Alycia Wicker Design » tips

Stop Picking the Wrong Paint Colors!

admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:55:27 +0000

It seems so simple. Pick up the color card at the hardware store. Except those are all the same color just from light to dark. Oh wait, what’s this over here? Ooooh colors put together. Ugh. Not ones that I like together. Help!

Had this conversation in your head before? I know, that’s why you’re reading this. Picking the right paint colors can strike fear into anyone, but before I give you some tips to picking the right paint colors, I must tell you something.

Come closer.

It’s just paint. It can be changed. The world isn’t going to end and the people inside the TV on HGTV can’t see what you have done to your walls. You’re safe!

Before you go and get the swatches at the paint store, we need to get inspired! Yes, you do. Otherwise you will end up like the rest of the people looking at the color cards…a zombie. People are so petrified of picking the wrong colors and then when they see all those colors their eyes glaze over. They really should have a therapist on staff at the hardware store to help people out, don’t you think?

1. Find your muse. Be it a sweater, a bedspread, a curtain, a picture, a vase or a bag of chips. Where ever you find that winning combination of colors does not matter. Just find something that makes your heart sing!

2. Go to the hardware store and take your inspiration with you.

3. Select swatches that are similar to your inspirational piece.

4. Pick your main wall color. Think of your main wall color as the foundation. Like make-up foundation. It’s the base for your accent colors like eye shadow and lipstick. Everything you will have in your room will have this color as its background.

5. Pick your accent color i.e. the lipstick or eye shadow. This is a color that you may want to use as an accent wall like on a wall with your focal point. The accent color, should you decide to go that route, should definitely contrast with your main wall color. Otherwise it will look like you tried to match closely and it went horribly wrong. Two colors that are too similar make it difficult to discern which is the main color and which is the accent color.

If there are a couple other colors left in your inspirational piece that you like and want to use, you can use those colors in your window treatments, pillows, tablecloth, throws, etc.

It’s too big! My room, that is…

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:12:32 +0000

You might be in the minority here and have large open rooms in your home. These areas can lack a certain intimacy that every family needs. Let’s learn how to make changes turn your cavern into a cozy corner.

You would think that large rooms aren’t a problem but guess again. The tendency is to fill every corner but with a larger space, you may run out of items to fill it with. Finding ways to close the gaps is challenging.

Let Your Furniture do Double Duty

Let’s say that you have a large great room. A few pieces of furniture may not be working for you. The “I’m a penniless college student” look isn’t for everyone. Use a couch or a set of loveseats to create smaller spaces within the room.

Place the loveseats back-to-back in the center of the room. Each one represents a separate sitting area. If the focus of your room is the fireplace, add furniture to frame the focal point. On the other side of the room, place your furniture around a coffee table or the television set.

Divide the Area

Try using dividers. Install a sliding partition in the room. Be certain that you are not obstructing any doorways or natural entries into the room. This will actually make the room more difficult to enjoy.

Install swinging doors in open doorways to close off areas. Swinging doors to the kitchen or den allow easy access but clearly separates the rooms into more defined spaces.

Add Unique Touches

If the room in question is simply an entryway into another room, add furniture and accessories along the walls to tighten it up. For long hallways or entryways, a side table and bistro chairs can be used as a telephone table. Wall sconces create a mood over the area that is both intimate and simple.

Large foyers can be scaled down with coat racks, benches, flower arrangements and artwork. Even changing the color in the area can make the space seem small and cozy.

Using accessories that are easy to remove and replace is a unique way to define a room. Add large paintings on the walls to close in the area. Paintings over the fireplace or a collage of family pictures along the hallway are great ideas. During the fall, replace the pictures with holiday paintings.

Small tables can be moved to fill in dead space in any room. These accent tables can hold flowers, pottery or a lamp. When it is not necessary anymore, move to another location where it is equally as comfortable and needed.

Large spaces are as difficult to manage as small ones. Trust me. Every room has its challenges, but it doesn’t mean they are insurmountable.

You, Marvin Gaye and the Bedroom

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:13:52 +0000

Your bedroom is where you sleep and relax. Well, you do do other things in there, too. You know, a little Marvin Gaye playing in the background. It’s all good. But too often, it is also the office, television room and the play area for the kids. Turn your bedroom back into the sanctuary/den of love that you deserve.

Even in a small home, there is enough space in other rooms to have fun. The living room and the kitchen are popular places in the house to gather as a family. The bedroom is for you and not the entire family.

We are speaking about the parent’s bedroom here. Kids and teenagers get their privacy in their own rooms. Why should the parents be the only ones who have to share their private space? That time is done and over. These tips will make it all better. Here’s to your new sanctuary!

Choose a soothing color for the walls

If you favorite color is orange, choose a light pumpkin or squash color. You are looking for a softer hue of your favorite color to instill a feeling of serenity when you walk in the door. If you still want a touch of the bright, use the darker shade in your accents. Try a color that will go well with almost anything so it is versatile.

Use your wall color as a base for the other colors you choose for the room. Keeping bedding a neutral shade will help it blend in with the walls. You will change your bedding more often than you probably want to change the walls. Think of your wall color as a permanent and the other items in the room as more transitory when it comes to changing up.

Find your grown-up bed

As you age, your tastes change. For your bedroom, choose a bed that is both comfortable and fits the needs of you and your partner. A canopy bed was fine when you were young, but men aren’t too interested in them.

The bed needs to fit the room. A wooden sleigh bed may give you more space than a four-poster bed. Choose the height that suits you since you will likely have the bed for a long time.

