LiveIn|LiveOut

An integral house accessory is a mirror. This could be any shape or design, but whichever shape or size you may choose, will do a myriad of beneficial things. There are so many on the market at the present time, and shopping for one can be an ordeal if you don’t do your research first. To begin with, it is advisable to ascertain for what purpose you will need a mirror and where it might live in your home. There are so many reasons why any type of mirror is such a good accessory to have so we have decided to list a few of these below in the hope it may point you in the right direction:

Mirrors will help to create more space and light in your home

This is without a doubt one of the most positive benefits of placing a mirror in your home. It is ideal if you have a small space such as a hall or tiny bathroom. A mirror will immediately add space as you are virtually creating a reflected space of what is already there. Think about when you go into a small shop for instance and all of the walls are mirrored, as you are browsing through the rails of clothes you turned towards more space or ‘another rail’ to find that it is only a reflection! This is a really excellent use for a large wall mirror as it gives the impression of having more than what is already there. More space makes people feel open and not closed in, thus making them feel more at home and less trapped. This is a really simple idea, but also really effective, so whichever mirror you choose make sure it is a big one!

A mirror also helps to create more light by reflecting from whichever source it may come from, be it a window or bulb and will reflect into the mirror and bounce around the room. Light and airy houses look more refreshed and up to date, and altogether more modern so a mirror for this use is equally as ideal to create that beautiful homely feel that everyone aspires to.

Mirrors make it easier for you to dress

We all know that there are some people who can sort out what they are going to wear the next day and prepare it in advance, but we are not all like that and usually leave things to the last minute…If this is the case, you will need access to a full length mirror in the morning when you have some vague idea as to what you may wish to wear. This is because you can check in a full length mirror whether you need to bother ironing something or if the shoes go with the skirt. Now, if you don’t have access to a full length mirror in this case you will be trying to either a) Stand on the toilet seat to grab a view of the bottom section of yourself or b) Be stood on your bed attempting to do the same by jumping up and down trying to make a judgment in those few split seconds that you are all in view. Let me tell you, it is worth going out and purchasing a full length mirror if only for this purpose. It will leave you a lot less stressed before work.

Mirrors are great for wall art too

Mirrors are great to create something unique in your home. By using a series of smaller round mirrors, you can position them in a really nice splash across your lounge wall. Round wall mirrors look great used in this way, as they have a sort of retro sixties feel if they have been positioned against some really funky, bold wall paper. At night, a series of these smaller round mirrors will bounce the light around the room helping to achieve a more relaxed and ambient surroundings. The twinkle of mirrors will help to really bring your room alive and be a great talking point with your guests. In a similar vein, by using a really large round mirror, it will help to reflect more light and will create more space as we discussed earlier, but it will also create a fantastic centre piece in your home. A round wall mirror will always look impressive and the beauty of it’s curvature will soften your décor.

Square wall mirrors can be equally as interesting if you position them in a cubist fashion. If you choose to put them in a step formation they could also look really nice. Really though, what you choose to do is up to you, but try to use your creativity as it helps to use mirrors in a alternative ways so that you can benefit from all the practical positives as well as creating something different from what anyone else may have in their home. try looking for an art deco miror.

Keys are an item or items that we all own and all treasure with our lives. Keys open precious things and you don’t want people to get hold of them for this very reason. We all own keys to safe guard homes and cars, work and locks for bikes to name but a few. We all know that dreaded feeling when we are out on a shopping trip and a sudden cold feeling consumes us, because we have mislaid our keys somewhere. So a crazed hunt to re-trace our steps immediately begins without delay. Also, we are all accustomed to waking up late one morning and realizing that you are going to be extremely late for work, so we rush around pulling on our clothes and cramming in a piece of dry toast in order to try and get to work on time…only to discover that our keys are not where we usually put them! Half an hour later we usually find them and discover that they have fallen off the sideboard into a shoe directly below. All this can be helped and somewhat alleviated if you were to purchase a key rack.

Key racks for the home

We at LiveIn|LiveOut believe that key racks are a staple item for your homes. They alleviate stress and it is easy to quickly get used to placing your keys in one given place so that they all live together, making it easy to find when you really want them to be on hand. Having all of your keys living on a wall key rack in your home will help to make your daily living life less stressful. There are so many things that take up a lot of our time in today’s world so it is really important to keep things in their own place to help you with the smaller everyday details. It is a good idea to keep your key hooks or rack by the door, that way all members of the family can get into the habit of placing them there as they pass through into the house at the end of the day. It is also good practice to perhaps have another rack by the back door as you may need to store shed keys or bike lock keys as well.

