Is Minimalism Still in Style? The Jury is Still Out!

 

For several years now, the minimalist style has been a tour de force in the world of interior design. Critics of the trend, however, have claimed that this style tends to be cold and barren. While that is certainly one interpretation of Minimalism, there is no reason why the minimalist concept cannot be warm, as many interior designers have successfully demonstrated. While no decorating trend can last indefinitely, Minimalism offers several benefits to home decorators that may help to keep it alive for a few more years. 

What Is Minimalism, and Why Is It So Popular?

The minimalist interior design seeks to remove clutter by focusing on essential furnishings. Minimalist homes typically focus on one particular color palette with possibly one or two accompanying accent colors, and the style lends itself to open spaces and floorplans. Minimalist design does not mean doing without items that you need to live comfortably, but instead removing unnecessary things from your living space to enhance comfort and tranquility. The term “decluttering” has become synonymous with minimalism, but you cannot achieve minimalist decor simply by decluttering. Rather, decluttering is an essential step in developing a minimalist environment. 

Benefits of Minimalism

In addition to being an attractive approach to home decorating, Minimalism can enhance your quality of life in several ways.

Creating a Tranquil Living Space

Fans of the minimalist style will often point to its simplicity. In a minimalist design, everything has its place, but there is also a distinct lack of extraneous items. Living room furniture, for instance, is arranged in a grid pattern with few, if any, items to distract from the clean and efficient arrangement. The neutral, muted tones create a calming atmosphere where bright conflicting colors don’t compete for your attention. To enhance the calming effect of minimalist spaces, many decorators are embracing the Scandanavian concept of Friluftsliv, which emphasizes year-round indoor greenery.  

Easier to Maintain and Clean

With the focus on fewer items, light colors, and geometric lines, minimalist spaces are easier to maintain and keep clean. Fewer surfaces mean that dust doesn’t have as many places to settle. The simple design presents a hygienic appearance, as well. 

Fewer Pieces Allows You to Curate Your Furniture Collection

Building a quality furniture collection can represent a significant financial investment, but with a minimalist design, you can build slowly and focus only on essential pieces. For instance, you can build a bedroom by starting with a single piece of furniture, like the bed. As time progresses, you can add other essential bedroom pieces to your room. With a minimalist design, you can use a similar approach to any room in the house. 

Tips to Keep Your Minimalist Decor Fresh

If you’re concerned because you committed to Minimalism and you’re worried about your living space looking dated, we have some good news. Many decorating trends are continuations of the minimalist design style. Here are a few tips that will help you keep your minimalist style fresh and up to date. 

Add Greenery

We alluded to it before, but Friluftsliv aims to bring natural beauty indoors. Adding a plant or small indoor tree to your roomscape can enhance the warmth of the room and break up the clean lines of your furnishings. If you want to maintain the straight lines of your aesthetic, consider a topiary with the contours you’re seeking. 

Add an Accent Wall 

Minimalist design isn’t necessarily limited to gray or white. You can change the entire look of a room by changing the color of a single wall. To maintain the minimalist theme of your room, don’t venture too far away from muted, neutral colors like beige, gray, etc. 

Add Accessories

You can accessorize your furniture and rooms without giving up a minimalist style. Add a throw or pillows to a living room chair or sofa. Place a quilt and throw pillows on top of a bed. To maintain your minimalist style, choose solids or simple or linear patterns that will accentuate the existing tones in your furniture. Consider adding an area rug or changing the one you have to freshen up the look of the room. 

Minimalism Is Still Safe

Our opinion is that the minimalist style still has a few years of life left in it. But if you are concerned that your room is beginning to look out of style, you can always begin building a new look around your existing pieces or start from scratch with a different style.  

Contemporary Leather vs. Traditional Leather

When styling your living space, it's essential to choose fabrics and textures that both match your taste and meet the demands of your family. Knowing about the different types of leather available for items such as sectionals and ottomans can be helpful when deciding whether to incorporate this kind of furniture into your home. Choosing between contemporary leather vs. traditional leather can significantly change the vibe of a space, and knowing what to look for ahead of time when you're in the shopping phase can be extremely beneficial.

