Floortrendz: June 2011

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Few Vaastu tips for your office

The office is a place where you expect all your employees to give their best at all times. Having a high rate of productivity is no easy task as there can be many distractions while working. To the bustling of the cars on the road outside to the voice of the coffee machine, the distraction can be anything. Hence, office owners adopt different methods to increase productivity in their offices.



Vaastu for office


If your office work is not going in the right direction or if you are not achieving the desired results, then maybe its time you look for solutions in Vaastu Shastra. Vaastu Shastra is ancient Hindu ideology related to the science of designs which are based on directions. Following the correct Vaastu Ideology helps to increase the inflow of positive energy in your office or home. While some take it to be mere superstition but Vaastu is known to keep the evil forces away and to ward off negative influence. Vaastu deals with almost every aspect of construction- be it structure and shape of the building, proper selection of site, positioning of windows and doors and even the placement of the cabins or rooms. As popular Vaastu is in residential culture, it enjoys the same popularity in office culture. Some of the beliefs of Vaastu related to office spaces are mentioned below.


1- The cabin and the table of the head or the boss should never be faced in the south direction. It can be placed in any direction except for south.

2- If there is a temple, it should either be in the front or on the side, but it should never be behind the owner’s chair.

3- For the owner’s table, a rectangular shape is always preferred.

4- To create a soothing atmosphere, you can use fresh flowers, gentle colours, proper lighting and creative interiors.

5- The office profile should be square or rectangular in shape.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Two reasons why every home-owner should go for marble tiles

You must have surely wished that your home resembles nothing short of a royal palace. The accolades that come from visitors are rewarding enough for the hard work that you endured on decorating your home. However, there are times when even after investing a lot of money; you do not get the desired look. Why does this happen? The answer is simple. You forget the basics. When doing your home interiors, you need to give equal attention to all areas. In most of the cases, the flooring is neglected. Flooring is one of the fundamental areas when it comes to interior decorations.


Marble tiles- The popular choice
When it comes to flooring there are a lot of options that you have. However, most undisputed and the most preferred option for flooring is marble flooring. Marble tiles have become a revered option with many home-makers because they offer a lot of aesthetic and practical benefits. So what makes marble flooring so popular? Let us look into some of the features of marble tiles. The first thing that comes to our mind when we think of marble tiles is their durability. Marble tiles are extremely durable and designed to last for a long time without any damage. Once you install marble tiles on your floor, you do not have to worry about changing your flooring for a long period. This is one reason why marble flooring has become so popular with the masses.

Spruce up your home and office with marble tiles
Marble tiles can be used to jazz up your home as well as office. They are considered an ideal flooring option for residential as well as commercial spaces. Marble tiles give a stylish, modern and a classic feel to your home or commercial space. Marble tiles are elegance personified as they help to create the desired look in the room.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Choosing mosaic for living room tiles

Your living room is a place which you want to design keeping the latest trends in mind. It is in the living room where you will be welcoming all your guests and visitors and thus you surely want to make a good impression on them. Designing the living room can be a confusing task. You have to pay attention to each and every aspect of the living room. One area that needs attention is the flooring. Your living room flooring should be impeccable. It should not just be aesthetic to look but also practical. There are different options when it comes to choosing living room tiles. Living room tiles should add to the beauty of the room. One of the popular types of living room tiles is mosaic tiles.

Mosaic

If you are not aware, mosaic is one of the oldest forms of art. It basically consists of creating different images with small pieces of stone or glass. Contemporary archaeologists have unearthed some very beautiful mosaic images from various corners of the world. This proves that mosaic is an ancient art form. Archaeologists have confirmed that before the rise of Roman Empire, mosaic was used to describe legends, habits and religious beliefs. Use of mosaic caused a heavy influence and this lead the growth and appearance of patterns.

Mosaic tiles have been used at a number of places. Mosaic tiles can be seen in places like churches, personal homes where they were used as living room tiles and in other public places to form different scenes and patterns. Most of the scenes would be myths as depicted in the Christian religion. Mosaic slowly became much popular in the eastern world with many mosques being decorated with the mosaic pattern. Mosaic was also used to decorate the homes of the rich. Apart from becoming popular in the east, mosaic was also much appreciated in the west.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Choosing the right lighting for your home

When it comes to designing your home interiors, remember that lighting plays an important role in giving your home that style and character. A successful lighting scheme is one which not only uplifts the atmosphere in your home but also meets all practical needs. Many of us think of home lighting as just a central ceiling fixture complemented with a couple of table or wall lamps. However, there is more to lighting than this. A well thought out lighting plan for your home should not just be decorative but also practical.

