Inspiring ways to use subway tiles

Sometimes the simplicity of subway tiles really makes me happy. They are simple, can be dressed up or dressed down, and always budget friendly. They are also a classic... but I'm interested to see what you think about them! Would you put subway tiles in your home?

GORGEOUS.
via Pinterest via Bethany Lynn Nauert

via Pinterest via The Kitchn

via decorpad


via pinterest

via decorpad

via desiretoinspire

The Art of Buying Original Art

Buying art can be a little more complicated than just falling in love with a piece and hanging it up! You may find that when you bring home that "gotta have it" piece that it doesn't fit in the space you want it in or it isn't great standing on it's own. 

Here are a few hints to help with the buying process:

via houzz

If you can, visualize it before you buy it. Go shopping knowing what size wall you are trying to fill so you can get a feel for what size of piece of art you are looking for. Pick out a few colors that you know will work great in the room and if you have a specific color you are looking for bring an item that matches it so you can tie it all together.

via bhg

Buy local to support your local artists! Not only does this give the art you bring into your home a story worth telling but you are supporting your neighbors. It will give you another reason to love it!

via apartmenttherapy

Remove the anxiety around pricing and realize that you can find a great, good size piece of art for under $1,000 but even for $100. If you have a budget you need to stick to then keeping within that price is important but finding that perfect piece could be as simple as $50 and be priceless to you.

via housebeautiful

Use the tools you have! Now with the power of mobility we can take a picture of our space and bring it with us art shopping or take a picture of that piece and bring the picture home to see it works where you want it (not all places will allow that). There are also places online that will take a photo of you room and place pieces of art in it to see if it's a perfect match.

via hometalk

There is no better way to make your own than an original piece of art that provides originality and a great story when hosting your friends. If you are looking for ideas of places to shop there's an awesome place called Vango that makes this process so much easier! When in doubt, remember the golden rule: buy what you like. 

Small Spaces: Defining a space

More and more people are choosing smaller spaces to call home. They tend to be more efficient and don't take as much time to clean ( a big perk for me), and are easier to maintain. Sometimes it's hard to define a certain area or space as it's own but all of my tiny NYC apartments have allowed me to try out almost all of these ideas. Here are some of my favorites.

via housebeautiful

For me, feeling like I had a little privacy while sleeping was crucial. Creating a foot board that creates some privacy for the bed is a great way to define the bedroom space. I also love the entryway table they used against to the foot board to create a real wall look.

via pinterest

Looking for a not so permanent solution? A rod with a curtain can do the trick. You can keep it open and airy or close it off for privacy. A sheer or semi-sheer curtain is important to help filter light through though. 

via Apartment Therapy

On the topic of light, it's important to choose window treatments that will allow for maximum light to come through.  Make sure when you open the curtains you'll be able to pull them completely to the edges of the windows.  Also make sure you have proper ambient lighting to prevent dark shadows which will make the room seem smaller.

via pinterest

A very budget friendly solution is to purchase an open bookshelf like the one above to use as a wall space. The fact that it doubles as storage is really important since small spaces tend to lack storage space. This is one of my favorite tips and I've used it in the past.  You can find similar, inexpensive modular shelving at Ikea.  Mine has held up well over the years.

via decor8

Consider raising up a space! This creates a ton of storage space and puts one part of your space above the rest. This is a great solution if there's not enough square footage to create storage otherwise. 

Inspiration for mixing and matching bedding

I love mix and match bedding, and can't wait to pick out the linens for our bed once our wedding is over and we have time to focus on decorating.

I love unexpected mixes like the leopard pillows with the ikat pillow.
via Pinterest via Heart Deco

via designstories

If you doubt your ability to mix patterns, start off with one color in different patterns, and add one accent pillow in another color. A monochrome palette will be foolproof.

via sarahmdorsey

via elementsofstyle

via Pinterest via  Indulgy
If you have an upholstered headboard in a non-neutral color, you will need to consider it when selecting your bedding.

via  Indulgy

New bedding and linens is probably one of the easier ways to make a big impact if you are looking for a change.

Ideas for using pattern in your decor (especially if you're afraid of it)

While I'm transitioning my house from winter to spring, I keep seeing all these fun prints I want to incorporate in my home decor. Here's a few that have caught my eye:

via pinterest

I love to mix and match accent pillows and since these are the easiest and most budget friendly way to change up the colors in your home, they are on the top of my list.

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A pattern in neutral colors like the checkers on the floor means you don't have to be married to one color palette. You can swap out different accent colors through out the year.

via theglitterguide

Don't be afraid to go bold! This rug is eye catching and I like that it stands out a little since rugs tend to hide behind the rest of the home decor. 

via houzz

I love the look of these chairs. Between the studs and pattern only being on the back side. It give sit a glamorous yet fun look to it.

via Heidi Claire via MadeByGirl

The entryway is a great place to try a little pattern because there isn't a lot of space to be overwhelmed.  It also creates impact right from the start since it's usually the first area of your home someone sees.

Who Knew Carpet Could Be Fun?

Carpet tiles have been around for a long, long time…well, around 50 years. They are a fantastic alternative to installing a full carpet and are great for both commercial businesses (especially in the office), and in the home. Since we are planning on finishing of our floors with hardwood flooring, this would be a great option for us to cover some of our space with carpet and not hide the new floors!

via Copy Cat Chic

Some of the best qualities are that they are easy to install, affordable and easy to ship, they are easy to clean and maintain, and they look both professional and stylish. They are available in so many styles and textures these days, that they can fit in practically any space.

via Flor 

The same great qualities as above make it a great choice for homes as well. Affordable carpet tiles are available widely and are less expensive to ship that traditional carpets because they come packed in boxes. - But best of all they are easy to install, and are DIY friendly. This is especially the case if you are planning to lay them on  top of laminate flooring, vinyl flooring or concrete as there is no need for underlay.

via Little Green Notebook

Carpet tiles come in a range of designs and colors and the fact that they are tiles makes planning your flooring a lot more fun, because you can be creative. They are easy to custom fit the shape of the room, which is particularly great if you have an awkward shaped room. Recently, popular TV design programs, interior design websites and blogs have started to champion carpet tiles due to the ease of installation and the variety and styles of options available.

via Flor 

Don't forget that they are easy to clean and maintain! Vacuuming works best for keeping them clean and spills can easily be absorbed with towel or sponge. You can even lift up the dirty tile and run it under the faucet to give it a quick clean. And if a tile (or two) is irretrievably damaged then you can simply just pick it up and replace it with a new one. Simple and a lot more cost effective then having to replace a whole carpet. It also makes it a little easier and more practical to have that white or cream tile you've always dreamed of!

2 above via Flor 

Carpet tiles come in many styles to fit a wide variety of decor styles and many price points. If you are looking to re-floor, carpet tiles are a flooring option that definitely should be considered. There are tons of really great brands out there, but in particular you should check out brands such as:  Burmatex, Desso, Gradus,  Heuga, Interface and JHS Carpets as style wise, their options are fantastic.

this post was in partnership with everyfloordirect.com