Archive for November, 2011

Space Saving Design Ideas for a Dorm Room

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

Introduction

So you’re moving away to the dorm! What a wonderful and exciting time!  Living in a dorm is the first experience many teens have with living independently, and it can be an important step on the road to adulthood.   Now that the excitement has started to die down, it’s time to come up with a plan for how you will decorate your own dorm room.   Your dorm room should reflect your tastes and your personality, as well as provide you with a functional living space.

Dorm Room Basics

Most dorms come complete with institutional furniture.  Beds, dressers, desks and a couple of desk chairs are standard at most colleges.   Many colleges do not allow you to move the furniture out of the room, so plan on making the most of it.   Additionally most colleges will not allow you to paint or use nails or screws in the walls.  This can limit your choices, but it can also make you use your imagination – which is every decorator’s best tool.   Most dorm rooms are also very small, which can also be a decorating challenge.

How Will You Use Your Dorm Room?

Before you begin to plan the arrangement of your room, take a few minutes to think about how you will use it.  You’ll be doing many different activities in your dorm room; eating, sleeping, studying and even entertaining.   Additionally, you’ll need to store many of your belongings in the room.  Chances are good if your dorm room even has a closet, it will be tiny and you may have to share it with a roommate.  Don’t count on many storage areas being included in the basic dorm room.

What Do You Need To Keep In Your Dorm Room?

Think about what you’ll need, what you’d like and what you can do without in your room.  You’ll need storage for drinks and snacks; books and study materials; clothing and personal items and areas to display your special art or treasures.   You may want a small refrigerator, a television or a stereo in your dorm room.  If you have the space, you may want to include a small sitting area for guests or just hanging out with your roommate.

Making A Design Plan And A Budget

Now that you know what you’ll need and what you have to work with, it’s time to start the more formal planning process.  Decide how much money you can spend and make a budget you can stick to.   Draw a scale model of your dorm room and furnishings on graph paper to play with different room arrangements.  Take your tape measure with you to the store if you’re planning to buy anything large so you can make sure it will fit in the space you have available.

Making The Most Of The Space You Have

Small space decorating can be a challenge, but it can also be a lot of fun.  It takes a little creativity and ingenuity to pull off a successful small space design, but there are a few tricks and tips that can help.

  1. Keep the colors simple.   You don’t want to overwhelm a small room with a rainbow of colors.  Keeping a basic color scheme of two or three colors will make your room seem more polished and put together.   Even a monochromatic scheme can be beautiful in a small room.
  2. Symmetry is your friend.  While the urge to go outside of the box when arranging furnishings is tempting, sticking with a symmetrical design will help the room feel larger and again, more polished.
  3. Make the most of unexpected space.  Putting your bed on raised blocks can give you much more storage room underneath the bed without raising the whole unit like a bunk bed or loft.

Dorm living is a great experience, and one you’ll remember your whole life.  Creating a dorm room that is lovely, comfortable and reflects your personal style will make the experience even more rewarding.

Jessica Ackerman, author and staff designer at WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, specializes in trees wall art and Southwestern wall art.

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Double Duty Decorating for a Dorm Room

Saturday, November 26th, 2011

Introduction

Going away to college to live in the dorms is a great and exciting time for many teens.  The freedom and independence of college life is a stepping-stone on the way to adulthood.   Living in the dorms can be a challenge as much as it can be a reward, however, especially when trying to fit two people and a semester’s worth of stuff into a small space.    Dorm rooms can be a challenge to keep organized and stylish, often having to depend on college issue furniture while abiding by strict rules on how a student can and cannot decorate.   If you’re a teen headed off to college soon, or a parent of a college-bound student, this article can help you make the most of the space in the dorm.

Make A Budget

One of the first steps of any decorating project is to decide on a budget and stick to it.   Deciding how much you can or want to spend on the dorm room will help fine tune your decorating plan in the next step.  Additionally, a budget will keep you from overspending – which is very important to families trying to pay for a college education.    No matter how large or small the budget is, there are many options for dorm room decorating.   Style doesn’t have to be expensive.

Make A Plan

The next step is developing your decorating plan.   If your college allows it, ask for a tour of a typical dorm room before moving in and measure the space and stock furnishing carefully.   When you get back home, draw a scale version of the room on graph paper.  Then draw and cut out scale versions of any furniture you must keep in your room.   Practice a few different configurations of the furnishings with your graph paper model until you find something that works for you.   Next, make a list of things you’ll need to be comfortable in the dorm, and begin coming up with a plan for how to fit everything into the small space.   Most dorm rooms serve several functions.  They’re places to sleep, eat, study and entertain.  Additionally, you’ll need to make sure you have adequate storage for clothing and personal items.   Inventory what you already have, and make a list of anything you’ll need to buy.

Comparison Shop

Once you have an idea of what you need, go to several brick and mortar stores and online retailers to find the best values.   Many companies have sales featuring college dorm supplies in the late summer, with the biggest markdowns happening after school starts.   Consider only buying necessities now, then fill in the blanks with heavily discounted products once you’ve moved in.

Space Saving Furnishing

Many college students like to make the most of the limited dorm room space by elevating the beds.  When I was in college, my roommate and I both slept on raised beds, leaving the entire floor area of the room available for other purposes.  We were each able to slide our desks and dressers under the bed, making the most of a very, very small space.   Furniture that can serve more than one purpose is another great idea – consider ottomans with storage that works as a table, a chair and a storage container.  Choose items on castors, which can be slid out of the way with just a hint of effort.

Space Saving Accessories

One big trend in dorm decorating is wall-hung storage.   Most dorms don’t let you put nails or screws into the walls, but there are many reusable adhesive products on the market that can support heavy objects and don’t mar the surface of the wall. These products can be used with lightweight shelves or storage containers, again getting things up off the floor and off the surfaces in the room.

The most important rule in decorating your dorm room is to have fun.  You’ll be spending a lot of time in the space, make sure it’s comfortable and matches your personality.  Just make sure your dorm room doesn’t end up looking like this one:

Jessica Ackerman is a freelance writer and works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com. She shares her wealth of knowledge on trees wall sculptures and tree of life wall art.

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Ways to Add a Feminine Touch to a Bachelor Pad

Friday, November 25th, 2011

The phrase ‘bachelor pad’ can strike fear in the heart of many women. Images of dirty socks on the ceiling fan, dirty dishes in the oven and walls filled with posters of scantily clad women flash through the minds of many women.   While these are clearly greatly exaggerated stereotypes implying unmarried men are incapable of taking care of themselves, there are steps you can take to add a touch of femininity to your home.   In addition to making your home feel more welcoming to any women guests you may have, it will help you create a design balance.

Let us begin by looking at what makes a design feel masculine or feminine. Typically, our assessment of the “gender” of a space is related to the colors, patterns and textures used in the room.  Pastels, florals and soft shapes are considered feminine; bold colors, stripes/plaids and harder shapes are considered masculine.   There are, of course, exceptions, and many designs and design styles can easily be defined as gender-neutral, meaning the appeal is based on something other than gender.

Despite the descriptions above, adding a feminine touch to your bachelor pad doesn’t mean you need to paint anything pink or cover your leather couch in a floral slipcover.   There are many subtle ways to take the manly edge off your space without giving your buddies a reason to poke fun at you.  Pick one or more of the following tips and give them a dose of your own personally style to make your home look and feel welcoming to any guest, regardless of gender.

  1. Bring the outside in.   Adding living things to your space (things growing in the refrigerator do not count) instantly makes it feel more vibrant.   While beautiful flowers arranged elegantly in a simple vase can be very masculine, if you would like to avoid things that bloom there are a multitude of non-flowering houseplants available. Many only require minimal upkeep, needing only a little water and a little sun to thrive.
  2. Frame your art. Nothing says “dorm room” like posters stuck to the wall with tape or thumbtacks. Posters about the charms of alcohol and/or semi-naked women probably don’t belong in your public spaces, but other posters can look great hung in groups in inexpensive, matching poster frames.
  3. Hide your junk. Sufficient storage can go a long way in helping you keep a tidy (and easy to keep that way) home.  Having a place to store everything from your bills to your tools to your collection of sci-fi movies on betamax tapes will help you keep track of all your stuff, as well as keep it out of the way.
  4. Remember the rule of three. Pulling together a design that looks both stylish and intentional can be as easy as remembering the rule of three.   Creating a color palette? Three complementary colors will always work.  Hanging art?  Groups of three will always look balanced.  Adding a collection to a shelf?  Use three items for a polished look.  Want your wall art to look great?  Hang it so the center is one third of the way down the wall.  Three is a magic number in design, and a secret to helping even the most design challenged bachelor achieve a gorgeous home.
  5. Do not be afraid to go soft. Throw pillows, a blanket, fabric window treatments, over-stuffed furniture or a beautiful woven rug can add a feeling of softness and comfort to your room without forsaking the manly vibe.
  6. Do not let electronics be the focal point. Sure, you may have spent more on the television, DVD player and state of the art stereo equipment than you did on all the rest of your furniture combined.   It absolutely deserves a place of honor in your design scheme, but using electronics as the focal point of your room can feel cold and sterile – balance the fancy toys with warmer items and color to keep them from being too dominant.
  7. Keep it clean.  Anyone, male or female, will prefer visiting your home if it’s clean.   Even if you’re no Martha Stewart, keeping things de-cluttered, dusted and vacuumed will make your house feel inviting.    Devote an hour or two once or twice a week to doing basic cleaning tasks without feeling too big a strain on your social calendar.

Adding a feminine touch to your home will make it feel more cozy and inviting to you, as well as to your visitors.  Toning down the manly vibe doesn’t have to be complicated or over-the-top.  Creating a warm, inviting space can still reflect your tastes and masculinity.

Online contributing editor for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, Jessica Ackerman has extensive design experience, using trees wall artwork and contemporary wall artwork.

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Tips For a Small or Compact Home

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

While doing some research, I came across this small house design; the imagination of Poland based, Front Architects, whom described their compact house, Single Hauz, “as a kind of manifest, proposal of a house/shelter for a Western Worlder.”

It wasn’t what I was looking for, but sparked the idea for an article on small houses and how to maximize space.