There are many benefits of opting for a home lighting that is just not decorative but also looks practical. Choosing the right set of lighting will ensure you get the required illumination for cleaning, cooking, reading, sewing apart from many other day-to –day chores. Decorative lighting which is practical ensures the home atmosphere is calm and relaxed and also easily complements your home furnishings and colour scheme. A well planned out lighting scheme will comprise of many elements. All these elements need to work in tandem to get the desired effect for the room.

There are some types of lighting that are considered as general type of lighting and are used in every room in the house. This is termed as the background light and is required in every room. Another common type of lighting is the hanging ceiling light. The hanging ceiling light comes in different shade styles and different materials like metal, paper and fabric. There is also a ceiling pendant that can be the only source of light in the room. However, many people do not like to have a ceiling pendant though it provides a well illuminated central space with shadowy edges.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Jazzing up the exteriors of your home

As much as the inner appearance of your home matters a lot, the same way the outer appearance of your home also needs great attention. You may be bored of the outer appearance of your home and may be looking for different ways to jazz up the outer look of your home. It may sound surprising to you but just by going for a new door for your home can do wonders to uplift the outer look of your home. When deciding on the outer appearance of your home, remember that you only need to invest in those ideas that are not just stylish but also practical.

Doors and windows
To start with, you can go for doors that have a matching design to that of your outside home windows. Doors and windows of the same design will surely create a unique look for the outside part of your home. An instant way of sprucing up your home exterior is by changing the old window frames. This is more applicable if your window frames have become old and sport flaky paint. You can replace the old window frames with high quality plastic. This is a good way to do away with the flaky look. If you want to give a shiny and a youthful look to your house exteriors, then you can think of installing new glass panes for your windows.
Apart from making physical changes to your home exteriors, you can also make some abstract changes that can go a long way in augmenting the appearance of your house exteriors. You can make subtle changes to the surrounding area of the outer space of your house. For instance, you can add window box of lively flowers for a warm, spring look. You may also put in some plants around the edges of your home. Any amount of greenery creates an added interest and appeal to the home.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Flooring ideas for your garage

If you are lucky enough to own a garage, you might as well think of sprucing it up a bit. Most garages have the same old look and so you might just want to make your garage look a bit unique. One thing you can experiment with when it comes to your garage is the floor. There are different flooring ideas designed for the garage itself. Changing the flooring of your garage can surely make it attractive to look.

When it comes to using the garage, people not just use to park their cars but also for different uses like they use it as storage area or the garage simply turns into an attic where all those belongings which are no longer used are being dumped. Many people are creative enough to transform the garage space into a play room or even a workshop. The garage thus becomes a place where you can carry out your artistic work or play a game of billiards with your friends. Hence, the flooring of this place should also be carefully selected. Flooring ideas for garages comprise mainly of three options. They are epoxy paint, floor mats and decorative concrete flooring.

If you plan to use your garage as a workshop, then epoxy paint is ideal option for flooring. Paint has a good shelf life and it also comes with ease of cleaning. This looks attractive and easy to apply as well since you just have to paint the flooring. However, this type of flooring can be slippery so watch out if there are kids playing around.

If you find the task of painting the flooring cumbersome, then you can use floor mats. Floor mats work just the same way as epoxy paint and most of these can resistant to oil stains. Just roll over the mats of the surface and you are done. Decorative concrete flooring is another option you have for your garage flooring. This flooring comes in a pool of designs. Parquet, tiles and hardwood are some types of concrete flooring. This flooring is the most expensive and also most difficult to apply.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Three different home décor themes you can choose from

When you take up designing your new home or are simply renovating your present one, there are many home décor designs to choose from. Whatever design you choose for your home décor, remember that it should be refreshing and should give out a pleasant ambience. There are various styles available today and each of them promises to be unique and elegant in its own way. Here are some popular designs available.


Moroccan

Moroccan home décor is characterized by intense, bold, jewel type colors along with delicate, exquisite detailing like hand tooling, hand carving and filigree. If you are looking for a bold yet comfortable atmosphere in your home, then Moroccan style décor is just perfect for you. Moroccan style décor comprises of different accessories like couches, rugs, pillows, lamps, armoires, tiles, mirrors, lanterns and other accessories.

