0 comments
COMMERCIAL, DIY PROJECTS, RESIDENTIAL, RESIDENTIAL - HOME STAGING
posted by Carmen Dick
November 21, 2024

Decorating With Blue and Red: Fall’s Unexpected Color Trend

This bold pairing is back, with fresh ways to style it for modern interiors.

When planning your home’s color palette, decorating with blue and red may not be the first option you consider. Often associated with primary colors and Americana nostalgia, this combination has taken a backseat to softer, more muted schemes in recent years.

But this fall, blue and red are making a stylish comeback—with a twist. Think subtle variations of these classic hues, thoughtfully balanced to create a bold yet sophisticated look. Ready to try this trend? Here’s how to incorporate blue and red decor into your home.

How to Decorate With Blue and Red

Blue and red are opposites on the color wheel, creating a dynamic pairing when styled thoughtfully. Blue brings a calm, grounding energy to a space, while red adds warmth and vibrancy. Together, they can create a perfectly balanced interior. Here are four ways to embrace decorating with blue and red this fall.

1. How to Use Red in Small Doses

Red is a bold choice that doesn’t need to dominate the room. Use it as an accent to complement a primarily blue palette. Think trim on pillows, a stripe on a lampshade, or the base color of a single decorative item. By keeping red accents subtle, the overall scheme remains calming and inviting.

2. Choose Light Shades of Blue When Decorating With Blue and Red

For a timeless and neutral foundation, opt for pale blue walls or decor pieces. These lighter shades act as a canvas, making it easy to introduce pops of red without overwhelming the space. This approach works especially well in coastal or nature-inspired interiors.

3. Pair Blue and Red With Classic White

Adding white to the mix creates balance and helps both colors shine. White walls or furniture can neutralize the boldness of blue and red, giving the overall look a sophisticated and airy feel. This classic combination evokes everything from Americana to Scandinavian styles, making it versatile and timeless.

4. Try Blue and Red in the Bedroom for a Cozy Feel

Bedrooms are often associated with neutrals, but softer shades of blue and red can create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Opt for a pastel blue paired with a muted red for a balanced, restful space. Consider incorporating patterned fabrics or wallpapers to bring these colors together harmoniously.

Bring Warmth and Elegance Into Your Home

Decorating with blue and red is a bold yet versatile trend that can work across various styles. From subtle accents to striking combinations, this pairing offers endless possibilities for creating cozy and nostalgic spaces this fall.

If you’d like expert advice on how to incorporate this trend into your home—or help with a full redesign—I’d love to guide you through the process. Let’s make your space truly one-of-a-kind.

You can choose a contact method right below this blog post. And feel free to give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399, and we can explore some wonderful blue and red decor and design approaches together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.

0 comments
DIY PROJECTS, RESIDENTIAL
posted by Carmen Dick
October 27, 2022

How to Make Your Fall Seasonal Home Decor Last Through Winter

Don’t toss the pumpkins and pine cones once fall is over! You can enjoy your seasonal decor lasting from fall through winter with these simple tips and tricks.

Here are some easy ways to transition the look of fall to the cool and holiday-inspired hues of winter.

It’s that time of year. Time for the pumpkins, pine cones, and pretty fall leaves to make their presence known. But don’t you hate that fall seems to fly by? That those gorgeous autumn-inspired decorations are only on display for a few short months?

Have no fear – seasonal home decor ideas that transition from fall to winter are here. Enjoy those decorations throughout the holiday season with these simple tips and tricks.

Pumpkins That Pop

When it comes to fall seasonal decorations, pumpkins have always taken the top spot. But these days, it’s more about variety than size. And by “variety,” we mean color and design.

Yes, basic orange pumpkins will likely remain the most popular choice for the fall, but have you noticed that stores are now putting an emphasis on painted and shiny pumpkins? The gorgeous gourd relatives have gotten a major facelift, and with it, we’ve received a special decorative bonus: They can easily transition into winter holiday season decorations!

Pumpkins that are white like snow? Covered in sparkly glitter, reminiscent of the magic of the holiday season? What’s not to love?

If you’re in the mood to save a little dough, feel free to go the DIY route: Simply paint your pumpkin decor white, create a pumpkin snowman, cover them in glitter, and spray them with “looking glass” paint – the possibilities are endless. Bonus tip: If you get the kids involved in the process, it may quickly become a new holiday tradition. This creative approach to styling pumpkins creates the perfect seasonal decor lasting from fall through winter.

