Category: Ideas by Room

14 Cool Things to Put in Your Bedroom

Your bedroom is your private space to relax and escape the stress of the world. It should be filled with your favorite things and decor that makes you happy.

This isn’t like decorating your dorm room with cool stuff in college. You have a master bedroom that needs to fit who you are today.

This could be creating a relaxing and peaceful space, or perhaps it’s a shine to your passions. There are plenty of bedroom decor ideas to help you get started.

Check out these cool things to put in your room and get inspired to revamp the decor in your bedroom.

1. Elements From Nature

The easiest way to add warmth and comfort to your bedroom is by adding touches of nature to your home decor. One way to do this is by adding real living plants to your bedroom. This brings in color and life.

Don’t worry, if you don’t have a green thumb there are plants that look beautiful and require very little care. A snake plant, purple passion plant, Chinese evergreen, spider plant, and pothos are all great options.

Skip the succulent and air plant, these are deceptively harder to grow than you think. Air plants are great for your bathroom, though. The natural moisture is high and this is the perfect environment for them.

If you refuse to have living plants in your bedroom, you can still bring nature into your bedroom. Add wood elements or decor made out of natural materials. You could have wood furniture. Or you could have wall decor that’s made from driftwood, dried palms, pampas stems, or baskets woven from dried grasses.

2. Mini Library

If you have a collection of your favorite books, then adding a mini library is a perfect addition to your bedroom and a natural place to keep your book collection. With your mini library in your bedroom, you’re more likely to grab a book to read than you would if your library were in the living room or home office.

Depending on how large your book collection is, you could have a single floating shelf or a large freestanding bookcase like this six-tier bookcase.

Even if your book collection is small, consider buying a storage solution that is bigger than you need. Then you can break up the book collection into smaller groups and scatter decorative pieces among them.

If your bedroom is small, consider using multiple shelves mounted on the wall. Doing this keeps your floor space open by utilizing the vertical space in the room.

3. Accent Wall

Adding an accent wall is an easy addition to a bedroom. The wall behind the headboard is the perfect bedroom wall to turn into the accent wall. This idea works in both large and small rooms.

To create your accent wall, you could simply paint the wall a different color, but this is a bit boring. Instead, try using removable wallpapers. It comes in sheets with a backing that you will peel off and then adhere the paper to the wall.

Unlike traditional wallpaper, modern versions come in small and large-scale patterns and designs. Some designs look like paintings and photographs. Some have mural designs that create a large-scale scene. You’ll even find textured wallpaper that mimics the look of real bricks.

If wallpaper doesn’t appeal to you, another option is to use wood trim pieces. These are long, thin wood strips that you can easily cut to size and create a geometric pattern.

You could build squares, chevrons, or a freeform design. Paint your trim pieces to match the color of the wall for a subtle textured effect, or paint it another color for a contrasting design.

4. Decorative Lighting

If your bedroom only has one light source, it’s time for an upgrade. You need more than a single light in your ceiling fan. Layering light sources is an interior design trick that immediately elevates the look of your bedroom.

Ambient light illuminates your entire bedroom. Your overhead light does this, but you can add a floor lamp to add to it. Task lighting is directed light that’s meant to illuminate your workspace. This is the best type of light for your reading chair, desk, vanity, or nightstands.

The third type of light is accent lighting. This is the type of light where you can have the most fun. Fairy lights are popular in teen rooms.

There are more options than just fairy lights, though. Paper lanterns come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Arrange a couple of these hanging lights in a corner for a decorative element that also adds light.

A custom neon light like this one is also a funky and cool option. You can buy LED strip lights and mount them almost anywhere in the room. Try placing them under your bed frame, under the shelving, behind the headboard, on the crown molding to illuminate the ceiling, or anywhere else in the room you want to add an accent.

5. Hang a Mirror

It doesn’t matter if you have a large or small space; a mirror can do wonders for your bedroom.

Hanging a large mirror on the wall or having a floor-length mirror is a great bedroom idea because not only does it make your bedroom seem brighter and larger, but it also gives you a place to get ready.

If you have a large bedroom, embrace the space and purchase a floor-length mirror like this one from NeuType. For the best look, choose a mirror based on height.

Take the tallest person’s height that will be using the mirror and subtract six inches. This is the minimum length that your mirror should be to minimize distortion.

However, a mirror needs to be at least half of the tallest person’s height to be able to show their entire body. It also needs to be wide enough to see your entire body easily.

When choosing your mirror, there are wall-mounted, leaning, and freestanding mirrors. The one you choose will depend on your budget, taste, and space available. Freestanding mirrors take up the most room, then leaning, and wall-mounted takes up the least.

Pay attention to the frame. A slimline frame will look modern, while a thick wood frame can look more rustic or farmhouse. A metal frame with decoration can look vintage-inspired.

6. Gallery Wall

While most people think about putting a gallery wall in their living room or main hallway, there’s no rule that says you can’t put one in your bedroom. A gallery wall is a perfect solution for when you have a lot of wall decor.

You could have all photography shots or have a mix of photos, paintings, and other wall art. If you have small figurines, you can even include a shelf for them. This mix of items will create an eclectic mix of items for a lot of variety and visual interest.

If you prefer a more uniform look, aim for a minimalist approach. Frame each piece with the same mat and frame. Then hang the art in a grid pattern where each frame is evenly distanced from the other frames around it.

You don’t have to frame your pictures. If you have a large collection of images or like to change them out regularly, then a more mobile display solution is going to work better.

Use a photo clip string light kit like this one from Dopheuor to string wire up in horizontal lines and then space clips out on the wire. You can then use the clips to hold pictures. This makes it easy to switch the pictures out as often as you want.

7. Area Rug

Hide your ugly carpet with a large area rug. If you have tile or wood floors, a rug is a must for making your bedroom feel warm and cozy. No one wants to get out of bed and immediately put their feet on a cold, hard floor.

Area rugs around or under the bed cushion your feet and eliminate the chill. The cool thing about rugs in your bedroom is that you have a lot more freedom in sizing. If you have a decent budget to work with, you can buy a large area rug that starts under the bedside tables and extends down the entire length of the bed.

A smaller and more affordable rug can look just as nice if it starts in front of the nightstands. If your budget is tight, stick with two smaller rugs on either side of the bed.

If your rug is going under the bed, don’t worry about the pattern and color too much since the majority of it will be hidden under the rug. If your rug is going to be visible, then look for one that has a pattern that ties all of the room’s colors together.

8. Soft Elements

Adding soft textiles is a must for your bedroom. These are the fabrics that create a plush and cozy atmosphere. This is what takes your nice-looking bedroom and turns it into a place that has an inviting interior design.

Choose accent textiles that feel nice. Fabrics like jersey, velvet, silk, some cotton, flannel, faux fur, sateen, and fleece all look and feel soft. Add a couple of throw pillows to your bed and accent chair.

Don’t add too many; your furniture shouldn’t be drowning in pillows. Next, add a throw blanket to the foot of your bed. Leave it folded, and you never have to actually use it for warmth. It can be there just for visual effect.

Accent the rest of the room with soft fabrics. For example, add an area rug to the floor, hang curtains on the window, and mount a small tapestry on the wall.

Add curtains to the bed if you want to create a whimsical or bohemian feel. You can hang them from a four-poster bed frame. If you don’t have this bed style, you can fake it by hanging them from the ceiling and draping them to either side of the bed.

9. Expressive Art

Don’t leave your bedroom walls boring and blank unless you are going for the minimalist look. However, even minimalist designs have at least one decor piece. The trick is choosing one and making it the focal piece. For other interior designs, you can easily have more than one decorative item on the walls.

While you could hang a generic piece of art that’s massed produced, this is a bit boring and will have no meaning for you. Instead, look for pieces that are handmade and speak to you. This will increase your enjoyment of the room and help your bedroom reflect who you are.

Wall hangings are popular right now. There are even videos showing you how to accomplish this DIY project.

Mount a small curtain rod on the wall and display your handiwork. If you aren’t crafty, you can leave the artistry to other people and just buy art that speaks to you. It can be anything from ink prints to paintings or photography. Perhaps you see a weaving that.

10. Extra Seating

Most people have their bed, and that’s the only seating that is available in their bedroom. It’s time to elevate your bedroom with additional seating. This gives you or someone else somewhere else to sit while in your bedroom.

A bench at the foot of your bed or a small stool are perfect furniture pieces for getting dressed. They are also easy to scale down and fit into a small bedroom. Add a comfy armchair if you have a larger bedroom and more room to work with.

This gives you a place to relax, read a book, or drink a morning cup of coffee. For a more relaxed bohemian or eclectic feel, try more casual extra seating like a large pouf.

11. Bold Color Scheme

Your bedroom is your private space. This is your room to become the interior designer you’ve always wanted to be. You can freely choose the color scheme and decoration that you love.

Choose a bold color scheme that features your favorite color. You could go for a monochromatic look with several shades of your chosen color. Or you could pair your favorite color with neutrals like white, grey, or black. This creates a beautiful contrast and keeps the focus on your favorite color.

You also don’t have to paint just the walls. Instead, you could paint the ceiling. Doing this creates a unique and bold design that showcases your chosen color. Don’t be afraid to paint just part of the wall. Try painting just the area on the wall that’s behind your headboard.

