Fall is one of the most exciting seasons of the year. The trees, the smells, the comfy sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes; itâs a cozy, wonderful time and who wouldn’t want to enjoy that warm vibe all year long? And since this is the season that prompts us all to spend a little more time inside, homeowners and renters alike tend to step up their interior decor game and invite the fall into their homes, adding notes of warmth and pops of color that are typical for the fall season. If youâre one of the many people that love fall
Within the past few years, we’ve seen a growing interest in everything wellness. With a more mindful approach on how we approach our day-to-day lives, the emphasis is now placed on maintaining our mental and emotional health, as we are actively working to ensure that all aspects of our lives remain balanced — our homes included.
This is why the real estate wellness market soared in 2017 to one billion dollars. But what about us regular homeowners, who werenât lucky enough to buy homes designed in such a fashion? Well, this is where interior design comes in to lend a helping hand.
There are a number of ways you can incorporate wellness design into your home. Let’s go over a few easy ways to get started.
Bringing nature into your home
There is no denying that being around nature â or even just natural materials â can be incredibly soothing. Due to this, bringing the outdoors in is something that many interior designers who follow this trend will try to do, and it’s also the easiest way for you to get started.
Start by incorporating plants and greenery in various spaces in your home. For instance, you can set up hanging plants so there are leaves and flowers dripping from the ceiling, you can encourage climbers to grow across your walls, and accentuate your decor by adding plants in creative pots.
If this seems like too much maintenance, then opt for furniture and furnishings in natural materials instead.
Stick to wood and natural fibers as much as possible. Since you will need to add metals to the scheme as well, it is best to opt for more antique-looking pieces.
Selecting calming color palettes
You probably know that the psychology behind the way our mind interprets color plays a big role in interior design. And even if you haven’t yet read it somewhere, you instinctively know that certain shades can impact your mood and frame of mind.
It comes as no surprise to learn that many of the color trends for 2020 are based on this. For instance, there is a fair amount of focus on the color blue â which is known for its calming properties.
So, feel free to invest in navy or peacock blues. In case you prefer something a little brighter, then pinks, yellows, and orange are also great warm tones to consider. These shades too are associated with kindness, warmth, and enthusiasm respectively.
Let the light shine in
Natural light in your home is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it can help to brighten up your mood considerably. At the same time, being continuously exposed to light helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, helping you to sleep and wake at appropriate times.
This is why it is important to ensure that your home is flooded with plenty of light. Windows and skylights naturally play a significant role. However, there is a lot you can do with your interior design to increase how light travels throughout the house.
For instance, you can position mirrors opposite your windows so that the light bounces off to other parts of a room, or use light and bright window treatments to brighten the space.
You should also try to keep the walls and flooring in a lighter color so that the light is reflected rather than absorbed. Oh, and glossy paint, especially on the ceiling, can go a long way too.
Focus on ergonomics
Naturally, wellness in interior design isnât just about how your house looks. It also has a great deal to do with how your home environment feels. Thus, the design must include elements of comfort throughout the space.
For instance, if you live in a warmer part of the country, it is only natural that you will need to set up many cooling units throughout the house. Some of these will need to be standalone devices. Now, rather than eschewing these products completely, find a way to incorporate them into the existing design.
Letâs imagine that you have embraced a more natural theme for your interiors. Then, perhaps you can design wooden slats to cover the sides and top of the unit so that it isnât as noticeable. If you decide to opt for this route, make sure that no important outlet is covered up. There should be plenty of airflow in and out of the space as well.
Or, you could use nature-inspired stickers to help the unit blend in. At the very least, set up some plants around it so that it doesnât stand out too much.
As you can see, there are so many different ways to incorporate the wellness theme into your home. So, if you are looking forward to a happier and more balanced year ahead, then these are the tactics you should consider.
Keep reading
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The post Indoor Wellness: How to Recreate the Ultimate Interior Design Trend of 2020 appeared first on Fancy Pants Homes.
While winter weather can make going outside seem less than inviting, you can entertain your family indoors with your favorite movies and shows in a home theater. With a little help, your theater setup might make the cold a little more bearable. Here are six must-haves for your home theater.
