Decorating Your Walls For the Holidays

Naughty or nice poster in interior

Christmas is fast approaching! In the Philippines, you can already feel the spirit of the holidays when you hear Christmas songs being played everywhere and dazzling decors that will make your home stand out in the neighborhood. If you are still looking for the right decor to spice up your home, start with the walls as there are a lot of creative inspirations that will make your home look appealing and inviting.

Christmas wall decorations

Christmas is one of the most-awaited seasons of the year. This is also the time to transform your home into a fairytale-like abode. You actually have the freedom how to make it wonderful with interesting ideas you have. With a little creativity and the right decorations, you will be able to have an appearance that is inviting and festive. 

These days, it is common to decorate the home with a theme in mind. Themes may be different at times as long as they coincide with the colors or subject. For instance, Winter-themed Christmas is usually decorated with the colors white and silver. Thus, your home will have a stylish and trendy look that will take you and your home to the North Pole. You may also add modern art with silver elements and textured ornaments. What makes it more interesting is the addition of snowflakes that will make your home look cooler. 

You may have an idea and just add the necessary elements to successfully achieve it. Sometimes, we think that transforming your home will be costly, but there are certain ways to still achieve it without breaking the bank. The most important thing is you put your heart into this project and everything will look lovely. 

Christmas posters

Posters are one of the most commonly used wall decors that are used in homes and offices. There is a wide range of choices and are available in different designs, sizes, and finishes. Posters are easy to use and you do not need extra effort to display them on your walls. In Artdesign, we offer different holiday poster designs that will suit your taste and theme. You can also order them online which will make things easy and convenient for you. 

Over the years, Christmas poster designs are usually that of Santa, Christmas tree, garlands, reindeer, snowmen, and wrapped presents. These poster designs are cool as they are and all you have to do is pick a spot in your home where you can display them. Christmas posters have colors of their own that will complete the festive theme. It is common to see the colors red, green, gold, silver, and white. As such, with proper color coordination, your home will be perfect before the Christmas party begins. 

Other cool Christmas decors

Posters are not only the decors that will transform your home or office. There are other choices to upgrade your walls this season. Examples are canvases, wreaths, garlands, snowflakes, lights, and wall stickers. You can always visit shops to look for the right decor. Just remember that the spirit of Christmas is not only about decorations. It’s about celebrating the coming of our Saviour to our lives. 

Creative Ways To Decorate Large Walls

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A large empty wall can easily become an eyesore. But with a creatively designed wall art can turn everything around. A carefully planned wall design can be the focal point of any room. There are creative ways to do this and for sure, your family and friends will love them. With a little preparation and the right decorations, you can make a simple house structure into something magical. Read on to learn more about how to decorate and make any large-sized wall into a work of art.

Display oversized artwork

To fill an empty wall without destroying the modern vibe in the room, experts recommend the display of a few oversized artworks. Add a few pieces that are of the same size to create an elegant and luxurious feel in the room. 

Introduce architectural images

Add architectural elements such as baseboards, wood planks, and others. These will add depth and dimension to your wall. You can buy these materials from your local hardware store or if there are some left from your previous renovation project, you can use them. These will likewise add some style and character to the whole room. 

Add accent furniture

You can always rely on accent furniture to help fill a wall space. For instance, you can add a sculptural table, an accent chair, or a console table to make an empty space look awesome. These will easily and instantly make your large wall look fun and exciting. You may also want to look at storage solutions such as drawers or cabinets to minimize clutter in your room. 

Layers of artwork and decor

If your large wall has a table below it, you may also want to consider layering pieces to get a more three-dimensional effect. For example, oversized mirrors are one of the great solutions to add life to a big blank wall. It also offers a wonderful layered look. Add your favorite small painting or artwork as well to add texture. 

Simple wall gallery

Create a gallery of artworks or prints that are of the same theme and matching frames. You can also create an eclectic wall gallery with a mixture of artwork, mirrors, prints, and hanging decor for a more cohesive and fun appearance. You can also add a console table below and another architectural piece on one side. 

