What better way to refresh your 1st Lake space than with some new and stylish interior design changes! Fresh color palettes, new furniture, and stylish wall art are just a few ways to transition your space into a vibrant, welcoming, and comforting environment for you, your family, and your friends in 2018.
Not only will you be on trend in 2018, updating your living space is a great way to create an inspiring sanctuary that encourages positivity in the new year. Get rid of that hand-me-down furniture, those dated decorative items, and that framed poster you’ve had since college. Use this guide to find the new looks you like, and transform your apartment home into a haven you just might not want to leave!
According to NOLA.com, plant accessories are growing wild in 2018. “Expect to see more houseplants, indoor herb garden and even shower plants — that’s right, plants that live in your shower — this year.”
Plants are a great way to bring nature inside, and their air purifying capabilities create a healthy living environment without the need for unsightly equipment. Herb gardens are also great to incorporate into your home-cooked meals. Check out our recipe blogs for ways to incorporate your herb garden’s bounty this year.
There’s no stronger way to make a statement than with a brightly colored sofa. Bold, rich hues are in for 2018, and many of these loud sofas come in velvet and satin finishes, which gives them and extra level of shine.
“A daring sofa color tackles two common design challenges: adding color and creating a focal point,” says Mitchell Parker of Houzz.com.
The artisan aesthetic has been in style for some time, but none are more prominent now than the woven accessory. Woven accessories can give your space an international feel and add a welcoming warmth to your rooms.
Visit a local art market or international market and pick out some pieces for functionality and style. Use a deep woven basket to store your living room’s throw blankets or assemble a medley of flat, uniquely-shaped weavings on the wall for an eye-catching global gallery.
There’s no need for busy and bulky bedroom furniture in 2018. Houzz suggests you eliminate the loud patterns and oversized items from your sleeping den and replace them with simple, utilitarian-style looks.
“Instead, a pared down, verging-on-minimalist look that incorporates soothing neutrals, soft fabrics and simple, functional pieces is the direction homeowners are heading.” If you really want to be on trend in 2018, incorporate soft, washed out lavender bedding into your look.
Did we miss a trend you’ve embraced for the new year? Have you already decorated with some of these trends and tips? Share your tips and interior looks with us on Facebook or tag your style updates on our Instagram so we can see how you’ve transitioned in 2018!
Pumpkins are having a moment. They’re in lattes, muffins, pancakes, hummus (seriously!), brownies, pies, smoothies, and just about any seasonal treat you can think of— but pumpkins are just as important a design element as a recipe ingredient this time of year. What front step (or living room mantel) is complete without a jack-o-lantern?
Take a look at these pumpkin patches throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Whether you go to pick up a pumpkin or just snap a fun fall selfie, they’re a great way to spend a few hours.
Bonus: check out these free carving templates from GoNOLA!
City Park Pumpkin Patch
St. Paul’s Episcopal School
Aurora United Methodist Pumpkin Patch
Plum Street Snoball Pumpkin Patch
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
St. Augustine’s Pumpkin Patch
Jim’s Pumpkins
St. Peter Parish
Stella Plantation Pumpkin Patch
If you’re looking to update your New Orleans apartment’s decor, there are great furniture stores in the area for you to explore!
And it’s not just in the city center. Kenner, Metairie, and River Ridge all have a great selection of furniture and home decor stores you can shop to find your new style.
Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces? Antique or modern looks? Casual and traditional styles? The Greater New Orleans Area has your look covered. Here are a few of our favorite furniture spots in the area:
Photo by @christianstreetfurniture via Instagram
Christian Street Furniture is a locally-owned, family-run furniture store with two locations, one in Baton Rouge and one in Metairie.
They carry a large selection of unique, reclaimed looks for the artesian aesthetic. You can customize with multiple pieces from Christian Street Furniture, which makes it a fun place to find your perfect look.
Photo by @hurwitzmintz via Instagram
You might get lost in Metairie’s furniture megastore, Hurwitz Mintz. But it’s totally worth it! They don’t call it the south’s largest furniture store for nothing.
Their Airline Drive location is two stories, which means you have plenty of furniture options to choose from. Hurwitz Mintz is another locally-owned store, and it’s been serving this area for over 90 years.
