Interior Design Ideas for Whitewashed Walls

An all-white room is a canvas for creative experimentation. Many homeowners hesitate to work with a neutral palette, as they are nervous about how to make the room look warm and inviting. White is misunderstood as a monotonous color, but interior designers beg to differ. If done right, it can brighten up a smaller space. Exhibiting luxury, purity and confidence, white evokes a sense of relaxation after a long day. If you’re looking for ideas to make a white room pop, check out these interior design ideas. Make a white room your canvas and play with furnishings, furniture and artwork!

1. Choose the best shade of white
The first step is to choose the best shade of white for your room. Believe it or not, white is the most versatile color. It comes in hundreds of tints and shades. The varieties of white are not simply limited to beiges, whites and grays but also pinks, greens, yellows, purples and blues. The perfect color for your walls should complement the décor of your home. Consider your furniture, cabinets and floors to decide the best shade of white.

2. Layer tone-on-tone whites for a new look
If white is your base color, consider layering your room in similar shades of white. You can opt for pure whites, grays and beiges in varying patterns, textures and fabrics. Layering thus creates depth in your room and breaks the monotony. Although it is suitable all over your home, it is especially useful to your bedroom. Textiles, different materials, window treatments and upholstery can work in harmony in different shades of white. Choose from different fabrics such as faux leather, faux suede, khaki and white denim.

3. Break the monotony
A white wall acts as a canvas, so bring out your personality to your full advantage. If you’re fond of art, bring out your paintings and sculptures. If you’re a booklover, consider a bookshelf over the bed. Bringing color into your room will take eyes away from the white and accentuates the beauty of your display. If you’re good with the garden, indoor plants boost both physical and mental health. The greenery also helps to break the white with palm fronds, banana plants and succulents or potted plants on the window.

4. Whites and metals – a classic duo
Neutral colors such as white, black and grays go well with metal appliances. Stainless steels, brass, copper and gold are current trends in home interiors. Each combination brings in a unique look to your room. The secret behind this look is the metal reflectance with the glow of white. One can also opt for classical wooden cabinets, counters and fittings to give your home a clean and classic feel.

Thus, use your imagination on whitewashed walls to your heart’s content. White camouflages architectural defects and highlights the beauty of your home. Using creative interior design ideas keeps things colorful, interesting and adds punch and glamour to your interior zone.

How to add function, mood and personality to your interior designs

It requires three special ingredients to create stunning interiors that reflect the personality of the family living there. The secret ingredients are – function, mood and personality. So, before you begin decorating, think about your family and your lifestyle. Fill your homes with all your favourite things – things that make you feel happy and set the right ‘mood’.

Let’s take a look at each one of these ingredients individually and create great interiors:
Function
Every room must look pretty, but every room must also be designed to serve some functionality. It’s important to remember that you need to select the furniture and decorative pieces so that it satisfies some kind of function. To begin with, select a focal point for the room. It could be furniture, television or even an area rug. Then select the furniture and see whether it matches the function in the room. Living room, bedroom and study – all will have different furniture choices depending on the room. Well, measurements are important too. You cannot block the traffic in the room with an oversized bed or sofa. So measure distances and spaces you are trying to decorate and only then select the furniture for the room.

Mood
Mood in a room can be created in various ways. You can create mood with the help of appropriate colors, the selection of furnishing and other decorative elements or by introduction texture and patterns. Think about what inspires you the most. Select the inspiration piece wisely. Further, ensure that you decorate your room with a theme. The theme will set the right mood for the room. Select the colours and hues that match the theme you have selected.

Personality
Adding a personal stamp to the room makes it even more charming. This is because; it’s no longer just a piece of beauty, but creates a perfectly cosy and comfortable environment for you. To begin with, select your accessories carefully, if you need help, go through a few pictures and photographs that make you feel happy. Select the right pillows and area rugs. You have a lot of flexibility while selecting accessories. Select then to reflect your personality rather than selecting something that has only a beautification value. Since it’s your room, you can add some whimsy with accessories too. This takes away the sterile quality that is sometimes created while following ‘rules’ and guidelines. Placing something unexpected among the most regular decorative pieces is the key. Above all, make sure that your room exudes a personality of its own – or is a reflection of your personality.

