New Year’s Resolutions for Home Design

This is a sponsored column by Cindy Beyer, ASID,NCIDQ. Beyer is a Reston-based interior designer and Reston Now Best Reston Business Award winner. Find her online at www.CindyLBeyer.com.

With the New Year approaching, it is time to think about your home projects for upcoming year.  Even I have a list of design improvements to make in my house. Let me share some ideas with you.

Floors: Give your floors a new lift. First, clean your carpets. Cleaning your carpeting on an annual basis not only helps to preserve the fibers, it is good to apply a fresh coat of Stainmaster to prevent stain and soil build up.

Research your carpet cleaner before to make sure it is safe for your children and pets. Also, if you have hard surface floors such as wood, you can have them sanded and refinished. My floors are almost 30 years old and have been refinished at least two times. If you decide to refurnish your floors consider repositioning your furniture. Feel free to shake it up for a new look.

Walls: Try a new coat of paint on an accent wall, ceiling or a small powder room. Next year’s paint trends are a variation of warm grey, soft greens, aqua as well as plums. Benjamin Moore’s 2015 color of the year is HC-116 Guildford Green. Farrow and Ball’s are Ella, Ginko and Cornbread. Kelly Moore’s suggestions are: KM-5049 Swagger (teal) , 5823-City Tower (warm grey), and 4967 Coastal surf ( dark blue).

Remember to always buy a small sample of the paint to test out on a board or on the wall before you commit to the color.

Accessories: After packing up the Christmas tree and all of the greens, your home may suddenly appear bare. Maybe it is time to recycle your old accessories for exciting new ones. Try switching them to different rooms and combining with new ones. If you are bored with some of your old ones, think about trading with a friend or packing them up for a family member. Trends for 2015 include stone, metal (don’t be afraid to mix) and glass. Indoor water features, such as small fountains, are hot and can make your space more relaxing.

Bedding: Try investing in a new set of sheets. If your budget allow,s there is nothing like a crisp, white duvet. Try out some new colors and enjoy some added art to your bedroom.

Kitchen Remodel:  Upgrading your cabinets, or a new design can make a world of difference to your home. Since you spend the most time in your kitchen, why not enjoy your living space and add value to your home? You will be surprised at how a kitchen project can impact other rooms of the house. It would be a good idea to use a professional designer with skills beyond just kitchens and cabinets. I use a software program to design, which is aligned to my cabinet shop sources.

Lower Level Remodel: It is not impossible to move existing walls and to enjoy a new floor plan for your lower level. When drawing floor plans, I spend considerable time understanding how my clients want to use their newly designed area. Depending on the support columns, it is a good idea to have one large area for pool playing and a good size sitting or conversation area. A sitting area is a good place to add a gas fireplace with a direct vent to the outside. Not only does this add a nice focal point to the room, it also keeps you toasty on those damp winter nights.

Video rooms or entertainment rooms can be a luxurious as your purse strings will allow. No man cave is complete without a video room.