Dabbieri Blog

How to Decorate with Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting can be a great option for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in your living room. Whether you’re looking to create a cozy space for movie night or to curl up with a good book, the right lighting can help set the mood. With a few simple tips, you can design the perfect ambient lighting for your living room.

Determine the Purpose of the Lighting

Before you start decorating with ambient lighting, determine the purpose of the lighting. Do you want to create a relaxing and calming atmosphere that’s perfect for unwinding after a long day in the office or are you looking to create a lively and energetic living room that’s prime for hosting cocktail hour? Defining the purpose will help you identify the lighting needs in your living room and build the foundation for the rest of your design scheme.

Layer the Lighting

Layering lighting is an effective way to create depth, ambiance, and visual interest in a room. You can use a combination of overhead lighting, table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces to create different levels of illumination. Utilizing multiple light sources like these creates a seamless transition from a bright and lively living room in the daytime to a sophisticated, relaxed space for entertaining and unwinding in the evening.

Consider the Placement of Lighting

Consider the placement of lighting to create the desired effect. Proper placement of lighting can not only enhance the visual appeal of your living room but also affect the functionality and ambiance of the space. For example, if you want to create a cozy reading nook, place a floor lamp next to a comfortable chair. Or, if you’re an art connoisseur, place a floor lamp next to the latest addition to your collection to highlight and draw attention to the piece.

Choose the Right Bulbs

The type of bulb you choose can make a big difference in the overall mood of your space. Warm white or soft white bulbs are ideal for creating a cozy atmosphere, while cool white bulbs are better for composing an energetic ambiance. Warm and soft light creates a relaxing and intimate environment, so choose light bulbs with a color temperature of 2700K to 3000K to create a soothing sanctuary to relax in.

Use Dimmer Switches

Dimmer switches allow you to control the brightness of your lights, giving you the flexibility to adjust the lighting according to your needs. With this new technology, you can change the mood of a room with the simple touch of a switch to create a cozy ambiance with soft lighting for date night, or a bright and energetic atmosphere with high-intensity lighting for game night. These switches can also enhance the visual appeal of your interior design by adding depth and dimension to the lighting. You can use dimmer switches to highlight specific areas of a room or to create a focal point in your design.

Decorating with ambient lighting requires careful planning and consideration of the purpose, layering, bulbs, switches, focal points, and color. With the right techniques, you can create a beautiful and inviting atmosphere in any space.

Celebrity-Inspired Nursery Design

With spring just around the corner, it’s time to spruce up those kids’ rooms and prep the nursery for any little one’s on the way. To begin conceptualizing nursery design, we looked to A-list celebrity moms for design ideas and inspiration. While the world of celebs may seem all glitzy and glam, their nursery designs range the gamut from lavish floral wallpaper to traditional luxe décor but all remain grounded in warm color schemes and comfortable, functional designs. 

Check out these six celebrity-inspired nursery design ideas:

Girly and Glam

Cellular Shades by Graber

If you’re looking for a sweet, but soft nursery design, try your hand at girly and glam. Think pastel colorways in gold, creams, and pinks tied together through soft materials, warm lighting, and floral wallpaper. Celebs from Khloe Kardashian to Hilary Duff have long since opted for a pink and girly scheme for their baby girls. Infusing your nursery with a little glitz and glam gives a chance for glamorous textures and bold patterns to come into play, creating a unique look just as special as your little one.

Vintage Luxe

Cellular Shades by Graber

For those looking to create a more traditional aesthetic in the nursery, choose elements from classically luxe interiors. From heirloom spindle-style cribs to vintage wall prints, this design style features elegant curves and timeless wood furniture. Layer in neutral rugs and soft shag textures and dress it up with gilded gold hardware through framed artwork, lighting, and drawer pulls.

Calming Neutrals

Calm neutrals can infuse warmth and tranquility into your nursery —and what parent couldn’t use more of those especially when it’s naptime? Just look to celebs like Steph Curry, who mastered the neutral design scheme in his second child’s nursery. Best practices for creating a neutral nursery color palette include making sure there’s enough warmth between neutral colors and balancing depth in design through cozy textiles, wood finishes, texture, artwork, and lighting.