Keep it simple

In keeping with the feeling of serenity, don’t cram too much furniture in your bedroom. A nightstand for each side of the bed and a dresser is adequate. The dresser will hold clothes for both of you. Your closet will hold the rest. If you need more space, choose a tasteful armoire that is not too big for the room.

What you want in your bedroom is space to move. The uncluttered appearance of your room will reflect the uncluttered nature of your mind when you enter. Leave papers pertaining to work, toys and the like out in the rest of the house.

Instead of overhead lighting, use lamps. Lamps provide an intimate feel and won’t keep your mate up when you want to read.

The bedroom is a place of escape for you. Use these decorating tips to create a real sanctuary of peace where you can leave the rest of your troubles behind.

30 Tips to Making Your Small Space feel Bigger

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:00:38 +0000

One of the most popular questions ever asked to interior designers is about how do you make your small space seem larger? Since we know there is no magic pill for this, there are tricks designers use. You can use them, too.

Select a lighter COOL color paint for your walls. Please don’t go all white. You can use colors, just lighter ones.
Use mirrors to reflect light. Usually opposite windows.
Light your space correctly.
Furniture with clean lines.
No clutter. That’s right, I’m talking to you, Mrs. Hoarder.
Select visually lighter draperies, including sheers.
Sofas with exposed legs. Skirts make sofas appear heavier and bulkier.
Less bulky table and floor lamps. You could free up valuable floor space with sconces.
Go Up. If you’re lacking storage space, go up the wall instead of in to your space.
Multi-purpose furniture means less of a need for furniture you don’t have room for.
Wall mount night stands.
Let natural light in when you can.
Glass top tables.
Lighter colored finishes on your casegoods.
Consider a sofa and two chairs instead of a sofa and loveseat.
Make the traffic pattern accessible. In other words, don’t trip people with your furniture.
Add draperies to the outer edges of the window to expand the width of the window. Hang curtains closer to the ceiling for added height.
Buy sparkly accessories. The more light you can reflect, the better.
Patterns should be kept as simple as possible. Busy patterns can sometimes make the eye feel that the space is cluttered.
Use vertical striped wall paper. Makes your room feel taller.
A monochromatic color scheme (colors all in the same family i.e. all light blues).
Add a mirror to the top of a dresser.
Use fewer larger pieces than lots of small ones.
One accent wall painted a dark color is allowed becuase it can help anchor, define and add scale to your room.
Low profile furniture can help your low height ceiling space feel larger.
Use less larger accessories instead of many small accessories.
Leave your walls less cluttered.
Frame artwork in lighter frames to keep the eye moving.
If you’re into it, try wicker furniture.
Use lighter flooring whether is be lighter carpet, light tile or light woods.

There should be enough tips here that you should be able to find quite a few to help your small space. Try different things and you will have that light and airy space you’ve been dreaming of.

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7 Great Interior Design Tips You Can't Miss

Alycia — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:07:49 +0000

Interior designers have many tricks up their sleeves when they look at your room. You wouldn’t believe how many things run through your mind when they analyze your space, its function and how you use the space. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the most valuable interior design tips you can use in your home.

1. 2/3 of the Wall. That is how much space should be covered on your wall when using artwork. It is a really good rule of thumb. By using this tip, you won’t have a sad little piece of artwork looking like a blip on your wall. By creating balance on your wall with proportion, you have overcome a horrible atrocity in design. The little piece of artwork that couldn’t

2. Layering the Light. The rule of thumb is 100 watts per 50 square feet. Use dimmers, use lamps, and track lighting. Layering the different types of light and making sure you have ample light in the room is key.

3. Paint. Paint something special on the walls, almost using the painted wall as art. In other rooms, paint an accent wall. Two words of caution on accent walls… First, make sure the accent wall contrasts enough with your main wall color. Second, make sure you pick the right wall to be the accent wall, don’t pick some sliver of a wall or a wall that is to the side of the room away from the focal point of the room.

4. Area Rugs. Delineate you spaces with area rugs. You create zones with area rugs and those are very helpful if you have an open floor plan.

5. Choose fabulous tile. If your money is tight, spend it in the backsplash tiles. Find fabulous tiles to put up. It adds a classy and an upscale touch to the kitchen. Don’t forget you can use just a little bit of tile in a shower on the back wall in the center or make stripes.

6. Float your furniture. Move your furniture away from the walls. More often than not, you will make your room look more inviting and more accessible. Think about your room function and go from there.

7. Think out of the box. Find alternative uses for common items. Use a planter with a piece of glass on top or stack a bunch of books for use as a side table. Thinking of different uses for things will really up your creative IQ.

I hope these tips have helped you find some inspiration in making your a personal reflection of you.

7 Great Interior Design Tips You Can’t Miss

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:07:49 +0000

4. Area Rugs. Delineate you spaces with area rugs. You create zones with area rugs and those are very helpful if you have an open floor plan.

I hope these tips have helped you find some inspiration in making your a personal reflection of you.

Learning From the Models 9

Alycia — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:46:57 +0000

Awesome Fridays call for A-1 Model Home Tips!

1. Wallpaper. The accent wall in this bedroom is treated with a sports themed wall paper. Save money by only wallpapering on wall! If you are going with a theme, this will really set the tone for the room.

2. Headboard Fakeout. Did you notice the lack of a headboard? If you did, nice catch! If not, don’t worry, most people don’t. The designers tricked you by making their own faux headboard with pillows.

3. Accessories. These accessories at the foot of the bed aren’t expensive and really just add to the theme of this sports room. This room would be perfect for a guest bedroom. Where accessories can live out in the open and be a complete design statement all the time. Now, if you had this in a kid’s room, fuggedabouitit!