Home Decorating Ideas – Shabby Chic or Simple Urban Decor..Which Would You Choose?

If you think about it, we all have a style of living that we enjoy and find both comforting and relaxing. When I’ve been away from home all day, as I’m driving back I can almost feel the atmosphere that I’ll be stepping into, and that’s a great feeling. At the end of the day what decor lifestyle beckons you? For this discussion we’ll compare two similar yet very contrasting decorating styles.

These two styles take different approaches to a vintage look. First is Shabby Chic, which most everyone is familiar with. Shabby Chic is similar to cottage style decor and is known for white, distressed painted furniture, soft floral colors in pale shades of pink, blue and green, vintage accessories and comfortable, slip-covered furniture.

You’ll probably find fresh cut flowers, antique lace tablecloths, scented candles and crystals hanging from the antique chandelier. Shabby Chic decor includes a mix and match of fabrics such as stripes, florals and checks, tea stained fabrics and flea market finds. All in all, you will be comfortable and at home with Shabby Chic if you enjoy a soft, floral, feminine style of decor.

Perhaps you enjoy some vintage decor but are looking for a more refined look with a contemporary flair. Your lifestyle decor choice might be Simple Urban.

Simple Urban decor is a combination of vintage and contemporary with natural fabrics, medium to dark toned woods, rich neutral colors and decor accents of iron and glass. And, the result is an uncluttered and spacious look. Antique pieces with clean lines (no Victorian here) and flea market finds are integrated into the decor as a counterpoint to the sleek urban style. Unique accent pieces, vintage or new, take the spotlight in this decorating style.

You’ll find a color palette comprised of shades of tan, gold, cream, brown and black, with bold accent colors to give drama and excitement to the area. As you decorate your space, you might find some great upholstery at a flea market or consignment shop, or purchase new. It doesn’t matter as long as you maintain the overall clean look and love the piece. The same applies to lighting, as you may install some track lighting in one area and find a great antique lamp for another.

What other design elements are found in Simple Urban decor? You’ll find wood or tile floors with area rugs, with the rugs comprised of a natural weave such as sisal, or you could take a different path and create a bold look with a very colorful rug. Case goods, whether they are new, vintage or flea market finds, will be a medium to dark wood tone. There may also be metal or glass accents. Creating a unique look with unmatched pieces will enhance your Simple Urban decor, so use your creativity to find some great end tables, bookcases, dining sets and the like. Window treatments can be a simple as a window shade for privacy with fabric side panels hung on iron rods. You may opt for wood blinds, shutters, verticals, or nothing at all to cover the windows. Use fabric sparingly, as you don’t want a treatment that is over dressed.

The final touches are what pulls everything together in your Simple Urban home. Accessories can be big, bold and colorful, vintage, reproduction or contemporary. As with your other selections, if you find a piece that you love, then use it. Be mindful of how much you put into your space and always avoid the cluttered, messy look. Each piece should have a presence of it’s own.

So where do you fall in these contrasting styles? If you love the soft, whitewashed, floral vintage look, Shabby Chic is right up your alley. For those who prefer a subtle vintage decor with contemporary flair, Simple Urban may reflect your taste. Whatever you choose, enjoy decorating your home and creating your unique abode.

Quick Front Porch Decorating Guide – The Key To Easy Decorating Ideas!

We get asked often the question “What can I do to decorate my porch without a lot of effort?” Or, “I’m not a great decorator, what easy decorating ideas do you have that looks great?” Front porch decorating is much like decorating any room of your home. Think four things: color, theme, focal point and purpose.

Color -  Choose Your Decorating Color Scheme

You can do an amazing decorating job just by using color. Don’t be afraid to use color. Not good with decorating color schemes? Neither am I though I’d like to think I am!  However, I can pick out at least one color I like. So how do you choose a color? Browse through decorating books, visit a department store home furnishings department or go to your paint store and pick out some paint strips that you like. Paint strips give you great ideas of complementary colors, too!

So once you’ve chosen a color you like, what do you do with it? Try  painting the front door. The front door can serve as a focal point or it can be used to telegraph your decorating color scheme for the rest of the porch. So your first step is to go out on your porch or yard and determine a great color for your front door. Depending on the overall statement you want, that is, bold, trendy, subtle, or somewhere in between, choose a color that will complement that look. Then you might choose another complementary or contrasting color to go with that.

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Theme

Most of us have at least some type of look or style we’d like for our front porch: country, Victorian, Southern, contemporary, southwestern, Tuscan, eclectic or even a sports theme.  Or perhaps you want a seasonal look depending on the time of year – spring or fall decorating, for example.

Some prefer, especially those along the coast, a nautical look. Others, like in the southwest, might prefer a western theme. This will help determine the items you want to display on your porch. Look at garage sales, flea markets, your dollar store, or a thrift shop to find items like pictures for your wall, furniture, tables or other charming knick knacks to carry out your theme. Chances are you have some items in your home already that you can re-purpose for your porch.

Focal point

A focal point can be anything from the front door itself, a beautiful wreath on your front door or perhaps a wicker table, chairs, and colorful table cloth. Or, it could be beautiful hanging baskets, a work of art (painting or sculpture), or perhaps a favorite rocker or swing. Above all, make sure your “focal point” is obvious and it should be a great conversation starter.

Purpose

How will you use your porch the most? Will it be a gathering place for relaxing in the evening? Perhaps you want a place to listen to music or share an intimate glass of wine? Will you be entertaining on your porch? Do you want to create a private nook for reading or writing? Knowing how you will use your porch will help you select the right furniture and accessories.

