<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Color is a vibrant and exciting part of life. Imagine how dull the world around you would feel in just black and white. A few grays here or there would be the height of your experience with anything remotely relative to the far-away ideology of color.

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📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kbing/">@kbing</a>

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don't just take it for granted; we vastly underestimate the effect colors around us have on our mental health. Recent <a href="https://www.frieze.com/article/blue-most-relaxing-colour-scientists-say">research</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shows that dark blue is favorably the world's most relaxing color, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0215610#:~:text=Abstract,to%20perceive%20anger%20in%20faces.">whereas</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> red can be associated with anger on a human face, causing subconscious stress responses.

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With this in mind, when planning on designing the space we live in every day (especially if you work from home), we must be very specific as to what colors we genuinely want to resonate with within our space.&nbsp;

📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/officine_gullo/">@officine_gullo</a>

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A majority of the time, we find our clients don't even know where to begin with <a href="https://blog.siloho.com/how-to-choose-a-colour-palette-for-your-living-room/">deciding on color in their overhauls</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and we get it; it's overwhelming. With such a vast array of colors that feel like they've only popped up in recent years, like 'Amaranth' and 'Gamboge,' choosing which color to use has become more of a chore than ever.&nbsp;

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today let's go back to basics. And to make it simple, we'll stick to the simple 'blues' and 'greens' of the world. Here are two simple but effective questions we recommend you start by asking yourself when deciding which colors you'd like to immerse yourself in daily.&nbsp;

1. What Is the Space Going to Be Used For?

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sabrinaalaneseinteriors/">@sabrinaalaneseinteriors</a>

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We could assume that almost everyone on this planet would like their home to be a peaceful haven of tranquility. Chances are, that is a very high majority.&nbsp;

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, some would like their home to be a multi-usable environment in many different and unique ways. One may long for a sweet pad to entertain guests or throw parties instead of a cozy and warm home. Maybe a bachelor pad has plans to overhaul itself to be a more romantic spot amidst one's late 30s dating journey?

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/r.a.u.f.a.s.e.r.b.e.r.l.i.n/">@r.a.u.f.a.s.e.r.b.e.r.l.i.n</a>

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is home to you? Whatever that answer is, ensure it's an environment where you feel you will thrive. If you're not redoing your entire home, and maybe it's just a room you want to spruce up, what will the space be used for? This is a crucial question you must ask yourself at the beginning of any overhaul process.&nbsp;

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Understanding the practicalities of what it truly is you want to use your space for will allow space for you to open up entirely to understand what feelings you'd like to cultivate within that space.&nbsp;

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/pelsbarn.official/">@pelsbarn.official</a>

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once deciding what the space's usability is, you can move forward with determining how you want that space to make you feel and design around that. There are a few things to consider in the color-picking process when cultivating an environment in which you want to feel a certain way.&nbsp;

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let's say you're redesigning your home office and you really loved the color red. There's a reason we say 'I saw red' during an episode of rage. <a href="https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1172&amp;context=jur#:~:text=It%20was%20found%20that%20subjects,significant%20role%20in%20stress%20perception.">Studies have shown</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that those placed in a red room experienced higher levels of stress than in similar rooms painted green, <a href="https://decormatters.com/blog/blue-and-white-house-interiors">blue, or white</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.&nbsp;

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/brittanyshmyr/">@brittanyshmyr</a>

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand, using soothing <a href="https://www.marthastewart.com/2220932/best-paint-colors-home-office#:~:text=%22Soothing%2C%20earthy%20colors%20like%20greens,a%20room%20free%20of%20distraction.%22">earthy tones</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> such as green or blue can evoke a feeling of calm. <a href="https://decormatters.com/blog/welcome-calm-into-your-home">Design to inject more calm into the mind</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on top of your color scheme by adding warm white lighting to increase productivity in a non-abrasive manner, and voila! You've got a space to handle any work-related issue that comes your way with ease and clarity.

