Expert Tips for DIY Interior Design

Over the last 20 years or so, DIY has grown in popularity. But really, how easy is it to do it yourself?

From DIY shows that make decorating a home look as easy as pie to sites like Instagram, Pinterest, and Houzz, homeowners get an unrealistic idea of what it takes to successfully DIY their home décor. This leaves many people dispirited and dejected when their projects don’t come out as planned.

But this doesn’t mean all hope is lost. With the right planning and research, you can successfully tackle a home decorating project.

Planning & Research

It’s easy to see how DIY projects can take more time than people expect. Everything happens in a neat one-hour episode on TV, and most likely, you don’t get to see all the errors, false starts, and other roadblocks that delay a project.

In order to produce results that are in line with your expectations, planning and research are essential. To help you avoid mistakes and ensure the result is a home you love to show off, spend as much time as you can on the preparation stage. There’s nothing more satisfying than saying “I did that” to admiring guests.

Find Interior Design Inspiration

Inspiration is essential when considering a style for your home. Few things are worse than completing an extensive DIY project and realizing it is dated and going out of style. Base your decision on what you personally like as well as the trends. You want your home décor to be fresh and also timeless, which can be a challenging balancing act.

There are tons of places to look for inspiration, but Pinterest is a great place to start. Not only can you find a ton of ideas, but you can also save them on a Pinterest board, add ideas from other sites, and review what you’ve saved. Once you have your ideas organized, take a mental step back and check what you have. You should be able to see a trend in what you’ve chosen. Disregard the outliers and focus on the ones that have a common thread to find your style.

Flooring and Walls Create the Canvas

Now that you’ve discovered your inspiration, you need the perfect canvas to show it off. That means flooring and walls.

The floor and wall treatments can either overpower your DIY home decorating or give it the foundation it deserves. If you don’t want to commit to an entire room, you can add a designer look by using color or texture on a statement or feature wall.

When considering flooring, keep in mind that neutral colors will give the space a light, airy feel. Using the same flooring in several rooms offers a seamless, flowing look that can make smaller spaces seem larger. Choosing flooring with no pattern will allow other elements, such as furniture or cabinetry, to stand out in the space.

Choosing the Right Furniture

In most rooms, a big piece of the overall look is the furniture. It is by far the most significant investment and the most considerable influence in showcasing your style. If you are unsure of your ability to put pieces together, consider working with a furniture store that offers a free design service. Having all your ideas in one place and a fairly clear vision of what you want will help this process. You can even have someone step in with advice toward the end of your DIY home décor project to help you achieve a professional look.

Adding Accessories to Finish the Design

You’ll often hear designers say that accessories are the jewelry of design. The key to accessorizing space is finding balance. Throw pillows can highlight colors and bring texture into a room. Mirrors can brighten up a space and make it look bigger. Benches, ottomans, and poufs are a stylish way to add convenient, movable seating. While these items pull a design together, be careful when choosing them. Too many accessories can make a room feel cluttered.

These tips should give you plenty of interior design inspiration and keep your DIY design project on track. Doing your research and consulting a professional when you are in over your head is the recipe for a great design outcome.

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How to Mix Leather and Fabric Furniture: A Guide [2021]

Can you mix leather and fabric furniture?

We hear this question time and time again, and our design experts are here to share: not only is it possible, but it can create a look and feel that's cozy, practical, and best of all, stylish!

While you are no longer bound to one type of material, there are a few rules to follow when mixing leather and fabric furniture. To ensure that the space maintains a cohesive design and avoids feeling overdecorated, follow these three tips in our ultimate guide to mixing leather and fabric furniture, and watch your living space come to life. The end result will be rooms that are comfortable, functional, and pleasing to the eye.

1) Pick One Design Style

If you're looking to bring in a mix of leather furniture and fabric furniture in a room, pick one design style and stick to it. This means choosing between casual vs. formal, traditional vs. modern, rustic vs. industrial, and more. If your sofa and loveseats are casual and modern, your accent chairs and coffee table should be, too.

Some people think that all leather is a "safe choice" that all looks the same. The image of a classic brown leather couch or a simple leather club chair comes to mind as the only option. These days, that simply isn't the case. A wide variety of high-quality leather dye and different grades of leather materials means that there are nearly unlimited options for leather upholstered furniture. For a leather accent chair that's more contemporary in style, check out the Natuzzi Editions Wessex Leather Chair.

