How to Design Your Home to Make it Look more Expensive

Just because you built your home on a budget does not mean you cannot make it look experience. Some simple interior design steps can go a long way to improve the look and feel of your adobe. All you need is to use your creativity or seek professional help from an interior design firm in Singapore. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some ways to make your home look more expensive.

Colorful walls

Coating the walls of the room with quality paint would be an awesome idea. However, for best results, your choice of colors should be perfect. If your furniture is light colored, you should go for rich colors. Avoid certain shades, such as, white and light yellow as they may make the walls look quite dull. 

Fresh flowers

Fresh flowers not only smell good but also provide a natty look to your home. They can be placed anywhere, from the living room to the bed side table. You can either go for different colored flowers or with single color flower. Don’t opt for artificial flowers as they may ruin the beauty of your house.

Use proper lighting

Instead of standard prefer bold and classic lights. Chandeliers are the best to create the magic of lights. You can hang them to any of the rooms – in the bedroom, living room, above the dining table. In Singapore, Chandeliers are very famous for home decors not only because they are fantabulous but also of their low-cost.

High dangling curtains

 High ceiling is the main embellishment of luxurious homes. You can also have high ceilings in your home with the help of optical illusion. All you have to do is to hang the curtains as close to the ceilings as possible.  You will notice the ceilings will appear high by raising the curtains.

Use picture frames

Purchase picture frames of shades like silver, chrome or any of your choices. Place them on side tables. They are helpful to give your rooms an authentic look. Avoid shades which may look cheap.

You can go for hanging famous art works of Singapore in the walls of your rooms. This will give your house a creative as well as a classic look at the same time.

Upgrade your furniture

Buying new furniture is quite expensive; however you can make small changes to the present piece of furniture. These decorative changes will take them from mediocre to marvelous looks. You can change the fabric of the furniture or can paint them and can give them terrific glance.

Enclose your TV inside a frame

Framing of your flat screen TV is one of the innovative and unique ideas. This way, you can even surprise your guests. Consider using a colorful, designer cover that goes well with the interior design theme of your home.

Include an antique piece

Keeping an antique piece in your living room will articulate your sense of abstruseness.  They also give an impression of lavishness. The antique piece could be anything, such as, mirror, accessory or side tables.

 

To read our previous article, please click here.

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Home Décor Ideas for Kids’ Birthday Party

Birthdays are the most awaited occasion of the year, especially among kids. They expect a lot on their birthdays. Soon after it is over, they start counting days for the next birthday. For them, it’s all about fun with their friends and cousins, but for their parents organizing a birthday party could be a cumbersome task. As parents, you have to make sure everything is happing as your plans and as per the expectation of your child.  After all, it’s your kid’s big day and you leave no stone unturned to make it her best day ever. The most challenging in arranging a kid’s birthday party is deciding how to decorate the home. You should make your house look great as many guests would be coming over. The interior design of the home should be magnificent at one glance.  Here are few ideas on how to decorate your home for kid’s birthday party.

Fork Placeholder

Fork Placeholder is a simple yet unique party decorator. In this, you can use a fork to hold papers or cards or other stuffs of similar weight. Make cut-outs of the papers of desired shape like butterfly and write the name of kids on that. The kids would surely love it.

Balloon blowout

This decoration is very cost effective as you can use basic balloons of different colour and sizes. After that you can attach all the balloons with one another and use the wall to write either Happy Birthday or anything you like.

Hanging paper flowers

Paper flowers hanging up to ceiling look fantabulous. All you need to do is to have few paper bags of different colours and little creativity. This decoration is cheap as well as easy to make.

Tie Birthday banners

If you are running short of time, then you can buy some readymade birthday banners from the market. They are available in various sizes and shapes. You can bring them home and tie them at two corners of the wall. These are really good to enhance the party mood.

Hanging birthday streamers

You can hang colourful streamers in the party hall. This will make the party hall attractive and will enhance the interior design of the party hall.

Naming over party hats

You can order for the party hats for each guest and paste their name over it.  This will be truly exciting for guests, especially the kids invited. They would love to see their names and wear the hat.

Cutleries in the flower pot

Cutleries in the flower pot, is an innovative idea to decorate the birthday party by keeping the forks, spoons or other cutleries inside beautiful flower pots. This is also useful to keep the area neat and clean, instead of spreading the cutleries here and there.