The best colors for a bedroom are soft neutrals, grey, blue, and green. These are calming and soothing colors that will help your brain and body to release stress and energy. This will help you fall asleep better and wake up well-rested.

Colors that are not ideal for your bedroom are bright red, orange, and intense sunny yellow. These colors are energizing and intense, making them better for the kitchen or living room.

12. Smart Home Technology

It doesn’t take a lot to upgrade your bedroom with smart home technology. There are plenty of modern bedroom ideas that will help you upgrade your bedroom. Look for ways you can add technology to make your life easier.

Replace the light switches with ones that are compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Add smart plugs to the lights that plug into sockets. Now you can control the lights in your bedroom by voice, which is really nice when you don’t feel like getting out of bed to turn the lights on or off.

You can also create schedules to have the lights turn on and off on their own. Add a streaming device to your TV or upgrade your TV to a smart TV. Then you have more options for how you watch your favorite shows and movies.

You can also sync your TV to your smart home device for voice control and other convenient features. Add Bluetooth speakers around your room for a surround sound experience.

13. Signature Scent

Take a lesson from some of the best high-end resorts around the world. They have a signature scent that subtly wafts throughout the hotel. You can do this in your bedroom by choosing a signature scent that will evoke the feelings or energy that you want to create.

For a bedroom, you’ll want to choose scents that are calming and relaxing. Try rosemary, lavender, vanilla, jasmine, sage, or peppermint. There are all smells that help to relax the body and mind, which will help you fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and wake up more refreshed.

To add your scent to your bedroom, you can buy a candle and burn it. Or you could have incense, or essential oil diffusers arranged. Turn these items into the decor by choosing beautiful candles or diffusers. Now you have something that delights multiple senses.

14. Wall Decals

Skip the cheesy wall decals that are a cliche quote or are a large image. Instead, look for a kit that has sheets of small decals. You can then individually place them on the wall to create a custom pattern. Try placing them evenly spaced throughout the entire wall.

Or you could place them densely close together at the top and then gradually spread and fade them out as you work your way down the wall. Or you could randomly scatter them.

You could place them on all of the walls or on a single wall to create an accent. There are no rules with decals, so you could mix multiple sets of decals together and make your own pattern or design.

December 30, 2021
How to Place a Rug in a Living Room

It is one of the most commonly faced dilemmas in home decorating; how to place a rug in a living room. Getting it right enhances your living room while getting it wrong can make the space feel awkward, cramped, and uncomfortable.

So, whether you are starting from scratch or doing a little redecorating, this guide will help you perfectly place your rug.

Choose the Right Size

Source: @tatertotsandjello via Instagram

Before you start figuring out living room arrangements, you need to take a step back and make sure you have the right rug size.

The perfect rug will enhance the room, making it feel more spacious, welcoming, and tied together. Unfortunately, people often underestimate the size of the area rug they need. So, when in doubt, always go with the bigger rug.

Unless your rug is curling up the walls, no one walks into a room and thinks, “gee, they bought a really big rug!”. However, even those not well versed in design will notice the awkwardness of a too small rug, even if they can’t articulate that the small rug is what makes the room feel awkward.

Buying a rug that is too small makes the living room feel smaller than it really is because it creates an unnatural visual line that breaks up the space. This also makes the room feel choppy, which makes it awkward to be in.

Finally, it brings down the quality, making the room feel cheap. The lack of design and forethought is a dead giveaway that someone other than a professional designed the room.

Rugs Size Guide

As a general rule, the majority of American homes have a living room that is large enough to support an 8 x 10 foot rug like this nuLOOM Ren Machine Washable Vintage Floral Area Rug. Unless your living room is unusually tiny, do not buy a rug under 6 x 9 feet. A 4 x 6 rug is simply too small for any living room in a home. Instead, save these smaller rugs for your bedroom, bathroom, or home office.

You Bought Small

If it is too late and you have already bought a small rug, there are a few things you do with it. This will save you from having to buy a new rug right away. Large rugs can be expensive. Try centering the small rug under the coffee table or a small table.

Consider layering the rug with another one underneath it. For example, your first rug is a lovely handwoven 4 x 6 that you picked up while traveling or is a family heirloom.

Place a jute or seagrass rug like the nuLOOM Elijah 9 x 12 Beige Solid Area Rug underneath for textural and color contrast. They are more affordable than other large rugs, and the two rugs create a purposeful feel to the smaller one.

Center the Rug

You shouldn’t position your rug so it is in the center of the entire room. Your rug placement needs to make sense with the positioning of the furniture.

As mentioned earlier, you can center a small rug under the coffee table. A larger rug should be positioned to coordinate with the largest furniture piece in the room. This is typically the sofa.

If you have two sofas, you should center the rug between the two. This may or may not be the center of the room. For example, if you have a sectional sofa that creates an L or U shape, the rug should be centered so that it is not longer on one side.

All Legs Off

Taking an all legs off approach works well in a small living room because it helps a small space to feel more open. The trick is placing the rug so that the edge of the rug just meets the front legs of the sofa.

This showcases the beauty of a patterned rug and makes it the focal point in the room. A smaller rug that does not meet the front of the furniture will not have the same effect and can lead to the choppy effect mentioned earlier.

All Legs On

For a living room that looks professionally designed, buy a larger rug that you can place all four legs of your furniture on. The rug needs to be large enough that it extends several inches or up to a foot beyond the outside legs.

The only exception is if your sofa is against the wall, then you would line both the rug’s edge and the sofa up with the wall. The all legs on approach works best in large living rooms or ones with an open floor plan.

This approach creates a visual zone, helping to define the living room space from the rest of the home.

If you have more than a sofa in your living room, this is an all or nothing approach. The rug should be large enough to position all of the furniture fully on it.

This includes multiple sofas or a sofa and accent chair combination. If the rug is not large enough for this, then scale back and position only the front legs of all of the furniture on the rug.

Front Legs On

If you do not have the budget or living space for the all legs on approach, then you can cheat by only putting the front furniture legs on the rug. The rug needs to be big enough that you won’t see the edge when it is tucked under. It also needs to extend beyond the sides of the sofa. This defines the seating area without overwhelming a smaller room.

Rounded

The traditional rule of vintage rugs is to choose a rug shape that matches the shape of the room. This helps create visual flow by creating parallel lines. The long lines of the walls match the long lines of the rectangular rug.

However, modern rules tend to put this aside for differently shaped rugs. Instead of using a square rug in a square room, try using a circular rug like this SAFAVIEH Chelsea Ivory Round Floral Border Solid Area Rug.

The curves of the round rug will create a unique visual effect that can soften the harsh corners of the room. It can also work well in a room that does not have a clearly defined shape.

Fully Cover High Traffic Areas

When choosing your living room rug size and placement, think about where people will walk through your living room.

The rug should either cover the entire walking path or leave it completely bare. You shouldn’t walk through with one foot on the rug and the other on the bare floor. This will feel awkward underfoot.

Leave Equal Space

Interior designers will tell you that the rules state that you should have about 8-12 inches of space on either side of the rug from the wall. However, this can vary greatly when you buy a larger rug.

Traditional rugs on hardwood floors can leave as little as 4-6 inches of space from the wall. The amount of space is not as important as it is equal.

The goal is to create a balanced look. If the rug covers the entire floor, look at the space between the edge of the rug and the wall.

If your rug is smaller, look at the amount of rug that extends beyond each end of the rug. If your rug is between multiple pieces of furniture, it should be equally positioned between them.

Use Multiple Rugs

The idea of layering rugs is relatively new in mainstream interior design. There are a couple of ways you can go about it. The first is simple, have two rugs that are the same shape, with one larger than the other.

Place the smaller rug centered on top of the larger one. Then arrange them as we described above. Typically, people choose a plain rug for the larger one because the majority of it will be covered. Then the top smaller one is more creative.

For example, it could be a patterned or colorful rug. You can skip the rug pads with this approach. The multiple rugs will feel thick like carpet, especially if you use wool rugs.

The other approach requires a bit more finesse and is harder to pull off. Buy several rugs that would be too small on their own, and then position them together.

This works well for Moroccan rugs like this Bungalow Rose Heba Moroccan Area Rug. You could position them with front legs on for each piece of seated furniture.

Or you could angle them haphazardly at 45-degree angles to cover the entire floor. This placement looks beautiful with bohemian decor or a nontraditional seating arrangement.

December 30, 2021
What Size Rug Is Best for a Queen Bed?

Adding an area rug to your bedroom can give it a finished look. If you have hardwood, laminate, or tile floors, then a rug can add warmth and a sense of coziness to the room.

Buying a rug for your bedroom isn’t like buying a rug for the other rooms in your house. Fail to get the wrong size, and your rug could completely disappear underneath the bed.

Buy a rug that’s too big, and it’ll take over the bedroom, making it feel small and cramped. So, what size of a rug is right for a queen bed? This guide will help you buy the perfect rug for your bedroom.

Know Your Bedroom Size

Choosing the right rug size is about more than just the size of your bed. It’s also about making sure the rug looks good in your bedroom. You need to know your room size too. This is similar to finding out the size of your living room when buying area rugs.