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Color is a powerful design tool that can be utilized to induce more cheerful and stress-free vibes into your home. The right colors can make a small room feel more spacious and open, or even flipped to make a larger space feel more cozy and intimate.&nbsp;

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannankotona/">@hannankotona</a>

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, carefully making color choices based on the practicalities of the space and the activities happening within it are more crucial than we may think. We must make choices in our color scheme that are sound and usable long-term.&nbsp;

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, make sure you understand through and through in a small brainstorming session what feeling you'd like to create, as re-painting is a lot of time, money, and energy. Take it back to the basics, ask yourself these two fundamental questions, and design from there.&nbsp;

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Follow <a href="https://decormatters.com/blog">DecorMatters</a><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for more tips on how to overhaul your old, tired living space,

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Color is a vibrant and exciting part of life. Imagine how dull the world around you would feel in just black and white. A few grays here or there would be the height of your experience with anything remotely relative to the far-away ideology of color.

Stuck On a Color? Start By Asking Yourself These Two Vital Questions

Regardless of what your psychologist may tell you, living in the past isn’t always bad. Sometimes, borrowing tastes or ideas from a previous century can serve you very well in styling the present.

📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tiffwang_/">@tiffwang_</a>

Whether it be an antique lampshade from the roaring 20s or posting up an animal print wallpaper from the 40s, we can always look back on common architectural and design styles to gain inspiration for what we want to create today in our homes.

So, without further adieu, here are our three favorite design styles from the last century and a few tips on incorporating them into your home.

Modernism: 1900s to 1940s

‘A house is a machine for living in,’ said the mouth of Swiss architect and designer Le Corbusier, a known pioneer and almost the man to blame for the uprising of Modernism.

If we took a quick trip back to the early 1900s, we’d be surrounded by living rooms that prioritized elegance in all its forms, clean lines, bold colors, and a clear sense of simplicity.

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/maychamber_living/">@maychamber_living</a>

Modernism in interior design prioritizes organized and uncluttered spaces that are functional in every aspect and bring a feeling of clear headed-ness with a relaxing ambiance.

Modernism-up Your Living Space

Less is more - don’t crowd yourself with decorative elements.

As Modernism prioritizes a minimalistic and clean approach to a space, the fewer decorative elements you use, the better. Ensure the pieces you choose for your home are pieces you love. Invest more in a few good pieces rather than a lot of little ones you feel neutral about.

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahshermansamuel/">@sarahshermansamuel</a>

Celebrate materials in every form.

Do you have any concrete you may be able to expose in the dwelling of your home? Or can you get in touch with your creativity and paint walls in different textures than just with a traditional paint rolling pin? If you’re stuck and need inspiration, go outside and explore the city you live in. Look at what the architects around you have used in their designs, and see if you can pull together materials for your walls, furniture, or decor based on the minds of others. If you’re too lazy for a walk, look no further, we’ve had a chat about this <a href="https://www.company.decormatters.com/post/trend-alert-natural-raw-materials-unpolished-wood-stone-leather-terracotta">before</a>.

Art Deco 1920s to 1940s

Bring Great Gatsby vibes to your everyday life as we swiftly turn our heads towards Art Deco.

When we think of Art Deco here at Decormatters in interior design, we think of geometric patterns, symmetry all-around, rich colors, stained glass, animal-print wallpaper, and luxurious decorative pieces or furniture.

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ruggable/">@ruggable</a>

Treat your space as a person who needs a significant confidence boost because that’s precisely what this style pervades. Turn this guy into someone with boldness, confidence, and a downright bad-ass.

Add Bold Art Deco Vibes

Go big with animal motifs.

Geometry was a vast go-to for this era, so to take it to the next level, one could use wallpaper with animal motifs in bold colors to stand out and bring the confident Art Deco feeling to the home. In today's world, leopard print walls speak glamour and luxury. If committing to an entire wall is too much for you, opt for some cushions that are covered in an animal print design.

Work with geometric patterns.

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_darden/">@lizzie_darden</a>

If animal print is not your thing, we understand. It's a bold move, and even though we implore you to bring boldness to this style, we get it –- it's not for everyone. So instead, you can opt for working alongside the familiarity of geometry. Either search for geometric wallpaper online or at your local store or utilize geometric shapes in your furniture choice. You could add a geometric sideboard or a triangular mirror in your hallway. Don't be afraid to work with many different forms; you'd be surprised by what you can create.

