Month: October 2020

When it comes to the search for proper home insurance, few things can be as stressful. Just like with other forms of insurance most of us have the same end-goal: to find the best amount of coverage with the most reputable agency for the most affordable price.

Having the capability to pick the correct home insurance for your house is crucial, however in order to do this one has to maintain a certain degree of competency. Unfortunately, we never grew up with courses teaching us how to get the best home insurance or any sort of additional educational opportunities on the subject.

As a result, we go to financial specialists and we try to get their opinions and assistance on matters as such. Regardless of which route you take it is unbelievably important to have a fundamental understanding of the process and terminology before getting into the nitty gritty details. As a consumer, the last thing anyone wants to be is in over their heads. It is only through competency and knowledge that we can effectively generate the best outcome or ourselves.

Taking questions into consideration surrounding the coverage you would like for your belongings is also crucial. Most home insurance policies include some kind of coverage for your possessions but they tend to be overly generic. Additional benefits such as flood insurance sometimes should be purchased separately depending on the geographic location of your home. For those living in areas which have a frequency towards flooding, it may often times be better to obtain separate flood insurance.

It is also important to keep in mind the various discounts available. By modifying your house with certain security features, you’ll be far more inclined to be eligible for an affordable home insurance policy quote. Shopping for both bundled car and home-owner plans is also a great idea.

So, in order to assist you just a bit more in the process, we are here to bring you the seven best rated home insurance companies. They are organized in terms of rating by AM Best, which offers financial strength ratings (FSRs) on insurers based on a number of criteria such as the company’s ability to meet their policies and contractual obligations. Companies are rated on a scale of A++ to D and are listed below for your convenience.

GEICO

GEICO is perhaps one of the more popular names on the list. The company received an A.M. Best financial strength rating A++, which means that they have an excellent ability to meet their obligations. They were also noted for having the best financial outlook when compared to the other insurance companies. While there was no JD Power Score and no Consumer Reports Reader Score, only three out of the ten companies chosen received an A++ rating, so we had to list them as one of the top ones.

STATE FARM

State Farm remains one of the most popular companies on the list as well due to their frequent advertising. I mean who could forget the infamous late night calls to “Jake from State Farm”.

The company won out for “Most Popular” on the list and rank in well for their online quote tool and 24/7 claims service. They also received an A.M. Best financial strength rating A++ , as well as a JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score of 3 out of 5. They also have a Consumer Reports Reader Score of 82 out of 100.

TRAVELERS

Travelers is not necessarily as much of a mainstream name, however that doesn’t stop them from being the second largest writer of commercial real estate casualty insurance in the United States. Additionally, they are the third largest writer of personal insurance.

They’re point of singularity? They were marked “Best for green homes”. They too offer an online quote tool and 24/7 claims service. Their A.M. Best financial strength rating came in also at a stellar A++, with a JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score of 3 out of 5. They also have a Consumer Reports Reader Score of 82 out of 100.

AMICA

Amica is definitely by far one of the less well-known companies on the list. However, they’re a consumer favorite and were marked as having the easiest claims processing. They also offer an online quote tool and 24/7 claims service – something which has become the standard in today’s market.

They have an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A+, so they’re still pretty much ivy league for all intents and purposes. Their JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score was a whopping 5 out of 5 as well – the highest on the list. With a Consumer Reports Reader Score of 94 out of 100, we’re wondering what exactly we’ve all been missing with this low-key allstar.

ALLSTATE

AllState is pretty awesome not just because they rank well by A.M. best, but who on earth could forget their line of spokesmen. I mean Dennis Haysbert and those wonderfully caring and compassionate family-oriented speeches he used to give! We just love him and there’s no way you didn’t almost fall out of your chair laughing during those Dean Winters “Mayhem” commercials.

AllState was marked as being best for first-time homebuyers and received an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A+. Their JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score was 3 out of 5 and their Consumer Reports Reader Score came in at 80 out of 100. They also conveniently offer an online quote tool and 24/7 claims service.

PROGRESSIVE

One word: Flo!!!!! Okay – we absolutely love her. I mean, how could you not.

We were happy to find that Progressive came in ranking pretty nicely in the face of its competitors with an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A+ . Their JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score was 3 out of 5 and they also had a Consumer Reports Reader Score of 80 out of 100 in addition to an online quote tool and 24/7 claims service.

METLIFE

MetLife is pretty well-known across the board for other types of insurance but their home insurance is well-above standard. They were voted best for replacement coverage and received an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A+. They additionally have a JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score of 3 out of 5 and a Consumer Reports Reader Score of 89 out of 100. However, we were kind of sad to find they didn’t offer an online quote tool but they still have 24/7 claims service.

LIBERTY MUTUAL

Liberty Mutual is a pretty mainstream insurance company and was voted best for emergency response. Their A.M. Best financial strength rating was A – so, pretty darn good – and they had a JD Power Overal Satisfaction Score of 3 out of 5. They also have a Consumer Reports Reader Score of 83 out of 100 and like many of the others offer both an online quote tool and 24/7 claims service.

FARMERS

Farmers is another insurance company that’s slightly less well-known, however actor JK Simmons has worked to make them significantly more memorable. After all, who doesn’t want a ruthless neo-Nazi promoting their family-oriented brand (we kid – that was just his character on the prison-drama television show Oz – he’s actually super darn awesome).

Farmers was ranked best for condo owners and received an A.M. Best financial strength rating A and a JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score of 3 out of 5. Their Consumer Reports Reader Score information was unavailable however we did see that they offered an pnline quote tool and 24/7 claims service.

SAFECO

Safeco – with a name like that how could you go wrong? Unfortunately they are probably one of the least well-known companies on the list, but that doesn’t stop them from holding naming rights to the Seattle Mariners baseball stadium.

They were voted best for unique bundled deductible and received an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A. They additionally received a JD Power Overall Satisfaction Score of 3 out of 5, but their Consumer Reports Reader Score information was unavailable. Regardless, just as the rest they offer an online quote tool and 24/7 claims service.

