Embrace The Softer Side with Velvet Curtains

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Are you ready to turn up the dial on your home’s glamour? Then you might want to swap your traditional sheer window treatments for velvet curtains. Velvet curtains have a special quality that can bring great balance into a room full of rigid surfaces. The way it captures light and emits color makes it the perfect material to use in order to set the stage in a space. Take a look at some of the ways you can take your decor to the next level with velvet curtains! 

Embrace The Softer Side of Your Space with Velvet Curtains: 

Dressing up Big Windows

Are you searching for the perfect window treatment for your big and substantial windows? Velvet window treatments are a worthy contender. Dressing up such windows can become a challenge because it is important for the window treatment to match the intensity of the architectural feature. While velvet curtains are pillowy, they are a heavy statement piece, and the way it drapes and its hue demands attention against the glass of the window.

Brighten A Room

Velvet curtains are often purchased in darker shades, but to lighten up a space, opt for one with punchier color such as mustard or Picasso blue. Using velvet curtains that feature vivid colors can create an uplifting mood. Just be sure to select velvet curtains that create a deep pile at the floor for a dramatic appearance. 

Keep it Classic

Deep red curtains are traditional and timeless. Opting for such a classic look is bound to create an opulent look. You can make deep red velvet curtains work in a modern contemporary room by using a lot of fresh, pure white throughout the space for a soft contrast. 

Go Regal

Want the royal treatment? Purple is a natural choice when it comes to shopping for anything velvet. As a regal hue, what better way to introduce luxury to a space than by dressing your windows in purple or dark wine velvet curtains. 

Select a Material

If you are considering investing in velvet, it is important to keep in mind that it can be produced from a variety of materials such as polyester, cotton or silk. Silk provides the ultimate shine in velvet while cotton and polyester rein in softness. Artificial velvet also provides a beautiful sheen and it is stain resistant. 

Be sure to check out our other blog posts for more design inspiration. Thanks for reading! 

Outdated Design Rules: Part Two

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Previously, you read three design rules that are outdated and meant to be broken. We are here to continue with three more rules that you can absolutely use in your home’s design. Let’s take a look!

Design Rules That Are Outdated: Part Two 

No. One: Neutrals are Bound to go with Everything. 

Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true. While decorating with neutrals can be easier than with other colors, it can also be kind of difficult. The issue with neutrals is their undertone. Sometimes the undertone can be so obvious that it smacks you in the face whereas other times, it can be extremely difficult to see the undertone. The problem with not being able to recognize the undertone starts when you begin pairing it with other colors. To help make sure that everything goes, we recommend keeping it simple with a warm tan or greige (gray + beige). These two colors truly go with everything and their versatility cannot be matched by all of the other neutrals. 

No. Two: Do Not Paint Your Ceilings. 

Having color on your ceilings is actually becoming a huge design trend. Your ceiling harvests an ample spot for color and design inspiration. While white is the most common color, we recommend taking it to the next level with a pop of color. You can showcase anything from black to bright pink. The options are truly endless, but we recommend utilizing a neutral wall color if you decide to do a colorful ceiling. This is where our favorites: warm tan or greige can come in handy! You can use one of these two neutral tones on the walls then match it with your favorite color on the ceiling. Voila, you have a beautiful and unique design. 

No. Three: Never Mix Patterns. 

Mixing patterns is actually one of our favorite design tricks. You can create a harmonious design with different patterns if mixed properly. We recommend giving yourself some time to get used to the concept. Mixing and matching patterns is easy once you learn the basics. Take some time to play around with different shapes, lines, and designs until you get the perfect mixture. 

Do not let a rule hold you back from your home’s potential. Everyone’s design is unique to their home. Do whatever makes you happy and everything else will fall in place.

Outdated Design Rules: Part One

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Most homeowners try their best to follow the basic design rules in order to accomplish a beautiful, well-liked design. But what if we told you that a lot of the rules you are still following are outdated? That’s right! We have three popular design rules that you should definitely not follow and are worth breaking. Let’s take a look! 

