Is your home decor drab or lacking in color?  This House Beautiful article is here to save the day! Conquer your fear of color with these tips for home decorating.  Spruce up your bathroom design with a splash of brightness by incorporating colorful bathroom accessories or switching up your bathroom wall color.  Break out of your shell and be adventurous with your decor in all areas of your home by implementing some or all of these tips.
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Whether you want orange in the entry or blue in the bathroom, here are some of our best tips to brighten your home.

Start Small

If you’re afraid to go bold, try starting in the smallest room. It’s not as much of a commitment, plus you’ll spend less time and money. This tiny — but cheery — bath in a New Jersey home makes a strong statement. “Powder rooms are places where you can gild the lily. We used a loud geometric in a bright ocean blue to give it a slightly over-the-top feeling,” says designer Mona Ross Berman. Wallpaper is Recessed from Studio Printworks.

Temper Hot Colors With Cool Ones

Because orange can be too intense on its own, Berman added blue accents in the mudroom. “It’s such a welcoming color. Orange feels like a younger, fresher version of red,” she says. “But it can be a hot color, and I needed a little bit of cool as balance, to cut through the heat.” Wall color is Benjamin Moore’s Fresno. Anchor pillow by Jonathan Adler.

Balance Glossy and Matte Surfaces

In this Beverly Hills living room, designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard choose Jean de Merry slipper chairs in Schumacher Sargent Blush silk taffeta. “Silk enriches every hue,” he says. For every glittering color, however, there has to be a matte one to offset it: “You must balance the ethereal with the earth.”

It’s Okay to Mismatch

For the kitchen of a Missouri lake house, designer Rhoda Burley Payne’s client choose a pistachio Aga range. Unsure what to do with the cabinets, Payne decided to paint them in a similar color. “We did them in a green that blended, but didn’t match.” Subtle differences in hues make for a more sophisticated palette. The cabinets are in Benjamin Moore’s Everglades, thinned to a stain so that the grain of the pine shows through. Wall tiles are by Flores Grandes.

Keep Pink in Check

To create a modern living room for a Capitol Hill row house, designer Barry Dixon choose a pink and brown palette. “It’s both masculine and feminine. They set each other off,” he says. The dark browns keep the pinks from appearing too frothy. The French Club Chairs are by Niermann Weeks and a Tuscany ottoman is by Stewart Furniture. Bell lantern by Chameleon.

Choose One Color, But Use Many Hues

Creating an idyllic bath for a Long Island home, designer DD Allen choose a blue palette but did not limit herself to one shade. The custom watery blue of the polished Venetian plaster walls picks up the blue in the floor tiles. Waterworks Classic Undermount tub. Venetian Plaster by JJ Snyder Studio. Architecture by Michael Pierce.

Add Contrast to a Neutral Palette

To make the master bedroom of this Alabama home more dynamic, designer Betsy Brown choose bright white bedding and a white lampshade. “A room of creams and beiges needs something stark and shiny white. You have to interject elements that add intense personality,” says Brown. Walls are Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore. Saber Leg ottoman by Formations. Cashmere blanket from Suite Dreams.

Source: House Beautiful

If you are looking to revamp your home decor through the use of accessories, then you definitely want to continue reading this blog post.  I found a nifty eHow article that provides step by step instructions for upgrading accessories in your home.  Any room in your home can be updated by simply adding and changing up accessories.  For example, in the bathroom you can add bathroom accessories like soap dishes, toothbrush holders, shower curtains, picture frames, and more.  You can always find different types of accessories to accommodate your bathroom design and any other room in your home.
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Rather than invest time and money in a full home redesign, consider the power of accessories. Upgrading accessories can refresh the space, increase functionality and provide new focal points for your interiors. Gather inspiration for accessorizing by studying furniture showrooms, antique stores, decor magazines and catalogs. Note which pieces, colors, materials, patterns and textures catch your eye.

Instructions

1)  Study your current decor scheme. Try rearranging furniture, artwork and other accessories to open up space and make interiors flow. Identify the pieces that weigh down the space or do not fit in with your aesthetic. These accessories are prime candidates for an upgrade.