2) Stick to a Color Palette

To achieve a room that's consistent and properly matched, it's important to choose a color palette for your furniture. Large leather items such as sectionals or sofas in a neutral color like beige, black, or brown pair well with fabric furniture pieces in many different colors. A leather piece in a more unusual color, such as blue or red, is unlikely to look good with neutral fabric selections. To maximize visual appeal, consult a color mixing guide.

If you're a fan of bold colors and furniture pieces that make a statement, look for home accents that can showcase this part of your style. Throw pillows with pops of color, for example, are an excellent way to create a living room with the ultimate comfort that also lets your personality shine through. Throw pillows offer many intermixable colors that can really tie a leather-fabric room scheme together.

Furthermore, don't forget to use décor accents, furniture, plants, and other elements to finish off your room's outstanding look. (homenish.com)

Beige furniture is very in, and leather pieces that feature or match this color are a great investment. Both modern and classic, they're sure to stay in style for many years to come while complementing a variety of fabric furniture.

For a modern leather sofa that fits the bill, try the Bernhardt Remi Contemporary Leather Sofa.

3) Balance It Out

Balance is important for many things in life, and mixing leather and fabric furniture is no different. The key to making a space look "right" when mixing upholsteries is to keep an even blend of leather and fabric. For example, if you have many leather pieces in a space, it may look like you have an odd man out if you add just one fabric accent chair. Instead, go for a mix by using leather couches with fabric chairs or fabric sofas and leather chairs.

Similarly, if you have fabric furniture pieces such as a sofa and loveseat, with one leather piece in the room, it can look like that item is there by accident. Instead, find a good ratio of both types of material to sprinkle throughout the room. If you're having trouble balancing it out, look for décor accents on pieces other than seating that can tie everything together, such as leather trim on decorative pieces or a neutral fabric pouf to pair with leather seating.

The Bottom Line: Leather & Fabric Together

When deciding whether to bring leather and fabric combinations into a space, our design experts get many questions. Is there a proper way to do so, and if there is, what rules should you follow? We're here to let you know that yes, you can mix leather and fabric furniture, and you can make sure that your room looks great by following just a few simple rules when choosing your pieces.

If you're looking to mix leather and fabric, the three most important things to keep in mind are your desired design style, the color palette of the space, and how much of each material you're bringing into a room. By following these three tips, your entire space can look visually appealing while staying comfy and cozy.

Shop Baer's Furniture Today

With showrooms throughout Florida, you can come on in or schedule an appointment with an associate at your local Baer's Furniture location today. We're open with thousands of items in stock. If you're looking for inspiration, be sure to browse our current catalog and website. Or, if you'd prefer to check everything out in person, we look forward to meeting you.

Our family has more than 75 years of experience helping Florida residents turn houses into the homes of their dreams. We're so much more than a furniture store. We're a true design and décor partner here to help you find your new favorite piece of furniture.

Whether you're looking for upholstered chairs, accent leather sofas, or an array of home décor items, we have everything you need to create a sophisticated style throughout your space right here.

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How to Create an Eclectic Florida-Inspired Space with Color and Pattern

With its playful aesthetic and colorful palette, Florida style merges nicely with eclectic sensibilities. Intentionally composed and curated, this style brings in pieces from different designs into a uniquely personal look. Unburdened by rules, the blending of these two aesthetics gives you the freedom to explore any looks you are drawn to, individual pieces that, when collected, make a pleasing whole.

Guidelines for Florida Eclectic Style

The juxtaposition between opposites is what makes an eclectic space work. Traditional and modern, old and new all come together in these spaces. Pattern and color can be used in exciting ways in Florida upholstery, floors and walls, and accent pieces.

For example, with its clean lines and high contrast, this look would feel right at home in a Miami loft apartment. The sofas are prim and tailored, with modern silhouettes. Their neutral color anchors the space, and the contrasting color on the chair and metallic legs add a touch of the unexpected to the space.

