:: Make The Mirror Work For You In Your Home ::

Tuesday Tips

Mirrors can be your best friend or the thing you hate most. It all depends on your mood and mainly what you see in the reflection. However, mirrors that are used for decorating purposes will always be your best friend. They can add light to the space and make small spaces appear larger. If you have a small space to work with, or your home is smaller, you can make the space look bigger with mirrors. It will open the room up and make it feel brighter and larger.

By putting a mirror opposite a window or a set of windows it will bring more light into the space. It also helps to get a little scientific. You’ll want to know where the sun shines through into your home. You don’t want those mirrors turning into reflectors that constantly blind you. That will bring unwanted light into the space and make you wish you didn’t have those beautiful mirrors.

You can also put those mirror to work. Hang them opposite your favorite piece of art and have the mirror reflect the art. This will draw more attention to it and truly make it the center of the room.

Mirrors can be fun and very useful. Get started on your mirror search by coming into one of the stores or get started online at Tuvalu Home! 

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:: Create The Perfect Coastal Entryway ::

Tuesday Tips

Right when you swing open the front door to your home the first thing you see is your entryway. You see your side console that gives you a quick place to unload and compose yourself before moving forward through to the rest of your home. You see the art and accessories you used decorate the console. You see your home.

Your entryway sets the expectations and tone for the rest of the home. It’s the first thing anyone and everyone will see when they enter your home. Every more reason to decorate to impress. Putting a little time into your entry will leave you thanking yourself over and over.

One tip before we’re done here, create a simple and minimal entryway. There are two very good reasons as to why. First, it looks good. Pretty straight forward and easy to do. Second, the actual reason, if there is a small amount of space it deters you and the family from making it the “drop zone”. You know, the area that gathers everyone’s stuff, is never clean and always a mess. Let’s skip all that by not allowing the space to be used like that.

Last, but not least, here’s a little coastal entry home decor inspiration. Take a look at these homes and what these owners are greeted with when they come home.

:: Maximize Your Window Nook ::

Tuesday Tips

Window nooks are a great addition to any home. They allow extra light into the home, give you a nice little place to sit and can offer up some extra storage. Does your home have a window nook? If it does, are you taking advantage of it? Don’t overlook this little architectural detail! Window nooks give you plenty of space to decorate and design. You can bring life to them with just a few pillows or you can keep going with the decor and maybe even install some storage space. They also allow you carry your decor throughout the home. They can be used as a transitional area to keep your home’s style flowing from space to space. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy a nice, big window that brightens up a space and lets it breathe? We’re trying to liven up the home and natural light allows us to do just that.

Take a look at what these designers have done with window nooks. See how they style them and what accessories they use to really decorate the nook to it’s fullest! Get inspired and then start on your nook! Or start dreaming about the nook you wish you had ;).

:: 3 Ways To Use Pillows In A Coastal Home ::

Tuesday Tips

Never under estimate the power of pillows. They have the ability to completely change the look the room, effortlessly blend in and be the final touch needed for the space. In a coastal home, pillows can really bring out your design style and decor. A coastal home isn’t about dramatic furniture or hard lines that define the space. It’s all about the light, airy feel which leaves you the option of using your pillows for more than just a comfy place to rest your head. We’ve got a quick list for you guys on three simple ways to maximize the use of your pillows! And when you’re done with one set, all you have to do is pick them up and plop the new ones down! It’s that easy! Now onto the list!

1. Use them to compliment the decor

Are you in love with the way your space came out? Perfect! Let’s add the finishing touches, the pillows. You can use pillows to carry your design throughout the space without them taking away from, or distracting from, the rest of the decor. You usually see this in an all white space or a space with a neutral palette. That doesn’t mean it can’t be used in spaces that use color in the design though!

2. Use them to add color and patterns.

Pillows are one the easiest and best ways to add color to any space! They do not require a paint brush or clean up. Pick out some fun pillows to add pops of color to the space and watch them bring life to the room. The same goes with any colorful or fun patterned pillows. They will liven up the space and leave you happy with your design choices!

3. Use them to add texture and depth

A few pillows on a sofa can be very versatile. They can break up the solid colors you may have as while as give the space a deeper, fuller look. You can achieve this by pairing pillows (such as the blue ikat patterned ones on top of the solid white ones above). It gives depth and character to an area of the space that could easily be overlooked. It also shows your attention to detail and that you loved designing your home.

:: 3 Ways You Can Update Those Boring Stairs ::

Tuesday Tips

It’s time to breath new life into the stairs you walk up and down each day! There’s no reason not to love your stairs, so we put together this tips post to help you guys out and give you some inspiration! We’ve got three ways you can update your stairs and enjoy walking up and down your stairs. Check it out!

1. Get Your Paintbrush Ready!

A little paint can go a long way on your stairs. There are plenty of options for painting your stairs. You can paint them one solid color, multiple colors, paint patterns, or even paint scenes on them. It all depends on the look you’re going for. And when you want to change it up again, no problem! Just pick your new paint colors and start painting.

2. Time To Start Running!

A stair runner can add more than just a new look to your stairs. It can bring style, color and purpose. You can use a stair runner to bring the upstairs and downstairs decor together and keep the flow going from space to space. It will also help fight against wear if your stairs are going to get a constant beating.

3. Keep It Natural!

Not into wood stairs or stair runners? Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you! Natural stones and tiles can bring a new look and style into your home. You can also paint your tile to give your stairs a unique look. These materials can be used inside or outside and are built to last.

* Bonus Tip – Ditch The Typical Banister *

If you really want to change up your stairs and give them a whole new look then it’s time to try something new. Get rid of your original banister and run some thick rope instead. This nautical accessory will give your stairs the complete coastal look and leave you loving your stairs.

