When you’re decorating your home, it can be extremely difficult to come up with a home decor scheme that incorporates just the right amount of timeless color with the right amount of trendy hues. In fact, if you’re like many of us, you probably feel it’s downright hopeless to find that perfect balance of home accessories and decor while still blending the right hues together. For 2012, you can expect this process to become significantly easier thanks to the latest color trend: unexpected pops of color. Here’s the lowdown on how to achieve this look with your home accessories in your space.

Unexpected Pops of Color: A Neutral Base

The key to this interior design trend is to start with a neutral base. For example, if you’re redecorating, you may want to consider investing in a timeless look with your base palette and furniture. Furniture tends to be a long term affair, most people keep their pieces for at least five years, though usually longer. This is especially true of larger purchases like sofas, beds, dining tables and so forth. Other pieces, such as accent tables, coffee tables and so forth, could easily (and more affordably) be switched out as needed. This is true of bedroom designs, living room designs and so forth, so keep this in mind.

For the base color palette, you may want to consider using neutral tones such as creamy ivory, warm beige or the newest hard-hitter in the neutral group: gray. Gray is a great color because it comes in hues that feature warm or cool undertones, just as a beige or ivory might. Gray is also trendy and up-to-date when it comes to neutrals, but because it is being classified as a neutral, it won’t be going away any time soon.

Of course, the key is just getting your base colors into place. For furniture, wall art and other large pieces, choose looks that you feel are timeless. Remember, items you feel are timeless might not be timeless to someone else and that interior design is subjective. So always pick for you and your family, not for your friends or your mother-in-law.

Adding Color

Once you’ve got your base colors in place, it’s time to add in those unexpected twists of color. This is much easier than you might think. With a neutral base, any colors you add in as accent colors will be unexpected, so you can’t go wrong. Furthermore, with a neutral base, you can’t go wrong with picking colors, either. So, have no fear!

Looking at bathroom designs, there are a number of options for adding an unexpected twist of color. For example, if you’ve got a claw foot tub, you may want to consider painting the exterior a bright hue and then complimenting that hue with matching towels. This is plenty of color to draw attention in the space but won’t be overwhelming.

In living room designs, a variety of options exist. For example, you could add lamps that feature brightly colored bases, or you could include throw pillows, table decor or other small touches of color to complete the space. This concept can also be applied to bedroom designs, dining room, game room, home theater, home office designs and so forth. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

The easiest way to add color to your room is by adding color to your walls. Grab some wall art and make your walls pop!

Decorating: it’s time consuming, it’s costly and most importantly: home accessories, colors and trends change faster than you can bat an eyelash. That being said, it’s no surprise that people are looking for more tasteful, neutral ways to decorate their spaces. Neutral home decor is the way to go when trying to create a timeless look. Plus, neutral based home accessories and decor tend to reflect and represent a variety of styles from contemporary to traditional, rustic to casual and everything in between. Here’s the low down on neutral home decor for Spring 2012.

Warm Tones and Cool Colors

Starting with color palette, for spring 2012 you can expect to see plenty of warm hues in the home decor world. This includes shades such as warm sun-kissed grassy greens, honey and caramel tones as well as sandstones and so forth.

Of course, no home decor color palette is complete without a few pops of color. Consider adding hues such as Tiffany blue, dark indigo blue, cool hyacinth purple and so forth. Cool blues and gray hues are extremely trendy for 2012. Other hues that you may find desirable for your home decor include bright poppy reds and whimsical soft cotton-candy pinks.

Color is an important part of home decor and interior design. That being said, when it comes to neutral color palettes, you need to also keep in mind that texture is key for creating visual interest. Even if you decide to play it safe and stick to entirely neutral tones, such as the warm honey caramels and sandstone hues, you need to find ways to incorporate different textures into the space.

For example, let’s look at furniture. Your furniture can incorporate a number of different fabrics all in the same hues for a cohesive but visually interesting look. This could include cotton or linen blend upholstery in a warm caramel honey tone complimented by knitted throw pillows in a warm sandstone ivory hue.

