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How to Get Your Dining Room Holiday Ready

The holidays are here and if you’re not excited about hosting dinner in your dining room, we have some ideas that you can easily pull together in a matter of days. These updates will ensure that your dining room gets the attention it deserves and you’ll be proud to show it off.

Go Bold
Whether you choose to paint your walls or trim in a surprising hue, or you’d rather make a statement with your tabletop accessories, artwork or rug, the dining room is the perfect place to take a chance-especially if you don’t use the space every day.

Find the Perfect Rug
A beautifully designed rug is the perfect way to anchor any room, including the dining room. It adds visual interest and you can showcase pattern and color.

Add Statement Lighting
​ A gorgeous chandelier or statement light hanging directly over the table will do wonders for an otherwise simple space. If you’re only going to splurge on one thing in your dining room, this is safe bet.

Chameleon Design

Photo: Lonny Magazine

Expect the Unexpected
A plain wooden dining table surrounded by matching wood chairs might be an easy way to furnish your dining room but it won’t make a big impact. Instead of going for that matching set, consider a popular trick- getting chairs in 2 or 3 different styles. Or if you don’t want to mix up the styles, just make sure the table and chairs are made of different materials.

Create an Artistic Focal Point
Put the finishing touches on your dining room by bringing in eye-catching artwork.  A gallery wall, or even a large-scale piece of art, will make the room feel complete, and add an extra layer of aesthetic appeal.​

Photo: Nate Berkus Design

Photo: Lonny Magazine

Show Off Your Favorite Serving Pieces
Don’t keep your beautiful tabletop accessories hidden away in the cabinets. Plan for shelving or a sideboard in your dining room and put your pieces on display.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Take Tips From Your Favorite Restaurant
Nothing beats having a fancy meal at your favorite date night spot, so why not recreate that same feeling in your own home? Keep your lights dim and to create an atmosphere that makes every meal feel like a special occasion.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Home Design Trends // Factory Windows & Doors

Factory windows are simply black metal-framed windows and doors that have been around forever, but have more recently made a big comeback in both residential and commercial design. They bring an edgy and effortlessly cool style to any space, and will work in more traditional or modern rooms alike. Aside from being versatile and looking great, they’re also very practical! Need a space definer and don’t want to loose any light or feeling of openness? They’re the perfect solution as a room divided by glass still feels spacious and bright. Here are some of our favorite inspiration pics:

Photo: Studio Wonder

Photo: Amber Interiors

Photo: Jute Interior Design

Photo: Elizabeth Garrett Interiors

Basic Design Principles of Modern Decor

Modern decor has been quite popular for years now and the look is not going anywhere! Creating a modern feel in your home doesn’t have to be difficult but there are a few basic rules to keep in mind if you want to go this direction. If you go overboard in any one area, you may end up with something that’s cold or uncomfortable, when what you really want is warm and relaxed. It’s possible to get there if you follow these simple guidelines and before you know it, you’ll have a modern decor that you’ll love:

Simplicity
This word describes modern design better than anything, so make sure that you’re always considering it when decorating your space. As we mentioned, don’t go to the extreme and think you only need a few items in each room. But do go for an uncluttered look, with clean lines, which will naturally simplify things and be more cost effective in the long run.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Functionality
Once you’ve nailed the simplicity by using clean lines and minimal artwork and accessories, you also need to make sure everything in the space is functional. This will vary from room to room, but the key is being able to walk into any area and easily access the items in it. For example, the room below utilizes extra wall space for a built-in desk/computer area that’s not at all out of place in the open family room.

Open Spaces
If you are going with a modern decor, then you will want to have lots of open space in your home. This won’t be as easy if you don’t have an open concept but you can still create the appearance of open spaces by using color, fabrics and furniture. You can also keep windows coverings that are light in color and airy in feel to create an open feel in to the room even if it isn’t.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Character
Last but not least, don’t forget to always inject character in each space. Whether it’s done with color or a fun pattern added to an otherwise neutral palette or an incredible statement piece such as a chair or chandelier that packs a punch, don’t neglect to add some personality to each room.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Design Essentials for Every Home

Every home should be different and reflect the personality of its owners, but there are definite style rules that every designer lives by. These are things that every home should have and we come back to them again and again because they just work. Our essentials to build the foundation of a beautifully designed home add up to more than a few, but here is a basic checklist that’s simple enough to get anyone started on their way!

A Well-Organized Bookshelf
Look at your bookshelf as a wall of endless decorative possibilities. It’s the perfect place to store your favorite books, but it can also be a great way to display a personal collection, a bold black accent piece, and even family photos, all of which can be tweaked over the years as your preferences change.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Black Accents

Just as with clothing, the same rules apply to using the color black in home decor- it never goes out of style and goes with anything! Black pieces will accent the other colors in the space, while adding definition and sophistication. Remember that you don’t need a lot to make this work, one or two pieces is all you need.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Mixed Textures
Materials are easy to mix and will add lots of depth to your spaces. Whether a room is bold and colorful or subdued and neutral, a truly designed look involves a mix of textures. From fabrics like linens, silks and sheers to materials such as wood, metal and glass, a mix is always the way to go.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Living Plants
A space doesn’t feel truly finished unless it includes some greenery to give it a sense of life. If you don’t have a green thumb there are plenty of options that aren’t high maintenance and will flourish indoors.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Personal Touches
Every space should have at least once piece that speaks to a sense of history with some personal meaning. These types of items will assure that nothing looks too perfect in a room, which is something to watch for. Furniture and accessories are one way to go, but simple vintage details like moldings or sconces will also give your home a great look.

Photo: Chameleon Design

A Mid-century Piece
Trends come and go but mid-century will always feel current and timeless. We’ve talked before about how you never want your decor to be to matchy-matchy and by adding a punch of modern style you won’t run into that problem. An easy way to add modern pieces is through seating- chairs or tables will look stylish and keep the room from feeling too formal.

Photo: Chameleon Design

Art You Love
Art stays with you for a lifetime, and each piece marks a place and a memory. Start collecting pieces one by one and grow your collection over the years. The pieces don’t have to cost a fortune, they just have to speak to you.

Photo: Chameleon Design