There are many options for you to look at and consider when buying a key rack or key hook rack for your home. Below we have compiled a list of a few ideas you may want to think about when searching for the correct one.

Magnetic key holders

This is a really modern take on a key rack and will look fantastic in a contemporary home. There is an option available on Amazon.com call a Magnetter Espresso Key & Letter Holder. It is truly a beautiful object as well as something that has much use. This key rack is wall mounted and works by magnetically holding keys onto it without nasty hooks jutting out. This particular option has space for you to put post as well so it ideally works for more than one purpose.

Making your own and getting creative

Shabby chic is really in fashion at the present time in interior design. A key rack therefore doesn’t have to either cost a fortune or be boring and standard looking. You can get creative and if you find something at your local tip shop or something at a local charity shop that looks as though it has potential then quickly snap it up and get creative! It really is that simple, and it is nice to have some items in your home that are individual to you. A quick splash of paint and some new hooks will instantly jazz up an existing key rack. Perhaps you may want to experiment with some dried flowers and coat them with some varnish to fix them in place to create a beautiful and natural country key rack.

Metal key hooks

If you are looking for something a little simpler and less fussy, you may just want to go to your local DIY store and grab yourself some small hooks and these can be positioned on the wall without any backboard or extra detailing. Bearing in mind that this will be used everyday, we would recommend that you put something at the back as it will wear your wall when the keys bang against it constantly.

Other metal options are a series of five or so hooks molded onto a metal plate with some detailing like butterflies or something similar. Fleur de lis options are available if you like your art deco period, as well as anything else that you may be into. Whether its animals, design periods or colour there are an extensive array for you to consider dependent on your personal style and your personal décor.

Vinyl tablecloths have always has somewhat bad press and when you think of them you are instantly transported back to the seventies where putrid greens and oranges decorated your family’s kitchens. This really isn’t the case today, as there are so many inspiring designs available to you on the market and they always have been ultimately a really good idea.

Tablecloths are always a good idea if you have children. Not only does it protect your pride and joy of a table but it helps to diminish the length of time that you spend clearing up after them as well. If you are house proud and own beautiful furniture such as a solid wooden table, the last thing you will want is for it to get accidentally damaged. Kids are unaware of the things that are precious to us as they are still learning, so you should expect mishaps as this is what kids inherently do, although you can alleviate accidents and keep the damage to a minimum by keeping those items as protected as possible in ‘hot spot’ situations.

Children’s Parties

One of these ‘hot spot’ situations could be at a child’s tea party. In this situation there is plenty of pop flowing and spillages are to be expected. Crumbs and chocolate smeared across your hardwood table won’t go down so well, so why not protect it with a vinyl tablecloth and put your mind at ease so you can enjoy the time spent with the little monkeys instead. We don’t want to put a stop to children having fun for it is part of their growing up stage so by protecting items around the house it will take away the guilt of being precious and the guilt of the child if they accidentally do damage something. Vinyl tablecloths are truly a Godsend, they are easy to keep clean and are easy to wipe with a wet cloth. You can also keep them hygienically clean as well by using a spray directly onto the surface. They can also be put into the washing machine for a quick wash if they get too grubby.

Vinyl tablecloths are also a great idea to add a bit of fun to your child’s parties. They come in all manner of colours and shapes, patterns and characters. If your child for instance is really into Bob the builder then they could enjoy eating their picnic with their friends as well as Bob. Fairy tablecloths and princesses are also available, just to help you create a more inspiring and magical atmosphere for the party. Children love bright colours and by sharing their birthday with Winnie the Pooh it will make for a day to remember.

Grown Up Take on the Vinyl Tablecloth

Shabby chic is the height of fashion at the moment and with this style introduces roses and pretty pastel flowers on beautiful blues and pinks. It is primarily a fashion that has been brought up to date using the 50s styling. Using pattern can be a really nice and cheap way of bringing your kitchen instantly up to date by introducing some bold shapes and chic flowers to help add in more personality and interest into your space. It is really nice to see what an individual likes in terms of pattern and design, as it makes the house a home. If you are short of cash and cannot afford to splash out on wallpaper or a complete re-design, try to think about things that you like and patterns that reflect you and jazz up your kitchen that way.