2)  Determine your focal points in various rooms. Typically, the spaces above the fireplace mantel, above the dining room table, across from the living room couch and above the heads of beds have eye-catching accessories. Make these areas your priority, and choose accessories for them. Then accent with other details throughout the room.

3) Use artwork, heirlooms and do-it-yourself projects as key accessories. The best accessories are those that tell a story and reflect a side of your personality. Hang a favorite painting in a prominent frame over the fireplace mantel, and make a vintage vase or bowl the centerpiece of the dining room table.

4)  Integrate high-end functional pieces into your home decor. Switch out plain furniture hardware for designer, artisan or vintage handles, knobs and hooks. Cover a boring light fixture with a stellar shade, such as a Moroccan hammered-tin lantern with colored glass insets. Hang a chandelier, a series of pendant lights or a bouquet of bright silk lanterns over a bed, coffee table or dining area. Outfit bathrooms with long bath sheets in Egyptian or organic cotton. Fit beds with high thread-count sheets and down comforters in beautiful duvet covers. Line a bed, couch or day bed with throw pillows in luxe fabrics.

Source:  eHow

Autumn has arrived! Now that the seasons have changed it’s time to start thinking about switching up your bathroom décor.  There are plenty of bathroom accessories out there that you can incorporate into your bathroom design for the fall season. Take a look at these autumn bathroom décor tips from Go Articles and let us know what ideas are your favorite!
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Autumn is finally upon us. It is the season of vibrant colors. In the fall they are all around us. Look outside your window and you will likely see the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges of turning fall leaves. And let’s not forget the oranges and blacks of Halloween! In short, it is a spectacular time of year, one that can be used as a theme for home décor.

Many individuals already incorporate some form of autumnal aesthetic into their interior design schemes during the months of September, October, and November. Those can take any number of forms. For example they can be a range of simple classic elements of autumn, such as the aforementioned leaves, or pumpkins, apples, other signs of the season. They can also be tied into a holiday and feature spooky and whimsical Halloween decorations or a nostalgia inducing Thanksgiving theme. Whichever way they go however, often times this decorative scheme does not make its way into the bathroom.

While it first may seem a bit silly to incorporate autumn décor into one’s water closet, the bathroom is such an integral part of our lives it would be odd not to include it when putting up autumn themed home decorations. Here are some great tips for decorating your bathroom this autumn.

There are a number of different options when it comes to seasonal bathroom decorating. Just as there are themes to general autumn home decorating, there are those very same themes available for bathroom décor. Picking one is important, and of course it can change from month to month.

For example, in September you can have a bathroom aesthetic that incorporates the general themes of autumn. A great way to set the mood is buy to buy a festive shower curtain that features a pattern or color scheme that is symbolic of the season. For example, a shower curtain depicting autumn leaves is a fantastic option. Another way to incorporate autumn motifs into your bathroom is with scented soaps. There are a number of different companies that makes soaps that smell like pumpkin pie, apples and cinnamon, or even autumn leaves. Each and every time you wash your hands you will be rewarded with a whiff of seasonal delight. In the same vein, air freshener companies also create an extensive line of fall themed potpourris an plug-ins that will leave that bathroom smelling fall fresh.

When October rolls around and all things dark, spooky, and mysterious emerge from their shadows to give us all a good fright, you can make your bathroom part of the Halloween fun. Depending on your own personal preferences you can make it either cute and whimsical or seriously creepy and scary, or, of course, anything in between.

For the full article click here.

Have you ever walked in to a bathroom where the mirror was hanging too high or very low?  There is a strategy to hanging mirrors that some people may not know of.  It’s very important to take into account the height of the people who will be using the bathroom mirror the majority of the time.  If your family is on the taller side, then you will want to hang the mirror slightly higher or if your family is short then you’ll want to hang the mirror a little lower.  Whatever your bathroom design is, this eHow article will help you figure out the best height for hanging your mirror.
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Use Average Eye Line Height As a Guideline

According to interior decorator Carmel Maguire, the average person’s eye line is right around 5 feet. To meet this average standard, she recommends hanging the mirror so that its center is 5 feet from the floor.