Eclectic style Dos:

• Do use pattern and color boldly and with confidence
• Do mindfully curate the space to keep it balanced
• Do play with color, pattern, and texture

Eclectic style Don’ts:

• Don’t get too hung up on rules, there is no single right way
• Don’t just throw things together without thinking about how they fit together
• Don’t forget white space and symmetry to strike the right balance

Play with Your Sense of Whimsy and Fun

One of the hallmarks of Florida's eclectic style is adding unexpected items that surprise and delight you and your family. Play with your sense of whimsy and bring in a sense of fun. Use wicker, rattan, or bamboo in the dining room or living room. Use different objects of the same color to create a more curated, cohesive look that isn’t too matchy-matchy.

Mix Textures for Visual Interest

As with any design, you want to incorporate different textures to add depth and interest, especially if you are using a simple color palette. Items to consider adding include shaggy throw pillows or rugs, nubby fabrics, thick weaves, rough wood, and smooth metal finishes.

Remember the rule of threes, and use one of your textures at least three times in three different areas of your home. This helps keep the look cohesive.

Florida Eclectic Style Colors

Color can bring different styles together into a unified whole. In Florida eclectic décor, you’ll find light, airy colors such as sand, turquoise, coral, citrusy limes, and orange. By combining the brights with neutrals and texture, you can create a look that is delicate rather than heavy-handed. Although the eclectic style is varied, each room in the home should complement each other, if the style changes abruptly from room to room, the overall feel of the house can be disjointed.

Create a Lived-In Look

As you choose décor for your Florida eclectic design, keep in mind that the rooms are meant to be lived in. Let utility and practicality inform your decisions. Thinking about how you will use a room will help pull it together. Bookshelves, baskets, card tables, and drink trays all lend a cozy, lived-in vibe to your home.

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Decluttering Is the New Spring Cleaning

Spring may be in full swing, but Spring cleaning can feel impossible if you're faced with piles of clutter!

Whether your goal is for your home to sparkle by the Summer Solstice, or you just need to clear some space for some peace of mind, any time is an ideal time to organize and declutter your home. There’s almost nothing that makes a space feel fresher than organizing and decluttering.

Don't Get Overwhelmed, Get Started

Beginning a decluttering project can be overwhelming. If thinking about decluttering your home makes you want to lie down until the feeling goes away, start small. Breaking big jobs down into smaller ones makes them easier to handle.

Choose the room that is in the most urgent need of organization, and decide how to divide and conquer your clutter.

Do you have big tasks to tackle, like piles of paperwork that need filing or old photographs you've been meaning to digitize? Are there quick(er) and easy(er) fixes like putting away toys or craft supplies, or organizing a tool set?

When you have a mix of daunting and not-so-daunting tasks to tackle, decide how much time you have to dedicate, and what will give you more relief - will completing the small tasks make you feel you accomplished more? Or will getting the big project out of the way take a larger load off? Be honest with yourself about the time and commitment you're willing to make, and stick to it. Otherwise, the clutter will continue!

Remember that you don't need to declutter your whole home in the space of a day. Make strides on your schedule. Once you’ve completed your first room, move on to the next.

Keep the following questions in mind as you declutter your home: 

• Is it an item you use regularly? 
• Does it make your life easier? 
• Is it expired or no longer efficacious? 
• Does it have a place where it belongs?
• Is it an item you are keeping out of feelings of obligation, even if you don’t like, need, or use it?

How to Declutter Your Living Room

The living room is where you spend time with family and entertain friends. It is often the first space people see when they enter your home. Keeping it neat and organized means you don’t have to do the “white tornado” when guests arrive on short notice.

1. Go through all your shelves and edit your knick-knacks and curios. When shelves are too crowded, it’s hard to see what they contain. 
2. Go through your magazines and books. Recycle any old magazines and donate any books you have already read (or, let's be honest, probably never will). 
3. Go through the drawers of your end tables and coffee tables. Get rid of loose papers or unnecessary items. 
4. Once you’ve decluttered the living room, create a tablescape on the coffee table that welcomes guests. After you’ve cleared out the drawers of your end tables, there will be plenty of space for things like TV remotes and other essential items you want to be kept out of sight.

How to Declutter Your Kitchen

The kitchen is where you work and socialize, so keeping it free of clutter helps you work more efficiently. 

1. Get rid of any food past its expiration date and other items in the pantry you know you won’t use. 
2. Get rid of any spices you don’t use since, over time, spices lose their freshness. Buy new ones the next time you need them. 
3. Go through your kitchen towels and get rid of any torn or stained ones. Either set them aside to use as cleaning cloths or toss them. 
4. Go through your dishes and get rid of any that are chipped or cracked. 
5. Go through all drawers and cabinets and get rid of any appliances, tools, or bakeware that you don’t use or that are broken.