If you have more of a traditional, delicate taste then you may want to consider the practicalities of a vinyl tablecloth as well as introducing some beautiful lace detailing. Vinyl lace tablecloths are available and are great as they are easy to clean, they look great and they help to protect your favorite tabletop. Lace won’t look cheap and will add an old fashioned chic feel in to your home.

Round vinyl tablecloths are also a really nice and simple way of showing some of the wood of your table underneath so that it doesn’t have to be completely hidden on a rectangular table shape. Also, a round vinyl tablecloth option is available of course for round tables so that you will not end up with reams of fabric gathering around the sides.

Flannel Backed Vinyl Tablecloth

This is a step on from the old fashioned seventies designs. The designers have thought about the issue of slipping, which can invariably be a pain. Flannel backed vinyl table cloths are great as it alleviates the worry of your dinner ending up on the floor. The flannel backing grips on to the table helping it to create a more stable worktop for your plates and dishes.

Finding the right shelves for your home can be a puzzling task. New build houses tend to have very weak plaster board walls so you have to be careful as to which shelf will be suitable for you in this case. You must also consider what use you are going to be using your shelf for. If you want it to be strong enough for books, then you will not want to go for any type of ‘floating’ shelves as they will not support the weight. Due to the subject matter in this article of glass shelves, we will assume that books will not be an issue in this case. Here at LiveIn|LiveOut we have put together a few ideas for you to help you to create that stylish hotel feel and have tried to explain why glass has all of the glamorous qualities that helps you to achieve this look.

Bathroom Glass Shelves

Glass shelving always looks stylish and sleek in today’s modern home. It is usually found in a bathroom setting as it is moisture resistant and looks clean and is great for use around water. Water can be a real obstacle when choosing the correct materials for the right use. Wood for instance, can look beautiful in the bathroom, but unless the wood has been treated it isn’t such a good choice. Glass shelves however, are perfect for this situation. They are easy to keep clean and wipe off any spills or splashes of toothpaste, creams or lotions that may come into contact with the shelf over time. Glass wall shelves in a bathroom allows you to display some beautiful objects d’arts or alternatively to rest your toothbrush upon.

Glass wall shelves are also a really nice option for the smaller of all the rooms in your home. We usually find that the bathroom is one of these rooms. Small rooms benefit from as many space saving solutions as possible, this could mean either physically or visually. If you are struggling for space you may want to consider putting the shelves a little higher up and to clear space around you so that there is more room to move around. Visually, a small room can benefit from clear materials such as glass. Even though you have the extra surfaces by the use of a shelf, glass does not ‘eat in’ to the space and does not act as a solid eyesore.

Floating shelves can also simplify the visual impact of a shelf. Floating glass shelves will look stylish and will not have the need for complicated brackets to support them. Floating shelves look as though they are defying gravity and look simply stunning in any situation and be of great use to your practical needs.

Make your Room Sparkle by Lighting Up your Glass Shelves

Everyone wants to make their rooms and homes sparkle and for them to look inspiring. The simplest way to create all the glitz and glamour of a hotel room is with lighting and reflective surfaces. Glass as a material is quite a simple material, yet it has all the rich sparkle that helps to create a beautiful light reflective and bright surroundings. Any type of lighting in a room with glass in it will help to create this beautiful look. Down lights in a bathroom will achieve this look as will any wall mounted lighting feature. Try and experiment with glass and mirrors with lighting in order to create that stylish pad of your dreams. 

Alternative Glass Shelving Options

Glass doesn’t just come in the typical green or clear colour, it is available in black and blue colours to name but a few. If you wanted to achieve a more retro seventies look in your home, then black glass shelves could be for you. They add interest to your interior but still retain its transparent bonuses. Glass can be manufactured into many beautiful colours so it may be worth looking into other options if you wanted something a little more fun.

Toughened glass is always a great way to display perhaps heavier items. Toughened glass not only gives you peace of mind in the fact that you are able to place heavier things on to it makes it more practical. You could perhaps opt for toughened glass if you wanted to rise up a pot plant or position a few ornaments. His is a really nice option that has been on the market for quite sometime and become extremely popular because it is so much stronger than the usual glass shelving options.

Glass shelving has always given a room that ‘wow factor’ and by experimentation and some knowhow you will quickly be able to turn your house into a stylish yet homely pad. You don’t have to spend a fortune to create a stunning designer look.

