Kim R. McCormick

Colorful walls are cheerful, and light walls can be peaceful, but I think dark walls are soothing and cozy. Those two adjectives sound just right for a little one’s room. I’ve recently transitioned a guest bedroom with an almost-black accent wall to serve as a nursery. Although for a minute I thought the existing color might seem overwhelming or unhappy, I quickly realized it was a soothing and yet modern backdrop for baby. (Photos to come, once I finish the room!) TOP ROW 1.

When I’m shopping for clothes, I often look for tops that will go with a lot of outfits without just being a white T-shirt. I want something versatile but still a little interesting. The same could be said for the perfect rug. While they’re all in neutral colors, each of these options works for its own reason. Some have interesting texture, and others introduce just a tiny bit of another color.

Every spring I seem to reconsider how I feel about pink; that is, April and its blossoms remind me of the color’s merits. Whether you’re someone who likes the color all 12 months of the year or somebody less convinced that it deserves attention, take a peek at how different shades could work for the furniture in your home. While I love the first image, I generally prefer the use of pink when it’s a little unexpected. (After all, hot pink is not a color for playing it safe.

Now that the start of spring is seeming like a meteorological reality and not just a date on the calendar, my mind has turned to budding flowers, chirping birds, and fluffy bunnies. This list celebrates the latter, including one or two childhood classics. TOP ROW: 1. Bunny rabbit photography by K Purol Art Prints, $26 for 8×10 2. Bunny lamp by Suck UK on Amazon, $90.61 3. Black bunny rabbit print by Matou en peluche, $17 for A4 4.

Having a blank canvas to work with is fun, but when it’s really big, that can be a bit of a challenge. First there’s the question of just what you might want to put up there that’s the right size, and then there’s the question of how to do it affordably. Here are some of our favorite fixes for big, blank walls. 1. Architectural salvage elements: Salvaged elements such as shutters are big and have lots of character.

One of the best decisions I’ve made in decorating my home has been choosing a dark paint color for the room where my husband and I watch (a lot of) TV. These five homes that show how the look and feel can work in other living rooms too. In addition to minimizing your TV’s presence when the lights are on, a dark wall color creates a cozy feel. The color doesn’t have to be black — deep blue greens (Images 1 and 5) work well too.

You don’t have to give a room a full-on makeover to make it feel new. In fact, a few simple and free or very cheap tactics can quickly refresh a space — including your bedroom. 1. Clean your sheets. Nestling in between freshly laundered sheets is probably the easiest and cheapest way to feel like you’re in a new room. If you’re feeling fancy, try adding some homemade linen spray. 2. Make your bed.

With these frigid temperatures, I want to spend more and more time warm in bed (begone, polar vortex!). While I generally love a good dose of color, winter whites of the non-snow variety are very appealing to me right now. These bedrooms are neutral but not boring because they use texture (the rugs, pillows, and blankets in images 2 and 3) and shine (the mercury glass lamps and silvery pillows in image 1) wisely. 1.

Mirrored accents are just the thing to add a little bling to a room. Mixed with other textures, reflective side tables and consoles add a dose of refinement. Here are some options in a range of prices. TOP ROW: 1. Foxed mirror console from West Elm, $549 2. Threshold mirrored modern accent table from Target, $99 3. Square iron and glass Newman side table from Lamps Plus, $540.91 4. Plum & Bow Libby side table from Urban Outfitters, $149 5. Mirror and rust side table from Lamps Plus, $99.

Reading the comments after Christina’s closet-turned-office space post on Monday, I found some discussion about facing the wall while you work. If you have a desk at home, do you prefer to face the room or have your back to it? What about windows and doors? Or, do you prefer “floating” in the middle of the room?

I don’t think I’ve ever met a dark blue I didn’t like. Especially when paired with white, metal, or warm wood, paint in these tones can be a sophisticated choice. Here are five rooms where dark blue paint creates an inviting backdrop, and 10 paints to get the look. INSPIRATION ROOMS: 1. Ashley Capp for The Marion House Book 2. Nuevo Estilo 3. Lonny 4. Design*Sponge 5. House Tweaking PAINT COLORS TO GET THIS LOOK: 1. Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore 2.

By this point in the summer, I wish I could pass every day kicked back in the shade on a porch. Here are ten porches where you can get the best of the indoors and out.Summer always makes me nostalgic for the wraparound porch and the sleeping porch of the beach house I went to every summer as a kid. Whether you’re there reclined on a chair, swing, hammock, or bed, porches are the perfect spot for summer relaxation.TOP ROW:1. Lonny2. Joe Gomez for Design*Sponge3.

Why have a backsplash when you can have a full wall of tile? Here are ten kitchens where large swathes of tile have a big impact.Extending tile from the floor or countertop to the ceiling can add big texture, color, and pattern to a kitchen. On a full wall, classic white subway tile becomes more dramatic (image 10), and cement tiles emulate the look of wallpaper with great durability (image 5).TOP ROW1. James Merrell for House Beautiful2. Lars Bolander’s Scandinavian Design3.

Tis The Gift To Be SimpleFrom a religious and social standpoint, Shakers were radicals when they arrived in New York from England just before the American Revolution, in 1774. Like Quakers, they are pacifists. In contrast to the Quakers and most other religions, the Shakers, officially the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Coming, began with a woman leader.

Anyone who has tried to pick out white paint knows there are tons of variants. In my case, I’ve started a personal crusade against antique white in favor of a brighter white. One of the most ambitious goals in my January Cure was painting all the antique white walls in my three-story row home Ultra Pure White. Having redone two long hallways areas, I’ve made decent progress. Today I’m working on an awkward stairway.

The only time I’ve ever slept in a bunk bed was at summer camp, and I loved it. While most of us aren’t sleeping away in cabins, everyone can use space-saving furniture. For kids, lofted and bunk beds are a great option.Bunk beds free up floor space in a shared kids room, and you can configure them to work for two, three, and even four beds. A lofted bed can work for kids (and, as in image 5, a baby and crib) as well as adults (Images 2 and 9).Bunk & Loft Inspiration:1.

You don’t have to be able to tell an Arak from a Tabriz to appreciate how good either rug looks in a room. They work well with modern or traditional decor, and they only get better with age.Classy and classic, oriental rugs are a reliably stylish way to add color, pattern, and history to almost any room in your house. They’ll add interest to a hallway (Image 10) and give a grownup feel to a nursery (Image 2).