Overall, opportunities to get the affordable home insurance are all around you. So take advantage of the internet. Don’t be afraid to shop around and get several quotes. Yes, it takes time. Yes, it takes a lot of time. However, doing your research properly and shopping around so that you are able to familiarize yourself with the process, terminology and standards is crucial. Do your research and make the best decision for yourself and your family.

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

There’s something simple and welcoming about a country house on the side of the road with a pleasant flower garden blooming beside of it. It feels inviting and calming, like a deep mountain breath to soothe and relax from the inside out. Granted, other home styles can come with their own perks—like the awe that a Victorian house can cause or the sophistication that a modern approach could embody. But the benefits of those other styles won’t take away from the homecoming sensation that can be sparked from a country home.

In order to construct one of those homes for yourself, the question of what makes a home reflect that style should be addressed—unless, of course, you want to create a mismatch of elements that don’t quite do any one type of architectural concept justice. If that’s your goal, feel free to think well outside of the home-style box, but if your desired home is one of those simple, welcoming country houses, you might want to keep these basic traits of the style in mind while constructing your plans.

1. Make sure you have plenty of yard. Before you get to the house, your yard can increase the country feel of your home, and not only because you’ll need to have enough room to fit the house on your land. Even if you decide on a small house, a large yard can still be a relevant detail to the country theme. Unlike the nearly side-to-side approach of homes that you could see in cities, country homes are often surrounded by open spaces of grass and plant life where children can run and play, barbecues and picnics can happen, and a garden or two can be constructed. A country motif can be linked with the outdoors and enjoying life, so be sure you have the yard space to allow for that kind of delightful chaos!

2. Have a big front porch. This is another step to build your country theme beyond the interior of the home since a large porch is a perfect place to sit and chat, watching children play in the yard and enjoying a cool breeze. Given that sitting-and-chatting aspect, make sure your front porch is sizeable enough to fit a decent amount of porch furniture—and maybe a porch swing. If you can work in a porch that wraps around a corner of the house, even better! That wrap-around quality provides space for your outdoor activities, and it adds an embracing look that mirrors the inviting aspect of a country home, like visitors are being shown the open arms that will welcome them inside.

3. Build a kitchen befitting the style. Country homes can inspire thoughts of apple pies baking and homemade meals being whipped up in a welcoming kitchen. If you want to showcase that element of the country approach, be sure your kitchen is consistent with those ideas. If it’s understood that plenty of cooking will happen there, make room for every ingredient you’ll need by having a large refrigerator and lots of cabinets—maybe even a pantry that’s near the kitchen. Cooking tools and space will also be required for consistent cooking, so there should be plenty of counterspace (preferably an island as well) to put those meals together and enough storage room for a considerable collection of cooking utensils. Also, keep in mind that you might have some help putting those meals together by family and friends, so assuring that there’s enough room for a small crowd to busily travel through is a solid strategy as well.

4. Add a fireplace in the living room. While you might automatically think about big, spacious rooms in connection to country homes, the truth is that smaller homes can be as country-centered as the larger ones. Sometimes, the elements that make the home country-esque are the smaller details within each room. For the living room, a primary aspect that you might want to consider is a firing place that your family can gather around on a cold day—one that Santa Claus can use to deliver toys on Christmas Eve. Both of these elements are family-linked, which is one of the cornerstones of a simple, country life: family. That idea has already been established in the earlier features of a country home—spending time with them outside and cooking with (and for) them in the kitchen. The warmness that comes with building memories with those at the core of your heart is priceless, and giving yourself the opportunities for those moments are fundamental details for your country house. Whether your living room is large, small, or mid-sized, make sure you have that fireplace for memory-building.

5. Use hardwood for your floors. Even though there are plenty of alternatives for covering your floors, the truth is that few to no possibilities bring the country feel to the equation quite like hardwood. The reason for that can be its commonality—remember that country homes can be simple instead of overdone—but also because of its natural look. The notion of country living includes ideas like mountains, streams, and towering trees, so adding something that embraces a natural concept like wood into your house makes sense. It’s like you’re walking across nature as you wander through the house, and what could be more country than that? It’s also a very basic look that allows for easy coordination with your interior décor, and that concept feels country as well. There’s no need to renovate to change your décor theme. Your floor is ready for anything with little fuss!

6. Plan lots of windows. More than once, the outside world has been discussed in this series of tips, and it’s coming into play yet again. Since the country theme can be connected with the outdoors, letting a bit of that outdoor charm shine into your home in various spots is a good way to accomplish your task. A large picture window in your living room specifically embraces a country notion, and it’s a great spot to put a Christmas tree for the outside world to view. If handled correctly, you can’t necessarily go wrong with a big picture window! It’s also worth noting that windows come with basic geometric patterns, and that simplicity of structure once more brings a down-to-earth, back-to-basics feel into your home plans. Keep that geometric quality in mind as you plan the exterior look of your home and the thresholds going from room to room. Rounded arches and towering pinnacles are for other styles. Keep this country home’s form basic!

7. Have two levels, but keep that staircase simple. This is negotiable if you don’t have the funds or the need for a second story, but if it’s a sensible option, run with it! Remember, though, that simple can be the best approach when designing a country house, so try not to be too elaborate with the look of your staircase. A fancy Victorian one or a circular one that winds round and round would look out of place in the home that’s being discussed, so try to come up with something less complicated. Using a wooden texture that’s complemented by a neutral tone like white is a good blend for the coloring, but even the structure of the staircase can be fitted to embrace the right level of simplicity. Sure, that staircase can have a bend or two, but keep them basic by sticking with the typical right-angle system—no rounded turns!

8. Use earthy tones. Now that you have so much of your home’s physical structure planned out, it might be time to start thinking about décor. Remember what was already mentioned about color neutrality and easy redecorating, and be sure to keep the bigger things—like trim and door style—basic enough to allow just about anything to match. Even in regard to the most intricate aspects of décor, earthy tones can fit the style better than brighter ones because they embrace things that reflect the earth and outdoors, which we’ve established as a significant detail in country lives and home styles. Showcase that appreciation of the outdoor life in every room of your home by choosing the same colors as nature itself.

