Creating an Optimal Reading Nook

For many of us, there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting down with a good book. Whether you’re an occasional reader, someone who reads the newspaper on a daily basis, or a true bibliophile, you know that the enjoyment you get from reading doesn’t just depend on the quality of the text; it often depends upon where you read!

At American Freight Reviews, we think that every home should have a reading nook, or at least a space that’s optimized for reading, whether it’s an armchair in the corner of your living room or a window seat in an alcove. Wherever you find yourself inclined to read in the home, enhance your experience by adding these key features to your nook.

1. Is your reading nook well-lit?

Lighting is one of the most essential facets of a reading nook. When we read for long periods of time in low lighting, whether we realize it or not, it becomes more difficult for our eyes to read and places unnecessary strain upon them. If possible, read in an area which receives substantial natural lighting (a large bay window would be perfect), or rely on a table lamp or floor lamp with a bright LED bulb that mimics natural lighting.

2.) Is your reading nook comfortable?

You probably won’t be spending much time reading if the space isn’t comfortable! Even furniture you might think would be supremely comfortable, such as a couch, may not be if it doesn’t provide adequate back support over long periods of time. Whether you intend to adorn a window seat with cushions, sit in an armchair or recliner, or relax in a beanbag chair, test out seating options before making a decision, and make adjustments with additional pillows for back support should you notice discomfort in the future.

3.) Is your reading nook convenient?

Is your reading nook outfitted with features that make it more functional? For example, some may like to read with a cup of coffee or tea, which means that a nook without an end table or shelf within close reaching distance will probably be incomplete. It could also be a good idea to design a reading nook with adequate storage, whether beneath an end table, via shelving, or with a simple woven basket to store magazines and books.

4.) Is your reading nook cozy?

Even if your nook offers comfortable seating, you’ll still want it to be a space that feels warm, welcoming, and most importantly, your own. What makes a nook cozy will vary among readers, but ideas for elevating its level of “coziness” include keeping a plush throw blanket on hand, displaying favorite photos or artwork on the wall, painting your nook a favorite color (if in an alcove), and placing scented candles on a nearby end table to light while reading.

If you’ve already established a reading nook in your home, in what ways have you made it your own? American Freight Reviews would love to know! Share your comments with us below.

 

Give your Home a Spring Awakening

Now that it’s officially spring, it’s time to shake winter’s dreariness and start fresh with new and improved home décor. With tips for a home spring awakening from American Freight Reviews, you can breathe new life into your living space with just a few inexpensive additions.

Tip #1: Add small pops of color in unexpected places. Spring is all about renewal, and there’s no better way to underscore the excitement of turning a new leaf than with the addition of vibrant colors. Whichever vibrant color you happen to favor (we think greens and blues are particularly well-suited for spring), find inventive ways to introduce them into a room. For example, paint the inside of glass-paned kitchen cabinets, add colorful wallpaper to the exterior of your bedroom dresser, or repaint the bases of table lamps with a coat of turquoise.

Tip #2: Focus on floral. Celebrate spring’s arrival by introducing more floral prints and patterns in the home, whether through the placement of a new floral print rug in your entryway, a floral hand soap dispenser in the kitchen, or a floral-inspired coffee table arrangement. The best (and most inexpensive way) to make your home feel one with nature? Display fresh flowers in every room. Showcase a vase of fresh-cut day lilies, peonies, or even simple fronds on the dining room table, kitchen counter, or fireplace mantle to infuse beauty and life into your home.

Tip #3: Update wall décor with seasonal DIY art. Decorating your home for spring doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive, which is why DIY art for the wall, such as a collection of framed leaf and flower prints in brightly colored paints, is really all it takes. Framing pressed flowers is another simple solution for seasonally appropriate artwork.

Tip #4: Swap out the small stuff. Small changes can have a big impact, so consider changing out whichever table settings you’ve relied on all winter and replace with updated dinnerware in lighter colors (all white is a good idea), colorful napkins, and a floral centerpiece. You can also replace hand towels in the bathroom with ones that include floral embellishments, or swap out your living room’s throw pillows with ones that feature more vibrant and eclectic patterns.

Tip #5: Install new window treatments. Brighten your living room, bedroom, or kitchen with an updated, spring appropriate window treatment. Particularly in spring and summer, the home should feel open and full of light; that’s why treatments like light wood or white panel blinds, or light-colored curtains made from sheer fabrics, will work well. For maximum natural lighting, opt for just a window valence that contributes style but doesn’t block the window.

In what other ways do you plan to celebrate spring ? Share your ideas for seasonal home décor with us, below!

Choosing the Right Area Rug

Does your living space seem like it could benefit from something extra? If so, an area rug may be just what your space is lacking. An area rug is one of the best ways to enhance a room’s interior design for a number of reasons. Because area rugs are available in a wide variety of unique colors, textures, and patterns, they can easily be used to tie in existing design elements or make a room more vibrant and interesting. Depending upon their size and shape, they also have the potential to add a focal point to a room or make a space feel larger than it really is. Area rugs are also convenient because they don’t take up any extra space.  However, choosing the right one for your home can still be a difficult endeavor given the abundance of options for size, color, texture and shape available.  So, to make choosing an area rug for your living space a little easier, consider the following.

Selecting Size 

The size of a rug can impact the perceived size of the space in which it resides. For example, a rug for an entryway or a hallway can easily overwhelm the space if it touches the wall from end to end. Instead, it should be small enough to create a border of at least a half foot around its parameter to make the hallway feel wider than it is. Conversely, one of the worst things an area rug can be in a living room is “too small.” One that shrinks amid the couches and chairs that surround it will draw the room inward, making the room itself feel smaller.