1. Theater Seating
Comfortable leather recliners with cushy armrests are a staple of any home theater. The amount of seats is reliant on the size of your space; viewers shouldnât feel too cramped. Also, the distance you place them from your screen depends on the screenâs size. An easy way to determine seat distance is to take the horizontal length of your screen and multiply it by two to get the minimum distance. Multiply it by five to get the maximum distance. For example: A 60-inch screen would have a minimum distance of 120 inches, or ten feet, and a maximum distance of 300 inches, or 25 feet.
2. Video Projector
Installing a quality video projector can ensure that you and your viewers enjoy the best picture possible. Pay attention to the projectorâs throw distance, or the distance at which it should be placed away from your screen. Also, consider how far down you should hang your projector and at what angle to tilt it. Most projectors have vertical lens shift, which allows you to adjust the projection regardless of how you mount your projector. For those that donât, hang your projector with an extension pipe so that you can adjust the hanging distance to perfect the projected image.
3. Projector Screen and Lighting
For screen placement, pick a wall where light does not fall on it directly. You can even paint your walls a dark color to avoid glare. Mount the screen on your wall so the bottom is between two or three feet off the ground. This helps every seat in your theater achieve the perfect view. Try adding dimmable overhead lights to add an authentic cinema feeling.
4. Surround Sound
The most common speaker system for home theaters is 5.1 surround sound. This six-speaker system is comprised of five full-range speakers and one low-range speaker known as the woofer. The ideal setup for 5.1 surround sound is three speakers and the woofer toward the front of the room, with the remaining two on either side of the back end of the room. Place each speaker at least 20 inches from the wall. If six speakers seem excessive, try a simple three speaker setup with a speaker in front of your screen and two others to the left and right.
5. Sound Paneling and Acoustics
Rectangular windowless rooms generally have better acoustics than square ones, but you might not be able to remodel just for your home theater. Sound absorption panels to prevent echoes, although standard dry wall paneling is usually adequate acoustic material for home theaters. Installing carpeting may also improve the acoustics of your in-home theater and add a level of comfort for viewers.
6. Mini Fridge
Keep a small refrigerator in your home theater and stock it with refreshments that are easily accessible. After all, you wonât have to stand in line and worry about missing your movie when youâre home! You may also want to stock old movie favorites like popcorn and candy in a non-refrigerated unit in the theater. Just donât eat too loudly during the movie.
With these home theater features, being snowed in this winter might not seem so bad!
The post 6 Essentials for an In-Home Movie Theater first appeared on Century 21®.
If you’re a die-hard Supernatural fan like us, you’re probably still reeling from the show’s finale and coping with the fact that there won’t be any new Winchester adventures for us to follow. But weâre not here to talk about that, but rather snoop into the private life of one of the series’ leading men. More specifically, Jensen Acklesâ house — which we actually think Dean Winchester would approve of.
The actor starring in CWâs longest running show and his wife Danneel opened up their 7,500-square-foot home in Austin, Texas to Architectural Digest, giving us a rare glimpse into the heartthrob’s home and personal life.
As the story goes, the couple was relocating from Los Angeles and initially considered buying a house down the road when they noticed this property (that wasnât even for sale). But since they fell in love with it, the couple went ahead and asked the previous owners if they’d be willing to sell. And since it’s not easy resisting Jensen Ackles’ charms, they managed to convince the owners so the Acklesâ moved on to the next step â- redecorating the house.
To help out, they hired architect Paul Lamb and interior designer Fern Santini and together they came up with some brilliant ideas on how to best revamp their already-stunning new house.
âIt was imperative that the house express the Ackleses — young, bold, and irreverent,â Lamb told AD.
Jensen Acklesâ house, which boasts five bedrooms, revolves around Danneelâs decorating outlook of âmore is more is more!â There is a lot of color, texture, a lot of wood work going on to make it look like a lake house and endless decorations with some of the coolest background stories.
Let there be music
In Supernatural, Jensen loves music. Remember his spontaneous Eye of a Tiger outtake? Still fun to watch! Thereâs definitely more of where that came from in real life, since Jensen did his best to create an amazing acoustic sound in his house.
The living room is scattered with guitars and all across the shag rug lie comfy and colored floor pillows. All this because the couple loves having friends over, sitting on the floor, singing and playing the guitar.