Consider Users’ Heights

According to Starcraft Custom Building, it is important to consider the height of those who will be using the mirror when determining how high to hang it. If most users are taller than average, the mirror should be hung higher. Hang it lower for shorter users. It may not be possible to satisfy everyone’s needs, but height considerations can help you make the right decision.

Bottom Line

The standard average height can be used as a guideline for how high to hang a bathroom mirror, but ultimately the decision depends on the users’ needs. If you have small children, keep a step stool in the bathroom so that they can safely use the mirror.

Source:  eHow

There are a lot of bathroom accessories out there that one can have in a bathroom.  One of the more essential bathroom accessories is a towel bar.  Towel bars are extremely efficient and come in a bunch of different varieties for any bathroom design.  You can go with a standard towel bar or you can up the ante with a heated towel bar! Other than towel bars, there are a lot of other bathroom accessories out there that could be used in both small and large bathrooms.  Check out the following Small Bathroom Makeovers article to learn about different types of towel bars and bathroom accessories that you can easily utilize in your bathroom.
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To anybody who has put a lot of their hard work, time and effort into producing an aesthetically pleasing, relaxing, atmospheric bathroom, there’ll always be some finishing touches and crucial bathroom accessories needed to simply put the final seal on the project. As a bath and shower are two of the focal points of nearly any bathroom, the bathroom towel bar is one of those crucial bathroom accessories. And also picking the right location for the towel bar, which ought to have been done at the start of the project, it’s essential to choose a type and design of towel bar that will complement the bathroom design and furnishings, and especially the shower and bath unit.

Towel bars, and certainly all bathroom accessories, come in a lot of different varieties in our modern consumer society that it’s difficult not to be overloaded by the sheer volume of choices readily available. The very first step, of course, is to consider the décor of the bathroom itself. Towel bars can be found in chrome or gold finishes, or in white, they can be mounted on the wall, or free standing on the floor. They vary significantly in size, and in the number of towels they can handle.

It is actually now possible to buy towel bars which will heat your towels so that they are nice and warm when you use them. These towel bars and warmers are completely safe, because they are not designed to heat the towels so they’re hot, merely to provide a gentle warming to towels that would normally be cold and uncomfortable to the skin. Of course it goes without saying that these heaters are manufactured in line with the very strict Government Safety Regulations, that are especially important in bathrooms. These heated towel bars give a touch of luxury to even the most simple bathroom.

The heated towel bars come in a variety of styles and types, and are available from all good retailers of bathroom accessories, both in the shopping malls, and on the web. With the modern computer it has never been easier to browse through the entire range, and choose exactly what it is you’re looking for. As well as the standard towel bar which is permanently fitted to the wall, there are lots of different types of free-standing rails and racks. The heated towel bars that fit on the wall could be anything from the traditional single bar to a big unit featuring three or four groups of bars, each capable of holding several different towels.

Thanks to the modern computer and the internet, it’s right now possible to look into the catalogs of many different retailers of bathroom accessories simultaneously. With the ease and convenience of home shopping, it has never been easier to design and enjoy the bathroom of your dreams. Putting the finishing touches to your bathroom with elegant, aesthetic accessories will be the crowning glory of your bathroom design project. A well-chosen towel bar, especially a luxury heated one, can permit you to soak in the luxury of a hot bath knowing that when you leave the bath, the towel will not be far away. It might even be heated to simply the right temperature.

Source: Small Bathroom Makeovers

Ready to bring the rodeo to town? Okay well maybe that’s extreme, but how awesome would it be to have a southwestern bathroom decor theme?  Summer is the time to spice things up with bathroom design and decor, so if you love southwestern style and are looking for a change check out these decor tips from doityourself.com!
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Whether you live in the southwest or you just love the feel of it, southwestern bathroom decor provides a warm atmosphere with unique designs and patterns. Keep reading to find out what elements can be used to create a southwest ambiance in your bathroom.

Color Scheme

The basic colors follow a desert tone with almost all shades of brown. The theme also includes a lot of cactus green, dark reds, bright yellows, orange, and turquoise. These colors may seem like quite the combination, but with more of the browns and reds with the yellows and oranges playing as accents to them, you will be able to create a subtle look of southwestern style.

