ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

Interior design is such an important part of designing your home – it can really make the whole house feel beautiful and homely – so here are our tips for the hottest interior design trends to look out for next year.

1: Simplicity.
Using the concept of simplicity is one which surprisingly quite hard to grasp. The key is to get rid of all clutter from your home – or alternatively, find clever ways of disguising the clutter. You can purchase great draws and storage which can slide under your beds or sofa which offer this solution and means you don’t have to throw things away. The key to this trend isn’t to make the house look good, but it is to make you feel good. Simplicity is all about clearing the mind and allowing you space to think and function in your home.

2: Modern Metal.
A new trend for 2012 is the concept of modern metal. This trend can be achieved in many ways – you could purchase some art, perhaps a metal sculpture that would look fantastic on your coffee table, or maybe a stainless steel dining table instead of a wooden one. Another way to embrace this trend is to change your electric heating systems and bringing in new radiators. Radiators are a fantastic thing to change round when you want to give your house a new look: get rid of those boring white ones and invest in a modern metal one which will really add some interest to your home interior. Who’d have thought electric heating systems could have so much hold over the look of your home? It is really key to remember they offer a contemporary yet subtle design option for those seeking to create a modern aesthetic.

3: Light.

2012 will all be about the celebrations of light and how much your home can benefit from it. Another major trend, lighting will be something that completely changes the way you house feels and how it effects the way you enjoy being at home. For something modern and quirky, try purchasing a “light bulb chandelier”. They make a room look instantly arty and stylish and can give any room a “NYC loft” kind of feel. Perfect to liven up any home!

4: Mismatched colour schemes.
Lastly, the most fun of this year’s design trends. The key to this trend is to coordinate your furnishings using only colour. Try for example choosing one colour (for the purpose of this, lets pick Blue) that you really like and then instead of buying 5 cushions which are all the same shade of Blue, you buy 5 different cushion which are all blue, but that are all very different shades. By doing this you get a lovely boho look and country feel. And it works for more than just cushions! Try buying lots of different shaped photo frames – but making sure they’re all white in colour. It’s a really cute way of giving your home personality.

Strong presence in the new decorating trends, the 1950s were on the rise. Red Edition offers us a good start for a 2012. Simple shapes, wood and a Scandinavian-inspired, here is the legacy of the 1950s found in many contemporary furniture. Red Edition and remembered it to create his latest Sofa Design 50. With a length of 210 cm and a height of 83 cm, this sofa is first of all great! It can comfortably accommodate 3 people and therefore suitable for a large enough room. The design is simple without being simplistic. We note the work done at the base in an aesthetic. The structure is made of acacia wood.

Next color, the sofa Design 50 ‘is displayed in neutral colors. Very consistent with contemporary design. Mottled version, there are beige, gray, chocolate, black and anthracite chine. In more traditional version, it has the choice of beige, beige and chocolate.

The thought of pumpkins, fiery leaves and hot cider are difficult to imagine during these oppressive summer days, but nothing makes us more eager for the refreshing cool of fall than planning ways to celebrate the season at home. Here are four trends with project suggestions to liven your home with the love of autumn.

Borrow from Nature: As leaves fall and the woody structure of shrubs and trees are exposed, borrow from their natural beauty. Snip a few branches from a tree with smooth wood like willow and display them in an angular white vase. Taller branches can be displayed from the floor and liven up a corner.

Project Suggestion: Gather a set of 6-10 spent stalks of daylilies that have dried since the mid-summer blooms. Spray paint them rustic orange or white and allow to dry (if your decor is more natural, you can also leave them paint-free).  You now have several options: bundle them together and tie with a contrasting ribbon or twine and display as an accent piece on your mantle, or place two stalks each into 3-5 slender white vases and line them up for a contemporary centerpiece.

Pair Neutral Colors with Bold Accents: Brilliant, fiery red is a hot color this fall. Paired with more muted wine tones and taupes, it can create a coziness that beckons to any houseguest. Other color combinations to consider are com husk yellow, chartreuse, and earthy brown, or even navy blue and gray with accents of dandelion orange. One of the simplest ways to integrate color without redecorating an entire room is to focus on the small accent pieces.