To find out the size of your bedroom, measure the length and width of the room. Then multiply these two measurements together. Now you know the shape of your room and its square footage.

What Is a Standard Bedroom Size?

The average American apartment bedroom is quite small at about 132 square feet, which is large enough to accommodate a queen-sized bed. This would be an 11 x 12-foot room.

The International Residential Building Code states that a bedroom should be a minimum of 70 square feet. This would be a 7 x 10-foot room.

Bedrooms in single-family homes average 219 square feet. That’s about 14 x 15 square feet, which is considered a standard size. If your bedroom is close to or over 300 square feet, you have a large bedroom.

Know Your Bed Dimensions

You know you have a queen-size bed, but this isn’t the full story. There is a standard size for queen mattresses that is 60 x 80 inches. However, there are also nonstandard bed sizes, such as an Olympic queen, that measures wider than average at 66 x 80 inches. Or there is the California Queen, which is longer than the average.

Obviously, the right size you choose could change when you have a queen mattress that is bigger than the average.

Additionally, you need to measure your entire bed. Your queen mattress sits on the bed frame, so by measuring the outside dimensions of the frame, you’ll have a better idea of how large the rug needs to be to extend beyond the bed.

Common Rug Placements

Once you know the size of your bed and the size of the room, you need to decide on rug placement. This will help you compare different rugs. Your bedroom rug could go under all of the furniture, none of the furniture, or only some of it.

Anchored by the Nightstands and Bed

If you have a large bedroom, you have enough room for the bed and two bedside tables. Take advantage of all this space and buy a large area rug that can go under all four legs of both nightstands and the bed.

The rug will start at the wall behind the bed and nightstands but not extend out beyond the foot of the bed and to the left and right of the nightstands. This works well if you don’t have furniture or decor at the foot of your bed that would need anchoring.

It also works well for smaller spaces that may not have the space available at the foot of the bed for an area rug to extend far beyond the foot of the bed.

In Front of the Nightstands

If you buy a smaller rug that’s not big enough to go completely under the nightstands, then try placing it in front of the tables. This placement works well with an area rug size that’s slightly smaller.

Just be sure that the rug extends under the foot of the bed. Otherwise, it will look like it’s awkwardly floating in the middle of the bed. If you have a large room, you can buy a larger rug that extends several feet beyond the foot of the bed.

Middle of the Bed

A third common rug placement is to have the rug start at the middle point of the bed. This is ideal when you have additional furniture at the foot of the bed. That way, the rug extends beyond the bed far enough so that the furniture is also on the rug.

This placement is also ideal when you have a larger room with a long rectangle shape where the head of the bed is against the short wall. With this placement, you can use a vintage rug.

Having only half of the rug hidden under the bed means you will still see the majority of the gorgeous rug’s design.

Standard Rug Sizes

Area rugs come in standard sizes. Understanding how each size will look and when it is best to use each size will help you choose the right size for your bedroom and bed size.

4 x 6 Feet

A rug that is 4 x 6 feet is too small to place under the bed. These are small rugs and not large enough to visually balance the size of a queen bed. However, you can still use rugs this small if you use multiple rugs. Place one on either side of the bed where you would put your feet when getting in and out of bed.

5 x 8 Feet

If you plan to only use one rug, the narrowest it should be is five feet. This is a perfect rug for smaller bedrooms. Place it under the bed and in front of the nightstands. It isn’t wide enough to place it under the nightstands.

6 x 9 Feet

This slightly bigger rug fits better into an average-sized bedroom. It gives a bit more rug space on either side of the bed, making it the right size for most people. Despite it being a large rug, it’s still not big enough to extend all of the way under the nightstands. However, you could shift it to be just in front of the front legs of the nightstands. Additionally, if you have a nonstandard Olympic queen bed, the extra length will work well with your larger bed.

8 x 10 Feet

If your bedroom is slightly larger than the average, consider purchasing a bigger rug that measures 8 x10 feet, like this turquoise Luxe Ombre rug from nuLOOM. While you won’t get the entire bed and nightstands on the rug, you do have two placement options with this larger rug.

First, try laying the rug under the nightstands and head of the bed. This keeps the rug up at the head of the bed and works best if there isn’t a lot of space at the foot of the bed. The other option is to shift the rug down.

Start the rug a quarter of the way or halfway down the length of the bed. This leaves several feet of rug extending out from the foot of the bed. If you have a California queen, this is a good option because it accounts for the additional bed length. This is also a good placement option if you have a chest or bench at the foot of the bed.

9 x 12 Feet

A 9 x 12 foot or larger rug like this 9 x 12 Navy Indoor Geometric Southwestern Area Rug provides the greatest coverage. It will completely cover the entire carpet or bare floor in some bedrooms. It’s actually too large for small bedrooms.

If you have plenty of floor space, then this size of rug will be large enough to go under the nightstands and queen bed with plenty of space on either side and extending out from the end of the bed.

Round Rugs

Everyone automatically thinks of a square or rectangular rug when buying an area rug for their queen bed. However, they aren’t your only options. You could also place a round or oval rug.

This approach will create a custom rug look. You don’t want to place a round rug centered directly under the bed. Then it will barely peak out of the sides. Instead, the edge of the rug should start at the middle of the bed and extend out of the bottom of the bed.

This approach works well for a narrow bedroom because the round shape will complement the limited space. The round shape of a rug like this Imaria Southwestern Red Area Rug can give your bedroom a creative or eclectic look.

Runner

Runner area rugs are long and skinny, making them perfect for use in a hallway or placed in front of a long kitchen countertop. You can also use them in the bedroom. They are perfect for small spaces or if you have a limited budget.

If the long side of your bed is against the wall, you can place the runner along the side of your bed. If you have space on both sides of your bed, then you could place one runner on either side of the bed.

A third option is to place one at the foot of the bed. Never place a runner under the bed as they are not wide enough to ground the bed.

Animal Skins

An animal fur can make a plush and luxurious addition to your queen bed. Whether you decide to buy real or faux, furs come in a unique shape that is hard to measure. A single sheep’s skin rug or faux sheep’s skin rug like this BAYKA Small Faux Fur Rug works well as a small rug placed next to the bed.

Position it in front of the bedside table so that it’s the last thing your toes touch when getting in bed at night and first thing in the morning when getting out of bed.

December 30, 2021
What Colors Go With a Gray Sofa?

What colors go with a gray sofa? Well, the short answer is that almost any color can coordinate beautifully with your gray sofa. This gives you complete freedom to decorate your living room with your chosen color palette.

Unlike other colors, like blue or brown sofas, your creativity is not limited. When selecting your colors, think about more than just the colors. Consider the shades for a balance of light and dark and the interior design style you’re going for.

This guide will help you choose the perfect color palette for your room with a gray sofa.

1. White

White is bright, clean, and fresh feeling. It reflects the maximum amount of light, making it perfect for rooms that lack natural light. It’s also a top choice for those who like simple and modern designs. It doesn’t clutter up the space with unnecessary color.

However, the all-white aesthetic isn’t for everyone. This is where gray becomes an important addition. Adding gray upholstery to your white room softens the white and makes the room feel more comfortable and welcoming.

White works well with both light and dark shades of gray, so you can make your design work no matter what shade of gray your couch is. To really soften your white and gray room, add wood elements. Doing this gives you room a Scandinavian feel.

Try adding a light wood floor and furniture. This adds more warmth to the space and softens the white color’s brightness.

2. Black

On the opposite end of the color spectrum, there is black. It creates a moody and sophisticated feel. It also works well for a sleek and modern design.

You could commit to the black look and use it as the wall color on all four walls. However, this can be too much black for some people. Instead, try painting one wall black as an accent wall using a black wall paint like this one from Microblend, and leave the others white or a pale gray.

You could coordinate the light gray walls with a matching light gray sofa. The dark colors offset the light gray furniture. Be careful that the room doesn’t become too dark. Don’t block the windows with heavy curtains. Add light fixtures that can increase the amount of light.

3. Gray

Of course, gray decorative elements will coordinate with your gray sofa. Gray living room ideas are popular right now because gray is considered the trending neutral. It comes in a wide range of shades for versatile interior design options.

Don’t choose elements that match too closely. When you have gray walls, flooring, and furniture, everything blends to become one large bland blob of gray. It can look boring and dull. Instead, vary the gray tones to balance light and dark.

If you have a dark gray sofa, then choose light gray paint like this one from Prestige Paints for the wall, or vice versa. This creates depth in the room by making it clear that the sofa is separate from the wall and other furniture.

Choose textiles that have other colors in addition to gray. The pattern on the fabric and the weave of the material add texture to the room. This helps it to feel more cozy and welcoming.

4. Neutrals

Neutral may seem counterintuitive, but they can complement your gray sofa nicely. Choose neutral colors that are in the same shade family as your gray. For example, if you have a light gray sofa, then choose neutral shades that are also light.

If your gray sofa is darker, then choose shades that are also darker. This keeps the colors in the same family. It’s also good to choose either the gray or the neutrals to be the dominant feature in the room, and then the other color is a pop of color accent.

5. Earth Tones

Using earth tones with gray can bring some subtle and gentle warmth into the room. gray tends to be a cool color, so earth tones can make the gray feel less cold.