If you have dogs then you will fully understand why there was a much needed requirement for this article! Our modern houses cannot really be all too pleasant for our pet’s paws and limbs and any type of excitement or doorbell ringing in our house brings with it the uncontrollable cartoon legs spinning around on one spot. Laminate floors are so very practical if you have dogs; it keeps the pet smell to an absolute minimum, it is easy to clean and doesn’t get matted with fur like a carpet does, although the constant clatter of claws on the laminate will begin to drive you a little potty, not to mention when you are trying to get into a good book and your hound decides to drop it’s bone right by your side on the hard floor…Time for a solution to the constant clattering of claws and an end to the scramble to the door! A solution that will not require you to completely re-fit your home with new carpets! This solution is rug runners.

Sound absorbent

Any type of rug is great when you have pets. Not only does it make it easier for them to walk on, it will also help to keep the sound down. Materials in a hallway or any type of room for that matter, help to absorb sounds and noises – especially barking which can be amplified when you have a home with bare walls and laminate floors. If barking has become louder since you fitted that beautiful looking laminate flooring or tiled floor then you may want to consider filling up you space with some softer furnishings to help the echo. This really is a tried and tested solution to this problem, and a rug will help you to dampen the volume of the barking. The hot spot area is usually in the hall way so you may wish to look at a runner rug. Runner rugs are typically long in length and will fit perfectly in to a tight hallway. You can buy other proportions but you will have to see what space you have to work with before you begin your search.

Traction control

Runner rugs are great and will help your pet to gain some sort of traction on the floor to the front door! If you have quite excitable dogs, then you will understand this one…Dogs can be rather eager to great the postman or any guests that were thinking of paying you a visit and the inevitable scramble to the front door can be quite a chaotic one for all involved. A runner rug leading up to the front door will help to slow down the panic and you will be able to gain more control as they will not be sliding around everywhere! On a more serious note the scramble can take its toll on limbs and if your dog was to slip and fall awkwardly he could hurt himself. The easiest solution for this problem is to fit a non-slip back to your rug runner in the hall. Rug runners with non-slip backing make it safer for all of your family and the chances of sliding around are certainly lessened. Children can also benefit from this as well. The non slip backing can be already part of the rug design, although if you can’t find one it is easy to pick up a roll of non-slip backing from online or from any good home store. To fit, it simply needs to be cut to the size of your rug and placed underneath so that it grips onto the floor successfully.

Practicalities

Rugs runners need to be washable if you have pets too so there is no point buying shag rugs. This we feel is a definite requirement particularly if you have dogs. Dogs tend to get quite muddy out on their walks and the hall way (being the main through way of the house) will get abused and will get dirty quickly. You will notice this is more of a necessity during the winter months when there is nowhere else for you to dry off. A machine washable rug runner is perfect for this. Machine washable rug runners usually come with a poly backing which not only acts as the non-slip factor but it can also be easily folded up so that it can fit into your machine.  

Rug runners come in a variety of designs and styles, and depending on your requirements there should be something exciting out there for you. If you are interested in purchasing one for your home, be sure to check the measurements before purchasing and also bear in mind that if you do have pets – a wool rug runner is not very practical and It will cost you more in cleaning bills than the rug originally cost. Look out for magic mats that help to collect the dirt and are easily hovered as well.

Any mirror in your home gives it that added extra of sumptuous luxury and sparkling exuberance. The idea of a mirror is traditionally to view yourself in, or at least to see a reflection of something, but today a mirror is used in many different ways and for many different reasons. A mirror can be used for a bit of interest and a modern day piece of art. There are so many different shapes and designs that can inspire you to purchase a mirror for this reason and will look great on a blank wall to add personality and interest into your space.

Another reason for purchasing a mirror in general is, apart from the obvious practical reason, an instant way to add in and create more space than you already have in your home. A mirror adds depth and is used by top interior designers as a ‘cheat’ to achieve perceived space as the mirror as a material; bounces light around the room also allowing more light to enter. Here at LiveIn|LiveOut we have researched a few of the most recommended space creating places for you to position your large wall mirror. Large wall mirrors are specifically ideal for this purpose as the greater the area of the reflective surface the greater area you are adding into your space.

Where to position your large wall mirror

If you decide that your house needs more light or a sense of extra perceived space then you may want to consider purchasing one. Take a look around your home and start by ascertaining where the problem areas lie – for instance if you have a dark hallway or a cramped bathroom then you may want to begin in these areas.

