The blog Home Design Find brings up an interesting challenge: decorating a vacation home. Perhaps you hadn’t thought much about it, but the situation can provide some unique hurdles.

If you’re fortunate enough to own a vacation home, you may have already experienced the daunting question of how to decorate it. On one hand, you want your place to be comfortable and stylish. You also want furniture that is of high enough quality that it can withstand punishment from guests but not of so expensive that you’ll be worrying about stains and scratches every time someone sets a glass down. And if you rent out your vacation home, there’s another factor to consider: your decor has to appeal to people other than yourself.

HDF recommends hard-working, durable floors; adding a personal touch; and keeping things casual and simple. Another website, RoFx.net, offers some further tips on decorating a vacation home. Enough with the tips, though; how about some nice photos to ogle?

Sunset magazine offers some lovely photos (and some related decor tips, too) of a modern cabin in northern Washington. Along with the photos are some recommendations on where to find certain products and pieces of furniture that appear in the cabin. Carsmach.com shares some more nice photos from another gorgeous cabin in eastern Washington (what’s in the water out there?). Maybe you can find some design inspiration in these photos.

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Color: It’s one of our favorites ways to change up a room. It can make a dramatic difference, it’s fairly inexpensive, and with just a little elbow grease, you can get a whole new look.

But this made us think. When we choose to paint, is our color palette dictated by the season? In these warm, sunny months, perhaps people are choosing clean whites, sky blues and cool pale greens. In winter, perhaps there’s a rush towards cream, royal blue and mallard green.

Of course, this only takes into account people’s decision-making process at the time of painting. Unless you have a lot of time on your hands and truly love to paint your walls, that eggplant wall won’t suddenly turn into lavender every summer. The most important thing with choosing color is to make sure that you love it and that it fits the room–in whatever season.

Calfinder has some photos of bright, bold colors that manage to look season-less. Here’s one for your enjoyment and please check out their post for more paint inspiration!

Photo courtesy of Calfinder

We recently talked about some (supposedly) passé decorating trends. According to The Nest, there are seven big mistakes you can make when decorating–even if you avoid the aforementioned trends. In no order of importance, they are:

1. The unanchored rug–nothing on top of it? Then why is it there? We’ll make exceptions for small rugs used by doorways to avoid tracking dirt in.

2. Really big furniture. If it takes up most of the room, it will look ridiculous.

3. Bad paint. It can’t be said enough–test your paint in various lights and sleep on your decision. Maybe in the morning that tangerine accent wall in the living room will seem less kicky.

4. Too much of everything. The article evokes the old Coco Chanel adage that says that before a woman leaves the house, she should take one thing off (e.g. a piece of jewelry or a scarf). The same is true for homes. If course you want it to look lived in and not empty, but too much stuff=clutter. Fast.

5. Decorating from a single era. Yes, you want your furniture to fit your home. And you don’t have to go completely crazy, but don’t be afraid to put a piece of African art in your Cape Cod, a Ligne Roset chair in your Victorian or a piece of chintz in your modern house. After all, you don’t live in a museum.

6. A BIG TV. Look, we all like the idea of a home theater. but consider your room’s proportions. Also look at the pattern of use. For a basement rec room, a very large TV might be just the thing. For a living room used for multiple purposes, such as gathering after dinner and entertaining guests, don’t let your television become the focal point.

7. Bad lighting. It’s unflattering and causes eyestrain.

Of course, this is all opinion, and in the end you should do what you are comfortable with. But the thread that runs through all these “donts” is a lack of consideration for living and for human interaction. Clutter, TV, distracting walls and bad lighting will detract from the warm human element that home should bring to mind.

What are your decorating donts?

Image courtesy of Chris Campbell on Flickr.

Planning a color scheme for your home can be a daunting task. The cost of paint and supplies, not to mention furniture and maybe carpet. The time it takes to do it all right. The commitment — after all, this isn’t the kind of thing you want to do once each season.

