We are going to loop you in on these special tricks that will make decorating fun and stress-free. Brilliant decorators who throw together pillow combos so seamlessly keep these things in mind... base color, color with patterns, mismatching, symmetry and textures. Follow these tips on how to decorate with throw pillows, and you too can conquer a beautiful design!
Is there a certain decoration or a favorite piece of furniture that pops and brings a special vibe to your room? This can be your base color. A great place to start decorating with throw pillows is to pick your base color. From there find pillows that have accents to support your base color. Then find pillows that are contrasting to that color.
Here's an example, you have a bright orange pot for a large house plant in your living room. Use this orange color as your base. Now find pillows that have hints of orange and next find pillows that include a type of blue. Blue is a contrasting color to orange. You can have some fun with this blue. Play with this contrasting color and try using a neutral grey blue, dark deep blue or even teal. Using a shade of your contrasting color will help add depth to your look.
When you combine these colors you can consider incorporating a neutral like whites and creams. Neutrals balance out your design and keep it from getting out of hand. Neutrals aren’t always necessary, but they are helpful if you’re new to decorating with throw pillows. This technique will give you a great color scheme and place to start when building your throw pillow design.
If you like using lots of colors keep your patterns the same size. Lots of colors means your patterns should either all stay bold or all stay small and detailed. That way your brain will have just a few things to take in instead of a whole lot of things to absorb.
If you do decide to use just one base color, try experimenting with patterns and textures. If one base color speaks to you, spice it up with pillows that have the same color and fun designs plus you can play with different types of fabrics. Mixing colors and patterns can get very overwhelming and messy quickly! If you’re new to decorating with throw pillows, don’t worry too much about mixing colors and patterns and stick to the other tips!
When you mismatch prints you keep your eye indulged and your design interesting! It’s also a great way to bring your personality into your design. Start with some neutrals and/or solids for balance, add a few fun prints then pick one or two unique designs. For example you could have a light pink neutral plus some mustard yellow diamond prints and finally add a pillow with an embroidered elephant. Keep in mind your surroundings and use colors that accent or contrast with your current room. The more you practice this technique the more artful your creations will be. You can also move around your pillows from room to room to bring a fresh look every now and then.
This decoration style looks great for beds but can also be used on any piece of furniture! When making a symmetric design, use solid colored pillows in the back. If it’s for your bed, put your sleeping pillows in the way back and another solid row of pillows in front of them. The next couple of rows look best with patterns and textures. If you have a bold pattern put that one behind the more detailed patterns. And save the fun and unique pillow for the centerpiece. This centerpiece pillow can even be a circle or square, it does not have to match the same shape as the others. There’s no need to match your bedding colors and honestly using contrasting colors or complimenting colors from other pieces in the room is a brilliant technique! When using symmetry for a couch the centerpiece pillow can either be completely removed or placed on one side giving your symmetry and little twist.
Textured pillows are the best! We’ve been seeing a lot of faux fur pillows or shaggy macrame designs. Vintage textures from embroidery or macrame on throw pillows makes for a great boho chic look! When using textures especially big and bold ones try using the pillow solo. For instance, a corner chair only needs a pillow (or two), but you still want this throw pillow to make a statement, so why not use a bold texture here? Typically reserve one (or two) textured pillows per set up. If you are inclined to use two, maybe try two of the same pillows, one on each side of your furniture to balance each other out nicely. Also, when working with textured pillows try and keep your colors similar, vary with textures instead of colors.
It does take a little practice and a lot of observing of other’s designs, but before you know it your throw pillow set ups will be brilliant! We've spent lots of hours working on our rattan furniture sets with throw pillows and sometimes less is better than more, while other times more the better! Don’t worry so much on technique, just use these ideas as advice and trust your inner creative side. Throw pillow set ups truly display a person's character so let your instincts lead your design, and most importantly have fun! You can also swap pillows with a friend or get a new cover for your cushion. They are just pillows after all. :)
Are you in love with neutral tones and chic designs that free and calm you as you enter a room? Do you want to bring more natural elements inside your home? Then continue reading, this article is just for you! Neutral tones and natural elements remind us of bohemian trends. When you combine bohemian with some minimalist attributes and a modern swing and you get boho chic! In this article we discuss how to bring a boho chic design into your bedroom, living room and home. Our favorite way to start is with rattan!
