You spend a lot of time in your living room — reading your favorite book, cozying up next to the fireplace, watching your go-to guilty pleasure movie. When you spend so much time in one room, you want it to be cozy and inviting.

Here, you’ll learn eight ways you can make your living room feel more cozy, as well as a few bonus tips to redecorating your room on a budget.

What Makes a Room Cozy?

Many factors go into making a room feel cozy. In this list, we’ll talk about:

Adding textureChoosing bold, natural colorsForming a solid foundation by choosing the right flooringCreating ambiance using lightingTriggering cozy thoughts using fragrance

Ultimately, a cozy room is something that gives your heart the warm fuzzies. It’s a place where you can easily nap or relax after a long day. But a cozy room also depends on your personal style and preferences, which you can narrow down with cozy living room ideas.

How to Make a Living Room More Cozy

Make your living room more cozy with these eight tips:

1. Choose a Bold Color Palette

Color is one of the most influential aspects of interior design because it impacts you in many ways. It affects your memories, relationships, mental and behavioral patterns and emotions. Take the color green, for example. It’s connected to feelings of nature, evokes positive emotions and opposes negative emotions.

Use rich, bold colors for a warm, cozy living room. Colors like charcoal, rust orange, brick red and navy blue work well. Include contrasting colors, too, to keep your color palette feeling fresh with additions like white, mustard yellow or light grey. Those combinations create warm and inviting living spaces.

2. Lay Your Flooring

Flooring plays a big role in your home’s aesthetic and function. Before incorporating other interior design elements, you need a base. Choose a flooring that’s comfortable and easily layer-able. Flooring possibilities for a cozy living room include rich-colored hardwood floors. If you don’t plan on layering items, you might usesoft carpetinstead.

3. Keep the Room Warm

Make your living room feel warm and cozy by keeping it actually warm. Insulate the space to keep the temperature consistently warm and prevent cold air from creeping in during the winter months. Consider other heating methods, too, like installing or using a fireplace or adding heated flooring.

4. Create Ambiance Using Lighting

Cozy ambiance, created by lighting, is connected tocalming anxious feelings. Ambiance refers to the overall mood or atmosphere of a room. In this case, you’re trying to create an ambiance that is cozy and relaxing.

Low, warm-toned lighting is optimal for making a room cozy. The more yellow the light, the more comfortable your living room will feel. A simple solution to adding ambiance is switching your lightbulbs to warm-toned LED lightbulbs. Consider installing a dimmer so you can better control the lights’ intensity.

Amplify your interior design skills by adding accent lighting, as well, with lamps or candlelight. Place accent lights near reading areas, on accent tables or other decorative or functional areas in your living room.

5. Find a Comforting Fragrance

Just as color affects your mood, scent can, too. Scent moleculesflow to the limbic system, which processes your feelings, moods, memories and emotions. Certain scents, like clean linen or freshly cut grass, can remind you of freshly cleaned laundry or summertime.

Your home’s fragrance impacts how you feel. Choose a fragrance that’s comforting to you or your household members. Common comforting home aromas include freshly baked cookies, brewing coffee, baked bread and autumn breezes.

6. Layer Plenty of Textures

Modern rooms are typically flat and two-dimensional with minimalistic features. But cozy living rooms have many three-dimensional layers, created with multiple textures.

Texture is another interior design element referring to the feeling of objects. Examples of different textures are leather, faux fur, wool, silk, perforated wood and knitting. Add texture into your living room via throw blankets, decorative pillows, seating cushions, different types of plants, wooden logs and other accents. Plush and fluffy details can contribute more toward a cozy living room, but use whatever suits your tastes.

7. Add a Rug

Another way you can add layers to your living room is by adding a rug. Choose a neutral rug with a light pattern as not to overpower the room with heavy colors. You can play with different textures, too, like with a faux-fur or knitted rug. Place your rug in the center of your space, like under your coffee table, to visually tie your larger furniture together.

8. Bring in Nature

Nature offers many benefits, like:

Improving your overall moodReducing stress levelsInducing feelings of relaxationBoosting your self-esteem

Bring in natural elements to your living room to make it feel cozier. Place fire logs next to your fireplace, bring in houseplants, burn nature-scented candles, use natural colors in your color scheme and bring in natural light.

How Can You Make Your Living Room More Cozy on a Budget?

If you’re on a budget, redoing your entire living room can feel like a challenge. Luckily, you can make your interior design changes more affordable with these tips:

Start with the big changes:The biggest results come from the biggest changes. Start remodeling your living room by redoing your flooring, painting the walls and placing down a rug. Then, if your budget allows, make smaller additions like adding texture through decorative pillows and replacing your lightbulbs.Shop second-hand:Save money on the little touches throughout your room and support local businesses by shopping second-hand.Repurpose existing furniture or decor:You may have furniture or decor around your house you can repurpose. Repurposing furniture can be as simple as moving it into a different room. Or you can do DIY projects and physically transform the furnishing or decor item.

The best way to stick to your budget is by making a wish list before redecorating your living room. Arrange your wish list from your must-have items to items you aren’t as excited about. Determine an overall budget and categorize it, giving each item on your wish list a monetary value. You can then prioritize your budget when shopping.

Schedule a Free In-Home Flooring Consultation Today

Your flooring makes a big impact on your home. 50 Floors aims to help you achieve your flooring goals at an affordable price. When replacing your flooring, contact 50 Floor and learn more about the services we offer. With over four decades of experience, we can help you achieve a cozy living room.

