Tips To Get A Well Designed Home And Garden

LHM March 2, 2014 2
Tips To Get A Well Designed Home And Garden

Tips To Get A Well Designed Home And Garden

Home is where your heart is. There is nothing in this world which has the power to uplift your spirits more than a war and inviting home you could come back to after a hard and gruelling day. And the icing on the cake is when you get to sip on your evening coffee in a serene and luscious garden that almost casts a magically calming effect on your senses. Not to mention the compliments you receive for an aesthetically designed home and garden which makes you feel on top of the world. Hence, to get a nicely designed home and garden, following are the tips for the same:

Home and Garden Decoration

Home and Garden Decoration

1. Home Building

Building a home is something which we all dream of. Here are some pointers. At the very outset you need to award the contract to a builder of repute. It is a task which requires some enterprising moves. Search the local real estate directories, internet, newspapers and even raid the builder association office to find that one entity that will not only make your dream come true but will build it with quality workmanship. Builders of impeccable repute cost a little more than those who have absolutely no brand value, but that shouldn’t put you off. You will appreciate your decision over a period of time. Make sure your builder is a licensed operator and offers a warranty.

Home Building

Home Building

2. Home decoration tips

A clutter free house feels and looks good. It makes even a small house look big. Yet another facet or trick of laying out bare minimum furniture is to make sure you do not stack them against the wall. Allow your room and the elements to breathe. Use only those elements which are essential. For example by adding contrasting throw pillows on the bed or sofa will transform the space instantly.

Colors also play an important part. Choose them wisely. If your house or room is small go for soft or neutral colours. Off-white and cream are two such shades which can light up the space and make it look really large.

Use blinds instead of heavy curtains or if you have decided to go in with the latter choose flat weave, self printed or soft contrasting colours; to add an element of surprise to your habitat.

3. Entrance gate designing tips

The entrance to your home will typically depend on your surrounding landscape and the house itself. Does your house fall under the contemporary category, or is it classic or a combination of both? It could also be a copy from a different era or place. The type of material for building the entrance will also depend on the type of house you own. Metal, wrought iron, aluminium, wood are some of the choices that you can exploit. Your gate could flaunt floral design or twisted metal beams with plants, creepers or vines riding along it, offering a natural look.

Bamboo is also quite popular these days. Metal and wood scrap gate gives a kind of rustic feel to the entire landscape.

4. Bedroom designing tips

Whether it is master bedroom or guest room, colors play an important role. In case you opt for wall paper the “complement” factor becomes all the more important. Floral wallpaper tends to offer a luxurious feel to the room whereas plain ones offer elegance and a sense of largeness. The decor or the accessories inside the bedroom could be in tandem with the rest of the decor.

Bedroom Designing and Decoration

Bedroom Designing and Decoration

Curtains could be contrasting or even matching with the wall color. The same applies to beddings and comforter. Make sure your curtains allow sunlight to seep in partially. It creates a cosy ambience. Lighting needs to be subdued as you don’t require brilliant illumination is this section. In case you are an avid reader throw in a couple of lamps.

5. Wall decals tips

Adding bedroom wall decals is an art and requires patience. You first need to prepare the area of application. It simply means wipe the surface clean and allow it to dry. Freshly painted walls are not suitable candidates. Allow the decals to adjust to your home temperature. This is essential, as the glue will react to the surface positively. Make sure it is wrinkle free.

Wall Decals Tips

Wall Decals Tips

Make sure you have marked the position. Then slowly peel the tape and make sure the vinyl too releases itself. Decals or motifs are typically exploited to enhance a section of the wall. So use them intelligently.

6. Door designing tips

Door is one place which needs to be spruced up really well. After all it the gateway to your home and as they say first impression is the last impression. Budget, maintenance, aesthetics and compatibility with the rest of the decor are some of the factors you need to consider. Wood still reigns supreme. Carved, plain, polished or painted surface are some of the design options available in this category.

Door Designing

Door Designing

Wood is versatile and so is metal. Metal doors typically demand attention. However, it has its limitation in terms of design concepts.