Rattan is becoming more and more popular recently and is showing up in all sorts of interior decorating. It’s casual yet classy, complimenting a wide range of designs. Our most-loved way to incorporate rattan in your home is when you’re creating a boho chic dreamland!
Let’s take a look at how you can incorporate rattan decor specifically when decorating for a boho chic look. First, we will talk about bohemian style features and chic design. Then we bring together chic and boho elements to design a boho chic room. We also include how rattan can be incorporated in your home specially if you're looking to design a boho chic room. In our other blog we discuss other astonishing benefits to rattan furniture beyond their style specific elements.
A boho style is considered eclectic and relaxed with multiple interesting patterns and textures. Mismatching and layering is encouraged! Boho decor has stories attached and more often than not pieces are second hand, vintage and thrift store finds.
Boho invites natural elements through warm and earthy color schemes. It also uses wood furniture and natural materials. Bohemian decor represents a relaxed freedom that is globally inspired with intoxicating pieces. Think Moroccan tea lounge with hanging lanterns, piles of pillows and draping curtains.
Bohemian designs trend towards maximalist instead of minimalist; the more the better! The fad of layering rugs comes from boho interiors and has become very popular. To get a true boho style start seeking out uniquely patterned textiles in rugs, pillows, tapestries and cloths. One way to master layers is by adding a colorful fabric or small table cloth to the top of your couch. You can also try hanging a small rug on your wall. Even a one-off chair like a rattan flower chair can add layers to a room. A picture collage looks more layered and boho than one or two centered photos on your wall. But it doesn’t stop there…layered curtains are another classic way to get that boho inspired room.
Use shelves and side tables to stack your favorite books with funky vintage glassware on top. Another way to get this layered and maximalist feel is to decorate with plants and find patterned pots to bring more warmth to your living room or bedroom.
Don’t worry about patterns not matching, stick to a color scheme and then get creative! First take the time to figure out your color scheme. Whether your color scheme includes neutrals, greens and reds, dark blues, or deep purples, pick one and then add a few accent colors and there you go!
Rooms that speak to the boho style stick to a few common color schemes. These color schemes tend to be warmer tones. Even if cool colors are present their brightness has been dialed down to be darker, deeper and faded. Think about what colors you can easily find in nature from earth and plants. Finding inspiration in color schemes from the beach, dessert, sunsets and forests are a great place to start. Neutral tones truly bring out a boho style but when we start to see more whites, creams and beige we associate it with boho chic. Yes, we will begin to discuss boho chic very soon!
The bohemian style brings nature indoors. To get this look it helps to incorporate more natural elements and natural materials in your bedroom or living room. Wood furniture such as wooden book shelves, shelves, side tables, sofas and chairs help add a boho look. Incorporate furniture that has as little alterations from its natural state as possible. This is when we start to look towards bamboo, wicker and rattan!
A rattan sofa uses not only natural material but the original state of the plant can be seen. A rattan couch even includes natural designs such as loops and curves that mimic nature. In boho kid’s rooms wooden toys and coat racks (even coat hangers) are made out of rattan or other natural materials. Rattan, bamboo and wicker (woven rattan) are wonderful materials that make furniture feel more boho. You can find almost any furniture item in rattan, from baby changing tables and baby bassinets to side tables and pendant lights.
Let’s take a step into another style room.
What is synonymous with chic? Elegant, modish, sharp and sophisticated. The actual definition is “being in a clean and tidy state”.
This may seem quite the opposite of what we just described for boho style. Surprisingly when you master the art of combining these two styles a crips, earthy and calming room can be created.
