Repainting a room is one of the easiest ways to freshen the décor while changing
the feel of the room. The hottest design trend this year takes this to a whole new
level. Color-blocking techniques are dominating magazines and social media with
vivid color palettes and bold geometric patterns, turning the traditional painting
project into something special.
Color-blocking takes many forms—everything from a simple way to differentiate
one space from another by changing the wall shade, to artistic pairings that would
feel at home in a modern art gallery. Your style most likely falls somewhere in
between. The common theme is to try something new while changing the feel of
the room.
Before you start your project, take time to consider the desired final look.
Consider the relationship of your chosen colors and how each plays a part in the
design. Bright shades create a sense of energy while softer tones are calming. Use
blocked color to trick the eye into adding or subtracting space using light or dark
colors. Color-blocking can also be used to draw attention to architecturally
interesting elements, such as a curved entrance or crown molding.
This weekend is a great time to update your space by trying something new and
modern. Choose traditional color palettes and subtle shapes to compliment your
current design or go bold and completely change the room. Any home décor style
can benefit from the techniques of color-blocking with a little imagination,
masking tape, and a paintbrush.

Remember the feeling of walking into your favorite restaurant and looking
forward to a nice meal in a great atmosphere? With the shutdown of indoor
dining around the country, social media has been flooded with beautiful pictures
of homemade food. Now it’s time to bring that same enthusiasm to your dining
room décor and complete the transition to a true restaurant-quality experience.

• Add Texture – Looking for a bistro feel? Add some fuzzy pillows and a cozy
(preferably washable) floor rug to draw attention to the space.
• Change Up the Seating – Have you noticed that more and more restaurants
are using non-conventional furniture in their dining rooms? Adding some
armchairs, stools, or benches to the dining room will have a big impact.
• Gild the Room – One of the easiest ways to bring elegance to your dining
room is to add a gilded mirror. Keep an eye out for these and other special
touches at garage sales and some décor stores.
• Mix and Match – Take an eclectic approach to your dining room. No need
to use matching chairs or place settings.
• Add Ambience – Keep an interesting vase full of fresh flowers on your
table, add soft lighting or candles, and play ambient music over speakers to
remind you of your favorite restaurant or bar.

Offer those delicious meals a special place to be enjoyed by adding a few simple
touches to your dining room. Even with more time at home, there’s no reason we
can’t enjoy a “dining out” sense of elegance.

                                            It is hard to believe that 2021 is here. With a new year under way, now is the time to start thinking about how you want to update your space in 2021. If you’re wondering how the design trends are looking for the new year, here is a great place to start!

Less Is More

After Marie Kondo took over last year, there is no surprise that the idea of ‘less is more’ is trending in the decor space. Take the time to check each space in your home and ensure your decor is intentional. Make sure all of your belongings have a place and that they all serve a purpose.

Scandinavian and Japanese style

Both cultures celebrate minimalism while also encouraging functionality. With white shades dominating spaces in this style, you will also find natural woods and materials in large spaces that are open and bright.

Personalization

One of the most marked trends in interior design is focused on the personalization of your space. Take into account what you already love when creating spaces in your home without worrying about what others consider stylish or up-to-date. Let your creativity shine through your space.

A Touch of Color

Neutrals are great in most settings, but a pop of color allows you to add personality to your space. Yellow shades add warmth while blue shades give a sharpness and can be used to enhance certain elements of a room. If you want to introduce a little color, use colors inspired by nature.

Before you spend your holiday savings on tinsel and twinkle lights, take another look at items you already have. By searching through your cabinets and closets, you can easily repurpose common household items into yuletide decor for your abode. Need a little inspiration? These design experts share how they style up everyday objects into festive flourishes.

Dig through the craft closet

If you’ve got extra cloth or burlap, you can use it for anything from tablecloths to a Christmas tree skirt. You can roll out brown or black butcher paper on your table like a runner. You can also tie ribbon on everything, thread it through chandeliers or banisters, or put festive printed fabric in frames.

Check the kitchen

You can fill a large glass serving bowl with whatever seasonal item you have. This is an easy way to repurpose decorations and switch up how you would normally display them. If you have flower vases, stick glass ornaments inside with a string of white lights.

