Modern Curtains & Blinds

When you are redecorating your home the choice you make when it comes to window coverings can make a huge difference to your overall look and feel.  It is definitely worthwhile looking into the enormous variety of designs and materials there are on the market.  By combining your design ideas with the various materials available to you, you can create a wonderful effect that really compliments the decor of your room.  Whether you are looking for modern blinds or simple modern curtains there is such a wide range of materials available you will be sure to find the perfects ones to incorporate into your home designs.

If you decide you want add some modern blinds to your room decor there are many materials to choose from.  In recent years metal blinds have become increasingly popular.  Metal blinds give a sleek, up to date effect and as metal is so hardwearing it can be cleaned easily.  Different types of metal are available but aluminium is the most sought after when it comes to modern blinds.  Another fashionable material choice for modern blinds is wood.  Wood blinds can give your room a warm and homely feel and is very natural.  If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to wood and metal then you can choose from materials like vinyl or PVC.  These materials are used to create robust and stylish modern blinds and available in a huge variety of colours and designs and are definitely suited to more modern styles of decor.  Modern blinds can be used on their own for a contemporary look that will also make a room appear larger or can be used in conjunction with curtains, valences or drapes.  Combining these features can create a feeling of depth to your window dressing.

If you prefer to use modern curtains for your window covering you will find that nowadays they come in a variety of fabrics from heavy to light and airy.  Regardless of your preferences there are a few factors that you need to consider before you purchase your modern curtains.  Firstly you will need to measure your window.  Record the height and the width and also allow room for shrinkage.

You will then need to choose a style of curtain.  There are different styles to choose from, casual, semi- formal or formal.  There are also variations within these styles like tab tops and eyelets.  These types of curtain are easy to install and are suitable for a more casual room like a kitchen.  For a more formal room like a living or dining area you should choose a more formal curtain, something like a pleated style would fit well within a formal room.  You will then need to choose your fabric.  Modern curtains come in a variety of fabrics both natural and man-made.  It is a good idea to get swatches and check them against your furniture so that you get a good match.

Modern curtains will give you privacy and style as well as bringing some colour and elegance to your room.  With the huge array of fabrics and styles available you will be sure to find the perfect modern blinds or curtains for your home.

Make Your Home A Stunning Haven

The majority of people have to careful how they spend their money in this current economic climate.  One area where it is easy to cut back on expenditure is home furnishings.  You can do this by looking at the cheaper options when it comes to furnishing your home.   A lot of manufacturers of expansive furniture will tell you that buying cheaper flat pack furniture may be false economy, but this is probably because they want you to purchase their expensive stuff.  When buying home furnishings it is important to keep in mind the anticipated level of day to day usage.  This is definitely going to vary depending on whether you have children or pets at home or whether there are just two of you.  An alternative to buying brand new home furnishings you can also visit charity shops and second hand stores where you will be surprised by the range of home furnishing items.

If you do not wish to buy at all then there is nothing wrong with rejuvenating items you already have.  If you already own furniture that suits the style and mood of a room then all you need to do is resurrect it.  Pretty much any piece of furniture can be given a new lease of life and you can do this by painting it, stripping it down or liming.  Painting furniture white can give it an appearance of shabby elegance and this is a look that can work in almost every room of your home.  Mdf and pine furniture can also be given this effect and you will end up with furniture that looks like renaissance decadence but on the cheap! Woods dyes, fabrics, treatments and finishes are all in expensive ways of rejuvenating your furniture but bear in mind that it can take a lot of time and effort to achieve the result you want.

When you buy cheaper furniture from places like IKEA you are not limited to stick with what you have got.  You can add your own design tweaks to tart up your furniture and make it fit in with the theme of your room.  You could use mirrored or ceramic tiles and simply stick them on to your furniture to add a touch of Hollywood glitz and glamour or even a contemporary twist.  When furnishing a small room using mirrored furniture is a good idea s it can make a room appear brighter.  This is especially useful if the room does not get a lot of natural light from windows.

There are so many ways to use home furnishings to your advantage and make your home a stunning haven.  With so many websites and blogs out there dedicated to giving you advice and tips on how to rejuvenate and spruce up your home furnishings, you shouldn’t have too much trouble creating different styles within the rooms in your home without having to break the bank.  Look at your current furniture to see what can be done before you go out and buy new items.

Soft Furnishings Ideas

The decor of every home needs to be reinvented every now and again and with the huge variety of soft furnishings available to you it can be an easy and fun project to undertake.  You should find it an easy task to make your home more stylish and individual.

Each individual household is designed according to the requirements and style of the person living there.  Culture, age group and personal preferences are all factors that contribute to making one home different from another.  Heavy furnishings like furniture and fixtures can be hard to replace generally because of the high costs involved.  Soft furnishings on the other hand are affordable and can allow you to make over your home with every change of the seasons.

The fundamental parts of home decor are things like bed linen, tapestry, cushions, upholstery, table covers, curtains and rugs.  By making the right use of these soft furnishings you can add colour and zest to your home.  His can also be done by choosing the right fabrics, prints and colours.  Think about things like the stitching on pillows and cushions as trends change from time to time.