If you apply all of these details to your house plans, you could end up with a home that’s beautiful, welcoming, and so very country!

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

When it comes to summer, there are a lot of things to do but what many people don’t take advantage of is the summer pavilion in their local park. Somehow pavilions are designed for people to use and have a good time, and there are a lot more uses for them than most people think. We have put together a list of some of the coolest things that you can do this summer underneath your local summer pavilion. This will give you some suggestions but feel free to come up with your own because there is no reason to leave that pavilion empty when you can put it to good use.

Have a Barbecue Block Party

One of the things that you can do is have a barbecue Block party. You’ve probably heard of a block party and may even have organized one before. A block party is when you get everyone in your neighborhood the lives on the same block as you are across the street, to come to your place for a barbecue. This is a great way for neighbors to get to know each other but the problem is that you can usually only invite 10 or 12 couples at the very most because of space requirements.

But if you were to move your neighborhood block party to the summer pavilion you can fit a huge number of people. You could invite everyone for several blocks around and have them come out for a barbecue. Of course, with this many people it is going to be expensive to feed,but you can make it a potluck or ask a few of your neighbors that you know to help you with the food preparation. This way, you are able to get to know a lot more people in your neighborhood and the odds are better that you’ll be able to make some great friends among people who live around you.

Have a Family Reunion

The next idea is to hold a family reunion at your local pavilion. Of course, this is actually quite common but most people don’t hold family reunions nearly enough. The picnic area and pavilion at your local park is probably large enough to accommodate pretty much every one in your family. Think of how amazing it will be to see all of your relatives again and get everyone to come to an annual barbecue. This is quite easy to do because transportation is faster and cheaper than ever and many families are holding reunions more often.

Of course, you will want to have food at your family reunion but something else that you might want to consider is actually doing your holiday get-togethers at your family reunion. For example,you can wait and do Christmas or some birthdays during a family reunion at the pavilion. This allows the entire family to be present for these events, even though they wouldn’t be able to normally do it. This doesn’t have to be something you do every year, but relatives will appreciate being able to spend a Christmas or birthday – or any other holiday – with you and your children at a summer pavilion.

Hold Your Business Meetings There

Something else to you might want to do to make good use of summer for aliens is the whole business meetings there. Just because you normally meet in a conference room in a stuffy office doesn’t mean that you always have to meet like that. Of course, if you are just an employee,it will be tough to convince your boss to meet somewhere else and if you are the one in charge then consider taking your people out to have a meeting once in a while underneath the summer pavilion. This is a great way to break up the monotony and allow everyone to get some sunshine.

One of the best ways that this can be done is by having award ceremonies or retirement parties at the summer pavilions.Think of an occasion that you would usually have inside the office, but that would be more suited towards a pavilion and then begin holding that event there. You can provide food to go along with whatever honors and awards you are giving out and you will definitely be boosting morale whenever you take your staff to the pavilion for a meeting.

Conduct Poetry or Story Readings

Finally, one of the things that you can do is conduct poetry or story readings at your summer pavilion. Any times, these are done in book shops or in coffee houses throughout the city, but a summer pavilion can be the perfect location for a poetry reading. All you need to do is set up a podium with a microphone and then allow the people that have something to read to get up there and show off their artistic talent.

No matter what the event, consider trying to move into a summer program. Instead of having your book club meeting inside your living room, once in a while have a picnic at the park. Speeches, awards ceremonies, parties of any kind and all kinds of events can be held in the summer pavilion. People don’t take advantage of this resource in their local hometown nearly as often as they should. It is tax money the builds these pavilions and taxpayers should definitely use them as often as they can because it is wonderful to be out in the sunshine at the park.

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

Sometimes, the simples of accents can create the exact thing you’re going for in any room, like the right lamp or the perfect painting hanging above your couch. While these details might seem trivial, they should merit their own levels of consideration if you want to make your rooms embody specific atmospheres.

One of those smaller factors rests in using a simple throw quilt in your living room, one that you can leave draped over your couch until a bit of a chill comes to the air. Then you can toss the quilt across your lap while you watch a favorite movie with family and friends, settled in for a quiet night in good company. 

Believe it or not, there are plenty of quilt styles to choose from, and each can have a different effect on the setting they’re a part of. For that reason, know your styles and possibilities before deciding on a quilt for your living room so that you add the perfect one to your home’s décor.

To start, here are six quilt types to consider!

Scrap Quilts

Scrap quilts are great options if you’re planning on making your own quilt since the idea behind them is to use what’s handy for fabric. If you go through your closet and find that you have a bag full of clothes that you’re finished with, you officially have a bag full of clothes that you can use for fabric in your scrap quilt. You can even use fabric that’s not in good enough shape to give away or sell by cutting around rips and stains, and only keeping the bits of material that look nice enough for use. 

These quilts are great options, then, if you’re sewing your own, but they can also be the right choice if you’re planning on buying one from a retailer. The reason is because they have such a rustic feel about them since they’re connected with reused materials. It feels like there’s history behind a scrap quilt, and that creates a method of making any visitor feel like they’re already at home and belong, like you’ve extended a piece of your home’s history out to them for their comfort.Art Quilts

If you want an accent that says something more elaborate than comfort and history, you might think of choosing an art quilt. Now, this is admittedly a vague term since “art” can be relative. What’s art to one person might be trash to another. Essentially, though, what it means for this post is that the quilt has something designed on it, like applique work or hand-drawn items, in addition to fabric pieces.

There’s really no end to the possibilities for this type of quilt—which means that it can be a reasonable choice no matter what theme you’re going for. If you want a sunny living room, choose a quilt with a sunny scene. If you want fantasy elements in the area, you could pick a quilt with scenes of pixies or dragons. Overall, if you can think it, it can be on an art quilt—you just have to find the right quilt or make it.

As a side benefit, these quilts can come with a great amount of sentimentality should the person who made the quilt be someone who’s close to you. That quilt Grandma decorated by hand? You can use it for a sentimental, artful accent!

