Discover Nature-Inspired Paint Trends for a Calming Home

(Family Features) When it comes to home design, color can change everything. From understated, clean hues and calming neutrals to soft greens and mid-tone colors with artistic qualities, a whole new style is just brush strokes away. With the right color palette, you can transform your space to highlight contemporary trends while creating your desired ambiance.

These curated Clark+Kensington color palettes, showcasing on-trend looks for 2021, are heavily inspired by nature and natural materials like raw cotton, linen, wood tones and soft, peaceful greens. The colors invite the best of the outdoors inside so you can design a personal refuge where you’re free to relax and unwind.

Each of these three collections, assembled by the experts at Ace Hardware, can help conjure a sense of calm and offer inspiration so you can thoughtfully incorporate color into your home.

Mindful Living
If you want to bring new layers of wellness to your life, the calming neutrals and soft greens that make up this refreshing and cleansing palette may be just what you’re seeking. The muted tone of Fair Isle is a soft neutral that pairs well with a wide range of colors, such as the inviting Blue Spruce green that resembles a richly treed mountainside. Additionally, Swiss Coffee and Natural White offer neutral options that lend a surprising sense of coziness while Smokey Taupe and Playas de Cancun provide alternatives to bring bolder, but still soothing, color to your space.

Understated Impact
If minimalism and clean lines reflect your desire to simplify your surroundings, you’ll likely be drawn to a “less is more” approach to design. This uncluttered sensibility allows you to focus on key elements of a room that are impactful yet edited. To achieve this look, build your palette
around slate-like hues of gray and blue, such as Gothic Iron or a cooler take on slate with Magic Fountain. Options like Silent White and Abstract Gray lend neutral warmth while an earthy burgundy like Red Tulip or the deep, not-quite-black tones of Midnight Stroll are ideal for creating a focal point.

Creative Escape
This palette of mid-tone colors with artistic qualities may be best suited for someone who embraces traditional crafting techniques and delights in working with his or her hands. Striking slate blue Midnight Oil is reminiscent of waves crashing in the dark of night while Subtle Gray offers a softer take on the slate-like tones. As the name suggests, Fiddlehead Fern brings lush vegetation to mind while Act Naturally and Caramel Apple deliver pops of color consistent with streaks of an orange-kissed sunset. The most subtle of this collection, Beach Cottage, features a slightly peach-to-pinkish tint that gives unique character to a neutral selection.

Any color in these palettes can be selected and ordered from the comfort of your home online using in-store pickup, curbside pickup or delivery from your local store. Start with color samples to test your colors on your walls in different locations and under different lighting then order your gallons and painting supplies when you’re ready to complete your project. Find more inspiration and all the supplies you need to transform your space with paint at acehardware.com.

Most people have driven around in neighborhoods and found that one house that really stands out (in a good way). Whether it's the unique landscaping, the fresh coat of paint, or the quality of the materials, there's something about the exterior design that sets it apart from the rest. If you want your home to be the one that stands out, here are some suggestions you can use to get started.

Give It a New Paint Job

Painting your home's exterior is a relatively simple way to make a major change to how your home looks. To get started, pressure wash your house. Painting works best on clean surfaces. Identify and repair any damaged surfaces. Once you've done that, remove any existing paint that's chipped or loose. Then you'll need to caulk the trim and prime any stains or wood knots. Protect areas you don't want covered in paint such as doors, windows, and lights. Then you'll add one to two coats of your chosen paint color. Keep in mind that you may need to start with a primer, depending on how the color you've chosen compares to the existing paint. Paint the trim and doors, if that's included in your project.

Metal Roofing

Replacing your existing roof with a metal roof is another way to give your home a unique look. Metal roofs are often made at least in part of recycled materials and are recyclable when their life as a roof ends. They can reflect the sun's heat, making them energy efficient when it comes to cooling your home. They tend to be both durable and fireproof. They're also incredibly long-lasting, depending on the material used. Replacing a roof is expensive, so unless you've got a lot of cash to burn on a new roof before you need one, this is one exterior design project that might be better left until you need a new roof.