Chic can be used to describe a style that is casual but still modern and fresh. Chic decorating uses a lot of white and cozy elements. The layering technique is present but minimal and in a more organized fashion. Think baskets with blankets instead of draped blankets on chairs and lamps!
Since chic stems from a French style there are elegant attributes. A chaise lounge or decorative bench at the end of your bed can classify as chic decorating. We’ve already touched on it a little, but let's take a deeper look at how to incorporate these two styles.
Boho style is all about mismatch, quirkiness and a little bit of organized hodgepodge! We adore many attributes of boho style, but if you’re looking for a more simplistic and airy feel you must take other chic styles into consideration. You can put a modern and graceful lens over your boho room or decorate your chic living space with bohemian decorating techniques, either way you’ll end up with a decadent and natural delight!
You may be asking, how do you take away some but leave other boho style elements? Well don’t take away all the patterns and layered aspects, just simplify it by sticking to neutral colors. You can use other hues but try sticking to light warm colors close to neutral instead of deep blue and purples. You can start with neutrals and creams as a base but accent with a dark green or dark red. You can even use plants as your accent color. House plants for color are a wonderful strategy and can help your bohemian space stay chic.
Continue to decorate with natural material decor and furniture, but also incorporate more structured looks like wooden furniture. Although you can get away with using all rattan furniture in a boho chic room consider picking a rattan couch and a wooden side table. In the dining room try a wooden dining table but rattan dining chairs. Accent any room, even your bathroom with a rattan pendant light or wall hanging.
As we mentioned earlier patterned pots can be a great way to incorporate more patterns into your boho design. When simplifying you can exchange this pattern with a natural pattern found in rattan weaving. A rattan plant stand is a great example of keeping patterns but simplifying to more neutral colors. Rattan furniture already has a beautiful pattern element that will keep your space looking tidy and organized. Simplify don’t remove! This concept can keep your space looking laid-back while fresh and clean.
Rattan is globally inspired and a natural material matching perfectly with boho chic decor. It embodies an elegant and clean look that makes boho decor more refined. In order to create a boho chic look, keep layers and patterns but invite more lightness and space. You can do this by using more white. You can also do this with rattan furniture.
Rattan furniture designs do not all offer this airy feel. Picnic Imports’ rattan furniture is specifically designed to give a more spacious and breezy vibe. The style of rattan furniture that we carry matches so well with boho chic designs. The back and sides of our sofas are mostly open with curved and crisscross weaves. Everything from our flower chairs to our dog beds are structured with spacious attributes to provide a light feel to them. Our sofas and daybeds keep their lightness even once you’ve layered pillows on top.
Now take a shot at it and tell us how you did! What questions do you still have? Take a look at our rattan furniture for more inspiration. Start your living room design with an elegant and timeless rattan sofa and continue decorating from there. Overall the boho chic style is an easy and inclusive design to create. Take your current pieces and dress them up or down with different pillows or a white couch cover. All you may need is a rattan side table and tropical house plants to bring your bedroom from chic to boho chic!
]]>Rattan furniture can last for years and it’s life can span longer with a little upkeep and care. Take a little time to dust, inspect and clean your rattan furniture so it can last longer and stay in its best possible shape! Here we have broken down how to care for your rattan.
]]>Rattan furniture makes a stylish statement for decorating rooms in your house. The pieces are not only lightweight and durable but also a sustainable choice of furniture. Rattan is a vine that is a type of tropical palm found in Asia and Africa. The inside of the vine is a strong core called the cane which is used for the foundation. The outside is more malleable and cut into strips used to bind furniture joints together. The strips are also weaved together, called wicker, which is used for other components of the furniture.
Take a little time to dust, inspect and clean your rattan furniture so it can last longer and stay in its best possible shape! Here we have broken down how to care for your rattan.The design of rattan furniture makes for lots of nooks and crannies. These areas can collect dust, moisture and dirt. To keep this area clean and free from build up, dust or vacuum with an upholstery brush weekly.
