Our homes are our safe spaces. We love them and want to make them as cozy as possible. We also want our family and friends to feel just as comfortable in our homes as we do. Read on to find out how you can make your home more inviting with these interior design tips.

Welcome Them Before They Are Even Inside

The first thing anyone sees of our house is the front yard. Make this space so comfortable that your guests know they are always welcome. Have seating out front, a bright welcome mat, and beautiful flowers that exclaim "come join us!"

Hang Photos of Your Family Inside

There is nothing more cozy and inviting in a home than family pictures. You can have them spread throughout, or one big gallery wall. These pictures show others the adventures you have been on and all the fun you have together.

Have Comfy Furniture

Sinking into a cushy couch is one of the best feelings. Your family and friends will love hanging out and chatting all day long when you have comfortable furniture for them to sit in. They will always feel invited and ready to relax at your home.

Keep Things Warm

Oftentimes, warm colors can bring a sense of calm and peace to a home. Different hues of brown and beige can warm up your walls, furniture, and flooring. Alongside warm colors, you can have fuzzy, cozy blankets and pillows on your couches. The warmth will make your guests feel snug and welcomed into your home.

The main goal of making people feel invited into your home is to help them feel cozy there. Being cozy can help them relax and will keep them coming back for more time with you Invite your friends and family in and make them feel as relaxed and welcome as you feel in your home. 

Looking for more ways to make your home inviting? Get in touch with us!

The year 2021 has dawned with a sense of hope and adventure. While many found comfort at home in the past year, they are ready to move forward with our collective "new normal.” Introducing new colors into your space is the perfect way to refresh your mental and emotional state.  

The Why of Color

Colors have long been associated with meaning and emotion. From idioms to branding, color choices sway our thoughts and feelings. When it comes to your home, colors set the tone for how you want that space to feel.  

Top Colors for 2021

 Each year, experts in color theory make their predictions for the shades we'll be seeing everywhere. Here are the top 10 picks from industry pros:  

1. Cerulean

Pantone forecasts this dusty sky blue will have people dreaming of fresh summer days. For those feeling cooped up, this hue might be the pick-me-up you need. When it comes to paint, Benjamin Moore suggests Aegean Teal for its "natural harmony" that "invites us to take a moment to reflect and reset." Similar choices from Behr are the calm and reassuring Dayflower and Jean Jacket Blue for timeless peacefulness.  

2. Leafy Green

From Coloro's Quiet Wave to Benjamin Moore's Great Barrington Green, these greens bring the outdoors in. This will add a rejuvenating and secure feeling to your space. Pepper Stem is another great option from Pantone's textile system.  

3. Coral

Coral continues to be a go-to color in design. This year's offerings range from the subtle Seaside Villa by Behr to the deeper Valspar's Arizona Dust. For a bold choice, look to Pantone's Blush Beauty.  

4. French Blue

A close relative of Cobalt, Pantone describes this color as "a stirring blue hue that awakens a vision of Paris in the springtime." While it might feel a bit too bold for your walls, consider it for accents in your decor.  

5. Marigold Yellow

Pantone went for a vibrant primary yellow for their 2021 color of the year. We'll likely see a bit more gold when it comes to interior design. Warm picks like Saffron Strands from Behr are the perfect balance of cheerfulness and nurturing.  

6. Rust

Going along with all the earth tones, think rustling autumn leaves. The warmth of colors like Satin Paprika from Rust-Oleum or Behr's Kalahari Sunset offers the perfect pop of color you've been craving.  

7. Ultimate Gray

Coined by Pantone as the end-all-be-all neutral, gray continues to be a dependable choice. Paint companies recommend either light tones like Granite Dust (Valspar) or the sultry shades of Broadway (Behr) and Silhouette (Benjamin Moore).  

8. Greige

Taking a grounding approach, this earthy neutral works its brown base well. DULUX named their version, Brave Ground, the color of 2021. We have to agree as similar shades have popped up on all the paint companies' lists.  

9. Raspberry

There are few colors more fun and vibrant than this bold choice. This is a color with personality meant to inspire and looks lovely in bedding and accent throws.  

10. Amethyst

Leaning into the ever-popular jewel-tones, this shade of purple blends elegance and femininity. Great for textiles, this color also makes a beautiful impact in Behr's Euphoric Magenta.  

