Guest Post: How to Style Your Home Like an Interior Designer

Striking that perfect balance between different styles and making your home look modern may be quite tricky if you’re not an experienced interior designer. However, this doesn’t mean that you should just give up on the idea of styling your own home. Instead, make sure to follow the latest trends, see what goes best together and try to find your unique way to incorporate all of that into your own home design. In order to help you out with this, we’ve prepared a list of some useful advice and ideas. Take a look and let the redecoration begin!

Be careful with colors

Choosing the right colors for your home is probably the toughest part of the entire redecoration process since you can easily make some serious mistakes. First of all, you should remember that only because you love orange, for example, it doesn’t mean that you should paint the whole house in it. Instead, it’s wiser to go for a more neutral base and then add a pop of orange here and there. Furthermore, if your rooms are rather small, we would recommend opting for lighter hues like beige or grey, since they can create the optical illusion of spaciousness. 

Let the sunshine in

The presence of natural light is what the majority of world-famous designers consider essential in their projects. So, instead of installing dozens of light fixtures in your living room, opt for bigger windows and let the light in. Not only will this help you save on your electricity bills, but you’ll feel much better and healthier. After all, it’s well-known that natural light can improve our mood significantly and has a positive influence on our productivity and concentration as well.

Make your kitchen warm and inviting

You may have concentrated mostly on your living room, but your kitchen will require a lot of work as well. You can start by installing exquisite bamboo flooring which is very low-maintenance and can help create that unique warm feeling. Additionally, don’t forget to equip your kitchen with high-tech appliances, since they will definitely make your cooking much easier and more enjoyable. Even though choices are abundant, we advise you to opt for one quality brand and stick to it. This way, if you, let’s say, go for the amazingAEG appliances, you won’t have to waste time looking for different service numbers since you’ll immediately know whom to call. Finally, think about adding a nice hanging pot rack to your kitchen design as well. Not only is it extremely useful, but it serves as great decoration as well.

Go green

Going green is the home decor trend which has been present for quite some time and it seems that its popularity won’t fade away any time soon. So, if you want to consider yourself modern and environmentally-conscious, now it’s the perfect time for you to bring in some greenery into your living space. For instance, you can hang some artistic pots around your living room or go for those oversized ones which are perfect in case you like the idea of having a few tropical trees as that final touch which will tie the whole room together. However, aside from focusing only on the aesthetic appeal, it’s always wise to opt for some low-maintenance plants which won’t dry out that easily.

Personality is the key ingredient

Last but not least, great interior designers tend to add something unique and always strive to leave their mark. So, if you want your house to look absolutely special, don’t be afraid to show off your personality and express your creative side. Following trends is only the first step of the process which should serve you to get inspired and come up with some innovative solutions. Lastly, if you are an artist or have some hidden talents for painting or sculpturing, don’t hesitate to display your work and show everybody how rich your personality is.

As you can see, you don’t need to be a famous designer to be able to turn your average-looking house into a fabulous sanctuary. All it takes is a bit of creativity and ability to look at your space with fresh eyes. Good luck and enjoy your new home!

About the author:

Tracey Clayton is a mom of three girls. She’s passionate about fashion, home décor, and healthy living. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.”

4 Minimalist Ways to Wear Plaid This Spring

As a trend we usually relate to the ‘90s or the early 2000s, plaid is something we’re actually really excited about this season because it presents us with a challenge. Since we usually relate this print to grungy looks and fall fashion, how on earth do we make it work for springtime? Well, there’s nothing we love more than a challenge because it can really help your personal style grow, so let’s take a look at some fashion tips from the runways and enjoy the plaid craze for the season.

Cool as a cucumber

There are two easy ways you can wear a plaid button-down: old school grunge and rocker chic. This season calls more for that too-cool-for-you, edgy, rocker vibe, and you can pull it off by layering plaid and leather. A short leather jacket coupled with a longer, unbuttoned plaid shirt, and then a black tank top underneath will look cool as hell, and you can combine this with your skinniest jeans (or hey, leather pants), and a pair of ankle boots. Be careful with distressed denim here because it might end up making the outfit look too busy, so plain denim could be a better choice. You’re looking for those really slim, curve-hugging skinny pants that elongate your legs and feel dangerously sexy.

Even people who don’t think they’re all that edgy can pull this look off because it requires some fairly simple details. Another thing that might cross your mind is studded details such as belts and collars, but we recommend that you be careful with that as well. It could push the outfit from cool and stylish into something outdated and give you that trying-too-hard vibe. We’re really trying to retain a measure of polish here, so we recommend some more elegant accessories: slim chain necklaces, wristwatches, and headbands to complement everything.

Quirky vs. high-fashion polish

Let’s talk about plaid suits, something that’s really popular this season. A plaid suit can be tough to pull off because it tends to make you look like a school librarian. And you know what; we recommend that you embrace it. Grey, beige, and light brown suits paired with ruffled shirts, Oxford shoes, and cat-rimmed glasses are cute, stylish, but they are something that’s a lot easier to pull off if your style naturally leans toward quirky and vintage. 

If you want to avoid that and look more polished, then don’t worry, you can definitely make a plaid suit look really high-fashion. For this to work, we recommend jewel tones and darker plaid, a big belt to cinch in your blazer, and some really, really good heels. Also? Try wearing a tie if you want that androgynous, runway vibe, and top it all off with red lipstick.

Clever dressing with accessories

Do these details feel a little too overwhelming? Don’t worry, you can just stick to plaid accessories! In fact, plaid is such a cool thing to spice up the outfit that it’s bound to make you stand out. Hair clips, scarves, headbands, tote bags, belts, and little plaid bows can take your everyday casual to something fully stylish, and we recommend that you push it further and experiment with evening wear as well.