Here's a complete guide to the different types of leather available in the furniture market, all of the most notable differences between contemporary leather vs. traditional leather, and how to know which is suitable for your home.

Contemporary Leather Furniture

You may be asking yourself, "is contemporary leather furniture right for me?" We're here to help you decide. First, it's helpful to know precisely what contemporary leather furniture is. In short, it has many features of the traditional style but brings in modern elements as well.

What this means is that you're likely to find that traditional rich leather appearance that you love meshed with modern finishes, textures, and shapes. Instead of the plush, overstuffed look, think of leather seating that features sleek straight lines, metal hardware and accents, and more.

Contemporary leather furniture also features a variety of colors. Today, you're likely to find contemporary leather furniture options in colors such as navy blue, sophisticated opal, and a sleek modern gray. This allows you to select leather furniture that matches virtually any interior design scheme and color palette.

You're also likely to find more high-tech and user-friendly features included with contemporary leather further. Think power recliners, USB charging ports, and more. All of this is designed to meet the demands of a busy modern family.

Traditional Leather Furniture

What is traditional leather furniture? This is a question we hear quite a bit. With so many options on the market, it's common for shoppers to feel overwhelmed. However, it doesn't have to be this way. There are several key features of traditional leather furniture that make it easy to spot.

First, the color palette of traditional leather furniture is reasonably straightforward. Think of classic browns and deep espressos. When you imagine a classic leather sectional, one of these colors likely comes to mind.

With traditional leather, you'll see the rounded shapes most associated with the furniture. We're talking about the classic comfy, cushioned backs and seats and stuffed rounded armrests. Additionally, mixed materials and accents are kept to a minimum. You're likely to see gold rivets, perhaps, or wooden feet that match the tone of the leather.

Which Leather Is Right for You?

Now comes the more complicated part — deciding which type of leather furniture is right for your home. Take a moment to think about your needs. Do you have a more modern color palette in your space that may require seating that isn't the classic brown tone? Or, are you more an eclectic soul who appreciates funky accents but still wants the timeless look and feel of leather? These are important questions to take into consideration when determining which type of furniture will best meet your needs.

Additionally, consider the needs of your family and of the space itself. Is the rest of the furniture sleek and minimalistic, or is oversized and fluffy your thing? Do your kids need to charge their tablets and gaming devices in USB ports frequently? Make a note of these questions so that you know what to look for when you begin shopping.

The Bottom Line: Contemporary vs. Traditional Leather Furniture

Ultimately, whether you choose contemporary or traditional leather furniture will come down to your personal choice and what pieces you like the best. Only you truly know what will work for your home and lifestyle.

Both contemporary and traditional leather furniture offer many benefits. From a longer lifespan than fabric or microfiber couches to increased durability and resistance to cuts and tears to stain resistance, leather furniture is a great option for many different spaces.

Whether you're looking to add a timeless piece of feature seating to your living room or are looking for a long-lasting yet luxurious accent piece to add to a den or home office, you can't go wrong when you choose leather.

Leather furniture is bound to last for years to come, and the best part about this type of seating is that it's always in style.

Visit Baer's Furniture on Houzz to learn more. Read Baer's Furniture reviews.

5 Styling Tips for a Magazine-Worthy Home

 

Better Homes. Good Housekeeping. House Beautiful. HGTV Magazine.

These iconic periodicals embody design goals that inspire — and intimidate. But making your home look worthy of a magazine cover isn't impossible! Read on for our 5 tips for designing spaces that could grace the glossiest of covers.

1) Incorporate Comfort, Style, and Function

It's essential to keep the three main components of interior design in mind when decorating your physical space: comfort, style, and function. To have a home that meets the needs of your family AND is worthy of professional photography and a magazine feature, you need to incorporate balanced elements of all three.