If there is any food, drink or mud stains clean these immediately.
To keep your rattan looking new do a more deep cleaning monthly, and you’ll get the most out of your rattan furniture.
At least once a year, It’s best to inspect your furniture for mold or mildew. If mold/mildew are present clean these areas as soon as possible.
- Warm water
- Dishwashing liquid
- Chlorine bleach
- Boiled linseed oil
- Duster
- Vacuum with upholstery brush
- Soft cloth
- Toothbrush
- Soft-bristled brush
- Two buckets
- Rubber gloves
To remove dust from weaving it is best to use a vacuum with an upholstery brush attachment, but you can also use a duster or microfiber.
If food, drink or mud gets on rattan never rub stains to remove. Instead, use a paper towel or cloth to blot away stains and if they harden, scrape off with a spoon or toothbrush. Rubbing can cause matter to move deeper into the fibers. Once stain is removed use damp cloth to wipe down and let completely dry.
Before doing a monthly cleaning make sure to remove dust and stains first.
Thoroughly mix one teaspoon of dishwashing soap with four cups of warm water in a bowl.
Have a second bowl of fresh water for rinsing out your cloth.
Use a damp cloth dipped in the cleaning solution to wipe down your furniture starting at the top. Don’t forget to frequently rinse the cloth in freshwater.
Never over-saturate rattan with water, if necessary use a toothbrush to remove build up instead of scrubbing with a damp cloth.
Let your rattan furniture air dry unless it is excessively wet, then use a cloth to dry your furniture first.
Make sure you’ve done steps for monthly and weekly cleaning before doing a yearly cleaning.
Remove cushions and look for broken areas and mold/mildew (typically found on the legs). If there are small breaks use epoxy resin and let sit for at least 48 hours.
When there is mildew present, using gloves, make a one-to-one solution of chlorine bleach and water. Without saturating the rattan use a cloth dipped in the solution to wipe down the mildewed area. After, move the piece outside in the sun to dry as soon as possible.
Once you’ve dusted, removed mold/mildew, and wiped down with a cleaning solution make sure your rattan is completely dry (set outside in the sun until dry).
Boil linseed oil. Use a clean cloth dipped in linseed oil to wipe down your rattan furniture starting at the top to avoid drips. Let dry completely before returning any cushions.
- When moving, lift equally from each side and never drag to prevent stress on fibers.
- Add felt or rubber pads under legs to keep from extra wear and splitting.
- Rattan is sensitive to high humidity and extra dry climates, it’s best to keep in temperate climates.
- Use cushions when sitting on rattan to help distribute weight and prevent sagging.
Disclaimer: These cleaning methods are for suggested use only. We are not liable for damages due to using these suggestions.
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What is the wicker furniture hype? And what are some of the benefits of rattan furniture? When I first saw rattan furniture it was in my grandma's backyard. I instantly associated it with vintage furniture, but then I soon discovered that there are hundreds of rattan styles! Some styles are combined with wicker weaving or even painted. I’ve seen extremely ornate styles with details so intricate you could get lost in them and rattan that speaks to minimalists. I specifically love rattan when decorating boho-chic living rooms and bedrooms, but it can be styled to fit even the most modern and upscale look! To say the least, it’s versatile, but that’s just the beginning of it! Here I review 5 astonishing benefits of rattan furniture that make up some of the top reasons rattan furniture is so sensational and loved.
Rattan is the quickest growing tropical wood, taking only 5-7 years to mature. The tropical vine can grow on average 2 cm a day. Because rattan vines grow on trees it can encourage the local communities to conserve their forests. Rattan is a renewable resource that provides loggers an alternative to deforestation. The economical value of rattan can help protect rainforests.
The production and transportation of rattan furniture is also a factor to take into consideration with its sustainability. Low tech methods are used to produce the furniture. These methods do not require production facilities that pollute the environment. Since rattan is a lightweight material and does not weigh the same amount as solid wood or metal furniture, shipping this rattan furniture takes less resources, too.
