How to Accessorize a Dining Room

How many of us pay much attention to our dining room? We have the dining table and chairs, all set up nice and tidy. There is nothing wrong with that, except it looks dull and boring. We need to pay a bit more attention to aesthetics so the room doesn’t appear stark and ‘naked’.





There are a good number of ways to style a dining area and give it some interest, but it first starts with the size of the set and its relationship to the shape and volume of the area.

You don’t want to fit a six-seater set into a space that’s better off with a four-chair set and you don’t want to place a round table in a rectangular floor space either.

For a fairly square-shaped room or space, a round table dining set or a square-shaped four-seater works best. A narrow dining area looks best when furnished with a rectangular table. However, these are not strict rules because, in some instances, configurations vary. Dining sets placed in wide bay window areas and oddly shaped dining rooms.

Ways to Style a Dining Room


The way a dining room is styled is always a reflection of the homeowner's personal style but even if you don’t possess interior decorating skills, you can still beautify your dining room in such a way that it will be transformed from the ordinary to the totally appealing.





Décor items, including other furnishings that you can add to enhance your eating area are:

Area rugs – They are not only good to define the dining area, especially in open-plan layouts, they visibly enhance the space by softening and lifting it up from a hard floor finish. For round top tables, a round rug works best and for a rectangular table, a rectangular one works best. It is important to use the right size area rug, not too large and not too small. The size of the dining set will determine the size of the rug that works best.

It’s good to ensure that the rug must connect the furniture pieces – table and chairs - and the chairs must slide in and out ON the rug. The back legs of your chair must not go over the edge of the rug.

Lighting - Install a decorative light fixture over the dining table, a pendant light(s) if you have a high ceiling or a flush-mounted light if you have a low ceiling. You can install a chandelier if you love the traditional. Ideas include fitting pendant lights in a row over a rectangular tabletop or in a central cluster for a modern look over a round top table.

Centrepiece – This can be a vase with fresh or artificial flowers. It can also be a couple of candelabras or a dried plant arrangement. Other ideas include a decorative platter of fresh fruits and berries, a decorative glass bowl of shells, smooth pebbles, dried figs, and the like.

 



Tabletop water fountains, a dish with floating scented candles, or a fishbowl with goldfish are other great ideas. However, ensure the centrepiece isn't too high and doesn't take up much space on the table. It's only meant to enhance, not crowd!

Table setting – You don’t have to give a get-together before you set up your dining table. Soften the table with linen, so if you like tablecloths, go for it but if you don’t, you can set the table with colour-coordinated placemats. Remember to include plates, cutlery/rings, and pretty cloth napkins, salt & pepper shakers, etc...

Slipcovers for chairs – If the dining chairs are old fashioned, drab, or plain, instead of going out to buy new chairs, you can cover them with slipcovers. Not only do they convey an elegant casual but look to dining rooms, they also make a dining room more inviting and user-friendly. Good thing . . . most slipcovers can easily be thrown in the wash in case of stains and spills.

 


Souvenirs and mementoes – You can display family relics, souvenirs, or other heirlooms. These can be placed on the sideboard, corner cabinet, or on the wall in a cluster. This works well in traditional dining room settings, but there is no reason why cherished pieces cannot be displayed in modern settings.

Banquette – for smaller dining spaces, introducing built-in banquette seats is a great idea. It not only adds extra seating space, but the space under the seat can also serve as storage. It’s good to tie it together with the dining chairs by using the same fabric as the chairs’ to upholster it.

Accent with Patterns – There is nothing as effective as bold patterns if you want to add some drama into a room. You can add some surprising elegance and style into a dining room by including lively patterns in attractive prints. For instance, bold zebra print (black and white) upholstery on area rugs or dining chairs will make an otherwise subdued room look attractive and inviting.


Choose a Great Pattern and Colour Scheme


After all is said and done, you need to play up a great pattern and colour scheme. Just as gold colour adds a stylish feel to an outfit, so does the warm tones of brushed gold tableware add finesse and sparkle to a set dining table, so choose your favourite colours and play them up in an attractive way.

Ensure you add textural depth as well . . . for example; you can get creative and mix the dining chairs upholstery fabrics with patterned upholstery cushions on the front and a coordinating solid colour on the back of the chairs.

Add some visual height to the room with vertical stripes in order to emphasise it. Floor-to-ceiling curtains will make the space feel light and airy.


