A home is never complete without a lovely paint finish to complement the whole design of the home, be it a modern or a classic design. And while many would opt for a solid, plain color for the walls, there are others who opt to be more creative even on a simple way. Faux painting is one of the simplest, but nonetheless stunning ways of finishing off a home or even just a room. Faux painting or finishing aims to copy or mimic surfaces of marble, wood or textile and require different technique to achieve each surface effectively. This amazing technique makes a home or a room wall stand out from the rest of the decors and chosen furniture.
How to Impress With Faux Painting
simple strokes for different effects
Creating a texture on a flat surface can be achieved by using different techniques. In faux painting, creating texture can be done by using different brush strokes. Each overlapping stroke builds up the overlapping effect on the surface and forms the faux painting layers even if only one paint color is used.
Marble effects can be achieved through sponging. This technique is used in faux painting and is very effective in creating stunning effects. Sponging a single hue or multiple colors over another solid color creates a lovely marble effect.
While sponges and brushes are great tools, other household items can also be used to achieve a perfect faux painting. This example which uses tissue paper creates a marvelous effect on the ceiling. The brown paint seem to glow into a golden color and sinews are formed naturally from the crumpled tissue paper.
Colors and hues going light to dark is a sight to behold. This is why ombre is a great choice in painting a wall at home. This becomes even better when faux painting and ombre is combined and a neutral color is used. This can be a perfect bedroom wall finish or an accent wall in the living room.
The most comfortable place or corner of the home deserves a relaxing view. Creating an accent wall with white and blue faux painting is refreshing and most definitely an inviting way to sit back and relax on that lovely corner. Add complementing and comfortable furniture and the natural beauty of flowers and you will have a space every guest will envy.
marvel on a faux painting that aims to recreate marble
The natural beauty of marble, the swirls of colors, sinews and overlapping hues make it a sight to behold. Imagine this inside a home complementing all the furniture and fixtures. Simply majestic and definitely breathtaking.
achieving a verdigris look on a classic drawer
Verdigris is often a green pigment that appears when acetic acid is used in copper. This faux effect creates that old but lovely look on a classic drawer. Place this in a room and it will instantly become the center of attention.
The romantic Spanish inspired staircases becomes even more splendid with a faux painting wall for a background. The staircase itself becomes more vivid against the soft earth tone faux painting. The chandelier, plants, windows and pots add more drama to this lovely scene.
stunning bathroom in faux red finish
Red is a color that some people find too strong for their taste. Adding details in red through faux painting, however, can change this perspective and can definitely change anyone's mind. The red is somewhat subdued by the brown mix and the stones and rocks used for the whole theme of the bathroom makes the red pop without the harsh effect on the eyes.
One of the most natural faux lookes comes from wood. The different hues and the texture from wood attract more people than anything other materials can. Restoring the faux design of a door gives it more attitude and makes it look more attractive than just having it in plain paint.
Plain painting or finishing in a home is great, but adding a little more detail to the plain wall painting will add a different drama level to the wall and the whole room. This faux painting using different colors creates the illusion of dyed cloth. Each color blends well with each other and offers a majestic effect to the furniture and the rest of the room.
Mixes of colors are very common for marble, and achieving this can be quite easy through faux painting. This lovely marble effect can be used on your walls for a decadent look.
soft faux painting for a classical look
Dreamy rooms are lovely in plain finishing, but finishing a dreamy room in faux painting makes the room exquisite. All the lovely ladies will agree on this setup and will truly have a great time accessorizing a room with soft colored faux painting and a vintage vibe.
Green and blue faux painting can remind anyone of nature and the natural color of the sea. The calming effect makes this faux painting ideal for any home and the effect does not wear off easily. Anyone who wants to bring inside his home the serenity of the sea will find this combination of colors in faux painting to be ideal.
A mix of texture in earthly tones
Faux painting also includes the illusion of embroidery, and the image below is a perfect example. The details of the design are stunning and can remind anyone of the days of classic paintings and impressive works of art. The earthly tone used for this faux painting also lets the details stand out without compromising its own lovely effect on the whole piece.
creating faux effect on wood in teal
Teal can create the verdigris effect and can be lovely for faux painting. Adding this effect on natural wood creates depth and a rustic feel to the material. Use this technique for a vibrant country home feel.
While many people find an accent wall unnecessary, this ombre faux accent wall will surely make people think otherwise. It is stunning and gives a home the right oomph. The "ooh's" and the "aah's" will come naturally for guests as they marvel in this beauty that lets the room stand out amongst the rest.
Have you ever give faux painting a try? Feel free to share your projects in the comment section below.
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Humankind proved itself to be the true masters of all races when it first invented animation.
Millions of artists all over the world were thrilled to express traditional painting through a digital platform which transformed art itself.
Not only did this open up one of the most defining prospects of art ever in the field, but it also provided these millions of talented artists to create absolute visual magic on the screen!
Well, the all-father of animation, Walt Disney, might have cried tears of pride and joy on beholding the evolution of animation. However, artists know the real grind of behind every single picture that they put out there. And the most important part of creating the motion picture is to set it on a definite background.
The background of every picture is the foundation that defines, and in animation, it gets all the more important to achieve the statistics right while creating the background.
Background painting books are a complete life-saver in this regard and a must for every aspiring animator or whoever wants to learn a thing or two about creating backgrounds.
So, if you’re looking to get your hands on some really useful books for painting stunning backgrounds for animation, this is going to be just the read for you!
Best Layout and Background Painting Books for Animation
And it’s only fair to start off with something for the ardent Disney fans and their love for creating spectacular Disney-like animated marvels. So, if you want to get some precious insight into work-in-progress projects and a depiction of some of the coolest and famous Disney themes ever!
This book contains more than 300 pieces of absolutely unique artwork that will cover of a classic range of notable Disney project, dating as early back to Snow White and up to favorites such as Tangled!
Not only do you get some brilliant tip and tricks alongside the brilliant artworks and their mechanisms that this book is going to decode, but it consists of suggestions and advice from some that iconic background painters along with their works that are featured in this book.
And only a few would know that this but this book is the first of a series of books that were released by Disney’s archive collection. This makes it a rare gem of its kind and incredibly valued amongst people who do know about it.
The quality of the print is undoubtedly awesome, and the directions are pretty easy to follow. The page material of the book is thick enough to prevent the colors from seeping or bleeding through to its edges or sides.
This is, however, not a “how to” book and wouldn't give much practical advice.
This is known to be one of the best animation books that come loaded with rare facts and background paintings from decades of animated films.
The entire book almost consists of 300 pages illustrated magnificently with background paintings and production work.
However, the single most fascinating thing about this huge book is that it contains a ton of the unpublished artwork from studios such as those from Warner Bros, Disney, and Pixar! Yes, you read that right!
This massive book also comes with scribbled ideas and interviews of some of the absolute legends of the industry. The book discusses the brilliant talent of such artists and decodes their techniques and approaches towards background art.
You could find numerous tips and tricks shared by these absolute geniuses and their take on an all-around approach towards animation as a whole explaining the essential elements that constitute it. This covers crucial topics such as setting the scene, the fundamentals of animation (how to animate) and painting a layout that fits appropriately with the rest of the elements.
This book takes you out on an extensive voyage down the ethereally lit waters of the animation realm, enlightening you about its history and the layout structures of different films. It offers some of the most awesome tips on the craft that could help any aspiring artist immensely!
“Setting the Scene” is an incredibly useful and equally captivating read for all budding animators.
So if you’re a budding animator or a nerd in this department, there’s absolutely no way in any world that you didn’t know about Maurice Noble. He is unquestionably one of the legends who belongs to the generation of old-school painters who had worked with Warner Bros and MGM cartoons. Noble’s career that stretched over the span of 60 years in animation has yielded some of the best works on background the world has ever witnessed in his wake.
The Noble Approach is a book consisting of 170 pages replete with dozens of classic cartoons created by Maurice Noble himself!
And this includes none other than the Lord of Mischief: Bugs Bunny himself and the lightning-fast Roadrunner hoodwinking the Wile E. Coyote and so much more from this lot! The book provides you with a detailed insight into his styles and approaches to developing his definitive layouts for such characters.
Apart from a ton of such incredible pictures, the book also offers several excerpts from Maurice’s writings which were once meant to be published as a memoir.
This book educates you on everything from Maurice’s approach to animation and his concept layouts and designs to the final frame of every picture.
The original designs contained in this book include Maurice’s sketches, work in progress and production concepts that meticulously details the process from start to finish.
The Layout and Composition in Animation is a beautiful book that discusses the constituent elements of animation and the creation of foundations or backgrounds that supports the entire structure of animation. However, more than being a hands-on, practical book, this is more of an inspirational read which would give you a valuable idea about how to lay scene and get all of the vital aspects to fit in accordance with the rest of things in the frame.
This is an exceedingly uncomplicated book to read and to understand. It does provide you with you a lot of production art and background paintings along with several other pieces from some classic animated movies.
This book gives you a detailed insight into the procedures of sequential storytelling, serving as a referential handbook that educates you all about the creation of animated stories.
One of the things that this guide provides is a comparative study between the correct formats of the steps to creating animation and the usual mistake that amateurs make when they start out with the process. This gives you an incredibly useful idea to avoid making these common errors as well as a genius way to rectify them.
This book also goes in depth with spotting the problems that usually crop up while arranging a particular scene. It tutors on how to manage and rectify these problems by adapting to creative solutions for your projects.
It presents famous examples such as that of the Beauty and the Beast and the Simpsons for you to learn how to draw character layouts as well as background layouts and finally, how to coordinate them in perfect balance.
So here we have a book that covers backgrounds of literally everything from animation to games, graphic novels and comics. Set the Action!, with its 240 pages of richly illustrated examples, discussion slots, and exercises come forth as a brilliant book for all aspiring layouts designers everywhere.
This book focuses on the structural development of the character and its association with the background, teaching you how to create a cohesive, vital link between them which brings them together, making a spectacular, definitive scene.
The book is huge and contains a ton of well-explained examples. This book is especially useful for understanding the story behind each scene that comes together to create a unified visual plot-line.
You also get to learn a lot on the props that are used in the scene and about techniques and texturization. It discusses some of the crucial aspects regarding perspective and shading along with some immensely useful tips and tricks which helps you to develop your personal style regarding composition and layout design. This exceptionally helpful for storyboard artists.
Authored by Elvin A. Hernandez, Set the Action!, establishes itself as an incredible practical guidebook for intermediate and professional artists alike who could have some really great tips to create backgrounds and develop characters.
So what we have next up is considered to be a Bible for all animators who are ardent fans of Disney. Composed by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation is what through and through, magnificently illustrated and detailed practical guide-book that goes to the deepest depths of the universe of animation to teach you all about vital aspects of the craft.
It takes a good look at some of the crucial elements that go into creating the foundation of an animated scene that includes a concrete study of forming the background and the overall layout of the tiniest sequence in a story.
The book goes into greater detail about some of the most loved and celebrated Disney characters and how things work in the animated world of Disney. It consists of about 600 pages that tells you all about the history of Disney: both creator and his bewitching world of a thousand different wonders. Apart from that, the book opens up a plethora of amazing anecdotes on characters, sounds, story development, voice recording, and, essentially, the creation of backgrounds.
Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas are two of the legends out of the “nine old men” of Disney, who are known to be some of the most incredibly talented animators in history!
The creation of background is one subject that the book attaches prime importance to. It discusses the creation of layers, the merging of all key factors, and the compatibility of a character with the elements that form the rest of his surroundings. It makes an in-depth study of the creation of every sequence that constitutes the bigger picture on the screen.
Apart from learning a lot about how exactly to animate, the book provides you with the scope of developing your own artistic techniques for the procedure by giving you all the tips and tricks used by popular animators. You get to pick these up from each and every chapter that comes with an extensive history and personal writings of such celebrated artists.
Written by Francis Glebas, The Animator’s Eye is, in all fairness, could be called the ultimate guide to the basics of animation. The topics discussed extensively by the book literally covers everything from animatics, sound, and coloring, to thumbnails, storyboards, backgrounds, timing, and so much more!
This is a fantastic book that teaches you the fundamentals of creating a character and the background of the story-line and remains to be an incredibly useful read for all story-board artists.
The author discussed the importance and essential role of animation and the numerous different ways it applies to the traditional term of the word “story-telling.” He goes at length discussing what exactly is required to create a single sequence in animation, how is it actually created and, most importantly, how it could be perfected and mastered.
Written by John Canemaker, the Magic Color Flair: The World of Mary Blair provides you with detailed insight into the life and works of Mary Blair: one of the most exalted and celebrated concept designers and background painter who worked for Walt Disney.
She was a significant figure in the creative head of the empire and was involved in their busiest days, creating sheer magic for classics such as Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland.
The book not only celebrates her works that have given us all memories of a lifetime but also gives you a number of essential tips and advice from the professional animators at Disney.
John Canemaker, the author of this book, is himself an award-winning animation director who becomes Mary Blair’s mouthpiece and autobiographer, sharing her life’s story both professional and personal, in his own words.
This is again, more of a guide on the subject rather than being a practical workbook. Nevertheless, you do get an in-depth analysis on what was the beginning of an era in animation and the sheer genius of the woman behind it.
We all have a spot for Disney, and when it comes to background painting, you know there could be but little competition with Disney. And this is what the book strives to explain through its marvelous content.
Hands-down, one of the absolute diamonds in the rough, Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation whirls up a deluge of Disney’s magical characters and settings for you to know how they are actually created.
The book provides dozens of examples from the legendary movies such as Lion King, Aladdin, Mulan and Hercules amongst so many others. The book consists of a total of 220 pages that is replete with information about layout design and the development of backgrounds as well as a detailed study of all the sequences that go into the development of production designs.
The book is a beautiful combination between an inspirational production art compendium and a resourceful guide for all budding artists and aspiring layout designers and animators.
It primarily concentrates on the different aspects of animation that comes together to create the magical animated universe. This includes factors like composition, the fundamental rules of handling the camera for beginners, laying out a background to create a sequence and tips on staging and composition.
These all affect the resultant outcome of background paintings and are crucial for all sorts of layout design animation.
The Nine Old Men is one book that documents and celebrates the works of those nine animators that brought the science and craft of animation into existence and wrote a new page in the history of art.
Although Disney started out slow in its initial days, it is today known as The Empire that created animation on screen and that which is unparalleled when it comes to the degree and details on animation.
And this was made possible by the unending hard work and sheer genius of these nine animators who made Disney (both owner and his studio) what it is today. And they are:
Les Clark
Eric Larson
Milt Kahl
Ward Kimball
Wolfgang Reitherman
Marc Davis
John Lounsbery
Ollie Johnston
Frank Thomas
The book holds the deepest discourses regarding the works of these absolute legends in each of its chapters that dedicate 20-25 pages to their history, the contributions they made during their careers to take Disney to the ultimate heights of success and fame, and their utter creative genius. This book offers you a metric ton of their original drafts and artworks that span around 400 pages in total.
These are immensely inspirational in spirit and content probing into the historical events and milestones achieved by the world of Disney, tracing right back to the early days when Disney was just a fledgling, struggling enterprise which the world knows nothing about.
However, this isn’t a guide book, but it does teach you a lot about how the most important things in animation work.
Best Layout and Background Painting Books Conclusion
Books on animations are still difficult to find, especially if one doesn’t know where to look and what to buy. We hope we were able to provide you with some useful recommendations and wish for your endeavors to be a success!
From time to time we hear our relatives or friends relating a story on how they've found a simple white table or dresser at IKEA at sale and finally changed the old one. Most of the time they simply throw the old piece away as well. It might sound natural for some but if you take a few minutes to think about how things go in the world we bet you will find this aspect really sad. It`s natural to replace and renew things in our home of course but discarding things with ease is not. It is natural to choose items for aesthetic values at the present time but forgetting how they've initially looked and what they`ve made out off is not. Upcycling furniture projects do come in handy in discussion as they rebuild, remake and renew an old item and along with it an entire decor or an entire lifestyle.
We realize that not every individual has all the conditions to start and sand or paint pieces of furniture in their home nor do we imply that they should upcycle everything rather than replace it. All we say is that our trash can be a treasure for someone else. Be the change that you would like to see in the world and start by asking people around if they need your old pieces. There are thousands of DIY groups of enthusiasts that would simply love to find an old armoire and refurbish it, some of them will actually use the item in their home while others might refurbish and sell it, either way the item will be put to far better use and moreover the energy and resources invested initially into the creation of the item will not go to waste.
We would love to hear you opinion on this matter and we highly encourage every individual to recycle and upcycle all that they can. By making a small change in your lifestyle you will become an inspiration to others around you. Be the change that you would like to see in the world. Further on you will find a few pieces of upcycled furniture projects that we have found inspiring. Color enhances every piece and makes them ideal for a shabby chic or scandinavian interior design line .
Aren't we all astonished whenever we see a fabulous piece of artwork?
May it be an art gallery or just friend's sketchbook, the feeling of dumbfoundedness is familiar.
We all loved colored pencils when we were kids but hardly do we ever look back to them while drawing.
The rainbow-colored set holds the key to a plethora of drawing techniques, some for beginners and some kept aside for the professionals only.
People who have discovered the magic of colored pencils find it hard to look back. From knowing how to sharpen the pencils correctly, to grasping the tens of techniques involved in drawing, there's a lot to digest.
We present to you 12 brilliant beginner techniques on using colored pencils and scaling up your art skills.
Don't worry, as we'll cover every topic in bite-sized pieces. There's no good in biting more than what we can chew.
Let us get down to understand the basics of colored pencils, and then talk about some techniques so that anyone can also draw brilliantly with colored pencils.
Knowing Your Toolkit
The Pencil
Ok, now we’re down to drawing. Wait! Which colored pencils should I be using?
Well, a blade made from cheap steel can’t cut through armor. Similarly, the quality of the colored pencil you’ll be using has a significant difference in the outcome of the drawing.
No, we’re not suggesting that you spent a fortune on the set of pencils, rather reminding you to steer away from the glossy cheap ones. They would do you no good. Using a lower quality pencil will produce lower quality results.
Although lower quality pencils are much cheaper, try to avoid them. They just won't behave in the same manner as higher quality pencils. Save yourself the time and frustration by investing a little in a nice set of pencils.
Choosing a surface for colored pencil doesn’t have as many particularities as we have while using other color mediums like acrylic, pastels, watercolors, etc.
We look for a surface that has sufficient ‘tooth’ for the pigment and the wax to lock on to.
If you’re aiming to use techniques such as Scratching, Scraping or Incising, or if you would like the drawing to possess rich texture, paperweight comes into play.
It is highly suggested that you refrain from using standard copy paper. The surface of this paper is very smooth and doesn’t have a sizable tooth. Not only will it not hold the color correctly, but you also won’t be able to practice techniques like layering and blending.
The standard copy papers are processed with bleaching agents and acids which change the color to yellow over time. That would destroy the drawing.
Therefore it is suggested that you only use paper that is suitable for drawing.
Beginner Techniques Using Colored Pencils
It's probably the right time to remember that there's more to drawing with colored pencils than just a few simple strokes on the drawing sheet.
It's easy to walk into a battle with an arsenal full of unique weapons. In a similar way, knowing the beginner techniques of using colored pencils allows you to create beautiful art without too much of a hustle.
The following beginner colored pencil techniques form the foundation for any type of colored pencil art that one wishes to create.
Scumbling
All of us have been using this particular technique since we were kids, without even knowing that it had a name.
This is the easiest and one of the neatest way to fill color in an area. We start with making continuous concentric circles on the paper, without lifting the pencil. Any area can also be filled with several colors to give it a great appearance.
Hatching
Hatching is a straightforward technique which finds its application in several styles of drawing such as using graphite, charcoal, and obviously, with colored pencils.
All that is required to do is to draw many parallel straight lines close to each other. These lines may be vertical, horizontal or at an angle; they shouldn't touch.
Doesn't sound tough, does it? Hatching is very useful while filing color in a block. It may be regarded as the minimalist approach.
Hatching can be used to introduce the notion of depth in an image, giving it a three-dimensional perspective.
As a beginner artist, mastering strokes is essential. Hatching serves as an excellent method to boost your confidence in your stroke-work.
Once we're confident in our ability to stroke parallel lines while ensuring that they won't touch, it's time to proceed further.
Cross Hatching
Cross-hatching is a scaled up version of hatching. As you might have thought, this time we'll be drawing two sets of parallel lines instead of just one.
The second set of parallel lines essential creates a grid or a mesh-like structure. These lines are drawn over the first set of lines at an angle.
Cross-hatching is a brilliant way to introduce shading and create tonal effects in your drawing without trying to perform blending.
If you're doodling on the back pages of your notebook during a boring lecture, cross-hatching is an effective way of getting good results rather quickly.
It is an easy yet effective method. It's time to create some interesting textures using the technique we just learned. Sharpen your pencil before attempting cross-hatching as it’ll appear clean and precisely drawn.
Burnishing
Colored pencil art is known for its smooth, waxy, and glossy finish.
Burnishing is the difference between a colored pencil drawing and a colored pencil painting.
It's relatively simple. We apply a colorless blender on a specific region in a fashion similar to applying a layer of polish over wood. A colorless blender is a colored pencil without any pigment.
By applying thin layers of this colorless blender in a back-and-forth manner, a waxy buildup occurs giving us the desired result. Apart from this, burning lightens the color tone of the drawing while giving it the polished look.
Stroke Pressure
Just like calligraphy, drawing strokes in varying fashion will help you add character to your drawing.
You can create a variety of effects in your drawing without trying any sophisticated technique or using additional tools.
Similar to a paintbrush, you can tilt your colored pencil to get broad strokes or fine lines.
You may want some areas of the drawing to represent a darker, saturated hue while the other to be very subtle and light in color. This is where pencil pressure plays a significant role.
Practice by moving your wrist around and tilting the pencil a little. You'll be amazed by the variations that you create.
This technique required patience and practice. If you're having a hard time, you can try some Chinese calligraphy. As difficult as it is, it might give you a lot of insight towards the application of pressure.
Scraping
Of course, toned and colored sheets will create slightly different effects – so if you plan on using this technique in your next colored pencil drawing, take a minute to think about paper selection before starting.
Scrapping is a technique to create a significant amount of texture, such as drawing leaves, hair, animal fur, grass etc. Using this method we can achieve an astounding level of detail in our drawing.
It is not as simple as it sounds. We’ll need the help of an X-ACTO knife or any similar sharp blade as the technique requires us to create extremely thin lines.
While there are a lot of use cases of it, we need to be careful with the type of paper we’re using. Using a toned or colored sheet may produce different effects than your usual expectation.
Incising
Imagine you’re drawing a leaf and you want to emphasize the pattern formed by the veins of the leaf and give it a realistic feel. Details can be overwhelming - but only if you let them be.
Incising is closely related to the scraping technique we just covered.
Incising deals with creating deep impressions on the paper before we draw with the colored pencils, unlike incising where we scratch after we’ve drawn on the surface.
How do we do it? Well, the easiest way is to first obtain a piece of translucent sheet like a wax paper, tracing paper, or a parchment paper.
Then, using a pen or a graphite pencil (as we need a more rigid tip), press down on the paper and draw incision line, hard enough to make an indent on the paper below.
This will introduce indent lines on the surface of the drawing sheet, and we can now continue our work with colored pencils. Remove the transparent sheet.
Now when we draw using a colored pencil, it will go over these indent ‘valleys’ and leave a white (or the color of the sheet) line behind.
Layering
Often, you may feel that just using one color for some area isn't adequate to construct a representational effect. Here, you would like to use multiple layers of wash.
We employ the layering technique in which we combine colors with different hue and value. Layering embodies depth in the shade, and the outcome is significantly better; it appears more realistic.
Choosing the right color for layering isn't tricky at all. You may select similar colors, or even one with entirely different contrast, as long as it gives the appropriate result.
Rubbing
Rubbing is a very interesting technique and a variation of incising. It can be regarded as one of the most effective ways to add texture to a drawing.
This is one of those tricks which we have used as kids without formal knowledge. We start by taking a textured surface like a leaf or anything else with bumps and ridges and place it underneath our drawing sheet.
We rub our colored pencil(s) over the surface. The texture starts to appear on our drawing. A thicker sheet of drawing paper would not give as good a result as a thinner one. Nevertheless, this technique remains highly effective.
Tortillon
Tortillions, which are similar to and sometimes referred to as blending stumps, is an excellent tool for mixing colors in your drawing.
Drawing made using charcoal and graphite primarily use tortillons to give a blending effect, but provide equally good results with colored pencils.
They are a great tool if we're looking to push the color around physically. Tortillions are used to create effects such as smudging, shading, blending and smoothening of the image.
Mixed Media
The next technique that we’ll learn is using mixed media with the colored pencils, viz, watercolors.
Every elementary school kid who paid ample attention during the science lecture knows that oil and water don’t mix. Also, our colored pencils are simply either paraffin wax or oil mixed with pigment. I think you can see where this is going.
After drawing a few strokes using the colored pencils, we add a wash with watercolors. Some fascinating details and patterns are formed as the wax separates from the watercolors. This is something unique usually not found in other drawings made from colored pencils.
Stippling
Polka dots are surprisingly simple yet appealing to the eyes. Stippling is somewhat similar, just scaled down a little.
We draw a lot of tiny dots on the paper. A lot! They can be in the proximity of each other, far apart, or basically anywhere.
Here, the sharpness of the tip of the pencil plays a crucial role. A blunt or dull tip will give a different appearance than a sharpened tip. Stippling is a fancy way of adding texture. Try out several variations yourself and find which you like the most!
Making The Most Out Of These Techniques
Knowledge is of no value if you don’t put it into practice.
We have covered quite a many techniques using colored pencils. When you begin, you may not be impressed with your first attempts. They probably look nowhere near your expectations.
The key is to remember that it takes hours of practice before we can become an expert in any skill. While natural talent is definitely a thing, the artists have spent countless hours honing their skills before they presented their work to the world.
So don’t worry if you’re not able to bring to life your drawing in the first few attempts. Irrespective of the technique, focus on it, experiment with it and add your personal touch. Art is very fluid, nothing is ever written in stone.
We have covered over 12 techniques ranging from first-timers to the ones for those with some experience. While there are several other tricks, a beginner should firstly stick to these.
Confidence develops over time. If you believe you have mastered these techniques and have several drawing under the belt, consider yourself ready for the next level!
Hard water is when the water has oxides of metals like Calcium and Magnesium, which makes the soap unable to form lather. What this can also do is clog water pipelines by forming mineral deposits.
While city officials take care of the deposits formed underground and in-house pipelines, what they do don’t do is take care of the shower-heads.
That one’s on you.
You may have seen something nasty clogging in the shower head holes sometimes. That’s calcium, which if not removed will keep on depositing on the shower head until its wholly blocked.
It shortens the span of life of the shower-head. It can ruin the paint, can cause corrosion and make water coming out of it harmful for your skin and scalp. Calcium and other mineral particles can get accumulated on the skin and scalp causing hair loss and pimples.
So it is indispensable to keep the shower head free of all the mineral build up. It’s good for the life of the shower-head, and it’s good for you. Now, let’s talk about how to do it.
While getting a super expensive cleaning solution can do the work, but that’ll be overkill. Household distilled vinegar is enough for the job. It’s simple and almost effortless.
So, here’s a guide on how to remove calcium deposits from shower-heads Easily!
How to Remove Calcium Deposits with Shower-head Removal
Step 1 – Remove the shower-head
Get an adjustable wrench and slowly loosen the bolt that attaches the head to the wall. Do it slowly and carefully.
If the calcium deposit is too massive, then you might have a hard time doing it. The tip is to put adequate pressure and have patience. Once it’s almost out, use your hands to unscrew it completely.
Always remember that shower-heads are significantly weighted, so be careful and deliberate, or you may hurt yourself.
Step 2 – Prepare the cleaning solution
Now take a plastic bag, pour a cup of water in it. And then add a cup of distilled vinegar in it. Have enough solvent in the packet to entirely submerge the shower-head.
Leave it unattended for about an hour. After that, you should see that calcium deposits have disintegrated and detached from the shower-heads body. But if not so, wash it and do it again with a higher concentration of vinegar.
A fair warning will be not to make it too concentrated. It may damage the paint.
Once, you get satisfying results. Get ready from some scrubbing.
Step 3 – Cleaning the shower-head
Rinse the shower head with some water. Now, use a metal sponge to scrub in a circular motion. Do it nice and smooth. Otherwise, you’ll scratch the surface of the shower head.
If done correctly, the treated calcium deposits should be entirely off the surface. Now place the shower head under running water in a sink. It will make sure that no residual calcium is left.
Once done, dry off the shower head for easy fitting. Use an adjustable wrench to fit it on the wall again.
How to Remove Calcium Deposits Without Removing the Shower-head
Here is one more straightforward way that does the trick. It’s a simpler trick that works better for low to moderate deposits.
Step 1 – Prepare the solution
As mentioned in step 2 of the previous method, take a bag and make a vinegar solvent. Now submerge the attached shower-head in the bag of solvent and using tape or rubber bands, wrap it around the shower-head.
Leave it in that state for about an hour. Now be careful to not spill it over your face or eyes while you do it. If it happens by accident, rinse your eyes with clean water immediately.
Step 2 – Washing the shower-head
Take the bag off of the shower head. Now pour a mug of water over the shower head and gently scrub with a piece of cloth afterward. Run water through the shower for some time. So that all the residue gets out and no vinegar is left in the shower-head.
Use a brush to scrub the holes of the shower-head so if there are some small calcium particles in the faucet; make sure they get out as well. Have patience and do it thoroughly to have a good result.
Obviously, this method doesn’t work as good as the first one. Some calcium deposits and particles may get left out as the water rinse is not thorough enough. In that case, it’s just better to take the faucet off and do it properly.
If the calcium deposits are too much, then it won’t work at all. So if you see that the deposit is way too much, then go with method number one.
Vinegar has acetic acid which is an excellent solvent to dissolve mineral deposits. Since it’s a natural chemical, it produces no harmful fumes while cleaning or anything like that.
It’s also extremely inexpensive. Worth pennies for every cleaning session and you’ll save quite a few dollars if you use this over some specialty cleaner from the supermarket.
But be careful with vinegar. Be sure to avoid contact with your eyes. If you do happen to get vinegar in your eyes accidentally, wash them with clean water.
Also, keep vinegar out of the reach of your kids. A significant amount of vinegar can be poisonous for adults, and it’s even worse for kids.
Preventing calcium deposits
Keeping the bathtub and shower clean can help reduce the chances of getting calcium deposits. Just use a towel or sponge to wipe off the wet surface of your tub and shower.
It hardly takes a minute or two, so it’s a matter of habit only. And It’s a good habit indeed. Your bathroom will thank you for it.
Hard water can have some adverse effects on the skin and can be poisonous on ingestion. High mineral content can also cause hair loss because fine particles settle on the scalp.
So, if your local water source is exceptionally hard, then do consider installing a water softener system. It’ll remove all the extra minerals in the water causing deposits.
While it will be good news for your hair and skin, you also won’t have to worry about cleaning the shower head as often.
So there you have it — two methods to clean shower-heads.
Mineral deposits can harm the shower-head as well as the health of your skin and hair. While installing a water softener can be an end all and be all solution to the problem, meanwhile, keeping the shower-head clean can help. Also, it’s much cheaper.
Remember, you don’t need some fancy specialty cleaner. Vinegar is fine for the job. Acetic acid is a fantastic solvent for these kinds of deposits, and it’s all natural and safe.
One important thing to remember is to be careful while scrubbing the shower head. Many times, while cleaning, I’d rub it too hard and hurt the paint on the body of the shower-head or directly chip it.
Also, be careful while taking out and installing back the shower heads. It’s a massive piece of metal, so it can seriously hurt you if you are not careful with it.
And that’ll be it. All the information one might need to clean and maintain shower heads and maybe more importantly, why.
With that, I hope this guide was helpful in your venture.
Is the thought of packing your belongings for a move giving you the jitters? If you need to move out within the next few days, then we sympathize with your feelings. After all, it’s not easy to pack every necessity in a few hours' time. How do you figure out what makes the cut?
Allow us to intervene with our guide on how to pack a house quickly for moving. From sorting your essentials to discarding the non-essentials, we’ve covered it all.
Usually, people prefer to have a minimum of eight weeks before moving into their new home. However, the situation may require you to move with half the time, or even less. Hence, it becomes important to resort to speedy sorting and packing techniques.
Start Immediately
No matter how disheartened you are about having to move quickly, sitting and pondering won’t be of much help. Get started as quickly as you can, and avoid procrastination or any other distractions.
Prepare a Packing Guide
If you have some extra time to spare, we’d highly recommend preparing a packing guide. Simply jotting down the sequence of rooms (ie. living, bedroom) or categories (ie. apparels, utensils) will keep you on track. Additionally, you may allot a deadline for each section. Not only will this stop you from packing random things in a random way, but it’ll also assist in ensuring an organized effort from start to stop.
Get Down to Sorting
An advantage of quick sorting is that you get rid of many unnecessary things that would otherwise have crept into your luggage. Since you’ll want to wrap up the work as quickly as possible, you can save a lot of energy (and space) by packing only the essentials.
Begin by walking into each room and assessing each object that it houses. Next, separate them into three piles: “keep,” “donate,” and “throw away.” If you haven’t used an object in over a year, consider putting it in the “donate” or “throw away” pile. With that being said, there may be other factors for deciding its final destination.
For instance, a fragile showpiece kept unwrapped might hold some sentimental value. Although you may not put it on display, you may still like to have it at your new place. Likewise, some other objects may not have immediate use but can come in handy in the new surroundings.
If you’re having trouble deciding between whether or not to keep an item after considering everything, it’s probably best to let it go. Furthermore, you can also arrange for a garage sale or charity drive, given you have the time to do so. Remember that charity begins at home; your friends or family may well be interested in picking up things that are in a good, almost unused condition. Unusable plastic goods should always be dropped off at a recycling center.
Buy Packing Supplies
It’s always better to buy packing supplies after you know what you’ll be bringing with you. Head directly to a moving store or office supply shop to get the required amount of boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, and cargo tape.
You may also use old packing boxes if you have them already. Beyond that, it’s quite a common strategy to get them for free from local businesses and people who have recently moved. However, while this may cut down on moving costs, it may not be the best practice to adopt when there’s a time constraint. It will take you longer to find free supplies. Even if you get them, you need to ensure that they are of the right size and in the proper condition. So, it’s better to purchase new ones.
In addition to buying sufficient packing material, make it a point to get specialized boxes or containers for the most fragile or expensive items whenever possible. If you’re moving locally, consider contacting a ‘green mover’ who supplies plastic bins for your packing requirements. Apart from being a more environment-friendly option, it eliminates the task of storing packing boxes post unpacking. Most green movers will deliver the bins on your convenient date and collect them after you finish unpacking.
Call In Your Friends Your Family
The more hands you have, the less time it’ll take to pack. Call in your friends or family members to help you with the task. Once they confirm, define their role for the day. For instance, some people may be assigned to pack the ‘keep’ pile, while others may begin with donation drives. To make it the last memorable gathering at your old place, add an element of fun by turning on some music, cracking inside jokes and playing challenging packing games.
Create a Visual Inventory
After deciding on the things that will go in the ‘keep’ pile, take photographs so that you have a visual inventory of your belongings. Furthermore, if you’re not good at setting up electronics or furniture, take a picture before dismantling them. This way, you won’t end up fighting with cables and furniture during setup at your new home. You can also click images of the old interior for reference.
Seek Help From Professionals
Hiring professional help will get the moving job done in the most efficient way. However, just because you have decided to get professional help doesn’t mean you can escape your responsibilities. The most important thing to keep in mind is that in a bid to save time and hassle, you may end up paying considerably more. Hence, it might be better to compare rates. Comparing the charges of three or four services won’t take a lot of time, and you improve your chances of getting the best deal.
On that note, don’t be surprised if your preferred company charges you an ‘emergency rate’ due to the time crunch. Apart from packing services, you may also get in touch with a pick-up company to get rid of any excess junk. All you have to do is select a date and inform the service about the amount of junk to be cleared. Most companies will charge you a rate per pound along with a distance fee, if applicable. Again, don’t forget to compare the offers.
If you plan to donate to a charity, ask them if they’re willing to pick up the items, especially if there’s a lot to carry. Similarly, many non-profit organizations may also assist with the drop-off, saving you precious time. However, some others may offer their service on a fixed date and specific location, so make sure you can match that schedule.
Discard Non-Allowable Items
For people who plan to opt for a professional mover, there’s one crucial step to follow. Ask them for a list of non-allowable items that they won’t transport for safety reasons. Otherwise, you end up wasting time packing such things that will ultimately have to be left behind. You can always choose to carry them with you, if convenient.
Keep a Close Watch Throughout
Whether you opt for a professional packer, mover, or both, it’s always advisable to keep an eye on the whole process. For instance, make sure that the right items are going in the right boxes. Similarly, ensure that the boxes containing the most delicate objects will be transported in the safest manner. If you’re packing on your own, keep in mind that large appliances may need special preparation to be packed. Use labels or sticky notes to notify any helpers of what needs to be done.
Final Words
Packing a house isn't a very difficult job per se, but the rigid time frame can amp up the challenges. Begin with a calm and relaxed mind. Anxiety and stress can consume more time than the actual job.
Before you begin packing (either yourself or with professional help), set aside the things that you will need till the moving day. Don’t mix the things that you will need right after moving in with your other belongings. This way, you won’t have to open every box to get something simple like a toothbrush.
Hope our guide can ease your troubles on the d-day. We’d love to hear from you in the comments down below.
Pens may be one of the greatest inventions of humankind, but they can be a real mess.
They often leave behind ink stains when they are not capped properly or when the tip breaks off. And removing ink stains can be a real nuisance — especially if you have a white carpet at home.
So whether the culprit is a leaked ballpoint pen or a toddler who spilled a jar of ink on the carpet, there’s no reason to fret. This article will guide you through the entire process of removing persistent ink stains from your favorite carpet.
Indeed, we will cover everything in this article, from the type of ink stains to effective cleaning hacks that can help you remove them from the carpet. So, without wasting any more time, let us get on with it!
How To Get Ink Out Of Carpet
What Causes Permanent Ink Stains On Carpets?
Any type of pen ink or printing ink is made from dyes for marking or staining. Needless to say, ink stains can be very persistent, and it can be a backbreaking task to try and remove them from clothing or rugs.
But before attempting to remove these notorious blobs, you must know the reason why ink causes such persistent stains.
When the surface is a piece of white paper, the staining from the ink is absolutely fine. But, if the surface is your new carpet or your favorite shirt, it indeed becomes a bit messy. Additionally, carpets are more prone to staining because of the carpet fibers. The ink dye seeps through the threads and spreads across the rug, leaving a persistent blotch.
Ink Stain Types
Even though all ink stains might look the same to you, it is not always so. So, before you try to remove one, it might be a good idea to identify what type of ink stain it is.
Inks are either made from a water-based or oil-based liquid. Either way, they contain coloring pigments that spread through the carpet fibers, and the stain persists. Anyhow, here are a few common types of ink stains and some tips on how to remove them.
1. Ballpoint Pen Ink Stains
Who doesn’t like a good ballpoint pen to jot down some quick lecture notes? Ballpoint pens are the most commonly used pens — students love them, and so do professionals. But, when it comes to ink stains from ballpoint pens, you’ve got a whole different story.
Ballpoint ink stains are bold and long-lasting because they are oil-based to add extra clarity while you write on a piece of paper. Naturally, these ballpoint ink stains are persistent and harder to remove.
But, it is very much possible to clean the stains using the right tricks. For example, you can use cornstarch to treat the color, slowing the drying time and making it easier to remove. So remember, cornstarch is your go-to home remedy for oil-based inks.
2. Water-Based Gel Ink Stains
Remember those bright and pretty pens that you loved so much during your kindergarten days? All those fancy metallic pens usually have water-based gel inks. That said, the water-based ink stains from these gel pens are much easier to clean than their oil-based counterparts.
However, these gel inks are not waterproof, so it is always a risk to use them for writing important notes. At the same time, this very characteristic comes as a boon when you’re removing any gel ink stain.
Indeed, you can simply use soapy water to rub off the stain from your carpet.
Additionally, for glitter pens that contain water-based inks, it is best to brush off the glitter before you try and remove the stains. After all, you don’t want the glitter to create a complete mess on your carpet.
3. Fountain Pen Ink Stains
Fountain pens are essentially the new-age version of the traditional ink and quill. Even though the new pens do not leak as much as the old ones, refilling any fountain pen can still be a messy affair.
Moreover, the reserve at the back of the pen often breaks, and the metallic tip is prone to leaking, which often spells trouble for your clothes or your carpet. So, it is best to have some cleaning tricks up your sleeve when you’re dealing with fountain pens.
These pens use water-based inks, making it easy to remove the ink stains in case of any unprecedented leaks. Also, it is easy to remove minor water-based ink stains, but more prominent stains can be a problem. So, it would help if you took extra precautions while using fountain pens to avoid getting large ink stains on your carpet or study table.
4. Printer Ink Stains
While working in an office, you often have to change the toner cartridges in printers and copiers. This everyday task can easily become a nightmare if the office floor is adorned with a carpet or rug.
The ink in these toner cartridges can be liquid inks or powder inks. In the case of liquid ink, removing the ink from the carpet is comparatively easier. All you have to do is dab or gently blot the liquid ink stain before applying any chemicals to remove it from the carpet. Keep in mind that it might leave a permanent mark if the printer ink is not removed quickly.
On the other hand, you’ll have to take an extra step to remove the stains if you are dealing with a printer powder ink stain. That said, you need to gently vacuum the affected area from the top to get rid of the powder before rubbing it off the carpet.
What Can Be Used For Removing Ink Stains?
Once you know the type of ink stain, you can apply different products to clean off the stain from the carpet. In this section, we’ve highlighted some of the most widely used products for removing ink stains from carpet.
Let us take a look!
1. Rubbing Alcohol
Using rubbing alcohol is probably the easiest trick there is when you’re dealing with stubborn stains. All you need to do is pour alcohol on a piece of paper towel and dab the stain gently without scrubbing it. If you scrub it, the stain will spread and cause a bigger mess.
Also, use some alcohol to soak the carpet fibers. It will help you to get the deeper stains off the carpet. Next, you can use hand sanitizers or denatured alcohol for the cleaning. Denatured alcohol is more potent and does a better job than hand sanitizers. But, it is also toxic, so you need to use it very carefully.
2. Vinegar
Well, if you don’t have any alcohol in the house, we suggest you raid the kitchen and find some vinegar to do the trick. Indeed, white vinegar can do magic when it comes to removing any stains.
Moreover, using baking soda with vinegar is one of the best deep cleaning tricks that exist for removing stains from carpets and rugs. That said, you can add some baking soda with the vinegar to remove every single inch of that persistent stain. Plus, applying vinegar on the stained area won’t cause any damage or discoloration to the carpet.
3. Dishwashing Liquid
If you don’t want to use alcohol or vinegar on your favorite rug, go for some good old dishwashing liquid to take off the stubborn ink stains. It;’s worth noting that dishwashing liquids are safe to use as they do not contain any harmful and toxic chemicals.
And since they are strong enough to clean food stains from your dinner plates, they may just as easily remove ink stains from the carpet — albeit with a little elbow grease.
4. Carpet Shampoo
If you own a carpet, you are most likely to have a carpet shampoo hidden somewhere in the basement. And if you don’t have a bottle, you can always visit any departmental store to get some. It is relatively affordable and specifically designed to clean any and all sorts of carpet stains.
However, be sure to carefully read the instructions provided on the shampoo bottle and apply a generous amount of the product to the stained area. Perhaps, carpet shampoo may prove to be the most hassle-free method to clean your carpets — who would’ve imagined?
5. Windex
Even though Windex is a window cleaner, it can work wonders on your carpet stains. The ammonia present in Windex can remove even the most stubborn and persistent ink stains from carpets.
Be careful while applying Windex on your carpet, as too much of it can damage the carpet. However, it can be a bit strong and can ruin the carpet fibers. So, it is best to dilute it with water before spraying it on the stained area of the carpet.
6. WD-40 Lubricant
Industry-grade and widely popular lubricants like WD-40 are not only effective in removing little elbow grease but also helpful in getting rid of an ink stain from the carpet. However, before applying a strong lubricant like WD-40 on your favorite carpet, test it on an inconspicuous area of the rug to ensure it doesn’t ruin the carpet fibers.
After you’ve done the test run, spray the lubricant on the stained area. Wipe the area with some soapy water and paper towel before finally rinsing it off. Let the carpet dry, and wait for the magical effect of WD-40 on the persistent ink stain.
7. Peroxide And Bleach
Both peroxide and bleach are superb cleaning solutions, especially when you’re dealing with a stubborn ink stain. Compared to bleach, peroxide is less harsh and toxic, so it is much safer to say if you have children running around the house.
However, both these cleaning solutions are specially designed to use on white-colored fabrics as they cause discoloration on their application. So, if you have a beautifully colored carpet, we suggest you steer clear of these cleaning agents. Moreover, you also risk damaging the carpet fibers if you use too much bleach or peroxide while cleaning the ink stain.
8. Shaving Cream
It might come as a surprise to you, but shaving cream actually works really well on an ink stain. But make sure to use a foamy shaving cream instead of a gel. Also, go for a white foam rather than choosing a tinted one for removing the stain.
You can simply spray the white foamy cream on the stained area and gently pat it. Let the stained area soak in the foamy cream for a while before using some warm water to rinse it off. The alcohol present in the shaving cream will work wonders in removing the ink stain from your favorite carpet.
What Are The Steps To Remove Ink Stains?
Knowing about the right products or chemicals that can help on removing an ink stain isn’t enough. You also need to know about the right methods to carry out the process. And in this section, we’ll talk about four essential steps for cleaning that persistent ink stain from your favorite rug.
Step 1: Control Spreading Of Stain
All types of inks are liquid and can spread very quickly by seeping inside the carpet fibers. Thus, the first step in getting rid of the ink stain is to stop the stain from spreading across the carpet. It is important that you don’t step on the stain as it will help in spreading it.
Also, try to avoid rubbing the stain to wipe it off the carpet. You’ll only make it worse. You can gently pat the stained area, but do not scrub it. Instead, place a clean and dry paper towel to soak up the extra stain. Moreover, if it’s an oil-based ink stain, try dabbing the stained area with some cornstarch to prevent the ink from drying up.
Step 2: Soak The Stain
The next step will require you to get your hands wet. In this step, you need to work on preventing the ink from binding permanently with the carpet fibers. If you do not soak the stain with a cleaning liquid, there’s a fat chance of getting permanent stains on the carpet. This is the step where you get to apply the cleaning agents that we talked about earlier.
You can use the usual alcohol and vinegar or even go for stronger agents like WD-40 or Windex if you have a more persistent stain. Alternatively, you can also use bleach or peroxide, but only if your carpet is white. Also, be careful while soaking the stain so that you don’t damage the carpet in return.
Step 3: Scrub It
Once you have soaked the stained area of the carpet with the cleaning agent, it’s time to get scrubbing. Use a soft brush and scrub the stained area from outside to inside to limit the spread of the stain. The stain will be deeper as you go further in that carpet area.
Once you’ve thoroughly scrubbed the area, use a dry and clean cloth or paper towel to gently dab the area and lift the pigments off of the carpet surface. You can also clean any loosened stain from the carpet using a dry paper towel. After all the pigments and loose stains have been scrubbed, you can wash the carpet with carpet shampoo or dishwashing liquid.
Step 4: Vacuum And Let It Dry
Now, it is time for the last and final step of this entire cleaning ordeal. Once you have scrubbed the stained area and washed the carpet, you have to vacuum it using a vacuum cleaner and let it dry for a while.
After the carpet has dried up, you can assess the ink stain and decide whether the carpet needs any more cleaning. If more cleaning is required, repeat all the steps from the beginning. Otherwise, you can keep the carpet back to where it belongs.
How To Get Ink Out Of Carpet Frequently Asked Questions
A bad ink stain on your favorite carpet can ruin your entire day. You’re most likely to spend hours and hours searching the internet to get some easy Do It Yourself cleaning tricks and hacks to remove that ink stain from the carpet. So, to help you, we’ll be answering some of the most commonly asked questions in this section.
Q1. How To Remove Old Or Dry Ink Stains?
You can simply use alcohol or denatured alcohol to soak the dry or old ink stain and then rub it off gently without causing any damage to the carpet fibers. Gently dab the stained area with alcohol and a clean paper towel or cloth. Wipe off the alcohol after scrubbing, and leave the carpet to dry.
Q2. Can I Use Baking Soda For Removing Ink Stains?
Yes, you can use baking soda to remove any new ink stain from the carpet or rug. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with warm water and gently apply the mixture to the stained carpet area. Let the baking soda mixture soak the stain for a while before scrubbing it with a brush. Then finally, vacuum the dried baking soda mixture.
Q3. Is There Any Organic Non-Chemical Technique For Removing Ink Stains?
If you are not a huge fan of chemicals, you can use some salt and fresh lemon juice to clean off an ink stain from the carpet. Simply add some salt with fresh lemon juice, and apply the paste to the stain. Let the paste sit for some time, and then dab it gently with some water and a clean white cloth. Finally, vacuum the carpet and brush off the excess salt.
Conclusion
After going through the article, we hope you are a bit more confident about cleaning that stubborn ink stain off your favorite carpet. Simply follow the steps that we’ve covered in this article, and you’ll be just fine.
But we’ll suggest you be a bit cautious while using the cleaning agents because some of them might contain toxic chemicals. Also, test the cleaning agents before spraying them on the carpet to ensure that they do not cause any damage to the carpet fibers.
And on that note, we’ll be signing off. Until next time!
Everyone has his or her little vanities in life that cannot be given up and require their own allocated space at home. While some people prefer jewelry, perfumes, bags, or shoes, others prefer hats. A hat does not only make an outfit complete, it also protects the head from the nasty heat of the sun or the blistering cold. Having that storage is essential to keep the storage clutter-free and to avoid getting hats mixed up in places that will damage their shape. Take a pick on your favorite hat storage below.
Genius and Lovely Hat Storage Ideas
1. caps in simple dress hangers and hooks
Organizing hats is not as hard as it seems; one must only know what works and what does not in storing hats. This is a simple setup for a hat rack organizer, using just a clothes hanger and hooks. For people who have little space, this can be a wonderful initial idea for storing your precious items.
2. hanging compartments for easy storage
Hanging caps and hats is the usual way of storage, but this idea is also very useful, especially for baseball caps. Organizing hats by color, use, or brand will also make things easier. Each hat rack compartment can accommodate one hat at a time which makes it clutter-free.
Colorful and different kinds of hats need to be flaunted and this is a very lovely way of doing so. Having a wall dedicated to the hats to hold and display creates a unique décor inside the home. This way of hat storage hits two birds with one stone.
Hat storage need not only have hats- displaying other personal accessories also looks clean and sharp when added with caps and hats. Layering the jewelry with other fancy items in the hat rack presents an effective all-in-one approach for storage.
When the cabinet is not spacious enough and the wall has no other display, this hat storage idea can be a better option. Not only is this hat rack useful for storing hats, but other items may also be displayed along with the hats, like photographs.
Hooks are the usual way for hat storage and it is truly an effective way. The usual hooks are boring but making these hooks more interesting is possible. One way is using distressed wood as a base and painting each base in bold colors that complement your wall finish.
Spaces behind doors are often unused and left bare, and is the best place to put on hat hangers. Simple bath towel rods have enough space to hang multiple hats and caps on. The usual hooks can secure the hats in place but do not make it hard for anyone to grab a hat easily, useful hat rack, especially for big volumes.
Wood is lovely and can be used in virtually anything for storage and decoration use. Using wood as the main way of storing and displaying hats is a great example of mixing the beauty of wood with textiles. The wood sets a lovely background while the hats provide a lively mix of colors and simple and efficient hat rack.
Displaying hats on walls is a great idea, but keeping them organized inside drawers is also a useful one. Hats are protected from dust and other elements that might affect the vibrancy of the hats' colors. Neatly lining up the hats will also make quite a display, the hat rack for valuable hats that shouldn't see direct sunlight or dust particles often.
When the space behind the doors and the usual wall is already occupied by other displays and decorations, using the space above cabinets can be an alternative for hat storage. It will be a stunning display for a hat collection and a unique place to store hats.
Creating an accent wall with hats as the center of attraction is lovely and will definitely amaze guests. While many prefer paintings and photographs, this unique way of displaying hats will save space and is an ultimate stunner, a pretty at-rack idea that doubles as wall art.
Horizontal hat storage is the usual way, but doing it in a vertical way can make a huge difference. Not only will this hat rack fit more hats in a limited space, but it can also be a colorful display against the wall. The use of the wood board is lovely, especially in between the solid wall color and the mix of colors of the hats.
Starting with something simple for hat storage is fine if space is not a luxury in a home. Using the back of the door as a hat rack is the most convenient for many since hats can be grabbed easily on the way out. Though this hat storage is very simple, the function and neatness it presents are still something to consider.
Steampunk works for almost anything and every type of storage at home, even hat racks. Because of its design, this pipe hat storage can fit well into the steampunk category and still be of great use for many things besides hats. This is a nice example of a functional steampunk display that many people would commend a homeowner for.
Hats of any sort must be displayed and should be seen from every angle. However, some diy hat storage have small hooks which will often leave a hat displayed only on one side of it, with this hat rack though you can control the viewing angle with ease.
While most would opt for wood planks or copper bars, this unique use of wire mesh hat racks can actually be a fashionable alternative. The mesh provides the right space and support for the clips and the hats. It is also an easy alternative to wood boards and copper bars.
Hanging hats for storage is taken literally in this diy hat storage idea. A chain is used to support the clips and the hats, making banderillas or flags of hats. This hat rack idea is great for small walk-in cabinets or just for the corner of the bedroom.
Types of Hat Storage
Wall-Mounted Hat Racks
These racks are mounted directly on the wall and can include individual hooks, pegboard systems, or decorative racks. When hanging hats, ensure they are evenly spaced to avoid overcrowding and misshaping.
Over-the-Door Hat Storage
Over-the-door hooks and hangers are ideal for saving space and can be used to store multiple hats. Alternatively, repurpose a hanging shoe organizer for storing hats in individual compartments.
Freestanding Hat Racks and Stands
Traditional hat stands or multi-tiered storage racks provide an organized, vertical storage solution. Coat racks with hat storage can also be used as a combined storage option.
Hat Storage Boxes and Containers
Stackable storage boxes, hat storage bags, or clear plastic bins are perfect for protecting hats from dust and damage. When using boxes or containers, place tissue paper between hats to prevent them from rubbing against each other and causing wear.
DIY Hat Storage Ideas
Get creative with repurposed items like old ladders, pallets, or pipes to create a unique storage solution. Hanging rope or chain systems can also be used to display hats while saving space.
Hat Storage Tips
Store hats in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and damage.
Categorize hats by style or frequency of use to make them easily accessible and organized.
Rotate seasonal hats, storing off-season hats in airtight containers or storage bags to protect them when not in use.
Maintain the shape of your hats by storing them upside-down or on a flat surface. For structured hats, consider using a hat form or stuffing with tissue paper to retain their shape.
Regularly dust and clean your hats according to the manufacturer's recommendations to keep them looking their best.
How do you store your hats if you have such a passion? Feel free to share your hat rack ideas and hat collection in the comment section below.
Interior decoration is very important not just for the beauty of the house but also for the mood of those living in it. A well-designed and coolly decorated room gives the owner a sense of satisfaction and confidence to host their friends and family. Fortunately, there are many décor options you can choose to meet your needs.
For instance, you could mix paint colors on your walls to bring out whatever mood you want. Contrasting neutral colors also serves as one of the most effective decorations for your living room or any other space in your home. Another great option is the use of artwork. This is one of the most common décor ideas that have been around since time immemorial.
You can either display your artwork without frames or decide to frame them. The latter is preferred by most people because of the benefits it brings. For one, it preserves your artwork and ensures that it remains clean and stunning for a lifetime. There’s also a wide range of beautiful frames designed to enhance the beauty of your art piece.
It’s common, however, to find people displaying their artwork without frames. This option makes your drawings and pictures appear as natural as possible. So, how can you display your unframed art printswhile enhancing your interior design? This article aims to discuss all the best ways of doing this in any of your rooms.
Read on to learn more!
Ways to Display Artwork Without Framing
How to protect the unframed artwork
The primary purpose of frames is to protect your art against external conditions. For instance, UV rays, damaging humidity levels, and erratic temperatures are some of the factors that will reduce the lifespan of your artwork. So, what can you do to avoid such?
First, make sure to keep all the unframed art prints away from direct sunlight. Doing so will prevent the UV rays from reaching your favorite pieces, which would have otherwise tampered with their durability. Dirt and dust are other culprits when it comes to an artwork’s lifespan. Therefore, be sure to clean your hands before handling any print. While at it, it’s recommended that you lightly dust the pieces regularly to avoid a build-up of unwanted particles.
Another way to protect your unframed art is to finish it with a mat; this applies to framed art prints as well. Mats ensure that your pieces maintain their original shape and also prevent unnecessary scratches. They also give the art a border that helps highlight and accent your print.
Now that you know all the essential precautions when it comes to unframed artwork, what display options do you have? Read on to learn more!
Ways to display unframed artwork
Photo ledge shelf
Shelves are among the most common options when it comes to hanging artwork, both framed and unframed. If you’re constantly changing the house’s setup and décor, this is the perfect option for you. For one, you won’t have to pull things off the wall and install them in other sections of your rooms when making changes.
Additionally, you can also use this idea to create a gallery wall if you like those kinds of art displays. This is the ideal option if you have a variety of art sizes. The best way to show off such prints is to mix the bigger and smaller sizes all on one shelf. This will create a unique feel in your room, which is everyone’s dream.
There are various options when it comes to shelved artwork, too. For instance, you can use your bookshelves to display the prints. All you need to do is find a way to match the books and your art. Alternatively, you might want to try floating shelves. One of the main advantages of installing these features or ledges is the fact that they aren’t bulky, like most wall cabinets.
Floating shelves are also strikingly different from what most people are used to seeing in most homes. As such, they’ll attract a lot of eyeballs, making them ideal for your artwork. You would want something that attracts the attention of the guests to your artwork, and floating shelves can do a good job at that.
Use skirt hangers
You most likely have several skirt hangers left lying around after your spring-cleaning routine. Rather than throwing them away, you can put this old junk to good use. A skirt hanger is probably the last thing you can think of when it comes to displaying your artwork. However, this item can do a great job in your next décor project by adding a surprisingly sophisticated feature to your room’s walls.
So, how will you go about it? The beauty of art is that you don’t have to complicate things for them to look beautiful. All you need are a few adhesive hooks and skirt hangers with tight clips that can hold your art prints. (2)
Once you have all the materials in place, install the adhesive hooks strategically on the wall. Make sure you leave enough allowance for both the skirt hangers and the respective artwork. To be on the safer side, measure the length and width of the hangers and the corresponding prints, and then transfer the exact measurements to the walls while leaving enough space between one piece and the other.
Strings and clips
Still unsure about the best method to use in your DIY wall art project? Strings and clips could be your best bet. This is one of the oldest and most popular methods of hanging your art prints. Despite its simplicity, this technique is still one of the best when it comes to wall décor projects.
So, what’s the best way to display your art using this method? Among the materials, you’ll need include nails or adhesive hooks, strings, and clips. Now you have two options: you either go with a vertical or horizontal rail depending on your preference.
Vertical rail
Vertical picture rails use one vertical string to hold several pictures. All you need to do is have nails arranged horizontally on your wall and attach a string to each of them. You can then clip your art prints on these strings using any combination.
The best thing about strings and clips is the fact that they’re versatile. As such, they give you a lot of room to be creative with your wall décor. At the end of the day, you’ll have a space full of bohemian vibes that’ll leave your guests relaxed.
Horizontal rail
If you opt for a horizontal picture rail, you’ll need nails on either end of the wall. Install the nails or adhesive hooks in such a way that the strings will form a zigzag-like shape. Once everything is in place, the next step is to hang your unframed art using either pegs or any other type of clips that pleases you.
Use clipboards
Clipboards, just like skirt hangers, aren’t too popular in the world of wall decoration. Nonetheless, they can do a great job at creating a nice and unique atmosphere in your living room or bedroom. With a standard clipboard, there are many ways to display your artwork, but the most commonly used one is clipping.
All you need to get started are clipboards, nails, and your art prints. Install the nails at strategic locations on the wall–be sure to consider the length and width of the walls in your calculations. You’ll use these nails to hang your clipboards in any desirable order. Using an asymmetric arrangement is the best option because it creates a sense of vibrancy and brings out the much-needed contrast between your art pieces.
Before clipping the pictures, you can go a step further and paint these clipboards. Many people prefer painting the surface with black chalkboard paint and then spraying the handles with silvery or gold colors. Remember to cover the rest of the clipboard’s surface when spraying the handle.
This combination doesn’t only look beautiful, but it also creates a perfect background for your artwork. Make sure, though, that you choose a color combination that best matches your walls. Once done, you can then clip the pictures on the clipboard and hang them on the wall.
Washi tape
Washi tape is another superb option for anyone looking to hang unframed art in their homes. So, what is it, and how can you use this tool to enhance your wall décor? Washi tape is a decorative adhesive tape originating from Japan. It’s more like ordinary masking tape but with a wide range of unique decorative colors and patterns.
This crafting essential is a product of Japanese shrubs, like hemp and Kozo. So, if you’re into a sustainable lifestyle, this is the perfect option for you because it’s made entirely from biodegradable materials. Another thing that makes washi tape special is the fact that it’s renewable, durable, and waterproof.
Now that you already know about this amazing material, how will you use it with your unframed art? Simply tear off specific lengths of this tape that match your paper prints. Apply the washi tape around the edges of the unframed art to form a border-like structure. Now, secure your piece on the wall, and voila! You’ve made strides in your décor project.
As mentioned earlier, there are many color pattern combinations in the market. Therefore, be sure to choose washi tape rolls that match your art prints. Don’t be afraid to mix up a few colors here and there, provided you don’t overdo it.
Washi tape doesn’t stick too much, which makes it ideal for almost every type of paper. However, if you’re looking to hang some fancy art on your wall, this wouldn’t be the best option. Instead, try using strings and clips or clipboards because they guarantee the safety of your prints.
Why use art prints for your wall décor?
The world of home décor features many design options, all of which are aimed at satisfying various needs. But why should you choose art prints to brighten up your walls?
Gives your room a focal point
Every room needs a focal point that attracts the guests’ attention. A good piece of art draws people into the space and gives them an idea of what to expect. For instance, rather than having your TV as the focal point in your living room, you can put a few art prints on the wall to add a different and more natural feel to the space.
However, you need to be careful when deciding on which pieces to use for this purpose. Size is one of the most important factors to keep in mind. If you select art that’s too small, it might struggle to make any significant impression in your room. On the other hand, one that’s bigger than the desired size is likely to be a source of distraction. Therefore, be sure to get the balance right in your selection.
Provides vibrancy
Is your room looking a little boring and too neutral? Hanging art pieces, whether framed or unframed, on the walls can go a long way in brightening up the space. Using the right art selection for this purpose can give your home an instant lift with the extra vibrance.
Conclusion
Artwork is one of the easiest ways you can use to brighten up your room. Without the right techniques, though, you might not be able to meet the desired standards, especially if you’re looking to create something unique. The tips provided in our article will help you display your unframed pieces without messing with their quality.
For instance, skirt hangers, clipboards, and photo shelves can give your room the vibrancy it needs. While at it, be sure to mix things up to avoid a monotonous and boring appearance in your rooms. If you choose to use washi tape, make sure you don’t stick it to your fancy things because any wrong move can leave you frustrated.
It is a computer graphics technique that allows you to develop a digital 3D representation of any object, living or inanimate. This representation is called a 3D model. You may choose to create a physical representation of the model using a 3D printer.
You would need specialized software to create 3D models of objects. These 3D models can be used for various purposes like illustration, architecture, movies, engineering, video games, commercial advertising, and so on. We use a 3D rendering process to view a 2D image of a 3D model.
To get a better understanding of 3D modeling, let’s talk about 3D models and the modeling process, followed by their uses.
First of all, it is imperative that you gain a comprehensive understanding of 3D modeling. To give you an in-depth analysis, we have divided this section into two parts – Representation and Modeling Process.
Representation
How are 3D models represented? All 3D models can be broadly classified into two groups:
1. Shell or Boundary
When a model represents only the surface or the boundary but not the volume of the object, it is a shell model. Almost all of the visual models in films and games are shell models. For a shell model to be a meaningful object, it must not have any cracks or holes.
2. Solid
When a model represents the volume of the object, it is called a solid model. Solid models are generally built using constructive solid geometry. These models prove to be useful in medical and engineering simulations.
You can use either of the two model types to create almost identical objects. Although the two objects created using each of these models will have no difference in terms of functionality, the following differences may be observed:
Differences in the conventions of use in several fields.
Differences in the way the models are created and edited.
Differences in approximation types between reality and the model.
You can choose from three ways of representing a 3D model:
Curve Modeling
You use curves to define surfaces. Weighted control points influence each trajectory to make it fall into shape – the more weight you put on a point, the closer the curve moves to it. There are various curve types, including splines, geometric primitives, patches, and non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS).
Polygonal Modeling
You create a polygon mesh by using line segments to connect vertices (points in 3D space). It is one of the most widely used methods to represent 3D models because it has the following benefits:
It provides exceptional flexibility to the 3D artist.
It can be rendered very quickly by computer.
As good as textured polygon models are, they suffer from the limited scope of being planar and are capable of merely approximating curved surfaces.
Digital Sculpting
Digital sculpting is a relatively new way of representing 3D models. It has become popular among artists because they get avenues to explore their creative side. You can choose from three methods of digital sculpting:
An in-depth understanding of 3D modeling is possible only if you know the process that goes into each modeling task. Without further ado, let’s dive into all the details of the 3D modeling process.
