Top Tips to Achieve Scandinavian Design In Your Home

 How To Make Your Home Look Like A Hygge Getaway

With winter coming in fast, many people are looking at the neat designs of places that have winters far more brutal than here in Texas. With that sort of idea in mind, we would like to bring your attention to the warmer and more cozy cousin of modern minimalism: Scandinavian design! Whether you’ve never heard of it, or you’re looking for tips to get started, this is the article for you. 

What is Scandinavian Design

Many people's first question is what is Scandinavian design and “where does it come from?” 

Scandinavia is made up of three European countries located far to the north: Norway, Denmark and Sweden. 

Scandinavian design comes from the fact that houses are usually on the smaller side, and people are stuck in their houses for long periods of time in winter. From these two facts it makes sense that the style consists of clean lines, and a lack of clutter  Functionality without sacrificing beauty is a key concept, because you're going to be staring at it quite a bit and there just isn't room for things if they don't serve a purpose. Scandinavian style also favors bright, airy spaces and a focus on nature, unlike it's stylistic cousin, minimalism, which is drawn more by darker colors and the division of spaces. A final important factor is texture. If something is soft, warm and fuzzy? It's probably a good fit for Scandinavian design. Think of things like faux fur carpets, thick plush blankets, and soft pillows. All things to keep you warm and cuddle up in after a long cold day. 

Courtesy of Teryn Elliott

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How To Achieve Scandinavian Design In Your Home 

Play with Natural Light

Because light is so limited that far north during the winter, it's especially important to find ways to make the most of it. So, play up the windows, bring in lamps that imitate natural light and make the most of the light you do have. It also means keeping your surroundings bright and possibly playing with mirrors to maximize light as it comes in. 

courtesy of Decorilla

Use Warm Wood

Warm woods like oak, and spruce, pine and birch  are great for this design style. All of them are light colored woods that add to the feel of both merging with nature and also keeping your space light and airy. 

courtesy of Decorilla

Light, Muted Colors Overall with Small Pops 

We keep talking about how long and dark the winters are and we're not done. In order to keep your home bright during the winter, Scandinavian style would have you paint your walls white and use mostly muted or soft colors to keep everything feeling cohesive. You can however make choices of natural brighter colors and incorporate those throughout, so long as they’re in small doses. 

Clean Lines

When it comes to furniture, light fixtures etc, go for things that are clean and natural lines. Overly complicated designs are not something that meshes with Scandinavian design . 

Think Cozy

As we mentioned up top, winter is long and miserable in Scandinavia. Even if winters are mild here in Texas, you can fudge this one a little and still get the look. Get accent carpets of faux fur. Get pillows and blankets that are wonderful to curl up with even on stormy days. Think of what cozy means to you and bring that in. 

Mix Textures

Building on the last one, use multiple textures in your decor. Bring in soft and silky, chunky knits and plush throws. Layering textures like this helps to add to the cozy atmosphere you're building.

Courtesy of Decorilla

Clutter Free Spaces

Although newer houses are being built larger, houses were typically built on the smaller side as it was easier to heat during the winter. A side effect of that meant that they didn't allow for excessive amounts of stuff. So you won't see much in the way of clutter in most Scandinavian homes. 

Greenery

To help bring life into the home, quite literally, plants are found in many Scandinavian homes, even in the depths of winter. 

And that’s a wrap! What do you think? Are you interested in bringing Scandinavian design into your home? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

And as usual, if you didn’t wind up here because you’re looking for decor ideas, but because your appliances are malfunctioning, let us know! At Appliance Rescue Service, our goal is getting your home running smoothly again, whether it’s your dryer or your oven that’s malfunctioning or your ice maker has decided to just stop working. You can reach out to us on our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). Wherever you are in the Dallas Metro Area, we’re here for you.

