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Interior Design Tips for Maximizing a Small Living Space

June 13, 2011 · Comments { 9 }

I’m thrilled to announce that Michaela of Michaela Noelle Designs and an interior design student will be a summer contributor here at Simplified Bee. Earlier this year she wrote a great article on Color Psychology in Interior Design. Today, she will be giving us design tips for small spaces. Thanks Michaela!

I’m so excited to be here sharing on Simplified Bee today. I adore Cristin- we had the chance to meet a few months ago and she really is such an inspiration to me. Today, she’s asked me to share my take on easy ways to maximize a small space. This past school year I lived in a very tiny apartment, and while I couldn’t make any serious changes because the apartments were owned by the school, I sure spent plenty of hours thinking about what I’d do if I could! That’s just how the designer brain works…always thinking of how to improve a space (:

Let’s dive in!

Top Ways to Maximize Your Small Space:

1. Lighter is Brighter. Soft, neutral colored walls always makes a space appear larger. While an accent wall here or there is a great idea, darker colors tend to impose on a space, making it feel smaller. Some smart color choices would be light blue, beige, light gray or a pale yellow. Add brighter colors in smaller doses like pillows, curtains and art work, if you wish.

Young House Love

House Beautiful

2. Consistency. Having a uniform floor running throughout your small space is a way to trick the eye into thinking the space is longer or wider.

Apartment Therapy

3. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. Hanging mirrors is a great way to visually maximize space, as it reflects light and enlarges the depth of perception.

Danielle Oakey Interiors

4. Let There be Light. Smart lighting choices found in fun pendants, chandeliers and other ambient lighting will help keep the space light and bright, thus making it feel nice and spacious.

House Beautiful

5. Tuck it Away. Perhaps the most important way to keep your space feeling larger than it is, would be storage. There are so many creative ways to keep your clutter out of sight. Vertical storage in bookcases is a great space saver. It’s also a fun way to add personality- decorating your bookshelves. Other storage options include ottomans, buffet tables for your eating space, or a dresser for your entry table. If you don’t have a linen closet, a dresser is a great option! No one has to know what’s in those drawers (:

Apartment Therapy

With some of these tips implemented into a small home or apartment, you’re bound to fool your guests when the guess your square footage. Hope these helped! Thanks again for having me, Cristin!

xoxo,

Photobucket

Read full story By Cristin on June 13, 2011 in Design Tips, home organization, interior design, lighting, storage

Coffee Table Decorating and Styling Tips

March 9, 2011 · Comments { 16 }

{Designer Ken Fulk}

Tucked between sofas and chairs, the coffee table can help a space achieve equilibrium. Although known as a staple in living or family rooms, coffee tables are also found in other areas of the home such as bedrooms, offices and sunrooms. Regardless of the location, decorating a coffee table’s surface is an essential element in completing the room’s overall look.

{Designer: Tobi Fairley}

It may seem elementary, but artfully styling a coffee table takes careful consideration. It’s easy to plop down some coffee table books, fresh flowers and a tray, but it may not be pleasing to the eye. When selecting items to decorate the surface, keep in mind basic principles of design including scale, balance, rhythm and harmony. Taking these design principles into consideration, here are some tips for decorating a coffee table:

{Designer: Palmer Weiss}

Evaluate Scale. Take into consideration the scale or visual weight of your coffee table and the other furnishing that embody the space. The example above, by interior designer Palmer Weiss, incorporates a round glass coffee table, which has less visual weight than the surrounding furnishings. To compliment the table’s scale, shape and material, Palmer selects three groups of items; a decorative plate, fresh flowers and a couple books – all heavier in visual weight than the coffee table itself. Notice the coral & white fresh flowers subtly pick up on the pillow’s hue – this is not an accident. The floral arrangement also adds height to the grouping without blocking the view of the TV, fireplace or guests’ faces. The round plate picks up on similar colors in the space, but more importantly repeats the circle patterns throughout the space. The magnifying glass placed on the coffee table books adds a touch of whimsy and that magical third element to the grouping. One design trick, which Palmer uses here, is to arrange accessories in groups and multiples of three.

{Designer: Hillary Thomas; Photo credit: Patrick Cline via Lonny Magazine}

Strike Visual Harmony. Designer, Hillary Thomas also used a trio of compatible items to create a harmonious look on this square coffee table. Again, fresh flowers in various shades of pink and red pick up on pair of ikat pillows {keep plants. A small round tea light breaks up the straight lines of the table and adds a romantic touch. {If you have small children or pets, please be careful when lighting candles on a coffee table – for safety reasons candles should be kept out of reach.} This time a pair of coffee table books are grounded with Foo Dogs. The Asian figurines compliment in style, texture and color the garden stools placed in front of the sofa.