Surround your bed with artwork and mirrors

If you are looking for a more creative solution, try this one. Hang one or more pieces of art directly above the headboard and then ad two matching mirrors to framed pieces above each nightstand. These fill in a way nicely and provide a balanced wall appearance. You may also hang two to three matching botanical prints above the bed and two matching mirrors above each nightstand. 

Tall plants

Position some of your decors in front of the wall which takes up wall space. You may also use tall indoor plants to make a corner statement. Not only that the plants add beauty to your home. They can also help purify the indoor air and keep everybody healthy. 

The Colorful World Of Paul Klee

Southern Gardens poster

Paul Klee is a talented artist who has contributed a lot to the world of art. He is also a natural draftsman who experimented with and mastered the color theory and wrote extensively about it. His lectures, Writings on Form and Design Theory, that is published in English as the Paul Klee Notebooks, are considered to be of utmost importance to modern art. Read on to learn more about the life and works of Paul Klee.

Biography

Paul Klee (1879-1940) was born in Switzerland and considered to be both a German and Swiss painter. His works were greatly influenced by different movements in art, including expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He is a natural draftsman whose artworks have shown that he has mastered color theory. 

During his younger years, Paul Klee focused on becoming a musician, but later on decided to concentrate more on the visual arts. As a musician, he played mostly the traditional works of the 18th and 19th centuries. As a visual artist, he enjoyed practicing freedom to explore radical ideas and styles. 

During his school years, he is fond of drawing caricatures and already displaying and already displaying skill with line and volume. He also studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich wherein he excelled at drawing. After receiving his Fine Arts degree, he traveled to Italy along with his friend, Hermann Haller. While traveling, the two studied the master painters of the past centuries. 

For Paul Klee, color represented the optimism and nobility in art, and a hope for relief from the pessimistic nature he expressed in his black-and-white grotesques and satires. By 1905, he was developing some experimental techniques, including drawing with a needle on a blackened pane of glass resulting in 57 works including his Portrait of My Father (1906). He also completed a cycle of eleven zinc-plate etchings called Inventions. 

From 1931 to 1933, Klee taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dusseldorf. He went back to his hometown when the National Socialists declared his art “degenerate” in 1933. His later works reflected the turmoil in Europe in which they have a somber tone. Lines turned into black bars, forms became broad and generalized, scales are larger, and colors are simpler. 

Methods and Styles

Paul Klee was associated with Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Surrealism, and Abstraction. He usually worked alone to interpret new art trends in how own way. He developed new techniques as he worked in different media including oil paint, watercolor, ink, pastel, etching, and others. He often combined these mediums in one artwork. He also used canvas, burlap, muslin, linen, gauze, cardboard, metal foils, fabric, wallpaper, and newsprint. He also used spray paint, knife application, stamping, glazing, and impasto and mixed media such as oil with watercolor, watercolor with pen and India ink, and oil with tempera. 

With his mastery of color and toes, many of his works combine these skills. Most works have a fragile childlike quality to them and are usually on a small scale. It is also common to see geometric forms and grid format compositions along with letters, numbers, animals, and people. Some of his works are abstract that may reflect dry humor and varying moods, as well as political convictions. His works often allude to poetry, music, and dreams. His later works are distinguished by spidery hieroglyph-like symbols.  

Tips To Personalize The Baby Room

Baby Watercolor reverse personal poster in interior

The birth of your baby is one of the greatest gifts in the world. You have waited for several months and now that your baby has finally arrived, there are a lot of changes that may happen to your life and to the whole family. However, before that, there are some preparations that need to be done. The baby room will soon be the sanctuary of your little. Preparing it before the arrival is crucial so that it becomes comfortable and relaxing. Moreover, the baby room also needs to be multi-functional. Read on to learn a few tips about decorating the baby room.