Keys To Mid-Century Modern Design

Whether You're Just Looking Or You're All In, These Are The Keys To Design For Your Home

Do you miss the simplicity of the 50s? Or maybe you're just tired of the cluttered look of modern decor? If you said yes to either of these questions, Mid-Century Modern decor might be for you. Don't fret if it's not something you're familiar with, though, as we're going to explain where Mid-Century Modern came from, what Mid-Century Modern focuses on, and ten tips for how you can implement Mid-Century Modern in your home. 

Mid Century Modern was a concept that, unsurprisingly, rose to popularity in the middle of the 20th century. The world was changing at such a pace, and people were trying to carve out something that was new.  It was heavily influenced by the German school of design and architecture, Bauhaus. At this time, the school emphasized clean lines, functionality, and a futuristic look. 

These three components came to shape the core concepts of  Mid Century Modern design, along with a few others. These included the fusion of the organic and manmade, muted tones and seamlessly combining the indoors and outdoors. 

If you're looking to learn a bit more about Mid Century Modern, check out some of the designers who were famous for it. 

Eero Saarinen

Charles & Ray Eames

Isamu Noguchi 

George Nelson

Cara Greenberg

Arne Jacobsen

Herman Miller

Let's take a look at ten tips that you can use in your home today to start putting together the Mid Century Modern look of your dreams. 

1) Fusion of Indoor and Outdoor

Bring plants into your home, not just on the edges or the porch. They should be incorporated throughout the decor, as MCM is all about breaking down the separation between inside and outside. Another way to bring that in is having window treatments that leave as little separation between you and the outside world as possible. 

2)  Use Size To Your Advantage

When it comes to space, having more space typically makes us more comfortable. So to bring that feeling to a room, use furniture that's smaller. Using smaller pieces in neutral tones not only highlights your statement piece but also allows the furniture to fade into the room, providing a more spacious feeling. 

3) Vary The Height Of Things Within The Room

When you look into a room, you don't want everything to be at one equal height. Whether it's decor on the walls, furniture, or decorations,  mix things up. 

4) Natural Colors With Pops Of Color 

It doesn't have to be all black, white, and wooden in order to be Mid Century Modern. Bring in some color! Use natural tones (again focusing on the incorporation of nature) and then add a splash of color. 

5) Minimalism 

Courtesy of StuBailey

This sounds like a very simple concept. 'Just chuck everything out and only buy what you need." Except... how many of us are good at living like that? 

The thing is, minimalism doesn't have to be getting rid of everything. It's about reducing the clutter and having open, functional spaces. Furniture is simple with sleek lines, without much in the way of ornamentation. 

6) Keep It Functional

Unlike some other styles, Mid-Century Modern wants everything to be functional. If it doesn't have a purpose, it doesn't belong. The flip side of that is that every functional item in your home is also uniquely beautiful because of that. It's a difficult balance to maintain in our fast fashion world, but when you're committed to the design, it's worth it to hunt down pieces that fit the concept. 

7) Mixing Materials 

Just like we want to bring in the outdoors, we want to bring in a balance of man-made vs. natural. Woods and metals, leather and velvets, the consistent interplay between the two is part of the fun. 

8) Velvets

Courtesy of yaoyaoyao5yaoyaoyao

Picking right up from that last point is a material your Blogger loves, velvet. While texture can be said to be an important part of any decorating scheme, velvet holds a special place for Mid Century Modern. This is a lovely way to escape and relax while still holding to the minimal feeling of the design. 

9) Build Each Room Around Statement Pieces 

Courtesy of Steven Miller

For each room, pick 1-2  pieces that really stand out and fit the concept of Mid Century Modern as you see it.  Work around those pieces for the rest of the room to mimic, contrast or highlight them. Bring in colors that complement or contrast them. Bring in other shapes that highlight that one. Bring in textures that are similar. It all ties back together to focus on the piece you’ve chosen. 

10) Choose Statement Lighting

For our last point, make sure to choose lighting with some oomph for your rooms. Light, and the lighting we choose, is just as much a part of a room as the furniture or walls. So, the light fixtures that you choose should stand out just as much. 