They carry a large portion of traditional and timeless styles, so if that’s what you’re interested in, check out Hurwitz Mintz!
Photo by @worldmarket via Instagram
If you’re going for the Bohemian look, head to Elmwood Shopping Center! Cost Plus World Market is a bright and bold furniture store with styles curated from countries around the world.
Eclectic decor? Check! Eccentric artwork? Check! Eco-conscious furniture? Check and check! If you want your 1st Lake apartment to look like a fabulous hippy hideaway, snag some furniture from World Market.
Photo by @roomstogo via Instagram
Rooms To Go is designed to make furnishing a space easy. The store introduced the concept of “displaying and packaging furniture in complete room settings” all the way down to the accent items, which allows the shopper to literally pick the room they want.
Instead of assembling your room one purchase at a time, why not knock out the whole thing? That’s where this Metairie store comes into play!
Do you have a favorite furniture store in the Greater New Orleans Area? Share your tips with us on Facebook or Instagram!
Your pumpkin is carved, and your seasonal wreath is on the door. But what about your mantel? Several of our 1st Lake Properties feature wood-burning fireplaces, like Sawmill Creek and Willow Creek. The fireplace mantel is a natural focal point of a room, drawing the eye upward and providing an opportunity to flex your decorating muscle. In fact, spruced-up mantels are one of the top fall decor trends.
If you don’t have a fireplace, don’t worry! These fall mantel décor items work just as well anywhere else in the home, whether at the front door or in the living room. (Plus, keep scrolling for even more fall trends.)
Thumbtack Gourds
Gourds and pumpkins are an obvious choice for the mantel, but the addition of metallic thumbtacks can transform a natural design-scape into a totally glamorous one. Add gold or silver thumbtacks to plain gourds, or paint the gourds to match your existing interior design before you add the thumbtacks. Let these awesome designs lead the way for pattern inspiration.
Elegant Upcycling
An easy, cost-effective way to decorate for fall is to use items you already have on hand. Cut paper bags into petal shapes, crease them, and use a bit of hot glue to hold them together. The result is a paper flower that pulls in fall colors and makes a major impact above the mantel, whether alone or in clusters.
An Everlasting Pumpkin
Cinderella’s coach turned into a pumpkin at midnight, but these cute fall decorations won’t turn into a rotten mess after Halloween. Leave these Mason jar pumpkins on the mantel through Thanksgiving, and save them for years to come. The addition of a cinnamon stick lends a fragrant, autumnal touch.
Borrow from Other Seasons
Another way to save on fall décor is to repurpose decorations from previous holidays. Fourth of July bandanas lend a harvest vibe when draped across the mantel, especially in shades of red, rust, and orange. Mardi Gras beads can create a quick garland, and winter holiday decorations like pinecones and acorns look just as appropriate in fall.
Country Living is one of our favorite sources for interior inspiration, so it’s no wonder we’d look to them for all the latest on other fall trends. Here’s a rundown on what they’re seeing this season:
Fall is here, which means new produce will be in season, the weather will (hopefully) cool down, and holidays will be here before you know it. Here are some ways to acclimate your apartment for the change in season.
Wreaths and deep, jewel tones are two ways to add affordable fall decor to your apartment. (Photo via Flickr Creative Commons)
Autumn Wreaths – Get in the fall spirit and add a festive fall wreath either inside your apartment, on the front door, or both! Wreaths made out of twigs and foliage are always nice for fall and add that autumn touch that signals the season. Check out stores like Michael’s and T.J. Maxx for faux wreaths, or consider ordering a fresh wreath from a local florist!
Tabletop Decor – Placing pumpkins throughout your apartment, including your dining table, mantle, or fireplace, is the perfect representation of fall. You can even set up a basket of pinecones in your living room and a cornucopia on your counter for that additional touch.
Color scheme – Consider changing your drapes, sheets, and wardrobe to more fall-friendly colors like jewel and earth tones to really embrace the season. Or, add small pops of color through autumnal accessories like throw pillows and scarves.
Whether you use all of these ideas or pick and choose, adding fall decor to your apartment is the perfect way to bring extra coziness and warmth to your home for the season.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