Colors that qualify as earth tones are ones that you would find in nature. For example, mustard, marigold, terra cotta, rust, burnt sienna, deep navy, and turmeric are all earth tones. These warm colors are a step up from the traditional neutrals.

Try using these colors with your gray sofa in the decor. This could be wall art, decorative pieces on a coffee table, pots for plants, or small items on a shelf.

6. Red

Red and gray don’t seem like they would go together, but this bold color can create a unique aesthetic in your home. The design choice tends to be hit or miss with people, so you’ll either love it or hate it.

Most people use a combination of bold, bright red with black and light gray. Balance the three colors in the room to create a balance of light, dark, and bright. Gray sofas are good for this because it provides a neutral furniture piece. Then you can add red accents.

If you decide you’re tired of this design, you can easily switch out the red decor for another color.

7. Pink

Pink and gray are a classic color combination that creates a design that’s the perfect balance between masculine and feminine design. Both colors work well together in light and dark shades, so you have a lot of freedom in choosing any color of pink that appeals to you most.

Darker shades of pink have a more sophisticated feel, while pastels work best in a rustic, farmhouse, or contemporary design. Mauve is a muted version of pink that works well for vintage-inspired designs like grand millennial decor.

To elevate your interior design, use more than one shade of pink. Choose one dominant shade for the room but then accent it with lighter and darker shades in the textiles with a multi-dimensional pattern. Florals like these decorative cushion covers work well for this because they naturally use varying shades of a single color.

8. Yellow

Using yellow in your interior design can help brighten your living space. It’s the color associated with the sun, so even if your room lacks light, this bright color gives the impression of more light. It’s a naturally bright and light color, so it will help reflect the light that is present in the room.

Pairing it with your gray sofa is a smart choice because the gray balances the yellow and gives it some softness. Pale yellow is perfect for farmhouse and contemporary designs. The light color adds some life to what would otherwise be a bland, neutral color palette.

If you like bold colors, choose a vibrant yellow that can balance nicely with a darker shade of gray. The contrast between light and dark makes for a bold interior design. Try to use equal amounts of each color so that your design is balanced.

9. Green

Bring a lush touch of nature into your living room by pairing your light gray sofa with rich green shades. Try adding a tropical leaf wallpaper to one wall and an accent. This will have multiple shades of green that will add depth to the room. You can then pick up those green colors throughout the rest of the room.

Add solid green curtains to frame the window. Dress the sofa with pillows and a blanket. Add an area rug that has a bold pattern that features green.

Finally, commit to the green nature aesthetic by adding actual live plants. Mount them on the wall opposite the feature wall or place one in a large plant in a dead corner.

10. Blue

Using blue with your gray couch is a smart choice if you want to create a calm and soothing aesthetic. Pale blue can brighten up a dark couch with a light throw pillow or a blanket.

Using light blue for the rug color is also good because it adds some lightness to the bottom half of the room, which keeps a dark gray sofa from absorbing too much light.

A charcoal gray color can also look beautiful with a deep blue paint color. The two dark shades will have a sophisticated and understated glamorous feel, especially if you accent it with gold fixtures and hardware.

Using blue, white, and gray can be a perfect color palette for a nautical interior design. It can also work well for a simple contemporary or Scandinavian design.

11. Jewel Tones

Choosing a jewel tone for your wall paint and color scheme will give your room richness and regality. These colors are highly saturated, and complement gray beautifully. Think deep peacock sapphire blue with hints of teal, deep ruby red that isn’t too bright but not dark burgundy either, and earthy emerald green that mimics the lush color of healthy tropical plants.

Inspired by the deep colors of gemstones, these jewel tones add life and vibrancy to your gray sofa. They work with both light and dark gray. Add metallic accents, and your plain gray sofa gets elevated into something that looks elegant or even luxurious.

Try pairing more than one jewel tone together for a coordinated look. For example, blue, green, and gray would look beautiful together and be a soothing design. Or red, orange, and gray can have an energizing but not overwhelming design.

12. Wood

Wood isn’t necessarily a color, but it’s an important element to discuss when styling your gray sofa. Adding natural elements to your living room helps bring warmth into your living space.

A common method for doing this is with wood flooring. However, having wood flooring typically means you’ll want to lay an area rug down. You’ll then need to consider the color carpet combination and how it coordinates with your gray sofa.

You can add more warmth to the room with wood end tables, a coffee table, or shelving. Choose woods that have cool undertones. This means avoiding woods like cherry with red undertones or oak.

Woods like ash, maple, pine, and popular all have cool undertones. These will pair better with the cool nature of gray. You could even further bring out these undertones by giving it a whitewash or graying treatment.

December 30, 2021
What Color Goes With a Brown Leather Sofa?

A brown leather sofa is a classic piece of furniture that looks beautiful in any home. The luxurious leather adds a sense of elegance and class that a fabric sofa simply can’t achieve. This is especially the case when you choose a classic upholstery design, like a Chesterfield sofa or a mid-century modern sofa.

Once you have your beautiful leather sofa, you now have to design the rest of your living room around it. So, what colors go with a brown leather sofa? This guide will help you find the perfect color scheme for your leather sofa.

1. Earth Tones

Pair your brown couch with a color scheme that features earth tones. These are colors that you would find existing in nature. Think rusty reds, burnt oranges, mustard yellow, sage, moss grey, and sandy beige. These colors pair well with your brown leather sofa because the sofa is also an earth tone shade naturally occurring in nature.

This KILZ TRIBUTE Interior Matte Paint comes in a range of earth tones including “Baked terra cotta”, “Haute red” and “Pottery beige”.

Choose a paint color that balances the shade of your sofa. For example, if your sofa is dark brown, choose a lighter earth tone for the walls. If your sofa is a lighter color, then skip the light beige for the walls and choose another color. This will create dimensions and depth in the room.

Classic earth tone color combinations are found in Southwestern design, the country cabin aesthetic, or even some mid-century modern designs. Do not try to use all of these earth tones in a single room as this is too much color. Stick with the 60/30/10 rule of three. You’ll choose three colors and use them 60%, 30%, and 10% in the room.

2. Warm Colors

Pair your dark brown sofa with warm colors like red, orange, and yellow. These warm-hued colors bring out the warm undertones in the leather. These colors can be overwhelming when painted on the wall, so be sure you are ready to make a bold statement before painting the walls red in your living room.

Instead, try using these warm colors in the accents and textiles. For example, keep the walls a soft neutral and hang red curtains, use a patterned area rug with red in it, and have red throw pillow combinations.

Also, try using different shades of red, orange, and yellow. Bright yellow can provide light and dark balance to a dark brown leather sofa. A soft mauve can add a delicate feminine touch to your brown leather sofa that has a masculine feel.

3. Cool Colors

Cool colors are greens, blues, purples, and greys. Certain shades of these colors compliment brown leather sofas beautifully by balancing the warmth of the leather. For example, deep navy blue or forest green color walls will look sophisticated and elegant when paired with crisp white trim and a dark brown leather sofa.

In contrast, a bright coastal shade of blue with a light brown leather sofa will look fresh and inviting. Be careful when using purple, though. Purples can be hit or miss with brown. Stick with purples that are pale or have grey undertones for a more sophisticated look.

Blues and greens look good together, so you can have a color palette that features blue, green, and brown. Or you can balance blue and brown with a soft cream color for accents. Finally, tie the room together with an area rug that uses all three colors.

4. Grey

Grey is the modern neutral, and you will see it in various interior design themes. This makes it perfect for pairing with your brown leather furniture. Dark charcoal or pepper grey will look slightly moody and sophisticated, making it perfect for a distinguished Chesterfield sofa.

In contrast, a soft pale or pearl grey will look right at home with a modern brown leather sofa. Choose honey or chestnut leather for this look. To keep the room from falling flat, use more than one shade of grey.

Balancing light and dark grey shades creates depth and definition in the space. You also need other brown accents in the room to ground the sofa in the space. This approach would look good in a farmhouse or rustic sofa.

Then you could have brown cowhides on the floor instead of a traditional area rug. Or you could bring out the brown hues of the leather with wooden furniture. Add matching brown leather hardware for the drawer pulls.

5. White

White is the ultimate neutral and the go-to wall color. It will act as a blank slate for your brown leather couch. You can then choose bold colors for the accents. This could be with throw pillows, a blanket, area rug, window treatments, or artwork on the walls.

White is bright and reflects light well, balancing darker brown leather shades. You are also free to choose brown leather sofas with more unique undertones, like reds and oranges.

Next, accent your white room and brown leather sofa with black hardware and fixtures. Finally, place wood furniture with your sofa, and you will have a rustic farmhouse feel that won’t feel old or outdated.

6. Cream

White can look crisp, but it can also look stark and cold. It can also reflect a high amount of light, which isn’t necessary for rooms with a lot of natural light.

A perfect alternative is to use a soft cream color instead. This lighter shade is perfect to pair with a dark brown couch because there are warm undertones in the white shade.

Pay attention to the undertones in your chosen shade, as some are pink and others are more yellow.

Don’t pick a shade where the undertones are too strong, or you will lose the cream look and instead have pale pink or yellow walls. It’s also best to pair your brown leather sofa and chosen shades of cream with a third color that matches the undertones of the cream.

