4 Creative Ways to Use a Red, White and Blue Color Palette

It doesn’t take much for a red, white and blue color scheme to turn cheesy. One wrong turn, and you’re in Uncle Sam territory. But the good news is: when done right, this combination can be fresh, fun and invigorating. And we’ve got tips to help you to pull it off!

Crisp blue and white is the primary pairing in this dining room, and cherry red is incorporated via a subtle herringbone fabric that echoes the rug’s border. This space would have screamed patriotism if it weren’t for the light coral and gold chandelier, which adds an unexpected element and softens the more traditional decor.

Get a similar look:

We asked designer Keith Baltimore for his advice on red, white and blue decor, and he shared this creative kid’s room with us. The stripes on the walls are paired with a simple bed frame and nightstand and then repeated on the bedding and in the bathroom.

“When presenting a theme, think classic lines and select the accessories carefully [so you don’t] overdo it,” Keith suggested.

Get a similar look:

Designer Jamie Meares is the queen of eclectic decor, and her living room is no exception. The red, white and blue color scheme is anything but Americana when mixed with a tiger print throw pillow, a Moroccan pouf, a cow hide rug and a playful zebra hiding under the coffee table.

Get a similar look:

In this bright and cheerful living room, the red, white and blue palette is downplayed with the addition of warm yellow. The driftwood coffee table, textured rug and themed throw pillows create a beach vibe that instantly relaxes the room, despite the presence of such strong blue and red shades.

Get a similar look:

Photo Sources: Lonny, Pablo Corradi, Jamie Meares, Domaine Home

Related Articles:

Tasteful Red, White & Blue Decor: Not Just For Independence Day

Mood Board Monday: 4th of July in The Hamptons

Coastal Colors: Red, White, & Blue

15 Red, White and Blue Rooms That Are Impressively Patriotic

• For more inspiration, sign up for our newsletter. And check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Google+!
   

How to Mix Styles for the Brooklyn Brownstone Look

As a historic borough and the epicenter of the affluent artisan movement, Brooklyn is home to a unique design style that effortlessly combines pre-war architecture and organic, modern décor. Interested in recreating the look in your home? Read on for our tips!

In this Park Slope brownstone, The Brooklyn Home Company highlighted the wall paneling by lining each rectangle with a tone-on-tone Greek key wallpaper pattern. Though all the original moldings are preserved, the space feels fresh and current, thanks to graphic prints and bright colors.

If you don’t happen to reside in a 200-year-old building, you can still get the look! Molding panels are relatively easy to install, and using them to frame out wallpaper is a budget-friendly way to add a luxe, custom element to your home.

Get a similar look:

Blair Harris Interior Design kept the parquet flooring and marble mantelpiece in this Cobble Hill townhouse, but modernized the space with mid-century elements like a wood and brass wall unit, a brass six-arm chandelier and a Danish-inspired coffee table. The neutral armchair and linen-slipcovered sofa keep the room from going too mod, and the botanical wallpaper provides a light and airy contrast to the dark built-ins.

Mid-century modern décor looks fabulous paired with pre-war details, but if you don’t want to dive all the way into the 1950s/1960s look, transitional furniture (a mix between traditional and contemporary) will even things out.

Get a similar look:

This relaxed-chic home is technically in Chelsea, not Brooklyn, but it so clearly personifies the traditional-meets-organic vibe that we had to include it anyway. The 1950s rattan ottoman, Scandinavian chairs and custom marble coffee table are perfectly balanced with an antique mirror, oversized original windows, and a white oak sofa.

When mixing different styles of furniture, it helps to unify the pieces with at least one element. In this case, it’s the height – everything is low and laid-back.

Get a similar look:

When the color palette is limited, it allows for more creativity in patterns and styles, as seen in this sun-kissed townhouse. Natural light pours in from both ends of the building, and the warm woods, antiqued gold tones and soft yellows feel right at home. With only black and white as accents, it’s easy to combine a tribal rug and a crystal chandelier. They’re united by the consistency in hues.

To replicate this look in your home, choose one consistent color family for your furniture and finishes, then layer in contrasting elements like art and throw pillows to your heart’s content.

Get a similar look:

Which one of these stylish spaces is your favorite?