{Designer: Tobi Fairley}

Achieve Balance. In the formal seating room above, designer Tobi Fairley creates a symmetrical balance by placing matching chairs, side tables and table lamps on either side of the sofa. The pair of books and glass art accessories selected to decorate the coffee table breaks the room’s formal symmetry, creating visual balance and interest.

{Designer: Hillary Thomas; Photo credit: Patrick Cline via Lonny Magazine}

Above designer, Hillary Thomas using a large square tufted ottoman as a coffee table in this family room. A contrasting black lacquer tray is the perfect accessory to unify and showcase other decorative items. The asymmetrical arrangement of the stone horse figurine, book and succulent plant creates a visual balance. This informal balance can be difficult to achieve for some and there are no set of rules as to what is right or wrong. Many times it requires patience and plenty of trial and error to get it right.

{photo credit: Thibault Jeanson via House Beautiful}

Create Rhythm. Here designers, Hattie Wolfe and Abby Rizor place a large Indonesian bowl on a stout wooden coffee table. While some may argue the scale of the bowl is too large, it works not only because the repetition it provides in color & texture, but its contrasting round form creates rhythm in the space. I am not sure how this bowl was acquired, but showcasing treasures from your travels is always a wonderful way to make a space personal and act as a great conversation starter.

What do you think are the most important design principles to keep in mind while styling a coffee table?

Are you looking for more design advice on styling your home? If so, you may enjoy reading:

Tips on Decorating the Fireplace Mantel,
Tips on Styling a Bookcase Like an Interior Designer or
Tips for Styling a Living Room.

Read full story By Cristin on March 9, 2011 in Design Tips, home accessories, interior design, Interiors, Living Room, living rooms, Tips/Tricks

5 Feng Shui Tips for Increasing Positive Energy in Your Home

January 26, 2011 · Comments { 21 }

Feng Shui is fascinating to me and I am interested in learning more about how to improve the energy in our homes through interior design. Today I am thrilled to have a Feng Shui expert give us some tips.

Cristin Zegers {yep, spelled just like me!} is a Feng Shui Consultant and Mom of three based in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She believes that our homes are our havens and should embrace us, reflect us, and inspire us. Using the ancient practice of Feng Shui and her own intuitive guidance, Cristin strives to empower people with the knowledge they need to create spaces that nurture them and support the work they do within themselves every day.

{image source House Beautiful and designer Christopher Maya}

Think of that house you walk in to and you immediately feel at ease. We all know of at least one house like this. We can’t quite put our finger on it, but it’s welcoming and comfortable, and lingering for hours in this space just leaves us feeling good. Chances are this house has good Feng Shui. The words Feng Shui actually translate to wind and water—kind of like the unseen and the seen. A house with good Feng Shui has good flow, which is something that we not only see but we feel.

Feng Shui has been around for centuries and the essence of this ancient practice is just as applicable today as it has ever been. No matter what your taste, budget, or decorating style, basic Feng Shui principles can be incorporated into your own home creating a space that embraces you, supports you, and leaves your family and your guests feeling energized and positive.

Here are five key areas to focus on in your own home to turn your house into a haven of positive energy:

{image source House Beautiful and designer James Radin}

1. Deal with the clutter. Seen and unseen—remember? We can’t have overflowing closets and mysteries under our beds and feel at ease. Energy gets hung up in these places and therefore affects us internally. A cluttered home equals a cluttered mind, so start purging with abandon and see how much freer you feel.

{image source Marnie Rose and stylist Lauren Nelson}

2. If you don’t love it, set it free. Our belongings hold the memories and thoughts we attach to them. Everything you own should lift your spirits, and if it doesn’t, pass it along so maybe it can do that for someone else. You’ll be opening up space for something more spectacular to enter your life! So if you’ve been looking at that coffee table and cringing for years, here’s your permission to take it to the curb (or the donation center). You’ll be so glad you did.

3. If it’s broken, fix it. Now. Feng Shui teaches us the relationship between parts of our house to areas of our life. A leaky faucet or broken stove could be connected to financial challenges. Wobbly table legs or unstable chairs could be indicative of unsupportive relationships. We need to treat our belongings like precious members of our family and take care of them. Clean, mend, tighten, polish—give your love to your belongings and they will love you right back in ways you may not even know.

{image source Patrice Cowan Bevans Interior Design}

4. Put yourself in the power position. When you lay in bed, sit at your desk, and relax in your favorite chair, make sure you can see the entrance to the room. Having your back to the doorway leaves an unsettling feeling, like you’re not protected. Position yourself so you won’t be startled when someone enters. The only exception to this is the placement of your bed. Do not have your feet directly in line with the door of your bedroom. Even moving your bed one foot, so you don’t look past your feet and out the door, can make a big difference.

