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City-Inspired Design for Your Urban Oasis
There has been an increasing trend in the last few years toward city-inspired design. It has gotten the attention of Wired as well as HGTV and many others. Adding an urban feel to your space can bring a touch of sophistication, but with a slight edge. From exposed brick to cityscape images, people can’t get enough of this trend. Let’s take a look at some elements you can easily incorporate into your home.
Monument Chess
For those looking to add a bit of the big city to their living or game rooms, city-inspired chess sets are the next trend. Thanks to 3D printing, people can make customized sets. This way, they can play with elements from their home (or dream) city. London’s Skyline Chess has released its own version with Big Ben as the Rook and the Shard as the Queen.
City-Inspired Lamp Designs
A variety of city-inspired lamp designs have begun to capture the imagination. Translucent lampshades featuring cityscapes are great for nightlights. They add a mature feel to any space, while also preventing painful bumps in the night. More abstract interpretations have also become quite popular. Companies such as Hubbardton Forge are showing aluminum and glass fixtures that represent minimalist interpretations of a skyline.
Travel Inspired Accent Pillows
If you want just a touch of that sophisticated city feel, accent pillows are a wonderful way to go. Whether you want to represent your home city, your favorite place to have traveled, or a location on your bucket list, this trend has something for you. Pillow Décor is currently showing throw pillows with the name of a city as well as its longitude and latitude. With vintage typewriter text, these evoke the raging 20s of the big city.
City-Inspired Coffee Tables
Coffee tables are also showing their love of the big city this year. The most widely publicized of these designs is from Mousarris, coming in at 8,500 pounds. However, other designers are beginning to pick up on this trend. We expect to see much more affordable variations coming out later this year.
From lamps to pillows to chess sets, “the city” is inspiring many designers right now. If you’re planning a renovation, you may want to consider adding in some of these architectural elements in a bigger way. However, if you just want a new take on your existing scheme, these smaller design elements can be easily incorporated. Now you can embrace city living without having to leave your house.
Daring Bold Prints for a Dynamic Décor
The fashion world is buzzing over bright and bold prints this year. Mixing patterns is the new “matching,” and people are running with it. Hollywood heavy-hitters have been spotted in paint splatters, stripes, daring abstract designs, eye-catching geometrics and bold tropical plants and animals prints in vibrant colors. This trend extends into the décor sphere as a natural extension. Now is the time to embrace your adventurous side and dive into the bold world of prints! Let’s take a look at some of the most popular fashion trends and their corresponding décor options.
Big Plaids
Faded plaids are back in. Evoking a sense of the 90s but in a more sophisticated iteration, these bold prints are all over the runway. It is being featured in both tailored and relaxed silhouettes. It looks both comfortable and mature. This is now making an entrance in home décor as well. It brings a classic and vibrant feeling to any room.
Leopard Bold Prints
Nothing says “bold statement piece” like leopard print. These realistic looking animal prints are here in a big way. Embrace your wild side, and don’t be shy. There are so many options for incorporating this dynamic into your household design. If full animal bold prints is too much for you, try something a little subtler. A favorite is the Variegated Throw Pillow. This incorporates a certain audaciousness with a country-inspired comfort.
Big Bold Dots
Dots are taking over—and not just delicate polka dots, but big and bold dot patterns as well. Mixing and matching colors is perfectly acceptable (and embraced) with these prints. Try incorporating a combination of sizes in the same color palette. Alternatively, combine various colors in the same general dot size. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, do both! You can do no wrong with your dots this year!
Broad Stipes
The fashion world is immersed in bright, colorful, large stripes. This is a fun way to incorporate splashes of color into your wardrobe. Likewise, it is a fantastic way to brighten up your space this season. If you have a room in a need of an accent, these patterns are excellent to work with. Traditional horizontal and vertical stripes are a good base. Try being a bit more daring, though. With so many variations on the classic stripe look available, go for something new!
Be Daring with Bold Prints
Don’t be shy when it comes to decorating. Bold, bright, beautiful prints are in. Let yourself explore some fresh and exciting looks for your space. While you’re at it, maybe try some on yourself. Carpe pattern!
