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When putting together a room’s design, there’s one area that often gets overlooked above all others, and that’s the ceiling. There are a variety of interesting things that you can do with a ceiling to bring life and add interest to a room. Some ideas will add a sense of height or give the space an elegant look while other things will even help enhance the room’s lighting—without the addition of new light fixtures.
If you’re looking for design ideas, don’t skimp on the ceilings. Instead, try one of the following!
1. Gloss Finishes are Fashionable & Brightening
People don’t normally think of high gloss finishes when they think of ceilings, but this is a trend that is taking off for two good reasons. Gloss, whether it’s glossy paint or a gloss wood finish, draws attention upward while also reflecting a lot of light. Lamplight or sunlight streaming in from windows—either way, the reflection helps make the room look much more spacious.
2. Wallpaper isn’t Just for Walls
Looking for an unusual way to make a statement? More and more, interior designers are turning to wallpaper as a creative way to change up the look of a ceiling. This is another technique that draws a lot of attention upward, and it has the added advantage of making a bold statement.
3. Choose Bright Colors for Low Ceilings
Low ceilings can make a room feel cramped even if it isn’t—and this is an effect that can be heightened if the room has a dark color scheme on the walls and ceiling both. Brighten things up and give the ceiling a little lift by choosing light shades to contrast dark walls. This also helps brighten the room, which is another way to make it feel a little more expansive.
4. Try the Beamed or Coffered Look
This idea will help you add loads of style to interior spaces. Beamed ceilings and coffered ceilings both, whether the style is rustic or elegant, lend a seriously high-end feeling to a room.
There’s lots of ways to get this look, too. Coffered ceilings can be created with lumber or even with moldings repurposed to lay out the ceiling’s pattern. You can just do simple, clean lines, or you choose lumber with intricate edge profiles for a more classical look. And then there’s the layout itself. Coffered ceilings are typically done in square patterns, but there’s nothing stopping you from making hexagons or using squares and rectangles in differing sizes.
Beamed ceilings work similarly in that you’ll use lumber to give the ceiling depth and texture. Here, however, the designs are usually simpler, as if structural beams have been left exposed. Because of that, this style often works well with rustic themes.
Even though ceilings are sometimes left out of the design process, there really are many ways to turn them into a thing of beauty. Your ceilings don’t have to be flat or understated. Use one of these ideas or come up with your own to draw attention to this key piece of the room.
Buying a new home is a commitment. Not just to a mortgage but to the house itself, the neighborhood and your local community. And for many, this is part of what makes purchasing a new home so rewarding. To have a place to truly settle into and call their own. Part of that settling in includes crafting a timeless interior that will welcome you home for years to come.
But going about creating a timeless home can feel intimidating. Magazines and television shows focus on the trends and how to keep up with what’s current. Following these cues will only leave you with a home that will become quickly outdated.
The key is to mix a variety of styles both old and new. Resist settling for one particular style for a home that seamlessly transcends the decades to come. And while you don’t want to fully jump into any one trend, adding a few accent pieces will keep your home fresh and modern. Art, throw pillows, and small details are the perfect decor pieces to take advantage of trends with. Large investment pieces, however, are best kept neutral and in a style that has already proven itself to be classic.
Styles that earn the title of classic are usually simple with just one element that reflects the era of its inspiration. Think a couch with tufting but in a warm beige or a table with ornate millwork that boasts its natural wood coloring. Whereas a tufted couch in a print or ornate millwork painted a color from a trend that has come and gone will date the look of your whole room.
Neutral colors are best used for the majority of your color palette, leaving color for your accent pieces. That doesn’t mean your home needs to lack depth, however. Choose different tones for your paint swatches and reach for a variety of textures when adding fabrics. Having a diverse range of tones and textures will add visual interest without depending on color to do the job.
Natural elements such as wood, stone, and glass also help to bring depth to your neutral color palette and maintain a timeless look. Wood flooring is well worth the cost in the long run both in terms of maintenance and style. An exposed brick wall makes a statement without becoming dated. A leather couch or armchair adds warmth and sophistication. While cotton, linen and wool textiles add natural texture to your furnishings.
Homebuyers often dream about the decades to come spent in their new home’s rooms. They want to spend time living life’s moments to the fullest and not fussing over decor every ten years. Creating a timeless look for your home doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Keeping to a neutral color palette and natural elements guarantee a classic home that you will love coming home to for years to come.