{image source Palmer Weiss Interior Design}

5. Take a tour of your home from an energetic point of view. Where your eye goes the energy goes. Those comfortable, peaceful homes have meandering paths for energy to follow. Long, dark hallways and staircases are like shooting rapids for energy flow. Position your furnishings to support an easeful movement throughout your space. A clever use of mirrors can aid the auspicious circulation, as can light and color. Take a walk through your space and see what angles you can soften and paths you can slow down.

Being mindful of these five Feng Shui guidelines in the arrangement and everyday inhabitance of your home can result in abundance you haven’t recognized before. Looking upon your place and your belongings with gratitude creates that positive glow you recognize. It makes people want to be there, and it’s an environment that supports your goals and dreams. Live in a space that reflects the life you want to live…then live it!

For more information, please visit Cristin Zegers’ website & blog. Thank you Cristin!

How do you incorporate Feng Shui principles in your home today?

Read full story By Cristin on January 26, 2011 in Design Tips, feng shui, interior design

My Favorite Resources for Chic Baby Nursery Décor

November 15, 2010 · Comments { 12 }

Designing a nursery room for baby is such a pleasure because of the joy in preparing to bring home a new member of the family. A well designed nursery room needs to be high-functioning, but in doing so it doesn’t have to sacrifice on style. And there isn’t a better time to design for baby. Today there are so many wonderful baby décor companies producing a vast range of style-savvy, multi-functional and eco-friendly products. In addition, many of these furnishings and accessories can be easily purchased online. Here are some of my favorite nursery room décor resources:

serena & lily crib pecock nursery
For Crib Bedding

My favorite resource for classic nursery bedding is Serena & Lily. Their crisp, fresh prints are fun, yet sophisticated and several are organic. Serena & Lily sell fabric by the yard which is nice if you’d like to have some custom upholstery or window treatments. They also offer low VOC paint and accessories that coordinate beautifully with their bedding collections.

block print crib bedding nursery rikshaw

One design trend making its way into the nursery is Eastern-inspired block prints. The Rikshaw Design offers a romantic and whimsical collection of crib sets, pillows and accessories, all hand block-printed on soft Indian cotton voile. The line is easy to mix-and-match with coordinating prints, florals, stripes and motifs.

For Nursery Furnishings

When selecting a crib, expecting parents have a lot of terrific styles and options today. Classic cribs are always in style, but many are now designed to grow with your child and transition from crib, to toddler bed, to full-sized headboard. I encourage clients to think ahead and purchase items that will represent a smart, solid investments – that will last beyond baby’s first years and become a permanent part of the home. When shopping for nursery room furnishings, I search Pottery Barn Kids, Rosenberry Rooms, and All Modern Baby. PetitNest is also a new baby & children’s décor company worth checking out.

A good nursing chair is also an important piece and investment in a newborn nursery. I advise my clients to think long-term with this purchase. Will it look okay in a big boy or big girl room? Can we move it to a family or another sitting room? Serena & Lily and Restoration Hardware Baby & Child {above} carry gliders with great lines and customizable fabric options.

nursery lighting lamps children posh tots
For Lighting

Lighting is an important part of the overall design of a nursery. It can set the overall mood and provide needed task lighting. My favorite resource for lighting a nursery is Posh Tots. They have a wide variety and styles to choose from. Recently, I also found some great and economical lighting options at Target.

For Storage

Compartmentalized storage pieces are essential to keeping a nursery organized and efficient. The MacBeth Collection {above left} offers tons of stylish storage tins that are easily tailored to the room’s color palette and best of all can be personalized with your child’s name, monogram or name of item it may be storing. Pottery Barn Kids {above right}, Ikea and Target also have fun storage options for nursery rooms.

For Rugs

An area rug might be necessary if the nursery room has wooden or tile flooring. I always visit Overstock.com first to see if they have any rugs on clearance that might work in the design. Another great resource is Rosenberry Rooms {sampling above}.

nursery artwork children polka dot peacock

For Wall Art

There are so many great options for decorating the walls of a nursery. One trend is the use of wall decals. They are wonderful to use in nursery rooms because the can be easily removed or changed out as your child outgrows the space. I am also a huge fan of original artwork. Etsy has loads of talented artists that will personalize pieces for your little ones. Another favorite spot for art is Polka Dot Peacock where I found the artwork above.

What are you favorite resources for nursery room décor?

Read full story By Cristin on November 15, 2010 in baby and children, baby nursery room, Design Tips, furniture, interior design, Tips/Tricks

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Interior Design Tips for Maximizing a Small Living Space

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