Kitchen Flooring Decoration Ideas
When you choose flooring for your kitchen, it will depend on the style and look you wish to achieve in the room. Although people tend to go for certain flooring options more than others, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to fall in line. If you’re looking to put flooring in your kitchen, here are a few different options to consider.
Wood Flooring for the Kitchen
It’s very common for kitchens to have wood flooring. Overall, wood floors tend to be one of the most popular types of flooring options available. You can choose among several different types of wood for your floor. Whichever type of wood you choose—whether you stick with a basic pine slat or get a little trendier and environmentally conscience with a bamboo wood floor—the warmth of the wood will add character to the space. Consider your kitchen’s style and theme, and choose a color and type of wood to fit that.
Tile Flooring: Timeless and Tasteful
A very popular type of kitchen flooring is tile. Tile flooring offers a variety of options, from different colors and designs to a variety of materials. For instance, you can choose from plain tile floors, ones that are laid out in a design, and others that resemble stone or are decorative. Both ceramic and porcelain tile floors are resistant to stains and scratches and require little maintenance. On the downside, they can crack, so you do need to exercise some caution not to drop anything upon your tile floor.
Laminate Flooring in the Kitchen
If you’re looking for a less expensive choice for the kitchen floor, consider laminate. When it comes to the new laminate flooring, you may be surprised at just how many options you have to choose from. One popular option is a laminate floor that looks like a wood floor and can easily pass for real genuine wood. Other options include laminate floors that look like tile. You can also go with a plain laminate floor. These floors are very simple but can fit in perfectly to play down a visually striking kitchen. Laminate flooring is a popular choice because the installation is easier and they cost much less than a tile or real wood floor.
Concrete Flooring in the Kitchen
Concrete floors are becoming increasingly popular, although not many people think of them for the kitchen. Many people don’t realize that a concrete floor designed for the kitchen is different than a regular concrete floor. These decorative and stained concrete floors can have patterns and color incorporated into their matrix. Concrete floors are very reasonable when compared to real wood floors and are also remarkably durable.
Vinyl for a Kitchen Floor
Vinyl tile or sheet is another inexpensive flooring option for the kitchen. When people think of vinyl, they often think of the old linoleum floors of the past, but vinyl has actually come a long way. These days vinyl can bring style and beauty to any kitchen, as patterns, colors, and designs have literally taken over the market. One of the best advantages to vinyl is that you can really save money by installing the floor yourself. With its versatility, you can make a clear statement with that vinyl tile floor or let it be a quiet, calming addition to your kitchen. It’s up to you, as you have thousands of vinyl-tile options to choose from.
These are just a few of the many flooring options you have to ch oose from for your kitchen. If you’ve narrowed down your selection to a couple of options, then you need to go and find out what’s locally available to you. It will probably surprise you a little to discover just how many options you really have.
About the Writer…
For over four decades Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior design needs. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, dining room and bedroom. Are you looking for dining tables for your kitchen or dining room or wood file cabinets for your dorm room then they probably have everything you need.
Easy Tips To Decorate Your Apartment
When you live in an apartment or small condo, there are limitations. After all, you don’t own the property yourself, so there are certain things you cannot do. In most cases, you won’t be able to change the floors, put nail holes in the walls, or change the kitchen countertop. But don’t think this means you must resign yourself to living in a drab or less-than-appealing space.
In most cases, all the apartments in a building or complex look exactly the same. A typical design scenario will include boring white walls, bare windows or perhaps some white mini-blinds, and the same neutral flooring or carpeting. Fortunately, there are ways to make your look original and reflective of your individual style. Here are some tips on creating appealing apartment interiors.
Decorate Your Walls
Ask and see if it’s possible for you to paint. Many apartment managers don’t mind you painting, since they can easily paint over your color if you move out. If you are allowed to paint, use a bold, bright color on one wall to add visual impact. If the rules prohibit painting, then hang a very large and intricately patterned tapestry on the wall. Bold colorful prints without a frame or with a simple mat edge will also work.
There are hangers you can purchase to use when decorating apartment walls. This way, you’re not putting holes or nails in the wall, which doesn’t usually go over well with the management.