Of course, color isn’t the only texture you should be focusing on in your space. Wood tones and metal tones, whether they’re on your furniture or in your home accessories, are also important for adding to a neutral but stylish home.

Finally, the most difficult part of a neutral home decor scheme can be finding the right wall art or wall decor to compliment and complete the space. When it comes to wall decor, you typically have one of two options: you can choose wall art that blends in, or you can choose wall art that stands out.

Instead of trying to match your space, consider looking simply for pieces that you love. When you find a piece of wall art that you absolutely love, you may be surprised to find that it actually suits your space well. After all, taste is subjective and when you’ve developed a certain sense of style, it will flow into other areas of the space more easily. If, for any reason you can’t find the right wall decor, don’t be afraid to create your own to complete the space. No one knows your style better than you! Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Now that you’re an expert at decorating with neutral tones, check out our wonderful variety of home decor today!

When you share a space with someone, one of the hardest decisions is to determine how to bring both of your styles together and create a cohesive look. Or maybe your own style varies and you are a bit of an eclectic soul. Mixing furniture, home accessories and decor from different regions or eras isn’t as hard as you think. If you follow a couple of rules, your mixed-style home will easily feel comfortable and well designed.

Color Matters

The items you have may be completely different, but if you keep a color scheme, the items will read as one. This rule applies to any collection you might have or want to display, and it certainly holds true for your furniture and your home decor as well.

Have an eclectic collection of wall art? Consider using the same finish on your frames to create a cohesive wall display.

Size Matters

Let’s face it, a main rule of design or any art for that matter, is scale. Let’s say you want to place six different chairs around a round dining table. You can do this as long as they are all the same scale. It would look a little odd if some were extremely large backed and some were thin and fragile. In the above photo, all of these chairs are similar, but vary just a little from each other. The overall design is pulled together with the matching table decorations.

Focus on What’s Important to You

Important items deserve a spotlight. Make sure your grandmother’s armoire and your treasured antique wedding frame fit in the same room, but aren’t crowded by 30 other items that you want to showcase.

In the above photo, notice how the brown leather chair sits in a prominent spot in the room, and the shades and some of the other home decor items play off of the color of it? However, the area rug and the throw pillow are completely different in style. The colors blend and work, but the styles are different. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Take a look at our large selection of unique charger plates and add them to your eclectic designs!

Furniture, home accessories and decor have many uses if used creatively. Bookcases can be found everywhere. Many of these are inexpensive, well-made, and add storage options, as well as a decorative display, to a space. Most people simply:

1. Create a Room Within a Room

Everybody needs space. But sometimes, with modern open floor plans, we need to divide a room to create a comforting space. Using a bookcase, no matter how small or large, can create a foyer for a home or a separate bedroom space. The privacy a bookcase, or several placed together, can create a feeling of an actual wall. In fact, if you use a tall bookcase, and the back is made of wood, you can paint or wallpaper it so it is visually appealing to that side as well. Use trim to hide the edge marks. You can also mount a picture or a decorative wall hanging to complete the illusion.

2. Create a Desk…or Two

It’s easy to use a single bookcase, or even two of them, to create a desk. The trick is to make sure the height of the desk, and the chair you use, works for you. Typical desktop height is 28-30” and the kneespace should be approximately 20-26” from the floor. You can use something as simple as a melamine board, or a painted slab door, as the top of your desk. To prevent the top from slipping, simply use L-brackets on the underside or, if you would like to make your desk temporary, place non-slip rubber between the bookcase and the top. Add some table decor for the finishing touch. The bookcases automatically create a storage area for magazines, papers or other office equipment. Or, if you want something a bit more decorative,

3. Create a Secret Passageway

One of the most creative ways to use a tall bookcase, is to modify it to swing like a door. Essentially you create hidden storage behind the bookcase. You can do this in a main living area, a bedroom or even a closet. Secret passages are fun for kids and adults alike, and a great place to keep items, or to even hide a desk area or a wine room.