Replace Siding

If your exterior walls are looking a little shabby, consider replacing the siding. There are lots of different siding materials to choose from, each with their pros and cons. You'll also have different colors and textures to choose from. Finding an option that will give you the look you want to achieve shouldn't be too difficult. Be aware that which material will work best may be somewhat dependent on where you live, so take that into consideration. You'll also want to make sure you understand the best way to maintain your chosen siding so you can be sure to keep it in good condition.

Doors With Windows

Sometimes you don't need to do crazy big things to give your exterior design a face lift. Just changing the front door can be enough to make a noticable difference. If your front door doesn't have windows, consider swapping it out for one that does. This can be a great way to brighten up your entrance way to your home using natural light, and give your exterior a more stylish, classy look. If the extra natural light entering your home causes you concern because of UV light, no need to worry. Low-E glass entry doors minimize UV light that enters your home. You'll be able to enjoy the beauty of the glass and natural light without so much of the UV light entering your home.

New Lighting

Most of these changes are great for during the day, but may not have as much of an impact at night. Getting new lighting for your house, on the other hand, can make your house really shine at night. Lighting your house well can make your property safer for those walking up to it. It can also deter criminals from targeting your house. You can also use lighting to add a more personal touch to your house. Jellyfish lighting is a permanent lighting system that blends in with your home and can be controlled through an app on your phone. You can then customize it with different colors to celebrate holidays, your favorite sports team, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

Try a New Trim Color

Painting the entirety of your home's exterior is a pretty big project. If that's more than you want to take on, consider tackling just your trim instead. Changing the color of your trim can have either a subtle impact, or a rather stark one. The level of impact will depend on the color you choose and how it looks in comparison to the color of the rest of your house. Trim that is more similar in color to the siding color will have a more subtle impact than trim that is more contrasting.

Change Your Landscaping

Changes to the house itself aren't the only thing worth considering. Your landscaping can have a significant impact on how your house is presented to the world. Whether you choose to have a grass lawn, artificial turf, or xeriscaped yard, there are a lot of fun, creative options you can use to personalize your front yard. You also might consider redoing your front walkway. Concrete may be the most commonly used material for sidewalks and walkways, but there are some alternative walkway materials you can use that make your home more unique and stand out.

Add New Plant Life

Speaking of landscaping options, adding new plant life is another great way to change up your home's exterior design. You can use trees and shrubbery to frame your house. Keep them neatly trimmed to ensure that they, and your property, look their best. Add a variety of flowers and other plants of different colors and heights to give your property more color and depth. The possibilities here are nearly endless. Just keep in mind the overall balance of the property to ensure you have an optimal result.

Whether you're preparing your home to sell or just want to change things up, making improvements and changes to your home's exterior design can really boost your curb appeal. While far from an exclusive list, these suggestions can provide you with some ideas for how to get started. You'll be on your way to making your house the one that really stands out.

Read this next: What You Need to Ask a Contractor Before Hiring Them for a Project

How to Create a More Functional Laundry Room

(Family Features) A laundry room may be one of the spaces that you use the most, but cramped quarters and clutter can hinder your productivity. Eliminate the excuses and get your laundry room under control with these tips to add function to your washing routine.

Use space wisely. Your laundry room may not have a big footprint, but you probably have more usable space than you realize. Install shelves or storage units on the walls and consider the ceiling as a spot to hang a floating drying rack. Don't overlook the back of the door, where you can mount a storage system or use an over-the-door alternative.

Maximize storage. Many laundry rooms suffer from a lack of storage, which hinders space to fold and manage laundry while making the room less pleasant overall. A durable, attractive organization system like Dimensions by ClosetMaid can add instant organization and style to your laundry room. The system provides numerous design options, convenient accessories and configurations of cabinets and drawers, accommodating virtually any space.