Boxed in bathroom – This can be an ideal place to position a large wall mirror if you are lacking natural light or the room is so small it makes you feel a little claustrophobic. An illuminated bathroom mirror could be the answer to this, not only will your bathroom benefit from the added extra of an additional light source, it will instantly add more space into your room.

Hemmed in hallway – This is usually the most common problem area in a home. Usually the hallway lacks natural light and is quite narrow but you want some sort of personality to welcome your guests at the front door to your home. A wall mirror will help the lighting issue if you do have some source of natural light, and the larger the mirror that you choose will give instant ‘space’. In order to address the personality issue we would recommend looking around for a mirror with a frame that will add interest – for instance an art deco mirror, a Venetian mirror or a cheval mirror. All of these are just ideas for you to consider when looking for the correct mirror for your home.

Bedroom Boudoir – A mirror in you bedroom is a really good idea, as for a lady it can be used as a makeup mirror or positioned on a vanity unit. You can also place a large wall mirror on a wall where you could stand back and view yourself after getting suited and booted to check everything is in order.

Longing for a luxurious lounge – We all spend a great deal of time in our lounges. It is the place where you relax and put your feet up to watch Saturday night television at the weekends and somewhere where you settle down and put down the days troubles during the week. The more space that you can create in your lounge the more it will help you to relax and by being surrounded by some really interesting objects d’art that are personal to you will give you the head start to really feeling at home. You may have a particular style that you may wish to take through your whole house or you may also just want something simply contemporary to add a little glimpse of sparkle to the corner of your lounge. An over mantle mirror nicely frames your fireplace and adds instant depth above the fire. An overmantle mirror can be ornate or styled in your favorite era and placed above the fire will look simply stunning. Alternatives to a single mirror could be a series of round mirrors placed in any fashion in order to create a wall of art. The ideas are endless as long as you think about what you wish to achieve.

Where to get your large wall mirror

The answer to this question is really up to you, as there are so many shops that offer so many varying styles. Your choice of mirror really depends on your own taste but when you are choosing be brave and opt for a large mirror as you will get many benefits from it – space and light reflecting, a mirror is still the most favored item on an interior designers most wanted list!

Shag or shag pile rugs can look fantastic in your home. They add a designer edge to your décor by introducing texture and movement with its long tassels. A shag rug will look beautiful as long as you can keep it looking nice by cleaning it regularly in the correct way. This article will outline some of the best ways of looking after your shag rug whether it is made from leather or wool and take you through some things you may not have thought about before you purchase one.

Is a shag rug the best solution for you?

If you are thinking about getting a shag pile rug, please think first about the practicalities within your lifestyle. These rugs are beautiful, but you do need to be sure on your choice bearing in mind; where you want to position it, whether you have pets or indeed children.

Pets and children will not be the best mix for shag rugs. This is a fact. The nature of the deep pile will capture bits of dirt, fluff, paint, and small pieces of toys and you will notice the general wear and tear to your beautiful rug very quickly. If your rug is made out of wool for instance, pet hair will stick to it very effectively and will build up overtime getting locked in the depths of the pile and you will end up with a very pet smelly rug. Your pets will love it, but you will quickly realize that this is not the perfect solution for you. Equally, in the same vein, muddy paws and general everyday build up of dirt will make this beautiful feature your most hated soft furnishing, so be really careful where you choose to put it. Children love to play. You will be sure to find pieces of play dough and bits of Lego that will get trapped in the pile too.

The answer is, if you want to enjoy your rug as it really should be enjoyed, is to place it in your luxury areas such as your bedroom. Here, it will be able to show off its true beauty and will stay cleaner for longer as it will not in be in the main through way of the family’s comings and goings. It is so important to place this type of rug in a suitable position, as it will save a lot of heart ache at the end of the day, and a lot of money on constant cleaning. Hallways are ideally suited to much harder wearing rug runners that stretch the length of your hallway.

How to clean your shag pile rug

Depending on the type of material that your shag rug is made from, you will have to have these specialist cleaned. Although there are a few other options if you are looking to save money on cleaning every few months.

Steam cleaning

This is a really effective way of cleaning and sterilizing any dirt that may have built up and you can do this at home. A steam cleaner is really good at cleaning other things in your home so you won’t be purchasing one purely to clean your rug. This is a really effective solution particularly if you have a woolen shag area rug. A steamer works by heating up water in the unit and blasting it out either in a jet or it also has fittings. The fittings are very much the same as a vacuum cleaner supplying you with various heads which have bristles. You then place a cloth over the top of these bristles to catch any dirt as you are scrubbing the area. You may be better off using the jet steam head for woolen shag area rugs, as too vigorous a scrubbing action may break up the twisted woolen tassels. A steamer will leave your rug sanitized and fresh and after a good shake it should be as good as new.