If you need help deciding which of these colors are perfect for your space, don't hesitate to contact us!

Pantone Color Institute, the renowned color management company, released not one but two colors for its 2021 color of the year choice.  It is only the second time Pantone has released two colors in its color of the year award history.  The two colors, Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow, were chosen to be used together as an uplifting and enduring combination.

Ultimate Gray is a neutral color and is grounding enough to be used in larger spaces and as a primary wall color.  Illuminating Yellow is a bright and sunny shade that is an excellent choice for smaller areas and items such as kitchen island stools and dining chairs.  Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow both work well with light or dark wood finish.  The Pantone Color Institute suspects that Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow will show up in interior design, primarily in textiles and decorative accessories.  

Here are a few easy ideas for implementing this bold, intriguing color combination into your home decor.  

Kitchen

Gray is a timeless selection for kitchen color due to its being neutral and having a grounding effect on other colors. Ultimate Gray is no different.  It works perfectly for large spaces like walls or cabinetry.  Introduce Illuminating Yellow in smaller doses, using it on kitchen island stools or kitchen towels and dishcloths.  For a bolder, more stunning look, use the Illuminating Yellow on kitchen cabinets with the Ultimate Gray on the walls as a grounding backdrop.  Another way to use Illuminating Yellow in the kitchen is to find floor tiles that feature the sunny shade.  

Bathroom

Bathrooms are a great room choice for color experimentation because they are usually smaller, less frequently used areas of the home. Like the kitchen, using Ultimate Gray on the walls and Illuminating Yellow on the cabinets would create a dramatic and energizing bathroom space. Additionally, a small powder room would be a great area to reverse this design idea, using Illuminating Yellow as the primary wall color and the Ultimate Gray on the cabinetry.  Lastly, using a tile backsplash or flooring featuring Illuminating Yellow would also fit wonderfully in a bathroom or powder room.  

Living Room

Interior Designers and Instagram influencers have cautioned against using Illuminating Yellow in large doses, such as using it as a primary wall color in a large living room.  The shade affects lighting so that can cause issues with the atmosphere in the room.  However, the living room is a great area to add pops of the bright, sunny color through decorating with throw pillows, throw blankets, and even area rugs. These color pops will be grounded if used with Ultimate Gray as a primary color in the design.  

When you’re looking for more ways to incorporate color into your space, we’d love to help!

In the pursuit of sophisticated design with visual interest, we find monochromatic color schemes. This trend offers the ease of built-in harmony and a distinction from the design trends of the past.  

 Evolution of Trends

With a style motto of "ultra neutral sophisticated boho California cool," the past decade highlighted beige, gray, and other pale colors. Monochrome spaces saw layers of neutrals and hygge-inspired minimalism. This contrasts with the warm colors and jewel-tones that are becoming popular today.

Marked by a post-recession mindset, the 2010’s focused on safe choices in color, pattern, and fabric. Now we have bolder choices like rich velvet and statement interior doors.  Neutrals are still appealing though, and many are choosing to stick with their soothing tones.

Getting Started With Color

When starting on a monochromatic space, choosing your base color is key. Once selected, everything else will come together seamlessly. While "monochrome" literally means "one color," monochromatic design uses variations of a base color to create interest and unity. Vibrant colors like Classic Blue offer a bolder visual impact than the neutral palettes of past years. Color theory is important to consider when deciding on your base color.

Limiting a space to one color scheme helps create a soothing environment. This is because the brain will have less stimulation to process. For the most part, cooler colors are relaxing while warm colors energize. The tone and value of each hue can affect this reaction.  

Key Color Terms

Color - also called hue, color refers to the appearance of an object based on how it reacts to light.

Value - describes how light or dark a color is.

Tint - adding white to a color to lighten its value.

Shade - adding black to a color to darken its value.

Tone - adding gray to a color to mute its value.  

Principles For Effective Design

When you are getting started with a monochromatic design, a small space is easiest. Bathrooms are perfect for this treatment as the limited palette will give it a Zen spa feeling.

To keep shades from blending together, layer textures and patterns. Sticking to one color keeps everything cohesive while giving you the freedom to experiment. Remember that white and black are values of any hue so these will always accent your space well.  

As you embrace the experience of working in monochrome you will fall in love with the elegant simplicity this trend offers.