Going Natural: Mongolian Sheepskin
Mongolian sheepskin is emerging onto the scene, and it’s beautiful. The colors are gorgeous, and who doesn’t want to snuggle up to it? Pillows made from this natural material are in high demand right now. In part, that’s because they’re fantastic design elements and because they’re so comfortable. What many people do not realize, however, is how good they are for you. Take a look at some of the benefits of using Mongolian sheepskin pillows.
Temperature Regulation
The sheep from which the wool is garnered have specific living conditions. They’re exposed to extreme heat during the day and extreme heat at night in their natural environment. Their ability to adapt to these extreme temperatures means their wool can maintain heat or coolness. The result is a material that keeps you warm when you curl up with it in winter. When it warms up, the fibers dispel heat quickly. It acts as a natural temperature-regulator. For anyone living in an area that gets four seasons a year, this material is a lifesaver.
Supportive Comfort
Every wool fiber on a sheep grows in a spiral shape. Each of these tiny springs respond to the amount of pressure placed on them. The result is a body-hugging experience that thoroughly supports you. This helps eliminate pressure points and thus reduce pain. Use small, rectangular throws for lower back support or full squares for the whole back experience.
Pressure Relief
Sheepskin has been used in healthcare for a long time due to the level of relief it brings patients. Those suffering from arthritis, stiffness, back problems, or hip injuries benefit from the use of this material. When patients are cold, it heats them up. In turn, this keeps circulation healthy. Once the patient is warm, it draws dampness away from the body. Nobody wants sweat sitting on their skin, so this further elevates comfort.
Design
Maybe one of the best things about Mongolian sheepskin pillows is that they serve form as well as function. We’ve explored some remarkable health benefits associated with them, but there’s also plenty to be said for the design element they add to any room. These amazing pillows are the perfect balance of utility and comfort. Once you’ve squeezed one, you’ll see exactly what we mean. They also represent an awesome combination of sophistication and fun. Their fuzzy texture adds whimsy to any room while maintaining a sense of elegance. These trendy pillows are a welcome addition to any home or design scheme.
Using Pillows to Create Thematic Rooms
Thematic rooms decorating is enjoying increased popularity, especially among millennials and young couples. Many people like to decorate rooms based on themes including favorite colors, books and movies, or travel destinations. Pillows are a great way to showcase these themes in a cost-effective way without taking up too much space. Today, we’ll show you how pillows can enhance a few popular decorating themes.
Nature Themes
As the world becomes more concerned with caring for the environment, people enjoy keeping in touch with nature even indoors. A nature-themed bedroom or sitting room is one way to do so. For this type of room, you can use classics, such as pillows with floral designs, but don’t be afraid to think beyond the usual. Seek out pillows made from natural fibers, or ones that evoke nature without using specific prints. For example, choose a blue-striped pillow for an ocean-themed sunporch or sitting room. Choose pillows in sunset colors – deep orange and purple or soft pink – for a relaxing bedroom.
Old World Tradition
Many homeowners enjoy the exotic flair of themes based on travel destinations, specific time periods, or specific art styles. If this describes you, go for pillows with tapestry designs or ones that evoke your favorite styles. If you love Native American culture, choose tribal designs, or choose a pillow with a large sun design if you like early Mexican or Aztec art. For those who experiment with creating thematic rooms to showcase a specific country, a pillow with a flag design is a good choice, as is one decorated with particular symbols. For instance, French heritage can be alluded to with fleur de lis designs.
Single Color Sparkle
Favorite colors make any room feel like home, but be careful not to saturate any room with one color. Instead, build your décor around one or two favorite colors with accents such as pillows. Solid pillows are often the best choice for rooms dedicated to specific colors. These can be made from material infused with sparkle or fabrics, like imitation velvet, to give your room a heightened sense of luxury. Use neutrals in your walls and furniture to make colors pop. Consider using pillows and blankets in varying shades of your chosen colors.