We can list the steps of 3D modeling as:
Generate a primitive (plane, cube, or sphere) to get a starting shape.
Use various modeling tools to manipulate the primitive – start simple and build upon complexity.
You may have to place individual vertices to get accurate contouring of the object.
If you are animating the 3D model, divide the polygons in the mesh into smaller shapes. For instance, to animate a character’s elbow or knee to bend.
If you are creating a character design, you can use mirroring options in 3D modeling software to apply symmetrical changes to each half or quarter of the object.
If you are working on a complex project that involves experimental modeling, you should use a surface subdivision tool for simulating a higher polygon count, thereby preserving your original work.
You can use various tools to quickly deform your model’s surface if it goes wrong.
Paint and texture are applied to the surface of the completed model.
How is 3D Modeling Used?
Now that you know what 3D Modeling is, it is time to explore all the different ways it can be used. To get a better understanding of its uses, we have divided this section into two parts – Applications and Software – each of which is equally important to make the most out of 3D modeling.
Applications of 3D Modeling
3D modeling is used in various fields nowadays. With the advent of digitalization, 3D models are becoming increasingly popular and useful in many spheres of life. Some of the most common applications of 3D modeling include:
1. 3D Printing
3D Printing has seen exponential growth in recent years. Many companies offer personalized 3D models of objects that are designed in CAD software. Some of the industries where 3D printed models are being used off late include:
Jewelry and mold making
Customizable gifts
Consumable art
3D printing essentially creates a three-dimensional object by using successive layers of material. Some of the benefits of 3D printing are:
You can create objects without first creating their molds.
You can edit a 3D-printed part by editing its model.
It is a great way to test an idea by getting its physical form without incurring considerable costs.
2. 3D Model Markets
3D modeling is also frequently used in a wide array of creative fields by professionals. Individuals who create original 3D models can sell them online on websites like CGTRader, TurboSquid, and Sketchfab.
On the flip side, numerous on-demand 3D printing services have emerged to cater to the rising demand for 3D models.
3. Other Uses
Some of the creative fields and industries where 3D modeling is most commonly used are:
Animators and game developers use it to get a realistic look at their ideas and assess their viability.
Architects, interior designers, and engineers use it for planning and designing.
Films and television shows use it for special effects, speeding up production, and reducing costs. For instance, the top-rated HBO show, Game of Thrones used 3D modeling with animation before filming each episode.
It is used in the medical industry to represent human anatomy in interactive ways.
Industrial products are modeled using it to run tests before commercial production or client presentations.
It is used in a set or stage design in media shows and events.
It is used by fashion designers and artists to create dynamic 3D clothing for virtual catalogs.
3D Modeling Software
Irrespective of the 3D modeling project you wish to undertake, you can find software that will do it for you. There is a wide range of software available in the market for 3D modeling, but we have shortlisted the best software that you should consider. Each of these options is known to have highly efficient 3D modeling features and tools.
3DS MAX
Possibly the best well know modeling software out there, 3DS Max is a jack of all trades serving a wide array of industries from animation to architecture, product design, and advanced prototyping.
Blender
Blender offers a free, open-source animation and 3D modeling framework. It comes equipped with a diverse set of tools, which are good enough to produce top-notch animations and almost professional assets. The best part is that you can avail of these features for free with Blender.
Blender has a steep learning curve, and beginners may face severe challenges while using it initially.
SketchUp
SketchUp is the go-to software for landscape designers and architects. If you are studying architecture and need 3D modeling software that is easy to use, SketchUp is the ideal option for you. Its interface is thoughtfully designed for beginners who want to get started with 3D modeling.
SketchUp is also used for other drawing applications like video games and film design, and mechanical and civil engineering.
Maya
Maya is the benchmark for animation and 3D modeling software. It is one of the most popular 3D modeling software out there. It is also used in a majority of the universities that provide 3D modeling courses. If you have not used Maya before, you should put in the effort to learn it and gain some experience.
Cinema4D
If you want to use 3D modeling for motion graphics, you should try Cinema4D. It is one of the most popular software because of its streamlined and integrated interface that works with standard tools like Adobe After Effects. Beginners and students can breathe easily – the learning curve here is not as steep as in Maya.
Needless to say that a dozen more 3d Modelling and Rendering Software out there and each industry has a favorite.
Summing It Up
3D modeling is not one of those things that you can suddenly start and expect to master. It requires a decent understanding of fundamental art skills. So, if you are a beginner in 3D modeling, know that it will take time to get it right. Irrespective of what you use them for, creating the first few 3D models will require significant effort and patience.
With that in mind, keep practicing and keep learning. Use the software or tools that work best for you and give you optimal results.
Wondering if there’s a way where you won’t need a log or mix-up sand and cement to build a house? Guess what, there is!
Using the traditional method to build a house is tiresome, and opting for Quonset hut homes is a better solution. These uniquely-styled homeswere first built during World War I as camps providing prehab facilities to soldiers. But who would have thought that they will become a popular solution for modern housing?
A Quonset home is known for its durability against extreme weather conditions, and you don’t need to be a professional builder to build it. As long as you know the rules, you’re fine.
That’s why we have curated this guide to help you understand all about its types and advantages in detail. Plus, we’ll answer some of the common questions that most people have regarding a Quonset home.
So, without further ado, dive in!
What Is A Quonset Hut Home?
Quonset homes are lightweight homes featuring semicircular designs and are made of galvanized steel. They generally cost less and stand out aesthetically.
Although the design was first introduced during WWI, it was produced in bulk during World War II (in 1941) when the United States Navy needed a lightweight building that could easily be transported and assembled. And these structures still hold relevance in modern times due to their easy construction and appealing looks.
You will find these prefabricated metal buildings serving various living and storage purposes. Plus, the characteristics make them suitable for functioning as garages, houses, workshops, or even barns.
Types Of Quonset Hut Home
Quonset hut homes can be designed differently depending on the climate and the builder’s aesthetic preferences. These include:
A. Q Model
The Q model is an entirely arch-shaped and military-style Quonset building that is designed in a way to enhance its structural integrity. Provided its simple geometric shape, you won’t have much scope to make any further modifications. However, it’s the cheapest among the other options that we will discuss later.
B. S Model
In this particular model, you’ll see straight and high sidewalls with a domed roof. This design allows heavy snow and rain to slide off easily, making it a viable option for people to live in areas that receive a lot of snow or rain.
Apart from that, its straight sidewalls provide greater access to the interior space than the Q model. The combination of extra space and added durability has made it a common choice amongst Quonset hut home builders.
C. P Model
The next one comes with high sidewalls and a peaked roof and comes close to a traditional house in terms of looks. Its roof is arched enough to effectively shed snow and rain while delivering the look of a gable roof. Its only downside is that you have to spend more on this model than the previous two.
D. A Model
A model looks quite similar to the P model, so they’re often grouped together. In fact, many construction companies offer P/A models. Its roof is arched with a slight peak, as seen in a P model, ensuring easy fall for snow or rain.
The only thing that sets it apart is that its largely straight exterior walls are angled slightly inward, creating an arched shape, which is not the case with the Q and S models.
Pros And Cons Of A Quonset Hut Home
Since Quonset homes have been around for some time, their designs have evolved quite a lot, and you’ll find many options in terms of design and looks. However, you must know about the basic advantages and disadvantages on offer, which will help decide if this arched house will be the right fit for you.
Pros
Efficient Build
Quonset homes are highly efficient and generate very little waste. Plus, they are very flexible and are a great option for small warehouses, retail shops, and storage.
Long Lifespan
Galvanized steel is used to build these homes, which makes them rust and corrosion-resistant. It means there are very less chance that these homes will wear down due to snow and rain. Also, you won’t have to spend much on maintaining them, which is a bonus!
Easy To Build
Building Quonset hut homes are much more straightforward than traditional homes. Only a few people (maximum 4 to 5) are needed to build one such structure and that too within a few days. Besides, only a few standard construction tools are required for the purpose.
Spacious
These huts span up to a maximum of 80 feet. Although it's not ideal for multi-story Quonset buildings, having a bigger span like this means less hassle. And compared to other homes with straight walls, they are much easier to build and maintain.
Cheaper
Quonset homes generally come with many hidden costs, the prominent one being insulation. But even after considering that, they are usually cheaper than others.
Cons
Less Space
Constructing an arched-shaped building means less usable square footage. Also, due to the pitched roof, these homes have less headspace, and you may not have enough space to accommodate all your furniture and fixtures.
In that sense, they are more suited for small warehouses or people requiring smaller spaces.
Less Versatile
Although Quonset homes have a greater span, it’s much lesser when compared to a rigid frame structure, with a clear span of around 300 ft. Also, the latter offers much more headspace compared to these arched-style homes.
So, make sure to go through these pros and cons when thinking of building a Quonset hut home. It's clear that despite offering so many benefits, it has certain limitations. And if these are not a problem for you, we would definitely recommend building one.
Design Ideas For A Quonset Hut Home
A. Traditional Quonset Hut Homes
Photography by Jenny Gorman
For people who prefer living in a vintage-style house and love its aesthetic, this particularly-styled home can be the ideal option for them. Its old-school exterior has a gorgeous interior, which is an absolute delight for people living in it. Moreover, you can equip the house with almost all modern amenities and enjoy a relaxed and comfortable living space.
B. Modern Quonset Hut Homes
Source: showyourvote.org
Unlike traditional hut homes, the interior and exterior walls of this home are designed in a contemporary style. Sporting a simple yet unique design, it delivers an aesthetic look to the home.
These houses employ high-quality materials so that you can stay warm and cozy. And the premium glass windows have a sleek look while allowing the circulation of fresh air and natural light.
Although these houses are expensive compared to the previous type, the cost is surely justified for the features it delivers.
C. Desert-Themed Quonset Homes
Photography by Matt Kisiday
As the name suggests, these homes are great for living in desert areas or other regions also. Being made of metal, these structures are different in design compared to other models.
Their ability to handle excruciating heat stemming from their unique designs is what makes them stand out and makes them work even in the desert.
D. Wood-Based Quonset Huts
Source: southernliving.com
Most Quonset homes are made of prefabricated steel, but you’ll also find some made of wood, especially in the countryside.
As compared to steel, these huts have some unique benefits and you can change their look and design according to your preferences without breaking the bank. Furthermore, you can decorate your house with creative items and pieces to get the best visuals and a completely contrasting experience.
However, the design is not completely free from limitations. Although the building cost is generally less, the maintenance costs can become overwhelming in the long run. Aside from that, these are more difficult to build than their steel counterparts.
E. Backyard Quonset Huts
Source: European Property
If you want to build a small Quonset home in the backyard where you can spend some alone time, then consider this design. These backyard Quonset huts come in several attractive and stylish color options.
For example, the red and maroon combinations have been trending in recent years, or you can select any color combination that blends well with your main house or building.
F. Simplistic Quonset Homes
Source: manual10.biz
Simplistic homes are cute-looking homes boasting a simple design with little or no major exterior decor. The only feature that sets it apart from others is its huge glass windows in the front.
According to the designers, the main motive behind these large windows installed right in the middle is for the entire house to receive quality lighting. You should definitely go for it if you have a knack for simplistic or minimalist-designed homes.
Some Quonset huts don’t have to be fancy-looking or boast extravagant designs to look good. Like this Military-style Quonset home, a simple design delivers an old-school look and works wonders here.
The primary idea behind building a home is to live a relaxing and comfortable life, so for many, interior design and comfort surpass exterior designs. In terms of comfort, this design stays by leaps and bounds compared to others. This Quonset hut offers a great deal of interior space to work with and allows you to accommodate your things effortlessly.
The stunning Quonset home does not have a simple design, but it is not overly complicated. This house is distinguished by the use of a distinct palette of colors. It can be more subdued or bold and bright, and you can paint it to suit your taste and style.
I. Nature-Like Quonset Huts
Photos by Arched Cabins
You will find a wide array of designs under nature-like Quonset huts, and the most common one amongst them is the swamp-themed one that blends well with nature. These huts boast a unique lighting system along with delivering an aesthetic look.
Quonset Home Floor Plans
Like any other home, these Quonset huts also come with a specific structure. And, its floor plan ideas should fit perfectly with the size of the room. Here are some popular floor plans to help you segregate the rooms well.
A. 24’x24’ (about 576 square feet)
Generally fits with a Q and S-model Quonset hut, this small space has been a popular choice and is utilized primarily like a double car garage. Apart from that, it’s suitable to accommodate a single person, fitting a bathroom, a bedroom, a dining room, a kitchen, and a living room. Due to its smaller size, it's a practical and cheaper option to consider.
B. 40’x30’ (about 800 square feet)
This floor plan provides adequate living space for a family of three people. You can easily build a smaller bedroom, a master bedroom, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. Plus, you can add a dining room and a living room to make your hut more functional.
C. 30’x40’ (about 1200 square feet)
The largest among the three, this floor space is ideal for large Quonset homes, where you can build a mezzanine to double up the storage capacity. Its size is enough to accommodate two masters and two smaller bedrooms to give a family of six a comfortable living experience.
Add to that a dining room, a kitchen, and a multipurpose room to make it a livable space.
Establishing a floor plan before building or purchasing a Quonset hut is crucial to get a better result. You'll get different sizes of floors from various brands, and need to discuss your plans with them and seek expert advice.
Quonset Homes Vs. Steel Buildings
Although both building types are similar in nature, there’s a striking difference in their architectural styles. Quonset buildings have arch-type frames, while there are rigid frames in corrugated steel buildings. The interior walls of the former building type are generally much taller, which provides more significant space to store your things.
On the other hand, being easily accessible and DIY-friendly, Quonset homes are much cheaper compared to its counterpart. These structures are pre-made and self-supporting, making them easier to assemble for a person without any prior building experience. And, you won’t need any columns either. As you’re building a Quonset home by yourself, it saves a lot on construction costs.
Steel buildings, however, have complicated designs and require skilled labor to build. Depending on its location and property, these cost much more than the Quonsets.
Quonset Hut Home Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How to build a Quonset hut home?
Constructing a Quonset hut is very simple, but it can get complicated if you don’t know where to start. So, here we’re discussing some factors to be kept in mind before you begin constructing.
1. Material
Traditionally, these huts used to be made of aluminum with interlocking arches for storing baggage and used as shelters. After the war, other Quonset hut home kits included metal panels, steel frames, and paper insulation. And, after not that long, wooden arches also became available.
Modern Quonset homes are generally made of prefabricated steel, making them durable and long-lasting. Plus, they are also not that heavy and easy to carry around.
2. Quonset Hut Insulation
Insulation is probably the most important process in building an arch-shaped home. Ideally, the metal sheet is designed to be weather-proof, watertight, and free of moisture. But, even the most well-planned project can go through dire situations. If these metal sheets aren’t stacked well, heat waves during summer, and cold chills during winter enter through these holes and make your lives miserable.
We’d recommend insulating the house with double-sided tape, and super metal sealant rounded all over the sheets. Also, a closed-cell spray can be a great option to insulate your hut from external weather conditions.
3. Interior Design
You don’t need any fancy stuff to make your interior stand out. Just select the right furnishings that blend well with the color. You can always find inspiration for these designs out there or can contact a designer to get it done for you.
4. End Walls
Custom or steel end walls are a great option for an open-ended building, whether you’re planning for a sectional or sliding door. It’s important to add adequate ventilation and windows to enhance the airflow or install a skylight that acts as a light panel.
Q2. Do Quonset huts make good houses?
Quonset huts are durable, distinctive, and affordable and have gained popularity amongst DIY and eco-friendly crowds. Despite being originated as drafty military structures, these huts have evolved over the period to deliver first-rate comfort once integrated with modern amenities and creatively decorated.
Q3. Are Quonset hut homes cheaper?
Although Quonset homes are cheaper than most traditional homes, the costs add up quickly once you start building these. If you’re considering building one of these, take note of all materials required and the steps involved to establish an appropriate budget.
Q4. Is it legal to live in a Quonset hut?
Yes, these homes are now permitted to be built for commercial purposes, and you have full freedom to live in these. You won’t have to worry about getting inflicted by any legal issues. And the interior and exterior of the hut can be painted with complete creative freedom.
Q5. How much does it cost to build a Quonset hut house?
The cost involved in building such a home varies from the kind of materials you’re using and the designs. But, here are the average prices you’ll find on the market.
Small hut building kits generally come in the range of $1500 to $2000, and with appointing interior designers and workers, it might go up to $3000 to $25000.
The costs fall in the range of $5000 to $35000 for medium-sized homes and depending on its size, location, accessories, and workers, the costs go as high as $10000 to $50000. At the same time, a fully built and complete hut costs around $40000, and an 80-inch x 400-inch hut goes up to a maximum of $10000.
Final Words
So, this is all we have to share about a Quonset hut home. These unique-style homes are much simpler in design but don’t lack in terms of functionality.
High-quality corrugated galvanized steel and other materials are used for its construction, making it durable and long-lasting. Apart from living, this multi-purpose space is useful as a garage, store, or storage building.
Preliminary, these huts were developed to withstand extreme weather conditions, but nowadays, these are explicitly manufactured as residential homes. You can build anything that suits your personality, from traditional and straightforward huts to desert-themed ones. Many companies offer prefabricated Quonset hut home kits that are super easy to assemble and decorate in recent times.
We hope you loved our informative guide about Quonset homes and will continue to bring such unique and informative content to this space, so keep an eye on it.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Victorian houses? It would either be an intricate design or a dark, haunted building!
While the media today generally shows us both of these, you should know that Victorian-style houses refer to a particular era and not any architectural style per se. We are talking about the period between 1837 and 1901 when Great Britain was ruled by Queen Victoria.
At that time, there were specific patterns, colors, styles, decorations, and materials used, and those defined the houses of that era. However, today, Victorian-style houses are generally designed like Romanesque or Medieval Gothic structures.
For a better understanding, we will discuss the different styles of Victorian houses that became popular over the years. So, dive in!
What Is A Victorian House
Features Of A Victorian House
There are a host of features that define a Victorian-style house, and here we will talk about them. While some of them may not be common for all such homes, you can use this list as a reference point if you plan to build one in the future.
Interior
First of all, let us discuss the interiors, and then we will move on to the exterior of these houses. Most Victorian houses are 2-3 stories high and will have a high ceiling. The ceiling height is always more as that adds to the grandeur of each room. Plus, it makes the structure look even bigger.
Next, you will see a lot of intricate detailing work around ceilings and walls. The ceilings and windows would usually have ornate patterns, and there is generally a very well-decorated staircase in the middle of the house.
Plus, there are beautifully decorated nooks and corners with flower vases and paintings, which are the two other features that you may get to see a lot in Victorian homes.
Exterior
You must have noticed that houses during Queen Victoria’s reign had large towers, dormers, and turrets, which would add to the structure and make it look grand. Moreover, the roofs would be steep and gabled along with well-shaped windows with rounded or an ornate top. The windows would generally be large and would overlook gardens or a decorated backyard.
Apart from that, a lot of stained glass would be used, which enhanced the look while preventing direct sunlight from entering the rooms. These would generally be paired with long and heavy drapes with floral designs, and the drapes would be thick to keep out the cold.
Besides, a lot of bright colors were used to enhance and highlight the walls, which was, in turn, accompanied by intricate and well-decorated woodwork. Moreover, you would notice rounded edges and angles instead of straight bends, which is another major characteristic of these houses.
Types Of Victorian Houses
There are many styles of Victorian houses that have existed over time, and in this section, we will discuss them in detail. While some might look similar from the outside, there are key differences, and you can read on to know about them.
Gothic Revival Houses
Have you seen those castle-like structures that will remind you of medieval churches? That is what a gothic revival house would look like, and you can recognize it by its grand structure. These usually have a lot of decorated wooden trims or vergeboards.
Beyond that, there are pointed arches, gables in the front, and a high-pitched roof. These homes are very close to royal houses and usually comprise several rooms inside.
Italian Renaissance Villa
These villas belonged to the period between 1840 -1870 and were generally lower in height than the gothic revival homes. Italianate-style houses were made by taking inspiration from Italian homes belonging to the 16th century. The homes were mostly 2 stories high and had broad weaves along with lower roofs.
Hence, they were not very tall but would cover a large area. Adding to the design, there were ornamental brackets that were widely used to make the place look even more beautiful.
Moreover, there would be tall thin windows, which had round decorated tops. Some houses even had square-shaped towers and cupolas accompanying the structure. Italianate-style houses were seen in the mid-19th century when a lot of them were made in American cities. They were most popular in Brooklyn, New York, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Ohio, and some parts of San Francisco.
Second Empire
These houses were mostly built in France from 1852 to 1870 when Napoleon III was reigning. Their architectural style would be grand, although the base of the house would be square or rectangular.
But they would be accompanied by a mansard roof along with a lot of ornate designs on the walls and windows outside. The roof would usually be sloping down on all sides, creating a wonderful effect.
Stick-Eastlake Wooden Homes
The Stick- Eastlake houses were popularly found between the years 1860 to 1890 and were generally made from wood. Wood at the time was easily available and was pretty cheap too. Hence, most of the houses would be made with decorative wooden trim work.
They would also sport angled wooden frameworks with shingled sloping roofs. This increased the height of the structure, making it look bigger and taller. Moreover, there would be double-hung windows around the house, which added to the design.
Folk Victorian Homes
These houses were generally seen between 1870 to 1910, and they were much simpler when compared to the previous designs. They belonged to the local people and not the royals or barons, and hence, you would not see towers or high roofs here.
The structures were smaller, and they were accompanied by a square base. This had no complicated floor plans, and you would not find heavily shingled roofs. However, the Victorian roots were visible, and you could find designed and patterned wooden trims around the roof and the porch. These would go around the house, highlighting the design and structure.
Also, there would be beveled corners, and a lot of lace would be used for curtains and tables. The lace-like designs could be found around windows and edges of the house too.
Queen Anne
This is a very popular style and is still used today as inspiration for designs. The houses became popular between 1875 to 1905, and they looked very grand. However, they were mainly inspired by the reigning period of Queen Anne, which extended from 1702 to 1714.
There was heavy ornamentation used, and you could find high gabled roofs, which would slope down at steep angles. They would be paired with large windows with rounded and decorated trims. Some would also have high towers, which would add to the grandeur.
The wrap-around porches looked beautiful and provided space for walking around in bad weather. Plus, you would find a lot of accent colors being used for some walls. Queen Anne-style homes were indeed very grand and would generally belong to the upper class and royals during that period.
Final Words
The Victorian era officially lasted between 1837 and 1901, but the architectural designs and styles kept growing and transforming for another 2 decades. After that, people started disliking these designs, and many houses earned the title of haunted homes, especially after the onset of the Colonial revival movement.
However, post that, there was a steady rise of Victorian-style structures in many countries, and it slowly became inspirational. Today after more than a hundred years, you will still find houses that are designed in the “Italianate” or “Queen Anne” style with some modern modifications, of course.
On that note, we will say our goodbyes. Watch this space for more interesting reads.
What is the Difference Between Wicker and Rattan Furniture?
"Rattan" and " Wicker" are terms often confused, and interchanged by mistake due to their popularity for both indoor and outdoor furniture alike. Despite the confusion, both "rattan furniture" and "wicker furniture" have simply mesmerized the patios of millions of households, living rooms with airy ambiance, and households that seek to embrace the natural material as much as possible. Long story short, rattan is a material used to make furniture whereas wicker is actually a technique that involves weaving natural materials like willow or bamboo in complex, intricate patterns.
The beautiful intricate solutions of wicker are known to have been used as far back as ancient Egypt, mesmerizing our world throughout its existence.
In the following article, we will go into detail about the difference between the two and showcase simply extraordinary design solutions from both spheres. Cast a glance and don`t be a stranger, leave your valuable feedback in the comment section below.
the roots
The process that used reeds, rushes, willow, and even bamboo, and wicker, is known to have been used by ancestors for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt and in the ash-covered Pompeii alike wicker baskets and stools have been discovered, the exact same weaving techniques used back then, thousands of years ago, are used today to shape recycled materials into eco-friendly furniture and home furnishing, a beautiful technique that we use today to emphasize sustainability and the correct, responsible, use of materials.
Jungle Vine
Southeast Asia produces intensively the jungle vine from which Rattan is produced, one could say that rattan is a jungle vine, it is basically a solid cane, a strong vertical grain that when harvested is sliced into standard lengths and most often than not steamed so it can be shaped into curves. The new pieces of cane are to shape indoor or outdoor furniture of great sturdiness with a really exotic vibe as these furnishings are highly popular in tropical climates. Rattan is actually the skin of the vine in question, the rattan peel is stripped of the cane and soaked well to produce a thing, pliable strips that will enclose the structures once the peel dries.
The video illustrates how the jungle vine is manipulated prior to peeling and how it reaches the right form that is to be used for weaving. The skin will now create beautiful patterns of great furnishing.
Resilience versatility durability
Known to be one very strong natural material, rattan comes in a wide variety of colors yet the canes can be painted and the Victorians were renowned for painting the rattan to resemble the bamboo canes thus reaching the "faux bamboo" status, having the bamboo`s distinctive rings painted on as well.
the canes of antiquity
Antiques of old rattan and wicker furniture are at a high level, with individuals parting great amounts of money to own Victorian wicker and various vintage rattan pieces sculpted in the Hawaiian Islands or the Philippines in the 1940s and 1950s. The exquisite pieces of rattan often feature colorful bark-cloth cushions and present a tropical design of great beauty.
WHAT IS WICKER?
Basically, any product that contains woven vines or stems is or should be referred to as a wicker. The world is believed to have a Scandinavian origin, the words "wika" translates into "to bend" and "vikker" means willow in Swedish. The rattan vine is a material used for wicker products traditionally in this country, the practice going back at least 150 years; to date, rattan is still the most sought material for wicker furniture. Located in Southeast and East Asia, Africa, and South and Central America, rattan plants are climbing plants that thrive in rain forests only; the highest quality type is the honey rattan and it can be found in Southeast Asia.
Rattan, if woven properly, should last at least 100 years old if the materials are picked right and the procedure is respected, this being said there is no surprise that wicker antiques from the Victorian period are still used effortlessly yet the most surprising and impressive pieces of wicker furniture to date have been created in the midst of the Egyptian Empire. These exotics include chests made from reed and papyrus, wig boxes made from both reed and rush, and splendid wicker hassocks and chairs.
The property of the materials involved naturally dictates the wicker`s durability. The rattan vine can be sliced to various lengths and widths and it contains fibers running lengthwise through it offering the vine the immense strength of a multi-strand cable, the dense the fibers the more powerful the material. The vine can be bent yet unlike wood it would not splinter nor break. It is known that many individuals mistake the wicker's flexibility for weakness yet this is certainly not the case.
The process that would transform harvested vines into a piece of furniture involves numerous steps, most of them being realized by hand. Each thorny leaf is removed by pulling across each length a forked stick driven into the ground. In the harvesting process, the bundles of rattan often use water power, floating down the river through the jungle till they reach the sea in most cases, at this point the sun`s warmth would have cured the material well thus making it ready to be shipped to the factory. Once they reach the factory certain machines cut the vines into different shapes and lengths. The strongest part, the smooth outer skin known as "the cane" is used to make the chair seats, "cane seats" as they are referred to locally. The cane seats are most often than not woven by a machine.
Workers are used to manipulating the rattan core products that are still pliable, and green. If the material dries out, rigidly, it will be soaked for a few minutes to regain its flexibility in the manufacturing process. When the material is steamed, rattan vines can be twisted and bent, as soon as the material cools and dries it gains rigidity and the molded shapes can remain permanent making the process ideal in the manufacturing process.
The original form of rattan is a close relative to a tropical palm tree, rattan starts to grow in a vertical direction, upwards yet it bends back to the ground and snakes through the rain forest soon afterward, very much like a vine. The vines is being harvested after years of growth and after harvest, they`re sliced into 12 to 18-foot or 3.7 to 5.5 meters sections to be dried efficiently.
Today, rattan is considered one of the strongest types of wood available as its grains grow vertically rather than horizontally in concentric rings like other hardwood. Certain pieces of straight rattan are always steamed and shaped directly into certain standard forms that will be used industrially when the rattan dries, retaining its shape forever. These standard pieces do form most of the structure of the end furnishing pieces, pieces we are to call later on either rattan or wicker furniture.
The difference between rattan and wicker lies here, where rattan is a specific material, and wicker is the general process that will shape finished goods from certain vines, these vines can be rattan, willow, bamboo, or any other vine. No material in our world is called wicker, the internet clearly proves that even manufacturers can misuse the terms yet you now know the difference, a wicker furniture piece may contain rattan as a structure for example yet the woven pieces may or may not be rattan but any other vine.
It is worth noting that rattan vines can be mechanically peeled to form the thin slats later used for weaving. The curved outer layer can also be used as a decorative trim as this can cover some rough areas in the wicker process. Bamboo can also be used for trimming yet it cannot successfully form the frame as it's hollow and it can easily crack when steamed and bent whereas Rattan is a very lightweight-solid material.
Rattan comes from the Malay word "rotan", a word known to cover no less than 600 old species of climbing plants that fall under the subfamily of Calamoideae. Rattan has also been named after the main ports of shipment, Manila and Malacca City, today being able to be identified as manila or malacca as well. In southeast Asia, rattan can also be called manau from the Malay "rottan manau", the trade name for canes.
Rattan has been a material that has shaped tools for fishing, planting, harvesting, and construction of homes and furniture for centuries in the midst of the Egyptian Empire as the earliest piece of wicker found in Egypt dated back to 1400 B.C. In the late 1800s, Rattan became along with wicker easier to access, boosting the popularity of both. Today Rattan is known to be part of the palm family also known as Genus Clamu.
The plant grows in a long slender stem that maintains a uniform diameter on its entire length. Its growth is very similar to a vine yet it has an inner core and is not hollow as bamboo is. Rattan grows in such a manner due to the dense rain forests in which it grows, climbing on tree limbs being one option to reach light throughout the dense shade of the forests. The inner portion of the plant is somewhat porous and soft, and light, whereas the outer portion is extremely durable, hard, and resilient.
Rattan has now declared harvesting season as it grows all year round. Due to the difficult landscape and great inaccessibility of the jungle in which it can be found the rattan can be only harvested manually, by hand. The largest poles will be used for frame and structure construction. The making of the wicker is realized semi-automatically, a machine extrudes the outer layer to produce the wicker that will, later on, be weaved onto a frame.
What do you think? Do you have wicker furniture pieces in your household? We would love to hear your valuable feedback on the subject in the comment section below.
For those in the woodworking line, be it professionally or as a hobbyist, there can be moments of failure when it comes to getting a clean, smooth finish across the wood.
Either as a mistake or a natural kink in the wood itself, these holes can be a nuisance and bring down the quality of your project. To work around this slight bump in the road, so to speak, many woodworkers use either wood filler or wood putty; sometimes even both.
Both have the same purpose of restoring wood, so you won’t need to restart from scratch. They also come with their own strengths that make one an ideal choice over the other in specific restoration projects.
The two materials are hands down one of the best, if not the only, materials needed if you make a mistake or need to hide natural blemishes in your wood. Knowing what the strengths of wood putty and filler are can help you choose which one you need to add a clean finish to the project.
Wood Filler Vs Wood Putty
An Introduction To Wood Filler
Wood is by no means a flat, smooth surface when taken as is. It has a number of holes, cracks, and scratches, be it from natural wear and tears, or just a result of the conditions the tree was grown in.
These imperfections can be smoothed over with a wood filler. To better understand what a wood filler is, looking at the composition can provide insight into what situation it should be used for.
It is made of a combination of epoxy, lacquer, clay, and polyurethane. Having a combination of these materials as well as different bases gives the filler unique properties, allowing it to replicate the look and feel of natural wood.
Sawdust can be added into the mix to lend an almost seamless integration with the rest of the board, almost like the filler is a part of the wood itself.
Thus, it’s ideal for more significant blemishes and holes in the wood. As it spreads well, it gives an even finish and is almost indistinguishable from the actual wood once set.
Additionally, the filler comes in a neutral color, so it can be dyed and tinted to match the look of the wood. As it can be dyed to match the raw wood, it should be applied before any staining is done on the project to have a cleaner match with the finished product.
On the flip side, it is an excellent choice if you are short on time or want a fast fix for your project. Some variants of wood filler begin drying around ten minutes after application and dry completely within a few hours.
To sum up, wood filler is the go-to choice for any indoor pieces that need to be touched up or restored. Combine this with the fast-drying property, and it is the perfect restoration material for indoor wood projects.
Precautions When Using Wood Filler
If a wood filler is to be used on wood that has already been stained, it can be challenging to match the shade and finish precisely. However, when there is no other option, a small amount of filler should be used with the stain until it matches the wood’s finished color. This gives you the proportion of filler to stain - to match the rest of the wood filler to the finished wood.
For projects which are exposed to the elements or regular changes in temperature, the wood filler may not be a good option to use to seal cracks. As it can not expand, it will crack when the wood shifts and pulls or pushes against it due to temperature changes. Furthermore, heat will cause the filler to contract and deform the piece further.
Another point to be noted is the lack of a bonding agent in the composition of the wood filler. The compound will not be able to stick to the wood, so it needs a seal to hold it in place.
Wood filler is ideal for surfaces that are porous to allow the filler to seep in. Wood types, such as ash, walnut, and oak would be great to use with it. These wood types, when unfinished, can give an uneven appearance to the filler. In such cases, sanding the filler away once it has dried to make it flush with the surface of the wood is a quick fix.
The surfaces the filler is to be applied on can affect how well it smooths over the blemish or crack. Consequently, sanding down this surface before using the wood filler can help if the particular wood type is not cooperating with the filler.
Types Of Wood Filler
Wood fillers can have different bases to give the filler unique qualities that make it ideal for specific use cases. These qualities give the wood filler diverse application potential.
Many filter types are water-based to keep it from damaging the wood and keeping the option to dye open. It is also easier to apply, but if it is still too thick for your project, you can always add more water to thin it out more.
Other filter types have solvents as their bases. These solvent-based fillers are comparatively thicker in consistency than the water-based variants. With a thicker consistency, it is able to fulfill more heavy-duty jobs or larger cracks.
Latex Wood Filler
This water-based filler is one of the more versatile of wood filler types. As such, it is the most commonly used filler due to the easy clean-up. It is ideal for sealing raw wood to prevent any damage or water from entering the lumber and causing warps.
Epoxy Wood Filler
An epoxy wood filler is a filler that requires pre-sanding in order to have a quality application. These filters are ideal for use on unfinished wood. They will seal and bond to the wood tightly.; however, it is susceptible to becoming brittle. To combat this, you can use a sealant to protect the filler from breaking down.
Polyurethane Wood Filler
Using polyurethane along with wood filler is ideal for use on furniture. The added polyurethane in the compound mixture allows it to act as a sealant or protective layer. It keeps the wood from being exposed to humidity and moisture.
Pros of Wood Filler
Versatility
Having several wood filler types to choose from can make for a more versatile experience. Working with different materials and build characteristics does not have to be an issue. It is simply a matter of choosing a suitable wood filler type for your project.
Functionality
Another beneficial application of wood fillers is the functionality it brings. Not only is it perfect for indoor furniture, but it can also be used on any piece which is not regularly exposed to the sun or rain.
Dye Selection
Finding a perfect match to the wood’s finishing color can be challenging to find. However, the ability to dye your own filler to match any finish you have is a welcome convenience. The option to have control in customization and control of how the filler matches with the rest of the wood helps in blending the filler to the wood.
Cons Of Wood Filler
Rigid Shape
When wood filler is dried, it will harden to fill the negative space. As such, it cannot contract on itself to accommodate the wood shrinking due to changes in temperature. Additionally, if the filler is pulled by expanding wood, it will result in a crack in the putty.
No Adhesive Properties
Looking at the composition of the wood filler, no adhesive ingredients or properties are present. This means the filler needs an extra coating of a seal over it after application. The seal will hold the shape and protect the filler.
An Introduction To Wood Putty
Also known as “wood plastic,” wood putty is another common wood-filling compound used by many woodworkers.
The composition of this compound is more intricate than a wood filler to keep the compound’s ingredients from damaging the raw wood. It is advised to apply wood putty only after the project or piece has been stained and varnished.
By staining and varnishing the entire piece, it acts as a protective layer that the wood putty binds to in order to fill in the gaps and give a seamless surface.
While the actual proportion and chemicals in wood putty can change depending on the manufacturer, the base remains the same - which is oil. The most essential ingredient in every wood putty is boiled linseed oil, some colorant, and a bit of calcium carbonate.
When mixed, the putty compound becomes sticky until water is added to give it a more malleable shape. Application of the wood putty is done with a special putty knife which helps spread it evenly.
This makes it ideal for large areas as it spreads smoothly, giving a clean surface when dry. Additionally, for small areas, a simple dab will be sufficient to hide those more minor blemishes.
Wood putty does not require any extra work to be applied beyond the occasional acetone to bring the putty back to a clay-like consistency. This acetone is added in a small quantity to the putty when it has dried out.
By being able to restore your putty in the container, the shelf life exponentially increases. What’s more, you won’t have to buy more putty if it can never go bad, which in turn gives you so much more value for your money.
Adding even more value for money, the wood putty’s durability is strong. After applying it to a project, there will be no requirement ever to touch up the repair. This, along with the ability to restore putty after it has dried out, can make even a tiny tub of wood putty go a long way.
The ideal piece that wood putty can be used for is outdoor furniture. These pieces are arguably the most susceptible to getting chipped and weathered away. Additionally, as the days pass, these pieces of furniture will stretch and shrink with the ebb and flow of heat.
Wood putty is not affected by the shrinkage of the wood it is attached to. In fact, it resists this shrinkage which can boost the life of your furniture or wooden pieces. What’s more, the wood putty can negate the effects of the sun and rain in preserving the quality of the wood it is coating.
Precautions When Using Wood Putty
After the putty is spread across the cracks and blemishes, it takes a long time to dry as compared to the wood filler. There are methods for some putty to dry faster by adding in a drying agent to expedite the hardening process.
However, this drying agent is limited to a specific few putties and may not work on all types. An area where putty does not need any added materials is the adhesion to the wood surface. As it has adhesive chemicals within it already, there is no need for a sealing agent to keep it on the wood.
One of the drawbacks of using wood putty is this long dry time. While waiting for the wood putty to dry, it remains open to contaminants settling onto the putty.
Contaminants such as dust and dirt stuck to the putty after it has been dried will be evident after it has dried. These contaminants can also affect the color of the putty after it has dried, giving it a darker shade than what was intended.
On the topic of colors, wood putty is not as versatile in its color availability as a wood filler. As this putty is a pre-mixed combination, the different shades available are limited. However, there is a large inventory of colors available to choose from to find a shade that matches the wood finish you are working with.
Pros Of Wood Putty
No Sealant Required
Oil-based putty has adhesive properties within the putty itself. After applying the putty to the surface of the wood, it does not require a coat of sealant to keep its shape. The putty will hold on its own after it dries.
Durable
Wood putty has the best value for money when it comes to restoring or covering up blemishes in the wood. It can be restored to its clay-like state by adding some acetone. Additionally, the putty will not require any further touch-ups; it is durable and holds against the test of time.
Resistant To Shrinking
As evident from its alternative name, “plastic wood”, wood putty is malleable, making it an ideal choice for outdoor pieces. What’s more, the putty itself is resistant to shrinking and negates the effect that rain or sun can have on your furniture or outdoor projects.
Cons Of Wood Putty
Long Drying Time
One of the biggest drawbacks to using wood putty is the time it takes to dry after application. Due to the large window of time needed to dry completely, the putty can be darkened due to the accumulation of outside contaminants on the putty. This discoloration can offset the seamless integration between the putty and the finished wood.
Limited Color Options
Coloring putty is not possible as the ratio of chemical components is already set. Furthermore, the clay-like consistency would make coloring it yourself a difficult task.
To match different wood finishes there are a large number of shades available. However, this can backfire if the putty becomes discolored; you would need to remove the putty and apply a fresh layer.
How Do They Differ?
Now that the basic features of each wood restoration option are known, the differences between them will highlight where each shines or falls short.
Composition
Perhaps the most significant difference between wood filler and wood putty is in their composition. While the wood filler has different bases for specific materials, wood putty is largely oil-based. This difference in what they are made up of dictates the qualities that each possesses.
On the one hand, the wood filler can be mixed with sawdust to create a more natural look when applying it to a piece. Moreover, it requires a sealing agent applied after application in order to adhere to the wood surface.
The way it works is it seeps into the wood and hardens to maintain the shape of the wood. Thus, a sealing agent is needed to be applied on top to preserve the filler.
On the other hand, wood putty does not need any sealing agent as it has adhesive qualities in its composition. Similarly, it does not harden the way wood filler does; it is thus ideal to apply putty after the wood has been finished.
Dyeing
When it comes to the coloring of each, the wood filler has more versatility as it can be dyed to your convenience by mixing it into the compound. Wood putty, on the other hand, comes pre-mixed to match different wood finishes to blend in.
Drying Time
After the application of the wood filler or putty, it must be given time to set and dry. The time difference of this drying time also differs and can be the deciding factor for many when choosing which option to go for.
Wood filler will be dried within 15-20 minutes. Once fully dried it is ready to be sanded down to be flush with the regular wood surface. Wood putty takes a considerably longer time to dry and set. Often lasting several hours to even a full day depending on the size of the blemish being covered.
Functionality
As wood fillers have hardening agents, they are less flexible and can break or damage the wood if it contracts or expands due to heat. Because of this quality, it is advised to use it on pieces that are not exposed to the elements or regular changes in temperature.
Wood putty is highly elastic and can hold fast to the wood even if it changes shape due to heat and humidity. This allows them to be used for both indoor and outdoor pieces alike with no damage done to the wood or the putty itself. Additionally, it is great at resisting water and heat, making it the go-to option for retouches on outdoor wooden pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does wood putty last?
Wood putty is clay-like in nature and can be rejuvenated if it dries out while stored away. As a result, it can last for years with no problem. Furthermore, once it has been applied to a project it will adjust to the natural contraction and expansion of the wood.
What can you use if the wood filler is unavailable?
Other types of sealants are available if you don’t have access to any wood filler. Wood glue and epoxy glue are common alternatives to look for. It should be noted, however, that these may dry faster than wood filler and should be used carefully.
Conclusion
Now that both products have been briefed regarding where they work and where they may fall short or cause further damage, what is the ideal choice between them?
For those who work with indoor projects or are under a time constraint, using a wood filler is the way to go. With a fast-drying and natural look, it has no problem filling in the gaps in your wood before it has been stained.
However, if larger projects outside are what you work on, wood putty is the ideal choice. It may take more time to set, but once it is in then it is assured to stay there with no problem of cracks forming.
Whatever the project you may be working on, it is always a good idea to have one, if not both, options at your disposal. The safety net that each provides will help your end product come out looking professional and clean!
A bath is a treat, a treat like no other. We get to enjoy it every now and then with a glass of wine and a good book in dim light, surrounded by bubbles. Tranquility and peaceful relaxation at their best.
An experience that we are going to cherish and encourage today with a drop of spice. We are going to cover the wooden bathtub, a long-lasting tradition in many cultures around the world, today an exotic presence that speaks of exclusivity and the highest degree of exclusivity often hand carved by craftsmen around the world.
Wood naturally speaks of warmth, coziness and it presents a degree of uniqueness unparalleled in the world, a pattern, a texture grown through years, wooden bathtubs also require the manual input of a craftsman, a carpenter that shapes and curves the sculptural presence towards the highest standard of detailing.
We invite you to cast a glance over the gallery that follows, you will hopefully find soothing tranquility immortalized in photography.
Wooden Bathtub Design
The first outstanding presence in the gallery is the work of a master craftsman entitled Seth Rolland and it goes by the name "Salish Sea". The name has been inspired by the water along British Columbia and Washington state as the sculptural item takes the shape of a boat, an extraordinary graphic presence. Notice how the overflow is present in the offset-ed second interior trim, a design cue that clearly surges inspiration from the world of yachts, simply an extraordinary design piece that speaks of great detailing.
via Seth Rolland
All bathtubs in this guide are extraordinarily beautiful, there is no doubt about that yet the one above is something different, something different entirely. As you can see it is far more rugged, harsh, and rustic; it features a constant but evolving pattern, it has been sculpted in one single piece of wood. Surreal. An immense piece of wood has been carefully carved to provide one of the most exotic bathtubs in the world, one that grew over hundreds of years to become material in an exclusive setting. Its uniqueness cannot be comprehended in words and in theory, it is priceless.
You might not like the rustic look, you might not like the busy pattern that the tree grew slowly, and steadily but this is nature at its best, sculpted, frozen in time, a presence that greatly transcends the utilitarian nature of the bathtub.
via Pinterest
You might have heard of Alegna, a company that produces insanely beautiful, luxury wooden bathtubs inspired by yacht makers and marine woods, they shine, and they represent sculptural jewels on land. The wood`s attributes are carefully emphasized through extraordinary craftsmanship, and sculptural volumes that simply flow are directing the wood`s fiber towards a certain point or direction thus manipulating perspective to the craftsman`s advantage.
The design presented above is entitled the Laguna Pearl Solid Bathtub, a free-standing round wooden bathtub that features a compact design in a glamorous, busy texture that simply cannot be overlooked, it exudes sophistication and luxury and it will become the focal point in the bathroom as soon as it enters the room. Notice that in the setup above, simple chrome controls and a really small incision that represents the overflow are items subdued that will not influence the balance of the wooden bathtub, the seductive shape and the extraordinary finishing cannot be contested by mundane elements such as the overflow or the battery.
While the craftsman behind the beautiful presence above is unknown its beauty cannot be contested. Interesting in the wood tub above is the playful pattern arrangement that slightly disrupts the the natural wood circles but maintains the overall image of the section through wood, the playful texture thus creates depth and offers the viewer the chance to better understand the shape of the tub.
via Elsa De Geus
The three images above are showcasing the insanely graphic Laguna Basic Bathtub by Alegna, the sumptuous design is defined by the wood`s fiber flowing into a central drain, everything seems to flow naturally towards the center, a powerful image that is greatly accentuated in the overall image by the rectangular shape of the tub that contradicts this naturalness in the volume. The Laguna Basic`s feat of strength is that it can add stylish warmth in most bathrooms thanks to its rectangular shapes in a way in which no other rectangular bathtub can. The swooping wood fiber simply sculpts its way into an oval basin, there is absolutely no trail of a rim or edge, it uses sharp straight lines to define an unnatural naturalness through soft curves, a really powerful contrast.
The image above showcases one of the most beautiful bathtubs that we have ever laid eyes on. This too describes a natural line through an unnatural technique as the tub appears to be composed of layers of wood one on top of each other in the bathtub`s shape before the craftsman started carving. The insane procedure has two immense advantages, the first one is clearly the versatility, you can carve any object, and you can sculpt any shape in theory. The second big advantage is that this bathtub has been constructed with smaller wood chunks, carefully tailored together and carved, sculpted afterward; as a result, it uses fewer resources and does not require big blocks of wood from the same tree.
Source Unknown
A bathtub that yet again uses the would fiber to create focus towards a certain point, here in an oval shape. In the setting above, however, the tub does not shine as a way to many wooden patterns and directions clutter the image and distract from the extraordinarily sumptuous elegant beauty of the oval object.
The wooden`s fiber here follows the bathtub`s curvature from one end to the other, emphasizing the sculpture and highlighting the wooden materiality of the object.
Source Unknown
Only one block of wood has been used to shape the bathtub above, the noble look of the object thus greatly surpasses the expression of the ones composed as this speaks of age, memory, and growth firsthand. Craftsmanship is naturally mean that brought this bathtub into existence yet is no longer the defining factor, it is simply a means, executed perfectly. A one-piece wooden bathtub simply makes the bathroom.
Source Unknown
A "furo" or the more polite and more common form, "ofuro", is a Japanese bath that in its inception was a short and steep-sided wooden bathtub; these have been and are present all over Japan today, from inns to houses and apartments, they are however in contemporaneity fabricated in plastic or stainless steel. Compared to traditional western bathtubs these are a tad deeper and more importantly, they are square, not sloped, they`re not featuring the overflow that so many Western bathtubs present. The furo is part of the Japanese ritual of bathing this aspect greatly highlights its importance in one`s home.
It is worth noting that luxury models and high-end exclusive bathtubs are still realized in wood, both traditional and exclusive expensive woods such as Hinoki; some also feature Oidaki, re-circulation systems that filter and reheat water.
The example above is, as clearly as it is mentioned, a product of Zen Bath Works, a genuine Hinoki Japanese Bathtub
via rivasecostore.com
Bigger blocks of wood translate into objects executed faster, and easier, items a little bit more accessible. The above blocks arranged in a regular pattern describe the ellipses that shape the bathtub in horizontal layers the expression thus grounding the tub whilst highlighting its curvature throughout.
The traditional Forfur featured sloped walls yet numerous reinterpretations inspired by the sculptural piece feature straight, rectangular walls as seen above. One can argue that comfort should not be completely neglected in the form`s favor for hours yet this is a two-way street, it is all relative.
via forfur.com
A tub that uses an old construction technique, one that is relatively affordable yet still describes with coziness and warmth an extraordinary bathtub that greatly sets itself apart from it contemporary plastic counterparts. Highly recommended option, especially in industrial settings and shabby chic, bohemian settings.
via pvppve.com
The bathtub above presents a very smooth curvature in both directions with an extraordinary elegance that almost seems inspired by sea shells or leaves. The natural material condensed in layers in this object creates a density that grounds the really spectacular shape creating the illusion of balance and equilibrium.
A wooden bathtub can simply emphasize any bathroom yet in serene settings, in lush vegetation, it is the place in which it really shines. It creates a beautiful dialogue, one that seems anchored in the material`s origins.
Wooden bathtubs can hardly be described as simple bathtubs, regardless of their shape, size, or color, they are anything but mundane as their pattern brings forward a sense of experience, quality, growth, and elegance.
A big majority of bathtubs realized in wood today on the market are freestanding wooden bathtubs and they are envisioned as great focal points in the bathroom, items that you notice in the first second you step in, items that you can hardly take your eyes of afterward. It goes without saying that pricing affects this design choice as well, the bathtub should not be visually challenged in your décor, it ought to dominate its surroundings.
via homeportfolio.com
One of the few bathtubs adjoins a wall in our gallery. The bathtub above has a far simpler construction, and above beautifully visually sustained through the contrast of a black background wall, a black wooden wall. Notice how the mirror complements the composition and the small water faucet that crates further contrast and thus depth with the black wall itself through its yellow presence.
NK Woodworking are handcrafting and designing bathtubs in a studio in Seattle. They realize wooden bathtubs carved in exotic hardwoods that they finish with a clear composite that ensures the tub`s resilience and longevity whilst offering the object a fine, premium finish. Their work can be described easily as sumptuous elegance in wood.
via NK Woodworking
Triangular-shaped wooden bathtubs are possible too, any shape is possible thanks to gifted craftsmen around the world that pick up custom orders. You can choose the material, the fine finish applied, the pattern of the joinery and last but not least, the shape.
Source Unknown
Simple designs have always worked, and they always will and yet when they are realized in wood, they are not that simple anymore, new possibilities are open, and new patterns bring the coziness and warmth of wood into the picture rapidly, shaping something epic, and memorable.
An interesting design the one above is, it presents a geometric, unfinished carcass that is somehow far too regular for wood, an assembly of wooden blocks, wooden elements that get together in an arrangement to shape the extraordinarily smooth naturalness of the interior carving, the object seems to provide protection from the exterior to create an extraordinary interior.
An attic space in stark white with natural stone flooring receives a new, immense bathtub, all wood in front of an immense wall chimney. Few bathrooms in the world can compare to the image described, few bathrooms can provide such an extraordinary mix.
via sunshineandpearls.tumblr.com
The wooden fiber can follow straight volume, you decide or dictate the design, and the greater the craftsman the greater the opportunities.
Source Unknown
Sunken sitting areas and sunken bathtubs alike have always offered an entirely different experience to the individual as they exude a strong, grounded feeling of appurtenance, a design choice that seems to bring us closer to our origins in a very comfortable manner.
via Pinterest
In small spaces, corner wooden bathtubs are an option as well but it goes without saying that they are oppressed in the corner, they ought to be freestanding, possibly neighboring a glazed wall with expansive views.
via iltasanomat.fi
A wooden tub can be supported by wooden surroundings yet the design tends to clutter rapidly in this amalgam of textures. In the image above happily, the same wood essence complements the tub yet as you can clearly see the fibers are perpendicular one to another, a small trick that differentiates the tub from the surrounding wall, bringing it towards the viewer, and pushing it further. The question is if you actually need the support of wooden walls and whether your bathtub is not greatly contested thus losing its thunder a tad.
via lifeandtimes.com
A simple, spectacular bathtub design that will surely embed in a visitor's mind, the composition is splendid, and the curvature line followed by the wooden piece could have been smoother, far more linear though. It is possible that the bathtub filled with water and bubbles might look even better than portrayed above, empty. How do you see the mix of this wood and glass bathtub? The piece is entitled the Wave Diamond Tub and it has been designed by Bagno Sasso Mobili.
Entitled Deep Wooden Tub Khis and designed by Frant Seer the tub above sets itself apart thanks to the position of the wooden pieces, carefully arranged vertically in a sculptural shape, accentuated beautifully here by the exterior overflow finished here in gold, a great complement to the dark wood finish of the bathtub, a functional presence that emphasizes the whole beautifully through elegance, simply splendid.
Notice the beautiful discrete contrast between the violet rug that grounds the tub and the light wood essence. The naturalness of the rim is also worth pointing out as it frames the tub in an organic, sculptural manner.
via e-Legno Group
A beautiful gradient on a wooden bathtub has been executed beautifully above by Wooden Baths Ltd in Scotland. The object wears the name of a Scottish Village, Rosemarkie, probably the origin of the handcrafted masterpiece that you can today purchase in various types of woods such as ash, American long-leaf pine, and iroko.
Wood & Water, a craftsmanship studio with its origins in Australia offers custom hand-made solid wood bathtubs, exclusivity on an entirely different level. Your imagination is the only limit, you can craft absolutely anything thanks to this design studio, even an exquisite, high-end heart-shaped wooden bathtub like the one above.
Bamboo bathtubs are also an option as you might have already imagined, the German company responsible for the model above is entitled Niewendick. Entitled Bamwan and featuring an epic retro look the designer tub above can size two people comfortably, supposedly the design has been adapted ergonomically to the human body to obtain the highest degree of comfort.
According to the company the laminated bamboo, water-resistant hardwood essence, is being held together with boat and aircraft-grade adhesive.
The gallery above contains the exponent of master craftsmen around the world, sculptural presences that are changing bathrooms around the world into exclusive spaces that somehow continue an old tradition. What are your thoughts on wooden bathtubs? We would love to hear from you in the comment section below!
Setting up a T-shirt printing business doesn't involve rocket science, does it? After all, some equipment and good designs are all it takes…
That’s what we thought! But on taking a closer look at all the intricacies of the different types of printing methods, we realized that it was a tad more complicated than we had anticipated.
If you’re in the same boat, welcome aboard! We have carefully curated this guide to delve into all the nitty-gritty of seven types of T-shirt printing methods for your business. The last thing any upcoming entrepreneur wants is a faulty production system, so this guide will come in handy.
Irrespective of whether you’re planning to print only a few T-shirts for your neighborhood or start a full-fledged e-commerce website, one of these printing methods should do the job.
So, without further ado, let’s get started, shall we?
Types of T-Shirt Printing
It may come as a surprise to you when you find out that there are so many printing methods available to print great t-shirts! And most of them can print the kind of t-shirts you want the business to handle.
Also, if there are designs and plans in mind for the t-shirt line, it’ll be easier to narrow down the printing method best suited for the new merchandise. However, there are various ways in which one can go about setting up this business.
Some careful consideration of the right printing methods and the overall blueprint of the business will lead you to the t-shirt line you are looking to establish in the market. Let us discuss some great printing methods for you to be able to make the right decision today.
Direct To Garment Printing (DTG)
DTG is popular amongst people who use this method to pursue their hobbies in printing. The best part about DTG is that you need not hire professionals for the know-how and execution of this printing method.
However, both a fair amount of knowledge and sharp skills will be required to take your printing plans forward with DTG. The tools are sparse and straightforward enough, and you can work independently with just a textile printer and ink.
Benefits Of DTG
This printing method is handy for producing complex and sophisticated designs on t-shirts. Once the design is impressed upon the t-shirt, it leaves a soft feel to the garment. That is unlike even hand-painted t-shirts, especially the ones painted in acrylic.
Moreover, DTG is proficient in creating just the right amount of layers on the cloth. The ink will not stain the fabric with extra layers because it is pretty thin in viscosity.
Problems With DTG
If you are looking to print dark garments through the DTG method, you will find it challenging to do so. The ink is so thin that the design does not stand out on the dark cloth well enough. Also, DTG printed clothes are best for wearing for a short time.
Usually, an inexpensive cotton t-shirt with a DTG design can last a year. Then the print tends to fade away.
Screen Printing
This kind of printing has been made famous by manufacturers of clothes and is renowned for leaving some room open to scale up. If any of the designs get popular, the business can leverage the growing acceptance of its designs to expand and flourish.
And yes, it is the more straightforward method to get a t-shirt line going as early as possible. The tools that are required include a stencil and a nylon mesh. The mesh holds down the stencil in place, and water is released to flood into the areas where the stencil will not hold down.
After this, ink is flooded onto the stencil area for the design to take shape on the fabric.
Benefits of Screen Printing
Screen printing is a precise method for creating designs on clothes. The accuracy of the printing method and its ability to give businesses a window for growth make it popular.
Problems With Screen Printing
Do not consider this option for your business if you plan to make unique and customized clothes in a niche-oriented, small way. Screen printing is a large-scale method that involves costs, human resources, and some infrastructure.
Laser Iron-On, Or Inkjet Transfer
Another popular way of creating colorful and great-looking complex designs is using a heat press and an inkjet/laser printer. All that is required is some transfer paper made of special vinyl for heat transfer.
It is the inkjet or laser printer that stamps the design onto the transfer paper. Some nice-looking graphic designs can be printed onto soft cotton t-shirts using this method.
Benefits of Inkjet/Laser Transfer
All light-colored t-shirts look good when printed with this method. White t-shirts also bring out the graphic design well. Stick to these colors when you print with heat press transfers.
Also, here’s a bit of trivia - this is a simple method to print unique and customized t-shirts and is commonly used by sellers.
Problems With Inkjet/Laser Transfer
One of the most significant drawbacks of printing t-shirts with this method is that if the garment is incapable of taking the heat of the press, then the design will not appear on the fabric. While garment buying, keep this in mind so that you don’t run into unnecessary losses.
Then each design is uniquely printed onto the garments. The method tends to take more time than any other method that has the mass-producing capability. Be careful; the designs can fade away or crack when you wash the t-shirts. You might need a unique dry-cleaning method to keep your t-shirt intact for a long time.
Dye Sublimation
This method works best for polyester fabric that is light in color. In-depth knowledge of the use of dye sublimation, the material involved, and the designs can give a thoroughly professional look to your merchandise.
The entire process of dye sublimation, however, sounds simple. A liquid dye application is applied to the polyester fabric. After it dries up, pressure and heat are given to the polyester fabric to bring out the design. That is when sublimation takes place.
Benefits of Dye Sublimation
Dye sublimation makes a garment look professional; your customer might wear it for occasions and treasure it in the wardrobe. Sublimation also makes the t-shirt durable; overall, this method is quite handy for producing your t-shirt line.
Problems With Dye Sublimation
Cotton is anathema for this printing method. It limits your choice of fabric, but there is plenty that you can explore, even with polyester. Dye sublimation is an expensive method but can produce excellent results that can gain popularity with your customers.
Vinyl Cut Printing
The design is stamped onto a soft fabric in this method before the final transfer to the t-shirt. Generally, people use the heat-press method to transfer the soft cloth to the main garment.
Most manufacturers typically use the vinyl cut method to produce sports garments, and t-shirts with tiny graphics, and witty messages. There is also a vinyl cutting machine that uses different layers to print different colors on the fabric.
Benefits of Vinyl Cut Printing
The method is applied efficiently to create a niche line of adorable t-shirts, each with a unique design and message. Acquiring the skill to print in vinyl cut may take some time, but it can be worth the while of a small boutique business.
Problems With Vinyl Cut Printing
Each design printed with this method is unique and customized for a particular garment. It is pretty tedious to duplicate the designs for printing onto other t-shirts. Mass production through vinyl cut printing is very challenging and best avoided if you want to create a custom line.
Plastisol Transfers
These transfers require simple equipment and are popular because they end up giving excellent results. You would need transfer sheets and a heat press to get a beautiful printed t-shirt with a soft feel.
This kind of printing is also known as indirect screen printing. Professionals prefer indirect screen-printing because transferring the designs on paper and then the garment gives excellent results.
To be sure, several kinds of looks can be obtained by trying variations of plastisol transfers. Two popular variants are cold-peel transfers and hot-split transfers. Cold-peel gives a glossy finish, while hot-split generates a matte look.
Benefits of Plastisol Transfers
Printing through plastisol transfers is accessible on the pocket. You can easily manufacture those special orders without investing too much in planning and execution. Plastisol transfers also take considerably less time than most popular printing methods.
The best part is that the results are high in quality. You can see them in a typical t-shirt store! Most t-shirt manufacturers also tend to use this method frequently for their businesses.
Problems With Plastisol Transfers
A one-time cost can make you reconsider using plastisol transfers if you are not too sure about the method yet. Investing in a good heat press machine is essential to take this method forward for your business plans.
Discharge Printing
A unique method to create fabulous designs on t-shirts is being used by professionals these days. Discharge printing is a method used on 100% cotton t-shirts. Instead of putting the dye onto the garment, discharge inks remove the paint from the fabric you want to treat.
So, the result is that you have just an imprint on the surface of the fabric. An excellent method for making some unusual designs and cool t-shirts!
Benefits of Discharge Printing
A lovely vintage look appears on the fabric by using the discharge printing method efficiently. It is an appealing look, and you are pretty sure to find many customers for your brand and styling.
Problems With Discharge Printing
This type of printing can be challenging to execute. It requires patience and time to learn and incorporate into your manufacturing plant. You can always go ahead and use discharge printing if you feel excited about creating a t-shirt line with this method.
Just be careful that your budget might get blown up because the cost of printing with this method is pretty high.
The Best T-Shirt Printing Methods And Priorities
With so many kinds of printing methods around to produce a great line of uber t-shirts, how do you choose the best practices available amongst them all? Considering the printing method as the mainstay of your business decision might sound like the proper thing to do too.
However, can there be disadvantages to making the method solely responsible for the endurance of your t-shirt line? Let us consider both the ways and priorities to arrive at the best decision for the t-shirt business.
The Best Printing Methods
Regardless of the scale, cost, and resources required to use a printing method, there is simply no argument against the quality of garments produced in the two or three ways given above. Screen printing, DTG printing, and Inkjet/Laser transfers are easy, safe, and practical to use.
They give remarkable results on fabric and impart quality to the garments. While screen -printing helps make the business scalable if the t-shirts manage to do the rounds, both DTG and heat press transfers are flexible methods.
Moreover, they can be molded to the size of your manufacturing unit, even though they are best suited for small-scale productions. The t-shirts printed by DTG and heat transfer methods last a short while.
So, if you want to make durable garments, use the screen-printing method over DTG and heat transfers. However, if you are in a market segment where cheap and colorful-looking t-shirts sell fast, go for the other two!
Consider the more unique and specialized printing method for stylish and quirky, 100% cotton t-shirts. The discharge printing method is a reverse method to get a print onto the garment. It is simple enough to use, but some of its vintage effects look great and make eye-catching casual wear.
Try any of these methods to set the ball rolling immediately!
Printing Methods And Business Priorities
Having a vision for your business is more important than deciding to make a t-shirt line based solely on your love for a particular printing method. All the printing methods discussed so far can easily be used for business plans that inevitably cater to specific market segments.
For example, screen-printing large volumes of comic strip t-shirts may help you scale up the business soon. At the same time, a quirky version of the same comic strip exclusively printed through a plastisol transfer can make just one high-school student popular amongst his friends!
Either way, your job is done, given your manufacturing preferences. Align the vision for the business with the printing method that would best accompany you on a profitable and popular venture. The customer could be from a niche segment, and your unit could begin from the attic of your home.
Whatever the case, and even if you want to experiment with several printing methods in the business, harmonize all the parameters. The printing method is crucial to your business design, but the overall vision will keep its relevance intact.
Final Words
So, you’ve now gone through all the information on the most popular and common printing methods available to start your line of t-shirts. Here are some things that you can do to follow up on the business plan.
Familiarize yourself with the printing methods that appeal to you the most. Watch videos, read articles, and visit units and shops that use these printing methods.
Narrow down your selection and ask people for suggestions. Talk to many people - shop owners, manufacturers, customers, family, friends, and young people - to get ideas and opinions on the kinds of garments trending now.
Consult experts and professionals to know the nitty-gritty of your favorite printing method. And don’t forget to get in touch with us if you have any other queries.
Over the past couple of years, a lot of interior design enthusiasts and home architects are leaning towards walk-in showers. In fact, they’ve become a fad among users to give their washrooms a sleek and trendy look. In addition to the visual and aesthetic front, these walk-in showers are also said to be efficient in terms of space usage.
However, a question remains. Are walk-in showers really as functional as people claim them to be? Come, read along as we list down the pros and cons of Walk-in showers along with a few tips and tricks. And don’t forget to look out for some amazing ideas we’re going to talk about today. Who knows? This might probably help you with your bathroom design or your next washroom remodeling project.
Walk-in Showers 101
What is a Walk-in Shower?
For those who aren’t aware, walk-in showers are those showers where you don’t have to jump in, step up or tip right over to get to the shower space. Neither are they a combination of a tub or a shower curtain. These are spaces in the washroom with a glass enclosure, and plastic flooring. Usually, these walk-in showers are doorless for easy functionality, but there are some people who opt for a simple glass door to not let the water out into the rest of the washroom area or to make them look tidier.