Add Some Drama to the Floors
It’s usually not possible to rip up the carpet or cut out the linoleum, but you can use colorful area rugs instead. Use brightly colored botanical patterns for the kitchen. Patterns that include bright sunflowers, daisies, and poppies help break up the monotony and add a cheerful look.
Consider a couple of smaller rugs in the living room or one large area rug, perhaps strategically placed in front of the sofa. As long as they complement your color scheme, you can choose bold patterns for this room. Intense stripes and plaids make a great addition to a drab décor, particularly if your furniture is solid colored.
Add Flair to the Windows
You can add color to your windows, even if you have to leave the mini-blinds hanging. Try some sheer curtains that coordinate with your other décor. Or for some dramatic flair, drape a boldly colored satin sheet about the window so that it cascades down the sides and onto the floor.
Stick to Color, Pattern, and Texture
Color, pattern, and texture are essential for dramatically changing the look of a room. This can be accomplished in many different ways: with paint, throw rugs, big fluffy throw pillows, and other decorating accessories. In fact, keep several big pillows on hand, as they provide instant floor seating when you have several guests coming to visit.
Keep Furniture to a Minimum
In order to attain that spacious feel, be sure to keep your furniture to a minimum. Low-profile furnishings that don’t have arms will contribute to the open feeling. Items such as coffee or end tables should be kept simple. Stay away from anything that’s too big or bulky.
With a few creative accents, it’s possible to create an apartment that looks and feels like home. When it comes to creating appealing spaces, a little imagination can go a long way.
About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior design industry for four decades. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection of American made solid arts and crafts furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for a wooden coffee table for your sitting room or a solid oak dining table for your dining table then they have everything you need.
How To Decorate Small Spaces
Many people call a small home, apartment, mobile home, or condo home. Although some intimacy is nice, it’s fair to say that sometimes things can get too intimate. A room with too many things in it can start to close in on you so that you feel you’re always climbing over things to get where you are going.
Luckily, there are tons of solutions for opening up smaller spaces. By simply following the tips below, you can take a tiny room and make it appear twice as big.
Create a Balance of Large and Small
Many people make the mistake of thinking that small accents and accessories belong in small rooms. Although some are okay, when you use too many tiny decorating pieces, it just ends up adding to the small, cluttered look. Your best bet is to use a balance of large and small in the room. This will eliminate that messy, cluttered look, all while helping to create interest in the décor.
Light Up the Room!
Does your small room look dark and dreary? Light it up! Remove anything in there that blocks the light, such as heavy curtains or other window coverings. Venetian blinds or another style of window covering allow you to open up the window completely, so you always have the option of letting sunshine spill in and brightening the mood. Make sure your lamps are placed strategically around the room, and choose lampshades light in colors so you get the maximum amount of light in the evenings. If you just can’t live without curtains in the room, go with something sheer.
Remember—Less Is More
If you have a small room, go with large, oversized furniture and large paintings for the walls. Remember, you want large pieces like a oak tv stand or entertainment center, just less of them. For instance, a large sofa and recliner will give you seating space, while not overcrowding the room. It’s the same with the walls: go for a single large portrait or painting rather than groupings of smaller pictures. What will result is a room that feels airy and spacious.
Make Good Use of What Space You Have to Work With
You’ll often see solid oak bookcases, lamps, and other items placed in the middle of the wall. Why not use your corner space? By freeing up more area in the middle of the room, you’ll make it appear larger. Unless the layout just doesn’t work, use the corners. Plants also look great in a corner space.
Mirrors Double the Size of a Room
This is a trade secret that’s been known for decades: mirrors can visually help create a larger looking space. Mirrored tiles can be hung across an entire wall, or one large mirror can act as a focal point. Basically, the reflection of the room in the mirror makes that space look double the size.
Don’t Forget Color
When it comes to making tiny spaces look bigger, don’t forget the color. Yes, white is great, but you shouldn’t be afraid to use bright greens, blues, and peaches as well. When you keep the shades light, color will work to add interest and depth to the space. Of course, you can always create an accent wall, painting a single wall a bright vibrant shade to either blend or contrast with the colors in your furnishings and accents.