Well, for starters, if you’re commitment-phobic, here are the tips you’ll need: At Houzz.com, the designers from Niche Interiors share their thoughts on “Color Without Commitment.” The primary focus: Use accessories, artwork or plants to add color instead of paint on the walls or new furniture. It’s easier and less expensive, and the addition of these household staples can liven up the room more than a fresh coat of paint.

The CalFinder blog shares some great tips on “remodeling in color,” sharing some of the basic concepts about complementary colors, which colors create certain moods, and more. With plenty of photos to illustrate, this should provide some helpful ideas.

This post introduces readers to the basics of using colors to create a specific mood, while this writer offers some ideas on choosing colors and color schemes.

And for advice on making a more subtle statement, check out our earlier post on using understated natural colors in interior design.

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We just love reading Re-nest for their great home ideas, and they recently published two fun ones. We wanted to share these with you, since they are great re-use ideas for things that might otherwise be thrown away. And what can be more green than saving old objects from the trash by making them into something useful?

The first idea is a laptop stand, perfect for resting on your legs when you’re using your laptop and want to boost it up a little. All you need is a shoebox, a ruler, a box cutter and tape. It’s simple and ridiculously cheap. Check out the post which gives images in more detail.

Re-nest also featured a cool table idea: using an old ironing board for a side table. It’s perfect to use in place of a console table, and can be squeezed into narrow spaces. Just grab some paint and make it over!

What other household objects have you re-purposed? Let us know in the comments!

Images courtesy of re-nest

One of the most fun things about redecorating is studying all the latest trends. When it comes to execution, go lightly, though: Go too far and it starts to look like a newbie designer did your living room.

MSN Lifestyle recently listed some trends they think have gone too far. They include:

• Antlers and taxidermy
• Inspirational sayings
• Buddha sculptures
• Ghost chairs
• Poufs
• Accent walls
• Boutique hotel chic
• Black chalkboard paint

Does your home have any of these “passé” trends? We say that, in and of themselves, none of these are wrong. If you like it, go for it! It’s your home and your space. You should like what you look at. But one (or maybe two) at a time, please.

Consider context, too. Antlers and taxidermy will seem more in place in a rustic hunting lodge then they might in a suburban home. Chalkboard paint can work well in children’s bedrooms and on kitchen doors (somewhere to write the grocery list!), but is probably out of place in the dining room. And as the article notes, Buddha statues are religious pieces, not eclectic home decor.

Tell us in the comments if you or disagree with these and what decorating trends you choose to skip.

Photo courtesy of jawcey on Flickr

Whether you’re looking for fashion or function, area rugs can do wonders for a room when used effectively. Here are some simple tips about doing just that.

If you want an area rug to serve as a stylish focal point in a room — adding a pattern, texture or color — make sure it’s up to the job. Go bold. That is, after all, the point. This can work well in an otherwise understated room, perhaps with white or otherwise mellow-colored walls and the like.

Choosing a rug to fit within a finished room is fairly straightforward: Choose a rug with colors and a style that matches the room. An oriental rug, for example, might not look appropriate in your sleek, modern living room. but think about going the other way — using a new rug to dictate the style and coloring of a room you’re looking to refresh. Find a rug with a set of colors and a style that really gets your attention, and pick out of it colors for your walls, your furniture, your accents like throw pillows and so on.

An area rug can also serve specific functional purposes, as well. Rugs can help hold together a space within a larger room, serving as a centerpiece among a set of seating and a coffee table, for example. Pay attention to the size of the rug. If you’re trying to define a particular space within a room, you probably want the rug to be completely surrounded by your furniture — not tucked under couches, for example — or to have your furniture completely within the bounds of a large rug. Something in the middle — with an area rug tucked partially under some furniture — can look awkward.

Of course, an area rug can also be used for the simple purpose of protecting the flooring underneath, saving wood from scratches, tile from chips or installed carpet from wear and stains. Still, don’t skimp on style.

Be sure to check out eHow.com and This Old House for more tips on choosing rugs for your home.