Trimmings That Transition

Want to know a brilliant holiday decoration hack? Just add lights. Easy peasy. Take this 5-minute topiary, for example. Made with elements found outdoors in the fall, it easily transitions to a holiday focal point with a simple strand of lights.

This technique is especially effective for indoor fall decorations that highlight the outdoor elements, such as these elegant holiday pine cone vases.

Lanterns That Last

Got a minute? Then you probably have enough time to transition your beautiful porch lantern decorations from fall to winter. That’s right. By simply switching their “fillings” and adding a decorative bow or topper, you can change the look dramatically.

Decorations That Work Double-Duty

Perhaps the greatest transition tip of all is to start with a piece that can simply be reversed when the season changes. Pumpkin stack on the front, snowman on the back. Thanksgiving message on the front, Christmas message on the back. It really doesn’t get any easier than that!

I hope these simple fall-to-winter decor ideas have inspired you! If you’d like to talk about other ways to inject some lasting seasonal holiday styling into your home or office decor, you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. And feel free to give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399, and we can explore some delightful options together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.

0 comments
RESIDENTIAL
posted by Carmen Dick
August 23, 2022

Interior Design Trends that will Likely be Huge this Fall

It’s looking like ’70s-style interiors are back, and historically speaking, we’re right on track. After two years of living in a nightmarish reality, it makes sense why we’d adopt a decade where you could flip between The Brady Bunch and the Watergate trials on your Admiral TV set. If this summer’s “coastal grandmother” and “Barbiecore” trends tell us anything, it’s that people are looking to repurpose tokens from the past with comfort and color in mind. So, what’s next in fall design trends? Luxuriously cozy cabins with a vintage-inspired twist.

As we head into fall, it seems as if the ’70s theme is getting a cozy, organic modern upgrade. Everything is earthy, vibrant, and nostalgic – from dark wood furnishings to checkered decor that screams “groovy, baby” (in an Austin Powers voice). Here are seven trends likely to lead the pack in 2022’s fall home styling.

Bold ’70s Colors are One of the Biggest Fall Design Trends

“From boho to disco, ’70s interiors are having a moment. The trend is all about incorporating earthy tones like hunter green, mustard yellow, and blues, with materials like rattan and bamboo—in fact, searches for rattan have shot up by 77 percent on Pinterest,” says Nick Drewe, trend expert at WeThrift.com. And if you’ve been following 2022’s shift towards green, this should come as no surprise. Green has been topping the design trend charts over the past years, and a muted sage variation is popping up everywhere for fall. Add a little blue to the green and you have Glidden’s 2023 color of the year (see my DesignShots article in this issue).

Fringed Accents for a Nostalgic Fall

There’s one ’70s decor fall design trend that everybody seems to be drooling over: the revival of fringes. The attraction with fringes and tassels started even before the fashionable stage outfits of Elvis Presley, had a prevalent presence in the ’70s. If you’d like to bring this Elvis-inspired trend into your home, you can start with small changes, like adding fringe material to your rugs and carpets. You don’t have to go overboard to incorporate fringe into your decor. Keep it simple for a pared-back elegant look and work with accessories such as cushions to pull off this trend. Combining fringing with functional pieces, such as mirrors, not only adds a decorative touch but creates a feature out of them too.

Kitchen Plate Walls

Another old-but-new look among fall design trends that celebs are loving this season is “plate walls”. With a lot of inspiration from Gwyneth Paltrow’s farmhouse-style kitchen wall and Kris Jenner’s dish room, it seems like dressing the walls with decorative plates is all the rage in 2022. One very cool thing about this trend is that the possibilities are endless when it comes to placement and configurations. This season, there are a lot of hand-painted platters mixed with more modern designs. It’s a blending of modern and cozy traditional. That may be why, for many, it’s so visually stimulating and popping up in a lot of nostalgic fall designs.

Plush Pumpkins And Rattan Gourds are Big Fall Design Trends

Probably the most ubiquitous trend we’re all seeing this year is the use of organic materials, and this continues from the past few years. Of course, this is especially well-suited to the fall season. From rattan pumpkins and woven vases to wood chip gourds and driftwood bits, organics are everywhere defining the character of the season. There’s an astonishing assortment of pumpkin decor available this year, from woven rattan and corn husks to weathered stone and wood.