Mid-Century Modern 1930s to present

The Mid-Century Modern design style has not left our side in almost a century. This makes it a pretty safe and timeless design choice when it comes to restyling your home, especially if your budget only gives you one shot to do so.

📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/latishalyncarlson/">@latishalyncarlson</a>

It never loses its class. Have you ever watched Mad Men and wished the home was your movie set? We know we have. And in recent years, Palm Springs, California, has become a photographer's dream destination to capture stunning mid-century architecture.

It's classy, chic, elegant, easy to implement, and it's here to stay.

Mid-century Modern It Out!

Bring back the wood.

Wooden mantlepieces, wicker cabinets, bamboo side tables, or rattan bedframes: Whatever stain, whatever color, find some wood, and bring it in! The Mid-Century Modern house used so much wood we wonder whether any trees were left in the forest. You can even <a href="https://www.company.decormatters.com/post/upcycling-give-your-old-furniture-a-new-lease-on-life">upcycle</a> a bargain at secondhand stores and give it a new coat of varnish to liven it up.

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/devon_grace_interiors/">@devon_grace_interiors</a>

Implement earth tones, warm colors, and consistency in your color palette.

This era was all about warmth and class, creating a comfortable and cozy home that served as a place to entertain. This may be due to the height of mid-century modern peaking during World War 2 when most people needed a comfortable place to be amongst the chaos happening overseas.

Here are some color recommendations we’d recommend you choose for your palette if you’re looking for a mid-century modern feel in your home:

📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/staceys_home_touch/">@staceys_home_touch</a>

So the next time you’re looking to shy away from the cookie-cutter design styles in our world today, have a look behind you and don’t be afraid to create a downright carbon copy of homes that existed 100 years before you were born.

They’re still around for a reason, so let’s keep them timeless and incorporate them into our world today!

Check out the <a href="https://www.company.decormatters.com/blog">DecorMatters</a> blog for more design style inspiration--and the <a href="https://decormatters.com/">DecorMatters web app</a> to start your project.&nbsp;

Sometimes, borrowing tastes or ideas from a previous century can serve you very well in styling the present. Whether it be an antique lampshade from the roaring 20s or posting up an animal print wallpaper from the 40s, we can always look back on once common architectural and design styles to gain inspiration for what we want to create today in our homes.

3 Styles From The Last Century You Can Incorporate Into Your Home Today

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are not the first that comes to mind when thinking about good design. Yet they’re such important places that they would deserve a different kind of attention.

How to Bring Biophilic Design into Healthcare Facilities

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It is a good idea to ensure that your home is prepared for the months ahead, even if we are heading into summer. You do not need to be a DIY goddess to prepare your home for winter. All you need are a few easy things to do and cross off your list; ideally, you will make it through the season without severe problems at home.



1. Have a technician inspect your boiler.

If you only accomplish one thing before winter arrives, make it <a href="https://energyperformancecertificates.co.uk/boiler-service" target="_blank">boiler servicing</a>. At any time of the year, the last thing you want is for your boiler system to break down, leaving you without hot water or central heating. However, it would be an even worse nightmare if this happened during the holiday season. So get it serviced as soon as possible by an expert registered with Gas Safe, and if you do not already have it, consider getting a boiler cover if it breaks down unexpectedly.

If you have a chimney, now is the time to get it swept if you have not done so already. Never underestimate the amount of <a href="https://chimneys.com/chimney-fire-can-cause-more-damage-than-expected-to-masonry-chimneys/" target="_blank">damage and destruction caused by a chimney fire</a>. It is just not worth the risk to save a few pounds by attempting to clean the chimney yourself rather than hiring a professional to come in and do it correctly.

This is one of the items on the list that is the easiest to do, but it is also one of the most important things. The gutter drains can get obstructed by debris and leaves, and if water cannot flow out from the home appropriately, it will flow into the house instead. This can lead to various difficulties, including leaks and dampness, which, believe us, is not something you want. Therefore, it is essential to make cleaning the drains and gutters of your home a regular part of your home care routine, especially after storms and before the onset of winter when it is in its full swing.

