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Friday, November 20, 2020

Any chef can attest to the indispensable utility provided by a kitchen island: it serves as a work-space, an intimate dining surface, and as a landing point for incoming groceries.

With the advent of small space living and open plan concepts, kitchen islands are less often confined within the walls of the cooking gallery - so to provide you with some inspiration and help you keep up with the Joneses, we sought out the most popular uses of kitchen islands that will likely redefine the norms we expect of future kitchens.

Designer: Regal Violet

6. The Beverage Bar By far the most common use of kitchen islands can be observed in the beverage corners of larger homes. As ready-made bar surfaces can be difficult to come by without the expertise of a carpenter, kitchen islands are often made to accommodate bar stools by narrowing the width and raising the height of the countertop beyond typical dining surfaces. The bar's design can be made to match adjacent counters and cabinets by modifying a kitchen island rather than searching for a purpose-built fixture.

Designer: Metrics Global

5. Decorative Features Expanding beyond the utilitarian role of a culinary work space, kitchen islands have often been spotted being used as central decorative features. These decorative islands enable a greater degree of freedom in their design, as they can be composed of stark rectangles to suit a contemporary aesthetic, or irregular angles for more eclectic tastes.

Designer: Zids Design

The functionality of these decorative islands can be expanded when fitted with discrete shelving on the operative side, or with additional lighting hidden in recesses to bolster the ambiance.

Designer: D'concepto Design

4. Dining Surfaces Some kitchen islands have been topped with wider surfaces, providing room for conventional dining with some chairs of appropriate height. These arrangements are best suited for smaller homes, where the incorporation of a dining area into the kitchen frees up additional space for other functions.

Designer: Turn Design Interior

3. Dining Extensions In spaces large enough to accommodate a dining table, kitchen islands have been seen being used to extend dining surfaces and to provide room for serving beverages or large dishes during gatherings. In addition to providing additional space for entertaining guests, these dining table extensions act as a form of physical separation that help to define the border between dining area and dry kitchen.

Designer: Nu Infinity

2. Teppanyaki Dining Taking the role of dining surface a step further, we have seen kitchen islands accommodating Teppanyaki-styled arrangements in larger kitchens. These kitchen islands incorporate a grill or stove-top in the centre of the island, and with the accompaniment of bar stools or dining chairs to match the height of the counter, a meal can be served under the direct supervision of the chef.

Designer: Living Space Creative Design

1. Retractable Utility In some small kitchens, kitchen islands have been reduced to their simplest forms and made retractable to provide the option of additional work space with the benefit of a stowable design. With the inclusion of a few stackable stools or dining chairs, the retractable work surface can be turned into an intimate breakfast nook without permanently sacrificing floor space.

Designer: Zids Design Have you come across any honourable mentions for this list? Let us know on our Facebook page.  

Friday, November 20, 2020

When we last covered the subject of colour in the kitchen, we outlined a number of other shades that can be used and their subtle effects on your cooking space - but if you decided to stick with a largely white palette in the kitchen, we have some pointers on how that all-white space can be personalised to suit individual tastes.

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Contrasting Arrangements Interior design by: Yong Studio

The overwhelmingly common result of opting for architectural finishes in white is an overly monotonous expanse devoid of detail or depth - Yong Studio counters this expected result with the selection of glossy white tiles to counter the matte finish of the surrounding surfaces, and arranges the tiles in a brick pattern to disrupt the standard grid arrangement of the floor tiles and the right angles of the cabinetry.

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Wooden Accents Image Credit: DMZ Consultancy

While a glossy white expanse may have been considered a characteristic of modern interiors some time in the past, emerging trends reveal the use of wood to be increasing in tandem with the world’s maturing ecological consciousness. Framing glossy white panels in pale wood produces a lightweight décor similar to those observed in the temperate climates of Northern Europe, but this kitchen in the tropics is given a regal streak with panels of dark wood to contain the glossy white.