How to Declutter Your Home Office

It’s hard to be creative or productive if your desk isn’t organized and you don’t have a comfortable office chair. Decluttering your workspaces will also declutter your mind.

1. Toss any receipts that are over a year old unless they are needed for tax purposes. 
2. File the tax-related paperwork. The same goes for bills that are more than a year old. Invest in a paper shredder for any documents that contain personal information. 
3. Dispose of the shredded documents immediately, so you don’t forget about them. 
4. Go through any file drawers, cabinets, or filing folders and toss or shred any items or papers you no longer need. 
5. Examine the items on your desk. Are they décor or clutter? Make a decision and relocate or dispose of any items that don't make your workspace more inspirational. 
6. Check that pen collection, and throw out any pens or markers that no longer produce.

How to Declutter Your Bathroom

Imagine how much easier getting ready in the morning will be when your bathroom is free of clutter and organized.

1. Cosmetics and makeup have an expiration date, so throw away any that you are no longer using or are over a year old. 
2. Get rid of any old or empty toiletry containers. Combine containers that are almost empty into new ones to save some space. 
3. Take a quick look at the shower and get rid of any empty containers hiding there. Do you have any items that you don’t use regularly on the sink, counter area, and the back of the toilet? Stow them under the sink or in the medicine closet. 
4. Go through your bathroom towels, and remove and replace any torn or stained ones.

How to Declutter Your Bedroom

It’s incredibly difficult to feel relaxed and refreshed if your bedroom is cluttered with too much clothing, shoes, and accessories. However, you can never have too many pillows on the bed.

1. Remove everything from the top of the dresser that you don’t use every day. 
2. Go through your closet and drawers and remove any clothing you don’t wear. Donate any pieces of clothing that are in good condition. 
3. Line up your shoes in the closet. Donate any you haven’t worn in the last three to six months, except any special occasion shoes. Repeat with scarves, belts, jewelry, and other accessories. 
4. Check the nightstands and under the bed for any items you can store somewhere else, donate, or throw away. 

In your mission to declutter, don’t just move items to the garage or fill up the spare room. 

Get rid of anything you no longer need by having a garage sale or take items to a thrift shop. Any items that have missing pieces or parts, or that you don’t need or use, have to go. 

When the mission is completed, sit back, relax, and survey your work. Enjoy your freshly decluttered space and peace of mind.

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7 Most Inspiring Florida Décor Instagrams

 

Florida home décor has its beginning in early homes built to take advantage of ocean breezes and Florida’s temperate winters. These homes often featured verandas and wrap-around porches that provide shade outside and coolness inside.

Sailors and travelers from across the ocean brought tropical and island inspiration to Florida interior design. These influences are seen in the furniture, colors, and eclectic mix of styles that comprise Florida décor.

Styles That Mix Well with Florida House Décor

Mediterranean, tropical, mid-century modern, and coastal styles mix remarkably well in Florida interior design. They reflect the cool, breezy feel of the region. The ideal interior décor will highlight sprawling interior spaces and an abundance of windows that let in plenty of natural light.

Where to Find Florida Decorating Ideas and Inspiration

Florida is a big state with myriad influences that encompass numerous design styles. Inspiration for Florida interiors can be found everywhere, from lush tropical landscaping to Mediterranean and Art Deco architecture.

One of the best places to find inspiration is on Instagram. This highly visual platform makes it easy to find tons of Florida design accounts and follow them for Florida decorating ideas.

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1) Baer’s Furniture

Filled with images of laid-back coastal style, wicker and rattan furniture as well as designs with a modern flair, there’s no better place to begin your search for inspiration than scrolling through this account.

Florida-style furniture reflects the easy, breezy casual vibe of seaside living. Clean modern lines and pops of color tie these looks together. You’ll find plenty of Florida decorating ideas to make your heart go pitter-patter.

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2) Interiors by Brown

Interiors by Brown curates a stunning collection of images highlighting Florida style in all its glory.

These sleek, unfussy interiors focus on rich texture and high contrast. Not quite traditional, not quite transitional, they are totally Florida.