7. Windows designing tips

Windows are versatile home elements. They offer a view to the outside world and enhance the glamour quotient of the house.

Some of the popular window types you can consider are.

  • Dormer – jutting out of the slopping roof. Looks classy and elegant.
  • High windows – Typically close to the ceiling. Acts as ventilator and a great source of light without compromising on privacy.
  • Victorian – As the name suggests these are intricately designed window concepts. Expensive but spells class.

8. Chandelier Lighting Tips

Mounting a chandelier is tricky and an intelligent task. The size and the distance from the floor are important. The thumb rule is 2.5″ for every foot of vertical elevation. It is generally hung over a table or in the centre, such as foyer, living room or entryway.

Illumination in terms of wattage is yet another factor which needs to be considered. A chandelier mounted above the table doesn’t require extreme brilliance whereas foyer and huge living room does.

9. Carpet designing tips

The number one carpet cleaning tip is vacuuming. Yes! This single chore will bring back the lost feel and freshness. It typically removes dust particles, pet hair, food particles and grains of sand. Vacuuming also makes the fibres stand up and look lively.

Carpet Designing on Bedspreads

Carpet Designing on Bedspreads

Stains can be removed by dipping a soft cloth in soda water and rubbing it off. It is one of the best ways to remove mild stains. However, for other complex stains you need professional help or shampoos specially designed for carpet cleaning.

10. Kitchen designing tips

The three vital elements of any kitchen are:

  • Free movement and efficiency – Some of the appliances such as fridge, cooking plate/device and mixer should be close to the sink area. It increases efficiency and reduces mess.
  • Lighting – Good lighting means better hygiene and cleanliness. It also means there is not scope for pesky insects and disease causing bacteria to raid your kitchen.
  • Safety – Secured gas pipe, anti-slip flooring, fireproof building materials are some of the factors which need to be strictly adhered to.
Kitchen Designing

Kitchen Designing

11. Dining room tips

Dining room needs breathing space and ventilation. You don’t want previous day’s aroma to linger on. Make sure your table is large enough to accommodate chairs for all the family members plus a couple of surplus seats for guests or visitors. The table should complement the room size.

Have a sideboard for setting up crockery and other essentials. Place a large mirror above it. It will give breadth to the room. Make sure the windows are not overly decorated. Maintenance will be a hassle in case you opt for elaborate or intricate windows and window dressings.

12. Study room tips

Here are five important study room tips.

  • Make sure your study room or table is located in the quietest section of your house.
  • An airy and well illuminated room or area will offer a great ambience, and put less stress on eyes.
  • A study table is a part of any study room and it should be accompanied by a shelf, typically above it for efficient handling of books.
  • Deck it up will minimum artefacts. A simple table will do the trick.
  • Paint the study area with neutral colours with no accent.
Study Room Designing Tips

Study Room Designing Tips

13. Curtains designing tips

Curtains perform multiple functions; offer privacy, prevent sunlight from seeping in and add an element of sophistication to the interiors. Therefore they are one of the crucial accessories. Make sure you look at the following aspects closely.

  • That it allows a small percentage of light to seep in.
  • Curtains have lining and interlining to prevent them from fading and increasing their life.
  • Easily removable and washable.
Curtains Designing Tips

Curtains Designing Tips

14. Home color designing tips

One of the best tips for choosing the right color is picking up a shade from the existing elements such as sofa upholstery, the finish of your bedroom wardrobe / flooring or accessories in the foyer. These are typically permanent fixtures. So, pick up a matching shade, in its most diluted version, and fetch appreciative glances.

Or, simply use contrasting colors for walls and ceiling, especially the entryway and living room. Make sure you use a different accent color to focus on a particular section, such as a classic/expensive painting.

Home Color Designing

Home Color Designing

15. Stair Case design tips

Mentioned below are some of the choices available to you in terms of materials and design concepts.

Materials – Wood, metal, marble or concrete. You can pick up any one of these while building your house. Another modern form of material is glass which looks real chic especially when illuminated with concealed LED lamps.

Designs – Straight, half turned, quarter turned or spirals are some of the designs to choose from.