Schedule a free in-home consultationonline today! Have any questions? We’d love to help! Justcontact us onlineor call us at1-877-503-5667.

The post 8 Steps to Make Your Living Room Cozy appeared first on 50 Floor.

We are back with another installment in our current blog series – 10 Tips for Choosing Your Hardwood Floor! In case you missed it our last posts, you can click on the first four items in the list below to […]

The post 10 Tips for Choosing Your Hardwood Floor | Pt. 4 appeared first on Urbanfloor Blog.

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In home design, minimalism is the act of removing unnecessary elements. Many homeowners have recently turned to minimalist decor to help them live a more organized life that’s free of clutter. However, achieving a minimalist design is often not easy, especially if you already have many belongings or a busier decor style. This guide provides tips to help you convert your home into a minimalist haven.

Getting Started

If you’re thinking about making your home more minimalist, the first thing you should do is understand your “why.” Why do you want to make your home more minimalist? How can minimalism help you live a more intentional life? If you have a good idea of the life you want to live and know your core values, you can more easily decide which things you want to hold on to and which to get rid of.

Declutter and edit: Having a home with minimalist decor means reducing clutter. To accomplish this, you must edit what you display on tables and shelves. Limit yourself to essential items only and keep the rest stored away in cabinets. If you find something you haven’t used in many years, get rid of it. All items in your house should serve an emotional, aesthetic or functional purpose.Repurpose the things you already own:After you declutter — and before shopping for more decor or furniture — make an effort to repurpose the things already in your home. This is a great way to save money, and you may find you don’t need to buy anything. For instance, consider using shoeboxes to organize clothing within drawers, with smaller boxes serving as dividers for smaller clothing items. Clear boxes are useful since you can see what’s inside and can easily label and stack them. Use clear boxes in closets, kitchens, bathrooms and garages.Consider using the KonMari method:One effective way to declutter your space is by using the famous KonMari Method, which involves living a more joyful, intentional life that minimalism can provide. To make decluttering easier, sort through your belongings by category, beginning with clothes. Next, sort books, papers, miscellaneous things and finally, sentimental items. This order, which begins with the easiest things to remove and ends with the hardest, helps you hone your sensitivity to the things you enjoy most.Limit yourself to timeless pieces:One of the greatest benefits of minimalism is it allows you to invest in fewer, higher-quality items. When it comes to decor and furniture, choose well-made, classic items that will stand the test of time. Well-build pieces with clean lines will always be in style.

Choosing Furniture for Minimalist Homes

When choosing furniture for your minimalist home, you want to shop with purpose. When you buy without intention, you’re more likely to end up with clutter, but you can avoid clutter if you adopt a minimalist mindset. When you shop with intention, you’re less likely to buy unnecessary items. Whenever you’re considering purchasing something, ask yourself, “Will this serve a purpose for me and my home?”

Other pointers to keep in mind when shopping for furniture include:

Aim for flat surfaces and clean lines:The objects and furniture you choose for your minimalist home should primarily have flat surfaces and defined, clean lines and curves. Cabinets and drawers with no handles are a great idea for a minimalist kitchen, as the lack of handles creates clean lines.Remember simple objects can also be powerful:When you decorate your home in a minimalist style, you may find yourself rethinking ordinary objects. While simple objects rarely catch your attention in a busy room, they can be attention-grabbing in a minimalist room where they don’t have to compete with flashier items.Include personal touches in your decor:Another useful tip for decorating your minimalist home is to use your favorite items and furniture as a base. To add a personal touch, find items that are especially meaningful to you. This could be anything from your child’s artwork or family photo to everyday objects like candles and books. Arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing way.Use multipurpose furniture:When shopping for furniture or deciding what to keep, look for flexible items that can serve multiple purposes or that you can easily move from one room to another. One example is a stool that doubles as a side table or a nightstand. You could also consider an entryway bench that you can use in your dining room to seat extra people.

Choosing Colors and Textures

While minimalism is most commonly associated with a small amount of furniture, it also has specific colors and textures. When choosing the colors and textures for your minimalist home, consider the following:

Choose a restrained color palette: When choosing colors for your minimalist home, we suggest light colors like white, understated neutrals, pastels and faint grays. While brighter colors are permissible, try to limit yourself to just one or two.Include color beyond neutrals: While minimalism primarily features neutral color palettes like whites, beiges and light grays, you can still play around with color. The end goal is simplicity, so you can still have small amounts of texture and color through artwork, plants and textiles.Add warmth with natural textures: If your color scheme is predominantly white — a common color for minimalist homes — then incorporating natural textures can make your home feel warmer. Consider introducing handwoven textiles, natural woods and plants.Use accent decorations: Making your home minimalist doesn’t mean you should avoid bright colors and decorations — just use decorative elements as accents and be careful not to overwhelm your house with too many things. When it comes to art, pick one piece of art as a focal piece rather than many small ones.Select your patterns wisely: When picking out the patterns for your minimalist home, be careful that the patterns don’t overwhelm the space. Homes with minimalist decor tend to use few patterns or no patterns at all. If you choose to use patterns, select small scale or simple patterns. Use prints as an accent piece, such as on your throw pillows or curtains. You can have both, but if you do, ensure you have lots of negative space. You can’t go wrong with a patterned carpet centered in the room to help break up any monotony.

