The world of design is everchanging; styles evolve and branch off into more tailored categories. Some interior design styles are timeless while others fade away and are just merely a trend. However, it is always something truly magical when two very distinct styles have the opportunity to mesh together into a new style, offering the best of both worlds. Traditional Design and Contemporary Design are prevalent yet very distinctly different styles, and that is where Transitional Design gives them the opportunity to shine together as one design. To better understand Transitional Design, we explored the two main outlets that power this style. Let’s take a look:

Traditional

There is something inspiring about the raw beauty of a Traditional Design. From its classic detailing through wooden trim to the rich, elegant environment it showcases, traditional homes easily highlight the inviting elements of comfort by integrating symmetry, boastful décor, and freedom of color to warm the atmosphere. With endless accessories, this has been a timeless style that balances a dramatic space with a refined yet elegant atmosphere.

Contemporary/Modern

On the other hand of classic, there is the new, edgy style: Contemporary Design. While Mid-Century Modern is an era that has come and gone, this is a style that is always adapting to its latest trends. Borrowing the open layout from Mid-Century modern is as far as these can relate. However, contemporary design is mainly influenced by today’s most trending design influencers. Patterns, colors, and styles are always becoming more unique and pushing the limits of design. This is a highly evolving design that can quickly be identified as very awe-inspiring. Modern Design will allow an open layout, and it thrives on sticking minimalistic with its décor and will tend to keep a neutral color palette.

The Balance

You can go three routes when combining the two styles in Transitional Design. First, you can choose to amplify Traditional Style through your home’s architecture, trim, flooring, and color palette. Find elegance and luxury in your home by incorporating woods and classic elements then you can add the sleek, more contemporary designs through furniture, rugs, and décor. Or, you can try to have a modern open layout home. Include contemporary design through the layout of your space but let your furniture incorporate more classic textures and patterns. Lastly, you can try the “even” blend–this is where your home has a little more of an eclectic feel. You let each design shine evenly throughout the space. Putting both Traditional and Modern design into the furniture, layout, and the décor.

When completing a Transitional Design, make sure your room always feels uniform and not unbalanced. Harmony is key when creating Transitional Design. Remember that this is an eclectic blend of sophisticated and new edge. Have fun with it!

Now that the holidays are wrapping up, it’s time to get everything organized and out of the way before the new year. Here are a few suggestions to make your post-holiday organizing more efficient and set yourself up for a great holiday next year.

Packing away the holiday decorations with some thought will make next year’s unpacking easier as well as nicer. To start, if you don’t have those special containers for protecting your ornaments, maybe this is the year to buy some. The after-holiday sales make their price inviting, and many boxes are pretty enough to leave out during next year’s holiday. Be sure to pack candles for storage where the heat of summer won’t damage them; and now is the time to discard any decorations that won’t make the cut in next year’s plans.

Holiday lights: Are your holiday lights still around from the last century? It’s time to let them go! The new LED lights come in beautiful colors, some that change color, and use much less energy. If your lights are showing any signs of age such as frayed cords or cracked sockets, don’t take a chance on a fire next holiday. Toss them and get new ones.

Electronic gifts: Did Santa bring you your favorite electronic gadget of your dreams this year? Test those gadgets out sooner rather than later to make sure you like them and they are working properly. You generally only have a couple of weeks before retail stores charge a restocking fee for returns and insist that you send any damaged products back to the manufacturer. While you’re at it, read the installation and safety instructions. Electronics change all the time, and yesterday’s safety and use assumptions may not fit today’s products.

It’s the last week of 2022. Have a great ending to this year by wrapping up your holiday well and planning for a great 2023!

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. There are so many ways to cherish this time with our friends and family. In fact, we encourage you to make time this holiday season to appreciate the wonders of Christmas. You can make the most out of this holiday season by participating in all the fun Christmas festivities this season has to offer. To help give you some festive ideas, here are five great activities to consider:

Christmas Caroling

Bring the Christmas joy to your neighborhood by caroling with your loved ones. You can find a group of friends or family and carol around your neighborhood. Just be sure to select some songs that the group can be familiar with and practice before your performance.

Baking Cookies or Building a Gingerbread Home

Nothing says Christmas like delicious cookies and treats. Get creative this holiday and bake some seasonal cookies. You can decorate your cookie-cutter snowmen or gingerbread men with frosting and candy. You can also let your creativity shine by making gingerbread homes. Plus, it can be fun for the whole family to participate in this activity.

Driving to See Christmas Lights

Christmas lights illuminate the night sky throughout the holiday season. Plus, it can always be fun to explore and look for entertaining light shows in your surrounding area. You can go to neighborhoods with a lot of Christmas lights or find areas advertised in your newspapers. Some light shows even have radio stations coordinated with them for the full package of entertainment.

White Elephant Gift Exchange

This classic Christmas gift exchange is excellent for seasonal parties. You will first want to set a budget. Next, everyone will go and buy a gift within this budget. The gifts can range from very useful to just plain silly. Everyone will draw numbers to determine the order of the exchange. Sit in a circle with all the wrapped gifts in the middle. As the game begins, each player can select a gift from the circle or steal another player’s gift. Since the rules are a bit detailed, we recommend reading the instructions before playing, especially if it is your first time.