Patchwork Quilts

Going back to the notion of making these items yourself, there are few quilt styles that are as easy to handle as your basic patchwork quilt if all of your blocks are individual pieces of fabric. With the right measurements and careful sewing, you could finish a patchwork quilt in a relatively short time because so little needs to be done to each one-fabric block. If you’re making one by hand or machine, this is definitely a good option to consider.

Manufactured patchwork quilts can also provide beautiful accessories, though, and the only thing to keep in mind regarding limitations for them is to remember that you don’t need something as hefty as a comforter for living room use. This is mentioned only because patchwork designs so often make their way into bedding supplies, and it would be fairly easy to choose something too thick to be sensible for a living room accent. 

Other than keeping this idea of thin padding within the quilt in mind, you’re free to explore whatever theme or color scheme you think is fitting, all with a simple and straightforward patchwork pattern. That ease of arrangement could spill over into the atmosphere so that the relaxed technique helps to build a relaxed environment for a simple—but lovely—night in.

Memory Quilts

Earlier, the idea of sentimentality was referenced for art quilts, but there’s no quilt built for sentimentality like a memory quilt. These can be simple patchwork-like projects constructed from materials that mean something to you. As your children grow, as an example, you can use their outgrown clothing to construct one of these quilts, or you can wrap up your college experience by making a quilt from all of the band t-shirts you gained through your time spent at concerts.

If you’re not quilt-savvy, you can have these custom-made, or you can find something online that showcases a memory-quilt quality with fabrics that don’t have the same sentimental value of ones that have been a part of your life. Still, they can bring the appearance of emotion and value into your living room décor to help build an environment that tells your guests that even the small moments you share with them can matter. For that touch of importance for life’s passing moments, go with a memory quilt!

Primitive Quilts

If you’re going for a rustic or Southern detail in your living room, you can’t necessarily go wrong with a primitive quilt that uses farm-friendly colors and simplistic shapes to bring a down-home and down-to-earth quality. The easy designs and colors are so uncomplicated, and that’s the perfect representation to toss across your couch when you want your home’s guests to feel relaxed and welcome.

These are such popular quilts that you probably won’t have trouble finding the perfect one to match your room’s décor, and whatever choice you make under this “primitive” category will provide a soothing element to add a settled character to your living area.

Holiday Quilts

When the holidays roll around, decking your halls can be a big deal. As it turns out, though, decking your living room can be an even bigger deal, so it makes sense that the biggest piece of furniture in your living room gets the decorative treatment!

Whatever holiday you’re meaning to highlight in your room—Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day…—the right throw quilt can let your guests know as soon as they spot it what day of the year has your attention. 

Better still, with so many holidays on the calendar, you could pick a holiday per season or month and have designed quilts for each. In January, break out the Valentine’s quilt. After Valentine’s Day, move on to Easter, and so on. You could have a year-round holiday celebration for guests to dive into just by sitting on the couch and watching television with you!

Overall

Whatever theme you’re going for in your living room, choosing the right quilt to use as a throw can accentuate that notion and help to establish the atmosphere you’re going for. While it’s a small decision as compared to paint choices and furniture options, don’t underestimate the success of a rightfully selected quilt!

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

Fireplaces can be charming and lovely without any additional factors, but if you pair them with a great accent above them, the scene escalates in beauty. The key, though, is finding that perfect piece of artwork or décor that completes the vision and heightens the visual. The possibilities can range from intensely personal to casually recreational, but regardless, the right decision for this bit of home décor can bring your room together in just the right way.

If you’re looking for tips on what to use to accessorize that space above your fireplace, have a look at six possibilities to add character to your home!

Family Portraits

One thing that you might feel is fitting to showcase near your fireplace is your family, and the most basic way to accomplish this is to hang a portrait or photograph that represents them. Whether it’s an image of all of your family together or a more artistic piece that has a different focal point—like joined hands—you can give your home’s guests a peek into one of the most important facets in your life. Given that the space is so significant within a room, those guests probably won’t have to ask who’s in the picture since few others would likely be displayed over your fireplace. If you want simple but meaningful then, go for something that highlights your family for this decorative space.

Children’s Art

Going along with this basic line of thought, you can highlight your love of those closest to you in a way that’s more creative than hanging a photograph of your family. Specifically, you can display works of art from the kids in your life by hanging them in this focal-point position, or even encouraging those kids to make designs for the area. A bit of paint, for instance, can lead to a series of tiny handprints, ones that can either be placed on a movable surface or right on the wall/fireplace itself. Your children could have a blast tending to this task, and few options could match the heartwarming quality that handprints of your babies, nieces, nephews, etc. would provide.

Holiday and Seasonal Décor

Another idea to use over your fireplace is to consistently keep up with holidays and seasons in displays there. From New Year’s all the way to Christmas, you can interchange your décor from month to month for the sake of the season to always stay current with your home’s accents. Right now, you could gear up for fall by using a series of colorful leaves and pumpkins, and by December, you can exchange those out for wreaths and lights to represent Christmas. This is a simple notion, but it’s a great way to stay up-to-date with your décor in a way that your guests can appreciate.

Classic Art

One of the best ideas for decorating above your fireplace is to choose a work of renowned art, maybe one that has meaning to you. There are many artistic eras, successful artists, and artistic subjects available, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble picking one that’s a great representation of you as a person, or your room’s theme. If you have a floral theme, for instance, a Monet painting would be a great addition, or a love of learning that shows itself through numerous bookshelves can be supported with a copy of School of Athens hanging there. Wildlife, children playing, or even stills of fruit can deliver the right image for your room, and an artistic selection like this is a great conversation starter should someone ask about the work’s details. Just make sure you know enough particulars about the piece to hold up your end of the conversation!

Hobbies

Most likely, you have a hobby, and a great way to express that interest to your home’s guests is to give it a display above your fireplace. Examples of this extend to dramatic possibilities—like hanging up a guitar—but they can be scaled back to something much smaller as well, like a comic book collection. If you have a collection of comics that you’re proud of, you can assemble them in a rectangular fashion to display on your wall, providing that you have a frame to safely contain them for preservation. Other options include license plates exhibited there, face masks you’ve painted yourself, or dreamcatchers you’ve collected over the years. Whatever your primary hobby is, find a way to reveal it above your fireplace, and you’ll have a personal over-the-fireplace accent.