There are a lot of shower designs you can find in the market these days. Each one is unique in its construct and can be customized as per the requirements of the individual. But, there are both benefits and limitations to the design one needs to be aware of while considering this option for their washrooms.
One thing we have to have to admit is that these walk-in showers are amazing when it comes to mobility. You don’t have to step in, as you do in a bathtub here. Neither do you have to climb onto an elevated platform and step down into that shower space behind the curtain? And for a typical walk-in shower, there’s no barrier of a door too.
So basically, you’re getting rid of everything that becomes a hurdle between you and that water faucet. Imagine coming back home after a stressful day at school or work, and walking straight into the shower without having to deal with any headaches. Pure bliss, right?
Be it any kind of bathroom; a walk-in shower can make it looks bigger and more spacious, as you can just see through the shower, without any opaque hindrance. in between. This works especially well when you remodel your bathroom by replacing the bathtubs with open glass shower doors.
And since the shower itself becomes visible to the individual, the bathroom looks almost double the size. This happens due to the footage being covered by the shower area being contributed to the whole bathroom in a visual sense.
You Cannot Believe How Durable They Are
A lot of people think walk-in showers are fragile; given they are made of glass. But in reality, these showers are designed in a way that they can endure all the wear and tear that comes with years of usage. Then there’s the continuous flow of water, which also needs to be taken care of. So, if you manage to get your walk-in shower installed properly, rest assured, you don’t have to worry about changing it for a long, long time. Just consider it a long-term investment, and relax.
Walk-in showers are easy to clean and have lower requirements for maintenance when compared to the other shower spaces. You can quickly get off the dirt, as there are not a lot of curves on the glass where the water can get trapped. Also, you can work on the maintenance yourself, since it is spacious and functional.
The Minimalist Contemporary Design
The usage of glass and plastic flooring itself gives a stylish look to the whole bathroom. And you don’t have to worry about the rest of the décor.
But if you want to make it more elegant, you can always customize the tiles, walls, shapes, textures, and the type of glass (tinted, glazed, transparent, colored, frosted, or tempered glass. The perfect design is right at your creative disposal.
Ditching the Door Can Save Some Dough
The whole enclosure setup using glass in the walk-in shower could be expensive. And if you opt for low-quality alternatives, they will make your entire bathroom décor look cheaper. Also, the curtains can get dirty and nasty – just imagine all the water, soap, and dirt over them. Getting rid of the door could save you from all these troubles while putting a reasonable amount into your savings jar.
Doubled up as a Walking Space
This might sound strange, but you can actually put your walk-in shower to good use as a walkway. You might say that you would need a lot of space to take a walk, but that’s not necessary. In a lot of Asian and European countries, where houses are much smaller, people use to walk in showers as a continuous space, and double it up for other purposes, like you know, taking a walk.
This could be singled out as one of the two most prominent cons of a walk-in shower. Given the usage of glass, and the no-door thing in the shower, you might not really have the kind of privacy you would have wanted.
For example, in situations where you share your apartment with some other, only one of you would be allowed to use the restroom at a time. And if you’re a parent with a tight schedule, you would definitely not want your kids to barge into the door during your moments of relaxing solitude.
So, it is better to get your glass frosted and invest in getting a translucent glass shower door to make the required amends.
Water Here, Water There, Water Everywhere!
What can you expect when there’s no door in the shower? The water can splash out of the shower area, into the whole bathroom. So, it is necessary to plan carefully and install small drainage by the splash guard to avoid the situation as much as possible.
Slippery Slopes
This is related to the point above. All the water splashing doesn’t just make the ground wet; it can also trigger the hazard of getting slipped in the washroom. This could probably mean a broken rib, bone, or something else, and of course a big fat hospital bill.
Let’s admit it, you would not want to walk into a shower after a long day and see everything steamed up and look hazy. This is due to the circulation of hot air, and moisture build-up in the shower area. To avoid this, you could install a heated flooring system, so that the overall heat and temperature of the enclosure are balanced. Else, you could not just end up with hot steam and water droplets not only on your shower glass but also the entire bathroom.
Not Really Cost Effective
When compared to bathtubs, or shower spaces with curtains, walk-in showers could be quite expensive. This is not just because of the usage of glass for the construction, but also the necessity of having an advanced drain system, which could cost you a bomb.
But if you are hell-bent on having a Walk-in-shower, it is better to have it installed by professionals ones, so you don’t have to go over the renovation and other expenses after a short while
Renovation Can Be a Pain
Getting a walk-in shower at a new home is quick and easy. But if you’re remodeling your washroom and want to turn that large bathtub into a walk-in shower, you might need to plan ahead carefully. As there are a lot of things that need to be taken care of, like the placement of the drainage system, the slant angle and direction of the floor, and methods to avoid mold and mildew.
If you looking at getting a walk-in shower for your place, then you might want to consider looking at these few tips by design experts. After all, who wouldn’t want their bathroom to look classy?
Go with a Corner Placement
Walk-in showers can be much less intrusive if you decide to keep it in the corner of the bathroom, than in other areas. When you go with this design, you can make use of the surface of the wall to give the whole place a much more spacious look and feel.
Pick the Perfect Showerhead
The right kind of showerhead can easily get you rid of the splashing trouble in the shower. So, when going for showerhead shopping, try and choose the ones that aim right above your head, instead of traditional showers, or tilted ones. Going with a rain-mount option can be a good choice for this kind of shower space.
Strategically Place the Drain
I have been emphasizing the importance of drain placement in a walk-in shower in the article before. This is because it is much simpler and less messy to place the drain where the pipe is located, rather than setting it elsewhere in the shower area.
Go with a Non-Slippery Flooring
More often than not, people do tend to choose a different kind of flooring for the walk-in shower, which is from the rest of the washroom. This could be irrespective of whether the shower has or not having a door. So, it is better to go with a non-slippery floor for the whole space, and not just for the shower area to take a measure beforehand and save yourself from all the skidding and falling.
Building a half-wall or a raised platform, especially for the walk-in showers without doors, could help with all the splattering and scattering of water. But this could be a little tricky when you’re in a hurry, as you could easily trip and fall.
Try and Allow the Water to Flow into the Shower Drain
This is one of the simple yet effective strategies to keep the whole washroom as dry as possible. All you have to do is construct your washroom slope at such an angle that all the excess water can directly flow into the drain rather than placing a new one elsewhere in the bathroom. Efficient, isn’t it?
Pick Different, Albeit Matching Materials for the Washroom and Shower Space
You have all the freedom in the world to experiment with the choices and combinations of materials used in the shower area and the rest of the washroom. But make sure whatever you choose is not entirely contrasting and distinct, but complements each other well.
For example, you can install your shower components like faucets, showerheads, etc. in a sleek metallic shade, while you can always make use of earthy tones and wood-colored material elsewhere. This can add incredibly well to the look of the whole washroom.
Keep it Straight and Simple
There’s only one mantra for you while designing the washroom. Keep it as simple as you can. The simpler your design is, the better the chances are of your shower area looking chic and elegant. It’s as easy as that!
Here are a few ideas for the walk-in showers, that you can easily get installed at home, to give it an incredible look and make the showering experience all the better for you.
Combining Glass and Light
Using glass with lighting can give your shower space a bright and airy look. Good quality transparent glass panels mounted from the ceiling to the floor, and lighting – both natural and artificial – working on the brightness and other ambiance-related aspects can give your walk-in shower a great look.
Adding a window, or a skylight, regardless of the dimensions, can also make a huge difference in the feel you want to give your washroom. Also, throw in a little bit of décor to give it a more edgy feel.
Installing Shower and Steam Room in the Same Place
You don’t have to worry about the space of the shower area for this. Just choose a small steam generator and get it installed in the walk-in curtain. Now you can get a relaxing steam bath before hitting the shower – a complete spa experience, right from the convenience of your own bathroom.
Smaller Shower Unit
If you have an incredibly small space for a washroom and are still inclined towards getting that walk-in shower space, just get one with a smaller surface area instead. It works almost as well as the regular long ones.
But if you aren’t satisfied with the look and feel of the space, you could simply create an illusion of making it look bigger by making use of simpler materials and glass that makes sure that the whole transition is seamless. Also, glass-free doors would make for excellent mini shower units.
Round Shower Walk-Ins
These have come into trend more or less recently, but have grabbed quite a few eyeballs. Round showers are more stylish, and glamorous, and can change the look of your whole bathroom. They would look incredibly pretty, especially when designed with clear glass. But of course, do note that these kinds of showers are not compatible with larger bathroom spaces.
Nature Inspired
This might come off as too ambitious, but if you have an extensive bathroom footage area, you could actually bring in some log frames for your shower enclosures and frame the glass panels in those. Furthermore, you could use stone flooring to give the whole shower space a chic nature-inspired look.
You can’t quite put the finger on what makes a shower space look royal, but a perfect blend of décor, materials, and flooring can never fail to elevate the overall ambiance to get the desired effect. So, if you’re into all that classy and elegant stuff, try to experiment with the color scheme, shade, and material choices of the shower space.
In the end, walk-in showers can offer you a great deal of versatility in efficiency, design, and functionality. They can be personalized be made to look as per your choices – be it colors, patterns, materials, door types, etc. Just go with your gut, and pay a trained professional to get the job done according to your desires. And in no time, you’ll be all set to enhance your overall showering experience!
Difficult stains and streaks making your fiberglass shower and tub look dull? It’s time for some scrubbing action!
However, that’s not always required, provided you clean and maintain your bathroom fixtures regularly using the right cleaning agents. No, we don’t mean going in for abrasive cleaning solutions and scouring pads; unless absolutely necessary.
It’s a common misconception that only commercial cleaners can help remove mold and mildew formation. Today, we’re set to clear the air surrounding this topic.
For this, we’ve carefully created this comprehensive guide explaining how cleaning a white fiberglass shower or tub actually works. And to help facilitate better understanding, we’ve provided a few crucial cleaning tips and techniques for you to consider.
So, without further ado, let’s begin!
Cleaning a White Fiberglass Shower or Tub
Soap and hard water build-up tend to cause stains and streaking on the surface of your fiberglass tub or shower, making it dull and shabby. You may consider abrasive cleaners to remove them, but you’ll only end up causing more damage.
Abrasives and scouring pads lead to permanent scratches when used on fiberglass surfaces, which, in turn, collect more dirt and dust. So, if you wish to maintain the glistening aesthetic of your white shower or tub, choose a safer yet effective cleaning technique.
That’s not all; we’d recommend giving equal importance to regular cleaning since it acts as the best defense against mineral deposits and soap scum.
Cleaning Tips & Techniques
In this section, we’ve explained a few critical tips and techniques for cleaning a white fiberglass shower or tub.
Regular Maintenance
As mentioned earlier, regular cleaning is crucial to prevent mineral deposits and scum build-up. Therefore, spending a few minutes of your time wiping down your fixture or tub using a non-abrasive terry cloth towel or a soft sponge after every use goes a long way.
It wicks away moisture, preventing the formation of mold and mildew. Additionally, opening doors and windows to promote proper ventilation plays a vital role.
Using Natural Cleansers
Cleaning fiberglass fixtures using the combination of vinegar and baking soda can help bring back their lost shine. All you need to do is sprinkle baking soda on your shower or tub, and then spray with vinegar to form a paste.
After allowing it to sit for a few minutes, use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub the surface. You can rinse away the residue with clean water once you’re satisfied with the results. But don’t forget to wipe the surfaces dry with a soft towel to prevent the possibility of stains.
Removing Difficult Stains
Natural cleansers like vinegar and baking soda may not be effective in removing difficult water spots and stains, even after you leave the paste to sit for over an hour. In such cases, you may opt for commercial cleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer.
Using a drop of soap with hydrogen peroxide can help combat stubborn stains. However, if you need a stronger solution, we’d suggest upgrading to a more potent combination of borax and lemon.
Necessary Precautions & Preparations
Before you dive into the cleaning process, it’s better to take a few precautions from your end to avoid the unnecessary hassle of removing stubborn stains and mineral deposits.
That said, leaving toiletries and other bathing products on the floor of your shower or the surface of the tub is not just inconvenient, it also leads to the formation of rings and debris. Investing in a wall-mountable bathroom shelf or cabinet can help prevent this. Plus, it provides an accessible storage space for all your bathroom essentials.
It’s crucial to note that loofahs and shower curtains can also harbor mildew and mold. So, make sure you keep them clean by laundering separately.
Final Words
Showers and tubs made using fiberglass are not only durable, but they’re also known for their glistening, elegant finish. And being white in color, they manage to transform the entire aesthetic appearance of your bathroom, adding a touch of sophistication to its decor.
However, without regular cleaning using the right technique and cleanser, fiberglass fixtures, tubs, and showers are prone to stains, streaks, and spots. This is because of mineral deposits and soap scum, which are usually difficult to remove. On that note, we now come to the end of our informative guide.
Working from home can be a bliss; you have the option to snooze the alarm, avoid morning commutes, work in pyjamas and enjoy all the comfort.
But there is always a flip side to it. And in this case, you have plenty of distractions going around such as pets, children, family members, and television, to name a few.
However, the good news is, the solution to this issue is a home office. It’s like the uber-productive section of your home that screams all things ‘business’. And, you also get to have the freedom to be creative while decorating this space, which gives you control over your budget.
Now, it can get overwhelming when you’re presented with a myriad of options that you can work with. So, to make it slightly easier for you, we have handpicked 13 of the best budget ideas for outfitting a home office.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Home Office Ideas on a Budget
Create a Plan
You might think that you just need to move the furniture around for the office space to work in your favor. But that may not be the case always, which is why it’s best to stick to a plan.
The most important thing here is that the office space should work for you. In other words, you need to put your business at the top of your list. You can start by taking measurements of your space; this will give you an idea about how to work on your floor plan.
And once the floor plan is ready, you should start measuring the furniture that will fit comfortably in your office space. This should help you understand whether a particular desk, chair or bookshelf will help you reach the goal or not.
Repurpose Existing Space Into an Office
There is no denying that one of the most efficient home office makeover ideas is to make use of the space that is already available in the house. This can be the space beneath the staircase landing, a kitchen nook, a vacant room or even a spare corner in your living room.
Irrespective of your work type and individual preferences, this tip will be helpful for anyone who is looking to revamp any room available on a budget. And if you do have space for a stay-at-home office, then this task won’t be very challenging.
Moreover, with a separate room for your home office, you’ll notice a significant difference in your productivity. In the end, you need to be comfortable in the space you’re selecting to set up a home office, so that your workflow is not hampered.
Repurpose Items for Furnishing the Home Office
You don’t need to go and splurge in Target or Ikea for purchasing any office decoration supplies right after finalizing a space. This means that you should aim to reuse the items that are lying around in the house. For instance, mason jar works perfectly for organizing your stationery, and cardboard boxes can be used for placing your files.
If you look around the house, you'll find a host of solutions which can be smartly used to keep you from busting the budget. And once you’re done re-purposing the items that you already own, check Craigslist or other thrift shops for office furniture. This is where you need to use your creativity to ensure that you get the best deal and make great use of it.
Shop Around for a Good Bargain
You’ll be surprised by what you can possibly find at thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, and consignment shops. With high rates of product-consumption, people are always replacing older items with new ones. So, you can easily find book racks and office desks in excellent condition within an affordable price range.
On an interesting note, if any piece of furniture has caught your eye, focus on how you can give a finishing touch to it. This way, you can add a spark of life to even the dullest furniture that may come at a great discount. All in all, you’ll just need to sand them down and add a coat of paint or a few trimmings to repurpose any table or chair to save a few dollars.
But for those who don’t prefer hand-me-downs, you should look out for furniture sales both online and in brick-and-mortar stores.
Exchange with Friends
You can consider trading a few pieces of furniture with your friends. For instance, if you have a dining table that doesn’t fit your office space, how about swapping it with someone who has a smaller desk? Or if you have children’s furniture, you can exchange it for bookshelves which would be of great use in the home office.
Plus, you can also offer your decorating skills to a neighbor in exchange for a chair. The main factor that lies here is that you always have something valuable that you can offer whether it’s your skills or some product. Not only does it help you cut down your expenses but it also helps both the parties find just the required items, without having to fill the house with unrequited furniture.
Keep An Eye for Affordable Wall Decor
Most of us have some phrases or quotes that top our favorites list because we find them inspiring or motivating. And these are the same pieces that you can print out along with a few images to deck up your office area.
For super affordable frames, you can check out Ikea as well as dollar stores that usually have a good collection. We must say that when you print and frame your artwork; it cost way less in comparison to buying the ready-made prints in a retail store. And adding artwork can instantly revamp the entire decor; and it’s also one of the best ideas while working on a budget.
Moreover, if you’re a fan of planners, then don’t hesitate to include a calendar on the wall. They might not be an example of traditional ‘art’, but they do help in making the overall space and walls have an official look to them.
Also, if you prefer using an electronic calendar for scheduling your programs, a beautiful wall calendar works as a decorative piece. It is more than a useful planning tool. And you may also add new artwork to improve the existing decor of your space.
Add a Clock
If you’re on a budget, then the concept of “time is money” should always be at the forefront of your mind. With that said, something as simple as hanging a big clock on your wall can do wonders in keeping you focused and productive while at work.
It’s vital to ensure that whatever time you plan to keep for your work should be a productive one. Thus your office should be well-equipped with the things that you generally require without you having to take frequent breaks to get each item.
Many of you might be familiar with time-blocking, which is known to help many professionals. If you can figure out the time-blocking method correctly, then you’ll be amazed by the rate at which your productivity improves. This method is relatively simple; all you need to do is block out time for prioritizing the most important tasks.
And once they are completed, you can add in the less important tasks for the day. But don’t forget to set a timer for completing the tasks, this way you won’t have room for any interruption and you’ll be mindful with each passing second.
Add Greens
Adding some potted plants in your office space will allow you to breathe some life even in confined areas, and they are super affordable and easy to maintain. This way you’ll feel like working for longer durations because it cleans the air and keeps you feeling calm, and it looks pretty too. You can fill the vacant spots with plants from a local nursery or even a discount store.
And the best part is that plants help improve your health, while it also sharpens your focus. You can opt for any plant that is suitable for indoors and is low maintenance like a snake plant or even a bamboo palm.
Plus, getting a cute planter for keeping the plant works to your benefit as it takes your decorative game to the next level. Overall, you need to ensure that everything that you incorporate helps you get a balanced office space- practical, comfortable, ergonomic and most importantly, clean.
Ergonomics on the Cheap
The essential factors in your working environment are your health and safety, which should never be sacrificed regardless of your budget. So, when you’re picking a piece of furniture, do keep an eye for ergonomic designs as it makes things easier for you to use.
The task chair that you plan to use in your home office should balance your back and shoulder correctly. And this applies mainly to those who will be working on a laptop or desktop the entire day. In addition to that, you should also consider footrests, soft keyboard pads and ergonomic mouse instruments that fit your hand correctly.
Plus, even if you work for long hours the ergonomic office furniture and accessories will be less stressful to your body. Your main aim should be on purchasing or trading products that will help enhance the work experience. A decent ergonomic office chair these days for example could be had for less than $200.
Get an Exercise Ball
Sitting for long hours on the office chair can result in a lot of health issues later in life, which is why exercise is important. Replacing the office chair completely for the exercise ball is not a feasible option, but you can use the exercise ball during the day as part of your fitness regime.
In addition to that, using exercise balls has been the latest strategy for reducing discomfort, fatigue and back pain. That’s because when you sit on an exercise ball, the instability helps increase trunk muscle activation, which improves posture, increases core strength and decrease discomfort. This further keeps you feeling awake and motivated without any lethargy.
Another benefit that most users claim to have witnessed is increased calorie burning. You don’t even have to break the bank for other exercise equipment because this unit serves the purpose pretty well. So, keep an eye for a new stability ball, or you can even get one from a thrift store.
Keep your Office Space Clean
First and foremost, you need to clean the entire space and arrange the office supplies accordingly. We know this might sound like a pretty obvious statement that you’re told now and then, but cleaning your office space is essential. It is the key to making even the smallest of rooms appear spacious enough for working at ease
In short, if you keep piles of paperwork on the table, sticky notes and heaps of receipts, then you won’t be able to keep track of anything. Therefore, getting organized is an essential factor that needs to be focused on when you’re looking for affordable home office ideas. On the whole, being messy can cost you heavily in terms of lost ideas, lost productivity and lost time.
These days a messy desk usually means a messy computer desktop; and this is why you need to ensure that you organize the virtual files in the right order. And when you commit to saving the files in separate folders, you can work peacefully without having to waste time looking for items on the desktop. Overall, a clean office will help you stay more focused and productive during work.
Paint the Walls
Adding a coat of fresh paint can change the entire aura of your office and give it a new look for cheap. You have the freedom to select any colour of your choice, but ensure that it provides a sense of space. For instance, light-coloured walls have a brilliant way of making the room look more spacious, while dark colours make the room look smaller.
The quality of paint that you select can also determine the effect that the room will have. And the best part is that you can easily find a paint jar that suits your budget. You can DIY the entire painting process over the weekend, and we believe this is a fun project that you’ll be taking up soon.
Plus, if you want different coloured walls then you can also opt for that, it gives a unique finish to the entire space. It’s advisable to select a colour of paint that you think will match the photo frames and the other furniture that you plan to put up.
Take Advantage of Special Programs
Another effective way to shop on a budget is to look out for promotions and special offers on office supplies. This includes stationery, electronic items, inkjet refills, a stack of blank papers etc. During the once-a-year sale in most stores, you can strike a great deal with some of the essential office supply programs.
Moreover, you should watch for tax season promotions, Black Friday specials, August deals and September clearance, when there is an excellent discount on office supplies. In truth, you need to plan strategically to ensure that you’re picking only the required items without wasting a penny. You can stock up on everything that you’ll need, but don’t forget to keep an eye on your budget.
Since office supplies are fun to shop, you might end up overspending on pens, stickers and a host of other unnecessary items. It’s best to make a list of all the things that you want to purchase before you visit the store. This should help you avoid buying anything other than what you actually require.
Move around
You must have pinned down a lot of “office inspiration ideas” that you want to apply to your office space. The best fix is that you don’t need to go all-out while you’re giving your home office a beautiful makeover. And since most of our work is generally virtual these days, you can get it done from anywhere around the house.
You don’t have to wait until you’re done refurbishing the office space because you can use your laptop to work from anywhere. Whereas, waiting for the ‘perfect setting’ to get started with your work is more like procrastination in disguise.
So, even if the office isn’t huge, you can get comfortable on the couch to complete the tasks. For those who want a breath of fresh air during your work, you can even sit in the living room or the balcony. A change of scenery will always work to your benefit, as it keeps you alert, focused and more productive throughout the day.
Proper Lighting Makes a Huge Difference
Another essential factor that you need to pay attention to is the lighting. Ideally, you should focus on having a maximum amount of natural light in your office space. And if there is a large window, then it will easily enhance the lighting in the working area. Proper lighting is key to making a shabby office space look more spacious and inviting.
Daylight is undoubtedly the most reliable source of white light that is available with an equal proportion of colour on the spectrum. However, if you don’t have a window around your home office, then a combination of task and general lighting will be required.
You will need a high-quality task light for the cloudy days and late nights. And if the home office is located in a basement or a room without windows, then you should check-out the daylight-replicating light sources. This will provide you with energy-efficient, full-spectrum lighting that has a positive impact on your workflow.
To avoid glare, you shouldn’t place the overhead lighting above your computer screen or even directly in front of the computer screen. That will cause eyestrain. But, thanks to energy-saving guidelines, It is now way easier to pick units with reduced light intensity than what it was before. The most critical factor for choosing the right lighting is ensuring that it allows you to control the intensity and brightness.
Have the Right Amount of Privacy
None of us can work effectively in a sea of interruptions or noise. Especially when you’re planning an office area, you should ensure that it provides the right amount of privacy from surrounding activities.
While headphones might help to isolate certain sounds, no one wants to wear headphones all the time. One of the budget-friendly options here is that you can opt for low fans and air filters that operate quietly to muffle other noises.
You can also use portable screens for shielding the work area from any nearby activities. Alternatively, wall dividers that work as bookshelves won’t just help to add privacy but also provide storage solutions.
On the other hand, if you can’t add a door to your office, then it might be helpful to add signage that says, “Quiet Please” or “No Interruptions”. This will help remind others that it’s “work time” and they need to behave accordingly.
Know when to splurge and when to save
When we speak about saving, you might be having a rough estimate of the products that will cost you significantly. For instance, a high-end chair, artwork or other electronics generally come with an expensive price tag. But on the other hand, you can save up a considerable amount when purchasing lights, shelves, window coverings, and desks.
That being said, you need to be smart enough in finding the right place to buy your products from. Plus, it’s important to stay on budget even when you enjoy a few splurges along the way.
Consider Everyone’s Needs
Want to use your office area as a homework corner for the kids? If so, then you should keep them in mind when you’re designing this space. This will allow you to incorporate design elements that you believe will work for your kids comfortably.
For proper arrangements, you can also take your kid along when you’re picking the fabrics or other office supplies that will be shared by them. It will help both of you to showcase your individuality as you customize the space according to your preferences.
From the right chair size to the colour of your wall, it can make a difference when it comes to productivity. And the shelves should also have a separate corner for keeping children's books, so losing them in between the piles of official documents won’t happen easily!
Be a Minimalist!
There are several reasons as to why minimalism is favoured by some of the most successful people in the world. A clutter-free space that comes outfitted with pretty simple furnishings and neutral colour palette has a distinct way of sparking creativity and freeing the mind.
This instead helps you stick to the budget, as it enables you to pick only the products that you require. It also makes it easy for you to clean your office space, which, in turn, gives it a professional look and feel all the time. Plus, your focus and efficiency tend to increase significantly because you will no longer be searching for a single item in a large pile of papers.
Improve your D.I.Y Skills
Instead of depending on electricians, painters and furniture assemblers you should try and do everything yourself. It will be a creative and fun way to learn new skills that will help you save a lot of dollars on these otherwise costly services.
Plus, when you learn to do things yourself, you’ll be able to understand the details of what makes a high-priced service or product costly. Another benefit is that you’ll know the main features that you should look for in an affordable unit.
The price between high-end and ultra-high-end products can be thousands of dollars. And when you know that a lower-priced option will work for you, then you can use the remaining money for other essentials. Overall, you don’t have to be an excellent handyman to ace the DIY skills, because what matters is the way you complete the task.
Final words
When you want to work from home, it’s essential to improve the working environment to maximize the benefits of such an arrangement! This not only helps in enhancing productivity but also enables you to complete the tasks more efficiently.
And one of the joys of getting to work from home is the freedom to be in a place that you love and feel comfortable in. Even though you need to invest time and energy to incorporate some of the best home office ideas, the rewards are plenty. This makes it worth all the efforts!
Now that we have come to the end of our guide, we hope it has helped you find what you have been looking for. So, go ahead and pull together an organized, chic home office on a budget right now!
Do you remember all those places that you have visited?
That café down the road, that coffee house where you sip that favorite cappuccino, that restaurant where you eat those delicious tacos...Oh, How mesmerizing those places are!
But if you imagine those places without all the art, they certainly will not be the same again. These places are beautiful and captivating because of the art pieces that are displayed. Otherwise, they would have been dreary, dull, and monotonous.
That art plays quite a significant role in the décor of a space cannot be denied. So, you must add a sense of flair even to your home to enhance the beauty of the space.
With myriad varieties of art, we know how challenging it is to lay your hands on that perfect piece that will complement your space. To make it easy, we are discussing the different types of art which you can consider to add color to your home today.
Different Types Of Art
Categories Of Art
The decor of your living space would look dull and boring without art. And, the arena of art is vast, and so there is quite a variety to choose from. So, let us take a look at the different types of art.
Fine Art
Fine Art is basically creative art. To put it in a nutshell, this art form is recognized for its aesthetic design and elegance. Illustrations and visualizations such as paintings, sculptures, and the like are the heart of fine art. Creating works of art through printing also comes under the arena of fine art. Fine art is that Bumbershoot which envelopes a wide range of artistic disciplines.
Applied Art
Applied art implies decorating your objects of everyday use to make them aesthetically appealing. This kind of art generally beautifies useful things by designing them artistically. The art items are constructed imaginatively, keeping beauty and function in mind, unlike fine art, which just focuses on the aesthetic appeal of the object.
Visual Art
Visual Art encompasses a variety of artistic works that are visually appealing. Painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, architecture, crafts, and ceramics fall under the category of visual art. Visual art also includes all the artworks that fall within the category of applied art, such as graphic art, illustration, calligraphy, printmaking, drawing, and others similar to them.
Decorative Art
Decorative art involves those artworks in which objects of daily use are designed creatively, and are valued for their functional quality. Basketry, pottery, and ceramics are some examples of such art forms.
Plastic Art
To put it concisely, any art which requires molding or modeling into any form is referred to as plastic art. Sculpting, Ceramic pottery, Chinese porcelain, and Origami paper folding are some examples of plastic art.
Types Of Art
Are you planning to spruce up your living space with works of art? Then you need to ensure that the piece is both useful and appealing to the eyes. Among all artworks, the most popular type is paintings, followed by sculptures, the second most popular artwork type.
So, we have curated a list of the different types of art which you can consider to enhance your living space.
Based On Style
Abstract Artwork
Do you remember those paintings you've come across countless times at museums or art galleries with prints and designs? They are what we call abstract artworks. People have been using abstract artworks for decades to enhance the atmosphere of their living spaces.
What is beautiful about this form of artwork is that everyone is free to interpret it in their own way. With abstract pieces of art, your imagination is limitless, and you can reach any conclusion without any barriers.
Want your space to look complete without cluttering? Then abstract art is an excellent choice. They not only add aesthetic value to your space but also jazz up its décor.
Contemporary Art
If you want to decorate your walls with something fresh and innovative, then contemporary art is best. Contemporary art has been gaining popularity because it is unique and aesthetically appealing.
Contemporary art gives birth to new perspectives through its vibrant colors, shapes, outlines, and forms. With its strong designs and bold colors, it can breathe new life into any space of your home. So, if you want to improve the atmosphere of your room, add some pieces of contemporary artwork with ample spacing between them.
Graffiti Art
Since the 1960s, Graffiti art has been highly popular. Often referred to as street art, this art had its origin in the cities of Philadelphia and New York. Spray paint, stencils, acrylics, and markers were used to color up the walls of the buildings, subways, billboards, and public spaces.
This form of art was basically used by people to express their dissatisfaction with life. Since most countries view this form of art as vandalism, you can use it to decorate the walls of your home. Because they are kaleidoscopic, Graffiti arts are captivating.
If you want to transform the dull and monotonous atmosphere of your home into a cheerful one, then Graffiti art is the way to go. You can hang the canvases of Graffiti art and spruce up the décor of your living room. Their vibrant hues will make your spaces look welcoming and joyful.
Mosaic Art
If you are in quest of an art piece that is unique and exquisite, then Mosaic Art is an excellent option. Mosaic art entails arraying a bunch of bite-sized tiles of varying colors to create a masterpiece for your place.
Mosaic arts can be used in numerous ways. You can decorate the living space with ornamental pieces made of mosaic, and you can also design an entire wall with mosaic pieces. Because these art pieces produce incredibly beautiful effects, they are ideal for sparking life into your home.
Because of their high versatility, you may use them to design your nameplate or place pots of mosaic on the windowsill. Their vibrant hues are perfect for transforming your dull space into a lively one, and guess what - you'll love them!
Cubism
In the 20th Century, Cubism which began as an art movement later came to be recognized as an art form. The artists of contemporary times draw inspiration from this it. In this art form, the object is painted in a way that can be viewed from multiple angles.
Cubism art has become one of the most popular artworks among those who love to decorate their dwelling place with sophisticated pieces. Because of their sober colors, they add a simple, minimalist, and very elegant touch to any living area.
Sculpture Art
Art is highly versatile as it can be in any form and not just confined to the walls. One such example is Sculpture art. If you want to add a tinge of classiness and sophistication to your dwelling space, then adding a few sculptures will help with that.
Though they are slightly on the expensive side, they impart a lavish look to your space. Such pieces are sure to capture people's attention.
Calligraphy Art
If you have plain walls and want them to look elegant without adding vibrant colors, then calligraphy art is your go-to option. Initially sighted in Chinese arts, words are so skillfully fashioned into evocative pictures that it nearly seems like a pictograph.
This form of art is predominantly practiced in the Far East. Because of its intricacy and elegance, it beautifies an otherwise uninteresting wall too.
Chinese Art
Chinese artwork is unique and creative and can transform your living space in unimaginable ways. Chinese ceramics, calligraphy, metalworking, jade carvings, terracotta sculptures, crafts like lacquer, and jewelry art are all myriad forms of art that you can incorporate into your home.
If you are fond of Chinese art, then you'll love ink art painting done on silk paper. You can hang them on the wall of your living room, and let their subtlety transform it. This artwork is perfect for the minimalist who would love to incorporate a simple yet elegant piece in their home décor.
Stained Glass Art
If you are one who loves beautifying their space and constantly looking for something with an aesthetic appeal, then stained glass art is the one for you. This artwork is highly versatile, and it works with almost any style, complementing any window or aperture.
You can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your space by replacing regular glass panels with this stained glass. Be it the window of your bathroom, kitchen, or living room, you can transform its décor with this art form.
Also, stained glass pieces can be used on ceilings as well - surprising, isn't it? Your room will look breathtakingly beautiful with sunlight falling upon this glass art. Though they are available in numerous colors and designs, they can even be customized to your liking.
Japanese Art
Japanese art will furnish your home décor with elegance because it is gentle, simple, and peaceful. If you are looking to add life to the wall of your living room, then hanging canvases of Japanese art will be an ideal option. You will be stunned by its phenomenal beauty.
Ceramics, textiles, lacquer, and woodblock prints are some forms of Japanese art that you can incorporate into your home and enhance its aesthetic appeal. In case you are looking for one for your bedroom, then a cherry blossom design would be perfect.
Along with that, the art exhibiting the ancient battle prints would perfectly complement your space. So, without waiting any further, get one for your dwelling place.
African Art
African art was recognized as an art form only after the 20th Century. The pieces of this art form are breathtakingly beautiful and will leave you in awe of their beauty. Because they are created with such intrinsic details, every piece of this art form seems to convey a story.
If you are planning to transform the décor of your home and make them alluring and captivating, then you must definitely try African artworks, for their spirits will furnish your home with a rich appearance. You can use them in any way you want and transform the atmosphere of your home.
Sculptures of African artworks will perfectly complement that dull corner of your living room. And, their paintings are sure to spruce up your blank walls.
Aboriginal Art
This art form had its origin in Australia around 60,000 years ago. Primarily, rocks, and grounds were used for this art form, but in contemporary times, canvases are used for Aboriginal arts. Dot painting is the most well-known Aboriginal art.
Because the aboriginal people lacked a language, they relied on drawings and symbols to communicate, which has now become a prominent kind of art. Earthy tones and colors of the sea are primarily used for this art form. At times, vibrant hues are also used.
You can use this art form to jazz up the plain décor of your space, and it would be ideal for the hallways and living rooms.
Based On Design
Metal
Metallic artwork would complement the décor of your home in a wonderful manner. They are perfect for adding sparkle to your space. Metal wall art is highly versatile. You can easily get a sculpture or a canvas for your home.
If your wall is plain white, then you can accentuate your space with canvases of metal art. Because of the sparkling and glittering metallic colors, metal wall arts brighten up your dwelling spaces.
Textured
If you have a fetish for unique things and want something that would stand out, then you must take a look at the textured wall art. It will add life to your home décor. You can invest in decoupaged antlers, wall hangings, dishes, and similar things to make your walls attractive.
So, you must choose artfully to match the texture of the art to the theme of your space. In case you prefer boho, then you must choose tapestries and ancient keys if your theme is industrial. But, plates would be ideal if your setup is modern.
Retro-inspired
Do you wish to preserve the essence of the past in your modern dwelling? People are increasingly using vintage or retro-inspired pieces in the decor of their homes.
If you are somebody who is fond of traditional and classic designs, then retro-inspired art would perfectly complement your personality. You can give your space a complete makeover by using antique art pieces in your space.
Because of their subdued hues and bold lines, the vintage art creates an evocative atmosphere. So, adding vintage wall art to the blank walls of your living space will perfectly accentuate your home décor.
Map
Are you a person filled with wanderlust? Then you must consider a world map mural for your dwelling space. It will gracefully accentuate the explorer within you and will perfectly complement your personality.
Not only will they be a great conversation starters, but they will also bring sophistication and culture to your home. You can customize them according to your taste and, of course, space! They are unique, and their vibrant aesthetic features will add life to whichever space you wish.
Coastal
Coastal artwork might be a fantastic addition to a room that is tiny and cramped or one without a window. The coastal scenery will make your compact room appear to be capacious.
When you return home after a long and exhausting day at work, you can immerse yourself in the coastal art beauty and escape from the hustle-bustle of life. It will help you to soothe your mind. The clear water of the sea, the turbulent surf, and the white sand beaches will calm your mind.
The coastal artwork is perfect if you are on the lookout for an aesthetically pleasing piece for your living space. If you are planning to get coastal art for your living room, the multi-panel coastal art would be excellent.
Watercolor Art
Watercolor art makes a perfect piece for almost any living space because of the marvelous colors used to create it. They can make any space look charming and elegant. The watercolor wall hanging can spruce up the atmosphere of your living space.
If you have plain white walls in your living room, consider hanging three-panel wall art, and see how your living space is brightened up due to the vibrant hues.
The arena of watercolor art is really diverse, and you may choose any size, and any color tone you wish to have. You may even use more than one canvas on the walls. Make sure to have ample spaces between the hangings so that the vibrant hues of every canvas are clearly seen.
Animal Art
Have you ever heard of animal art? If not, then we have something for the animal lover that you are. If you are an animal lover or a pet owner, then you can adorn your home with art pieces of animals.
These art pieces are not just limited to wall hangings. You can buy sculptures and place them in any corner of your living room and let the art do its magic. If you do not really prefer sculptures, then you may even opt for 3D paintings.
3D art hanging on the central wall of your living room will arrest the attention of every guest that walks in and will jazz up the atmosphere of your space.
Prints
For decades the most popular form of art has been print. With this form of art, you can get anything for your walls.
Want to frame that exquisite picture of the sea you took while vacationing in the Maldives? Or, the breathtakingly beautiful mountains which you clicked during your visit to the Alaska Range? You can get anything printed in frames and hang them on the walls of any space you wish to.
You can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your room with such exquisite pictures and grab the attention of anybody visiting your home.
Based On Features
Personalized
If you are fond of collecting things out of the ordinary to decorate your space, then consider getting personalized wall art. Personalized art is something that you will not come across in anybody's home. It will not only be unique but a special one for you.
For personalized wall art, you can get your name or your initials framed. There are people who also use their wedding anniversary date to get the personalized wall art. These names, initials, and dates are only yours and would really make up great art for your home décor.
You can customize them in any shape and size that you want. The personalized wall art will not only accentuate the walls of your space but will also honor your special moments.
Hand Painted Murals
You can revive those empty walls of your home by adding hand-painted art to them. One thing that you will surely love about hand-painted art is that they are unique.
The hand-painted pieces you will get to decorate your living rooms will only be yours, and nowhere else to find. And so they might cost slightly on the expensive side. But because they are unique in essence, they are worth every buck that you spend.
In this way, you even get to support and boost the confidence of the artist whose hand-painted art you consider worthy enough to adorn your space. Such pieces also furnish your walls with a soul and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your space.
Collection Of Artwork
Are you looking for a unique artwork that will sweep people off their feet? Then you must consider adorning just one wall of your space with a collection of artwork. People usually use this type of artwork for the wall going down the staircase.
Apart from the staircase, the wall right or left of your couch will be perfect for this type of artwork. It will be aesthetically appealing and will also spark a conversation among the people sitting in the living room.
Moreover, you don't need to worry about matching pieces. Just keep in mind that you need to incorporate the pieces of the same elements to produce a stunning effect. You can adorn your space with a collection of artwork without much hassle.
Framed Art
The market is saturated with pieces of artwork, both framed and non-framed. If you buy non-framed ones, you will have to get them framed, which will again take a day or two.
You can also customize the type of frame you want. Customized frames accentuate the artwork and also add life to the décor of your home. Those visiting your home will love this and definitely talk about it. And, surely your artwork will last you longer than you can imagine.
Interior Or Exterior Artwork
Did you know that art pieces can be used not only indoors but outdoors too? Those designed for outdoor purposes are highly durable, for they can withstand all the elements. But, there are also art pieces that are explicitly designed indoors. These are delicate and require handling with care.
You can use art pieces to adorn your verandah, balcony, or walkway. Bright and vibrant hues will liven and brighten up your walkways, creating a welcoming atmosphere for your guests.
Based On Different Materials
Canvas
It is an undeniable fact that canvas art is captivating. You can use printed images and posters to decorate your walls, but they wouldn't create the aesthetic appeal that canvases will. Moreover, you don't have to worry about the details being lost on canvases, thanks to their large size.
Bright color canvases can drastically improve the décor of your home and will also spruce up the atmosphere of your space. Canvases are ideal for living rooms where all your guests are honored. They will brighten up your space, thereby enhancing the décor. Also, you can customize the style and the size as per your preference.
Wood
For decades wood has been used to enhance the décor of the home. If you are looking for stunning art for decorating your living room or dining area, then wood art pieces will be an excellent option.
It isn't just a simple artwork, but much more than that. Because of its versatility, you can use this anywhere you want. You can customize wooden art by adding quotes and placing them in your dining area. You are sure to receive compliments from your guests.
Different Type Of Art Based On Rooms
Art is highly diverse because it is a vast arena. The art that will enhance the bedroom décor will be unfit for decorating your living area. Incorporating art in the décor of your home will add beauty and warmth to the space, thereby enhancing the atmosphere of your home.
Living Room Art Idea
Without a doubt, the living room is that space of the home where families spend the majority of their time, and so it is of utmost importance. Your living room is a reflection of your personal style, décor, and home environment. It is also the place where the guests are welcomed. So, the atmosphere of the living room should be a warm and welcoming one.
No matter how good the furniture is, or how beautiful the walls are painted, if you don't decorate the walls of the living space, they will appear to be dull and dreary. So, the need of the hour is a good artwork that can add life to your space. So, let us explore some of the artworks which you can incorporate in your living room and jazz up the appearance.
Postcard Art
For those whose hobby has been collecting postcards, then decorating their living space with postcards is an excellent idea. Postcards really make up for stunning décor. The bold and vibrant hues of the postcard art will liven up your space. You can either frame it to furnish your space with a refined look or keep it non-framed.
Coral Art
The décor of the living room should be warm and welcoming, and so adding coral artwork in the space will enhance its appearance. Because of its bold and vibrant colors, the coral artwork brightens up the room no matter how dull or boring it appears to be.
Squirt Art
Wondering what kind of décor will be suitable for the white walls of your living room? Try Squirt Art, for you wouldn't be disappointed. The kaleidoscopic painting is so incredibly beautiful that you can not help but stare. Place it against a white wall and let the artwork do its magic. It will transform the bleak atmosphere into a bright and cheery one.
Contemporary Wall Art In Black And White
For the minimalist in you who loves to keep things classy, then contemporary wall art is an ideal option. It will add a touch of classiness to your living room while also keeping it easy on the eye. Not every time do you need to make use of colors to make your space attractive and alluring. Black and white will also make your space aesthetically appealing only if you use it correctly.
Contemporary black-and-white art has an undeniable allure and beauty that will quickly change the ambiance of your living room into a classy one.
Metallic Sculpture Art
You can transform your living room by adding metallic sculpture art and making it look more sophisticated and graceful. You can fix them on any wall that you want. Be it above the couch, opposite to it, or place it above the furnace. If you're going to give the décor of your living room a complete makeover, then Metallic Sculpture is perfect. It will provide an elegant yet fashionable appearance to your space.
Dining Room Art Ideas
Not to forget, the dining room is the second most important area where dinner is served to the guests. As such, the decor of the dining room should be inviting and pleasant. It is also a place where the whole family meets after a long, exhausting day to eat supper together. Hence, the decor must be lively and, as such, a brightening one.
So, let us explore some artworks which you can use to spruce up your dining room.
Wooden Wall Art
The decor of the dining room should be minimalistic. And, one of the ways to make your dining room classy is by adding wooden wall art to your decor. The wooden wall art goes with almost everything and never looks excessive.
So, if you are on a quest for something which is easy on the pocketbook but also furnishes an elegant look to the dining room, then wooden art is what you must go for.
Monotone Art
We asked a few interior designers about the best art for the dining room, and monotone art is what they said. A monotone art is sure to attract the attention of your guests. So, if you are someone who is known for class, elegance, and style, then monotone art is what you should head to buy.
3D Art
Spruce up the dull and boring walls of your dining room by adding 3D Art. Presumably, all the people that come over to your place will be having dinner as well. You must attempt to make your dining room as pleasing as you can. So, by adding 3D Art, you are sure to give their eyes something to feast on.
Realistic Style Wall Mural
The dining room is that space of your home where during dinner, your family shares the details of their day with each other, and the place where you host your guest for lunch or high tea. So, this demands a calm and tranquil atmosphere which at the same time must be aesthetically appealing.
Installing coastal or nature scenery will not only be aesthetically appealing but also create a tranquil atmosphere for your friends and family to dine in.
Kids Bedroom Art
The bedroom of your child is equally important when it comes to furnishing it with art pieces. After school, that is the only place where he spends the majority of his day. So, don't you think that space must also be decorated with art pieces? You must attempt to make your child's bedroom as attractive as you can.
You can never go wrong with large canvases. So, try to include large canvases of nature, seashores, and other similar canvases because children love nature. You can also get sculptures for them. Sculptures of animals fascinate kids, and so your kid will also love that.
Children are captivated by colors, and so squirt art will also allure them. Whatever you decide to incorporate in the decor of your child's space, just make sure they are in accordance with his liking.
Bathroom Art Ideas
You can transform your bathroom using artwork without costing a fortune. Art has a significant impact on the appearance of your bathroom. Choosing a good artwork will modify the décor of your bathroom, turning it capacious and illuminated, while a bad one will make it look cramped.
Tile Art
Since tile is the most common material used in the bathroom, how about using it creatively to make art out of it? Tile art transforms your bathroom, giving it a refreshing look. Your bathroom décor will get a whole lot better if you use innovative patterns to create tile art. Tile art will breathe life into your otherwise dull bathroom and will create soothing décor.
Contemporary Art Canvas
You can jazz up the décor of your bathroom by simply hanging a canvas with contemporary art. You must choose a canvas that is in consonance with the theme of your bathroom. An appropriate canvas is going to spruce up the look of your bedroom.
Nature's Touch
If you want to give your bathroom a sense of vitality and freshness, then you must spruce up the decor with natural artwork. Nature has a significant impact on the human mind, and with its vibrant hues, it is sure to furnish your bathroom with positivity. And, that's what you need the most in the morning, isn't it?
As such, you can get real flowers pressed and framed, or hang paintings of flowers, plants, or sceneries.
Seashell Art
If you want to include something unique in the décor of your bathroom, then seashell art is excellent. You may create any pattern that you wish to with the seashells and stick it on any bathroom wall that you want to. You can design any pattern you want on the canvas and hang it on the walls of the bathroom. Seashell art can spruce up your bathroom décor by being easy on your pocket.
How To Choose The Perfect Art For Your Space
Artwork enhances the aesthetic appeal of your already beautiful home. It is like the icing on the cake. Along with pulling your living space together, the artwork also catches your eyes and also adds warmth to your space.
But with tons of art pieces available in the market, how do you know which one will be an ideal pick for your space? Finding, buying, and installing an appropriate piece of art is quite a challenge.
Art not only enhances the appearance of your space but also adds individuality to it. Though there are no hard and fast rules for sprucing up the décor of your home, keeping in mind certain rules will help you choose the ideal art piece to complement the home's individuality. The possibilities are endless when it comes to theme, inspiration, color, size, style, and floor layout.
Choose What You Love
When you decide to buy any piece of art, remember that you are going to look at it every time you enter that space. Be it the living room, dining room, bedroom, or any other space; you must go for only those pieces which you love. Because art is meant to be loved, so your piece must be a feast for the eyes.
It must make you happy. Just follow a straightforward rule while choosing art for your personal space - if you don't like it, don't hang it on your wall. Choose a piece that will make you happy, calm your mind and evoke positive feelings when you stare at it after a long, hectic day.
Style Matters
Every home has a style, and so does yours, isn't it? So while choosing an artwork, you must go for a piece that will complement the style of your home. No matter what your home style is, with such diversity in art, there is a piece for complementing your space.
Be it classic, simple Scandi, or coastal chic- the art piece that you choose for your space will help you define and enhance the style of your home. So, make sure you choose with all your wits. You can choose beach art if you want your art to reflect positivity. After a strenuous day, when you return home, the beach art will be your escape from the mundane life.
Black and white contemporary art perfectly complements the modern space. And, if you feel the art piece isn't adding much to your space, customize the frame and see the difference.
Theme
Not to forget the theme of your space while selecting an art piece. You must spruce up your décor only with art pieces that go in accordance with the theme of your living space. If the theme of your home is a mid-century modern one, then artwork with bursts of blue, green, red, and whimsical geometry would perfectly complement the theme of your space.
But none of these colors would work if your house is on the shoreside, then artwork of light colors combined with blue and green colors would be perfect to spruce up your décor. So, choose your artwork according to the theme to spruce up the décor of your space perfectly.
Size
Artworks accentuate the décor only when they are placed according to the size available on the wall. Not only that, but you must also take into consideration the size of the piece while buying one. You must also consider whether you want to place the pieces on top of the desk, buffet, or coffee table or hang them on a wall.
If you want to place the piece above the sofa, then more prominent pieces of sculptures would perfectly grab the attention of your visitors. And in case you want to adorn the entire space with multiple artworks, then proceed from large pieces to small ones.
Color Schemes
Colors play a huge role in accentuating the décor of your space. They can either brighten up your space or make it look like a disaster; there's no in-between.
You can use accent colors and trifles with different tones and hues of the existing color palette to intensify the décor of the space. This will give you a sophisticated finish. Or, if you want, you may even use bold colors and create a powerful impact that will leave your visitors in awe.
Through art pieces, you can go bold, too, without being excessive. But keep in mind the existing color tones.
Summing It Up
There is no denying the fact that artworks are the perfect option to spruce up the décor of your living space. Moreover, the impact of an appropriate art piece can not be ignored, for it reflects your style, accentuates the décor, and brightens up your dwelling.
Buying the correct piece isn't much of a challenge if you love that art piece, and it complements your living space. Brighten up your house with unique and amazing art pieces available on the market. And, let us know what's your favorite art piece.
Arranging furniture has never been an easy task. We tend to shop uncontrollably up to a central point where we find it difficult to organize and place all those items around the house. Every piece of furniture can influence a room, from the way it is perceived to its atmosphere, functionality and overall design line. Every furniture arrangement influences the entire room so if you get tired someday and don't really afford a real makeover you can try mixing things up and changing the layout of your room for a fresh look. Here are some Furniture Arranging Tricks And Diagrams to help you in your endeavors meant to revive your home. We will focus on the living room set up as it is the focal point and heart of any home.
The first thing you should try before starting to move things around is simulating your desired room on a computer. Try the room planner at Urban Barn, Arrange a Room at BHG, or the room planner at Pottery Barn. They are very easy to use and permit you to recreate your room and then arrange it in different ways so you can get an idea on how certain changes will influence your room.
Now you can start by cleaning the room from all the unnecessary clutter and small items. Leave the big volumes though because they are the ones that generate the entire design scheme. Try and move them around until you find that perfect position for every item. Try to create more than one focus point in the room rather than simply arranging the furniture aligned with your walls. The diagram below is such an example where several interest points and sitting areas were created.
If you are tired of the classical "everything aligned" scheme, go diagonal all the way! A diagonal arrangement offers a wider angle of perception of the room and a more dynamic feel to it. If you can not really place every single item diagonally try moving the smaller ones for creating different angles and generating alveolar spaces.
You can still make your room cozy and functional even if the space is very small. It's just a matter of rearranging the smaller items of furniture and positioning them to generate intimate functional spaces.
There are many possibilities for arranging a small living room with just 5 pieces of furniture or less. But we recommend you to use small items and to avoid big heavy furniture pieces. As you can see in the diagrams below, although you can find a proper arrangement, the room seems suffocated by the big sofas.
A very important aspect for every room is natural light. The lack of it limits the room, making it feel cluttered and suffocating. Limit yourself to low pieces of furniture placed in front of the windows. Keep the walking corridors and paths unblocked and clear all the time to let the room be visible from the adjacent room and make it thus seem larger.
Clutter is your biggest enemy so try and sort out all your furniture pieces and decide if they are used properly or if you could rethink their purpose all together and upcycle them. They might serve perfectly in another room or context. Sometimes less is more so don't be afraid to give up on old items and let your room breathe.
Bigger rooms allow multiple variations for furniture arrangements and possible multiple entries into the room so the furniture must be kept out of those paths and the visibility not blocked. You can create one big ample space with every item in direct relation with the other pieces. The 4 5 and 6 diagrams offer multiple sitting spaces including spaces destined especially for the coffee ritual.
Moving on to spaces that include an additional function like a desk or a dinning table you can choose to adopt a separative attitude and place the furniture with its back to these spaces or one of communication where every piece is in a visual relationship with the others.
Don't arrange your furniture accordingly to the TV placement. It should never be your focus point. “You don’t want to ignore the fireplace or something else that would architecturally be a natural main element in the room,” “It benefits the layout to group main items together.”
Couches should be surrounded by a little space.“Placing a couch even a few inches away from the wall will create a little breathing room and make a space seem larger.”
Arranging furniture in a long and narrow living room with many entrance doors, archways and windows might seem complicated but simply keep the furniture away from the walls and use the length of the room to your advantage.
In the end we recommend you a few other articles regarding small spaces and methods of un-cluttering your home we hope you will find helpful.
The Homestead Act first came into effect in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill to promote homesteading where a homesteader would be provided with a land to build a home, farm the land for a minimum of 5 years and make some improvements. This Act provided 160 acres of land to the people willing to homestead in exchange for a small filing fee and the amendments that followed increased the allotments further promoting homesteading in the US. This is now no longer in effect and ended in 1976 with the introduction of Federal Land Policy and Management Act. However, homesteading was allowed until 1986 only in Alaska.
US Places Where You Can Find Free Land
So, you might think that homesteading can be difficult and incur huge costs in today's times. To some extent this is true, but there are still free land available in the US in this 21st century providing the opportunity for homesteading though limited in number.
1. Lincoln, Kansas
With 3500 total population and no serious reports of any crime, this is a picturesque 720 square mile county with farm animals, buffaloes, and beautiful hillsides. The website of Lincoln states that it has broadband internet, nine miles of Interstate 70 and local medical care.
You will need to apply for free land which is also qualified for their ten-year property tax rebate program to homestead in a suburban setting. The plot sizes vary from 12000 square feet to 36000 square feet where you need to build your house within 18 months from the date of receiving your free land.
This city has a population of approximately 2000 with major city conveniences at a short distance. The lots are 155 feet wide by 93 feet deep where you have to build your new home with a permanent foundation within 18 months, and the construction should start within 12 months. The buyer needs to deposit $500 which is refundable after the end of the deed and must enter into a contract with a building contractor within six months. The lands are also exempt from at least 50% of property tax over a ten year period.
This is a small town with approximately 900 people where the major industries are agriculture, fishing, outdoor hunting, and healthcare. If you comply with all the terms, you will get free lands for homesteading. As of now, there are 26 lots available where the new home needs to be built in a minimum of 1200 square feet excluding the garage, basement, and porch.
The other building requirements are that it should have an overhang of minimum 18 inches and 5-12 pitch roof, two car garages, and three bedrooms. An agreement needs to be signed with a building contractor, and the building should be completed within two years after getting the possession of the designated lot. Also, at this time there are no assessments against these lots.
Interested individuals can find more details about the free lands here.
4. Marquette, Kansas
This beautiful small town is quite popular for the outdoor activities it offers. Free lands are on offer for homesteading requiring you to apply the same. Once you are allotted a designated lot, you need to start building your home within 120 days and completing it within 12 months. You also need to live in the home for at least a year. The home must be built on a basement or crawl space foundation with residential design standards and a minimum of 5-12 pitch roof.
If you`re interested in applying for Marquette homesteading land, click here.
5. Osborne, Kansas
This city is providing free land for both commercial and residential purposes. However, you need to deposit $500 to get the land which is refunded after the completion of your home. The city also provides with low-interest loans and business incentives.
You have to complete the home within 12 months from the date the land is allotted to you and needs to move in within 24 months. Also, your home needs to be minimum 1400 square feet on the ground level with a basement or crawl space foundation.
This city offers two separate sub-division offers with free lands for applicants who qualify for homesteading. All the available lots vary in size with all utilities and are on paved streets.
Reaping benefits from the original Homestead Act of 1862, this city has incorporated the Homestead Act of 2010 to promote homesteading so that the neglected properties can be put to use and also generate utility fees and taxes. Free lots are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis where the applicant needs to stay for at least five years. The population is around 12500, and the city is very accessible.
You can find more information here.
8. Loup City, Nebraska
This city offers lots that are completely free in two different options which are Market Rate Homes and Workforce Homes. The lots under the Market Rate Homes are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis with a deposit of $1000 which is refunded after the home is built. The lots are provided to the homeowners with limited income and assets that meet a set standard for the Workforce housing. They are also eligible for a loan of up to $20000 in down payment to build their home at extremely low-interest rates.
This beautiful village has ten free lots available as of now and to apply for the same; you need to contact or visit the village office. The homes need to be on a foundation but no specific details are mentioned, and so, it is better to drop in at the office to get all the necessary details of the lots.
This small town has a housing subdivision offering free lots. With all the basic amenities available for living, you can apply for homesteading in the free available lots. The cost of living here is also very low. To know more about the details of the lots and requirements, you need to get in touch with the City Office.
This small town has very little population with around 150 people and has many free lots available for an approximate average size of 80 x 120 feet. Your home needs to be completed within 18 months from the date the lot is provided to you and should be at least 1200 square feet. With no specific requirements, you can avail the free lands by applying with a proposed floor plan of the house intended to be built.
However, you are not allowed to do poultry farming or breed livestock or other animals for commercial purposes. Marne has all the requirements for living, and also, you can enjoy low crime rate and tax rate.
The information you will need to apply can be found right here.
12. New Richland, Minnesota
This town has a population of about 1200 and offers free lots of 86 x 133 feet with the requirement to build your home within one year. Though the land is free, assessments will be conducted for the cost of developing your property with sewer, gutter, streets, and water. This fee is around $25000 that can be reduced to $14000 through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for candidates who qualify. This amount is to be paid semi-annually over a 15 year period with real estate taxes.
Though the lands are not free nor will you become the owner, this is mentioned because it is extremely cheap. The Government has begun this initiative to offer cheap farmlands with a lease for 60 years. The farmlands are protected along with a house already built, and the average rent is between $500 and $1000 per month.
This town is on Interstate 70 with great connectivity and has an approximate population of 650. The town has 480 acres of land which is on offer for free to set up business or industry which will provide employment as well. You need to check out the requirements as it might suit well to set up your homesteading business.
The town has all the basic services that are required to fulfill your necessities. It has excellent schools, services from high-speed internet providers, medical stores and clinic, restaurants, clothing stores, etc. The acquisition of 3 water wells recently by the Town of Flagler has boosted the water supply that will be ideal for irrigation in agriculture.
You will find all the information you need about their free land initiative right here.
15. Muskegon, Michigan
This city has a population of nearly 39000 is looking to attract energy providers, suppliers for industries and food processing industry so that it can employ many people. The lands are provided for free, and your homesteading business can fit in their requirements. You will be granted industrial park property, and they are also in low tax "Michigan Renaissance Zones."
If you can provide 25 jobs, you will be granted 5 acres of land. Similarly, 12 acres for 50 jobs, 20 acres for 75 jobs and 30 acres for 100 or more jobs. The city also provides tax benefits, incentives, and state business credits.
This town in the coastal region of Maine has a population of approximately 4000 and offering 3.5 acres of land for businesses that can provide at least 24 jobs. The town has all the necessities to run a business smoothly and for living like water supply, power supply, internet services, parking, etc. Camden is looking to attract sustainable businesses and industries like food processing, biotech, medical labs, financial services and information technology. Sustainable agriculture is more preferred as it is eco-friendly.
More details about the development program in Camden here.
17. Anderson, Alaska
This is a very small town in Alaska's interior that has no grocery stores, traffic lights or gas stations. The weather is very pleasant and is a picturesque place with the view of Mount McKinsey and Northern Lights. The population of this place is less than 300 but has plenty of free lands on offer an d ideal for homesteading (source: https://www.landcentury.com/).
Currently, 26 lots of 1.3 acres are provided to the people who are willing to apply. There is a refundable deposit of $500 that needs to be submitted for applying, and you can enjoy the benefits of no sales tax, property tax, state tax and apparently no crime and traffic.
In the Harry Potter movies, Albus Dumbledore said that people could swim in the deepest oceans or jump over the highest mountains in their dreams.
And it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that at times we have all dreamt of traveling to faraway places, with nothing but mountains and trees all around. We long to escape the walls that enclose us, often feeling sad or frustrated by the dull colors that keep staring back.
Even though it’s possible to travel our sorrows away, you can do something more affordable and change your interior decor. Allow us to introduce you to the world of floral wallpapers, where you can find innumerable colors and designs reminiscent of some of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders.
Modern Floral Wallpaper Inspiration Ideas
1. Laundry Room
Floral prints are all the rage right now, with leading fashion designers adopting bold floral prints for redecorating different rooms of the house. An innovative technique to incorporate floral wallpapers is redecorating the laundry room with gorgeous flowers. So, you can enjoy the beauty of flowers in the garden and also be surrounded by them when inside.
Since laundry rooms are usually small, adding a floral print will guarantee a pop of color without any supporting accessories. We recommend playing with romantic and dark hues for a vibrant appearance.
2. Cherry Blossoms
Some home decor experts use pink and yellow detailing throughout the walls while ensuring that the shades don't overpower other features. Cherry blossoms are one of the most popular options when it comes to choosing a colorful floral wallpaper. It's especially suitable for a dining room that needs renovating as the bright colors improve the appearance of the old furniture by adding a modern twist.
3. Bold Floral Prints
A common misconception when using floral wallpapers is that the design consists predominantly of flowers which isn't the case necessarily. For instance, when redecorating your kid's room, you can create fun and whimsical animal shapes through floral prints, experimenting with different shades. You can repaint the whole space and have matching furniture, like a bright blue bookcase and bed.
4. Subtle Floral Feature Wall
As the previous three options dealt primarily with bright colors, we have mixed things up with this subtle floral pattern. Although a bit feminine for some homeowners, it's an ideal option for kids who love the outdoors. But you can use this design in any room, particularly if you don't like loud shades or if vibrant patterns won’t pair well with the interior decor.
You'll be pleased to know that the large roses deliver a lively appearance to any space having neutral colors.
5. Show Courage
If you're not new to floral wallpaper designs, might we suggest showing more courage? To take your interior decor to the next level, it would be best to add bold colors to the master bedroom. You can incorporate floral wallpaper to create a contrast between romantic and moody prints while there's no need for fancy furniture - simple accessories will suffice. Most designers suggest dark wallpapers or mural patterns.
6. Murals
Many homeowners are inspired by mural art and wish to replicate something similar in their homes. Unless your artistic talents are profound and you're planning to paint the walls, try using paneled mural wallpaper. This design looks great in the living room or study, lending an artistic appeal to a creative environment.
7. Graphic Walls
When most walls in your house are white or some other neutral shade, there's no need to tinker with the decor. Thanks to the ink-drawn lines and stunning patterns, this graphic texture is most suitable for floral wallpaper. The crisp lines will make the furniture stand out while creating an elegant vibe.
8. Nature
There are few better ways to decorate the bedroom than with the green hues of nature. We turn towards nature for peace whenever we are stressed, and you can replicate a similar feeling with these lush, rainforest florals. It would work better in a Scandinavian setting, whereby you can have eucalyptus plants instead of roses.
That said, the soothing tones would even look gorgeous in the bathroom or living room.
9. Geometric Florals
Carrying on from the jungle theme, this next option will please botanists, but it also has something for mathematicians. Geometric patterns look great on a large floral wallpaper because the intricate designs will please the perfectionist in you; use it in the nursery or at any entrance.
10. Vintage Floral Wallpaper
You can't go wrong by recapturing the old-world charm of simpler times by using bold and vintage floral wallpaper inside the house. It mostly consists of dark and moody tones, allowing this deeply romantic print to turn the bedroom into a lavish space befitting royals. Some people even use it in the dining room, while the remaining space retains its neutral appeal.
In other words, the gothic print perfectly contrasts with the existing simple design.
11. Whimsy
When you're confused about redoing the walls of your home, the easiest thing to do is start redecorating the halls or entryway. For that, this gorgeous floral wallpaper is ideal and will remind you of vintage greeting cards and times spent with grandparents. Simply add modern mid-century furniture in the foreground to pair them against the rivetting backdrop.
12. Rainforest
If we say rainforests, you would think of a luscious habitat teeming with birds and wildlife. And this wallpaper will transport you to the South American jungle right from the comfort of your home. We loved the neon shades contrasting with the olive and hunter green tones. Most exciting is that it pairs beautifully with beige and soft pastels.
13. East Coast
This wallpaper is perfect for people who dream about living on the East Coast and is suitable for a small space like the powder room or bathroom. It acts as a low-impact, high-effort design, complete with a black and white vintage print. You can use it as a graphic wallpaper as it pairs well with the bathroom tiles to deliver a chic appearance.