Choose the right wall color

Choosing the color for the baby room is probably the first thing that comes to your mind. Why not? This is the very first thing that you will see upon entering the room. It is therefore right to prepare the room before the birth of your little one. You may already have an idea about gender so there are different colors to choose from that will personalize the whole baby room. Check out the list below to see if they fit your needs for the baby room:

  • Red is usually associated with passion and aggression. Be careful with using this color when using it in the nursery. Do not paint the entire wall red and do not even make it the principal color of the room. Use it only to accent the wall or use decorative items of this color. 
  • Orange is another warm color. It stimulates communication and friendship. Be careful as well with the use of orange as too much may be too stimulating. 
  • Yellow is a cheerful and sunny color. It provides more energy and contributes to better memory with the lighter hues help in concentrating. Too much yellow may likewise be too agitating for the baby.
  • Green is a neutral color that can be used in any room. It is the color of health and well-being. It is a good choice for the nursery especially if you decide to use lighter and softer shades. 
  • Blue is a cool color that is calming and relaxing. It is a good choice for the nursery and can be used whether you have a boy or a girl. Choose the lighter hues since the dark shades can be too depressing. 
  • White is one of the common choices of parents. It is the color of purity and innocence. It offers calmness but it is recommended to use it in combination with other colors and decors. 
  • Brown is also a good choice for the baby room. It is warm and pleasant and it’s better to combine it with other colors such as blue, beige, and green.

Personalized Baby Posters and Pictures

In many instances, the first thing that comes into your mind when decorating your room is the use of posters. It is one of the easiest ways to decorate the walls and make the room look warm and bright. Before choosing the poster design, you need to take into consideration the theme of the room first. Also, the color scheme is important so that you will be able to pick the right poster design that will blend. Personalized posters of babies come in different appearances and themes. And the choice depends on your existing interior design style.

A neutral theme for the posters is the safest to use as they can easily blend with any design style that the room has. The image can be anything, from animals to the baby’s first photos. Once displayed on the walls, these posters will make wonderful wall art that your family and friends will surely adore. Other themes that you can create in the nursery with the use of posters are nautical, safari, medieval, and cartoons/ 

These days, parents even make the nursery look lovely with family photos arranged in a random layout. A large-sized customized poster of the baby will even make the wall art more interesting and personalized. 

The History of Art Nouveau

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Art Nouveau is a design style that is commonly used in architecture, applied art, and fine art. Its popularity rose in the 1890s until the beginning of World War I. The goal of the design style was to modernize the design and move away from the eclectic historical styles that were popular during that period. In fact, the concept of Art Nouveau originated from the stems and blossoms of plants. Read on to learn more about Art Nouveau and how it all began. 

A brief history of Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau was based on the name of an art gallery in Paris, “Maison de l’Art Nouveau”. The gallery was owned by an art collector, Siegfried Bing. The gallery featured artworks that were created in the Art Nouveau style. Along with modern furniture pieces, tapestries, and other decorative items during the 1900 Exposition Universelle made the place popular that the name of the place was used to denote the design style. 

Simultaneously, Les Vingt and La Libre Esthetique promoted the design style in Belgium. While the magazine, Youth, promoted the design style in Germany. It was an illustrated magazine on art and lifestyle in Munich. 

Though the exact origin of Art Nouveau is not really determined. Many art historians agree that the origin is linked with the English Arts and Crafts Movement. It also has influences from Celtic art to Japonism. The beauty of Art Nouveau is that it can be applied to other disciplines like architecture, interior design, fine arts, glassware, and illustrations

Its worldwide popularity is short-lived, however, because of the rise of the Art Deco movement. It made its comeback in the 1960s. The emergence of Art Nouveau is the response to the traditional design style. The goal was to do away with the traditional ones and modernize the concepts and ideas in the decorative arts. The design style is inspired by the organic and geometric forms, evolving elegant designs that mimic the stems and blossoms of plants. The beauty of Art Nouveau features lines and curves as well as colors and hues. 

Traits of Art Nouveau

Here are some of the traits of Art Nouveau that will make a difference to your homes:

  • The design of the furniture pieces is styled with flowers, leaves, buds, and roots. 
  • Designers have the freedom and flexibility to choose the color as long as they are light.
  • The floor is usually made from hardwood that is stained and varnished with the addition of an oriental or colorful rug. 
  • Tiffany lamps and stained glass windows create the atmosphere. 

Achieve the design style in your home

For homes that employ the design style, it is common to see elongated curves and linear shapes. The style is influenced by nature such as flowers, spider webs, and feathers. Here are some ideas and tips to achieve Art Nouveau interior to your home. 