Remember, when you’re dealing with a small space, less is always more. So choose single items for your décor rather than collections of small knick-knacks. It’s amazing how a room can open up right before your eyes when you mix and match a few small pieces with several large ones.
Filed under Home Improvement, Interior Decorating | Tags: decorators, Interior Decorator, interior decorators, small spaces | Comment (0)Western Style Decoration
Western themed décor has a comfortable, rich and inviting feel to it. Where you live doesn’t matter, big city or rural area, your living room can always be easily transformed. A home currently decorated in neutral tones can easily be brought to life by adding accessories. This article offers tips and ideas that will prove useful in giving your home a western flair that will challenge that of the old west.
The use of desert hues combined with leather an wood all provide authenticity for this type of décor. Warming up a neutral room with rich, rustic colors and will help you to find that your room has more depth and intensity.
Add Southwestern Color
There are particular tones used in this style of décor which include cactus green, rust orange, adobe red and shades of yellow inspired by the sun. Add depth and warmth to the room by painting the walls in a muted orange or deep yellow shade if the furniture in the room is neutral. Accent rugs, ceramic pottery, throw pillows and other accessories liven up the room. Tapestries can also be used in wall hangings and throw pillows as well.
Terra Cotta and Ceramics Add a Western Influence
Adding plenty of terra cotta and ceramics will enrich the look. Walls, floors or countertops should be placed with terra cotta tiles in mind Using boldly colored ceramic pots filled with cactus and other greenery is perfect in this style of décor. Another beautiful addition is containers decorated in a southwestern pattern.
Fabrics Add an Artistic Flair
Some of the appeal of western décor stems from the richly textured patterns included in this style of decorating. Use hand-woven fabrics with fringed edges for an extra touch. A focal point is for the room is good, and can easily be created by simply hanging a large tapestry decorated with desert scenes on the wall. A burst of color can be added by using textured and colorful throw over a neutral sofa.
The use of natural elements is excellent for the western home. Stone, wood, leather and metal all coalesce to create a mood that is comfortable, warm and eye-catching. If you have the means for buying a brown leather sofa or love seat you should do so. The western feel can be added to with the inclusion of tables constructed with rough woods. Distressed looking furniture is ideal; wrought iron also works perfectly.
If you are interested in adding a bit of the southwestern style to your room, turquoise accents will lend Native American appeal. Think about using throw pillows containing shades of turquoise for the sofa, or southwestern inspired throw rugs for a wooden floor.
Remember that the look of the Wild West draws from ceramics, natural textures and materials and colors inspired by the desert. Consider neutral toned slip covers if your furniture is the opposite of the style you need and cannot afford to refurnish the place. Slipcovers these days are often fitted in order to allow for neat and clean appearances. Embellish your home in the spirit of the west!
About the Author…
For over 40 years Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior design needs. He owns and manages his family owned furniture store. They have a huge inventory of handcrafted American built solid oak mission furniture for your bedroom, home office and living room. Are you searching for a wood dining table or a contemporary dining room set for your formal dining room and kitchen nook then they probably have everything you need.
Country Style Apartment Decoration
If you’re living in an apartment, chances are that you’re living in the city. If you call a city apartment home yet long for the warm, cozy atmosphere of a country home, this is something you can certainly achieve. Whether the city you live in is big or small, you don’t have to give up a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere in your home. With this décor, you can walk in your home and feel like you’re back in the country surrounded by rampant wildflowers and fresh air that flows through every fiber of your being. If you’re currently living in a blank, expressionless apartment, here are some tips on how to turn that space into a real home.
Start with the Furniture
When it comes to country style, the look requires lots of wood—in fact, the more, the better. Look around for a sofa, wooden dining room table, and other large furnishings crafted from natural-looking wood such as knotty pine. Find these furnishings doesn’t necessarily have to cost you a fortune, as you can often find used furnishings at flea markets or online.
Oak end tables are essential furniture pieces as well. Use lace doilies or checked pattern cloths to casually drape over the tables. Then you have a place to display candles in jars scented like cinnamon, vanilla, or apple pie for a country appeal.