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that <a href="https://www.moneymagpie.com/save-money/home-insulation-save-money" target="_blank">installing insulation can result in an average annual savings of around £145 on average</a>. Before moving on to the cavity wall insulation, you should begin with the loft insulation. Some programs help subsidize the cost of having insulation placed, as well as make subsidies available to select individuals to assist them with the expense of having insulation put in. It is not something you will look back on with regret; the advantages it provides throughout a lifetime will unquestionably surpass any costs incurred in the near term.

Pipes that burst during the winter are one of the homeowners' most significant challenges. Typically, this occurs when the water in the pipes freezes and expands, resulting in cracks in the pipes and leaks in the water supply. The easiest approach to stop this from happening is to cover them with a layer of foam, which is lagging.


You might save yourself a significant amount of hassle and money over the upcoming winter months and subsequent years if you put these hints and suggestions into effect. What are you holding out for exactly?

This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/designandbeyond/" target="_blank">Paul</a> from <a href="https://designandbeyond.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Design &amp; Beyond</a>.

Paul started Design &amp; Beyond back in 2015 as an online space to share his University portfolio and over the years it changed from a portfolio to a blog and a shop. 

Throughout the years, Paul has gained experience and learned a lot from the design world. He is passionate about all that he does so follow along on his journey to success!

Check out their <a href="https://designandbeyond.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/designandbeyond/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/Designandbeyond/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

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It is a good idea to ensure that your home is prepared for the months ahead, even if we are heading into summer. You do not need to be a DIY goddess to prepare your home for winter. All you need are a few easy things to do and cross off your list; ideally, you will make it through the season without severe problems at home.


It’s Not Too Early To Get Your Home Ready For Winter

With green everywhere and the flowers in full bloom, it makes me pause to appreciate nature and the beauty of what a landscape artist brings! It brought to mind some incredible pictures my talented client from Kansas shared with me when discussing his interior finishes.

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Coming in with their talented designer, John Kidd, Reed and Stacy Dillon gathered around the conference table at Segreto many times before I asked what Reed did for a living. I think what prompted me to ask was Reed showing me the beautiful architectural elements he wanted to place in his gardens and his focused based discussions on how Segreto’s interior finishes would reflect the outside. He felt strongly they should be as one. When I learned he was a prominent Landscape Architect, I asked to see some of his work!!

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Reed and Stacey are both so nice which makes you appreciate his work even more. Reed grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas where his grandfather was a serious gardener. Reed recalls: “Growing up, my grandfather owned an orchard and we’d go pick peaches and apples. One day, I was around ten years old, I remember picking onions all day. Ugh, that was some hard work. But, he was my first inspiration and role model for understanding the appreciating plants.”

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“The landscape belongs to the person who looks at it…”- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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Reed’s grandfather gave Reed a landscape architecture magazine while he was attending the University of Kansas. Farming and gardening was a well know concept, but the idea of landscape architecture???- a light bulb went off for him and he decided he could turn his passion into a career. Reed met his forever sweetheart Stacey while working towards his liberal arts degree, and together they moved to Philadelphia where he he received a master’s in landscape architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

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“The landscape of any farm is the owner’s portrait of himself.” – Aldo Leopold.

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Reed and Stacey lived in Houston for many years and he was a partner at Ruckel-Dillon, a prestigious landscape firm who designed Houston darling, Joni Webb’s of Code de Texas gardens!!

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After 15 years the couple decided to move back to Lawrence, Kansas with their two children to be closer to family. Wanting to depart from their more contemporary home in Houston, Reed and Stacey felt a French farmhouse would marry well with the soft rolling hills and mature trees of the property they purchased.

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“I don’t divide architecture, landscape and gardening; to me they are one.” – Luis Barragan.

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I love all the unique and beautiful elements Reed builds into his designs! If you are shopping at salvage yards and antique shops and you see something that is interesting, you have to be spontaneous and buy it. Even if you don’t know where to place it now, store it away and you’ll find a perfect place one day,” –Reed Dillon

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“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” – Claude Monet. Viewing Reed’s own gardens he must also feel the same way!

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The use of natural trees to build arbors which feel as if they are organically growing from the earth, create a secret garden feel to his landscapes. An element I adore.