Pieces and Other Accents

Southwestern décor includes brightly painted items like tiles and ceramics to add authentic, cultural detail. Adding unique tiles to the walls, such as one line of tiles all the way around the bathroom, will definitely enhance the southwestern presence. You should also be able to find bathroom-specific items with the southwest feel. You can find soap dishes, shower curtains, towels, light fixtures, small pictures, and even floor mats to go with the theme. Native American pottery and rugs will advance the theme as will pinion-scented candles and potted cactus.

Source: doityourself.com

Are you an outdoorsy person?  If so, you’ll love these home decor tips I found over at freshome.  Bring the outdoors into your home with plants, natural lighting, earthy fabrics, and even fruit!  It’s time to get creative and leave your drab decor behind.  A really great and cheap solution for the summer season would be to hit the beach and bring home some sea shells, sand, and even rocks to add to your outdoor decor theme.  Also, don’t forget to bring the outdoors into your bathroom by changing up your bathroom accessories, like shower curtains and soap dispensers.
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The outdoors has a natural appeal to humans. The sky, earth, water, and other outdoor elements make us feel refreshed, calm, and one with the earth. How do we get these elements from the outdoors, inside of our home? The obvious way is by bringing plants into our living space. Although, a wonderful idea, here’s 10 other simple ways to bring the outdoors in.

1.) Bring in Natural Fibers, Textures and Patterns: Wicker, Rattan, Hemp, and Jute are all materials that are inspired by nature. Choose these materials in your furniture for a comfortable oasis to relax. In decor – baskets, rugs, and even lampshades will bring the outdoors to your relaxing space.

2.) Use colors that are inspired by the outdoors: Green’s remind us of the earth, grass and plants. Blues are refreshing like water and the sky. Yellows evoke a sense of freshness, like the sun and fresh flowers. Neutral tones such as whites, tans and beige’s make your interiors feel natural, and clean. Use these colors on your walls, window coverings, bedding, and decor.

3.) Use natural flooring instead of man-made flooring: Wood, cork, bamboo are all flooring materials that feel warm, natural and inviting under foot. By bringing these flooring choices into your home, your body will appeal to the organic elements of natural flooring, instead of cold man-made materials.

4.) Use elements found in nature in your decor: Rocks, sea shells, jars of beach sand, wood, and straw are just a few elements which you can incorporate into your everyday living, to bring the outdoors in. Try adding photographs and murals of these elements if you don’t have the real thing on hand.

5.) Entice your senses with outdoor cues: Woodsy incense, and floral potpourri scents are always a treat. Sounds of rain, wind, and the beach are used in luxury spas to make the body feel relaxed and in tune with nature. This same feeling can be brought into your home.

6.) Let in natural light: Natural light is absolutely free and it makes humans feel wonderful! Replace heavy drapery with lighter fabrics and/or sheers.  Let natural light into your home daily, and see how the outdoors pours into your space.

7.) Open your windows and breathe in fresh air: As humans, we require fresh air to feel alive and at peace. Bring the outdoors inside by installing screens in your windows, and turning the air conditioning off occasionally and letting in fresh air.

8.) Ensure all windows have a gorgeous view: If you have overgrown bushes, or trash dumpsters blocking your view, clear it up! Bring the outdoors in by enjoying views of landscaping, pools, or just your kids playing out in the yard.

9.) Decorate with fruits and vegetables: The latest interior décor trend is to decorate with food. Use lemons, limes, and mint for a visual and aromatic outdoor inspiration!

10.) Choose eco-friendly materials for your home: Bedding, towels, cleaning products, and even paint, all come in eco-friendly varieties.  Try using earth friendly products on a daily basis; you’ll feel closer to nature, and the earth will thank you.