14. Monochrome
Rather than using colors, you can use monochromatic floral designs, comprising intricate drawings and sharp lines that will go well with light wooden floors. In short, it creates a unique sense of style.
15. Green Floral Wallpaper
If you don't have any specific idea of how to decorate the walls, we suggest going with green. You can play with subtle shades ranging from classy rainforest green to rich, velvety, and geometric patterns. It's also possible to add green furniture, like a vibrant green bedspread, that will tie well with the floral print of freshly cut flowers.
16. Rose Print
Although it's pretty common, rose wallpaper is a classic and looks the part in any nursery or kids' room. It’s ideal for people with a feminine and soft taste. But you can reprint it with a twist by using soft pastel shades, poppies, and, of course, a blend of roses to make the wall pop.
17. Darkness
Has anyone told you that darkness can be beautiful? That's exactly what we are advocating here because, contrary to what you may believe, light and brightness don't work all the time. Instead, try black, white, and dark blue with floral patterns to create a mixture of grit and elegance.
In the foreground, you can have industrial furniture to liven up the dark blue floral wallpaper in the background.
18. Pink
Any person looking for a colorful floral wallpaper would invariably think about using pink, but the trick is to include more details and less color. This wallpaper will look great at the entrance or in the hallway, provided you can add some vintage floral deets served with a modern twist. In short, it's a delicate way to enhance any space, such as a country-chic kitchen or formal setting.
19. Banana Leaves
Another shade of green that will add depth to the walls is banana leaves, which is a Pantone color with a lush appearance. This trendy hue looks inspired in the bathroom, and we love how it contrasts with a black tub. But you can also make the rich green banana leaf decor work in any room.
20. Artistic
Do you visit the museum and look at famous paintings for more inspiration? Then, you'll love this artistic wallpaper that features realistic floral designs combined with muted and modern colors. The tricky part is adding accessories that go well with muted shades, so you can try including mustard yellow, white, and purple furniture.
21. Succulents
If you have succulents at home, you know that they make a great house plant. But did you know that they are also great for designing walls? Wallpapers having succulent prints are at home on the staircase or in the powder room as they scream attention. The eye-catching design will be hard to ignore, increasing the attractiveness of your house manifold.
22. Upgraded Cherry Blossom
We have spoken about cherry blossoms previously, but here's a different take on this design. It's more of a high-class look, featuring darker shades of blue as a backdrop on which you can draw the cherry blossom tree. In the room, it would be best to have traditional furniture to create the appearance of an adult space.
23. Elephant Leaf
We have taken things up a notch with this elephant leaf wallpaper. Elephant leaves are big and create a stunning appearance even in a basic laundry room, thanks to various colors. While the predominant shade is green, you can experiment with other color gradations and install trinkets and shelves on the wall.
This will help tie the different elements together, making your laundry room as vibrant and energetic as the rest of the house.
24. Monkey
Monkeys are considered a nuisance in many parts of the world because of their mischievous attitude, but this very nature makes them a fantastic candidate for wallpaper prints. Rather than just adding flowers or trees, you can include a couple of monkeys or lemurs on the branches. It makes for an amusing yet attractive floral print, sure to be a conversation piece among guests.
So, to ensure that the wall doesn't escape people's attention, you can use the wallpaper in the living room, sitting room, or kitchen. We found that it works best with simple and rustic kitchen furniture.
25. Bold Wallpaper
Bold wallpapers make a statement due to their attractive patterns, eye-catching designs, and exquisite drawings. Every time you walk into the room, the colors will lift your mood. Long story short, most things have to be over the top, like matching splashes of red or orange with bright yellow furniture. As silly as it may seem, this design doesn't overpower the room but lends it a refreshing quality.
26. Girls' Room
Decorating girls' rooms is slightly tricky, especially when your kids are growing up. Going with a floral wallpaper is the obvious choice for most parents but opt for something unique, like gold and white floral patterns to cover the headboard. You can even choose watercolor wallpapers to strike a chord with the kids' artistic side.
Final Words About Floral Wallpapers
These are just some floral wallpaper ideas that you can try, and there are more options available on the market.
If you're not sure which one to go for, try using removable wallpaper so that you can take it off and redecorate the room again when needed. The bottom line is that there are so many colors and designs to choose from you are bound to find a desirable print worthy of any interior decor.
You'll be able to create a suitable atmosphere based on whether you're redecorating the study, bedroom, kitchen, or living room. Even your kids and pets will have fun at home, and won’t be bored by dull shades that sully the mood!
In most modern kitchens the storage space underneath the sink is unused. It is a space that requires maintenance from time to time, it is dark and dingy yet it still is a usable space. Space that can become storage easily. Showcased below we have a small short guide on how to build kitchen storage under the sink using roll-out trays, the same mechanism that you probably have already at each drawer in the kitchen. It rides smoothly bringing everything that you would need at a glance. Every item mentioned here can be found at a local hardware store or home center and the bill should not pass over 70 dollars. Hardwood plywood can also be found at a home center, lumberyard or in the hardware departments where you will also find at least one model of ball-bearing side-mount drawer glides. This is definitely one of the most practical projects we have materialized so far and we invite you to try it as well. Every modern kitchen should be as functional as it can be .
1. Start by measuring the cabinet opening to construct the base for trays on the bottom. Take in considerations any plumbing obstructions and design responsibly.
2. If you plan on creating two equivalent trays on the bottom carefully mark the center for this partition. In this guide, the thing that determined the width of each drawer has been the plumbing underneath the sink, exactly in the middle. If you have the plumbing underneath asymmetrically assembled it might be convenient for you to follow that line on the base as well.
3. Now clamp the partitions onto the base , drill pilot holes, glue them and screw them to the base.
4.Cut the parts for trays,glue and nail them together to create the trays. Pay attention to the measurements all the time.
5.Use a spacer to accurately fasten the glides on both partitions and tray sides.
6.Make tests and center the center base assemble inside the cabinet.
7.Upper trays now. Cut the parts, drill pilot holes and glue them together in the end product.
8.Now mount the cheats inside the cabinet, pay attention to the width of the cabinet on which you plan to mount them. You might want to avoid piercing all the material up to the other face in the adjacent cabinet. We suggest you to sand the side of the cabinet superficially to increase adhesion. In the end glue and screw the cleats on the sides.
9.Proceed by installing the upper trays for test fits at first. If everything goes smoothly end the DIY project by sealing the trays with two coats of polyurethane to make cleaning easier.
10.Be proud, enjoy your work and populate the trays with your items!
We would love to hear your opinion on this storage under the sink idea in the comment section below. We find it useful, creative and easy to materialize.
Your DIY bulletin board is there when you need it ! Crafted with love, great attention to details and now encompassing memory it is definitely one of the most practical items in your office; it motivates you, it reminds you what is worth remembering and it displays your memory and future travel destinations, a small area to which we can really relate too.
In the following galleries we have curated a list of exceptional DIY bulletin board ideas to revamp your home office, cast a glance and find something inspiring !
How do you see it and for what do you use this area most often?
1. chevron pattern embracing a cork board
Use a chevron pattern to integrate your new bulletin board in a modern setting wearing black, gray and white; the small detail scale and the beautiful dynamicity added greatly contribute to the overall design.
via annetheadventurer.com
2. glue buttons on THUMBTACKS, share color
Thumbtacks are sometimes difficult to manage due to their small caps, they`re also not that graphic pretty much all the time. Use a collection of buttons to create super cool retro thumbtacks dedicated to your interior. You can sort them by color, material, size, palette or you can simply share the rainbow and its diversity.
The golden thumbtacks here and the premium looking fabric create a really special look here; feel free to experiment with the fabric of choice and colorful thumbtacks.
via houzz.com
10. geometric diy painted cork boards
One line and one color will you shape you an extraordinary composition that can be easily scaled with great results.
11. SALVAGED old frame and retro fabric
The exquisite craft driven by decor above includes a pocket for you correspondence; the vintage fabric in reclaimed wood clothes balances the neutral color scheme.
13. artistic composition playing a functional role
A composition of framed cork boards can be used to create wall art; these can nestle different activities, different hobbies organized or simply the days of the week awaiting tasks.
One old window, a cork behind it and it already has a great functional value, the chic component speaks of authenticity.
via debbie-debbiedoos.com
16. black frame contrasts burlap
Natural elements like pine-cones and yarn string work to one`s advantage complementing the scene ready to share your memories in coziness and warmth.
via funkyjunkinteriors.com
17. map your future travel endeavors
Cork is the ideal medium and the travel map can beautifully function as motivation tool and wall art alike in your office.
Source Unknown
18. one row of wine corks
Your bulletin board can be as narrow as you need it. Here it keeps photographs in the right place, capturing smiles and laughter.
via shuterbugsage.com
19. Alternate patterns, create contrast
By creating contrast between colors and pattern on the same board you can easily shape a focal point in your office; this gives your tasks more coverage, more attention.
Spray paint and tape can help you shape a really graphic piece of wall art to double as a bulletin board; use the color that fits your interior scheme and feel free to experiment with the pattern.
via Pinterest
How do you see the DIY Bulletin Board Ideas above? The selection is inspiring and definitely share-worthy, we would to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
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When was the last time you thought of buying a clock, or you even admired one for its designs?
A clock is something that every person owns, but we usually never consider them to be a décor item. It can be stylish, fun, and super functional. When you have a beautiful clock, it’s a great way to complement your décor, to add some color, and to bring a sense of quaint touch to any room.
Most of the wall clocks these days have varied aspects like color, design, or purpose. Wall clocks have been part of our homes since many decades altogether, and they’re the silent contributors to the personality of your space. It doesn’t just help us to tell the time, but they also act as a reminder to value time.
They tend to merge effortlessly with every style of décor. You can choose a wall clock with a formal style to add a sense of elegance and charm to your living room, while an exciting, brightly colored clock for the kitchen or kids room. And a contemporary design will compliment any space in your office or home.
Best Copper/Rose Gold Wall Clocks
Without further ado, let’s read through the best rose/copper wall clocks!
MODERN WALL CLOCK DESIGN: This contemporary wall clock was...
SILENT SWEEPING QUARTZ CLOCK MOVEMENT: Each Ribbon wall...
This modern wall clock is made of high-quality metal and comes in a unique multi-ribbon shape. The eye-catching design given by Michelle Ivankovic helps to add a sense of charm, functionality, and class to your living space.
Also, the feature of a no ticking, noiseless, and sweeping Quartz movement helps ensure a maintenance-free and accurate performance. You need to power this clock with a single AA battery, which is not included in this set.
Experience
The design of this clock will blend in with the theme of your office and home perfectly. Even though it has a sturdy steel frame and bent edges, but you have to be careful while holding this clock because the edges are sharp.
We have used small finishing nails to hang this lightweight clock. But you can also use a wall anchor and a screw for the same. The ticking sound of the watch can be quite distinctly heard mainly at night, so you might prefer to place it in your hall room or kitchen.
We love the sleekness of the stainless steel frame, but if the same material were used around the mechanics that is placed inside, then it would have given the clock an expensive look. The product is pretty solidly built, and it lasts you for years to come. We admired the copper color as it's not found easily on wall clocks, which gives this piece a mid-century modern style.
Pros
Unique and stylish design
Easy, lightweight, and easy to hang
Easy to understand the difference between the hour and minute hands as the size has a bright contrast
Maintenance-free and does not require winding
Cons
The edges of the ribbon can be sharp
You need to buy the battery separately to operate this product
This is a vintage and antique wall clock, and if you prefer retro styles, then this product will be a great pick. The design blends in perfectly with the decor of your office, farmhouse, kitchen, bedroom, and living room.
The clock has a double ring round metal frame, with straight bars which indicate 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’ clock. It is an oversized clock with a stark look yet fascinating.
Experience
We placed this clock in our living room. It's a classy piece that gives a very edgy look to the entire space. You will appreciate the unique design, especially when you observe how stunning your walls start to appear. We couldn’t use the mounting hardware, which is a slot placed behind the clock, so we opted for a simple nail instead.
There is no ticking sound heard even during the quiet nights, so you can also keep it in your study or bedroom. You will need to buy a single AA battery to operate this clock. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about excess energy consumption.
Pros
Silent wall clock
Perfect for the living space due to its oversized shape
You have the option to select between the 16 inches and 20-inch design
It has a metal and vintage look
Cons
The mounting hardware might not be perfect to use for hanging your clock
This analog clock is known for its elegant and sleek design, that has a white dial with 3D rose-colored numbers. It is a non-ticking clock with a silent quartz sweep movement that helps to guarantee you with a quiet environment and accurate time.
You can place this beautiful and decorative piece in your office, kitchen, study room, living room, or bathroom. The front glass cover helps to guarantee a perfect view and enhances readability.
Experience
We selected this wall clock, for the rose gold color, which is electroplated on the frame and the 3D numbers of the same color. The color combination makes this clock stand out as a simple yet elegant piece of wall decor. You can’t even guess the real price of this product by looking at it; our friends always gave a higher estimate.
We found the customer service given by Jomparis to be remarkable. It is a very crisp, simple, lightweight, and attractive clock. We have used a nail to hang this clock rather than the given attachment as it seemed sturdier. Even though the case is made of plastic but it can’t be made out quickly, and because of the color, it appears to be high-priced instead.
You can operate this clock by just inserting a single AA battery. You can get this modern style wall clock in four different color combinations so that you can select them accordingly to your color preference.
Pros
Large 3D numbers with a front glass view that makes it easier for you to read the time
Has one piece of hook included, which makes it easy to hang the clock
Quartz sweep movement ensures a quiet environment that is free of any ticking sound
The high-quality movement in this clock will guarantee you with accurate time. This wall clock is of 12- inch diameter circumference. For eliminating any distractions or sound, this product has been made with a silent non-ticking technology. It also comes with a back nail slot that makes it easy to hang on the walls.
Experience
The luxury design theme used in this product will complement the decor of your home, both traditional or modern. We have not faced any disturbance while using this clock. And we never even had to worry about the constant ticking sounds that are heard in the regular clocks.
However, we have used this product for a long time, and there are no problems that we have noticed. The frame is made of metal, and it has a rose gold finish that gives this cock an elegant look.
We have used a nail to hang this clock, and since it’s lightweight, installing it was simple. You’ll also get a few color options, so you can select the one that will complement your walls.
Pros
Glass front gives you a proper view of the time
Sturdy built
Doesn’t make any ticking sound
Cons
The numbers are pretty small, so it can get challenging to read the time from a distance
WALL MOUNTED OR TABLE TOP: Infinity can be quickly...
MODERN & VERSATILE CLOCK: Stay on time with Infinity's...
This is a portable and battery operated wall clock, with a non-ticking mechanism. The product has been well built, which ensures longevity. It comes with a correct number display, easy-to-hang hole, glass cover, and an elegant colored rim.
This is a 12- inch timeless design which will tell you the time soundlessly and stylishly. It is powered by a single AAA battery, which doesn’t come with this clock.
Experience
The clock is battery operated, so we never had to worry about carrying around any extension cords. You can hang this clock anywhere you want, and the versatile design will blend well with any decor.
You won’t face any disturbance as there are no ticking sounds; it just has a sweeping mechanism which glides around the circle smoothly.
Also, the clock is lightweight, so the installation process is not going to be difficult. There is a keyhole at the back of the watch, so it makes it easier for you to hang the clock. You don’t even have to fear about the construction, as it’s built with quality materials and there is no fear of easy breakage.
This clock by Timelike has a simple and open design, with just an hour and minute hand. It is a statement piece that will jazz up your home decor in an effortless manner.
The quartz analog clock is made of aluminum, and the dial is around 10.4 cm with the hour's hand being 16.5 cm and the minute hand is 24.3 cm. It’s a lightweight (200 gm) piece, and a single AA battery powers it.
Wall Mountable: The clock hands are designed to mount on a...
3D Design: The clock hands have a unique 3D design that adds...
Experience
It is a simple and elegant piece that merged perfectly with the contemporary design of our living room. The clock is made of metal, and there is equal importance given to the functionality as well as the design of this product. We found the watch pretty lightweight, but it can travel with vibrations.
Overall, the clock is fragile, but with caution, it can work perfectly well. We loved the understated stylish appeal of this piece, and it’s a significant change from the boring wall clocks that we were using for years. We have received a ton of compliments for this clock, as it showcases your taste for a unique design.
Pros
Funky and minimalistic look
Maintenance-free
Priced reasonably
Lightweight
Cons
Not everyone’s taste
Not the most durable
Rose Gold/Copper Wall Clocks Buyer’s Guide
When you’re hanging the watch, you should pay attention to the small details in its design, that will make the wall space look attractive.
Buy a clock, that will last you for years to come and will be a prized possession to your home décor.
The quality of the watch is paramount as it helps to ensure reliability and accuracy of time.
The amount of light required by the clock should also be considered. And whether you can read the time just when you glance at the clock face.
Pick a different color tone for the wall clock that will contrast with the vibe of your wall space.
If you’re buying a clock for the study or bedroom, then get the ones with a quartz sweeping mechanism. There will be no ticking sound while you have a quiet environment.
There are different types of wall clock designs, but we can roughly divide it into two categories: decorative and functional. As the name implies, with a functional design, it will not just provide an excellent display or tell time, but it will serve as an instructional or highly specialized clock. Moreover, the decorative wall clocks help to add a fun element with its images and prints.
Rose Gold/Copper Wall Clocks Conclusion
There is a range of wall clock designs to choose from, while you're selecting the right one to compliment your home/office space. To find a clock that is unique and has been made with high-quality innovations is an excellent move for a refreshing change; be it classic or modern.
When we pick a clock for its exceptional design, whether ornate and vintage or sleek and modern, it transforms this functional item into a piece of artwork. Take your time to go through the designs to find the clock that fits in perfectly with the vibe and tone of your wall space.
You'd be surprised to know that there are more than 35 different types of houses, each having unique architectural features.
While most of us are familiar with the apartment and single housing style, there are several other types of residential properties that may seem like equally viable options. Whether you're buying or building a dream home, it's best to know all about the various structures used for housing.
That way, if you want to incorporate a particular architectural style, you'll have an authentic reference to fall back upon. So, here's a complete gallery of houses that will give you all the insight you need.
Without further ado, let the house hunt begin.
Different Types of Houses
Single-Family
This is the most common residential structure, given that about 70% of Americans live in single-family houses. These establishments are typically stand-alone and not attached to any other structures. That said, they're quite popular, especially in the suburbs of North America.
The main reason these houses saw a massive boom is the mass migration post-WWII. Thousands of families settled in the suburbs and the single housing style rapidly took over. The scenario was hardly the same before the war, given that only 13% of the population lived in the suburbs.
However, by 2010, about half of the US population was based out in the suburbs. Nevertheless, with the turn of the decade, downsizing became a reality due to increased property prices. Since then, there has been a rising demand for single-family home alternatives (condos, apartments, etc.)
Apartment
As mentioned earlier, apartments have become quite popular, primarily for their affordability and low maintenance requirements. These are essentially a group of housing units in a single building, owned by one entity.
More often than not, these units are leased or rented out to tenants. However, apartments are not the same as condos. The key difference between the two lies in ownership. Simply put, condos are owned by individual entities, whereas all apartments in a building are owned by one entity.
Condominium
By definition, a condominium is a building complex comprising several units, which belong to different owners. It's a home among many other similar homes, either in one building or multiple buildings, on a single plot.
Each owner has a title to their respective unit(s). Furthermore, the building or complex is governed by an elected body (HOA in the US and strata council in Canada) that frames regulations and passes decisions on behalf of all owners. Long story short, the members of this body make rules about maintenance, common areas, etc.
Condos can be further divided into the following categories.
Duplex - A duplex condo is a two-story unit, often the result of joining two buildings while renovating them or being built that way from the start.
Triplex - Same as a duplex but with three levels.
The terms duplex and triplex, while referring to condos, go back to its use in New York City. However, in other places, these words mean two and three-unit buildings, side-by-side. Therefore, the technical and literal meanings are frequently in conflict, and as such, it depends on where it's used.
In fact, some establishments that look like townhouses (houses in a row) can also be called condos, since the owners only possess the unit and not the shared space.
Townhome
A townhome is one among a series of houses, arranged in a row, sharing one or two walls. Usually, they have 2-3 stories, but you can also find taller structures. A townhome is different from a condo, as, in the case of the former, owners have legal rights over both the interior and exterior of the unit.
Therefore, they are financially responsible for the maintenance of the exteriors. On the contrary, with condominiums, the maintenance of shared areas is entrusted to the HOA or strata council.
So, a townhome is similar to a single-family house, only attached to another building either on one side or both.
Co-op
While it does appear similar to an apartment and condo, a co-op differs from them both, in terms of the legal and financial clauses. To explain further, in a co-op, individual entities that buy in on a certain segment of the building; instead of a whole unit. The owners are much like property stakeholders, who lease their parts in this setup.
Do the owners have a say in who can buy in? Yes, the co-op association can collectively decide and even reject a potential buyer from purchasing a part of the building. However, the co-op members may only turn down buyers based on financial reasons and reluctance to follow the rules framed by the governing body.
On the other hand, an HOA/strata council is not vested with powers to deny a potential buyer on such a basis, but they do have age restrictions with regard to property ownership.
Bungalow
The bungalow is an Indian word that essentially means 'belonging to Bengal'. These are typically small, single-story houses with front porch. These were initially built in India as an alternative to cottage-style homes with thick walls. However, their popularity soon spread to the rest of the world.
These single-floor establishments generally have steps on the front, which lead to the porch. Also, they often include a single dormer window integrated into the pitched roof. The USA saw the first bungalows in the early 1900s, and as of now, they're found all over the country.
That said, the demand for bungalows has declined of late, as more and more buyers want spacious options. Besides, with the advantage of computer-aided design, one no longer has to opt for simple styles to lower costs.
Cottage
The cottage is a housing type that originated in England. Although in the present context, it describes a vacation home, earlier it was a small, thatch-roofed house, including a single thick-walled room.
Ironically, even luxurious vacation retreats are called 'cottages' now, when historically, these establishments belonged to the low-income, rural populace. Take the example of the grand Newport, RI mansions, a Robber Barons project, often termed as 'cottages'. Needless to say, the buildings bear no resemblance to a traditional cottage.
Since the word 'cottage' is now associated with different types of structures, we've included a few photographic examples.
Historic English cottage
Grand Newport, Rhode Island cottage
Small vacation cottage
Ranch-Style
A ranch-style house (or rancher) is another single-story building, with a considerably bigger footprint than a bungalow. These houses became wildly popular in the 1950s, as large expanses of land were turned into suburbs, comprising bigger plots than urban housing spaces. Usually, these buildings are surrounded by plenty of open spaces, unlike apartments or condos.
Cabin
Let's just right away clarify that there's no distinctive feature that differentiates a cabin from a cottage. While a cabin implies a minimalist and rustic setup, a cottage, on the other hand, also refers to an upscale vacation dwelling (although, not historically).
However, if we go by commonly accepted meanings, cabins are less sophisticated than cottages. In fact, cottages are aesthetically enhanced with a proper finish. Furthermore, cabins are known to be rural, but cottages can be both rural and urban. Traditionally, cabins are log-built structures with a pastoral look.
Multi-Family
A multi-family residential building consists of two or more housing units. It's a broadly used term for a detached house with an in-law suite, townhouse development, apartment building, condo, etc.
In-law Suite (Or Basement Suite)
With the steep increase in real-estate prices, in-law suites are far more common than you can imagine. Most new developments come with them, and several older properties have added them. Since homeowners are finding it difficult to pay off their property loans, many rent a portion of their houses to supplement income.
Basically, an in-law suite is a separate unit found in single-family homes. They're, however, not detached from the main building. In case you're wondering what a separate structure for a similar purpose is called, you should look up the terms - carriage or laneway house.
Carriage/Coach House
Carriage or coach houses are structures built to shelter horse-drawn carriages. However, they are no longer used for the same purpose, and since then, have been transformed into living quarters made available for guests.
Presently, these buildings are used by owners to generate additional income through tenant or guest accommodation. While these structures no longer serve the original purpose, they have grown in importance commercially.
Chalet
Chalet is an old French word for a farmstead. These structures were originally built to provide housing to goats and sheepherders in Switzerland. But in the present scenario, it refers to a quaint vacation home in the mountains. Also, a chalet is usually a vacation retreat close to a skiing location.
Nevertheless, not all stand-alone structures on the mountain are chalets. These have some very specific design features, including a steep roof and long overhangs. As you can already guess, the roof is specially designed to withstand heavy snowfall.
Barndominiums
Barndominiums, as the name suggests, are a combination of a barn and a condominium. This integration creates a living area and sufficient space for housing livestock or other shelter needs. However, barns that are fully converted into housing spaces also fall under this category.
Tiny Home
If you're going through a cash crunch and need a detached living arrangement, a tiny home is a way to go. These structures can be stationary or mobile and range from 100 to 400 sq ft in size.
They are sought after for their efficient design and layout, and as such, many buyers favor them to avoid mortgage payments. They come as cheap as $10,000, but you can find more expensive options made of premium quality materials.
Mobile Home
A mobile home is a building that can be towed. But that does not mean that it can be moved around like a recreational vehicle. These structures are designed in factories and moved to the lot, where they remain in place. That said, mobile homes are inexpensive housing options that have become quite popular of late.
In fact, you can find mobile home parks where a large lot comprising multiple units is rented out or available for sale. These factory-manufactured houses are usually built on a steel frame fitted with wheels. Here's a modern example of a mobile home.
Mansion
A mansion is vaguely defined as a large, majestic house, but there's no legal information on how big a home has to be, so it's deemed a mansion. Besides, there's no consensus in the real estate industry either.
Since the size is not set in stone, 'mansion' is a term often used to distinguish a massive and luxurious house from average home.
Historic mansion
Contemporary Mansion
McMansion
McMansion is an uncomplimentary term for a shoddily designed, large house. Usually, you can find these in the suburbs, and are more often not built by a single developer. These detached structures are quite chaotic when it comes to incorporating architectural styles.
They include silly-looking parts and features that hardly contribute to the functionality of the house. It's not really an official category, but the word has gained momentum in the present parlance.
Yurt
You'd be surprised to know that yurts are the primary housing structure in Mongolia, among the nomadic Mongols. This is mainly because they can be transported from one location to another.
Typically, a yurt is round, with a roof and wall made of waterproof fabric. While the traditional varieties are pretty bare-bones, you can get yourself a custom-built yurt with all the amenities of a proper house. Some people live in yurts around the year in North America, while others use such buildings as vacation homes.
Floating on Water Residence
There are 5 types of water residences found in different US cities, including Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Each of these 5 floating options has its own unique features, distinguishing one from another.
Furthermore, they have different moorage arrangements that fall under strict regulations. If you want to learn more about such homes, get in touch with a real estate agent who has experience in handling such properties.
Castle
Castles are historic structures associated with royalty. However, presently most such castles are turned into museums and are maintained by the state. If you're a history or architecture buff, you will enjoy visiting these monumental buildings that once housed notable people.
Even with castles, there are multiple types, ranging from structures built in medieval times to those as recent as the 19th century. These were primarily designed to house and defend. However, the architectural style changed and was further enhanced in the preceding century.
Palace
While the word palace is often interchanged with the word castle, the former is different in the sense that it's a royal housing structure only. Long story short, palaces were not meant to defend royalty from enemies.
They were imposing and luxurious structures, specially built for the monarch and his/her governing council. As of now, most palaces are maintained by the state and accessible to the common public.
Chateau
Chateau is a french word for a manor house or a fortress built during the 13th and 14th centuries. These structures were usually located on the hills to have a strategic advantage over enemy factions.
Usually, they had thick walls, small windows, and crenelated parapets to resist any attack or invasion. With the decline of the feudal system, these structures were no longer built for the original purpose, and now chateaus simply resemble large, grand-looking residences.
Villa
A villa is the Italian counterpart of a chateau, which initially housed the Roman nobility. In the present context, these are large, impressive residences found in urban and semi-urban locations.
Manor
A manor is the English variety of a chateau. These originally were large country estates, housing feudal lords who owned and controlled the surrounding land.
Fort
A fort is a military stronghold, designed to defend and provide accommodation to the royal army. These structures include features that ensure strategic advantage over enemies and are constructed to resist any attack or infiltration.
Underground House
While a 'bunker' refers to a bomb shelter or any form of a protective hideout, some people actually live in underground homes. These are usually found on the hills and are parts of a larger property.
Cave
Caves are easily one of the oldest, naturally available forms of shelter. They're pretty much turnkey, albeit in a primitive way. And the reasoning behind them is - why build a home when nature is gifting you with one?
While these structures are considered crude and unfinished, in certain places, you can find whole cities comprising beautiful cave homes.
Dome/Round Houses
While not so popular, Geodesic dome houses or roundhouses are unique residential structures with a distinctive charm of their own. In fact, these round establishments are very intrinsic to certain cultures. For instance, yurts, tipis, huts, and fortress towers have their own cultural and regional significance.
Container Home
This is a recent trend in home construction, wherein existing containers are converted and used as residential structures. The smaller versions use a single container while the larger ones are designed out of two or more containers.
There are set rules in terms of configuration, and you may customize them as per budget and requirements. If you're interested in such housing, contact companies that specialize in designing container homes.
Treehouse
Very few people live in a treehouse, and they exist more like fun vacation retreats. These structures are built-in and supported by trees. Therefore, they're usually lightweight and have limited accommodation. However, you can also find larger structures, which are built around a tree and elevated.
Farmhouse
Technically, a farmhouse is a residential building in an agricultural or rural setting. Historically, these houses were attached to a barn and surrounded by vast open spaces. While farmhouses continue to serve the same purpose, many such properties are remodeled to include modern amenities with a rustic farmhouse look.
Hut
A hut refers to a small, humble dwelling, usually found in rural areas. These are built using naturally available materials such as wood, stone, palm leaves, hides, and mud. They are single-storied constructions with a simple roof and one or two rooms.
Huts are typical in most nomadic cultures, and some of them can even be transported from one place to another.
Igloo
An igloo is a dome-shaped, snow hut, associated with the Inuits and Eskimos. These are built using bricks of snow and are found in Canada's Central Arctic and Greenland's Thule region. The air pockets trapped in the snow provide insulation to keep the occupants warm.
The logistics of making and maintaining an igloo in any other place are almost impossible to achieve. Therefore, they're not practical anywhere else in the world.
Tent
A tent is a portable shelter, generally used while camping, fishing, hiking, or doing other outdoor activities. These are made with sheets of fabric, supported on a frame of poles, and secured by tight ropes.
The fabric is stretched and held in place by pegs driven into the ground. You can find tents for individual occupants as well as large circus tents that can accommodate hundreds of people. Therefore, the size mostly depends on the purpose and number of occupants.
Camper Van
A camper van is a motor home that can be driven around and includes amenities found in regular homes. These usually come with built-in toilets and showers, and some units even have separate living and cab areas.
They also include a small kitchen with a refrigerator, so you can literally live life on the road. Moreover, some of these vans have provisions for water and space heating, ensuring maximum comfort on the go. If you enjoy long road trips, then this house on wheels will surely charm you.
Dormitory
A dormitory (or dorm) is a building that primarily provides residential and sleeping accommodations to a large number of occupants, especially in schools, colleges, and universities. However, in certain countries, a dormitorium refers to a room with many beds that provide cheap accommodation to visitors and guests.
That said, dormitories in educational institutes usually have same-sex occupancy. However, some establishments (other than schools and colleges) allow mixed occupancy, although that's rare.
Construction Method
Houses are also classified based on the construction method. You can now choose from several options and decide how your home will be built. The following are some common methods.
Site-Built Home
Site-built homes, as you can already guess, are erected on location. This is undoubtedly the most construction process worldwide.
Modular Home
A modular home is a form of prefab housing, manufactured in a factory. These structures feature a cluster of modules or pods, connected together to build the entire residence on-site.
Prefab Home
A prefab home is a generic term used to describe a factory-built house. Generally, the individual segments are shipped and assembled on location. While units come with finished interiors and exteriors, others require touch-ups on-site.
Panel Home
These houses are made of panels, which are designed off-site and put together on location. Furthermore, you can select something from a range of panel materials, depending on your budget and the look you want to achieve.
Manufactured Home
As the name suggests, these structures are factory produced on a large scale. Built on a steel frame, manufactured homes are either transported in its entirety or in segments to the housing location. They're similar to mobile homes in terms of operation but closer in resemblance to regular houses than traditional mobile homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to houses, all of us have our own set of queries. That's why we've put together this FAQ section to resolve most of them.
Take a look now.
How are houses classified?
The definition of a house is no longer limited to a structure featuring four walls and a roof. While the core idea still sticks, the meaning has evolved and now encompasses a variety of establishments, each with its own unique characteristics.
However, there are two ways of classifying houses, namely, based on architectural styles and by different types of residential buildings. In this guide, we've thoroughly discussed the latter.
How big is the average house in the USA?
From data gathered by NAHB and Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, as of 2022, the average single-family home has an area of 2,584 sq ft.
However, the average size has varied from time to time. For instance, in 1983, the average house was about 1,725 sq ft, while in 2003, it increased to 2,330 sq ft.
Can a house be moved?
Yes, a house can be moved, but it is no way simple or inexpensive. Moving a house means to completely lift the unit from its foundation, and transporting it, sometimes several miles away, before reestablishing it somewhere else.
Therefore, it's not something that's done on a whim. Only in extreme situations, such as imminent natural calamities or when a structure comes in the way of a development project, houses may be moved to a different location.
What materials are houses built from?
Homes are made using a variety of materials, including wood, concrete, brick, cement & mortar, and clay. Moreover, many units are built with steel frames, and strengthened with bolts and rivets.
Can a house sink?
Even though this rarely happens, if a house is constructed on poor-quality soil or on a place where water can damage and weaken the foundation, the structure may sink. While homeowners have little control over the soil underneath their houses, they can minimize water damage by installing mechanisms that deflect water away from the foundation.
Can a house withstand an earthquake?
Since every house is unique in the way it's built, the structural integrity of individual establishments depends on the age of the building, the materials used, and the design.
Generally, houses built after 1958 are considered more secure due to sufficient anchoring and bolting. However, this is just an observation and does not apply to all houses. However, some modern apartments and condos are made earthquake-resistant, thanks to the latest construction technology.
These buildings are usually constructed on top of flexible pads or have shock absorbers that reduce the impact.
Can a house get struck by lightning?
Yes, they indeed can, but most houses have a built-in lightning protection system that safeguards the structure from fire hazards and other damages. However, if the system fails or the unit does not have any lightning protection, the roof becomes the most vulnerable part.
Sometimes, the electric current that transpired through lightning can course through metal piping and the circuitry within the house. In fact, anything electrical and metal, including window frames and gutters, can act as conductors, inflicting damage.
Occupants in the house can be affected by lightning if they come in contact with any plugged-in electrical device or plumbing.
Can tornadoes lift a house?
Brick and concrete houses are considerably more stable and usually remain unmoved when hit by a tornado. Nevertheless, these super strong, rotating winds have the destructive force to rip off a house from its foundation and send it spiraling miles away.
In this case, mobile homes are especially at risk since they do not have a permanent foundation. While a tornado may not always end up lifting houses, it can cause severe damage and reduce properties to rubble.
How can a house be financed?
Not all buyers have disposable funds to purchase a house upfront. However, you can get it financed by taking out a mortgage. A mortgage is a secured loan, which is provided by a bank or credit union to the buyer.
Once you have figured out your total budget, which should include the interest amount, you can apply for a mortgage. That said, ideally, you should have a credit score of over 600 and a favorable debt-to-income ratio, so you borrow the necessary amount and pay it back on time.
Can houses lose value?
By losing value, we mean depreciation. While land prices may skyrocket, the saleability of a house diminishes over time. Usually, there are multiple factors that contribute to the overall loss in value.
For instance, physical damage, lack of maintenance, disturbed neighborhoods, and unfavorable economic climate can depreciate property prices.
Who appraises houses?
Houses are appraised by licensed and highly skilled professionals who have the necessary insight and training to carry out the process. In fact, many appraisers undergo training for years to gain an in-depth understanding of the housing market and the changing economic situation.
They're entrusted with the task of objectively determining the value of an establishment, without any bias stemming from its location. Appraisers have to justify their claims regarding anything inside or outside the house that could affect its value. Thus the entire process is strictly monitored to eliminate any personal biases.
Can squirrels climb houses?
Of course, they can. Squirrels can effortlessly scale walls, chimneys, and piping on the house exterior. They take shelter in nooks within walls, attics, and ceilings.
Can raccoons climb houses?
Much like squirrels, raccoons are excellent climbers, and they usually forage for food and shelter inside small hideouts. They can scale walls and use the gutters and downspouts for movement. Raccoons have a far more destructive nature, unlike squirrels, so make sure not to leave unattended garbage outside your home.
Also, keep your disposal bins closed at all times, as you do not want a family of raccoons to create mayhem in your front porch.
Can possums climb houses?
Possums can climb too, but they usually cannot scale high walls. Generally, they use tree branches to access an opening into the house. So if you have trees on your property, make sure they're a few feet away from the house.
Final Words
That's all, folks!
We hope you have sufficient information on different types of homes. However, buying or building a house involves a lot of decision-making, and we suggest taking every aspect into consideration.
In any case, your dream home should not wipe out your savings, so make sure to find a property well within your budget. Also, you'd want the house to have a high resale value in the future. And for that to happen, you should pay attention to the neighborhood, location, nearby facilities, and other factors that contribute to its overall value.
On that note, we would like to take your leave. Till next time!
One's mailbox is one of the first contacts with the household, being in the front yard, in an accessible area for the postman, it often enters the perspective of the pedestrian walking along; in some cases, the mailbox itself is the only item that connects you with the outside world, reason for which, cool mailboxes are carrying an immense responsibility, they`re meant to connect buildings with the pedestrians, with the road, they`re meant to function as small landmarks for households, and more importantly, businesses; in some cases they facilitate mailbox correspondence too.
Get inspired by simple elements, mark your mailbox with something that you like or find relevant to your business or household, there are no good reasons to overlook your mailbox design and it doesn`t necessarily have to be part of the "cool mailboxes" yet one ought to ensure is the right color, the right position and that it has all the important information labelled so it can be easier on you and your postman. It is worth mentioning that one should never go as far as making the mailbox itself unrecognizable, it ought to read as a mailbox in the end, it ought to facilitate correspondence.
Cast a glance below and find something that you like, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
Unusual and Cool Mailboxes For Your Home
1. sculptural elf inspired mailbox carried by a tree
Metal offers you infinite possibilities, numerous artists are trying to showcase their work in viable, view-able areas and the mailbox sure is such a place, start your own artwork and call your best friend to aid you, make a day of it; alternatively, commission a local artist, it is a win-win situation that beautifies the neighborhood, the world.
This wall mounted mailbox on the front porch is not necessarily a viable option if your home is not close to the road, this is a far more intimate and important position, if you consider this option think about your neighborhood and your relation with it.
A tech-savvy individual might see this as an super cool thing, it can be realized in mdf or hdf, it can use an actual computer or one can transform an old monitor with ease, just find the appropriate mailbox post and the rest is history.
via morganhomeaccents.com
4. happy blue human keeping your mail safe
A joyful mailbox can share smiles with your neighbors and passing pedestrians, something simple, positive, can change everything. Sculptural options like this mail carrier need no mailbox post and they're a joy to see.
via mailboxesandstuff.com
5. pallet box for your mail
Create a super simple and super inexpensive correspondence, wall mounted mailbox, add a few hooks that can also hold your key or jacket while you get your snickers on.
via Pinterest
6. small trellis and greenery supporting your mail
Greenery ought to be emphasized through all possible means and happily, the mailbox can be enhanced with a simple lattice or trellis meant to nestle climbing plants swiftly, here the mailbox post offers you the opportunity to grow your favorite climbing plants.
This mailbox requires no description, the proud stallion mail carrier can relate to your business, your passion. It is simple, elegant and can be the result of a relatively inexpensive DIY project, note that you can work more on a less obvious mailbox post if you go towards a metallic support.
via morganic.com
8. disguise your mailbox in your fences
If you mark the mailbox discreetly in your fence make sure that it is recognizable and can still function as a mailbox.
An old wagon can be transformed to look like one of the first cars in the world or like a an old truck as your cool mailbox designates the engine on the front. It might take some time to carefully paint it and make it work but the result is definitely worth pursuing.
A small landmark can be simple yet elegantly noticeable, it can wear your street number too and it will certainly boost your curb appeal. This is technically a wall mounted mailbox?
via undercoverdiyer.com
11. scrape flea markets in the search of incredible
Certain mailboxes can beautifully surprise, the size is not important nor is the format even though the one above is far more common between the vintage, beautiful decorated cool mailboxes. Flea markets often hide the extraordinary relics of the past like this wall mounted mailbox, discover them.
The basic shape of the US mailbox makes the transformation above an easy project, a project definitely worth attempting with little ones, it can be an epic educative lesson.
via Pinterest
13. pursue a diy swan mailbox
The administration of your local park or the child`s kindergarten could definitely put a swan mailbox to good use, here too the shape of the basic US mailbox helps the craft itself.
via pinehill-woodcrafts.com
14. memories have no expiration date
A simple wall mounted mailbox is sometimes the best option, if you find the right one, stick with it, regardless of its current color, thickness of rust layers, put it to good use.
A multitude of elements surprise us, if you have the opportunity to assemble the ones that surprise you in something epic and significant for you, something that would speak about you, about your household to your loved ones, why wouldn`t you?
Little ones can be easily surprised with cool mailboxes but when the whole thing is easy read-able them for them too you are opening opportunities, you are showcasing creative options; by simply realizing the mailbox above as diy project you are revealing a whole new world, the realm of creativity. Needless to say that the more creative you get the more your home's curb appeal goes up especially in the eyes of the little ones.
A metal-worker that would like to advertise his workshop through a small installation can put a new spin on the mailbox, here the volume is still clearly recognizable and the ensemble will surely not be overlooked.
18. pursue art in any endeavor, sculpt your mailbox
If you`re a sculptor yourself the idea above requires no description but if you are not already an artist that doesn`t mean you can`t pursue something different, something that would speak of your hobbies and artistic endeavors.
via funniez.net
19. beautiful, simple crab mailbox
It will be an extraordinary pick for your beach home or a sea resort, children will adore the little creature.
A mayor could use the town mascot at the city hall, so can a school, an university. Make it fun, make it extraordinary.
via dumage.com
21. shape something fun, playful
The local theme Jurassic-themed Park could mark his presence easily on the road through a cool, colorful mailbox.
Source Unknown
22. mark your farm with a cow mailbox
A really creative mailbox and a really fun cow silhouette has been sculpted in the example above yet one could argue that the design is not easily recognizable as being a mailbox, this can be solved through some color accents.
via weheartit.com
23. praise nature with a tree trunk diy mailbox
A super simple and extraordinary graphic design for your mailbox nestled by natural components, mark it with a small red flag or notify your postman of its presence and you are good to go.
Public spaces can beat the norm in terms of scale, they can accommodate super creative solutions that will often be the result of small public contests, if you have the chance always contribute or join the discussions as these impact you and the whole community around you.
via imgfave.com
25. expose your dark side early on
Your passion for various hobbies, shows, characters, can be exemplified on your mailbox, the example above uses black and white paint to present the dark side, simple and graphic
Source Unknown
26. have fun with your mailbox
Winter brings you cool options, you can embellish your mailbox in snow, you can sculpt anything around it through snow, call your friends and loved ones to help you and make a day of it.
It is both funny and helpful, the postman can place commercials in spam and letters in the inbox, this doesn`t mean you should not check both but it saves you the hustle of filtering them yourself, in theory.
29. tailor retro mailboxes inspired by good design
Designers are always surging inspiration from well established objects, elements of grand designs that have gained the "timeless" status. Above the `70s of the american cars have inspired a great retro collection of mailboxes. Find inspiration in things that you love.
It might look odd but it happened nonetheless, if you`ve bought an old property and this has been presented to you on site, take advantage, clean it up, paint it with great care, make the best of it.
Source Unknown
34. swim your way towards epic mails
A diving instruction center looking for a new mailbox? No matter, the internet always has an answer; it is not always the right one, but is an answer nonetheless.
Source Unknown
35. EMPLOY the road-runner to catch your FAST-MAIL
An epic artist installation can be simple, here old pipe scraps have assembled an epic gentleman, rust gave it the right age and it now beautifies the day of many while carrying the mail of those in need.
37. veterans ought to design their own army inspired mailbox
It is a simple tribute, it signals the immense effort of the individual for a cause. The graphic mailbox above can signal a veteran club, a retirement center or simply a recruitment center. It can make sense in multiple settings.
The surreal mailbox above seems inspired by the Tolkien universe, its metallic presence has been emphasized by the presence of rust and paint on the leafy part.
42. REcycle old number plates into an epic mailbox
Simply salvage 5-6 old number plates, preferably, plates of different states, and embellish your classic mailbox carefully. It can mark the presence of many businesses or simply the home of a car enthusiast, a car nut.
It might look like a hard craft to materialize and for the amateur it might be so, especially considering the level of detail, but regardless, you all know that good carpenter, that friend with power tools or the architect that knows to work models in soft balsa wood, there are always options, and where they`re not, you can shape them.
A super simple craft that uses an old boat engine to facilitate correspondence. The engine case fits beautifully the role of a mailbox, simply epic result.
You can find a purpose to any object. The insanely cool Haley-Davidson composition above is surely a great solution for pieces that have suffered irreparable damage in an accident for example, they mark a strong passion, a lovely hobby.
via blog.bikerornot.com
46. the mailbox of a car nut, ENTHUSIASM defined
You know your passion better than anyone else, you know your needs and desires better than anyone else, pursue them, in everything.
Source Unknown
47. rust featured in a modern expression
Elegance can take many shapes, here a really simple modern solution signals a discreet mailbox and street number. How are you signaling yours ?
With design and diy projects we`re not entering the "right" or "wrong" land often, there is hardly any right or wrong in anything. We ought to pursue something that we live, something that we love without harming our own balance while doing so, we ought to break the rules of our existence everyday, we ought to brake the rules, not the law.
How do you see these cool mailboxes? We would love to hear from you in the comment section below !
It cannot be denied that construction is quite a difficult job, but with an excellent tool to measure distance, you can make it a whole lot easier.
While you may have known about a ruler and tape since you were kids, there are some other standard tools which help in finding out the length. We will tell you the key to achieve immaculate precision. Simply use the right device for the right length! While some are good with one unit, others can help you measure in multiple units.
You might be confused at this point about which tool will fit your needs? To deal with this, we have listed down the top 5 common ones which will help you in all kinds of construction and renovation jobs. You can sit back with a cup of coffee and read through our unbiased opinion with all the pros and cons listed.
We will begin with one of the most common tools in the market - the ruler. Also called a straight edge rule, it is used widely by professionals and students alike. Imagine trying to attempt architectural designs or drawing layouts without a tool to draw a straight line? Seems impossible, right?
Typically, the length of this equipment ranges from 30 cm to 240 cm and its body has markings at specific intervals, which helps you note down the length.
What is its purpose?
This tool is mostly used to measure small distances and symmetry of a plain. Students learn to use this for mathematical measurement and to check for straightness. On the other hand, you would find this on the table of almost every engineer, architecture, builder, interior designer as well as fashion designer, to name a few.
The measurement units that are engraved on each ruler differ, and there are some with centimeter, millimeter, and inches. While a few may have all of these units, others may be more specific with just inch or centimeter divisions.
What are the two types of markings?
We have already spoken about linear markings, and that is the most common use of a ruler. But there is another version of the tool with zero marking. These are used for finding the middle point of any item that is being considered and they are called center finding rulers.
There is a zero point in the center with numbers on both ends. It will help you find the midpoint of anything. The only limitation is that the item needs to be flat.
What is the preferred form of a ruler?
We can divide straight-edged rules into three common kinds - wooden, metal, and plastic. The most preferred one for accuracy and durability is the metal option. This is because the metal version is sleek and easy to use, while the sharp edges provide more precision in measurement.
Also, it lasts longer, the printed unit marks do not fade easily, and it would not break into two. It would be a Herculean job to break a metal ruler!
Moving a step further, the measuring tape is a very useful tool that measures medium distances. It is widely used for construction and renovation purposes. While a metal straight-edge ruler is a straight device with limited length, this one has a metal ruler too, but it is rolled inside a plastic body.
Since it can be rolled, the length is way longer and can extend from 6 feet up to 33 feet. While it can be folded inside, once you extend the ruler, it becomes stiff and would not lose shape when held against a wall or any vertical surface.
How to use it?
The product comes with a metal hook on the edge. This can be used to hold on to one end of the surface that is being measured while you stretch your metal scale to reach the other end. Note down the results once you’ve properly adjusted the tool.
To add to the convenience, there is a hole on the hook, through which a screw can pass easily. You can use it to attach one end, providing you with a safer way of measuring. With this feature, one can aim to handle the whole project by oneself without help.
Pros
Easily portable
Extendable and can be used to measure longer distances
While the ruler helped measure shorter distances, this one is made to measure very long stretches. Known as a distance calculation wheel, it needs to be rolled from point A to point B to find the exact distance between both of them.
The measurement will show on the counter, which is fixed on top of this device. It consists of handles with a wheel attached to it. The distance traveled by the wheel is what can be measured.
What is its purpose?
This is an essential tool for people designing or renovating a place. For example, if you are working on building a house, this tool will help measure the perimeter of your backyard, garden area, front porch, and maybe the fence too. These measurements will further be needed to add tiles, pave a path, grow seeds, or build fences.
Now, if you are wondering how it is different from a tape, let us explain. Straight lines can be measured by a tape easily, but if the concerned area is crooked, you will need help. For such spaces, you would have to divide the area into parts and measure separately. In the end, the sum of all parts will give you a total.
This is time-consuming, to say the least. However, with a wheel, you will face no such problem. Just roll it around the border of a space and note down the measurement.
What are the types available?
There are different versions of the base model itself so as to make this device fit for the terrain it is going to be used in. Your area of work defines the type you would want to purchase.
There are variations in the size of the tire. If it is a rough terrain that you are aiming to work on, we would suggest using bigger wheels. They have a lesser chance of skidding across. While on the other hand, if the area is flat with no obstacles, a smaller version can be used.
Coming to counters, there are three types, manual, automatic, and electrical. Manual counters work well with one type of unit and are less expensive while the electronic ones are more advanced and are suitable for multiple unit measurements.
This is a tool that falls between the regular measuring tape and a wheel. It can cover a distance of more than 100 feet and is a very commonly used product by professionals. This has been carried on since old times and has survived the test of time. The body simply has a long tape rolled up in a plastic frame.
What is its purpose?
While a metal tape is easier to carry, this one stands out for measuring longer distances. If you are trying to renovate a large space or construct a house, a long version is essential, and you would not find a single builder without it.
Also, it works brilliantly well with rough terrains. It is not made of metal and thus can accommodate any kind of space easily, but yes, two people are needed in this case. Most reels are made of nylon or fiberglass and have units printed on both sides. One has to hold on to one end while the other takes note and stretches the tape.
What are the types of reels available?
There are two types of reel tapes in the market, and you should purchase based on the distance that you need to measure. Open reel tapes are those which are suitable for longer stretches extending up to 300 feet.
These are big rolls and are not covered by plastic. Instead, they have a pointed stake, which allows one to attach it to the work surface. A handle is also included to make it easier for you to hold while fixing it in place.
This one usually needs two people where one has to hold the handle and keep the device straight in place while another one stretches its tape out.
Closed case tapes are those which are used to measure a shorter distance of up to 100 feet. They come with a plastic body.
Both types have a hook at the end, which can be used to keep it firm. Also, they boast of fractional/decimal units printed on both sides for easier calculation.
Are you looking to measure the height or width of a room easily? The laser tape is an exceptional option to achieve your goal. It is a new addition to the list and makes it super easy to measure anything up to 300 feet.
While the tape has been serving well for long, this is a new technology that has come up and works as a great alternative. It is much more accurate, and you do not have to worry about the type of surface that you are dealing with. Be it rough or smooth; the laser beam does not care! It will provide you with precision, no matter what.
How does it operate?
All you need to do is keep the device at the beginning point and then direct its laser beam towards your endpoint. Once you do so, a button needs to be pressed on the body, and the result will show on display. It is that easy!
In case you do not have anything to mark your endpoint and to define the edge, place an object, or put a tiny tape. This will define the point and you can then proceed to aim at it.
What are the types of laser tapes available?
There are different types of laser tapes available, and they differ in specifications and price. The basic models measure only in single units while more expensive ones show double or multiple units.
There are some products which allow you to measure separate distances and then make a total of them and present the result. The summation is done automatically without any extra effort.
Also, you do not have to remember the measurements. The gadget will do it for you. With an internal memory which makes notes, you can store and recall previous measurements. What more could you have asked for!
Pros
Rubber grip makes it easier to hold
Compact and portable
Works for first-timers
Measures distance up to 300 feet
No rewinding required
Cons
It does not work well on shiny or porous surfaces
Conclusion
Every tool listed here has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages. We will suggest that before you choose one, pay attention to what you exactly need it for. If you want to simply measure a short object or a flat surface, a ruler will be the cheapest and most viable option.
Only in case of buildings and fences, should you opt for a wheel. A wheel would work great to measure the perimeter but will not work with measuring objects as you cannot wheel over it.
A laser beam is the most expensive device here. So, please consider your needs before buying one. It works for all surfaces except shiny or transparent ones, as the laser will not be able to detect the endpoint in such a case.
Let us know if you have any further queries in the comments section below.
Till next time!
Related Articles
Do you want an accent wall that would build up the ambiance? Canvases are becoming the most popular addition to creating this statement wall.
And that brings us to canvas printing services, which will help you choose and create art pieces that can liven up any room. You can cover the entire wall with art, thanks to various sized canvases available.
From offering a collection of pictures by famous artists and photographers to allowing you to use your photographs, there is a wide range of options. You can pick and choose among different materials too.
But when we set out to find out the best canvas printing service, we found multiple choices, and choosing one was rather challenging.
To save you from that hassle, this detailed and unbiased list of 15 top options has been curated. We have also included an FAQ section to help you choose the right one for your needs.
So, without further ado, let's get down to business!
If you are looking for great print quality and ease of use, CanvasPop is an excellent option to go with. They provide one of the best services in terms of efficiency as well as cost. The Canvas website says, "It's as easy as 1-2-3," and we don't disagree at all.
Why Did We Like It?
First of all, the website is not at all complicated, and we loved the user-friendliness offered. You can upload images easily from your computer or social media, including Instagram and Facebook. In case the image has a very low resolution, you will get a warning which will tell you that the image is unsuitable for use.
Now, most times, we are worried about the print quality. But CanvasPop thought of that too, and you can ask for a proof of print before finalizing. A person will review it beforehand and tell you about it. Once you are satisfied, you can place an order.
Although the prints might seem to be too expensive at first, we were happy to see that there were regular deals on them. You can easily buy one at 50% off, and that makes it a great deal.
Moving on, every photo is hand-stretched to ensure the best quality. The name of the craftsman is added in the frame on a removable sticker.
What Could've Been Better?
The website tells you that the product will reach in 2-3 days. The problem is that you cannot get it delivered earlier or choose the exact delivery date. This was slightly disappointing; you cannot set the date even by paying extra. So, we would recommend that you order well ahead of when you need it.
As the name suggests, they have a massive stock of images, and you will be able to find one that fits your needs perfectly. Known to be very popular among hotels, galleries, and office spaces, this company provides absolute professional results. You will truly be impressed by their exquisite work.
Why Did We Like It?
To begin with, ElephantStock uses high-resolution Giclee printing processes on the poly-cotton blend canvas. Every image is stretched to perfection to meet your size needs and North American pine frames are used.
Furthermore, the laminate is made to be resistant to UV rays and is waterproof and scratch-proof. It keeps the photos in mint condition for years to come. The frames do not lose their color, making them very efficient.
Also, the customer care representatives are very friendly and will help you throughout the process. You can reach out to them about any information required, and they will be guiding you well.
Besides, sizes range from 9×6″ to 48×32″, which makes it suitable for any space, be it a poster for a conference room or a hotel room. You can customize orders according to preferences, and you will be warned if the resolution of a picture is too low.
Lastly, this one also has great offers that keep popping up multiple times a year. The offers bring down the price to a great extent, making it quite affordable.
What Could've Been Better?
Although you will be getting free shipping if you shop above a certain limit for the USA and Canada, there is a considerable charge for shipping to other countries. So, we would recommend you to check the shipping charges first before you proceed. They range from $9.95 and can go up to $100 or more.
Pros
Resistant to UV rays and water
Efficient customer service
High-resolution Giclee printing
Cons
High international shipping costs
CanvasDiscount
If you are hunting for good offers and discounts, you have finally reached the right place. CanvasDiscount is known to have the lowest prices ever, and that is accompanied by flawless quality. In fact, they offer a 110% discount guarantee in case you find a lower priced product anywhere.
Why Did We Like It?
We were very surprised to see that the prices could go down to even $5 for some products, and we could not find a bargain similar to this anywhere. But rest assured, even if they seem unbelievable, the quality is superb. The canvas has a great texture, and every piece is strengthened to make them more durable.
Besides, they go the extra way to ensure that you do not have pixelated canvases. Whenever you upload an image, they will give you sizing options based on the JPEG image's quality and size.
Plus, it offers a great variety of products. While most of you will be familiar with the traditional canvas, this one allows you to get metal or PVC forex prints. You can also invest in accessories, including mugs, pillows, and blankets. Jigsaw puzzles can be printed with personal pictures too.
To top it all, it provides super-fast delivery in North America. You can get the product in a day or 2 if you live in this area.
What Could've Been Better?
The website is not very popular and does not have a big audience. So, most people around you might not know of it. But once you purchase from them, you will realize that it is indeed a hidden gem. Order something from their large range of options and see it for yourself!
Pros
Boasts of super-fast delivery
Wide range of items
Lowest price in the market
User-friendly website
Cons
Not very popular
iCanvas
One of our top recommendations is iCanvas, which is known for its easy service. They have made it their motto to make exquisite art affordable for everyone. If you are an art lover, this can help get the perfect prints for your home. Read on to know more about it.
Why Did We Like It?
The process of getting your personalized canvas prints is very easy. All you need to do is upload images and wait for them to send you edited versions of it. Once you approve the pictures, they are finalized and sent to print. It takes around 15 business days for the canvas to be delivered to your house.
Another great advantage is that they have thousands of options to choose from, and you can easily turn a room into the art space that you always craved for. Choose from among animals, abstract, floral, street art, modern, pop art, to name a few of the popular styles.
Besides, this offers a great service for those who are not confident about color palettes and patterns. There are segregations based on color palettes and rooms. So, you can select the room you want to keep the canvas in and then find prints based on it. Overall, we found this to be very beneficial, and the prices were reasonable too.
What Could've Been Better?
The only issue with this is that it does not accept images below 500 KB if you want a high-resolution canvas. So, you will probably not be able to get copies of the original work printed in high resolution. But again, if the quality of the images is good, then there is nothing more to worry about.
Pros
A great option for novices
Variety of art forms and styles
Easy consumer-friendly process
Cons
Prints only high-res pictures
Inktuitive
If you are looking for unique pieces of artwork and illustrations to print, Intuitive will prove to be an excellent forum. They are geared towards creating art that you would love to be surrounded with. Your environment determines your performance and mindset, and this brand will help create that positive space.
Why Did We Like It?
Every artwork has to meet strict quality requirements before they can be put up on the website. Hence you will get high resolution and flawless prints every time. They use top-shelf archival-quality ink, which will help print pictures with great depth and clarity. We loved the bright colors that emitted a very positive vibe to the surroundings.
Another great benefit is that you can avail free standard shipping. One can order from anywhere in the world, and standard shipping costs will not be applied. This is indeed a unique quality that sets it apart from its peers.
Plus, they offer complete satisfaction, and in case it does not add value to your life, the company will give you a full refund. This is something that most companies do not offer, and hence we were truly awed.
Also, the customer care is at your service at any time of the day, and you can call them regarding any issue.
What Could've Been Better?
The return process may take a little longer than you expect. It took us 10 days to get through as it involves a few steps. Also, you will have to ship the product back yourself. Once the company receives it, it will take another 5-7 days to begin the refund process.
Pros
Meets strict art quality measures
Free standard shipping
Eligible for a full refund if not satisfied
Cons
The return process takes time
Mixbook
If you want easy customization, Mixbook will provide you with it. The editors give the space to indulge in a variety of customizations, and you can design your own canvas in any way. With a set of preset themes, you can create artistic wonders right on their website.
Why Did We Like It?
To begin with, there are a number of designers on board who have specialized themes and designs for you to use. You can play around with stickers, graphics, and backgrounds to create wonders. Whether it is collaborating with family and loved ones or you just want to tell a story, this site is geared to make your prints memorable.
They also have a community of creators, and you can see their stories using the hashtag #mixbook. Once you buy one of their products, you can also join the community and share ideas and inspirations with others.
Further, the brand specializes in canvas, metal, acrylic, and poster prints along with photo books and calendars. You will get a wide array of products to print your preferred pictures on.
Besides, they have a clear pricing chart with the products and budgets mentioned depending on the kind of shipping and size that you choose. This will help you compare before purchasing it.
What Could've Been Better?
The production takes a few days, and then it is shipped. So, expect the whole process to take at least 10 days, which is longer than many of its peers. We would recommend that you keep ample time in your hands and then order. In case you have a party at your place, order at least 15 days before to make sure it reaches in time.
Pros
Special themes and templates
Community of creators on Instagram
Clear pricing chart
Cons
Lengthy production time
Social Print Studio
Up next is a company that has been in the printing business for more than a decade now. Social Print Studio is the hub of professional-quality prints that will cater to your needs well and give you high-quality canvases. We were very impressed with the flawless finish.
Why Did We Like It?
The company offers a museum-quality canvas finish using ink that is permanent and will not fade with time. This not only adds more depth to the photo but also extends its durability. The ink is resistant to light, water, heat and has no impurities in it. You can also opt for a glossy finish that looks very attractive.
Besides, it is an in-built photo editing software which we found to be very easy to use. All you need to do is upload pictures, and then there will be clear instructions guiding you throughout.
The company also makes it easy for you to get clear prints. To maintain clarity, minimum size requirements are put in place so that the pictures are not pixelated.
Further, we loved the customer service, and they were very supportive throughout the process. Our delivery was slightly delayed, but they made it a point to keep us updated about it.
What Could've Been Better?
Although high quality is something that it focuses on, the brand has a limited range of canvas sizes to choose from. It does not provide customized sizes, and we were slightly disappointed with the fact. We would recommend first checking the sizes before you proceed to decide the print.
Pros
Supportive customer service
Easy to use software
Professional-quality prints
Cons
Canvas sizes are limited
Walmart
You must already know how Walmart has almost anything that you can think of. With tons of images to choose from, this is one of the most versatile options. If you have a tight budget, this is the place to search for the best deal.
Why Did We Like It?
We cannot stress the variety of choices. Be it a hotel room, home space, boutique, or offices, the range of options is huge, and you are bound to find something nice. It will brighten up any studio or home and will leave your guests wondering where you got it from.
Plus, you have the liberty to choose a size that fits well in your room. Other than the theme and size, you can get it printed with no frame, floating frames, contemporary or traditional frames.
If it is the first time that you are sitting to make a choice, Walmart will prove to be beneficial. They have a very easy-to-use site, and you will be able to search easily.
Besides, they will not print low-resolution images. If the image that you have uploaded does not meet the criteria, they will warn you immediately.
What Could've Been Better?
Since Walmart has a huge range of pictures, you will have to be careful while choosing. This is because there can be some prints that may not meet your requirements in terms of clarity and resolution. We would suggest that you check the user ratings and reviews before proceeding.
Do you want a floating frame for your living room? Great Big Canvas is the perfect portal for that. It offers readymade prints that give your space a modern and classic look. Create a unique atmosphere with your favorite prints or self-made illustrations.
Why Did We Like It?
First of all, the company specializes in readymade prints and has a wide range of choices. From beaches to beautiful architectural structures, there are multiple options to choose from. Also, choose between prints ranging from 8 x 10" to 36 x 36" in size, which covers a large range indeed.
Besides, they use artist's grade canvas and archival inks, which add clarity and depth to the picture. Every canvas has UVB protection, which keeps it protected from moisture and fading.
Plus, the company has divided its products into various categories, and you can shop by subject, color, artist, style, room, and trend. You can choose between art, photography, and abstract.
Every piece that they are offering can be printed in various sizes and with numerous frame options. Choose among poster prints, wall arts, floating frames, and canvases. To help you further, there are different artworks recommended on the basis of the kind of room they are going to be put up in.
What Could've Been Better?
Although you will find a number of prints, they are going to be expensive and may not be affordable for everyone. But we will tell you that there are offers which keep popping up often. So, keep a watch on the site, and you can grab great deals.
Pros
UVB protection from moisture
Multitude of choices
Fast shipping
Cons
Expensive side
Easy Canvas Prints
If you have a very low budget and you still want something pretty, Easy Canvas Prints is going to turn your dreams into reality. They specialize in custom print and will provide you with ready to hang images with a sawtooth on the backside. From large canvases to small ones, you can buy it all from here!
Why Did We Like It?
To begin with, this company has amazing discounts. You can find sales with up to 97% discount on a variety of products. So, if you are a bargain hunter, this is the place that you need to be. With a budget of around $30, you could end up with a 30 x 40" canvas print.
Yes, the print quality will not be as great as expensive art pieces, but they are absolutely good for the price you will be paying. The company uses cheaper materials to ensure that you get a great deal. They work with polyester and semi-gloss surfaces instead of expensive alternatives.
To top it all, they also offer image enhancement services at an extra cost. This may include red-eye removal, oil painting effects, and teeth whitening. You can mail them regarding the changes, and they will make it happen. We were even able to restore old photographs, thanks to this website.
What Could've Been Better?
