According to designer Andreea Avram Rusu there are never rules when it comes to decorating with mirrors. "Mirrors bring light and depth into rooms — they're like decorative windows you can move around and place as you like, " she says. Mirrors have several benefits and can "reflect and emphasize views and colors from art and/or adjacent walls creating special effects, " designer Celia Berliner says. Design by Andreea Avram Rusu Mirrored Art A bold and gorgeous mirror can be the focal point of a room. Designer Andreas Charalambous of FORMA Design uses this extra-large mirror to "reflect the light from the balcony below and to serve as a last-minute check point as the owners head out to work, " he says. "The mirror itself becomes the artwork in this minimal set up." Even a large wall mirror can bring simplicity to a space if used correctly. Double the Space Add mirrors to any space you want to visually expand. "The location and placement of the mirror are key when utilizing them — you want to ensure that it will not create undesirable reflections and will allow it to maximize its innate qualities, " designer Celia Berliner says. Mirrors, like this large dining room one, brighten the room, create additional luminosity and add dimension to the space, she says. Design by Celia Berliner Dramatic Effect Full-size floor mirrors can make a dramatic statement in a small space. "Using a framed, full-size mirror placed on the floor and resting on the wall can become an incredible asset in many ways in a bedroom, living room and even at the end of a hallway, " designer Celia Berliner says. Design by Nicole Sassaman Mirror Crazy Designer Jennifer Duneier believes you can never have enough mirrors in a home. Try something new — hang multiple mirrors on the same wall. "If you use them together on a wall, you want them to be grouped in a visually-pleasing way, similar to art pieces, " designer Amy Bubier says. "The scale of the mirrors should be proportional to each other and to the wall space — avoid using small mirrors on a large wall." Design by Erinn Valencich Design Must-Have Mirrors can add an extra decorative touch to a room. This duo suits the modern, yet vintage feel of the bedroom. "Mirrors are like art in that the style should coincide with other pieces in your home, " designer Amy Bubier says. "They are an integral part of the design style." Designer Celia Berliner believes well-placed mirrors can aesthetically enhance an interior with the use of stylish frames, like these distressed, reflective-framed beauties. The Perfect Spot Mirrors can be displayed in every room of the house, but a favorite spot for designers is the entryway. "Entries, rooms that lack natural light and dining areas can be a great place because they create an opportunity for creative lighting, candles, ambience, art and reflectivity, " designer Amy Bubier says. Jennifer Duneier is a designer who enjoys a mirrored entryway so everyone can do a final check before leaving the house. Design by Emily Henderson Garden Views This wall-sized floor mirror defines the modern dining area in an open floor plan. Designer Andreas Charalambous of FORMA Design angles this oversized beauty against the wall to reflect natural light and the views of the adjacent garden. The apartment's small size is visually enhanced by the dramatic addition. Bedroom Reflection An energetic vibe is given to an ultra-modern bedroom. The large stand-up mirror works with the curtains to deliver the illusion of double square-footage in a tiny space. Designer Celia Berliner says a floor-to-ceiling mirror can be a useful accent to a bedroom wall, especially when it comes to dressing.

Landscape designers agree that the best way to create a unique and functional backyard patio is to design the patio in separate areas. Rather than placing one large slab at the back of the house, it is better to create outdoor rooms with several smaller or separated slabs. Layout Considerations: How will your patio be used? The first step in determining the best shape for your patio is to decide how your patio will be used. Do you entertain a lot? Will you need open areas for an outdoor table and chairs. Do you prefer quiet nooks and creating small, cozy areas perhaps with seating around a fire pit? Here are some basic questions to ask to understand the function of your patio: How many guests do you typically entertain? Do you throw large parties? How many people usually attend? What type of surface do you think you would like? Patterned, smooth, textured, colored, etc. What patio furniture will you be using? Do you need to make room for a table and chairs, a lounge chair, an outdoor living room set, bistro table and chairs, extra bench seating, etc. Shape Considerations If you find yourself designing your patio in rectangular or square shape, stop for a minute and consider the following. Could you round off the edges of your patio to make it look more natural with the surrounding landscape? What if you arched one side of your patio to give it some dimension? Would a circular area where your outdoor dining table will be placed be possible? The point is to consider a variety of designs and give your patio some uniqueness. In the end, you want your patio to create a welcoming atmosphere that blends with the architecture of your home and the natural landscape. Always keep in mind that the best outdoor patios create destinations in the backyard. Use walkways to connect these destinations and create interest with amenities such as focal points, seat walls, fountains, ponds, arbors, fireplaces, plantings, etc.