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3) Claudia Leah Design

On Claudia Leah's profile, gorgeous images showcase the rich variety found in the Florida color palette. Each image is a meticulously framed celebration of style and color. Her neutrals are anything but neural and her colors really pop.

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4) Gulfstream Design

With a name like Gulfstream Design, you know you’re going to see fresh vibrant color mixes, textured neutral spaces, and everything in between.

In this post, natural materials play nicely with gorgeous wallpaper featuring huge tropical prints. You can’t get more Florida than that.

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5) Jessica Mendes Design

If color is not your thing but you are afraid a neutral palette will be boring, scroll through Jessica Mendes Design's profile to view alluringly beautiful neutral spaces.

You’ll be inspired by this post that shows how the natural textures of wicker lights and woven seats complement richly stunning marble and pure white walls.

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6) Trade Mark Interiors

Modern, warm, and comfortable describes the looks by Trade Mark Interiors. This profile provides plenty of inspiration for anyone whose aesthetic is stylishly homey. The perfect mix of color and texture combines in designs that are refined and inviting.

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7) Okkla Realty

Looking for bold colors and compelling patterns?

Look no further than the feed of Okkla Realty. Time spent scrolling through these images is truly time well spent. You find inspiring ways to update and style your home in ways that express your personality.

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Are Accent Walls Still a Thing? Spoiler Alert: Yes.

Rumors that accent walls are on their way out are greatly exaggerated, as evidenced by their resurgence this past year. This trend is expected to continue beyond 2021.

Accent walls are a fun and relatively easy way to spice things up in your living room, dining room, or bedroom. If you are thinking about adding a little extra interest to a room in your home, check out these accent wall ideas.

Make a Design Statement in Your Home

When done well, accent walls are a stunning feature in your home. They make a powerful design statement that draws the eye to a specific part of the room. Not only do they create a focal point in the space, but they also give you a chance to play with textures and colors that you may not want on all four walls.

With this in mind, don't be afraid to use a bold color or pattern on your accent wall. Choosing a bold, bright color makes the wall stand out, which is precisely what you want. If you are a little hesitant to use bold color, go with a color that is several shades darker than the color on the rest of the walls. The goal is to make the difference obvious, otherwise, your accent wall won't stand out.

Choose the Right Wall

Once you've decided on the color or pattern for your accent wall, you need to decide which wall will be the accent wall. Find the room's natural focal point; this will be the best place for an accent wall.

In a living room, the focal point is generally the wall the couch is against, but it could also be the wall with built-in shelves, the TV, or the fireplace.

In the bedroom, the accent wall is the wall with the bed, and bathroom accent walls are generally behind the bathtub or vanity or in the shower.

You can add an accent wall in any space you want to pop, but we recommend only one accent wall per room or they will compete with each other. You can add accent walls to more than one room in a house.

Color Combinations for Accent Walls

Draw color inspiration for your accent wall from the existing color palette in the room. If you have a rug or upholstered furniture, try pulling a color out of the palette featured in the pattern. If you have a solid color sofa, try a contrasting color on the wall behind it.

Types of Accent Wall Materials

There's more to accent walls than paint, although that is the fastest and easiest option. Other ways to create an accent wall include wood, wallpaper, or stone.

Painted Accent Walls

The easiest way to change the look of a room is to paint one wall a bold color. But that's not the only way.

Think about creating a pattern with two shades of the same color. Try a deep purple with another purple two or three shades lighter. Paint the wall with the darker shade, then using painter tape, tape off simple stripes or get funky with a geometric pattern. Then paint over it with the lighter shade, remove the tape, and you have a tone-on-tone pattern on your beautiful accent wall in your living room.

Wood Accent Walls

There are many ways to add a wood accent wall to your home décor - from shiplap to millwork to reclaimed planks. Wood accent walls are a safe way to add interest without bold color.

Wallpaper Accent Walls

Wallpapering an entire room may seem intimidating, but one wall? With a little practice, you'll soon be a pro. There are so many wallpapers to choose from that you can evoke whatever mood you like in your space.

Stone Accent Walls

There’s nothing like the look of a stone accent wall color for adding texture, detail, and interest to a room. In a dining room, a stone accent wall makes a statement that catches everyone’s attention; in a bedroom, it adds warmth and depth to the space.

Are you considering adding an accent wall to your space? What materials and colors inspire you?

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