The only problem that we found here is that they will not warn you in case there are issues with the image quality. The site accepts low-resolution images too, and hence you need to be careful while uploading. Make a note of the properties of the image before going forward to print it.
Pros
Helps restore old photographs
Extremely budget-friendly
Responsive customer service team
Cons
No image quality warning
Canvas HQ
Up next is a family-owned company that makes ordering prints extremely easy. Canvas HQ will provide you with high-quality art that is authentic and can build up the ambiance of a room. They aim for quick delivery and will deliver the product to your doorstep in the shortest time possible.
Why Did We Like It?
We loved the fact they touch up the picture without any additional costs. If it has blemishes or spots, an artist on their end will remove them to provide you with the best version of your image.
Another great benefit is the 30 days return policy. If you are not satisfied with the product, you can return it within 30 days, and a full refund will be initiated. This made it a very trusted service, and we had no complaints with the print.
It is also very popular among photographers who are very particular about their image quality. This website promises clear images, and every picture is checked individually to ensure that there are no low-quality prints that get shipped.
Lastly, you can avail free shipping in all of the USA. This is very beneficial, and not many companies offer it. You will need to pay a nominal fee to ship outside the States, but it is not a hefty amount.
What Could've Been Better?
We would have preferred if there were more printing options. While you can get a great quality canvas and framed images, the options are limited, and you cannot get accessories printed. Make a note of this before you choose a print.
Pros
Free shipping in the USA
30 days return policy
Free touch up options
Cons
Limited print options
Walgreens
If you want a print very fast, Walgreens is a great choice to make. It has one of the fastest delivery services and will get the product to you in no time. It can even be available to collect within 24 hours of ordering. Read on to know more about its benefits.
Why Did We Like It?
The chances are that you have already been to a Walgreens store many times before. They have hundreds of stores across the US, and if you have one in the neighborhood or vicinity, you can actually get prints within 24 hours.
Pick it up from the store, and you have it within a day. Since the canvases are being printed at separate locations on the basis of your address, it is better off than its peers who generally have a central printing hub.
Other than that, Walgreens has a huge range of prints and ensures that your images are bright. They will work with the image exposure and brightness if needed to provide you with the best wall decor.
Additionally, they have the hanging hardware attached behind so that you can immediately hang it. Begin enjoying the artwork instantly with this service!
What Could've Been Better?
Although they have a fast and efficient service, the image print will not be of the same quality as that of museums. They work well for homes, but a professional artist or photographer will be able to notice the difference in quality. We would recommend that you check and give them only high-resolution images in case you want a customized print.
Pros
Perfect for decoration or gifting
24-hour delivery option
Printed at local locations
Cons
Image quality is slightly lower
CanvasChamp
Do you want to ship a portrait outside the US? CanvasChamp will do it for you easily and at nominal rates. It is known to provide great prints at wholesale prices, making it stand out among its peers. We were impressed with its bells and whistles, and you should check them out too.
Why Did We Like It?
This is a common choice for those who want to buy a number of products together instead of 1. If you are setting up an office or a co-working space, this will allow you to ship a number of paintings at once with the lowest delivery charges.
Also, images can be printed on a variety of surfaces like metal, rolled canvases, thick and thin wrap, and photo boards. The site is very user-friendly, and you should have any difficulties making a choice.
Plus, if you want customized canvases, they will make sure that the image quality is good enough for them to print. If the image does not meet the requirements, they will stop you immediately.
Next, the customer service is very responsive and will tend to all your queries immediately. If you face any issues with the ordering or deciding process, you can call them up for help.
What Could've Been Better?
The material that is used looks nice but is not durable and will not last beyond a few years. This is a letdown, but again for the price that it comes in, it is worth every penny. If the images are not going to be subjected to direct sunlight or moisture, then it will last for longer.
Pros
Perfect for bulk ordering
Efficient customer service
Multiple surfaces to print on
Cons
Not very durable
Snapfish
If you are looking for a service that will provide premium high-quality prints, Snapfish is a great option. It produces one of the finest photo canvases and is a preferred choice for artists and photographers. If you want a smooth experience, this is the one to choose.
Why Did We Like It?
We were very impressed with the website. It has a minimalist design and is simple to use. You will be able to order a print easily, even if you are a novice. There is also a wide range of personalization and embellishment options provided so that you can get the exact size and shape that you have in mind.
Secondly, the color and the vibrance is something we truly appreciated. The images are very lively and crisp. Bleeding on the sides is avoided, and edges are generally softened a bit for the perfect finish.
Lastly, the frames are also well built and designed to stay on your walls for years. They are resistant to discoloration of damage by moisture. They also provide extra support and make hanging very easy.
Overall we loved their service, and although the products are expensive, sometimes it is best to choose quality over price.
What Could've Been Better?
While the quality is impeccable, shipping might take some time, and you may have to wait. Hence keep ample time in your hands before ordering and expect it to take 10 days or more to arrive. We can only say that the product will be worth the wait.
If you are looking for exquisite wall art, Pictorem is the site to choose! With a huge collection of museum-quality canvases, you can showcase your love for art in a grand fashion. It has great customizing options and works well with large spaces.
Why Did We Like It?
One of its unique features is that it has amazing panoramic paintings. These consist of 4-5 canvases placed side by side with an image split among them. You will find these in multiple sizes and combinations.
Also, these can be used to cover entire wall surfaces. The canvases can be customized to be big or small depending on the wall. It is printed on 1.5-inch thick wood and is known to be very durable.
Customers choose to cover their wall with it, and hence they need it to last for long. Since it is printed on 410g/m2 premium matte canvas, there will be no discoloration or fading.
Furthermore, the company uses Giclee printing, which ensures that they are of high resolution, and you can rest assured that the quality is extremely good. This is because the paint is of superior quality and is used for art galleries to print their work. It is known to survive for 200 years without any signs of wear and tear.
What Could've Been Better?
Since this is a specialty printing service, you can expect the rates to be high. The prints may be unaffordable for the average homeowner. But if you want a statement wall in your house, this will offer a multitude of options. Plus, in comparison to its peers, it does not offer discounts very frequently.
Pros
Uses Giclee printing
Multi-panel split canvases available
Prints on acrylic, metal, and canvases
Cons
Expensive
Canvas Printing Service FAQs
Now that you have gone through the 15 top services, you will know that each one is unique in its way. There are variations in printing speeds, delivery, quality, and stock of images.
To help you out, we have put together a list of frequently asked questions. You can glance upon them to get a clear understanding of the types of services and what to look for in it. Take a look now. We hope this guides you towards buying the one that fits the best.
What Are The Kind Of Print Styles Available?
What kind of print style do you want? While some sites will only offer single image prints, others will offer to make collages. Single images can also be of various shapes, including square, rectangular, portrait, and landscape styles.
Make it a point to decide upon what kind of a frame will suit your room and then go on to purchase. If you are unsure, you could ask the company representatives for help.
What Happens If The Image Is Of Lower Quality?
Image quality is the most important part of selecting canvases. The image has to be of high resolution, and most websites will not let you proceed if your image does not meet the minimum requirements. Lower resolution images can get pixelated easily and hence will be very difficult to print.
How To Check If The Image Is Suitable?
If the website that you are ordering from does not have a system to already warn you of lower quality, it is best to mail them with the picture. Ask them if the quality is good enough before you proceed. Be very careful with this as a bad print may cost you money and spoil the entire decor of your room.
What Are The Kinds Of Canvases Available?
There are two main types of canvases to choose from. One has a matte finish and will not shine even when it comes under the light. The other type has a glossy or semi-glossy finish. These look good, but the surface may reflect or colors may seem distorted if placed under the light.
What Is The General Delivery Speed?
This varies a lot among companies. For those who have one central printing hub, the delivery speed will depend on how far the hub is from you. If it is in the vicinity, you could get a quick delivery, but otherwise, it may take a lot of time. We have had to wait for 10-15 days in some cases.
On the other hand, if a company has multiple printing stores across the country, you will be able to get your canvas faster. Some companies also allow you to go and pick up the order from the nearest store.
Also, some companies offer different delivery speeds at various prices. You can choose priority shipping and pay extra for it.
What To Do If The Canvas Has Fold Marks?
A good canvas will have no folds when it arrives. In case it does, send it back immediately. You do not want folded sides or lumpy corners. They look bad, and guests perceive it as cheap products. A good canvas will have bright colors and will be free of flaws.
Is There A Big Gap Between Normal And Premium Quality?
If you are an artist or photographer, you will know the difference between a good print and a premium quality one. There are some websites that will offer you museum-quality prints that look extremely good but are going to be expensive. On the other hand, you will get cheaper prints which will look decent but will cost you less.
If you want premium quality prints but you do not have the budget for it, wait for discounts and offers. Most of these sites give a lot of discounts, and one just needs to keep a watch.
Do Companies Help With Design Enhancements And Editing?
If you are going to customize your canvases with personalised pictures, make sure that they are not blurred or dark. It is best to opt for such services that have designers or editors on board who will fix minor faults with the picture. It should not cost extra, and your picture will come out to be flawless once printed if it has been edited.
Verdict
Let's face it; with the advancement of technology today, printing canvases is not a difficult job anymore. All you need to do is provide a picture, and the company will take care of the rest. Most of the websites are easy to use, and there are representatives to help you out in case you face any issues.
With this, we come to the end of this detailed guide about the 15 best canvas printing services today. But before we take our leave, let's go for a quick recap of our favorites. CanvasPop is our favorite overall for its excellent quality and easy-to-use website.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a massive stock of images, ElephantStock is going to be a wonderful choice. At the same time, if you are looking for the best offers, turn to CanvasDiscount.
Having a cabin in the woods of your own is a dream many share, some casually, some very passionately and for reasons that vary. But, even if your reasons differ, not many end up building a cabin in the woods. Why? Because it is not always easy to leave the hustle and bustle of city life or even the quaint and comfortable reliance of a small town and retire in the gorgeous yet daunting woods permanently. The challenges are plenty. From water to electricity to food and other home appliance supplies; there is a whole lot to take into consideration.
But, if you’re strong-willed and have a steely resolve to proceed and stay in the woods, then there is nothing in the world that can stop you, except of course the unavailability of land, something that is rarely the case. So, what to do when you finally make up your mind to head to the woods with all that you own? You look for two options. Either you purchase an already constructed cabin, or you make one on your own. The latter is definitely a cheaper alternative and also one that offers you several options for customization. There isn’t a single type of cabin; in fact, there are so many varieties even in the standard lot, that you are bound to be spoilt for choice.
Here are thirty-three small cabin plans for you to choose from. They range from homesteads to trailers to big and small and multi-storeyed cabins, each offering something that the other possibly couldn’t, and each fitting the style and need of different individuals. Some people want to make this move with their families, and for such folks, there are cabins that can accommodate a small-sized family easily. And again, there are cabins that are so small, only one individual can live in them and with not too many things brought along.
Whatever the case, you won’t be asking for more plans once you go through these. There are enough to catch your eye and leave you satisfied.
A Cabin For Small Families
This lovely wooden cabin is bigger than others on this list but is ideal for people who want to not only live alone but also for those who want to live as a nuclear family unit. It has enough space for a good sized wood stove and is the right size of cozy to feel right at home.
Sometimes the most precious things in life are those that do not cripple you with insurmountable debts. We would all fancy a huge suburban house with extensive facilities, but the housing market will not do many favors in that regard. The cost of a large and well-furnished home is just too high to afford, and in that case, a rustic and small cabin that you can make on your own feels very homely.
I adore beach houses. They are so compatible with the view around and actually complement their surroundings, regardless of where they are made. They are often painted in an array of colors and add glamor to the landscape. So, making a beach house, styled cabin would be a refreshing departure from the standard cabin design. Moreover, with a beach house elevation, you can be safe from flooding issues.
I love A-frame cabins and their attics. A-frame cabin attics are just so comfy and make me feel warm and secure with a strong urge to fill the place with books and idle away day after day reading a great many stories. And even if you’re planning to skip on the attic section, getting a vaulted ceiling creates a grand and spacious feel in the house.
There is always room for more even though sometimes we just don’t know yet if we want more. But, what to do when you aren’t aware if you’d require a larger space and go with a smaller sized cabin instead? Houses are mostly permanent in nature and expansion isn’t always easy. Thankfully, this house small cabin plan has a detailed instruction manual that shows how you can actually add more space later on if the need arises.
A mini-cabin is pocket-friendly, cute and resource saving. This specific design not only has an attic space for creating a small room on the top, but it also has a good fireplace area and one large room. The warmth of a home has never felt more comforting than when living in a small cabin and this one is pretty high on the list of options.
What a wonderful design to actualize. Its symmetry is perfect enough to impress director Wes Anderson, and the enormous porch space on both sides is great for lapping up the breeze. The fireplace brings warmth to this cottage in the winter and on cold nights, and the loft and bedroom provide enough space just to retire.
There is more than enough space in this cabin for an average family to live in. It has two bedrooms, one dining room, one bathroom and a kitchen. Additionally, it has a living room which is big enough to accommodate many and two porches for recreation apart from adequate storage space.
This small cabin has two bedrooms, one kitchen and one living room along with a lovely chimney. The wall and roof have detailed cross-sectioning, and the cabin comes with two porches.
A U-shaped cabin, this house has a porch that is surrounded and an enormous vaulted ceiling. The large living room gives way to three bedrooms, two bathrooms and one kitchen, all equally divided and spaced in perfect symmetry.
This cabin is not small yet is not feasible for a family. It can only really house a couple or a single person due to its one-room restriction. It does have a lovely open fireplace to sit in front of and warm yourself with.
Perhaps you can use this cabin as a summer getaway place or if you’re into hunting. Either way, it is small enough to be cozy yet not accommodate a lot of people. It has two floors and a very spacious area on the lower floor for both the bathroom and the kitchen. This is definitely one to fancy.
This is a large cabin with two spacious bedrooms, a fantastic open fireplace, a kitchen and a living room. It is a great plan to implement for cabin making if the piece of land you’re making your cabin on is sloped.
This isn’t big enough for more than one person, but can only house two occupants at max. It has big windows that face the sun in the noontime and hence keep the indoors well lit and just one small room for comfort and lazy days. I love cozy cabins hence, as they don’t waste space and are perfectly warm.
This adorable log home is double-storeyed and has a trap door entrance to the attic/secondary bedroom. It is too small to provide just about anything else but is cozy for a getaway and for a single person occupancy.
Ah! The perfect cabin for your summertime getaway or winter, if that’s your preference. It has a longer roof on both the front and the back, giving you more than adequate dual porch space. It also has a hot tub, which can be replaced with a sauna, and a kitchen, a bathroom, and an enormous room.
A more compact and sharper looking cabin than most, it has a very subtle yet instantly noticeable style that is bound to impress. Not only is it appealing to one’s aesthetic musings, but it also scores high marks on the functionality aspect. It has enough space not to make you feel like you’re trapped yet not big enough to make you feel haunted by the extra space.
A cabin that is so pretty, it is guaranteed to make visitors, people passing by and any onlooker wow out loud. It blends a very distinctly block design with both modern and older aesthetics to create something that really stands out. From the windows to the main entrance, the borders and the balcony, this tall yet small cabin is worthy of boast and pride.
Cabins are often representatives of self-sufficiency. They just signify a person’s will to go against the norm of the society and the fortitude to forge a home that does not conform to established standards. And if your lovely looking cabin is powered directly by the sun with no dependency on a power grid, you are defining your ideals very soundly. It is also very eco-friendly.
A small cabin with striated outer walls and simple yet welcoming color scheme is a lovely option to go with. Adding to this coziness is the covered entrance. It allows you space to sit during the rainy season or just to stand under without being drenched, and also cuts down the impact of the rain hitting your windows directly.
These free plans provided by the University of Tennessee are a blessing. They provide detailed blueprints and instructions for making cabins that fit your budget, style, and preference. Be it a cabin with multiple rooms or a gabled cabin; these plans are right for the task at hand.
You wonder what Universities do apart from teaching, and this is one of the answers to your question. Universities were formed not just as means of making money off education, an idea that bloomed way later, but as stalwarts of knowledge and these lovely plans provided by North Dakota State University are surely of immense aid.
This is a log cabin that is made with a porch, a small wall in the backyard and has the charm and comfort you definitely desire. It isn’t elaborate in its make yet its simplicity has its own unique allure. It isn’t too difficult to make this cabin either.
This is a really small cabin, barely 400 square feet yet it is immensely feasible for you. What I really like about this cabin is that it is tiny yet compartmentalized enough to give you the feel of a proper home, with more than one room. Compartmentalization is always helpful, after all.
This is a winner in my books. A cabin that has a basement and several bedrooms scream balance to me. It has a large front porch and a huge chimney and enough windows to keep the indoors airy and sun-kissed. I love a lot of sunlight and fresh air in my house. I tend to feel suffocated and depressed if there isn’t enough cross-ventilation in my house. It is always healthy to have ample airflow. So, yes, this is a perfect cabin.
What’s better than a studio flat? A small and gorgeous cabin that has all the charm of a vintage house. This living space can be quite compact and is recommended for people who like to live a solitary life or want to have a getaway on the weekend or in the summer and winter breaks and don’t want to build over a large space.
Whenever I think of cabins, I think of a cabin made of long logs. It’s just a very clichéd yet homely image that for good or bad has been embossed in my memory. And log cabins are classic. But, the best part about having your cabin made out of logs is that you won’t need to do anything extra to protect yourself from the chill outside because rounded logs are fantastic insulators.
What? An actual, full-sized basement in a cabin? Yes. This cabin with a basement is perfect for long-term winter storage, and provides ample protection from storms. It also adds to the space by having a loft for either storage or accommodation. And if you’re in the mood for making some money, you can charge college grads that are looking to make a low budget horror film for making use of both your basement and the loft for spooks.
This gorgeous cabin is stilted and has one living room and one dining room, two bathrooms along with a porch and three big sized bedrooms. Moreover, you have a carport and a storage room. With the added benefits, opting for this cabin seems like a sure shot deal.
This cabin has a distinctly pronounced A-frame structure, with enough upper room/attic space an entire family. What I love about it is how big the porch is and how it basically gives you the option of organizing a small lunch right there with a long table laid out for people to gorge away food from. Homesteading is a beautiful way of life. To grow your own food, and to make your own produce and be entirely self-sufficient is satisfying, even though taxing. It does make you appreciate the more invisible things in life and the processes of our daily supplies a little more.
A neatly finished brick house is a lovely house to make. It is modern enough to blend with the aesthetics of the day and has a connection to older times for the enthusiast. Continuing with its positively dual nature, this contemporary brick cabin is two-story even though it does not appear to be large enough at first glance.
I used to live in a duplex, and I miss it. Duplexes are not cramped up like apartments yet compartmentalized perfectly enough to provide ample privacy for its inhabitants. So, if you’re looking to share the burden of maintenance and construction with someone who isn’t immediately close to you or wants to set up some boundaries, then making a duplex cabin is perfect for you. This does reduce the cost of construction and also helps you reduce future costs, including paying EMIs for the purchased land, if you aren’t buying it in a single installment.
This is too small for an average family yet adequate for a couple or more people. It has two levels, one porch and a tiny balcony on the upper floor. It is small enough that you can build it on a wheel base so that you can carry it around like a trailer house. What a trailer house gives you is the added advantage of mobility. Sometimes, we tend to get bored of living in one place and here is where a trailer house rids us off our boredom. You can essentially take your home with you wherever you go.
You can wake up to the sunrise in a different place every day, every week, every month, every year, depending on how frequently you travel or like to be on the road. I personally love trailer cabins the most due to this very fact. I don’t have to return to my house after a long journey. I can always be home on my journeys. Wouldn’t you like to as well?
These small cabin plans are pretty detailed, aren’t they? You not only have written tutorials for building your dream cabin, but you are also aided with pictures for references, detailed blueprints, and step by step instructions. Some plans are a little complicated to understand while others are quite simple. But, all of them are accurate to scale and offer you a chance to build a beautiful cabin for yourself and for those you love, for half the cost of purchasing one that is ready-made.
Free Small Cabin Plans Conclusion
There are many purposes of a cabin and these small cabin plans cover all of them. From guest houses to vacation houses to hunting lodges and homesteads, all your reasons are pretty much taken into consideration. Moreover, you can always give these cabins your own spin by adding nifty personal touches here and there, whether it is in the painting or adding accents and decor or shifting a few things in the design.
Even though most cabins do not offer enough space for a lot of furniture, you can always add some that work great with the aesthetics of the cabin. Antique furniture always works better than modern one for cabins, but if you’re someone who wants to give your cabin a splash of color and liven it up with vibrancy, you can make the cabins as unique as you want them to be.
These plans are there just for your guidance, but what you choose to do ultimately depends solely on you. So, get going with your dream plan to nestle in the woods, and share the plan you have decided to choose.
A pendant of the latest design and make can never compare with a rare pendant from the Victorian era. Those of you who love everything antique will definitely agree!
Before online shopping came into being, you had to hunt several stores to chance upon an authentic vintage object. But those days are long gone! Now, you can access exclusive online antique stores as well as e-commerce platforms from your comfort zone.
Each website has a whole lot of categories of antique items to cater to antique lovers with different preferences. So, there are just plenty of places to search for antique and vintage stuff.
We bring this comprehensive list to help you find the right store from among innumerable options out there. Read on to find a suitable online store for you.
Ruby Lane is a great online platform where you can find some of the best collectibles. What sets it apart from other websites such as Craigslist, eBay and Amazon is that it exclusively deals in antique items. Despite being much smaller in scale than the e-commerce giants, Ruby Lane is a significant niche platform, and hence, is one of our top recommendations.
Founded in 1998, it is also one of the earliest online vintage platforms to be launched. The website features more than half a million antique products of different kinds. With so many options to choose from, we doubt if you won't find what you are looking for.
Currently, some of the featured products on Ruby Lane include a neck ring from Masriera, a vintage Chinese stone chop with exquisite carvings, and many others.
Ask fellow antique lovers, and they would surely vouch for this platform, which is another exclusive destination for vintage items. Etsy has carved its own world in the form of a marketplace dedicated to the sale of handmade and vintage products.
The two categories featured on the website include Art & Collectibles and Vintage. The former section has items such as beautiful vintage sculptures and fiber artworks. Furthermore, you will also find some amazing vintage furniture in this category.
But if you prefer something even more classic, the Vintage section would lead you to just what you want. You can add on to your collection of exclusive antiques with items such as classic jewelry and vintage floor rags from this section.
The next in line is this online platform, which we would highly recommend for antique lovers. The website lists all antique items under six separate categories, like jewelry, tools and craft supplies, art pieces, and entertainment. The wide variety of vintage items is something you would get in very few stores.
A relatively newer platform, Artfire is an ideal place for those who love classic handmade vintage jewelry pieces and other similar collectibles. For instance, the website had once featured a pendant of diamond glass with a design akin to the Victorian era.
Also, if you want your living room to be adorned with a century-old painting, then there isn't a better place than this. You will find a whole lot of options to choose from, and all of this is a few clicks away.
This well-known e-commerce giant is an excellent place to start if you are new to the world of antique items. Among the range of vintage products the website offers, you could come across some of the most intriguing antique pieces.
A HALONA bronze pendant from the Victorian times and an exquisite flower carved jewelry box are some examples of the amazing items featured on Amazon. With such products added to your collection, it does attain a priceless value!
Like every other category on the website, there are just plenty of antique objects, so many that it is impossible to exhaust. Overall, Amazon is surely one of the best platforms available for antique lovers to explore!
Similar to Amazon and other e-commerce platforms, vintage items feature on eBay's website along with electronic equipment, cars, and other categories. Nevertheless, vintage is among the most popular categories on the website.
The items featured include a variety of coins, notes, and artwork pieces. Vintage furniture needs a special mention, as you can browse through a vast collection. Just click on the furniture category, and you can browse by the room you want it for- living room, dining room, office, and so on.
Interestingly, at eBay, you will also find an unending collection of sports memorabilia dating back to several decades. This is something you will rarely find on other platforms and would definitely add a unique touch to your vintage collection. There are lots of other incredible items as well, including pendulum clocks, classic tables, and vintage stamps.
Our next pick, though tiny in comparison to its competitors, provides a pleasant consumer experience. Zibbet has an interface similar to Etsy, focusing on vintage and handmade products but is more minimalist in its approach.
The platform emphasizes showcasing smaller products, such as vintage accessories and jewelry, rather than bulky furniture. So, for vintage enthusiasts who love to add smaller items to their collections, Zibbet is just perfect. Also, a vintage section consisting of as many as 15 categories of products makes it all the more convenient for antique lovers to make their search.
Some stunning vintage items featured on the website include a pair of gold-plated artist's brushes and a beautiful Limoges porcelain container. So make sure to go through this interesting platform for an ideal antique piece.
This platform featuring lots of amazing antiques, vintage items, and collectibles, among other products, is considered quite reliable. The website is definitely among the most popular online destinations to search for products from several decades back.
In fact, a separate category under antiques lets you find rare currency notes and coins, furniture, and paintings from the olden times. Thus, if you want to give a unique touch to your vintage collection, do search for an exclusive item on Craigslist.
Among the items featured on the website is a chalk ware plate from 1962 with an inscription of the Seattle World's Fair. This is just one instance of the interesting products you will find here, so go ahead and check them all out!
An online marketplace majorly focussing on newer second-hand products, Bonanza is known to have a praiseworthy collection of artwork and collectibles. The items in these two categories would give tough competition to sites such Etsy and Amazon.
Talking about collectibles, won't you love to add a rare 1 dollar coin to your classic collection? Well, you are sure to get such enviable vintage items at Bonanza. Moreover, the website often has several products listed at incredibly cheap rates compared to other platforms.
Added to this, the website offers a very user-friendly interface to its customers, and a mobile-optimized version as well. Each shop at Bonanza also includes a built-in chat system, which is supplied for free. To round it up, this platform definitely has a lot to offer to antique lovers.
Selency is one of the first online marketplaces of Europe, specializing in vintage furniture and accessories for interior design. It was originally launched as Brocante Lab in 2014. The platform has each and every item hand-picked by its own team of professionals, vintage connoisseurs, and shoppers.
As such, the seller of the product, its genuineness, and its authenticity are all verified to ensure a perfect user experience. This also rules out any possibility of any product having a dubious origin and imperfect quality. Besides, the stock of vintage items at Selency is replenished each day.
The website has over 100000 items curated by its moderators, which include unique furniture pieces and room decor for every home. Selency also ensures all-around satisfaction of the customers by providing a secure payment system and excellent door-to-door delivery solutions.
Are you fascinated by furniture styles from the mid-century modern times? If so, then be sure to check out this online platform at the earliest. Being one of USA's leading dealers in mid-century furniture, this site offers your dream furniture from the '50s and '60s.
The items available in the collection are hand-selected through regular buying trips to Europe and Scandinavian countries and imported thereafter. Just think about it! Would you often find such an exclusive collection of vintage furniture online?
Besides, the site also offers efficient delivery solutions, ensuring swift delivery within a reasonable period of time. So if you are in search of some rare mid-century furniture, don't forget to log on to this online store.
Formerly called Dealfish, the site primarily listed job opportunities for aspirants. Over the years, it has evolved into a popular marketplace for products as well as services. The site currently has a wide range of antiques and vintage items as well. It is thus a great place to log on to for antique lovers.
Moreover, the platform can also hold surprises for such enthusiasts of vintage items. Sometimes, that one exquisite art piece or rare coin that you can't find on several websites may be there on OLX.
Many buyers are yet to discover the classic, vintage, and antique sections on this marketplace. So don't forget to browse through OLX when you search for a marvelous antique to include among your prized possessions.
Although not one of those big names in the world of antiques, this is a quite fascinating store to look for vintage art. You can primarily access the online platform through Facebook since there does not seem to be a website as of yet.
Nevertheless, this store has an impressive list of industrial, mid-century, and vintage items to offer. Ethereal paintings and eye-catching vintage furniture are available in plenty at Red Line. Some beautiful Japanese woodblock print paintings are an instance.
Thus, if you are a serious shopper of vintage objects, checking this online store is surely worth your time. Don't leave it out just because it doesn't have a website of its own yet. Sometimes, smaller places do have the most interesting antiques you will ever come across!
Similar to eBay, Amazon or other sites, this online auction store includes many categories of products besides vintage objects. It is a flourishing marketplace for buyers as well as sellers.
The site works like any other auction, wherein the highest bidder for an antique item takes it home. As easy as it can be! Believe this when we say, it is a great place for obtaining some of the most priceless antiques available.
Some currently listed antique objects on Webstore are a '50s Rhinestone ring with 5 ring bands and a Lubitel-2 vintage reflex camera from the '70s. So be sure to visit this online store at least one before moving on to other options. You never know, the search might end over there!
To those of you who have an eye for exceptionally crafted interior decor and artwork, this is the place! With more than 85,000 results in the vintage and used furniture section, you are sure to find not one but many favorite options.
Added to this, there are quite a few filters to narrow your search- price, style, and items available for local pickup. The style filter lets you choose between rare categories such as Hollywood Regency, Mid-Century, Art-Deco, and much more.
All such features have made this online furniture store a favorite among lovers of vintage furniture. on to the website and have a virtual tour through the world of vintage interior decor!
Another exclusive place for antique objects, this online store offers an unending list of such items. The categories are also diverse, ranging from jewelry pieces and furniture to lighting accessories and kitchenware.
Examples of some vintage items featured on this site include an oil painting from the 18th Century and Faberge cross pendant with a Victorian design. For women who love antique jewelry, the collection has the most exquisitely designed pieces to go with different outfits.
All in all, there are just so many antique and vintage objects on this online store that you will hardly miss what you are searching for. So, when buying an antique is on your mind, make it a point to visit Antiques and Chatchkes.
The site is one of the most amazing online stores dealing in classic antique items. It offers a list of vintage kitchenware, animal sculptures, and furniture that is quite well-curated. Besides, it also lists other fascinating home decor items such as vintage pottery, mirrors, and candle holders.
Each and every vintage object in the store has an authentic old-world charm that never fails to impress. Furthermore, this is the right place for those who are on the lookout for greater product variety.
The broad list of classic items available on the website goes on and on, and is impossible to exhaust! Hence, buyers of vintage objects must not miss out on this website by any means.
This unique online furniture store with exclusive pieces from different regions of Europe is our next pick. It is the ideal store to log on to for someone who has a fascination for the continent's cultural history.
The antique furniture that this site offers will take you back to the times when famous empires reigned throughout Europe. Examples of some rare pieces featured on the website are an 18th-century Bombe chest belonging to Louis XVI and an Italian Chandelier from the same period.
The list of classic European items that this online platform offers is prepared very efficiently and is surely one of the best you will find. So remember to check the site out before you move on to the others.
If you cannot find the antique piece you are looking for even after searching the popular platforms, we would recommend visiting this website. This online marketplace has different categories of products and services, including an exciting antique collection.
There is an endless range of objects from earlier times, including mid-century furniture pieces, rare sculptures, and other such vintage items. Interestingly, Shopify charges a much lesser procurement fee from buyers compared to other online marketplaces.
Though antiques is just one category of products that the platform offers, you can be confident that checking it out won't be disappointing. So go ahead and have a look.
This store in the USA began with just a couple of antique furniture pieces but gradually developed into a leading destination for rare vintage furniture. The owners of this venture have an 'obsession' for collecting the best antiques, so much so that they have made several trips to Europe.
Hence, while browsing their website, you might come across some stunning furniture from the Italian countryside or the English Midlands. The collection of cabinets needs a special mention, as you would find some of the best of those here.
Also, each and every furniture piece is very well curated and its authenticity is verified by a team of professionals. This ensures the utmost customer satisfaction for every purchase. There is a custom furniture collection as well, with hundreds of options to choose from.
Specializing in mid-century objects, the store is a great place with some timeless furniture, accessories, and lighting fixtures. The items in the collection date back to the 1950s and even earlier.
The most intriguing items featured till now are a Meridian Line George Nelson clock and an antique geographical drawing by Sir Staley Spencer, a legendary painter.
The platform offers an infinite catalogue of stunning classic objects which are definitely worth adding to any antique collection. So do take some time out to browse through the site. You won't be disappointed at all.
As the name suggests, this online store primarily offers a great collection of vintage furniture. It also features some amazing classic glass and ceramic objects that are rare to be found.
A general fireproof desk from the 1920s and a 1960's Steelcase steno chair are some instances of antique furniture featured on the site. You will also come across several classic paintings by legendary painters such as Vincent Van Gogh.
This online store has developed into one of the favorite sites for furniture and other exquisite antiques for interior decoration. So make sure you check out the website for getting home a perfect decor item.
Well, we all know that this is technically not a store, but it's actually better than many antique stores! Vintage enthusiasts regard it as a great place for finding authentic items. You can also find amazing deals from some solid dealers on this social media platform.
Browsing through any dealer's page on Instagram lets you understand much about their clients and their reputation as well as their expertise in the field. Once you have made a decision, search for them on the internet to see if they sell items on vetted websites or read some consumer reviews.
Through such research, you can make sure that you are comfortable buying from a particular dealer. For buying the product, you can even directly contact the dealers through the direct message option. Hence, Instagram is definitely one of the most convenient platforms you can use for buying vintage items.
Conclusion
Vintage objects have always appealed to people across all generations, and hence, shall never cease to be in demand. In a world that is increasingly homogenized with products of the latest design, some unique and old-world charm is much refreshing.
Online stores have simplified the search for antique items manifold and have opened up multiple forums for engaging buyers and sellers of antiques. We have gone through a plethora of such online platforms and their offerings to come up with the best ones for you.
All these platforms cater to either some particular niche of antiques or to a much wider range. Thus, you can easily go for the most suitable one according to your preferences.
So, what are you waiting for? Go on and browse through the websites that appeal to you the most.
With an increasing number of people beginning to get in touch with their creative side, crafting has become a common practice over the last few years.
Irrespective of whether one is a knitter, potter, painter, quilter, or even an all-rounder, the DIY projects require a good amount of handiwork. While there’s no substitute for talent and skills, the materials used in the projects do play an important part in ensuring its success and aesthetic appeal.
Thus, it is imperative to try and secure quality materials. But, where does one get such items? Well, there are numerous online stores that make the acquisition of artistic materials extremely seamless and save you from the hassle of carrying numerous art supplies to and from the workplace.
We’ve got a guide to the best stores for top art supplies at cheaper rates. Now, let us walk you through them individually.
It’s almost impossible not to have heard of Etsy if one is remotely involved in the world of art. The site is made available in nearly all countries, and connectivity is improving with an increase in international shipments.
When it comes to products, the site’s varied stockpile aims to amaze. Aspiring artists can find all kinds of materials, including fabrics, patterns, quilt software, and embroidery samplers. It’s highly unlikely for Etsy not to have a product an artist might want.
Of course, there’s a slight risk since most are individual sellers, but the feedback is genuine. Furthermore, the easy navigation with drop-down options allows buyers to streamline by date, price, relevance, and keywords. It makes for smart filtering and is an added benefit.
As perhaps the premier online retail site in the world, it should come as no surprise that Amazon has an impressive stock of crafting materials. The diverse products also have extremely competitive costing, which Amazon can bear, thanks to their magnitude. But, it does help up-and-coming artists, who can’t always afford to pay top prices for quality products.
Coming to the products, the site has everything DIY artists might desire, from cake decorations to craft tools and sewing materials to paper products.
Finally, the delivery system is also commendable. Although suppliers are usually in charge of individual shipping policies, there is a regional branch in most countries, so there are no difficulties for the conglomerate to best serve customers.
As one of the oldest retail sites, eBay is home to a wide variety of items. Art and craft supplies are no exceptions, though much like Etsy, there are only individual sellers here.
Artists have to check the feedback sections to filter out the good products from the bad, but it makes the purchase process more informed since the buyer becomes familiar with the item too.
All said and done, the chief draw of eBay is the price bargaining options the site provides. Of course, some sellers opt to let go of their goods at set prices. But, many have auctions, and artists might prefer such methods, to obtain them at a fraction of what the products might actually cost.
Nasco was started with a very different purpose but has now become a preferred destination for those seeking art supplies. The company started off with aids for teaching in vocational classes for agriculture. Now, although the site shines for its broad range of crafting and art materials, it hasn’t forgotten its roots.
Therefore, the truly commendable feature is the ‘extras’ section on the craft supply site. It helps aspiring artists to seek advice or even inspiration for their projects. All one has to do is head to the vast roster of lesson plans and videos, which are fantastic, not to mention highly informative.
Factory Direct Craft has had a long journey from the flea markets to inculcating a global base of customers. The site is best known for handicraft materials, apart from a wide assortment of home decor items, wedding supplies, seasonal crafts, and materials for scrapbooks. Accordingly, the company extends support to crafters, artists, and other creative individuals.
While their standard collection is designed to satiate all needs, some artists might prefer the sale section if they wish to obtain supplies at a bargain. Off-seasons are particularly beneficial since artists are likely to find a host of products listed there, at a fraction of the original prices.
Finally, if DIY artists wish to seek some guidance or inspiration, the site’s blog has several useful tips.
As the name suggests, the site was made as a solution for designers and craft professionals, who might run into troubles about the pricing while acquiring the necessary supplies. With the slogan “Create More, Spend Less,” the site aims at minimizing the cost and hassle that goes into doing an art project.
Essentially, Create For Less is a virtual warehouse for art supplies that can be accessed by interested parties. Accordingly, artists no longer need to browse different stores for supplies, since everything is hosted under one roof. The pricing is competitive, too, reflecting the company’s policy.
Buying in bulk helps DIY artists acquire all the supplies they need, in one go. Moreover, easy and safe shipping guarantees the delivery of the same.
Much like Create For Less, DollarDays is the go-to site for artists who want to get supplies at a bargain. The site enshrines the principle that they want to be a part of something bigger than itself, and is focused on supplying wholesale goods at extremely affordable prices.
Notably, it does not deal just with crafts and arts, but DIY enthusiasts can access a wide range of products, including kits, beading, as well as paper products. On top of that, all items are at affordable rates.
But, if someone is looking for a better bargain, DollarDays has clearance and ‘49 cents or less’ sections. Safe and secure international shipping is also an added perk.
With a simple and navigable interface, Stuff4Crafts is already a preferred choice for many. The site’s motto that buyers are guaranteed to save money is reflected in its extremely competitive prices.
At the same time, a vast roster of crafting materials is available here, including candles, jewelry, scrapbooking, sewing, and painting materials, as well as general crafts.
Being one of the biggest online sites, Stuff4Crafts keeps attracting new artists each day while retaining the existing base of clients thanks to an attractive points program. It offers splendid rewards to the customers who keep returning to Stuff4Crafts. The site also offers free and safe shipping within the US.
S&S Worldwide prides itself on being a helpful company and has around 110 years of experience in catering to those who seek hands-on learning products, which are fun. While providing quality products with more savings options, S&S urges artists to embrace their creativity and the spirit of learning.
Not only does the site have a well-stocked roster of artistic products, but it also offers international supply and delivery options, improving accessibility drastically.
Understandably, aspiring artists might be cautious about their budgets. But, if the price is a major factor, then one should check out the discount center on the site. It has an impressive collection of goods at heavily slashed prices, making it ideal for a bargain.
MisterArt has been around since the early days of online business. The site takes immense pride in having maintained the position of one of the largest global sources for online crafts and art materials at discounted prices.
Sculptors, painters, scrapbookers, and photographers can all flock to one destination, assured of finding the tools, solutions, and materials they might need.
Since MisterArt is home to a team of creative individuals, the site aims at providing the best services, products, and prices in the market. In fact, MisterArt makes it a point to ensure they match the prices. If a buyer shops around and sees a more competitive cost, the site not only matches it but adds a gift certificate toward future purchases.
JOANN has operated for nearly 75 years, inspiring creativity. All this while, the business has expanded from a single store in Cleveland to a burgeoning e-commerce business in the industry. Thankfully, the company’s principles have remained unchanged and still focus on being a one-stop shop for artists looking for guidance, supplies, or inspiration to live their dreams and passions.
Inspiring the creative spirit of DIY enthusiasts, the online site has an assortment of artistic products. These include lace, threads, embellishments, patterns, needles, decor fabrics, and even paper crafting. The JOANN stores often conduct classes on crafts, which helps artists come up with ideas for projects.
Since 1911, Blick has been committed to service, quality, and excellence. The site aims to support artists through all stages of their careers. So, whether you are an amateur or professional, Blick has the right products to cater to your needs.
The leading art company is preferred by students and artists due to its assistance, tools, and products that help individuals grow creatively and reach their complete potential. As the site aims to make the shopping experience seamless and enjoyable, buyers are bound to come across quality art supplies that are priced in a competitive manner.
Thanks to the fact that the team working behind the scenes is familiar with the art world, it helps Blick cater to the community more effectively.
Although the business has been around since 1985, it was a brick-and-mortar store before expanding into e-commerce. It is a completely employee-based company that focuses on satisfying all requests from budding artists and crafters.
Artist and Craftsman Supply is branded as America’s local store for art supplies and boasts a wide range of products, including paintings, brushes, crafts, drawings, and surfaces, among others. There are also special kits for students, not to mention how-to videos and blogs aimed at inspiring artistic creativity.
Those who wish to save some money on purchases can try to be part of the regular contests and giveaways hosted on the site, which makes products available at a bargain.
While Michaels might be new to the online market, the art store has been around for a long time. Not only did it focus on aggressive national expansion at one point, but it also backed it up with stellar products and top-notch infrastructure. Michaels brings the same ethic to its online store.
With a wide range of craft and art products, the site aims at encouraging creative individuals to reach the peaks of imagination, using their skills. One can find framings, wall and floral decor, and even seasonal merchandise here.
Due to its already strengthened base of operations, including carefully replenished inventories, Michaels is never out of the products an artist might need. The site also ensures safe delivery.
Oriental Trading has the simple goal of making the world a fun place. It offers over 40,000 unique products, many of which are perfect for artists and crafters looking to actualize their creative process.
It is an ideal shopping destination for budding individuals who cannot afford to spend too much on supplies. Oriental Trading has a fantastic option, labeled the 110% lowest price guarantee. If a buyer shops around and sees a site with a lower price for a product or shipping, not only does Oriental Trading match it, but slashes the rate by 10%.
All the while, Oriental Trading never compromises on the quality of the product or the efficiency of the delivery, which makes it a preferred choice among many.
OOLY makes arts and crafts fun. The site aims at providing products that bring happiness to artists of all ages - those who are young and those young at heart. OOLY’s products are colorful, inspiring, and fresh. They provide creators with several options to make the spaces around them livelier with the artwork.
With school supplies, art and craft products, DIY supplies, and writing items, OOLY attempts to make the world a more colorful place. Competitive pricing and secure delivery options also make this option a favorite among several budding artists.
Apart from bringing joy to artists through their products, OOLY caters to everyone’s artistic sensibilities via locally organized projects.
Discount School Supply was founded with a simple aim. The goal is to provide quality products at affordable prices while ensuring that the service is impeccable. Now that it has transitioned from a store to an online site, the core principles remain unchanged.
It is aimed at parents, teachers, and students, who can start their school year with these products. However, many of the arts and crafts supplies come in handy to those with an artistic mindset.
The shipping policy is a special draw for those ordering numerous art supplies. Discount School Supply has one invoice rule, where they bill customers for the products only after every item selected is shipped. Needless to say, shipping is safe and quick too.
Verdict
There are numerous options online from where one can buy art supplies. Most of these sites have competitive pricing, which makes it cheaper than going to a physical store. Moreover, with guaranteed deliveries, one can save the trouble of lugging art materials.
We have provided a comprehensive guide that should come in handy no matter the artists’ expertise. Those who need professional products can always head to sites like Blick, while casual artists should get all their supplies at places like OOLY.
Bulk buyers will find Create for Less to be ideal, while sites like Etsy and Amazon are already immensely popular.
Using this list of top online craft stores for DIY projects, one should be able to find all the supplies that might be needed.
But, that said, we would love to hear about your experience of shopping for art supplies online. So, do reach out to us!
Are the various permutations and combinations involved in deck design giving you sleepless nights?
Most people who are confused about how to design their decks ideally can do so with the latest deck design software. No longer will you have to wonder how a particular aspect will look or if the structure will fit in the required area.
You can use the software to get an exact estimate of how the structure will pan out. But the question is, how do you choose from the numerous available software options? For starters, it depends on the individual and whether they are willing to spend or prefer free tools for the purpose.
To avoid confusion, we've listed 17 top products, which include both free and paid options. It'll help you make an informed decision regarding which tools to use. At the same time, we’ve also added an FAQ section to answer some of your most common questions.
One of our top recommendations is the software from decks.com. The best part is that the developers have managed to make it free despite having numerous functions, so it's a highly convenient tool for your design needs. Moreover, it has cool graphics, and you can play around with your imagination to incorporate various facets.
Why Did We Like It?
First and foremost, decks.com comes with multiple deck designs ensuring you've got a wide variety of choices at your disposal. We loved the attention to detail, highlighted by the terrific graphics to give you a real-life description of what the deck will look like.
Moreover, you'll notice that the software allows you to work around furniture and other components of your home. It comes in handy to know how the project will look with everything in place rather than having to scratch your head later. Meanwhile, you can work with various shapes and create stairways to make your deck stand out.
It allows you to view the structure from various angles, so you get a clear idea that you're on the right track. Furthermore, thanks to the 3D viewings, you get accurate knowledge regarding the height and base diameter. You'll therefore know what's needed to make the construction stable and long-lasting.
What Could've Been Better?
When we used it, we realized it was a tad slow, which may not seem like a significant issue, but it's inconvenient. We suggest you sit down with time on your hands should you choose to use it. There's no let-up in performance, and all you need is to have a little patience. It's something the developers should've looked into, but we hope it won't cause too many problems.
The Fiberon Discovery Deck Designer is one of the most sought-after tools given its fantastic user-friendliness. Even first-time users won't have any difficulty navigating it, while seasoned users are assured to love all it offers. It has excellent functions like 3D plans to give you a comprehensive idea of the most suitable design.
Why Did We Like It?
If you thought our earlier recommendation was excellent, wait till you get a load of this one. Not only will you get the ideal deck design, but it will also help you decide what components of your outdoor setting work well together. Since it's free, you've got the option of using different types of templates and styles to produce a unique pattern.
It's easy to use, and you need to start by choosing the scene that most closely resembles the type of deck you want. Plus, the products you can design the deck with are present in the left-hand corner for convenience and needless to say, you won't find the work tiresome.
You can operate on various components like style, color, railing, and fascia. Similarly, you'll love that it gives you the chance to work on the exterior, ensuring the deck is in sync with the rest of your property.
What Could've Been Better?
While it offers many good things, you may not like to register with your details to save your project. It isn't too much of an issue, but many people may not enjoy sharing their details. Some of the other software allows you to save your work without any such requirement, which you may prefer, but we assure you you can't go wrong with this tool.
The JLC Professional Deck Builder is quite a favorite among the masses and with valid reasons. Of the many functions, what particularly stands out is the real-life descriptions that give you an accurate idea of the possible construction. You can then send it via email or take printouts of your project.
Why Did We Like It?
The software is highly adjustable and offers you the chance to design everything from the deck to your outdoor surroundings. Even first-time users who may take a while to find their feet will enjoy working with the JLC Professional deck builder, thanks to the standard rectangular design. You can stretch the deck from the sides or upwards to get the desired results.
Furthermore, you've got the option of adding steps to raise the deck to a second or third level. You'll especially enjoy that the 3D design presents a comprehensive idea due to furniture inclusion. It enables you to move them around, which will allow you to work with various shapes to make the project stand out.
Apart from that, it has regular features ensuring you can tinker with various colors for the best results. Once completed, you get to save the project in a suitable format.
What Could've Been Better?
Although it's highly user-friendly, it takes some time for you to get used to it. Even if you've used deck design software previously, you'll need to adjust to the different functions. On the other hand, first-time users will need to understand the dynamics of the tool, and it may be a while before you start getting the desired results. But it's not a significant problem.
If you're looking for an all-around tool, we suggest you give the Trex software a try. It helps you pick out the type of design you need and analyzes the various elements required for construction. No surprise that it has most bases covered, and we assure you it'll be worth your time.
Why Did We Like It?
What you'll notice right away is that you get to use the software on your mobile and computer. It's a highly suitable tool to work with and offers you the chance to have your project with you at all times. The significant addition is that the system allows you to choose the size of your deck and subsequently estimates the cost.
Moreover, newcomers will love working with various materials, and the strongest among them is a triple-coated layer of steel. But for a more refined look, you can opt for wood construction, but irrespective of your choice, you're guaranteed to get much-needed longevity.
Meanwhile, for customers who already have a deck, Trex allows users to build a dual or triple-layer construction on top of it. All you need is to select the shape and then choose the colors or combine different shades for the best output.
What Could've Been Better?
While it doesn't happen all the time, we've noticed that there are occasions when the software takes time to load. It's compatible with various applications, but users have complained that it tends to slow down on chrome or safari browsers. We suggest you continue to save your work at regular intervals and have a little patience. Whatever happens, we can safely say that it doesn't crash.
The Mitek Deck Designer is another versatile tool that professionals and amateurs will find easy to use. It's an interactive software that provides relevant information depending on the area in which the construction is to take place. It has numerous quality functions that aren't seen in other models, and you'll love all it has to offer.
Why Did We Like It?
While working with the Mitek designer, we loved how the software gives you the chance to start working for free. If you like what you see, you can pay the required amount to unlock more fascinating features and construct your suitable deck. It ensures you get to customize different deck aspects, such as the plank, size, and color.
Interestingly, as you design the project, the system generates all the materials you'll need. What's more, it presents cut lists and the necessary permits you should acquire, thereby allowing you to get professional help and various points of view. Likewise, even if you aren't tech-savvy, you won't face any problems using it.
You can efficiently save the project and then print out the results or email it to clients if you're a professional contractor. Thanks to the realistic portrayals, you have the option of importing images of your home to ensure the deck is in sync with your property.
What Could've Been Better?
To use the tool, you'll need to have the latest upgrades, which could make it inaccessible to certain people. We can understand that to use the numerous functions and match up to modern standards, the developers have made it compatible with the latest devices. So, you'll need to make sure that the application runs smoothly on your device, and if not, you may have to opt for some other option.
The SmartDraw Deck Designer is one of the best tools for you to consider, thanks to its ability to generate quick yet precise results. You won't have to spend much time on the computer, and the detailed results will allow you to get to work quickly. You're guaranteed to love the simple but efficient design.
Why Did We Like It?
Straight off the bat, the stunning accuracy is on full display, thanks to the numerous graphics for elevation posts, hot tubs, and plants. It presents a highly realistic view of your surroundings to help you decide the shape and the placement of various components. So, you can choose from the many preloaded templates on the website.
It saves valuable time and ensures you can work on an existing professionally designed template. You won't have to start from scratch, and you'll get a better idea of how to approach the project. Moreover, the software comes with a detailed library to deliver incredible accuracy, but you can also create custom symbols if you want.
It enables you to upload pictures of your area while the system automatically generates the dimensions. However, the most attractive part is the drag-and-drop function, which proves to be highly effective for all types of users.
What Could've Been Better?
Like some of the other tools, it also takes time to load, given the multiple features. You can opt for a faster internet connection to try and correct the issue. But in case you're wondering, we guarantee the slow loading speed won't lead you to miss out on any functions. All you need is to be patient and not lose your cool because it'll deliver the necessary output irrespective of the speed.
The Lowe's Deck Design Tool gives you multiple options to choose from. Apart from the usual 3D templates, you can custom make your designs to create the structure just as you want. It delivers a clear idea of the area and determines what plan of action is best suited to it.
Why Did We Like It?
If you can get Lowe's deck design up and running, then you'll also love its functions. It has several resources as part of the software to present an array of choices for your benefit. You can start working with a pre-loaded template for convenience, but you can design a custom template for more variety.
Furthermore, the 3D renderings ensure you can customize different deck aspects, like railings and posts. You get to choose what materials work best, and in case you're worried about the cost, the software has got you covered. All you need to do is pick the materials, and the system will provide an estimate.
Additionally, you can opt for professional help to make the correct choices, while the building plan enables you to start work quickly. It also provides tips to ensure you can maintain the structure in top shape.
What Could've Been Better?
For all that's good, it does have a couple of downsides. Despite having excellent compatibility with most browsers, you'll notice that it's not supported on chrome, which wasn't something we were expecting.
And since it can even run on Internet Explorer, we feel the developers could've made the necessary additions to make it usable with most of the leading applications. So, if you don't use the accepted browsers, you'll have to get them installed.
It's supported on numerous devices and applications making the TimberTech Deck Design Tool extremely versatile. You'll need to set up your account, which doesn't take much time. Plus, you've got the option to choose from the available templates, making it highly efficient.
Why Did We Like It?
Firstly, it's compatible with numerous browsers and multiple devices to deliver the best results at your fingertips. Therefore, you can view the many plans and color options in high resolution to make designing easier. All soon as you create an account, it opens the door for some exclusive functions.
You can save your project and also download a list of materials that you're likely to need. The plan is generated from the software based on your inputs, and once the estimate arrives, you can share the project professionals to get their perspectives.
Meanwhile, it allows you to work with different shapes to get the ideal fit for your area. And the designers have added an undo option, meaning you won't have to worry about making mistakes. Finally, the gallery delivers a comprehensive idea of the project needs while touch-ups of various aspects become easier with the 3D renderings.
What Could've Been Better?
Once you start using it, you'll realize it takes time before you get fully accustomed to the functioning. You can take help from someone who has used similar software before or contact a professional service. In case you're a DIY person, you would want to take your time to understand the components. Similarly, it's important to note that you might not get the desired result straight away.
We're at the halfway point of our list, but there are several quality options we're yet to review. Our next recommendation is the Azek Deck Designer, turning quite a few heads among prospective customers. It's incredibly fast while also being easy to use to make your projects stand out.
Why Did We Like It?
What immediately strikes you about this software is the excellent compatibility on offer. You can use it on your desktop or tablet to get 3D renderings of your deck design, making it an exceptional tool. The bonus is that it's free, which means all you need to worry about are the materials required for construction.
In that regard, the software generates accurate results while providing a fantastic range of options for you to choose from. You can effectively create an elevated deck with stairs and arrange the digital furniture, which presents a realistic perspective. It allows you to see how much room you've to work with and choose the materials accordingly.
Furthermore, you get to view your project from various angles and create railings or adjust the height. Most of the options are available on your right-hand side, from which you can decorate the walls and use shaping tools to work with multiple designs.
What Could've Been Better?
You need to ensure your device is compatible with the latest software; otherwise, it'll fail to load. It comes with detailed descriptions of the desk for which you'll have to upgrade your device or make the necessary installations. We understand that it might not present a feasible option for some users, and unless you're willing to buy a new model, you can choose from the range of available software.
If you're looking for a tool with exceptional versatility, then we suggest you use the BHG Deck Designer. It has over 25 different template options for you to choose from, and the easy-to-use interface makes it ideal for users of all age groups. Moreover, you'll enjoy the various color options and multiple shapes.
Why Did We Like It?
We're sure you can't wait to try out this tool, and that's because it offers 25 choices for your benefit. But that doesn't mean you'll be overwhelmed as you can effectively choose the deck that's most suitable to your area. In case you stumble across multiple options for the same space, you can try out the different combinations and pick the best result.
The software will ask for the yard size and then display the result based on your preference. There's also an option called extras, which allows you to work on an existing deck without compromising any aspect. Meanwhile, the drag and drop function makes it convenient to get fast output.
After completing the design, you can easily save your work and share it with professionals before shoring up the details. We loved the attention to minute aspects, and you get to pick the walls and doors to ensure everything is in sync.
What Could've Been Better?
It would be best if you were patient because it's highly unlikely you'll instantly see noticeable results. They're usually one or two characteristics on which one software varies from another, so you'll have to bide your time before you can come to grips with it. What you can do, however, is ask around and see if you can find someone who has some expertise in operating such software. It'll provide a better idea of what you need to do.
The SketchUp software is remarkable, given that its affordable nature hasn't played any part in diminishing the unit's quality. We loved the smooth controls and the various angles from which you can look at the deck you're building. Therefore, you can ensure that it matches the surroundings of your home.
Why Did We Like It?
Being one of the top players in deck designing, SketchUp delivers nothing short of the best. Initially, you get to work with the free version to get a feel for the tool, and if you like what you see, you can upgrade to the paid software. It offers advanced functions through which your 3D model starts to take shape.
Furthermore, all the options are available at the top of the page, and you don't have to waste time searching for them. As you progress along, the tool's versatility is on full display, and you get to experiment with various shapes.
The most exciting aspect is the 360-degree coverage, which allows you to examine the height and ground clearance. You get a comprehensive idea of how to take care of the structure and withstand the elements. Similarly, thanks to the many color options, you can create a striking design.
What Could've Been Better?
It takes time for the functions to load, which may prove to be a little frustrating. At the end of the process, it does deliver accurate results, as we've seen for ourselves. But if you're in a rush, then it's probably not the right tool for you, and you can choose from the other available options. However, if you choose to be patient and don't mind the slow build-up, you'll enjoy working with it.
Big Hammer has been around for a long time and has built a reputation for being trustworthy. In that regard, this state-of-the-art software is no different and delivers excellent efficiency in your tasks. You can select from the many templates available online or make one from scratch without any hassle.
Why Did We Like It?
Straight off the bat, remember to ensure you've internet explorer because that's all you'll need for optimum utilization of the software. It generates several fantastic designs for you to consider, thereby allowing you to make an informed decision. You can adjust the height and the width, but the most significant addition is the modifications in depth.
The tool asks you to input the specifications to produce accurate results. You can then decide the type of materials you need to make the structure long-lasting. Furthermore, thanks to the 3D renderings, you can work from various angles for greater convenience.
We suggest you play with your imagination to pick the shape most suitable for your needs. Then proceed to apply different hues of colors to make the construction a striking addition to your property. Finally, it ensures you can easily save the project and share it with others to get their input.
What Could've Been Better?
You've to make sure you've an internet explorer for it to be compatible with your device. It's understandable that despite having modern technology, the developers have asked customers to use the browser to cater to a broader audience. But if you can't make the required changes, it's best to opt for some other option. We suggest you ask for help, perhaps even a professional, to understand the intricacies of the tool.
The Punch Landscape Design is an all-around unit that offers you the chance to design your deck and home. So, you get to ensure that everything is in sync and, therefore, we assure you you'll enjoy all that it offers. Moreover, the developers have added the necessary tutorials to help you out.
Why Did We Like It?
For starters, it comes with many templates that allow you to get to work quickly. While the pre-loaded designs help you understand what shape is ideal for your needs, it also ensures you can come to grips with the software. Meanwhile, it offers both 2D and 3D viewings, and you get to see the changes in realistically detailed diagrams.
You're sure to love the terrific library, which is almost like leaving a kid in a candy shop. Due to the availability of furniture and other outdoor elements like plants, you can easily select one and drop them onto your project. Besides, it also generates the cost of different factors, meaning you can keep a tab on your expenses.
And the various options provide versatility in your 3D viewings, which isn't usually seen in other tools. Likewise, the developers have included short video tutorials that will come in handy for first-time users.
What Could've Been Better?
As seen with some of the other models, it takes some time before you can get the best performance out of it. If you're a first-time user, you can use the online tutorials to grasp the tool better. You may also ask someone to provide tips, but the key is to remain patient because it doesn't take long to figure it out. We suggest you sit down with time in your hands.
The Home Designer Landscaping Software delivers fantastic value for money to make your projects stand out. Like some of the other software, it allows you to work on all aspects of your home, which comes in handy to get the required finish. We loved the realistic descriptions, which show the attention to detail.
Why Did We Like It?
For those who are willing to shell out a couple of extra bucks, you won't go wrong with it. Not only can you design the deck but also take care of other housing activities. Thanks to the latest technology, the designers have taken the tool to an advanced level of realistic viewing.
You have the option of adding stairs to construct the deck on an elevated level, while for more refined living, you can incorporate a swimming pool or jacuzzi. Moreover, like some of the other models, you have the chance to integrate different flowers and plants for your landscaping needs.
We've also found that if you don't want to change your home's existing structure, then the software allows you to create a double or triple-layer deck. It's highly convenient to work with, and you can change the angles from which you're viewing the structure for the best results.
What Could've Been Better?
One of the first things that customers look at is the price, and this is one aspect where the software falls behind. It's one of the costlier tools, and we understand if prospective designers would be unwilling to dish out the big bucks. For one, we believe you can't compromise with quality, but if you've to adhere to a tight budget, there's not much you can do.
The Idea Spectrum comes in various versions, and you can pick one based on your preference to start working. It comes with highly professional options for you to take care of multiple aspects, and if you're an amateur, then the other versions will suit you well. We assure you that the easy-to-use functions make it worth the effort.
Why Did We Like It?
Straight off the bat, you'll notice that it comes with three versions meaning if you like working with it, then you can pay extra to unlock the advanced options. It's a highly versatile tool making it useful for amateurs and professionals alike. Additionally, the developers have included a function called deck wizard to assist you during work.
Among the numerous functions, you can create a 3D landscape, but you can also upload an image and design over it. As a result, it's incredibly useful and generates accurate results, which allows you to add landscaping options like a pool or waterfall. It's a complete package, so you don't have to look elsewhere.
Once the work is done, you get to save your project and share it with others to get their opinion. Moreover, if needed, you can create multi-story decks with the tool, which suggests different materials to produce long-lasting results.
What Could've Been Better?
You'll need to download the latest upgrades, and if you're not adept at using technology, you can ask someone to do it for you. Without the upgraded version on your device, you can't enjoy the state-of-the-art functions that make designing easier. However, if you're unable to accommodate the upgrades on your device, it's better to choose some other option, or if you're feeling a little adventurous, a new model.
The SketchUp Pro includes several quality functions, which makes it ideal for your DIY needs. You can focus on other areas of your home to get a complete performance along with deck designing. We found that it delivers fast results, thereby ensuring you can quickly complete your work, meaning it'll be money well spent.
Why Did We Like It?
We know you're itching to know about the unit, and given the response from users, we can understand why. Initially, the price may throw you off, but once you start exploring the functions, we're sure you'll realize that the developers were justified. It delivers excellent results, thanks to the multiple choices at your disposal.
You can mix and match various shades to complement the unique shape of your deck. It allows you to upload your images, and then you can modify it. But the most significant inclusion is that of the Geo-location tool, which recreates the actual image to help you decide the best way to proceed with the construction.
Furthermore, thanks to the attention to detail, you don't have to waste time making everything from scratch. You can download the file and add numerous elements to prepare a detailed blueprint for your work. Lastly, it allows you to share your project with others for feedback.
What Could've Been Better?
It's more expensive than the other tools that customers have used, which could deter potential users. We understand that the range of functions has contributed to the higher price, and you may not have the budget to use it. It's best to look at some other option in such a scenario, but we assure you won't be disappointed if you can be a little flexible.
The MiTek Deck Designer software features some of the latest technology, which makes it an excellent option. However, your device needs to be upgraded for you to use it, but you'll love its fantastic functions once you do. What's more, you can work from various angles to get the required precision.
Why Did We Like It?
First and foremost, you'll have to register yourself, and once that's done, you can get to work with your design. You need to start by choosing the shape, and in this regard, it's essential to have in mind the type of area you've. Once that's done, you can move onto the more nuanced aspects, such as the height and width.
It's relatively easy to use, and you've got the option of rotating the 3D image to opt for the best angle for your work. Significantly, however, the software allows you to set your preferences based on which it'll generate the results. You won't have to worry about the materials as the tool does all of that for you.
Moreover, you get to choose various colors to ensure it matches the exterior of your house. You can also select particular spots on the deck to place your furniture, so you don't encounter any problems later.
What Could've Been Better?
We found that although it's compatible with most devices, it won't work unless you've installed a specific plug-in. Therefore, we suggest you conduct a thorough check to see the installations you need, and if at all, if you can equip your device with it. If the answer is no, you can opt for some other options or ask someone to help you who has an idea regarding this type of software.
Pros
3D design
Numerous colors
Various shapes
Has options for using furniture
You can work from multiple angles
Cons
Requires a plugin
Online Deck Design Software FAQs
Does the price vary once work starts?
Since you're using deck design software, you'll get an estimate of the price beforehand. Considering the material and other aspects remain the same, the price doesn't vary. However, if you decide to opt for some other material or incorporate additional features, there's bound to be some difference.
Who provides the permit?
If you're hiring a contractor, then it's the person's responsibility to gather the necessary permit. But if you're a DIY professional, then you'll have to do it yourself. It's best to ask for help, so you don't miss out on any requirements.
Are composite and vinyl materials suitable?
Many people prefer using composite and vinyl materials because they don't need much maintenance. You're saved from the trouble of having to treat cracks that may occur in other materials. But the initial cost is a bit high, and it doesn't resemble wood meaning it's not a suitable replacement.
Should I go for vinyl railings?
While some people don't like the look of vinyl railings, the advantage is that it doesn't deteriorate. As a result, you get a clean finish while the cost doesn't vary compared to composite railings and may even be less on occasion. If you're looking to contrast the barrier with the rest of your deck, the vinyl will work well.
How often do I have to clean the deck?
Regular maintenance goes a long way in maintaining longevity, but certain materials require less time to clean. The best thing to do is wash it like you would wash your car or if you find that it has gathered too much dust. Similarly, after the monsoon, it's good to give the deck a once over and free the mud, but overall the maintenance needed is significantly less.
Final Words
We've reached the end of our guide, and hopefully, you've got a better idea regarding deck designing software.
It takes away the trouble of having to guess, thereby allowing you and the contractor to develop a definitive plan of action. You won't have to waste time in a trial-and-error method, and it saves valuable resources to reduce the overall cost of the project.
But before signing off, we've decided to assist you a bit more by narrowing down the top products in various categories. Our top recommendation would be the software from decks.com for its overall performance and easy-to-use functions.
Apart from that, the Fiberon Discovery Deck Designer provides excellent ideas, thanks to the 3D visuals. Finally, we must mention the JLC Professional Deck Builder, which delivers detailed descriptions to offer an all-inclusive idea of the construction.