Decide Your Home's Style

First, you need to make some decisions about what you want your cover-worthy home to convey. Keep in mind your own personal style, and start answering some questions. Do you want your living space to be more casual or formal? Would you like it to be traditional or modern? Do you prefer bright colors or a more neutral palette for your color scheme? Answering these questions provides you with an excellent starting point to begin your design journey.

Create a Comfortable Space

Next, a home should be a safe space. It should be where you feel most at ease and relaxed. When the people in a home are comfortable, the vibe permeates the entire area. The feeling of comfort should spread throughout each room. Incorporate lots of comfy seating such as sofas and loveseats, warm and plush bedding, and plenty of blankets and throw pillows.

Keep in Mind Functional Needs

Lastly, it's imperative to create a space that functions as you need it to. Think about how much seating you need at the dinner table, whether you have pets or kids who are rough on furniture, and things like how much shelving you need. Then, find furniture and décor pieces that meet those needs and suit your style.

2) Add Your Own Personal Touches

The second tip from expert designers is to add your own personal touches throughout a space. These are the things that truly set your home apart from others. They may include photos of a favorite vacation destination, art from a local artisan, or an ode to family history.

Or, it may simply include pops of your favorite color throughout the space. There is no wrong way to bring in your own personal touch. Some people like to DIY a few projects to display something that's truly their own.

3) Choose the Right Wall Coverings and Flooring

Don't forget the walls and flooring! These two things often go overlooked when designing a home, but for a space that's truly magazine-worthy, they're essential. Still keeping in mind comfort, style, and function, choose the wall and floor colors and textures that are best for your unique home.

For example, maybe you have pets, and installing vinyl or tile floors throughout the house is imperative. If that's the case, spruce up the space and create defined areas using area rugs. Or, perhaps you have a smaller and more compact room that you want to make appear larger. If that's the case, hang some decorative mirrors to reflect light and open up the area.

4) Make Sure You Have Enough Storage

One of the most important aspects of designing a magazine-worthy home is to minimize the appearance of clutter and create a space that's well-organized. Every item throughout your home should have its own designated space to which it returns when not in use. That includes books and magazines, remotes and electronics, shoes, kitchen gadgets, and just about anything else that comes to mind.

The key to de-cluttering and organizing a home is to ensure that you have enough storage space. Think of ottomans that open to reveal hidden storage, beds with drawers under the frames, and TV stands & media cabinets with ample shelving. Any piece of furniture that doubles as a storage area is an excellent piece to incorporate in your home design.

5) Choose a Design Theme

Choosing a theme for your home helps keep the look cohesive, without being too matchy-matchy. Elements of a design theme include a color palette, which features a few main colors with an array of less prominent accent colors. Additionally, you'll want to decide on a fabric and texture palette. Are you into classic leather furniture or do you want custom upholstery throughout your space?

You should also think of a few patterns you'd like to incorporate, without letting it get too busy. Stripes with polka dots combined with plaid and tie-dye, for example, are overwhelming and confusing to the eye. Stripes with solids, however, are visually pleasing. Choose a few complimentary patterned pieces to place throughout the space that really showcase your personal style and design theme.

When you keep these 5 design tips in mind, you can create a space that reflects who you are as a family, while also stunning those who come to visit. At the end of your design journey, you'll have a home that's absolutely magazine-worthy.

Visit Baer's Furniture on Houzz to learn more and read Baer's Furniture reviews.

9 Best Sites for Interior Design Inspiration

When looking for design inspiration, you can find plenty of interior design websites that offer ideas and advice. In fact, there are so many it can be hard to sift through them all and find the one that has what you want.

Do you know what you're looking for? Interior design sites aren't created equal. Some are good for color inspiration, some lean more towards DIY, and others focus more on ideas for flippers.

Check out these websites for ideas, inspiration, and, in some cases, just design eye candy.

Baer's Furniture

Baer's Furniture's Florida Inspired Living blog is a great place to learn about coastal, cottage, tropical, and, yes, laid-back Florida style. If you are looking for an always-on-vacation vibe in your home, you've come to the right place. You'll find plenty of fresh tropical interior design ideas and a whole lot more.