Photo Sources: The Brooklyn Home Company, Blair Harris Interior Design, The New York Times Style Magazine, Domino.

Related Articles:

How to Mix Bold Patterns to Express Your Individuality

Charlotte Moss’ Exclusive Tips: How to Combine Design Styles Like a Pro

A Grown Up Brownstone in Brooklyn Heights

Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities

• For more inspiration, sign up for our newsletter. And check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Google+!
   

How to Decorate With Wicker & Rattan

When most people think of wicker, they imagine outdoor furniture and sun rooms. (Or baskets.) Despite its prominence on the porches of America, wicker is actually very versatile, and it’s recently experienced a comeback in interiors. We promise: you, too, can bring wicker and rattan into your home, and you can do it with style.

If you’re nervous about straying into beachy territory, tone down the look with neutral textiles and clean lines. This modern apartment in Stockholm is casual but decidedly urban – no sandy flip flops in sight.

Get a similar look:

In this elegant foyer featured in House Beautiful, a pair of peacock chairs – which are usually seen in natural woven wicker – are given a modern update with a fretwork back and a coat of white paint. Paired with oversized ginger jars and faux bois wallpaper, they bring the outside in while preserving a classic, glamorous look.

Get a similar look:

Florals, a bird motif and abundant greenery complement the rattan chair and wicker chest in this bright and cheerful room. From the glass pendants to the throw pillows, a recurring orange theme invokes thoughts of citrus and sunshine.

Get a similar look:

Designer Emily Henderson’s sunny California patio has its fair share of warmth, so most of the decor is cool: blue throw pillows, white metal furniture, and gray cushions. The woven wicker coffee table softens the space with its round shape and warm tones, tying in with the wood deck just visible beneath the geometric area rug.

Get a similar look:

Will you be trying out wicker and rattan furniture this summer? We’d love to see your photos!

Photo Sources: The Style Files, House Beautiful, Wlima, Emily Henderson

Related Articles:

4 Ways to Add Beach House Style to Your Home

2015 Decorating Trends that Have Carried Over from Last Year

How to Make the Most of Wicker and Rattan

Last Night I Dreamt of Wicker

• For more inspiration, sign up for our newsletter. And check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Google+!
   

Summer Decor Tips: Update Your Home for the New Season

June has arrived, and we’re opening the windows and letting a warm breeze breathe life into our homes. Ready to prepare your home for summer? We’ve got a few tips!

Mix Neutrals & Bright Colors in Lightweight Fabrics

Photo by Tara Striano

Linen slipcovers in soft whites always make us think “beach house,” and we love the way designer Bennett Leifer added color with summery striped cushions.

Bennett’s tip: “I develop the palettes [for each room in a house] at the same time, making sure there is a consistency in color and texture. I then take each space in a slightly different direction to reflect how the space will be used. For example, the dining room received colorful Missoni print dining chair cushions, reflecting the fresh flowers and foods that would eventually be displayed on the dining table and kitchen counters.”

Get a similar look:

Brighten a Dark Room with Sheer Drapes

Photo via Architectural Digest

With silk damask walls and an antique Oushak carpet, the living room in this Italian apartment is full of dark, serious decor. The sheer, billowing linen curtains let sunshine pour through the room and allow a generous view of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

For your home, try putting your heavy drapes away for the season, and welcome the summer sun with a lightweight sheer replacement.

Get a similar look:

Reduce Clutter with Minimal Accessories

Photo via Style Me Pretty Living

We love accessories as much as the next interior design junkie, but a relaxed summer room should feel easy and laid-back. Clear clutter from your room – and your mind – and try a neutral palette for a living room that’s just begging to be napped in.

Get a similar look:

Go Low-Maintenace with Indoor/Outdoor Fabrics

Photo by Sean Dagen

As the sun gets stronger and the kids start traipsing in with wet bathing suits, your home needs a little extra durability. Indoor/outdoor fabrics have come a long way in recent years – no more stiff, scratchy textiles – and they’re a great way to protect your favorite decor items from fading and mildew.

In this kids’ bedroom, designer Cecily Mendell boldly used a variety of patterns. “I love to mix and match fabrics that you wouldn’t typically see together,” Cecily told us. “The trick is making sure they complement each other – the colors don’t have to all match. Be brave and experiment – your eye will tell you if they work.”