All and all buying new has an impact on the environment, making it important to take the environment into consideration. Buying our rattan furniture and decor is a way you can reduce your carbon footprint while incorporating stylish and enchanting furniture in your life. We hope that these natural designs will connect you closer to earth and encourage you to make sustainable decisions in your everyday life.
As I mentioned before, rattan furniture is lightweight making it easy to transport but also easy to move and restyle. I love rearranging furniture to fit the season or my mood plus there’s nothing wrong with a little change! With rattan furniture you can seamlessly reorganize your space. One year your entryway rattan bench might make its way into your bedroom at the end of your bed or over to your kids room as they outgrow that crib. Another benefit is seen with our hanging chairs. For most it’s easy to put up and take down these chairs making your space versatile and layout ever changing. Overall lightweight furniture serves in numerous ways and gives you flexibility when and where you need.
We spoke a little bit about the rattan plant, but there is so much more to know about these magnificent species. Rattan is actually a vine that is found in Asian and African countries and makes up about 600 different varieties. It’s habit of climbing trees is directly related to its flexible woody structure. Rattan is similar to bamboo but differs in the sense that it is solid and needs a frame to support its growth. 70% of rattan is from Indonesia, where our partners sustainably source and handcraft rattan stems into one of a kind rattan designs. Since rattan has dense stems that are weather resistant and naturally insect repellent the furniture that is created is durable and sturdy. There is still rattan furniture rattling around from the 40’s and 50’s today! As long as you care for it properly, this furniture can be handed down to the next generation.
The malleability of rattan vines makes for endless creations! Numerous rattan craftsmen and women have found their own specific styles. What you found available in the early nineteen hundreds might not be what’s available now. But the styles are timeless and you can still find vintage designs either refurbished or updated to meet the needs of today. Maybe rattan furniture is so loved because of its ability to mimic the natural elements that we are so intrinsically inspired by everyday. Rattan has the ability to make layered, looped and trellised patterns portraying similar qualities of nature. As Edward O. Wilson’s book Biophilia suggests we have “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life” and have the innate tendency to seek connection with nature. We innately want to be close to nature and this furniture satisfies this craving. Which brings me to my next point… how natural material brings good vibes and lightness to your living room and living spaces.
If you're a furniture lover like myself you know that there’s something about woven rattan that does wonders to interior and exterior designs. Unlike cut, furbished and carved wood this natural material is almost unadulterated and resembles nature itself. It’s like adding a houseplant to your sad bathroom and for once you see the potential of your small gray washroom. When we bring nature into our homes we become connected to a more natural way of life, we slow down and become more aware.
The boho chic movement can be viewed in many ways, but ultimately, this is my take on it... We incorporate boho decor in our living rooms with the desire to live in a more simple and slower way; rekindling lost relations with nature. Rattan furniture can categories itself in boho style because of it’s raw and natural material. We all need to reconnect to nature, and it is more important now than ever to find ways to slow down and get in touch with what is earthly. Rattan furniture has the potential to brighten your room while uplifting your spirits so you can unwind and recharge. Why not love rattan furniture for its ability to help you relax?
We’ve looked at multiple benefits of rattan furniture including world wide impacts and influences directly at home. Rattan furniture has the potential to save rainforests by switching loggers to harvesting a more sustainable material. It’s lightweight properties also make it a sustainable option and gives you ease and flexibility when moving furniture around. Just because it’s lightweight does not take away its natural durability and the fact that rattan furniture can last for generations! This untamed material emphasizes wild beauty and connects us with nature. Rattan furniture can even help us relax by reminding us to slow down with the influence of nature.
The bottom line is that there’s a rattan design out there for everyone, and it’s more than what you thought it could be. Do you think you might love rattan now? We sure do! Can we switch to a more sustainable way of living while relaxing and rejuvenating in stylish decor? We think so!