Tips for Choosing Curtains and Window Dressing for your Home

The truth is that when done properly, window dressing can really make the room, and is the understated, unappreciated pièce de résistance to any ambitious interior design.

So just how can it be pulled off effectively? Here are a few quick tips.

Make Finding Curtains for your Windows a Priority

Starting with the windows in a room might sound like an unusual strategy, but it provides a number of advantages. Firstly, you can match your window decor to the design of the room, without the distracting clutter of furniture and appliances that have already been installed.

This means that you can think about an overall color scheme, and search for matching shades between your curtains and your sofas, which helps you make some firmer decisions about how you want the room’s overall aesthetic to appear.

Consider Blinds for Smaller Windows

Blinds work better for smaller windows, or multiple windows in succession, but it’s best to leave the ornaments since blinds are quite difficult to maneuver around them.

Determine What Type of Curtain Rods are Needed

Before you jump to installing your curtain rods, you should be certain about your selection of shelf ornaments, if you’re using them. Striking ornaments are best placed in a larger window, where you can frame them with a curtain design of your choosing.

Consider the Window Frame when Choosing Window Dressing

The window frame is more important to a room’s visual assets than you might think. If your window frame is of the typical white-washed variety, it might be worth investing some time in giving it a new paint job for it to feel more of a contribution to the interior. For example, a rustic brown when contrasted with an eggshell white wallpaper is a great choice.

Once you’ve decided on the frame, it’s a good idea to look for a curtain pole of a matching shade and material. That way, the curtains can feel inherent in the window design, rather than an unfortunate mish-mash of ‘whatever looks okay’. It can be done on a tight budget and still look like it came with a towering price tag; all it takes is a well-balanced palette.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

A recent study discovered 70 percent of homeowners are planning a remodeling or renovation project and expect to spend upwards of $3,500 to finish the job. Chances are that a large chunk of money is set aside for flooring. No matter what flooring you want, the cost of replacement it can be staggering. If your budget is tight, but you don’t want to skimp on style or quality, there are many clever and unexpected ways to save on several flooring varieties.

 Image via: Two Column Marketing

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Be Realistic

You may dream of installing travertine, marble or an exotic hardwood throughout your home. Unfortunately, your budget is only enough for laminate and linoleum. When it comes to installing flooring, it’s important to create a budget and stick with it. Also, keep in mind the specific room and its function. For instance, you probably want to keep carpeting in your bedroom.

Surf the Internet

You’ve wandered the aisles of every flooring provider in your area but cannot find what you’re looking for, or more importantly, an amazing deal. The Internet might not seem like the obvious choice when it comes to flooring, but there are many amazing deals there. Purchasing flooring direct from the manufacturer is another option. In many instances, you can save 50, 60 or 70 percent because you’ve cut out the middle man.

Look for Discounts and Remnants

If you’re covering a small area, inquire about any laminate, hardwood or carpeting remnants at your local home improvement store or floor covering dealer. Remnants are the leftover chunks of flooring, such as the end of a carpet or linoleum roll. In many cases, the seller is so motivated to make room for new inventory that he just might discount the remnant as much as 80 percent. However, don’t expect to recarpet your entire home on remnants. Most of the time, the pieces are large enough to cover a small bedroom, foyer or bathroom.

Image via: Teres 58 Domus

Skip Professional Installation

Many flooring retailers offer free installation if you purchase a set amount of product. However, in most instances, you’ll be expected to pay out of pocket to have it installed. There is another cost-saving installation option: perform the work yourself. If you don’t have the basic tools or expertise to perform the job, ask someone like a friend or family member for help. Laminate and hardwood aren’t difficult to install and require only basic tools. All you need for carpeting is a knife and a knee kicker, which can be rented from many hardware stores. However, if you’re installing expensive, natural flooring, it’s best to leave this delicate procedure to the professionals.

It Never Hurts to Ask

Your locally owned carpet or flooring showroom might not offer the best prices in town. However, aside from service, these institutions can offer you something the big-box retailers never can: a chance to negotiate the price. Once you locate the ideal flooring choice, don’t be afraid to ask if it is the best price. Even if the seller refuses to discount the sticker price, you can still offer to pay cash for a two- to three-percent discount. This will often cover the potential fees charged to the seller by his merchant service for using your credit card.

You might get discouraged by the search for inexpensive and quality flooring, but don’t give up until you find the ideal product for your home and lifestyle. If you continue to struggle, remember to ask for a discount, look for remnants and hit the clearance aisles to find an amazing deal.