Get a similar look:

Related Articles:

4 Quick Ways to Update Your Home’s Decor for Summer

Bring the Sunshine In with Canary Yellow

Fun Ways to Update Your Home Decor

Prepare Your Home for Summer

• For more inspiration, sign up for our newsletter. And check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Google+!
   

How To: 4 Beautiful Ways to Use Fabric on Your Walls

Nomadic tents, medieval tapestries and sumptuous upholstered walls in European estates were all forerunners of today’s textile wallcoverings. This technique is extremely popular with interior designers, and now DecoratorsBest has made it available to everyone with our new textile wallcoverings line! Check out these four ways to use it on your walls:

Textile wallcovering panels framed with picture molding really pop in this room by Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The designer to Glitterati including Elton John, Cher and Tamara Mellon says that his signature style is paper-backed fabric on walls, which gives them a gorgeous texture.

Photo via Pop Sugar

 Get  a Similar Look:

Schumacher Fabric

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

 

Suysel de Pedro Cunningham and Anne Maxwell Foster of the young design firm Tilton Fenwick used fabric for an accent wall in this bedroom. This is a great way to add emphasis to an area without overwhelming a room or your pocketbook.  In a recent interview with DecoratorsBest President Barbara Karpf, the designer duo explained, “We love fabric on walls because it provides texture and warmth to a room.”

Photo via Country Living

 Get  a Similar Look:

Duralee Fabric

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

 

Using the same pattern for both upholstery and walls creates a cohesive look that visually enlarges a small space like a narrow hallway.

Photo via Decoist

 Get  a Similar Look:

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

 

Solid fabrics with plenty of texture provide a contemporary ambiance when used on walls. Gary McBournie, a traditional designer, loves to use all types of textile wallcoverings. “Fabric adds a ‘luxury-feel’ to any room as it handles light in a totally different way.  Generally the result is a warmer, more cozy space.” Here, he creates a luxurious look with an apple green textile wallcovering that enhances the floral drapery fabric and elegant antiques.

Photo by Gordon Beall

 Get  a Similar Look:

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

Lee Jofa Fabric

DecoratorsBest Textile Wallcovering

 

Related Articles:For more on designer tips, sign up for our Newsletter.And check out our Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr pages!

3 Design Secrets from Tilton Fenwick

An Inside Look at Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s Designs

Using Fabric as Wallpaper in the Kitchen

Designers Show How to Add Personal Style to Your Space

 

4 Ways to Transition Your Decor for Spring

Spring is almost here! Transition your home’s winter décor to something more suitable for the new season with these four ideas:

If you’ve got a dark or neutral palette, adding in one or two pops of color on small pieces like a chair or pillows will liven things up for spring. Here, designer Emily Ruddo brings new life to grey & white with punches of watermelon pink and sea foam green.

Design by Emily Ruddo ; Photo by Meghan Beirle-OBrien

Get  a Similar Look:

Kravet Fabric

B.Berger Fabric

Beacon Hill Fabric

Greenhouse Fabric

 

 

Instantly update your bedroom for the warmer months by upholstering your headboard in a floral fabric. If you’re someone who likes to change your look often, you can create a DIY headboard slipcover.

Design by Town House Interiors; Photo by Lind & Cumings Design Photography

Get  a Similar Look:

Duralee Fabric

Baker Lifestyle Fabric

Duralee Fabric

Fabricut Fabric

 

We tend to use heavier drapes in the winter because they help insulate from the cold. As the temperatures rise, switch these out with something sheer. This is a great solution for lightening up décor elements that don’t feel as geared towards spring. Here, the velvet sofa feels seasonally appropriate thanks to the airiness of the sheer curtains that let in lots of natural light.

Design by A. London by Accouter Group

Get  a Similar Look:

Beacon Hill Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Kravet Fabric

Robert Allen Sheer Fabric

 

Linen, a fabric that has a relaxed and casual feeling to it, will go a long way in making your winter décor feel right for spring & summer. Slipcover a few key pieces, like your sofa, and finish the look with a rug made of natural materials like sisal or jute.