Resist wrinkles. Prevent unsightly wrinkles by hanging garments straight out of the dryer. A hanging rod is easy to install and lets you take advantage of vertical space in smaller rooms. Be sure to also stock up on hangers of various styles so you always have an ample supply ready when the buzzer sounds that another load is ready for your attention.

Promote ventilation. Another common issue in laundry rooms is limited ventilation, which can promote mold, affect air quality and hinder air drying for special garments. A clever way to enhance ventilation while increasing your storage space is ventilated shelving that helps keep air flow moving. For example, ClosetMaid's Premium Wood Kits feature sturdy slatted shelves to stash your laundry essentials and can include accessories like hanging rods.

Create a folding station. One of the biggest laundry pitfalls is folding and putting away clean clothes. A clear, clean space in the laundry room can help nudge you toward completing the task more efficiently. If you have front-loading machines, it may be as simple as adding a counter or sturdy shelf above them. If you use top-loaders, you may need to get more creative. If there's room, a laundry sorter with a flat top is a good solution. Or if floor space is at a premium, you might consider a shelf that mounts to the wall and folds down when you need it.

Get inspired with more ideas to make your laundry room work for you at ClosetMaid.com.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

Starting a Home Remodeling Project

7 tips for choosing a qualified contractor

(Family Features) Outside of the home itself, remodeling is typically one of the largest investments you can make as a homeowner. While some projects can be tempting to tackle yourself, many larger-scale projects may require hiring a qualified professional.

Because remodeling your home is a big undertaking, it’s important to take steps to ensure the professional you hire to perform the work is qualified to complete it to the highest standards of quality and integrity.

Consider these tips from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to help you make an informed decision when hiring a remodeling contractor.

Get Recommendations
One of the best ways to find qualified, professional help is through word-of-mouth referrals. Ask your relatives, friends, neighbors or co-workers – particularly if they’ve recently renovated their own homes – if they have any previous experience with companies they would recommend. Also consider searching online for reviews of companies in your area.

Stay Local
It’s often best to consider established local remodeling companies first, as they are typically more compelled to perform high-quality work, which allows their businesses to thrive and remain in the community. Local professionals are also likely to know permit requirements and building codes in your city or county, which can change from year to year.

Follow Your Design Aesthetic
Whether your home features a mid-century modern, contemporary or farmhouse design style, it’s critical to choose a remodeler who is knowledgeable in the construction and design of the style of your home. Additionally, a company that specializes in remodeling kitchens may not be suited for a bathroom or bedroom project.

Ask for Licenses and Insurance
Many states, but not all, require contractors to be licensed, bonded and insured. Ask for copies of licenses and insurance certificates for any remodelers you’re considering to make sure they’re current. Most states also require contractors to carry worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance for their crews. Contact your state or local licensing agencies to ensure the contractor meets the minimum requirements.

Check References
Once you’ve narrowed your list of potential contractors, ask for a list of references you can contact and a portfolio of work. A typical reference list includes 10 or more jobs with dates as well as the customer’s name, address and phone number, and a portfolio should also contain at least 10 projects with photos of the space before work began, during the project and after completion. If possible, also consider visiting a current job site to see first-hand how the contractor operates.

Search for Violations or Complaints
Because you can’t always rely on a portfolio or references, it’s important to also check with your local consumer affairs office or the Better Business Bureau to ensure there are no complaints on record for the contractors you’re considering, which may help further narrow your list.

Compare Apples to Apples
While a number of different factors goes into every remodeling project, be sure all contractors you solicit bids from are using the same scope and quality of work requirements. Discuss any significant variations in price or timelines and be wary of any substantially lower estimates.

Find more tips for selecting a contractor at remodelingdoneright.com.

(BPT) - The latest trends in home decor reveal a desire for a feeling of tranquility and calmness, perhaps as a response to today’s overly busy and distracted lifestyles. From Marie Kondo’s decluttering craze to a return to natural materials in home design, everyone is looking for a way to create a peaceful, less hectic inner space. When it comes to home decor, less is definitely more.