Design Rules That Are Outdated: 

No. One: Matching is a Must. 

While matching can help keep consistency and make the room look put together, we completely disagree with the idea that everything must match. Instead of worrying about finding the exact wood species or same color fabric, we recommend searching for similar undertones. The undertones will help keep that consistency in the design that you desire without causing a ruckus to find everything in the exact shade. Plus, your colors also do not have to match. If you are putting a pillow on your couch that contains the color blue, you do not have to find that exact color blue for your lampshade. A similar blue tone will do just the trick. The one color to be wary of is white. Off-whites and pure whites are not interchangeable; therefore, you want to be careful when mixing whites. 

No Two: Mixing Metals Causes Chaos. 

If you want to mix metals, do it! Designing gives homeowners the opportunity to express their uniqueness and personality and no “rule” should hold you back from doing so. Design experts do not recommend mixing metals, but if we look closely at the rule, they really just want homeowners to avoid mixing metal finishes. The difference between a matte and shiny finish can create a little less congruency than we desire, but you can most certainly mix rose gold with gold.

No. Three: Never Use Dark Colors in Small Spaces.

We definitely do not want you listening to this rule; you can absolutely use dark colors within a small space. A long time ago, homeowners were encouraged to use only light colors in smaller spaces because they help to open up the space. But on the other hand, dark colors help to hide how small the space is and creates the illusion of a bigger space. To ensure that you do not overwhelm the space with dark colors, we recommend adding the colors in one at a time to make sure that they flow properly. Also, lighting is key when using dark colors. Just make sure that you provide adequate lighting in a small space and you will be fine! 

Are you interested in learning more rules that are just meant to be broken? Be sure to check back for part two! 

Different Ways to Use Baskets for Home Organization

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For most of us, when it is time to organize things around the house, we go to our nearest outlet and purchase several storage containers. What if I told you there was an inexpensive yet chic way that you can organize everything from your bathroom toiletries to the stack of papers on the kitchen table? Baskets are a fantastic yet inexpensive way to organize every last room in the house. Here are some great ways it can be put to use: 
 
  • The Bathroom. 
If your bathroom lacks adequate storage, you may want to opt for medium to large size baskets to store your extra towels and washcloths. Having a place to store clean bathroom linens is a must. For a sophisticated feel, you can roll up your towels like they do in hotels and align them around a wicker basket. You can also use a smaller basket to store bathroom toiletries. With a small basket on the sink countertop, you can place your hand soap, tissue, and any other necessities inside of a neat, concise place. Lastly, we recommend using extra baskets for the underneath of your bathroom counter. It will provide a clean and functional organizational system that is also stylish.
 
  • The Living Room.
How can you use baskets for organization in the living room? Well, during the cold winter months, you will need a place to tuck away your throw pillows and extra blankets that you cozy up with on the couch. Keep these accessories close by for those nights when you decided to stay in and watch a movie. If you have a reading nook, a wire basket is great for storing some good reads that you are currently enjoying. So if you cannot invest in a bookshelf, you can save money with a basket. 
 
  • Fire Wood Holder.
Firewood storage is not inexpensive. That is when the handy-dandy wire basket comes into play. You can purchase a big basket to hold all of your firewood. It also keeps the firewood neat, and you will not have to worry about lugging wood from outside.
 
  • Kitchen Cabinet.
If you find that storage is becoming limited in your kitchen cabinets, consider using baskets to create additional storage room for your dishes and other items.
 
  • Home Office. 
Smaller, flatter baskets can be used to organized paperwork and mail found inside of your home office. You can place the baskets on top of your desk for easy accessibility and organization.
 
We hope you enjoyed these fun ways that you can use baskets inside of your home. 

Do I Need a Headboard?