  • Wall colors – usually the colors of the wall are soft and muted mixed with palettes of gray, mustard, brown, olive, and lilac.
  • Floors – parquet floor or wood finish will achieve the classic appearance, whitewash the floor, or mid-toned wood. 
  • Lighting – Tiffany lamps were the popular ones during the period.
  • Decors – add curved or straight lines which are geared upwards from the ground. Stained glasses can be used with the same design which resembles blossoms of plants. 

A Brief History Of Posters As An Art

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Poster art is one of the most common forms of art and probably the most straightforward when it comes to sending messages and information. Posters use graphical and textual elements and are designed to attract attention. It also aims to give information as brief yet accurate as possible. However, popular posters are, they are still underestimated by many people. Many do not accept it as a form of art since posters are now mass-produced. Read on to learn why posters are still considered art. Hopefully, at the end of this article, you will have a different perspective about posters and be able to fully appreciate them.

The ancient times

Modern posters or the posters that we know these days emerged between the 1840s and 1850s. However, if you are going to study it further, poster as a medium dates back to the prehistoric period. Cave paintings from the Ancient Middle East and Egypt are the earliest examples of what we call posters. 

Production of posters then was limited due to the availability of technology. It was in the 1860s when Jules Cheret developed a new lithographic process. The three-stone lithography was more affordable yet with richer and more expressive colors. This was also influenced by Ukiyo-e woodblock prints in Japan. With these developments in poster technology, he was known as “The Father of the Fine Art Poster.”

Pioneers of Posters

Jules Cheret was not the only one who developed poster printing. The golden age of the poster saw the spread of poster art beyond Paris and throughout Europe. Posters were used in circuses, sporting events, cabarets, and others. Name like Theophile Steinlen’s advertisements for the Parisian cabaret Le Chat Noir is one of the iconic poster art from the Golden Age movement. The end of the 19th century marked the growth of posters as art. This period is what they call the Belle Epoque.

Many art movements can be traced and influenced by other periods such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Modern Contemporary Art Movement. Among the names that are associated with the development of modern posters are T. Privat-Livemont, Dudley hardy, Eugene Grasset, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Jules Cheret. In the United States, posters were used in advertisements such as Ringing Bros. 

Posters in the United States were more subtle and realistic. They had subdued colors and simpler compositions. It was Edward Penfield who started these kinds of posters and they were even welcomed warmly in Europe. 

Propaganda posters

Posters became popular as a medium for rallying cry and calling to arms. The most iconic poster during the propaganda era was Lord Kitchener Want You by Alfred Leete. It practically captured the true essence of the poster as a medium that speaks directly to its viewers. Post World War I, the Art Noveau was considered to be old-fashioned and obsolete. The rise of Art Deco and the modern art movements in Europe caused the resurgence in the popularity of posters. It showcased new aesthetics but still, posters never became prevalent as compared during the Golden Age. 

Posters in the present day

Today, poster art is becoming popular, They are ubiquitous in homes and many public areas. Typography posters with inspirational and personalized text are used to motivate people while graphic posters were influenced by past and contemporary art movements. Posters also had new purposes such as reproducing popular paintings and advertising. 

A Nostalgic Atmosphere With Retro Poster

Vintage red volks Poster in interior

Travel back in time with the beauty of retro posters. These posters will not only make a wonderful accent to your walls but will also set a nostalgic vibe. Would it be great to bring back your childhood memories and reminisce the times when you were still doing fun and exciting activities? Retro style covers several decades of styles and it often describes an interior decoration of mixed styles and objects that are influenced by trends and styles from the past. 

The beauty of retro-themed posters

Creating a retro design style in your own home or space is a unique way to bring back the old times. The retro design style has been inspired by the events and activities after World War 2. A time when a lot of people try to spread love, peace, and freedom in any way possible. 

The designs depicting the retro style are usually fun and lively. It is common to see images in bright colors, wild designs, and an overall sense of talent. Retro posters also depict the same ambiance when added to the room. The images featured are loud and funky. 

Retro posters will definitely help you achieve a nostalgic atmosphere. The colors are truly captivating. You will often see images in popular retro colors such as mustard yellow and combinations of brown, black and white, orange and red. Pink and purple are also obvious in retro posters. 