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If you look past, you can see a glimpse of a man made- or should I say Reed-made stream which meanders though this property for…………

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To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. –Audrey Hepburn

When I lived in Georgia we had daffodils filling the greenspaces surrounding our home. It brought back so many fond memories of my childhood when I saw Reed’s picture of the gentle hills beyond his back terrace! He planted loads of daffodil bulbs!

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Landscaping is a visceral experience. It should feel good be energizing and calming all at the same time!- Reed Dillon

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I love meeting nice people, great families, talented businesspeople and incredible artists!! Reed you definitely encompass all of the above and I so appreciate you and Stacey both sharing a bit of yourselves with us! I am looking so forward to going to Kansas and helping John Kidd, you and Stacey in creating an interior which is as lovely as your gardens! Reed is Kansas based; however, his <a href="http://reeddillonlandscape.com/" target="_blank">artistry can</a> be seen across the country! Until next time!

This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/segretofinishes/" target="_blank">Leslie Sinclair</a> from <a href="https://segretofinishes.com/blog/" target="_blank">Segreto Finishes</a>.

Leslie left her corporate job in 1995 to start Segreto Finishes, naming the company after her husband’s family. Segreto, which means secret in Italian, rolls up all of Leslie’s passions — architecture, interior design, art, people, and business– into her idea of the perfect job. 

Leslie’s talent for color, bringing innovative products to the marketplace, hiring and training quality staff, and working with people on their individual needs, built Segreto’s reputation.

Check out her <a href="https://segretofinishes.com/blog/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/segretofinishes/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/linds82au/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

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The Art Of The Landscape

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You’re probably reading this because you’ll have a beautiful new addition to your home soon. As a proud new parent, you will undeniably want the best for your baby, including raising them in an inspiring, creative, and safe environment.
You’re here today because you want to turn one of your spare bedrooms into a nursery for your little one. But, you want to make sure that you decorate it the best way possible without making any common mistakes or unknowingly putting your child into harm’s way.
With that in mind, take a look at the following inspirational tips to help your baby love being nurtured and resting in a fantastic nursery.



Color schemes and pattern styles are undoubtedly a personal choice. If you decide to put wallpaper on your nursery walls, buying wallpaper that you can <a href="https://designandbeyond.co.uk/blog/4-reasons-why-your-home-doesnt-quite-feel-clean" target="_blank">clean</a> easily makes sense. Why? The answer is simple: your baby might make them dirty!
You may not know this, but babies can sometimes projectile vomit or wee. Of course, it’s not a regular occurrence, but it does happen. Should that happen in your baby’s nursery, at least you’ll know it’s easy to wipe off the walls.
If older children play in the nursery, there’s a chance they could mark the walls or write on them with pens. Thankfully, that doesn’t have to be a disaster if you’ve got washable wallpaper, as the coating on them protects the underlying wallpaper from any damage.

Designing a new nursery involves choosing the right furniture to go into the room. As you can imagine, you’ll need a few things, like a comfortable nursing chair, a chest of drawers for storing clothes and baby supplies, and a changing station.
If you check out the <a href="https://www.cuckooland.com/furniture/nursery-furniture" target="_blank">nursery furniture at Cuckooland</a>, you’ll come across a few examples of items that make sense to have in your nursery. Bear in mind that you shouldn’t put too many things in your nursery. Otherwise, it can feel crowded.
The nursery should be a space with furniture to keep things organized, yet offer plenty of room for both the baby and their parents to use.

It goes without saying that your baby will want the reassurance of some light in the room when they go to sleep. When they wake up at night, they won’t feel so frightened of being left alone because there is some light to help them see what’s around them.
One of the easiest things to do is buy a nightlight. It can be something as simple as a nightlight <a href="https://www.lightbulbs.com/" target="_blank">bulb</a> you could put into an existing bedside light, or you could buy a specific nightlight designed for nurseries and children’s bedrooms.

The above is by no means an exhaustive list of things you should do to create the perfect nursery. What’s on this page is a selection of top tips to help you get started on your nursery decoration journey

Paul started Design &amp; Beyond back in 2015 as an online space to share his University portfolio and over the years it changed from a portfolio to a blog and a shop. Throughout the years, Paul has gained experience and learned a lot from the design world. He is passionate about all that he does so follow along on his journey to success!