From country decorating ideas to contemporary decorating, just follow these four concepts and you will be surprised at what you can do. Decorating on a dime is still possible today if you use your creativity and are resourceful in finding charming pieces for your porch at garage sales, flea markets or even your dollar store. Take your spouse, child or a friend and make it fun! See what you can create!

Innovative Classroom Ideas for BER Projects

This clip showcases the school furniture fit-out carried out by Victorian Educational Furniture at Rowellyn Park Primary School. The brief for this project was to create a flexible, innovative and functional learning space for the students at Rowellyn Park Primary School. Students were involved in the planning process from the very begining. They played a huge role in selecting the type of the furniture and the colour schemes that you see in this video.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Minecraft Village – Furniture Ideas (Episode 2)

I explore a few different techniques and concepts for furniture while building a house. ~~~Featured Youtuber of the Video~~~ TobyTurner For being a bird motha!

Where can I find good Christmas decor ideas for the exterior of my house?

Question by Dianne S: Where can I find good Christmas decor ideas for the exterior of my house?
I’m looking for some photos of the outside of homes so that I can get Christmas decorating ideas.

I’m thinking of doing swags on all of my exterior window sills, but I just found a source of all sizes of grapevine wreaths and now I’m thinking of decorating with grapevine and greens! Any ideas?

I have a historic victorian home, two stories with lots of windows and two front doors and a gingerbread front porch. I’m open to suggestions if you have any!

Best answer:

Answer by me
The grape vines will be great…leave out the greens add pinecones and crystal beads wind lighting through them. A light reflective netted bow in the center. Use the same garland around the door. Of course a single light in each window. Put 1/2 pillars outside the door arrange several LED tea lights at varied heights inside a clear disposable bar type drink cups You can get the LED flicker lights at a dollar store for a buck apiece. Affix 2 wreaths at the bottom of the stair rails one on each side. Line the walkway with more LED lights in cups (Turn the cups over on the walk and secure)

http://www.100candles.com/images/items/2x2_superbright_led_votive_candle.jpg

Add your own answer in the comments!

101 Victorian Decorating Ideas

101 Victorian Decorating Ideas

When we think of Victorian Decorating, we think of ornate décor, rich cranberry colors, pinks, peaches and golds, lace and silverplated coffee sets. Tie that in with a little country charm, old country baskets and floral cloths, and you have a beautiful combination of luxury and simplicity.

Use these decorating ideas to get the feeling of old-fashioned living. Fresh air, views of the countryside………let’s go on the journey back in time.

List Price: $ 3.99

Price:

What name for my clothing line do you like best? IDEAS? THANK YOU! :) <3?

style: victorian couture and iridescent flashy combined. the victorian couture is usually dominant.
trademarks: iridescent blueish purpleish kisses in gold stain outline. cherry red antique letter seals. A gold mix of my initials (looks abit like a G).

i need a name that suits both styles harmoniously.

my ideas:

voltaïque – french for energizing, stimulating, exciting (voltaic in english)
embrase – french for put on fire. to become passionate.

my other ideas BUT they only describe the flashy neon part of my collection, so i cant really use them :(

Acidic Flava
Golden Kisses
Smack
Blaze

i need a name that is very couture and classy not trashy, but has a distinctive bold edge to it, just like my collection.
PLEASE AND THANK YOU <3 :)

What name for my clothing line do you like best? IDEAS? THANK YOU! :) <3?

style: victorian couture and iridescent flashy combined. the victorian couture is usually dominant.
trademarks: iridescent blueish purpleish kisses in gold stain outline. cherry red antique letter seals. A gold mix of my initials (looks abit like a G).

i need a name that suits both styles harmoniously.

my ideas:

voltaïque – french for energizing, stimulating, exciting (voltaic in english)
embrase – french for put on fire. to become passionate.

my other ideas BUT they only describe the flashy neon part of my collection, so i cant really use them :(

Acidic Flava
Golden Kisses
Smack
Blaze

i need a name that is very couture and classy not trashy, but has a distinctive bold edge to it, just like my collection.
PLEASE AND THANK YOU <3 :)

What name for my clothing line do you like best? IDEAS? THANK YOU! :) <3?

style: victorian couture and iridescent flashy combined. the victorian couture is usually dominant.
trademarks: iridescent blueish purpleish kisses in gold stain outline. cherry red antique letter seals. A gold mix of my initials (looks abit like a G).

i need a name that suits both styles harmoniously.

my ideas:

voltaïque – french for energizing, stimulating, exciting (voltaic in english)
embrase – french for put on fire. to become passionate.

my other ideas BUT they only describe the flashy neon part of my collection, so i cant really use them :(

Acidic Flava
Golden Kisses
Smack
Blaze

i need a name that is very couture, but has a distinctive bold edge to it, just like my collection.
PLEASE AND THANK YOU <3 :)

What name for my clothing line do you like best? IDEAS? THANK YOU! :) <3?

style: victorian couture and iridescent flashy combined. the victorian couture is usually dominant.
trademarks: iridescent blueish purpleish kisses in gold stain outline. cherry red antique letter seals. A gold mix of my initials (looks abit like a G).

i need a name that suits both styles harmoniously.

my ideas:

voltaïque – french for energizing, stimulating, exciting (voltaic in english)
embrase – french for put on fire. to become passionate.

my other ideas BUT they only describe the flashy neon part of my collection, so i cant really use them :(

Acidic Flava
Golden Kisses
Smack
Blaze

i need a name that is very couture and classy not trashy, but has a distinctive bold edge to it, just like my collection.
PLEASE AND THANK YOU <3 :)

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