Checkerboard Patterns

Another trend that’s gaining traction is the use of checkerboard patterns. From timeless checkered accessories to elegant black and white floors, the look oozes sophistication while offering a pop of pattern. So, for fall, you can expect to see the look taking a more muted approach. A checkered pattern adds a touch of whimsy and is a great way to break up the look of an otherwise neutral room. However, this is the kind of pattern that requires restraint and vision – you don’t want to feel like you’re at the circus, so tread carefully. Perhaps sage green checkered ceramic mugs and vases next to tone-on-tone checkered bedding and plush patterned area rugs, as an example.

Dark Wood Furniture

Blonde wood has been a designer favorite for the past four or five years. The trend paralleled the rise of modern Scandinavian-inspired, white-on-white interiors that are still popular today. This year, though, we’re seeing a noticeable shift towards darker wood tones paired with moody paint colors for a more dramatic look. Lately in design, dark brown is popping up everywhere – we’re seeing it used on walls and in furniture – and there’s a resurgence of dark woods used in cabinetry and accent pieces.

Vintage Vessels

Many of us have been seeing vintage vessels all over our feeds. The beauty of vintage vessels is the unique patterns, colors, and textures that have been imprinted on them over time. Each one is different and one of a kind. This variance adds character and intrigue, giving warmth and visual interest.

Many designs are showcasing vintage ceramic and antique vessels throughout fall-inspired vignettes. They can be tough to find, and you may have to search outside of the US to find what you’re looking for, but the results can be very worthwhile.

I’m available for consultations and design projects to help you bring fall into your home or business. There are so many beautiful choices to make any space gently transition to the fall and/or holiday season. Or if you do like a clean sweep, I can do it all in one visit. If this sounds like a good plan, let’s talk more about warming up your spaces with the colors and scents, and textures of the fall season. Just choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

0 comments
DIY PROJECTS, RESIDENTIAL, RESIDENTIAL - HOME STAGING
posted by Carmen Dick
October 15, 2021

Transitioning Your Home From Summer To Fall Decor

I love fall decorating! But sometimes the transition from summer to fall can seem a bit sudden when it comes to home decor; however, planning a gradual transition is an easy way to make your home style come together. Instead of swapping all your decor at once, start by slowly bringing in fall accents towards the end of summertime (I know, here in Florida, it’s “fall-ish”). This gradual transformation will help you have a fully festive harvest home by the time the fall season arrives – I’d say, just pre-Halloween to post-Halloween. From simple decor swaps to lighting to comfy additions and more, here’s how to transition your home from summer to fall to get ready for the harvest season.

Put Your Summer Decor In Storage To Make Room For Fall Decor

The first step in transitioning your home from summer to fall is to gather all your summer decorations and items to put into storage. The idea is to start putting away anything that either has a summer theme or gives off a warm summer feeling. This can be a gradual task; you don’t necessarily need to put away everything at once. Start with individual rooms, and continue to place items in storage as the summer season ends. Decorations can be the first to go, followed by more practical summer items that you might still need until the very end of the season.

Summer Items To Place In Storage

Decorations with summer themes and colors
Faux plants and flowers
Summer wardrobe and accessories
Outdoor seating (this can stay outside until the weather starts to get cold)
Summer scented candles
Lightweight bedding, curtains, and blankets
Summer pillows and seat cushions

Bring Comfort To Your Home With Warm Lighting & Fall Scents

The fall season is all about comfort and coziness within your own home. As you shift your home from summer to fall, it’s important to start bringing in that comfortable aesthetic to make for a seamless transition to the next season. Start adding some comfy cozy elements to each room of your home to get ready for the fall season.

There are so many ways to add warm and cozy elements to different areas of your home. Through lighting, scents, and more, you can easily make the seasonal shift feel natural and normal. Check out some ideas below for inspiration on how to create that cozy feeling in your home.