:: Use The Walls To Display Your Collection ::

Tuesday Tips

People are naturally collectors. Sometimes it’s intentional and other times, well, life gets in the way and we forget to throw things away. When we decide on something to collector it seems like that’s all we want. We’re officially on the hunt! After a healthy amount of rummaging through flea markets, antique stores and garage sale, you finally amass a  collection worthy of showing. How are you going to display the collection you worked so hard to find?

We have a suggestion, head to the walls! Walls are a great way to display your collections! They give us plenty of space to show off our finds. Plus they provide extra room for you to add to your collection because let’s be honest, it never stops growing.

Get fancy with the collection and frame it! Frames are a great way to display the collection on the wall and let people know you’re proud of your hard work. Unfortunately, not all of our collections are framable, and that’s fine. Another way is to invest in wall shelves and prop your collection up for all to see. It lets you open up the space for other decor and design elements.

Using the walls helps you make the most of the space in your home and prevents the over cluttering of side consoles or tables. So head to the walls and start displaying your collection today!

:: 3 Easy Tips To A Kid Friendly Living Room ::

Tuesday Tips

Children play a large part when it comes to home design. Designing for the kids is completely different than designing for an empty nest, especially when it comes to younger kids. The way you shop for furniture and accessories will be and is completely different. That’s why we have 3 easy tips for you on how to design a kid friendly living room! We want to get you started on the right foot. Hopefully we can get you thinking about a few key design points when it comes to decorating with kids in mind.

1. Upholstery that can take a beating.

The sofa and the chairs are going into battle. It’s furniture versus children and the kids have the upper hand. The upholstery will be jumped on, spilled on and dirtied up. Invest in materials that can stand the abuse and can be easily cleaned. If you can only get one, choose the latter of the two. One choice to consider is leather. Leather can stand up to the abuse and can be cleaned fairly easy. Leather isn’t your style? Start looking into slipcovers – now. They will become your best friends when the messes come. Just pull them off and wash them, Life can be that easy sometimes.

2. Pick out a strong coffee table.

This is a must! You NEED a coffee table that will last. This is going to be a crucial piece in the living room. The kids will use it for many things and you’ll be extremely thankful you picked out a good, sturdy coffee table. It will be used as a place to eat, a place to play, a place for crafts and many other activities. Do it right the first time and get a solid, reliable coffee table.

3. Choose a wipe worthy paint.

Not all paint is created equal. You find this out when you have kids. Some how, some way, it all ends up on the walls. Researchers still have no idea how this happens and will forever be a mystery. It’s truly inevitable which means you need to cover the walls with paint that can stand a deep cleaning. Look into paint that can hold up with a thorough wipe down and won’t fade after one clean. It also doesn’t hurt to keep a little extra touch up paint handy, but let’s hope it never gets to that point.

:: Coastal Kitchens – Metal Adjustable Stools ::

Tuesday Tips

Do you get excited when you walk into your kitchen? If you don’t, we think we may have a solution to your problem. Take a look at metal, adjustable bar stools. These bar stools are perfect for the kitchen island or bar. They have a great look that adds more texture, style and seating options to the kitchen space.

These stool are often seen with a round wood top and metal base, but you can find all metal ones if you’re going for that look instead. The fact that the stool is adjustable also adds a huge perk to its design. This ability allows you to get the perfect height for your island or bar which can really make or break a stool. Not the right height? No problem, adjust until it is!

Browse these photos we’ve added to this post and get a feel for what we’re talking about! See how these designers have used metal adjustable stools in the kitchen and get inspired!

:: Coastal Home Decor In The Bathroom ::

Tuesday Tips

The bathroom is an easy place to overlook and a great place to decorate. It’s easy because you can decorate it by simply hanging a picture or you can go all out and gut the space to install your dream bathroom. The sky is the limit! Well, actually, the space is the limit. You are very limited in what you can practically do in a bathroom, but that’s a plus!

The small space instantly changes the rules of the game. Because most bathrooms are small (we say most because not all bathrooms are created equal), it means creativity and clever design are key. You need to determine function over fashion, meaning do you want it to look good or do you want it to be a useful bathroom?

Most people want a functional bathroom for obviously reasons, but a guest bathroom gives you more options to play with. The guest bathroom gives you and your guests a place to take care of business and get out. We aren’t lounging in the tub or enjoying the walk in shower with a rain drop shower head – we’re in and we’re out. That means you can install a floating, reclaimed wood sink that has the minimal necessities to wash up and move on.

A large, spacious master bathroom gives you all the options you can ever think of and all the options your contractor can charge you for as well. We’ll let your imaginations take this one, it shouldn’t be that hard. In case you are lacking inspiration, we have a couple images of bathrooms we’re enjoying. We have picked out bathrooms that range from simple to dream bathroom to help you realize you’re missing out on a great design opportunity if you’re not decorating your bathroom.

:: Go With Gingham In Your Home! ::

Tuesday Tips

Are you getting enough summer? Are the sun filled beach days and warm nights enough? If not, you should try decorating with gingham! This pattern is the perfect summer pattern! When you see gingham you can help but think of a picnics and the great outdoors. This is why it should be in your home for summer! Get those instant outdoor picnic feels and enjoy your summer inside and outside your home!

Not sure what you should replace with your new found gingham print? Well the secret with gingham print/gingham check, and it’s bigger sibling parttern buffalo checks, is a little goes a long way. It’s easy to go overboard with gingham. So like some things, less is more. Keep that in mind and have fun decorating your way through summer!