Further Reading:



(Images . . . created by Viryabo@Polyvore)

Best 5 Kitchen Layouts: How to Design Efficient Kitchens

The best kitchen layouts are kitchens that are designed with both efficiency and aesthetics in mind. Whatever the size of your kitchen is, if it has been designed without thinking about its being functional, comfortable, attractive, and a dream to cook in, you are not enjoying your kitchen. Not optimally anyway.




There are some basic principles behind designing a successful kitchen and the layouts are quite straightforward, at least in most kitchen configurations. It does depend on the size and shape of the room, but the basics remain the same. The following kitchen designs should give you an understanding of how to plan something that’ll work best for your space.

The 5 Basic Kitchen Designs


The following kitchen design ideas will always work on a practical level for most kitchens, but what is important to know is that you can develop a design concept by yourself. Make it a DIY task.

Creating effective and user-friendly kitchens isn't that complicated and you really don’t need the services of an interior designer to achieve this feat. The deciding factor is basically the shape, volume, and size of the kitchen space. However, if you feel you need help to fine-tune your ideas, most home improvement stores in your locality will do it for free if you buy from them.

There are also designers online that you can employ to improve on your basic layout and perfect it. These services will come with, at least, a small fee.

1. In-line

2. Galley

3. L-shape

4. U-shape

5. Island

The smaller your kitchen space is, the more planning it requires. Tiny kitchens require you put more thoughts into its arrangement because there isn’t much space to do kitchen chores. And though you may feel that your worktop may be minimal, with strategic placements of cabinets, appliances, and other kitchen requirements, you may get more counter surface that’s important for efficient kitchen layouts.


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1. In-Line Kitchen Design

This kitchen design is also referred to as single-line kitchens. The design has cabinets and all appliances lined up against one wall. It is practical and well-suited for small and narrow kitchen spaces or those that serve as access routes. In-line kitchen layouts are found in older homes, studio apartments, and small residences. They are best suited for single users. 
 



2. Galley Layouts

The galley kitchen layout is like 2 in-line units facing each other like two parallel lines. Because they are lined up against two opposite walls, a comfortable space of 120cm (4 feet) is required between the two walls of kitchen units. For your kitchen design to work optimally, you need a minimum amount of space to allow for easy movement and efficient operations within the room.

There is one disadvantage with galley-style kitchens. It makes some people feel cramped, especially if there are more than two people working in the kitchen.




3. L-shape Kitchen Floor Plans

The L-Shape kitchen plan carries the in-line layout and turns around a corner at a right angle. This option is a more flexible arrangement and is great for large kitchens that incorporate dining areas. To visually divide the two zones (kitchen and eating areas), you can install a breakfast counter.

The L-shape kitchen layout is a great configuration for small and odd-shaped kitchens and works well in rectangular kitchens.




4. U-shape Kitchen Layouts

U-shape kitchens are popular designs for larger size kitchens. They consist of two corners and two ends lined up against three walls and appearing like a peninsula of sorts. The shape allows for a perfect 'work triangle' and if you plan to renovate, the U-shape layout will be a wise choice. You will require a minimum of 240cm (8 feet) between the parallel walls of the shape.






5. Kitchens with Island Units

Island kitchens are basically U-shape kitchen layouts with an island of cabinets in the centre of the U. This layout requires a fair amount of floor space for it to work effectively without restricting movement. Island units provide the ideal preparation areas because it is designed to be equidistant from all other cabinets and appliances installed in the room.

The hub, grill, sink, or the food preparation area can be installed in an island unit. If the kitchen is large enough, a 100cm wide island can have all these making them versatile mid-way point in the kitchen. Island units can come as moveable (on rollers) or built to be fixed in one position.




Can Kitchen Layouts Come in Endless Possibilities?


Yes and no.

Yes, because kitchen shapes, volumes, and sizes come in so many forms and no because a kitchen’s size can be a limiting factor. However, almost all kitchen layouts are derived from one of these basic designs. As long as each layout is designed to create an efficient work triangle, except for in-line kitchen designs, the path between the three primary workstations in a kitchen - food preparation, cooking, and washing, your kitchen design will work efficiently and functionally while maintaining a striking and appealing look.




(Images . . . Created by Viryabo@Polyvore)

Bachelor's Bedroom Design Ideas


There is something about a bachelor’s bedroom that’s quite appealing – its practicality and of course its masculinity. You won’t find complex items in a man’s room, no deep treasures of frivolous things packed and stored all over the place. No array of pretty colours that is many-a-times so hard to maintain.



