After a cold and wet winter, it’s time for a little forward thinking in your home décor. No more drab, gray tones. No more stark lines. Spring is coming into bloom: budding plants, blossoming flowers, and clear blue skies. Here are our tips to spring forward into the new season!

 

• Passé Pastels – The mention of Spring might bring Easter to mind, full of soft colors that mirror the renewal of growth outside. From baby chicks the shade of corn to light pink daffodils, there is no doubt that Spring is colorful. But we say why not give the season a little more va-va-voom? Opt for sunshine or daisy yellow instead of a muted pastel. And deepen the classic light pink to a slightly darker rose or strawberry hue.

 

• A Tisket, A Tasket – Baskets aren’t just for Easter. They can add quaint charm to your home year-round. Try using a wicker or woven basket as a decorative means to cover a plant pot in your home or a compartment for organizing things. Example: Cradle some little shampoo, lotion, or soap bottles in a small basket with a washcloth underneath, and set it out for guests in the bathroom. A fancy basket could also sit in the living room and hold all of your dog’s toys, for a tidier space.

 

• Denim Delight – We’re back to jean shorts weather. And this year, interior design trends are set to match. Add a little bit of texture to a room by using denim-covered pillows or highlights of the same indigo color. If your personal style tends to be somewhat neutral, this is a less drastic option than the bright hue. Indigo goes particularly well with whites and bronze.

 

• Wall Makeover – White walls are like a blank canvas waiting to be covered in your personal flare and make your home more comfortable. Throw some paint up, even if only on one wall. It’s always something you can redo if you don’t like it. You can also paint stamps of flowers or some other design onto specific areas of the wall. To make them really pop, hang a frame without a back over the top. It’ll draw the eye to the design without the cost of sizing or matting.

 

Frame Warehouse is your personal art and décor guru. Our store representatives have years of framing experience, from custom size and shapes to different types of glass and even mirrors. Help your home “Spring” forward with these wall makeover ideas and shop Frame Warehouse to complete the fresh, new look. What are you waiting for? Start shopping!

Old Hollywood is an undeniably classy theme for any room. It has to be well-groomed, sharp, sexy, and timeless. But just how can you roll all of those features into one? Follow these steps to glam up your living or entertainment room:

 

1. Lights, Camera, Action! – Okay, okay, maybe just the lights. To get your room camera-worthy, you need to incorporate lighting that makes a statement all on its own. A chandelier fixture casts reflective light spots around the room, like an elegant entrance hall.

 

Or, for something a little bit more masculine, you can opt for standing lamps or wall sconces. Standing lamps are a throw-back to men’s smoke parlors with dimmed lighting and a heavy atmosphere. Wall sconces on a dimming switch may lend the room the most versatility. Dim for a movie night or turn on all the way for social hour. The way the light reflects off of the wall gives a subtle but genuine Hollywood ambiance.

 

2. Stately Furnishings – Furniture in the days of Old Hollywood was heavy and ostentatious. The bigger, the more money you had. And Hollywood loved to portray the wealthy. Dark woods, bulky armchairs, and a large ornate entertainment center may all be found or refurbished from estate sales and even thrift stores with “outdated” pieces. A little distress in the wood or character flaws only makes for a more believable story.

 

3. Make the Headlines – The right knick-knacks can transport a guest back in time. A rotary phone, a few newspapers on the coffee table, or even a series of hardback books and a pair of heavy bookends can add a simple touch of Hollywood masculinity. Use an old glass decanter as a flower vase for a mixture of masculine and feminine.

 

4. Dress to Kill – Like a killer black and white suit or a slinky red dress, your Hollywood room should have its curves and colors in order. The two most typical Hollywood colors are black and white: Black and white pictures to black and white formal attire. But your themed room doesn’t have to stay true to that. In fact, adding splashes of color prevents the look from being too generic or boring. Similarly, you might primarily opt for boxy masculine furniture, but you can throw in some curvy accent shapes here and there for excitement.