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If you do not have a headboard in your bedroom, you are probably wondering what exactly it can do for your room’s interior. While headboards are not essential to the structure or the overall aesthetics of the room, it can make a world of difference. Here are five reasons why you might want to invest in a quality headboard: 

1.A Range of Styles.
From tufted to custom DIY headboard ideas, there are a plethora of styles and colors. They are produced in a variety of materials like wood stains, metal, brass and other textures to meet your style preferences. Plus, the styles range from contemporary, traditional and mission. There is bound to be a headboard style that matches your style and harmoniously blends into your bedroom’s decor.
 
2. Increases The Room Size.
The right headboard can make your bedroom look bigger. Experts recommend forgoing a footboard and instead, opting for a headboard. When working with a small bedroom, it is best to choose a headboard that is thin and less bulky. Styles such as a wrought iron or a brass headboard can make your room feel much more spacious.
 
3. Cost Effective.
You can find headboards that fit with any budget. Painted and faster-growing wood material headboards are generally less expensive while intricate metal, tufted headboards are more expensive. Also, headboards that are manufactured from hard to find or unusual materials require a bigger budget. A headboard also eliminates the need for a frame for your bed which means that you will be saving a lot of money in the end-run. 
 
4. Makes a Room Stylish. 
A well-designed headboard can bring a lot of style to your bedroom. A beautiful headboard can take a bland, boring bed and turn it into something eye alluring and luxurious. You can purchase handcrafted headboards that have been wrapped in a vibrant patterns to create an interesting piece. Also, certain wood stains or painted headboards can be easily painted and revamped in your style taste changes.
 
5. Comfortable.
Since your bedroom is meant for comfort, a headboard only contributes to relaxation. A headboard provides the ultimate back support when sitting in bed especially if it has a cushion. If it is positioned against the wall or a window, a headboard can also keep you warm at night.
 
Ultimately, headboards will affordably help to add comfort and style to your space. 

Simple yet Stylish Kitchen Decor Ideas

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We have all seen those kitchens that are effortless perfection. Somehow, their design practically melts together without any effort, and you are curious as to how they do it. Well, you came to the right place! With our expert tips, you can decorate a sleek, stylish kitchen on a reasonable budget in no time. 

Simple yet Stylish Kitchen Decor Ideas: 

  • Appreciate Stylish Appliances. 

Whether you have a colorful mixer or a stainless steel toaster, appliances can be used as functional decor pieces. Homeowners should incorporate their most beautiful and often-used appliances in their countertop decor. This helps make the kitchen more functional and gives it a lived-in look. Plus, it supplies you with extra storage inside of your cabinets. 

  • Create a Coffee Bar. 

Everyone loves a good coffee bar; you should incorporate one into your kitchen’s design. You can simply add a decorative tray with essential coffee making items on a corner of your countertop and voila, you have a custom coffee bar. 

  • Cue Cutting Boards. 

Invest in some beautiful, good quality cutting boards and you will never regret it a day in your life. Cutting boards make for gorgeous decor and allow homeowners to chop up food at a moment’s notice. Cutting boards are a necessity for kitchen decor. 

  • Books on Books. 

Books are not only meant for libraries, but they make for trendy decor. You can use cookbooks or purchase some old books from antique shop to achieve this look. If you find the cookbooks to be a bit of an eyesore, try recovering the books yourself. You can wrap them in beautiful wrapping paper to add a touch of design to their covers. 

  • Put out Plants. 

Plants bring beauty into any space of the home, but especially the kitchen. Try planting a mini herb garden inside of your kitchen to bring in the outdoors. 

  • Cute Canisters. 

Place your salt, sugar, flour, and baking soda in adorable canisters that can be left out as decorations. This is the perfect solution for homeowners who love to cook and want access to the essential baking items. 

  • Always Add in Artwork. 

Find some of your favorite artwork and hang up in the kitchen. Most homeowners forget that the kitchen is a room like every other room; therefore, an artistic picture from your favorite local artist would look amazing on the wall. 

  • Finish off with Fruit and Flowers. 

Nothing says fresh like fruit and flowers. Display your weekly fresh fruit and flowers whenever possible to add the finishing touches to your kitchen decor. 

For more expert advice and style tips, be sure to check out our blog hub at https://proudtobuild.com.  