Choosing Minimalist Flooring

Many simple flooring styles lend themselves well to a minimalist style. These are the most popular floors for minimalist homes:

Hardwood

While this timeless material is a fantastic option for virtually any home decor, certain stains and designs can givehardwood floors a minimalist feel. Light hardwoods like maple, white oak and beech will help your home feel airy and open, perfectly fitting the minimalist aesthetic.

Narrow planks can help hide the grain, making the flooring look more seamless. If you’re interested in staining your flooring, consider a gray tone, which will make your room feel brighter and bigger, giving it a decluttered feel.

Laminate

If you have a smaller budget, consider havinglaminate floors installedfor your minimalist home. Laminate flooring has seen many advancements in recent years, with modern products closely mimicking the look of authentic wood. As with natural hardwood, lighter-colored laminate flooring can help your rooms feel brighter and more open.

Tile

If you’re creating a minimalist look but don’t want to use hardwood,monochromatic matte tileis another option to consider. Large, wide tiles will provide your home with an airy, clean feeling, while smaller tiles can create more texture and interest in a minimalist home. A solid neutral tile will let your decor shine.

Luxury Vinyl

Like laminate,vinyl flooringhas come a long way. Luxury vinyl floors are available in planks and tiles that mimic real hardwood and ceramic or porcelain tiles. Vinyl flooring is resistant to moisture, stains, scratches and scuffs, so it works well in any room, and it comes in many color and texture options suitable for a minimalist style.

Miscellaneous Tips

One of the main objectives of minimalism is to draw attention to a few things, not many things. Empty space is one of the most important elements in minimalist interiors, as space interacts with the objects, defining the look. Equally important is visual balance, which can only be accomplished with a focal point.

Some other valuable tips you may want to consider are:

Let in light: In minimalist interior design, bare windows can be an excellent idea. Consider keeping your windows unadorned to let in as much light as possible. If you’re concerned about privacy, you can opt for thin curtains or blinds. Sheer curtains let in lots of sunlight without compromising your privacy.Stay consistent with your materials: Creating a minimalist look is all about keeping it simple and making a home with a bright, relaxing, air and modern feel. To achieve this, choose between one and three materials that you can consistently use throughout your house, keeping function and practicality in mind. Use materials that feel light, like white concrete or bleached oak. We also recommend that you use neutral paint throughout your home.Try concealed storage: Another key idea in minimalism is that not everything in your house was meant to be put on display. These include utility items such as cords, lightbulbs, paper files and batteries, which can be put in attractive baskets and bins and tucked away. You can also purchase a built-in storage unit, which can make your home feel minimal and streamlined.Use negative space: Negative space highlights your home’s simplicity and beauty, allowing the materials to tell their own story. Resist the temptation to fill every square inch of space with furniture or decor. Leaving a little negative space evokes peaceful, tranquil feelings and communicates the idea of having lots of space to breathe. You won’t feel claustrophobic in a minimalist home. If you have lots of negative space and would like to decorate it, limit yourself to simple touches like a piece of artwork or an indoor plant, which can go a long way toward making your space feel comfortable while still adhering to the simple, understated minimalistic aesthetic.In terms of decor, think big: Minimalism requires you to have a small number of items in your house, but it says nothing about the size of those items. If you’d like to go for “less is more,” consider investing in bigger rather than smaller items. Large items have more visual impact and go a long way to creating a stunning yet simple space.Look for pieces that coordinate: In minimalist homes, items should share a common language and speak with one another, creating one story. No item should complete for attention. The minimalist style aims to bring out the beauty of a view, space or artwork, so everything else must blend in harmoniously. Make sure textures and colors complement one another, and keep shapes simple.Tidy your space up regularly: Another aspect of minimalist living is regularly cleaning your space and having a place to put or store everything. Once you introduce a new item to your space, it must have a home. Deciding on a dedicated space for every item will take less time and energy than finding a new home for it each time you use it.Get creative with your lighting: Have fun with your lighting to give your minimalist home more visual appeal. Light fixtures these days come in an endless variety of options, so choosing something a bit unconventional in a powder room or dining room can give your minimal home some character.Showcase your favorite piece of artwork: If you have a collection of artworks, rather than putting your entire collection on display at once, you can display just one piece at a time and store away the rest of your collection.Remember to have fun: It’s important to remember that minimalism isn’t a one-size-fits-all style, and every homeowner can create their own minimalist decor. So, when deciding on a minimalist decor for your home, don’t try to copy a specific look. Instead, think about what will work for you. Also, don’t hold yourself to hard and fast rules, such as owning a certain number of things. Instead, use this simplifying process as a chance to play around with and get in tune with your authentic tastes, goals and values. Be patient, and work through your house one space at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Discover the Perfect Minimalist Flooring for Your Home

Choosing the right flooring is important, as it affects the appearance of your home, your comfort and even your health. For high-quality, durable and affordable minimalist flooring solutions,get in touch with 50 Floorfor a free appointment.

The post How to Achieve a Minimalist Design in Your Home appeared first on 50 Floor.

One of the biggest perks of homeownership is the ability to renovate and customize your home to best reflect your needs and personal style. While owning and living in your home, you and your family may go through many different changes that affect how you use your space. These transitions can include family changes such as having children, personal desires such as wanting a home theater or gym or health changes like integrating accessibility features. 

Many homeowners find that planning, designing and building a home addition can be a highly effective way to extend a home’s living space. That way, they can continue using and enjoying their home for many years to come. 

Creating a home addition with a flowing, natural design that aligns with the rest of your house is certainly possible. It will simply take some careful budgeting and planning to design and execute the best home addition ideas. There are many important factors to keep in mind both before and during your home addition project. Some of these factors include your budget, your objectives for the addition, your desired design elements, coordinated flooring and local building codes and regulations. Explore them in more detail below.

