Do you desire a warm, rustic Southwestern-style home but don’t want the hassle of a major interior design overhaul? Whether you’re short on time or funds, you can achieve the look you want by making just a few decorative changes. Best of all, these design tips make it easy to transform any space on your own.

Accent with Area Rugs

While area rugs may seem like a modest change, they can alter the vibe of a room instantly. Incorporating southwestern area rugs with hardwood flooring or terracotta tile is a great way to add depth to a room and highlight existing furniture. Most stores offer a variety of traditional and contemporary designs, so you can find the ideal rug for your unique space.

Select Earthy Paint Hues

Both homeowners and interior decorators know that paint is a cost-effective way to transform a room. You can choose bold shades for your color scheme as long as they provide a warm, inviting feel. Natural tones of red, blue, green and gold are all popular options. The size of the room should also be considered. Darker shades will make a large space seem cozier while bright colors add volume to smaller living areas.

Add Terracotta Pottery Pieces

No Southwestern home is complete without the addition of beautiful terracotta pottery. You can display the pottery in its natural orange shade or paint it with bold, bright colors to add contrast. These traditional pots and vases can be used throughout the home to add a personal touch to any room.

Choose Rustic or Vintage-Style Furniture

Whether you prefer wood, leather or wrought iron furniture, items that have a distressed or vintage feel work best. You can even distress furniture on your own with a few basic items including sandpaper, paint and polyurethane. The furniture you select shouldn’t compete with your flooring colors. For vibrant furniture choices, an area rug in neutral tones from Roth Rugs is one safe option.

Finish with Accent Accessories

Once you’ve made some basic changes, you can slowly add Southwestern accent pieces to your home. From rugged animal skins to delicate Hopi Kachina dolls, you can create a separate theme for every room.

With all the warmth and personality Southwestern decor has to offer, it’s easy to see why this style never loses its appeal. With a few fresh coats of paint, some new area rugs and traditional pottery art, you can transform your home into an inviting desert oasis.

Maybe company is coming or perhaps you just need a change in your home décor. It don’t have to be a total makeover – something as simple as new throws on the beds or couch can make a big difference in the look of a room. In fact a new throw can change your life if it happens to be an electric throw – they really help to ward off a chill and keep you cozy and warm while reading, watching television or just relaxing. Since most folks are trying to cut back and be more environmentally responsible house are just colder than they used to be.

[Photo courtesy of leemelina08/pixabay.com]

A mundane bathroom can be a challenge because you are pretty much stuck with the tub, toilet and sink but there’s still an opportunity to transform the look of a bath or powder room with new bath and spa furniture. Teak is an amazing naturally water-resistant material – look for teak shower benches, bath mats and towel ladders to turn your boring bathroom into a spa-like getaway. A curved shower curtain rod adds extra elbow room and a new shower curtain can add a fun or festive look in minutes.

There’s no reason to deprive yourself, after all, the bathroom is possibly the most-used room in any home so it ought to be as nice as possible. Monogrammed bath towels add a touch of elegance while a towel warmer is both luxurious and practical. Imagine stepping out of the bath or shower and wrapping yourself in a hot, fluffy towel; there are counter-top, wall-mount and freestanding models designed to fit almost any bathroom.

Another exotic import that has become popular in upscale hotels and better homes is a handheld showerhead. These are easy to install without the help of a plumber and can totally transform your bath or shower experience.

Home décor has changed a lot in the last twenty years – with the advent of modern microfibers and other advances in fabric technology modern sheets and bedding are often quite different than the sort of bedding you might have grown up with. There has also been a renewed interest in organic materials and sustainable materials such as bamboo; organic cotton bedding used to be a specialty item but now there are many organic options in sheets, bedding, towels and even rugs.

[Photo courtesy of ERguille/pixabay.com]

Modern microfibers have made it possible to enjoy plenty of warmth without all of the weight often associated with heavy blankets; there are also many plush microfiber sheet sets which are ideally suited for cold winter nights or any drafty or damp environment. For those who prefer more natural materials a breathable down comforter will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are also many modern down-alternative comforters which provide much of the same features and benefits as natural down.