Houzz

Houzz sits near the top of every list of design websites. Whether you are looking for color inspiration, to learn more about design styles, or just for some DIY tips, you'll find it. The information is wide-ranging, which can be intimidating, but the content is intricately organized, which makes things easier to sift through.

Architectural Digest

Don't be fooled by the name, this well-known magazine covers more than architecture. The website provides a wealth of design ideas, color inspiration, and real-life projects from around the globe.

The fun part: tours of celebrity homes, and lots of them.

Apartment Therapy

Another misnomer, Apartment Therapy is more than just designs for small spaces, although you'll find a lot of inspo if you live in an apartment or condo. The photos are design quality, the DIY tips really work, and their resources for gardening and keeping house plants can help even the brown-thumb type. Whether you like bright colors and boho style or neutrals and mid-century modern, you'll find plenty of ideas.

Laura U

If you are looking for high-end interior design inspiration, Laura U is the perfect resource. You'll find tons of eclectic, cutting-edge décor ideas. It focuses on elegant and unusual projects in the Houston area. Go straight to the journal section, where you'll see trends, design tips, and clever ideas from the Laura U team.

Young House Love

If you're looking for home improvement and decorating tips, Young House Love has both. It has tons of design ideas and before and after photos of real-life home transformations.

But wait, there's more. An entire section of DIY and decorating tips offers everything from minor tweaks to big projects.

Eye Swoon

The name will draw you in, but the visual inspiration will keep you here. At Eye Swoon, you'll find gorgeous photos of room designs and DIY projects as well as detailed room elements such as tablescapes, shelf styling, and more.

Sherwin-Williams

For color inspiration, go to the color experts, and that would be Sherwin-Williams. On the site, you'll see stunning color inspiration images, and you can use the ColorSnap® visualizer to try out colors. The site also offers a lot of DIY help and tutorials for home decorating projects.

Bromstad.com

If you are searching for color inspiration in your interior design, your search ends here. Filled with beautiful, vibrant colors and stunning photos of design projects, this blog demonstrates what you can do with color. Whether you love color or just want to add a dash here and there, this is a great place to start.

There is no shortage of interior design blogs to go to for inspiration. So whether you are looking for a complete remodel or just a few small changes, you can find any number of sites to spark your creativity. You’ll have plenty of ideas to work with when you are ready to get started.

Is your favorite interior design site on this list? Let us know in the comments.

Read Baer's Furniture reviews. Learn more about Baer's Furniture.

5 Timeless Interior Design Ideas That Work

In interior design, where trends change with the seasons, changing your décor with every new trend that comes along would make your head spin.

So, how do you make sure your interior design is always on point? How do you create the perfect balance between fun and classic, timeless and trendy?

These tips will help you get a foolproof timeless interior design that is both curated and comfortable.

Image: https://www.interiordesigninfo.com/

What Is Timeless Design?

Before I get into the specifics of how to get the look in your home, here are a few elements of timeless design.

• Neutrals – a neutral background is a key feature of timeless interior design.
• Clean lines – highlight the lines and shapes of your house’s architectural details.
• Colors – feature colors like navy blue, dark green, and black that will always be in style. Dark colors like these complement neutrals.
• Antique furniture – decorate with antiques that contribute to the timelessness of a space’s décor. Whether a piece that’s been in your family for years or a traditional piece, furniture that's stood the test of time makes for the right atmosphere.
• Patterns – use time-tested patterns such as stripes, checks, and plaids.
• Natural materials – stay away from plastic and synthetics.
• Proportions – select furniture in proportion to the space.

The end result should be a room that exudes subtlety, simplicity, and elegance.

Achieving a Timeless Look in Your Home

If you're ready to get a look for your home that will stand the test of time, follow these guidelines to get the perfect look.

1) Symmetry

When you keep in mind symmetry and balance, your interior design will always be pleasing to the human eye.

