Nowadays, turning to the internet for anything you want is commonplace, including home design ideas. For many people, the draw of Pinterest home design pages is just too great to resist.

But are these photos too good to be true?

Will your house ever look like the one in the pictures?

One can undoubtedly say that the images on Pinterest are inspiring. It is easy to lose yourself in page after page of Pinterest home décor ideas. You may even find yourself fantasizing about how “perfect” your home will look when you bring these images to life inside your house.

STOP RIGHT THERE!

Before you set the bar so high that it will take the rest of your life to reach, come back down to earth and realize that your home will never look exactly like what you see online.

Why Can’t My House Look Like a Pinterest House?

That is the million-dollar question – why can’t your house look like the ones you see on Pinterest?

The answer is simple – these are often staged homes. No one actually lives there. Take stock for a moment of what is missing from these Pinterest home design photos:

• Remote controls
• Mail
• Phone chargers
• Tissue boxes
• Food
• Television cords and wires
• Children!

Sure, the kitchen counter may have a bowl of fruit on it, but where is the rest of the food?

Now, look at the perfectly plumped pillows on the couch and bed. Does anyone you know have a house that looks like that?

Do It Yourself Pinterest Decor

You pride yourself on being a pretty handy person. After all, you have never met an Ikea project you could not put together. However, many tutorials for Pinterest home design projects are not as easy as they look. That 30-minute video may have taken five hours to shoot and edit.

Photoshoots take hours to complete, and perhaps one image out of one hundred is good enough to show.

Do you do research about the materials you are going to use? Remember when building furniture out of crates and wood pallets were a thing? Did anyone mention potential infestations or toxic chemicals?

It is crucial to think – and research – before you act. Not every Pinterest interior design idea is a good one. And, even if it is a clever idea, it might not be right for your home or family.

It is time to move beyond the Pinterest home into a world of reality.

Before you get frustrated, take a deep breath, and relax. You can still use these Pinterest ideas to become inspired. It is just time to reevaluate how you want to live within the investment that is comfortable for you.

Attainable Pinterest Home Design Ideas You Can Use

Yes, it is exciting to plan out new home ideas for decorating a room. The key to success is to be realistic in your expectations. You have to be careful that the sofa you are eying will go with that end table and chair from another “pin.”

Will the elements of your room mesh well together?

Spend some time reviewing your Pinterest home design ideas to see if they will fit in with your lifestyle and needs.

Stop thinking about what is “perfect” and focus on what makes you “feel good” for your new home design ideas. How does that photo make you feel? Can you see yourself lounging in that oversized chair on cool nights? Or is it too big for your room?

Start small with a simple idea and go from there.

Avoid trends and stick with ideas and items that are “timeless.” Make your life simple and create beautiful but lived-in surroundings that add comfort.

Better yet, forgo Pinterest and call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to create the perfect space for you!

Your living room (or family room) is likely the gathering place for your family and friends. It may also be your home’s largest room. That means it needs proper lighting for the many purposes this room fulfills. Choosing the right living room lights for your space is crucial.

Layered lighting is crucial, ensuring that you illuminate all areas and corners of the room. After all, you may find yourself using this room for activities such as:

• Entertaining
• Watching TV
• Playing games
• Reading
• Relaxing

Layered lighting consists of accent, ambient, and task lighting, which you can read more about through the link at the end of this blog. Make sure to check out that blog when you finish reading this one.

Ceiling Lighting

Overhead lighting is an integral part of your design in a room as large as your living room. Ideally, work from the ceiling down as you layer your living room lights.

Track lighting is an excellent option when considering a variety of living room ceiling lighting ideas. They are flexible enough to provide accent, ambient, and task lighting with their dimmers. Track lighting also helps reduce television glare. Spot lights in the ceiling can add extra brightness. When considering lighting, keep in mind that 10 to 20 lumens are suitable per square foot of space.

Other overhead lighting options include:

• Chandeliers
• Ceiling fans that include a light fixture
• Moroccan style lanterns
• Sculptural LED overhead light fixtures

Crystal chandeliers are an option for living rooms with giant windows as they do not interfere with the streaming natural light.