Simple Steps to Design a Home Addition

As a homeowner, you may feel overwhelmed by how to plan for a home addition and how to account for all the considerations that go into a home addition design. However, with a bit of planning, time, care and the assistance of a trusted contractor or design professional, you can easily make your dream house addition a reality. While each home addition project is unique, a few common tips and steps can serve as helpful guidelines as you plan and build.

1. Establish a Budget

Establishing an accurate, realistic budget is perhaps the most important step to building a home addition. Any construction project will naturally come with some stress. Without a firm and manageable budget, your stress level will likely be much greater than necessary. Budgeting before you begin planning and designing your home addition is crucial. 

Your budget will be an essential determining factor regarding the size of your addition and the quality and appearance of its finishes and features. Your budget will also determine which contractors and designers you can hire and may influence the timeline for your home addition project.

When crafting your budget, it’s generally advisable to obtain multiple quotes from a few different contractors. Doing this will give you a good idea of what’s a fair, average market cost for your potential addition. As is true with nearly any home improvement project, there will inevitably be surprises and delays. 

Craft your budget so that you have some extra safety money put aside for any unexpected problems that may arise throughout the duration of the project. Homeowners nearly always underestimate home construction costs, so keep this consideration in mind when creating your budget.

2. Hire a Trusted Contractor

Hiring an experienced, trusted contractor will be key to turning your home addition plans into a reality. Your contractor will play an important role in keeping the project on schedule and in budget. They will also ensure the quality of the build and installation of flooring, windows, fixtures and other features. 

As previously noted, consider reaching out to a few different reputable contractors in your area before you go ahead and hire one for your project. Many contractors offer free or low-cost quotes and evaluations before taking on an assignment. By getting a few different quotes, you will be better situated to protect yourself against possible scams and unfair pricing. 

The flooring experts at 50 Floor have extensive experience with installing quality, affordable flooring, and we offer price-match guarantees, professional installations, comprehensive warranties and excellent, timely service. These are the kinds of qualities and offerings you should look for when hiring any professionals to work on your home addition. 

3. Check Local Building Codes and Regulations

When planning and designing a new house addition, few things are more disappointing than finding out your plans don’t adhere to local building codes or regulations. Legal restraints on home construction, including new home additions, can include considerations such as height restrictions, property lines, building area ratios and design covenants, among others. If you live in a historic district, you will nearly always have to follow some set of design and material guidelines.

Do your research about local building laws and regulations before you begin your home addition planning in earnest. Failure to do so often results in significant time delays and additional costs, such as having to apply for permits or change parts of your design.

4. Choose a Purposeful and Well-Planned Design

You should ask yourself a few crucial things during the planning and designing stages of your new house addition. These include but are not limited to the following questions:

What Is the Purpose of the Addition?

There are many reasons why homeowners may want to build a new addition to their homes. Your ultimate objective will likely be the greatest influence on nearly all other decisions and considerations pertaining to the addition.

For example, you may simply want your addition to extend your day-to-day living space. Alternately, you may have a much bigger vision. For example, you may be building this addition to serve a specialized function, such as a sunroom, a crafting space or an in-home movie theater. You may even want to design and build an addition to function as an income property, such as rental space. These types of additions will require significantly more money and planning than a simple extension of your current living space.

You’ll want to consider your own dreams, the overall equity and the return on investment (ROI) that this addition will represent for your home. All these factors determine why deciding on the purpose for your addition is a critical part of the planning and design process.

Have I Considered the Addition’s Roofline?

It may seem obvious, but it’s important to remember that a home addition will be part of your house. You may be building it years or even decades after your home was originally constructed. As such, you may have concerns about how an addition will cohesively blend in with your home’s existing structures.

Consider the roofline. Your existing home’s roofline should serve as the guideline for your addition’s roofline. Overlooking roofline cohesion will greatly impact your property’s overall appearance and curb appeal. As such, roofline design should be a valued part of any home addition project.

How Will the Floor Heights Flow With the Rest of My Home?

Similar to the roofline, the floor height is an important consideration when ensuring cohesion between a new home addition and an existing home structure. Creating a consistent floor height should be an integral part of your design process. 

You can employ several helpful techniques to eliminate any step-downs and create an even floor height between the new addition and your existing home. Making the floor line flush can be as simple as removing the old subfloor or tile. If you are using wood floors, flooring professionals can use “weaving” or “toothing” methods to create the desired floor cohesion. 

Relying on expert, professional floor installation is crucial to this step in the process and will result in a better flooring design — which creates a much higher ROI for your home than inconsistent or sloppy flooring.

How Will the Addition’s Design Style Blend in With the Rest of My Home?

Often, you might be tempted to use your home addition as a space to incorporate new interior and exterior design styles and aesthetics that you like but are not found in other parts of your home. While you are the homeowner and certainly have the right to design your home addition however you would like, you may want to thoughtfully consider your overall home equity and ROI while selecting a design.

In most cases, creating a fluid, cohesively designed addition that blends with your home’s existing aesthetic is the best way to ensure a high ROI. Incorporating a style that complements the rest of your house will create visual harmony within the interior space and greater curb appeal for the exterior. Doing so will also enable you to account for practical considerations like repurposing existing windows, door styles, cabinets and other features.

