Friday, May 22, 2015

10 Ways To Upgrade Your Small Space For Free


Rent to Own.ph: Who doesn't love design ideas that doesn't cost you a ton of money? These free design hacks make a big statement in your small home.


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Combine contrasting influences with similar proportions. 
The trick to mixing different pieces is choosing items of complementary scale. The depth of this room (which is what makes it so fun to look at) comes from the uniquely layered textures and finishes of the furniture, art, and furry rug, says Altamirano. Bottom line: Don't be afraid to mix it up.

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Lower your bed frame to fake higher ceilings. 
We might not all be blessed with large, expansive rooms, but Altamirano says the secret to making any space feel like a loft is "creating a low eye line [with your bed], which opens up a larger, airy volume above." He recommends dropping your bed frame if it has height-adjustment options, removing the box spring, or abolishing the frame altogether and placing your mattress on the floor. Last tip: Any wall art should be minimal and placed close to the bed frame.

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Mix and match distinct items with common details. 
Think about your chairs as besties: They're not identical, but they have enough in common to make a great group. Each is unique, but all are light in color, similar in size, and feature thin, wooden dowel legs. Besides, Altamirano says, "Nothing is more boring than a matching furniture set."

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Turn everyday items into art — and still use them.
Not only is this whole table a cutting board (genius), but arranging the pots and pans on the peg board above actually makes them ornamental. Turning necessities into decor is a free way to upgrade any room and a space-saver to boot.

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Add pops of color to a neutral foundation. 
The brights in this room feel subtle, not juvenile, because the canvas is a simple white bedspread and black-and-white blanket. Altamirano recommends "developing your interior space with a good foundation of neutrals, so that you can introduce brighter hues, such as pillows, vases, and art." 

To build this space without spending a dime, Altamirano suggests taking stock of your belongings and organizing them into complementing groups. You might find a color story forming, like the citrus hues here. Then, keep all the coordinating pieces and sell the furniture that doesn't belong. You can use your extra cash to fill in any gaps with throw-pillow covers and vases.

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Display notes, posters, and pictures on a modern chalkboard. 
This magnetic display board makes rearranging mementos a breeze. You can buy magnetic chalkboard paint that turns any wall into a presentation or pinup wall (and it's pretty freakin' cool) for less than $10. But, to go the totally free route, you can reuse any old cork board. Just align your keepsakes symmetrically for a "I did this on purpose" look.

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Create depth by breaking up your matching sets. 
Depth and contrast like this "are only achieved by stepping away from the matchy-matchy aesthetic,” says Altamirano. If you've got coordinating sets and accessories in one room, try mixing different textured items together. Here, the eclectic mashup of a brick wall, wood floors, upholstered chair, weathered antique bench, and varied artworks creates visual interest in the room.

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Group similar items together to create a focal point. 
This taxidermy collection confirms the desk as the central piece in a space that might otherwise seem cluttered. If mounted deer heads aren't your thing, use some graphic-patterned dinner plates or that pile of seashells you've been hoarding.

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Turn sentimental items into sweet ornaments. 
Altamirano recommends giving rooms a serious edit before a refresh. But, if there are things you can't part with (like the designer belt you never wear), make 'em work for your space. With a handful of old books and said belt, you can create a lovely new room accessory.

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Incorporate lighthearted extras into functional spaces. 
An undersized shelf in your bookcase makes a perfect niche for trinkets and serves to lighten the mood in a room full of functional basics. "My home is strewn with Mexican wrestler dolls, dinosaurs, and masks," says Altamirano. (A man after our own hearts.)

Shoe Storage Solutions

from: http://eighthundredsqft.blogspot.com/ and http://www.pinkchocolatebreak.com/


Rent To Own.ph: Small spaces can be problematic if you have a big shoe collection. But with a simple design trick, having tons and tons of shoes might not be a problem after all!

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Use an old armoire or cabinet for storing your shoes. A glass-paned cabinet not only displays the shoes you may pick to wear for the day, it also tidies up your hall space from shoe cliutter.

Friday, May 15, 2015

7 Inventive Ideas for Your Walls

from: http://www.myhomeideas.com/

Rent to Own.ph: We always advocate using all your space in your home to make it personal, stylish and space saving. These are more ideas on how to use your walls effectively.


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LA Cottage Style

Designer Jackie Terrell created a fresh take on Mission Revival style for theCottage Living Los Angeles Idea Home. With creative and inexpensive ideas, Jackie helps answer the age-old question, "What should I put on the walls?"

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White on White

In the kitchen, Jackie chose to display a collection of white crockery on the white open shelves. By color blocking (using white on white), she took advantage of "an art opportunity."

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Stuck on You

"Every household needs a message wall to stay organized," Jackie says, "but who wants to fuss with a chunky bulletin board?"
Instead, she painted the wall in the butler’s pantry with magnetized wall primer. To-do lists and notes are easy to display, and the wall makes for an always changing art installation.

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And the Statue Goes to…

In this dark blue room, white accents (including the curtains, rug, and accessories, plus the trophy sculptures on the bookcase) brighten the space and give it a modern look. When placed on the dark shelves, the spray-painted athletic mementos take on completely new lives as beautiful white silhouettes.