Use your food

Dried fruit garland is easy and classic. Use a needle and thread to some popcorn, cranberries or dried sliced oranges, and string it up wherever you see fit. Cut up fresh fruit and put it in a pitcher before adding flowers for a centerpiece. Throw in some cloves and cinnamon sticks for added flair.

Forage in the yard

Instead of placing a star at the top of your Christmas tree, find some sticks and tie them together at the top of the tree with a bow. You can then layer pine cones throughout the tree to balance out the ornaments for an organic, natural feel.

Look around

You can give a corner of your home a holiday touch by adding seasonal pillows you can store the rest of the year, some evergreen cuttings from the yard, and a stack of wrapped gifts. Consider repurposing a metallic vase into a holiday greenery display.

If you have paint cans stacking up in your basement or closet because you aren’t sure whether to keep them or how to dispose of them, you’ve come to the right place! First, you will want to determine if the paint is still good or not. Any solvent-based paint typically has a 15-year shelf life. If you are able to stir it, it’s probably okay to keep for touch ups. Latex paint has a 10-year shelf life. If there is any way it could have frozen in storage, it may not be usable. You can test to see by stirring and brushing the paint onto newspaper. If there are lumps, the paint needs tossed.

Next, you’ll decide what you actually want to keep. If your walls are no longer that color, it is likely time to get rid of that paint. If it is a color still in your home, it will be good to hang on to for touch-ups and repainting in the future. If there are any loose lids, be sure to seal them carefully. If you have the information, now would be a great time to label them with color name, number and date of purchase.

If you have good paint that you can’t use, offer it to family, friends and neighbors, or call a local paint contractor. Some charities take paint too, especially those that do work helping the elderly with home renovations.

Now that you’ve handled paint you want to keep or donate, it is time to dispose of what is left. Disposal is dependent on the type of paint. One gallon of paint can contaminate thousands of gallons of water, harm fish and aquatic plant life and eventually poison the food chain.

For latex and acrylic paints, you can solidify these paints and throw them away with the household trash depending on the municipality. To do this, mix your paint with a clay-based cat litter at a ratio of two parts litter to one part paint. Do this in a well-ventilated area, away from pets and children. Many hardware stores carry additives to put into your paint to solidify it for disposal.

For oil-based paints, you will need to check if there is a scheduled household waste collection day in your community. You can also bring paints to a specified collection site along with other toxic products you want to get rid of, such as paint removers, used solvents, pesticides and herbicides and you can get that information from your local community waste programs. If your community does not offer this service, call your County Extension Home Economics Agent, the local waste management agency, your area’s water treatment plant or the local landfill, and ask what the procedure is for where you live.

Even if you have a beautiful headboard, the space above your bed can seem empty if left untouched. This space can be tricky to decorate, but that doesn’t mean you should leave it blank. There are plenty of ways to spruce up that space without much work. Here are 5 ways to make the best of that negative space!

1. Add a Set of Shelves

Even if you don’t need the extra storage space, you can use shelves to add small decor that is unique to you. Your favorite books, small planters, or even picture frames are a great way to personalize the shelves.

2. Wallpaper the Wall

If you’re worried about adding anything above your bed, consider creating an accent wall with floral wallpaper. Many places sell peel and stick paper so if you decide you don’t love the style or you’re renting and cannot make a permanent change, you can still try out wallpaper.

3. Make the Room Look Bigger With Mirrors

The best way to make a room look bigger is to strategically place mirrors across from open windows or sources of light. You can also place 2 small mirrors alongside a large central mirror if your bed isn’t across from a light source. This will also make your room appear larger while filling empty space.

4. Consider a Tasteful Tapestry or Wall Hanging

Tapestries aren’t just for college dorm rooms. If you aren’t ready to add shelving fixtures but want something a little more than wallpaper, consider adding a pop of color with a tapestry or a statement yarn wall hanging.

5. Create a Gallery Wall

Whether it is gridded and organized or statement and staggered, a gallery wall is the perfect way to add a little more ‘you’ to your bedroom. Frame your favorite family photos or the landscape photos from your favorite vacation.