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Reflective Planes Interior design by: Jashen Interior Design

Smaller kitchens - such as the pictured galley decorated by Jashen Interior Design, stand to gain a visual expansion with the addition of mirrored panels on various surfaces around the countertops. The neutral palette of this diminutive kitchen is reflected in kaleidoscopic fashion, with the incorporation of a mirrored backsplash and splatter screen beside the stovetop to provide an expansion of the space on two different axes.

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Backlit Cabinetry Image Credit: Regal Violet

Decorated by Regal Violet, this kitchen projects a stereotypically clean image with its composition in glossy all-white surfaces and stainless steel fixtures. In an exercise of subtle juxtaposition that is characteristic of their style, Regal Violet incorporates a warm visual element in the form of  dim yellow light spilling out the frosted glass cabinet doors to provide a measure of stimulating contrast against the potentially sterile décor.

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Vivid Highlights Interior design by: Turn Design Interior

Diversions from the neutral palette may require some courage, but the result can be a surprisingly spirited décor. With a simple switch in colour on the backsplash and the front face of the kitchen island, Turn Design Interior enlivens what would otherwise be a relatively plain décor with cheerful dashes of yellow.

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Friday, November 20, 2020

If you’ve come across our guide on the many ways of furnishing outdoor spaces, or our ideas for urban gardens, you may be interested in seeing some of those ideas in practice - so we listed some of the ideal examples of outdoor spaces we have seen to provide you with inspiration.

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Tropical Diversion Design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

Modern and tropical influences converge in this outdoor space for a warm result: the wood deck of this side yard is appointed with furnishings of rustic design, while the simplistic wood blocks and reinforcing steel bars painted black stand in direct contrast to the distinctly modern character of the architecture.

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Expressions in Stone Design by: Gusto Design & Build

A grassy mesa is painted in miniature, with grey pebble-wash plinths and a swathe of white river pebbles enclosing a patch of lawn. The adjacent raised wood deck hosts an intimate assembly of wicker furniture to facilitate a meditative view of the yard.

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Expansive Vista Design by: Jashen Interior Design

Keeping in mind that an expanse of stone may be overwhelmingly cold, Jashen Interior Design selects floor tiles that bear the shades and grains of wood to create the impression of a deck made from lumber in this section of the patio. Potted plants are used sparingly to line the edge of the hardscape and serve as the points of  transition to the grassy plain and the inviting water feature.

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Transported Greenery Design by: DMZ Consultancy

Instead of opting for the default architectural finishes that came with this patio, DMZ Consultancy installs a layer of artificial grass and lines the diamond mesh railings with planters to bring the lushness of the outdoors even closer to the extents of the home.

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Enigmatic Lighting Design by: Regal Violet

The otherwise dark corners of this side yard are illuminated by glowing orbs and lit ripples of water at night. The motion of water falling over the ridged stone panels creates a hypnotic dance of light and shadow over the neatly contained greenery nearby to evoke imagery of the nocturnal jungle.

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Friday, November 20, 2020

Your kitchen worktop is the single most important decision you can make when installing a new kitchen. So choosing the right worktop surface is one of the most crucial decisions you'll make. Your kitchen worktop choice can say a lot about your taste in design, your lifestyle and even how seriously you take your cooking. So, which one are you?

1. Wood

You are: warm, tactile, earthy and very antibacterial. You're easily shaped and can adapt to accommodate even the trickiest environment. However you are prone to scratching and can dent easily but, if looked after properly, you will last a very long time and, like a vintage wine, will just get better with age. You require oiling every six months or so, which some say is high-maintenance, but this will only serve to bring out all your natural character.

Designer: The Roof Studio 2. Marble

You are: cool, calm and very collected. Classically beautiful, you automatically catch the eye, adding understated glamour to any scheme. Like all great divas, you are quite high maintenance, needing a lot of care and attention to stay in tip-top condition. You scratch easily. A little porous, you soak up the red wine a little too easily, which can leave you looking tired, damaged and out of condition. While certainly not cheap, you can still punch above your weight when used in small doses, lifting a scheme as a stand-out feature on an island, say.