Modern technology has made its way into the bathroom – microfiber towels dry in an instant and are great for use in a gym or locker room. Folks who prefer more natural materials can choose from organic cotton and bamboo towels along with 100% cotton terry towels which are known for their high absorbency. Even the shower curtain and rods have seen some great design advances – consider the hookless shower curtain and the curved shower curtain rod as two examples of improvement which make life easier and bathing more enjoyable.

Want your home to look beautiful, but don’t have the funds to hire professional decorators? No need to fear, there’s plenty you can do yourself without breaking the bank! Here are a few points to bear in mind if you’re new to decorating and want to have a go.

Colours and Theme

Before diving in with your decorating, spend some time beforehand on the planning stages. This helps to keep everything looking cohesive, and you will get the best result at the end. Scour blogs and Pinterest for rooms you like the look of, picking out different colours, design features and other elements that catch your attention. Have an idea of the kind of colours and the overall look you want to achieve at the end, this saves you purchasing things that don’t look right and wasting your money. Opting for all neutral walls is your best bet if you are unsure. They will make the room look light, bright and airy and you can bring in colour with home accessories. Paint ceilings and woodwork such as skirting boards and doors in a brilliant white for a super fresh and clean look.

[Photo courtesy of ATBO/pexels.com]

Painting

It’s always advisable to try out a few paint samples on the walls before investing in a big tin. The colour of the walls underneath and the light in the room will affect how it looks once it’s dry so don’t just take a chance. Once you’ve chosen a colour to get a few samples in different shades and paint them onto the wall so you can see which looks best. Start by ‘cutting in’ which is going around all of the edges of the room neatly with a paintbrush, and do the rest with a roller which is quick, easy and gives a smooth finish. Be sure to cover your flooring with old sheets or painters dust sheets to protect it, take your time and do a second or even a third coat if it needs it. Be sure to let each layer fully dry before moving onto the next.

Wallpaper

Adding some wallpaper to the feature wall in your room is a good way to bring in personality, and is good for those who are new to decorating since it’s a smaller area than a whole room. If you’ve never wallpapered before watch a tutorial online first. Follow the techniques carefully, and ideally have another pair of hands to help you. If you’re unsure, you could use repositionable wallpaper, that way if you make a mistake it’s easy to correct. And if you’re renting it’s easy to remove at the end of your tenancy. If you’ve painted the other walls in a light, neutral colour the wallpaper is where you can be a bit bolder. You could go for a bright or bold colour, a statement design or just keep it subtle if that’s more your style.

Do you do much decorating yourself at home, or do you usually call in the professionals?

One of the homeowner’s biggest dreams is to make their residential property as visually appealing as possible. Nevertheless, many homeowners try to accomplish this objective only to find that their living space still looks drab or somehow lackluster. If you’re having challenges enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your house, there are several mistakes that you could be making. Here are three of them:

1. You Haven’t Updated Your Furniture.

If you really want your house to become the epitome of beauty, order, and organicity, updating your furniture is a must. In addition to growing decrepit and losing tonality, old furniture can pose health challenges and safety issues. Thus if you’re serious about making your home as beautiful as possible, be sure to get in the habit of regularly replacing your old furniture with new items. If you’re looking for a great furniture store where you can buy the products that you want, consider Boyles Furniture & Rugs. The company offers several wonderful brands, including Thomasville Furniture.

2. You’re Not Investing In Home Maintenance Services.

Another mistake that could be precluding your home from looking absolutely amazing is a failure to invest in home maintenance services. These services are important because they ensure that your appliances, equipment, and furniture are in optimal condition with respect to both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Thus if you haven’t already started investing in regular maintenance services such as HVAC inspection, be sure to do so immediately. Having your carpet professionally shampooed at least once a year is also a good home maintenance tip to implement.

3. You’re Not Getting Professional Help.

Although you may occasionally be able to successfully complete a home improvement project on your own, major work requires the experienced eye of an industry professional. Yet in some cases, homeowners attempt to do a major overhaul on their own. Don’t make this mistake. DIY projects are oftentimes hit and miss endeavors, and you want to be sure that your home improvement projects are successful. To make it happen, hire an experienced, educated home decor professional who can implement all the strategies necessary to make your home glow.

Conclusion

While many homeowners want their house to look incredible, they oftentimes fail to implement the strategies that would help them realize the goal. Yet by referring to the information and advice listed above, you can identify any oversights you might be making while simultaneously attaining the instructions necessary to really get your home in great shape!