Photo by Lisa Romerein

Get  a Similar Look:

Ralph Lauren Fabric

Surya Area Rug

Ralph Lauren Linen Fabric

Ralph Lauren Linen Fabric

 

 

Related Articles:

How to Make Your Outdoor Space Feel Like an Upscale Resort

8 Interior Design Trends for Spring

New & Chic Outdoor Collections

20 Chic Bird Nest Decorating Ideas

For more on these trends, sign up for our Newsletter.

And check out our Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr pages!

 

 

 

How to Make Your Outdoor Space Feel Like an Upscale Resort

You may not believe it, but there are only 24 days until spring! Get your outdoor space in shape with these four ideas that will have it feeling like a luxurious refuge in no time.

Area rugs are often an afterthought for outdoor décor, but they really complete a look. If you have a large porch or outdoor space, consider using several outdoor rugs around seating areas.

Photos by Thomas Loof & Amanda Lindroth; Home via HouseBeautiful

Get  a Similar Look:

Dash & Albert Area Rug

Jaipur Area Rug

Dash & Albert Area Rug

Jaipur Area Rug

 

Seat cushions can take uncomfortable outdoor furniture to a soft, swanky level. Try using a matching outdoor pattern across the entire space. This creates that chic, unified look that resorts often have.

Design by Estee Stanley

Get  a Similar Look:

Kravet Fabric

B. Berger Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Robert Allen Fabric

 

Just like when you were a kid, tented spaces transport you to a magical mindset. Devising a grown-up version that incorporates flowing sheer fabrics draped over the sides of the tent will make you feel as if you’re lounging at a five-star retreat.

Photo via Coco + Kelly

Get  a Similar Look:

Fabricut Fabric

Surya Area Rug

Jaipur Pillow

Duralee Fabric

 

Outdoor dining areas often incorporate a mash-up of seating that doesn’t match. Unify the look by first choosing a beautiful tablecloth fabric and then make tieback seat cushions in prints that coordinate with it.

Design by Jary Ralston

 Get  a Similar Look:

Lee Jofa Fabric

Duralee Fabric

Kravet Fabric

Lee Jofa Fabric

 

 

Related Articles:

Everything You Need to Know About Outdoor Fabrics

10 Ways to Create a Backyard Getaway

Let’s Go Outside: Gorgeous Resort-Worthy Outdoor Spaces

22 Outdoor Decor Ideas

For more outdoor decorating tips, sign up for our Newsletter.

And check out our Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr pages!

 

 

 

 

How to Decorate with a Bold Statement Wallpaper

Have you ever come across a breath taking wallpaper pattern that you absolutely love, yet you’re not sure how you would ever decorate with it? Let us make it easy for you with these ideas on how to decorate with a statement wall covering.

When you’re covering a whole room in bold wallpaper, a good rule of thumb is to use similar colors in the rest of the space. You can still vary the prints, but using the same color keeps them from competing with the walls.

Source housebeautiful.com

 Get  a Similar Look:

Cole & Son

Schumacher Fabric

Schumacher Fabric

Dash & Albert Rug

A strong print can be toned down by breaking it up into framed panels. This allows for more white space, which softens the look. You can run the panels across the entire room or do them on a single wall.

Source ideasforinterior.com

Get a Similar Look:

Ryan Studio Pillow

Ralph Lauren Fabric

Schumacher Wallpaper

Jaipur Pillow

Neutrals always look good together, so a strong wallpaper print in those hues works wonderfully with (surprise!) variations of black and white! Add in some pops of metallic for a little more dimension, like this room does with the circular mirror and gold end table.

Source bellablog.com

Get a Similar Look:

York Wallpaper

Duralee Fabrics

Clarke & Clarke

Jaipur Rug

Take those drab sliding closet doors to new levels by covering them in a special wallpaper like designer  Melissa Warner did in her apartment. It’s a great way to add just the right amount of color to a bedroom!

Source housebeautiful.com

Get a Similar Look:

Osborne & Little

Cole & Son

Clarke & Clarke

Cole & Son

Related Articles:

How to Incorporate the Leopard Print Trend Into Your Home

Accept the Unexpected

How To Incorporate Statement Furniture

4 Ways To Include a Statement Piece In Your Décor

For more decorating tips, sign up for our Newsletter.

And check out our Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr pages!