Cozy Fall Elements To Add To Your Home

String lights & lanterns. Warm lighting is a great choice for your first fall addition to your home. Adding some string lights and lanterns to your home will give your space a cozy feeling without jumping too quickly into a fall theme.
Fall scented candles. Bringing fall scents into your home is another great way to gradually transition into the harvest season. Add some fall candles to your home with warm scents such as pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apple cider, bonfire, sandalwood, clove, and more.
Comfy fabrics. Adding comfortable fabrics throughout your home is another way to create a cozy fall environment. This can include faux fur blankets, large rugs, and plus towels.
Wood materials. Using wood materials strategically throughout your home is a great way to continue the warm feelings in your space. It can be as simple as adding some wood accents and decorations, to adding a new warm wood side table to your living room, using a wooden planter to hold fall flowers, or adding a wood accent chair to your home. And, of course, so much more.

Add Some Subtle Fall Colors For An Easy Seasonal Transition

While summer color schemes are bright and bold, the fall season has more muted and warm colors. In order to make a smooth transition into the harvest season, you can gradually add fall colors to your home with the help of small accents and other items. This is a great way to make the transition less jarring and more natural.

How To Add Fall Colors To Your Home

There are many ways to bring fall colors into your home; however, you need to start in a more subtle way if you want that smooth transition. Find areas of your home where you can swap summer colors for fall ones, or areas that are lacking a solid color scheme. Here are some easy ideas for adding fall colors to your home in a small way towards the end of summer.

Add a fall flower arrangement to your coffee table or dining table
Hang up a fall wreath on your door
Lay out a fall garland across your mantel
Display orange and red candles throughout your home
Hang up fall colored towels in the bathroom
Use fall-colored string lights throughout your home

Swap Your Throw Pillows & Linens For A Fall Style

Another easy way to transition your home from summer to fall is to swap out your throw pillows and other linens. As mentioned before, fall time is all about the warm and cozy feeling in your home, and swapping out fabrics is a great way to accomplish that. This is an especially good idea if you currently have light and flowy summer fabrics throughout your home.

Make sure to swap these fabrics and linens for thicker and warmer items. Popular fall fabrics include wool, faux fur, and thick cotton. Take note of these elements to include them in your decor spread throughout your space. If you aren’t sure where to begin, check out some ideas below for what to swap.

Fabrics & Linens To Swap For Fall

Throw pillows and blankets on the couch and bed
Rugs in your bathroom and other areas of your home
Window coverings and curtains
Comforters and bedsheets
Hand towels and bath towels

Add Pumpkins Gradually To Your Decor For A Smooth Transition

Fall time comes with many iconic symbols, so it’s only fitting to start decorating with those symbols. However, if you want a smooth transition from summer to fall, you have to start on a smaller scale. The best place to start is by slowly adding pumpkins to your decor spread to get a subtle fall appearance.

Pumpkin decorations can come in all shapes and forms. Start by adding a few ceramic pumpkins to your coffee table and entryway table. Then, as the fall season gets closer, you can slowly incorporate more pumpkins through the help of wall signs, patterned pillows, and other themed accents. Starting with just a few pumpkin items will help give off that subtle fall transition without overloading your space.

In addition to pumpkins, you can also slowly incorporate other fall symbols and patterns. This can include things such as plaid, fall foliage, apples, and any patterns with red and orange color schemes. Bring these patterns in with small decorative accents – this will help you notice the change but it won’t give your space a full harvest transformation at once.

Create Small Fall Decor Spreads Throughout Your Home

Another simple way to transition your home from summer to fall is to create small fall decor spreads throughout your home. Small setups throughout your home are a great way to bring the fall feeling to your space in a subtle and seamless way. Find areas of your space where you can create these displays without interrupting the style of the room.

A great place to start is with your mantel. The mantel display in your living room can instantly establish the theme of your space; adding a small fall spread will help you transition into the harvest season. For instance, you can add a small fall sentiment sign with a couple of decorative pumpkins or a grouping of gourds. This may look very simple, but you can always add extra fall accents to your mantel as the harvest season gets closer.

In addition to your mantel, you can also set up small fall decor spreads in other areas of your home. This can include areas like the entryway table, coffee table, kitchen island, bathroom shelf, or bookshelf. Find small open areas to create these displays or even find areas with summer decorations that can be swapped for fall accents. These small changes will add to your home transition in a big way.

I’m always available for consultations and design projects to help you bring fall into your home or business. There are so many beautiful choices to make any space gently transition to the fall and/or holiday season. Or if you do like a clean sweep, I can do it all in one visit. If this sounds appealing, let’s talk more about warming up your spaces with the colors and scents, and textures of the fall season. Choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.