There are 2 ways to achieve symmetry in your design:

A) Divide Space in Half

The easiest way to achieve symmetry is to divide the space in half and use pairs of the same or similar objects to create matching halves of the room.

B) Use a Focal Point

The other option is to choose certain focal points and create symmetry around them. You can use a sofa or mantle – be creative, as long as you create a mirror image (matching sofas) or two balanced, complementary halves (mantle as a focal point).

A symmetrical room offers a sense of balance that is pleasing and soothing to the human eye.

Image: https://decoholic.org/

2) Use of Classic Patterns

Classic patterns are the hallmark of timeless interiors – plaids, stripes, florals, and damasks. This means giving up animal prints, chevrons, and cluttered geometric prints. If you love these patterns, use them mindfully, and be aware that these patterns don’t always weather the test of time very well.

Another guideline for using patterns is to limit the number of patterns in a room to three in three different sizes. For instance, consider mixing a large striped sofa with checked curtains and a floral rug. You can play with the sizes however you like as long as you have three scales.

3) Quality over Quantity

It is important to keep in mind that quality materials are timeless. This means that instead of cluttering up a space with multiple pieces that confuse the eye, you use a few quality, eye-catching pieces.

Choose good quality furniture, upholstery, and accessories. With high-quality pieces, you get outstanding durability and a beautiful look that lasts.

4) Creating a Focal Point

Focal points add an aesthetic dimension and elevate the look of any space. They are accents in a room that draw the eye in a pleasing way. Some rooms have natural focal points, such as a fireplace, French doors, or a large picture window with a gorgeous view. If the room doesn’t have a natural focal piece, you can create one by painting a statement wall or adding artwork.

5) Tone Down on the Tech

It seems like we can’t live without our devices, so if you can't give up your TV, at least hide it or tone it down. It helps that TVs and speakers aren’t as big and bulky as they used to be. Tech has gotten smaller and more inconspicuous, so even if you are the most avid TV viewer, it is easier to create décor in a way that doesn’t put the TV front and center in the space.

When putting your spaces together, keep in mind that all trends have an expiration date, so avoid incorporating them in a major way. Instead, be mindful with color, customize your style, and be practical. Whether your style is classic, eclectic, or somewhere in between, you can create a timeless design as long as you keep the basic guidelines in mind.

Read Baer's Furniture reviews. Learn more about Baer's Furniture.

Cozy Up Your Home with Vintage Beach Furniture and Decorating Ideas

A cozy interior isn’t just for winter, it can last all year long. Cozy beach style with a touch of vintage works as well in cool Florida winters as it does in its warm summers. It’s the perfect year-round style for tropical weather and a casual lifestyle.

What makes a room feel cozy? It’s more about a feeling than a style; a welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to curl up with a good book or stretch out and relax. It can be colors, soft textures, and plush pillows. There is no single best way to do it, it depends on what makes you feel warm inside.

Below are vintage beach decorating ideas that will cozy-up your home all year long.

Cozy Beach House Color Palette

Beach house colors run the gamut from warm neutrals to bright, citrusy colors and everything in between. Here are some examples:

• Tropical shades and tangy yellows create a fun and vibrant mood
• Layering whites, warm shades of tan, and natural wood tones soothe the soul
• Various shades of ocean hues give spaces a nautical feel
• Sky blue, lime green, and hot pink liven things up
• Classical blue and white creates a casual look

Wicker and Rattan Furniture for Laid-Back Comfort

Wicker and rattan are everywhere right now, so even if you can’t find a vintage piece, there are plenty of newer ones to choose from. Wicker furniture is famous for being used outdoors, but these days, you are just as likely to find it indoors in living rooms, dining rooms, studies, and bedrooms.

For a casual, laid-back feel, use wicker chairs in your dining room. Made of natural materials, they bring warmth and comfort into the space.