Chalkboard

This option might seem bizarre, but don’t write it off! Not only can you use a chalkboard to keep track of your goings on, you can also add in notes and quotes that you find inspiring for any given time. Let’s say you have a job interview on the 22 ^nd , and you need to run errands before you get there. On your chalkboard, you can remind yourself of the appointment and all the errands you need to run, then add in a quote about tackling obstacles to give you a motivating boost. Whether your fireplace is in your bedroom or living room with this strategy, you have a well-placed reminder of your itinerary and a drop of encouragement to help you manage the chaos, and the next day, you can erase those ideas and start new. It’s organized, inspirational, and capable of changing on a whim.

Mirror

Even if there’s no practical use for a mirror above your fireplace—it’s doubtful that someone will fix their hair every morning while standing in the living room—the right mirror can still add a look of elegance to a room, with different flairs. In fact, a basic geometric mirror can bring a series of atmospheres to that focal point of the room just by choosing the right color. A white rectangular mirror can look classic, whereas a lime green looks trendy and energetic—and we haven’t even moved away from those basic geometric shapes! For something with more character, you might think of finding one with Greek textures or an antique finish to make your room look cultured and sophisticated, or polished and glass-like for a chic appearance. You might add similarly-fashioned candles to the scene to bring the look to a fuller level. Believe it or not, something as simple as a mirror can do wonders to create the right vibes in your living areas, particularly when paired with the right accessories!

Books

Just imagine sitting in a chair in your living room with a cup of hot coffee beside you and a blanket draped over you as you settle in to read the latest book by your favorite author. If you’re a reader, it’s a wonderful visual (not to mention something to add to your to-do list!), so it makes sense to add an accent that not only addresses your love of books, but makes this visual more easily become a reality. Certainly, you won’t be able to have hundreds of books above your fireplace (unless you’re like cartoon-Belle and cartoon-Beast gives you a crazy-awesome library), but you can interchange the books as times goes by to always make sure that you have your most urgent reading material within reach. If you’re on a Harry Potter kick, for instance, have the whole series displaced on a shelf. This adds a conversation element to the books because people can know, just by glancing, what your reading focus is to strike up a discussion, and it can make so once you’re finished with The Sorcerer’s Stone , you can snatch The Chamber of Secrets from the waiting set. You can also employ this same method to showcase movies or music to strike up similar conversations and access those items just as easily.

Plants

And, when in doubt, showcase some plants on your fireplace mantle. This can be done by choosing a lovely display of artificial flowers, selecting artwork with floral designs, or even displaying plants that you’re growing yourself. Remember as well that these plants don’t have to be as obvious as flowers either! You can use a cactus for a great conversation-starter, and to add a bit of stand-out character to the scene.

No Matter Your Choice…

The idea is to find something that’s worthy of being the focal point above your fireplace to create an overall vision that’s stunning, and the right decision can lead to a great conversation piece or representation of your likes. Take your time to find just the right piece, then sit back and enjoy the visual!

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

Interests and hobbies can take many forms, but a love of reading is something that can develop into almost a lifestyle. If you find that you’ve been bitten by the reading bug to become your own bookworm, details in your life can change to make room for that aspect of your interests. Having extra money can mean a visit to a bookstore or a new book delivered to your Kindle. Spare time might lead to sitting at home with a book you’ve been waiting to read and a cup a coffee. Bookshelves could become a part of your basic furniture options, and whenever you’re in a situation where you’ll be waiting a while, it wouldn’t be too surprising to note that you brought that Kindle or a book to pass your time.

It’s a hobby that can make spotting a fellow fan easy, should you see someone at the doctor’s office with a book, but there are other ways to showcase your love of literature. Your home décor, specifically, can be tailored to display your appreciation of reading to anyone who comes into your living quarters. Since we’re dealing with a hobby that can prove encompassing, letting it have that influence in your home décor feels fitting, like it’s a strong representation of your interests.

If you find yourself thinking this décor option sounds like a good idea, stick around while we explore how your love your literature can accurately be showcased throughout your home!

The most obvious step in this process is to make sure you have a sufficient number of bookshelves in your house. Not all of us have a library that’s dedicated to literature, so we have to be more creative as to where those shelves turn up. The truth, though, is that they can be sensibly placed in just about any room in your home—your bedroom, your living room, your hallway, etc. In fact, I can think of no better way to show that you love your books than to have books in all of these areas, even if the shelving has to be different between rooms.

For your kitchen, for instance, having a small wall shelf would probably be a better decision than using a five-shelf bookcase to display your cookbooks, while your hallway might do better with built-in shelves, should they be an option. That way, you’re allowing room to showcase your books, but you’re not monopolizing too much of the hallway’s space to allow for the method of display. Shelves in other rooms—like your living room and bedroom—can be larger, and which style and size you choose is open to your own preference in regard to what seems right to you. If a small brass shelf looks best, go with that possibility. If a wooden wall shelf works well, choose that one. The important thing is to have books everywhere for others to see—and to be able to reach them whenever the desire to read comes your way.

One other possibility for showcasing actual books in the kitchen is to position some in your china cabinet. Whether you’re treating the cabinet itself as a bookcase or only adding a couple of stacks in thought-out places, the decision is another method of keeping your books near and on display for that I-love-literature theme. Specifically, you might think of buying some antique copies of your favorite stories since those hint that you had to do more to assemble your book collection than simply go to your local Barnes & Noble. Evidence that you went that extra distance to acquire your books shows a commitment to your hobby that’s hard to beat!

Another strategy for your china cabinet is to use trinkets and figurines that resemble characters and settings from your favorite books—like a Rivendell setup on one shelf and a Neverland one on the next. These design decisions can represent not only your general love of reading, but also the specific stories you love. Just think on what details stick out to you from your favorite books, and collect for the china cabinet things that represent those aspects of the tales, such as pirates and mermaids for Neverland.