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Don’t get caught in the trap of thinking bold colors and strong contrasts are the only way your interior decor can look sophisticated or make a statement. That’s the lesson learned after reading a post by the Centsational Girl in which she shares the detail of her recent dining room makeover.

She explains:

My dining space has always been tricky to decorate because it stands in the middle of a major freeway between the garage, family room, and kitchen.  We don’t have a formal dining room – there is simply no need for our laid back family of five to have anything other than a casual dining space for evening meals.  We nibble in the kitchen most of the time, don’t you?

However, I do like the idea of our dining space being dolled up for holidays or special guests.  After all, it has a beautiful set of French doors and a view that leads to the rear yard.  So a few weeks ago I decided to upgrade by adding some new window panels and a bench for additional seating.  I’m returning to the peaceful calm of white because I find it so fresh and uplifting.  Also, cream and white are such a nice contrast to rich dark wood, so I kept a purposeful neutral palette in our dining space.

She’s not the only one signing the praises of neutral settings. A quick search of the photo-sharing site Flickr turns up neutral-color design inspiration ranging from soft and simple to sleek and modern to unique and stylish. Interior-decorating blogger Teri Larsen writes:

Varying tones of gray and white will be the hot neutrals during the coming year. These grays vary from warm putty to cool steel gray. However, gray is not used alone; instead it is paired with warm, buttery yellow or deep taupe to add spark to the palette.

Speaking of gray, this writer, though speaking more about Web design than interior design, opines on the versatility and usefulness of the neutral hue’s varying shades. And DoItYourself.com has some tips on choosing a neutral color scheme for your home.

Whether you stay true to a purely neutral theme or use neutrals as a foundation for making accent colors truly pop, it’s certainly true that well-applied neutral colors are far from bland.

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Underground House in Seoul
Dwell
“Architect Byoung Soo Cho’s Earth House is quite possibly one of the classiest dugouts ever built. Set amid peaceful woods and rice fields an hour east of Seoul, Korea, the subterranean structure consists of six tiny unadorned rooms (kitchen, library, two bedrooms, and a bathroom) and a 23-by-23-foot courtyard. Cho describes the house, dedicated to Korean poet Dong-joo Yoon, as a place for self-reflection…”

“Wine Infusion” Hardwood Flooring from Reclaimed Barrels
Luxury Housing Trends
“If you’re a wine enthusiast, why stop at drinking the stuff? You can remodel your home to enjoy hardwood floors made from reclaimed barrels and tanks.” Rich texture and tones, great rustic style from these slabs of repurposed wood.

5 Easy Ways to Go Green this Spring
Curbly
“This spring, forget DIY. It’s time to GIY!! Green building guru John D. Wagner shares with us 5 easy ways to Green It Yourself when faced with this season’s remodeling projects. Here’s the lineup…”

25 Kitchen & Bath Posts You Might Have Missed
Re-Nest
“We’re at the end of March, and that means the end of Kitchen & Bath month. But we’ve had a good run, and featured a ton of great product roundups, tips, and tricks — from the best Energy Star dishwashers to sustainable kitchen flooring, from our favorite bathroom colors to DIY toilet tank hacks and the best bathroom plants. Scroll through the list to see if you missed anything!”

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We write a lot about plants and gardening here at MLuxe, mostly thanks to the great contributions from regular guest writer P. Allen Smith. This morning, a piece from Elle Decor about hip houseplants caught our eye — and inspired us to pull together this collection of basic ways houseplants can jazz up a room or space easily.

Even the simplest plants can add a touch of liveliness, energy and style to a room:

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When chosen carefully, and put in the right sort of pot, plants can complement the design of the room:

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And of course, some nice flowers will add color — complementary, contrasting, subtle, bold…whatever the room needs — and fragrance:

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Sometimes a simple plant can let a stylish pot bring the style:

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If you want something that looks neat but is easy to maintain, try a jade:

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To really push things into the realm of funky and interesting, bring in a cactus — believe it or not, your friends will actually hae trouble keeping their curious hands off!

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