7. Black

An outdated fashion rule states black and brown should never go together. This rule is out and one that you can ignore. A black wall and chocolate brown leather sofa can look beautiful together.

Keep the decor to a minimum for a clean design and pair your black and brown with white and light woods. Accent the sofa with a soft cream-colored blanket like this one to soften the look. This is a minimalist approach to Scandinavian design.

Your living room will have an understated feel that is spacious and cozy. This design works best when your leather sofa looks slightly worn in and has an overstuffed feel to the cushions.

8. Jewel Tones

Jewel tones are colors that are derived from gemstones, hence the name. These are stones like sapphire, ruby, and emerald. The colors are highly saturated and eye-catching – check out this gorgeous velvet barrel chair.

Historically, these gemstones were associated with the ultra-rich nobility and royalty. This association has carried over today, and when used in interior design, they give a sense of regal-ness and distinction. This makes them perfect for use with leather furniture, which is also associated with someone who is upscale and has wealth.

The richness of the brown leather provides a complementary color that won’t compete with the bold jewel-tone colors. This color combination looks complete when you accent it with metal fixtures.

While painting your walls, a jewel tone makes a bold statement; not everyone is ready to commit to this. Instead, you could choose a jewel tone rug color. It will pop even more with brown furniture placed on it.

9. Metallics

Brown colors can look a bit dull, even if they are in the form of a luxurious leather sofa. You can play up the elegant feel of your leather by pairing it with other high-end materials.

Try adding metallic accents to the room that will elevate the interior design. Change out the legs on the sofa for copper, gold, or brass, or rose gold legs. Then carry your chosen metal hue throughout the rest of the room.

You could hang wall decor, add metallic picture frames, use table lamps with metal accents, or side tables that have metal frames. Don’t forget about the curtain rod over the window. Avoid cool metals like silver and nickel; they make brown leather sofas look cheaper.

Black metals have their place, such as in a vintage-inspired, farmhouse-themed, or industrial design. Look for black metal accents and fixtures that match your chosen aesthetic.

10. Neutral Colors

You can’t go wrong with a neutral palette when decorating with a brown leather sofa. Whether you have a honey, caramel, saddle, chocolate, or darker shade, all of these are considered neutrals.

Take the color of your leather sofa and build the rest of your neutral palette around it. If your sofa is dark, add medium and light shades. If your sofa is a medium shade, add dark and light shades. If your sofa is light, add medium and dark shades.

You want a good balance of light and dark because it will add depth and dimension to your room. Everything will blend and look incredibly bland if you have beige walls, textiles, furniture, and flooring. Don’t be afraid to add white, cream, or even black to your neutrals.

11. Vibrant and Bright Colors

No, we are not talking about neon colors. Brown couches and neon colors do not mix. However, a dark brown shade is a perfect color to ground more conventional bright colors, like a bright sunny yellow, southwest turquoise, or vibrant magenta. These colors are highly saturated and need a dark color to balance them out.

Dark brown furniture is perfect because it has a softness that pure white or black lacks. If you have a light brown leather sofa, pair it with bright kelly green elements like these throw pillows. Try using bright colors in a maximalist design that embraces vibrant colors, shiny metals, and bold patterns.

December 30, 2021
15 Best Small Galley Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Love them or hate them, galley kitchens offer unmatched efficiency. So if you’re short on space, a galley kitchen floor plan is likely the best option.

Unfortunately, despite their sheer functionality, galley kitchens are often maligned among the design-conscious.

While it’s true that the unique size and shape require a different approach than your average open-concept kitchen, there’s no reason for a galley kitchen to be a curse upon your home’s aesthetic!

Keep reading for our top small galley kitchen ideas and how to implement them within your own culinary workspace.

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1. Free Up Storage With Wall Shelves & Cabinets

Even the most cramped galley kitchens can be transformed into beautiful, cozy spaces with thoughtful storage solutions. Installing floating wall shelves gives the illusion of more space while offering a spot to neatly organize cookware and dinnerware.

Mug racks and floating plant holders create additional room for decorations and essential pantry items with minimal space lost. With a few collection pieces, a small galley kitchen can become an inviting space to hang out, cook delicious meals, or grab breakfast on the go.

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2. Create A Cozy Boho Kitchen

With its rattan furniture and Persian rug, a boho small galley kitchen creates a chic and cozy atmosphere. Fill the space with dried flowers to bring in color while giving off that subtle bohemian vibe. Keep the rattan furniture minimal to maintain a clutter-free look, but add bold style with vibrant wall hangings to make the room feel inviting.

Wooden cutting boards, open shelving and rattan woven baskets complete the look; achieve a soft and balanced contrast by combining light rattan against darker woods for an eclectic touch with a bold yet homey feel.

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3. Keep It Minimal But Stylish

Go modern and minimalist with your small galley kitchen! Sleek minimalist cabinets keep everything tucked away, while a pristine white countertop allows any decor to pop.

Featuring efficient cabinets, sleek white countertops, and well-placed recessed lighting, this inviting kitchen area can transform even the most mundane dishes into something extraordinary. The perfect touch is recessed lighting which adds the right amount of glimmer to the room no matter whether you prefer the day or night look.

With space-saving storage solutions that streamline cooking and entertaining alike, it’s no wonder why a modern small galley kitchen is an essential part of any home.

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4. Install Gold Fixtures

A small galley kitchen can be a charming and inviting living space, no matter how limited the square footage is. Add gold fixtures to catch the light and create an air of sophistication, then contrast these with an earthy interior – be it white counters, mahogany cabinets, or perhaps even a tiled backsplash.

Install bright spotlights in strategic positions for a modern touch and top off the look by opting for unique hardware that stands out from the crowd. With a few unexpectedly luxurious touches here and there, you’ll be left with your very own exquisite galley kitchen.

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4. Make It French Countryhouse Style

Crafting the French country house interior of your dreams starts in the small galley kitchen! This quaint room can be transformed with white shiplap walls, shelves designed with storage in mind, and chic tile flooring. What could feel cramped and cluttered instead feels fresh and elegant when thoughtfully designed.

To complete the look, add a vase of fresh flowers to bring character and warmth to the room. With a little bit of creativity and ingenuity, you can create a French-inspired sanctuary within your small galley kitchen!

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5. Opt For Sleek, Dark Walls

A small galley kitchen can be dreamy and creative, especially with dark walls and black fixtures that give the space a cozy and modern feel. The dark walls are perfectly complemented by wood countertops and cabinets, creating a natural contrast that invokes a sense of balance and unity in the kitchen.

With its contemporary style, a small galley kitchen is sure to leave you inspired for years to come.

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6. Introduce Plants Into Your Kitchen

A small galley kitchen doesn’t need to be boring – potted plants are the perfect way to bring your space to life!

Hang macrame hangers from the ceiling and fill them with potted stock seedlings, ivy, or pothos for a boho look. Place smaller potted plants on windowsills, counters, or cupboards for a soft pop of color. Herbs can also be potted and placed around the kitchen – and you’ll have ingredients always at hand!

Elevate your potted plant display by creating your own vertical herb wall – it looks simply gorgeous while taking up barely any room in the galley kitchen. Bring some green friends into your space today and enjoy watching your small galley kitchen come alive!

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7. Keep It Warm With A Rustic Interior

A rustic small galley kitchen can be a welcoming space with the right touches. With white and wooden cabinets and shelves, you can bring some rustic charm while also providing plenty of storage space. Keeping the wood flooring light will also help to make the room a brighter place to hang out in.

Add some rustic accents, like antique utensils or galvanized pails as decor, and you’ll have plenty to entertain guests in your rustic small galley kitchen.

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8. Install Black Fixtures

Bring a touch of modern nostalgia to your home with a small galley kitchen. Create an aesthetic that is at once classic and contemporary by combining sleek black fixtures with a traditional Belfast sink, set atop a dark wood countertop. This timeless combination will provide you with the perfect backdrop to create wonderful meals from the comfort of your own kitchen.

With these elements, your small galley kitchen can feel bold yet cozy at once—a unique space to manifest your creative dreams!

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9. Make It Raw For An Industrial Look

Industrial small galley kitchens offer a unique blend of exposed brick walls and spot lights, making them perfect for tapping into a trendy loft apartment vibe. To add the finishing touches of ambiance, consider incorporating some copper fixtures.

A large industrial range is the perfect calling card to make this kitchen stand out from all the rest! Not only will it draw in the eye and make you feel like a top chef, but it will also leave your guests in awe of your creativity and style. Ready for an industrial kitchen adventure? Let this small galley be your gateway!

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10. White With A Pop Of Color

A white small galley kitchen is the perfect spot to create culinary inspiration! With white walls, white cabinetry, and white appliances, this space exudes a light and airy atmosphere. A splash of color can be added to the room in interesting ways.

For example, hang a bold red clock on one of the white walls, or swap out an existing window treatment for solid orange window blinds. These subtle touches will bring life to the white kitchen without overwhelming it. Now you can start dreaming about all your future delicious meals!