With the addition of these posters on your walls, you will be able to create a cozy and cheering vibe. Remarkably, the room will have a nostalgic and elegant feeling that cannot be matched by other posters. Retro posters are perfect if you want to cherish memories and reminisce the days you spent in your grandma’s home. 

Achieve a retro design style

The retro interior design style is one of the epic styles in the history of design. It marks the end of World War 2 and the beginning of an amazing era in the world of construction and design. Retro design style aims to be nostalgic and elegant. It is a way for people to reminisce their past and embrace their youth with the addition of old and vintage pieces of furniture, cushions, wall art, and fabric. 

Retro posters feature images from different times that can create a wonderful and remarkable timeline throughout history. The objective of retro posters is to create a space that evokes pleasant memories to create a familiar and comfortable environment. 

Feeling psychedelic? The colors and designs of retro posters evoke a special beauty that depicts the lifestyle and activities of many people during the era. Retro posters are simply stimulating and tantalizing. Having these posters in your room will definitely make you travel back in time. A time when fun and excitement never ends. 

Final thoughts

Decorating your home is a great project to do with your loved ones. In fact, there are various styles to choose from. If you are looking for an interesting way to combine the past with the present, a retro design style will surely do the trick. This style can easily be achieved with posters along with other decorative items the represents both the past and the present. 

Create Fun Memories With Your Family

One of the ways to have fun memories with your family is by being involved in planning fun activities. This is your opportunity to experience to experience special moments that will bond the ties among the family members. As experts would say, “Spending time with the family takes planning, but it’s a good investment.” With a little effort, you can turn bonding into a lifetime of funny and lasting memories. What makes it more wonderful is that you can display these moments on your wall with personalized posters. A timeless wall design that will surely be adored by your family and friends. 

Create a family garden

Encourage every family member to get their hands dirty by creating a patch in the garden where you can plant vegetables or flowers. Plant seeds into the soil and watch them grow and bloom. It is also recommended to plant herbs and spices that you can use in your dishes in the future. The good thing about this is that you are not just planting for the kitchen. You are also making the backyard look attractive. Don’t forget to take photos of your family members doing the project and the plants that are growing. Think of it as a simple project that will benefit you and the environment. 

Plan a trip with the family

Set a budget and suggest a place where you can have a vacation with your family. Ask them what they want to do and where they want to go. In the Philippines, there are cool places to go and have a staycation. There are tourist spots that are at par with the rest of the world. Examples are Palawan, Siargao, and Carmen. You can also plan to go to museums, parks, and others. 

Plan a family photoshoot

You have a choice if you want to have a family portrait. Either do this on your own or by a professional in a studio. You can schedule a portrait session at a local studio or a photographer who can capture those candid moments. The photos need not be kept in an album as well. Have them in frames and display them in the living room or your bedroom. You can also have them printed on a poster and personalize your rooms. Arrange them in a great layout and create wall art that will make memories.

Prepare meals together

Another cool and interacting activity you can do with your family is preparing your meals. Studies have shown that kids who dine frequently with their parents have improved academic performance, increased self-esteem, and a reduced risk of obesity. Regular dinnertime together is also associated with open communication between parents and kids. 

Be in touch with nature

Another great activity that you can do with your family is hiking and camping. Not only that you will be able to spend quality time with your kids, but you will also enjoy the beauty of nature and the benefits they give. The natural scenery can help you calm down as well as your kids. This is also a good opportunity for you to document your activity through photos. You can then display the images on the walls to remind you of the fun times you have spent with your family.

Decorating The Baby Room With Customized Wall Art

Cute rabbbit on grass poster

Now that you are expecting the arrival of your baby, it is time to decorate the nursery and personalize it. Preparing the nursery may be a bit busy for you as there are many things to consider. For instance, the addition of wall art is usually the last to be thought of. Yet this will totally make the nursery look amazing. Customized art will help you create a wonderful nursery and will create a room environment that is perfect for the newest member of the family. 

