As my husband and I continue to frequently travel, I have often pondered the subject of what makes a room successful for guests. Being both an individual that travels regularly and one that throughly enjoys hosting guests, I have acquired a few general tools for successful visits. Listed below are five different ways you can help ensure your guest feels welcome in your home. 

1. Clear The Air. Before anything happens, clear the clutter in the area that your guests will be staying in, whether it's a guest bedroom or a living room. Stash your excess stuff in lidded bins or baskets. The goal is to give your visitors a landing spot for shoes, jewelry, coats and their suitcases. Rather than emptying out your drawers, pick up inexpensive luggage racks! This way every guest can easily access clothes. This also can be a great place to set out the towels, extra blankets, and pillows ahead of time. Then, add the universal welcome sign: fresh flowers.

2. Stay Awhile. Before the visitors arrive, a great way to know what is needed in the room is, staying in their assigned room or space for an evening to see what is and isn't working. Lamp needs a new bulb? Crumbs under the sofa? Cobwebs in the ceiling corners? TV remote need batteries? All of these things will be overlooked by your guest if taken care of, but makes all the difference in a flawless visit. And don't forget the necessities: clean sheets, blankets, pillows, and an alarm clock. It's also nice to provide guests with a water carafe and motion sensor night-lights.

3. Bathroom Necessities. Isn't it always unfortunate to get out of a shower and search high and low, while shivering in the no-longer-hot-shower, for a towel? The unofficial houseguest's bill of rights should include a fresh towel and washcloth- in plain sight, along with some tissues. But be sure to prep for the unfortunate folks who forget a toiletry or two by holding onto those hotel sample-size shampoo, toothpaste, and the like. A great way to store these is in individual baskets or glass tubes.

4. Give Em' The Hook. Don't want visitors to see whats lurking inside your closet? Save your dump-it-all zone from scrutiny while giving guests a place to hang clothes with an over-the door hook stocked with hangers.

5. Be Our Guest. The last step could very well be the most important, be welcoming. Show your guests why you're a great host. They may not be expecting a grand party for their arrival. But waking up to the smell of fresh cooked breakfast certainly doesn't hurt. Remember to ask what could make their stay perfect, and if everything thus far has met their needs. Finally, remember to smile. You never know when you'll see them again. Treat everyday and everyone as a gift.
 

Today on this Interior Design blog, we are going to discuss picking out a backsplash for your most used rooms: the Kitchen and Bathroom. If you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone. Listed below are five tips on how to create a stellar room through your backsplash.

First: Create a Budget and Stick to It. One of the most important aspects of remodeling or renovating your room is the cost! Take time to determine how much you can reasonably spend on this room, and stick to that budget. You'll be grateful later. It can be really easy to fall in love with a certain type of design and justify spending more than you can comfortably afford. Shop around, compare prices and use sample pieces to determine what helps that room look stellar.

Second: Take a Look at the Scale. How big is your space? If you choose a tiny tile for a large room, chances are it might look too delicate or simply out of place. If you don't know how to compare your space, take a look online or my examples below. Big and open floor planned rooms have larger tiles, and typically (because bathrooms tend to be on the smaller side) the restroom in your home will have a more simplistic and smaller scaled tiled.

Still lost? Select your Countertop First. If you still feel daunted by all the options, try focusing on the countertop selection first. This is your workhorse in the kitchen and can constitute a good chunk of your budget. Generally, there are fewer color and pattern option for countertop materials, whereas backsplashes are practically unlimited. Also, keep in mind that your countertop will be paired with your backsplash. Save a sample of your countertop and take it with you shopping. Or if you already have a countertop in place, and no sample, take a well-light picture with your phone and compare as you go!

Next: Stay in the Same Color Tones. A great way to make sure your kitchen or bathroom looks cohesive, is choosing stones and splashes that are in the same color pallet. Whites with neutrals, browns with beiges, blues with lighter greens and so on. If your lost on color, simply take a color wheel in with you and choose a backsplash that is color partners with your countertop material. See example below. 

Finally: Hire an Expert. Some homeowners just have plain difficulty with DIY projects. All too often you are asked to make too many decisions in a short period of time. Do yourself a favor, if you are prone to giving yourself a panic attack on projects like these, and hire someone you trust to engage in your home renovation. It will take time, but loving the space you live in is worth it.

The truth is I think all of us have moments when life catches up to us. What do you do to calm down? For me, taking a few of my favorite essential oils and dropping them into a perfectly hot bath is bliss. But how can you enjoy your relaxation room, your most private room, and the room your start and end each day a personal refuge? While some bathrooms may be bigger than my bedroom, others can cleverly appear to be much larger than they are.

Today we will take a look at the lessons spa-like bathrooms and learn how to apply those techniques to your own! Here are 10 ways to bring a spa and thus relaxing style to your home.

Add Warm Wood Accents. What makes a great bathroom is the ability to feel outside, without ever stepping out into harsh conditions. By using a warm wood with colors to contrast with the rest of your room, you will be able to feel like your polished wood, is in itself a piece of art.

Use Crisp White. Nothing says “relaxing spa” like light and bright walls and ceilings. It feels clean, and better yet if you acquire a smooth tile it will look clean and be easy to clean whenever it may become dirty.

Create Continuity with Tile. By using a tile that is the same color from floor to ceiling makes the room look considerably bigger.

Use Clear Glass. Another component that create continuity is transparency. It makes the bath look much larger and keeps the shower stall from visually chopping up the bathroom layout.

Add A Fireplace. Just by knowing that you have a fireplace in a room filled with tile adds the thoughts of warmth. A two-sided model can even be enjoyed from two rooms.

Open Up The View. Of course there are dramatic examples of bathrooms with floor to ceiling windows. But even a small window in your shower stall, or next to the tub will let you relax and look outdoors while rinsing or soaking.

Let Natural Light In. If your bathroom’s location means opening up the view makes you a show for all your neighbors, choose a glass that lets in the light but disappoints the peeping Toms.

Fake Organization. A great way for a bathroom to seem clean and tidy is by using things such as trays and baskets to store your soaps, shampoo’s and other miscellaneous treasures. It will always look as if everything has its particular place in your safe haven.

Add An Orchid.  The simple fact that this flower always looks beautifully exotic adds to your bathrooms spa feel. They are at the grocery store and cost about nine dollars, plus they’ll last for months!

Light Some Candles. No matter how small your bathroom may be, you can always give your tub a more relaxed feel with the glow of candlelight. Playing an Enya album is optional.