Select Quality Design Elements

Choosing design elements for your home addition is the most enjoyable part of the construction process for most homeowners. Quality design elements are important considerations to make to create a beautiful, stylish home addition, and they can create more equity for your property in the long run. 

Keep in mind that while certain features are worth splurging on, you don’t always need to spend tons of money to design a beautiful house addition. Some of the most popular design elements to consider include the following:

Flooring

There’s a common misconception that an addition’s flooring must “match” the flooring of the rest of the home. While creating an even, cohesive flooring plan is important to the overall design, your focus should be on flooring coordination rather than floor “matching.” Matching is a practice that, in many cases, doesn’t really exist. Because of the specific skills needed to create floor coordination and install quality floors, it’s nearly always best to trust this part of the construction process to experienced flooring professionals.

If your addition includes a kitchen or has countertops and cabinets for another reason, it’s worth considering how your flooring might coordinate with these home features for a timeless and attractive look.

Windows

Most home additions feature at least two or three exterior walls. Depending on the addition’s function, you may need to consider window design and installation throughout the space. Windows can contribute greatly to a home’s curb appeal and incorporate brightness. Many different window styles are available on the market. Depending on your budget, windows can have great potential for ROI. Consult with your home designer and contractors to see what type of windows would fit best.

Paint Colors

If you’ve ever walked through a home design or hardware store, you’ve likely seen a wall full of colorful paint chips. The possibilities for home paint colors are nearly endless. Paint can be a relatively low-cost way to infuse style and personality into any space. It can also be a simple, low-stress method of creating cohesion between your addition and your existing home.

Most hardware stores allow you to take home free or low-cost samples of different paint colors. You can test a few in your space before investing in certain ones. You might also decide to coordinate your wall colors with your flooring. This might require you to consider what type of flooring your addition will have and which hues will complement it best. For example, dark wood floors often look attractive with light-colored walls.

Furniture

Furniture is another obvious way to bring personality and beauty into your new home addition. Of course, you may have a very particular use in mind for your addition. For example, if you’re planning to use it as a home theater, this concept will require considerably different furnishings than a home gym or crafting room would have.

It’s essential to consider your addition’s purpose before you purchase any new furniture. While furniture can certainly eat up a budget, there are ways to save money while still providing nice, comfortable pieces. Consider reupholstering or refinishing pieces you already own. Flea markets, estate sales and secondhand stores are other places to find some great deals on furnishings. 

Lighting Fixtures and Other Design Features

Chandeliers? Fireplaces? Built-in shelves? Entertainment units? These popular, dynamic design features can pack a big style punch in your home addition. These types of features are often custom-made, allowing you to splurge on key pieces that reflect your taste and personality.

Be Flexible

Remember that a new home addition, like any renovation or construction project, can be a long and sometimes unpredictable process. Unforeseen delays and unexpected events are always possible at some point. Be flexible and keep your cool — and keep extra emergency money on the side. By doing so, you’ll be better able to maintain a calm, low-stress mindset throughout the design process. 

Design Your Home Addition Like a Pro With the Help of 50 Floor Experts

At 50 Floor, we are flooring design and installation professionals with over 40 years of proven experience and thousands of satisfied customers! Our experts are proud to provide excellent service through every step of the flooring process — from planning to design to installation.

We offer many styles of hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile and carpet flooring. Our product lines can accommodate various needs and budgets, enabling a wide range of customers to receive their dream flooring designs. We also provide price-match guarantees and flooring and installation warranties across most of our product offerings. 

We are proud to serve 18 different metropolitan areas throughout the country. If you’re ready to take the next step in creating your home addition or developing any other construction project, contact us today to schedule a free appointment!

The post How to Design and Build a Home Addition appeared first on 50 Floor.

Are you looking to freshen up your home with some new additions? You’re not the only one!  Over the past three generations, theimportance of home decorationto the general population has risen. Adding new additions to your home isn’t just fun — it’s a step towards making your home reflect your style on a deeper level.

How your home is put together can also have positive effects on your mental health. For example, the way a room inside your home is planned out, including how much space it has,can positively affectyour physiological stress.

Researchers have even found that carpet inducesless physiological stressthan walking on wood floors. However, wood floors are aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean. Any new home additions will depend on what you need from your home!

With all that said, let’s look at ways to create the perfect home for you with unique home additions.

The Best and Most Unique Home Addition Ideas

We know sorting through all the home addition ideas out there can be overwhelming, which is why we’ve created a simple list of the best and most unique home addition ideas.

1. Kitchen Addition

Are you looking to rehabilitate your kitchen? Consider adding square footage to your kitchen so you can fit in extra amenities, such as an eat-in counter, a breakfast nook, or even new appliances, such as a larger refrigerator or an additional food pantry.

2. Screened-in Porch Addition

Sometimes you might want to witness the total beauty of nature without dealing with the weather. A screened-in porch is a perfect place to chill out during these moments. Is it winter? No problem. Grab your book and watch the snow fall from your new porch.

3. Bathroom Addition

A bathroom addition can include a walk-in shower, a larger bathtub,new, unique flooring, an extra sink for your partner or a whole new bathroom on a different level of your home. A bathroom is a place you can go to be alone and relax, and bathroom additions can help you create a bathroom you want to escape into.

4. Pantry Addition

We could all use a little extra storage space. For a pantry addition, you could utilize space that’s already free in your home or you could convert an unused closet into a pantry. Consulting a professional on how to add a pantry to your home is your best bet.