It’s important to ensure that all the elements you place in a room are in perfect harmony!

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The importance of proportion and balance in interior design

 
In order to shape the experience of an interior space, balance and proportion are of utmost importance. Think of the house as a series of linked spaces that include rooms, halls and stairways. Now, in order to create a sense of balance and proportion, it is not necessary that all these spaces be decorated to be exactly the same, but instead, they should work together to strengthen the whole composition. This introduces us to the concept of visual weight. The visual ‘weight’ of each decorative element should be equally distributed in each area – or space considered for decoration.

In order to create this kind of effect; there are three different styles of balance that can be used:
Symmetrical balance
Symmetrical balance used to be a key technique used in most of the traditionally decorated homes. In this type of design, a vertical axis is drawn (virtually) and design elements are placed (or repeated) on both sides of the axis – preferably in the same positions. Human body is symmetric too, and so are many things in nature – this is exactly why a symmetrical balance in a design makes us feel more comfortable.

Asymmetrical balance
Asymmetrical balance is used in most of the modern home designs that are seen today. This kind of balance is achieved with the help of dissimilar objects that have equal visual weight that are strategically arranged across the room. Asymmetrical balance gives a more casual look – but is kind of difficult to achieve. However, it is important to note that asymmetry suggests movement – your eyes quickly move from one object to another and the overall impact is that the room looks livelier!

Radial balance
Radial symmetry suggests that all the objects or design elements are placed around a centre point. A spiral movement of the eye from one design element to another in induced by this kind of design. This type of design is not very often used in interior design, but is worth mentioning here. If used appropriately though, it can help create interesting designs for interiors too.

All about proportions
Proportions are important to bring about a visual harmony in a particular design space. Proportions are essentially the ratio of one design element as compared to another or as compared to the whole.

In order to create an aesthetic appeal, all the decorative elements must be visually balanced and must be in proportion as well. Once you have all this covered, it is easier to place all the other elements in the design space. By paying attention to these minute details you can create truly visually appealing interior designs.

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Sharp black lines - how to use this design secret effectively?

If silhouettes make an artwork interesting, it can add wonders to an interior design. Imagine a white backdrop with jet black stripes or borders – the combination in itself creates bold yet elegant interiors.

Pristine white walls are becoming increasingly popular and linear black furniture or architectural elements added can create a modern yet classic interior. Well, this kind of trend can be sometimes scary, but if you execute it correctly, using black can create a classic elegance that exudes a bold style and cannot be achieved with any other combination.

Colour of the backdrop is important
The choice of the background colour is important in creating this kind of effect – with sharp black lines or patterns. If you have to define patterns with a bold black colour, make sure that the backdrop is a perfect contrast.

Doors and windows upgrade
Critall-style metal windows are perfect to implement this style. They work brilliantly to highlight the theme of sharp black lines. Especially the full height ones create a real impact. Contrasting the flooring and the walls is one technique that is often used here.

Transform your bathroom
Black in the bathroom is an urban style that is evolving and gradually growing in popularity. It makes the design look more sophisticated and especially elegant. If you have to give it a try, start there!

Introduce black hardware
Opting for matt black finish for the hardware in the house such as bathroom fittings, taps, cupboard handles (against a black backdrop), gives you a sharp sophisticated look – with a few simple replacements.

Staircase can be used creatively
When you plan a design, never overlook the stairs – they are an important element of design. A simple use of black lines for the stairs (usually on the edges), give the staircase an elegant bold and beautiful look.

Reframe photos and artworks
If you have a gallery wall or framed artworks in any of the rooms, you can reframe them to include black in the frames. Fine black frames accentuate this trend and the black frames against the white walls maintain a tranquil look too.