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You’re probably reading this because you’ll have a beautiful new addition to your home soon. As a proud new parent, you will undeniably want the best for your baby, including raising them in an inspiring, creative, and safe environment.

How To Decorate A Nursery The Right Way

I’m in the process of giving an old metal&nbsp;<a href="https://repurposeandupcycle.com/small-target-shelving-unit-makeover/" target="_blank">Target shelving unit a makeover</a>. I’ve spray painted the base and now and now I’m ready to give the plywood a faux wood finish with prominent wood grain.

I’m no stranger to creating faux wood finishes. If you can think of a way to create one, I’ve probably already tried it. Previously I’ve given a smooth&nbsp;<a href="https://repurposeandupcycle.com/painting-laminate-cabinets-and-laminate-furniture-tutorials/" target="_blank">laminate surface</a>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://repurposeandupcycle.com/weathered-wood-finish-smooth-surface/" target="_blank">faux wood (weathered wood) finish with paint and dark wax.</a>

You can also see where I learned to&nbsp;<a href="https://repurposeandupcycle.com/how-to-create-the-weathered-barn-wood-look-with-new-wood/" target="_blank">highlight the wood grain with spackle</a>&nbsp;for a rustic wood finish. Yep, you heard me right- with spackle or otherwise known as joint compound.

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Today I’m sharing how to create a faux wood finish with a graining tool. These tools are awesome and so easy to use IF you know how to use them. Let me show you.

How to use a wood graining tool for a faux wood paint finish

Using a graining tool doesn’t have to be hard. As a matter of fact, a beginner DIYer can do this!

First, you need to decide which medium you want to use.

Disclosure; this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the price you pay. This disclosure statement refers to the rest of the Amazon links and other affiliate links in this post.

You can use a graining tool with virtually any medium, including the stain. Know that stains typically won’t create as prominent of a grain effect unless you are using a stain that sits on the surface like a&nbsp;<a href="https://repurposeandupcycle.com/wood-furniture-makeover-with-unicorn-spit-gel-stain/" target="_blank">gel stain</a>.

There is a product called&nbsp;<a href="https://repurposeandupcycle.com/how-to-use-retique-it-liquid-wood-with-a-folding-table-makeover/" target="_blank">Liquid Wood</a>&nbsp;that infuses small particles of real wood into a paint product. I’ve used this product with a graining tool on an old folding table. I finished it with a stain too. It worked beautifully.

I thought about using the&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/3tZj99h" target="_blank">Retique It Liquid wood product</a>, but I decided to see what I could create with just paint.

Once you’ve decided on your medium, apply one to two layers on the surface.

Immediately after you apply the paint, start at one end of the surface and hold the rubber graining tool at about a 45-degree angle. Pull the graining tool through the paint (or stain) rocking it back and forth slowly until it reaches the edge of the surface.

Always pull the tool in the direction of the wood grain. If the surface you are applying it to doesn’t have a wood grain, decide the best direction for it. For most vertical surfaces, the wood grain should run vertical and vice versa for horizontal surfaces.

Make one smooth pass with the tool and DON’T pull the graining tool up until you’ve reached the edge.

If you mess up or you don’t like the grain, no big deal. Take your paint brush and brush over the surface and start over again.

Note; for a really cool effect, apply dark paint first and then a lighter paint on top. You will need to apply the lighter paint to the base coat while it’s still&nbsp;fairly&nbsp;wet. This is something you need to play around with to get the right timing for applying the second coat. The graining tool will pull the dark color out and it makes a really neat color.

What surfaces can you use a wood grain tool on?

As long as you have a paint or stain medium that will adhere to the surface you are trying to apply the wood grain to, any surface should work! You can apply this faux wood grain finish to virtually any type of material.

Like I said earlier, I applied this faux finish to a plastic folding table and it turned out beautifully.

Note: the thicker the paint or stain medium, the more prominent the wood grain will show.

Let me show you a few close-up views of the faux wood grain after it dried.

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Look how real that wood grain looks! The best part? It actually has texture and feels like wood grain too.

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This is only my second time using the graining tool but I can think of lots of other projects I would like to try it on

This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/repurposeandupcycle/" target="_blank">Lindsey Manning</a> from <a href="https://repurposeandupcycle.com/" target="_blank">Repurpose and Upcycle</a>.