If one considers some extreme points of view we ultimately need very little to fulfill our living needs; they would include a space to eat, a space to sleep and a space to wash ourselves. Caravan living however doesn’t appeal to me, and even though I might even like a touch of minimalism in my home, I’d like to think that we need more than our basic physical needs being met. After all isn’t that what interior Design is all about?

Here are a few tips to help your small house look bigger:

Your colour scheme:

Use light colours on your walls, door and window frames and on architectural features, because light reflection is essential. Take advantage of natural light, by exposing large windows, glass sliding doors and mirrors. Use similar colours and tones throughout the house, to visually unite rooms and make the whole space seem larger. Go to the extent of continuing even the same flooring throughout, including spaces like your patio or balconies if you have any, leading the eye beyond the room.

Lead the eye upwards since its view sideways is limited, by using vertically striped wallpaper, and if painted, make the ceiling exactly the same colour to create the illusion of one whole space. Ceiling lights and a beautiful chandelier will also draw your attention to the ceiling.

Play around with the idea of creating the illusion of extended space, with 3D murals or wallpaper of i.e. a bamboo forest on one wall. This effect is also created by a large window or French doors leading to a garden or outside deck area.

Your furniture: You don’t need small furniture to maximize space; large pieces will add luxury and a large ceiling-touching wall unit will provide you with much needed storage. In fact, it’s much more desirable to have a few large functional pieces than many cluttering small pieces. What you need is less junk and more purposeful furniture for a room to breathe and achieve an airy spacious feel with. For your room layout, calculate the amount of people in your household and include only compulsory pieces; rid yourself of all unnecessary furniture and de-clutter.

Make your furniture choice light or pale coloured. By using the same colours on your furniture as on your walls, you allow the eye to travel freely over the space without interruption; but vary the patterns or textures to create interest. Find multi-purpose furniture, such as a coffee table with storage (image), ottoman that can double as extra seating and a round table that will take up much less space and seat more people. Don’t forget to organize and utilize valuable storage space under stairs or built in cupboards.

Your home accents: Keep your surface areas as clear as possible by taking inspiration from the minimalist scheme. De-clutter and use only items that are coordinated and essential to the scheme.

Frame your artwork in two large frames with oversized white mats and thin frames for a serene and non invasive effect.

Use mirrors and reflected surfaces as often as possible, light bouncing of these items will reflect light into darker areas and give the illusion of an extended space beyond.

Artist, Jessica Ackerman, is a consultant with WallDecorandHomeAccents.com; she demonstrates what a well-trained eye can accomplish with Southwestern wall artwork and tree of life metal wall sculpture.

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The Art of Bespoke

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

Bespoke is derived from the word “Bespeak” which in the 1800’s meant the “ordering of an item” It historically referred mainly to tailor made items, with haute couture for the rich and gifted – however today apart from fashion design, bespoke professions include Interior Design, Architecture, Graphic design and Software design.

In certain modern design, bespoke is not as immediately evident as in history, when it referred to a tailor made item made from no available pattern. Measured and fitted to provide an item of the utmost exclusivity and to differentiate between made-to-measure or hand-crafted furniture, bespoke furniture brought uncertainties about the definition in Modern times. However, even though hand-crafted furniture might be purposely made by a specialist craftsman and made-to-measure furniture is made to a buyer’s specification, unless the item is solely a one-of-a-kind crafted item, it can not truly be considered bespoke.

In Modern Interior design, custom made craftsmen and women, Interior designers and Architects continue to provide us with the highest of quality true bespoke design.

So what is the fuss about, when it comes to bespoke furniture?

In Bespoke, the designer or Buyer has complete control over the use of fabric, design, materials, features and use, providing the buyer with exactly what they envisioned and required, created with the proficiency of a professional craftsman.

Designers often use these specialist craftsmen to provide them with pieces based on an original drawing. When designing your own furniture or home, using the services of a Specialist Bespoke craftsman may be greatly beneficial, as they specialize in interpreting your design needs into the perfectly finished item you require for your home.

The beauty of working with a bespoke craftsman is the unlimited potential of what can be created, and instead of limiting your creativity to your own skills, you’ll have at hand the expert skills, design knowledge and workshop of a professional. This means that your original design might even be improved to better suit your needs and you’ll have the freedom of any style, material, or fabric of your choice to suit your room perfectly.

And if you don’t have any original ideas of your own, readymade original designer furniture can be bought online. You most likely would not have much of a say in the design of your piece and it isn’t true bespoke in the sense of it being the only one of its kind, but nevertheless if your aim was simply to wow, these designers would provide you with a spectacular, mainly not-seen in-shops piece to flaunt in your own home.

Many of these furniture designers offer a wide range of fabulous pieces for your home. However, designs are often in tune with the times and with Contemporary design being the latest style, finding more traditional pieces might not be as easy. Don’t despair though, there are still many designers that provide pieces for a more eclectic clientele, but be prepared for many hours of research in front of your computer. This is my favourite:  www.interiorinternet.com

Jessica Ackerman writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com where she provides detailed instructions for decorating with Southwestern metal wall art and contemporary metal artwork.

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