5. Second Story Addition

Whether your family is getting larger or you need more space for an office, gym, library, etc., a second-story addition can help you out. If you want a ton of extra square footage, it’s time to build a home on top of your home!

6. Mudroom Addition

Finding a space for shoes and other objects that come in contact with the outdoors can be tricky, but a mudroom addition to your home can solve this problem. Add a mudroom and protect your home from germs that come in with shoes and coats.

7. Family Room Addition

Family rooms are important. It’s where families often gather to watch movies or do other fun activities. That being said, family rooms get a lot of use and traffic, so adding square footage ornew flooring is always a good idea. Not sure how to choose new flooring for your home addition? Check out 50 Floor’s blog, where we have blog posts about everything flooring, such as how to choosethe best flooringfor an open-concept floor plan.

8.  In-Law Suite

When you gain additional family members through marriage, why not gain an addition to your home along with them. In-law suites are a great place for your in-laws to stay when they visit, babysit the kids or stay long-term. They’ll feel welcome and comfortable with the addition of an in-law suite.

9. Garage Conversion

Not using an old garage? An unused garage is the perfect space to convert into a gym or game center. Of course, with this addition, you’ll want tothink about flooringthat will fit the function of your new space.

10. Glass Walls

Who knew that walls could be chic? Glass walls not only let in a lot of natural light in whatever room you decide to install them in, but they can give the appearance of more open space.

11. Guest Room Addition

We know you love your friends and family, so why not have a special place for them to wind down when they come to visit you? They’ll gain comfort, and you’ll get to design and decorate a beautiful new addition to your home.

12. Square Footage Addition

A square footage addition is appropriate for any room in your house, though it is best to consult a professional on how much square footage you can add to your home and where that square footage can be added. Of course, with any square footage addition, you’ll have to think aboutreplacing your flooringor coordinating your new flooring with your old flooring.

13. Den Addition

If you want a room similar to a family room but a bit more intimate, consider a den addition. Den additions are typically designed to be a cozy place to relax with your loved ones and maybe watch TV or play video games.

14. Sunroom Addition

If you’re a plant lover or you like to bask in the sun yourself, a sunroom addition is the perfect way to go. Sunrooms get plenty of natural light for your plants and you to enjoy.

15. Small Deck Addition

A deck addition doesn’t have to be big. A small deck can add a lot to your home. It can be a place to relax and enjoy the weather or a place for you and your family to gather and cook some delicious food.

Design Your Perfect Home Addition With 50 Floor

Looking for unique floors to replace your old ones? At 50 Floor, we’ll come to your home to show you a range of flooring options. The best part about shopping at home is you’ll be able to see how different flooring options coordinate with the décor in each room of your home.

Why shop with us? We offer competitive prices and free in-home consultations. The following are morebenefits of working with us:

On-time promiseSuperior safetyElite maintenanceLearn more about all our flooring options and their costs when you contact us at 1-877-505-5667.

Start on your new home addition, andschedule an appointmentwith us today.

The post Home Addition Ideas appeared first on 50 Floor.

When designing a small functional bathroom, there are many ways to make it feel bigger and fully utilize the space. Keep in mind that aspects such as lighting, color scheme and flooring can all have a significant impact. Click this link to view great flooring options for your small bathroom. There are plenty of ways to give the illusion of a roomier bathroom and organizing tricks maximize the area. This article can be helpful if you are moving and experiencing a bathroom downsize or just looking perform a makeover in general. Now, let’s dive into some things you can do to make the most of your compact space.

1. Large Mirrors

Our first tip in small bathroom design to extend your area is to replace your small and mid-sized mirrors. Larger mirrors play off of optical illusions to enhance the depth of a room, in turn, making it feel bigger. It is especially helpful to angle mirrors in a way to reflect the outdoors if possible. More oversized mirrors also can reflect other parts of the room, giving the illusion that the room extends further than it actually does.

2. Wall Shelving

A great way to make the most of your space is to take advantage of the walls for storage. Rather than taking up more room on the floor, moving your storage area to open or closed shelving units is the way to go. Open shelves may help give a more roomy feel but won’t do much to conceal clutter. Floating shelves are also very popular amongst ideas for small bathrooms as they are simple and take up the least amount of space. Whether you utilize your wall space for decor or functionality, there is a way to do it without visually shrinking the room.

3. Flooring

Choice in flooring for small bathrooms also plays a vital role in the optical illusions of the space, as larger tiles make a room appear bigger. There are many different considerations for your choice of bathroom flooring as it varies in functionality and price. Tile, laminate, vinyl and hardwood flooring seem to be the most popular and come with their own pros and cons. However, tile for small bathrooms seems to be the most popular due to its durability, visually pleasing aesthetic, water resistance and how easy it is to clean. Flooring decisions along with wall colors are the most significant determiners when it comes to perceiving room size. This link offers a lot of insight about tile and can help you decide if it’s suitable for your bathroom.

4. Under Sink Storage

While a smaller sink with no storage underneath may give the look of a bigger bathroom, it leaves less room to store your essentials, which can already be a problem with limited space. Finding the balance between a small sink area and one with underneath storage to hide clutter is essential when making the most of your small bathroom. Depending on your need for storage, either sink option has benefits for a small space. 

5. Light Colored Paint

It goes without saying that a room’s color scheme has a major impact on how big or small a room feels. Ever felt claustrophobic in a dimly lit room? Well, you’re not the only one. It’s commonly known that light colors make a room feel more spacious due to their ability to reflect light. Sticking to a color palette of creams, beiges and white for walls is recommended for small bathrooms. However, don’t let this deter you from using colors; pops of earthy tones look great with this aesthetic.

