Kids' Bedroom Decor

One of my favourite projects has been the makeover of this apartment in Benalmadena. I will start showing it to you with a sneak peek of the kids’ room. The owner couple wanted to make one of the three bedrooms a place where their two grandchildren - a little girl & boy - would love to sleep while visiting them.

Actually the room was already made but something was missing in the atmosphere. It was ok, but not really inviting. As the space was limited and the main pieces of furniture were the two beds, I obviously concentrated on making the bedd ss inviting as possible for the kid. So that they would want to jump on beds without being worried if the bedspreads get wrinkled.

As always I started with a moodboard. The wish of the owners was to have pastel tones, so I picked up soft tones of blue & pink.

Things to Keep in Mind While Decorating for Kids

• Keep it simple

• Play with colours

• Make it kid-friendly

• Create a space that is stylish, comfortable & fun

I wanted to create a place for the children where they could have a little rest also during the day time. After a playful beach day it would be nice to curl up with a book or game and have a little nap.

Kids grow fast! So the decor might need some adjusting in the near future. Keeping the walls and furniture in neutral tones and adding colours in textiles such as in cushions and blankets, makes the room growing with time and stays relevant for years to come. You just change the cushion covers and blankets according to kids’ wishes.

I think it looks charming, happy and welcoming - what do you think?

Pale Blue Sofa Part II

Sometime ago I described about the pale blue sofa project. Now it’s starting to be ready. The aim was to make a cosy & harmonious room with lot of storage space - and I mean a lot of!

There was not really a clearly separated entrance hall. It and living area were sort of adjoining rooms. To separate these two functions and adding more storage place - as it was on the top of the list - we decided to add a corner cupboard between these two places.

The back of the cupboard was covered by mdf wall, which makes it easier to place a wallpaper on it. I wanted the wallpaper to be bold & patterned yet matching the soothing colour theme. There was not yet enough storage so one more cupboard was bought and placed in the front of the wallpapered wall.

How do you like the pink armchair? It’s definitely the jewel of the room. The electric fireplace changed the atmosphere and is so practical in winter time - even here in the southern Spain.

Here are some before & after pics!

ps. the owner’s red slippers look so cute in the pic, don’t they?

Pastels

in the living room

Home With A View

Finally it seems that this new built apartment home will be ready to move-in. The decoration project itself could have been done in a couple of weeks, but sometimes the delivery times take a bit longer time than expected. Also the building had some issues that needed to be fixed before bringing the furniture in.

This is a holiday home - or second home - for a busy Finnish entrepreneur who wanted to have a place to relax, unwind and just enjoy time with friends and family. There’s a golf course nearby, well, actually several of them. The location is also perfect for cycling - I would say for extreme cycling - as the landscape is very hilly. Walking from down the train station up to the apartment a few times has definitely made my condition going up.

Planning the decor

The wish from the owner’s side was to have a modern cosy home. A dining table for 6 persons and a sectional sofa were the main pieces of furniture on the wish list. There’s not so much space to play with so I decided to leave extra seats and cupboards out, and just concentrate on these main items.

Originally the TV was planned to be placed on the wall, but that option would have needed an extra construction work to ensure the wall would be strong enough. So the TV is on a low drawer unit. The legs are still missing but on their way.

Upstairs there are 2 ensuite bedrooms with built-in wardrobes. Both bedrooms have similar 160cm wide beds. Nothing else is needed beside the nightstands and lamps.

Hues of the home

I chose a neutral colour palette - shades of grey, beige and greige. With these tones it is easy to add any other colour without making the atmosphere too busy. In the living space I added some blue. I felt that fitted well for a home with a seaview.

Art for the walls

For upstairs I picked up some photos and had them printed on high quality Hahne Muhle paper, and then framed the pictures. Downstairs the ceiling is very high and it really felt that the space needs paintings instead of photos. I found the art of Daniela Raffaele some time ago and asked her to bring a few ready made paintings to see on the spot how they would look in this place.

The ‘Sardina’ and set of 3 smaller paintings caught my eye straight away. I also want to have a rather big painting beside the TV. It could have more colour on it - to be a real wow-factor.

Find out more here!

New From Ikea

Ljuvare by Ikea

When I first saw Ikea’s Ljuvare collection online I fell in love immediately. Warm, spicy tones with a hint of golden accents make these items simply desirable. Now when there are lockdowns here and there it’s not necessarily possible to visit Ikea on the spot, but no worries - you can make online-orders and have these beauties delivered to your door step.

“Middle Eastern design meets Scandinavian style. LJUVARE is a limited edition that cleverly combines Middle Eastern design with Scandinavian style. The comforting earthy tones, shades of orange and cream fused with glittering gold, create a flawless modern feel.”

Craftsmanship and tradition

Designed by Nada Debs, an acclaimed Middle Eastern designer, and Paulin Machado, a designer at IKEA, all of the products were designed so they could be lovingly handmade – from candle holders and comfortable floor cushions to modern cups and coffee makers.