How to Make Your Shower Door Sparkle

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Your shower gets you clean, but what is keeping your shower door clean? It is easy for your shower doors to get stained with water buildup and soap particles, and unfortunately, a dirty shower door can affect the overall look of your bathroom. You may be wondering, how can I effectively clean it so that it sparkles like the rest of the space? There is no need to worry because we have the perfect guide for you. Let’s take a look! 
 
How to Make Your Shower Door Sparkle:
1. Get Rid of Buildup. 
Many people swear by vinegar and a grease-cutting dish detergent to clean the shower doors; however, this method does not work if your shower is made from stone. The vinegar solution could actually damage the material. Instead, stay on the safe side by opting for liquid soap (no dye) with baking soda. When creating the solution, make sure it is thick and frost-like before using it. Lastly, you will want to use a non-abrasive sponge to assist you in cleaning the shower doors.
 
2. Citrus Cleaner. 
You can also get your shower doors sparkling clean with a citrus-based solution. Start off by taking a lemon and cutting it in half. Dip one half of the lemon into baking soda and rub it against the shower door. You can also take some of the lemon juice by itself and wipe it against the glass door. This citrus solution will help prevent soap particles from drying on your shower’s glass doors. 
 
3. Multi-Purpose Tools.
Try using a toothbrush to clean and polish the metal frame around the shower door. You can also take a paint scraper to remove gunk from the hard-to-get areas such as where the metal meets the door or in the very corner of the shower and the door. Also, a razor is effective at removing mineral spots from flat glass doors.
         ** Please be extremely cautious and careful while using any sort of sharp objects. 
 
4. Prevention Is Important.
Prevention is key to keeping the shower door clean and free from soap particles and water buildup. For the best results, try keeping a squeegee or a sponge nearby so that you can wipe down the shower door after each use. You can even apply a daily shower spray to the doors consisting of a small amount of dish soap (gentle; no dye formula) and your favorite essential oil. This homemade remedy will keep your shower door looking great between deep cleanings! 
 
Voila! Your shower doors are now sparkling and beautiful. 

The Summer Entertainer

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Summer is the season for entertaining. From backyard barbecues to poolside parties, your summer can be jammed packed with activities. Make your summer parties the best in the neighborhood with these six easy tips for becoming an amazing summer entertainer. 

How to become The Summer Entertainer: 

  1. Plan a Mental Layout. Close your eyes and imagine your summer bash. Who are you planning on inviting? Where will it take place? Now open your eyes. You will want to make sure that your backyard can accommodate everyone you want to invite and that you have enough seats available to your guests. Plan a mental layout of what your backyard will look like that day to help you in the decision process.
  2. Make It Happen. Put all of your dreams for the party into a reality by creating a list of the things you will need. Write down how many tables and chairs you will need, how much food and what kind of food you will be serving, what activities you will have, and where they will take place. Once you have a game plan, it is time to go to the store! 
  3. Shop Like It’s Your Job. When planning a get-together, you want to make sure that you are being frugal. Dollar stores have a lot of items that are cute yet affordable. You can get inexpensive mason jars for decorative pieces and paper plates at an inexpensive price. 
  4. Dec’ It Out. You do not need to purchase new decor for your party because you can use your decor from the inside of your home. Take vases, candles and small decorative pieces outside to decorate your tables. You will be surprised by how little you will need to buy for the party if you use this trick. 
  5. Let There Be Light(s). Do not be the host that forgets to light up the night. Make sure that your guests can see well into the night. You can hang string lights outdoors to add a charming, rustic look. If you are looking to save money, use your white Christmas lights in the backyard. 
  6. Think Like a Kid. Make sure you are the hostess with the “mostess” by having a kid-friendly party. If you do decide to invite children, think of fun activities for the kiddos. Having occupied kids can help the adults have more fun then everyone wins. Try to make little stations for the kids to do various activities throughout the night and have a movie ready for when it gets dark. 

 How do you plan to entertain guests this summer? Let us know in the comment section! 