Wall Lighting

Wall lights, including sconces, bring a more traditional and decorative feel to the room. Position wall living room lights above eye level to avoid glare.

Floor Lamps

Floor lamps provide highly decorative and functional living room lights that enhance the visual appeal of your space. They can be used for decoration, ambient lighting, or tasks, such as reading.

Living room floor lamps, including adjustable arc lights, fill shadowy corners. These living room lamps do double duty, as they can be positioned over the shoulder for reading or working. You may even want to opt for an oversized arched floor lamp, making quite a striking statement in your room.

A corner floor lamp that illuminates upwards directs the light toward the ceiling. Torchiere floor lamps can be six feet or taller and are often best suited for larger rooms.

Both traditional and modern floor lamps can make quite a statement in your living space. In a large living room, your lighting fixtures can help separate different seating areas, as shown below.

Other Options for Living Room Lights

Additional led lights for room ambiance can go inside cabinets to highlight some of your favorite possessions.

These are only some of the many living room lighting ideas available to you. Working with an interior designer can help you find that perfect fixture to enhance the beauty of your room.

Make sure to check out our blog Inspired Lighting Ideas for Every Room in Your Home here for more ideas.

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to discover how our many services can enhance your home.

Food is a common denominator that brings people together, whether in a kitchen or a dining room. That is why we have featured these two rooms in this blog on dining and kitchen lighting to create the perfect ambiance for your meal preparation and enjoyment.

Kitchen Lighting

Whether your kitchen is small or large, overhead (ambient) lighting is crucial. Kitchen ceiling lights should never be an afterthought but are essential when planning a remodel of your kitchen. Recessed ceiling lights are beneficial for the entire space as they can distribute light evenly throughout the room. Track lighting is another excellent option for illuminating your work area.

Pendant lights work great over a long counter or kitchen island. These fixtures should hang approximately 35 to 40 inches above the countertop. 70 to 80 lumens are ideal per square foot for preparation areas. You can go with 30 to 40 lumens per square foot in all other areas of the kitchen.

Kitchen island lighting is crucial for both aesthetics and functionality. Layering your kitchen light fixtures in this way brightens the space and gives the room dimension.

Under-cabinet lighting is beneficial for work areas, such as food prep countertops. The last thing you want is to cut food on a dark counter where you cannot see what you are doing. Do not forget task-specific lighting for the stove and sink.

You may also want to consider interior lighting to highlight glass-front and open cabinets. These lights make an excellent way to showcase your dishes and stemware.

If you have an eat-in kitchen, you may want to add a small chandelier above the table, as shown in the photo above. Another option is pendant lighting, using one oversize pendant over the table for a striking effect. You can see how a variety of kitchen lighting fixtures come together to create a warm and inviting space.

Dining Room Lighting

As we move from kitchen lighting to dining room lighting ideas, one thing is crucial – dining room lighting makes a statement. It can enhance your overall design scheme or stand out like a sore thumb. The right choice will set the perfect mood for having an intimate dinner for two or a grand dinner party for a house full of guests.

Chandeliers are typically the first thing people think of when looking for dining room light fixtures. They are often an excellent choice. However, today, you can think outside the box and select from many other statement-making options.

In the photo below, you see how we use hanging pendants as dining room lights, and the striking effect they make. Dimmer switches for lights can also alter the mood in the room.

Dining room chandeliers can consist of a single lighting fixture, or multiple lights, as shown in the photo below.

The crystal chandelier below is an example of the elegance that crystal can bring to a room.

Another option in modern chandeliers is the combination of crystal with another element, as shown in the photo below. That way, you get the best of both worlds while creating a beautiful visual effect in your dining room. As you can see, the image is enhanced by the wall sconces.

For more dining room and kitchen lighting ideas, as well as lighting other rooms in your home, check out our blog “Inspired Lighting Ideas for Every Room in Your Home.”

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to learn more about how we can help enhance the beauty of your home.