Built-in joinery is an excellent space-saving solution for a small living room. Photo: Derek Swalwell / bauersyndication.com.au Expert tips for arranging furniture to fit an awkward and small space. Thoroughfares dominate in this oddly shaped room. When space is limited it has to work extra hard to look good, especially when the area is a room with several functions such as this open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining area. In this space, thoroughfares have taken over the entire room. The lounge and dining areas need to be rearranged for a bigger presence. Creating zones in the space is the key to making the open-plan area work. Furthermore, when space is limited, it's okay to allow more room for important functions such as lounging or dining, and less for thoroughfares. Here, I want to give the furniture arrangement a big dose of “attitude”, so I’ve placed the sofa in the middle of the room, with its back creating “a wall and a hall”. This means we can play around with the available space, taking as much as we can for the lounge. The slightly recessed area near the kitchen is a perfect nook for the dining table – it can sit well back, saving space. An existing mirror here reflects light, making it a lovely focal point. It’s not the amount of space that’s important, it’s how you use it. Laundry and bathroom doors opening off the lounge are not ideal, but you can disguise or conceal them with new joinery. Either create doors that look identical to the joinery so they blend in, or turn doors into shelves – they could be like an old castle bookshelf that opens up to another room! It costs nothing to move existing furniture around, so experiment – it may just be the key to your new home. Once the arrangement feels right, the magic starts when you add your bits and pieces. Colour and texture in flowers, artwork and soft furnishings will make your house a home.

Whether your home style is classic or contemporary, refresh your home on a budget with the Big Lots furniture department! Blend furniture styles to create a unique look with a mix of modern furniture and traditional pieces for all rooms of your home. Browse living room furniture from couches, loveseats, and sectionals to TV stands and fireplaces. You’ll find great deals on accent pieces like side tables and ottomans to complete your living or family room. Need a dining room refresh? Update your dining room furniture with a new pub set or dining room table and matching chairs. We also carry kitchen carts to bring extra countertop space and storage to your kitchen and dining areas. Don’t let an old bed or mattress get in your way of a good night’s sleep. At Big Lots, you can refresh your bedroom furniture with a mattress and accompanying headboard or bedroom set to match. We carry exclusive mattress sets from Serta, Sealy, and Zeopedic in twin, full, queen, and king sizes. Browse a variety of traditional and modern bedroom styles from a standard metal bedframe to a wooden bedroom set complete with a headboard, footboard, and matching dressers. Don’t stop at your bedroom – we have fun playful pieces in home furniture for the kids’ room, too! Complete your home with additional storage furniture from bookcases and storage cubbies to accent tables, desks, recliners, and chairs. No matter what room you’re working on, find beautiful budget-friendly home furniture options at Big Lots! You can take it home today or take advantage of our furniture delivery options – available in most stores. Just ask an associate for details.