Project Suggestion: Create curb appeal with an autumn-inspired front entrance. Find a set of 5-6 old flower pots or check out end of summer sales at a local garden center. Choose your favorite fall flower: pansies and mums make fantastic options. Limit yourself to no more than  two different colors of flowers, repetition of color will create a more harmonious look. Spray paint the old pots the color of your choice to give them new life and pot your  flowers. Arrange in sets of 2 or 3 down your front stairs for a welcoming splash of color. What colors to try? Orange mums with navy blue pots, yellow mums with muted orange pots, and red mums with taupe pots all make good combinations

While thinking about a place called home, we came to know that it is the place where we get best level of comfort, safety & satisfaction.  talking about bedroom in particular, we cant deny the fact that we spent one third of the time of our life in the bedroom to sleep. everyone want to have a perfect sleep & spend nights dream. but not all of them achieve this. yes! to get this you need to optimize your bedroom. the design of our bedroom depends on our personal likes & dislikes. but here i must say, apart from mental stress & depression, things like bedroom design, decoration, bed & lightning plays an important role that can influence perfect sleep. here are some ways to make your bedroom comfortable, tidy & positively an ideal room to sleep.

Started with the decoration of the room, make sure that the decoration of the room is complete & balanced. the bed, bedside table and a chair. each of these elements has its importance, furniture like bookcase, desk, shelves, & dresser should be placed in proper descipline. avoid extra furniture & stuff like sports & exercise machines in your room & no television or computer as Internet and other electrical appliances badly effects sleeping habits. one the other hand the room must always be dedicated for sleeping only where you limit activity to sleep and nothing else. Organize an airlock decompression before sleep. Noise, light and temperature also effects sleep. however total silence causes anxiety & bad for falling asleep but noise also disturbs the sleeper.  So think the best way possible to soundproof your room from the hustle and bustle outside the house. you can can cope with noise up to some extent by double-glazed the windows & lying carpet on the floor. one the other hand Light is another factor that can interrupt your sleep. for this use curtains or blinds according to your taste about darkness. similarly temperature of the room is also a key to a good sleep. An overheated room, the confined air, disrupt sleep. So think to ventilate your room during the day and evening just before bedtime. The ideal temperature of your room, even if it depends on the habits of each, is around 18 ° C. This keeps the heat exchange between body and air.

Comfortable Bed is king of bedroom & so of deep sleep. you can use any kind of bed, Single or king size, soft or hard, however to get better sleep, be sure to position the bed to be smooth. place it where you will feel better but avoid placing it under a window. ensure your bed & mattress provides best level of comfort. always use luxury mattress from a reputable brand. in short, your task is to make the sense of security and comfort in your room. For colors, i always suggest neutral colors & avoid bright colors. colors like gray, light blue or white are good, however the colors selection must be familiar to you and put you at ease. Choose a smart lighting with two lights, one for the room and a more subdued for the sleeping area. take care of bed sheets & pillow covers & wash them regularly.

Your back is a complex structure of bones, ligaments, joints and muscles. Back pain can hinder even the simplest movements like sitting down and standing up, causing huge problems to your daily activities. It is important that you take care of these muscles and joints by giving them the correct care and support. With our active lifestyles, preventing straining our muscles can be a difficult task, however by investing in a memory foam mattress you are able to ensure that your back has the best support while you sleep. The orthopaedic benefits of a memory foam mattress allow your back to heal from the strain that you put on it during everyday life.

A memory foam mattress provides the correct amount of upwards support and decreases downwards pressure so that you’re whole skeletal structure is supported, reducing the tension on your spine and hips. A memory foam mattress is ideal for individuals who suffer from back pain because it dramatically reduces the time that it takes to recover after an injury. Investing in a memory foam mattress will mean that you are back on your feet in no time at all.

Memory foam mattresses have previously been used by the health profession; they are widely recognised for their orthopaedic benefits and have been an ideal solution for many people who find regular sprung mattresses uncomfortable to sleep on. It provides a relief to sufferers with an array of medical complaints as it offers excellent body-shaping support and long term back pain solutions. A memory foam mattress will improve your sleep, so that you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and restored and ready to face the day.