Perhaps you have just moved to a new home or are about to undertake a remodel. Either way, you are probably excited about choosing wall colors, flooring, window treatments, and furniture. The last thing on your mind might be lighting. Many people consider this last as something that sheds light in the room rather than adding aesthetic beauty and value to your living space.

You may not realize that considering your options early in your interior design process can bring your whole room together in ways you never imagined. Lighting ideas go well beyond walking into a store and taking a lamp off a shelf. There is a lot to consider, and they vary based on the room.

Our lighting guide will cover elements for illuminating each room in your home for maximum effect. Make sure to click the link in each section for a more in-depth look at illuminating these rooms.

Types of Lighting

Lighting has a purpose. When we say types of lighting, we are not just talking about table lamps and chandeliers. You will often have more than one of the following three types of lighting in a room:

• Ambient Lighting: the majority of your room will consist of this general lighting, including ceiling lights (recessed or track lighting) or wall-mounted fixtures. Ceiling fan lights are another option. Remember that ambient light mimics natural daylight.
• Accent Lighting: these lights focus on a particular point in the room, such as wall art. Accent lights often have dimmers to enhance the mood in the room. Downlights, uplights, and spotlights are some of the options to consider for accent lighting. Table lamps can create a pool of light on an accent table.
• Task Lighting: these lights help you with a specific function, such as floor reading lamps, pendant lighting over a kitchen island, desk lamps, or bedside reading lamps on a nightstand.

Many rooms incorporate all three types, depending on their size and purpose.

Living Room Ideas

Living room lights depend on various factors, including the size and use of the room, the layout, and the design of the space. A living room can be a formal place for entertaining or the one area in your home where everyone gathers for watching television and playing games. It can be a cozy space for conversation or a vast room that requires many elements.

Bedroom Lighting

There is a certain simplicity when looking at bedroom lighting ideas – you want some form of light overhead, and then either table lamps on a nightstand or dresser or a corner led floor lamp. Having a combination of bedroom lights does more than illuminate your room – it creates a relaxing ambiance that will help you enjoy your personal space and rest easy at night.

Dining Room Ideas

No other room in the home offers as easy a decision about lighting as the dining room. The primary light source here will be your chandelier. Of course, that is not always an easy decision, as you will want to select one that will enhance your dining furniture.

Oversized light fixtures are ideal for large dining tables. A small chandelier will get lost in this space. For more information on picking the right chandelier for your dining room, click here.

Kitchen Lighting Ideas

One of the most important rooms to consider when discussing design elements is the kitchen. Your kitchen will typically feature several light sources, including overhead and support fixtures.

Because the kitchen is the heart of the home, it is crucial to create the proper ambiance in this room. It is also essential to remember that task-oriented lighting will help with food preparation. Check out more information about selecting the appropriate kitchen lighting here.

Bathroom Lights

Bathroom lighting can either start your day off on a good foot or make you feel terrible if it is unflattering. Lights that point down from above may cast shadows. Light fixtures placed on either side of the mirror provide more balance. You will want to go with 70 to 80 lumens per square foot as you do need bright light in this room. Of course, a dimmer switch makes it possible to adjust the light to suit different needs.

Remember to visit our HK Collections page for some of the latest design trends. You may find the very piece that will complete your room.

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 for more information about the many services we offer to beautify your home.

Away from the bustle of the busy day, your bedroom and bathroom are your private retreats. Our room lighting ideas for bed and bath can help you make these rooms your escape from the day’s activities.

Bedroom Lighting Ideas

Bedroom lights are often an afterthought after choosing furniture and bedding. As with any room, lighting plays an integral role in your home’s design. Creating the perfect escape from the day’s reality and helping you unwind means putting more thought into bedroom lighting ideas than placing a lamp on your nightstand. You will need varying sources of light to create the perfect space.

Bedroom lighting should start with an overhead light. You can incorporate a combination ceiling fan and light or a small chandelier. Flush mount ceiling fixtures and track lighting also work well to illuminate the room from above. Recessed lighting makes quite a statement in a headboard nook. The photo below shows a combination of three lighting sources – two from overhead and one from the bedside.