If you're looking to slow down a bit and spend some more time at home, why not create a casual and cosy atmosphere using the candle holders and lighting chains from this limited edition? Antique-style lanterns create a warm atmosphere and add a decorative touch to any room. The designer Nada Debs took inspiration from materials like brass, which is commonly used in Middle Eastern culture to create items that showcase the beauty of their culture.

Decoration for style and comfort

Geometric patterns are a common feature in Middle Eastern culture. Our contemporary version of traditional prints will lend a fresh look to your home.”

Nada Debs

Designer Nada Debs is a Lebanese designer living and working in Beirut. She grew up in Japan, studied in the United States and been travelling around the globe exploring different cultures. ‘Handmade & heartmade’ describes her style. She wants to capture the power of human hands to tell stories which touch our hearts.

Pantone 2021 - Yellow and Grey

Illuminating Yellow And Ultimate Gray

The new Pantone colours for 2021 are announced!

“The union of an enduring Ultimate gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid, but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a colour combination That gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.”

- Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of The Pantone Color Institute -

This colour combo brings strength and hopefulness. A grey sofa with yellow cushions - it’s like a solid rock in a sunshine. I have used these colours a lot in home decor. Grey has been the ultimate favourite hue in Scandinavian interior decoration for years, and a bit of yellow brings warmth to it.

How To Choose The Colour Theme For Your Home

We all have our favourite colours. This doesn’t mean that all the colours around us have to be in that specific tone. Sometimes it can be difficult to choose a colour, especially if it’s something you see every day, affects to your mood or costs a lot of money. Choosing colours for your home can be confusing - suddenly you see so many different options. I have collected here a few tips to make it easier for you to find the right colour palette.

1. Get Inspired

   You can find your colour inspiration in a holiday photo, your fave cashmere pullover, flower field or by looking out of your window. Perhaps you are looking for a certain atmosphere and you want your home to be fresh, dramatic, bright, moody, cosy or what ever you feel.

2. Start with neutrals

   Neutral hues are those basic ones such as white, grey and beige. Keep in mind that there are a wide variety of neutrals- not all greys are cool, and not all beiges are warm. It is completely possible to choose both grey & beige - just make sure they are both in same tone level; either cool or warm side. Even white has plenty of different tones.

   In case you like to have different colours in each room, keep the same neutrals in every space. That pulls the whole home palette together.

3. Add Two Accent Colours

   When the neutrals are picked up, go for the ‘real’ colours. Even if you think that you don’t want to add any colour for your place, I recommend you to choose at least one colour. You will see the difference in atmosphere just by adding a tiny hint of a colour. It can be a stripe in a cushion, a glass vase, a poster on the wall.

4. Create A Moodboard

   Choose one or more pictures which represent those colours or that atmosphere you are looking for. Pick up the main shades and you get a beautiful colour palette.

PS. if you still find it too complicated and time-consuming, I’m here to help you. Just drop me a message tiina(at)tiinaarminen.com and I’ll make you a perfect colour scheme for your home.

Here’re 3 example how I create a colour palette moodboard:

Btw, you can find out more about moodboards here!

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4 tips For Decorating A Mantel

It is the season when you want your home to be as cosy as possible, bundle up and read a book. Warming a fireplace and just staring the flames and enjoy the warmth.

Mantel is easily a place where you place any small item that you cannot find any other place - isn’t that true? What about if this year you make your mantel a real eye-catcher? Sounds easy, and it is pretty easy if you follow these simple tips.

1. Leave Some Space

When decorating a mantel don’t fill up every single space. Leave some space in-between the objects or concentrate on a part of the mantel without spreading things all over. This way you create a pleasant flow and avoid overwhelming.

2. Create Contrast

Choosing objects in different sizes, shapes and colours makes the mantel setting more interesting and nice to look at. You can choose for example candle holders in different heights, picture frames in square and rectangle form, round and sharp bowls & vases.

3. Avoid Symmetry

In mantel and console table decorations asymmetry is more fascinating than symmetry. Funny to say but the balance is better when the balance is not that obvious. The whole setting looks more spontaneous - even though it is carefully designed - relaxed and cosy.

4. Add Dimension

This is easy to access by placing the object partly in from of each other, for example a smaller framed picture can be partly overlapping a bigger one. avoid clear rows where everything is by side on the same level.

What To Place On A Mantel?

• candle holders

• framed pictures

• vases

• bowls

• mirrors

• plants

• what ever you like to have there

It is easy to make chances in mantel decoration depending on the season. Check these Christmas decor options here.

Make Your Rental Feel Like Home

How To Make a Furnished Rental Apartment Your Home?

Making a furnished rented apartment feel homey can sometimes be a bit hard. Especially when your decorating options are limited by rental rules. But you can still make a space your own with a few design ideas. Here’s an example:

Laura fell in love with the light and airy feel of this apartment - and with the breathtaking sea view! The flat was renovated and furnished with white pieces, but the style was not exactly what Laura prefers and the living room was not functional for her. She needed a space for practising yoga, making videos and online yoga courses.