Vacuuming your shag rug

This is generally not a good idea, if you are going to use any of the vacuum heads. Today, vacuum cleaners have specialist head fitting that have a rotating brush – This will not be good for your rug and will only result in tangling up your rug in your vacuum. The alternative heads are just as ineffective as they are too harsh for this natural product. It is better to just use the suction nozzle and spend a bit of extra time getting the nozzle right down into the depth of the pile. Down in between the pile, is where you will find the build up of fluff and hair etc. Be sure not to put the power on full, as this may also break up the woolen twists.

Leather shag rugs

You are better off keeping this type of rug in a luxury area as well. A leather shag rug will probably benefit from being taken to specialist cleaners if it is completely necessary. If you regularly give your rug a shake and a gentle vacuum, then it should be ok, unless of course you spill something on it. You can carefully use an upholstery attachment on a low power but do not use any type of chemicals on a leather rug. If you have spilt something onto your leather shag pile rug then it is best to spend a little bit extra and take it to the dry cleaners.

Organize your home

Organizing your home doesn’t have to take long… it’s more of a strategic placing of objects to make them look tidy and together. Your home starts to look untidy when different objects are muddled in with each other and not grouped. Magazines have always been a problem in everyone’s home, they seem to ‘breed’ and the piles get higher and higher, making it yet another area for you to dust, trip over, kick and once again stack up. Organizing your magazines will not only help you to clear space in your home but it will also allow you to see more clearly what you have. There is nothing more irritating than trying to squeeze out a magazine that is about twenty down from the top! All of a sudden you need 3 pairs of hands to juggle the enormous pile that has expanded over the last few years. When magazines are organized it is easier to clear out what you may not want to read or have read. We all have a habit of collecting magazines because there is one page that you are keeping it for. Whilst we are on this note, start a scrap book for these pieces and it will help to get rid of some of the bulk. When you feel like having some chill out time on your sofa with a nice cool glass of wine there couldn’t be anything less stressful than to reach up to a well organized magazine rack and simply select your chosen fashion flick or yachting monthly to indulge yourself in.

For those who take magazines to the loo!

Now, I don’t know if I’m altogether comfortable about the whole ‘taking a magazine to the loo’ concept. But I suppose I do know that it happens …..a lot, and it usually is the male that chooses to follow out this kind of behavior! I always argue that there is never enough time to read anything…. but I am willing to accept that I could be in the minority, and there is some sort of creative space surrounding the hole in the floor and I suppose everyone has an area to reflect in!

A bathroom magazine rack is a fantastic idea, if you are in the clientele of the above paragraph. There are so many novelty racks that you can buy and it will help to organize what little space there usually is in a bathroom. Really you will want one that has ideally a few uses, so that you can save space and either attach it to the side of a unit or something that may clip to the loo roll holder. I have seen racks for sale like this and they seem to be really useful and easy to reach. The magazine rack that fits to the loo roll slides behind the roll of paper so, even though you can only store one or maybe two magazines at one time, it is easily accessible. There is also another design that does seem to be more sturdy and you may want to check out if this is what you are after – organizeit.com has a Stainless Magazine and Toilet Paper Holder that is both useful and stylish too.

If you are looking for a freestanding unit so that you are able to store more than one magazine or book then there are plenty to choose from. These come in traditional finishes as well as stainless basket type racks and will fit snuggly into any corner without any trouble.

Designer magazine racks

For those of you who are looking for something a little more sleek and sophisticated and on the edge of design then be sure to check out Paolo Design. Paolo design is based in France and have an extraordinary selection of different bits and pieces of household accessories.  These guys do some really awesome designs. There are magazine racks that are shaped like cats and dogs and come in an array of finishes and colors. These are sure to bring not only personality and fun into your home, but also organization with flare. The dog design even holds your magazine in its mouth as if it has just picked it up off of the doormat…it’s great!

Make your clutter into art

Recyclart have a really interesting take on the magazine rack. This design made from corrugated carton is great for the environment and looks awesome. Its design spirals like a staircase and holds 20 to 30 magazines. This design was made by a student at a Mexican design university – CEDIM. The rack also doubles up in to a rather handy tabletop too! Student’s are a great source of inspiration when it comes to finding different solutions to tired designs.