Barns are a staple of the average homestead or farm. You need a barn for multiple purposes. Either it is to store your produce of grain, or to keep the livestock fodder dry and safe. Or you need space to keep the livestock itself, if not the tractor that you use on your farm. Barns are large enough for storage yet small enough to not take up too much land space.
What is also great about barns, and especially pole barns, is that they aren’t too difficult to make. Unlike other structures, they do not require elaborate planning or understanding of architectural techniques. It also helps that most of the barn on the inside is pretty empty.
But, what is required for building a barn is the know-how, both while constructing and before constructing. This is why following detailed architectural plans for building pole barns is important. Thankfully, there are 163 plans included here for you to choose from. From books to videos, pdfs to articles, there is enough research material to get going with.
Free DIY Pole Barn Plans and Designs That You Can Build Easily
Pole Barn Building Series
If you’re someone who prefers a more audio-visual tutorial and think it will be easy to grasp the concepts by observing them in real-time, then this series of videos on how to construct a pole barn will be the perfect fit for you. It also helps that the person who made the video is someone who has done it before and works on a homestead.
Iowa State University has been a great resource for architectural plans that people can procure on the internet. Whether you’re looking for plans to build a mansion, or plans to build a cabin, or in this case plans to build a barn, the ISU database has enough information for you to get started. Their website has fifteen plans for building pole barns, with a lot of pictorial references attached.
Iowa State University Barn Plans 16-29
As mentioned earlier, Iowa State University has a plethora of architectural plans at its disposal, freely available for perusal by the public. So, they provide fourteen plans for big grain storage containment complexes for large homesteads.
Comprehensive Barn Plans 68-85
Sometimes, a pole barn isn’t used just for storage of supplies or for vehicles. Sometimes, you need a barn large enough to turn it into a stead for your livestock, with its own elaborate inner mechanism and partitions. For this very purpose, this guide has eight plans to choose from.
The Detailed Barn Building How-To Guide
It can be quite a strenuous exercise, building something from scratch. There is just so much to consider when doing something of this sort all on your own. What if you make a mistake here or a mistake there? Will the entire thing collapse? Will you have to redo it? This guide answers all your queries and calms your qualms by covering all such worries. Moreover, the pictorial aid only adds to the effectiveness.
Homesteads are all about self-sufficiency, and a big part of being self-sufficient is cost management. What is great about this how-to article is the fact that it details how it can be really economical to build your own pole barn for storage if you make some smart decisions while constructing it.
This is a how-to guide that eases beginners through the process of the pole building. This book is great also because it focuses on low-cost construction. Once you read the book, you’ll be ready to build your own pole barn in no time and on a budget.
The University of Tennessee has a very comprehensive pole barn building guide for free usage. Providing the do-it-yourself enthusiast with twenty-three options, it ensures that you don’t have to stick to just one design and can mix and match and experiment to your heart’s delight. Aesthetics matter, after all.
Canadian Storage Barn Plans 100-109
There are some really lovely pole barn plans in here, both traditional and non-traditional. These Canadian building plans are for both animal steading and for grain storage, and even for tractor and other machinery storage. They have some lovely designs with ample details for you to start building.
The Pretty Barn Guide
These plans for a traditional yet very appealing pole barn are a little too complicated for novices and intermediate barn builders. They have a few bemusing details that will baffle the reader. But, an experienced eye will understand these plans better and if you aren’t the latter, you might want to ask someone who is and get to the job of building the plan.
These plans for making a pole barn a little elaborate and cover designs and needs. Dealing with both equestrian and livestock barns and also vehicle and grain storage, the options are comprehensive and the drop-down menu on the website will take you through the process in a very simple way. These plans are great for both small-scale farmers and homesteaders and for ambitious professionals with an eye for a large barn area.
The Cosy Pole Barn Plans
This is a pretty-looking barn that is sufficiently large enough for most users. It comes with a free-to-use plan which is comprehensible for builders of all skill levels. Lovely to look at and easy to make, this is worth considering as your option.
This plan is for a beautiful garage barn build. It is large enough to fit vehicles and naturally spacious enough for storing your produce. It is sturdy and has multiple doors and looks neat while doing what it is meant to. Plus, the plans are detailed enough and simple to follow.
The How-To Barn Build Tutorial
Building a structure is just not about the wood and brick and the shape of it. It is also about the preparation before you get to the actual building part. It is about the soil it will stand on, and the very foundation that will ensure it remains intact. This guide helps you through all that with thirty-one steps that make sure you are absolutely prepared to build a barn on your own.
Monte Bunch’s Barn and Outbuilding Guide
Monte Burch’s How To Build Small Barns & Outbuildings is a comprehensive guide. With twenty plans detailed in the simplest of instructions, this professional guide is a wholesome read.
The Half-Open Barn Style Plan
This particular guide does not offer you a variety of plans, but where it lacks in diversity, it makes up for meticulously gathered information. The plans for building this pole barn are very finely drawn and the barn itself can be custom used for several purposes.
The Small Barn Shed Plan
There is enough detail for you to go with when building this particular 12 by 16 barn. The plans provided take into consideration different storage ideas, such as livestock steading and grain storage. They are free to use and come with a list of materials you will require to build this pretty-looking barn on a budget and in a small amount of time.
This list of plans is not free to access, but with a minimal purchase fee paid, you can peruse a hundred comprehensive pole barn plans that cover everything from barn sheds to garages, and workshops. If you think you are willing to spend a little extra cash on procuring these plans, then you should definitely go ahead and buy them.
The LSU AgCenter is most gracious in its efforts to help people build barns on their own. The list of plans is very detailed and covers barn usage of all types. What more would you need from this guide? Well, for one, it provides thirty-eight plans, and that number is enough for you to choose from.
North Dakota State University has a number of elaborate plans for all sorts of house building. They are comprehensive and simple to follow and cover everything that needs to be covered before you get onto the task of actually building something. Pole barn plans are a natural inclusion herein and the university provides seven plans for your perusal.
The State of Oregon is very generous in providing free-to-use barn-building plans for the common man. From six plans for traditional pole barn designs to more modern-looking and size-varying designs, the State of Oregon free barn building plans are sufficient and detailed.
The Garage, Livestock, and Grain Barn Plans 96-99
DIY pole barns come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes they aren’t all too traditional in their make. This particular barn is more of a large house type than a standard pole barn. But, it is as effective as any barn with the additional advantage of looking great.
It’s a beautiful shed with a very spacious design. Adding to its functionality of it are motifs that bring a more aesthetic appeal to the barn. The storage areas are sufficient for grain and hay storage but can also be used for other purposes. Plus, the plans for it are pretty simplistic.
So, are you ready to take on your own DIY pole barn project? Do you have any new designs that have come to your mind poring through these plans? Perhaps you have a hybrid in mind. These plans are inspirational and educational at the same time and I believe they will be more than sufficient for you to embark on this endeavor.
There is, after all, a beautiful sense of satisfaction in making things on your own, right from scratch. The experience is rewarding and you get to master a skill that you had never thought of even trying before. It helps you in building more things and keeping your mind busy and productive, and maybe teaches others how to do it too.
So, whatever your purpose in building a pole barn, I hope you succeed in it and succeed fashionably.
Whoever said that the best form of beauty is the unadorned one was hitting really big in life with his philosophical knowledge.
But a plain, rustic kitchen is indeed one of the most beautiful places where you can nourish the body as well as your soul.
Since countertops are the center of any kitchen and quite a hassle to spice up, it could be a challenge to provide a rustic look to the countertops of a modern kitchen, to begin with.
But, if you’re reading this article in hopes of getting an answer to your prayers, consider it done!
Cause, today we’ve come up with 49 splendid rustic countertop ideas for your kitchen, that will bring the unadulterated beauty of a pastoral life into your contemporary cookhouse!
Traditionally, a polished and textured dark granite countertop can single-handedly own it in any kind of kitchen-décor whatsoever.
Paired with an equally unpolished wooden cabinetry design, red-cement floors, and mineral-washed walls, the look can drastically transform the atmosphere of a conventional kitchen, to make it cozier in look and feel.
We absolutely heart the minimalist glass pendant lighting with no extras, bundling the look up together in a mellow statement.
Source Unknown
2. Plank up the bar!
Using unpolished, crude plank furniture seems to be the new, raving in-thing for kitchen decors in recent times. Not only do these look fabulous, but it also makes for a clean, unadorned, and simple statement, especially if the rest of the kitchen is done in darker or richer tones. The tonal variations to a plank design provide shifts in color and textures.
A touch of corn flour blue on the cabinets contrasts beautifully with the wooden textures to bring you a beautiful rural décor.
One of the most stunning designs for a minimalist look is undeniably something that’s done in unadorned, raw grays. You could go for a monolithic statement with a singular long, gray counter complete with a sink slot, contrasting beautiful ivory or beige tones for the walls, and polished wooden cabinetry and floors in different textures.
The contrast looks marvelous and makes for a calming visual effect and feel. These colors also have the capacity to play with natural lights, bathing the place in soft natural shades.
Rough or broken-cut edges on countertops are swiftly becoming the new hot favorite for every kitchen that likes to play with wooden designs and textures. This is one look that puts the contemporary in the traditional.
Yet, surprisingly enough it appeals to the natural state of the art for decors, unlike futuristic designs that can look very mechanical and clockwork-ish in excess.
Polished or not, the broken or rough-edged designs could provide that unique and unconventional element to an otherwise bland look, drastically changing the style with a single touch.
Now that we have already discussed crude and unpolished plank designs for your cookhouse décor, it’s time to look at some richer, varnished tones in the same planky way.
Polished, cohesive plank countertops in luxuriantly darker colors could be the center of all attraction in a kitchen done in lighter to neutral shades.
A farmhouse kitchen done in varying tones and textures of white or gray could deliver a grand contrast scheme for such countertops. A little dash of natural colors could bring the entire look to life.
Mirror polishes for wooden countertops could be the ultimate game-changer in traditional kitchen designs. Varnished and epoxied darker tones possess the ability to scatter light stunningly and magnificently across the place and usher in a cheerful mood.
What we have here is a beautiful broken-edged dark wooden countertop glazed to perfection and entirely functional with an inbuilt kitchen sink. It brilliantly compliments a sandstone wall décor and eggshell lower cabinetry bringing in marvelous textural contrast in the place.
Wood can work exceptionally well for medium-sized kitchens, especially if it has too much going on with it. For the kind of kitchen that might be sharing its boundaries with an adjacent living, dining or reading room space, wooden countertops could balance out the structural integrity and cohesion of the area.
It looks and feels clean, it makes for a comfortable recreational environment, but most importantly, it manages to take the eyes of a congested situation by making the area appear spacious and inviting.
Coupling creamy marble tones with unpolished darker wooden panels could work magically to give you a pastoral and ethereal scullery. A speckled marble with soft tonal variations and a geometric oval design for the kitchen sink adds a subtle touch of luxury in a space that is otherwise tamed with unembellished dark wooden cabinetry complete with open shelves on a mineral white-washed wall.
This kind of a décor works for almost all kinds of cookhouse structures. However, it could work best in a smaller and cozier space.
via Tracy Lynn Studio
9. Central wooden counters
Singular polished wooden counter tables placed centrally in the kitchen is all you need to amp up the glam quotient in a simple kitchen. Not only does it make for an immensely sophisticated and dignified statement, but it also serves as a pretty functional unit that combines the utility of countertops and kitchen tables in a dynamic style and form.
It works best for medium to larger kitchens, especially if you’re going for a rustic, easy-going yet uncluttered look.
A simple yet dignified element of granite can put a charm in a casual and much-loved farmhouse kitchen. A bustling and lively kitchen space with a white subway-tiled backsplash and white cabinetry finds expression in textured, dark granite countertops that cut smoothly and beautifully through the monochromatic effect.
The visual appeal of such a place is heightened by the use of simplistic wooden counter-stools and huge pendant bell lights in glamorous brass accents.
Thanks to certain incredible developments in the field of kitchen décor and granite textures, you can now play and manipulate the basic atmosphere of your kitchen with variegated and multi-textured granite elements.
We love an ageless cool-toned kitchen with astoundingly serene colors such as peppermint blue or even softer pastel shades.
Pair the look with magnificent speckled granite in white or lighter grays and hail in the spirit of spring and bloom in the space, white and gray kitchens are sublime, airy, and awe-inspiring indeed.
We’re in love with the self-referential pendant lighting, bathing the place in a mystical aura.
Source Unknown
12. The epic rural cookhouse
For a completely rustic and tough, yet diplomatically suave statement, lock the rural sandy tones on marble countertops and go all woodsy with the rest of the kitchen décor.
A classic wood-paneled kitchen can seldom go wrong with whatever you might want to set it up with.
However, the polished stainless steel appliances add a touch of the intrusive modern in an otherwise starkly contrasting culinary set-up.
We absolutely dig the barn door and the wicker basket pendant lighting that accentuates the thematic importance of the place even more.
13. Of rural shelves
Basic, bare-wood shelves could look absolutely stunning in a minimal or futuristic layout. This is all that you need to have the perfect blend of rural and glamorous to spice up a bland, white wall.
Complete the look with crude, dark granite countertops and wooden lower cabinets are done in a refined and symmetrical layout, to balance out each of these elements in their tones, structures, and textures.
Appliances with metallic accents or even milky porcelain pieces could be all the adornments to amp up this look.
The basic wooden countertop is one thing that you can never go wrong with. Sweet, simple, and amply stylish, this is the perfect thing to opt for if you have a basic white kitchen.
The simple wooden countertop brings a very organic element into the space that you could further play with by putting a delectable dollop of natural colors. Put some greens on the adjoining window sill and a bit of red or yellow in a simple white bowl on the counter, and the look’s all sorted!
Usher in all the sunshine with this woodwork in your kitchen!
Go blissfully pastoral with a variegated and threaded woodwork wall panel accentuating posh, dark granite countertops. These find common ground with exquisite white open shelves.
Perfect for an absolutely minimalist look, this kind of style can subtly express an imaginative and perceptive individual preference where one would like to flaunt an array of select objects on the counters.
The stunning pendant light binds the look in a self-referential way to reflect a personal love for all things artistically beautiful in the kitchen space.
A hanging rack in the kitchen could be a very homely addition, especially if it’s put in a space having all modern designs. Visually, it gives the structure a look of comfort and amiability. If the kitchen is too sharp in décor with all bold colors or accents for the appliance, a sweet and simple hanging rack for the pots and pans could be a friendly touch for the eye.
So, go ahead and pair up that dark granite and richly toned wooden countertops with a simplistic rack for putting up your utensils to add a relaxing look to the décor.
White concrete and wooden accents can dramatically change the interior décor scene to bring in an agrarian look that is nonetheless stylish and fabulous!
A wooden cabinet space set in an all-white countertop looks marvelous and works especially well for smaller spaces with a curving cooking platform. Opt for wicker and woodwork for the rest of the space to really amp up the rustic look and top it off with a beautifully tiled floor to bring this look to a conclusion.
Unstructured and crude wooden fixtures could look stunning in an all-white minimal, rustic décor. A touch of stone and lush green on a bare-wooden counter brings in a raw and stunningly natural element to the space. A chink of glass for your spices and herbs will be the ultimate thing for providing a traditional overall look.
The bare bamboo pole serving as a hanging rack is a clear winner for the look!
It’s almost as if you’re cooking in a wooded area, blending up all the natural elements together for a meal for the heart and soul.
via Hale Mercantile Co
19. Contrasting polished and raw wood
Contrast and balance are crucial for a perfect décor, be it anywhere in the house. And when it’s about rustic, wooden designs, one could feel a little lost or even overwhelmed and end up piling on.
The right answer for this is how to play with different textures for a single element. What we’re looking at right now is a beautifully balanced kitchen décor done in all wood, yet played upon textures by bringing polished and unpolished surfaces together. You could go for polished countertops, counter stools, and floors getting some eclectic designs in raw wood for the rest of the space. Add a dash of polished metal: works well works wonders!
Source Unknown
20. The big, dark table
One of the most amazing things to put a rustic and raw touch in an otherwise, modern, contemporary kitchen is the large, rough-hewn, dark-wood table. Not only does it serve as the ultimate counter plus table for all your culinary chores, but it also magnificently contrasts a modern kitchen décor and conventional, dark granite cooktops in the rest of the place.
It looks brilliant and brings an essential organic and natural touch to the mechanical look. Pair it up with some classic vintage lights, and turn the space into a thing to behold!
via Nest of Bliss
21. The Arcadian setup!
Few decors can be as beautiful as a classic white and blooming space. Lock in the eternal spring with luxuriant wooden countertops spangled with lush blooms. Glass works magically in such a place. So, go ahead and flaunt your beautiful glassware on those open cabinets. Add a splash of rich copper or gold tones to the mix for upping the glam quotient of the place. Let the colors swill and unravel in this creamy white setting and in the meantime bring the look to a conclusion with a vintage brass chandelier, tying the entire look up.
Highly reflective surfaces and mirror finish for wood or other materials not only look stunningly beautiful, but they also give the space an immaculate and fresh feel. The only effort that you would require to make is to prevent the delicate surfaces from scratching, as they can scrape easily. But this doesn’t stop us from loving the look and feel they do provide. So, if you’re in for some high-shine surfaces, keep it simple and minimalistic on the countertop to show them off in all their glory!
Apart from traditional dark granite counters, you could also play with darker or multi-chromatic stone slabs to put a very rustic element in the kitchen. We love the cool feel and absolutely brilliant color options of this crude stonework that are easily available for use.
Although these could be a bit up there in price than conventional granite or marble, it is totally worth it as a single stone slab could drastically transform the atmosphere of a modern kitchen.
Source Unknown
24. Naturally-hewn wooden countertops
Roughly hewn wooden tops made from single hauls of wood look as beautiful as it feels.
You could go for this look for a completely organic feel. Natural cuts are increasingly becoming the hot favorites for every modern kitchen design since it brings in a perfect balance of biotic and mechanized.
And for the ones who want to take the woodwork up a notch, further extend it to cabinets and oven slots for an overall, cohesive, rural layout.
via Creative Kitchen
25. Crude, blackwood design
Unrefined, blackwood layouts can look incredible when coupled with brushed or polished metallic accents. This kind of look makes for a well balance of two similar décor styles, blending the seams evenly out on all fronts.
A dash of bright natural, colors (love the touch of peonies over here!), could really make this look bloom!
Go all out with rough, wooden open shelves on a similarly tinted wall, and spice it up with some delicate metal and glass to amp up the feel.
Source Unknown
26. Twinning with marbles and wood!
Experimenting with multiple, contrary elements has been there for interior design for quite some time now. And, it is swiftly gaining momentum in the changing scenario of kitchen décor as well.
What we have here is a stunning blend of rustic wooden accents and creamy white marbles, brought together beautifully for your countertops, in an all-white kitchen. A perfect design for a both suburban and urban residences, bringing the best of both worlds together.
via Pinterest
27. Bare it all kitchen!
A dark-wood kitchen with dark granites for countertops is hands-down one of the most breathtaking cookhouse décors. But the icing on this cake is undoubtedly the bare-brick walls and a cobbled floor which provide the overall layout with a beautiful texture.
Even one that’s pretty homespun in essence, the luxuriant gold and copper tones for the utensils, set off the polished dark of the wood, sending the natural lights cascading all over the décor.
Granites and marbles are undoubtedly two of the major contenders and rivals in the interior décor game. With awe-inspiring innovations taking place for both of these elements, the face-off is getting even more tremendous with the changing décor scenario.
But! It doesn’t have to be a competition if you bring them both on amicable terms for a fabulous new design! With alternating speckled granite and white marble, throw in some bare brickwork and spring hues as the ultimate truce-caller and beautifier! Keep in mind that the balance in a kitchen between these granite counters and marble counters can go back and forth a great deal, find the right one for you!
via Kelly Harmon
29. Where geometry rules
We don’t know about your experience with textbook theorems and mathematics in general, but what we do know is that geometric designs are the new smoking-hot thing to have in your kitchen.
And the good news they aren’t restricted to modern kitchen designs. Transform your kitchen with cutting-edge geometric, slanting, or straight-angled styles on wooden counters, kitchen sinks, and more to shock and amaze the conventional eye. Balance it out with appliances in metallic accents and fall in love with geometry all over again!
A little obsessive love for the kitchen hasn’t really done any harm ever. And, this could be aptly depicted in a fierce broken-edged counter-cum-table placed in the center of an otherwise dignifiedly minimalist kitchen to bring out the wild side of things!
The polished wood contrasts beautifully with an understated dark granite cooktop for a shocking appeal on the senses and a jarringly beautiful effect.
The herringbone pattern is probably becoming as popular as the act of fishing itself! From countertops to the backsplash, there are but a few things that you couldn't get in this layout.
A classic blue wall in the pattern with a magnificent wooden table in herringbone impression provides all that you could possibly want from a kitchen décor: style, depth, and for your friends to be endlessly envious of your new kitchen!
We recommend serving them fish to cure the burn. Enjoy!
via IKEA
32. Of lacework and porcelains
The coalescing of laceworks and porcelains with untreated, pure wood designs is undeniably one of the most ethereal and timeless kitchen designs. Flaunt your delicate wares in nothing less than the classiest way with pristine white cabinets and fragile laceworks topped with bare wooden tops. The white open shelves contribute to the overall style, single-handedly owning the look with a fine array of delicate glass making for a spectacular view.
The kind of colors you select, decide the mood and vibe of your space. Therefore, it’s essential to get a hue that creates the kind of environment you want for the kitchen. An unvarnished wooden countertop with a splash of calming blue on the upper cabinets can put a very cooling effect on the entire place.
However, a portion of dark polished wooden texture to the lower half brings in a balance that is indispensable for gathering the lookup in a beautiful unit.
A big ol’ place to dine is after all not just a place to digest food but a silent spectator to heartfelt conversations of love and life! And for the ardent lovers of all things natural, we have brought in natural countertops and open shelves hewn out of single hauls of timber.
A classic case of bringing the entire forest in, this kind of a décor works best for medium to larger areas and allows free play of natural lights.
Oriental patterns can weave a different kind of mystical love story with their enigmatic form altogether. Exquisitely intricate designs could enliven any space, and your kitchen wouldn't be an exception to this rule.
Stunningly beautiful floral or mandala designs on niche-wall tiles could now be the centerpiece to compliment those beautiful plain wooden countertops, balancing the creative with the organic.
For a starkly minimalist kitchen, centrally located singular counters could be the ultimate show-stealers. And if you’re going for wood, you really need not think about anything else.
It brings in a perfect balance of things and plays with natural lights, bringing in depth to the area. Opt for different or alternating textures for the counter-structures and tops so that the tones can comfortably blend in with the rest of the décor.
We have previously mentioned how tints of blue can bring in an extremely relaxing sensory feeling to the kitchen space. And when paired with wooden accents, it could work wonders to usher the natural aura into your house.
For an immensely rich and sensual feel, pair up polished, rich wooden textures on the countertops with darker blues on the cabinets. A touch of lush, dark green in the mix can calm the atmosphere and bring in the kind of peace you thought you could never have in a kitchen!
We noticed that even though we have gone on recommending the touch of natural colors and elements in most of our suggestions, we haven’t quite emphasized the importance of natural and organic elements for your kitchen.
Things like potted plants, and wooden or earthen-wares, can drastically change the environment of your kitchen, from a mechanical one to something that brings out the natural and passionate side of things.
However, be sure to not go overboard with the style to keep your kitchen from looking like the savannahs.
Source Unknown
39. Remodel, Refashion, Rework!
Going for a converted wooden countertop could be a wonderful idea if you want to keep it sweet, and simple, yet add a touch of funkiness! Remodeling wooden stuff like a door or even a previous, outdated counter for your new ones could be the perfect thing to bring the sexy back into your kitchen!
Mount such a piece on chequer designed structure to play with the textures and colors, and make it your own personalized and signature statement!
Softer, mute grays can really change the look of a wooden kitchen. And, what we like best is how gray-stonework achieves beautiful effects in more spacious cookhouses with wooden interiors. We absolutely love a singular gray-stone slab for the counter complimented by wooden seating and a basic stone floor bringing all the sunshine into the place. This adds a sharp edge to a kitchen interior that otherwise seems playful and at home with the familiar wooden accents.
Unrefined and raw cement countertops can look endlessly stylish in all its crudeness set up in a smaller kitchen. Go for simple layouts in course grays, preferably open cabinets without the hassles of doors, serving as a functional design for the lower half of the kitchen and looking dapper as countertop colors.
Metallic accents can really transform it into a sultry hot statement and bring about a dynamic collision of both worlds.
Speckled marble countertops not only bring every inch of glamour into the space, but these also dismiss the need of piling up numerous other things to make a place look happening, being the show-stealer for any kitchen décor.
Now if you go ahead and pair it up with dark, varnished, rich tones, you get what you call a regal and magnificent love affair between two winning designs!
The basic ceiling-lamps add the final touch to dress this kitchen in its perfect royal attire.
Low-rise countertops in the square, straight-angled layouts can bring in a stylish barn-house look into your otherwise modern kitchen. The style is becoming immensely popular especially in décor for smaller spaces, as it provides a pretty cozy touch to the entire area.
Gray marbles with wooden accents for such countertops work perfectly to whip a splendid mix of the modern with a rural tinge.
Unarguably one of the most stunning designs of all, a very rustic kitchen with rough-hewn rock basins, stone countertops, and tree trunks for open shelve pillars is not for the ones too scared to experiment.
This is fundamentally a look for outdoor cookhouse scenes but could be implemented in a space adjacent to a natural guardian or even one with large dimensions.
But even if you have a medium-sized area where you want to bring this marvelous touch of nature, simply go for a paneled mirror element which would visually widen the view for you!
45. The basic, small, cozy kitchen
For our beloved, basic, and beautiful white kitchen, you need not fret about anything extra. Simply bring in a sweet wooden table and dark granite countertops together against a textured herringbone backsplash to work up some magic in the space.
We love how they’ve chosen classic inverted glass lamps for the ceiling, transforming the feel of the area after sundown!
A white kitchen with a contrasting darker backsplash may be the perfect host for an equally amazing countertop design in wood and granite. But what makes it special is the play of natural greens and the element of glassware on the countertops.
A breezy look for any kitchen, this is definitely one of the most comfortable designs to go with.
A standard rural setup calls for some heavy-set crude cement counters and unrefined wooden doors for your cabinets. A plain whitewashed wall imparts a cohesive look to the structure and continues with the unadorned look and feel of the place.
A simple porcelain sink provides a homespun statement for the place, making the overall environment even more comforting and friendly.
Source Unknown
48. Contemporary wooden designs
Newer designs for wooden counters can be customized to have any kind of texture and finish that you would want in your kitchen. Since wood is an exceedingly versatile material, it has cheerfully welcomed all modern experimentations to come out looking even more elegant than ever.
So, go ahead and fish for the real deal with wooden accents out there, because even though the market has changed offering even more stunning designs, wood is here to stay in all certainty!
Alternating or asymmetric open shelves on your kitchen walls could make for a really natural design, yet being extremely functional in style and form. More than just holding up a lot of things in the kitchen, these give you the scope of utilizing all the space on the wall and customizing it in your own way.
So, we suggest keeping the counters clean and diving headlong with open shelves to flaunt your precious culinary collections in style!
via Pinterest
Conclusion
So this was our take on beautiful rustic looks for your kitchen countertops that are surely going to pull all eyes to themselves! We hope you enjoyed this read as much as we did putting it all together for you. We’re going to be back with more!
Till next time!
Pastels are utterly beautiful things. They are some of the easiest and most malleable mediums of paint that deliver great textures and highly concentrated pigments that result in vibrant colors and marvelous textures for your artwork.
There are several kinds of pastels: soft pastels, oil pastels, pan pastels, pastel pencils, etc. Although all four are practically the same grade and type of paint, they slightly differ from one another on the basis of the texture they each provide.
The essential ingredients in all four types of pastels make all the difference in their texture and color deliverance. This is the crucial point to understand about pastels. And right now if you’re keen to know literally all about these kinds of pastels, then the following extensive read has got you entirely covered on that!
Soft Pastels Vs. Oil Pastels Vs. Pan Pastels vs. Pastel Pencils
And, if you’ve been asking which kind of pastels deliver the best effects, you might want to go through this guide we have prepared just for you!
So, sit back and enjoy all the information about pastels that we have brought just for you!
So what are pastels basically?
Pastels are essentially an art medium or a kind of paint that consists of pure pigment powder and a binder. The pigments that are used to make pastels are the same as those used in all kinds of art mediums. This includes oil paints as well. The binder that is used for making pastels have low saturation and are of a neutral hue.
Pastels have been used since the Renaissance with a significant degree of popularity, especially in the 18th century which saw numerous prominent and acclaimed artists use them as a predominant medium for their artworks.
This form of coloring or drawing using a pastel color medium is known as pastel painting or pastel drawing, or simply called a pastel. The word “pastel” can alternatively be used as a verb that means to produce an artwork using pastel colors or even as an adjective, meaning “pale in color.”
Well, it’s easy enough to start using pastels - be it any kind, for drawing and texturizing any sketch. These can be easily maneuvered over any kind of surface, providing bright, vibrant imprints.
To start off with our explanations of the difference between the kinds of the different kinds of pastels, we have decided to go with the comparisons between oil pastels and soft pastels.
Oil Pastels are composed of a non-drying oil and wax binder, having a buttery and creamy texture, with an intense color deliverance. These are pretty dense in consistency but have a more delicate hue than that provided by soft pastels. You don’t need a fixative to work these colors as these tend to be pretty waxy.
However, these can be a tad bit more difficult to blend than soft pastels. You are required to use a primer such as gesso so that the waxy binders are not soaked up by the paper strands, for that matter. This actually keeps the brightness of the oil pastels from dulling down.
One of the best things about oil pastels is that they don’t dry out or harden out entirely. Similar to oil paints, oil pastels could be spread across any kind of work surface (paper) that you’re using for your project by using a thinner. You could use a turpentine thinner for this purpose.
Soft pastels are basically made using a combination consisting of pigment, gum arabic, and white chalk. This delivers more of a matte finish than that of oil pastels. Soft pastels have a higher amount of pigment with a lesser amount of binder, giving off a stronger color effect.
As these colors give off more off a chalky, dusty consistency, they can be smudged and blended to a greater extent than other pastels. They don’t stick to the surface, and the excess can be easily brushed off. This is why it is extensively used way more than other kinds of pastels.
However, the finished works made with soft pastels do require for you to protect the surface from smudging or getting damaged by using fixatives. Hairspray could also work as one but do use fixatives carefully as they may affect the colors of the pastels. You could also get your sketches framed for that matter.
In some instances, a filler agent such as white chalk could be used for producing pale, bright tones and hues, possessing a higher luminosity.
So, which one should you go for?
Well, this honestly is a very subjective thing for all. Both oil and soft pastels possess quite distinctive effects and whatever you choose to use will solely depend on your preference and requirements.
A few fundamental points of difference between the two are:
Texture
While soft pastels will provide you with the scope of blending the shades in better than oil pastels, these can crumble quite easily due to the lesser amount of gum binder present in them. While in the case of oil pastels, you could easily maneuver them to the required spots and have great effects, without having to take extra care in holding them firmly.
Oil paints can also create impasto effects, or you could acquire a glazed effect if you thinned these down with turpentine. On the other hand, soft pastels can be just the thing for you if you need to layer on colors and create other effects on your artwork.
Blendability
Oil pastels will give you a very creamy and buttery texture that you could use to create stunningly bright effects for your artwork. You could also thin it out for creating more effects and covering a greater surface area. While on the other hand, the powdery texture of soft pastels delivers strong colors that will not stick to the surface all that much.
However, due to this precise reason, soft pastels could be blended far more easily than oil pastels.
So, if you want to have a bright, creamy yet bright effect, then you could go for oil pastels, otherwise opt for soft pastels if you want a powerful, inky effect that is greatly blendable with other colors as well as offers a texture that could be manipulated to bring about different kinds of effects.
Assortment of colors
One of the things about soft pastels is that it always comes in a vast assortment of colors. This is twice as much as what you would get in oil pastels. The extensive range of colors that you do get in soft pastels could be especially advantageous for a beginner. This eliminates the need to brainstorm about effects and colors.
Oil pastels work great for those who are good with oil paints and know how the shades work.
So, if you’re looking to start out with a great set of pastels, then it’s better you go for soft ones, whereas, if you are looking to complete a specific project and know about what shades and textures would work well, then, all means, settle on oil pastels.
Affordability
Well, the cost for both oil and soft pastels will vary from brand to brand. And also, the cost will depend on where you buy from. You may get a hefty discount on an online shopping portal at a local store.
Or the reverse may happen if you’re having an especially lucky day. The quality and texture of the colors will also vary a bit from one brand to another, and this is where the price shoots up or falls in most instances.
However, oil pastels could be just a tad bit more expensive than soft pastels. But, you can get good brands at lower prices as well for the same amount of oil pastels as you would get in a standard set of soft pastels. So, the critical factor over here is to settle for one that you think is a good deal and helps you get great effects in your artwork.
Also, if you’re settling for soft pastels, you do get the option of getting them individually and in all kinds of shapes and sizes such as in half or full sticks or thicker sticks. This may help you create your own palette and could also be a great way to cut down on the cost if you decide to mix brands.
Note. You could also opt for water-soluble pastels if you’re looking for such a thing. This comes in both soft and oil pastel variants and could be thinned or blended together will water. These will give you a stunning watercolor-ish wash effect with vibrant hues. However, these may be more expensive than traditional pastels and will require a deft hand that knows how to manage it.
So now that we are done with thoroughly explaining the differences between oil pastels and soft pastels, let’s get moving on to our next segment that deals with Pan Pastels, and how they might be different from the two that we have already discussed above.
Pan pastels could basically be called another version of soft pastels that are formulated with the least bit of binder contained in flat compact pans, such as those that contain makeup. These are applied to the surface using unique micropore soft sponge tools.
Although there’s no liquid involved in this, these come in a very creamy consistency. These could be used alone for completing a whole painting or could be used in combination with other pastel media such as soft or hard pastel sticks.
Due to the minimum binder amount, pan pastels provide the highest concentration of colors. The texture the least amount of dust that does not mess up your work area in any way. Pan pastels can also come in larger containers like standard paint pots and bigger jars. The packaging is such that it protects the pigments and prevents wastage of the paints.
One of the best things about these is that they are incredibly travel-friendly allowing you to carry them wherever you want. These can also be easily stored anywhere you want and don’t mess out on other objects with scratches and marks, which sometimes happen with soft or oil pastel sticks.
Pan pastels are comparatively a much newer format the traditional pastels. But, they have made quite a massive fan following since their launch into the art market. One of the reasons that it is favored is the fun way of applying it. Art enthusiasts find it pretty interesting to lift them with brushes, sponges, or other tools similar to what is required for other paints as well.
Here the only difference that it makes is delivering a stunningly vivid and rich texture which is distinctly different from conventional paints or even other pastels, for that matter.
Also, there is an entire range of tools, in fact, applicators for pan pastels known as “Soft Tools” which you can easily get from the market for this purpose. These tools also allow you to manipulate the texture of the pastels to create details in varying degrees and other effects as well.
Blendability
Pan pastels are pretty easy to blend and, surprisingly, they can be erased entirely. These can also be used with different art mediums and on a variety of surfaces. Pan pastels are also a cleaner medium than most and don’t create as much dust as soft pastels often do. You can either buy these in a wide range of assortments in sets or individually from different brands.
The disadvantages of working with pan pastels are that it might not be the best art medium for beginners who are just starting out with pastel. The colors and the texture might just be a tad bit too much for amateurs to handle. We suggest that you get accustomed to using soft pastels and oil pastels first before moving on to pan pastels.
The definite structure of oil pastels or soft pastel sticks could provide you with an idea as to how to maneuver the colors on the surface, to layer and blend, or when it comes to understanding the shades and textures that pastels, in general, can produce.
Textures
Also, pan pastels may not be the very best options for doing detail works for that matter. It does work wonderfully for fillers or flat bases which you can detail upon, but not so much that you can use to detail intricate spaces. This is where oil pastels or soft pastels will provide you with a wider scope to easily detail your project than pan pastels would.
Affordability
Pan pastels are actually more expensive than traditional pastel pigments and can really go up there in price with more reputed brand names. This is because pan pastels are relatively a newer development in the pastel game and whatever company brings it out earlier will automatically be known as the first manufacturer and seller of the product.
This gives them the power to name their price while enabling the other brands to do the same as well.
In this case, you do have to consider how much you exactly require to use them, the exact quantity that you require or if you do require it at all for that matter.
Again, if you’re just a beginner, we’ll always recommend getting used to traditional pastel sticks first before starting with pan pastels. Pan pastels are ideal mediums for professional artists who know how to modulate the textures to get the best hues and tones out of them.
But, in any case, do not let us keep you from enjoying a fantastic kit of pan-pastels if you do want to invest in them. Although we would advise you to always go for a good brand that would provide you with value for your money!
So, by now you would have probably understood how the basic pastel pigments work and what pan pastels can bring to your art table! With that, it’s time to discuss one last product in the pastel category that we have on our list and how is that different from the rest of the three kinds of pastel pigments we have explained already. And that is Pastel Pencils!
Pastel pencils are just like the standard color pencils that have a pastel lead. These are ideal for working on finer details, allowing you to exercise immense control over your art piece. The consistency of these can range anywhere from hard to soft textures.
Pastel pencils are the most versatile when it comes to pastel pigments. These can be used with other art media and in combination with other pastel mediums as well such as oil pastels or soft pastel sticks.
The best thing about using pastel pencils is that they can be blended like other pastels and could be used wet or dry! This provides excellent scope for experimenting with the texture of these pigments. And when you have to create super intricate details all you have to do is sharpen these pencils to a point to work up the finer lines. You can easily create smudge and shaded textures with a blunt point or create soft, hazy lines.
Advantages of Using Pencil Pastels
These pencils work exceptionally well for layering on colors and creating textures like the basic color pencils do. Also, many artists use pastel pencils for preliminary sketches and doodles as these come in handier than conventional graphite pencils. This is because graphite leads aren’t really that compatible with pastels.
One of the coolest things about pastel pencils is that they aren’t messy like conventional soft pastel sticks and cause no dust at all! These enable you to be pretty quick and spontaneous with your creativity, needing no cleaning after and letting you enjoy the joy of using pastel pigments.
These are mostly water-soluble pigments that can be blended with a bit of water to get a flatter, more textured surface than the chalky texture it may give off when applied dry. The wooden case keeps your hands clean, providing immense ease of usability and lets you maneuver the pencils gracefully. Also, the colors in these pencils could be easily blended using a brush, a color shaper or even your finger.
All of these make pastel pencils a perfect alternative for outdoor purposes, such as those involving en Plein art sessions.
Pastel Pencils are the most easily workable mediums in the pastel category. These provide enough scope for you to etch out your design or an image exactly how you want it.
Textures and Blendability
Texture-wise, it doesn’t differ much from the traditional soft pastels. But you can also go for the hard pastel variants for the pencils as well, which will give you finer lines and greater scope for creating intricate details.
However, we feel that the pencils would do just great as any other color pencil would when it comes to coverage. Meaning- these can be used for covering and texturizing small to medium areas. While on the other hand, the other three kinds of pastels can create brilliant layers, covering larger areas in an instant, which could be worked upon with ease.
Some artists don’t like using pastel pencils as these lack in providing the raw appeal of the beautiful smudges delivered by soft pastel or oil pastel sticks with much greater grains that could be worked up with bare hands. If you’re one of them, we wouldn’t suggest this product to you.
Assortments
Assortment-wise, pastel pencils are but a limited range of colors, with the largest set providing only up to a maximum of 80 colors. Although you can get these colors in a full set or even buy them individually, the range is still pretty small to provide a lot of color options.
We’d recommend you buy a smaller set if you’re just starting out with pastel pencils to understand the color and textures these provide and experiment extensively with them to master the art. If you like working with them, then you can invest in larger sets to create many wonderful projects with them.
Affordability
And like each of these media, the quality will differ with brands for pastel pencils as well. But the best thing about these is that they come at a really reasonable price tag that will allow you to get these pencils from all sorts of brands. This way you can create your palette of colors and decide which brand you like best.
One of the best brands for beginners and professional alike regarding pastel pencils are Stabilo CarbOthello which is considered to be one of the finest by artists all around the globe.
So which one amongst the four actually wins?
Well, in the battle of art, we simply don’t think that there could be a loser for something else to be the winner! And that is actually fair, isn’t it? Because no kind of art supply can be so bad as not to produce beautiful artwork for you.
So whatever you choose between these four pastel products- soft pastels, oil pastels, pan pastels, or pastel pencils, you would still get visually stunning results in every way. However, your selection of the kind of pastels you should go for will depend on factors such as- ease of use provided by each product, the individual texture each produces, affordability, assortment of colors, and the nature of the projects you require them for.
Hence, as long as you know which one out of these will suit your requirement the best, you’d always end up with the winning product, no matter what you choose!
A Guide for Pastel Painting
And since we’re on discussing extensively pastel pigments, we decided to include a guide on everything you require for pastel art in this segment, so that you could master the art of pastel-ing in no time at all!
And here’s everything you need to produce stunning artwork using pastels!
Set Of Pastels
While working with pastels, you would want to have a wide assortment of shades to create brilliant effects and textures for your drawings.
However, if you’re a beginner at this, we would duly recommend you start with a lesser number of shades in just the primary colors to see if you like the substance or not. This also provides you with all the scope of experimenting with the tones and textures of the colors and to see for yourself how they pan out for your project.
The best way of creating your palette would be to get individual shades from different brands. This will give you all the required shades from the very best ones in the market while at the same time costing less than a single set from a particular brand.
Similar to watercolor, pastel pigments, too, require certain specific types of paper that help them to adhere to it. The “tooth” or “texture” of the paper is the key factor that receives these pigments beautifully, helping them to stick well to them and last very long.
Certain brands such as Canson and Strathmore provide a fine line of pastel papers.
And if you’re using ordinary paper, make sure to prime them with gesso or other binding agents to create the appropriate surface for pastels.
A fixative is an essential protective agent for pastel artwork, especially if you’re using soft pastels or oil pastels. This prevents the pigments from scattering, smudging, or falling off the surface. This helps set the chalk and the pigment of the pastels in place. A layer or two of a nice fixative can provide the paper with an appropriate texture for pastel pigments, making it easy for you to blend and develop beautiful colors and effects.
Your pastel artwork depends entirely on how your color blends and communicates with each other on the paper. And although you could use your hands to blend pastel colors, specific blending tools such as the tortillon, a blending brush or stump can make the job considerably easier for you, keeping no room for mistakes or flaws at all!
These tools cost just a few bucks and would be great additions to your studio or worktop in every way!
Tape is always an essential art supply to have around your workstation. If you’re looking to fix a sheet of pastel paper to your artboard or desk, then you would need art tape to hold it securely in place while you work on it. This prevents the paper from moving or sliding as you put your coloring strokes on it.
The only thing to remember while getting these tapes is that they should be acid-free so that they don’t ruin the artwork.
An ideal alternative to fixative can be glassine. This is a sheet of glossy, translucent paper that you can gently press against your art piece to keep the pastel pigments in place. You can actually get certain pastel drawing art pads that offer both glassine papers and the usual pastel papers as a fixative option for you.
Art desks or drawing boards
A proper art desk or board is always an excellent thing to add to your studio or workstation as it provides all the comfort of peacefully creating incredible masterpieces along with offering a smooth and spacious, multifunctional worktop for all your projects.
However, if you like to keep it casual or do not have sufficient space to bring in a desk or large board, then a simple, medium-sized, portable drawing board will work just as fine!
Safety Tip
Remember that soft pastels can release fine dust particles into the air that you can just as easily inhale into your lungs, causing respiratory diseases and allergies. Due to this reason, it is crucial for you to select only non-toxic pigments to avoid inhaling pastel dust. You could also wear a comfortable breathing mask or could work outside if the weather’s fine enough.
Another way you can curb the problem is to install an efficient air purifier that could filter the particulate matter out of your working space, maintaining a consistent supply of fresh and clean air at all times.
Conclusion
Pastel pigments can create some of the most spectacular effects thanks to its beautiful delicate textures. It only requires for one to know the tip, tricks, and techniques of the trade and exactly which kind of pastel products to go for!
We hope you liked our efforts in creating this read for you and that you found it to be useful.
We’ll be back with more such stuff soon!
Till next time!
In this world, there are thousands of different homes and happily, they`re all different. I live in a tiny home, a small apartment in the capital of a certain country and I feel that my home is far cozier and warmer than various other big ones. Small apartment designs are in my opinion in no way worse than regular ones. A small space challenges you and imposes a different lifestyle in which you keep your surroundings clean, smooth, and always uncluttered whilst not sacrificing coziness and warmth.
In a small apartment design furniture will enhance its versatility and functionality beyond recognition, an organized small apartment can store a whole lot of realized well and we do see such examples every single day. With this thought in mind, we are going to present further a superb idea that helped us a whole lot in our design: foldable desks and hideaway desks.
Hidden/Camouflaged Desks
For most of us, this solution is ideal without a doubt: space-saving hideaways desks, smoothly camouflaged behind a closet or a dresser hiding away the computing unit that should not be seen by anyone or a simple small DIY desk that you have wanted so much to be yours and yours only. Bellow a small and efficient little desk entitled Junior Living has been showcased.
Hideaway Home Office in a Immaculate White Stark Small Space Interior Design
White Folding Desk
All these great desks, including your own, can look smooth and clean for your guests and friends behind an armoire whilst it remains colorful, vivid, and joyful for your taste. The clean aspect of a room will also enhance the feeling of space making it seem enlarged.
Warm White Fold Down Desk
Save space as much as possible with the floating shelf below can be opened and transformed into a wonderful small desk. There is also a small storage area to hide away necessary things that can come in handy quite often. It can be used in multiple setups to match your desires. [Via KMillar]
Minimalist Small Pull Out Desk
A small red accent will be a bold accent, an instant focal point for anyone that walks in the room. This technique enhances the feeling of space as well. The red refresh the design below as well, diminishing the frigid cold feel of the room and making it more joyful and personal. When closed, the small desk design fits perfectly into the scene through the vintage-like cabinet design.
It also has a small lock that will ensure the privacy of your correspondence or simply protection for sensitive materials that must be hidden from sight. [Via Country Living]
Small Red Fold Down Desk by the Window
Below an extraordinary piece of furniture embodies a wine rack, a bookshelf, and a desk at the same time, a very creative use of space and furniture for compact space designs. The tabletop is at your service when you need to, it folds down to the little wine rack on wheels which becomes rigid when the square in the middle fits the tabletop.
This method can be used as a dining space or as a working space if needed. In the kitchen, it can create a dining space that is used just once in a while. It`s amazing because the furnishing is highly aesthetic as well. [Via Dwell]
Highly Graphic Large Folding Down Table
If you can fold your unorganized messy desk into a small piece of art on the wall it would be just fantastic, the small piece below folds into a chalkboard on which you can materialize anything that you would ever want or need. It also features a small coup of storage to further enhance its functionality. [Via Amazon]
White Impeccable Fold Down Craft Desk
Above and below small and big closets alike are hiding a small desk for small use. Some of us are in need of a comfortable desk when working and this means along with hard work are not giving back a highly aesthetic piece of furniture. In this manner, you would be able to shut the desk closed when you have guests and resume your work later in a beautiful manner later. [Via Bourbon Daisy]
Scandinavian Interior Design With Closet Folding Desk
Hideaway Office Desk With White Sculptural Chair
Camouflaged desk by Korn Interior Design
Desks Exposed to Sight
A small folding desk should not be always closed, or hidden, especially if you like it or you`ve created it from scratch, you should be proud of it. A vintage desk design should never be hidden from sight for example. You can use antique kitchen accessories to enhance the vintage look
Rustic Cozy and Warm Fold Down Desk
Having a kitchen drop zone is simply marvelous and highly functional, preventing unnecessary clutter on the kitchen table. Use it just as a serving space while dining to keep the salad, to write a note or recipe when cooking, or as an extension of the bar when not needed. [Via My Home Ideas]
Simple Grey Kitchen Desk
In most cases, a home office is considered a bit of luxury but it can be done if your current setup allows you to take up a little space from other areas. Bellow small folding desks make a statement for their position in another small room, the place and spatiality give the furniture appurtenance easily without disturbing the ambiance. In such cases, in which the desk is a small part of another room the ability to fold it or hide it somewhere is very important. [Via Apartment Therapy]
Foldable Office Desk in Minimalist White Interior Design
We think these smart small space saving ideas can work in a multitude of designs and it would be sad not to take advantage of them. We would love to hear your opinion regarding space-saving solutions below on Facebook, Twitter, or G+!
Swing sets are quickly becoming relics of the past, which is quite depressing. There was a time when kids stayed outdoors right from the moment they were done with school for the day until it was pitch dark at the night. From tree forts to play sets, kids loved getting muddy and sweaty in the sun, but that has declined ever since technology took over. So, if you’re looking to change the course of this tide and make your kids proactive, healthy, and in love with the outdoors, then you should definitely make them a personalized swing set.
And choosing to DIY it all also gives you the chance to take the help of your kids and make them realize the importance of teamwork and also inculcate in them the skills of making stuff on their own. So, if you choose to go with even one of the following 47 DIY Swing Set Plans and play swing ideas, you will have contributed a great deal towards the mental and physical well-being of your kids!
I really love this playset. It is unique in spite of following the basic swing plus slide set designs for its core. On the left side, there is a small clubhouse made out of the A-frame itself, and this set has four A-frames with equal spacing. There is a slide installed on one end and two swings on the other. Pallets and planks are used to striate the A-frames on the slide side while the frames on the swing side are left bare. This set would look even more amazing if it were painted with some peppy colors.
This is a gorgeous swing set on the list, and it is not just restricted to kids. This is a special swing set designed for adults to recall their childhood and relax. Its color scheme is simply beautiful, and it is impressively aesthetic to look at.
Instead of adhering to traditional swing set or play set designs, this play set has built a mini-fort for kids. With a gabled roof and a small vaulted ceiling and high-walled fencing around the clubhouse, this play fort provides kids with a slide to get back to the ground while having fun and has a ladder in the back. It is covered enough to shield itself from the sun, and its vaulted ceiling beam protrudes outside to work as a support for a tire swing. Painting this play fort is a good idea.
This is a window-shaped swing frame that makes use of just four beams and four hoisters to hang the swings from. It does not take any great effort to build this swing frame and you can either buy readymade swings or make them on your own using a sturdy material for the seats, some hooks and hoops, and a whole lot of rope. What you can add to this swing to give it a personal touch is the color and patterns to be painted on the frame. The devil is in the details, and you can have a lot of fun making them.
This playset has all the essential components of a standard playset. It has a sandbox at the bottom of a moderately spacious clubhouse, with a slide attached to the clubhouse entrance. There is a ladder to get to the clubhouse, and the A-frame supports the swings. But, it is the swings that are different here and unorthodox though traditional. Instead of using the usual wooden plank or plastic seat swing, this playset chooses to have a pair of tire swings. Tire swings might not be popular today but they were all the rage back in the day, and there is no better way to reintroduce that nostalgia than to use them as the centerpieces of this playhouse.
This pretty playground doesn’t take much space but does offer a lot more in the same area. It has a trapeze bar installed on the outer side of the single A-frame which can also be used as a makeshift swing. On the inner side of the A-frame, there are two swings, while a baby swing is installed on a post connected to the clubhouse. The clubhouse itself has five platforms, a dizzying slide, and a swing connected to a beam on its far end. This packed yet sufficient playset is also quite easy to make on your own.
A simple swingset design with a slide and a ladder installed in the clubhouse can be made with a few days of hard work and with a thorough understanding of the plans. It is enough for more than a couple of kids to play in and has a trapeze bar for the ones with an adventurous flair. You can add more life to this playset by coloring it or asking the kids to color it instead. That’s surely a fun activity to partake in.
This swing set uses a basic design but upends it with a whole lot of style. The frames are accentuated, and so are the railings and the steps. The top area is spacious enough for kids or even adults to sit inside and have a meal or sleep or read books. The color scheme is very appealing, and I love how there are various shades of blue used in a striated form to make this play area stand out. Everything about this set is lovely and worth making.
A-frames look magical. There is something about A-frames that is grand, be it an A-frame used for vaulted ceilings or a swing set, and these A-frames are a real standout. Firstly, the color of this swingset is vibrant and very cool on the eyes. This shade of blue is a warm and soothing hue that goes well with its surroundings. Secondly, the horizontal wooden bars juxtaposed against a single vertical beam give a unique appeal to this swing set. I also love how the swings are so petite, plain yet so charming with their striking yellow color contrasting the blue of the swing set. Easy to make yet great to look at, you could give this one a shot.
More details athgtv.com
The Club House Swing Set
Every kid loves a clubhouse. Clubhouses are really cool and very special. They are like actual houses, yet much smaller but with all the coziness and prettiness required, in abundance! This particular clubhouse looks lovely and very charming, but it also has something that makes it a standout. This two-story clubhouse has an elaborate swing and slide set. On its right, it has an A-frame swing set with three sets of swings which are purchasable, and on the left, it has a great yellow slide that twists and turns enough to give kids a thrill and do it all over again, again, and again! And you can make it all by yourself!
More details atryobitools.com
The Homemade Playset
Parts of this playset resemble an outpost of a fort. I like how the terrace area of the playset that you need to access to get to the slide has large wooden boards for easily climbable steps. I like the wooden grills and the arrangement of them which makes them not only functional for security reasons but also aesthetically pleasing. The slide is premade and can be purchased. Besides this structure, the swingset stands freely, with a couple of swings hoisted on an A-frame structure for kids to swing on.
You don’t always need a full-fledged playset in your backyard. And it is not always a requirement to build swings just for the kids. You reserve the right to swing your tensions away and relish the experience, and you can do just that on a budget! This simple swing set comprises a lovely frame and thin planks for swings. I love the accentuated ends of the frame which are very oriental in design. This does not take much space and can be made with an elementary knowledge of carpentry.
Supported by two very large A-frames, this playground has nearly everything in it that other playsets do, but with the added twist of a refreshing new design. Between the frames is a huge sandbox and above it is a pretty big clubhouse space with a slide attached to get down quickly. A beam protrudes on either end of the clubhouse and has a swing hoisted on each end. This sturdy, well grilled, and expansive swingset is a great option goes to with if you want to DIY a playset for your kids.
Another amazing way to combine fun and productivity in the best manner possible. This swing and play set uses the extra space it has on the gabled roof of the clubhouse to install solar panels. As swing sets are set up in the backyard with a lot of sunlight on offer, attaching solar panels to the clubhouse helps you generate renewable electricity for your house and save on a lot of electricity expenditure. Moreover, it has a ladder and bridge that takes you directly to the clubhouse and helps you access the solar panels if you want.
I love how this particular swingset and playhouse design looks like. Firstly, this is way bigger than usual playhouses. Secondly, it has a clubhouse with a porch that looks like a fully furnished exterior of a real house. The A-frame is big enough to fit a few swings and a monkey bar. The area in the bottom can be used as a big sandbox. You can include a slide and perhaps even a small pool to relax in. Paint the clubhouse in any color you like and et voila! You have a brilliant playhouse set for your kids!
There isn’t a shortage of do-it-yourself material on the internet for just about anything and everything. IT is one of the prime advantages of taking the how-to business from print to digital. Easy access to information is a boon. So, having a lot of basic swing set design plans for your perusal is never a bad thing. Rummage through these plans to choose a swing set of your liking and get onto the task of building a swing set for your kids or for yourself or both.
The A-frame is the only part of a swingset to be in the spotlight for this DIY manual. Even though there are manuals that show you how to make big playsets, this particular one only focuses on making an A-frame swing and nothing more. In fact, it is simple in its concept and doable by those who haven’t really ventured into this before. This A-frame swing building guide helps you make just a swing and nothing else, and sometimes you don’t ask for more.
Jungle gyms are not just for those who want to join the forces in the future or be part of a boy or girl scout club. They are neat designs that encourage one to push beyond the limits and accustom the body to react to different physically demanding situations with reflex muscle memory. These jungle gyms are, hence, a great way to get your kids to exercise and be outdoors playing. This particular one has a few swings, a slide, a ladder, and a monkey bar.
This A-frame swing set is large. It has three swings hanging by the beam. Two swings are simple seater swings while the third one on the extreme left-hand side is netted and square and has a big standing area. It is great for the kids to swing in, with the rush of swinging experienced while standing instead of sitting. If you extend the beam on both sides beyond the A-frames, you can include more swings or if you want you can create more space between the frames too.
Here’s something unusual, but not unpleasant. Take away the elaborate swingsets, playsets, and slide sets and replace them with a space-saving, money-saving, and incredibly unique airplane swing. Great for toddlers when made in a small size, but also for kids of older ages with a bigger size, this airplane swing is easy to make and is extremely fun. With enough momentum, you can swing this airplane to create a magical feeling of flying a plane, and you don’t need a hanger to store it when you land!
I want this playset in my backyard, and yes I’m not a child anymore. It’s just such a stunning installation piece to have. I can imagine the sparks of imagination it creates for the children who play in this. It has two small rooms, one porch, one set of stairs, a fenced bridge, two terraces, and a winding swing. It looks neat and has two swings hanging under the bridge. It seems almost necessary to build and education for any child’s formative grasp of adventure. To top it off, it looks like a small fortress, and that is bound to inspire them to draw perhaps and write stories of grand designs!
A playset design that looks pretty standard but has the option of being customized, it can be made with the help of this very detailed playset-building guide. The instructions are easy to follow and comprehensive and will help you complete building this amazing playset in a short time. It is multipurpose and has a trapeze bar, along with a swing and a slide. The pictures included in this fantastic how-to guide make your task easier because the visual reference is simple to follow and understand the process much better.
An A-frame, sandbox, clubhouse, slide, and swing set, this is comprehensive and satisfactory. I like the small vaulted ceiling on the top of the clubhouse area and the stairs on the side. There are a total of five swings, with one double-seater swing and a backrest swing on either side of the A-frame. The sandbox is big enough for a few kids to fit in and the clubhouse above has a bench to sit on. The slide is big and looks perfectly wonky to have fun sliding on it.
More details at hot4cad.com
The Electric Swing Set
This is genius. Swing sets are all fun and games until someone decides to elevate them to a new level of greatness. This man decided to do just that with this otherwise simple, A-frame, metal swing set. Using an elaborate yet simple mechanism to generate electricity just by swinging in the swing, this man has figured out a healthy and easy way to renew your electricity and power stuff in the house. So, if you have kids who are obsessed with swings, have them swing on this particular electricity-generating swing and earn bonus cookie points for their efforts.
What if you don’t want to follow visual cues, references, and how-to blog posts to make your swing set? What if you want to make the swing set from scratch with minute attention to detail and a professional hand in the process of making it? For this purpose, these swing set plans come really handy. These blueprints are more than enough for you to get going with your swing set construction project. They are clear and to the point and with a little focus are pretty much comprehensible.
These adorable-looking plywood swings are made out of simple plywood boards, cut and shaped into lovely-looking swings, and painted to resemble flowers, planes, and other stuff that your kids will really like.
More details at dailyfix.co.za
The Swing Set Plans
I love detailed plans. They are extremely precise and give me a neat idea of what I need to do. Plus, the plans are lovely to look at. Somehow, architectural elements and furniture look great on paper and have a charm of their own. I found that this do-it-yourself swing set plans are just what I needed to build a sturdy swing set for my backyard. Though they are a tad complex for the inexperienced maker, with enough time spent in understanding and with a couple of helping hands, you can build the swing sets shown in these plans.
More details at playground-equipment.co.nz
The Big Tire Swing Playset
Apart from having two tire swings in this otherwise standard playset, the A-frame beam is extended a little to accommodate an additional pallet swing. What this playhouse also has is a single-sloping roof for the clubhouse instead of a standard gabled roof. There are always variations for any design and swingsets, of course, are no strangers to this rule. You can add more elements to it if you are looking for something a little more unique than usual. After all, it’s all about the imagination.
I love this swing. It is not just a swing that is installed to provide what it is meant to; it also is very aesthetically appealing. This petite swing has a single and simply carved white seat but two sets of A-frame ropes for the support that have a beautiful golden sheen interrupted yet linked by two metallic links and hoisted by two sets of ropes that go all the way up to the tree, with a slim, rectangular plank attached for support. It stands out and can be used by both kids and adults. It is a pretty piece to include in your outdoor furniture.
Simplicity does not always equate to blandness, because simplicity works wonders sometimes. This swing is for people who do not want or cannot have an elaborate swing set installed in their backyard. It is basic and doesn’t even require too many instructions to make it. It has two poles planted in the ground for the frame and a top piece for the swings to hang from. There is enough mud dug up and free of rocks and stones for kids to swing and fall on without getting hurt. The shocking red color is a real standout and is a welcome sight. The swings are made out of two wooden boards and ropes attached to them on either side and then hoisted to the top end of the frame.
More details at hgtv.com
The DIY Ultimate Swing Set
I like how architecture can sometimes look like installation art, and be breathtaking in the process. This particular swing set is one such piece that though appears simple in its make, is stunning to look at. It is a fully functional swing set with a rope bridge, a couple of swings, climbing sets, and slides. What’s great is that this swing set can be easily made by you! Just follow these instructions and get your kids to help you out and it will make for a rewarding family experience.
More details at blackanddecker.com
The DIY Swing Set
This is a neat swingset. It has a slide section with a ramp instead of stairs to climb. The roof area of the slide set is pretty enclosed apart from the ramp and the slide openings. It is amply high and supports the swingset beside it. The swing set is supported by a single A-frame, apart from the slide section supporting the beam. There are two swings installed in the larger area of the swingset and a third one on the other side of the A-frame partition. Here is also a bench and a seating area below the slide platform for the kids to rest.
Sometimes, less is more, and the least that you can invest in making a swing is by using an old car tire and turning it into a swing for the kids to have amazing fun with. I like tire swings. They are so easy to make and cost you practically nothing. They were really popular back in the day due to the ease with which they can be made and perhaps children today deserve a chance to discover just how fun tire swings are and make the kind of memories you did growing up.
More details at diynetwork.com
The Rock Wall Swing Set
Here is a playset that offers something new for you and your kids to try your hand at. Accompanying a single-seater swing set is a rock climbing board. Taking advantage of the A-frame and the angle it provides, this rock climbing board makes it really fun for kids to rock climb. The height is low enough to offer a safe landing in case someone slips or loses balance and falls on the ground and the rock knobs are easy to hold. You could add a small mattress at the bottom for extra security, and yes you can make this set on your own.
More details at diynetwork.com
The DIY Friendly Swing Set
I really love what this swing set looks like. The A-frame resembles a hut and is very stylish though simple. The swing set it is equipped with multiple options for children to choose from, and of course, try out one by one. There is a trapeze bar in the middle, which is always really fun though giddying sometimes. Flanking it is a seesaw and a swing on either side. Of course, you will need to buy the swing, trapeze bar, and seesaw, but everything else can be easily made by you.
A basic swingset design but one that is smaller than most, this swingset has two swings and one trapeze bar on either side of the A-frame. The clubhouse area is really small and has a small ladder and a slide to climb up to it and get down from it. You can add your own touch to this DIY swing set and perhaps color it to make it stand out from the rest. The sandbox in the bottom can be retrofitted to include something more unique. As for what that could be, the choice rests entirely in your hands.
Apart from elaborate swing sets, there are also small swings for kids that are pretty creative and easy and inexpensive to make, and also save a lot of space. Here are some really cool and simple designs for you to choose from.
Low-Height Swing Set
This is an extremely simple swing set designed for toddlers. Having a near ground-level height, it is safe for toddlers to swing in, all the while making them feel happy with this colorful and green fabric. A pretty simple DIY that won’t take too much of your time, it is also pretty cheap.
A skateboard swing sounds like a really super cool idea. Remove the wheels, and it looks like a miniature surfboard. So, your kids will be surfing, but on air! The how-to of it is pretty simple, and you can build it in no time.
Bucket Swing
Turning a bucket into a swing seems like a simple job, but this particular bucket swing has a very professional seeming shape that has been very neatly cut. So, following the tutorial is a bit essential if you want to make this one for your kids.
Turning an old and broken chair into a swing sounds like a pretty cool idea. It looks lovely and light and can be made in absolutely no time! Just follow these simple pictorial images.
More details at rustaupp.blogg.se
Quick To Make Tire Swing
This is as simple as it gets. All you need is a car tire with its other components still attached and then fix a rope to it which will then be hoisted on a tree. Extremely affordable, time-saving, and simple to make, and once you follow this heavy visual guide, you’ll be ready with this swing in no time.
This is one of the best-looking swings out there. It looks pretty complex at first but gets simpler as you read through it. Though this particular one is readymade and not really a DIY, you can make a similar one on your own once you compartmentalize the parts you need to make. It does require a little craftsmanship, but hey, a challenge isn’t a bad thing, is it?
This tire twister swing made by Handsome Husband is pretty simple, yet the result is extremely fun. There isn’t much that you need to do, apart from some linking and drilling and hoisting, but the instructions cover the part of doing the job for you.
This tire swing was given a very charming makeover. Instead of looking drab and dull and not at all outstanding, this tire swing was painted like a ladybug and turned attractive for the kids and at the same time doesn’t give the appearance of a tire. You can paint other things on the tire instead of a ladybug, and you’ll have vibrant swings for the kids in no time.
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Multiple Tire Swings
Multiple tire swings are awesome and fun. They look unique and are packed from all sides, while also giving your children and their friends enough standing space that more than one person can swing at a single time. They also have a balanced weight and pretty easy to make.
This tire swing was made to look like a seat, and it is pretty cool! It isn't rocket science, and you can set up this swing in no time. Even though the site that shows you how to make this swing is in German, you can make out the process with the visual references provided in the guide.