Source: freshome

In my web surfing for the next blog post, I came across this interesting Apartment Therapy article that quickly caught my eye. How neat and funky is this toilet paper holder? I’ve never seen anything like it so I knew this was something I had to share! If you are looking to add some cool bathroom accessories to your bathroom decor than this is definitely something you should consider! Check out the following steps to make your very own phone toilet paper holder!
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Does this charming little DIY phone turned toilet paper dispenser look familiar? Well it should; we have seen it in Suki’s Seattle house call, and it was also featured in her Small/Cool 2011 entry. We had quite a few readers requesting a tutorial on how Suki made this fun and quirky TP holder, so without further ado here it is laid out for you step by step…

Here are the steps:

* Scour your favorite vintage spots for a good old-timey phone.
* Remove all of the phone’s guts completely to make it as light as possible.
* Get rid of any knobs or feet on the bottom of the phone to make it flat and smooth. This may involve a little sanding.
* Next, clean the surface of the phone and the wall you are going to adhere it to.
* To attach the phone use double-sided adhesive foam tape or an epoxy for a more permanent hold. Just make sure it’s secure and can hold up to 4lbs of weight.
* Then attach some kind of ribbon or fastening mechanism around the neck of the phone to hold up your toilet paper roll. Suki used a garter belt that she bought in Tokyo. Make sure whatever you use can easily be opened and closed in order to change toilet paper rolls.
* Lastly, go get your favorite toilet paper to put on your new cute dispenser!

Source: Apartment Therapy

Are you bored with your current bathroom mirror and looking to change things up? Well this Apartment Therapy article is full of great bathroom mirror ideas that go above and beyond your typical bathroom mirror. Get creative and incorporate bright colored and unique shaped mirrors to your bathroom design. Check out the following bathroom mirror ideas to enhance the appearance of your bathroom decor and style!
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Why does your bathroom mirror have to be just a plain, featureless rectangle? Punching up your bathroom mirror will instantly add some personality to any size room, and we’ve spotted some ideas we’d love to see incorporated in the bathroom.

We found all these ideas in other rooms of the house, but we don’t see any reason why they couldn’t be incorporated into the bathroom. Some of them aren’t as practical as others (especially not for anyone who likes really tall or elaborate hairstyles that require large mirrors) but they all have a fun, unique quality to them perfect for jazzing up a boring bathroom.

1) IKEA Honeycomb mirrors plus pallet This combines geometric shapes with the trend of reusing packing pallets. Brilliantly figured out on the blog Loving.Living.Small.
2) An assortment of mismatched mirrors We love the bohemian look of a bunch of mirrors, all different sizes and shapes, creating a fun collage.
3) Brightly-colored mirror frame Whether you have to add one or just paint the one your mirror has, the idea of a fun, bold color framing your face every morning is just appealing.
4) Find a fun shape Finding a mirror in an interesting shape requires a lot of hard work and a little luck, but boy it would sure pay off to have an interesting shape as a bathroom mirror.
5) Vintage tennis rackets or other unique items Even if you’re not a sports fan, you can’t deny how cute these rackets look with mirrors in them. We imagine this treatment could be done with a number of items, for an awesome result.

Have you given your bathroom mirror a unique treatment? Let us know how you added personality to your bathroom!

Source: Apartment Therapy

It may be the spring, but before you know it the summer will be here! A great bathroom decor tip I came across on doityourself.com is a nautical themed bathroom.  Nautical bathroom accessories are great all year round, especially in the summer. So go ahead and add some pizzazz to your current bathroom design with these fun and simple ideas!
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Because of the bathroom’s inherent focus on water, designing with nautical bathroom accessories can be a fun and easy way to add style and flair to your bathroom space. From elegant to quirky, nautical themes can accommodate any taste to a tee. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Paint with oceanic colors such as light blue, sea green and sandy beige to add instant atmosphere.
2. Employ some nautical stencils or wallpaper borders that include ships, fish or lighthouses.
3. Add small accent pieces and trinkets around the sink in the shape of gulls, whales or anchors.
4. Try framing sea shells and hanging them on the wall for a naturally elegant look.

Another simple way to decorate is to buy a complete set of  accessories, available at many popular retail stores that include shower curtains, rugs, towels and counter top accouterments with a nautical theme. Look for designs incorporating fish, sail boats or sea shells.

When you use a nautical theme in the bathroom, you can create an instant vacation for yourself whenever you choose.

Source: doityourself.com