Asian

When it comes to choosing a home décor style of any Asian origin, then you have various influences to draw inspiration from like Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Thai. All these countries have eccentric styles of designing their homes and you can select any one type of décor. Japanese home décor is all about minimalism and simplicity while Indian home décor is all about grandeur and classic. Asian home décor themes provide a wide array of possibilities for designing all rooms of your home.

African

The African continent is known for its wildlife species including different animal species like giraffes, zebras, elephants apart from many other species. The continent of Africa is also known for its thick forests, mountains, jungles and vast landscapes. This wide range of flora and fauna has an influence on their home décor designs. Tribal designs and animal prints can be dominantly seen in handmade crafts and other home décor accessories. African home décor designs are unique and distinctive and are deemed perfect of homes.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Designing your home the easy way

As the saying goes, home is where the heart is; we all wish to have a home that is simply tailor made for us. When designing your home, you want the best of everything to make it look nothing short of a palace. Your home is a place where you like to unwind and have much needed rest after a long day at work. Naturally, your home should be designed in such a manner that it lets you be the way you want to. When you are thinking of redesigning your home, there are a whole new bunch of ideas you can opt for.

Individual preferences
When deciding your home décor, remember that there are many rooms in the home and each will be occupied by different family members. While one room may be taken up by the kids in your family, the other one will be taken up by you and your spouse. Hence, each room has to be designed keeping individual tastes and preferences in mind. So, always ask for suggestions from your family members before you take up redecorating their individual rooms.

Wall painting
If you wish to give your home a complete makeover without really burning a hole in your pocket, then you can go for painting your home in new colours. With just new dash of paints on your walls, your home can get a complete new look and you will surprised to see the difference once your home is completely painted. You can use different colours for different rooms or opt for different shades of the same colour for the rooms. If you do not wish to paint your home, you can also go for wall paper or tiles for your walls. These will surely add zing to your rooms and create a unique feel.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Two simple tricks to save space in your home

Though you may find the whole concept of home remodelling pretty exciting, it is actually a challenging task and needs to be done with great precision. Not all of us are blessed with large homes and thus designing a small sized home is even more challenging as even a small flaw can make your home look cramped and dull. If you want to know simple ways by which you can create an impression of a larger area, then read further.



Slimming down
The first step to make your living room look larger is to make it uncluttered and remove all the unnecessary accessories. Take a big box and dump in all those small accessories which have been occupying space in your home for long. You will not realise it but too many small things in your living room can make it look clogged and cramped. Once you get rid of all the small and unwanted accessories from all your rooms, you will be amazed to see the amount of space saved in your home. Just be super specific about what you want in the rooms and throw away all the space eaters.

Right colours
You would not believe this but the colours you use for your rooms can make all the difference when it comes to creating an impression of a bigger sized home. If you have a large sized home, you can opt for a variety of colours as they help to break up the monotony of a large space. However, with a small sized home, you should be extremely careful with the colours you choose. For small sized homes, it always makes sense to have single colour palettes. It is good to paint all the walls in one shade. You can use hues of the same shade if you do not want the same colour to be repeated on all walls.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Home décor- Designing bedroom and kitchen.

When it comes to choosing the home décor themes for your home, you have to take into consideration different factors like the theme’s feasibility, looks and whether the theme will be well received from your neighbours as well as visitors. You surely want a lot of praises for your home when it comes to the interiors and furnishings and you must be ready to go to any extent if you wish to get those golden words. When it comes to home décor, it always helps to proceed step by step and take one area at a time.

Bedroom home décor

When thinking about home décor, what better place to start with compared to your bedroom. Your bedroom is a place where you seek a good night’s sleep apart from much needed peace and rest after a hard day at work. Naturally, the bedroom décor must be in tune with your needs and requirements. The bedroom décor will also depend on the members occupying the room. For small children, the décor and the furnishings required will be different compared to that of a middle-aged couple. When you are deciding bedroom décor, you have to consider different things like colour and texture of the curtains, trashcans, bedspreads and such things. Bedroom home décor has to be carefully chosen as the bedroom is a place where you seek comfortable and peace seeking environment.



Kitchen décor


The kitchen is a place where you spend a considerable amount of time either cooking food for your family or having a casual chat with your near and dear ones. The kitchen décor has to be such that it gives out a warm, homely feel to the occupants. When it comes to kitchen décor, you have to decide on different things like the lightings, the wall colours, number of kitchen accessories, the sink and the pipes and their locations. When it comes to kitchen décor, it should not just be pleasing to the eye but also practical to work with.