There is a whole lot of tire DIY Swing Set Plans featured on this blog. You wouldn’t have known there could be so many different types of swings you could make from tires. And none of them look any more difficult than an elementary buildings.
More details at plus.google.com
So, which DIY Swing Set Plans do you think you can go for? There are a lot of them to choose from! Some are really beautiful, and some are very practical and cheap to make. In the end, it depends on the space, time, and budget you have to create a play area for your kids.
To quote Francis Poldark, a character from the 18th Century set series of novels titled Poldark, get ready for the ultimate house party.
Well, to figures of those times house parties involved balls, liquor, and tea. And that’s what you’re prepping for.
via Pinterest
One doesn’t need a specific reason to throw a tea party. A tea party just happens to be, pouring into occasions effortlessly and to everybody’s taste. There are many ways to throw a tea party and as many for decorating it. You, of course, are the warmest of hosts with the right amount of sweetness to delight your guests the way they would not expect.
For such an occasion, or one can say sets of occasions, here are some unique and exciting ideas for your tea party decorations.
Tea Party Decoration Ideas
Lights Tea Party Ideas
Solar Lights
Try looking for something that conserves energy and makes the best use of available light already. Solar lights are easy to install yet to wrap them as or around complicated things and shapes, you’ll need more than just lights. Get solar-powered LED strings, an old teapot, some craft wire, a large washer, a hot glue gun, and a wire cutter. Start with unwrapping the LED strings into 30-40 inches-long sections. Fold them in half, intertwining them into a single string section.
Continue with the process till you have several strands of string lights connected at one end. Take a craft wire of around 20-25 inches and loop it through the common end of the light strands. Make sure it’s tight enough so that you don't have rogue strands dangling around. Take the other end of the craft wire through the spout of the teapot and into the interior of it. Wind it through a washer and glue it inside the teapot. In the end, stick the lid of the teapot shut. Et voila, you have your very own Spilling Teapot Lights to hang around your garden.
Fairies in the Bush
Add a little magic to the garden while you and your guests have a sip of the chai. The requirements to make this happen are quite simple to acquire and don’t demand much work from your end: Old glass jars/wine bottles, Fairy lights, craft paper, long-lasting battery, hot glue. Now we’re going to make a standard fairy-lights-in-a-wine-bottle decoration piece, except we’re going to add a little bit of magical fairy dust to it.
Take an old glass jar or a wine bottle. Take a piece of craft paper equal to the circumference of the base of the container and cut it in the shape of a fairy with some grass around it. If you're using a jar, you can easily roll up the paper cutout and suspend it at the bottom. But if you're using a wine bottle, you could use some glue and stick the cutout on the outside of the bottle. Suspend the fairy lights inside the container and place it under a bush. Leave your guests awed at the magic happening in your backyard.
Fairy Lights
Fairy lights have been quite popular in recent years. You can create a firefly effect in your garden by hanging large glass globes around your trees and suspending fairy lights in them. You’ll get bonus points if you have multi-colored fairy lights in a single globe. This is a simple yet fascinating tea party decoration idea that your guests will love!
Floating Tealights
Decorate your table or backyard fountain with tealight candles floating on the water. Fancy and lightweight candle holders can add color to your floating garden.
Hanging Hats
This would require a trip to the thrift store or a wholesale dealer. Buy some top hats or bowler hats and drill holes through their top center. Pass the wire through them and attach a socket and bulb in the cavity of the hats. Install them from the ceiling or a tree branch, with an electric source on the other end and voila!
Glow Sticks and Bottles
Fill old wine and champagne bottles with glow sticks. You can additionally attach candles on the top of the bottles for a dual lighting effect that is guaranteed to impress. If both seem to be a little tough to do, you can fill the bottles with fairy lights too.
Pathways Tea Party Ideas
Colorful Pebbles
Create a colorful garden pathway with colored pebbles à la The Yellow Brick Road or the Rainbow Bridge, and see your guests lose themselves in a world of fantasy.
Gnomes
The old and weary yet happy-looking gnomes never grow old. Their decorative spirit is always high, though they are quite short themselves. You can litter your garden or your hallway entrance with colorful little gnomes.
Directions & Pointers
Directional arrowheads and signboards are of course merely decorative in this scenario, but they also add a little adventurous feel to this leisurely venture of tea drinking.
Ribbons
Ribbons are easy to buy, easy to use and come in large quantities for dirt cheap. They also look pretty fantastic and definitely add a lot of color to the occasion. With ribbons, you are free to experiment with shapes and lay them out along the pathway with the help of sticks buried in the mud.
Floral Tea Party Ideas
There are several floral designs you can go with to doll up your tea party and make it smell as good as your tea.
Hanging Flowers
Take a small, lean branch from a tree and tie a secure thread on two corners to create a sort of beam for the flowers to hang from. Hammer in a nail in the wall to hang this branch beam from. Before you hang the beam from the nail, get a bunch of strings, earthy colored preferably, and cut them in varying lengths, ranging from a feet to two. Tie the strings on the branch, spacing them out at a distance of three inches. To these strings attach the flowers to their stem and hang this little masterpiece on the wall.
Leave Shapes
Using long, unbroken stems of chinaberry leaves or leaves of similar shape and size, you can decorate the walls or tables with whatever shape you want to give to the stems. Use cellophane tape to bind the leaves together in shape, and use thin strings for extra reinforcement. You can add flowers to the leaves for that little more sass.
Leaf/Flower Rings
Instead of creating long-winded shapes with leaves, you can take average-sized plastic or fiber, or wooden rings and cover them half with the flora of your choice. You can then glue the rings together and hang them on the wall using nails or for a more temporary purpose, use detachable wall hooks.
Glass Pots
This one is standard and doesn’t require any effort at all. You can convert your glass jars and bowls into temporary homes for flowers. Fill them up with fresh water, attach ribbons to them, and add fresh flowers. Use them to decorate the table or accompanying furniture. Plus, you don’t have to go with just roses. The choice is up to you, and the flower shop will be of enough help during your selection.
Jar of Goodies
You can spice up the glass pots with more decoration by adding colorful pebbles, beads, candies, jellies, or anything that comes to your mind.
Crockery
It goes without saying that for a floral-themed tea party, laying the platter with floral crockery is the cherry on the cake. Your selection has a broad range, with floral crockery ranging in styles from Victorian to modern, minimalist to extravagant, and simple to elaborately floral-shaped designs. And this does not restrict itself to just the plates and cups. Even the spoons, sugar mixers, and pots have a colorful variety.
Wrappings
You can also use floral designs for your cupcake wrappings, for tissues to wrap the spoons in and to embellish other assortments that are on the menu.
Teapots and Cups
There is no better way to blend a tea party with a floral theme than to use sets of teapots and teacups as containers for a vibrant bunch of flowers. It only gets better if the pots and cups have flower embossing on them.
Cakes With Petals
This is a job more for your baker and caterer than for you, but if you’d like to give it a personal touch, you’re most welcome to. You can serve your guest's cupcakes in literal cups, with the cakes shaped like flowers and other floral designs. It would also be a pleasant surprise when you serve them.
Flowers In Your Tea
Use organic rosebuds to bring in that extra bit of freshness to your tea, serving them as condiments in the tea itself, floating in it and adding their essence to the taste. In some cultures, rose petals are consumed during ceremonies or for spiritual purposes, and rose in your tea adds a spiritual twist to your wonderful party.
Bonsai
Add a bit of freshness and greenery to your table by keeping bonsai pots on it. You can decorate it by keeping wrapped chocolates, cupcakes, and macaroons at the base of the pot, so you have a teeny tiny Christmas tree gracing your summer parties.
Tea Sets Ideas for Your Party
Tea sets are the eponymous decorative pieces of a tea party. You might add a whole lot of everything to your decoration, but in the end, your guests are going to want to be served tea, and impressing them with a tea set that leaves them wide-eyed is a good idea.
Minimalist
Plain does not always mean dull. There is beauty in simplicity; otherwise, minimalism would not be the go-to design palette for decorators today. When choosing a set for your tea party, going with minimally carved yet exotically colorful tea cups and pots are refreshing.
Victorian
Victorian teacups are exquisite in their make and design. Creating Victorian crockery is an art on its own with careful consideration for the shape, embossing and color schemes.
Floral
Be it patterns of flowers or elaborate floral shapes, teacups, saucers, and pots featuring flowers are always in demand. There is this unspoken camaraderie between flowers and tea that nobody really knows the reason for, but everyone accepts it as perfect. The market is rife with such intricately crafted flower tea sets.
Pot and Cup Sculptures
Less of a DIY and more of a purchase, depending on the level of complexity, pot, and cup sculptures are amazing decorative pieces, not only for your party but for permanent use. With a hot glue gun, you can glue cups one above another, or make sculptures like the pot pouring into the teacup, and hang them in your garden or your hall to wow them all.
Glow In The Dark Utensils
What if you light up your tea party indoors in absolute darkness but the subject of the party is the only thing glowing? Glow-in-the-dark cutlery, available through companies like Glow Company can provide you with cups, pots, plates, knives, and forks, all unremarkable in broad daylight but attention-stealing in darkness. Conversely, add shimmer to your plain white party balloons by dipping them halfway in dilute glue and coating it with golden or silver glitter. If you're going the fun way, use colored balloons with suitable colored glitter and hang them around like shiny disco balls.
Juice Pitchers
Contrast the serving of tea and its fancy crockery with colorful pitchers filled up with equally colorful fruit extracts ready to reinvigorate your guests if they are up for something cool to drink. Depending on the theme of your party, you can paint the pitchers or attach decorative add-ons.
Umbrellas Tea Party Ideas
Umbrella At The Table
If you wish to add shade and color to your tea party on a very sunny day, just hang up opened umbrellas overhead. This will keep the breeze flowing adding to the summer feel of the party. And if the theme you’re going with is Victorian or something old school, you can place a basket at the door filled with vintage seeming umbrellas or hang them on the coat hanger.
Umbrella Ceiling
Upscaling from the tabletop umbrella, an umbrella ceiling made by attaching twenty or more umbrellas together and tying them end to end by trees or beams will give the guests and people passing by a long moment of wonder.
Cloth and Paper Tea Party Décor
Name cards
Adding name cards is proper etiquette and shows that you care about that extra bit of work to make your party look all the more proper. You can place the cards on the table beside the plates, or you can keep them in the saucers by the cups, lay them down in the plates or fix them in the forks. You can also use them as flags masted upon the cupcakes. As for the size and color, there are innumerable options for you to choose from.
Lettering
Lettering your name cards can be a fun exercise. Thanks to the internet, you have the ability to choose from thousands of fonts, many of them free to use. According to the theme of your tea party, the guests that are due, and the occasion, you can pick and choose the type of font that will suit you best.
Origami
Paper origami is a wonderful option for decoration. If you’re not able to make origami of a wide variety, you can always call upon an origami craft maker for help. Based on the theme and occasion, you can order for the type of origami that will go with the party.
Newspapers
Tea and newspapers go hand in hand. What if you used vintage newspaper prints for table mats and napkins, and perhaps fancy your guests with a handful of the real ones from your nearby vintage store? You can also get newspaper prints on a cloth to cover the tables.
Magazines
Similar to a newspaper, but fancier when considering display, customized or theme-appropriate magazines are a fun way to add character to the party.
Menu cards
Give your guests a taste of the fine dining experience in your backyard with beautifully designed menu cards.
Ingredient Handbook
This one’s not common but is something your guests will definitely appreciate. You’re not only serving them great tea, dessert and course meal, but you’re also giving them a chance to replicate it in small, crafty handbooks telling them the secrets of your success!
Napkins
Need minimalist table decorations without spending a lot? Fancy napkin folding is a great bet. Use your origami skills to make colorful napkin patterns. Make sure you start with a pressed napkin to keep the creases sharp. You could also try some of the rare shapes from DIY tutorials. Napkins with different designs can add variety to your table, along with your food.
Custom Tablecloths
Bored with your normal white tablecloths? No worries. Use your old colorful bed sheets for this purpose. Cut two inches-wide strips from the dangling part of your table and braid them with similar underlying tablecloths. Or a simple knot with the rest of the strips flowing away can look thrifty yet chic.
Paper Clocks
Tick tock, it’s time for tea. A good way to add to the tea time theme is to get paper clocks or print and cut them out on your own and stick them with each other in whichever shape or form you please to hang them by the tree or shelves or the ceiling. You can also use them in place of table mats or print them out as stickers to paste on flat saucers. Using tea bags instead of clock hands will add to the theme of the party. You can glue them to the paper clocks using a hot glue gun or attach them with a string.
Paper Flowers
Paper flowers are easy to make and can look increasingly colorful if made from a wide variety of paper designs and shades. The size of the flowers is entirely up to you. You can use scrap paper and old newspapers too for this and save up on the expense. You can hang them on the walls or by the ceiling or behind chairs.
Door Knobs
Fancy or quirky door knob cards are a small but significant addition to the overall decoration of your party.
Card Tricks
Playing cards add an active flavor to any party. Not only are they engaging, but they are also customizable for making card sculptures. Moreover, they can be used as name cards too.
Curtains and Swings Party Ideas
Tyre Swings
Add a hint of nostalgia to your backyard with a few slabs of wood and old rubber tires. Hang them by the tree with strong nylon ropes, and you'll have your swings ready in no time. Your guests and your kids will thank you.
Pallet Swings
Pallet swings are both easy to make and light on expense. Buy a few pallets from the hardware store, and some small cushions and mattresses with colorful bed sheets and covers. You can go through DIY tutorials online for making pallet swings, and you can make them as single-seaters and as full-fledged swinging beds. You can also customize the shape and materials for a truly outstanding result.
Bling Curtains
Tie up long golden bling curtains by your verandah or gazebo for an afternoon tea party. The golden hue will complement the sunlight. Similar silver bling curtains can reflect the moonlight for your evening gatherings.
Candles
Antique Holders
Use antique metal candle holders for your evening parties. Aromatic candles can elevate the mood of the party. Mild scents like Holly Wreath, Rosemary, Jasmine, and Green Apple can be good yet less nauseating for the food table, whereas Vanilla, Ginger, and well, Tea scented candles can make your entire garden fragrant.
Crafty Candles
The image of a long, white candle is in everybody’s mind but buying theme-appropriate, differently designed, and colorful candles in bulk to litter your party with light will give people a refreshing alternative to the everyday electric lights.
Eco-friendly Lanterns
If you're looking for eco-friendly material to change the façade of your venue, hanging clay lanterns and lighting candles inside them can brighten up your theme. These lanterns can be long-lasting without adding to your plastic waste.
Thematic
This category has the potential for unlimited customization. Themed parties are always fun, be it Halloween or Christmas, movie or comic, literary or periodic.
Victorian
Hah. This is the ultimate tea party theme. Replicating the time when tea parties were the equivalent of modern-day raves, this theme can be a bit heavy on the budget side if you are going for a fully Victorian setting, but manageable and fantastic to look at otherwise too. From trays to the crockery, tables, and stools, there is much that you can do.
Alice In Wonderland
Definitely, the most popular tea party theme in the world, Alice in Wonderland is tailor-made for the occasion. There are fewer scenes in literature and classic stories more iconic than Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. A significant introduction for the eponymous Alice to the wonderful wonder of Wonderland, the tea party, is peppered with the various inhabitants being hosted by the fantastic Mad Hatter.
From the ‘We are all mad here’ quote featuring just about anything in your theme to arrows directing everywhere, an Alice in Wonderland theme party is rife for experimentation. You can make or order colorful Mad Hatter hats for each of your guests, line up cakes with floating pots, and decorate the party area with small or big colorful mushrooms, to either sit on or look at.
Beauty and the Beast
Another classic that has a dinner set as a centerpiece of its second act, Beauty and the Beast, like Alice in Wonderland, plays with costumed themes of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and Cogsworth are characters that can be easily adapted as decorations for your party, while golden curtains and a snowball theme will liven up your party as they did for Belle. This theme also allows you to add French influences to the primarily British tradition.
Harry Potter
Moving on from the Victorian age but still retaining some of the old world essences, a Harry Potter-themed tea party also works for Halloween. Printing the Marauder’s map on tissues, embossing the school houses insignia on the napkins, hanging paintings from the films on the walls, and yes the floating candles will make your tea party a magical affair. For the candles, you needn’t do much.
Take a bunch of at least fifteen candles, drill holes horizontally right through the upper end of the candles and pass barely visible strings through them. Hang the candles by a mast or beam from the roof and hang them up. You can also effectively have a long table tea for dinner post-tea.
Downton Abbey
The television series is the very epitome of British high society manners and customs. Fewer stories can so easily blend humanity and royalty as Downton Abbey has. Bordering on the Victorian side, but with a knack for the flashy Twenties, a tea party themed after Downton Abbey is one for the history books.
Chinese/Japanese/Indian Tea Party
Why not surprise your guests with something so extraordinarily unique that it leaves them with the fondest memories of the experience? Given, this will require a lot of decorative endeavors for one party, in the end, it is worth the effort. Tea is an everyday commodity for people in India, China, and Japan.
Be it the classic Chai, or the herbal one, decoction or iced tea, people from the East love their tea. Reinvigorate the senses of both your guests and yourself by not only decorating your party in the style of the East but also serving them the plethora of aromatic flavors available in the region.
Turkish
Bringing an Ottoman-Arabian flavor to the party, with an exquisite seating arrangement similar to the Indian one but unique in its own way, a Turkish-themed tea party allows you to add refreshments like the shisha to the mix, even if it is only for show. Some esoteric Sufi music will set the mood perfectly for your party.
Halloween
Serve a spoonful of spooking with a Halloween-themed tea party. Jack-O-Lantern skins for your teapots sound like a cool idea, doesn’t it? The usual Halloween decorations would do fine for your tea party, but you’re always free to dabble in stranger imaginings.
The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings
This definitely gives you the perfect way to ask your guests if they’ll fancy a second serving. This 20th-century literary classic and beloved pop culture film series. You can lift several visual cues and witty quips from the films for this theme. Small hobbit holes, barrels of tea with a deep-necked spoon to pour it, or incorporating Victorian elements are some ways you can go about for your theme.
Due to the overbearing presence of the Elves in the lore, you have countless options for an Elven-themed tea party. No one gets more high society than the high-minded and dainty elves of Middle-Earth. They are royalty with a spoonful of ethereal wonder, and their abodes reflect the same. Floral and silken decorations come to mind when you think of them first. Using white lights for lanterns recreates the bluish aura of the Elven homes.
A Star Wars-y Party
Moving away from the medieval and folk themes and onto a galaxy far, far, away, a star wars themed tea party sounds fantastic. Saucers painted the Death Star, sugar mixers colored like the lightsabers, X-Wings, and the Millennium Falcon printed as paper hangings are a few ways you can incorporate the faraway galaxy into your tea party.
So, are you ready to throw the ultimate tea party? What ideas impressed you the most? Are your brain cells popping up with crafty new ways of making tea party decorations? Or perhaps you would like to mix and match a number of ideas for a truly unique décor. Of course, there is no limit to what you can do once you’re up to the task of wowing your guests with fantastic tea and remarkable decoration.
If you have ever dreamt of building and living in your own tiny home then this article might just make your dream come true. It is not hard to see why Tiny Houses are a thing these days. Not only does it let you avoid huge sums of debt, they also let you embrace life in the serenity of nature. So in this article, we have a list of 37 DIY Tiny House Plans that are pretty easy to build without incurring too much expense.
The Homestead Cabin is among the most popular tiny house plans thanks to the gorgeous exteriors and a decently spacious interior that will ensure a life of peace and tranquility. The house itself is a 12’x24’ one with a 12/12 roof and a loft. The lower level of the house has enough space to fit in a living room, a small kitchen, a bathroom, and even a laundry closet. The loft, which spans about half the house, can either be left as it is or utilized to construct a second floor for even more space.
Complete instructions at tinyhousedesign.com
2. The 8x12 Tiny House
This tiny house plan is for all those folks who want to stick with a basic design that provides a high level of utility. While this house, measuring 8’x12’, is significantly smaller than the previous one – its primary advantage lies in the simplicity of the design. This is definitely a great choice for those of you guys that are somewhat apprehensive about the idea of building your own home. The design is easy to implement and, with a little creativity, this home can really be turned into a show place.
If you happen to own a small, mobile business that requires you to move your mobile stall around a lot, then this is the plan for you. This isn’t exactly suitable for living but serves great as a mobile market. You can easily set this house up at different farmer’s markets or other vending areas where you can conduct your business. The Market House itself is a very compact 5’x8’ house and features a glass window in the front, next to the door.
This tiny house is perfect if you plan on living solo or maybe even as a couple. The tiny 8’x8’ house cannot hold a family but will surely suffice for two persons. The house itself is extremely minimalistic and is pretty easy to build as it does not have any complex structures. It has just enough space for the basic amenities such as a bathroom, a small kitchen and a sleeping loft which is accessed above the main living area.
This one’s for all those who love to live life without having to depend on any agencies for basic needs. Self-sufficiency is what this house offers you as its design has been based on the idea of being run on solar power. This is especially great if you’re looking to live off the grid in a place that does not have access to electricity. So if you’re a person who loves the idea of living in solitude in a self-sufficient manner, this is just the house for you.
Yet another solar-powered tiny house for those of you who prefer living self-sufficiently in a far-off place. This house is significantly bigger that the previous one, measuring about 8’x20’ and designed to run strictly on solar power. While the design may be a little more on the complicated side as compared to a lot of others in the article, it does offer you quite a lot of facilities for a house this small. Besides the plan has been prepared to show you how the home would look in both 2D and 3D which will ensure you know exactly what you’re going for.
Complete instructions at tinyhousedesign.com
7. The Writer’s Cottage
As the name suggests, The Writer’s Cottage is a safe haven for all those aspiring writers that dream of living in a state of blissful solitude and expressing their thoughts and beliefs on paper, undisturbed by the bustle of the city. This is almost like a tiny little paradise for people that dream of becoming a writer someday. The house itself looks very warm and welcoming, featuring all the basic amenities such as a small kitchen, a Sun-Mar composting toilet system, ample space for books and even a small folding writer’s desk.
Complete instructions at thesmallhousecatalog.com
8. The Sago Plan
The Sago Plan shows the house is a whopping 670 sq. feet which are quite big for a tiny house. This is perfect for those that plan on moving into a tiny home with their family and living in a cozy little home that has everything you need to live a wonderful life. The house even comes with its own little porch apart from a few other luxuries such as a basement with a cold cellar, a fireplace, and a full-sized kitchen. If you wish to live big in a tiny house, this is what you should be looking for.
9. The Ash House
The Ash house is a tad smaller than the previous house, coming in at an impressive 480 sq. feet of living space. The design itself is quite basic but pretty to look at and it is very easy to build without incurring many costs. This is great for singles, couples, and retirees that wish to live a minimalistic lifestyle. However, you do get everything you need in this house - a decently sized kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, and even a basement.
10. The Backyard Bungalow
As you might already have figured out from the pictures itself, the plan of this tiny house is very similar to the previous one and offers you pretty much the same amenities as the last one. The primary difference between the two homes is in its design which has been tweaked and modified to make it more suitable as a guest home in your backyard. The house features a crawlspace instead of a basement and is perfect if you plan to put up a small bungalow in your backyard for guests.
The Cascadia Cottage is probably one of the most adorable designs on the whole list and offers you more room than most other houses in the list. It has around 560 sq. feet of living space where you can comfortably spend your life. The house is designed to have only a single floor which comes with just one bathroom and a bedroom. If you are a true believer in living simply and have downsized your possessions to the tiniest extent, then you should definitely check out this plan.
If you are someone that loves to be on the move constantly and don’t want to restrict your home to just one piece of land, this is the home for you. The Bohemian-style home is on a trailer which will allow you to move it around as you, please. The house itself is quite spacious and cozy for a tiny house and has an organic flair to it thanks to the cedar shingle siding and a curved roof.
If you’re someone who loves to go against the norm and prefers unique designs over the same old boring stuff, then the Texas Round House should be your ideal choice. Round houses aren’t just unique but they also hold up better against the elements of nature as compared to traditional designs. The design of the house looks super cool and has a commendable 616 sq. feet of living space inside.
This is yet another unique design that serves great as a tiny house. The ladder house features two stories which equate to an impressive 531 sq. feet of finished space. Additionally, this house also comes with a basement underneath the building which can serve as a root cellar. So if the idea of owning a two-story tiny house that also comes with a root cellar excites you, you should definitely check out this design.
This is yet another house that is on wheels and is perfect for anyone that is on the move constantly. If you love traveling or your job requires you to move around a lot, you can easily take this house along with you and not have to worry about checking in to a hotel every time. This way you can cut down on your traveling expenses and also cut down on your living expenses as a tiny home requires a far lower monthly expenditure compared to a regular house.
The Hydrangea Tiny House is definitely one of the biggest houses in our list of the best tiny house designs. This house has a whopping 908 sq. feet of finished space which is definitely enough for a small family. The house comes with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and is perfect if you plan on moving to a tiny home along with your entire family. It also comes with a full-sized kitchen and high 8 feet ceiling.
Not all people have the luxury of taking their house along with them wherever they go. But you definitely can do so with this amazing design that is engineered to be mobile. You may have your own reasons to not lead a traditional settled lifestyle and hence this house has been designed keeping people like you in mind. The house itself is fully featured and comes with a bathroom, kitchen and a sleeping loft apart from a few other amenities.
18. The Forest Rose Tiny House
The forest rose house is, in my opinion, the most adorable design on the whole list. Being a tiny home does not stop this house from being as charming and aesthetically pleasing as a luxurious mansion. While the house may appear tall, it actually only has 440 sq. feet of living space with just one bedroom and one bathroom. This house will perfectly assure you a comfortable life if you plan on staying solo or as a couple.
Yet another tiny house that is on a trailer and designed to be on the go constantly. The design of the house is quite adorable and measures 24 feet in length while having a width of about 8’6”. That is an impressive amount of space for a house that is on a trailer. The real beauty of the house lies in its interiors which is beautifully designed to provide you with all kinds of convenience.
The Lookout Cabin is one of my favorite designs on the list simply because of the second-story balcony that comes with it. With just around 460 sq. feet of space, this cabin conveniently fits in two bathrooms, one bedroom, an all-purpose room, and a balcony. Besides, the cabin comes with a stairwell which is rarely seen in a tiny home. This can serve as an amazing vacation home for up to a couple of people.
Among all the unique and even bizarre designs that we have come across, this house is one of its own kind. The tiny home is actually a fully working amplifier and you can plug in any musical instrument of your choice into it. The best part is that the deck of the house itself can serve as a stage. The main part of the L-Shaped house is a 400 sq. foot stationary one while the “amplified” side can be attached to a trailer and taken on an adventure.
This is definitely one of the most amazing houses that I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. This tiny home comes with its own little greenhouse and the entire house can be moved around by attaching it to a trailer. The design itself is nothing short of a masterpiece and the house can easily accommodate a couple for a comfortable lifestyle. It has a total of 323 sq. feet of living space.
This tiny house, known as the Nugget, is definitely the most livable 12-foot home that you’ve ever seen. It is complete with full off-grid capabilities and you can easily use this as a weekend gateway or a travel companion and even live in it comfortably as long as you are alone. The house comes with a full bathroom, a lovely bedroom, and a huge kitchen sink.
This cottage is one of the coziest-looking houses that I’ve seen in my life. Living in this adorable little home, which you can also move around on wheels, must be a sweet experience. The size of this little home is enough for a couple to live comfortably and it also comes with all the basic amenities that you’d expect out of a tiny house.
The Cheddar Mountain Tiny House might look small when observed from the outside. However, a little peek into the house will reveal a big and grand farmhouse-style design that is bound to impress you. This house features repurposed accessories, subway tiles, rich hardwood floors, and shiplap walls, all of which combine to give it the perfect balance between a rustic-chic and modern convenience.
This design has been engineered by a Dallas-based designer named Paige Morse who renovated two century-old sheds in her backyard to create this comfy little home. This can serve as an excellent little guest house, in case you lack one in your own home. It has two rooms and 250 sq. feet of space which is sufficient for a single person to live comfortably.
As a child, did you ever dream of living in a tree house? Observing nature from the midst of the wilderness and living a life of full freedom. Well, the day has come when you can finally make that dream come true. This amazing tree house looks like something straight out of my childhood dreams and boasts of an impressive living room, an office and a comfy little bedroom.
This definitely is one of the sleekest and most unique tiny house ideas on the list and if you are someone who loves to travel, then you are bound to love it. The house is attached to a trailer and comes with 200 sq. Ft of living space. The tiny home features a farmhouse sink, shiplap, and subway tile all crammed into the tiny house. However, the most defining feature of this house is the sliding glass garage door that has a deck that pops out and can be used as a porch.
The Bestie Row was created by four couples in Texas it basically is a mini neighborhood that consists of four houses. The houses are all very basic and minimalistic consisting of just one bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room.
More details at countryliving.com
30. The Cabin by the Woods
This one is a dreamy little house nestled in the midst of the quaint wilderness, undisturbed by the chaos of civilization. The design of the house revolves around self-sufficiency and hence comes with solar panels on the South-East facing porch. The house looks warm and cozy and boasts an impressive 550 sq. Ft of space which is ample for a couple to live comfortably.
Named after the ship from Moby Dick, The Pequod is a prime example of creative living. It features some of the basic modern amenities and has upscale materials and looks nothing short of a work of art. The Pequod is 26 feet in length and weighs around 11,500 pounds and is perfect for all those artists that wish to live life off the grid.
Two mobile trailers were cleverly turned into one 400 sq. foot home by the owner of this Austin tiny home. Just one look at the house will reveal all the artistic details and vibrant colors that speak a ton about the owner of the house. The two trailers are connected only by a deck and look like an excellent little place to lay back and relax during the weekends.
A warm and cozy wave of sweet country characters greets you as soon as you step inside the 250 sq. Ft tiny home. The design is one of the neatest and most organized ones that I have seen in the hundreds of tiny house ideas that I have scoured through. The house features farmhouse-inspired wooden accents and is always teeming with natural light throughout the daylight hours.
This is certainly one of the most vibrant tiny houses featured on the list. Known as the “Savannah” this unique little house is one of the many such masterpieces in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Tiny House Village. The house features yellow cedar planks that are accentuated by the red shutters and white rim.
The Indigo tiny home by Driftwood Homes USA boasts of bold and contrasting interiors that lend a sleek and modern feel to it. Careful choice of colors and smart utilization of space sets this tiny 280 sq. Ft home apart from the rest of the crowd. The house is definitely an amazing place to lay back and take a break from the hectic life in the city.
This tiny home is a true minimalist’s paradise which is clad in a siding that is made of recycled pallet wood. The 196 sq. ft home feels spacious despite it being one of the smallest in the entire list. It is beautifully lit in bright incandescent lighting and comes with all the basic amenities required to live a cozy life.
Ending our list with one of the most unique and environment-friendly designs is this beautiful little home designed by Broadhurst Architects. The design of this tiny home is inspired by American Corn Cribs which were used for storing corn. This 250 sq. foot tiny home includes a sleeping loft, a fully functional bathroom an expandable kitchen wall, and even a living room. The entire house is constructed of sustainable and recyclable materials which can be dismantled and relocated elsewhere.
More details at www.thecrib.info
What do you think about our tiny house plans collection? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
Have you ever dreamt of having a secret clubhouse in the trees, where you could hide and play with your friends? Are your kids insisting you to build one right there in your backyard because they want some adventure?
Tree houses have always been on the bucket list for all of us as kids, and even as adults. A safe place to lose oneself; be it leisure, relaxation or playtime.
A private space where children can have adventures of their own, from fairy tales and pirates, to forts and hide-and-go-seek. Teenagers always want a place to remove themselves from reality, so a tree house stacked with books is a great escape.
As for adults, well, you can enjoy a hot mug of coffee on a cold night. Or relax alone with a glass of wine after a stressful day at the office.
A tree house is a winner idea for anyone looking for solitude and escape. Check out these amazing Do-it-yourself ideas for your very own backyard tree house.
This very easy and simple tree house blends in perfectly with the surrounding trees. Hanging a tyre swing under the tree house can add more to the simplicity of it. You can even decorate the place as you wish; fairy lights, hanging lamps, hanging potted plants and so much more. Safety is recommended for kids as it is open from all sides. You may use foam pads on the ground to cushion your child's landing and reduce injuries.
If you want to learn the basics how-tos for a tree house, these plans are your friend. These plans have all the tips and tricks to help you make a simple tree house with a deck. However, this guide lacks the visual step-by-step tutorial of the techniques, so you might have to take a little more efforts into building a perfect tree house.
Here we have another easy-to-understand instruction guide to build a simple tree house. This guide has tips to make your tree house stronger and more durable. Give your kids a tree house to enjoy through their childhood and their teenage years.
This tree house can be a small yet quaint place to hang out in the woods. It can be a clubhouse for adults or a playhouse for kids. Adding a pop of color can make it stand out from the trees. Bright pastel colors can bring freshness to an otherwise monotonous tree house.
Give it a personal touch by painting brightly shaped geometric or abstract shapes. Alternatively, just let the kids have fun with paints and paintbrushes. Finger painting and palm painting is a simple and fun activities, so let your children contribute to their play area.
This basic tree house has a simple lean-to roof and four walls. The room is small, so it's not appropriate for adults. The small seating space outside the room lets your kids sit around dangling their legs. It's high enough to have fun, but not so high to cause accidents.
You can cover up the monotonous look of the tree house by painting it with bright peppy colors. Adding mattresses and pillows inside can make it even more comfortable.
A Medium-sized Tree House
This tree house is not huge, but not small either. It's a perfect fun-sized tree house for your kids for outdoor playtime. It has a room and a small deck, with a sturdy roof. Storing toys and games won't be an issue. So if you're looking for a more economic tree house, you would love this. Introduce fairy lights to the tree house, both inside and outside, to give it a comfortable homely look. Using warm white lights can even be used for reading purposes.
A minimalist approach to building a tree house from picket fences. Minimalist structures are the in-thing. Most modern design elements these days go for a very minimalist look. It basically utilizes a very concise and precise methodology for its design which even though simple, looks charming.
It may be covered from two, three, or four sides as per your liking, along with a deck. It can be an open type of tree deck and can be used by the kids to play around, or by an adult to just get away with a book and a mug of hot coffee.
This treehouse is similar to a tree deck, but smaller, mostly for children. It's a very basic construction project for carpentry beginners so if your kids have been insistent on having a tree house, you don't have to fret about detailed, fancy, and time-consuming efforts anymore. This simple treehouse is quite achievable with these easy instructions. But, if you feel the simplicity is a little off-putting to your artistic sensibilities, then you can add movable elements in the house, like fancy little furniture and decor that will make it stand out. Adding fairy lights and other light-based decorations would bring life to the set up too.
If you wish to build a tree house for your kids similar to the one you had in your childhood, this is the pattern you're looking for. Bring back the trend of traditional tree houses with the A-Frame Tree House, equipped with a deck on one side, pulleys and ladders. I personally love A-frame designs.
Be it in chairs, swings, houses, vaulted ceilings, or in a tree house. It brings a more imposing appearance while also calling back to olden times. This compact design can fit well into your backyard too.
This idea is brilliant for a small or medium-sized tree house serving as a hideaway for your kids. It follows the A-Frame construction technique with some open flaps from the side for sunlight and breeze. The rooftop is strong and sturdy, so the tree house is good for playing or napping. It's not covered entirely, so using it in harsh rains or snow is not recommended.
Unlike the simple tree house guides from above, this guide has detailed instructions to building a good tree house. For your convenience, it also has visual aid for every step. You can associate tips and tricks from both guides and build an amazing tree house right in your backyard. Beginners might feel lost with the instructions, but it's easy to comprehend once you start catching up with the procedures.
These plans are for a more elaborate tree house, for more experienced carpenters. The dimensions are quite accurately represented and easy to understand. The tree house consists of a deck with handrails and stair steps, so it's safe for your kids to play. It also comes with a swing and a slide, which adds to the charm.
This very basic and step-by-step plan essentially eases your tree house-building endeavor. This detailed diagrammatic illustration of a tree house with proper dimensions will make it simpler for you to construct. It is not as detail-oriented as photographic visual aids from most instruction guides, but it's still helpful. It's a simple hoisted on a large primary beam with supporting beams on the side.
The Wood-Sided Tree House
This traditional tree house design uses the tree as the main support. The actual room is built around the tree trunk with wooden planks and hoisted to the tree itself. It's a completely covered room with a deck and has a small opening with a suspended ladder.
You can probably go with different ladder designs to make the entrance to your tree house look a little more special. Nailing a few fun boards to the trunk around the ladder will bring a peppy appeal. You can accessorize it with swings and toys for your kids.
The Tree Deck
If you want a big spacious tree house in the woods, this idea is quite a catch. You can have a sturdy wooden deck installed between a cluster of trees, in a desired polygonal shape. This will not have a roof, so you cannot store your stuff out in the open. You can even put a rope ladder at the entrance, or modify it into a regular wooden one.
Kids and adults can relax in the tree deck under the lush natural canopy of trees. It's a great site for mini camp-outs, where you can put tents for the night and enjoy slumber parties. You may even hang a hammock and take a peaceful afternoon nap under the trees.
Another economic idea for a tree deck that you might be planning to build yourself. This deck uses the tree as a primary support, with beams to support the corners. Equipped with a strong ladder, but without a roof, this tree deck is an amazing place to hang out on summer afternoons or autumn evenings. Kids will love to play around on this spacious deck, while adults can hang out during small gatherings and parties.
This tree house with a deck can grant you a view of the woods, from all sides. This hangout place is small but comfortable for kids and adults alike. With a deck, you can basically add a number of small decorative furniture pieces for that extra appeal and perhaps go for more rustic designs to complement the tree house. So add some adventure to your outdoor parties with this amazing tree house.
As the name suggests, this tree house is similar to a tree deck but smaller and higher. It can be built using the support of two or more trees, with size varying accordingly. The frame for the tree house is a simple cubicle with a roof. The roof can be made using a wooden mesh, and it can be modified for shade with a tarp or some makeshift roofing material.
The walls can be covered with jute or straw lattice for partial privacy. It is perfect for mild sunbathing or having some time for yourself. Since it's an open tree house, it does not provide protection from harsh weather.
You can build a tree house in the woods right next to your camping site and make your kids feel right at home. Give hiking and fishing a pass, and unwind in this very private woody tree house with your kids. You can cozy up with blankets and hot cocoa under starry skies and fresh air. Bring a stack of varied story books and novels for both kids and adults. A musical jukebox can add to the atmosphere. An adventure for sure!
Give your tree house a refreshing new look by building it like a mountain cabin. Everybody loves a cabin in the woods and this love usually starts pretty early. So, even if you didn’t have the opportunity to experience a cabin in the woods feeling, your kids definitely can and perhaps you can with them.
You may build it at a higher elevation and with large windows for plenty of sunlight. You may add a skylight for natural illumination. Let your children's playtime resemble the adventure of camping in a cabin in the woods.
This funny design for your tree house is one of a kind. It's a small, quaint place for the kids to play around in, or for the adults to sit back and relax. The Tree Pod is not very high from the ground and has curved edges to reduce injuries. However, it seems difficult for the Pod to withstand rough and hyperactivity. But, if you are careful and looking to be more laid back, then this tree pod design is perfect.
If your kids prefer being away from the public when they play, you can build a tree house secluded from the public areas around your house. You can hide the tree house behind a lush branch of the tree to provide a natural cover. It's a place where your children can play or study in peace, without being disturbed. Safety and supervision by parents are recommended.
This is a fancy clubhouse your children can use as a play area. It is a simple tree house built on a deck, with a roof but without walls. The beams can be covered with curtains instead, giving it a very homely look. You can also add small chairs, toys, books and slides to this secret hideaway.
Perhaps, you can add some innovative decor to the interiors and create a more adventurous interior for kids to feel like they have escaped to some unique place. A little splash of colors on the inside and it will look straight out of a catalog.
This basic garden clubhouse is an easy DIY product, which kids and adults can use. Built not very high from the ground, this house has three walls with curtains and a gable roof. You can decorate the place around the tree house with potted plants, flowers, and vines and store toys and books inside. The best thing about this garden clubhouse is that you don't even need a tree to build it upon.
This simple DIY project is a small cubicle you can build in your backyard. Constructed at minimal height, this place is a perfect clubhouse for kids. It has a glass roof so kids can look at the raindrops without getting drenched. Adding fun colors to it can bring charm to your small and cozy cubicle. It's a good play area for children, suitable for all seasons.
This minimalist approach to building a tree house is quite achievable. Simple in looks, yet charming and cozy. The windows are large enough to let in cool summer breeze and lots of sunlight. Making the tree house compact can add to its strength and make it durable for playing kids.
Play forts are a favorite among kids of all ages. A perfect hideout for kids playing outdoors, this tree house has four walls and a hoisted tarp blending in with the trees. You can accessorize the tree house by attaching a pulley and a basket for charm and fun.
Painting the exterior with a camouflage pattern, making holes in the sides, and attaching water guns will make it exciting for the kids to play. And if you want more of a Disney world theme for the house, you can paint sigils with your kids on linen or silk cloth, cut them into shapes of banners, attach wooden or steel rods to the banners to hang them, and hammer some nails in the tree house.
Include a few prop swords and shields and paper mache creatures, light it up with fancy lights, and some heroic adventure music, and your kids have the perfect medieval fort house to play make-believe in.
Bring a feeling of sailing through the seven seas with this nifty tree house idea. The exterior decor and accessories imitating an old ship will bring out the inner pirate in you. You can easily shape the tree house in the form of a boat with some easy guidelines.
Vintage pirate accessories like lamps and hats are available in most stores. Decorating the interior with small ships, treasure chests full of toys and steering wheels will certainly add more to the theme. Construct a simple periscope or attach a telescope for some stargazing. Ahoy!
A thematic tree house, inspired by childhood stories like Winnie the Pooh, is something every child would love. This tree house is spacious and large, with tiny abstract windows, rope railings, an extra landing, and a dethatched roof. These additions add to the fantastical aesthetics and make it seem like a fairyland right there in your backyard.
Add a pulley or modify your ladder with a spiral staircase for extra charm. Include a small library of storybooks that go with the theme and some toys. The interior decor itself can be tweaked in accordance to a fantasy theme you or your kids are aiming for.
For example, if you have more than one sturdy tree in your backyard and an ample budget, you can construct a couple or more tree houses, and connect them with bridges in the style of Lothlorien from the Lord of the Rings. You can run a Star Wars theme for the kids with small stuffed ewoks on the branches. The possibilities are endless.
How about an obstacle race to the tree house? Build a fun and challenging obstacle course for your kids by adding a rock-climbing wall, rope swings, or rope ladders. Encourage your tiny ninjas to take this adventure in a stride. It also adds novelty to your tree house.
You can find the required accessories like old tires and ropes in your garage, so you can economize too. And if you want to add more fun elements, you can install some easy-to-make or print cartoon characters that are known for racing, like the Wily Coyote, Road Runner, Bugs Bunny, and so on.
Feeding the imagination of your kids is always a good thing and blending it with exercise means, you accomplish two goals.
It's a tree house straight out of fancy catalogs. The tree house in your backyard can be connected to your house by tunnel slides. Imagine climbing into the tunnel slides and slide into your home or trying the other way and climbing into the tree house. The two-storied spacious tree house can be an exciting getaway for kids playing outdoors. Building it in close proximity to your house can give you extra assurance about your kids’ safety.
As the name suggests, this tree house matches the exterior of an actual house. You can have the main tree house on the upper level and a garage on the ground. With added levels and slides, this luxurious tree house can be equally fun for both children and adults.
You can add a more homely feel to it by painting it in vibrant colors and adding decorative pieces and appliances. Covering it with curtains and laying pillows and mattresses will enhance the comfort of the tree house. A good afternoon nap or late night sleepovers are both definitely possible.
Add a bit of adventure to your otherwise ordinary tree house with this idea. If your tree house is high enough, you may want to modify the ladders into something more fun, with peppy design elements and decorative additions. This four-sided ladder is easy to build and attach to your tree house. All you need is wooden planks and strong ropes.
If you're interested in adding a natural element to your backyard tree house without making it look constructed, try this design. Made with curved branches of trees, without leaves of course, these sustainable human-sized nests are durable and strong. The extra-constructed base makes sure that the structure remains intact.
You can decorate the interiors of this beautiful spirit nest with fairy lights, synthetic flowers and vines, toy birds, and other earthy decorative pieces like lamps and scented candles, et cetera. Seems magical for an afternoon nap, doesn't it?
This is a great opportunity for you to try your hand at the modern small-scale architecture that would mostly appeal to adults. If you don't want to build a traditional tree house and are interested in abstract building designs, you could make a tree house in a different way.
The best thing about this design is that you can go freestyle with wood, metal, fiberglass, and glass. Abstract shapes and sizes, neutral colors, and funky lights can be added too. This design needs more investment of time and money.
It's one of the fancier, more luxurious models, and is appropriate for adults. It is supposed to be suspended alongside a cliff on high stilts and beams. I have a family friend who owned a large mansion in the hills and he built a cliff-side tree house just like this one but with a bigger size.
Trust me, the feeling is amazing. To look out at the valley or depression from the porch of a tree house like this is mesmerizing. What would be amazing is if you can have a walkway at the entrance to ease your access to the tree house, littered with lights on both sides and some vines growing on them.
Add glass windows, hammocks, or bar stools to give it a posh homely feeling. You can also add railings for extra safety.
A Wooden Hut on Tree
This sophisticated design for a tree house is more suitable for adults. It's not weatherproof; it's more of a makeshift hide-out for adults seeking relaxation. What you need to spare are some strong wooden planks and a big sheet of cloth, probably a bed sheet.
Arrange a lantern, some pillows, a warm cozy blanket, and some books for a complete session of solitude.
So, which of the tree house plans caught your eye the most? Do you think you can take a number of ideas and mix them to create something unique for you and your family? You don’t always have to stick to the recommended designs.
You may make your tree houses self-sustainable by adding solar panels to the roof. One panel can be enough to power lights in a single tree house. You can use up the remainder of the wooden planks to make birdhouses just next to your kids’ nests.
In the end, tree houses will always be interesting and trendy, no matter how far along we come in elaborate building designs. They have this innate sense of escapism that barely anything else can match.
It gives children and adults an extensive opportunity to try their hand at small-scale constructions and let imagination run wild. So, building a tree house is one of the most rewarding experiences and truly a worthy investment.
Do share the tree house plans you select and what you eventually end up building. It would be a delight to see your home perched upon a tree.
It's that time of the year again. It's time to go out into the pumpkin patch and look for the best pumpkin to work with. After all, pumpkin carving is a big part of Halloween fun.
But when adding Halloween décor to our homes, why stick to a classic jack-o-lantern when you can be creative with your designs? That's where this article comes in.
These are the best drawing ideas for pumpkins to help you carve the spookiest, most creative pumpkins in your neighborhood.
The 50 Best Pumpkin Drawing Ideas for Your Halloween Pumpkin
The sky's the limit when it comes to pumpkin carving. However, before you can start drawing and carving, it's best to look for inspiration online to help you.
These 50 designs should give you the perfect pumpkin carving idea to work on.
Carving a pumpkin head is a classic way to make a jack-o-lantern. However, you can easily step it up by adding the skeleton's torso to complete the spooky look. Others would even use three pumpkins to form a whole scary skeleton pumpkin.
Turning a pumpkin into a vase is one of this list's easy pumpkin carving ideas. Whether you're using this to decorate your front porch or dining area, this carved pumpkin will be a great way to display your fresh flowers this season.
Tip
You can use a plastic cup to keep the stems in place.
If you're into astrology, astronomy, or anything to do with the stars, why not add them to your lawn? This pumpkin carving design is sure to bring the cosmos closer to you. Making it with a hollowed-out pumpkin will also help those stars shine bright at night.
What can be more spooky than a haunted house? Instead of having the ghosts haunt your home, you can easily carve one out for them to live in. You can carve the place onto one pumpkin or carve it onto three pumpkins to make a whole mansion or tower.
This creative way of decorating your pumpkin doesn't require you to carve too much. You can hollow it out and create holes for your flower stems or hot glue the flowers onto the pumpkin shell. Either way, you'll have elegant pumpkin décor for your house.
Witches are a Halloween staple. If you can't find a green heirloom pumpkin for this project, you can use spray paint to turn your pumpkin green. Add a parsnip nose and witch hat, and your witch pumpkin will be ready to hex anyone that walks by your domicile.
Tinker Bell is a beloved classic for kids. This pumpkin can help you capture some of her magic. This type of carving may just attract pixies and fairies to sprinkle their dust around your home. Some of the trick-or-treaters might even match their costume with your pumpkin design.
This spooky pumpkin design is probably not for the faint of heart. You can use a linoleum cutter to carve out the face. Then, settle its victim made of a smaller gourd into the pumpkin's mouth to add to the fear factor. This pumpkin design is sure to scare some trick-or-treaters.
Add a little joy to this spooky time by creating a rainbow on your lawn. You can use mini pumpkins as the clouds for your design. If you don't have mini white pumpkins, you can simply paint over the pumpkin shell.
If you're looking for a more rustic vibe for your pumpkin, you can check out the different hen and chicks templates available online.
A large pumpkin would be the perfect mom for the chicks made of mini pumpkins. You can also attach chicken wire using hot glue to add a rustic vibe to your pumpkin design.
This pumpkin carving idea can end in one of two ways. It can be considered aesthetic, or it can induce intense trypophobia (fear of small holes). Either way, as one of the easy pumpkin carving ideas, it's also one of the most common designs you can work with.
This jack-o-lantern carving idea will have you singing, "Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-nana!" Carving a Minion pumpkin has become a trend since the Despicable Me franchise took off, giving these adorable characters another way to appear in Halloween events.
This pumpkin design will surely be a Killer Queen with all the Freddie Mercury fans. While it won't give you a Sheer Heart Attack like the other scary carved pumpkins, at least you'll be sure to Keep Yourself Alive with a harmless pumpkin design.
If you're a Spider-Man fan, this pumpkin design should be great décor for your lawn. It only requires basic pumpkin carving for the eyes and the web shape, making it easy for anyone to make.
This pumpkin design should be a great reminder during Halloween that with great power comes great responsibility.
You would not believe your eyes if you saw this pumpkin design. It's perfect if you want more whimsical pumpkin carving ideas. Adding fireflies to the pumpkin shell is relatively easy to do, given its sheer size. Make sure your pumpkin is hollowed out so you can place a candle or tea light to make your fireflies glow.
Your pumpkins can even serve as the perfect bean bag toss game for fall-themed parties and events. All you have to do for this pumpkin design is carve out a deep hole for the bean bag.
Then, you can add any additional labels and accessories using hot glue to keep them securely in place during the game.
A white pumpkin can easily look like a friendly ghost if you follow this pumpkin design. You can effortlessly carve out its facial features to create adorable and friendly ghosts for your house.
You can also use butternut squash to have ghosts of different heights for this pumpkin carving idea.
Safety Tip
Be careful with the edges of your ghost because they can be a bit pointy. Sand them down to make them safer for anyone wanting to touch them.
Unleash your cottage-core aesthetic by creating an adorable cottage. It can be difficult compared to the other pumpkin carving ideas, but the end product will surely blow anyone away.
We recommend using a white pumpkin to help the small details stand out and fit the whole aesthetic.
Tip
You can hot glue rhinestones for the more minor details.
Give your pumpkin a tropical twist by carving a pineapple onto it! The vibe will make you feel like you're spending Halloween on a warm tropical island.
You can add the top of an actual pineapple in place of the stem to make it more realistic.
If you're looking for something to match the witch pumpkin, why not try out the different pumpkin carving ideas for their familiars?
The most common familiar would be a cat, which is an easy pumpkin design to work with. This adorable design would make a great companion for your witchy friend.
You can use this Mickey Mouse design if you're looking for more Disney-inspired pumpkin carving ideas. It can be a bit tricky with all the curves of the design, but they'd look amazing once you light your pumpkin up.
There are many fall-themed cookie cutters available everywhere. If you don't have enough carving tools, they can be used as an easy kitchen hack for pumpkin carving. Some of those designs can easily fit the season without you having to do the difficult carving.
There are many pumpkin carving ideas related to bees and their honey. If you're looking into adding a little sweetness to your Halloween décor, you can try following this pumpkin design related to them. You could even create your own hive with a collection of these pumpkins.
If you're a fan of vintage arcade games, try out this Pac-Man pumpkin design. You can customize the maze your Pac-Man can run through and even the ghosts' appearance.
It's best to work with a large pumpkin for this project so you can have a great map on your pumpkin surface. You're sure to unleash your inner child with this pumpkin design.
Medusa is one of the scariest Greek mythological figures, turning anyone to stone with a simple look.
Luckily, this pumpkin design won't freeze the trick-or-treaters on your street. However, it's sure to catch anyone's attention, especially with her intricate details and beauty.
If you're looking for other witchy pumpkin carving ideas, you can add this pentagram pumpkin design. This simple design only requires a 5-pointed star in a circle, making it easy to carve out. You can also try out other witchy symbols for your jack-o-lantern.
If you're a fan of Nickelodeon's Avatar franchise, you can check out the different pumpkin carving ideas about the show.
The easiest out of their designs would have to be the symbols of the 4 elements, which focus on simple lines and curves. Carve out all the symbols of four nations and bring balance to the world with this pumpkin design.
While we're back on the subject of pumpkin carving ideas involving other plants, why not try a cute cactus? There are plenty of stencils online for cacti and other succulents to give tribute to our desert friends.
You can use a green pumpkin to match the hollowed-out design and make the green color shine at night.
Another witchy familiar is the owl. This design can easily be drawn and carved out onto your pumpkin. However, small parts can be tricky to carve out, especially around the eye area.
However, it's sure to give a spooky vibe once you light it up. Imagine seeing this kind of pumpkin perched up a tree.
Bring this scary Jurassic animal back to life by carving it onto your Halloween pumpkin.
Carving dinosaurs onto a pumpkin is a great way to get the kids excited about decorating pumpkins. Be sure to help them cut it out, especially for the smaller and sharper details.
If you're looking for more beautiful pumpkin carving ideas, carving out a butterfly can be a great choice.
Their designs usually involve intricate and symmetrical features, especially on the wings. They'd go well with a garden or other pumpkins with flower designs.
A scarecrow could be a great option if you're looking for more spooky pumpkin carving ideas. It's fitting, as pumpkins are usually used as heads for these types of mannequins.
However, you can also carve out its creepy figure onto a pumpkin. The light from the inside will make it look scarier than a scarecrow in a field.
Out of all the pumpkin carving ideas on this list, we haven't discussed the creatures of the sea. The octopus is well-feared, especially with legends about giant versions of these creatures.
Carve it onto a pumpkin and light it up. Its tentacles are sure to give you goosebumps.
Try this zombie hand design if you're looking for pumpkin carving ideas about the undead. It can be easily patterned using your hand, making it easy to draw as well.
Bringing it back to life should be easy, and its design will give you the creeps.
You would need a big pumpkin and black chalk paint for this project. You can easily leave a unique pumpkin bowl on the front porch for trick-or-treaters visiting your house. You can also opt for a fake pumpkin for this project.
Safety Tip
If you're using a fake pumpkin, sand down the sharp edges to keep it safe for trick-or-treaters.
Who says you can only use your melon baller on a hot summer day? You can create any wacky design you want using this trusty tool to carve out the different parts of your pumpkin.
You can come up with numerous pumpkin carving ideas with this tool, and it'll be a great use of the pumpkin's guts.
This design is a twist on the classic pumpkin carving ideas for the jack-o-lantern. You can use a linoleum cutter to help carve out its facial features. Then, use hot glue to attach a zipper to the space for the mouth. It's a quirky and unique way to give your pumpkin friend a mouth.
If you're looking for extra challenging pumpkin carving ideas, you can create a whole graveyard inside your pumpkin.
This design will require you to use the entire pumpkin and a rotary tool to carve it out. This scary pumpkin design will surely set a little light on some of the spookiest places during Halloween.
Keep your lawn safe from villains by creating these pumpkin Avengers. Plenty of stencils and designs can help you with these superhero-themed pumpkin carving ideas.
They usually focus on the hero's logos. However, if you're feeling extra creative, you can try working on the heroes themselves.
There are many ways to show the world what goes on in space. You can use butternut squash as your rocket ship blasting off to space. A large pumpkin would be an excellent UFO for little white pumpkin aliens to use. It's all up to your creativity to create your little pumpkin solar system.
With this pumpkin design, the king of rock can easily make you dance to Jailhouse Rock. Its small details would have to be made with Burning Love to get it right. You Can't Help Falling In Love with this creative way of commemorating a legend.
This pumpkin design is excellent for having a spooky side of Wonderland on your lawn. The carving of the teeth can be a little tricky because of how intricate and uneven they are. However, it provides some freedom regarding how you carve them out.
Instead of carving out an ol' jack-o-lantern, why not raise the bar and let the skull stand out from the pumpkin? This design creates a more spooky effect, especially showing off its hollow insides. It would look even scarier with a light inside.
To close this off, here's another one for those creepy pumpkin carving ideas. You can use large pumpkins to create eyes. While it would require a lot of painting, it's sure to give the creeps to anyone passing by your house.
Tips for Turning Your Pumpkin Carving Ideas Into Reality
There are many ways to work on a pumpkin. However, there are times when you might not know where to start.
Here are a few tips to help you turn your pumpkin design into a reality.
Pick the Perfect Pumpkin and Materials
The first step to any pumpkin project is finding the perfect pumpkin. You must ensure that your pumpkin has no damaged areas or soft spots. These can make it difficult to carve your pumpkin, as it might not hold its shape.
Pumpkins tend to have wax on them, which helps preserve their quality. It can help make the markers easily erasable on pumpkins.
Ensure that your pumpkin is at room temperature. It helps make the pumpkin carving process easier, especially since the insides won't be too hard.
Some might opt for a faux pumpkin. If you're working with this, you must sand the edges to keep people from getting injured.
You would also need to gather a craft knife, a hot glue gun, and other materials to help you cut through a pumpkin. You can easily find a pumpkin carving set in local or online stores.
It's also best to start gathering your decorating materials before starting.
Look For Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Before drawing on your pumpkin, it's important to prepare your design to lessen the chances of wasting a good pumpkin.
It cannot be easy to think of great pumpkin carving ideas, especially with the many ways you can design a pumpkin.
Luckily, many inspirations online can help you find the perfect pumpkin design for your front porch.
You can use a stencil from an online site or create your own based on the pumpkin carving ideas online listed above.
Draw on the Pumpkin
Before cutting your pumpkin, it's important to know where to cut it. You can't undo something once you've cut it off the pumpkin shell.
Draw or print out your pumpkin carving ideas onto a piece of paper. Be as detailed as possible, and note where the negative spaces will be on your pumpkin.
Then, use the drawing or printed template as your guide when you draw on the pumpkin itself. Use a marker to keep your marks on the pumpkin shell.
You can also mark out the spaces that you should cut off the pumpkin. It will help lessen your carving mistakes later on.
You can use duct tape to keep the stencil in place while you trace your template. Edit the drawing depending on your changes in design.
Tip
Try using a dry-erase marker so you can easily get rid of mistakes.
Use the Entire Pumpkin
The best way to work on a pumpkin project is to use the whole pumpkin. It lessens waste and gives you a chance to be creative.
Cut your pumpkin on top or at the bottom to clean it out. It would depend on the design you're going for. The hole is where you'll gut the pumpkin and wash out the contents.
Depending on your design, you can use pumpkin guts or removed pumpkin shells to decorate your jack-o-lantern.
Be creative with how you use them, especially since this is 90% of your pumpkin.
If you have any remaining carved pumpkin guts and seeds left, save them. You can turn them into a great Halloween feast after all that hard work.
Light It Up!
Most jack-o-lanterns are hollow for two reasons. The first is to clean it out depending on your design. The second is to let it light up your porch on those dark Halloween nights.
You can use a candle or tea light to light up your pumpkin. However, it can be quite messy, especially with all the melted wax inside. They also happen to be a potential fire hazard.
You can also use a battery-powered light if you don't want to constantly clean candle wax.
Other options include Christmas lights and flashlights, depending on what would fit your pumpkin's aesthetic.
No-carve pumpkins don't have to follow this, especially since their designs don't allow you to put a light inside them.
However, you can set your pumpkin in brighter places where its unique design can be seen.
Pumpkin Drawing Ideas FAQs
You might have more questions about pumpkin carving and how to create the spookiest one.
We’ve gathered the most common questions you might ask before you start designing and carving.
What Can I Use to Draw on a Pumpkin?
A trusty marker is the most common tool to help bring your drawing and pumpkin carving ideas to life.
It’s best to use washable markers, especially if you have kids working on the designs. They’re easier to erase, especially with the pumpkin rind’s naturally waxy surface.
You can also use white or black chalk, depending on your pumpkin’s surface. However, it won’t be as long-lasting as a marker, which can be difficult for complicated designs.
How Do You Use a Sharpie on a Pumpkin Instead of Carving?
Sharpies are usually used for no-carve projects or if you’re a seasoned artist. It’s more difficult to erase compared to a dry-erase marker.
No-carve projects usually rely on your drawing skills when decorating a pumpkin. You can create patterns and symbols on the surface using different colored markers.
If using this, ensure you’ve cleaned your pumpkin surface from all the wax. This step will ensure that the marks stay longer even when the pumpkin is outdoors.
You can also play with flowers and other things from nature to complement any marks made by your marker.
Unless your project involves sticking lights onto the pumpkin, working with a Sharpie means your jack-o-lantern will lose its lantern element because of its lack of light from the inside.
These are better displayed indoors or on porches with bright lights to help your design be seen more clearly.
What are Some Easy Ways to Decorate a Pumpkin?
Many simple pumpkin carving ideas are available online, with carving being the traditional way of decorating a pumpkin.
You can follow simple stencils for carving or create a simple design. Usually, if you can draw it on paper, you can easily work on it once it’s on the pumpkin.
However, there are also many ways to decorate a pumpkin without carving it. The most common methods are painting or sticking other ornaments onto the pumpkin surface.
These methods can require additional materials, like a hot glue gun or black spray paint. Using metallic spray paint can also add a little shine to your carved pumpkin.
Don’t be afraid to use flowers and little gems to make your pumpkin stand out. They can add flare to your pumpkin without worrying about intricate details to carve.
You can use hot glue to stick these elements onto the surface.
Be creative when matching the season or simply expressing yourself.
Can I Erase Permanent Marker From a Pumpkin?
Despite the name, there are actually a few ways you can get rid of permanent markers from a pumpkin. It’s important to know these tips when you make mistakes on your project.
Fresh new marks can usually be removed using a mild adhesive on your pumpkin. It should go with the tape when you pull it off.
You can use a paste made from water and baking soda for older marks. Just mix the two ingredients and place them on the marks. Wait for a few minutes before wiping it off.
If these don’t work, you can use something stronger, like rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover.
What Is the Best Way to Gut a Pumpkin?
For some people, gutting a pumpkin might not be the best part of the carving.
However, using the right tools can help you get this done quickly with it, especially if you get squeamish.
One of the most common ways to gut a pumpkin is to use a measuring cup. You can scoop out the insides and save them for your pumpkin dishes.
However, to make the process faster, you can buy a pumpkin gutter and a clay loop tool to gut and thin out the insides.
You can also use these tools for other vegetables or crafting projects.
Using a measuring cup could take some time. Using a gutter would have your pumpkin clean and ready for washing in a matter of minutes, but it would cost extra for the tools.
Why Do Pumpkins Rot Fast After Carving?
Carved pumpkins usually start to rot within days of carving.
As mentioned before, more than 90% of the pumpkin gets carved off for these pumpkin projects. These parts also contain the pumpkin’s moisture.
You can try rubbing petroleum jelly to help prevent molding and decay. However, it could make marker-based designs easily erasable compared to a shell that doesn’t have jelly.
Pumpkin Drawing Ideas Conclusion
Whether it's to welcome trick-or-treaters in their Halloween costumes or to add a spooky flare on your front porch, having jack-o-lanterns is a great way to spread the Halloween spirit.
Which pumpkin design are you going for this spooky season?
The Christmas season calls for different activities for kids and kids-at-heart, including Christmas-themed drawing sessions for your Christmas cards, decorations, or just pure holiday fun.
We made this article to help you grasp different easy Christmas drawing ideas for you and the kids to practice over the holidays. Read through!
45 Easy Christmas Drawing Ideas
Here are 45 easy Christmas drawing ideas for your children's playdate or your next family gathering. Now, let's get the Christmas drawing ideas flowing!
Ho ho ho! This easy-to-draw Santa Claus can elevate the design of your personalized cards for your Christmas presents, thanks to the simplicity of the overall drawing.
It emphasizes clear lines and shapes, allowing anyone to quickly recognize Jolly-old Saint Nick. To make this Santa Claus drawing idea come to life, put on some Christmas colors of green, red, blue, and white.
While not shown in the drawing, you can always put on some dashes of yellow to embellish your Santa drawing idea.
You can't forget to take the snow globe motif when you decorate your cards or use it as a hanging banner on your main doors.
Similar to the drawing idea above, a snow globe is an easy-peasy drawing task that your preschoolers can make. It's also fun, especially when you draw a cute Christmas snowman inside.
Speaking of a cute snowman, a beginner skill-level-friendly sketch you or your kids can do is a snowman. You can't go wrong with a few circles, stick arms, and a triangular carrot nose.
To give it even more of a Christmas vibe, throw on a red scarf with a combination of curved and straight lines and a simple yet appealing hat on top.
A Christmas tree drawing completes your Christmas celebration and can even replace an actual tree if you have enough of them. To do this, you have to sketch simple lines with little precision.
After that, sprinkle in some green, brown, and yellow to create a Christmas-time feeling. You can add some red for the Christmas lights if you want.
A Reindeer is so dear in a Christmas-themed party because it reminds us that Santa Claus' giftings are coming through, so make it a part of your classic Christmas drawings.
