Who does not love waking up to a room beaming in sunlight? Unfortunately, there is always that one room in the house that feels uninviting due to the lack of light. Yes, getting some light into that dark room is necessary to help it look more visually appealing and the light will provide just the right amount of warmth you need to feel comfortable and cozy.

Not everyone has the option of making structural changes to add or bring natural light into a room. Rest assured, that you can achieve the desired effect without having to launch an expensive renovation project by adding in additional windows. You can brighten up a dark room by using a variety of techniques.

Make The Most Out of Natural Light

Start off by making the most out of the natural lighting that the room does get. You can do this by adding mirrors throughout the room. Mirrors can help make a room appear bigger and it can also reflect light all around the space. Try installing a large mirror or mirrored tiles directly across the windows in the room. The mirror will reflect the light from the window and cast it all about the room.

You can also maximize natural light by opting for sheer curtains as opposed to dark curtains and heavy drapes. Such window treatments can eat up sunlight. Sheer curtains allow the sun to stream right through the room without any barriers.

Layering Artificial Lighting

Of course, adding in artificial lighting seems like the most logical solution to brightening a dark room. While you may already have a central or overhead lighting fixture, you should try to add additional lighting to the space. Use accent lighting such as strip LED lights in the dark corners and towards the back of the room if you are working with a large space. Also, do not forget task lighting and be sure to switch out dull bulbs and opt for the highest recommended wattage. Steer clear from frosted and dark lampshades because they can engulf artificial lighting.

For more tips and tricks, visit our blog hub at https://proudtobuild.com. 

Have you ever entered a space and got captivated by its beauty? It is no secret that every homeowner wants a visually-appealing space. If you are looking to master this art, you came to the right place. We have ten tips for creating a more visually-appealing room. Let’s get started! 

Tips for a More Visually Appealing Room: 

1. It’s a Material World.

A visually appealing room indulgences the senses. Of course, sight could be considered the most important in a design, but an intriguing texture can also dominate the senses. With texturized materials, you can captivate both sight and touch. Just by incorporating a woven rug or stitched pillow, you can begin to create a more visually appealing room. The textures will play off of the room’s overall design and add a special touch to your space. 

2. On The Down-Low. 

Large, bulky furniture can make a room feel cramped and unwelcoming. To help create a more free-flowing space, we recommend buying pieces that are closer to the ground. Low-furniture can make your room look bigger which in essence, is more visually appealing. 

3. Simply Put.

While shopping for furniture, we recommend keeping it as simple as possible. Decor trends come and go so quickly that you cannot guarantee a piece will survive the passing of a fad. To keep your furniture in style longer, opt for classic colors and builds in your furniture. A good, cozy sofa may not be your trendy dream, but it could outlast your current place. 

4. Your Reflection.

Mirrors dominate the design industry. The wonders that a small reflective piece of glass can do is unreal. Mirrors can help accentuate your room to make it look bigger and more open. With light reflecting properties, mirrors are the ultimate room “wing-man.” 

5. Looking Outwards. 

Sometimes, homeowners will make the mistake of having their furniture face into the room. Instead, we recommend facing your couch towards the window. This gives a more appealing site for people using the couch as well as a more visually appealing set-up. 

6. High Roller. 

If you are interested in creating a high-ceiling-illusion, you can install curtain rods about two inches above your window frame. This will help to make your room feel taller. 

7. Sleek Shelving. 

Sleek shelves can create clean, sharp lines in your space. These sharp lines will help make your room more appealing to the eyes. 

8. Cornered.

If you are looking for a cozy-feel, you can angle your furniture into your corners to help play off of the angles.  

9. Let There Be Light(s). 

Lighting is key when designing the ultimate room. In order to have the best room possible, you need to be able to see it. We recommend installing extra lighting wherever need and a dimmer to set the mood. 

10. Cut Out the Stuff. 

A visually-appealing room starts and ends with clutter. If you have a jam-packed room, it can take away from the overall beauty of the space. Be sure to cut back on clutter and keep surfaces clear. This will help guests to take in the entire experience. 

Creating bright spaces has become more important to homeowners over the past few years. Design experts believe that bright rooms can impact your mood and create a welcoming environment. With the positives outweighing the negatives, you may be curious about how you can brighten up your current space. Well, there is no need to wonder, because we have eight ways you can brighten up your space. 

Ways to Brighten up Your Space: 

• No Shade. 

      Instantly open up your space with sheer window curtains. Having sheer curtains can let the natural sunlight flow into your space and ultimately make your room look more open and welcoming. 

• Lighten Up.

Choosing a light color scheme can make your room feel bright. Try using colors like white and/or pastels. These colors work well with natural light by bouncing it off of the walls, thus creating a more open space.  