Beyond ways to showcase your actual books and those figurines, your love of literature could be plain through other décor options. For your walls, think about prints of your favorite book covers, or framed posters that depict scenes of your preferred books. Specifically, take a look at Litographs.com for possibilities since the website has merchandise, like posters, that put the text of the book right over a representation of a scene, which sounds like a book lover’s dream. The stories used for these products are various, including The Great Gatsby, The Princess Bride, and Frankenstein , among over one hundred others, so odds are that you can find a book that you like on the website. Just hang a few of these framed posters around your home to display your love of certain books that have a place in your bookworm heart!

In addition to these bigger details, you can look to little things to highlight your love of literature throughout your home. In your living room and bedroom, as examples, keep wooden boxes that are shaped like books to hold things like pens, remote controls, or spare change. You might even think about keeping one of these boxes right by your front door to store things like your mail or keys in so that there’s a touch of your book fascination from a guest’s early steps into the home. Throws can be tossed over your couch that are book-inspired, and curtains that look like books or bookshelves can be bought to go over your windows. That curtain notion could also find a place in your home in the form of a shower curtain for your bathroom, providing evidence that there’s room for your book love in numerous ways for décor.

If you have a staircase, then you have yet another means of expressing your literature appreciation since you can buy decals to place on each one that offer book quotes. Again, this is a little touch, but if you choose to partake in the prospect, you could allow any visitor of your home to have a look into a different book with each step they notice or walk over, meaning that your staircase can be its own library of sorts. Every step is a new book to experience, and they’re on display through your choice of home décor!

And for the guests who decide to stay and have a cup of coffee, only serve drinks in literature-based coffee mugs and on book-inspired coasters. These features could represent one specific book or a more general appreciation of books overall, but the idea is that because of their decision to sit and have a drink with you, guests are presented with your love of literature through every single sip they take. Once more, this setup is hard to beat because it’s a continued reminder of that theme and book adoration through visits.

Should some of those guests be children, like a niece or nephew, having a reading space for them to embrace the world of literature would also be a nice gesture. Not only does this show that you have enough of an interest in reading to mold an area of your home to reflect the concept, but it also reveals that you want to encourage a love of written stories to a younger generation. This is good for that younger generation because they have age-appropriate books at their fingertips in a design that’s tailored for them, and it’s wonderful to bring your love of literature into focus. If you didn’t love books, after all, why would you strive to pass on that love to anyone else?

With these guidelines in mind, from the wooden book box to hold your keys to the book curtains in your bedroom, you could express your interest in reading throughout your home. If your love of literature runs deep, that kind of expression is a great representation of you—so don’t overlook it as a theme!

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

Wall art is absolutely essential when it comes to creating the type of personalized ambiance you desire for your interior space. When done properly, wall art gives character, establishes mood, expresses originality and gushes sophistication and charm – so don’t mess it up!

Defining a beautiful and appealing interior is a lot of hard work! It takes money, planning, preparation and most of all – patience. So to help you on your journey to become fabulous, here are five common rookie wall art mistakes that can absolutely ruin a space – come on – you’re better than this.

You just “eyeball it”

I know what you’re thinking, “Hey, I have a pretty good eye – I’m just going to put this little nail right here—“. STOP.

The key to creating a well put together atmosphere is in the details. Just because it  looks effortlessly executed does not mean that it was in fact – effortlessly executed. So I’m going to give you a little secret that is pretty much common knowledge to art world professionals but tends to be massively elusive to the every day art lover. Behold — the golden rule:

57” on center

That’s right. Your art should ideally measure 57” in height from the center of the piece to the floor. This is the gallery standard for hanging wall art in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and naturally comfortable for the viewer.

Hanging art too high causes strain and hanging too low feels awkward. It is important to envision your wall art as a world of sorts – you want the viewer to feel enveloped in it and surrounded. For paintings of a larger scale – let’s say, 40”+, it is not uncommon for professionals to hang them a smidge higher (think 59”-60”), however 57” is the standard tried and true.

You’re not looking at the big picture

When hanging several pieces in one space, it is imperative to envision them as a uniform whole. The number method to ensuring your work is going to look absolutely fabulous together on the wall? Floor arrangement. Arrange pieces in an aesthetically pleasing way via the floor before you start drilling holes. This saves endless time and energy.

Too much space in between wall art, too little space in between frames, varying heights with no uniform center point – these are things which can throw an entire room off. Whether your piece is 48”x48” or 8”x10”, make sure your center points are consistent. This also will help to take away some of the legwork with regards to their arrangement in relation to one another.

Keep about 2”-3” of space in between each one and try to keep the color palette uniform with any potential outliers in terms of color/tonality focused towards the center. As a general rule of thumb, “heavier” paintings tend to go either towards the center or on the left in relation to others. This rule of thumb can also apply to images of a “heavier” tone.

It is also imperative to take into consideration the layout of the space prior to hanging. If a particular side of the interior feels less open due to furniture and other home accents, place art pieces on an emptier side in order to create equilibrium.

If hanging over a sofa, the common mistake is to hang pieces too high. There shouldn’t be any more than 6”-8” of space in between the bottom of your painting and a piece of furniture that it is hanging over. Also, the general rule of thumb is that an art piece should ideally be approximately 2/3 the length of your sofa if being hung directly over.

There’s more harmony in the Middle East than there is on your wall

When it comes to interior design and home décor – the key word is harmony. Harmony in everything — with any crazy accent pieces being balanced out. Harmony has several dimensions and contexts within the case of interior design. You want color harmony – paintings with a similar color palette; grouping harmony by ensuring pieces are evenly spaced and the overall shape is aesthetically pleasing and well-balanced; and lastly you want to ensure that the images fit well within not only the context of the interior as a whole but within the context of their specific defined space (i.e. wall).

Get it like Goldilocks

Ever walk into a space and see a gigantic wall with one small, little lonely painting in the center or even worse – off-center ? Sights as such will throw my OCD out of whack quicker than touching a dirty city park hand rail. What about a big feature piece on a small accent wall? Ugh! Awful! It just looks clunky, over-sized and out of place. It is so unbelievably important to always remember to balance, balance, balance. Also – as much as over-sized pieces on small surface areas can often look chunky and out-of-place, the general rule of thumb is that if you have to opt for too small or too big – bigger is always better.