4. Make a Loft Bed System

Well-made bookcases make great braces for a loft bed. For decorative bookcases, face them outward and you will have storage space underneath. Or, for a child’s room you will have a sitting area, or play area, underneath. Use a curtain rod, drapery (or fabric) and tie-backs for added privacy. Be sure to get creative in the shelving areas of the bookcases, using home accessories or home decor. For instance, oval mirrors can create added interest if hung on the bookshelf backs. Yes, get creative.

5. Organize Your Collection

There is nothing like an organized house, and bookcases can give you a unique way to organize, while at the same time creating wall art. Yes, if done right, your collections can be visually appealing enough to bring them out into the open. Sure, you can do this with books, but why stop there? Shoes, handbags, sporting memorabilia…or a combination of items, can be stunning if displayed in your open space. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

What’s your favorite way to use a bookcase? Take these bookcase inspirations and combine them with the beautiful home accessories found at Arcadian Home, for a space that reflects your personality!

It is no surprise that many people struggle when trying to decorate their own home. There are so many different home decor stores and online retailers that it can be difficult just finding the right home accessories to fit their space, their personal style or their budget. Home accessories and decor are an important part of decor, but they shouldn’t cause frustration. Here are a few easy tips and tricks for accessorizing your space.

Color

A color scheme can be difficult to achieve, especially when trying to incorporate home accessories into the mix. That being said, use this tip: repeat a color at least three times in the space. By repeating a single color, you add it to your overall color scheme and thus, your home decor feels easier.

Variation, Texture

If your space doesn’t feature any variation, it will look bland and boring. Look for different ways to add variation into your space: different heights for home accessories, different textures on your throw pillows, rugs and blankets and so forth. Creating visual interest doesn’t have to be about different colors. If you choose a relatively neutral color palette but incorporate plenty of different textures, your space will look visually appealing.

Wall Art

The biggest tip for wall art is to simply choose pieces that you love. If you don’t love your wall art, you won’t love your space because you’ll be looking at that artwork on a daily basis. Wall art doesn’t have to be store bought, either. It can be framed artwork done by the children, a personal painting by a family member or black and white photographs of the family themselves. Wall art should be personal from the style to the subject and everything in between.

Eliminate Clutter

You’ve heard it before, you’ll hear it again. Get rid of all the clutter. This is often one of those “easier said than done” tasks but if you’re shopping for home accessories for a space that already feels cluttered, you’ll find it’s even more difficult to find the right accessories to suit the space. This is because visually, you see the space is already cluttered but you don’t actually like the clutter (which of course, is why you’re on the hunt for new home accessories). So, get rid of the clutter!

Buy What You Love

If you don’t absolutely love a piece, don’t buy it. Don’t buy any home decor item just because you think it will “look good.” If you don’t love it, don’t buy it! This is how you end up with too much clutter and not the right look.

Furniture is an Accessory, Too

It’s true. Furniture can be considered an accessory in the home, so consider adding an accent table or a console table, a small plant stand or perhaps getting a new coffee table. You might find that a new piece of furniture will inspire you and get you pointed in the right direction in terms of what home accessories you need and which ones you can live without. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Now that  you have a greater understanding of home decor be sure to pick up some oval mirrors to accentuate your accessories and add a spacious feel.

2012 is the year of ‘Tango Tangerine’ and as expected, this color has trickled down into fashion, home accessories and decor and a plethora of other areas. If you follow trends, you’re probably wondering how you can incorporate this color into your own home decor. Fortunately, Tango Tangerine home accessories are popping everywhere, making it easier than ever to incorporate into your space.

Tango Tangerine for the Kitchen or Dining Room

These particular spaces may be the easiest to incorporate this hue into. This is because it is incredibly easy to purchase (or sew your own, if you’re crafty) table cloths, placemats or fabric napkins to use. Solid colored placemats or patterned placemats in this hue make a great addition to existing table decor and since they’ll be behind a plate and other items, they’re less overwhelming in the space. This is great if you’re looking to add just a small touch of tangerine to your kitchen or dining space.

Other ideas include a Tango Tangerine table vase, charger plates and other table decor items such as napkin rings, napkin holders, new glasses and so forth.