• Use this light color scheme for your wall color, furniture, and fabrics. 
• Mirror, Mirror. 

Mirrors are one of the best decor pieces that you can use in a room. Not only are they decorative and stylish, but they brighten the space up by reflecting your light fixtures. 

• Place a light fixture in front of the mirror to help encourage light reflection. 
• Shine On. 

Try adding more light fixtures to your room to help brighten up your space. Also, you want to make sure that you use light colored lamp shades to help encourage brightness. 

• Metal Touch.

Metallic pieces reflect the light; therefore, they are the perfect addition to help brighten up your space. 

• Glass Finish. 

Try decorating with glass accessories and decor to increase the brightness of your room. The see-thoroughness of glass will create an open, welcoming space. 

• Minimize.

The less clutter in your room, the less heavy it looks to the eyes. Try to reduce clutter and cut down on items. This will help your room to feel light and bright. 

• Succulent Paradise. not heavy 

When in doubt, choose a succulent. They are the least “heavy-looking” plant option that you can choose for your room. Plus, they are light in shade to help match your room’s decor. 

What was your favorite brightening tip? Let us know in the comment section below. We look forward to hearing from you. 

The way you arrange your living room is vital. We say this statement boldly because wherever you put your furniture will affect the way people have conversations in your space. To help you decide on your favorite arrangement, we have created a list of the top eight furniture setups for your living room. We hope you enjoy! 

Arrangement Ideas for Your Living Room:

Idea #1: Face-to-Face. 

An intriguing setup that most homeowners take the initiative on following is the “face-to-face” arrangement. This arrangement invites conversation and allows guests to feel welcomed and wanted. Not only do guests appreciate this setup, but your family will also love it. It works perfectly for game night or holidays where everyone needs to be seen and heard. 

Idea #2: Room Divider. 

Your living room furniture is not only for sitting, but you can actually use it as a room divider in an open floor plan. If you have a large couch or long table, you can position it so that it divides the room into two sections without the need for walls. 

Idea #3: Focal Point. 

A common arrangement for living rooms is having a focal point. Whether your focal point is the window, fireplace or television, your seating is framed around it. 

Idea #4: Four Chairs. 

Couches are not the only seating option for living rooms. A lot of homeowners thrive by just using four fabric chairs in their living room. To conquer this arrangement, you will place the chairs in a square all facing one another but equal difference away from each other. 

Idea #5: Rug Placement. 

Rugs are a blessing because they can pull together an entire room. Just place your rug in the center of the room and work from there with your furniture. Let your rug be the center of attention and your furniture work around it. 

Idea #6: Diagonal.

Another common arrangement is the “diagonal” setup. For this setup, you have your sofa and then diagonally across from it you have a chair. This is a more open look and it can be a great solution for homeowners with extra furniture. 

Idea #7: Symmetry. 

If you need everything to match, the symmetric arrangement will definitely be your favorite. With the symmetric setup, you will mentally split the room in half. Everything that is placed on one side of the room needs to be copied exactly to the other side of the room. 

Idea #8: L-Shape. 

L-shape couches are a popular choice for large families, but you do not need the couch to create the design. For this arrangement, you pull together two sofas in an “L-shape.” It is a great solution if you need your couches near one another.

It is officially the new year and with the new year comes a lot of change. To start things off on a good note, your resolution may be to declutter your home. After the holidays, your home may be especially messy and overwhelming. To help you fight back against the clutter, we have created five tips for assisting you in your new year resolution. Let us take a look! 

New Year Resolution: Decluttering Your Life: 

Tip #1: Knock, Knock.

One of the most underused, but brilliant storage areas is behind your door. Over-the-door storage containers can be a life-saver when you are in a pinch for extra space. Plus, it leaves extra room on the floor and does not get in the way of your other items. 

Tip #2: Measure Up. 

A rookie mistake for first-time organizers is buying the container before measuring the space. If you plan to use containers, be sure to measure the area before you buy. This can save you a lot of room and money in the future. 

Tip #3: Inexpensive Finds. 

Organizing your home does not need to be expensive. For great inexpensive finds, be sure to check your local variety store. They typically have organizational items available at a reasonable price. 

Tip #4: Little Containers for Your Little Ones. 

Many homeowners struggle with organizing their child’s playroom. To help you get things in order, we recommend buying several different bins for their toys. This will help them find and put away their toys easier than having one large toy bin. To keep things organized and efficient, we recommend labeling the box with what is inside or placing a fun picture on the outside to represent the items. 

Tip #5: January’s Spring Cleaning. 

Cleaning out your closets is not only in the spring! Take advantage of the new year by going through your closets. Plus, with all of your new gifts, it may be a good idea to get rid of some old stuff to make room for the new items. 