Your frame game is off

Keep it simple, especially with contemporary wall art. Typically less is more when it comes to the frame as you want your art to be the highlight and center of attention. Chunky, gawdy frames with ornate detail and varying designs are typically reserved for Renaissance-era, Baroque or more traditional and classic pieces (think Michaelangelo, Monet, Gaugin and Tissot). Otherwise – overelaborate frames tend to just look gawdy and take the attention away from a piece’s beauty.

When it comes to color, black or white go for miles. You can’t go wrong with neutrals. However, in the event you’re feeling a bit daring and want to spice it up a bit for a neutral or washed interior, choosing frames in the same color palette or of complementary colors for multiple pieces can really give your art that extra umph! After all – it is a statement you’re making – so if you’re going to do it you might as well go for the gold.

Bear in mind the other option as well – if the work is an installation piece or a painting or photograph – foregoing a frame altogether may very well be the best option, especially if it is finished on a premium gallery-wrap canvas with thick sides. These usually look best sans frame or in floating frames.

By D. Holland Ingram

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

Majestic, mischievous, impish, tiny, sparkling, bright… These are all words that can be applied to a certain mythical creature that’s garnered its share of attention over the years through books and movies. That creature is a fairy, and while its purpose and appearance can vary depending on what source you’re reading or your preference in story atmosphere, they’re distinctive beings that can bring character to your home through décor. And the beauty here is that whether you prefer light themes or dark, a fairy can be either while it decorates your home!

Whatever brand of fairy you prefer, if you adore them half as much as I do, there are strategies available for showcasing that adoration within your own home. Assuming you’d want to go with a more adult approach than hanging a series of Tinker Bell posters though, you might have dig just a bit deeper to come up with the right methods of dazzling up your living quarters with fairy décor enough to let the theme be obvious to your visitors. If you find yourself in that boat of unknown possibilities, not sure where to begin assembling your fairy accessories, here are some tips to look into in order to pixie up your home!

First of all, you might want to invest in some fairy figurines, and there are so many to choose from—ones that look innocent, sinister, peaceful, and other adjectives that could each bring a different feel into your home. For a darker theme, choose ones that reflect the more sinister side of fairy lore, ones with dark colors, weaponry, or vicious animal companions. For lighter décor, choose ones with pastel coloring, smiles, or contented expressions. You can set these figurines all over your house, but one interesting possibility would be to forego the dishes in your china cabinet in favor of having a fairy collection there. You can add villages and buildings that are fairy-based to go along with the notion, but just a series of the figurines themselves would provide an interesting deviation from the standard china cabinet showcasing—one that could highlight your appreciation for the winged, mythical beings in a unique and beautiful way.

From there, let’s think about how to decorate your other shelves within your home. Sure, you could continue with fairy figurines, but there are alternative options that you might want to consider to vary things up. With that idea of variation in mind, one of the best prospects for your shelves could be to employ fairy lights. You could string them around the shelves or line each shelf with them, but there’s also the possibility to utilize mason jars for this design detail. If you fill a mason jar with fairy lights, the resulting effect could look as though fairies are hiding away within those jars, like they’re living right on your shelves. If you don’t want to go with the mason jar idea, any clear container could work—like a bowl, a vase, or a candleholder—to seemingly sprinkle fairies across your rooms via shelves!

Along with these lights and figurines, there are more fairy details that can make their ways onto your shelves. One of the simplest ones to partake in is to add fairy books to one, as if it’s your official collection of fairy lore and stories. These books could be children’s stories of fairies or more sophisticated works of the history of their myths, but the point is to showcase your appreciation of fairies through this literary addition to the décor. Make sure you’re presenting those books on a shelf that allows enough visibility that visitors can see what they’re about in order to grasp that fairy concept, and you might think of using fairy bookends should the shelf be more free-standing than shelf-number-three on your five-layer bookshelf.

Furthermore, if you’re the type of person who has a Christmas village around the holidays, this is yet another space that’s capable of embracing that fairy feel of your home décor—this time, with very little effort! Just replace your Christmas buildings and scene setters after the holidays with fairy village options, like buildings, bridges, mushrooms, and figures. You know the space is ready for a village display given that you used it for that purpose during the holiday season, and that aspect makes it a clear possibility for displaying your fairy interest. It’s an opportunity literally being cleared for use once the holidays wrap up, so take advantage of it to display your fairy interest!

Now that we have your tables and shelves considered, we’ll move on to your walls—and there are a variety of options for bringing fairies into your wall décor! A simple online search can turn up a number of wall decals that depict fairies or fairy-based scenes, and standard things like posters, paintings, clocks, and tapestries can be purchased in the right color and setting to display the type of fairies—mean or kind—that you want to showcase. Best of all for this wall detail? These pieces of fairy décor can be spread throughout your entire home—anywhere you have a wall! So if you’re going to embrace any decorating option to bring your fairy theme to life, you might want to decide to focus on these wall possibilities as they can go in every single room you have, should you wish for them to.

With your walls now pixied up, you can focus on other small factors that can reinforce your fairy theme. These details can show up in multiple rooms—magnets in your kitchen, a shower curtain in your bathroom, a fairy lamp in your living room, a fairy comforter in your child’s room, and a fairy journal waiting on your nightstand—and their impact in the overall fairy theme is hard to dispute. Thanks to them, fairies can exist throughout your whole home!

Another any-room prospect to consider is the addition of tiny fairy doors that can be placed at the bottoms of your walls. The representations of these doors will create the visual that a fairy is living within your walls, like fairies are not just being displayed in your house, but dwelling there like the fairy lights accomplished on your shelves. Sure, fairies don’t actually live there, but it’s hard to dispute the impact such a notion could have in making your home feel like a fairy world! It can add a magical element to the living space, which is precisely what a fairy theme should do!