Created by Viryabo@Polyvore

 A man who is passionate about his surroundings has all his stuff well arranged. From toiletries and undergarments to medals and keepsakes, every item is neatly placed and clearly displayed in an organised manner. There is not much tolerance for confusion. He needs to be comfortable with his bedroom layout because he loves familiar type surroundings, so his bedroom design is usually centred on this thought.

Men’s Idea of a Stylish Bedroom


A man’s idea of a stylish bedroom is usually straightforward and uncomplicated. Typically, bachelors' bedroom is generally functional and uncluttered, as men have more basic needs and preferences than most women do. He has a good idea of what he likes! 


Some Furnishings You'll Find in a Man's Stylish Bedroom

Asides the basic bedroom furniture . . . bed, bachelor's chests, dressers, chair, it’s often the small, almost unimportant things that he loves best and when these items are well placed and displayed, a man can comfortably refer to his bedroom as tasteful.

Their special touches can be seen in the way they place and display things like:
  • Wall Art and Paintings
  • Framed photos
  • Keepsakes and mementoes
  • Trophies/plaques/cups
  • Football jersey top(s)
  • Suede-covered throw pillows
  • Area (or runner) rug
  • Vintage/retro collectibles
With treasured items like these around, a man’s bedroom looks and feels warm, lived in, masculine, and best of all, comfortable.

Many men will rather opt for leather, metal, or darker wood finishes for their bedroom furniture. Leather certainly has a very elegant but masculine appeal because it is regarded as strong, tough, and resilient . . . ego or practicality? Same interest goes for dark wood finish. It is hard, natural, appealing and most importantly, 'macho'. And with metal, the cold, crisp, and clean lines make it a ‘darling’ of many bachelors.

Modern or Classic Bedroom Design Idea


Today, many bachelors love the contemporary (modern) bedroom interior design theme with simple but dramatic headboards because though they identify with the simplicity of today's modern flair yet they still like a bit of stylish drama.

There are some who like intricate but imposing bedroom décor and will most definitely go for the classical themed bedroom designs while a few others love the "rough-hewn", macho, or rustic décor and will go only for furnishings that will bring out such style. 

According to a recent poll, while 63% of bachelors find modern bedroom design ideas stylish, only 16% feel a classic design layout is stylish.


 


So from all indications, a bedroom design with a modern theme takes the cake! And the preferred colour scheme? Grey, white, blue, browns, purple, and black

Now which bachelor doesn’t desire a great bedroom design theme that virtually entices a partner and sends out a statement of pure untainted masculinity?



Articles:
Decorating Ideas for a Den
How to Style a Plain Sofa
Elegant Counter-Height Dining Tables for Small Spaces
How to Decorate Your Home with Accent Chairs
7 Ways to Change your Living Room from Drab to Refreshing

Klismos Style Chairs: Modern Versions of Ancient Greek Chair Designs

Klismos-style chairs are shaped after chair designs of ancient Greece and are said to date back as far as the 5th century. representations of this chair design have been found on bas relief and pottery designs of the 1400s and the period depictions found on painted pottery and carvings at the Acropolis of Athens, now a world heritage site.

And though very few original specimens have been discovered by modern archaeologists, the artworks and carvings excavated give us a clear indication of what the chairs looked like.


A modern Klismos chair used as an accent chair in this image. Notice the curved lines on every part of its structure - backrest, seat, stiles, and legs.

The klismos chair design is as classic as they come. With curved backrests and tapering curvilinear legs, they possess clean lines and soft curves and can work perfectly in any modern or traditional interior setting. 

One distinguishing feature of this timeless chair is its sabre-like tapering legs, curved tablet backrests and curled stiles. These features give klismos chairs a visibly lightweight sleek look. They usually come with a generously wide seat and a backrest that curves forward enough to rest your elbows. The chair's design can be aptly described as “simultaneously old-world and contemporary”.


Klismos Style Chairs in Modern Interiors


With its relatively frequent appearance over the centuries, the basic design of the Klismos chair still looks surprisingly consistent. It has been endlessly reinterpreted since as far back as the late 18th century and is one of the few, if not the only ancient Greek furniture style that can still be found in modern interiors settings today.