Decorate the Walls for Added Interest and Depth
Bare walls typically appear very stark and blank, giving the entire room a cold feel. Rural or black-and-white prints framed in wood are a great way to warm up your walls. Another great option is to hang a country-style quilt alone on a large wall, which will also work to create a focal point for the room.
Don’t Forget the Kitchen!
Continue with the natural or knotty pine wood theme in your kitchen with a country table—if you have the space, of course. For a continous feel to your décor, top your table with a checkered or lace cloth. If a table isn’t going to work in the space you have, use antique-looking bar stools at the counter instead. Wooden bowls and spoons, country candles, and wildflower arrangements can also help enhance the country atmosphere. You might also add a wicker centerpiece to the table or a wooden spice rack for the countertop.
Add Accessories and Accents You Love
The primary things to remember in a country-style décor are plenty of natural, exposed, or antique-looking wood, and simply patterned cloths for the tables. Also don’t forget to get a little of your unique personality into the mix by adding those accessories and accents you truly love. Other items that will add a country flair to your décor include country-style candles, natural flowers, quilts, wicker, and bookcases filled with old or leather-bound books.
Often, apartments tend to look and feel the same and not very inviting. Make your living space your own by warming it up. You will love coming home to a style you adore after a hard day’s work. With a country décor, your home will feel comfortable, cozy, and truly welcoming. Create a décor in your apartment that you will love coming home to!
Filed under Home Improvement, Interior Decorating | Tags: country decor, country style decorating, decorating, Interior Decorating | Comment (0)Decorate Your Home With A Touch Of Asian Style
There is beauty, elegance and boldness in the Asian style of decorating. For anyone looking to make a great impression with a home that exudes style and demands attention, this is the perfect style. This is a style that is not for those seeking a relaxed atmosphere, but for those that want to delve into the bold and dramatic! The ideas presented in this article will aid you in transforming your home into one that will be the desire of anyone who enters.
This may sound surprising, but Asian décor presents simplicity. The use of furniture and accessories is kept to a minimum in order to eliminate clutter. Visual impact comes greatly relies on the use of bold and dramatic colors in the separate pieces.
Use of Bold, Dramatic Color
The use of the colors red, black, gold and shades of tan, brown and grey is prevalent in Asian décor; this is especially true in Japanese style decorating. Black lacquer is usually used on furniture for that glass like shine. You may use gold on walls and trim.
Incorporating Texture
Asian décor uses plenty of natural textures. Bamboo is of common use in furnishings, window coverings and plant containers. The use of paper surfaces may be included in wall prints, and natural rock adds to the drama. Red and gold tones are usually used on containers which hold bamboo plants.
Oriental Rugs are a Must
You cannot hope to complete the look and style of Asian decor without the addition of oriental rugs! Contrary to many other styles of décor, the Asian style relies heavily on the floor. Whether the floor is covered with an exquisite floral wool rug or a tatami mat, the furnishings are used for complementing and drawing out the colors on the floor.
Other elements that are important to this style of décor are window accents and screens. Covering unattractive spaces or dividing the room can be done simply with the use of a Shoji screen. You can also use it to block a window. Lavishly decorated, screens are an essential aspect of the oriental theme.
The windows themselves are kept basic and plain in order to provide a balance to the unique flooring and furnishings. Windows are often simply accented or covered with bamboo or wooden blinds. Tan, grey or neutral furnishings can be complimented with golden window accents; and for a more Chinese approach, window accents often include tassels.
The drama of Asian décor can also provide serenity and peacefulness. Clutter should always be kept to a minimum, and bold accents along with the natural elements should be used in conjunction. You rooms will appear to be more enticing and dramatic, while keeping a and serene tone at the same time.
The next time you are at an oriental style restaurant, take note of the décor. Finding more examples for this exquisite style of décor is as easy as going online, and like this you will have more ideas on how to use this look in your own home! If you are aiming for elegance, there is no better style of décor than the beautiful and bold Asian style.
About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been part of the home furnishings and interior decorating business for four decades. He owns and manages his family owned furniture store. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, home office and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Whether you’re looking for a bookcase for your student loft or a wood chest for your bedroom then they have everything you need.