Rose Jefferies is a guest blogger and contractor who recommends COIT to her clients. Whenever Rose is ready to spruce up her home’s appearance, she also looks to COIT Carpet Cleaning.

For more flooring options on Stagetecture, click here.

Creative Uses for Cork in Your Home’s Interiors

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Corks can make a difference in your home. Aside from aesthetics, you can also lean on its functionality. These are vital features that anyone would like to have for their home items. Corks are used for do-it-yourself projects because they are easy to cut and shape according to the blueprint. Here are some of the creative uses of cork in your home:

Cork flooring

The best thing with cork flooring is its safety. The cork is basically fire-resistant and will only react if very high temperature is present. Another great feature is its comfort. Corks act as cushion underfoot while walking or running. It provides a natural warmth and noise absorber. The durability of cork flooring is superb. It resists abrasions and cracks better than other materials.

Cork Vases

This is a great decorative item at home. Cork vases will bring out the natural looks of your interior plant or flowers. Best of all, these vases can also serve as a mini bulletin vase board. You can pin a paper message on the vase easily without damaging its looks. Cork vases can extend the life of your plants by absorbing moisture.

Cork boards

Well, there’s no doubt that cork boards are so important in the office and at home. You place all important reminders like your monthly bills, letters, incoming family events or assigned tasks for each family member. This piece of board can save you from having problems brought about by forgetting. You can also place your greetings if someone at home is celebrating his or her birthday.

Corks are environment-friendly. It is a renewable material and all natural. Take a closer look at these cork materials you can use at home and see the difference.

For more home interiors ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

If you’re someone who has been doing some research on how to give your home a “green upgrade”, you’ve probably read about how important it is to install a programmable thermostat, to get a low flow showerhead and to add some double-pane windows. All of these things can help to reduce the amount of energy that you use on a daily basis. Yet, when it comes to décor, you may not have taken out the time to consider the fact that you can also be eco-friendly with your interior designs, including your flooring.

As it relates to making “green décor” decisions, it’s about finding materials that are used responsibly and as it relates to your floor, there are many different kinds of options to choose from.

Image via: Panache Interiors

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We will share five of them with you below:

Cork floors.

One kind of flooring that is beautiful, unique and yes, eco-friendly is cork flooring. Not only is it sustainable, durable and well-insulated, but it’s also reasonably priced. Some other real perks is that it’s lightweight and fire and water resistant. The main thing to be cautious of with a cork floor is that it’s not really a good support for very heavy objects. This means that if you want to use it under some cherry wood furniture (for instance), there’s a good chance that it could get damaged.

Bamboo.

Another visually attractive option is bamboo. It also has a bit of a distinctive look, plus it’s strong. Being that bamboo does resemble the appearance of hardwood, it’s becoming a favorite of those who like wooden floors because unlike (certain kinds of) wood, it’s a highly renewable resource that is much cheaper to buy. Before going with this option, the main thing that you should do some research on is if it is sustainable enough for your particular liking.

Wool carpet.

If you like carpet, there is an eco-friendly kind that we recommend you looking into. Wool carpet is highly durable and is top-notch as it relates to quality. The main things to keep in mind is that it’s really expensive to install, plus if you have a home with kids or pets, you might want to take into (serious) consideration that wool carpet is known for trapping in moisture.

Linoleum.

A kind of flooring that has been around for years is linoleum. The reason why it tops the list of many eco-friendly enthusiasts is because it’s made from materials such as wood flour, tree resins and cork dust. The perks that come with this kind of flooring are many including the fact that it’s water resistant, biodegradable, long lasting and really affordable. The only real “con” with linoleum is that there are very limited options to choose from.

Image via: Kristin Petro

Reclaimed wood.

If you simply love the look of hardwood floors, consider using some reclaimed wood. It’s strong and comes in many different styles, plus is really sustainable. If you’ve looked online for some eco-friendly wood flooring, then you might have happened upon a company in Australia known as Bamboozle Wood Flooring. Websites that feature this option reveal that reclaimed wood is just as beautiful as traditional hardwood flooring. Sure, it may be a bit on the pricey side, but when it comes to aesthetics and increasing the property value of your home, it’s certainly worth it.

For more flooring options on Stagetecture, click here.