Designer: FIX Design Solution 3. Concrete

You are: tough. But adaptable. You can, quite literally, be poured into any templated shape. You are more than a little bit ‘urban street' but beneath your hard, no-nonsense exterior lurks an honest charm borne out of your ability to withstand whatever life throws at you. You wear your knocks well, and can be easily repaired but may need treating with a sealant to protect you from nasty stains.

  4. Stainless steel

You are: a true professional. Handy with a cleaver, you have no time to dilly dally searching round for a chopping board to protect your delicate surface. No matter. The scratches, dents and knocks you take on simply add to your patina of charm. Tough, hygienic, hard wearing and hard working, have you thought of applying for Masterchef?

Designer: Luna Solutions 5.  Granite

You: think you're hard enough? Resistant to all scratches, you rival old softie marble for classic beauty and are at your most stunning in polished black (the ebony to the ivory of white units). Although hard enough to even take direct chopping without so much as leaving a mark, you do have a weakness for lemon juice which can ruin your perfect surface. In fact all kinds of citrus are like kryptonite to you, so your owners can become a little obsessive about keeping you constantly buffed.

Designer: Q1 Interior Concept 6. Laminate You are: versatile, adaptable, affordable and, unless you were born in the 80s, full of surprises. You are now available in a huge array of colours and sophisticated surface finishes. Thanks to the latest printing technology, you are a great mimic who can take on the look of real stone, marble or a host of other natural matrials. You come into your own when accessorised – something as simple as a stainless steel trim or wood veneer edging can really add character and lift you from the mundane to the marvellous. Designer: Global Elite Ventures 7. Man-made composite

You are: sleek, modern, solid and always up to the beat. You have a modern, edgy name like Corian, Silestone or Zodiac, being one of the cool gang who are easily fabricated into one seamless whole. You may well come in a punchy bright or sugary pastel colour, but chances are you're effortlessly beautiful in a flat finish cream, putty, pure white or café latte shade. You are hygienic, easy to clean and recover well from set-backs with scratches and stains being easily polished out. Installation isn't easy, so you need careful handling, by a professional who knows what they're doing but that's because, hey, you're worth it...

Designer: Zanotta Design & Renovation

Friday, November 20, 2020

Perhaps you’ve come across our pointers on incorporating artful decorations or storage into living rooms, and now find yourself wondering about how to assemble a décor to impress - if that’s the case, take a look at these five ways to create a stylish living room.

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Asiatic Modernity Interior design by: Design Integra

A neutral palette is applied to the background of this seating lounge, rendered dark with the addition of wood in dusky shades across the wall and ceiling. Appointing the modern furnishings and architectural features are a collection of elements inspired by Oriental aesthetics: an oil-on-canvas depiction of Japanese carp in a feeding frenzy is framed in straight edges and cool white light, a fabric lampshade mimics the furls of the ghost fungi, and a prosperously-bellied laughing Buddha is playfully juxtaposed with the busts of characters conceived on the other side of the planet.

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Studio Vibe Interior design by: Sachi Interior Design

An otherwise ordinary seating lounge furnished with highly versatile modern furnishings is given the personality of an urban art studio with the addition of curated decorations - a cropped reproduction of Audrey Hepburn’s visage, a Warhol-esque array of lips, and a standing light fixture appointed with a light-diffusing parasol speak of the resident’s affinity for photography.

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Transitional Effects Interior design by: Metrics Global

Where other living rooms dressed in modern style may appear nearly indistinguishable from each other, this seating lounge differentiates itself with a length of full-height mirrors that reflect the classical trim on the surrounding walls. Sprinklings of outdoor elements soften the straight-edged architectural finishes and contemporary furnishings to bridge the gap between modernity and the old world.

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Diverse Influences Interior Design by: Nice Style Refurbishment

An escapade from the compact nature of urban homes is constructed with the depictions of wood over a background of brick in an expansive decorative wall feature. Opposing this length of wall is a relatively plain image painted with a monochromatic palette to achieve a décor connecting elements of minimalism with the countryside.

