Luckily, we’re here to help you out! Here are our tips for finding the right flooring without breaking the bank.  Just remember to learn the little things, such as how to clean wooden floors, and what cleaners you can use before making your decision!

1. Budget Materials for Durable Flooring

In areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, you need durable flooring that’s moisture resistant and still looks the part. We’ve fallen head-over-heels for ceramic tiles, which fit all those requirements and can look totally gorgeous- if you pick wisely! There are tonnes of colours, patterns and shapes to choose from.

Whilst it may not necessarily spring to mind as your best flooring option, concrete is also a material we’ve been envying. It’s super cheap, incredibly durable and so easy to clean that using it is a no-brainer. You can also paint over it to jazz it up, so let your creative juices run wild!

Vinyl is also a retro material many people won’t consider at first, but it’s actually a great choice. In recent years, the manufacture of vinyl floorings upped its game, so now yours can be quality made and there’s a tonne of choice for style.

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2. Renovation Considerations

When it comes to picking your flooring, there are a number of things you need to consider, including how it functions and how it looks – it can be way too easy to get absorbed in the latter! Here are some things you should be thinking about:

• Foundations – The foundations you’re laying your flooring on may restrict your options.
• Lifestyle and function – Consider how your flooring needs to work and what it’ll have to deal with. For example, pets and children mean easy-to-clean floors are definitely your best choice.
• Colour – Light colours can open up small spaces which can be a blessing for little homes. If you’re renovating to sell, go for a safe, neutral tone that’ll appeal to everyone.
• Single floor – Picking one floor to use throughout your home can really open up your home and improve the flow, making it seem larger

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3. Things to Think About with Timber

Timber flooring is a very popular choice due to the wide range available and its organic and timeless appeal. The material and style you choose can be a relief or strain on your budget. Floating floors in veneer, bamboo and laminate are going to be kinder to your bank account and create the lasting look of timber without the hassle and cost.

If you opt for timber, make sure you know how to clean hardwood floors to keep yours looking smarter for longer!

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4. Statement Flooring

While grey timber appear to be the best flooring choice at the moment, sometimes it’s nice to go against the trends and pick something that’s a bit more unique. If you’re on a budget, something simple like a marble effect or tiling can change things up a bit and create a more bespoke look. By shaping timber flooring, you can fit tiles in different patterns and shapes, and brass can be inlaid in concrete floors to create gorgeous contrasting patterns.

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Flooring doesn’t have to be expensive to look great and last a lifetime, as long as you know what you should be looking for! Take the time to research and find something that’s going to suit your home before investing and you should be fine.

The post 4 Tips to Finding Your Perfect Flooring on a Budget appeared first on Designbx.

Cerused dressed timber dates back to the 15th Century, a skill that enriches the grain details in porous timbers, most commonly oaks. The style is predominantly created by using a pigmented grain filler to accent the pores of a timber or applying a pigmented wash.

Cerused dressing can be achieved with white pigments in oil or other clear bases against dark surfaces. You can also tint your pore filler paste with white to achieve this look and to mask unwanted tones.

A modern take on the material trend is adding a rich colour to the white medium to produce colour infused pieces. The key areas we are seeing this revival is in flooring, cabinetry and doors. However there are no rules to where and how to use this technique but here are some trend timbers that have taken us aback with their beauty. 

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The cerused detailing on the door heightens this highly textured and pattern focused space. In lighter tones it creates a marble effect and a charming subtle, touch to bright and neutral surfaces. 

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Darker and cooler tones in trend woods showcase the beauty and versatility of using coursed  dressed timber. Commonly used in contemporary and luxe styles, the neutral and cooling hues are easily paired with bright colour, metallics and slate greys. 

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The ceruse style in darker tones is a real statement piece and can match any style from Art-Deco, rustic and contemporary. Matching perfectly with bold patterns and bright colours, it adds a whimsical appeal to any space.

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The more traditional light tones in dressed timber are used in coastal style furniture, commonly known as ‘white-washed’. A beautiful way to up-cycle furniture is to add this decorative technique to hide imperfections and unwanted colourings as it breathes new life into pre-loved wooden surfaces.

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Try to incorporate trend timbers in unconventional spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens. By applying the cerused technique to wood, it removes the orange stained hue from conventional cabinetry and bench surfaces and adds a modern touch. 

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If you’re looking for the perfect rug to match your floor, check our our guide on how to style rugs. 

The post Materials trend: cerused dressed timber appeared first on Designbx.

Japandi interior design orgins

Scandinavian interior design (Scandi) has been developed on the principles of simplicity, minimalism and functionality. It continues to be popular in Australia, aligning with our relaxed lifestyle, connection to nature and beautiful, diverse landscape. The main characteristics of Scandinavian interiors include clean lines and the use of natural materials such as oak, leather and hemp.

Japandi is a new trend that is taking the interior design world by storm. It draws on the Japanese ‘wabi-sabi’ principle of finding beauty in the imperfect and incomplete, and it blends perfectly with the simplicity of Scandinavian design.

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1. Colour

To achieve a Scandinavian look, focus on featuring a muted, neutral colour palette throughout your home. White is commonly used on the walls to make a room appear bright and spacious. Inject life into your room and make your home reflect your personality by incorporating accent pieces. Try rugs, cushions and artworks in muted colours, such as pastel pink and grey.

To create a Japandi feel, incorporate accent colours with a cool undertone, such as green and navy. Dramatic contrast (a key element of Asian design) can also be created by using a black frame for your artworks or photographs. Next, hang them above the light oak furniture pieces.

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2. Texture

Scandinavian inspired interiors usually have light coloured wooden flooring as opposed to carpet, as wood is closer to nature. Pine, beech and ash wood are the most common, with light stain finishes, to preserve a feeling of spaciousness.

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3. Simple contrast

Ornate and excessive details in furniture are not common in Scandinavian interior design. The style favours clean lined, modern and solid pieces. In the new Japandi style, statement furniture in dark tones such as charcoal, black or dark oak stained tones are used with light Scandinavian furniture. To achieve this look in your home, you could use a light oak dining table with black wooden dining chairs. This creates the dramatic contrast that is the hallmark of the Japandi style.

Introducing simple contrast between key furniture pieces maintains simplicity, while still expressing your personal design style.

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To create visual interest and rhythm, layer different muted natural textures such as a small rectangle hemp cushion with a square, pale pink cushion. To add an eclectic Japandi feel, find a unique statement piece. We love an asymmetric plant or sculpture that embraces the idea of ‘beauty in the imperfect’. By using greenery and plants, the connection to nature is reinforced.

These tips will help you to create the basis of your Japandi interior design. Express your own style and personality throughout your home interior by adding your own unique, personal touches to the ever-popular Scandi look.

The post Interior Design Trends of 2017 – Japanese and Scandi = Japandi appeared first on Designbx.