You can even draw these on edible paper as toppers for your cookies and cupcakes as part of your Christmas morning activities.
What's the Christmas season without Christmas ornaments? These drawing ideas for Christmas ornaments can be used to design gift wrapping paper for a more festive holiday celebration.
Besides wrapping paper, it can also serve as the background for your Christmas cards and reflects authenticity and genuine love for family and friends.
A Christmas wreath tells us about the spirit of Christmas and the eternal life with Jesus Christ. Aside from its religious symbolism, it has also been widely used as door ornaments to establish the holiday spirit.
You can always give this wreath a fresh look through the drawing idea above, including simple red bows and gold highlights. After drawing, you can paste it on your kids' door rooms for some leveled-up Christmas decorations.
A candy cane a day takes your Christmas and holiday blues away! A candy cane is simple to draw; you can even pencil sketch it or add some colors if you like.
The best candy cane colors are green, blue, red, yellow, white, and shades of pink for some accenting.
This gingerbread house is a Christmas drawing that is easy to do but has a lot of cute little details that you can incorporate to make it more eye-catching, such as cupcakes, candy canes, snowflakes, and other shapes.
But, always remember to establish the brown house before drawing in the other ideas and their particular colors.
If you have a gingerbread house, make sure to add the gingerbread man for a classic Christmas treat.
A gingerbread man is a simple drawing idea that only needs an irregular-shaped human figure and some added-on details, like the red bow, buttons, sleeves, and pants.
With winter comes snow and beautiful snowflakes. A snowflake is usually complicated to draw, but with the drawing idea we have for you above, you can surely ace it even with your eyes closed.
Just blend it in with your favorite shade of blue, highlight it with white, and add black borders.
Sled your worries away as you integrate sled drawing ideas with your presents. You can even add Santa Claus to this drawing to make it more Christmas-y.
But if you don't want that, stick with this drawing and choose the best shades of brown.
Santa Claus will surely come to town when you draw him in his entire body suit while carrying his treats for everybody. You can even add a bell detail to make your drawings more festive.
What makes this Santa drawing a lot cooler is the integration of his cute eyes by drawing an upside-down C.
A Christmas stocking is an essential ornament to draw on your Christmas decorations. You can also draw a Christmas stocking in whichever size you want, big or small.
You can also write your name or friends over the Christmas stocking to make it more personal.
The five-pointed star makes its way up your trees and onto your drawing sheet this holiday season. It's one of the uncomplicated patterns to draw from this list.
To make it more appealing, color it with a fun red tone or other holiday colors that you love drawing!
A Christmas angel is an excellent ornament to match your tree drawing. You can make it as small or as big as possible, whichever drawing size you prefer.
But what's important is to draw some stars and trumpets and color the angel with light and vibrant tones.
If you want your drawing to stand out, combine your sleigh and sled drawing ideas with the north pole sign.
A north pole sign can be as easy to draw, similar to the sketch above, or as intricate as possible when you add colors and other Christmas drawing designs.
To draw poinsettias along with the other ornaments is something very fun to do. Most importantly, it's a joy to have once you put it as designs for your presents.
When you draw poinsettias, make sure that you vary their sizes and alternate the leaves to create the illusion of volume.
If the one you're giving your holiday gift is a cat parent, drawing a cat in a Christmas outfit can give it a nice touch of thoughtfulness and creativity.
As you draw the cat, make it more in-tune with the season by adding snowflakes in the background!
A little boy to pair with your little girl will benefit your overall Christmas-themed drawing because of how adorable and matching they are.
As you draw this little boy, don't forget his cane, bag, hat, and five-pointed star to complete his look.
Drawing Supplies You Need
To draw your Christmas-themed art, you need to have these drawing supplies beside you:
Art paper or sketchbook
Brushes, if you'll use watercolor or paint
Colored pencils
Eraser
Highlighters
Pencil
Ruler (optional)
What To Do With Your Finished Artwork
Once you finished your artwork, you can do these things:
Use it as a wrapper for your gift
Paste it on your doors and walls to add to the Christmas-y feel
Put it in a frame to commemorate this year's holidays
Use it as a greeting card for your holiday gifts
You can punch small holes in each drawing and make a banner
Christmas Drawing Ideas FAQs
We know you have some questions in mind, and we’re more than willing to answer some in this section.
What Are Popular Christmas Items?
Some of the most popular Christmas items are:
Trees
Balls
Lights
Santa Claus outfits
Gingerbread man treats
Candy canes
What Are Easy Christmas Drawing Ideas?
The easy drawing ideas for Christmas are all the 45 items listed in this article, such as stars, reindeer, candy cane, Santa Claus, wreath, snow globe, and more.
Christmas Drawing Ideas Conclusion
Now that you have all these simple Christmas drawing ideas for beginner artists to incorporate into your gifting, cards, and house decorations, you'll surely feel the Christmas spirit now more than ever.
Ho ho ho! Enjoy and draw to your heart's desire, and look back to this article for more inspiration.
Easter is a festive holiday for many people. From painting chocolate bunnies to hunting for Easter eggs, it's no wonder kids love it!
Aside from decorating eggs, making Easter-themed drawings is another excellent way to celebrate Easter.
We compiled this list of 45 Easter drawing ideas that both kids and adults can enjoy. Prepare your drawing materials, and let's get crafting!
45 DIY Easter Drawing Ideas
You don't need to be a master artist to draw Easter craft projects. With simple supplies you have at home, you can absolutely create DIY Easter drawings!
Let's look at 45 Easter drawing ideas to get your creativity going:
Let your kids join in on the fun by coloring this Easter bunny!
This illustration includes an Easter greeting with a cute rabbit surrounded by Easter eggs. Kids can fill it in with different colors or add decorations like glitter.
When the drawing is complete, it can make for a cute Easter-themed decoration around the house.
Encourage your kids to get creative with this beginner-friendly sketch.
They can easily color the Easter eggs in any way they want. They can even add glitter or special effects to the decorated eggs for a truly vibrant illustration.
Like decorating Easter eggs, Easter drawings are another fun way for kids to express their creativity.
Memorialize your family's Easter bonding time with this cartoon drawing!
It includes a mom and two children painting a basket of Easter eggs together on a table. Drawing is MORE fun with the whole family, so this print is something you don't want to miss.
This adorable drawing is a great way to inspire your kid to explore their artistic skills.
Your little girl can draw herselfdrawing a decorated Easter egg. Armed with just a pen, she can easily follow the lines to create a fun Easter-themed cartoon.
This print can also be colored in for better results!
You can scribble these Easter doodles on your sketch pad if you want a simple drawing idea.
You can draw a little Easter bunny and Easter eggs with flowers framing the illustration. This drawing doesn't require too much thought, so it's worth considering if you have free time.
It also includes more religious items like Jesus' cross and an angel to commemorate the true spirit of Easter.
Chocolate rabbits are an essential part of Easter (for your kids, at least). After all, the Easter bunny is known to leave treats and candy for good kids.
This Easter-themed drawing includes a chocolate bunny in a pile of Easter eggs inside a basket.
It's a colorful illustration that would undoubtedly excite your children for Easter!
Unleash your creative side with this customizable Easter egg spread!
If you want to keep your Easter eggs organized before painting, this print can help you visualize them.
It's also a great art exercise for children to design their own Easter eggs. The illustration also comes with pre-set patterns to make decorating easier.
At its core, Easter Sunday is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion.
Easter drawings can be a way to teach religious topics to children. This illustration combines Easter eggs and Christian themes to emphasize the importance of Easter.
You can also draw different patterns on the Easter eggs if you want to personalize your art.
If you want a unique way to draw an Easter decoration, this drawing idea has great potential.
This illustration features a holy cross with flowers inside a decorated Easter egg. It's another Easter-inspired drawing that uses popular culture to emphasize religious themes.
You can create this quaint Easter-inspired drawing with a pencil and paper.
Hanging colorful Easter eggs on a tree branch was originally a German Easter tradition. Although the custom may seem mysterious, decorated eggs make for great ornaments!
Feel free to color this drawing however you like for a more vibrant Easter illustration.
For those who want more complex drawings, this floral Easter egg-shaped drawing gives you free rein to design what you want.
You can start with the rabbit in the middle and work from there to create your own floral pattern. Add bees and other little critters for that touch of springtime!
Color your work, and you've got a lovely Easter decoration.
Celebrate the coming of spring with this festive Easter artwork.
With a vivid floral background and a white banner, you can wish your loved ones a happy Easter! Feel free to spice up the colors and design it however you want.
This piece is easily one of the PRETTIEST drawing templates on this list.
Crafting Easter decorations can go beyond simple illustrations.
You can recreate this stunning Easter-themed artwork with colored paper, scissors, and glue!
If you want to bring your A-game this spring, you can't go wrong with this option. You can find a tutorial online to find out how to make this cut-out Easter rabbit.
Get crafty and get your supplies out with this pretty Easter collage!
You can use various paper crafts, magazine clippings, and stickers to create this patchwork Easter illustration. Add another drawing on the top half of this work to complete it.
Consider this one if you're looking for a fun project for you and your kids this Easter.
If you want to personalize your Easter design, this wreath illustration is a great choice to do just that.
It comes with typical Easter motifs like decorated Easter eggs and greenery, but it leaves a space at the center you can use to draw other decorations.
You can easily add rabbits or a cross to truly make the design yours!
This lovely Easter illustration is an easy drawing idea that anyone can do.
It has a charming blue bird on top of a brightly-colored floral decoration. Even with colored pencils and a pen, you can make your own Easter greeting card.
It looks simple, but it adds character to your Easter décor.
This Easter surprise can be an enjoyable drawing exercise for your kids this holiday!
It features a newly-hatched chick with a patterned Easter greeting. The drawing is big enough for your kids to add their own touch.
You can encourage them to use oil pastels to create the same textured design.
Easter Drawing Ideas FAQ
Below are related questions about Easter drawings that might be helpful to you:
What Drawing Materials Will You Need?
The materials you’ll need will depend on what type of art project you’ll be working on. This list includes different ideas you can try.
That said, there are essential art materials that are useful for most projects:
Paper
Graphite pencils
Eraser
Sharpener
Blending stumps
When working with color, you might also need various coloring materials, such as colored pencils, pastels, and watercolors.
How Do You Celebrate Easter?
Many Christians consider Easter the most significant religious holiday of the year, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is considered a celebration of hope and eternal life.
Easter also used to be a pagan festival to mark the coming of spring, explaining the association with rabbits.
In many cultures around the world, decorating hard-boiled eggs is a popular Easter custom.
Children participate in an Easter egg hunt where they look for hidden decorated eggs throughout the home.
Easter Drawing Ideas Conclusion
Painting eggs is not the only family bonding activity you can do this Easter Sunday.
Drawing is another way to hone your creative skills and encourage your kids to do the same too!
Even without a step-by-step guide, this list includes easy Easter drawings that kids and adults can enjoy.
This Easter, bust out your art materials and create your own Easter crafts!
Why not get inspired by outer space if you're looking for your next drawing project?
Much like art, there are endless possibilities when it comes to space drawing ideas. Many space drawings are simply out of this world, from the moon to the sun.
Space drawings are perfect for art projects or as a fun pastime for the whole family!
We look into 45 easy space drawing ideas that kids and adults alike can try their hands at.
45 Awesome Space Drawing Ideas
Aim for the stars and let your creativity shine with these fantastic space drawing ideas!
You can choose from different space objects to create your own illustration worth framing. Let's look at 45 space drawing ideas you can choose from for your next art project or sketch:
For space lovers (pun intended) who want a cute space drawing, this idea might be for you. It's an illustration of two astronauts making a heart with little stars.
It's simple enough that you can color it and add as many details as you want! Afterward, you can hang it up or give it as a gift to your special someone.
One subject that we can't miss is obviously aliens!
Add some whimsy to any art project with this fun alien illustration. It has everything you'd want, from funky aliens in UFO rockets to other space objects.
You can let your imagination run wild in designing the background and coloring each character.
Explore the vastness of outer space with this rocket ship drawing.
Complete with a ringed planet and a rocky landscape, it's a full-fledged illustration all on its own! This doodle is great for kids who want to get creative with their art projects.
What's fun about this rocket drawing is that you can even add details based on previous images.
Create a picture as pretty as the moon with this painting.
Aspiring painters can try to create this cute moon drawing with black watercolor. You can also add shooting stars and comets if you have gold and silver pens!
Simple but stunning, this illustration is a frame-worthy art project.
Blast off to a galaxy far, far away with this fun cartoon!
This drawing features a rocket ship cruising through outer space filled with planets and stars. It's a cool coloring page that will surely entertain your kids.
They'll have a blast adding more details, like astronauts and aliens.
This outer space-themed illustration is perfect for your little astronomer.
It is an easy-to-follow drawing with minor planets and stars to create added perspective. You can unleash your creativity by coloring the backdrop however you want.
It's a cute drawing idea that kids of any age will love to color in!
Let your kids create their own self-portraits with this project inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's 1958 art piece Ladder to the Moon.
Your kids can use any art material or surface with this one!
It is a bit more complex than your average illustration, so you may want to help them get it right. That said, it's an absolutely stunning project you'd want to display.
Continuing with the astronaut illustrations, this drawing idea is another fun alternative for kids!
It includes an astronaut riding on a rocket as they journey through outer space. With cute clouds and planets, there's no shortage of details to doodle.
Add a little whimsy to your kid's room with this awesome space illustration.
Make learning fun with this watercolor illustration of the Solar System.
This drawing focuses on the planets, including Mercury, Earth, and ringed Saturn.
If you want to encourage your kids to try out watercolor, you can give this space-themed drawing a try! It's a simple but endearing rendition of our Solar System.
Among the whimsical drawing ideas we've listed, this illustration definitely takes the cake (or pizza).
Kids will definitely get a kick out of this astronaut sleeping on a galactic pizza. They can use glitter and sprinkle it on the surface for extra detail.
It's a fun drawing idea that would definitely get a chuckle out of anyone.
This drawing features a balloon of planets that playfully carries an astronaut into outer space. The best part is you're free to color it however you want.
It's one of the quirky drawing ideas you can try out for your next sketch.
Our galaxy is filled with many wonderful objects. Who wouldn't want to put it in a jar?
This space-themed illustration is a cute idea to admire our beautiful world! Shrink the planets into this galactic bottle and draw a little astronaut on the side.
Overall, it's a whimsical drawing idea you can try.
Even with pens and markers, you can create stunning space art!
This Saturn illustration features an entire galaxy inside its planetary body. Speckled with stardust and comets, it's a stylish sketch of the ringed planet.
For more advanced artists, this illustration is a great way to flex your skills.
It involves a precise hand to draw a symmetrical hourglass shape and make a stippling pattern. That being said, it gives beautiful results when done right.
To round up the illustration, draw an astronaut and add planets to create a fascinating galaxy artwork.
For colorful illustrations, this cosmic girl drawing is a great choice.
Her hair is transformed into a starry galaxy filled with planets and starbursts. This is a vivid, frame-worthy illustration you can create to brighten up your home!
Are you fond of stargazing? You can try and draw this cozy illustration.
You can try to paint it with watercolor to get that gradient effect. With a white gel pen, you can create a starry night with all the constellations in the sky!
It brings warm memories of stargazing during a clear night with a loved one.
When the night gets darker, thebrighter the stars shine.
To round out this list of drawing ideas, you can draw this dreamy illustration with your little one to remind them that magical dreams await.
You can use gold glitter and coloring materials to truly make this drawing sparkle!
Space Drawing Ideas FAQ
Below are commonly asked questions about space drawings that many people ask:
How to Create a Galaxy Background With Colored Pencils?
Creating a galaxy illustration is a great way to hone your artistic skills.
To get started, you’ll need printer paper, a white gel pen, a blending stump, and the following colored pencils (from lightest to darkest):
White
Deep red-purple
Violet
Violet blue
Indigo blue
Black
Whether you’re following a coloring page or making your own art, below is a general guideline on how you can draw a galaxy background:
Step 1: Use the side of the lightest colored pencil (deep red-purple) to create curved lines throughout the page. Apply light pressure as you shade.
Step 2: Use the second, lightest colored pencil (violet). Shade the edges of the previous color and overlay them slightly. Do the same with the next color (violet-blue).
Step 3: With the darkest color (indigo blue), fill in the remaining gaps. Use the same pressure and overlay the colors slightly.
Step 4: Use the black pencil to color the edges of the page.
Step 5: To layer and blend the colors, go from the darkest to the lightest color. Using the indigo-blue pencil, blend it into the next color.
Step 6: Go to the next lighter color (violet-blue) and do the same. Repeat until you reach the lightest shade (deep red-purple).
Step 7: With the white pencil, apply firm pressure to blend all the colors on the page. Start with the lighter parts and move to the darker areas.
Step 8: Add thick, curvy lines using the black pencil.
Step 9: Use a blending stump to blend all the details and conceal any hard edges.
Step 10: Lastly, use the white gel pen to add starbursts and small and big dots to create a galaxy effect.
Congrats! You’ve made your own galaxy illustration!
What Is the Difference Between 2D and 3D Art?
Visual art can be divided into two forms, two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. Let’s find out what makes them different:
2D Art: Two-dimensional art only has two surfaces, length and width. It includes everything drawn flat, like drawings, paintings, prints, and pictures.
3D Art: Three-dimensional art has three surfaces, length, width, and height. 3D art includes sculptures, installations, and 3D paintings.
Space Drawing Ideas Conclusion
Like the vast universe, there is a near-endless number of space-themed drawing ideas worth trying out!
Whether you're a parent, teacher, or budding artist, this list includes various sci-fi illustrations that will surely get you inspired.
With all the possibilities, which one of these ideas do you want to try out?
There is more than one method you can use to soundproof your tile floor. You can install acoustic underlayments, vinyl mats, or acoustic floor tiles. If you want a simpler option, you can lay mats and carpets over the tile flooring to reduce airborne and impact noises.
Installing tile floors has become a popular choice among many modern homeowners, thanks to their visual appeal.
However, regular tile flooring is not suitable for reducing noise. So, if you do not want the downstairs neighbors to complain about your spontaneous dancing sessions, you should get the tile flooring soundproofed right away.
But the question is - how can you accomplish this task? That is what I have discussed here, so let’s get going!
Why Should You Soundproof Your Tile Floor?
There are two main types of floor noises - impact noise and airborne noise. The former is caused due to impacts on the floor, while the latter is caused by ambient noises.
For instance, if you drop an object on the floor, it will generate impact noise. On the other hand, the noise generated while listening to loud music or watching TV is airborne noise. The latter is more of a problem since the impact vibration can travel through the floor quicker than ambient noise. Because of that, soundproofing your floor becomes important, no matter the material.
However, a tile floor is not very good at reducing or eliminating either type of noise. In other words, the tiles transmit all types of noises through the floor, and these noises eventually reach the ceiling of the room that lies directly below.
This shouldn’t be a cause for concern if you live on the first floor. But if that’s not the case, then the people living directly below will be able to hear whatever you are doing in your room. And if they don’t have an insulated ceiling, they are not going to be particularly happy about it either.
How To Soundproof A Tile Floor?
To be honest, soundproofing a ceramic tile floor is not that different from soundproofing a floor made of hardwood or concrete slab. There is more than one method you can follow for this purpose, as discussed below.
1. Acoustic Underlayment
Acoustic underlayment is an additional layer of insulation that is placed underneath the tiles. It is often made from rubber, which is possibly one of the best materials for sound insulation. As such, it helps to eliminate both airborne and impact noises.
Installing it is quite easy, for all you need to do is simply roll the underlayment mat on your subfloor and cut it to the correct dimensions. After that, you need to fill out any gaps with acoustical sealant, and then you can lay the tiles over them. If you wish, you can use adhesive on the tiles, but that is not necessary.
2. Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is more efficient at eliminating noises than conventional ceramic tile. Thus, you can use a vinyl mat on your tile floor to eliminate airborne noises completely. It can also reduce the intensity of impact noises to a great extent.
Moreover, it is incredibly easy to use and can be placed even after your tile floor has been installed. Just roll it out on the floor, and you will be good to go. On that note, you could install it as an underlayment if you wish, which makes it a versatile option.
3. Carpets Or Mats
Another simple method to eliminate sound transmission on a tile floor is to use a carpet or a mat. If you lay out a carpet over the tiles, it will eliminate all airborne noises. Besides, it will provide cushioning on the floor, which reduces the sound generated by dropped objects.
You could also install an anti-vibration mat, which is much more effective at minimizing impact vibrations. With them, you can move your heavy furniture around without making life difficult for your downstairs neighbors.
The installation process is similar to the previous option - simply place the mats or carpets over the tile floor, and you will be done. You need to keep the floor dimensions in mind while purchasing them, or else they will not cover the whole room. In addition to that, you need to consider the thickness of the mat or the carpet too.
4. Acoustic Floor Tiles
Acoustic floor tiles are highly effective at eliminating sounds generated from airborne sources, such as people talking, loud music, and so on. These tiles can even eliminate impact noises, such as those arising from footsteps and dropped objects.
They are often made from sound-deadening substrates like foam, fiberglass, or any other materials recommended by the Tile Council of America. However, foam pads are used more than other materials since they are the most cost-effective.
The procedure to install them is the same as the one used for regular ceramic tiles, and therefore, they do not pose any challenge in this regard.
Tip
For the best results, I recommend using them in conjunction with mats, especially if you move your heavy furniture around a lot. But if you only want to eliminate airborne noises, then using carpets is optional.
Tile Floor Soundproofing Final Words
Let’s face it - everyone likes to enjoy some peace and quiet while at home. This is why soundproofing is essential - not just for your flooring but for other parts of your home as well.
In that context, making your tile floor soundproof is the most socially responsible thing you can do, especially for the people living below you. Besides, it helps to ensure that your flooring meets the impact insulation class rating. A low rating here will mean trouble - both for your neighbors and for you.
So, if you want to avoid compliance risks, you should get your tile floor insulated without any delays. And to do that, you can use any one of the methods I have discussed above.
Technically, you cannot make your house completely soundproof since sound waves can have wavelengths of several meters and can travel through micro gaps and partitions. However, identifying the type of noise prevalent in your surroundings and soundproofing hardwood floors by adding mass and decoupling can help to some extent.
Hardwood floors can become a nuisance without carpets, rugs, or any other soundproofing material.
While they are less noisier than the more affordable laminate flooring, a hardwood floor can hardly block impact and airborne noise. Hence, you will have to resort to installing an underlayment, using green glue sealant, inserting deck screws, and other soundproofing methods.
So, to make your task easier, I have discussed some of the best methods of hardwood floor soundproofing.
How Soundproofing Hardwood Floors Works 101
Types Of Noise
To choose the right soundproof flooring, you must understand the types of noise you are dealing with. Although there are various categories of noise all around us, I’ll be talking about the two categories that are most prevalent - airborne noise and impact noise.
1. Airborne Noise
This type of noise travels across the room, like the sound of your TV, pets, crying children, etc. Hardwood floors are not essentially soundproof, so airborne noise is bound to travel further distances and create an echo.
Generally, soundproofing airborne noise in a room with hardwood floors is difficult. You can get started by adding furniture, curtains, carpets, and more.
2. Impact Noise
Impact noise is created by objects coming in contact with the bare floor. Most impact-style noises are sounds created by feet stomping, dropping something on the floor, etc. It is no surprise that if you have children and pets, your house is more prone to impact noises.
Interestingly, it is easier to prevent impact noise despite its loud nature. Hence, hardwood floor soundproofing is recommended, especially if you live above neighbors.
Common Soundproofing Methods
1. Adding Mass
Adding more mass and density to objects, walls, floors, etc., allows them to absorb sound more effectively, thereby reducing noise in a room.
2. Sound Absorption
Using a soft material to cover weak spots in a noisy room can help reduce impact noises. Hence, thick carpets, blankets, curtains, etc., are recommended as easy soundproofing solutions.
3. Sound Damping
Using damping materials can reduce the oscillations of the soundwave, keeping noise levels at a minimum.
4. Creating Distance
Creating physical distance can help reduce the Sound Pressure Level and loudness of sound. However, this is just a concept and not a practical solution when it comes to soundproofing homes and living spaces that obviously cannot be moved!
5. Decoupling
Sound waves can travel through multiple layers of an object. Decoupling hampers the direct contact between such layers, breaking the path of sound waves. As such, the noise level can be decreased dramatically.
How To Soundproof Hardwood Floors
1. Use Green Glue On The Hardwood Floor
If removing and reinstalling the wood floor is possible, consider using a green glue soundproofing compound. This is one of the most common soundproofing materialsthat can be used between your subfloor and the new wood floor. It helps dampen flooring noise that can travel through the various layers of your wood flooring.
I especially recommend green glue to amateurs and DIY enthusiasts since it is easy to use, thanks to the tube and bucket packaging. Also, you don’t have to apply the adhesive compound in any particular pattern. Just use it generously to cover every part of the existing floor.
Besides, you can use green glue for soundproofing walls or attaching multiple layers of soundproof drywall. In fact, I highly recommend this soundproofing material for noisy apartment buildings with paper-thin walls.
Tip
Although green glue is easy to use, ensure that you are quick and stick the required layers while the glue is wet. Plus, you must wait for about a week for the glue to get completely dry and provide effective sound reduction.
2. Lay A Carpet Or Rug On Wood Floors
Using a thick carpet is the easiest way to reduce impact noise, as it acts as a barrier between the falling object and the hardwood floor. And although hardwood floors are quite attractive, preventing you from using fancy rugs and carpets, I highly recommend using both or either of the two. Both are made of soft material and hence, absorb sound effectively.
Moreover, you can always remove or change them according to the decor of your room, making them a highly customizable soundproofing solution. The fact that they are available in various shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns makes them all the more suitable for rented homes and apartments.
Tip
Consider adding a carpet or rug under speakers, music players, TVs, etc., to create a soft surface for effective noise reduction and tone softening.
3. Insert Deck Screw
This method requires a bit more effort, but I think it’s worth the resulting peaceful and quiet environment. Right off the bat, you’ll require a deck screw, a bit driver, and a drill bit with a countersink.
Start by analyzing any weak spots or areas that may be producing squeaky sounds. Then remove the top flooring to reveal the subfloor. Only focus on problematic areas and not the entire floor.
Now, employ a drill bit with a countersink and drill pilot holes on the squeaky surface. Ensure that the bit is slightly smaller than the screws you choose for this soundproofing project.
Finally, nail down hardwood floors in position and insert the sharp tip to gently screw wherever required. Repeat the process for other squeaky areas as well.
4. Opt For Hardwood Floor Underlayment
In case of new construction or renovation, I suggest planning well in advance and installing underlayment under the hardwood floor. The underlayment creates a soft surface for the hardwood floor to rest on. Owing to its soft materials, like foam and cork, most types of underlayment can prevent both impact and airborne noise, making it ideal for soundproofing floors.
Of course, installing hardwood flooring underlayment will add to your construction costs, but I think it is a small price to pay for some privacy.
5. Install Rubber Mats
Laying rubber mats is yet another effective way to soundproof floors, especially the existing floors in your child’s room. Alternatively, you could add natural rubber mats to pet areas or your personal workout room. Basically, they act as a buffer on hard surfaces like wood flooring and reduce noise levels.
Much to every homeowner’s delight, you can get a rubber mat in any color, size, shape, and design you want. Not to forget, they are easy to clean and maintain.
Moreover, when choosing a rubber mat for your kid’s playroom, you can opt for a colorful puzzle-piece style variant. They not only reduce sound but also prevent children from getting hurt, thanks to the softness of the material.
On the other hand, heavy-duty rubber mats are ideal for a workout room as they absorb both the blow and the impact of the noise on your hardwood floors. So, whether you run around or drop heavy weights on the floor, a good quality rubber mat is essential to prevent damage to you and the floor.
How Much Does It Cost To Soundproof Flooring?
Unfortunately, there is no exact cost estimation for soundproofing floors. The cost largely depends on the type of soundproofing materials you use and their price per square foot. You can search for square-foot calculators online to get an estimation of the overall cost.
If you’re on a budget and deal with more impact-style noises than airborne sounds, I suggest getting rugs that will cost approximately $100. Of course, the price may vary depending on the rug choice and the number of rugs you’d want to have in your room.
On the other hand, if you want to totally soundproof a room or apartment, depending on the size of the space, you may have to shell out $500-$2,000. Further, if you’re planning to renovate the space or any type of new construction, it is best to install soundproof flooring beforehand to reduce future expenditures.
Do You Have Soundproof Requirements?
Another point to consider before starting a soundproofing project is to check the building codes of your city or locality. The building codes throughout the United States are mandatory for the residents to maintain privacy and comfort.
Note that some building code inspections require field tests before issuing a certificate of occupancy, while others rely on design recommendations and specifications from the architect. Since purchasing or renovating a property is a huge investment in itself, I highly recommend ensuring that you’re following all the rules and codes. Doing so will save a lot of your time, effort, and money in the long run.
Why Is Soundproofing Difficult?
Sound waves travel through the tiniest of gaps and often through various surfaces, making soundproofing a tricky task. Moreover, there are different pitches and frequencies of sound vibrations all around us. Some may be soft and travel short distances, while others may travel longer and create louder noises.
For instance, you must have noticed how shrill children can sound or how loud dogs bark. This is because their sounds are high-pitched, which is often perceived as louder than lower-pitch sounds. However, low-pitched sounds can be transmitted through longer distances, allowing us to hear them even from far away.
Not to forget, oftentimes, we hear sounds but have no idea where they are coming from. This is another reason that makes it difficult to completely soundproof a room.
Soundproofing Hardwood Floors Conclusion
Out of all the methods discussed above, the cheapestnoise control solution is to add more furniture and soft materials to the room. Especially if you have a shared wall with your neighbors, it is best to use larger pieces like a bookcase to block soundslike people talking, electronics, etc.
I also recommend using multiple soundproofing methods together for the best result. You can even combine soundproofing with sound masking and sound insulation projects to further improve the sound quality in your space.
Soundproofing a room for music is no rocket science if you have the right soundproofing and sound-absorbing material like mass-loaded vinyl and foam gaskets to block sound waves. However, before getting started, it is important to understand the basics of soundproofing the doors, windows, and flooring of the room to achieve a quiet, distraction-free environment for recording music.
Do you often produce groovy beats during the wee hours of the night? Or are you a voice actor practicing for your next big gig?
No matter how good you are at singing, playing an instrument, voice acting, etc., your neighbors are probably not the best audience! So, to ensure your privacy and good relations with your neighbors, I’ve shared some foolproof methods tosoundproof a room for music. But before that, let’s get back to basics…
Soundproofing A Room For Music Cheaply
What Is Soundproofing?
Soundproofing is the process of blocking sound waves from traveling from one room to another. It involves adding mass and density to the walls of a room, using soundproofing materials like acoustic panels, mass-loaded vinyl, foam gaskets, etc.
The process may be as easy as filling air gaps or constructing new soundproof walls. So, the amount of effort, time, and money the soundproofing project may take will depend on the noise levels of your room/home. That said, completely soundproofing a room and preventing 100% of the sound waves from entering and leaving the area is impossible. However, you can prevent sound transmission to some extent, often enough to ensure your privacy.
Usually, the common types of noises that may disrupt your recordings include impact noise, external noise (like traffic noise), and equipment noise (from ACs, refrigerators, etc.). By soundproofing a room, you can keep the inside noises inside and prevent outside noises from entering your home studio.
Soundproofing Vs Acoustic Treatment
You must not confuse soundproofing with acoustic treatment. Soundproofing can only block sound, while acoustic treatment absorbs excessive ambiance for better sound quality in a recording room. As such, the latter, sometimes in conjunction with soundproofing methods, is used while constructing professional recording studios.
Four Common Ways To Soundproof A Music Room
1. Add Mass And Density To Block Sound Waves
Depending on the materials used for constructing the walls of your room, sound waves will vibrate and traverse through them. Hence, one of the easiest ways to reduce sound in a room is by adding weight to the walls.
As such, knowing the Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating and Noise Reduction Coefficient rating (NRC) of soundproofing materials is essential to create a quiet music room.
Tip
I recommend using a dense material like concrete for walls if you’re planning to construct a new recording space at home. However, to soundproof an existing wall, you can use mass-loaded vinyl, multiple layers of soundproofing drywall and green glue adhesive compound, etc.
2. Decoupling To Prevent Sound Transmission
Often the most overlooked process, decoupling involves creating a sound barrier or buffer between two structures/materials in direct contact. It breaks the path of sound vibrations that can often travel long distances, depending on the frequencies.
Most of the time, a dense material like rubber is used for decoupling. As such, you can try the following ways to decouple and soundproof a room:
Apply noise-proofing joist tape to isolate existing studs
Build a floating floor with dense rubber isolation pads
Isolate layers with resilient sound clips and resilient channels to create a “floating” ceiling or wall
Build double walls, leaving enough air gap to fill with additional insulation
3. Sound Damping For Improved Sound Quality
The process of damping works similarly to adding mass, but it dissipates sound waves to kinetic energy, producing heat. Again, green glue is an effective sound-damping compound that can attach twosoundproofing building materialslike MDF, plywood, drywall, etc.
Tip
If you do not wish to soundproof an existing wall, I recommend creating a sound isolation barrier with the aforementioned materials. You can then use it to temporarily cover openings like doors and windows as and when you want.
4. Filling Air Gaps With Acoustic Panels, Caulk, Etc.
How many times have you heard background noise or random sounds around you but never understood where they came from? I’ve experienced that, too, and it’s often because sound waves can enter through micro air gaps. So, covering all of those gaps and crevices is essential to block unnecessary noise.
I recommend using foam gaskets to seal air gaps on doors, windows, electrical outlets, etc. For other cracks on walls, floors, and ceilings, opt for acoustic caulk that’s pliable enough to fit into smaller, harder-to-reach areas. Or, use acoustic panels, preferably with a fiberglass core.
Lastly, I suggest investing in a door sweep to cover the small space between the bottom of a door and the floor of your music room.
Soundproofing A Music Room In 5 Easy Steps
Now that you know some of the most-used ways to soundproof a room, let me share how I combine them to create the ideal environment for music. Note that some of the steps given below may need construction skills, so if you’re not comfortable with that, feel free to skip those steps. And if all else fails, you can always contact a professional to construct a home recording studio within your budget.
That said, here’s what I do to soundproof a room for music.
1. Select A Suitable Practice Space
You can use the best quality equipment, but none of it will be effective without a suitable space. So, choose carefully.
While it may not be possible to have a lavish room for yourself, you can try out a closet or any other small space. Think about how most recording studios have a smaller, separate room where the actual recording takes place. On that note, a closed space may be uncomfortable at first, but it can be effective in blocking as much sound energy as possible.
Tip
I recommend staying away from bathrooms, kitchens, or any other room with a lot of appliances. You should also try using a room with no windows or openings. If the walls do have holes or cracks, you can use a soundproofing or sound-absorbing material, like acoustical caulk, high-density foam tape, etc.
2. Employ Sound Insulation To Create A Quiet Environment
Sound insulation is a must to further keep inside sound inside and prevent outside noises from entering your recording space. I recommend equipping your music and practice room with acoustic foam tiles, bass traps, sound absorption (acoustic) panels, etc.
Tip
Don’t forget to check out your nearest home improvement stores for foam, cork, or natural rubber panel insulation.
You can also soundproof a room on a budget (with very limited effects) by hanging heavy curtains and thick blankets, installing a pillow headboard, laying soft rugs/carpets on the floor, etc. Additionally, try shifting couches and mattresses against a shared wall to prevent the transfer of sound waves.
Warning
If you use linens and clothes to soundproof room surfaces, ensure the layers are placed far enough from one another to prevent sound transmission through contact points.
3. Soundproof Your Door To Block More Sound
When installing doors, try opting for heavier, denser materials. But if you have a hollow door, opt for spray insulation to fill the gaps. Additionally, as mentioned before, you can install a door sweep to close the air gap between the door and the floor.
4. Invest In Thick Carpeting And Other Soft Furnishing
Besides soundproofing walls, doors, windows, and other gaps in the room, soundproofing the floor will help with noise control. For this, you can construct a floating floor to block sound vibrations. Or invest in a high-quality thick carpet, and layer it with rugs, if possible.
For a floating floor, I do not recommend DIYing it, so contact a professional instead. They can use floor floaters or hard rubber pucks to decouple the second layer of flooring from the existing one. Conversely, they may even float your existing floor by changing the joists below your sub-flooring. However, remember that the latter option is quite challenging and may not be feasible in most locations.
5. Add A Second Layer To Soundproof Walls
Although this step decreases the space in your room, I think it’s worth the extra soundproofing. This process can be done by amateurs, too, as long as you wear your safety gear. Simply stick multiple layers of drywall and attach it to the existing wall of your music room. Or, install multiple sheets of mass-loaded vinyl within the layers of drywall.
However, make sure you leave enough gaps between the layers to break the passage of sound vibrations.
6. Test The Room For Music
Last but not least, test your recording room before putting it to professional use. Doing so will help you analyze any weak points in the room. I recommend singing, playing the drum, or producing any other sound for at least 30 minutes to know if the music room needs further soundproofing.
If it does, even after incorporating all the steps mentioned above, you can opt for soundproof or blackout curtains. Even if the room does not have windows, installing either of the two can add another layer of soundproofing and reduce noises of low frequencies as well.
Soundproofing A Room For Music Conclusion
Although making a room completely soundproof is not technically possible, you can take certain measures to prevent noise in your music room. And the best part is that most of the soundproofing methods discussed above are easy enough for beginners and do not require advanced tools. Even the soundproofing materials I suggested do not demand much skill for installation.
For best results, however, I recommend using multiple methods in combination. For instance, you can consider soundproofing the wallsand adding suitable furniture to soundproof a room. Or, install a floating floor or ceiling, and invest in a white noise machine.
So, don’t force your neighbors to attend a concert or listen to a podcast they didn’t sign up for, and soundproof your home recording studio today!
Mineral wool is the best soundproof insulation material that can be used for soundproofing purposes, but it is a pricey option. Meanwhile, cost-effective materials that can be used include blown-in fiberglass or cellulose insulation, foam, cotton, and batt insulation.
Soundproofing has become a necessity in many homes nowadays.
Whether due to the increased use of gadgets, more traffic on the streets, or to ensure privacy, more and more people are looking for ways to soundproof their homes. And while there are many soundproofing techniques available for this purpose, before you try them out, it is essential to learn about soundproofing insulation.
And this is just the guide that can help you out.
Types of Soundproof Insulation Explained
Fundamentals Of Soundproofing
To understand how soundproofing insulation works and what are the best materials for the purpose, you first need to know a few basic things about soundproofing.
What Is Sound?
Sound is a wave generated by a vibrating body and can travel through solid, liquid, and gas mediums. This means it can be transmitted through air, water bodies, and even solid objects, like doors and walls. For soundproofing purposes, sound can be classified into different types, including:
1. Airborne Sounds
Airborne sound travels through the air, and traffic noise, conversations, etc., are examples. Usually, such sounds can be reduced using sound insulation barriers.
2. Impact-Based Sounds
Impact-based sounds occur due to vibrations caused in a surface when another object strikes it and possesses more energy than airborne sounds. Some examples include the sounds of slamming doors, a hammer striking, and even of footsteps. Reducing these sounds is more difficult since vibrations are caused within various surfaces.
3. Flanking Sounds
Sounds that travel through surfaces like electrical outlets or ductwork are called flanking sounds or flanking noises, and it can be quite difficult to locate their source.
What Is Noise?
Noise is generally defined as unwanted sound that can cause disturbance in an area, but this is a subjective definition. What one person may consider as noise, another may not, but noise usually has the characteristics of being unpleasant and loud.
Measurement Of Noise Levels
Noise levels are measured in the following ways:
1. Sound Pressure Level
Sound Pressure Level the pressure level of sound measured on a logarithmic scale, and the unit used is decibels (dB). The use of a logarithmic scale means that the pressure level can change significantly even with a slight change in the scale.
2. Loudness
The loudness of any sound will depend upon factors such as the point where it is heard and the person hearing it. For instance, even a low-intensity sound may appear very loud in a quiet room.
How Effective Is Soundproofing?
The process of soundproofing aims to reduce sound waves from traveling through the various surfaces of a building, such as doors, walls, and the ceiling.
While it is possible to block out all sound from a specific room completely, it is not very easy to do in most cases. The reason is that many soundproofing techniques are generally very complicated and require a lot of time, resources, and effort.
Soundproofing methods that are usually used can only reduce noise and not eliminate it. Fortunately, for many people, a reduction in the noise level is adequate.
Sound Transmission Class - What Is It?
Sound Transmission Class or STC is a rating system that indicates how effective a building partition or assembly is in preventing the transmission of sound waves. A higher STC rating indicates that the building is more effective in reducing noise. But even insulation materials with a high STC rating may not be able to attenuate low-frequency sounds, such as bass-heavy music or sounds of machinery.
According to the International Building Code, an STC of 50 is required for buildings with multiple families, while an STC of over 60 is considered to be the best. STC ratings are generally used for airborne sounds like conversations.
Methods Of Sound Insulation
The most commonly used methods of sound insulation include the following:
1. Providing Additional Mass
It is more difficult for sound waves to travel through an object that is large and heavy. This means you can reduce sound by adding mass to surfaces that you want to soundproof, such as a hollow core door, which can help in sound reduction. And there are many ways by which this can be done, such as by installing drywall or using mass-loaded vinyl.
2. Decoupling
Surfaces that are in contact with one another make it easier for vibrations to travel through. Separating or decoupling them, such as the two sides of a wall, can reduce the sound that reaches your ears.
3. Insulation
The cavity of the wall that needs to be soundproofed can be insulated to reduce sound from one reaching the other side. Generally, this is done by adding some insulating material between two sides.
Advantages Of Sound Insulation
1. Improved Acoustics
Soundproof insulation materials are very effective in preventing noise from entering a specific space. This means that besides soundproofing, they can help improve the acoustics of a space and can be used in areas like a recording studio.
2. Effective Noise Reduction
Many extensive soundproofing techniques are quite complicated and require considerable time and resources. But with the right sound insulation materials, it is possible to get good results easily.
3. Reduced Transmission Of Heat
Many materials used for soundproof insulation offer additional benefits besides noise reduction, such as reducing heat transfer, which helps regulate the temperature of a space.
Soundproof Insulation Materials
You can use several types of insulation materials for soundproofing purposes, and some of the best ones are mentioned here.
1. Mineral Wool Insulation
Slag, which is produced when steel is manufactured, or natural stone is heated and spun to manufacture mineral wool insulation fibers. Then, oils and resins are added to enhance the strength of the wool. The biggest advantage of this material is that it uses recycled products and is fire-resistant.
That said, mineral wool insulation is among the costlier materials you can use for soundproofing walls. A cost-effective alternative to mineral wool insulation is fiberglass insulation. Mineral wool, also known as stone wool insulation, has an STC rating of 45, which is great for noise control.
2. Blown-in Fiberglass Insulation
Blown-in fiberglass insulation is manufactured by spinning the fibers of heated glass and combining it with plastic to make it more flexible. This material is among the most commonly used for sound-deadening insulation since it is affordable and is available in rolls, loose fills, and batts.
Fiberglass insulation, also known as glass wool insulation, has a good R-value and an STC rating of 39. On the flip side, it may not be the best solution for people who are prone to allergies.
3. Cotton Insulation
Cotton insulation is manufactured from cellulose fibers that are obtained from clothing items like jeans. It is available in batts that can be installed easily between stud boards. Since it is made from recycled cotton, this type of insulation is biodegradable and can be treated with boric acid to improve its fire resistance.
While it has a high STC rating of 51, cotton insulation can be a bit expensive.
4. Cellulose Insulation
This is another material used for sound insulation made from recycled and waste materials, like shredded cardboard and newspapers. It can be made fire-resistant by applying materials like boric acid and can be used in various spaces to make them quiet.
Cellulose insulation, also available as blown-in insulation, is affordable and has a good R-value with an STC rating of 39. But keep in mind that cellulose can produce a lot of dust, so those with allergies may not find it suitable.
5. Foam Insulation
Foam insulation is among the most popular building insulation materials and is available in various forms, such as solid boards or spray foam. Different types of plastics are used to manufacture foam insulation, and you can choose between open-cell and closed-cell foams.
Open-cell foam insulation is much better at absorbing airborne noise and can expand easily to fill up cracks and holes when used as spray foam insulation. Closed-cell foam is not as effective since it has lower porosity.
Spray foam insulation is a versatile option that can easily be used in many different spaces where rolls or batts cannot be used. Like many other soundproof insulation materials, foam insulation is treated with fire-retardant materials to make it fire-resistant. Also, it has an STC rating of 39.
Factors To Consider When Buying Sound Insulation Materials
To ensure you get the desired results, selecting the right insulation material for soundproofing is vital. For that, you need to consider certain factors, which have been mentioned here.
1. The Scope Of The Project
Depending on the scope of the project, you may be able to get results simply by installing sound insulation materials or may need to use additional soundproofing techniques. For instance, in a building where pests are a frequent problem or it is hard to work on the surfaces, sound insulation may not be adequate. Therefore, you’ll need additional materials and tools to work on such surfaces.
2. Budget
Before deciding on the materials, you should research and find out the prices of different materials available for soundproof insulation. This will help you come up with a suitable budget and decide which materials to use and how extensive the project can be.
3. Project Handling
The insulation materials that can be used to create a sound barrier will also depend upon who is going to undertake the project. If you plan to complete it yourself using DIY techniques, it is better to go with materials that are easier to use. On the other hand, if the soundproofing is to be done by professionals, using professional-grade insulation materials would be wise.
Tip
A useful tip to help you choose the right insulation material is to consider its mass. The greater the mass of the material, the more effective it will be in blocking sound. For instance, if you are planning to use mineral wool, go with rigid boards made from the material.
They will not only have the density of the wool but will also have more mass which can drown vibrations easily.
Soundproof Insulation FAQs
Are thicker insulation materials better for sound insulation?
The R-value refers to the energy efficiency of the sound insulation material, and high-mass materials have a higher R-value. A higher R-value means that the material requires less energy to keep your room insulated. Hence, materials with greater mass are more effective in preventing sound transmission.
Which sound insulation material is best for interior walls?
While there are several materials you can use to soundproof interior walls, in most cases, mineral wool offers the best results. This is due to its high density, which prevents the air between walls from transmitting sound waves. However, it is an expensive material, which won’t be suitable for those on a budget.
Soundproof Insulation Conclusion
Soundproof insulation can help reduce unwanted noise in your home. The materials available for the purpose can be used in a variety of situations and can even complement other soundproofing techniques.
While you may not be able to eliminate all sounds, these materials can help in noise control to a considerable extent. If you find selecting the right material challenging, it is a good idea to hire the services of a soundproofing expert.
They can perform an inspection of your home and recommend the most suitable materials that can be used for sound insulation. What’s more, in cases where you may have doubts about installing the material, such experts can perform the installations quickly and efficiently, saving a lot of hassle.
And with that, this comprehensive guide on soundproof insulation has come to an end. Until next time!
Using acoustic foam panels, along with adding extra soundproofing material and sealing the perimeter is one of the most effective ways to prevent noise from traveling through the garage door. Besides, acoustic blankets, noise-blocking curtains, and mass-vinyl barriers are dependable options to make your garage a quiet space.
A garage is one of the most versatile locations in any home, be it for jamming with friends or getting some me-time.
You can even use it as a workshop for your DIY projects. Whatever the case, a soundproof garage is what you need to tinker away without disturbing others. Today, I’ll share the five best soundproofing materials that prevent noise from entering or escaping the garage.
So, keep reading!
Reasons To Soundproof Garage Door
The primary reasons why every homeowner must consider soundproofing garage doors are as follows:
Preventing noise from traveling out of the garage
Minimizing the amount of noise that enters the garage
For instance, you might use the garage for band rehearsals or as a workshop for completing DIY projects. In either case, you will want to reduce the amount of sound that enters the space and work with as little distraction as possible.
In such situations, soundproofing your garage door would be wise, as it will minimize noise transmission.
Not only will it improve sound absorption (acoustics), but it will also prevent hot or cold air from entering(or escaping) the garage. Therefore, adding soundproofing materials in your garage will prevent heat loss, so you will save some money on energy bills every month.
Types Of Sound That Enter The Garage
Before kickstarting your garage soundproofing project, it’s important to figure out the type of sound that invades your garage space. That’s because the soundproofing material you must use depends largely on the sound that enters your garage.
Basically, two types of sound can enter your garage space– structure-borne noise and airborne noise. I’ve discussed them in detail– so let’s take a look.
1. Structure-Borne Noise
Also known as impact or structural noise, structure-borne noise transpires when any item collides with a solid structure, i.e., the garage door. This collision, in turn, results in vibrations, which are heard as noise.
The sound of rain thumping against the roofing and someone banging on the garage door is a classic example of structure-borne garage noise.
2. Airborne Noise
As the name suggests, airborne noise travels in and out of your garage via air. Sounds such as that of power tools, music, and voices are some examples of airborne noise that gets transmitted through your garage door.
So, is the noise in your garage airborne or structure-borne? One easy way to figure that out is by putting your hand on the garage door whenever you hear a noise in your garage.
If the noise is accompanied by a vibration, it’s structure-borne; however, in the absence of a vibration, the sound is airborne.
How To Soundproof A Garage Door
1. Install Acoustic Foam Panels
One of the most effective yet slightly expensive sound attenuation methods is to install acoustic panels in your garage. Unlike acoustic blankets, foam panels offer a polished appearance, making your garage appear more like a recording studio.
Installing acoustic foam panels is fairly easy, although you can hire a professional if you’re not into DIY. Adhesive spray, push pins, impaling clips, or double-sided tapes– you can use a variety of things to install acoustic panels on garage walls, doors, or the ceiling.
Note that if you intend to pull down the acoustic panels anytime soon, going for a less permanent installation method would be the best way forward. For maximum sound isolation, you can use these soundproofing foam panels to insulate the window pane and doors alongside the walls.
Do remember that these would only work when used in conjunction with an effective soundproofing system, with lots of additional mass applied to the entire surface.
2. Use Acoustic Blankets For Soundproofing Your Roll-Up Garage Door
Acoustic blankets are a practical solution for soundproofing roll-up garage doors because they are affordable alternatives to acoustic panels.
More or less, acoustic blankets are 78 inches in length and 72 inches in width and come with reinforced metal grommets for easy installation. What makes them a reliable soundproofing material for noise reduction is that they absorb sound. So, neither would unwanted noise enter the garage nor would the garage door screech or rumble while opening or closing.
For better sound absorption, hang the blankets after folding them, which would prove effective in reducing noise transmission.
3. Insulate Your Garage Door With Mass-Loaded Vinyl
Another popular option for soundproofing garage doors is mass-loaded vinyl which is known to improve the STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating of a wall. This flexible material attenuates excess noise, so it’s a practical option for noise control.
The mass-loaded vinyl barrier, a polyvinyl chloride-based product, is an easy-to-install material that can be adhered to the wall, floor, or garage ceiling using spray adhesives, nails, and screws. To make your garage a quiet space, you can use more than one layer, which would enhance sound isolation.
Not many know that mass-loaded vinyl absorbs sounds of all frequencies, making it a reliable pick for garages where band practice takes place.
4. Use Noise-Blocking Curtains
Sure, an insulated garage door blocks noise, but did you know it also offers thermal insulation?
If you’re looking for a soundproofing material that offers both thermal and sound insulation, noise-blocking curtains are worth considering. As against a regular curtain, a noise-blocking curtain is thick and dense, which is why it can be installed anywhere– surrounding walls, windows, or doors.
Unlike other soundproofing materials, they need not be attached to the wall using any adhesive or nail (fastener); instead, you’ll need a curtain rod to install them. All you need to do is slide the metal grommets in the curtain rods, and your garage will be soundproof within a few minutes.
Like blankets, noise-blocking curtains don’t do much to reduce bass noise, so keep that in mind. However, it makes the space comfortable as it prevents energy loss, so you’ll be able to work comfortably no matter the weather outside.
5. Get Rid Of Air Vents Or Create An Air Vent Sound Maze
Ever thought that air vents could lead to noise leaks besides letting in the fresh air?
Tackling air vents is the first and the most important thing when it comes to soundproofing projects; otherwise, all your efforts would go in vain. Here, as a homeowner, you’ve got two choices– get rid of air vents or create an air vent sound maze.
Getting rid of them is one of the easiest ways to soundproof your garage. But without air vents, your garage would be toasty, which would be problematic in summer.
One way to combat this issue is to install an air conditioner or oscillating fans in your workspace to keep it cool.
If you don’t mind undertaking a bit of DIY task, creating an air vent sound maze will help you soundproof your garage efficiently. All you need is acoustic foam and wooden sticks for the task.
First, you will have to trim the acoustic foam such that it’s of the same length and width as the wooden stick. Thin sticks aren’t much help in noise reduction, so make sure you use thick ones. Once trimmed, you will have to arrange them as shown in the diagram below, which will prevent sound from invading.
A Step-By-Step Guide On Soundproofing A Garage Door
The benefits of an insulated garage door are plenty. For anyone who wishes to soundproof their garage door on their own, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you complete the project with ease.
1. Gather Supplies
The first thing is to gather supplies needed to soundproof a garage door; having the right tools and equipment will allow you to complete the project quickly and efficiently. You need:
Sound insulation material like fiberglass panels, sound-deadening blankets, spray foam or acoustic foam panels
Weatherstripping tape
Spray or Green Glue adhesive
Garage door seal kit
Measuring tape
Cutting tool
Nails or fasteners
Garage door motor lubricant
2. Lubricate The Garage Door Components
After gathering supplies, lubricating the garage door motor is the next thing to do. Take the garage door motor lubricant and spray it over the motor along with the opening and closing mechanisms for smooth working.
3. Measure Your Garage Door And Cut The Soundproofing Material
Measuring the length and width of garage doors is crucial for garage soundproofing projects. So, grab the measuring tape, measure the door and keep the measurements handy because you’ll have to cut soundproofing materials accordingly.
No matter which material you intend to use, mark the length and width on it with a pencil and then start cutting to avoid mistakes.
4. Install The Insulation
When the material is cut, it’s time to install it, so apply Green Glue all over the garage door in generous quantities. You will have to apply the adhesive only if you plan to install MLV or acoustic panels. For fiberglass panels, you can use nails, screws, or other adhesives.
Also, make sure to clean the door before applying adhesive because a dirty door would prevent the material from adhering to the surface.
Tip
To seal gaps on the bottom of the door, you’ll have to use weatherstripping tape. Conversely, a garage door seal kit is considered effective for sealing the top and the sides of the garage door. Besides soundproofing, it will keep the garage insulated from outside weather, meaning you’ll save money on energy bills.
How To Soundproof A Garage Door Summing It Up
So, do you want to work peacefully on your carpentry projects in your garage, or does your garage make loud noises when opening or closing?
Either way, the only thing that can help you is soundproofing your garage doors. Of all the soundproofing materials, acoustic panels are effective in noise control, but they are slightly on the expensive side.
So, if you’re looking for materials to soundproof your side-to-side or roll-up garage door on a reasonable budget, acoustic blankets or noise-blocking curtains would certainly fit the bill.
Once soundproofed, you’re free to start your projects without the fear of getting noise complaints. However, if worst comes to worst, replacing your existing garage door with a ready-insulated one would be a wise thing to do.
Good luck, folks!
Soundproofing a gaming room using acoustic panels, mass-loaded vinyl, and other sound insulation materials like soundproof curtains can help you get the ultimate gaming experience. You can use various such soundproofing techniques for existing surfaces as well as when building a room from scratch.
Noise control and reduction when playing video games require much more than wearing the best gaming headset, especially if you have a dedicated gaming room. And thankfully, there are many soundproofing techniques you can use to keep outside noise from entering the room and inside noise from escaping outside.
Dive into today’s guide, where I will take you through the different methods for soundproofing doors, walls, windows, the ceiling, and the floor using soundproofing materials and through structural alterations. Do note that the field of acoustics is an extremely wide and complex, there is no "soundproof gaming foam" but there are simple enough ways to improve your acoustic gaming room performance in a DIY project, more on that, and others in the article!
How To Build A Soundproof Gaming Room
Whether you’re building a new gaming room or looking to modify the existing one, the following tips and tricks will come in handy in both cases. However, keep in mind that you may have to employ a combination of the soundproofing techniques mentioned below for optimum results.
Soundproofing The Door
Just like with any other room, the door of your gaming room will be a central structure that will facilitate the entry and exit of sound. Hence, most gaming room soundproofing projects begin with soundproofing the door to absorb or block sound. And there are a few ways to achieve this:
1. Covering Gaps
Gaps around your door frame are the main culprit for sound leakage, but thankfully, you can seal them to reduce noise entering or leaving the room. For this, I’d suggest applying a weather-stripping seal on the door frame, so there’s no gap when you close the door.
After applying one layer of the seal, close the door and see if there are any remaining gaps. If there are, you will need to apply some additional layers till there are no visible gaps remaining.
As for the gap below the door (between the door and the floor), you’re better off using silicone door sweeps, which are generally easy to install, thanks to the adhesive-equipped design. Simply measure the gap and cut the door sweep as required, after which you can paste it below the door.
2. Adding Mass To The Door
Unless your game room has an all-metal construction, sealing the door gaps alone won’t do much good. Since most gaming rooms are, well, like the other rooms in a house with almost the same features as a bedroom or guestroom, the door structure tends to be hollow.
What this means is that there’s enough gap within the structure of the door through which sound waves can travel easily without losing energy. So, the sound will come out pretty loud from the other side of the door, even when it’s closed.
However, you can solve this noise problem by adding more mass to the door, thereby thickening its structure and “forcing” the sound waves to lose energy when they travel through it. And the easiest and cheapest way to do it is by hanging a thick moving blanket on the door using screws or textile adhesives.
Aside from acting as a barrier to unwanted noises, these soundproof blankets can render better sound absorption properties to the door. As a result, you will be able to prevent sound from entering and exiting the room, as well as reduce echo in the room.
Tip
Add at least two layers of different soundproof materials on a thin door.
3. Installing Acoustic Panels Or MLV
If you don’t want moving blankets to spoil the look of your gaming room and can spend a little more onsoundproofing material, then acoustic panels can be the way to go. Depending on your needs, you can find different variations of these panels that serve different purposes.
For example, textured acoustic foam panels can enhance your door’s sound absorption and deaden sound by transmitting the sound waves that hit it in different directions. Likewise, foam panels with flat surfaces are generally considered better for sound absorption and reducing echo. In other words, they help improve the sound quality or acoustics in your room- an advantage that will benefit gamers who don’t have noise-canceling gaming headsets.
As for the installation of these panels, you can use hanging strips, screws, or even adhesives depending on the material of your door.
Alternatively, you can substitute acoustic panels with mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) panels that are cut into the right sizes according to the door surface you need to cover. And feel free to paint over the panels with textile paint or wrap them in thick fabrics to enhance the décor of your room.
However, if you need to cover a lot of space, using MLV panels won’t be one of the most affordable options for soundproofing.
Soundproofing The Walls
Aside from the door, the walls of your gaming room can increase the noise levels by allowing outside noise to enter the space. Oftentimes, you can cancel out all the noise in the room by simply soundproofing the walls.
Again, there are multiple ways to soundproof the walls of your gaming room. While some of them may be more suitable for DIY projects (as you don’t need to take down the wall), others may require the assistance of professionals.
As such, I always recommend my readers to start with the non-invasive methods and follow them with the invasive ones if desired results aren’t achieved.
1. Adding Mass To The Walls
Just like you’d do with the door, adding mass to the walls can increase the density of the structure and prevent the transmission of sound waves through it.
You can use soundproofing curtains or soundproofing blankets for this purpose, but they are typically more suitable for blocking low-frequency noises. Aside from that, MLV panels may come in handy, too.
Not only that, but you can also install more drywall layers to the existing wall surface to increase its density. Although standard drywall does a decent job, I’d suggest going for soundproof drywall panels if your budget permits.
The important thing to remember here is that the more layers you have on the wall, the better will be the noise blocking property of the wall. However, this can be a problem for smaller rooms, as you’d end up losing a lot of space. In such cases, you’d want something more effective that does the job just in a couple of layers.
Tip
You can stack furniture near the walls as a temporary solution until you get your hands on the right soundproofing materials.
2. Installing Sound Dampening Materials
If you aren’t looking for blocking noise per se but still want to improve the sound quality in the room, soundproof foam panels or thick acoustic panels can be the best solution. They aren’t very expensive or heavy and can be easily installed without you worrying about them coming off.
Gamers who record live streams or podcasts of their gaming experience prefer opting for this method in addition to more effective noise reduction methods for clear audio recording.
3. Soundproofing Treatment For Walls
If you’re bothered by too much noise in the gaming room, then you may need to go for invasive soundproofing techniques involving adding sound-insulating materials inside the wall. And to speak the truth, there’s nothing better than insulating the walls from the inside to facilitate active noise control at all times.
Let me now take you through the best methods for building a soundproof wall from scratch.
A. Installing MVL Panels
Installing MVL panels within the walls is one of the most effective noise-canceling options you can employ. In this technique, the panels are directly screwed on the wall studs, after which the drywall layers are added to finish the wall assembly.
B. Adding Insulating Material Between The Studs
Another way to prevent your walls from transporting the sound to the entire room is insulating the space between the studs with a soundproof material like mineral insulation wool batts. Although you can do this on your own when the wall is still being built, make sure to wear gloves and a face mask, as the slivers can cause injuries and breathing troubles.
C. Decoupling The Walls
If you’re building a new gaming room altogether or constructing a soundproof box (or soundproof gaming booth, as it’s often called), then you can also try decoupling the walls. Simply put, this technique involves separating the external drywall structures from the inside wall using resilience channels and sound isolation clips.
By employing this technique, you essentially reduce the contact points between the internal structures of the wall, thereby blocking the pathway for sound transmission.
Soundproofing The Window Panels
Most gaming rooms have windows, which can add to the sound transmission property of the wall through their glass structure or gaps in the wooden frame. However, the good news is that you can easily tackle these problems the DIY way by hanging soundproof curtains on standard curtain rods.
The added advantage of these thick curtains is that they may aid the insulation of the room, making it more energy-efficient to cut down on your energy bills in the long run.
For cracks in the wooden frame, you can use any acoustic caulk to fix them. A better way would be to cut small pieces of acoustic panels and paste them on the cracks using the caulk for reinforced soundproofing.
In case of severe sound transfer, you may need to build an additional window frame with plywood panels and attach it to the main window frame. Furthermore, install soundproofing curtains on the new window frame to reduce noise optimally.
Soundproofing The Ceiling
A soundproof ceiling is extremely important for designing a soundproof gaming room, especially if the floor above it isn’t treated for soundproofing. And here are a few ways that can get you success:
1. Adding Insulating Materials
Sound-dampening materials like foam panels and even rubber mats can be installed on the ceiling of the gaming room to absorb any unwanted noise coming from upstairs. But my favorite way to soundproof ceilings is adding acoustic tiles, which also help elevate the look of the ceiling like nothing else.
The best way to go about the job is starting with chalking out a grid-like structure, covering the areas that are more susceptible to noise leaks, and adding the tiles using the right adhesive. But this method can become a bit expensive, especially if you have a lot of area to cover.
2. Creating A Dropped Ceiling
If your gaming room is spacious enough and you’re looking to change its décor, consider adding a dropped ceiling structure using standard drywall. Additionally, fill the space between the main ceiling and the dropped ceiling with some sound-insulating material, as any unused space of light and plumbing fixtures can become “sound transporters.”
Apart from that, you can insulate the dropped ceiling using foam panels or rubber mat pieces, provided they don’t add too much weight to the structure.
If you’re constructing the room from scratch, you can fill the gaps between the ceiling joists using soundproofing material as you’d do for the wall studs. However, I’d suggest seeking professional help for this, so speak to your contractor in advance.
Tip
You can also soundproof the floor above the roof using rubber mats, thick carpets, and rugs, or a wooden subfloor to reduce noise transfer between the floor and ceiling.
Soundproofing The Floor
The final step in designing a soundproof gaming roof is soundproofing the floor. Now, depending on how much sound transfer your floor facilitates, you can employ simple techniques like adding thick rugs and carpets. For example, placing EVA foam or anti-vibration mats can absorb high-frequency sounds, so your family members can stay undisturbed if you love playing video games on loudspeakers.
Although these may not block the noise, they can absorb the sound waves to prevent echo and improve the sound quality in the room. Apart from that, you can install a subfloor (floor underlay) made of MDF or plywood panels on the floor and use a soundproof sealant like Green Glue compound to secure it on the floor.
Additional Tips For Building A Soundproof Gaming Room
Here are a few things you can try to keep your gaming room from disturbing your family members and neighbors:
1. Design A Soundproof Housing For Your Gaming System
If soundproofing the entire room seems too much of a hassle, simply build a soundproof housing for your gaming system using soundproof drywall. Or, you can use standard drywall and reinforce the surrounding surfaces with any of the sound insulation materials mentioned above.
Just make sure it has enough room for you to sit comfortably inside in front of the system. And poke some holes in the wall directly behind the system to keep it from overheating.
2. Place The Speakers On A Foam Mat
Placing the speakers and woofer directly on a hardwood floor can make the room extremely noisy, as the sound waves vibrate through the wooden structure and amplify. So, use an acoustic foam panel or mat below them to absorb the sound.
3. Use Anti-Vibration Fan Mouths
Anti-vibration fan mouths can be very effective in reducing the fan noise of your computer, especially when the fans are overworking to cool the system. I’d strongly recommend implementing this trick if you play graphics-intensive games (like Nintendo Switch) for long hours.
Soundproofing Gaming Room Final Thoughts
With that, it’s time for me to wrap up today’s guide.
But it won’t be fair if I end it without providing you with one more pro tip: in case you need to use multiple layers of drywall, attach them using an acoustic sealant like Green Glue compound for the best results. You can even use this hack to substitute a single layer of soundproof drywall if it threatens to burn a hole in your pocket.
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