Jensen was excited to talk about one of his favorite features of the house: âThe hand-scraped wood floors undulate quite heavily, and weâve got these giant beams and wood all around that feel like youâre in the hull of a giant ship.â âWhat that does is it creates an amazing acoustic sound,â he continues. âWeâve always had music in our lives, and we wanted to pass on that tradition.â
Jensen Ackles home in Austin, Texas. Image credit: Jeff Wilson for AD
Jensen’s kick-ass bar
Theyâve taken care of the music, and to complete the ambiance they got rid of the formal dining room (that nobody used anyway) and replaced it with a kick-ass bar.
Placed on one end of the large living room, the bar is made out of black walnut with black and white veined marble. The cabinets were specially made to light the expensive bourbons it holds inside.
Jensen Ackles home in Austin, Texas. Image credit: Jeff Wilson for AD
The master suite
Thereâs a master bedroom swaddled in Trove wallpaper bearing vintage photography of 1920s opera boxes. The wallpaper is covered in sections by Japanese-inspired barn door panels âbecause sometimes you need an audience and sometimes you donâtâ.
Jensen Ackles home in Austin, Texas. Image credit: Douglas Friedman for AD
The master bathroom has a beautiful
bathtub sitting in front of a large window that provides a stunning view to the
lake.
The Mr. and Mrs. own two separate counters, because, you know, it just makes things easier in the mornings; and the inspiration for their master bathroom shower came from an Architectural Digest story featuring a steel and glass shower in the home of Neil Patrick Harris.
Jensen Ackles home in Austin, Texas. Image credit: Douglas Friedman for AD
Jensen Ackles’ bright, wood-framed home
Thanks to exposed beams, larger expanses of windows, and rich wooden ceilings, the architect managed to simplify and open the spaces. They simply tore down walls to let more natural light into the home.
Jensenâs favorite space is the breezy two-story screened porch that transformed the entire profile of the house; and his favorite piece â a custom long table made using a 2,000-year-old cypress log.
Parents of three
Jensen and Danneel have three beautiful children, so they had to choose the decor and furniture according to their needs as well. It appears that the coupleâs eldest daughter would make a great interior designer once she grows up. The six-year-old girl, JJ, helped pick out all her own bedroom decor.
Jensen Ackles home in Austin, Texas. Image credit: Douglas Friedman for AD
Unsurprisingly, the kidsâ favorite toy is a rolling acrylic table from the â50s, placed in the kitchen. Everybody loves a happy kitchen!
Jensen Ackles home in Austin, Texas. Image credit: Douglas Friedman for AD
Jensen Ackles’ home is full of hidden gems
The actorâs house is a personalized, eccentric, yet highly livable place. It was designed to resemble the Laurel Canyon bungalow the couple had once lived in and itâs a testament to the old school, Austin-style lake house.
The space is filled with all kinds of eccentric and eclectic objectsâsome useful, some decorative, some both. The decorations could be found in abundance in Austin during its bohemian period (the Acklesâ are active supporters of local art), as well as in late-60s California.
More beautiful celebrity homes
Rob Loweâs Gorgeous House in Montecito is Back on the Market for $42.5 Million Luxurious Malibu Estate Previously Owned by Kelsey Grammer On the Market for $20M âHunger Gamesâ Actor Josh Hutcherson is Selling His Celebrity-Magnet âTree Houseâ in Hollywood Hills Jessica Albaâs Los Angeles House is a Pinterest-Perfect Dream Home
The post Inside Supernatural Star Jensen Ackles’ ‘Very Hip’ Lake House in Austin appeared first on Fancy Pants Homes.
When your home is a fixer-upper, it can be difficult to even know where to start with a renovation. The list can be overwhelming—fix the patio, change out the mustard yellow carpet, buy furniture, paint the house. With a never-ending to-do list, planning a budget can seem virtually impossible.
By sorting through your list of wants and needs and focusing on essentials, you can outline a budget that won’t keep you up at night. Here are some tips on how to plan a budget for turning your fixer-upper into your first dream home.
1. Sort through the “wants” and “needs.”
Where do you even start with a renovation budget? With a limited fixer-upper budget, it’s essential to make functionality the first priority. When the roof is leaking and your fridge is dead, this is where the budget begins. First, determine what infrastructure items require repair or an essential upgrade, as these are typically big-ticket items. Next, focus on beautifying projects that will reap benefits in the long run, like bathrooms and kitchens. Hold off on budgeting fancy appliance upgrades and expensive decor if you already have working items—these can come at a later time after you take care of all the essentials.