Multiple options exist for table and reading lights for bedroom nightstands, including pendant lights, which save space while creating a stylish impact in the room. Nightstand lamps can either match or not; however, they should be fairly close in size if you opt for mismatched lamps.

Another space saver is wall sconces, which hang over the nightstand from the wall. Adjustable arms make it easy to point them over your shoulder for reading in bed.

If you have a reading or seating area in the room, that is the perfect spot for a floor lamp, as shown in the photo below. Arc lamps such as this are easily adjustable.

The bedroom is the perfect spot to get creative with room lighting ideas as you can opt to be whimsical, fancy, eclectic, or eccentric with your selections.

Bathroom Lighting

Although often an afterthought, bathroom lighting can make quite a stunning difference in this room. Bathrooms often serve multiple purposes, as they may be used for applying makeup as well as relaxing in your personal spa oasis. If you have a large soaking tub, you will want to carve out the perfect niche with creative and inviting lighting.

It is also important to consider lighting placement in the room to minimize shadows and glare. Warm or true colors are crucial.

Task lighting is highly beneficial in a bathroom and can feature recessed or track lights. Pointing them at the work surfaces can make shaving and applying makeup easier.

Tasks lights can also be placed either above or around a mirror, and can take the form of a bath bar, strip lights, and vanity lighting. You can also place a chandelier in the bathroom, as shown in the image below.

If you have a tub in your bathroom, you may want to consider placing a light source above it, preferably on a dimmer switch, to set a pleasant mood. Never forget the beauty of natural candlelight in the bathroom for the ultimate spa or romantic experience.

For more room lighting ideas, check out our blog Inspired Lighting Ideas for Every Room in Your Home.

Call HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 to help turn your home into the perfect retreat.

Your home can have rooms that are too big, too small, or exactly right – although that last may seem elusive. It may seem easier to fill a large space with more furniture than making a small space appear larger than it is. In this blog, we look at how to make a room look bigger, and in the process, make it function in ways you never imagined.

There are some benefits to having a smaller space to work with as you are decorating. It is easier to organize, and you need fewer furnishings to fill it up. The services of an interior designer can be invaluable when working with a small space to help you get the most out of your surroundings.

When you are trying to decide how to make a small room look bigger in your home, consider the following:

• Paint and Color
• Furniture
• Lighting
• Mirrors
• Drapery
• Decorations and Artwork
• Reduce Clutter

How to Make a Room Look Bigger

Paint and Color

People often ask what colors make a room look bigger when they are getting ready to paint the inside of their home. Light and dark colors, creating contrast, can give a room depth. When you look at how to make a small room look bigger with paint, keep in mind that medium shades will make your space appear smaller than it is. Using dark and bright white colors that open up a room, in contrast, creates the illusion of a much larger area.

Small rooms are not always square. Some may be narrow and long. When considering how to make a narrow room look wider with paint, keep in mind that light and cool colors recede – they seem farther away. Warm, dark colors advance towards us. For long narrow spaces, paint the opposing shorter walls a slightly darker (one or two shades) color than the two longer walls. That will make them feel closer, giving the image of a square shape. Conversely, you can also paint the longer walls a darker shade, emphasizing the room’s length – depending on which way you want to present the space.

Some painting techniques to make a room look bigger include:

• Stay with one color – when different colors are used, the eye automatically stops at the line where one color ends and another begins, creating boundaries in the room. When you use only one color, the space appears continuous.
• Use stripes – horizontal stripes will make a wall appear longer, and vertical stripes will make it seem taller.

When considering colors that make a room look bigger, white, in its many shades, is always an optimum choice. Its reflective qualities help to open a space and make it appear light and airy.

For more painting room ideas, check out the image below, showing how different painting options can change the appearance of your space.

Furniture

Next up in our ideas to make a small room look bigger is choosing furniture wisely. Now is the time to think about proportions. If you put your furniture up against the walls, it will make the room appear smaller. By leaving some air between the walls and your furniture, you create a feeling of roominess.