How can you tap into this yen for a little more Zen?

1. Simplify your design strategy

When revamping your room to create a more minimalist effect, choose a limited color palette, meaning one to three colors at most. Select mostly more muted or neutral colors, though you can use one vivid color in a piece of furniture or art to grab the spotlight.

Let the textures of the materials that you use for the floors, walls, ceilings and furnishings — whether they are natural wood, stone, ceramics, glass, tile, fabrics or canvas — create the room's visual interest instead of yesterday’s too-busy colors and patterns. Choose a couple of contrasting textures, like glass and reclaimed lumber, or woven fabric and stone, to highlight in the room for the best effect.

2. Declutter your spaces

Decide what items you really want and need to be in each room and get rid of the rest — or find a way to store it neatly, preferably out of sight. One of the greatest visual clutter culprits today comes from technology. It's hard to know what to do with the mass and tangle of cords from all the latest gadgets, power strips and chargers everyone uses in their homes.

To streamline the technology you use for viewing TV, movies and more, a product from LG Electronics USA can solve your cord clutter problem and turn your living room into an amazing home viewing theater. The LG CineBeam AI ThinQ 4K Laser Projector (HU85LA) creates an impressive 90- to 120-inch cinematic screen by placing it just 2.2 to 7.2 inches away from the wall, needing no complicated installation. With its streamlined and compact design, the state-of-the-art projector incorporates LG's ThinQ AI and has the Google Assistant built-in so you can control your compatible smart home devices with just your voice.

3. Choose furnishings with clean lines

When you're selecting new furniture for your minimalist rooms, look for high-quality, standout pieces designed with clean lines, with no fussy design details or busy patterns. Don't acquire more furniture than the room really needs. Chances are you can do without all those end tables and extra chairs.

Make one exceptional, stylish piece of furniture be the focal point for each room, and don’t over-furnish or over-decorate the space around it. Then avoid the urge to smother the couch or sectional with tons of blankets and throw pillows. Let the furniture speak for itself.

4. Streamline artistic expression

Instead of filling every wall with pictures, choose just one accent wall, eliminating excessive decor elements around it. Let one work of art dominate that space, reducing any competition for attention.

The LG CineBeam Laser Projector can display a chosen photograph or work of art on your accent wall. With 8.3 million pixels, it delivers impeccable precision and detail at four times the resolution of full HD, along with incredibly vibrant color reproduction. It works without the need to darken the room around it, using gentle light that produces clear images without any harsh brightness.

5. Leave plenty of open space

Resist the urge to fill every corner and surface of the room with ornaments and knickknacks. It's the open space, unencumbered by any visual clutter, that creates the feeling of calm and tranquility you're craving.

And if you're lucky enough to have a great view out the window, install only simple, streamlined window treatments — or no window treatments at all — to highlight that view.

Minimalist decor is all about making careful choices and choosing the best quality furnishings and decor over quantity of items. You can turn any room into a beautiful showcase that you'd be happy to entertain and live in, with some thoughtful decision-making. To learn more about improving your home technology, visit LG.com.

On-Trend Home Design

6 design approaches to explore in 2019

(Family Features) The influence of global cultures is increasingly visible in home decor as technology expands homeowners’ worldviews. Acting on the inspiration of global trends can be as simple as shifting your outlook to bringing eye-catching features and everyday functions into your home.

For example, playing with color, replacing doors and incorporating unique accents can help contribute to an on-trend style that flows seamlessly from room to room. Colors offer the opportunity to create a mood and update a space. Doors provide an average of 800 square feet of previously untapped design potential that can add visual interest and enhance the functionality of a room. Unique accents invite whimsy and individuality.

As you make plans to redesign spaces within your home, watch for these trends in 2019 to support your lifestyle needs and design aspirations.