A good night’s sleep isn’t always easy to get. There can be many reasons for this, one of which is simply not feeling comfortable in your own bedroom. But help is on the way. Here are some tips on how to add some luxury to your bedroom transforming it into a sanctuary you’ll find hard to leave.

Bedding is the main feature for that pampered feeling, so spend a little extra on it. When buying a new mattress go for the largest one you can afford. To make your existing mattress softer and more comfortable, use a mattress topper. Buy lots and lots of big, fluffy pillows, which you can simply fall into after a hard day, and be sure your sheets also add to the comfortable feel by purchasing ones with high thread counts.

Now to the flooring. If you have hardwood flooring, you can improve its appeal with area rugs. Choose soft ones in soothing and calming colours and be sure the rug is the first thing your feet touch in the morning. If you have carpeting, consider having a new high-pile and top-quality style carpet installed. Or go for area rugs again, but be sure the colours of your existing carpet and chosen area rug don’t clash, as this will ruin the luxurious image.

To visually enhance the refined appeal of your luxurious bedroom, use art and mirrors. The mirrors will add light to the room and make it seem bigger; while the art helps you relax. This is, of course, dependent on taste, so when choosing your pieces take your time and check if it is aesthetically pleasing to you and will match the rest of the room’s decor.

The lighting of your room can make or break the luxurious feel. A single light bulb on the ceiling of the room breaks it, but small table lamps and floor lamps have a softer glow and therefore set the mood. A combination of different styles of these lamps fashions elegance, which underlines the ambience of the room. Alternatively, you can invest in dimmer switches and have complete control over how soft or how bright you wish the room to be. The only light features left to control are natural light, and light from the street. Vertical blinds are great for this, as they can let in light or keep it out, and are available in several different colours and materials. Choose a style, material and colour that compliment your décor. Most importantly, remember that it is your luxurious sanctuary. So, anything you like, enjoy, relaxes you and makes you feel pampered, is right, and no sanctuary will look like another, and more accessories can always be added.

Updating your home with a new look can be an enjoyable task. After all, the options are so varied that the results can range from a simple upgrade to an entirely new look. One of the easiest ways to provide a new look to a room is to concentrate on the woodwork within the room.

When you decide that it’s time to redo the rooms in your home, do it one room at a time. If you focus on only one particular room, you will be less likely to miss an important aspect.  Customizing a room with wood involves some very specific planning. Take the time to do your research so that the project is completed properly.

Customizing a room with wood can be as simple as redoing the woodwork or as complex as installing a deluxe wooden bar or several bookcases or shelves Size up the room and take into consideration the other items that you want to include in the  room. For example, what other pieces of furniture will the room include or what electronics including television, stereo, or sound system are going to be located in the room?

Building wooden bars and back bars into a room requires some special considerations as far as location goes.  If you are installing a wet bar, then you need to check into your plumbing possibilities. Certain areas of the room are going to be more amenable to the installation of pipes and sinks.  Additionally, if you are going to include a refrigerator with your set up, special electrical requirements might be involved, particularly if you have an older home.

Deciding how many stools you want to set up at the bar is another consideration. Is there sufficient seating capacity in the area of the room that you have selected for your bar’s location? If not, then you might want to consider selecting a different spot, doing without the wet bar to free up your options, or lower the number of seats that you want to include. The configuration of the bar is going to be a combination of your personal preference and the configuration of the selected place in the room.

Wooden bookcases and cabinets can add an elegant touch to any room. With these items, your biggest concern will be that of proper measurement. You need to measure the height, width, and depth of the area that you have to work with to ensure the bookcase or shelves fit into their intended location. Also, you need to take into consideration the location of any electrical outlets or switches since a large wooden bookcase can easily block them. Plus, the presence of doors and windows should be taken into consideration so that they so not become partially blocked either.

This is for all the fans of  IKEA brand from all around the globe, I believe most of you folks like it, Well! I have a an update about  their famous furniture, accessories & interior designing catalog of this world largest furniture & home accessories retailer. The IKEA catalogue  for 2012 is already released. Ikea was founded 68 years back (in 1943)  by a Swedish boy Ingvar Kamprad. Their annual catalog was published for the first time in 1951, Soon after their first publication the vendor got high fame & now it turns into worlds biggest home furniture & accessories company. IKEA catalog is now published in 27 languages in different countries across the world making it the first choice of interior designers, architects & home owners in the list of furniture & interior design magazines

Yeah if you are among those who always waits for the new version of  Ikea catalog? i am glad to reveal that you can get the 2012 version now. If you want to know where and how to order, here it is.