Thematic Rooms: Vintage Options
Vintage is a popular décor choice among today’s homeowners because when done with a keen eye, it’s timeless. The “vintage vibe” covers everything from postcard-style pillows to pastel florals, from linen and lace to hand-stitched country designs. To achieve this look, search out pillows made with time-honored fabrics and simple trim, such as a bit of lace tatting or understated embroidery.
3 Ways of Removing Pet Hair from Your Furniture
While we love spending time with our pets, there is one major downside to having them indoors: pet hair is everywhere! While it is somewhat easy to sweep hardwood flooring and vacuum the carpet, how do you eliminate hair from your couch? Let’s take a look.
Rubber Glove Method
One of the most widely used and effective ways of removing pet hair from furniture is with a household rubber glove. Simply dampen a rubber glove with water, rub your hand over the surface, and rinse the glove when it is covered in hair. Repeat the process as many times as necessary. The key is to move your hand in circular motions, then up and down and back and forth. Once the hair begins to clump, you know it’s working.
Magical Solution
One easy-to-make, yet somewhat magical solution to removing pet hair, is a mixture of water and fabric softener. Simply combine the two ingredients in a bottle, lightly spray onto the area with hair, and wipe off. It only takes a little bit of the spray, so don’t get overzealous. If you want to combine the two methods mentioned here, use a rubber glove in addition to the spray for best results.
Get to the Root of the Issue
The best solution to ridding your furniture and pillows of pet hair is to avoid the situation all together. No, we aren’t suggesting you get rid of a beloved pet, but we are advising you to brush your pets on a regular basis. Brushing pets two to three days a week will dramatically cut down on the amount they shed and the time you spend removing pet hair from furniture.
At Pillow Décor, we love beautiful, clean homes. Keep your furniture and pillows looking good by trying these three tips to eliminate pet hair.
Trends in Throw Pillows: International Textiles and Tapestries
For those who want to incorporate international flair into their homes, throw pillows are an ideal way to do so. It is important to be respectful of the cultures whose designs you are using, which is why conscientious designers need to carefully consider mixing and matching different textiles and tapestries. Read on to learn about some of the ways savvy designers are using culturally inspired designs from multiple backgrounds on throw pillows to honor different world cultures.
“Ethnic” Textiles Inspiration
The word “ethnic” refers to designs that come from a wide array of world traditions. Sometimes these textiles are created by the culture itself, and sometimes they are simply inspired by these cultures. From Aztec to Navajo, from Balkan to Kashmiri, and even exotic animal print, there are thousands of different fabrics to choose from. It all depends on how you want to arrange them.
Respecting World Cultures
When using multicultural items around your home, it’s important to respect where they came from. For example, if you have acquired a Middle Eastern prayer rug, it’s simply discourteous to use such an item as a bath mat. Simply put, do a bit of research and know the histories of these items. On that note, it’s always respectful to contextualize your décor. Don’t simply refer to an object as “exotic” when you know its specific place of origin is Guatemala.
Arranging International Interiors
Multicultural elements can be juxtaposed together as the focus of your interior, or they can simply be used to emphasize chic, modern furniture and accessories. Internationally made dolls and small sculptures are perfect accents for bookshelves, while throw pillows are a great way to incorporate both comfort and multicultural flair. Try the traditional kilim design in this throw pillow against a muted background to make the pattern pop. Or, if you want a more local piece of culture, consider a tasteful southwest Native American inspired pillow.
Warm Fluffy Fur Pillows for Winter
It’s winter, which means it’s time to consider how you’d like your décor to complement the season. One way to add warmth and comfort is to incorporate fur pillows into your home. If real fur isn’t your thing, there are numerous other options.
Why We Love Fur Pillows
Professionals in the world of interior decorating believe fur offers a sophisticated, rich feeling during the winter. Humans forget we are animals too, and our inclination when it’s cold outside is to nest and get cozy. Fur-like textures such as velvet and cashmere are popular for the same reasons, but fur in particular can help a space feel warm and welcoming. Incorporating fur texture also adds different layers of depth, especially when combined with the warm glow of candlelight.