How to Incorporate Distressed & Unfinished Elements into Your Home’s Decor

Distressed elements like crumbling brick and worn wood bring a casual, textured look to a space and definitely fit in with the ‘outdoor-meets-indoor’ décor trend that’s happening right now. Check out these ways to incorporate antiqued & unfinished features into your home:

A wall covered in raw wood, which can be recreated with a faux bois wallpaper, works beautifully with a combination of other textures in a room, creating the “soft/hard” juxtaposition. This living room designed by Denise McGaha uses a thick grey wool on the sofa and a cork lampshade. We also love how the designer made art from a trompe l’oeil wallpaper pattern that looks like stacked books near the dining area.

Photo via Denise McGaha

 Get  a Similar Look:

Cole & Son Wallpaper

Dash & Albert Rug

York Wallpaper

Schumacher Fabric

 

Channel the shabby-chic look by putting a wallpaper that looks like tarnished metal or peeling paint on the ceiling. Here the designer has created a full-on distressed look with a venetian plaster finish on the walls and stylishly-worn antique furniture.

Photo by Megan Buchanan

Get a Similar Look:

Winfield Thybony Wallpaper

Andrew Martin Wallpaper

Andrew Martin Wallpaper

Andrew Martin Wallpaper

Most of us long for exposed brick in our home at some point–it’s the epitome of NYC loft coolness. Thanks to great printing technology, we can have our cake and eat it too with wallpapers that look just like the real deal. Go for the eclectic look with distressed leather furniture and a variety of colorful prints.

Designed by Justin Coit

Get a Similar Look:

Surya Pillow

York Wallpaper

Safavieh Area Rug

Kravet Fabric

 

Mountain lodges often have rustic touches like stone walls and peeling wood planks. Create the lodge look in your home by mixing these two elements and topping it off with an ethnic area rug & antler chandelier.

Photo via Pinterest.com

Get a Similar Look:

Jaipur Pillow

York Wallpaper

York Wallpaper

York Wallpaper

Related Articles:

Delightfully Distressed Wallpaper

Brutalism 101: The Design Trend Brought Back by American Hustle

How to Distress Furniture like a Pro

46 Inspiring Interiors Showcasing Shabby Chic Style

For more decorating tips, sign up for our Newsletter.And check out our Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr pages!

How to Transform a Room with Drapery

Drapery is one of those decor elements that can really make a difference in a room. Check out these four window treatment ideas that will have your space looking renewed in no time!

For a dramatic, cohesive look, use different curtain panels on the walls of an entire room. This works best for rooms with at least one window on three of the walls. Use sheer curtain panels over the spots on the wall with windows and a solid color for areas without windows. This idea would be perfect for a fabulous room with lots of windows but a bad view or a space that is flooded too strongly with sunlight.

Photo via elledecor.com

Get  a Similar Look:

Greenhouse Fabric

Fabricut Fabric

Lee Jofa Fabric

Fabricut Fabric

Reminiscent of circus tents, Miles Redd takes the basic pleated swag to a whole new level by adding “pagoda-esque” peaks at the top of drapery done in an attention-grabbing striped fabric.

Photo via splendidsass.blogspot.com

  Get  a Similar Look:

Lee Jofa Fabric

Beacon Hill Fabrics

Scalamandre Fabric

Ralph Lauren Wallpaper

A small window like those often seen in attics can be made to appear large–Install drapery and a cornice that extend well above and outside of the actual window’s dimensions to trick the eye into believing it’s much bigger. Tie in the pattern with throw pillows to complete the look.

Photo via homemydesign.com

Get  a Similar Look:

Groundworks Fabric

Pindler & Pindler Fabric

York Wallpaper

Jaipur Pillow

Bathrooms deserve beautiful drapery, too. Large prints look great in this room because they’re generally not competing with other patterns. We like how the designer of this room created symmetry around the window, which is dressed in a fun foliage print.

Photo via pinterest.com

Get  a Similar Look:

G P & J Baker Fabric

G P & J Baker Wallpaper

Groundworks Fabric

Ralph Lauren Fabric

Related Articles:

The Best Rooms of 2014 in Interior Design

Designer Window Treatments

Bedroom Decorating Ideas: Window Treatments

Curtain Call

For more decorating tips, sign up for our Newsletter.

And check out our Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr pages!