A home bar is one thing that most adults should have in their homes. Even if you’re not a drinker yourself, you should have something on hand to offer guests when they come over for an evening of food and conversation. You’ll need the right setup, the right tools, and the right recipes handy to have the perfect home bar. Whether you have a bar already or are looking to build your own, we have all the tips that you’ll need as a rookie bartender.
The Essentials
You’ll need quite a few essentials in your home bar including but not limited to:
- Glasses
- Bitters
- Bar tools
- Recipe books
- Spirits
- Mixers
- Garnishes
Find The Right Surface To Transform Into A Bar
You can easily transform any table, sideboard, or cart into a bar. If the vessel that you’re using has a drawer, that’s even better. You can keep all of your bottles, glasses, decanters, and openers in one convenient place. It’s not bad if you can’t fit all of your supplies in one place. Less used items can be stored in the pantry.
You can even use a simple bookshelf to store all of your bar supplies. Transform any bookcase from “boring bookshelf” to home bar in no time. You can arrange the shelving by category, giving each shelf a purpose. You can keep spirits on one shelf, glasses on another shelf, tools on another, and recipe books on another shelf.
Does Your Home Have An Actual Bar Built-In?
Many homes actually have bars built in, but people rarely use them because they feel inexperienced in using the bar tools of the trade. Whether you have a full wet bar or a simpler dry bar, keep all of the essentials there. You’ll need:
- Bar towel
- Trash can
- Glasses
- Decanter
- Bar spoon
- Strainer
- Shaker
- Access to ice
- Juice
- Sodas
- Juicer
- Limes
- Lemons
- Jigger
- Simple Syrup
- Old fashioned glass
- Peeler
- Mesh strainer
Location Of The Bar
If you’re setting up a brand new bar, there’s a variety of places that you can put the bar. If you have space in the kitchen, you can add it to a corner right there. Other great places for your bar could be a den or a man cave. Wherever you’ll spend time hanging out with company is a good place to keep your bar. If you have children, you might even consider getting a locking cabinet system for your liquor. You don’t want little hands getting into what they’re not supposed to.
Setting up your own home bar is something to be proud of. It will be quite the conversation piece when guests come over. You’ll be able to discuss your collection of liquors and see if friends have any recommendations as to what you might add to your selection of liquors. A home bar is an entertaining essential.
Bedrooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You bedroom is more than a place for sleeping. They have become multi-purpose rooms over the years. Depending on your circumstances, bedrooms may need to house a home office, a playroom, or a tv and movie hub in addition to a bed.
The most important role your bedroom plays is providing you with a good night’s rest. We have a bunch of different ideas here to help you maximize your space and style in the most comfortable way possible.
Consider What The Space Will Be Used For
Will your bedroom be used as a reading room? If so, you need to add a comfy chair to the space. If your bedroom has a multi-purpose as a home office, you’ll need to add a comfy desk and chair to the room for your working hours. Plan the room around the pieces that must be in there. Many pieces of furniture can also be double purposed like a table that can also be used as a desk.
It’s All In Where You Place Things
The biggest decision that you’ll need to make is where to put the furniture. If you place things strategically, you’ll be able to fit everything you need in the room without sacrificing charm and style. Placing the bed near the windows is a great way to save space and let light in, since a bed won’t completely block the window.
Add Your Character To The Space
If your bedroom represents the things that you love, you can’t go wrong in the space. While it’s usually not recommended that we work and sleep in the same space, sometimes it’s unavoidable. There are ways that you can separate the two worlds with a room screen, for example.
Whatever your bedroom space is being used for, be sure to provide balance to the room. As long as an object is pleasing to you, you can’t go wrong placing it in the bedroom. Think outside of the box with objects like benches, love seats and even antique radios. If you can use it and it makes you happy, there’s a way to make the object fit within the purpose of your bedroom.
Lighting
No matter what your bedroom will be used for, lighting is extremely important. Make sure that there’s lights near each side of the bed. These will be useful for many different things from early morning risers to reading in bed to night owls.
Planning Makes The Process Smoother
Remember that the most important thing that you can do for your bedroom furniture arrangement- or any room for that matter- is to plan. With careful measurements of the pieces that must go into the room and careful thought of what you’d like to go into the room, you can create the perfect bedroom.
