Though it isn’t always easy to put together an entire space chock full of everything you love, we have some tips and tricks. [View More Photos at Inthralld.com]

Home improvement is not all about paying top dollar to get that expensive face lift to your homestead. With a measure of imagination and a keen eye for detail, even bargain sales and thrift shops can provide you with enough resources to make your home look like a million bucks. All it takes is a knowledge of what to look for, where to find it and when to go looking for it. Even little things like a small paint job can go a long way in transforming your living space. A good décor can radically alter your environment, since spaces have the capacity to soothe and relax your mind, encourage creativity and even promote social intimacy. Fire up your imagination, go bargain hunting for affordable additions and renovations to give a refreshing twist to your home!

A splash of color can go a long way

You don’t need to spend 1000 bucks on an expensive paint job over your whole house to make a difference. Just a pail of the right shade, applied in that right spot of wall or even ceiling can totally change the way a room feels. Vibrant colors give the most bangs for the buck. And what is more, you can do it all by yourself at minimal cost and effort, too!

Wood finishing for that natural effect

Plastic and other synthetic materials are all good when it comes to affordability and durability. But they simply do not make the cut when compared to real, natural wood in imparting character to any indoor setting. Change your interior decors by adding wooden interior doors for home. Nowadays, quality wooden fittings and furnishings with that natural finish are available at highly affordable prices.

Tap into your family’s imagination

Bare walls are like dead spaces. Fire up your imagination and come up with your own paintings to add a splash of color and inspiration. If you are not so inclined, your kids’ artworks can provide that intimate touch. They usually burst with imagination and spirit that no adult can match. Frame them up and hang them with pride on that wall.

Hunt for affordable furniture

There are numerous sources other than high end showrooms where one can find great furniture to add to your home décor. And they don’t necessarily have to be brand new either. With some elbow grease, a measure of paint and some tools, even rusty old metal furniture can be transformed into shiny new additions to your backyard or patio. Here are some great sources for furniture at bargain prices:

-   Garage sales
-   Thrift shops
-   Seasonal bargains at large retailers, like end of year clearance sales
-   E-bay (try to buy local to reduce transportation costs)

Art does not need to cost too much

There are online sites where you can buy high quality prints of both famous artists as well as less known works for as less as $10-25. Just add a good frame and you have a nice addition to add some class to your walls.

Mix and match for maximum impact

You don’t have to go for matching sets of every article of furniture or artifacts in your home. Single pieces can be bought for lesser cost than a whole matching set. With a little creativity and imagination, these can be placed together to create a nice effect.

Use nature and plants to your advantage

Colorful flowerpots with nice plants can be placed at strategic locations indoors to great effect. They can be especially eye-catching on tabletops. For a minimal price, plants in metal planters can add a great deal of life to any indoor setting. Just ensure adequate lighting and care for them.

Add some Zen to you home

Pleasant sounds and smells are integral to creating a great ambience. Dabble with your spiritual side by experimenting with such additions to your home. They don’t cost a bomb either. Wind chimes are great for this purpose, as are aromatic candles, discreet incense burners and even table-top fountains.

Rugs and runners to hide rough edges

Damaged flooring can cost a lot to repair or replace. Instead of going through all that effort and expense, you can get a nice rug or carpet for much less. Rugs and hallway runners are excellent ways to hide stains or worn hardwood floors. And they don’t cost as much as refinishing or sanding down your floor.

Don’t forget those old photos

Tap into your family’s memories to gather great moments that deserve to cherished and preserved. Old family portraits and photographs, when framed and hung on the walls, add a homely feel to the house that can never be rivaled. In fact, reserve a whole wall for your family photos. Nothing adds more character to the indoor ambience of a family home more.

With these and a great many other handy and inexpensive options out there, redefining your home décor through minor changes and alterations has never been easier or more affordable!

A century-old butcher’s shop-as in, from the good old days when butchers apparently commissioned artists for reverse painted glass ceilings and stunning decorative tiling—that’s been turned into the hippest of bars in Leipzig, Germany. The transformation of Fleischerei Bar is the handiwork of local designer Michael Grzesiak, who brought into the space, which, by the way, is coated in original Villeroy & Boch ceramic tile, a hulking oak bar and a planked ash bench that, according to Design Boom “break with the cold butchery atmosphere”.

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The entire project features found and reused objects– including a gorgeous stained glass window with King Gambrinus front and center. [View More Photos at Inthralld.com]

Water Balance, the wall flower vase created by Japanese designer Risako Matsumoto. Via THEmag.it
MORE INFO & IMAGES > Water Balance vase by Risako Matsumoto

MORE INFO & IMAGES > Water Balance vase by Risako Matsumoto
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Via THEmag.it

Alla Akimova is the founder of ARCHIVES id, a New York based studio of architecture, interior design, and graphic design. Early in Alla’s career she worked not only as a designer but also as a project manager, giving her real world experience in the practical aspects of how projects get built. In addition to her strengths in space planning and design she has extensive experience in furnishing the homes of diverse clientele in the New York area.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What was your journey until the interior designer you are today?

I started with studying Architecture in Siberia’s largest city – Novosibirsk, I came to New York when I was 19 years old and received an Interior Design degree at FIT. I always knew what I wanted to be. While I was in school, I was the only designer on an extensive renovation of a brownstone. By the time I finished school I had already completed about 10 projects in New York.

Full Interview on Best Interior Designers Blog

Art Deco was a major influencer in so many rectilinear and symmetrical patterns we see today. [View More Photos at Inthralld.com]

The main spaces are all dictated by stark, bright white illumination; while the bathroom area is separated by a warm yellow monochrome hue. [View More Photos at Inthralld.com]

I usually do not accumulate too many objects but I recognize that there are certain gadgets that I see and immediately feel the need to buy them, and that is precisely what this post is about, where I gather 20 irresistible gadgets for your home with which you will surprise more than a guest.

View the rest here!

This unique bathroom stand replaces the traditional basket of magazines as it accommodates both a modern iPad and a roll of toilet paper. Ideal for browsing the internet, checking emails and playing games, the iPad Commode Caddy is perfect while on the toilet. It places an iPad 80cm from the floor on top of a flexible and practical 25cm gooseneck that provides optimal positioning for reading.