It is also good to avoid large, heavy pieces of furniture. Not only do they use up too much space in a small room, but they also draw all the focus to that part of the room. If you have tall pieces of furniture, place those against the wall to avoid breaking up the room.

Another way to make a room look bigger with furniture is to keep the furnishings lower to the ground. That also helps add more height to a low room be leaving more space above them. A chair such as the one below is an excellent example of keeping furniture lower in the room. Because it also shows the legs, it allows space, air, and light to flow around it.

Lighting

Natural light is one of the best ways to make a room look bigger. Remove the blinds and allow light to flow into your space. If possible, add some skylights to the room so that light can stream in from above.

When working with artificial lighting, place a few lamps around the room rather than one light overhead. Multiple light sources help expand the feel of the room and create ambient and even lighting.

Mirrors

Mirrors are an excellent way to make a room look bigger as they help reflect and bounce light from the windows. Another benefit of hanging a mirror on the wall is that it reflects the view and tricks the eye into the perception of increased space.

Drapery

Just as high heels will make any woman appear taller, floor-to-ceiling drapery will provide an instant height boost to any room.

Another option is to eliminate curtains, as they only add more for the eye to look at. If you do want drapes, consider breezy, lightweight fabrics, which provide an airy touch.

Decorations and Artwork

The décor you use in your room can make it seem smaller by cluttering up your space. Every surface of your room does not need to be covered in décor. The more you can open it up and let it “breathe,” the larger the space will feel. Place décor arrangements in groupings of 3 or 5 items on tables or dressers. Placing them on a tray helps to reduce the visual clutter.

Utilizing one large-scale piece of artwork on a wall rather than a gallery display of smaller ones will help open the room. If you do have many smaller pictures to display, place them all on one wall.

Reduce Clutter

Clutter is the enemy of small spaces. If you wonder how to make small rooms look bigger, getting rid of clutter is the number one thing you can do right now. That does not mean getting rid of your cherished items – it means finding creative ways to store them out of sight.

That optical illusion is especially important when thinking about how to make a small bedroom look bigger. The bedroom is our safe space – it is where we go to unwind and relax. It is hard to get a restful night’s sleep when clutter is all around you.

Baskets, such as those below, placed in the corner, can hold extra blankets, magazines, books, and pet toys out of the way. Goodbye clutter – hello space!

Another excellent way to make a room look bigger while eliminating clutter is with shelving units. Placed on either end of a window, you can even put a storage bench between them to create a window seat in a bedroom.

An excellent option is the Almora shelving unit shown below. The open back of the cubes allows for the light walls to shine through while providing plenty of room for your favorite books and decorations.

There you have it – many ways for how to make a room look bigger that are both beautiful to behold and functional at the same time.

The HK Collection is a beautifully curated collection of fine furnishings and décor for your home. We can help you find that special piece for any room or design.

Contact HK Interiors today at 954-401-8542 for all your interior design needs and more information.

Now and then, we all need a good laugh. We are doing that today as we look at these epic interior design fails. Of course, some of these people had the best intentions when making these decisions. Much to their chagrin, things just did not seem to turn out the way they had planned.

Many of us have been our own victims when our interior design ideas did not meet up to our expectations – to put it nicely. Chuckle here. It is one thing when we have only ourselves to blame for our home decorating fails.

But what happens when the fault lies with a professional? Paying good money for ideas gone bad is a whole other story. You do not expect common design mistakes from a professional.

Professional Design Fails

You would think that an electrician would know how to install lights and outlets, right? Maybe not so right after all. The interior design fails below show just how wrong that expectation could be.

The first of our funny fails takes us straight to the sink – the one place we all know that water and electricity do not mix. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the electrician that installing an outlet inside the sink is not a good idea. Talk about your worst interior design mistakes – this one just might win the prize.

While we are on the subject of design fails and electrical installations, we all know that when there is an actual spot for the hanging of a chandelier, that is where you are supposed to put it, right?