If you’re keen to do some aesthetic upgrades to your kitchen but you’ve discovered that the cost of replacing (or even re-facing) your cabinets is a little beyond your budget, then you might wonder just how you can kick it up a notch when it comes to your grungy, old cupboards. In truth, there’s not much you can do with laminates. But if the structure of your cabinetry is sound and the facing happens to be actual wood, then there are a couple of good options that will allow you to completely change the look of your kitchen without blowing a huge amount of dough. This is especially true if you adopt a do-it-yourself mentality. The only question you really have to answer is whether you want to paint or stain your cabinets, and there are a couple of pros and cons associated with each avenue.

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Way the options of price

For starters, you’ll probably want to think about how much the project will set you back financially, and believe it or not there can be a pretty big price difference between the two options, depending on what you’re starting with. Suppose your cabinets have wood grain rather than a smooth surface. Although paint and stain are comparably priced products, only one can be applied directly to the wood grain (that would be the stain). If you want to paint these cabinets you’ll first have to create a smooth surface, and this could mean purchasing tools (like a belt or circular sander) to create the grain-free surface you need. The other option is to use a primer or wood grain filler of some kind to create the glass-like surface needed to make sure the paint finish comes out smooth. Either way you’re going to have to purchase additional materials that will make the painting process more expensive.

How much labor is involved?

Of course, there is also the labor involved to think about, and while both may require preliminary elbow grease (removing any varnish or other finish that happens to be on the wood already), the painting process will definitely take longer to complete thanks to the many extra steps involved, including sanding away or filling in wood grain to ensure a tight bond and a smooth finish once the process is complete. And totally aside from the amount of work you’ll have to do, multiple coats of filler and paint will require additional drying time, stretching out the length of your project. On the other hand, there are so many more options available in terms of color and finish when it comes to paint that it may be well worth the additional effort.

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Which option is more eco-friendly?

However, there is one last consideration, and that is the relative eco-friendliness of your options. While it’s easy enough to find low- or no-VOC products when it comes to paint, and you’ll even discover a wide range of colors and finishes to choose from, it’s a bit more difficult to find stains that fit the bill. But it’s not impossible, and more and more companies are striving to meet the growing demand for products that will do less harm to the environment. Although the average cabinet now comes in a wide variety of finishes and options to suit every buyer, painting or staining the wood you have could save you a ton of money in the long run. You simply have to decide which look you want and how much you’re willing to put into the effort before you settle on the product that best suits your sensibilities.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Careful consideration is given when buying furniture, especially eco-friendly furniture. The convenience, style and functionality are some of the factors to think about when buying furniture. But a new trend is introduced and recognized by furniture buyers – it is about being eco-friendly. Bamboo furniture is one of the favorites amongst eco-friendly furniture.

Aside from being green, bamboo material is also very durable and less costly. Though it looks like a wood but technically, bamboo is a grass. This makes it quick to grow and does not need to expose with ecologically unsafe chemicals for treatment. Bamboo furniture comes in different varieties and styles. Here are some buying tips in choosing bamboo furniture for your home:

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Identify what you need.

Make a decision which furniture you want to buy. There are chairs, tables, cabinets, dressers, stools and other products that are made of bamboo. Make sure you include the right dimension of your intended furniture. This is very essential to achieve proper spacing and style you wanted the furniture to be placed.

Look for a trustworthy vendor.

Be careful and ensure that you are buying genuine bamboo furniture because there are fake ones. Thus, you must talk to salesperson where the bamboo was grown and how the furniture was made. You can also check out items online. Several websites offer detailed descriptions, comments and feedback that can help you distinguish one from the other. Though you won’t be able to see it personally and try and touch it but you might get a cheaper price in an online store. A wide array of bamboo furniture selections is available for your type of need.

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Ensure the quality of work and materials used.

Water–based stains preserve the bamboo in an ecologically friendly way. Ask the retailer or the vendor and make sure that the stain used on the furniture is water-based. The veneer or glue used on the bamboo must also be non-toxic. When you’re in the furniture shop, try it out. Sit on it, stroke or touch the furniture item that you want to buy.

Bamboo furniture is naturally durable and sturdy. Use these helpful tips to identify how bamboo furniture will fit into your lifestyle, budget and home. Seek out reputable bamboo furniture manufacturers and ask questions regarding materials, strength, longevity before you buy.

For more eco-friendly ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Extending your outdoor home with the comfort of outdoor furniture is a great idea. It provides a space for outdoor activities or a relaxing place to cope with stress. The presence of outdoor furniture will definitely boost the amenities that your home can offer.