Stair Case Design Tips

Stair Case Design Tips

16. Kids room designing tips

One of the advantages of designing a kid’s room is the freedom to choose from several bright colours, typically to paint the walls. Excessive use of decals also makes this chore exciting. This freedom allows you to add a unique character to the room. Build a tree house bed within a room or simply attach a ladder to a raised bed.

Beautify the walls further with educational hangings, toys, posters etc. However, make sure you refrain from using designs which sport sharp edges.

Kids Room Designing Tips

Kids Room Designing Tips

17. Bathroom designing tips

One of the most overlooked element while designing a bathroom is the draining system. Imagine this situation; you have designed a beautiful bathroom but it gets clogged frequently. Draining and drain cleaning is crucial which must be looked into during the planning stage. As for other elements you can add water resistant flooring, maybe with heating coils to offer a warmer entry, sconces, mirrors, matching fixtures and plumbing devices.

Bathroom Designing

Bathroom Designing

18. Bathroom tub designing tips

The tub design and size matters in a big way; for a tall person, an equally large tub is essential to stretch and unwind. If you are looking for luxury then opt for the ones which have arms, a special place to hold drinks, and even a shower attached to it. As for the style, you can opt from the following options; alcove, normal tub with shower, floor mounted with or without pedals or sunken. Marble, fibre glass, porcelain, wood and metal are some of materials you can choose from.

19. Bathroom tiles designing tips

  • Size – Choose small tiles for small bathrooms and large for medium and spacious ones.
  • Color – Subdued colors typically tend to reflect more light than dark colors. It is therefore advisable to use the former option which gives a feeling of largeness and spaciousness.
  • Material – Ceramic and porcelain still rule because of its astonishing properties such as; extremely hygienic, easy to wipe, availability of colors and designs and they are cost effective too.

20. Swimming pool Designing tips

Your swimming pool should complement the rest of the exteriors. Opt for time tested shapes such as rectangular or circular. It never goes out of fad. Use regular sized tiles instead of modern, small chips which may lose its sheen quickly. Consider the exact position after looking around the landscape carefully. You don’t want to build it close to big trees or next to a busy road. Size also matters. It will depend on the available space. However, don’t go overboard. Make sure your swimming pool blends naturally.

21. Tips for designing your home garden

Use plants to build sections or divide the garden into various zones. Plants and small tress offer shade, beauty and a touch of excitement to the outside space, typically your garden. Because they can be planted anywhere you can exploit them to create stunning curves, elevated spaces of different varieties and also use them on either side of a walkway. Flower beds can also be created in different shapes and sizes to give your garden a character. However, you need to make sure to protect them from diseases. You can use pesticides to prevent this from happening. However, if you are against using chemicals then organic pesticides is the answer.

22. Garden Lawn designing Ideas

  • Install a big, sparklingly clean boulder.
  • Sprinkle the lawn with several raised flower beds with white pebbles or single large stone.
  • Make sure you provide a tiled pathway so that your lawn doesn’t wear a crumpled look.
  • Install a water fall (Fountain) in a prominent place.
  • Put up a large swing designed for families, and is either plastic or wood. It would be a great source of enjoyment and a different way to have your family time. You do not have to fuss too much about it, as the furniture stores themselves deliver this kind of hauling furniture in trailers at your door step.
Garden Lawn Designing Ideas

Garden Lawn Designing Ideas

23. Garden furniture designing tips

By adding three accessories to your garden you can really pep up this space. So what are these elements? Well, they are chaise lounge, an umbrella (parasol) with a couple of chairs and a bar set. Don’t believe it? Install and see for yourself.

24. Waterfall building tips

  • Create a berm around the waterfall in case your garden is completely flat.
  • Make sure you use the right size of stones and prevent water from splashing around. This will also tame the flow.
  • Create several mid-sized twists and turns.
  • Make sure it is installed in a strategic location.

25. Lawn mowing tips

  • Frequency – Mow grass when it is at least 3” tall.
  • Size – Make sure you do not mow more than necessary, typically 1/3rd of actual size.
  • Blades – Use sharp blades so that the grass is not shredded.