Maybe not so obvious to everyone!

Interior design mistakes, such as not hanging the chandelier from the center of the provided space, are hard to fathom. It kind of makes you wonder how some people get themselves dressed in the morning.

Of course, some professionals impart a bit of humor into their work on purpose. We all know someone who we would think would be a professional’s nightmare. If you have ever seen the movie “Sleepless in Seattle,” you probably remember the scene in the kitchen of a home under remodeling, where they discuss the client’s crazy expectations.

Sometimes, clients will see something they want and ask for the same – at an unrealistic price. An epic funny architecture joke is to give them what they want – at that crazy cost. The funny construction alternative to a magnificently detailed handrail of a horse is to hang one from the post. Problem solved!

Epic Interior Design Fails in the Bathroom

Why does it always seem like everything goes wrong in the bathroom? These interior design fails are sure to make you chuckle.

We begin with a shelf that seems oddly out of place. Sometimes, there are no words for bad interior design – you just have to look at it and shake your head.

You know the saying always leave the best for last? Well, that is what we have done here.

For the couple who does everything together – the ultimate in togetherness leads us to our “best” worst interior design winner – the tete a tete toilets. Just in case you ever thought about dancing cheek to cheek in the bathroom, here is the winner in our hilarious home improvement fails.

There you have it – some home design fails to make your day. Now, you probably don’t feel so bad about some of your past ideas, do you?

Hiring an interior designer can save you money, time, and help you get the home of your dreams. Learn more about what an interior designer can do for you here.

To avoid these, and other, interior design fails, turn to the professionals at HK Interiors for help. Contact us today at 954-401-8542 for more information.

Many positive things have happened in the last year. People are spending more time at home with their families, they are organizing their lives, and they are updating their living spaces. For many, that means investing in some quality furniture. Unfortunately, some people look to save money and find themselves browsing the aisles of their nearby Target.

Affordable furniture can cost more in the long run when you find out how quickly it needs replacing. As Ben Franklin said – “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”

That leads us to the question – does high-quality furniture have to cost more?

Of course, the answer is yes, the best quality furniture will always cost more than a similar, cheaply-made product. However, that does not mean quality is out of your price range.

Websites such as Wayfair, Ashley, West Elm, and Ikea offer various items – ready to ship. The problem is that you will soon discover that the furnishings are not holding up a year or two down the road as well as you anticipated. From everyday wear and tear to company recalls (an Ikea problem with dressers), you may discover that paying a little more would have saved you quite a bit in the end.

How to Tell Quality Furniture from Cheap Furniture

There is another saying – you get what you pay for in life. Chances are, if you buy furniture online through Walmart’s website, it will not be of the best quality. A $500 sofa probably has about $250 worth of materials in it – at the most. You may be lucky to get a couple of years out of it with normal wear and tear. If you have kids that will be climbing or jumping on it, you may find the cushions and springs going in about a year or two. Sofa and chair cushions are the first things to break down. The thicker they are, the more expensive they are to produce, and the longer they will last.

Fabric Is Key for Quality

Fabrics are another quality concern source when looking at buying new home furniture. When shopping for furniture, check to see that the fabric is a performance quality fabric that will hold up to the test of time. Upholstery fabrics are usually a tighter weave as they are denser and heavier. They are made for furniture. For example, faux leather also will not hold up as well as real leather. Depending on use and performance of the furniture, fabric is key for quality.

Solid Wood Is Better Than Plywood

When looking at quality furniture, know that you will pay more for solid wood frames than for plywood frames. Shopping online furniture stores can lead to a host of problems. You have no idea what the quality and comfort factors are until the items arrive. After weeks of waiting, many people opt to keep it rather than sending it back. They have furniture they are not happy about for years to come. Or, if you do decide to send it back, now you are back to square one again.

When it comes to the best place to buy quality furniture, you have two options – do a significant amount of research on the best furniture reviews or contact an interior designer. In the end, working with an interior designer who can offer insight into furniture stores and quality furniture brands is the right choice. That way, you have someone with the experience and knowledge guiding you in your search. You may also discover that the designer’s connections with furniture makers can lead you to that one-of-a-kind custom piece at an affordable price.