 

5. Picture Perfect – The only room aspect that remains is the walls. For a living area, try a cluster of framed black and white or sepia photos of family and friends. For an entertainment room, blow up black and white photos of your favorite Hollywood stars or simply just your favorite “sets” around your city. For instance, go to the local coffee shop, park, theater, or anywhere else meaningful to you and take a candid shot.

 

Is your Hollywood-designed room ready for its closeup? If you’re having trouble finding the perfect bold frames for your photo cluster or candid city shots, take the pieces to the framing professionals at Frame Warehouse for a consultation. They can help you find or design the perfect frame at a reasonable cost!

 

Sometimes life is a busy, messy, distracting jumble of thoughts and events and to-do lists. It’s times like that when you doze off at your desk from being overworked and overstressed. Suddenly you’re in the Bahamas, sipping a Strawberry Daiquiri and getting a suntan – until you wake up, that is. Unfortunately, you can’t always sneak off to the real Bahamas. Tight finances, a busy family schedule, or an inability to take days from work might prevent it. In those cases, what you need is a staycation in your home.

 

Initially, the idea of a staycation in your home might seem silly, but dedicating a room specifically to Zen attitudes, relaxation, and meditation can improve your outlook and decrease your stress. Every time you pass this room, you can be reminded to take a few minutes for yourself.

 

But how do you create the perfect Zen space for reflection? Here are some points to consider:

 

• Color – Like most rooms, the first thing to consider for a zen space is the color. It would be easy to say such-and-such is the perfect meditation color, but there is no such thing. While pastel colors may invoke peace and tranquility for some, neutral or even darker tones may accomplish the same for others. Look through swatches of color to see which helps you mind relax and makes you happy.

 

• Minimalism – Generally speaking, a Zen space should be free of distractions. This minimalist approach means enforcing an electronic-free zone. No tv, no laptop, and no cell phone.

 

• Contours – Smooth lines help embody the continuous feel of energy and the natural cycles of your body, such as breathing. It keeps the “flow” of your zen space alive.

 

• Purpose – What will you do to find zen in your space? You might want pillows to sit/lay down and relax. You could include a yoga mat or an iPod dock for easy listening. In addition, incorporate your own personal “touchstone” (an item that helps you focus and ground your emotions).

 

• Escape Art – Since your zen room is located in your home, sometimes it can be difficult to take your mind elsewhere. Paintings and photography of places that give you peace offer a visual escape.

 

Focus these techniques into one space, and you can harness your zen without needing to travel or even requiring a large budget. When you’ve decided which final pieces of artwork will add a visual escape to your “mind palace,” Frame Warehouse can help you frame the pieces according to your needs at an affordable cost.

 

 

If a picture says a thousand words, what does a wall say? It’s a trick question. Walls don’t talk – or do they? Most walls don’t, but yours can!

 

When you think of a wall, you probably think of a blank white space. Or, if you’re more analytic, you might simply define it as part of the structure that holds a ceiling over your head. But what if that blank white space is a canvas waiting to be transformed? What if that functional flat surface can play an additional role in your home?

 

Walls speak volumes when they are dressed up a little. There are several reasons you might consider this. If you are eclectic and fun-loving, you might want to showcase who you are in every aspect of your home. If you have a keen eye, it’s fun to decorate every inch of the space in which you live. If you are a hard-working socialite, you want a place that inspires relaxation and warmth.

 

No matter what your reason might be for dressing up a wall or walls, you have a plethora of options available to make the most out of your decision. For instance:

 

• Wallpaper vs Paint – Many people claim that wallpaper is outdated, but what exactly does “vintage” mean anyway? Some types of modern wallpaper are not busy or gaudy; rather, they add texture and character, especially to period homes. Paint is typically more popular, with varied hues and finishes. There’s even paint that feels like velvet or that can be drawn on with chalk after it dries.

 

• Color Scheme – Vibrant or demure, the color of a room’s walls sets the tone. It’s more permanent than any other fixture. You can buy new furniture, swap pillows, or take down pictures. But changing up a wallpaper or paint color choice is a project. The best way to make a decision is to ask what you intend to use the room for and what you want to feel when you are there. Many kitchens incorporate the color red because it has the feel of exotic foods and has even been shown in studies as being associated with hunger. And, of course, a nursery has historically been a pastel color to symbolize peace and soft comfort.

