How to Make your Ottoman Multi-functional in your Interiors

leather ottoman interiors

What once was just a wooden footstool to place your feet has evolved into the multifunctional ottoman of today’s versatile furniture options.  Ottomans in your interiors can serve as a coffee table, storage, extra seating and more. If you’ve been trying to make your living room have more functionality and appeal, try out these creative uses for an ottoman in your interiors. You will love how the traditional footstool has gotten a whole new look.

round ottoman interiors idea

Use ottomans as versatile furniture

Images via: Tara Seawright

Multifunctional ottomans look fabulous:

Are you looking for storage for your books, remote controls and video game controllers that are taking over your family room? Storage ottomans with hinged lids enable you to store items inside while still providing extra seating for kids when needed.  Take into account the size of area you have between your sofa and adjacent chairs. You can get ottomans as large as a coffee table or small ones in groups for more versatility. Smaller ottomans are great for smaller homes and apartments and can double as seating when you entertain.

tufted ottoman upholstery

Versatile furniture ideas with multiple functions

Images via: D for Design

Choose a material to match your decorative style:

Similarly to your favorite furniture, upholstered ottomans are a hot decorative trend in interiors. From geometric shapes – cylinders, cubes and octagons to materials that transform your living room into a showcase room. Leather, velvet, tufted satin and other gorgeous textiles are ideal for your ottoman. If you have children or pets consider materials that resist stains well such as tweed, khaki denim or microfiber textiles that repel stains easily. Consider having your ottoman treated with stain fighters similar to your sofa to keep them look their best.

leather ottoman interiors

Geometric ottomans add texture to your living room

Images via: Sean Michael Design

Your living room has just gotten a new focal point, and it’s not the sofa! Ottomans have taken on a new personality in today’s interiors, and using them for storage, extra seating, and as a coffee or side table gives them functionality that you may have forgotten about. Try these ideas to make your living room have a new character about it with the addition of a gorgeous ottoman.

21. May 2013 by Ronique Gibson
Categories: Living Room | Tags: , , , , , , |

Bringing Summer Cottage Inspiration To Your Home

Have you ever noticed how comfortable a summer cottage can be? The warm tones of ocean blues and sandy neutral tones can leave you wanting to spend all your days relaxing on the porch and reading a book. If you love the feel of summer in your home, consider bring cottage details in your home. From color to weathered wood and reclaimed materials, here are a few ways to bring cottage inspiration to your home.

cottage style dining room

Bring coastal cottage colors into your interiors

Image via: Troy Theis 

Bring beach colors into your home:

The color of the beach calms the soul and brings a sense of calm to your interiors. Blues, sage greens, sunny yellows, and calm neutrals are the best way to bring a cottage feel to your interiors. Paint, textiles, accent throw pillows and rugs make it easy to switch out seasonally. For the summer time – opt for no-fuss materials like burlap, denim, cottons, and linen for drapery and slipcovers. Remember the summer is a chance to relax and enjoy the cool summer winds and your warm colored beach interiors.

cottage style interiors bathroom

Bring weathered woods, plantation shutters, and soft feminine touches into your summer cottage home

Image via: Brian Vanden Brink

Bring the beach to every part of your home:

Cottage style also incorporates bits of feminine floral touches and masculine weathered materials such as wood and metals. Try adding wood plantation blinds to your interior windows and add wood shutters that are slightly distressed to marry the two styles together in your cottage interiors. On your outdoor porch – carry the theme outside with splashes of color in garden furniture cushions and play up the theme with colorful plants lining your patio! While a cottage can have soft tones, it can also allude to simple nautical-inspired colors too.

cottage style outdoor patio

Outdoor home – bring nautical color into your cottage patio

Image via: David Lamb 

This summer get ready for a laid back and comfortable home. Use these ideas to bring colors, textures, and no-fuss materials into your home. From the interior to your outdoor patio – see how a summer cottage feel in your home will feel like a breath of warm sunshine this summer.

For more home ideas, click here.

17. May 2013 by Ronique Gibson
Categories: Homes, Outdoor | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Warming your Interiors with Cool Brick

exposed brick kitchen idea

There used to be a time when brick was only considered to be an exterior material that created a sturdy and traditional façade. Today, brick is a beautiful material and homeowners are finding ways to expose brick in their interiors or even paint it to bring texture to a boring wall. If you’ve been thinking of ways to warm up your interiors, try these cool brick ideas for your home.

exposed brick interiors entryway

Showcase brick in its natural state in your interiors

Image via: Celebrity Communities 

Enjoy brick for its natural finish:

While many homeowners opt to cover up their brick walls with drywall, others prefer to showcase brick and its gorgeous qualities. Brick is one of the few building materials that can be used structurally for support and still show off beautifully in its exposed state. Try leaving your brick walls exposed as an accent wall in your kitchen or in your living room such as a fireplace wall, or consider leaving dry wall off entirely and keep brick as your interior finish. Brick requires no wallpaper, paint or other application, just leave it bare and enjoy its rustic qualities.

exposed brick kitchen idea

Create an accent wall using exposed brick

Image via:  Jamestown Estate Homes 

Enjoy brick for its texture and customize the color:

Brick walls that have stains or have a color palette that doesn’t go with your interiors can also be painted. Many homeowners enjoy the texture that brick gives. The uniform mortar joints give beautiful texture when painted, and you can customize your interiors in any shade of paint you choose! Try using painted brick walls in a room that is voluminous for variety. Consider leaving some walls exposed, or paint in a contrasting color to give variety and natural symmetry to your room.

painted brick interiors

Enjoy a painted brick wall for its natural symmetry

Image via: Ken Gutmaker Architectural Photography

Your brick interiors were just enhanced with the help of these useful tips. Whether you enjoy brick for its rustic colors and warm glow, or you prefer to customize them with your own paint, the options are limitless. Decide how you want to showcase brick in your home; from accent walls to entire rooms, what creative ideas do you have for your home using cool brick?