Cupcake flower lights

You can reuse your Christmas lights on your kid’s birthday party by giving them the look of cupcakes. This can be one of the best ways to decorate the birthday party. All you have to do is take some colourful papers and shape them as cupcakes. Afterwards surround each bulb of the light with the paper cupcakes.

 

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Tips for Creating a Home Gym in Small Space

If you regularly wait in a crowded gym for your turn to use the weights, it is time to get a home gym. Don’t worry if you don’t have enough space. With clever interior design and a little utility planning, you can maintain even intensive fitness regimes at home. A home gym lets you make a one-time investment and can be set up within most budgets.

The best thing is that you cannot have equipment you won’t use, and would be required to make the most of the available space. Here are some tips on creating an efficient home gym in a small space.

Maximize whatever space is available

The best thing about having limited space is that you can focus. In a space that barely fits your essentials, start off by de-cluttering. Get rid of anything you don’t use anymore and prioritize functionality in your interior design. Use vertical space and make the most of wall-hung cabinets. Replace that heavy armchair with something that can slide easily when you clear the area for working out.

Clear out the dining table from the living area and use the kitchen island for dining. Invest in a couple of ottomans for storing dumbbells or other pieces of workout gear. The garage is a good option for setting up your home gym in.

Getting the right equipment for small spaces

Unlike commercial gyms, you cannot afford to have pulley machines and bulky elliptical trainers. However, that cannot stop you from getting a comprehensive workout. Some indispensable home gym essentials include:

·         Yoga mats, which make floor exercises safe and comfortable. Be it Pilates or Yoga, mats provide cushioning and keep your sweaty off the germ-ridden floor.

·         No matter how advanced the machines at your current gym might get, invest in the right weights. Three sets are enough, and they could be 5, 10, and 15, or 10, 15, and 20. If you are on a tight budget, fill up a duffle bag or milk jug with sand and your weights are ready.

·         Pull-ups provide thorough exercise to the upper body. Get a pull-up bar and hook them to the doorway for quick sessions.

·         For home gyms in small spaces, resistance bands can kill two birds with one stone. They can provide resistance training and prevent the risks associated with lifting heavy weights, especially if you’re likely to work out alone.

Invest in good interior design

The best thing about a good workout area is its ambience. Invest in a good portable speaker but make sure it can be hung up on the wall. If you need to watch training videos or something interesting while skipping, consider hanging an LED on the wall. Inspirational quotes and posters of fitness icons are a must. A punching bag provides high-intensity, stress-busting workouts and is a fun addition to your interior design.

Mirrors are an essential part of gyms. They not only help you check out your muscles or feel inspired to work out, but enlarge a small space considerably. They also help to maintain good form and posture while working out.

 

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How to Design Your Office to Boost Productivity

Most employers take some usual steps to improve employee productivity. They organize training sessions to help their employees learn new skills. Some even announce rewards for best performers, and charge penalties on less productive employees. However, they often do not pay much attention to an important aspect – office design. How you plan the interior design of your office can make a huge impact on employee productivity. A well-designed workspace helps your employees concentrate more on the work and be more productive. Here are some office design tips to boost productivity at work.

Ergonomics

If you want to get the best out of your employees, you should ensure a comfortable sitting arrangement for them. Invest in some good, height adjustable chairs and specious desks. Make sure your employees follow the ergonomics guidelines. Ideally, the distance between your eyes and the computer screen should be at least 25 inches. Also, the chair should allow you to lean back comfortably. Your feet should rest easy on the floor and your upper arms should be positioned parallel to the floor. Sitting at a correct posture would help your employees work for long hours without much of strain. On the other hand, poor posture can cause a number of problems, including eye strains, back pain, and lack of concentration.

Lighting

Make sure there is enough light in your workspace to allow your employees to see even the tiny fonts comfortably. Even if your employees need not sit in front of a computer screen, you should ensure proper lighting in your office to set the mood right. Lack of light may cause fatigue, eye strains, and headache. Whenever possible, use natural light. Otherwise, use a combination of direct and indirect lights from the ceiling and walls. You can consult an interior designer for the job.

Colors

Use the psychological impact of colors to create a positive work environment. Check whether the existing wall colors are affecting employee productivity. Seek advice from an expert and plan your room colors accordingly. Consider using soothing colors like blue or off-white for best results. You can also hang colorful paintings and inspiring cutout boards to motivate your employees to work.