Another idea is to free up some space and wall hang your ‘art’ rack to display it as a wall mounted magazine rack. A wall magazine rack should always at the forefront of your display at home. This is where art generally is displayed so it needs to look sleek and interesting – a talking point for your guests. There are some really interesting ideas out there on the market from wavy shaped ones that create movement to more rustic designs from rusticwildlifedecor.com. These are really lovely and bring more of a crafty feel to this type of accessory. Check out the Wall Mount Magazine Rack – Bear Design in this range.

Art Deco is one of the most popular styles today. It brings with it grace and elegance and stunning creativity. Art deco, for all those that are new to this phrase is taken from a period around the 20’s. Originally from Paris, it brought a recognizable eclectic style found nowhere else in the world. Art deco was named this around the 1960’s, where it inspired artists, designers, architects and industrial designers alike. The Chrysler building in New York was heavily influenced by this style and you can find smaller items that can be found around the home such as mirrors and brushes following this style in a similar vein. It’s architectural decadence makes this one style in history to not be forgotten. It has been replicated over the centuries and still remains as popular today as it once was.

Art deco styling makes your home look stylish and chic. It looks beautiful with a simply designed house so that the key pieces speak for themselves.

Typically, when you think of art deco styling, you may think of fanned, elegant lines. This is shown in most of the mirror selections you can buy today. Black and silver colouring was also reminiscent to the simplicity of this style. If you look at a typical art deco mirror it will fall within these categories.

Looking for an original?

If you are looking for an original art deco mirror you will have to do a bit of research as to where the nearest sale rooms or antiques dealers are in your area. If you are willing to travel a little further you will open up the possibilities by looking around your nearest city. You can purchase an original but with it will come quite a hefty price tag. It all depends on your budget but you can pick up some bargains if you keep your eyes open around the charity shops, you may just be lucky enough to discover an unnoticed treasure! www.sheryls-artdeco.co.uk offer a range of varying deco styles from wood framed to wrought iron styled original designs. It may be worth having a look at this site for a few ideas. There are quite an array of different styles that may take your fancy and they come in at around £500 each.

What about reproduction art deco mirrors?

This is one of the easiest ways to bag yourself an art deco mirror without too much fuss. They will be cheaper than an original and there are some really good reproduction art deco wall mirrors out there for you to have a look at. Here, we have given you a few examples of art deco mirror to bear in mind:

• Amazon.com features a stunning Starburst faceted mirror – Art Deco Starburst Mirror. This is simply stunning and typically depicts the traditional design of that period. It’s floral round faceted finish will look beautiful in any home bouncing light off of all of the segments.
• You could look at a few alternative designs on amazon such as the ‘Art deco glass wall mirror’ and ‘Winecoff art deco wall mirror. The glass wall mirror is made up of tiered faceted pieces of glass to create a stunning piece of rectangular artwork as well as a functional wall hung mirror. The Winecoff design has more of the detail in the frame itself. Another example is the multi level art deco wall mirror. It resembles a flagstone paved finish by the way that the pieces have been put together in a mosaic fashion. Any flamboyant design like these will without a doubt become a centerpiece in your home, adding interest to a shady corner or a blank wall.
• If you are looking for more impact then you may want to think about a larger art deco mirror. A large art deco mirror will give your home style and will also give the appearance of more space. Any mirror in a small space will make the room seem twice as big and twice as light, as the light reflects and re-bounds off the reflective surface. If you wanted a simple large mirror in this style have a look at more subtle designs with a plainer finish and simpler frame. The works of Veronica Ossio, Novica show the beauty of this art deco styling. She uses Onyx in her framework rather than making the feature out of fragmented glass. This will give you a cleaner look – NOVICA Mirror, ‘Art Deco Rose’ is available through amazon.

Positioning your art deco mirror

It is important to place your mirror in the correct place. This will not only allow you to showcase this beautiful object, but also use it in a space expanding way. The ideal place for any mirror is in a small area. By giving the impression of space, this beautiful object d’art will help to maximize overall perceived space. Adding a bit of personality into your house is really key to making it feel like a home. Try to add in a few more pieces of art deco styling around your home and perhaps think about adding in an art deco bathroom mirror into your spa area. By adding in different pieces of a similar style into your home, will help to bring all of your other styles together.