Big Imagination

Bring the pages of your children’s favorite storybook alive with a whimsical theme in your nursery. Maybe this is a secret garden or under the stars —whatever your theme may be, incorporate warm textures and materials through plush animal toys, bronze/gold accents, and wall decals. 

Animal Crossing

Animal lovers abound! Perfect for any little one that loves their furry friends, an animal-themed nursery is easy to create. Plus, you can even incorporate animal-related activities into your space like a climbing wall for those little monkeys or a pop-up tent for the little cubs to hibernate in.

Boho Chic

Stars like Gigi Hadid have alternatively picked a boho chic vibe for their baby’s nursery with earth-toned colors to set a warm and grounded space. These earthy, warm hues include reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and browns that work to create an inviting, homey feel and add a sense of nature-inspired coziness to your nursery. 

Design Elements to Get That Natural, Raw Look

The natural, raw style has taken the world of interior design by storm, and for good reason. The
idea behind this trending look is to find beauty in simplicity and bring out the texture, color, and
imperfections in natural materials. The raw look is an aesthetic that’s grounded in nature,
resulting in a more eco-friendly vibe that incorporates the outdoors into your home.

With our tips and tricks for incorporating the raw interior design style into your home,
embellishing your space with this natural look can be made easy.

Utilize the Beauty of Natural Wood

Natural wood has been used in interior design for thousands of years and continues to be one
of the most sought-after materials available. Each plank is a unique combination of color and
grain, effortlessly adding a touch of nature to any space for those who value authentic design.
From bookshelves and cabinets to coffee tables, benches, and more, exploring the beauty of
natural wood is the perfect way to kick-start your venture into the world of raw design.

Incorporate Rustic Elements

Infusing rustic design with raw style is an easy way to add warmth and character to your living
space. The elements of this style are found all around you — in nature, and in objects that have
been reclaimed or repurposed. Whether it be through aged wood flooring or antique furniture,
utilizing rustic elements in raw design makes for the perfect way to accentuate the organic,
charming feel of this trending style.

Focus on Natural Textiles

Natural textiles are a great way to personalize your space, while simultaneously bringing in a
natural element to your design scheme. This can be achieved through unique area rugs,
upholstery, pillows, and even carpets that mimic the earthy aesthetic of natural materials. Focus
on materials in their raw form that have hardly been processed, like linen, cotton, natural wool,
and hemp.

Going Green

Maybe it’s a potted plant, a living wall, or a floral arrangement, but adding greenery gives life
and vitality to any space. Whether your goal is to create a calming oasis, a serene retreat, or a
space that is warm and inviting, incorporating plants and flowers into your interior design can
complement your space and transform it into the raw atmosphere you’re looking for.

 

2023 Kitchen Trends

Le Havre Hickory Hardwood in Quiche

Chances are, you and your family spend a lot of time in the kitchen —it’s where you prep meals for the week, host family brunches, and maybe even fire off a quick work email in the morning. If you’re thinking about a kitchen renovation this year, start your mood board here! We have insight into the top trending kitchen designs for 2023.

Flooring

National Marble Res Tile by Daltile

Let’s start at the base. Investing in a show-stopping kitchen floor makes a great canvas for the rest of your design. Expect to see large, natural-style flooring (like flagstone floors), checkerboard tiling, and chevron wood looks taking over kitchen floors in 2023. Flagstone floors are versatile, durable, natural, and cool, making them an ideal choice for the kitchen, while checkerboard tiling lends an air of the traditional with a retro feel. Although wood flooring has been a constant in kitchens for generations thanks to its natural warmth, chevron wood-look tile is beginning to take center stage since it’s more scratch-resistant and waterproof.

Backsplash

Vivify Fanfare by Daltile

2023 seems to be the year of uniquely bold backsplashes. Think metallics, textured tiles, mosaic designs, artistic patterns, mixed materials, glass, and marble. If you’re more of an all-neutral design fiend, play with textured tiles and mixed materials in your kitchen backsplash. Don’t be shy, though —the kitchen is the best place to take a risk with bold tiling in small spaces, like behind the cooktop and below your cabinets.