The 2016 inductees were Anda Andrei of Anda Andrei Design; Brad Zizmor and Dag Folger of A+I; Isay Weinfeld; and a special leadership award to Cheryl S. Durst of International Interior Design Association (IIDA). About the Event: The black-tie event begins with a cocktail reception that fills all three Grand Ballroom Salons. A special VIP reception is held additionally with invited guests ranging from Hall of Fame members, benefactors, editors, members of the press, and diamond, platinum, and gold sponsors. Dinner and the awards ceremony follow the reception. Carol Cisco, publisher, Interior Design, and Cindy Allen, editor in chief, Interior Design, host the awards ceremony. An inspirational documentary of each of the inductees is shown and inductees are present to accept their awards. It is the Academy Awards of the interior design industry. The Hall of Fame was established in 1985 by Interior Design to recognize the individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and prominence of the design industry. Previous Hall of Fame inductees include legendary figures such as: Antonio Citterio, Clodagh, Thierry W. Despont, Frank Gehry, Albert Hadley, Andrée Putman, David Rockwell, Lauren Rottet, Philippe Starck, and Robert A.M. Stern, to name a few. A venerable "Who's Who" of the top style makers come to honor the new inductees, who are selected from a nomination body of previous Hall of Fame members. A Nod to the 2016 Sponsors: We'd like to thank our 2016 sponsors for their support of the 32nd Annual Hall of Fame Awards. All event proceeds benefit the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and The Alpha Workshops through a donor-designated grant by DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. The annual industry event, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, is constantly a rousing success and could not be accomplished without the following sponsor contributions: Diamond Sponsors Platinum Sponsor Gold Sponsors Inductee Documentary Sponsors Gift Bags, Table Décor, & VIP Lounge Experience Gift bags by Sunbrella and Ardwyn Decorative Trim Banquet & Silver Corridor table toppers by Sunbrella and Sunbrella Contract Banquet & Silver Corridor centerpieces by Sunbrella and Ardwyn Decorative Trim VIP Lounge experience by Cambria Gift Bags Contributors Andreu World America Council for Interior Design Accreditation Forrest Lesch-Middleton for clé Janus et Cie

Do you find it difficult to choose a living room layout? This infographic put together by The FurnishedUp Blog makes it easy for anyone to decide on a practical decorating scheme. Developed around the user’s personal needs, the information below counts for quality advice when planning your house. For example, if you would like to direct attention to a particular focal point in your living room (be it a bookcase, fireplace, television set or a fantastic view), all furniture should be oriented towards that focal unit, with armchairs, pillows and ottomans creating an inviting conversation circle. If you plan on having a kids-friendly interior, setting up “areas” is considered the best way to go. Simple partitions can be used to create a distinction between the children’s space and the adults’ conversation zone. Three further options are illustrated below, feel free to “investigate” and choose what layout best suits your own living room. Be sure to also check out the kitchen layout guide, an infographic presented on Freshome in a previous post, helping you choose a kitchen design based on the fridge-oven-sink work triangle.

Styling a couch with throw pillows shouldn’t be stressful, it should be fun! With so many fun ideas circling the internet, it’s easy to find the perfect throw pillow ideas for your space. Unique throw pillow arrangements, styles, and colors can help liven up even the most boring rooms and create an inviting atmosphere. Gone are the days of drab, matching throw pillows you used to see in your grandmother’s home. Now, it’s all about mixing and matching, using a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. Don’t forget that throw pillows aren’t just for couches. Using throw pillows on your bed can create the perfect mood for your bedroom. These throw pillow ideas are sure to spark your imagination to create the perfect look for your bedroom or living room design. 1. Use One Color in Three Ways For this design, the main color is gray, but it’s used in three different ways: solid, pattern, and small stripes as an accent color. This adds a unique look when incorporating the color of your choice, without making the design look too uniform. 3. Go Bold Picking a really bright color for the theme of your throw pillows won’t look tacky if done correctly, and it’s an excellent way to draw the eye. Go for a bright turquoise, orange, or yellow, and tie the color into 3 or 4 pillow designs that contrast your furniture. 4. Mix & Match Patterns One of the biggest trends in throw pillows right now is mixing up your patterns. The key is to go for a main color, and then pick one busier pattern and one or two low-key patterns that use that main color. This set uses contrasting floral patterns with calmer dots. 5. Pick Unique Textures Who says too much texture is a bad thing? True, it can look tacky if you have too much of the same texture, like all shag pillows. But this design is done perfectly, using different beaded and flowy textures that work well together to create a sophisticated, Parisian feel. 6. Use Different Sizes & Shapes Mix and match the sizes and shapes of your throw pillows. Don’t be afraid to go for really large, fluffy pillows, as long as you don’t make them take over your sofa. Your pillows should make your sofa look inviting, rather than leave little space for sitting. 7. Mix Neutral Colors with an Accent Color This design uses neutral grays, tans, and golds with a bright pop of orange from one pillow. If you’re nervous about going too bold with color, this is the perfect way to add in an extra boost of color without letting it overthrow the rest of your color palette.