Clean the clutter

Keep the work desks clutter free and encourage your employees to use less paper. Educate them about the importance of keeping things organized and how an organized work desk can help improve productivity. If possible, hire a cleaning service and remove all unnecessary items from your desk every morning. One good idea would be to forbid eating at the desk. This will resolve the problem of clutter management to a large extent.

Decide whether an open office plan is suitable for you

It is said that an open office fosters collaboration and helps increase productivity. However, you need to think about it in the context of your work culture, the kind of work you do, etc. Nobody knows your office better than you do. You need to decide whether an open plan is right for you. At times, an open office could hamper productivity due to lack of privacy.

 

To read our previous article, please click here.

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How to Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger

So what if you spend less time in the bathroom than the rest of your house? Even if you don't have a large bathroom, it can be made to look like one. The idea is to make the space look cleaner and relaxed. From recessed medicine cabinets to clear shower curtains, there are interior design hacks to maximize whatever space there is. Invest in towel rods and baskets to stow unnecessary clutter. Here's how to make a bathroom look bigger.

Use the same color for the ceiling and the walls

Using the same colors for most of the area is generally a good idea in interior design. Pale colors like pastels and whites are good options. Using the same color as the walls for the ceiling is even more important if the latter is angled. However, if you have a flat ceiling, keep the shade lighter.

Make use of natural light

It is a common tendency to keep a bathroom reliant on extra lighting. This works fine in bathrooms that naturally have more space. To allow natural light and yet retain privacy, get frosted glass and sheer curtains instead of dark shades. For bathrooms that don't have windows, consider skylights or solatubes.

Use mirrors

Probably the best idea to make a bathroom look bigger is to use mirrors in your interior design. However, discuss their placing with your interior designer before mounting them. In a small bathroom, mirrors should not reflect the towel rail or the toilet. Mirrors can also lend visual width to narrow bathrooms. Mirrors mounted opposite to each other create the impression of a never-ending bathroom. Use lamps to amplify the effect.

Go for a bigger tile size

Firstly, go for the same tiles for the entire room. Small tiles have more grout lines, leading to breaking up of space. Even if you are planning a bathroom renovation, you can replace your current tiles with bigger tiles. Even the flooring should flow in well with the walls. Having inconsistent flooring and wall design can break up the space.

Utilize the power of open shelving

Open shelves lead the eye from one wall to another, so invest in good quality stand-alone and built-in cabinetry. Open shelving is the best option for storing soaps, towels, and glass canisters. On the other hand, store cleaning supplies, laundry, and other personal items in decorative bins and woven baskets.

Capitalize on vertical space

Illusions of extra space can be created also by utilizing vertical space. Choose shower curtains with vertical stripes to create the appearance of a higher ceiling. For the walls, choose a wallpaper with a lattice design or small-scale prints. Avoid busy patterns since they minimize the scale.

Opt for clear glass inside

Much like open shelving, clear glass lets the gaze shift smoothly across the room. This creates more visual room in the entire interior design. On the other hand, compartmentalized spaces appear smaller. Invest in shower curtains and sliding glass doors, which can help achieve seamlessness. Make sure you have clear glass, since textured glass can create a visual barrier. 

 

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Top 5 Design Trends in Commercial Buildings

For commercial buildings, interior design Singapore is changing fast. Stringent design rules have given way to innovation and boundaries have been blurred. ‘Green’ seems to be the buzzword, as businesses turn more sensitive to natural resources and sustainability. Other interior design trends increasingly getting popular are deep tones, inconsistent patterns and doing away with clutter. Designers are giving up conventional layouts in favor of flexibility. If you’re looking for inspiration for your commercial building, here are top 5 design trends.

1. Sustainable interior design

Ever since the BCA stressed on the importance of green environments for offices, there has been a rise in the trend. Sustainability not only lowers utility bills, but boosts workers’ productivity. Make energy efficient choices in your interior design, for instance, using photovoltaic glass instead of traditional glass.

Get furniture made from recycled content and design the space in a way that daylight can be maximized. Focused task lighting helps minimize the use of general lighting. Having an efficient video conferencing system can help reduce carbon footprint by cutting out work-based travel.

2. Open gathering areas

Workspaces are beginning to be designed according to the needs of the modern professional. Interior design, hence, is collaboration-centered, and dominated by open workspaces. The community table is a great example of this trend. In commercial spaces like hotels and restaurants, shared tables are coming up.