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Eclectic Arrangement Interior design by: Q1 Interior Concept

Looking for something different? Elements of seemingly disparate influences converge on this seating lounge in idiosyncratic fashion. A lone armchair upholstered in a patchwork of patterned fabrics focuses attention on the prevailing theme, with the shades of orange and blue brought to the foreground in the shade of upholstery of the other seating furniture.

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Friday, November 20, 2020

A new home, for a new family – the stunning duplex apartment located in Sunway Damansara is home to the, stillfairly- newlyweds, actor Fahrin Ahmad, 37 and Elena Eleas, 38. With smiles all around and colours that really enhance the voluminous apartment, the happy couples’ aura reflects the cheerful décor, as we talk about their new home over some brunch.

Thanks to Dulux Paints, Fahrin and Elena now have a space that they love and can settle into, building their family. Deciding together to undergo major renovations, they transformed the space together creating the home of their dreams.

Beginning their renovations with the colours, Fahrin and Elena collaborated with Dulux, using Dulux’s colour palette from ‘Colour of the Year 2016. Creating an exciting interior, Fahrin boasted about just how much the colour transformed the space, saying, “compared to what it was previously, we now have lighter and brighter colours which make it look so refreshed. Spaces feel larger and more energised, and visually, it’s just more dynamic. It’s amazing what the right colours can do to a space.”

To invigorate and energise the living spaces, Dulux Ambiance Linen Warm Gold 35YY 59/533 and Dulux Ambiance Pearl Glo 35YY 59/533 were used on the doubleheight wall in the living area. The paint effects of the Linen is inspired by natural and rustic linen, making this wall stand out with a unique textured fabric effect. With natural light streaming in through the large windows reflecting off the paint, the living space radiates with beauty and luminosity.

In their spacious master bedroom, Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2016 - Monarch Gold 20YY 36/370 and Honey Moon 52YY 89/117 are used creating an elegant yet tranquil space. Being Elena’s favourite colour, she found furnishing her home around the colour easy, integrating neutral tones to contrast against the gold as well enhancing it at the same time. Both Fahrin and Elena are over moon with Dulux’s Colour of The Year 2016 palette,  as it suits their style perfectly.

So, now that they’ve renovated their home together, what would be their best piece of advice for homeowners looking to do a bit of renovation?

“Based on our experience, when choosing colours and paint, you need to follow the experts’ advice. Listen to what they have to say because they are after all professionals and they know about these things. The best thing about Dulux is that they offer free colour consultation services. They will help you choose the right colour scheme and colours especially for your space. Always refer to colour palettes too – Dulux has an app which allows you to browse through their catalogue of colours, so that helps when deciding on a colour."

With a beautiful new home for the amiable couple, Fahrin shared some last words: “We would like to thank you Dulux for helping us create our   home! Thanks for always entertaining our requests."

Friday, November 20, 2020

Glossy cabinets in the kitchen are highly sought after, perhaps for the same reasons as lustrous minerals and polished baubles have been considered prized treasures since antiquity - a reflective surface imitates the world more accurately than any representational art form, while being nothing more than an otherwise meaningless object that has been polished smooth with effort, or a combination of time, pressure, and heat. If you happened across our analysis of materials commonly used in kitchen cabinets or countertops, and you have your heart set on updating your cooking space with glistening surfaces, you may be interested in taking a closer look at the advantages (and disadvantages) of reflective cabinets in the modern kitchen.

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Smooth Surfaces Interior design by: Design Spirits

While mirrored planes can be counted on to visually expand a space, most reflective surfaces are manufactured with a degree of smoothness that is measured in microns. This level of precision commonly entails an absence of texture in most materials, which can render a kitchen cold and aloof if large or seamless panes are applied without any discernible spacing to provide some semblance of texture. By applying reflective planes in a haphazard, brick-like configuration, the interior designer - Design Spirits provides this kitchen with both a visual expansion and a chaotic aesthetic element to contrast against the ordered lines of modern design.