Classic designs
Some of the classic designer pieces such as a mix of black printed cushions that are arranged to create black and white shadows are an easy way to implement this trend. This could be a good place to try it out before you decide!

Introduce it slowly
The important thing to remember is that you do not have to go overboard with anything! Just remember that slow and steady changes give you a better idea of how the final finish will be. Test this out on a small corner of the house and check whether you are comfortable with this kind of a design. Then introduce it to the rest of your house!

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Room decorating design secrets that you should know about

The fact is that, interior design is just too subjective and relies on people’s tastes – not only the designer’s choice. Plus, there is no 100% accurate rule book for interior design. But there are a few tips, tricks and techniques that can be followed to transform a plain room into a work of beauty. Further a perfectly designed room sets the right mood for those living in it.

Here are a few interior design secrets that can help transform any living space into beautiful masterpieces:

Artwork and it’s height matters
Many people have the tendency to hang artwork too high. Place a piece such that there is not too much space between the furniture and the artwork. When there is too much space between the furniture and the artwork, the eye rests on the void – the blank between the two. This messes up the harmony of the design completely. Further, place the artwork almost at eye level to create the required impact.

Arrange book shelves correctly
The trick with bookshelves is that you must arrange 60 percent of the books vertically and 40 percent of the books horizontally on the bookshelf. This creates a sense of balance and still evokes spontaneity. Stack the horizontal books lower than the vertical ones. It’s also a good idea to add some green plants to the bookshelf – however remember to avoid flowers – they simply make the entire shelf look cluttered and distracting.

Create space with mirrors
Mirrors that are used to create space are the most important elements of an interior design. But you will not get good results if they are not positioned correctly. Place them at an easy, strain free eye level. To create an illusion of space, place the mirror opposite to a window so that it bounces off the light.

Select an appropriate rug
The size of the rug you choose is of utmost importance. Say you are selecting a rug for the coffee table, select the rug such that you can comfortably place the sofa and chairs around it. The front legs of each of the furniture pieces must be somewhere on the rug. If you have a large family room, it’s a good idea to use two rugs to create two separate living areas instead of using one large oversized rug.

Think about color schemes
Choose a color scheme that you will feel comfortable in. Make sure that you use a scheme where there is a darker shade which is dominant and used for around 60 percent of the room, a middle tone that will be used for 30 percent of the room and an accent color that is used only for 10 percent of the room.

Well, design secrets are too many to share all at once! Simply remember that you need to go with what you truly like – and also follow a few tips and tricks shared here!

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Office interior design tips to build a highly productive environment

 
Where you work has a really huge impact on how you work – that means the design of your office has an enormous impact on your productivity. One of the determining factors that define your productivity is the physical environment. It’s a known fact that a well designed office can increase your productivity by about 20%.

Here are a few tips to design your office such that it positively impacts productivity:
Ergonomics
You definitely cannot be more productive when your back is aching from an improperly adjusted computer screen or chair. So, the most important part of office design is the ergonomics. Make sure that the position of the chair, the height of the computer screen and such other factors contribute to the comfort while working. Make sure that your thighs are parallel to the floor and your upper arms are perpendicular to the floor. Ensure that your wrists are almost straight and everything is within easy reach.

Lose the clutter
Keep your desk free of clutter is one way to increase productivity and make your office look great too. Encouraging paperless work is a great way of losing clutter in any office. Every employee’s personal space should be tidy and clutter free. Enforcing this work policy can make a huge difference in the productivity of employees too.

Color impacts productivity
Colors have been proven to have a great impact on the productivity of people. While some people have certain preferences when it comes to color, there are also some universal influences that colors have on people. For example, blue stimulates the mind, yellow inspires creativity, red affects your body and green is known to be calming. Just choosing the color is not enough. Even more important than choosing the actual color is choosing the saturation and intensity of the color. Highly saturated and high intensity colors will stimulate, while softer, muted colors have a soothing effect.