Less Is More
Too much fur can be overwhelming and may make your cozy home look more like a hunter’s cabin. Design experts advise keeping fur to a minimum and using it as an accent, such as with a throw blanket or pillows. This is also great for those interested in adding this design element without wanting to break the bank.
One excellent choice for those interested in fur or fur-like texture is Mongolian Sheepskin, which comes in numerous colors, from earth tones and neutrals to bright hues that pop. Crafted from rich, buttery sheepskin and suede leather, these pillows are soft and visually stunning. On the other hand, if you’re a believer in animal welfare, faux fur is a perfect alternative, adding the same richness and warmth to any interior space. Consider items like this soft, plush Amur Wolf pillow. Silky, shiny, and covered with an inch of luxurious faux fur, it’s the perfect size for a sofa or for sitting on the floor.
Whatever your favorite fur may be, it remains an excellent choice while the weather grows colder. Consider fur today to add rich, delightful depth to your living space.
When to Give a Throw Pillow as a Gift
When it comes to gift giving, pillows can be a hit or a miss. Understanding the recipient’s taste and unique circumstances is crucial to choosing a gift pillow they will enjoy and display, instead of letting it languish in a closet (or giving it away).
When to Give a Gift Pillow
Sometimes it’s appropriate to give a pillow, and other times it’s best to go with another gift. In the following situations, a pillow is acceptable:
- Housewarming parties. The most popular time to give a pillow is at a housewarming party. After all, guests are there for the purpose of seeing the home and congratulating the owners on their new move. If it’s your first time visiting the home since it’s been decorated, you’ll want to go with very neutral colors that could be used with a variety of styles.
- Bridal showers. Giving a pillow at a bridal shower is entirely appropriate. In most cases, guests are asked to provide a gift that will contribute to the new couple’s home, and a pillow can be a very memorable and much needed gift.
- Holidays. Many people enjoy trading out pillows throughout the year. This is typically done on a seasonal basis, and styles are usually related to holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day. At holiday parties, consider giving a themed pillow as a housewarming gift. It can be put to immediate use and is always appropriate.
- Birthdays. If you know the person very well, you can give a pillow as a birthday gift. Here, though, you need to be more careful. With less guidance than other situations, you can easily go astray with a style that is neither useful nor tasteful.
Considerations for Pillow Gift Giving
There is no need to overthink things, but do give consideration to the following areas:
- Style. What is the recipient’s current color scheme?
- Theme. Does the recipient have a favorite theme? (I.e. dogs, flowers, or pattern)
- Function. Does the recipient have small children or pets? (Functionality vs. Style)
Pillow Décor
At Pillow Décor, we have pillows for every occasion. Regardless of the style, material, shape, size, or color you’re looking for, we have something that will suite your needs. For gift giving, you can also consider a gift certificate – which is perfect for any occasion.
Zen Interiors
Zen Interiors: Shifting to a More Balanced Life – Starting with Your Home!
A Zen inspired interior conjures up an image of a harmonious and peaceful space, one that invites relaxation and unwinding from a busy day. Clean and airy rooms with soft light, natural finishings, textures and decorations come to mind. Today, few would argue that life can get rather hectic at times, so it is no surprise that versatile variations of Zen home interiors are so popular.
As with any decorating style, while there is always room for creative self-expression, following certain techniques will help you achieve the desired Zen look.
Simplicity
Zen is often associated with minimalist style. Minimalism strives to only show the essential qualities of things without excessive decorations and overwhelming color combinations. The preference is given to simple natural materials, basic geometric forms and toned-down colors.
Try to keep your design free of clutter and only introduce one or two accent pieces that fit with the overall concept. These steps will help create a sense of peace and calmness expected of a Zen inspired space.
Accent on Nature
When it comes to choosing interior finishings, using natural materials such as wood, bamboo, stone and natural fabrics is a great way to bring nature into your home. Use earthy colors like soft hues of green, pink and grey, beige and white.