And that's a wrap! What do you think? Are you interested in learning even more about Mid Century Modern decor? Or have you decided it's not for you? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

While you definitely can fit your laundry room and kitchen into a Mid Century Modern design, we know that's not why everyone lands on our website. If you're having issues with your refrigerator or your oven, reach out! You can get hold of us on our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). No matter which of your major appliances is on the fritz, Appliance Rescue Service will work with you to figure out what the problem is and work with you to get it running smoothly again.

10 Tips For French Country Decor

How To Bring This Calming And Simple Decor Style To Your Home

Have you ever looked around your home and thought, "I wish I could travel to France?" Well, we can't help with the travel part, but we can help redecorate your home to look like it. Whether you are planning out changes for next year or looking to do some redecorating before the holidays, join us in taking a look at French country decor. 

Use Natural Light Wherever You Have It.

Photo courtesy of agata 822

Bringing in natural light is a part of what gives French Country the signature light and airy feeling, which means LOTS of windows and curtains. It’s a great thing if you can open your windows to let in the breeze. If you’re really devoted to the idea of this design, you could go so far as installing new windows that can be cranked open from the inside, giving you safety and a beautiful look. 

Keep Your Brick

Courtesy of Engin Akyurt

If you've got an interior brick wall in your home, keep it. It brings a vintage look to your home that not many modern homes have. This is a part of many French country homes, although it was because it was actually part of necessity at the time.   If you want, you could go so far as whitewashing it to lighten up the space. Whitewashing isn’t a difficult process and only needs to be done once a year. Fortunately, Home Depot has a nifty tutorial. 

Bring In Wood Countertops Where You Can

Courtesy of American Lumbermill

 Bringing in natural materials is a key concept for a French country home, be it cotton, linen, wicker, or wood. And it doesn't have to be just for the countertops in your kitchen or if you have a bar. These can be table tops this can be mantle pieces, or side tables. You can do it for shelving, there are all sorts of ways to work in that warm natural wood into your home. Even better, there's nothing that says you have to go and use just one type of wood. Pick a couple of tones that you like, and you can work them in around the home and throw in some white-washed wood as well to go and get that extra authentic appeal. 

Use All Of The Copper! 

Courtesy of Shon Flaherty

It used to be that copper was one of the cheapest metals you could use in your home. And then industrialization came, and we realized that copper as a whole just makes it look homier. Which is why if you're looking to imitate a French country home, bring in the copper. Door knobs, light fixtures, light plates, and cabinet handles. Don't be afraid to get creative with it, either. If you see somewhere that could use a bright pop of copper, do it! 

Save Your Cabinet Space, Hang Your Pots

Courtesy of David Marck

Let's talk about the kitchen specifically for a minute. Space is at a premium in the kitchen; why not hang your pots and pans? Hanging them above your kitchen island not only opens up your cabinets and makes it easier to find what you want when you want it, but it also adds to the rustic charm that we're going for throughout the house. (Especially if you don't have an induction stove and can use copper bottom ones.) 

Bring In The Green

Courtesy of Freshouz

Going right along with the wood tones and the creamy whites, and the coppers, bring some green into your home. Since the decor is all about the country, soft sage green or a bright spring green works well to tie you into your surroundings. It's also helpful for those days when it's grey and cloudy to keep your mood bright. 

Love The Look Of Arch Ceilings

 If you have a room that is high enough where you can embrace it do it. This can be faked in a multitude of different ways, from clever lighting and panels to paint. Or if you know that this is a design you love and you have the space to do it, bring in a professional. Have them actually redo the ceiling and utilize the roof space to give an arched ceiling. 

Courtesy of Archways and Ceilings

Bring In Your Plants

Courtesy of Pexels

We're not talking about a full greenhouse or replicating a jungle. But scattered here and there throughout the home, a few plants in every room. Not only does it literally and figuratively bring life to the room, but it also adds a certain lightness that is sorely needed. Plus, studies show that having more plants in your life helps with depression, and we are all for mood-boosting ‘plant children.’ 