Traditional and more formal home decor puts a lot of emphasis on the embellishment of soft furnishings.  The use of rich colours mixed with gold give off a more formal and stylish look and a combination of bright colours and rich fabrics like silk and brocade will accentuate your stylish living. If you are interested in more formal decor then things like heavily worked cushions and table tops are perfect for you.

When purchasing a rug you should make sure that it compliments the colour theme you have. Rugs can be oriental or plain and be pure wool or synthetic, there is a huge choice out there.  If you have upholstery or tapestry these are easy to change and by doing this you can create an entirely new effect in your home.  Bare walls can give the impression of an empty room and wall hangings are a good way to prevent this.

Curtains are the most prominent and essential feature of any room.  You can also show off your individuality by choosing the right set of curtains.  Keep in mind the size of your windows as curtains for a large house with big windows can be more elaborate whereas in a small apartment they will detract from your decor.  If you have a sea view through your window then using sheer curtains is a wonderful idea, otherwise beautiful curtains in bright colours are a good alternative if you wish to hide the outside view.  There is such a wide variety of curtains that you will be able to cater to your own personal requirements and different rooms.

Some important tips for purchasing modern curtains

Adding curtains to the windows in your home can add a lot of character and not just to the window, but the entire room. Simply by changing the curtains and the way they are styled you can completely change the look of a room. It is also a lot cheaper to change the curtains then to re-decorate a whole room!

Nowadays modern design uses a lot of neutral whites, beiges and greys and these colours also make great curtains.  Cotton curtains are a classic style and you can maximise their effect by draping the fabric.  Choose curtains that make use of interesting textures and don’t create a stark look.  Fabrics like silk are timeless and provide sheen and luxury to your existing decor.  For the ultimate textured modern curtains use natural materials such as grass cloth or bamboo.

There are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for modern curtains.

Firstly make sure you measure your window with measuring tape.  You will also need to decide whether you want your curtains to fall to the window sill or all the way to the floor.  Make a note of the measurements you have taken and remember to allow for extra length for tabs and pleats and also allow room for shrinkage.  For narrower windows you could go for a single, wide curtain instead of making the window feel cluttered with two curtains.

The style of modern curtain you choose should be a reflection of your current decor.  There is a wide variety to choose from and you can choose casual, semi-formal or formal modern curtains.  The variations within each of these styles are many.  If you are looking for curtains that are easy to install then I would suggest tab tops or eyelet curtains, these also look great in a kitchen.  For a more formal room like a living room or dining room then ideally you need to choose a semi-formal or formal style of curtain.  A pleated curtain would be perfect for this type of room.

Modern curtains come in a variety of fabrics including both natural and man-made.  There is such a wide array and you can choose from organza, silk, cotton, taffeta and voile curtains.  The best idea is to take samples of the different fabrics and check them against the furnishings you already have to make sure they match.  Curtains are multi-functional and as well as bringing style and elegance to room they also give you privacy.  With such a wide variety of fabrics and styles available it is a good idea to explore all your options before you decide to buy a pair of modern curtains.

Furnishing Studio: Help you choose best Soft Furnishing for Your Home

Soft furnishings are the accessories that you choose for the rooms in your house to help co-ordinate the decor.  They can include anything from cushions, pillows and throws.  If you wanted to add soft furnishings to your kitchen for example, you could make hard wooden chairs more comfortable by adding some padded cushions to the seats.  These cushions could be covered in the same material as your kitchen curtains.   You can buy cushions that have tabs or ties which are used to secure them to the chairs.

When it comes to soft furnishings in your living room there are many options.  To add a decorative touch to the room you could throw cushions onto the sofa.  Choose a colour that contrasts the colour of your sofa so they stand out from the sofa itself.  These decorative cushions also look great in the bedroom and can come in various shapes and sizes, such as heart shape, round or in a bolster pillow.  Throws are another type of soft furnishing, you can have them folded over the end of the bed or over a chair or sofa.  They can also double up as a blanket when you want to snuggle up and watch television.  The use of a rug or carpet is also considered a soft furnishing and can completely change the feel of a room and add a feeling of luxury.

There are certain things you need to keep in mind when choosing your soft furnishings.  The most important is co-ordination. Make sure your soft furnishings are co-ordinated with the colour scheme of the room.  Look at different materials to add texture to a room.  Be aware of who is going to be using the room.  For instance if you have small children you may not want to choose light colours or materials and covers that cannot be removed and washed.  Cushion with zippered covers that can be removed and are machine washable would be ideal in this situation.

Soft furnishings are not expensive and you can change the whole look and feel of a room with a few well placed soft furnishings.   The use of soft furnishings can add character and mood to a room but be careful that they don’t become the focal point of the room.  If you want some help furnishing your office or home there is a company called Furnishings Studio who are more than qualified to help.  They can help you decorate to your taste but also offer their technical expertise and flair.