 

• How Many Walls? – When you decide to dress a wall, you don’t need to dress every wall. You could choose to paint or decorate only one wall as the focal point of the room, also known as the “accent wall.” This technique can be easier on the eyes for room transitions or particularly bright color choices. It’s also esthetically pleasing when the eye is drawn to a singular area.

 

• Artwork – Last but not least, dressing a wall wouldn’t be as fun without the “accessories” like artwork, light fixtures, photos, and other do-dads. Art and photography in particular play a key role in focusing the tone of the wall into a more specific expression – from vintage photos of musicians for a music room to family portraits in a living room.

 

To dress a wall with the perfect finishing touches of artwork and photos, rely on Frame Warehouse. The framing experts can help you build on a color scheme and theme, ensuring that each framed piece will coordinate with the wall and the room. Stop by to see the frame selection or build a custom frame today!

 

Homebuyers initially get really excited over the discovery of a fireplace in their new home, but an old fireplace can and often does need a lot of TLC to accentuate a space. And even if you aren’t a new home buyer, you might have a fireplace in your home that you’ve never really known what to do with or how to incorporate into the other interior decor. And because a fireplace is a permanent fixture unless you want to fork over a lot of money to remove it, the best course of action is to take some time to experiment!

 

Brick, stone, marble, wood – fireplace mantels come in all types, colors, finishes, and sizes. A fireplace make take up a whole wall or only a small fraction of the room in a corner. So ultimately, remember that your fireplace needs its own signature look. Certain ideas will work and others won’t. Play around with these ideas to unveil your best mantel makeover!

 

1. Refurbish and Refresh – Updating the fireplace itself will enable you to use the mantel as a focal point. For instance, it may be tough to show the unique patterns and accent colors you’ll add if the fireplace face is charred brick. The easiest way to update is through paint or chalk paint (which works well with brick). This alteration costs between $20-40. Solid color choices are best; white, light, and airy colors can really brighten up a space.

 

2. Repurposing – Once Christmas and the holidays are over, decorating the mantel isn’t so easy. But you’d be surprised which decorations can be used on the mantel year-round. A couple tall candlesticks or candle holders work well to add some dimension off to one side of the mantel. What about the fake poinsettias? You can spray-paint the flowers in a color that works with your new fireplace. If you’d rather not mess with spray paint, any faux flower will do!

 

3. Add a Few Classics – A metal or stone figurine can add charm, while hardcover books throw in some personality. You can give height to a smaller figurine by stacking a few of those books underneath! The figurine and books can be switched out each season to reflect new colors, topics, or themes (like Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s Day)!

 

4. Picture Perfect! – As a final touch, you need something to hang or set in the center of the mantel. Many people choose large family portraits in thick frames, but you can test out different options to suit your taste! From artwork to a pet portrait, this final touch should be unique to you! It could even be a mirror.

 

Don’t forget that perfect frame for the last piece! Frame Warehouse can supply you with any color, texture, and shape that your imagination might design – even custom made. There’s also a wide variety of artwork and mirrors to browse and inspire, so what are you waiting for? Start your mantelpiece makeover today!

Couples may find it difficult to compromise on home decor. Some women enjoy feminine touches: light drapes, floral patterns, shiny objects, elegant flourishes, the color pink. And even women who don’t consider themselves “girly girls” still find peace in a space with some of those things. At the same time, the man in the house probably prefers dark woods, leather, hard lines, and geometric angles.

 

Fortunately, there’s a way to marry both two tastes into one room. Here are some tips for giving a room a masculine touch without compromising beauty and glamour:

 

1. A Neutral Palette – Start off the room with a generally clean, crisp, and neutral color scheme. Browns and tans work well without darkening the space too much. For her, add in a few splashes of brighter tones – blue, green, purple, orange – whatever suits your fancy!