Christmas Movie Marathon

There are so many great Christmas holiday movies. You can enjoy them by getting your friends and family together for a movie night. Select a couple of Christmas movies to watch throughout the day. It is always a good time to get to sit back with some popcorn and snacks and watch some of the classic holiday flicks.

What are some of your favorite holiday activities? We would love to hear from you in the comment section.

Looking for some Halloween entertainment? While this game takes some time to set up it is always a huge hit with the kids. It also keeps them busy for a while, which is of course, a big hit with the parents. You’ll want to stick around to watch while they’re having fun. Watching this game go from serious to silly is super funny!

Spider Web Indoor Maze

1. You are going to create an indoor spider web that fills an entire room. Decide which room you are going to use so that you can estimate how much yarn to buy. This will not be a perfect science.
2. Purchase a package of yarn for each participant. Select a different color for each child and opt for colors appropriate to the holiday.
3. Begin building the web at any random point in the room. You are going to create a pattern for each child by stringing one color of yarn back and forth across the room. Move up and down in a zigzag pattern around the room. At each touch point, lightly wrap the string to change direction. 
4. When all of the colors have been strung, you should now be seeing a massive spider web.
5. Show each child the end of his or her part of the web. Instruct the child on how to find the other end of their yarn by navigating the entire web.
6. Emphasize that they can’t just pull hard on the yarn or they’ll pull the whole web down. They have to go to each touch point and unwrap the string and then proceed.
7. Whoever finds the end of their yarn first wins a prize. Or, you can have first, second and third place prizes if it’s a large group.

Enjoy watching the shenanigans unfold. Watching the children try to untangle the yarn while running into each other is priceless! Check out our Halloween Pinterest board for more fun ideas!

How to use color to convey in interior design

We are wrapping up our series on the psychology of color with this post about natural colors. In Parts 1-3 we discussed dark, light, and bold colors. Our feature series wouldn’t be complete of course without hues that remind us of Mother Nature. To review, we’ve been chatting about the ways that color affects the way people experience a space.

It is not a must that you give this consideration when deciding how to decorate. But, if you want to create a space that has the wow-factor you experience when you enter a room designed by an interior designer, considering color psychology is highly recommended. Especially if you love natural color because you can create an exquisite space that feels grounded and lovely, but also invigorating! Enjoy!

Chartreuse – artsy, bold, trendy

Coral – life force, energizing

Dusty Pink – soft, subtle, cozy, dusky, gentle, composed

Earth Brown – earthy, grounded, steady, solid, rooted, wholesome, sheltering, warm, durable, secure, reliable, natural, traditional

Gold – rich, glowing, divine, intuitive, luxurious, opulent, expensive, radiant, valuable, prestigious

Mauve – wistful, sentimental, thoughtful

Neutral Grey – classic, corporate, practical, timeless, quality, quiet, neutral, logical, deliberate, reserved, basic, modest, efficient, dutiful, methodical

Olive Green – military, camouflage, safari, classic

Periwinkle – genial, lively, sprightly, convivial, cordial

Silver – sleek, classy, stylish, modern, cool

Sky Blue – calming, cool, heavenly, constant, faithful, true, dependable, restful, content, tranquil, reassuring, trust, serenity, expansive, open, transcendent

Tan – rugged, outdoor, rustic, woodsy

Tangerine – vital, fruitful, energizing

Taupe – classic, neutral, practical, timeless, quality, basic, organic, inconspicuous, understated, modest

Terra Cotta – earthy, warm, country, wholesome, welcoming, abundance

We hope you enjoyed this series on the Psychology of Color!

Your bedroom should be so much more than just a place to sleep. In fact, it should be your oasis; a place you can retreat to in the midst of chaos. With these budget-friendly ideas, you can turn your bedroom into your own sanctuary without breaking the bank.

1. Paint the room a darker color
   Light colors can make a room feel larger and more open. Darker hues envelope the space making it more intimate. Yes, using a dark hue on your walls will create the perfect space to relax in. Since color has the power to change the mood of an room you’ll want to select a color that you really love. You can contrast and add some color to the room through your bedding and accessories.
2. Adjustable lighting
   Soft lighting is ultimate for cozy living. If overhead lighting is necessary than you’ll want to invest in an adjustable lighting solution. Consider installing a chandelier with a light dimmer so you can set the right mood by simply adjusting the level of illumination according to your needs.
3. Layering Rugs
   There’s nothing that says comfort more than a soft rug. Rugs provide warmth especially during the winter months. Whether you have hardwood floors or wall to wall carpet be sure to incorporate a couple of area rugs in different shapes and textures to provide that super comfy look.
4. Make your bed extra comfy
   Of course, your bedroom can’t be a retreat without a comfortable bed. When creating the ultimate bed you can never have too many blankets or throws. Use an assortment of blankets in various textures from soft cotton blankets to plush fleece throw. For an added comfort you can invest in a quality mattress topper. Don’t forget the pillows. What’s more inviting than a huge pile of pillows?
5. Create a reading nook
   Put together your very own reading nook in your bedroom so you can cuddle up and read a book, browse a magazine or just enjoy the view. Forget about building a window seat since this can be costly. Instead, you can form a reading nook with a comfortable chair, a small bookshelf for your books or a small side table to hold your reading material and snack.