Availability of the Ikea catalog
- Distributed to mailboxes on August 25
- Diponible in stores from September 8.

Yeah it is also possible to order the Ikea catalog 2012 on the site of Ikea or by calling their customer services from September.

Space is at a premium and utilising the home you have is often more economical then moving into a larger home.  Many think of increasing their homes size by building extensions and venturing into the loft space, but there is an alternative, either converting an existing cellar or excavating a basement.  Creating this extra space gives a flexible approach to living, with extra bedroom space or home office space.

Many homes are suitable for conversions; even those who live in ground floor flats may have the opportunity to explore this avenue of increasing living space.  It can take about 6 weeks to complete if a cellar is already in existence, but it is a major project.  If the basement has to be retrofitted (excavated) it can take up to 24 weeks.  However, the disruption is not as bad as you may think as the access to your home is normally via the garden.

Planning permission is probably unlikely if you are thinking of converting an existing cellar into a spare bedroom but if your homes external appearance changes because of light wells then this requires consent, also if it is to be a bedroom you will need to have egress windows fitted, as these are large enough to escape through if there is a crisis. The ceiling height is important and it needs to be a minimum of 2.4 metres, if your current cellar is less, then excavation can be undertaken to increase this, otherwise bulky items such as bedroom furniture or bookcases will be impossible to fit.   Retrofit basements always require planning permission.

Getting the right people in to do the work is essential, never just go for the lowest quote, you need to make sure they specialise in cellar conversions and retrofits.  If corners are cut, the costs could mount up in the end, as an inferior basement could cost you more in the long run than hiring experts within their field.  Problems could include your basement becoming an indoor swimming pool every time there is a downpour.

To ensure your conversion is successful, try and have a shower room or cloakroom installed, it makes the space more versatile when you decide to sell your property or if your needs change.  Make sure you let your neighbours know that there might be some disruption and also if you do not own the freehold on your home you will need to get the consent of the freeholder before any conversion takes place.

You want to paint the outside doors, shutters, gates & garden furniture? Good to prepare the surface and paint the metal, wood, steel or PVC. Follow these tips to give a good stroke to your garden furniture.

Repainting doors & furniture: According to your budget & requirement, you can choose between stain and paint. The latter has the advantage of not flake which makes maintenance easier,  just pass a sponge or lightly sanded before repainting (one or two layers ). Remember for outdoors, stains and clear wood are less resistant. Before applying the paint, the wood must be sound, dry and clean. If the existing paint or stain is in good condition, sand lightly with sandpaper to improve the fine-grained locking is advised. On raw wood, sand lightly or even apply an undercoat. For a pleasant work, the emphasis should be on new water-based paints that are odorless and fast drying. On a fat wood (exotic) or loaded with tannins, it must pass a primary type sub-layer.

Repainting iron & steel Furniture: Pass a wire brush to remove rust and flaking. If the furniture has been repainted several times, it is better to avoid stripping the appearance of thickness. Fitted with rust inhibitors, most paints are applied directly in two layers. If you like the decorative effect of the rust on an old table, protect it with special varnish matt like rusty metal or the Clear lacquer rust.

Repainting PVC: What paint to choose? Chairs, Tables, planters and swings for children often spent the winter outdoors and color have suffered. Thanks to the new acrylic paints that are not only practical, durable (5-6 years minimum between two layers), but also feature a variety of pallets. Besides the classic red Basque, Breton blue and green grass, the tart prancing nasturtium, lemon or anise and all shades nature chic taupe, vanilla, brown Normandy, khaki and green roller. In glossy, matte and satin, they can be weathered and even plastic) for rendering gray powdered tungsten, gold aged or corroded steel. Before applying the paint, just thoroughly clean the furniture, or even use fine sand with a very light hand. The use of a sub-primer or a primer will support the paint finish very smooth. If you use a gun, thin the paint first.