Tango Tangerine for the Living Room

In general, tangerine is a warm color and it will blend easily with neutrals, browns and beiges when used in small doses. Consider incorporating home accessories such as throw pillows, a blanket or another smaller item into the space in this hue.

If you’re more daring, perhaps a large throw rug will satisfy your craving for this hue. Other options include painting existing furniture, such as a small accent table or a plant stand, in the Tango Tangerine hue.

Tango Tangerine for the Bedroom

When it comes to the bedroom, use the same concepts that you might for your living room. Since this color is such a vibrant color, it’s important not to go overboard with it. Throw pillows, or an accent blanket folded at the end of the bed can make all the difference.

However, if you do have room for more color in your space (especially if this hue matches your existing home decor,) consider larger changes such as a duvet or perhaps an accent wall behind your bed. Just remember, it is a bold hue and it will draw attention to itself, so be wary if you’re new to adding color to your home or your home decor already features lots of existing neutrals.

Tango Tangerine for the Bathroom

Bathrooms tend to be small spaces with neutral color palettes (typically so that they sell more easily, as no one wants to remodel a bathroom). Therefore, you may find it to be incredibly easy to use this color in your bathroom. Look for home accessories aimed at bathroom spaces in this hue: ring holders for next to the sink, new towels, a bath mat or perhaps a shower curtain. For the bathroom, it’s easy to go a little more daring because you can just as easily swap these items out. A Tango Tangerine wall will steal the spotlight!

Tango Tangerine Home Accessories: Wall Art for Every Space

Not satisfied with throw pillows? Why not add a little pop to your wall art. Paint your existing frames Tango Tangerine or perhaps create an entirely new piece of wall decor for your space. Frame a piece of canvas using a Tango Tangerine colored fabric or even paint the canvas yourself to add some visual pop to any room in your home. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Shop for bright & bold home decor and make 2012 a year to remember!

To the joy and satisfaction of eco-friendly enthusiasts everywhere, bamboo has grown immensely in popularity in recent years. Home accessories and decor of all types and styles have been infected by the bamboo bug, leaving many people wondering what home accessories they can get made from bamboo and what they can’t. Since it is a renewable resource, it’s no surprise that people are finding all kinds of ways to incorporate bamboo into their home decor.

What Makes Bamboo So Great?

Glad you asked! Bamboo is a renewable resource. Some species of bamboo can grow as much as 4 feet in a single day, typically without the need of pesticides, fertilizer or even an excessive amount of water.

In fact, bamboo plants typically mature in less than 10 years (often as soon as 7) whereas a average tree can take up to 50 years to fully mature, which the time varying from species to species (for both bamboo and trees).

This good news for manufacturers of all kinds from furnitures to bedroom sheets, even notebook computers. The home decor market is only one market that benefits immensely thanks to bamboo.

Bamboo Decorated Bedroom

It is actually possible to decorate your entire home using only bamboo products. Let’s take the bedroom room for example, if you’re dedicated enough, you could invest in a custom bed made using bamboo-based fabrics and a bamboo frame. Of if you’re lucky, you can often find bamboo fabrics or a bamboo frame at many local retailers today. You can also find other furniture made from bamboo including tables, chairs, media centers and so forth.

Bamboo Home Decor

Moving on, as mentioned earlier, fabric can be made from bamboo fibers. So you can find rugs, throw pillows, blankets and even curtains made from bamboo. Plus, since bamboo is so versatile, you can often find the right colors and styles to match your home decor tastes.

Bamboo Home Accessories

As for home accessories, there is wall art, framed mirrors, bamboo statues and even living bamboo plants you can utilize. Bamboo shelf’s, baskets, decorative bamboo gongs, bamboo plant stands, bamboo charger plates for your dining table, bamboo wall art, the opportunities are endless when it comes to bamboo home decor.

Other items that can be made from bamboo include bed sheets, cutting boards, bowls, even notebook computers, bicycles and much, much more.

Bamboo Adjusts to any Decor Style

It’s worth noting that things don’t stop there. Bamboo flooring is a hot commodity for home decor today. There are also recent developments making bamboo carpeting available, it’s nearly impossible not to find bamboo in every corner of the home when it’s becoming so prevalent in today’s market.