Use Your Alcoves To Full Effect

Courtesy of real simple

If you have little nooks and crannies and depressions around your home, use them! Make them a focal point instead of something hidden. Use a backsplash, or if you're feeling sneaky, you can use peel-and-stick wallpaper and change it up on a regular basis. Use these nooks to highlight something that's special to you or just to highlight a particular pattern or color that you're enjoying this month or this season. If your home has these spaces, make the best use of them.

Mix Up Your Seating

As much as we adore huge overstuffed sofas and chairs you can curl up in all day, there are other options. Bringing in rattan and wicker chairs pulls more of the natural vibe throughout the home and offers beautifully unique furniture. Rattan and wicker don't have to be just for outdoor settings, either. You can use furniture with rattan back, or mix in wicker chairs throughout the living room, alongside the others you have. 

Courtesy of Fietzfotos

So? What do you think? Are you going to be doing a French country Christmas? Or is this just not for you? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.

If you wound up here because you're needing help with your appliances, however, I'm not your decorating, we can still help. Reach out to us via our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). Appliance rescue service we want to get your home running smoothly again. We will work with you wherever you live in the Dallas metro area.

True or False? How Many Trends Do YOU Know?

Check Out Our Quiz To See How Many You Can Spot

Courtesy Of: Country Living

• Display Your Art in the Kitchen 

  This one is true!  It's become very popular this year to bring art all throughout the home. Companies like Displate offer art that is sturdy enough to hold up in the kitchen, while others are looking at digital frames like the ones from Samsung. 

Courtesy of: Kinedesign

• Bringing Back Freestanding Bathtubs 

  This  one is also true.  We're loving having bathtubs be the center of the bathroom again. Although the concept of self-care is a bit contentious as to what defines it, there are many different reasons to love a good soak. From the physical to the mental to the emotional, there are dozens of benefits to a soak in the tub, and having you bathroom's central focus on it just makes sense. 

Courtesy of: Wallart & Indecortrends

•  Bring the Garden Inside with Floral Wallpapers

  This one is true. We talked earlier this year about bringing in larger patterns for wallpaper into the home, gardens seem to be what's really getting the focus this year. We can't say how long this trend will last, but with peel and stick wallpaper, we don't think there's any harm in finding the perfect wallpaper for you. 

Courtesy of Zionstart

• Let Yourself Breathe with High Ceilings

  Here we've got out first false. While this is a fantastic design option in your blogger's opinion, current design trends aren't currently focusing on this one. The towering ceilings are lovely to look at, it's not an easy look to get if you're not building your own home or purchasing an older property. 

Courtesy of Paynes Grey

• Make It Minimal with Metal and Glass 

  This one is also false, and is actually a trend from the 1920s instead. Check out the precise lines and the shine of glass, it's a very Art Deco style. At the moment the straight lines aren't so much a thing as are curves and more natural shapes. 

Courtesy of: Revival Beds

• Make Your Room Royal with a Four Poster Bed 

  This one is very true and we love it! As we've mentioned previously, we're all over the idea of being comfy in your home, that your home should be your castle and your getaway. This trend is taking that to the next level and bringing back four poster beds and we are loving it. 

Courtesy of: The Chive

• Be Comfy All Year Long With Cozy Fabrics

  Another true one, and again, very much an outcome from the pandemic. Adding in comfort to every room, when you don't know what a given day will bring you, is a fantastic idea. Whether that's linens and cottons or velvets and weighted blankets, we love that people are focusing on making their home safe, clean and comfortable 

• Let Your Room Be as Complicated As You Are With Contrasting Decor

  This one is true, and admittedly, we can see why. By having your room one color and then bringing in different contrasting colors, it allows you to have more play and expression in different rooms. 