Wireless technology has also brought in designated lounge areas. In shopping complexes, this is marked by spread-out sitting areas and benches lined up at long stretches. In case of adjoining desks, the transparent separating panels are a good idea.

3. Using geometric patterns

Geometric patterns are here to stay, and simplicity in design is the key. Minimalist geometric patterns are increasingly being found in commercial spaces, especially in high-end boutiques and retail stores. This helps to showcase merchandise, and at the same time, keeps interior design aesthetically pleasing.

Geometrical patterns have been regularly used in hotel flooring. However, the latest trend is to make them more dramatic, infuse colors, and have them in quirky combinations. This can help express uniqueness and create a lasting impact on visitors.

4. Blending indoors with outdoors

This complements sustainable design well, with reclaimed wood panels; natural fabrics for artwork exposed, and concrete flooring. One of the major recent trends in interior design for commercial buildings is to get more outdoor elements in the scheme. There is a greater focus on daylight, and reflective surfaces and skylights are getting popular.

Greenery, too, can be used indoors as an external element. Plants, and a healthy access to vegetation, are becoming a major requirement for commercial buildings. Bringing plants inside has the added benefit of getting a dash of freshness and color into an otherwise monotonous space.

5. Preferring form over function

Functionality is one thing, and comfort is yet another. Unlike earlier, when cost decided the choice of furniture in commercial buildings, it is governed by ergonomics now. The trend includes using chairs with head rests and adjustable arms. Standing desks, too, are being favored to reduce sitting-related problems.

However, commercial interior design always offers scope for cost-effective solutions. Lounge chairs with tablet arms, cabinets with slide-out seats, oval-shaped tables are good examples.

 

from Articles http://www.summerhaus.com.sg/articles/2016/12/27/top-5-design-trends-in-commercial-buildings
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New Year’s Resolutions to Improve Your Interior Décor

Interior décor is all about positive and refreshing change. What was classy in the past could mean cold and lifeless in 2017. This year, instead of taking up difficult New Year’s resolutions, vow to improve your interior design Singapore. Get over fads of the past and introduce fresh elements. Embrace your empty spaces and resist the urge to fill them with furniture and objects. Here are a few New Year’s resolutions that can help you better your interior décor.

Experimenting with minimalism

While experts still vote in favour of multiple elements of interest in smaller rooms, clutter is never welcome. After putting up for years, with knick-knacks and useless pieces lying here and there, go minimalist in 2017. Minimalism in interior design has been a major movement in the recent years. Let go of old pieces, clear out table tops and shelves, and opt for baskets for added storage.

Adopting sustainable design

Sustainability will be a major trend in the coming years, as far as interior design goes. More and more people are becoming ecologically aware, and are opting for eco-friendly material. Choose furniture made of reclaimed wood or better options like bamboo and coir. Install water harvesting systems and use fibres and paints free from pesticides.

Accepting bold patterns

Design pundits are of the opinion that bold graphics will be back in 2017. Get over understated designs and choose loud patterns to decorate parts of your house. Have a colourful, patterned rug in the entryway, or ethnic wall art for the living area.

Bringing colour back

Going all monochrome was a popular interior design trend a few years back. However, giving up colour can take away energy from a home. Have colour make a comeback by adding two accent colours to a room with white walls. Get cushions in matching colours for the sofa. Do not go overboard with colour, though. 

Infusing life in the home office

When it comes to designing your house, the home office is often ignored. Change that practice and spruce this area up. Get your old inspirational posters out and deck a wall with them. Curate knick-knacks, photographs, and other art pieces for a corner of the home office. Take a resolution to make your workspace inspiring and original.

Getting inspiration from different sources

Move over clichéd sources of inspiration in 2017. Design ideas on platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, magazines, and blogs are no longer unique. It could be a brilliant New Year’s resolution to look at unconventional sources of inspiration. Incorporate elements from a restaurant or hotel lobby you visited. Public spaces, gardens, and museums are good ideas as well.

Introducing greenery

You could have been ignoring this wonderful resolution all your life. Bringing more plants in your interior design scheme is a cost-effective way to breathe life into a space. Have vibrant and low-maintenance varieties of indoor plants all around the living room area.

Flowers can add colour as well. Rubber trees for excellent indoor plants, eliminate toxins, and purify the air around. English Ivy is a great option if you want to hang your plants.

from Articles http://www.summerhaus.com.sg/articles/2016/12/21/new-years-resolutions-to-improve-your-interior-dcor
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