Design Kitchen Trends

Extending the kitchen

Historic Res Tile by Daltile

Extending the kitchen’s reach is going to be huge in 2023. This looks different depending on your design preference and the climate where you live. With the open-concept kitchen dominating the design world, our kitchens often include spaces like the pantry, mudroom, breakfast nook, dining area, and half baths. Take this one step further this year, with an extended indoor-outdoor space with pocket walls and huge windows to encompass natural sunlight.

Touches of the traditional 

Cortijo Glazed Ceramic by Emser Tile

Subdued countertops and simple cabinet doors will take center stage in 2023. Look for soft muted shades and honed finishes. We’ll still find dramatic colors mixed with light wood to warm up the space. Use the kitchen as a backdrop for vintage pieces like buffet cabinets and heirloom dinner sets.

Concealed Storage and Appliances

Alluro Cream Castle Polished Marble by Emser Tile

Storage is often a main pain point when it comes to your kitchen, so why not get ahead of this issue in your next kitchen renovation by adding concealed storage space? If you’re seeking a solution for the mess of appliances on your counter, think outside of the box with roll-down cabinet doors and built-in pantries. Consider integrated paneled appliances for your fridge, oven, and dishwasher to help your kitchen blend seamlessly.

Impress Your Guest: Elevating Your Powder Room

Never underestimate the power of a good guest bathroom –it’s often one of the first rooms your guests will venture into and as such, it should feel cohesive with the rest of your home. Creating a stunning guest bathroom can make your home more accessible, feel more organized and increase the value of your property. Whether you’re thinking of adding a half-bath to the first floor or expanding the guest suite with a powder room, we’ve got a list of tips to help you get started. 

Draw the Eye to Your Floors

Marble Attache Nero Matte Hex Mosaic by Daltile

One of the smartest ways to begin your bathroom renovation is with a new floor. This floor should set the mood for the rest of your design and act as a canvas that you can work off of. Draw the eye downward with a stunning floor pattern. The type of flooring you choose is influenced by what style of powder room you’re aiming to create. If you’re looking to design a bold look, try a dark mosaic tile, but if you’re searching for a sleek, polished mood, opt for marble tile. Or maybe, you want to play into a serene, natural room scheme –try a gorgeous wood-look luxury vinyl for waterproof floors that can withstand your guests’ discarded towels. 

Make A Statement

Farrier Blue Roan by Daltile

Impress your guests by finding one piece in your bathroom that you would like to be your focal point. Maybe this is a freestanding copper sink, a bold accent wall, or a classic marble vanity. Whatever your design style may be, focus on one area of the bathroom that you want to draw the eye to and give it a little extra love. 

Upgrade Hardware

Catch Silicon Gloss Ceramic by Emser Tile

Treat yourself –and your guests –by upgrading the hardware in your guest bath. This can be as big of a project as you want it to be from installing a new sink or that porcelain deep soak tub you’ve had your eye on to small improvements such as replacing the faucets and upgrading to frameless smart mirrors. Not only will this elevate your bathroom, but it will make it a more convenient experience for guest use!

Use Soft Lighting

Legacy Havana Porcelain Tile by Emser

There’s nothing worse than stepping into a harshly lit bathroom. We’re all too familiar with the fluorescent lighting of gas station bathrooms and your guest bath should be the complete opposite of this. Now, that doesn’t mean that we want low lighting, either, as the bathroom is often a place where guests will come to freshen up and primp themselves. Find a balance with complimentary lighting such as task lighting around the mirror, an overhead flush mount in the ceiling, and wall sconces near the sink.

Freshen up with Greenery

Graber Roller Shades

Perhaps one of the easiest –and quickest –ways to freshen up your powder room for guests is by adding greenery. Think house plants, potted succulents, eucalyptus branches, and fresh flowers. Greenery can work both ways to liven up a small space or make a spacious bathroom feel cozy.