Placing plants inside a room is not only visually calming but will bring more oxygen into your home. Soft textures of upholstery fabrics, rugs and throw pillows will effectively add to the relaxed atmosphere.
Try experimenting with natural scents to engage your senses. They may come in the forms of essential oils, candles, sprays or incenses. Different scents are suited for different purposes and many have healing, calming or invigorating qualities
Asymmetry
Nature is fascinating in the way it constantly evolves. Zen inspired interiors use asymmetry as a symbol of the process of life. It is believed to help nurture one’s imagination and creativity, whereas uniformity of design is considered a sign of stagnation. Thus, placing your furniture and décor pieces asymmetrically will create a sense of movement and change.
When your decorating process is over, don’t forget the fundamental requirement for achieving your Zen – living fully and authentically in the present moment and joyfully accepting each day with gratitude. Decorated in Zen style, your home can be your daily inspiration to live a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Zen Pillows
On the Dot: How Polka Dots are Redefining Interior Design Trends
Polka dots are one of those classic patterns that can seem timeless yet trendy at the same time, so it’s no surprise that they are experiencing a significant comeback for Spring 2014. In the world of fashion design, polka dots popped up all over the Spring/Summer runways this year. Fresh and eye-catching, polka dots appeared in bright colors, ranging from tiny dots to large spots. Depending on how polka dots are designed, they can appear young and fresh or sleek and sophisticated.
Polka Dots at Home
With polka dots making such a splash in the world of fashion design, it makes sense that interior design has followed suit and embraced polka dots as well. Polka dots are showing up as a part of all of the latest home décor lines. As with clothing, polka dots can lend a touch of sophistication or youthful freshness, depending on the styling and design. Black and white polka dots are particularly popular, as they add a graphic, modern feel to a room.
There are plenty of places throughout your home where you can introduce polka dots and work this trend into your interior design. Consider adding the following elements to your home décor:
• A polka dot bedspread. In the bedroom, make a graphic statement by switching to a colorful, dotted comforter. If that’s too much of a statement for your taste, try a bedspread with spotted details or allow polka dot sheets to peek out from underneath a solid comforter.
• Spotted wallpaper. For the uber-trendy, polka dot wallpaper is irresistible. Dotted wallpaper makes a room seem chic and glamorous.
• Dotted throw pillows. One of the easiest ways to incorporate polka dots into your home décor is to buy a few spotted throw pillows. For instance, Pillow Décor’s cream multicolor dots decorative pillow would make a stylish addition to any living room.
Once you get started with this trend, it’s hard to stop! How will you introduce polka dots to your interior design?
Decorating with Metallics
Ring in with Bling: Decorating with Metallics
As we settle into 2014, readers may be wondering what some of the hottest trends in decorating might be for the brand new year. One of the most prominent trends in 2014 is the use of metallic colors for decoration. Here are some ways to incorporate metallics into your living space.
Keep It Simple
Metallics can be wonderfully glamorous, but, as always, try not to go overboard. This is because a room with too many reflective surfaces can feel gaudy rather than trendy. As such, creating the right balance is important. First and foremost, make sure the metallics you choose are smaller and not too close together – think accents rather than large pieces of furniture. You can use items such as candles or candle holders, vases, or photo frames for a chic and subtle incorporation of metallic shades. Don’t worry too much about mixing metallics – if silver and gold both strike your fancy, you can definitely use both in a way that is tasteful as long as you retain an overall simple feel of your space.
Light Colors and Natural Light
Metallics can be overwhelming sometimes, which is why it’s important to use lighter colors and natural light to offset the effect. Pastels, neutrals, and natural tones are great choices for the primary color of a room, and you may even find that metallics will enhance the natural light in a room (as in the way a mirror might).
Throw Pillows
One excellent way to add metallic accents to a space is to use throw pillows. Metallics against matte colors or the aforementioned neutrals can definitely pop. Consider a throw pillow that has a neutral base with metallic accents, such as the Metallic Birds Blue Haze Throw Pillow from Pillow Décor. The wonderfully glamorous look of metallic accents simply can’t be beat, especially when paired with soft and luxurious fabrics.
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