Courtesy of Trendesignbook

• Bring in the Bling with Art Deco 

  Sadly, this one is false. Although Art Deco has become popular again, at the moment the trends are heading more towards those of Art Nouveau, rounded natural shapes and natural colors. 

Courtesy of :Touch of Design

• Flounces Everywhere! 

  Thankfully, in your Blogger's opinion at least, this one is currently false. While flounces are currently rather popular as an accent when it comes to clothes right now, we aren't seeing them transition back into decor just yet.  

Courtesy of : Ridgestonehomes

• Paint Your Kitchen, Anything BUT White 

  If you paid attention to an earlier post this year, you'd be wise and know this one is true! Not only are people getting rid of their upper cabinets, but they're also painting their cabinets all sorts of vibrant and stunning colors. 

Courtesy of Sideboards & Buffets

• Ancient Egyptian Design 

  Although Egyptian design is always very interesting, at the moment it's not a top trend. Which is either a  very good thing, or very bad, depending on your love of gold and blues. 

Courtesy of: Factory Direct

• Let Your Sofa Be Curvy 

  This one is true! As much as we're all loving on the curves in nature, we're applying it to our sofas as well. We don't see this one hanging on for long though, as it is rather difficult to plan around a curved piece of furniture, as people in the 70s knew all too well. 

Courtesy of: The English Home

• Plaster work (gilt optional) 

  As interesting as plasterwork is, we're rounding out our list with a false!  Plaster work has the possibility to add so much character to a room, but for the time being it's not a trend. Probably because of the price that goes into it.  

How did you do? 

1-4 = You're still finding your footing for trends. 

5-9 = You're well on your way to being a trendsetter! 

10-14 = You are a verified trendsetter! Go out and help people find the best decor for them this year. 

Did we have any that we missed? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. As always we love to hear what you think. 

If you're wondering why in the world we're talking about interior decor when you just need help with your dryer, we've got you covered. Give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or reach out on our contact page. We'll work with you to find a time that works with your schedule and make sure that we figure out what's going on with your appliances. 

Weekend Decorator- Quick Hacks To Bring New Life This Summer

Decorating Your Home Doesn't Have To Take Months! 

Do you ever get the itch to redecorate, but you don't want it to be a drawn-out process? You want something new and different in your home, but you're not willing to have everything up in the air for weeks or months at a time. Sometimes, you just need a quick weekend project to change things up and give yourself an entirely different feeling. Best of all, unless you want it, the projects don't have to be super expensive. Let's go over 10 easy projects you can do in a weekend.*

- Add pattern to your walls 

Who says that patterns are just for your tiles or fabrics? Not us! Find a pattern you love, whether it's a stencil, a wallpaper, a removable tile, whatever, and toss it up. The easiest way to make this look 'right' is to split your wall into thirds horizontally. Then decide whether you want to do the pattern across 1/3rd of the wall or 2/3rds. From there, go for it. 

- Choose a bold design you love

Artie Lotus Floral - Wayfair

When it comes to bringing in new things, go for something that's you. Some people say, "Go bold or go home," but what's bold for you (say... giant florals) might not be bold for your visiting cousin (who just adores polka dots.) So make sure that it's something that fits you and the space you're working in.  

- Use molding in the same shade as the painted sections to create a crisp divide between different sections. 

If you want to really class it up, reach for some thin molding. Remember how we said to choose whether you're going for 1/3rd or 2/3rds? Now use the molding all along that divide and paint it the same shade as the painted section. This gives you a really neat divide between the two sections and makes it look all the more stunning. You can do this no matter what you've added to the wall, wallpaper, paint, tile, whatever. 

 Bring in a cute border with a scalloped wall edging.

If you've got a room that you really want to bring some pizazz to, check out a scalloped edging along the top or bottom edge of the wall. 

- Grab a bowl or saucer to make yourself a template (with 3-5 repetitions so that you can get it done faster) and cut it out of cardboard. So, trace the bowl side by side, so you get a curved equivalent of this ^^^^^ on your cardboard. 