Lindsey is a person with a strong desire to create! Her blog started out from a need for a creative outlet during her time as a stay-at-home mom. 

She believes that a home can be furnished, decorated, and updated on a budget. It just takes time, creativity, and the willingness to try and mess up. 

Check out her <a href="https://thebrownstoneboys.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/repurposeandupcycle/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/linds82au/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

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I’m in the process of giving an old metal Target shelving unit a makeover. I’ve spray painted the base and now and now I’m ready to give the plywood a faux wood finish with prominent wood grain.

How to Use a Graining Tool For Faux Wood Paint Finish

Shout out to all of my non-plant people who still appreciate beautiful, well-manicured landscaping but have zero clue how to achieve it. That’s me to a tee. I love beautiful gardens, greenery, well-planted pots, and more. The problem is that I am a failure when it comes to execution. I pick fully sun plants to place in shades, I pick large plants for smaller planters, I cannot coordinate colors or anything that goes together, and even if I MAGICALLY get it right, I under or overwater everything. Luckily for me, a few weekends ago, my Mom told me what to do when it comes to getting a beautiful planter without a green thumb.&nbsp;

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Buy the Hanging Planter Baskets

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">
So you want the garden oasis, but you don’t know how to get it? I will let you in on my Mom’s trick: buy a hanging planter basket. Is your pot in the shade? Buy a planter basket suited for the shade. Similarly, if it’s in the sun, look for the sunny planter basket. Make sure whatever size planter basket you’re buying will fit into the pot you have in mind to place it. That’s step one. Isn’t that easier than sourcing several different flowers and plants to plant into a pot!? Does this look good? Does that work? Blah, blah, who cares! I have this basket already done, and I KNOW it looks good. Thanks, Mom for the next-level tip.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Plant the Planter Basket

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Here’s the fun part, you now get to plant the planter basket into your pot! If you got a hanging planter basket clip off the hanging wire or plastic. Then get ready to dig out a heck of a lot of soil and find a new home for most of it! These pots come pre-planted! If you’re going this route, dig, dig, dig until your planter pot can sit just below the lip of your pot. Once it’s at the right height, top with some of the soil you removed until the planter basket is covered up. Make sure you water it well. The best part is at the end of the season (or when you’ve killed the plants), pull that basket out and plant something new! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also remove plants from the planter basket and plant them directly into your pot. That’s out of my domain, though.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">However, you choose to do it, happy planting!

And for more home design inspiration, be sure to check out our helpful <a href="https://decormatters.com/">DecorMatters app</a>.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/signedsamanthaxo/" target="_blank">Samantha</a> from <a href="https://signedsamantha.com/" target="_blank">Signed Samantha</a>.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Meet The Author

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Samantha is a working mama who has always looked to find that work/life balance.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">On her website, you’ll find a daily dose of inspiration, coupled with a ton of sarcasm and a few laughs. Signed Samantha is a millennial mom who encompasses all things food, cocktails, entertaining, home decor, easy D.I.Ys, toddler activities, and everything in between.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Check out her <a href="https://signedsamantha.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/signedsamanthaxo/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/signedsamanthaxo/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

Shout out to all of my non-plant people who still appreciate beautiful, well-manicured landscaping but have zero clue how to achieve it.

How To Plant A Beautiful Planter Without A Green Thumb

Revamping, salvaging, reclaiming, or repurposing. Whatever it's called, we love it. But for the sake of today's blog, let's stick with calling it simply upcycling. Take a seat, and let us fill you in on how you can use our furniture layout app to breathe new life into your old furniture. Upcycling is a sustainable and affordable way to take old pieces of furniture and give them a new lease on life. With a bit of imagination and our virtual furniture staging app, you could have your home looking somewhere between the gilded age and mid-century modern in just a few easy steps and a couple of dollar bills – no matter the amount of your creative potential.

Take a seat, and let us fill you in. Upcycling is a sustainable and affordable way to take old pieces of furniture and give them a new lease on life. With a bit of imagination, you could have your home looking somewhere between the gilded age and mid-century modern in just a few easy steps and a couple of dollar bills – no matter the amount of your creative potential. 