AfrikBoutik Blog

New Decorating Trends

As people’s lives get busier and busier, a home is not just another place to sleep at night. A home has become a place of peace, a place to relax and rejuvenate for another busy and stressful day. With this in mind, more and more people are looking to decorate their homes in a way where a home is simple, functional, low maintenance and yet elegant, warm and inviting.

As with everything else, people’s demand sets the trend on decoration and some of the latest decorating trends ensure that a home gives maximum functionality, minimum maintenance and looks warm and creative without being loud and opulent. Hand crafted furniture and accessories like intricately carved statues and metal with detailed scroll work is in high demand this season. Leather furniture combined with different fabrics to create different textures is also in high demand.

Another trend that has caught on with homeowners are do-it-yourself projects like home made lamp shades, self woven curtains, hand made sofa throws and even hand knitted table cloths. A traditional decor which looks colorful and elegant is also in this season. Furniture pieces reflecting nature like bamboo flooring, and rattan furniture have also caught attention. Along side this, ethnic furniture from different countries, traditions and periods are in demand. Mild wall colors like beige and gold with warm browns and pumpkin spice or even shades of blues and greens offset in a neutral background are the choice of the season for their soothing feel.

As far as furniture is concerned, huge bulky furniture is out and multi-purpose and space saving furniture is in, which gives maximum storage. Narrower sofas, coffee tables doubling as dining tables or small dining tables with stool chairs are in to save space. Functional art like design lighting has become a popular option for small homes where different light sculptures serve the need of lighting as well as add a decorative piece of art to the room. Most of the home decor making a come back this season is artistic with curves rather than straight lines and clean cuts.

Another decorative and functional item making a big comeback this season is room divider screen. With homes getting smaller, making wooden doors can substantially reduce space. A room divider screen can be put into place when the need arises to separate two portions of a home and can be removed to enlarge the space and make it look like a big room. Another popular functional decor is the counter height bistro table which adds a casual touch to the dining atmosphere allowing the family to relax and have a quick meal.

With these new decorating trends, a home can be made multi-functional and multi-purpose while at the same time giving it a spacious and clutter free look.

Home Decorating Tips Using Mirrors

Mirrors can significantly enhance the beauty of any room by using their light reflection properties. They can add depth to any closed space like a small room and focus any beautiful object to create a unique aura. Mirrors can illuminate spaces more brightly, and the shine on them can make even ordinary things look exotic.

Here are some good tips on how to best use mirrors to decorate your home:

Large sized, wall-to-wall mirrors can create a special ambience in your room. With ceiling-to-floor spans, you can add depth to your room. If some part of your wall is damaged like scrapping of plaster or fading away of paint due to moisture, instead of repairing it, you can place a big mirror over the damaged area. By intelligently placing a light source in front of the mirror, you can create a brightening effect in the room due to reflection of light from the surface of the mirror.

If there is some special décor item in your room, like an ornate vase, a beautiful wall hanging or some antique piece, you can place a mirror close to it and use the reflection effects to create multiple visuals across the room. The item gets extra prominence and simulates a unique appeal.

If you place a mirror on both sides of the fireplace, the span of the fireplace increases and all the objects around the room get reflected on it creating a very stimulating environment in the room. Since mirror effects are always enhanced by light, placing lights in strategic positions around the mirror can create series of reflections and brilliantly illuminate the room. You have seen how mirrors reflect light in chandeliers to simulate a royal grandeur in your room.

Peer mirrors on windows create additional depth and liven up the atmosphere in the room. You can even place small mirrors on cabinet ceilings, so that you get better visibility of the upper shelves. If you want to create the skylight effect in your living room, you can fix mirrors on the ceiling of your room and enjoy the delightful ambience.

Mirrors come in different sizes and shapes. You can use the traditional rectangular or oval versions and even go for the most modern designer and decorative versions. However, the most important thing about the mirror is the quality of glass. Highly polished and perfectly cut glasses create optimum reflection levels and add unmatched sparkle to any object. You must be sure about the quality of glass in the mirrors that you buy. There is one point of caution about mirrors. Keep children away from mirrors and glass objects, and when you are positioning mirrors in your room, you must keep them away from the reach of small children as far as possible.

If it’s about enhancing the beauty and brilliance of your home by using a natural resource like light, mirrors can be your excellent option.