2. Consider purchasing used over new.
Give your budget more flexibility by going for used over new with certain big-ticket items. Used appliances, for instance, can be found in great condition from other remodels or homeowners upgrading to the latest technology. Used furniture is also a fantastic way to keep your fixer-upper budget low. Don’t forget—sofas, vintage chairs, tables and more can be easily reupholstered and refinished. They’ll look brand new for just a fraction of the cost.
3. Be ready to DIY with a gift card.
As a first-time buyer, there’s a 99 percent chance you’ll be diving into the realm of DIY. Learning one or many DIY skills will not only come in handy with home repairs in the future, but it’s a fantastic way to keep labor costs low. If you’re worried your DIY supply budget will get out of hand, however, shop with a gift card to your local hardware store. That way, you’ll always be working with a fixed amount of money and won’t be tempted to add on any expensive extras. It’s a guaranteed way to keep your budget in check.
4. Get creative.
Fixer-uppers are great hands-on projects, and creative solutions are key for keeping your budget in line. For items like cabinetry that may be in good condition but out of style, get creative with refinishes to bring new life into your space. Give your kitchen a fresh take by painting cabinets in a modern shade, or reface them for a whole new look without the added cost of all-new cabinetry. Replace hardware on cabinetry, furniture and built-ins to make your pieces feel brand new. Even outdated fireplaces, doors, furniture and windows can go a long way with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware. Consider this cheap alternative to help save room in your budget for the fun stuff.
5. Let the professionals help.
Whether you’re starting with the kitchen or diving into a full-scale remodel, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. No matter what your budget, a professional’s advice can help ensure that your renovation has as few hiccups as possible. City codes, minute details and hidden elements can wreak havoc on projects, so let a master guide you through those hurdles instead of trying to blindly tackle them yourself. Don’t let the potential price tag deter you from investing in having expert guidance—many architects and designers have options for paying an hourly rate. This is a great option, especially for fixer-upper and DIY projects, as it allows your plans to be looked over by professionals without the price tag of a full design scope.
What are your must haves for your fixer-upper?
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Kerrie Kelly is a California interior designer who has helped many young couples choose their “first-home-together” decor. Kerrie writes on her design experiences for The Home Depot, offering homeowners ways to save money without compromising design.
Hello friends! Praise be, the election is over and I just marked my birthday over the weekend – my official holiday season milestone. Whenever the calendar passes November 8, I feel like I can finally turn 100% of my attention to all things holiday. Obviously, the holidays are going to look and feel very different than years past. Perhaps instead of the holiday season, we should start referring to the next few months as the hunker down season. Because that’s what holidays in the time of Covid are going to require of us. But I’m not entirely mad about the idea of holing up at home. I’ll take a very valid excuse to look for ways to make my home as cozy, comforting, and beautiful as possible.
Enter the new rug collection fromBeni Rugs, designed by my style soul twin, Colin King.
Called the Shape of Color, this new rug collection offers eleven Moroccan style rugs. Each rug features shocks of color inspired by Tangier and Marrakech. The hues are deeply saturated in simple geometric shapes or big bold stripes.
While I typically eschew color, rugs are a wonderful spot to inject something fresh into a room. I used a bold colored rug in my own living room. The particularly nice thing about a rug – it’s an easy way to reenergize a space without really having to change anything else.
There are a few secrets to picking out a rug. First, you want to think about size. A common mistake is getting a rug that is too small. You want all (or nearly all) your furniture in a space to sit on your rug. That helps a room feel anchored and like everything is working together. A too-small rug will actually make a small space feel even smaller!
Next, you want to think about foot traffic. If you’re looking to put a rug in a high foot traffic area, you’ll want to ensure any rug you select will withstand an onslaught of dirt and use.
Finally, when adding a colorful rug to your space you don’t need to “match your decor. You just want to keep everything in the same design family. Do you decorate with mostly warm colors or cooler tones? That will help you pick your colors.
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If you’re looking to upgrade the coziness of your home before the holidays hit, I definitely think one of these rugs would be a great way to do it. I’m already debating which one I might add to our house. I do have a home office refresh in the works! If I pick out one of these rugs – I’ll be sure to share.
How are you planning on sprucing up your spaces for the holidays?
images c/o beni rugs
The post A Cozy New Rug Collection appeared first on Apartment34.
 