 

2. Metals – Brass, silver, chrome, and other metals are the sneaky way to pull in some of those shiny objects into a masculine room. With the more neutral tones, the shine will really draw the eye and help enrich the general decor. Metals can be incorporated through frames, hardware, lamps, or bookends.

 

3. Texture – It’s true that there’s undoubtedly something warm and comforting about textures like leather and even stonework (think fireplace), but they don’t need to be overwhelming. Instead of an entire leather couch, consider leather throw pillows. Also, this is a great time to throw in a few pictures, as certain frames can add a bold series of textures to an otherwise flat wall. Keep in mind that they need not be bulky. The sharp edges of a frame are naturally masculine, as is the grainy personality of wooden frames.

 

4. Statement Furniture – High backed chairs are both classy and strong. Even ones with a lush fabric can be given a masculine edge with a nail head trim. Be careful of using too much wooden furniture which can really weigh down a space. Instead, think outside of the box with glass end tables and even a glass-top desk, because glass has the shine and lightness of femininity with the clean lines of masculinity.

 

5. Lighting – Lamps can be classic additions to a rustic vibe, but pairing some of the aforementioned masculine pieces with some modern influenced light fixtures is best. Sconces whisper elegance while a twist on a chandelier (with a woodsy twig frame or a lantern bowl) can utter feminine romance.

 

6. Artwork – Black and white photographs can be both masculine and feminine, depending on the subject matter. Add a few of both to the room!

 

Several of these tips for mixing and matching masculine decor include artwork and frames. From metallic to wood, bright to neutral colors – whatever frames you are looking for to complete your room, Frame Warehouse has them! Frame Warehouse associates can help guide you through the process of choosing the perfect frames for your needs.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”

There are many iconic stories, scenes and tales surrounding mirrors. Maybe it’s because of the nature of intrigue from a backwards world beyond the glass. Or maybe it has more to do with the magic of somewhere not quite accessible. Maybe it’s just about vanity and power over your world, as the Evil Queen from Snow White would have us think. Mirrors can be hung to be used for viewing a reflection, opening up a small room, or simply accenting a wall.

No matter how you use a mirror, why not design one that is unique only to you and your home? There are several features to think about when designing or choosing a ready-made framed mirror. Read on for ideas!

 

1. Size and Shape – Think first about the purpose and space for which you are designing the mirror. A bathroom mirror will be far different than a bedroom mirror, office mirror, or restaurant mirror. A bathroom might be the most common room in a household for mirrors, but how is it truly used? If it’s used for for doing hair or putting on makeup, the mirror could be as small as the size of a face. Whereas, a bedroom mirror (even one that hangs on a wall) might be floor-length for checking the way a garment fits. Shape depends more on the rest of the room. A mirror, like a picture, should be considered a piece of furniture. It’s a permanent fixture that adds to the overall aesthetic. A rectangle or square screams modern and bold while a circle or oval mirror whispers classic and soft.

2. Glass – Mirrors can be made of any type of glass, from clear to colored, float or blown, and everything in-between. Most mirrors are made from float glass (the kind typical for windows). It’s the layer of metal that goes on the backside of the glass that makes the true difference. Typical mirrors are made from a layer of silver which is then painted over for protection of the metal. The metal reflects the refracted light that passes through the glass. However, you could realistically have a mirror custom-made from any type of metal and glass combination. In addition, mirror glass can be stylized. Etchings and cuts can be made, especially for mirrors whose purpose is decoration rather than utilization. However, it’s not unheard of to fancy up a bathroom or bedroom mirror with an outer edge etching or beveling.

 

3. Frame – Once you’ve decided on a place, size, shape, and type of glass for your mirror, you will need to finish the design with a beautiful frame. Frame Warehouse offers a large selection of frame styles, types, and colors. Wood, metal, plastic; antique finish or jet black; ready made or custom – the choices are practically endless!

 

If a picture says a thousand words, think how many words a mirror could say! Stop into Frame Warehouse to design your perfect mirror, then take it home and let it inspire looks and reflections for years to come! Or score one of our ready-made framed mirrors! While you’re there, take a look at the framed art and prints; you never know what piece might be a perfect companion to your new mirror.