Its relevance today still attests to the fact that it was well designed then and still is now in the 21st century. According to a decorator Brad Ford, “its lines are incredibly graceful, and it stands up to any number of interpretations”. This means that whichever way you use it, either in a stylish living room setting or in more casual interior decor, it will never look out of place in any interior setup.


Klismos chairs are popularly used as dining chairs as shown in this setting. However, it can also be used as an occasional chair or as an accent chair.

9 Reasons Why People Love Klismos Chairs


Many people love the expressive, unique, and completely timeless look of this ancient styled chair as they no doubt will add elegance to any room.

But why is the klismos chair style such an enduring piece of furniture and an all-time favourite?
  1. They make great accent chairs.
  2. They will transform a lack-lustre living room seating arrangement into a beautiful and stylish setting.
  3. They look very elegant when set around any style of dining tables. They also will add a sophisticated feel to your dining room. 
  4. Its flowing curvy strokes balances its classical sobriety 
  5. The curved backrest makes it comfortable to sit in while its curved legs offer extra support to the chair. 
  6. They are stylishly lightweight chairs and can be moved around a room from one spot to another. 
  7. It has age-old lines and characteristic S-curves, a desired feature by those who like chic neoclassic themes. 
  8. Like many true classics, the Klismos chair design has been reproduced and re-designed in so many different ways. 
  9. It is a unique piece of furniture that still maintains a sense of tradition. Made in various materials ranging from wood and faux leather to acrylic Klismos, leather and wood combination, and from rattan.



For today’s designers and decorators, the Klismos chairs remains a top choice for accent or dining chairs just for their sheer elegance. Why not? After all, it is “literally the only ancient furniture form that, in its most faithful reproduction, can still fulfil today's practical and stylistic requirements”.


Further Reading:
How to Style a Plain Sofa
How to Decorate with Accent Chairs

How to Style a Plain Sofa

A sofa is the main seat in our living room and thus deserves a bit of attention. However, because it's a piece of furniture that lasts many years (asides wine stains, grubby finger marks, and cigarette burns), it tends to be over-used and a bit worn-out with time.


Viryabo@Polyvore


The great thing about sofas is that their frames last a long time, therefore, they can be re-upholstered again and again, giving them a fabric change once in a few years.

It doesn't matter if the design of your sofa is plain and unimpressive; you can 'up' its style with other furnishing components by adding them unto and around it. The total ensemble will greatly enhance its look and turn it into a 'stylish' piece.

Enhance a Drab Sofa with Furnishings


To give this important chair a tasteful look that will make it appear brand new again, consider adding the following items, most of which are quite affordable. They will not only enhance a sofa, they will also add a new vivacity to the entire room.
  • Throw pillows
  • Unique side stools
  • Table lamps
  • Area rug
  • Wall art
  • Ornamental pieces (for your coffee table) – carvings, scented candles, flower vase, mementoes, etc...
If you wish to create a vibrant look, add lively and striking colours that are uplifting. On the other hand, if your preferences tend towards the plain and understated, choose earth tones in shades of light and dark, depending on the sofa’s fabric design and colour.

Don’t forget to have a mix of smooth and textured fabrics with patterns that are abstract, geometric, modern, or traditional. The choices you make will depend on the theme you wish to create.



Viryabo@Polyvore

If your existing sofa is heavily patterned, ensure that furnishings you add to enhance it are predominantly plain. You want to avoid a ‘riotous’ look. And if your sofa is upholstered with plain fabric (which most are), you are allowed to splash out on the colours, bearing in mind that you have to take the other colours in the room into consideration.

Add beautiful artwork (metal art, painting, portrait, or poster) on the wall the sofa is set against. It’s good to ensure that your choice of art is a good size and occupies a sizeable space, whether single or clustered. If the scale of your artwork is not in sync with the size of the sofa, it will appear to fade into the wall.

Placing table lamps on each side of a sofa is aesthetically pleasing, so get a couple of distinctive lamps to place on your side stools which must be equally unique.

Styling any sofa, be it new, old or drab sofa is quite exciting. However, don’t restrict yourself to trending set-ups if you don’t wish to. You can create your own look as long as you let your creative juices flow freely.


Further Reading:
How to Decorate a Console Table
How to Decorate a Coffee Table Stylishly
Klismos Style Chairs - Ancient Greek Chair Designs
7 Pet Beds You Will Find In Stylish Homes
Fish Tank Coffee Table
How to Decorate Your Home with Accent Chairs