Dress up a plain drum shade with ribbon. A subtle gray-blue ribbon accents the shade in this dining room, complementing the wall color. Choose a bolder hue, such as turquoise or fuchsia, to create more contrast and add a pop of color. Design by HGTV fan tgr3gory. Paint Your Walls Add interest and pattern to your walls with a striped paint treatment. For this dining room, HGTV fan creativelydreaming uses leftover paint from her living room makeover to take her dining room walls from boring to beautiful. Update Lighting Modernize your dining room with industrial-style lighting. Balance their streamlined look by combining the lighting with natural furnishings, like distressed wood tables and wicker chairs. Design by HGTV fan Rethink Design Studio. Add Slipcovers Tired of your chairs? Slipcovers are an easy solution for changing the look of any upholstered chair. For added sophistication, have slipcovers made with your monogram. Design by HGTV fan ebonie. Display a Collection Make a style statement by displaying a favorite collection of dishes. HGTV fan Tetbury paints the hallway leading up to the dining room a deep blue, perfectly accenting her vintage Staffordshire dish grouping. Create a Stunning Ceiling Don't forget the fifth wall – the ceiling. Add architectural details, paint a unique design or do both, like HGTV fan CasaSmithDesigns, who creates an Old World-inspired ceiling with rustic beams and custom artwork in muted primary hues. Go all out With Lighting Eye-catching chandeliers are the hallmark of a well-designed dining room. HGTV fan matq dresses up this contemporary space with a glamorous chandelier. Eclectic Seating Mix and match your seating. Turn a nook into a cozy, casual dining area with banquette seating and even a wingback chair. Design by HGTV fan TABCAD Be Creative Make a statement in your dining room with bold, complementary colors like pink and green. In this dining room designed by Shelly Riehl David, the bright, patterned draperies, contrasted with an enameled walnut credenza and gilded buffet lamps celebrate a creative style. Update With Wallpaper It's not your grandmother's wallpaper anymore. Today's wallpaper options range from updated florals to cool graphics, like the geometric print designer Brian Patrick Flynn used in this dining room. Combine Patterns Ikat chairs and modern floral wallpaper live harmoniously in this contemporary dining room. Designer Kate Ridder combined the loud patterns with robin's egg blue to ground the space. Add Coziness Bring elegance and warmth to your dining room with an ornate area rug. Designer Ron Nathan incorporated hand-painted wallpaper, floor-to-ceiling draperies and an intricate China cabinet for an extra luxurious touch. Personalize Your Space Find something that's uniquely you and display front and center like designer Jennifer Dyer did with the horse mural. A transitional buffet has a high-contrast finish that fits with the room's crisp, up-to-date aesthetic, and a comfy upholstered arm chair is an unexpected touch at the head of the table. Add Natural Elements Bring life to your dining area with houseplants. Succulents are easy to care for and make the perfect centerpiece year-round.

Make your home into a space you love with furniture, storage and decorative accents Whether you're redesigning an entire room or just need new lighting or curtains, LTD has the home decor style and home goods selection you need to make the most out of your space. You'll also discover a large array of storage options for every room of the home, plus the garden and garage. Add texture to the kitchen and entryway with plush rugs and mats. They help a room feel unified and add an essential splash of color. Looking for living room ideas? Give a couch or chair an instant makeover with a new slipcover or accent pillows. These simple elements instantly update your interior design without hurting your wallet. Don't forget the furniture! We have home entertainment centers, TV stands and console tables for flat screen TVs and DVD players, plus storage units and shelves to organize books, DVDs and games. Looking to create a modern home office? We offer affordable furniture, computer accessories and other office essentials to help you stay on task and productive. Find everything you need for affordable home decor at LTD.

