Bold Is the Word for This Fall's Interior Decorating Colours

Interior decorating trends for fall and winter 2011-2012 feature bright colours that pop against natural materials such as wood, metal or stone. There are a number of different palettes interior decorators as well as do-it-yourselves can use. They all have one thing in common: they’re not bland or boring. Whether these colours are timeless shades used on a wall or part of a geometric pattern employed in accent pieces, they certainly aren’t the neutral beiges and off-whites preferred in previous years. This year, the colours jump right out and grab your attention.

Purple continues to be one of the more popular colours preferred by interior designers. This colour evokes so many different moods depending on the shade or tint used. Rooms swathed in purple walls and furniture pieces can be relaxing, while a bright purple accent piece shouts, “Look at me!” The colour stands out on the runways of high fashion; why shouldn’t it be featured in a home too?

Autumn colours that mimic the turning leaves and comforting foods of the season, such as bronze, gold and cocoa, continue to be popular. Vivid hues, including maroon, black and olive green, shout for attention. Northern African inspired shades feature the blues and stuccoes of Mediterranean climates.

While more tranquil, colours that bring to mind South Pacific lagoons, such as aquamarine or bright blue, offer a relaxing yet fresh appeal to a room. Even the timeless and classic whites, blacks and greys can brighten a room when they aren’t muted but rather highlighted with a bright gloss. Any room featuring these colours will make a statement.

And don’t forget patterns this year. Designers are going back to the 1950s for inspiration in wallpaper and fabrics. Geometric patterns are coming to the forefront too. However, this fall, the patterns, while bold, are still muted enough that they don’t completely overwhelm the senses. Muted colours do have their place in design, but they aren’t its focal point this fall.

While bold and vivid colours are the main component of this fall’s interior design, texture also plays an important role. Unusual textures such as cork are becoming more popular. The juxtaposition of very different textures is also a popular trend. For example, silk screen material may be paired with rough, unfinished concrete blocks. The contemporary look fits in well with this season’s bold and bright focus.

Guest Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

No matter how large or small your home, part of being a homeowner is opening your home to visiting guests, whether friends or family. While having a separate guest bedroom may or may not be a part of your home’s layout, a guest bathroom can play a vital role in making your visitors feel welcomed and comfortable. Here are some tips to help you create a relaxing environment for your guests.



Convenient Layout: If you have a guest bedroom, you want to place your guest bathroom no more than two doors away, so that your guests can access it easily. If you do not have a guest bedroom, be sure that the bathroom is located closely to wherever the guests will be sleeping. This helps your guests to feel more at home, as they do not feel that they are wondering around, searching for the bathroom. 



Design Details: When choosing paint, wallpaper, or decorating schemes, focuses on simplicity. Colours that are too bold or lively do not allow people to relax. Look for calm and peaceful tones. Many spas and classy hotels use white as a clean and comforting colour. Whichever colour scheme you opt for, maintain continuity among the linens as well. Assign clearly designated spots for hand towels and shower towels. A discreet place for used towels is also a good idea. Select towels that are large in size and soft to the touch. Use absorbent bath mats and a shower curtain that do not easily mildew. The shower curtain should tie the entire theme together. A scented candle or vase with freshly cut flowers on the vanity is a welcoming touch, but be sure to leave adequate space for guests to keep their toiletries.



Added Extras: Mimic the luxurious feel of an upscale hotel or spa by providing plenty of extra toiletries in case your guests may have forgotten something. Consider stocking small bottles of shampoo, soap, lotion, razors, and toothbrushes. Keep extra towels and toilet paper in a convenient location, such as under the sink or in a decorative basket. Guest robes and slippers are a nice touch as well. To really go the extra mile, place a stack of decorative, disposable towels on a tray next to the sink. Travelling is already stressful enough, especially if you feel that you are imposing on someone’s space. Set your guests at ease by providing a warm and inviting bathroom that makes them feel welcome by utilizing the suggestions above.

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to New York City Rental Properties, The Hamptons New York, home improvement and the latest architecture, design and fashion. Follow her on twitter @MEGatesDesign.

Pamper yourself this autumn with a spa-like bathroom space

Our lives are increasingly busy and stress is on the up. Creating a bathroom that can be a space to relax and pamper yourself, rather than just a practical place for cleaning and grooming, has never been so popular. And as the evenings close in and the mornings become darker and chillier, imagine a cosy home spa filled with the warm tones of wooden bathroom furniture, luxuries such as a steam shower and freestanding bath, and soothing decor.

When you take a trip to a hotel or leisure club spa, you can enjoy the facilities there to the full because you never have to use them when you’re in a rush for an early morning meeting, when the dog’s rolled in something stinky and sticky again, or when the kids are fighting over who goes first at the bathroom basin. In a spa, you’re away from the stresses of home and are free to indulge.

So how do you go about creating such a space in your own home: how do you design a truly relaxing haven for pampering, while balancing your family’s need for practicality?

First, think about your needs. Draw up two separate lists: one for your practical bathroom; one for your haven. This way, you’ll spend time thinking about your priorities, the way your current bathroom’s used, what could make it easier in the morning, what could make it more soothing and relaxing in the evening. Think about your two ideal bathing spaces now – but remember you’ll need to be prepared to compromise later on.