Furthermore, bamboo does not have to look “tropical,” either. Bamboo can be cut in ways to mimic other woods, giving it a clean lined aesthetic that will blend easily into a variety of decors from ultra modern or contemporary to casual to traditional, even rustic if desired. No home decor style is safe from the bamboo invasion! Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Enhance your bamboo design with our selection of home accessories and decor today!

Home accessories are ideal because you can often cheaply and quickly update them without spending a lot of cash (okay, maybe not so much with wall art, but with most other types of home decor). That being said, home accessories and decor don’t have to all be swapped out to get an updated look. Simple changes, such as swapping out a clear polished vase with a matte finish ceramic vase can make all the difference.

2012: Year of the Matte Ceramic

Ceramic in general will be the go-to material for 2012 because it tends to be inexpensive but elegant. It can be made into a variety of shapes, styles, sizes and most importantly, it can easily be colored to match a variety of home decors. Look for ceramics with a matte finish rather than a polished finish, as the matte tones will be most popular for a variety of home accessories in 2012. Matte ceramics can be just as beautiful as a large piece of wall art!

What is a Ceramic?

A variety of seemingly different materials are classified as “ceramic.” This includes home accessories that are referred to as “stoneware,” “earthenware,” “porcelain,” and “bone china.”

There is no set recipe to make the ceramic material. In fact, many manufacturers have their own “secret” company recipes for their items, whether it’s tile for the bathroom or home accessories such as a vase. However, typically these recipes include the use of clay, sand, quartz, feldspar and other materials.

What to Look For

For 2012, look for ceramic home accessories that feature a fluid, organic shape. Vases that feature feminine curvature that is accentuated by the soft matte finish for a clean, contemporary look. You could also opt for a more modern look by opting for pieces that feature clean lines and geometric shapes.

Other home accessories made from ceramic to keep an eye out for include new dinner plates, large bowls for table decor, bud vases, small matte finish votive candle holders in cylindrical shapes, candlestick holders, and themed holiday table decor such as an off-white pumpkin shape finished in a matte hue and so forth.

Colors to Look For

As expected, there are certain color trends to look for with matte finish ceramics. The matte finish will soften any hue, so don’t be afraid to infuse home accessories with bolder colors: reds, yellows or perhaps the 2012 Pantone Color of the Year: Tango Tangerine.

Other hues that work great for ceramic home accessories include soft grays, creams, off-whites, deep slate or charcoal grays, rich turquoise blues, teal greens, rustic browns, creamy caramel tones and so forth.

Patterns that are making a splash in 2012 include polka dots, which look great in the matte finish, bold floral patterns, thin stripes and whimsical-looking patterns in bold hues. Most of these may not be available in a matte finish, but remember that you can mix your matte finish home accessories with a touch of polished ceramic home accessories for a look that encompasses the trends and styles of the year while still working together to create visual texture in your space. It’s okay to mix and match! Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Take a look at our large selection of stunning oval mirrors to add to your home accessories and decor!

When it comes to certain home accessories, the trends tend to last a bit longer. This is especially true of items such as furniture or light fixtures. Many people opt to invest in furniture they love and then swap these items out when they update their home decor years down the road. Here are the furniture trends for 2012, so you can update your home accessories and decor with ease.

Wood Tones for 2012

When looking at furniture, look for certain wood tones that feature warm undertones. Avoid woods that feature gray or ashy undertones, as these will give a dated look to the space. Opt for warm hues such as cherry, walnut or mahogany. Avoid colors such as oak, ash or chestnut, which tend to have cooler, ashy undertones.

Fabrics for Upholstered Furniture

It can be a bit difficult to follow fabric trends for furnitures, especially if you’ve got children, pets or a messy spouse. In these instances, don’t be afraid to use a popular color in the fabric of your choice, which will still give an updated look despite the lack of “trendy” fabric.

Fabrics that are popular for 2012 will include fabrics that showcase texture and metallic threading, especially in a basket weave pattern. The year 2012 will also be the year of luxury, so look for silks, cotton velvets and other silky, soft fabrics that are pleasing both visually and to the touch.