What resolution have you made for the New Year? We would love to hear from you in the comment section! 

If you are not an avid reader, you may find yourself with a lot of empty bookshelf space. Bookshelves can be a fantastic decor piece for homeowners who do not own a lot of books. Decorating your bookshelf can be a challenging process. There may be a lot of designs and ideas already running through your head, but before you dive into decorating, we have nine brilliant tips to help you! 

9 Tips for Beautifying Your Bookshelf: 

1. Less is More. When decorating anything in your home, you always want to keep in mind that less is more. It is easier to add later than it is to take away items you just purchased for your space. Try to keep your design simple then add more as you go. 
2. Add Purpose. Your bookshelf’s design can be whatever you desire. From a place to display your personal photography to a place to store your books, your shelf can have a solid purpose. Display whatever you are passionate about and the rest of the design will follow.
3. Display The Room’s Style. One of our best piece of advice for you is to use the room’s style in your bookshelf design. Let your bookshelf continue the flow of the room’s design by incorporating similar pieces. If you decorated with gold fixtures in the room, continue that style choice by adding gold decor pieces to the bookshelf. 
4. Create Depth. An easy and beautiful way to add depth to your bookshelf is to place wallpaper or a different color paint on the back wall. This will add a creative twist to the bookshelf and instantly adds design and depth. 
5. Get Seasonally Inspired. Let the holiday seasons inspire your bookshelf design. Instead of adding more each holiday season, swap out current decor for holiday items. For example, you will want to take away one item for each piece of holiday you add. 
6. Layer Photos. Layering photos is a trendy design that we love. You basically take your current photo frames and overlap them on top of one another. It creates a unique design that pairs well with the wallpapered background. 
7. Visual Appealing. Try not to use items of the same scale and size. To create the ultimate bookshelf display, you will want to incorporate decor pieces of all sizes and varieties. Also, be sure to not use the same items over and over. You want to include different items that play off of one another’s features. For example, you could use a light blue vase that pulls the blue color used in one of your picture frames. This will help create a more visually appealing bookshelf. 
8. Hang in There. A lot of homeowners will only focus on the shelf space available, but there forget about all of the wall space. For a unique and creative twist, try hanging certain items off of the bookshelf’s wall. Items like mirrors and picture frames will do just the trick! This idea will help add depth to your bookshelf without distracting from the other decor pieces. 
9. Monochromatic. Using different shades of one color can create a clean and visual-appealing bookshelf. If you are a fan of one particular color in your space, try to use it throughout your entire bookshelf’s design. 

Looking to take your creativity to the next level? Try adding a customized backsplash to the back of your bookshelf’s wall. To help you complete this design, our expert staff is ready to work hard and get the job done professionally and efficiently. Contact us today for more details.

Aiming for the most comfortable nights’ sleep? Then you probably know that quality sheets can contribute significantly to a good night’s rest. What many people don’t know is that when shopping for high-quality sheets, the thread count isn’t the only important factors.  While a high thread definitely makes for better sheets it’s the quality of the thread that really matters. In fact, sheets with a lower thread quality but higher quality fiber will be much more comfortable than bedding with high thread count. Let’s break it down.

It’s About the Fiber

Polyester and cotton blend sheets are popular because they are an inexpensive bedding option. Polyester blend sheets are durable, generally, wrinkle resistant, and they are less expensive.  However, blended fibers are not quite as comfortable as real cotton bedding. If you’re searching for sheets that feels super soft against the skin, invest in sheets that are made up of 100 percent cotton.

What sets cotton fiber apart from a polyester blend? First, you can say goodbye to waking up on clammy sheets since cotton tends to absorb moisture from the skin. Also, cotton is more stain resistant than polyester-cotton blends which means that they look cleaner than their less expensive counterparts.

The Weaving

The weave of the material also affects the way sheets feel against your skin. This also affects the aesthetics and the longevity of your sheets. Basic, plain sheets use horizontal and vertical yarns and are generally less expensive than bedding with patterns, designs, and colors. Percale weaving is more upscale and usually comes with a thread count of at least 180.  Sateen weaves are the most expensive. It utilizes more vertical yarns resulting in a higher thread count with a softer feel but with a longer life since it is not as susceptible to tears and rips.

Final Finish

Most sheets have been chemically processed with chlorine, silicon and other types of substances to prevent wrinkling, shrinking, and to keep them from losing their shape. If your skin is highly sensitive than you may want to consider purchasing organic pure finish sheets that haven’t been chemically enhanced. Pure finish sheets can be more expensive but they are definitely worth the price. Always remember to wash new sheets before using them for the first time.