But there’s no need to be afraid of it. ... Read More »]]> Decorating your apartment is never an easy thing to do. There are so many aspects to take into account (like the size, the number of people living there, whether it’s a rental, etc.), and there are too many things that can go wrong… But it’s also an amazing opportunity for you to express your own personal style, taste and aesthetics. Decorating your home is a continuous process that never ends. You can’t pull a room together in one day, nor you can find all you need in one quick trip to Ikea.

But there’s no need to be afraid of it. You can have so much fun while decorating your pad, and if you follow these simple rules, you can definitely do no wrong:

1. Draw inspiration from everywhere. It can come from books, magazines, art, movies, fashion, hotels, restaurants…the possibilities are countless and unlimited. Just keep your eyes open and pay attention to the things that surround you and make you happy.

2. Set up an inspiration file. It can be a simple binder or a folder in your computer. That’s where you can gather photos, articles, ads, paint chips, wallpaper samples and everything you love and what inspires you.

3. Determine your style. Assess your inspiration file and look for the recurrent themes, colors, patterns, pieces of furniture, accessories. Try to put a name on your style ( or a mixture of styles), like elegant with an edge, classic with a modern twist, minimalist. It is not an easy exercise to do, but it will greatly simplify your life and your home decor shopping (no more impulsive purchases that don’t fit in at all).

4. Choose a color scheme. Pick one that complements your personal style and suits the space. If you’re afraid to get bored, choose a different color palette for every room.

5. Observe your current place. What does work well in your current apartment? What doesn’t? Which items do you want to keep? What’s bogging you and what would you like to change?

6. Assess what you have. Take note (or better, a picture) of everything in your apartment: furniture, rugs, accessories. Look closely at every single item, then divide the pictures into three piles: keep. makeover, give away.

7. Take measurements of your furniture. Write them down so you can keep the proportions in your mind when organizing the space.

8. Draw up a floor plan. Be sure to include all the measurements, proportions and emplacements of windows, doors, and various nooks. Work with your room, not against it.

9. Evaluate the space. Make a list of aesthetic pros and cons of each room. Decide what you want to highlight and what you want to hide.

10. Do a lot of research. Check out lots of websites and e-shops, read magazines and blogs, visit little shops as well as big department stores, compare prices and quality, think twice before you splurge.

11. Make your own to-do list. Write down everything that needs to be done or bought. You don’t have to (and simply can’t) do everything at once, but you have to keep track of your progress and what you have to do next.

12. Have fun! Don’t take it too seriously. Decorating your apartment is a perfect opportunity for you to showcase your creativity and your unique sense of style. Don’t think about it as an annoying necessity, but as a great chance to play around and have a good time.

Photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Macarons and Pearls, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

Giving your living room an update needs not to be complicated and expensive. On the contrary, it can be a ... Read More »]]>

Your living room is most probably the focal point of your home. It’s the room where you spend your free time, where you chill out, read books and magazines, watch the TV. It’s also the space where you entertain your guests. You want this room to express your style and taste and to feel cozy and inviting. At the same time, you don’t want it to become boring, that’s why it’s important to switch things up every once in a time.

Giving your living room an update needs not to be complicated and expensive. On the contrary, it can be a really amusing and refreshing exercise. Of course, you can repaint the entire room, but are you sure that you want to put up with all the mess? I don’t think so.

First of all, clear out all the clutter and look properly on everything you already have in this space. Work with what you have, add a few new accessories, move things around a little bit…it’s really as easy as that! Follow our 10 easy steps and your living room will never look boring again!

1. Update the furniture accessories. You don’t need to splurge on a new couch straight away. Invest in a new slipcover and a bunch of coordinated throw pillows. Or, you can make them on your own. All you need is a sewing machine and a little bit of patience. When it comes to fabrics, there are countless possibilities out there: you can play with colors, patterns and structures to your heart’s content.

2. Get on the floor. A few new rugs can give your floor an instant makeover. Just be sure to stick with the same color palette you used for your couch and pillows, to preserve the color harmony.

3. Work with the lighting. You can opt for a dramatic change by swapping your old interior lamp for a more glamorous piece (Ikea has some affordable options). If the room is too dark, place several floor lamps in the corners and next to the sofa. You can also change the lampshades of your table lamps: be bold with colors, add ribbons and embellishments, etc. You can try to play with colored bulbs and different wattage as well. Just challenge your creativity.

4. Extend your seating space. Winter is an ideal time to invite your friends and have a great chat over the home-made spiced wine. If your don’t have enough space for several armchairs, invest in a bunch of stackable poufs. Moroccan poufs are a little bit pricey, but they are seriously stylish and well-worth the investment. They will add an instant wow factor to any room in your home.

5. Rearrange the accessories. You don’t need to move the bookshelves or the couch to change the look of your living room. By simply moving around side tables, lamps, rugs or plants, you can get some impressive results (and all that without breaking your neck).

6. Buy new vases. It’s one of the cheapest ways to make your living more stylish. Scour flea markets, thrift and dollar shops for interesitng finds. You can create a color-themed vignette by grouping several vases in different shapes and heights, all in the same color. Placed on a side table or on a mantelpiece, they will be an instant eye-catcher and conversation starter.

7. Hang some art or photos on your walls. It’s up to your personal taste whether you choose some classic paintings, a piece of modern art, or a couple of black and white family photos. I’m not a big fan of mismatched look, so I’d suggest to stay true to one style and paint all the frames one color. You can create an interesting wall gallery by using pictures and frames in different shapes and sizes.