Furniture Colors for 2012

As noted earlier, silks and velvets aren’t for everyone. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use a trendy hue in a microfiber or other fabric that is more appropriate for your lifestyle.

For furniture upholstery, don’t be afraid to invest in a bold hue that will compliment your neutral color palette. If you’ve got a bolder color palette, do the opposite and find a warm neutral that will compliment your bold hues. For neutrals look for gray hues that are smokey, charcoal or deep slate. For browns, opt for beiges and browns that feature gray undertones to compliment the emerging rise of gray in the world of neutrals or look for browns with warm undertones to compliment the warm trendy colors of the upcoming seasons. Brown and gray are two neutrals you can’t go wrong with when it comes to furniture or other home decor, which include wall art and table decorations.

Other trendy colors include brilliant turquoises or teals, deep rich red hues, sunshine yellows and golden yellows, all of which will compliment the warm tones of browns or gray coloring on upholstered neutral furniture. If you’re looking to be ultra trendy, don’t forget about Pantone’s Color of the Year: Tango Tangerine.

The year 2012 will be a year to look at more optimistic colors. While you may not find yourself loving all the trendy hues for 2012, that doesn’t mean you can’t find variations that will suit your style. Look for muted versions that feature the same undertones and you’ll find you get the same pop of color with a lot less “in your face” boldness, which can be overwhelming on larger furniture pieces such as a sofa or loveseat. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Get inspired to redecorate and refine living spaces with this selection of great home accessories and decor!

When it comes to your bedroom space, the most important home accessories are the furniture, or rather, a single piece of furniture: the bed. While the mattress is important too, the bed frame itself is what you will set your mattress on. Therefore, since you use it on a daily basis, you want to invest in the right piece. Of course, you also want this furniture piece to blend with your home decor for the room as well. So how does one choose the right bed while still taking into account their wall art and other decor? Here’s the low down on the different types of bed frames for your bedroom space.

Four Poster Bed, Canopy Beds

Four poster beds and canopy beds are two entirely different types of furniture, surprisingly enough. A canopy bed features four posts and additional bars or curved arms at the top to support a piece of fabric, thus creating a ‘canopy’ over the bed. 

On the other hand, four poster beds feature four posts at each end of the bed, extending at least one foot above the mattress. These posts can extend up to the ceiling but should not be interconnected in any way at the top, as once they become connected, this furniture becomes a canopy bed rather than a four poster bed.

Sleigh Bed

 The sleigh bed tends to be a more formal, elegant type of furniture; though there are casual versions and modern versions out there if desired. They also tend to be more expensive due to the crafting and styling involved. Sleigh beds are usually made from wood and are crafted in a way to resemble a large, old-school style sled. They can be hand carved or machine manufactured but all bedroom furniture in this style tends to feature that recognizable sleigh bed look.while others may not and so forth.Captain’s Be.

Platform Bed 

Platform beds are popular with the modern and contemporary styling of today. These beds feature a wide base that is approximately the same size as the mattress, giving the look of a platform. This furniture may vary slightly from design to design, with some feature a wide rim around the edge of the mattress, while others feature no rim. Some may feature a headboard while others may not and so forth.

Captain’s Bed

The captain’s bed is actually the same as a platform bed, save for the fact that it includes storage beneath the bed. In fact, any time you see a platform bed with drawers or shelves incorporated into the base, it is actually a “Captain’s Bed” or a “Chest Bed,” not a true platform bed, no matter what the styling may appear to be.

Headboards and Footboards

Headboards and footboards are typically attached to a metal or wooden frame. These furniture pieces come in a variety of sizes, shapes, finishes and so forth to suit a variety of tastes.

Waterbeds

Waterbeds refer to any bed that utilizes a mattress filled with water. That being said, this type of bed will match your home decor easily. This particular piece of furniture comes in a variety of styles from modern to traditional, sleigh beds to four poster beds and so forth. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Have you decided which type of bed is right for you? When you do, browse through our large collection of oval mirrors to compliment your bed and enrich your bedroom.