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Concealing Shade Interior design by: Hue Art Design

In addition to bearing little to no discernable texture, glossy cabinets will present greasy fingerprints more discernibly - in part, due to a characteristic imparting smooth planes with a “stickiness” (van der Waals forces), which attracts even the most microscopic of airborne particles and prominently displays light-disrupting dirt against a reflective surface. A slightly darker tint - as applied by Hue Art Design to the cabinets in this kitchen - will lessen the visual impact of dirt. Cleaning should be done periodically with a micro-fibre washcloth, to prevent scratches that could potentially add to the diffusion of light and result in slightly blurred reflections.

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Intriguing Angles

Because mirrored surfaces reflect rather than absorb light, polished planes can be used to visually expand a space and provide unique perspectives that would not ordinarily be possible with matte surfaces. Designed by Zanotta, this kitchen utilises reflections to widen the scene and mystify the eye. Although partially obscured behind a projecting island, the polished doors on the lower cabinets present the entirety of the floor space to observers entering the kitchen - while the upper cabinets magnify the sunlight and warm yellow glows from the lighting fixtures.

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Modern Circumstances Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

The combination of space-expanding visual effects and typically narrow profiles make reflective planes one of the most indispensable ingredients of the modern urban home. Without the darkly-tinted reflected surfaces providing both visual expansion and contrast in this kitchen designed by Homlux Interior Furnishing, the narrow space may have otherwise appeared unbalanced with the abundance of stone, the extra height provided by the air-well, and the intense glow of the sun streaming in through the skylight.

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Friday, November 20, 2020

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

Beauty may be subjective, but there are some factors we can all agree on. Get inspired by these designer ideas to create a cosy and eye-pleasing bedroom.

What is it about Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa that makes it the iconic portrait that we know it as today? Some may point to her enigmatic smile, the detailed background, the possibility of it being a self-portrait, or even the array of time-worn details that add to its mystique. When art experts attempt to quantify the reasons that the Mona Lisa is so endearing and prevalent, we arrive at a set of factors that could not possibly have been known to even the original Renaissance man himself.

Even the grandmasters of the past could not have accurately predicted the outcome of every artistic endeavour, and yet the presentations that we appreciate as masterpieces today could not have been drafted without the necessary know-how and some form of forethought. To enable you to create your own masterpiece, we cut through the fog of various materials, styles, and other decorative options available, and summarized our top designer tips for creating truly striking bedrooms.

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Open Layout

Interior design by: Archicentre

Space being the luxury that it is in urban homes, bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms get a dose of extravagance from an open layout. Removing the walls between the bedroom and the en-suite bathroom makes the space larger - and paradoxically, more intimate. In tight quarters, opaque brick walls could be replaced with transparent or semi-transparent glass curtain walls to keep the bedroom dry. With adequate space, visual segregation could be achieved with bathroom fittings installed slightly higher to rest on a raised platform or with subtle transitions in architectural finishes.

Interior design by: SNG Conceptwerke

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Natural Materials

Interior design by: Design Base

Ecological consciousness is apparently back in favour, resulting in a resurgence of natural materials dominating interior spaces. Even laminates mimicking stone or wood are useful for evoking a rustic or country ambiance - though for the sake of authenticity we highly recommend building up a thin façade of natural materials over existing walls.

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Simple Geometry

Interior design by: D' Concepto Design

Where complex patterns and classical decorative elements may be overly imposing, consider less robust patterns or geometry in simple forms instead. Simple patterns and geometric shapes take up less visual weight, making small bedrooms seem larger, complementing modern and minimalist interiors.

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Transparent Storage

Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

Instead of opting for opaque cabinetry with glossy or matte doors, which add weight to the space, showcase your clothing and maximise the spatial potential of your bedroom with transparent wardrobe doors. If your wardrobe choices result in haphazard bursts of colour, you can always tone down the effect of your collection by using slightly opaque wardrobe doors with a reflective sheen to reduce the visual impact of your garments’ colours.