One of the most important things to consider when shopping for in-wall or in-ceiling speakers is where you're going to place them. The guidelines below can help you get a speaker setup that sounds good and works with the build and design of your room. Placement for home theater These guidelines will help you get as close to ideal as possible. Not every tip will apply to every system. But the more you can implement, the better your system will sound. In general, try to place speakers at least 2 feet away from corners and other surfaces that might interfere with or reflect sound, such as tall or bulky furniture. In-wall speakers in 5.1 and 7.1 systems: Place the front left and right speakers so that they're at or slightly above ear level when you're seated, both equidistant from the main listening position. If the speakers are in a wall that's 10 feet from your chair, place them no more than 10 feet and no less than 5 feet apart from each other to maintain a good stereo effect. Place the center channel speaker so that it's at ear level when you're seated. If your television is wall-mounted, place the center channel speaker slightly below. If your TV rests on a stand or table, place the center channel speaker just above it, and angle the tweeters down towards seated ear level if possible. Place the surround speakers above seated ear level (as high as standing ear level). If the rear surround speakers are placed at seated ear level, they will overwhelm the sound coming from your front speakers, resulting in muddied and inaccurate surround sound. However, if your system will incorporate Dolby Atmos® surround sound, we recommend placing all in-wall or on-wall surround sound speakers at seated ear level to ensure optimum Atmos height effects. For Atmos home theaters, Dolby recommends using four ceiling speakers, with one pair located in front of your listening position and a second pair behind it. They also suggest using in-ceiling speakers with a wide dispersion pattern, or speakers with aimable drivers that can be angled slightly toward your listening position. If your system can only accommodate one pair of in-ceiling speakers, mount them slightly in front of where you’ll be listening. Don’t worry if your speaker placement isn’t perfect, your Atmos-enabled receiver’s auto calibration system will help dial in the sound for optimum performance. For a 5-speaker setup, the right and left surrounds should be to the right and left side of your main seating position. For a 6-speaker setup, the center back speaker should go directly behind the main listening position, in line with the front center channel speaker. It should be about as high as the left and right surrounds. For a 7-speaker setup, the two additional back surround speakers should be placed behind the main listing position, at equal distances from the main listening seat, and about half as far apart as the right and left surrounds. They should be about as high as the left and right surrounds. In-ceiling speakers in 5.1 and 7.1 systems: Place the front left and right speakers at an equal distance from your main listening position, in front of your TV, about 2-3 feet away from the wall. If the speakers are 10 feet from your chair, place them no more than 10 feet and no less than 5 feet apart from each other to maintain a good stereo effect. Measure the distance from the speakers to your chair in a level, horizontal line — i.e. don't measure upwards from your seat to the speakers in the ceiling. If your speaker's tweeters can swivel, aim them towards your seating position. This can help create a realistic soundfield — you'll be able to hear objects on the screen as they move from left to right. As you're choosing speaker locations, also keep in mind the effects of reflected sound. Even if you angle the tweeters toward you, you'll still hear the sound that's reflected off the wall behind the speakers. Ideally, that reflection should be at the same level as your TV screen. You can figure out how far away from the wall you should place your in-ceiling speakers by using a mirror. Mark the spot on the ceiling where you think the speaker should go, then sit in your favorite listening position. Ask a helper to hold a mirror up to the wall, moving it up or down until you can see the mark on the ceiling reflected in the mirror. That's where the sound will reflect off the wall. If the speakers are too close to the wall, the reflection will be too high; too far away from the wall, and the reflection will be too low. In some setups, you may find that you prefer to aim the tweeters directly at that spot wall to get more reflected sound. If your in-ceiling speakers have that feature, experiment with aiming your tweeter before you put the grille on. Place the center channel speaker right in the middle of the front left and right speakers. Also aim its tweeter (if possible) directly towards your seating position. See the images below for placement of surround speakers in 5-, 6-, and 7-speaker setups. If you have aimable tweeters in your surround speakers, you'll generally also want to aim those towards your seating position. You may also position these speakers closer to the adjoining wall than the front speakers. The sound will reflect off of a higher point on the wall, which is generally desirable for surround speakers. A Dolby Atmos surround sound system incorporating only in-ceiling speakers is not recommended. For a 5-speaker setup, the left and right surrounds should be to the left and right of your main seating position, as far apart as your front left and right speakers. For a 7-speaker setup, the rear left and right surrounds should be placed behind the main listening position, at equal distances from that seat. They should be about half as far apart as the right and left surround speakers positioned on the sides.