The Difference Between Cheap Furniture and Quality Furniture

Back in the day, as the older generation might say, people bought quality wood furniture that was meant to last a lifetime. When they wanted a change, they reupholstered the sofa and had a whole new look. Today, many people look for the best place to buy furniture on a budget since they only plan on keeping it for a few years. We live in a disposable world – which only costs us more money in the end and fills up the landfills.

Cheap furniture will not last. Buying furniture is an expense no matter how you look at it. Paying $500 now for an inexpensive sofa that has to be replaced in three years or spending $1000 or more on one that will last significantly longer is a tough decision for many people. They look at the moment – what their budget can handle. However, if you budget it out over time, spending more on quality furniture right now can save you money in the long run.

The difference between cheap and quality furniture is significant. One will offer you long-lasting comfort, beauty, and functionality. The other will be adequate – for now. There is also a misconception that you need to turn to high-end furniture brands to ensure quality. Again, that is where the help of an interior designer becomes invaluable. With the right guidance, you can transform your home’s look with furnishings that will last you well into the future.

HK Interiors has been transforming homes and lives for years. Contact us today at 954-401-8542 for more information.

Although we live in South Florida, our days are also shorter, and our nights are longer. We also have the occasional cold snap that lends itself to fluffy blankets and luxurious textiles. Making a cozy home for the winter also conjures up holiday and seasonal scents. There are many ways to make your home comfortable for winter, even here in Florida.

Because we do not have the seasonal changes you get up north, many people feel left out this time of year. Sure, we decorate with pumpkins in October and November and festive displays in December. However, that is not the same as making your living environment warm and inviting for the winter. In the winter, a cozy home is a happy home.

You can change the ambiance in your home without spending a small fortune. One of the ways is to incorporate more greenery into your home. Whether you live in Coral Springs, Parkland, Boca Raton, or Delray Beach, you are likely surrounded outdoors by nature. Bring a few more plants indoors to help cozy up your space.

Creating Cozy Living and Family Rooms

Creating a cozy living room can be as simple as changing the throw pillows on your couch to ones covered in faux fur, velvet, corduroy, or other warmer textiles.

When we think about cozy homes, cashmere throws, fireplaces, and ambient lighting often come to mind. While many people do not have the luxury of fireplaces here in South Florida, there are other ways to create a fire’s warmth.

Recommendations for cozy family room ideas incorporate the glow of holiday-scented candles throughout the house. Seasonal winters scents include spice, pumpkin, cinnamon, pine, and peppermint. Since warm apple cider and hot cocoa are staples of this time of year, you may want to buy some oversized mugs to help you settle in for those long nights in your cozy home.

Creating a Cozy Bedroom for Long Winter Nights

Having a cozy bedroom to retreat to at the end of a long day is crucial during the winter. Many people spend more time in their bedrooms during the winter months. If you have pets, you probably know that they want to head off to bed earlier at night – and want you to tag along with them.

The best cozy bedroom ideas begin with breaking out extra blankets to help keep electric bills low. Rather than putting on the heat, especially since doctors tell us that sleeping in a cold room is healthy, toss an extra blanket or two on the bed. Invest in some fluffy, overstuffed pillows to cuddle up with on cold nights.

At HK Interiors, we are here to help you create a cozy home winter, spring, summer, or fall, with all your decorating needs. Call 954-401-8542 for more information.

Interior Designer, Holly Kalisher, was recently featured on Redfin’s blog post: How to Make Your Home Cozy, Warm, and Happier this Winter

2020 started a new decade – and a new way of life for so many people. We were barely three months into the new year when COVID-19 or coronavirus sent many people into quarantine, isolation, and working from home. Yes, it is a whole new world, and today, we find that staying in is the new going out.

For most of the year, many people have stopped dining out, socializing with friends, and doing things we all took for granted. Movies, clubs, bars, live theatre, and vacations are all in the past. While many things, including restaurants and bars, have reopened, COVID numbers are also spiking again.