The Greatest Bedroom Organization System

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You have had a long day of work and you are just plain tired. The last thing you want to think about is the mess that you have slowly created over the week in your bedroom. You push it off in your mind saying you will get to it when you get to it but you know that you never follow through with that plan. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could spend a maximum of five minutes on cleaning and your bedroom would look spotless? Wishful thinking, you are probably saying. Well before you write off the thought, we want to help you organize your room to save you time in the future. That is right, the original organization of your space will take longer than our five-minute dream but once everything is in order, you will not have to spend endless hours cleaning your bedroom because you have a system. 

The Greatest Bedroom Organization System: 

  • Stash it: If you are like the average person, you have a lot of items that need a place to call home in your bedroom. Storing items can become one of the most difficult tasks for people who have small bedrooms. When you are thinking about storage, instead of buying more bulky furniture think of other areas of your room: 
    • Store last season’s clothes in bins underneath your bed. 
    • Place your book collection on a shelf you have attached to the wall to save space on your desktop. 
    • Buy furniture that has optimal storage inside of it. For example, get a chair that has hidden compartments for storing all your little treasures or a mirror that opens up to storage for your accessories. 
    • Incorporate stylish baskets and bins that look like decor, but hide your belongings. 
  • Make your mother proud: Each morning, you need to force yourself to make your bed. This step is extremely important but it emphasizes that you are determined to keep a clean room. If your bed is made, it will make it more difficult to throw clothes on the floor. 
  • Learn the word “NO”: When you are out shopping, you may think that you need that item for your bedroom but do you? Do you really NEED that item? Probably not… Just say no. Walk away and if in three days you are still dreaming about that specific item, you can go back and buy it. Our bedrooms can become extremely cluttered if we just buy everything from that cute store.
  • Stick to a routine: When you come home from work or the gym, do not just leave your clothes wherever. Force yourself to either hang it up or put it in the dirty pile. Especially when you are getting ready, it is easy to just throw clothes around your room. Try to maintain a clean, organized room.

Do you have any tips that you use to keep your room organized? We would love to hear your advice in the comment section. 

Quick Organization Tips for Your Garage

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The organization system in garages can be easily forgotten. A lot of homeowners use their garage as a place to store miscellaneous items that do not have a proper home. Do not let your garage get out of hand by placing item after item inside of it. Summertime is the perfect time for you to tackle your garage’s mess. To help you get started, we have created quick and easy tips for easy organization. Let’s take a look! 

Tips for organizing your garage: 

Make it mobile.

The place where you store your tools should be mobile to help with the ease of completing projects. 

    • Utilize any glass jars for storing your smaller items like screws and nails. You can use old baby food jars or mini mason jars to accomplish a vintage look. Be sure to remove all stickers from the containers before using them as decor. 

Work it out.

Create a workspace for yourself that combines storage with functionality. Also, you will want to have a proper workbench for your space. Experts recommend buying a workbench that is at least six to eight inches long.  

AP in Appliances.

A lot of homeowners decide to store extra appliances in their garage. Keep the space clear in front of refrigerators and freezers for easy access. If you are not utilizing some of your small appliances, store them on higher shelves to keep the lower spaces available for frequently used items.

    • Keep appliances free of dust by storing them in plastic bags. 

Get it covered.

Garages tend to have a lot of heavy dirt and residue from cars. Homeowners may choose to cover their garage flooring with a heavy duty coating. The coating helps to protect the garage floor from oil, salt, and grease and is easy to clean. 

Succeed in storage. Cabinets can be extremely helpful for storing important items in your garage. Pet and cleaning supplies can be easily accessed in your garage. Plus, cabinets give a nice, clean look to the space without having to leave things on the countertops. 

    • If you are on a budget, plastic storage bins can replace cabinets in your garage. Be sure to label each box with the items that are inside. 

Start summer off right with a clean, organized garage. Once you organize your garage, you will feel a breath of relief. It will feel amazing to step into your garage and find whatever you are looking for right away.