Breakfast Bar or Bistro Table for Casual Conversations

A cozy breakfast bar or bistro table offers a friendly place to grab a bite and have a bit of conversation. For a relaxed beachy feel, chose one with a vintage vibe and add counter stools with woven seats to go with the casual style. This combination is perfect because of its simple details.

Plants Bring in Freshness

Indoor plants are a quick and easy way to make a room seem cozy and welcoming. There are a ton of choices in a number of sizes and varieties, most of which are very easy to care for. Make a mini jungle in your living room, and your space will transform in minutes. (Or just a few strategically placed plants if you don't want a jungle vibe.)

Green is also a color that goes with just about anything, especially neutral or wood tones.

Beachy Accessories to Set the Mood

Botanical prints or beach scenes, whatever speaks to you, will make the space your own. You may not want fish and anchors everywhere, but you can have fun using them on small accessories. If anchors and fish aren't your thing, try brass birds and candlesticks. Choose something that makes you happy and that you will love seeing every day.

Scents to Enhance Comfort

Some scents take you away to a favorite spot, while others bring about a peaceful mood.

Lavender is generally calming and can clear the mind; rosemary can soothe the soul. Bright cilantro, lime, and cucumber are barely-there scents that enhance a space. Adding scented candles or stick diffusers allows a fragrance to permeate a room and chase the cobwebs away.

Using these tips can create a cozy, beachy home that is inviting and warm. Try the ideas that appeal to you.

Take a step back when you are done and check the space. It’s easy to go for a cozy vibe and end up with a space that feels overdone rather than welcoming. Assess, remove, and rearrange until you feel comfortable and cozy!

Check out Baer's Furniture reviews. Learn more about Baer's Furniture.

Is Working from Home a Pain? Tips on Setting Up an Ergonomic Home Office

Most of us don’t think about ergonomics (ergo-what?) until we start to feel the pain of a workspace set up on the fly or occasionally working from home. But if your work from home situation is long-term, you may start feeling unexpected aches and pains if your workspace isn’t set up right. That’s where ergonomics comes in.

The word sounds kind of fancy, but what it means is workspaces that fit the person who is using them. There is science behind it, but for our purposes, we need to know how to make our work from home spaces more comfortable, whether they are used every once in a while or on a regular basis. Choosing the right home office furniture can save you a world of pain and help you stay focused and productive.

Start with the Right Desk

Working at a real desk makes a big difference, as many who have worked at their dining room table can attest. You may not realize it right away, but working at the dining room table can cause posture problems that result in aching backs, necks, and even wrists.

Your desk should comfortably fit your feet, knees underneath it. You don’t want to bang your knees every time you pull your chair in or squeeze them together to fit them under it. Also, consider the height of your desk, when you are seated, your mouse and keyboard should be at elbow height.

The best way to tell if a desk is at the right height, sit at it, pull your feet under it, and hold your arms comfortably and naturally at your sides. Bend your elbow slightly in front of your body while they are still at your sides. This is the proper height for your work surface.

A good example is this desk with splayed legs and a drop-front drawer that puts the mouse and keyboard at the right height. The ergonomic palm rest keeps your wrists comfortable.

Choose a Comfortable Chair

This sounds obvious but isn’t as easy as it sounds. You may have to try out many desk chairs before you find the right one. This piece of home office furniture plays a key role in enduring your comfort when working at your desk for eight hours a day. A chair without the right support can cause backaches and neck aches that linger for days.

Look for a chair that supports your spine, but remember to sit up straight with your feet on the floor. You’ll know that your chair is the right height when your thighs are parallel to the floor, and your knees are at hip height or close to it. If you need a little extra support for your lower back, add a small pillow.

Set Up Your Computer

And lastly, once you have all your home office furniture set up in your space, set up your monitor, computer or laptop, and mouse correctly. Make sure your monitor is at or just below eye level so that you can hold your neck straight and avoid “tech neck” and the aches that come with it. Try to avoid having direct light shining on your monitor. Instead, keep it to the side for indirect lighting that is less harsh.

Learn more about Baer's Furniture. Read Baer's Furniture reviews.