According to design expert Karl Lohnes, choosing a rug that measures 2 feet shorter than a room’s shortest wall will provide optimal visual appeal when implemented in the room. Another good rule of thumb to consider is to aim for one that’s large enough so that the front legs of every piece of furniture in a room can be set upon it.

Discerning Color

A rug can be either the first or last design element decided upon in a room. If it’s to be your first order of business, you have a lot of latitude in terms of color and pattern. In fact, you may want to be bold and choose a design with multiple colors and prominent patterns to serve as your room’s focal point or statement piece, and then pair with neutral-toned pieces of furniture, which are always easy to find. On the other hand, if it will be a final touch in a room already populated with patterns, you’ll want to stick with a monochrome or two-toned small pattern that plays off the color of your furniture or walls. Note that even if it only features two colors, as in the picture above, large patterns will naturally attract more attention and make the rug a more dominant piece in the room.

Determining Shape

Does shape matter, too? Actually, it can. Choosing the wrong shape can throw a room off balance and create disjunction in style. Square rugs fit best with a modern, streamlined aesthetic; so, if your space is defined by clean edges and crisp decor, a square rug will best complement this look. Square or rectangular shapes are also better for those with open floor plans because furniture can be positioned around a square rug to create segmentation in the room. Circular rugs seem to appear less frequently in interior design layouts today, but they can fit perfectly underneath an entryway light fixture, or in front of a circular sectional. In general, these are better suited for rooms that have more of a romantic or eclectic feel to them.

Deciding Texture

Texture is a great dimension of interior design that’s sometimes overlooked. However, an area rug is an ideal platform with which to play up texture. Not only does a rug with texture that’s been carefully considered have the potential for creating a more comfortable floor space, but it can enhance the overall style of your room. Textures range from the traditional long-loops, to velvet, to wool, to sisal fiber, and more. No texture is necessarily better than another, but the texture of your rug should always be in contrast to the texture of the other furniture in the room. It’s also wise to consider if and how the texture could impede mobility, and whether or not its material will require more cleaning and upkeep than you’re willing to commit to.

What do you consider when purchasing a rug? Tell us below and check out more interior design insight from AmericanFreight.us Reviews!

Inspiration for Decorating your Coffee Table

Most of us use our coffee tables for a functional purpose. They often serve as a depository for our remote controls, magazines, coffee mugs, coasters, and all of the other odds and ends that make their way into our living rooms. Though coffee tables are practical, this doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish.  Coffee tables can contribute style based on their material, finish, and shape, but they can also be decorated in a way that further enhances a living room’s interior design, without sacrificing function.

Turn to the Tray

The addition of a wooden or metal tray serves as a great organizational tool for keeping a surface free of clutter and looking sharp. These coffee table trays are short, sleek, and effective at keeping your remote controls, books, or chargers neatly nested in their own place. Grouping these items together, as opposed to letting them reside haphazardly and spaced out on a surface, will also make the table more visually appealing. A tray also offers added convenience when the full surface of the table is needed for playing cards or setting out snacks to watch the big game; simply lift and carry the tray in one fell swoop to store items beneath the table or off to the side.

Photo courtesy: http://www.dgrinteriordesigns.com/coffee-table-styling/

Shape Up

Mixing up the shapes of the decorative objects on a table can contribute a more interesting, eclectic vibe to your room. For example, consider mixing and matching circles, squares, and rectangles into your arrangement; maybe a stack of three small books is positioned next to a circular candle and flower pot that rest atop a rectangular tray, or maybe you combine objects decorated with different geometric patterns. Remember that coffee tables are typically positioned in the center of a furniture layout, which means there’s no getting around the fact they’ll garner some attention; including unexpected shape combinations can ensure that a coffee table receives the right kind of attention for being unique and visually appealing, rather than dull.

Photo courtesy: http://hbu.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/15/04/480×550/54c09c4341678_-_05-hbx-horn-magnifying-glass-stilin-0209-s2.jpg

Embrace Asymmetry

Symmetry is somewhat of a golden rule in interior design, and for good reason. But sometimes incorporating asymmetry in an otherwise balanced room can contribute a necessary element of interest. A decorative arrangement on a coffee table is a suitable place to try this out. Rather than placing a single candle in the center of your table or positioning two stacks of magazines on either end, experiment with a grouping of items that vary in height, width, material and shape. Perhaps you pair a medium-sized candle with a short ceramic sculpture, framed photo, and a tall vase of orchids. Because your grouping itself will be asymmetric given the varying heights of the items that comprise it, it could actually be placed in the center of the table, though placing it slightly off-center will work, too.

Amplify your Living Room’s Theme 

As the coffee table is traditionally a focal point in a living room, a decorative arrangement can be used to tie in the overall theme, or even amplify it. A living room that’s donned with light blues, creams and whites that already communicates a nautical, summer aesthetic could be exemplified further with a wicker bowl of bleached seashells and starfish. Or, an arrangement that that includes weathered antiques and vintage frames with black and white photos could better underscore the classic, vintage theme of a room. Think of a decorative arrangement as a way to more apparently communicate either a room’s theme or your own personal style.

Photo courtesy: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7b/ab/82/7bab8251cbf3906ceb397127d550346f.jpg

How have you decorated your coffee table? Share your ideas with us at American Freight Reviews in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you!

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