For a bigger choice in regard to your fairy décor, think of putting an indoor fountain in a room that’s spacious enough to include it, one that’s the right color scheme to embrace the attitude of the fairies you want to display. You could even pick a fountain that includes fairies on its design so that the majestic quality of the fairy is paired with the bubbling sounds of water flowing on a decorative setting—all of which combines to create that magical, otherworldly quality that fairies can be linked to. Magical, in this case, can make the fairy theme feel more genuine and beautiful, so it’s worth thinking over.

The final touches for your fairy theme can go on your front porch—like a fairy welcome mat. With one of these mats, from the moment someone is at your front door, they’re being brought into the fairy idea in a way that literally says, “Welcome!” Beyond that mat, guests can be greeted with fairy wind chimes, and a “We believe in fairies” sign to introduce them to your mythical theme and lure them into a world of fairy lore before they even step foot into your home. Together, these details could create a vivid preface to your chosen home theme and prepare your visitors for the fairy world they’re about to enter.

From your front porch and throughout every room then, there’s room to run with this fairy theme, should you choose to explore it. Let your inner child through with these decorating aspects, and allow everyone who visits to see your love of the winged creatures displayed within your home. If you do, you could find yourself living in the appearance of a fairy land brought to life with a feel of beauty, magic, and mystery—like a fairy land should be.

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/

Ever check out the pages of your favorite glossy magazine to be confronted with a gorgeous interior that leaves you feeling teeming with envy? Interior design is an absolute art form and those that get it right manage to create fabulous works of art all while making it seem completely effortless. Style.

You know how they say life imitates art? Well, this is definitely the case when it comes to interior design and hot it applies to your living space and daily lives. The source of many interior design trends stem from fashion and arts trends of the same time-frame. What’s great about this piece of information is that it becomes possible to anticipate future trends and adjust homes accordingly for a classy, luxe contemporary vibe to be the envy of all of your neighbors.

Even though we’re nearing the third quarter of the year – it’s nonetheless never too late to dive hopelessly headfirst into the hottest trends. So what are they for this year? Well, you’re in luck, because we’ve got the list.

Chartreuse
Let’s be honest – you either love it or hate it. But regardless of your feelings, this color is red hot. It was even crowned the Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 . It’s refreshing and energizing hue breathes exuberance into any décor interior and gives it that awesome pop of color that we all love to see. Use it on an accent wall or for various accessories in the home to give an added sense of inspiration.

Mixed Patterns
This trend showed up all over the runways of NYFW this past fall in 2016 and continues to make a presence in the spring and summer trends as well. Mixed patterns and bright colors are extremely popular now as a result.

They are best used when done as an accent piece, but can work wonders when paired in fresh, fun and funky ways. Gone are the days when mixing and matching was for the bold and daring pre-kindergartener. This trend is totally hot. Keeping the colors within the same family tends to work best. Oranges matched with yellows and bright colors paired with monochromatic patterns are always sure to wow. So, get creative! Let your inner child roam free!

Faux Finishes

These are popping up everywhere and anyone who is no stranger to Home Depot will tell you how amazingly fabulous thy are. Faux materials are a more economical version to their pricier siblings however offer the decadence and chicness of their less cost-effective counterparts.

We are finding them all over the place from faux fur rugs to faux wood ceilings and leather counter-tops. It is pure madness and we’ve definitely drank the Kool-Aid. Engineered quartz has become a popular replacement for marble which is absolutely gorgeous for kitchen and powder room accent walls. Check out this marble wallpaper on Etsy to get your creative juices flowing.

Texture
Texture has been trending for quite some time now and in 2017 the rage is still going strong. From textured wallpaper that gives the appearance of stone or wood to textured furniture and accent pieces. Push-pins, pleats, folds in fabrics, especially velvet as well as bold and in-your-face stitching has made an awesome comeback. Plush, soft and decadent fabrics are making a trend as well such as mohair. Check out this awesome stone wallpaper which would be perfect to add to the rustic vibe of a home office or kitchen wall.

Bone White Ceramics
This raw and organic look is making a huge trend in 2017. It has recently been seen all over the art world with several exhibits, including Walter McConnell’s Freer|Sackler display showing the amazingly elegant and organic beauty in these designs. The key here is the clean and organic touch that bone white ceramics add to an interior. They imbue a sense of pristine serenity and natural elegance. We are absolutely in love with these and cannot get enough of them as accent pieces.

Navy Blue

So apparently blue is the new black. We’ve seen an endless amount of references to the chicness and luxe aesthetic that navy blue can offer to an interior when done properly. Used as an accent wall trimmed in white it looks effortlessly classic. When paired with bright colors such as bone white and other and brilliant pops of yellows and reds, it is a visual dream.

The color can also be paired with neutrals in various tones to give a rich feel and when greenery is added to the scene it can become practically magical. Now, there are various shades of navy blue to choose from, however our favorite are the jewel toned versions for this season. So, don’t be scared – add a nice rich splash of color to your living room for an added degree of decadence you never knew existed.

Acrylic Accents

Remember how cool acrylic backpacks and vinyl handbags used to be. Remember how they totally classified those as vintage and reincorporated the into contemporary fashion? Now the trend is taking interior design by storm. Everything from bar stands to end tables and entire swaths of furniture sets are popping up as acrylic.

Accent pieces are also absolutely hot and on trend as well and make for an awesome pristine and clean, contemporary aesthetic. We are absolutely in love-lust with this gorgeous Adair coffee table . It even has little folds to keep books and magazines for storage and display. The funky design adds to the aesthetic, however with this simple material, minimalist is most popular.

Interior design trends are heavily influenced by trends in fashion and art and as a result they can change just as quickly. However, sticking with classic fundamentals and minimalist designs is imperative when trying to take advantage of an awesome trend without having to constantly switch up your living room faster than Milli Vanilli’s music career.

While chartreuse is the obvious color du jour, brilliant pops of bright and vibrant colors will liven up an interior regardless of the season, context or setting and will always invigorate a room. Acrylic accents may be hot right now but the minimalist designs are sure to keep them cemented in relevancy and mixed prints can always be funky and fresh regardless of the era of style. So get creative! Make your home your masterpiece and experiment with some of these awesome trends today!

Source:  https://www.forhomesandgardens.com/