When should I get my Area Rug??

Not only are area rugs beautiful but they are functional too!!

A really good reason to decorate with area rugs is the benefit of sound echoing.  When you place a rug in a room it helps to distribute the sound around the room better,  lessening the echoing. 

A rug can add color and style to a room with little to no effort.  It gives your room a focal point to start decorating from.

Always buy the best quality rug you can, better quality wool rugs will take wear well and will even look better with time.  You can really tell a great quality rug just by looking and feeling it.

When you decide to decorate a room,  You might ask your self a couple of questions, 

Where do I start?

Should the rug be the first or last thing I buy when decorating this room? 

These are good questions. 

I personally think you should always start with the rug... The rug allows you something to build off, it has color and style which will make it easier to finish decorating. 

Take a few colors that are in the rug,  add a picture for the wall and a vase of flowers on a table and you are on your way to a better looking room.  

I think it would be harder to find a rug to fit into an already decorated room.

By picking the rug first you will save a ton time and energy and STRESS!! 

Choosing the size of a rug is pretty important,  some say layer rugs for added color and texture. Other's say choose a rug that is two feet shorter than the smallest wall in the room.  I feel like less is more, though too small would be unattractive as well.

I really like clean lines so because of that I'm not crazy about the layered look.  I would personally stick with the two feet shorter rule of thumb.  I think that creates a better look.

If you choose a rug that is too small your room will look smaller.  In a living room it is nice if your rug is large enough to have the front legs of the furniture on it.  

In a bedroom you want to step your feet onto it the first thing in the morning.  If the rug sticks out beyond the bed two feet you are sure to step on it every time you get out of bed.

Be careful of doorways,  when you open the door you really want to keep the opening bare so the rug doesn't get caught up on the door.  

Hall rugs should have a least six inches of floor showing on all sides.  

The biggest thing to look for in that special rug is WOW factor.  I feel like when you walk into a room decorated with an area rug, the rug should be the main focal point.  When you see it, you should go "WOW" every time you walk in the room!!  Make sure it is a design you will enjoy for years to come.   

We used these easy steps and tips to create a beautiful room....:)

Making Small Bedrooms BIG!!

There is no reason to feel cramped in a small space.  There are several ways to create space in a small area, whether its a bedroom, dorm room or a room filled with too many items,  You can have a much larger feel with a few simple decorating tips.  

Organizing

Before you run out and buy a bunch of organizing tools to hep you create more space, make sure you know exactly what needs to be organized,  Its a good idea to put all the same kinds of things together to see what is needed to store them best.
I like to store my things in cute baskets and containers to add style but yet provide function to a small room.

This room sure need help!!

  

Walls

Mirrors and glass have reflections so using them will give the room the illusion of more space.  
Using glass end and coffee tables instead of wood will help the room reflect light and create a more spacious room.  You can tuck them into hall ways or corners,  They will add a touch of character to a room too.  

Make sure curtains or blinds don't cut off light supply.  

Keeping the color light in your drapes and window coverings will help opening up the room.  

Choosing wall color is fun but can seem overwhelming at times.

Lighter wall color always makes a room look bigger,  Choose a creamy white, off white or yellow,  If you really like dark colors,  you can always add a darker accent color with flowers in a vase or picture on the wall.  Its always a nice touch to have that pop of color in any room.

The Bed

Usually the bed is the main focal point in a bedroom.  Putting a large chunky headboard in a small room would be a mistake if your gaol is to make the room look larger,  doing this would create a cluttered and unkept look which could affect your mood when you are in the room.  

A better choice would be clean sleek lines,  with this style bed, you will be creating a more spacious look and it will be more appealing to the eye.  

If the bed you choose has enough space underneath, it would make a great storage for out of season clothes, linens, or crafts etc.... 

I keep my extra knitting yarn and supplies in a plastic container under my bed out of sight.  

If room is too narrow for night stand then look for headboard that has some storage or shelving in it, this is a real space saver.

This bed is an example of what you could look for.  Now this bed is big, but it will save space in the room..  You could mount some lighting in the headboard for reading.  There is storage both in the headboard behind your head and underneath in drawers. You wouldn't have to have night stands with this kind of headboard.

This bed is big in structure...But its big on storage!!

The Lighting 

Floor lamps that are upward facing give the illusion of a taller ceiling,  which makes the room look larger.
If you need a reading light,  look for a headboard that has a reading light attached to the headboard, This will keep the base of the light off the floor or table.

These ideas are simple, and with just a little thought you can make your bedroom seem larger.