Include nature
Adding potted plants around the office is the easiest way to create harmony within the office. A potted plant on your desk increased cognitive attention and hence productivity. It also filters the air and keeps a happy environment at your desk.

Lighting
Natural light increases productivity, energy and creativity – so let a lot of natural light pour into your office. It’s unrealistic to expect that every office has that kind of a luxury in terms of abundance of natural light, but you can work with the existing lights and make sure that all desks get enough light. Lighting up dark corners appropriately ensures that your office looks like a happy place to work in.

Open plan or closed nooks?
Office interior designs could be open or cubicle based. Well, some offices opt for open plans to improve collaboration and productivity, while some opt for closed cubicles so that people can have peaceful client conversations without the entire office listening in.

Above all, make sure that employees have enough space to take a walk occasionally – or create a lounge area where employees can relax while on a break. Designing an office goes beyond good looks and beauty – it’s more about functionality, comfort and building an overall productive environment for employees to work, relax and have fun while at work!

Designer tips to pick the right color palette

While it’s the furniture and other accessories that add beauty to the room, it’s really the color palette that holds it together. The style of the room and the architecture decide the personality of the room – almost nothing decides the feel of the room as much as the colors we choose. Picking the right color is crucial to give the room the look and the feel you desire.

Here are a few tips that will help you select the right color palette for each room of your house:
Select the color palette from the largest design item in the room
If there is a large piece of artwork or a patterned upholstery, use colors that are inspired from these items. Pick certain colors from the pattern or some prominent color from the artwork. Well, sometimes it’s best to use neutral wall colors so that you have the freedom to select accessories later.

Start with the formal areas
Start with formal spaces – like the living room or the entry way. Choose the color scheme for these areas first and then pull one color from the scheme.

From dark to light and vertical
The trick to decorate a space vertically from dark to light is as follows – use the darker color values for the floor, medium color for the walls and light values for the ceilings. This is derived from our natural environment – generally darker is below the feet, medium shades of colors are seen as you look straight and lighter values are seen skyward.

The color you choose for your clothes
This trick works like magic! We generally wear cloths of the colors that we like. The same applies to interior design. Select the colors that you feel that you will look good in. If that’s confusing, think about the colors in your wardrobe. If you don’t usually wear yellow, do not select a yellow sofa!

The color wheel is very handy
Analogous colors (those that are next to each other on the color wheel) are more casual and relaxing. For example blue and green are more casual and relaxing. These colors work best in formal spaces. They work well in private spaces such as bedrooms too. Another trick is to use something black in every room. It simply clarifies all the other colors in the room. A simple black lamp shade or black picture frame could easily do the trick.

Use the rule of 60-30-10
The rule is, when you decorate a space, divide the colors in the space into components of 60 percent of a dominant color, 30 percent of a secondary color and 10 percent of an accent color. The walls will be included in the dominant color, the upholstery could represent the secondary color and the accessories such as flower arrangements and throw pillows could be included in the remaining 10 percent.

Finally, it is important to follow your personal style and decorate honestly – the results will show. You can make any color look charming – as long as you like it!

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Design tips to make your living room more inviting

 
The living room is where your guests will first step in. It’s a place that needs to be carefully designed so that it sets the right mood for a small gathering or for family time.

Here are a few tips to design your living room perfectly:
Colors to set the right mood
The colors that you use – greatly impact the overall mood of the room. The colors that you choose for your living room will hence affect how guests feel in that space. Depending on how intense they are or how warm or cool they are, the overall atmosphere can be changed. For example, a serene combination of blue and white will make a living room feel calm, cool and collected.

Finish the walls and the ceiling
The living room is a public space – in a sense. It should be given an elaborate and formal treatment. In order to make it more welcoming as well as something that expresses your personality, choose the wall coverings and other treatments that reflect your style.