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11. Go For Wooden Countertops

Making use of a small galley kitchen can be an enjoyable experience – if done correctly. To maximize space, wooden countertops are ideal for providing adequate work surfaces without feeling cramped. When it comes to cupboards and cabinets, black or white colors are both sleek and contemporary options for creating the illusion of extra room and preventing the area from looking too cluttered.

A few sprigs of plants or herbs add a touch of green that livens up the entire kitchen, while also being helpful in boosting air quality indoors. Starting out with these enchanting features will no doubt give your galley kitchen true personality!

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12. Feel Chic With Terrazzo Vinyl Flooring

A small galley kitchen is a charming space to work with. Even in limited square footage, there are plenty of ways to make the room feel bigger and brighter than it is. Terrazzo flooring could be used to give the room some life and additional character by reflecting light off its multifaceted surface.

To keep the overall aesthetic minimal, white cabinets help open up the space – and pairing it with terrazzo keeps it from feeling too sterile. To soften the look even further, consider adding some potted plants for greenery. A small galley kitchen can still have a big impact!

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13. Add Dramatic Lighting

A small galley kitchen can be transformed into a showstopping space with some creative lighting! Drop lights at different heights give an interesting look and create unique shapes and shadows. For an even more dramatic effect, dark flooring should be used to really make the shadows stand out.

A small galley kitchen can still have all of the style and drama of any large kitchen simply through the use of drop lights and dark flooring, allowing you to get a truly breathtaking result in even the smallest of spaces.

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14. Create An Accent With Beveled Tiles

There’s something about a small galley kitchen with countertop walls tiled in beveled tiles that is irrefutably charming. The interior usually painted white reflects the natural light pouring from the windows, adding a sparkle to the countertops as if they were little jewels scattered around.

The mixture of warm wood cabinets and countertops, with the cool glaze from the counter wall, is mesmerizing. Every inch of the kitchen oozes character and personality which adds to its charm and warmth.

Having beveled tile countertop walls create an eclectic aesthetic that can transform any small galley kitchen into a luxurious space.

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15. Keep It Bright & White

An all-white galley kitchen often appears crisper and brighter than most kitchens, making it ideal for those looking to recreate that bright atmosphere in their own home. But with a little bit of creative flair and well-thought-out design, this small cozy kitchen can become much more. Installing wooden flooring gives the all-white interior a hint of warmth and richness while plants scattered around can inject some life into this little area.

Not only do plants regulate air quality, but they also add captivating color to the all-white environment. With all these elements combined, you will be able to create a bright small galley kitchen that brings out your personality in all its glory!

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November 25, 2021
12 Kitchen Island Design Ideas for Any Home

Adding a kitchen island is a great way to gain extra counter space and storage space in your kitchen. But perhaps an island’s greatest power is how it invariably becomes the preferred gathering spot for your family and friends.

Depending on what elements you include in your island design, it can serve as a cooking, cleaning, dining, and/or prep space. If you don’t want to commit to a full kitchen remodel, you can still enjoy some of the benefits of an island by purchasing a movable kitchen island. Check out our collection of best kitchen island ideas and you’ll likely find one that’s perfect for your home.

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1. Contemporary Kitchen Island Elegance

A contemporary kitchen benefits from a kitchen island that reflects modern kitchen design’s clean lines and surfaces. A pure white marble or quartz countertop is ideal in a contemporary kitchen, but darker marble or stainless steel work equally well. A grey or other neutral color palette allows your contemporary texture and design to stand out.

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Even so, color is definitely at home in contemporary kitchen design. Try a clear glass countertop on a brightly painted minimalist kitchen island. Go with hot pink, bright turquoise, or another favorite color to create a dramatic rectangular kitchen island. A bold metal pendant light fixture completes the look.

2. Choosing the Perfect Countertop

Since counter space is one of the benefits of having a kitchen island, put some serious thought into the type of countertop you choose. Not only does the material matter, the design plays a big part in the overall appearance of your island. Waterfall countertops are currently popular, where the marble or quartz surface “falls” over the corners to extend to the floor in one smooth line.

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A cantilevered countertop is one that creates bar seating beneath the surface. It doesn’t have legs supporting it. There may be no additional support required, or it may be supported by corbels or brackets beneath. Marble, granite, or butcher block countertops are good choices when cantilevering is desired.

3. DIY Kitchen Island Inspirations

If you’re a relatively good woodworker, a DIY kitchen island may be a fun project to tackle. When you do it yourself, you can save money by using reclaimed wood or countertops. Hundreds of DIY kitchen island idea plans can be found online, including this one that features an under-counter microwave, seating, storage, and a marble quartz countertop:

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A portable kitchen island can also be a good DIY project for a smaller kitchen. This small kitchen island on wheels has a clean, basic style that will fit into any type of home decor:

4. Design Your Island to Complement Your Kitchen

For a cohesive appearance, design your kitchen island ideas around the existing countertops and materials already present in your kitchen. For example, if you have a white marble countertop, put that on the island, too. If you have brass fixtures on the kitchen sink, use brass drawer pulls on your island cabinetry.

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This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, however. Sometimes the best kitchen island ideas are those that completely contrast the rest of the room. Paint your kitchen island an entirely different color from the rest of your cabinetry. Any shade of blue adds a swath of peace and calm to your kitchen, while yellow or red amplify the vibration of a busy home kitchen.

5. Discover Farmhouse Kitchen Island Ideas

A farmhouse kitchen is a great space to include a wood island, especially if it’s covered in white shiplap. Remember that farmhouse design includes lots of white paired with warm wood and dark metal accents. Any combination of these features will result in a great farmhouse kitchen island design.

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With farmhouse decor, it’s especially popular to make your island look like a freestanding piece of furniture. Adding short legs to the bottom of your kitchen island is a simple way to achieve this look. A wooden, copper or galvanized steel range hood adds farmhouse style over an island stove.

6. Illuminating Your Island: Lighting Choices

Adequate island lighting is a must, especially if it’s where you most frequently use your knives. Pendant lights are a popular choice over kitchen islands, and can be found in modern, rustic, whimsical, or traditional designs.

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Long, narrow chandeliers are another good island lighting option. If your ceilings are low, recessed lighting might be the best way to illuminate your island. If you have a small kitchen or a movable kitchen island, you may not need additional lighting over the island.

7. Extend Your Kitchen Outdoor with Island Design

Outdoor kitchens benefit from islands, too. Counter space may be limited in an outdoor kitchen, making the addition of an island necessary to accomplish serious cooking tasks.

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If you only have room on the patio for a dining table or an island, go with the kitchen island. Include a cantilevered surface and use bar stools for seating. Be sure to construct your outdoor island with weatherproofed materials, even if your outdoor kitchen is in a covered location.

8. Add Warmth with Rustic Kitchen Island

Since warm wood finishes are a mainstay of rustic decor, a butcher block island is the perfect kitchen island idea in a rustic space. Extend the island countertop to create a seating area and park rustic barstools beneath it.

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Dark marble or granite countertop surfaces may also fit well into a rustic kitchen design. A concrete countertop is ideal if your rustic tastes trend toward an industrial vibe. Mix it up by incorporating concrete, stainless steel, and butcher block surfaces on your island.

9. Design the Perfect Seating Arrangement for Your Island

If you have a small kitchen that has no room for a breakfast nook or dining table, island seating can be a great alternative. Choose a bar stool design that works well with your decor and enjoy comfortable, casual dining.

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Upholstered island seats are more comfortable than hard surfaces, but you should spray them with fabric protectant for easier cleaning. Choose a fabric that ties together the different colors and overall style your kitchen represents.

10. Incorporate a Sink into Your Kitchen Island

If your kitchen space allows it, a kitchen island can be a great place to include a sink. Whether it’s your main kitchen sink, an apron-front farmhouse sink, or a small secondary sink, it will multiply your island’s usefulness.

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Of course, installing new plumbing will greatly increase the cost of adding a new kitchen island. However, you may find the expense well worth it in exchange for more useful work space. A secondary sink is also a great spot to introduce copper or another unique finish into your kitchen design.

11. Maximize Storage with Kitchen Islands

A need for more storage is a common reason homeowners add an island to their kitchen floor plan. Include as many shelves, drawers, and cabinets as the space allows. If extra storage space is your primary reason for adding a kitchen island, don’t waste space by relocating a microwave or other appliance there.

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Hang a decorative pot rack over your island to further expand its storage options. A wine rack is a nice addition to the end of a permanent kitchen island. Have an electrician add outlets to your island so you can use your mixer and other small appliances in the same area they’re stored.

12. Embrace the Beauty of Traditional Kitchen Islands

Although kitchen islands haven’t always been part of American kitchen design, they still work well in traditional home interiors. The colors and details you use are what gives your island a traditional look and makes it seem that it was included in the original construction.

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Marble, granite, and other natural stone surfaces are traditional countertop materials. If you love to bake, marble is a must even if you don’t want it covering the entire countertop. Marble stays cool longer than other materials, making it the perfect counter space surface for rolling out dough or fondant.

November 9, 2021
19 Small Kitchen Storage and Organization Ideas

“If you can organize your kitchen, you can organize your life.” – Louis Parrish

Kitchen organization can be a problem in homes of all sizes. No matter big their kitchen, most people feel like there’s never enough kitchen storage space or counter space.