Next, measure your bathroom and assess its suitability for your preferred fittings. Map out the location of your current plumbing, your doorway and window opening, and measure your walls and alcoves. Use a scale drawing with cut-out bathroom fittings that you can slide around the paper as you try out different ideas, or investigate websites such as the virtual bathroom designer at bathroom-design-guide.com.

This is the point where you’ll have to think about where your priorities lie; you’ll also find it helpful to look out for items that have a dual purpose or a space-saving aesthetic. Bathroom furniture, with its spacious cupboards and drawers, is likely to be a good option for your spa-bathroom: it looks good, it hides away all the practical items that need to be there but that will distract you as you try to relax, and it can be really compact so that you gain more space for the features you love, such as a whirlpool bath or steam shower cabin.

Finally, when your layout is all finalised, think about your decor. Warm neutrals and natural materials such as natural stone tiles, soft paint shades and wooden bathroom cabinets are timeless and soothing, and can be combined with accent colours and accessories to bring you a bathroom that’s of the season, this season – and easy to adapt for the next season, and the next, and the next....

Top Autumn Home Interior Colours

Autumn is upon us, and with the new season comes new colour trends for interior design. Perhaps the hottest colour, forecast for the coming season, is burnt orange. The warm, yet bright tones give comfort in the cold weather and bring light to the dark evenings. However, if orange isn't your thing, there are other colours this season, which may catch your eye. Shades of teal, plum and pear green are the other trendy tones for your home; but not all together in one room, of course.

Complimenting the burnt orange this year will be other autumnal shades, such as yellows and reds. You should note that using burnt orange on all four walls of a room is not a great idea; the colour can be too overbearing and may end up looking a little garish. Instead, use this stylish colour as the accent of a room, in fabrics and furnishings, rugs, decor items or feature walls. Burnt orange goes well with a number of earth tones, such as creams and browns, which will not be at risk of clashing with the accenting colour.

If you like shades of teal, think of luxury as you decorate. White furnishings go beautifully with this blue/green colour, and it looks fabulous in embellished fabrics, for both curtains and pillows. If you have a table in your room, why not give your room an extra splash of colour by adding a tablecloth. As this is a bright colour, it is important not to overuse it in one room.

If plum is your pick, then you want to pair it with some lighter shades of purple and light greys to balance the room. Plums and purples can be used relatively generously in some rooms, such as the bedroom, but it may be a little overpowering in a living room or kitchen, so use it sparingly in these areas.

Lastly, if pear green attracts you, you're in luck, because shades of green are a popular trend all year round. Pear green can go with many colours, but it does well as an accent colour against other more subtle tones, such as greys, creams and white. Use pear green in cushions, curtains and bedding this autumn, and you're sure to be on trend.

Charcoal greys are also in for autumn, and these shades are great for toning down bright colours. However, it is worth noting that the best colour to pair with charcoal is white.

If you like to change-up your interior design for each season, then the most affordable and easiest option is to combine subtle earth tones, on walls and fabrics, with colourful accents such as throw pillows and lampshades, which can be easily swapped out with other accent pieces for next season's colour trend.

10 Best Autumn decorating tips and ideas

Wrap your home in warmth for cool autumn weather with these simple decorating tips. In as little as a weekend, you can transform your home into a cosy retreat perfect for cooler weather.

Before cold weather officially hits, add a warm new paint colour to your walls. Select neutral tones that will warm up the room, and provide an easy backdrop to decorating the room around.

New lampshades are inexpensive and available virtually everywhere, but they will completely change the look of a living room or bedroom. For autumn decorating, select heavier shades that will minimally filter light.

Add warmth in every room with fabric. Lay out colourful throw blankets, decorative pillows, accent rugs, and don't forget to change out the light summer curtains for heavy draperies. Cover the couch with a fresh new slipcover for a quick sofa makeover.

Dress up the dining room table with a new tablecloth or table runner. Choose solid or printed linen with warm autumnal colours like pumpkin, chocolate, gold, or sage.

Decorate the inside of your home with bright-coloured pumpkins, apples, harvest corn, and other seasonal fruits and vegetables. Fill baskets and bowls with your treasures, and display them on mantels, tables, and elsewhere in the home.

Purchase a few inexpensive pieces of framed artwork and swap them out for those already on the walls. Look for festive scenes of that feature pumpkins, scarecrows, harvest fields, and other relative settings. Don't forget to incorporate your own personal fall-themed portraits, as well.

Place artificial flower stems and leaves throughout the home, and accent different areas with pip berry swags, or autumnal wreaths. Arrange them atop cabinets; entwine them along stair banisters, and other unexpected places.

Scented candles do a great job at setting the mood of any room. Use an assortment of them to cast a soft glow to the room, and fill the air with the fragrant scent of sage, pine, cinnamon, pumpkin, and other comforting aromas.

Add small touches that count all over the home. Cinnamon pine cones, acorn napkin holders, glass containers filled with candy corn.... All of these little things add up to a big impact when used together.

When you think of fall, images of blooming chrysanthemums, asters, and marigolds come to mind. Bring pots filled with these colourful flowers into the home as part of your autumn decorating. Arrange the pots on staircases, window ledges, fireplace mantels, and side tables for a splash of colour.