Architectural trim work
The trim work serves a lot of practical purposes. It covers the seams where the floor and the ceilings meet and supports the structure around the openings. These elements serve practical purposes too. The style of trim work and it’s design gives your living room a distinct look. You can select from classical, contemporary, old-world or regional.

Flooring must be comfortable and stylish
The floor covering for the living room is of utmost importance. It is a place where guests need to feel comfortable under the foot. Well, it needs to make a design statement as well. Wall to wall carpets could be a great choice for living room floor décor. Well, selecting the design that reflects the statement you wish to create.

Create a focal point
A focal point essentially acts as an anchor and draws you into the space. A large piece of artwork or a television set is the most common center of attraction used as a focal point in living rooms.

Arrange furniture for conversation
Living rooms are where people gather around to talk. The furniture you select and the way you arrange it must promote conversation and interaction. Pulling seating arrangements away from the walls and arranging them in a way that they face each other.

Plan for inviting lighting
Select lighting that creates a relaxed environment. It should also create a comfortable mood. Aim for layers of light. It’s also a good idea to position light sources so that they roughly form a triangle and there is uniform distribution of light.

Window treatments
Heavy window treatments could be used in the living room to give it a luxurious effect. Floor to ceiling draperies make the windows look even more elegant. Generous use of fabric – even if not very fancy does the trick – every time!

Artwork on the walls
The living room walls come alive when decorated with the right artwork. You can group items for impact and hang them low enough to relate to the nearby furnishings.

Decorate your living room such that it makes you and your guests feel comfortable and relaxed while you share happy moments – talking and having fun.

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Choosing colors for your kid's room

Decorating your kid’s room might be one of the most interesting projects that you take up. After all, kids do not stay of that age for long. So, selecting obnoxiously colored walls or really ‘kiddie’ looking décor need not be on your priority list. In fact keeping walls of a white color and adding interest with wall décor gives you a world of possibilities to explore. In fact, keeping walls white or grey could be a better option in some cases. This will keep you from repainting when they outgrow their Barbie pink and lime green phases of life.

When it comes to selecting colors to decorate your kid’s room, it’s more about what will you place there – things such as soft toys, books, stickers etc. If you place all these accessories in your kids room, selecting a white or subtle backdrop that can help highlight the accessories. These accessories usually come in bright – fun colors. Place them strategically so that it creates a childish interest in the room. Other things to consider are the wall décor, decals and color patterns that could be used in the room now, but also easily changed in the future when children outgrow them with age.

Here are a few ideas for neutral based kid’s rooms:

Bright books against a light – white color
Any kid’s room could come to life with bright books – set against a white or baby pink backdrop. Well, the books look prominent and you do not have to change much when the books are replaced as the kids grow. So, it’s definitely a good idea to use a neutral color for the kid’s room. If you have a bookshelf full of bright books!

Wallpaper
Wallpaper could be used creatively to complement a very neutral wall color. Remember that this could be changed with time. For kids, you could use bright colored diamonds, bunnies or bright flowers. Flowers or diamonds could add enough childish interest, yet look adult enough to last long – until your little girl grows older.

Scandinavian inspired decals
Decals could completely transform the look of the room Even with a white or neutral background, the right kind of decals. A few hearts or a few triangles could completely transform your kids room. If you have a white, black or wood color palette, the room remains youthful with a few cartoons and accent pieces.

Vibrant furniture and accessories
Vibrant furniture against a neutral background of white or subtly painted walls could give your kid’s room a distinct look. Further you can change the color of your pillows and other accessories when your kid is ready to move on!

Patterns
Using patterns can give your kids room a completely different look. Especially a girl’s room with pink patterns on pillows and curtains could be a great way to decorate it.

Turquoise or orange
Turquoise is a happy color and with a white backdrop it could give the room a truly happy look! Orange makes the room look full of life and cheer! Using neon could be a great way to add something different and interesting to the room.

The idea is to create a room that’s dreamy for a four year old – and one that can be easily changed when the kid grows into a young adult!

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