- Use a ruler and level to create the line at the curved edge of your template where the pattern 'ends'; use a pencil to trace the pattern along the entire wall or all of the room, depending on your preference.

- Grab a paintbrush, throw on a podcast and go at it. 

-Take some photos as you go so you can show off your creative genius. 

-Draw attention to something you love.

-Do you have something in your home that you adore? Maybe you've got a fireplace that's rough and rugged, a staircase that's carved beautifully, or a period door. Frame that with a pop of contrasting color and show it off. Take a ruler and set it out about 3-4 inches from what you're highlighting, and frame it in an eye-catching color. 

-Bring wallpaper into the kitchen 

Forget using an expensive backsplash. Since one of the trends of the year is for forgoing upper cabinets, why not bring in some wallpaper instead? You can bring it in in "windows" that you frame out with paint, or just do the whole of the kitchen, whatever speaks to you. 

     Forget an expensive backsplash. Since people are foregoing upper cabinets, why not use that space for wallpaper instead?

- Turn those tea towels into art!

Every Christmas, someone gets a chef a tea towel, possibly several, or an entire hand-sewn set. And that's great! Those tea towels serve a bundle of purposes in a kitchen that's used regularly. Sometimes though, you don't /want/ to get them ruined. You want to protect them without having to just stash them in a drawer somewhere. So why not turn them into art? Use a frame that's painted the same as your kitchen cabinets and hang it up. You can even frame several this way and rotate them out throughout the year. 

- Give an old desk a new outlook on life.

People throw away old desks all the time, and you find one that speaks to you. Or you might have one that you've had for eons, and it's beaten and battered, but you can't stand to get rid of it. That's when a bit of sandpaper and some chalk paint come to the rescue. You can even use it as an excuse to bring in the color of the year (remember, it's Very Peri right now) without having to redo everything in your home. 

-Another easy change is to swap out your curtains. Winter is over, and it's time to bring in the light! (Cue the MaMa Odie) Swap out your thick thermal curtains and replace them with something lighter like cotton. Not only will you bring in plenty of light, but by adding a second layer of bright blackout curtains, you can use them to block out the worst of the heat of the day and keep your home cool, only opening them to enjoy the beginning and end of the day. 

- Give your kitchen a warm glow by bringing in touches of brass. 

Brass ladels by Stux

Not only is brass a material that disinfects itself after 8 hours, it's got a lovely warm glow that looks great in your kitchen. You can use it to replace drawer knobs, pulls, latches, sinks, and even your light switch covers if you want. All that's going to take is a few hours to choose what you want and then an hour or so to swap it all out. 

-Create a curated gallery wall that you can mix up at any time! 

     -We saved our favorite tip for last. You might be like us and have a hard time choosing just one piece of artwork for a room. Well... who says you have to? Say goodbye to that convention and set up a rotating art gallery all your own. Grab some ledges from Ikea and paint them the same color as your wall (or walls), and hang them up. Now you can set your artwork on them, move them around, and swap them out any time you want without having to try and hang them. 

If you're like us and you can't stand having a fixed set of artwork, who says you have to? Grab some ledges from Ikea, paint them the same color as your walls, and hang them up. Now you can set your artwork on them, move them around and swap them out any time you like. 

What do you think? Are you interested in trying out some of these? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. We'd love to hear from you and any ideas you come up with yourself! 

If it's not a 'new feeling' you want but maybe something along the lines of 'having a dishwasher that gets everything clean' or "having your freezer properly freezing things," that's where we come in. Appliance Rescue Service will get your home back to running smoothly so you can focus on things that are more fun. You can reach out to us by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or by going to our contact page and setting up an appointment. We'll work with you to find something that fits with your schedule. At Appliance Rescue Service, we're here for you. 

(Maybe not all at once, but you can certainly complete one or two of them. If you want to try and do all of them, let us know! We'd love to hear how you managed it.)