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Reflective Accents

Interior design by: The Roof Studio

Aside from the widely understood fact that mirrors expand the perceived space, reflective materials such as mirrored glass or polished metal cut in simple lines or shapes serve to highlight transitions with a greater degree of elegance. When utilised in measured doses in conjunction with lighting fixtures, reflective accents cast an additional glow of redirected light to complement modern interiors.

Interior design by: The Roof Studio

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Dim Lighting

Tip: Overly-wide expanses of plain walls can be broken up into proportions more suitable for the space with a lone strip of reflective material - conversely, smaller spaces can be given a visual expansion with a wide and uninterrupted plane of glass or metal. Interior design by: The Roof Studio

For some, lighting of the warm white variety does more for a cosy atmosphere than cool white. While the latter is appropriate for a clean and breezy interior, the soft yellow glow of the former is reminiscent of candlelight or natural light at dusk and dawn - and is consequently more conducive for relaxation. Mix fixtures with cool white and warm white bulbs together for a little extra glitter and glam, or go completely warm white for a softly lit den.

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Plush Fabrics

Select materials based in neutral shades and adorned with simplistic motifs to reduce the visual weight of carpeting and drapery in the bedroom - or allow some creativity to be expressed with interesting patterns in the foreground. Interior design by: Nu Infinity

There are few sensations as comforting as bare toes buried in deep fabrics. Incorporate thick drapery and deep-pile carpeting into a bedroom of any size to increase the depth of your furnishings and to make for a cosier space. To add more depth and push the comfort factor all the way to the top, alternate between layers of silky and fluffy textures with fabrics composed of differing materials and thread counts.

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Friday, November 20, 2020

Minimalist style is a dependable aesthetic to aim for in modern urban homes, but ideas may be limited to Scandinavian furnishings in a neutral palette. To ensure a bit of diversity in everyone's minimalist decor, we took a look at the five most inspirational dining spaces that apply the minimalist aesthetic - and take it for a little walk off the beaten path.

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Sleek Finery

The compact proportions of this dining corner are echoed in the narrow profiles of the furnishings and decorations adorning it. To preserve the sense of spaciousness, Space In Design selects a lightweight modern dining table topped with a glass surface and an accompaniment of six thinly-upholstered chairs framed with reflective metal. The  dividing wall and adjacent shelving is similarly composed in simplistic style, but while the other elements of the space lean heavily towards simplicity, the central lighting fixture here is an intricate array of crystalline forms for luxurious punctuation.

Interior design by: Space In Design

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Subdued in White

Surface R incorporates restaurant-style banquette seating to transform what was once a walkway into a compact dining space. To diminish the intrusion into the reduced walkway, the accompanying chairs are necessarily composed in minimalistic style - with white mould-injected plastic seats held up on legs of pine and simplistic metal webbing in black. The two separate planes of natural wood in the bench seating and adjacent wall exert additional Scandinavian influence onto the space, while beams painted white form the dividing wall and ceiling canopy, enveloping the arrangement and bolstering the simplistic decor with an air of sunlit elegance.

Interior design by: Surface R

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Classical Impressions

Nice Style Refurbishment uses minimalist lines to paint a picture of classical influence in this combined dining and living space. Simplistic moulded panelling line the wall and camouflage the nearby doorway - the distinctly modern cuts of wood taking after the traditional use of wainscoting to frame paintings hung on walls. A country-styled dining table and accompanying chairs create an ambiance of rural luxury in combination with the classical chandelier and the button-back upholstery in the adjacent seating lounge.

Interior design by: Nice Style Refurbishment

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Country Lite

While countryside style may be ordinarily achieved with heavily-adorned furnishings in pastel shades, Nu Infinity demonstrates that minimalist furniture composed of wood can be called upon to create an assembly to seemingly transport a minimalist dining space to a rural setting. In a playful diversion from the expected neutral palette, lime green is used to evoke imagery of nature in the thin padding of the dining chairs.