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Add a Little Art

Jackie wanted to put something on the right-hand wall, and because the laundry room is narrow, she opted for artwork instead of more shelving. By placing baby T-shirts and socks in white frames and mats, Jackie created inexpensive art that is fun and bright. "It’s a room you go in all the time. Why make it dreary?" asks Jackie.

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Bottoms Up

To regulate the light and add privacy throughout the house, Jackie used her trademark window treatments: traditional roller shades (always in a color or pattern) mounted from the bottom of the window.

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Tile Tale

Not many bathrooms have such creative and chic tile as this one. Inspired by old Spanish-style houses found near Los Angeles, Jackie used bright glass subway tiles (floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall) to function as a waterproof design statement. "If you have to tile the wall, why not pick something cheery?" says Jackie.

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Two Stories of Light

The home’s dining room (with walls ascending two stories) was initially a challenge for the designer. To help soften the large windows, garden lattice was cut to fit the shape and help complete the room’s Moorish appeal.
The designer also used large furniture with industrial aesthetics to fill the space, including a custom-made dining table constructed from movie camera tripods and cobalt blue Sunbrella fabric. As a finishing touch, large nail head trim gives the piece polish.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Cleverly-Designed Walk-in-Closet Showcasing Practicability and Style


Rent to Own.ph: We are more committed in bringing you clever design ideas for your homes. We hope that you all continue to be inspired by the articles we will be featuring.

We found this wardrobe designed for spaces with no built in closets. Have a look!

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If there is anything some women want more than clothes and shoes, it is plenty of space for storing these precious items. We ran across this very well organized walk-in-closet designed by Hosun Ching and are certain most of you ladies out there will enjoy it. This pretty and very practical furniture piece discovered on Flodeau opens up into a mini-fitting room (complete with mirrors !) and then closes back into an elegant compact locker.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Apartment In Russia Redesigned To Bring In The Light

from: http://www.homedit.com/

Rent to Own.ph: Everyone loves big windows and natural light coming into their home. But sometimes, our small spaces only have a few windows that allow light in. Take inspiration from this small apartment that was done to bring in natural light from just two windows!

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When old apartments get redesigned and remodeled, one of the goals is usually to bring more natural light in. This was also the case here. This apartment is located in Perm, Russia and the redesigning process was completed in 2014 by Allartsdesign.

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The owner requested a series of major changes. For example, the apartment originally had only two windows. The desire was to bring more light inside in order to illuminate the bedroom, the kitchen and the living area and to give them an airy feel.

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In order to solve this problem, the architects created a series of divisions made of glass to separate the different areas. The glass allows each area to serve as a distinct space and, at the same time, it lets light pass through and get into all the zones, even those without windows.

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Light, breezy curtains hide the glass-encased bedroom, thus visually separating it from the rest of the apartment but still maintaining an airy appearance throughout.

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The living area occupies a windowed corner and is furnished with a comfortable L-shaped sofa and a wall-mounted bookcase with open cubbies for displaying various items and decorations. The patterned area rug introduces a series of cool accent colors which are also used in the bedroom.

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The kitchen is now directly across from the bedroom. It’s a large and open space with glossy white cabinetry and a freestanding bar with a built-in TV which can be viewed from the bedroom but also from the social areas.

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The minimalism present in the kitchen is also reiterated throughout the apartment. However, because white was chosen here as the main color, the simplicity has a stronger impact.

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There’s also a contrasting glossy black wall in the kitchen designed the same way as the white portion. It has built-in appliances and hidden storage and it balances out the décor in a really chic way.

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The dining space is in the corner, adjacent to the kitchen. The whitewashed brick walls offer this particular a more welcoming look, allowing the atmosphere to be cozy and pleasant. However, the overall décor remains modern thanks to the use of minimalist furniture and bold accent colors.

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Natural materials were used when remodeling the apartment. The flooring is bleached ash and a lot of walls are covered in brick. The bedroom gets to enjoy the warmth and charm offered by the brick wall as well.

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The headboard is placed against a gallery wall decorated with black and white framed photos and images.

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The hallway allows the brick to showcase its natural beauty.

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The bathroom features a marble shower and a simple design throughout. The walls were painted white to enhance the spaciousness of the room.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Space-Saving Tricks for Small Kitchens

from: http://www.housebeautiful.com/


Rent to Own.ph: These are simple style techiniques to lliven up a cozy kitchen. 

A well-designed kitchen has minimal clutter and maximum efficiency. Whether you're redecorating or totally remodeling, here are the best ideas for small spaces.

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Mirrors Work Magic
A mirrored backsplash in this shabby-chic Manhattan apartmentgives the illusion of more space. "The kitchen opens up to the living room on one side and the family room, where we eat and watch TV, on the other," says designer Faye Cone. "The idea was that it should be an extension of both these spaces."

Friday, May 1, 2015

Common Decorating Mistakes to Avoid

from: http://homegardenvibes.com/

Rent to Own.ph: Keep these tips handy when you're building or redecorating your home. They make a lot of sense.

1. Toilet Rugs

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Toilet rugs are necessary, but do we really have to commit to these odd-shaped eye sores?
To put it simply… no.
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Solution: A small rectangular rug can do the same job for the same price without being an eye sore.