Wall display for the baby room

Decorating the walls is one of the easiest and fastest ways to personalize the baby room. As expecting parents, preparing the nursery is one of the exciting activities to do while waiting for the day of your baby’s arrival. Buying the things they need and placing them in their respective places may be tedious yet there’s something satisfying about it. This is also true when decorating the wall. You get the chance to choose the right color as well as the decors to display to customize the whole nursery. With the right wall art, the nursery will be a safe haven for your little bundle of joy.

Family photos

Check your albums. For sure there are a lot of photos of the family that you have kept all these years. Displaying them and arranging them in a fashionable way will help you introduce the family members to your baby at the right time. You can also do this to create memorable wall art as you will showcase some of the fun activities that you and your family did. 

Cuddly-looking animals

There are a lot of animal-themed posters that are perfect for the nursery. Most of them are in adorable colors that are not too loud for the eyes of babies. Collect the different animals and display them and create wonderful wall art in a random layout. These posters can also be used to teach them the different animals and prepare them for school. 

Nature-inspired prints

Posters of plants and flowers are not only cool for the sense of vision. These will also make the nursery look lively and welcoming. The natural colors can help create a calming and relaxing vibe that is perfect for you and your little one. The posters will also look perfect if they are in neutral-colored frames. 

Alphabet and numbers

Alphabets and numbers are the very first lesson to teach your little ones. Having posters of the alphabet as well as numbers will likewise help your child learn about them and prepare them for school. Choose prints in subtle colors so that they may not be too offensive to the eye. These will not only help beautify the walls but will also serve as visual aids to educate them. 

Personalized posters

It is also smart to add personalized posters to make the nursery look and feel its own. Display posters that feature the images of your child when they were born. You can likewise choose poster designs with colors that will help your child rest and relax.

A Brief History Of Home Decor

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You will be surprised that home decorating did not start recently. In fact, evidence shows that cave dwellers painted pictures on their walls. However, this came into reality in the 18th century when items became affordable for households. But before that, only the noble and the very rich can afford home decorating. This can be seen through the elegant hand-made furniture and ornate draperies. During those times, decorating the homes was a status symbol. 

Ancient Rome home decorating

The Romans were known to have advanced civilizations in which renowned architecture was built. They also enjoyed displaying their wealth through their homes and lifestyles. The houses they have and halls were decorated lavishly with murals and mosaic designs on the floor. The furniture pieces were personalized to meet their needs. It is also common to see tables and chairs have clawed feet. 

The Renaissance Design

Carpets were known to be owned by wealthy individuals because of the materials and overall design available. Since these decors were expensive, they were not placed on the floors. Instead, they were hung on walls over tables. Wealthy families also hung tapestries on their walls. The floors were covered with rushes or reeds and sprinkled with fragrant herbs. It is also common for the rich in England to use four-post beds as the curtains kept them from the cold weather. 

Elegant room appearance

During the early 18th century, there was an increase in international trade and new educational opportunities. This marked the start of consumerism. Various home decors and furniture pieces, such as wallpaper, rugs, and even pianos became affordable and available to the common people. Many rooms were painted in light colors, with floral prints on wallpapers, patterned carpets, and upholstered furniture pieces. Books were also displayed on shelves as they were still expensive during those times. 

Mass production of decors and furnishings

In the 19th century came the rise of mass production. As such, more people are able to afford home decors to make their homes beautiful. Velvet wallpapers came to popularity and these were usually seen in green and burgundy. Furniture pieces were solid but still offers comfort. They were usually made from oak or mahogany. They were likewise upholstered similar to the patterns of the wallpapers. 

Modernism

The end of World War 2 marked the rise of the Renaissance once again. That is because of home decorations. The focus was then on modernism rather than the traditional. Households in America hosted parties in which they also flaunted their shiny home appliances as part of their home decor. In addition to these, households also were filled with plastic melamine dinnerware as well as coffee tables. 

The Classes 

The home decoration was originally seen in the household of nobles and wealthy families. However, with the rise of the middle classes in the 18th century, ordinary people were able to afford simple and less ornate decors and furnishings. Homes were comprised of basic stools, tables, and benches. Families slept on mattresses that were filled with straw and thistledown. Houses focused more on function and meeting the basic needs of the dwellers instead of the aesthetics.