Image via: Don’t Call Me Betty.Tumblr

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But not all furniture can withstand the challenges of outdoor environment. To help you choose the right outdoor furniture, here are things you need to consider:

Materials

Durability is non-negotiable. If you have enough budget, you may opt to have furniture made of aluminum or steel. These furniture types are preferred by people who have fixed location since these can be very difficult to move from one place to another due to its weight. If you want it to be portable and can be re-arranged at any time, feel free to go with hard plastic and wicker, or resin wicker is a great idea for harsh climates and wood furniture.  You can also have sturdy wood that holds the heat of the sun excellently. Consider teak and cedar wood that both will hold up to hot sun and wet pool sides.

Lifestyle

If you intend to have outdoor furniture for personal moments or just for members of the family, you may decide on wood furniture. Wood furniture is generally comfortable and classy. However, if you are a busy person and want low maintenance furniture, you may pick aluminum-made furnishings. If you are party-savvy, choose plastic furniture so that you can move them easily to fit your theme.

Image via: Pottery Barn

Climate

Furniture made of wood is not good if left out during winter. Steel furniture is also weak if exposed in rainy days because the rust will develop and deteriorate its quality. While aluminum may be rust free and can endure all year round, but it does not come cheap. Plastic can be reliable but still prone to fading and pitting. Knowing the strengths and limitations of these furniture in a given weather condition can help lengthen its services.

These three considerations will help you decide the appropriate outdoor furniture that is worth more than what you paid for.

For more furniture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

When you are looking to purchase new glassware, there are several things that you should take into account. There are so many different varieties on offer so how can you know which one is right for you? Below you’ll find everything that you need to think about before you rush out and buy any glassware for your entertaining home.

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Tip #1: What Type Are You Looking For?

As there are so many different types of glassware available, you need to decide which types of glasses you will really need. Do you drink wine? Are you a champagne drinker? Or do you simply stick to water and soft drinks? The most popular types of glassware in the home include:

• Tumblers
• Wine Glasses
• Champagne Flutes

Tumblers are potentially the most popular as all ages drink soft drinks, whereas not all adults drink alcohol.  So think about what type of glassware you need. Even if you don’t drink that much wine, it may still be worth investing in wine glasses in case you have company some nights.

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Tip #2: Look Out for Quality

It’s really important to look out for quality when choosing glassware in your home. You’ll notice that there is quite a lot of different priced glassware on offer. It’s easy to find a set of 4 tumblers for less than £1. The only problem with this is that they will break easily. So if you plan on letting your kids drink from them then you could have a problem! Stick to plastic tumblers for children, or invest in high quality so that they aren’t easily breakable.

Quality really does show. If you pay for cheap glasses, they will look cheap in the home. Better quality leads to longer lasting products. So take your time to research the different brands available. Thicker glass is generally higher quality and will last much longer.

Tip #3: Choose a Variety of Sizes

It’s also important to make sure that you have a variety of sizes available. The more variety you have, the better equipped you will be for any occasion. Dinner parties, romantic evenings, family meals; you need a variety of glasses to suit different occasions. The last thing you need when you are in the middle of a special occasion with friends and family, is finding out that you don’t have the right glasses to accommodate the drinks!

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Tip #4: Consider Personalised Glassware

If you want glassware that really fits into your home then why not consider having it personalised. This now only makes it unique to you, but it can also be a great sentiment too. It could make a great gift for your loved ones. Personalised glassware is something that you can keep forever.

Overall the above tips should help you to decide what type of glassware you need. There are so many different varieties available so you should always take the time to consider your needs. Sometimes it’s nice just to have a selection of glassware that you can use for decorative purposes. There are all kinds of different styles out there to choose from and they can look fantastic on display.

Jess writes for Forevercrystal.co.uk where you’ll find a great selection of cheap wine glasses

For more entertaining ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

This is the time of year when people are spring cleaning their homes. With that, there sometimes comes the urge to do a bit of renovating. As you’re looking at the curtains in your living room and kitchen, you may have found yourself thinking about switching over to blinds. After all, the look of them tends to be more modern, you definitely have more control over the natural light in your space and they come in a wide variety of options to choose from including both faux and wood blinds.

Actually, the more thought that you’re putting into updating your window treatments, you are reaching the conclusion that blinds are definitely the way to go. Your online search is proving that you like the “wood look” and you think it’s something that would fit nicely in your home. Now you just need to know if you should go with the faux or the wood.

