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Decorating with Yellow – Ideas and Tips

Some colours can appear overly dramatic, some can appear moody, but yellow is that colour which can bring instant cheer to a room. Especially when it’s summertime, no home should go without a hint of this colour.

Although usually used as an accent colour , you can go as far as you want in using its summery tones. Switch up the hue and you can get amazing results with the mood or ambience. For a soothing neutral look, go for muted yellows or warm things up with a sun-kissed yellow.

Learn how to create a welcoming scheme and create instant uplift to your space with these ideas.

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In these examples, yellow accessories add the much needed life and colour to these spaces. The shade doesn’t matter as much as the presence. Gray and yellow are a combination which many interior designers like to use. The balance of soft toned down grays and a bubbly yellow is like a match made in heaven.

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No designer does dark rooms as well as Abigail Ahern. Here it is easy to perceive the allure of this gorgeous colour even in a dark space. It almost adds an extra layer of dimension to the already interesting decor.

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Such a contrast with these bright and airy kitchens. The use of yellow makes the room look bigger and creates an even more inviting space.

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Bright ideas for stylish spaces. Fall for yellow as we move very gradually into the next season.

Tell us how you plan to incorporate this versatile colour into your living space.

 

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4 Ways to Create a Healthier Kitchen

When it comes to developing a healthier lifestyle, the kitchen is a great place to start. All it takes is a few simple changes to make healthy living a reality. Use these ideas to make 2016 a healthier one at home.

Keep things organised

You’ve decided on the healthy foods worth stocking up. You’ve made a couple of trips to your local grocer or supermarket. Why not give yourself a better chance of including these foods into your cooking schedule?  Rescue them from the dark cupboards they’ve been hiding in and bring them to the forefront.

Out of sight is out of mind, they say. Put an end to storage woes and make organisation your priority this year. Invest in great shelving for your food items, dinnerware and even appliances.  Open shelves provide a great way to keep them within easy reach. The arrangement also forces you to be organised.  That way, you’ll be motivated to eat healthy.

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Bring the herbs in

Indoor plants continue to be a trend in 2016. Fresh herbs are a definite must have. Give your favourite herbs and spices a home in your kitchen so you can add them easily to your meals. You can even create your very own sunken counter garden like this one.

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Go for a natural clean

First things first, deal with unwanted clutter in your kitchen. Get rid of those expired food containers, unsightly items and unused appliances taking up unnecessary space.

Now give everything a good clean. Kick those unpleasant chemical cleaners and disinfectants out and get some natural products in. A cup of white vinegar in some water is fantastic for a natural, non-toxic clean for kitchen surfaces. Lemon juice, baking soda are also perfect natural cleaning agents.

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A simple makeover

Make the kitchen the heart of your home and you’re on the way to healthier living. The happier you are about your kitchen space, the better your eating and cooking choices are likely to be.

Some simple changes can make all the difference. Maybe all your kitchen units are solid but they just need a little TLC. Why not give them a new lick of paint? A new back splash, counter top or wall colour might be all you need to elevate your kitchen’s look. Check out these ideas for great kitchen colour palettes.

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What new changes will you make to create a healthier kitchen at home?

Image sources 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Top Interior Design Trends we’ll see in 2016

One of our highlights here at Moody Monday is anticipating new interior design trends. We see them as an opportunity to truly understand customer needs, innovate and dictate where the industry is going.

In today’s blog post, we share the key trends we believe will set the tone for interior design in 2016.

1.  Cosmic Attraction

Ethereal, deep and richly stimulating, this colour trend transports us into a state of serenity, beauty and adventure at the same time. Imagine exploring the colours of the night sky: midnight blues, turquoise, rich greens – the perfect colours to complete a warm and captivating interior.

This trend with its futuresque look and feel will make an impression on walls and soft furnishings in 2016. It is clear that we increasingly want personal spaces which are honest, pure and can arouse all our senses.

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Images via Inside Out  | Brabbu

You can look to Moody Monday’s Dance and Modulate with Feelings Wallpaper designs to inject this beautiful trend into your living room. Also expect some exciting new designs in our new collection due to launch later this year (more updates to follow). Discover more on the colours in Behr’s 2016 color trends.

2. Metallic tones

With Cherished Gold named Dulux’s colour of 2016 , we will see luxe metallic finishes everywhere. Our love for metals from 2015 lingers  as gold, stainless steel, platinum and brass continue to make appearances.

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Image via Mecc Interiors

Look out for rich metallic tones especially in furniture, bathroom fittings, decorative accessories, wall coverings and even artwork. Irrespective of your home style, mixing metals can add the perfect sparkle and sophistication to any space. We will likely see a move away from garish overly polished looks to softer hues as homeowners look to create interest without being ostentatious.

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Images via HGTV | Elle Decor | Lighting Styles

3. Black stainless steel kitchens

Move over shiny silver, the kitchen appliance industry is going back to black. We saw this trend starting to creep in towards the end of last year and it’s here to stay. With a more subtle, less reflective finish, we’ve seen Samsung and LG launch new suites of appliances in the last few months.

British interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard adds that “No longer side lined as the metal for overwrought outdoor furniture or bed frames, the decidedly unflashy material is appearing as simple hardware, bathroom fixtures and even flatware”.

If you’re thinking of a kitchen makeover this year, this is the trend you should definitely take seriously.

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Images via Consumer Reports | Digital Trends

4. Bathroom Comforts

Fewer quick showers, it’s time for more pampering. Look forward to seeing more décor and stylish cabinetry making its way into the bathroom, turning it almost into a second bedroom.

The focus in 2016 will be more on the ambience of the bathroom. To stay on trend, adding a stool, statement mirrors and greenery can create a well lived-in space you want to wake up to in the morning or escape to at night.

Discover our tips and tricks to make your bathroom more relaxing from a previous blog post.

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Images via House of home | LoveChicLiving

What do you think about these 2016 interior trends? Let us know which ones you like the most.

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Design in Focus: Exposed Brick

As we’ve been talking about textured walls this month, it’s about time we cover one interior design style that all of us have seen at some point: exposed brick walls. Most often you might be able to see these in public spaces, such as halls, restaurants and cafes. Here are a few examples:

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Yet exposed brick walls can sit quite nicely in a home interior as well in most rooms: from kitchens to bedroom, from dining areas to bathrooms:

Blog-2-1-exposed-brickBlog-2-2-exposed-brickIf you’re one to think that exposed brick walls come only in one colour –  you are in for a treat! Either you’re looking to create a high contrast or something that easily ‘blends in’ with the rest of the room, there are plenty of creative options you can chose from. Here are some of our favourite ones:

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While opting for a wallcovering that imitates brick might seem an easy option to recreate this look within a low budget, we are quite reserved about it. In our vision, the strength of exposed brick walls comes from their coarse, unfinished, rugged appearance and trying to imitate this might turn into a tacky interior design. Best to stick to the original, or try something completely different.