8. Keep the space clean and uncluttered. Does your coffee table ressemble one big mess? Change it. Sort out all the magazines, edit the coffee table books (you don’t need twenty of them on display, pick only two or three and swap them regularly to keep things interesting). Put away all the cables and electronic devices and stack all the remote controls in a pretty jar or can. Now, take all the items left on your coffee table and put them in a stylish tray. It will prevent them from traveling all around your table and it will help to keep things organized.

9. Let it smell nice. Place a fragrance diffuser in your coffee table tray, or several scented candles on your mantelpiece. You can switch scents according to shifting seasons.

10. Think outside the box. Reshuffle items from another room in your apartment: why not use that refurbished bedside table as and end table and place it next to to your sofa? And those candlesticks in your bathroom would look fantastic displayed in a bookshelf… Don’t be afraid to give things a new purpose!

You could also use some of these items to give your living room an extra dose of style:

1. Urban Outfitters 3×5 Bargello Rug in Blue, $39.00

2. Etsy Festive Home Decor Decorative Toss Pillow Cushion Cover, $14.00

3. Ikea Blomster Set of 3 Clear Glass Candlesticks, $14.99

4. Bed, Bath and Beyond The Perfect Touch Throw Blanket in Cranberry, $19.99

5. West Elm Large Rectangle Lacquer Tray in Silver Lacquer, $69.00

6. CB2 Float Frames, $19.95-$34.95

7. The Home Depot Ceramic Ivory Table Lamp, $29.97

8. Crate & Barrel Koda Large Vase, $29.95

9. Crate & Barrel Koda Mini Vase, $14.95

10. Crabtree & Evelyn Noel Home Fragrance Diffuser, $40.00

11. Ikea Lack High Gloss Gray Side Table, $14.99

12. Lille Fuchsia Moroccan Pouf, $285.00

13. Etsy ElemenOPillows Gray Decorative Pillow Cover, $16.00

Photo credit: Style at Home

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Style in the City, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

Glamour is characterized by intricate textures, luxe fabrics and all that shimmer and sparkle. Color palette is quite simple: white or beige backdrop, accessorized with soft touches of black, silver, gold and pastels. Then again, too much glamour can kill the glamour, so use it with caution and light hand, especially in ... Read More »]]> When I hear people talking about glamour, I always think of old Hollywood, circa 1940′s and 1950′s. And this applies equally in fashion and in home decor. There’s something so special about this bold and intriguing style, with all its rich details, crystal accessories, upholstered sofas and mirrored furniture.

Glamour is characterized by intricate textures, luxe fabrics and all that shimmer and sparkle. Color palette is quite simple: white or beige backdrop, accessorized with soft touches of black, silver, gold and pastels. Then again, too much glamour can kill the glamour, so use it with caution and light hand, especially in small spaces. A faux fur rug here, a mirrored piece of furniture there, white candles all over the space… Just be cautious when it comes to black, because it can be easily overpowering and counterproductive.

Here are a few ways to incorporate little touches of luxe and glamour into your own house or apartment:

1. Add a beautifully ornated mirror to your entryway.

2. Reupholster your chairs with a soft grey or charcoal velvet.

3. Use a natural-colored faux fur rug in your living room.

4. Invest in a jaw-dropping crystal chandelier. You can use it in a classic way (in your living or dining room), or in a more unexpected manner (in your entryway or your bathroom).

5. Buy at least one piece of shiny or lacquered furniture (i.e. mirrored coffee table).

6. A total must-have: white candles in crystal candle holders. Place them all over the room to enhance the sparkle and the luminosity.

7. Think metallic instead of wooden: scour hardware shops or flea markets for interesting furniture knobs.

8. Opt for dramatic prints when it comes to throws and throw pillows for your sofa.

9. Give your bedroom a significant makeover with one wall entirely covered in black & white wallpaper.

10. Don’t forget to liven up the space with fresh flowers in glamorous vases. A chic white bouquet in crystal clear vase will never go out of style.

Do you need some more inspiration? Here’s a round-up of a few beautiful and glamorous pieces that will add that extra wow factor to your home:

1.  West Elm Chester Tufted Leather Sofa, $1699.00

Similar: Horchow Oak Leather Recamier Sofa

2.  Colonial Candle Crystal Cut Taper Dinner Candle Holders, $10.00

Similar: Christmas Central Victorian Inspirations Glass Taper Candle Holders

3.  IKEA Birkeland 6-drawer Chest, $299.00

4.  IKEA Hemnes Dressing Table with Mirror, $249.00

Similar: Grand Alliance Shabby Chic Vanity Table

5.  Anthropologie Caricature Knob, $8.00

6.  IKEA Ung Drill Mirror, £25.00

7.  West Elm Chester Tufted Leather Chair, $799.00

Similar: Soflex Tufted Accent Chair

8.  Graham & Brown Pallade Black & White Wallpaper, $40.00 a roll

9.  Cymax Landmark Lighting Angelite Six Light Chandelier, $413.00

10. Crystal Drop Votive Stands, $23.95

11. Ralph Lauren Caitlin Cut Glass Urn Lamp, $777.00

So, are you tempted to add a little bit of glamour to your home?

Photo credit: Nicholas Haslam

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Style in the City, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com