Add Colour to Your Home Using Beautiful Blue Rugs

Blue is a surprisingly versatile colour to use in living room especially if you choose one of the latest designs which have a pile which changes the depth of colour depending which way the fibres lay. The visual movement has a mesmerising effect which is reminiscent of corn being gently swayed back and forth by a Summer breeze.

The mixture of blue hues makes a stunning addition to a room with a white or cream pallet. You'll also love using a gorgeous blue rug with warm browns, black or white. For those with an adventurous decorating nature, try it with coral or lime green for a unique and exciting appearance. You'll love a sumptuous rug in blues to use with almost any décor from traditional to modern. Cobalt blue is particularly stunning with a tropical or California motif.



Image: Terrys Fabrics

Inject Style and Colour Using Cushions

If your living room's colour pallet is muted tones, magnolia, soft cream etc. it's easy to give it an instant up-lift using cushions. Choose those which have pattern and texture to give a new lease of life to your seating arrangement. For the floor patterned rugs are ideal and can be chosen to compliment or contrast the cushions, bringing a sense of harmony and uniformity to the room.

One of the greatest advantages of using this form of décor is that you can swap and change as often as you like without having to redecorate the entire room.

Image: danlucus

Living Room Interior Design Ideas - Fresh and Green

There's something about fresh lime green which screams out 'look at me'! I love this colour, especially when teamed with cream or soft whites for a living room. Perfect for modern and contemporary homes you could also take the bite off by dropping a couple of shades lighter for a more traditionally styled home without losing the colour impact.

As emerald green is this year's Pantone colour choosing a brighter green may not be an exact match but it ticks all the right boxes in terms of invigorating and rejuvenating a tired looking living room. If you don't want to go all out and use this shade for your walls you can always introduce it via cushions, throws and rugs. It would also work well with purple and lavenders which are trending right now.

Image: jinkazamah

Winning Colour Combinations Raspberry & Apple

Raspberry and apple are winning combinations to the palate and they're also winning colour combinations for your home. The fresh colours can be used in most styles of décor and any room from the kitchen to bedroom and living room.

These colours may not be the hottest on-trend colours but they have stood the test of time and proved successful for many years. You can always freshen up the look by introducing new cushions and rugs to give a room an instant up-date without loosing these delicious colours.

Image: LucyandCompany

Interior Design Ideas - Spring & Summer Living Room Colours

Bring a touch of Spring and Summer into you home using pretty yellowy green and cream with a splash of purple. This living room colour pallet and style isn't anything fancy, it's something that could easily be replicated in your own home. Sometimes all you need is a little interior design insight to set the ball rolling.

domino neon green

The eye catching pop of colour via the cushion prevents this living room from looking too plain. As we know all too well it's the little things that count so even if you don't fancy a complete living room makeover this year you can still bring a fresh new look by using cushions, throws and maybe an area rug.

Image: coco+kelley

Beautiful Blue & Soft Grey Living Room

Blue is often overlooked as a colour for living rooms, I assume that's because it's classed as a cold colour. However, mix it with soft greys with blue undertones and it looks stunning. This monochromatic colour scheme is perfect for modern homes, especially those which lean towards cabins and relaxed, casual living.

I love the knitted rugs, pouffes and cushions covers which give depth and texture to a living space. It's this style of room which allows you to sit old next to new without either vying for your attention or trying to be too dominant.

If you're looking for a new colour scheme for your living area consider using blues, they're not as cold as you may think.

Image: ohh_food

Shabby Chic Dining Rooms – How to get the Look on a Budget

Shabby Chic doesn't just relate to country style homes; grand mansions can also adopt this interior design style and use it as the sole style or intertwine it with French Provençal to create a stunning stunning room which oozes class and luxury without costing a small fortune.

It's easy to get the look if you love white and soft pastels; painting an old dinning room table and chairs white is a great way to give it a revived look; accompany this by covering the chair pads in a floral fabric and you're over half way to creating a Shabby Chic dining room.

Wooden floors are perfect – if you like a little comfort underfoot large area rugs will fit into the scheme beautifully. Don't neglect your window dressing. Opt for long flowing curtains in off-white or with a chintz pattern which pool and puddle onto the floor.

Using old china dinner services and traditional style cutlery and you have the look. Scour around to find accessories which fit in with the overall look of your dining room. Using personal objects such as old photographs will also help set the scene.

Don't forget to fill the room with vases of fresh seasonal flowers to make it even more welcoming and stylishly chic.

Image: trishazdz

Tips for Cleaning a Wool Rug

Many of have rugs in our homes, they add colour, pattern and of course comfort underfoot; but to keep them looking their best you'll need to keep them clean. The method of cleaning will depend on the material the rug is made of. Pure wool rugs can't simply be thrown into the washing machine, it's unlikely they'd fit and if it does, machine washing probably means that it will shrink and the colours could run.

Image: re-modern.com

Professional cleaning may be the only course of action, but this can be very expensive; here's a few tips on cleaning rugs yourself.

Hoover you rug regularly to help prevent dirt and debris from getting right down to the backing.

Turn your rug over and hoover the backing as well.

Spills should be mopped up as soon as possible. Lay paper towels over the area and press down to absorb the liquid – don't rub or scrub as this can make colours bleed or ruin the tuft of the fibres.

Don't hoover the tassels as they can easily be sucked up the hoover by mistake.

If you use a carpet cleaner be careful of the chemicals. Most carpet cleaners are designed for use on synthetic fibres not wool.

If your rug smells of dogs or pets use a solution of I part vinegar (white) and 3 parts water. Use a paper towel to blot gently over the surface.

To prevent access wear on one particular area turn your rug every time you hoover to help distribute the wear evenly.

If your wool rug is really dirty or you're a little apprehensive of cleaning it yourself choose a reputable, professional cleaning company to tackle the job for you.

Image: Shootingparrots

If you fancy cleaning your rug the old fashioned way, put your rug over a fence and beat it with a wicker carpet beater! It will not only shift dirt, dust and debris it's a great form of exercise for you as well!

Trendy Tuesdays!

If your home is looking a little dull and lifeless inject some bright colors to rejuvenate it simply by adopting one of this year's interior design trends of color clashing. This is where you deliberately go against the 'rules' and choose co lours that wouldn't usually been used together, for example red and orange or purple and orange.

These bold colors will look great in modern homes and apartments. You don't have to go 'mad' cushions, throws and rugs should do the trick. A quick and easy make-over that will bring bursts of color into your home with very little cost.

Wonderful Wednesdays – Let's go on Safari

Creating a theme for a room is a great idea as it gives you a focus and a canvass on which to explore your interior design ideas. So, today we're going on a safari and even if you've never been to Africa there's no reason why you should prevent adopting this fabulous interior design theme in your home.

To begin think of the colours of Africa; earthy browns, parched savannah or the natural colours of the animals and birds. Any of these will make a great main colour. Then add in accents to bring your room alive with coloured cushions, rugs, curtains and blinds.

You can even go further in decorating the room with the use of fabrics and textiles that feature a safari type theme, such as zebra patterned cushions or even a zebra rug which are fairly easy to get hold of. If you make a search on the internet, you will be able to find vases and other pots that are fashioned to resemble many of the animals that are found in Africa. These are excellent to place in the corners of your room, and when you have done this, adding some ferns or other plant in them, will really set the mood of a safari theme.

Let your interior design imagination run wild!

Image: Mirage Floors