Before making a final decision, here are three things to consider.

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Appearance

Fake wood, in many ways, has definitely come a long way. Just think about how many hardwood floor homes you’ve gone into, only to discover that they were actually laminated. Yet, there’s still something very genuine and authentic about real wood and this definitely applies to the difference of appearances when it comes to real wood blinds vs. faux wood ones. Plus, real wood blinds come in a vast variety of colors and stains that simply provide a rustic and timeless feeling to any room. They also tend to be lighter in weight than faux blinds. Plus, faux ones tend to have sizing limitations and over time (because, again, it’s just wood that looks like it’s real), it can turn a shade of yellow.

Cost

If you’ve ever purchased any kind of real wood anything before, then you can probably guess which comes out on top in this department. Real wood blinds are definitely more expensive than faux wood ones are. The main reason is because fake wood blinds are made from synthetic materials. You can go to Blinds.com to get a comparison of the difference in cost between the real thing and the imitations.

Image via: Smith and Noble

Quality

This one may depend on how you define “quality” because wood blinds are, without question, an investment that can be made into your home for years and years to come. However, there are some things about faux blinds that may cause you to want to go with them, instead. For one thing, they are definitely more durable and so if you have children or pets in your house, faux ones would probably be a wiser choice. Another plus is that since they are made to be moisture-resistant, they are the perfect kind of window treatment for rooms that traditionally have more humidity in them like kitchens and bathrooms. Also, being that they’re made from synthetic materials, they are much easier to clean. All you need is a wet cloth to wipe them down with.

So, if you’re looking for a bottom line answer of what is better, it would probably depend on what you’re looking for overall. If you want blinds that are classic and luxurious, go with the wood ones. Oh, but if you want some that are cost-effective and convenient, the faux will, by far, be your better choice.

For more living room and bedroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

There’s no time like the spring to open up your blinds or curtains and let the sun shine in! The thing is, even when it comes to finding the right kind of window treatments for your home, there are far more than just a few options to choose from.

Are you looking for a way to upgrade the windows in your house? Here are some ways to inspire you.
Use some bamboo. If you’re super eco-friendly or you would simply like the presence of neutral tones to give off a tropical feel in your bedroom or breakfast nook, a popular trend is using blinds that have the texture of either bamboo or maple or birch wood grains. Lowe’s, Target and IKEA are all stores that carry these options at a relatively fair price.

Image via: Lowes Creative Ideas

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Adorn it.

The thing about a classic look is that it never goes out of style. If luxury is more your lane, curtains made of silk or leather are two fabrics that are a bit on the pricey side, but they last a long time and come in a variety of colors and patterns. You can even accent your curtains with crystals, pearls or beaded tassels and the leather curtains (when closed) are an efficient way to keep the room at moderate temperature no matter what season of the year it is.

Go bold.

A great way to dress up a child’s bedroom window or even a bonus room is to use a bold print on either your blinds or curtains. Not only does it add a splash of color, but it can also bring a bit of life into any space. If your daughter likes flowers, how about some big pastel printed curtains with some handmade paper flowers placed along the curtain rod? If your son has a blue room, some window shades with big khaki and cream stripes could be a nice accent. SelectBlinds.com has daily discounted prices on a wide selection.

Roman blinds. If you’re looking for a type of window treatment that wins the award for consistency, roman blinds would definitely be in the Top Three. Not only are they clean, sleek and come in a variety of options based on your particular need, but they also are the perfect marriage between being a fabric drape while providing the practical benefits of a shade. If you want your office windows to have an understated presence, how about a set of blinds in an antique pearl or grey color? If you’re using them for your kitchen or living room instead, Home Depot has some soft colors with ruching effect that are quite elegant.

Image via: Piorra Maison.Blogspot

Be a trendsetter.

Following the fashions, even when it comes to home décor is cool, but remember that when it’s your house, the sky’s the limit when it comes to tapping into some of your own creative energy. While interior design magazines and television programs on HGTV can definitely provide you with a starting point, these days, thanks to websites like Pinterest, you can also go online to get ideas from people just like you. Instead of copying a look straight out of someone else’s home, trying merging a few concepts to provide you with the signature style that can only be yours. Besides, there’s no rush to find what’s just right. It’s your house and your windows. Enjoy the creative process that’s all your own.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.