6. Wall Hooks

Utilizing your wall space with hooks is a great way to make storage in a small room. Rather than folding up towels and putting them on shelves or in drawers, save crucial space by hanging them on the wall. Wall hooks are such a space saver and allow you to still keep your necessary items in the bathroom. Wall hooks in a smaller size can also be used for hanging your jewelry or hair accessories. Find cute hooks that match the energy and style of your bathroom to add variety to a functional piece.

7. Recessed Lighting

Choosing recessed lights for your small bathroom design is sometimes an overlooked factor in remodeling. Recessed lighting works because it takes up less space visually in the room. For instance, a large chandelier would draw most of the attention, taking up more room and making it appear smaller. Recessed lighting will also aid in bouncing light around the room to create the illusion of a wider space. Another benefit to upgrading to this bathroom lighting is the timeless style. Light fixture trends come and go so quickly while consistently providing the same purpose. Keeping your lighting out of the way while still purposeful will likely lead to it lasting much longer. 

8. Utilize Corners

If possible, putting a corner sink or storage unit can help free up more wall space in your bathroom. Strategically utilizing each part of your bathroom will ensure that it stays uncluttered, making it appear more spacious. Putting a corner cabinet with a rounded edge can provide a lot of storage in your bathroom without appearing bulky or oversized.

9. Avoid Clutter

While this small bathroom tip may seem obvious, it can be hard to manage if you struggle with a lack of storage for your bathroom needs. Keeping surfaces tidy, with few items out in the open, will also help your bathroom look and feel bigger. One way to avoid clutter is to look for items that serve a dual purpose, such as a shower-safe bench that can also double for towel storage. If you’re working with a small bathroom that is designated for personal use, following these storage tips above can help you minimize your clutter.

10. Glass Instead of Shower Curtains

This tip may require more work and be a bit steeper in price, but glass shower doors visually make your bathroom appear much bigger. Shower curtains close off your bathroom, and when already dealing with a compact space, it’s the last thing you need. When working with a small room, it’s so important to keep things open, including the shower. There are also options for adding glass to both your bathtub or stand-up shower.

Looking to Upgrade your Small Space?

Flooring is a great place to start when it comes to a small bathroom remodel. Schedule an Appointent to have 50 Floor experts help you discover unique bathroom flooring options to expand your space. With a wide selection of tile for any bathroom style, it’s easy to find what you need. 50 Floor provides quality service matched with the best tile for small bathrooms to give you the space and upgrade necessary. Visit our website and request an at-home consultation to see what bathroom flooring options are best for you.

The post 10 Small Bathroom Ideas appeared first on 50 Floor.

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Humans and nature are intertwined. However, many indoor spaces such as our homes tend to be without natural elements. Biophilic interior design aims to bring aspects of nature inside.

You don’t have to be an interior designer to incorporate biophilic design into your next home remodel, though. In fact, learning how to incorporate nature into your home design is relatively straightforward. All you have to do is keep several biophilic design starting points in mind.

Ways to Add Biophilic Touches to Your Interior Spaces

If you’re interested in connecting your home to the outdoors, try implementing the following design strategies.

Use Natural Materials

Whether you’re redoing the floors in your living room or switching to different kitchen cabinets, think long and hard about the materials you pick. For instance, hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring will give your space an all-natural look and feel. You can use theJanka hardness rating scalewhen picking these flooring options.

Opt for Nature-Inspired Designs and Lines

When you take a walk outside, you’ll rarely see sharp 90-degree angles and perfectly straight, long lines when looking at plants, trees or stones. Instead, you’ll see connections between curves and shorter lines. When you’re purchasing furnishings, artwork and other upgrades, invest in a few that offer natural lines. These designs could include a table with a top made from reclaimed barn wood that features rounded corners.

Pick Earthy Colors

The colors of nature frequently lean toward tones such as browns, grays and greens. Of course, those hues can also include pops of color like brilliant reds, purples and yellows. If your goal is achieving biophilic interior design harmony, choose colors found in nature instead of more artificial ones like neon.

Make Living Plants Part of Your Room Scheme

Adding living plants and flowers to your home is a fast, simple way to incorporate nature into any design. Plus, you’ll get added benefits when your home is filled with plants. Perhaps the most important of all is improved indoor air quality. Plants “scrub” the air, leaving it fresher and cleaner. When paired with other items that can improve indoor air quality, such ascertain flooring types, plants can be a huge advantage to you and your family.

Choose Organic, Natural Furnishings

You’ve painted your walls and ceiling using a natural palette. You’ve installed oak hardwood floor planks. But your furniture may not mesh with your biophilic design dreams. In that case, look for furniture featuring natural materials. When used appropriately indoors, bamboo, wicker and rattan can boost a biophilic interior design.

Expose Your Home to Sunlight and Moonlight

It’s time to open up your rooms to natural light. The simplest way to do this is to add more windows and skylights to each room. If you don’t have the budget to put in larger windows, you can also bring in light by using sheer curtain designs. Also, integrating an open floor plan may help your space feel more bright and airy.

Upgrade Your Home With Biophilic Designs From 50 Floor

By incorporating a few biophilic design elements into your house, you can create a more relaxed and nature-inspired home environment. Also, you don’t have to change everything all at once. Instead, you can choose to slowly integrate these tips.

Start small and update one of your favorite spaces, like the kitchen or living room. Afterward, you can move on to other parts of your home as you have the time and budget.