That leads us to reexamine how to create fun times in our lives without going out.

In this blog, we look at the many ways to make staying in fun. You do not have to put your health at risk to enjoy special evenings and occasions with family and friends.

Setting the Ambiance for Gatherings at Home

Now that we are spending so much of our free time at home, it is time to look at ways to make the home more suitable for enjoyment. Large social gatherings are out; intimate entertaining is in. Setting the right ambiance can take your “event” to the next level. Whether you plan a quiet night for two, or a dinner party for six, here are some suggestions for enhancing your environment.

One of the primary things to consider is social distancing. If your living room only has one couch, that could put people in close contact with one another. Consider adding a few chairs around the room that provide a safe distance while maintaining elegance and comfort. Some of my favorite recommendations from the HK Collection are below.

In the past, the kitchen was “the” gathering place in the home. Now, to help maintain a safe social distance, consider dressing up your kitchen counter or bar area with new seating, such as the barstools below. That way, your guests can still be nearby – but not too close.

Of course, lighting can enhance the feel of a room, providing for romantic evenings when you are staying in. Conversely, ambient lighting can also liven up the room when you want to have a few friends over for a fun evening.

Never underestimate the effect of candles. With so many unique and beautiful candle holders available today, you can cut down on your energy bill and create a warm glow throughout your home.

Since staying is the new going, now may also be the time to turn an extra room into your private screening room. With so many first-run movies going straight to streaming services, creating the cozy media room makes perfect sense.

Taking the Gathering Outdoors

The CDC recommends taking all gatherings and social events outdoors. Backyard entertaining is the way to go in 2020 and into 2021. With coronavirus numbers on the rise, South Floridians are the lucky ones – we have perfect weather year-round for outdoor entertaining.

One of the benefits of more people staying in has been for nature. While not all wildlife may be welcome at your next social gathering (no one wants an alligator to visit), you may want to consider putting in a birdbath to bring some of our local winged friends to your home.

Now is the time to look at your backyard furnishings and perhaps update them for the coming year. Add in a new outdoor rug, some tealight holders to light up the evenings, or choose some decorative lanterns for a modern look.

Staying safe at home does not mean boring. Whether you have a large backyard or a small patio, we can enhance the look and feel to make entertaining safely a breeze.

Staying In, Staying Safe, and Having Fun!

Yes, staying in is the new going out, and we are all adjusting to our current “reality.” That does not mean we cannot have fun at the same time. We do not have to fear the pandemic; we just need to navigate these new waters carefully.

Here are some tips for hosting perfect social gatherings where everyone invited can feel safe:

• Ask guests to continue to wear face masks when not actively eating or drinking
• Position seating 6 feet apart
• Identify one person to be the bartender to limit the physical contact on bottles, glasses, etc.
• Plate items as individual portions and set out on the table or counter – this eliminates the need for people to touch serving utensils (boxed meals or individual trays are fun ideas)
• Place disposable hand towels in the bathroom in place of cloth towels
• Keep hand sanitizer bottles in convenient locations
• Set up a hand-washing station in your backyard
• Post a sign in your bathroom asking guests to close the lid before flushing, wash hands for twenty seconds, and use the disposable towels to dry hands, and then discard in the trashcan
• Play games that naturally encourage social distancing, such as badminton, croquet, and hula hoop contests
• Host a movie night under the stars with cushions for adults and “cardboard box cars” for kids to sit in – hand out individual snack bags of popcorn and candy

If the celebration is for a birthday, have a separate cupcake for the candle, and have the birthday person blow it out away from everyone else. That way, no one has concerns over the spread of germs on the actual cake.

One of the safest social situations to enjoy is the “backyard picnic,” where everyone brings their own food, beverages, and blankets to spread on the lawn. That limits any risk of spreading germs.

As you can see, staying in can be fun with some preplanning. HK Interiors can help you enhance your home’s ambiance for socializing safely. Call us for more information, and all your interior design needs at 954-401-8542.