If you’re in need of new small kitchen storage ideas, you’re in the right place. Enjoy our collection of the best tips and tricks to help you master the art of small kitchen organization.

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1. Install Open End Shelves for Extra Storage

Maximize your kitchen’s storage capacity by adding open end shelves to existing cabinets. This not only provides easy access to frequently used items but also creates a visually appealing display for decorative kitchenware.

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2. Organize with a Standing Pot Lid Holder

A standing pot lid holder is an excellent solution for small kitchens, efficiently organizing your pot lids in one place. This freestanding accessory can be placed in a cabinet or on a countertop, allowing for quick access while cooking and keeping lids neatly stacked and out of the way.

3. Add a Kitchen Ladder Shelf for Vertical Storage

A kitchen ladder shelf offers a stylish and space-efficient way to store various kitchen items. Its vertical design is ideal for small kitchens, allowing you to store things like pots, plants, and cookbooks without consuming valuable counter space.

4. Sort Pantry Items in Labeled Bins

Organize your pantry efficiently with labeled bins. This method helps you quickly find what you need and keeps your pantry items neat. Transparent bins are particularly useful for identifying contents at a glance.

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5. Maximize the Under-shelf Storage

Utilize the space beneath your shelves with under-shelf baskets or hooks. This is an excellent solution for storing mugs, kitchen towels, or even small pots, making the most of unused space.

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6. Utilize Cube Storage for Flexibility

Implement cube storage in your kitchen to create a modular and flexible organization system. It’s perfect for storing everything from dishes to small appliances and can be customized to fit any kitchen layout.

7. Streamline Cabinets with Tiered Organizers

A tiered cabinet organizer can transform your cabinets into more functional storage areas. By providing multiple levels, it allows you to store more items in the same space and keeps everything visible and accessible.

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8. Design a Recessed Coffee Corner

Create a dedicated coffee corner by recessing a small area in your kitchen. This space-saving solution can house your coffee maker and supplies, keeping them out of the way but always ready for use.

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9. Save Counter Space with a Mounted Microwave

Free up counter space by mounting your microwave on the wall or beneath a cabinet. This placement is not only space-efficient but also makes the microwave more accessible.

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10. Expand Storage with Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are a minimalist and practical solution for adding extra storage to your kitchen. They are ideal for holding spices, small plants, or daily-use items, adding both functionality and a modern touch to your space.

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11. Create a Customizable Pegboard Wall

A pegboard provides versatile and accessible storage for a variety of kitchen tools. It can be customized with hooks and shelves to hold utensils, pots, and pans, keeping them handy and your countertops clutter-free.

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12. Convert Cabinets to Open Shelving

Transform your cabinets into open shelving for an airy, spacious feel in your kitchen. This encourages you to keep only essential items and makes them easily reachable.

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13. U-Shaped Countertop for More Storage

A U-shaped countertop not only provides ample workspace but also allows for more storage underneath. It’s an efficient layout for small kitchens, offering maximum storage and surface area.

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14. Enhance Kitchen Island with Drawers

Add drawers to your kitchen island for additional, easily accessible storage. These can be used for utensils, small appliances, or pantry items, keeping them close at hand but out of sight.

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15. Use Drawer Dividers

Drawer dividers help in maintaining an organized kitchen. By compartmentalizing your drawers, you can easily separate utensils, cutlery, and other small items, making them easier to find.

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16. Access Easily with a Pull-Out Pantry

A pull-out pantry is a space-saving solution that offers great visibility and access to your food items. It slides out easily, allowing you to view and reach everything without the need to dig through deep shelves.

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17. Preserve Freshness with Airtight Containers

Storing food in airtight containers not only keeps it fresh longer but also helps in organizing your pantry. These containers can be stacked, saving space and reducing clutter.

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18. Simplify Access with a Rotating Storage Rack

A rotating storage rack, or lazy Susan, can be used in cabinets or on countertops for easy access to spices, condiments, and small jars. This solution utilizes corner spaces efficiently and keeps items within easy reach.

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19. Make Use of Corners with a Pantry Shelf

Make the most of corner space in your kitchen with a corner pantry shelf or corner cabinet. This shelving unit fits snugly into corners, offering additional storage space for pantry items or appliances.

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November 9, 2021
13 Painted Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

“No matter what the recipe, any baker can do wonders in the kitchen with some good ingredients and an upbeat attitude!” – Buddy Valastro

Doing a kitchen makeover is an easy way to update the look of your kitchen. It’s one of the most used rooms in your home, so giving it an update can make a big impact. But before you say good riddance to those oak cabinets and replace them with open shelving, consider a better way. A simple cabinet makeover can update your kitchen without you losing valuable storage space.

Painting your kitchen cabinets is a simple home improvement project that can transform the look of your kitchen. Changing the color of your cabinets can make your kitchen feel bigger, brighter, and more welcoming. The right color can take a lifeless kitchen with no personality and turn it into something unique that’s a perfect expression of you and your family.

These painted kitchen cabinet ideas will help you decide what color is best for your kitchen.

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1. Dive into Santorini Blue

Santorini blue cabinets evoke a fresh, vibrant atmosphere in the kitchen, reminiscent of the Greek island’s serene beauty. This color works well in well-lit spaces, bringing a sense of openness and airiness.

Use it as a statement color for all your cabinets or as an accent for an island or lower cabinets. Complement this shade with natural elements like wooden floors or rattan accessories to balance its brightness.

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For a modern twist, pair Santorini Blue cabinets with sleek, stainless steel appliances and minimalist hardware. This creates a striking contrast that is both contemporary and timeless.

Consider matte finishes for a more subtle look, or high gloss for a more dramatic effect. The key is to keep surrounding elements simple, letting the blue be the star of your kitchen.

2. Transform with Teal Blue

This versatile shade pairs beautifully with both light and dark color palettes, offering flexibility in design choices.

For a cohesive look, match teal cabinets with neutral backsplashes like beige or grey. Brass or gold hardware can add a touch of luxury, creating an elegant feel.

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In smaller kitchens, use teal blue on lower cabinets to ground the space without overwhelming it. Balance it with lighter upper cabinets or open shelving to maintain a spacious feel.

For lighting, consider pendant lights with a warm glow to enhance the cozy, inviting ambiance that teal naturally brings to a room.

3. Elevate with Oxford Blue

Oxford blue cabinets lend a sense of sophistication and depth to your kitchen. This deep, rich hue is perfect for creating a focal point, especially in larger kitchens or open-plan spaces. It pairs exceptionally well with metallic accents like copper or brushed nickel, adding a layer of luxury.

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To maintain a balanced look, complement Oxford Blue cabinets with lighter elements. Think of using lighter countertops or a soft-colored backsplash.

Natural light plays a significant role in this color scheme, so ensure your kitchen is well-lit with either natural or artificial lighting. This will keep the space feeling open and welcoming, despite the darker cabinetry.

4. Enrich with Brown

Brown cabinets tend to rank low on homeowners’ lists when painting kitchen cabinets. However, when done correctly, brown can look beautiful. It also works well with countertops that have beige and brown hues. This makes it a smart choice when you have a limited budget for updating and upgrading your kitchen.

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Skip the overused and boring chocolate brown. Instead, choose a brown that has grey undertones or one that’s muted. Lighter brown shades are also nice because they keep your cabinets from feeling too heavy.

5. Refresh with White & Marble Countertops

This classic combination exudes luxury and provides a bright, clean backdrop for your culinary space. Marble, with its unique veining, adds character and depth, making each countertop a one-of-a-kind piece. This pairing works well in both traditional and contemporary kitchen styles.

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Maintaining a balance between the pristine white cabinets and the rich details of marble is key. Consider using subtle color accents through accessories or plants to add warmth.

For a seamless design, choose hardware that complements the tones in the marble, whether that’s a cool silver or a warm brass.

6. Warm Up with White & Wood Countertops

White cabinets paired with a wood countertop create a warm and inviting kitchen atmosphere. This combination brings together the freshness of white and the natural, earthy feel of wood.

Choose a wood countertop with a rich grain to add texture and visual interest. This style suits a range of kitchen designs, from modern to rustic.

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To maximize the effect of this pairing, keep the hardware and fixtures simple and understated. Consider brushed metal or matte black finishes for handles and taps.

7. Contrast with White & Black Countertops

White cabinets with a black countertop present a striking, modern contrast that makes a bold statement in any kitchen.

This high-contrast look is both sleek and sophisticated, ideal for contemporary designs. The black countertop not only grounds the space but also hides stains and scratches better than lighter colors.

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To soften the contrast, introduce elements of gray or wood tones in flooring or accessories. This will create a more layered look and prevent the kitchen from feeling too stark.

Lighting is crucial in this color scheme; ensure there is ample light to highlight the white cabinets and provide a balance against the black countertops.

8. Embrace Farmhouse Style

You’ll see farmhouse cabinet designs with decorative cutouts or chicken wire covering a large opening. These are a big and permanent commitment to changing the look of your cabinet doors. If you don’t like it or change your mind in the future, you’ll have to replace the cabinet doors. Painting is a much better option because you can easily repaint the cabinets for less money.