Want to find out how nature-inspired flooring will look in your home?Schedule an appointment with 50 Floornow to learn more about the biophilic design difference natural flooring could make.

The post What Is Biophilic Interior Design and How Can You Incorporate It? appeared first on 50 Floor.

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There’s nothing like coming home to a house with a sophisticated design that reflects your unique style. If you want to give your home a makeover without splurging on a costly remodel, there are ways to revamp your space on a budget. You can achieve a luxury design with affordable styling techniques. Some inspiration is all you need to give your home a high-end feel without breaking the bank. 

This guide includes helpful tips for how to make your home look expensive on a tight decorating budget.

8 Budget-Friendly Ways to Create a High-End Design

Designing on a budget can be fun and creative if you follow the right strategies. Test out these interior design upgrades in your space to achieve a luxurious look for less.

1. Start With a Classic Base

Neutrals colors and classic tones are the secrets to creating a space that lasts for years. Walls painted with a simple color palette and traditional hardwood floors will never go out of style and will save you money on costly updates in the future. Taupe, gray, white, brown and black tones serve as the perfect base for any room.  

A neutral color palette will blend with any accessories to create a cohesive, high-end design. You can introduce fun colors and textures with pillows, art pieces and rugs. As your style changes, it’s easy and affordable to swap out accessories. You can even update the color palette to match your seasonal decor. 

3. Create Ambient Lighting

The proper lighting should be functional and aesthetically pleasing. Overhead lighting will illuminate the room, but it can seem harsh and sterile. Placing several lamps around your space will create a warm and welcoming ambiance. 

Lighting can add interest and detail to the room. Plain and simple lighting comes standard with any home. Replacing basic fixtures with more stylish options is an affordable way to make a noticeable impact. Adding a chandelier will create a focal point for a high-end look. Replacing your shades with a modern version can make any room feel luxurious. 

4. Upgrade Your Flooring

Your floors serve as the foundation of the entire room. The style of flooring you choose will impact your space’s overall look and feel. While replacing your floor requires some effort, it’s an affordable way to elevate your space.

Wooden floors look clean and fresh to make the room look updated with a classic charm. Hardwood is an investment, but you can replicate the same look with moreaffordable vinyl or laminate.

Vinyl flooring is abudget-friendly additionto any room. It looks very similar to hardwood, and some people might even mistake it for the genuine article. Laminate is equallybeautiful and affordable. It often has realistic wood texture embossed on the surface. Both options are durable and waterproof, so they look brand-new for years to come.

5. Hang Window Treatments

When it comes to creating a high-end look, the details and finishings make a significant difference. Drapes and curtains add texture and color to the room for a polished look. Sheer curtains let sunlight through the window, creating a soft cast of natural light. Colorful or patterned curtains serve as a bold focal point. The fabric that you choose is equally as important as the placement. 

Hanging your curtains from the ceiling will draw the eye upward and make the room feel taller and grander. Even if your windows are small, you can create the illusion of tall ceilings by installing your window treatments as high as possible. For a small investment, you can hang long, flowing curtains near the top of the wall to make your home look expensive on a tight budget. 

6. Create an Accent Wall

Painting an entire room can add up quickly. Adding one bold wall will bring interest and drama to your home at an affordable price. Using a dark shade will add depth and give the space a high-end feel. It only takes a small amount of paint to cover a single wall, so this design hack is one of the most affordable. 

For a less permanent option, peel-and-stick wallpaper comes in a wide range of colors and patterns at a low price. Temporary wallpaper adds a stylish flair to the space that can easily swap out to keep up with the latest trends. It can also hide minor imperfections in the wall for a sleek finish. 

7. Add Fresh Flowers or Houseplants

Interior spaces tend to feel incomplete without a few natural touches. You can literally add life to your home with fresh flowers or houseplants. They brighten up the room and add a natural element to your interior. 

Beautiful flowers are a luxury that we often give as gifts. Dressing your home with fresh blossoms will create a high-end look for only a few dollars. If you are a gardener, you can try this method for free!

Houseplants are also an affordable way to add interest to your home. They come in many sizes and varieties that can elevate any design. Touches of green can change the feeling of your space. A living plant will give your home a sense of peace and balance. 

If flowers are out of season or you lack a green thumb, faux options can achieve the same look. While they tend to cost more upfront, they will last forever without needing maintenance or replacement. 

8. Introduce Tile

Tile is anothertimeless materialthat adds a fresh element to any space. It’s durable and easy to clean, so your home looks polished at all times. Porcelain and ceramic tiles come in hundreds of shapes, sizes, colors and patterns you can mix and match to create a stunning design.

For a small investment, you can add a sleek backsplash to your kitchen or a statement floor to your bathroom. Tile provides a high-end look that will last for years.

Contact 50 Floor to Take Your First Step Toward High-End Design

At 50 Floor, our team of professional flooring experts can help you achieve the high-end interior of your dreams. Choose from a wide range of high-quality and affordable flooring options to upgrade your space.

We provide a shop-at-home experience to help you choose the most impactful flooring that blends with your style. We offer laminate, vinyl, tile and other options at competitive prices to help you maximize a tight decorating budget. We handle the entire process, from ordering the materials to performing the installation.

With over 40 years of experience, we provide convenient customer service and top-notch craftsmanship. Take your first steps toward a high-end design with 50 Floor, and schedule a free in-home consultation today.  

The post How to Make Your House Look High-End appeared first on 50 Floor.

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