14. May 2013 by Ronique Gibson
Categories: Architecture | Tags: , , , , , , , |

Beautifying your Interiors with Golden Copper Inspiration

copper bathtub bathroom

Every season in home design there is a metal finish that reinvents itself to the design world. Copper is one of those finishes that is showing up in kitchen backsplashes, bathroom soaking tubs, and gorgeous dining room pendant lighting fixtures. Copper was once thought of as just a plumbing pipe material and for gutters and today the metal looks gorgeous hammered, smooth, satin or left rustic to show off its green patina as it ages. If you want to bring a rose glow to your interiors, use these ideas to beautify your interiors with golden copper.

copper bathtub bathroom

Make a copper bathtub the focal point of your bathroom

Image via: Alise O’Brien Photography

Bringing a striking copper element to your interiors:

Copper range hoods over your kitchen stove showcase copper beautifully and in overhead pot racks are another popular areas to see copper material. In your bathroom have you considered a traditional copper soaking tub? Claw foot tubs and deep soaker copper tubs are gorgeous and create an instant eye-popping appeal in your bathroom. If considering a copper tub – ensure the seams are welded correctly and you purchase from a reputable bathtub retailer to avoid leakage problems in the future. These tubs come in a variety of styles and copper colors – ranging from rustic to polished to artisan hammered finishes.

copper bathtub bathroom

This copper backsplash creates a warm glow amongst the darker wood finishes

Image via: InHouse Design Studio 

Using copper as a an accent in your interiors:

Copper backsplashes in bathroom, kitchens, and mini bars have inspired the way we look at the traditional metal accents in your decor. We once would only think of silver and gold tone finishes, but copper adds a “rose gold” appeal that pairs well with rich woods and darker finishes. If you prefer hints of copper throughout your home, look to lighting fixtures and wall sconces. Pendant lighting for your dining room and kitchen bar will highlight your home and entertaining/work surfaces with gorgeous illumination.

copper accents interiors

Copper lighting fixture to highlight your dining room table

Image via: Seriously Designed 

Copper can be the focal point of your eye-catching bathroom or you can use its rose metal finish to highlight your dining room table pendant light. However you choose to brighten your interiors with copper, use these ideas to enjoy your home with a copper highlight that you could’ve not considered in the past.

For more home ideas, click here.

10. May 2013 by Ronique Gibson
Categories: Living Room | Tags: , , , , , , , , |

How to Find Hidden Space in your Cramped Bedroom

Regardless of the true square footage of your bedroom, does it ever seem like it has enough space? From your wardrobe area where you keep clothing and storage to your sleeping and getting dressed areas, does it still seemed cramped? Instead of being unhappy with your bedroom, why not take advantage of hidden spaces that you may have forgotten? Here are a few areas to help you get more out of your cramped bedroom.

green bedroom view

Get rid of your oversized furniture – its making your bedroom smaller

Image via: Hotel Collection

Remove oversized furniture:

When buying bedroom furniture – measure your room first! For many homeowners this is forgotten and they buy oversized dressers, night tables and head/foot boards for their bed that swallow up the room. Buy furniture that has a smaller profile and that is multifunctional. Many headboards have integral bookcases, and drawers to eliminate the need for separate furniture. This will save space and make your bedroom look and feel larger. A sofa bed or futon in a guest room or loft can give a sleeping area and sitting area at separate times of the day.

brown and white bedroom natural light

Bring in natural light, mirrors, and lighter bedding to make your bedroom look larger

Image via: LUX Design

Optimize space you have forgotten:

There are several areas of your bedroom that is “real estate” for your storage.  Go vertical with bookshelves and even your bed. For kids’ rooms or for sharing a room with a roommate think about using a loft configuration. A loft will help you house multiple functions such as a desk, drawers, seating area and more. In children’s rooms consider adding see-through bins that can slide in and out. These will help kids keep organized and when affixed to a wall will save space for little ones to move around easier. In a master bedroom – consider wall sconce or wall mounted side lamps on either side of the bed to eliminate side tables.

loft bedroom idea hidden space

Take advantage of vertical space to find hidden storage areas

Image via: David Reeve Architectural Photography 

Your bedroom doesn’t have to remain cramped and uncomfortable. Maximize vertical space, use smaller profile furniture, and let more light in when possible. Finding hidden storage in your bedroom will help you weed out what you don’t need in your bedroom and keep only what is necessary and cherished. Enjoy the new space in your bedroom!

For more bedroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

07. May 2013 by Ronique Gibson
Categories: Bedroom | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |