be heat resistant and stain resistant like quartz countertops which requires very low maintenance as long as you get it from a well known manufacture. Low pile carpets and rugs are easy to clean and don’t collect too much dirt and dust like high pile. These are the most common examples of durable materials but I am sure you get the idea.
Tip#7: Mix and match Patterns
Sofa with mixed colors and patterns
With kids and pets, I always advise my clients to choose patterns over solid colors. Think of wallpaper, throw cushions and rugs. Patterns can hide stains and dents way better than solid colors.
Kids need to have their own area where they can play all day without the fear of getting hurt. Invest in designating a kids friendly area in your home where they can store their toys and run around. Make it interesting and playful by adding colors and texture . Furniture in this area needs to be minimum to allow them to run and think of soft materials for seating like bean bags and rounded edges for tables and storages for an added safety feature.
Tip #9: Have an seperate adults area
Formal Dining Room with Gold Accent
I always say, if the kids have their area, the adults need to have their area too. Think of a space that you need to have as an adult zone like formal dinning or maybe a basement bar where adults can enjoy their time and take a break. Dress it in a way that feels distinctive from other parts of your house yet have harmony with it.
Tip #10: Use those corners
A reading nook is perfect to fill this empty corner
Ever looked at a certain corner in your house and though” I have no idea what can fit in there”. The answer is simple. Designers agree that best ideas for corners are to transform them either to seating areas or book storage nooks. So next time you look at this empty space, think how would it feel if you created a reading nook to cuddle with your kids and loved ones for those before bed reading times.
To sum up, If you follow all those 10 tips in your home, you will create a haven for your family to thrive in and you will save so much time and energy cleaning or tidying and use it to spend more time with people that matters most. For more tips to make your home your dream home, always seek advice from professionals. It is never a waste of money when you invest it on your happiness and your family’s peace of mind.
kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the whole house. Whether its for preparing home made delicious meals to serve the family or for entertaining friends, Kitchen need to be functional and beautiful for whoever sees it.
When renovating your kitchen to make it more functional for your life style or even just to give it a face lift to cope with the changing world of colors around you, it is very important to consider these points before investing thousand of dollars on a new kitchen.
Number #1: Following Trendy Colors
Unless this is your absolute favorite color of all times, Don’t fall for the mistake of painting your kitchen a trendy color like navy blue or sage green and then regretting it the year after when the trend is over. A pro tip is to paint your kitchen any color you want if only that is your forever home and you love it. If not and you are planning to sell it in the future, it is always better to stick with neutral colors like whites that will not push potential buyers away . Another win win situation is to consider adding your favorite color in the island only while leaving a neutral color on the rest of the cupboards.
Number #2: Incorporating storage organization tools
Very simple addition to your kitchen like a pull out cupboard for your garbage bin or storage organization kit for your pots, pans, and plates can make your kitchen organized and save you lots of time cleaning up and getting your meals ready.
Number #3: Adding an Island or peninsula
Lots of people ask whether it is worth it opening up the wall separating the dinning room and the kitchen to add a peninsula or an island. The answer is absolutely yes. not only they open up the space and make it feel more spacious and pulled together, but also makes the kitchen look updated. The addition of bar stools for those breakfasts on the go without having to carry the mess to the dinning room can be very tempting too. Just make sure you have enough clearance from any adjacent walls or cupboards (36″ min and 48″ is ideal) so it serves its purpose and not to be an added obstacle.
Number #4: Changing the Countertop
There was a myth saying that you need to spend a fortune to change those laminate countertop and get something that gives this wow effect on your visitors. In a world of new technologies and new materials going popular every day, people now have the option to choose a countertop material that not only give you the value of your money, but also still be as resistant to those hot pots or messy stains as top dollar high end materials. Examples of those new materials are Solid Surface and Soap Stone that come in thousands of colors and textures including the Granite feel and look without the Granite price tag.
Number #5: Adding layers of light
Let’s face it, we spend in our kitchen lots of our time cooking, cleaning, and entertaining. It would have been so nice to have different layers of lights for multiple functions so we don’t put too much stress on our eyes from those glare causing recessed lighting. The designer’s absolute favorite lighting feature is the undercabinet LED lights. They are very popular in new kitchens now as they conserve energy, very handy to quickly prepare meals, and for turning it on during the night to find your way to the fridge for those mid-night snacks. Also consider having multiple switches for different lights in your kitchen to have more control over the amount of light you need for the task performed.
To sum up, before renovating your kitchen, see what you really need for your kitchen to function for you not for other people. Do your research and ask lots of people about new ideas and tools you can add in terms of spacing, lighting and new materials coming up. Best of all, hire a designer that can take the stress of your back and make your dream kitchen come true and do it right from the first time without wasting your time or energy.
If you are one of the many people who see lots of DIY channels and try to implement them in your home and wonder why this is not working or why my home still doesn’t look like the show home that I always wanted, it might be the perfect time to hire an interior designer. I know lots of people will say ” Interior Designers are expensive”, or ” How hard can it be to pick colors”. Trust me, It is not that easy nor it is as fast as you see happening in DIY channels. So here is why you should hire a designer for your home.
Designers Know your style
With millions of styles out there to choose from, people often get overwhelmed and start to buy whatever pieces they set their eyes on without thinking if they will go with their space or not. Lots of people like way too many styles they don’t even know what is their preferred style any more. An experienced designer can help with that. In the initial consultation, the designer can tell which style that best suits their client personality by asking simple questions and seeing some inspirational photos they like. Some styles can be a combination of two or more styles and the designer knows exactly how to put these different styles together and make them work.
Designers know what materials are best for you
Ever heard people telling you that if you have kids then leather is your only solution for furniture because it is easy to clean? But what if your budget won’t allow it or you simply don’t like leather?. A designer can always find a solution for you. Interior Designers have a lot of knowledge when it comes to materials and can advise on pieces that will best meet your life style, preference and budget. So don’t hesitate to ask your designer for a fabric sofa when you have kids, they know exactly what fabric suits you best.
Designers Can save you money
It is inevitable that you will go overbudget if you designed your house alone. Interior Designers ask for your budget at the initial consultation and they work around it to meet your needs. They will find finishes and materials that will look good, meet your style needs, and won’t break the bank. Also Designers, like contractors, might have access to manufactures’ discounts and can forward some of these discounts to you which can save you tons of money especially on pricy items like cabinets and countertops
Designers do the hard work so you don’t have to
Let’s admit it. people are busy. they don’t have the time or experience to look for hours for the perfect sofa and we end up with the wrong one. I have seen lots of people buy custom made furniture they hated and can’t return it to the store. They end up selling it for less than half price just to get rid of the guilt every time they look at it. Designers can save your time and efforts as they have access to a variety of vendors and know exactly what your space needs so you can spend this valuable time where you need it most.
Designers collaborate with efficient contractors
No more guessing if this handyman will do a good job. Designers have lots of contractors and handymen contacts to get the job done efficiently and on budget. They will look for the perfect quote and the perfect person to do the job on time. Everything will be managed by the designer which will even save more time for you.
Of course these are not the only reasons why home owners should hire an interior designer, but they are the most overwhelming and confusing. Designers not only save your time and budget, they transfer your ” house” to the home of your dreams. A place you can call your own
Your bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the whole house. It is the space where you finally relax and collapse after a long day. Lots of my friends ask me “ Can Interior Design of our bedroom affect our mood and give us a better sleep?” my answer is absolutely. With just a few tricks I am about to share with you, you can transfer your bedroom from just a space where you sleep to a space where you rejuvenate and recharge for the next better morning.
Paint
Earthy colors like beiges, browns, and Greys are the best when it comes to painting your bedroom. These hues have a very calming effect which allows for a better sleep. To more personalize your bedroom, add an accent color like green or turquoise and decorate behind your bed with canvas or wallpaper.
Layers of linen
Didn’t you always wonder every time you visit a furniture store why the beds look so good that you just want to jump in them and sleep?. It is because the linen on the beds are arranged in a certain way that make the bed look so cozy and comfortable.To achieve this look and feel, when you are making the bed next time, puff the pillows, add shams, fold the duvet and add a throw for more texture and comfort. Don’t be afraid to mix colors and patterns and try different arrangements until you are satisfied.
Lighting
One of the most things that people tend to overlook when it comes to designing the bedroom is the lighting and light fixtures. Lighting in the bedroom should be warm to allow for relaxation before sleep. Daylight bulbs are intended to make the person alert so a bedroom is not the place for them.
Bedside fixtures shouldn’t be too high or too low. A very tall table lamp will cause glare and a very short one will not provide sufficient light and cause eye stress. To solve this, choose a table side lamp with shade’s bottom aligns with your shoulders when you are sitting on the bed.
Curtains
According to sleep scientists all over the world, the darker the room, the faster you will go into deep sleep.. That’s why blackout curtains are the best options for the bedroom and they come in many shapes, colors, and patterns to satisfy every style and budget.
These are some of the essential tips when it comes to designing your bedroom for a restful sleep. Though they might be simple, many people overlook it and think they are not that important. Trust me, they are. Try them now and stay tuned for more tips from ES Interiors.
ES Interiors inc. 