Texture

Right now I am obsessed with texture. I am especially excited about adding texture with rugs, throws and pillows.  As I have mentioned before good design does not have to cost an arm and a leg.  I have been thinking of changing up an area rug in my living room for something with some interest and texture.  Here are a few examples of what I have seen at my local Home Sense for under $200.00.  (Love the price since it allows me to mix it up again in a year if I start a new obsession...like maybe animal print leather rugs or something!)

                                                                                                        My living room now...

                        

 

  Some textured rugs I have been looking at:

 

   

 

    

 









Texture adds so much interest into a space without having to add colour. Some things to try are fur pillows on a smooth leather couch. (Extra bonus is that this trend has really taken off lately therefore you should have no trouble finding an assortment of colours and shaggy fur).  Or, a knit throw on a simple sofa.  I also really enjoy textured art which creates so much interest against the flat drywall.  Or a shaggy carpet beneath a simple sofa and on a hardwood floor.

 

                               Shaggy Pillow                                                                                                                  Knit Throw

  

Textured Rug 

 If you're afraid to experiment with colour why not add some interest to your space with an interesting texture?

Colour Wheel Ideas

Using the colour wheel can be a really helpful tool to help pick colours for a room.  One method is the Triad Colour Scheme.  This essentially involves making a triangle on the colour wheel and you'll see that these colours will compliment each other well.  Below is a design board I put together for a class where the triad of colours I chose were purple, green and orange.  Seems like a strange colour combination doesn't it? But when they are all used togther it really works.

 

                                 Triadic Scheme                                                             Colour Wheel                                                Triad Colour Scheme

Now something to keep in mind are the tones / hues of the colours used.  You do not want to start throwing in multiple shades of orange and purple etc. You need to find shades and keep them consistent otherwise the concept may be lost in an explosion of colour.

 Here are a few other examples I found:

       Red, Blue & Yellow                                                                             Light green, Orange & Fushia
      
            Triad Garden Colours                                                                           Triad Room Scheme         

Another quick tip using the colour wheel is that if the colours are across from one another on the wheel they will be complimentary.  Here is an example in fashion:

                                             
                                                                           Complementary Scheme

Try for yourself next time you need some inspiration or are stuck trying to choose colours for your design or fashion ideas!

Spring has sprung...sort of

         
                          Daffodils                                                    Cherry Blossoms                                                  Crocus

So spring is here... depending on where you live. In Vancouver, where I am based, it keeps teasing us that it's here but then spoiling the fun with down pours of rain.  But I do see the bulbs poking out of the soil so I am hopeful its around the corner.  Have you ever noticed how rooms in design magazines look so put together? Part of that is because the room is clean and tidy.  There is no clutter! Therefore, time for a SPRING CLEAN!

My advice today is to de-clutter your space in time for spring. In order to let your room, furniture, art or design speak for itself the clutter needs to go.  Throw away old newspapers, magazines etc.  Put away all items that should not be in the room.

           
                            Clutter                                                               De-Clutter                                                 Organised               

Now, I understand that some items are needed in a room such as remote controls, books etc. - to move them out of the room would be impractical. So a suggestion I have is to invest in some baskets.  Baskets can be tucked into coffee tables, shelving units etc and can store a mesh-mash of items.  This makes the room look put together but organised.  Do not hide your beautiful space behind a bunch of clutter.