Interior design by: Nu Infinity

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Rustic Industrial

Yong Studio achieves a decor balanced on a fine point between the lightweight aesthetics of a minimalist dining space, sombre shades of wood, and modern industrial influence in the prevalent use of metal frames in black. While the dining table is a robust slice of a tree trunk held up on thick square pipe legs, the accompanying chairs are kept as thin as possible to reduce the imposition on the the space's central feature.

  Interior design by: Yong Studio

Friday, November 20, 2020

We spend many hours in our home. It’s where the day is started and sealed. It should be a place that fosters relief after the many to-dos and ventures of a day. Make the most of time at home by cultivating a relaxing, calm living space for yourself, your family, and your friends and guests. Whether in the living room, family room, bedroom, or other space, there are many small steps you can take to promote peace in the home. Follow these eight tips to transform home into a place you want to spend time in and relax in: 1. Give Everything a “Home” Having clutter on table tops, floors, and elsewhere can translate to feeling cluttered throughout your life. Make sure that your important things, like those needed on a daily basis (keys, for example), have a space that is easily accessible but not immediately visible. This will alleviate the sense of visual clutter. Keep doorways clear and items off and out of the spaces used for sitting and relaxing! 2. Set Atmosphere With Music Consider purchasing a portable speaker to connect to your phone, or set up a music streaming service on your TV for playing background music. Choose calming songs like instrumental soundtracks and classical pieces. Keep the sound low so you can hear the music but not too loud that people have to talk over the music. 3. Bring the Outdoors In Bring vases of flowers or small plants inside. These provide color and calm. Choosing planters with decorative accents can improve the energy of a space as well. Live plants will clean the air and will not gather dust. The smell and life of indoor plants connects us with the outdoors, satisfying a fundamental human need for interaction with nature. 4. Let Light Shine Open windows, blinds, and drapes to permit sunlight to come in. Natural light will brighten the space, will help regulate hormones during the day, and will make the space feel bigger and cleaner, which has an instantly calming effect. Exposure to natural light is important for maintaining circadian rhythm, so allowing it into the home has health benefits. Reflective surfaces, such as mirrors and clean spaces, can make your space even brighter and feel bigger. 5. Freshen Up Consider opening windows to bring in natural air. Plug in light air fresheners or burn a scented candle to plant fresh smells inside. Essential oils, aromatherapy, or room sprays may also help temper the atmosphere. Use smells that have a calming or cleaning effect, such as lavender or lemon. Dusting down surfaces will help maintain a neat appearance. 6. Paint With Light or Neutral Colors Avoid bright statement walls or overly energizing colors like bright red and blue. Don't clutter walls with tons of pictures, photos, or frames. Instead, paint the walls with muted colors, neutral colors, or your favorite relaxing blend of colors. Leave the bright colors to accent pieces or items for display. Consider one or two larger focal pictures or an interesting piece of art to draw attention to a few central points in the room to avoid overstimulation. 7. Prepare for All Temperatures Have pillows and blankets available for snuggling up on your favorite couch or chair. Have a couple blankets for warmth and ensure that they have different thicknesses and textures so you have "just right" warmth no matter the weather or room temperature. Blanket and pillows are also great for providing texture in the home and can add a sense of calming aesthetic interest wherever they are displayed. 8. Keep Your Favorite Things in View While it is typically good to avoid overcrowding a space, having your favorite books, magazines, or photos out of the things you love and favorite memories can add positivity and comfort to the room. Keep out only those keepsakes that have special value to you. Use these to keep you calm during your relaxing time, refresh your memories, or motivate you for your next adventure. Consider these steps as you clean and renovate your home. Keeping your space calm and reflective of your values and personality will transform your home into a place of restoration and peace, which is the best possible effect it could have! Article courtesy of Olivia Warfield, a contributing writer and media relations specialist for Atlas Heating & Air Service. She writes for a variety of DIY and lifestyle blogs.