Nordic Noir
If you crave simplicity and cleanliness, embrace the Scandinavian approach to design that’s all about moderation. Nordic Noir upholds values of minimalism and timeless devotion to well-made elements that are beautiful in their own simplicity. Muted colors like blue-gray and pale rose come to life on walls and in fabrics. Doors made of dark metal and wood paired with glass panels bring natural light and warmth into the home.

Urban Country
This trend brings the look and feel of rural living to urban spaces by pairing crisp white and warm neutrals with ornate fixtures. Elements like a craftsman-style front door with sidelights help to accentuate the home’s original detailing, while well-crafted, handmade pieces bring the heart and soul of country living into the space. Urban Country is perfect for the fast-paced urbanite looking to live a more balanced, slow-paced lifestyle.

“These macro-trends influence our home design choices, down to the style of a front door,” said Lorena Morales, creative director for Masonite International, a leading designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior doors. “With about 800 square feet of design space to work with, doors should play a pivotal role in the design of any home. A homeowner can begin to transform a room’s entryway from Urban Country to Nordic Noir simply by choosing a door with glass that’s clear over glass with iron caming. Materials, textures and colors are incredibly impactful elements in these trends.”

Rustic Luxury
Geared toward those who need a personal space where they can restore energy and find balance, Rustic Luxury design helps homeowners disconnect from the demands of everyday life. With this trend, the focus is on creating harmony between natural and architectural design elements. Try mixing sculptural design pieces and greenery with natural wood doors and concrete benches for a calming counterbalance to frenetic, fast-paced living.

Pretty and Calm
As female buying-power continues to increase, spaces are being redesigned to fit the lifestyles of modern women who often appreciate both contemporary and traditional design. Biophilic elements mixed with pale-hued colors, luxurious touches and textured glass doors are all key features for Pretty and Calm design. To achieve this style, play with textures that feature warm yet bold colors like pale blue, sunshine yellow and sage. Don’t be afraid to experiment with dissimilar materials to find the right combination of interest and comfort.

“Trends like Pretty and Calm lean on neutrals that are more compelling than beige to create beautiful and calm interiors,” said Kate Rumson, interior designer and founder of The Real Houses of Instagram. “When these pale hues are layered with dark, smoky colors like blacks and grays, this trend can appeal to nearly everyone. To complete the room, pair an ornate door featuring glass or polished nickel hardware with a soft finish to create a design element that’s timeless.”

Live and Work
If you’re one of more than 3.4 million Americans working from home at least half of the time, you may require transitional spaces that accommodate both productivity and downtime. To adopt this design trend, consider the use of furniture and products that can serve multiple purposes. For example, modern barn doors in bold tones of vibrant orange or cool blue can provide privacy during work hours and serve as an industrial design accent off-hours.

Mediterranean Escape
If you classify yourself as a traveler, you may favor the style of Mediterranean Escape. People who travel tend to bring blended influences from various cultures home. This trend helps homeowners showcase the intricate detail and culture in those treasured pieces. Paired with wrought iron accents, warm colors and arched doorways, Mediterranean Escape adds sophistication and story to nearly any space.

Decoding Door Styles

Swinging Door: This is a hinged door that swings into or out of a room and is the most standard interior door application.

Bifold Door: A folding door that has several sections that fold in pairs. Bifolds are most commonly made for closets but may also be used between rooms.

Bypass Door: A bypass door consists of two or more sections that can slide in either direction along one axis on parallel overhead tracks so that they slide past each other. They are most commonly used as closet doors to access one side of the closet at a time. The doors in a bypass unit will overlap slightly when viewed from the front to eliminate any visible gap between them.

Barn Door: An on-trend interior door option that uses externally mounted hardware to allow the door to slide over an opening without taking the space needed for a swinging door.

Trends don’t have to impede individual design. Global influences like sustainability, craftsmanship and simplicity can be the foundation for creating an environment tailored to meet unique lifestyles and needs. Find more information and 2019 design inspiration at MasoniteTrends.com.