First we rearranged the furniture. The couch was pretty heavy but we managed to move it - we put blankets under the leg avoiding scratching the floor - from its original place in the front of the window to the other side of the room facing outside - now Laura can enjoy the sea view and watch TV while sitting on the sofa as the wall mounted TV set is adjustable.

Dining table got its new place by the window. The table will work also ask her home office desk, so it is essential to have as much natural light as possible. Laura had her own chairs, so we replaced the existing ‘antique’ chairs.

Now Laura has one side of the room free from all big furniture and place for yoga. She can make nice settings for her video backgrounds. She has a nice collection of small Buddha figures, yoga pillow and other yoga related items.

After having the pieces of furniture rearranged it was time to declutter. The apartment has two bedrooms and some closet space, so Laura can use the other bedroom (guest room) as a kind of storage room too. Laura prefers clean lines so it was important to remove all disturbing items -such as wall and table decor, and textiles as well - and replace them with Laura’s own ones.

Laura had her own cushions, blanket and rugs. Those are things that make the place immediately feeling your home.

Easy Tips For Decorating a Furnished Apartment

1. Rearranging for a new look

   Rearrange the furniture to suit your needs in the room. Just because the apartment comes furnished it doesn’t mean the furniture has to stay in exactly the way you found it.

2. Rug decor

   With a rug you can totally change the look of a furnished apartment. If there is an existing rug, replace it if you prefer another style.

3. Personalising your space

   You want to make it your home and have your own personality and interests present, in order to feel at home. Remove or replace the knick knacks.

Just add some flowers and plants, and the place is yours!

Homey feeling!

Make it functional for you.

Rearrange the furniture and make it functional for you.

Remove the disturbing knick knacks and replace them with your own ones.

Now there’s space for yoga.

Before

Before. Look at that view!

Pretty And Peaceful Bedroom In Blush Pink

This bedroom was supposed to be ready in the beginning of the year. As this spring and summer have been a bit different due to COVID19, we had to put the project on hold and wait until it was at least a bit safer to work away from home again.

In this project I mainly played with textiles and small items. In the bedroom there were already a bed, cupboard for clothes, bedside table and stool. On the wish list there were an armchair and lamp for reading, a rug to hide her yoga mat and a shelf unit for books. She also wanted to have a cosy feeling for the room.

The bedroom was very white with white walls, white bed and bedlinen, but there were also some bright colours in the cushions and paintings. I wanted to tune the colours a bit down. Dusty shades of pink together with beige and brown hues would give a soft and warm look when combined with crispy white walls. Golden finishes in metal items also bring warmth and gives a fresh luxury feeling.

I started the project by creating a moodboard. This way I made it easier for my client to see how the colours as well as the existing and new items would look together. Due to Covid19 we didn’t go shopping together, instead I gave her the links of the pieces and she could order everything online.

Now most of the items have arrived, and last week we could make some progress there. We are still missing the floor lamp, small table by the armchair and big pillows for the bed. Otherwise it starts to be ready.

Here’s a sneak peek for a pretty and peaceful bedroom in dusty shades of pink.

Pom poms give some colour and creates a boho atmosphere.

Bedroom moodboard with shades of blush pink and golden accents.

4 Easy Ways To Fresh Up Your Home

You don’t need to break a bank to update and fresh up the atmosphere of your home. There are plenty of inexpensive and affordable solutions. We all love to have a cosy home where to feel good. Now due to this corona pan-epidemic money can be tight and there’s no extra to spend around.

Here are some tips how to make it without a big budget.

1. Paint A Wall

New paint has a significant effect on the mood of the room. You don’t need to paint the whole room yet just one wall so called accent wall. It brings personality to the space. Choose any colour you want. It can be bright yellow, calming blue or natural beige. Painting one wall is not a huge job and you can probably do it yourself without hiring anyone. Remember you can always paint it again if you prefer another tone after a while. So it is not a structural issue.

2. Buy A Plant

Having leafy greens at home has been a trend for some time now. Plants really makes a difference in the mood and they have benefits too - such as cleaning the air inside. If you already have plants, check if they need new soil or perhaps plant them in a new pot. At the moment big plants such as monsteras are popular as well as hanging baskets.

3. Update Cushions

You don’t need to change the whole interior of a room. Check which textiles you could change to new ones. Even a couple of new cushion covers in different colours fresh up the atmosphere. Or change your grey curtains to white, for example. You can even try some bold patterns. At draper’s there are usually a corner where they sell smaller pieces of fabrics I reduced price. That’s my favourite corner!

4. Hang Some Art

If you have frames in different sizes and colours, make a collage with them. Place some photos, drawings, piece of fabric, wallpaper or what ever you like in these frames. Then gather them in a group and hang on a wall. Grouped installation looks better than several pieces around your home. If you need some new pics, check if you can find something you like here.

I made a moodboard based on greens.

Easy way to fresh up your home.