Large, silky cover-up scarves combined with black, elegant evening dresses can give you that straight-from-the-cover-of-Vogue look. Pick a simple, unfussy cut, and then style it up with plaid accessories to really stand out from the crowd. 

Gingham bombshell

We know, we know, gingham isn’t technically plaid. However, how many people know or care about that? It’s a cute print that’s also popular this season, and it’s good for those who are a little scared of plaid. Gingham dresses with off-the-shoulder sleeves are just really damn sexy and cute for spring, or you could go for a high-waisted A-line skirt, a crop top, and a denim jacket. If you’re really set on plaid, we recommend a button-down plaid dress that hugs your waist, some black pumps, and gorgeously messy, curled hair.

It’s time to take plaid out of the “oversized and grunge” box and start experimenting again. Take this print and have fun with it! It can be cool, it can be sexy, it can be anything you want if you style it right, so play around and enjoy this spring. 

*Guest Post written by Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith is an Australia-based beauty and style blogger and a DIY enthusiast. She is very passionate about the latest fashion trends and graphic design projects. Sophia writes mostly about fashion-related topics in her articles. She has contributed to a number of publications including Viva Glam Magazine, Whytt Magazine, How to Simplify, Carousel and Mostly Sugar. 
You can find out more about her writing by following her on Facebook  Twitter  

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Fabulous Places to help you escape from the winter of Northern Hemisphere

The winter chill has set in and as soon as Christmas is over, January will descend with its barrage of cold mornings, diet and exercise and all those other hard to face things! So why not escape and get some winter sun! Just what you need to forget about the dreary dark days of home and rejuvenate yourself and return ready for the New Year ahead!

There are so many amazing places to visit and you can find exactly what you are looking for…whether it is a quiet, beach life, relaxing holiday or a bustling city break…the world is literally your oyster.

For the more relaxing vibe, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Reunion Island. Situated in the Indian Ocean, this is not your average tropical island destination. This unique island is paradise on earth offering over 17 miles of warm welcoming beaches, the perfect destination if you are looking to kick back and totally chill out. A true gem.

There are also, of course, all the amazing forests and enclaves dotted throughout the island. You can go rock climbing, diving, snorkeling, taking a helicopter to discover the splendid sight of volcanoes, or meditating in early-morning light on the beach, getting some massage... you name it, it’s on offer. A perfect spot to brush off the cobwebs and rejuvenate.

What to pack:

Maintain a relaxed vibe with flowy chiffon dresses, cute swimwear, and pretty sandals to adorn your laid-back feet!

Now for something completely different! One of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world: Bangkok. This is not for the faint hearted and is a world away from Reunion Island! Bustling streets full of people, cars, markets, noise! 

This holiday will be full of excitement and is a total feast for the senses. There is so much to see and do in this amazing city and the food, shopping and the sights are just incomparable. You will find yourself emerged in the fantastic Asian culture and the people are as friendly as they are busy. A wondrous adventure awaits you! 

Whether you wish to spend your days traveling through the markets picking up amazing materials or trying out different foods, or choose to visit the amazing temples and ancient buildings, you are sure to enjoy your trip to this eastern paradise. 

What to pack:

It’s HOT here, so loose clothes work best, maybe a floral silk dress, make sure to bring a comfy pair of shoes for walking and of course a bag for all your new purchases!

Happy Travels! 

*This is a Guest Post written by Emma from the Content Team

Guest Post: The Best Three Fall 2016 Trends Unleashed Here! by Suzy Walsh

We are almost in the final quarter of 2016, and it is the perfect time to discuss some of the best trends of the year. In this post, we will talk of the best three trends for fall 2016. Also, we will add some of the best tips and ideas for making the most of these styles.

Image from Popsugar

Play with Leather: Honestly, we don’t support leather and there are serious ethical reasons behind it. Leather industry has been long being accused of animal abuse, but we cannot deny the fact that leather is amazing for creating new looks. For the fall, designers have used varied kinds of sculptural looks for the outerwear, adding more dimensions to the classic trench coats and outerwear. There were also a lot of experimental ideas, as well, offering something for every kind of closet needs. Of course, you can play it safe with faux leather, which is amazing too. For some ideas, you can check 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang and Karen Walker for a few ideas. 

Image from Popsugar

Pink is the new black: Most girls love the idea of pink for the summers, and it is more than practical to wear pinky tones for the sunny days, but have you wondered how pink would look for the fall? While many designers still played it safe with the classic looks and shades, some like Alexander Wang, Altuzarra and Tibi worked with pinks in an incredible range. There were too many soft and peachy shades, but there were also other shades of fuchsia, which worked wonders in many ways. The idea was to probably mix a lot of unique shades to the fall palette and it worked big time. Pair your regular pink top with a pair of tights for that casual appeal. For stunning sporty outfits, click here. 

Image from Popsugar

Checks for love: Calvin Klein, Coach, and Jason Wu were some of the big names that played with the ideas of checks. Checkered looks are astonishing for the sheer fact that they never go out of trend. Every season, you have something or the other on the same lines. If you remember, gingham had emerged as one of the biggest trends for spring 2015. This time, you have checks that are meant to create impression. From a simple shirt to completely new jumpsuit, there is a lot that you can play and experiment with. The whole concept isn’t just about finding the checks that matches your existing outfits, but you would want to play with more vibrant colours, that are not very typical for the fall.

Hope you found the three picks you need for these three months. With new collections for spring 2017 coming up, there might be more trends in days to come. We will surely meet again for another rendezvous with fashion on that too. Until then, stay happy! 

About the Author: Suzy Walsh is a fashion blogger and style expert who loves to write on anything and everything related to fashion. She is also the chief editor and author for The House Of Elegance Fashion – a budding fashion blog.