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Give your kitchen cabinets a unique look by using chalk paint to finish your cabinet fronts. You don’t need to use it for the entire cabinets, just the doors. Chalkboard paint comes in classic black, but if black kitchen cabinets aren’t you’re style, there are other colors to choose from. Have a small bin with chalk on your counter that you can use to make notes such as recipes, grocery shopping lists, or planned menus.

Read also: What Color Cabinets Go With Black Stainless Steel Appliances?

9. Mix It Up with Two Shades of Blue

Using two shades of blue in your kitchen cabinetry can create a dynamic and visually interesting space. Consider a lighter blue for upper cabinets and a darker blue for the lower ones. This not only adds depth but also helps in creating a sense of balance and hierarchy in the space.

Another approach is to use one shade on the cabinets and another on the kitchen island, making it a striking centerpiece.

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Coordinate these blue shades with neutral elements like a white backsplash or light wood flooring. This prevents the blues from overpowering the space while keeping the focus on the cabinetry.

For a harmonious look, select blues with similar undertones, whether they lean towards warm or cool. This strategy ensures the colors complement each other effectively.

10. Go Sleek with Gray

Grey is considered the modern neutral. Light shades have a fresh feel that works perfectly for gray kitchen cabinets. By keeping your cabinet neutral, you are free to use bolder colors with the rest of your decor. Dark charcoal gray cabinets are nice because they have a sleek modern feel without being as harsh as true black.

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To keep your cabinets and kitchen from looking flat, use more than one shade of grey. Using a combination of light and dark creates visual interest and depth. For example, darker grey on your backsplash and a lighter shade on the cabinets makes the wall sink back, giving the illusion of the kitchen being larger.

Read more gray kitchen ideas.

11. Invigorate with Green

Using the color green for your kitchen cabinets is smart because it’s the color of life and nature. It’s perfect for adding an earthy feel to your kitchen without having to add plants. A soft mint shade can keep your kitchen feeling light and bright. It’s perfect for a farmhouse-inspired kitchen. A bright kelly green can look beautiful in a high gloss finish with bright gold hardware. Darker shades of green look elegant when paired with light cream and white.

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Sage green and shades of green that have grey undertones look beautiful in the kitchen. These colors are perfect for your cabinets because they pair well with a wide range of other colors. This makes it easy to decorate and change your decor without having to change your cabinets.

12. Play with Two-Tone Charm

Elevate your kitchen cabinetry by choosing more than one color for your design. A two-tone approach creates more visual interest and depth in your kitchen. You can also use the colors to your advantage to create the illusion that your kitchen is bigger or brighter than it really is.

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Paint your lower cabinets or kitchen island a dark color shade. For example, you could have navy blue, dark cabinets. Then paint your wall and upper cabinets a light color, such as white. This keeps the weight of the room low and the upper part of the room at eye level light and bright.

13. Brighten with All-White Elegance

White has always been the most popular color for kitchens and likely will remain that way. This shouldn’t be surprising since bright white looks clean and fresh and reflects the most light. If you currently have dark-hued cabinets, then a white paint color can transform the look of your kitchen. You don’t have to commit to an all-white kitchen simply because you decide you want white kitchen cabinets.

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Be careful choosing an off-white color. This can make your white cabinets look dirty or dingy. No one wants that when it comes to the kitchen.

Read more: Top White Kitchen Ideas

October 26, 2021
9 Grey Bedroom Decor Ideas and Designs

“Life isn’t black or white, it’s all sorts of shades of grey.” – Nicky Morgan

Grey bedroom ideas are popular because this neutral color has a broad appeal. It gives the master bedroom a sophisticated and fresh feel without being as harsh as a white or black bedroom. There is a range of shades from an almost black charcoal grey to a barely-there pale grey. You can also easily pair it with other colors for a multi-dimensional color scheme.

Check out these fresh grey bedroom ideas and give your bedroom a much-needed update.

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1. Enhance Depth with Grey Decor

Grey bedroom decor can be a bit much in your already grey bedroom design. The decor won’t stand out against the grey bedroom wall. You have two options. The first is to use varying shades of grey. This gives you an all-grey look while also creating depth and contrast.

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Your other option is to choose another color that pairs well with grey. Blue, pink, green, yellow, black, and white all look beautiful with the modern neutral color. Think about the mood you want to create in your bedroom and colors that appeal to you. For example, blue and green can add a calming effect, while yellow can feel cheery, and pink could give it a romantic touch.

2. Select Grey Bedding and Furnishings

Choosing a grey color for your bedding and furnishings is a smart choice. There are plenty of options in various shades, making it easy to find the perfect pieces for your bedroom. Both hard and soft furnishings come in grey. You could have a light grey wood dresser and bookshelf. Or a matching grey small desk and chair.

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A comfy armchair in grey gives you the perfect place to get dressed in the morning or relax before bed with a book at night. Hang dark charcoal grey drapes on the window to block the light for better sleep and balance the amount of light grey already in the room. Match this darker shade to the comforter on the bed and the rug on the floor. Now you’ve tied the room together with color.

See more bedroom furniture ideas here.

3. Guest Bedroom Elegance in Grey

Adding a light grey bed to the guest bedroom is a nice way of creating a neutral and inviting space for your guests. The grey tone is soft and neutral. You can then go bold with your decor that’s hung on the grey wall. It could have a bohemian feel with pieces of art that you’ve collected from your travels. This is an easy way to add punches of color and bring life to the room without the color feeling overwhelming.

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Instead of hanging decor on the walls, turn the wall into the decor. Add large-scale decals in the form of flowers. There are high-quality decals that look like realistic paintings on your walls. You could hang seasonal decor in the room to help your guests get in the mood for the season. Change out the decor each quarter to have a rotating theme.

4. Transform with a Grey Headboard

You don’t have to commit to an all-grey bedroom to have the shade in your bedroom. Sure, you could do the obvious of having a grey accent wall or grey floor. But you can do something that’s much faster and more affordable. Change the linens and comforter on your bed for grey bedding or headboard.

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If you already have an upholstered headboard, then you can buy grey fabric and cover it. Choose a fabric that matches the rest of your bedroom’s decor. Linen or burlap looks good in a rustic or farmhouse-inspired bedroom. Cotton or linen look right at home in a coastal bedroom. This is your chance to add texture, so look for a material with an obvious weave or texture to it.

See more headboard ideas here.

5. Create a Luxurious Grey Bedroom

All too often, grey is associated with simple and farmhouse decor. However, it can also be sleek, sophisticated, and luxurious. Pair your grey with a blush pink or dusty pink to add a softness to your bedroom. Add these colors with the use of elevated materials. Instead of just a pink armchair, choose one that’s upholstered in luxurious velvet or silk. Elevate the look of your dresser by placing a thin slab of pink quartz or marble on top of it.

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Instead of just adding the color grey, look at some silver bedroom ideas. It has the same effect as grey but looks more luxurious. Change your lighting fixtures to have a polished silver or brushed nickel finish. These both have the look of grey while also looking elegant.

6. Modernize with Dark Grey Shades

Use a darker shade of grey for your modern bedroom color scheme. Charcoal grey is a good option for this. Pair your grey with light-colored wood, white, and accents of silver or nickel fixtures. This creates a balance of light and dark and gives your bedroom a modern feel.

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Dark grey is good for creating voids. Try painting your walls dark gray to help them visually sink back, making the room feel larger. For a bold design, continue the dark grey up and paint the ceiling too. This blends the walls and ceiling together and makes the room feel taller. Another option is to keep the wall and ceiling a light color and dark grey on the floor. This brings the weight and heaviness of the room down, helping the upper area of the room to feel larger.

7. Go Neutral with Light Grey

Grey is popular because it is considered a modern neutral color. While it comes in different shades, pale grey is the most versatile color for your wall color. It feels fresh and light while helping the space to feel open and welcoming. Start creating your light grey bedroom by painting the walls. Then add an area rug. Make sure it’s sized correctly for your bedroom.

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Add plenty of textures to your neutral bedroom to keep it from feeling one-dimensional and flat. Do this by adding a woven or sculpted rug to the floor. Add linen or raw silk curtains to the windows. Finally, lay a woven or faux fur blanket on your bed.

8. Small Bedroom Solutions in Grey

It can be tempting to have white walls in a small bedroom to help the space feel brighter and bigger. But this isn’t your only option. Light grey bedroom designs will have the same effect but be softer. White can look harsh and stark, making it uncomfortable to be in. The light grey removes this edge and makes the space feel more welcoming.

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Another option is to create a feature wall with grey. Leave all of the walls white and choose a darker shade of grey for the wall behind your headboard. Instead of simply painting the wall, look for wallpaper with an appealing design where the main color is grey. Or choose a textured wallpaper that looks like natural stone for an earthy feel.

9. Grey for a Teen’s Bedroom Makeover

Your teenager may want a more grown-up-looking room that is still fun. Using grey as the base color is a nice neutral for adding other colors. Choose a warm grey that looks more like a greige. You can then pair it with lighter shades and bright colors. This could be purple, green, blue, or red.

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Keep the grey fun by adding texture and pattern to your teenagers’ room. Create an accent wall by adding wallpaper with a large-scale graphic design or cool scenery. Spread a bold comforter on the bed and add a colorful rug on the floor.

October 5, 2021