Incorporating salt crystal lamps into your home’s interior design not only adds a beautiful and natural element to your décor but they can be beneficial to your health too!

Salt crystal lamps are made from salt crystals from the Himalayan mountain regions and are over 250 million years old. Salt crystal lamps are natural ion generators. They generate negative ions into the atmosphere which restore and neutralize the air quality in your home. Many appliances such as televisions, computers, air-conditioners and countless other electronic devices emit positive ions that when in high doses can negatively affect our moods and energy levels making us prone to crankiness, exhaustion and depression.  By keeping a rock salt lamp in areas of the home where electronic devices are polluting the air space, it can help to neutralize and/or balance the positive/negative ions in the atmosphere.  It has also been noted that rock salt lamps can help with symptoms caused by asthma, allergies and other illnesses.

Not only are the salt crystal lamps beneficial to your health and well-being but they add an earthy and natural look to your home décor as well.  The mined crystals come in many different shades including white, pink, orange, peach and red. They can also be sculpted in various shapes such as spheres, pyramids or cones and are typically mounted on a sturdy wooden base. In addition to their appearance, they also serve as a gentle and subdued accent light ideal for meditation, mood lighting or for use as a nightlight.  These beautiful treasures are perfect functional pieces offering better health and functionality without skimping on style.

If you live in a studio apartment, a small space or just need to section off an area of your home, a great way to accomplish this is by using a stylish room divider or partition. Partitions are also perfect if you would like divide a room into sections but want to keep the space open. There are beautiful partitions you can browse through from extremely affordable to luxurious but pricier finds, explore your options and see which works best for you. Below are some beautiful examples of room partitions used in the home:

I tend to gravitate towards the contemporary style partitions because they add a touch of modern art to the environment. I like the idea of having furnishings that offer both style and functionality in my home decor. However, there are countless room dividers for any setting to choose from – picking the one that suits you best is half the fun!

The way you design your home can be a vivid representation of who you are. By using a mandala in your interior space you can shine light on a specific aspect of your inner landscape.

The Mandala is the Sanskrit word for “circle” or “completion.”  The mandala has a vast history among many people and different cultures. Buddhists, Tibetans and Hindus have all derived intrinsic meaning from the mandala and view it as a sacred symbol of deep spiritual significance and a representation of wholeness.

In the west, psychoanalyst Carl Jung has described the mandala as being “a representation of the unconscious self.” The mandala is a reflection of its creator and can be found not only in our imaginations but in nature as well. On a small scale, some examples of mandalas include flowers, seashells and tree trunks – on a much larger scale you can view planet earth and our entire universe as being in the shape of a mandala!

Flower Mandala: Dahlia

Below are some stunning examples of how mandalas can be used to beautify your living space:

Bookshelf Mandala

Mandala Bedding and Blankets

Mirror Mandala

Mandala Coasters

Rug Mandala

Mandala Clock

Bowl Mandala

Wall Art: Crochet Mandalas

Mosaic Mandala Rocking Chair

Mandala Reclaimed Wood Table

Incorporate mandalas in and throughout your home as a reminder of your inner creator!

Mirrors can be used for more than just looking at your own pretty face!

Decorating with mirrors can be very versatile when redesigning your home. You can use mirrors for ornamental effects as well as for practical purposes. For instance, you can easily acquire affordable, high-quality custom mirrors and have them designed in any shape or interesting look you want or you can try shopping around at various thrift stores, flea markets and furniture stores that carry unique and interesting items. Once you’ve got your funky new mirror, strategically mount them on different parts of your walls to create interesting designs and patterns. On the practical side, mirrors can reflect light within a room, giving the appearance of the room looking and feeling lighter. For smaller or cluttered spaces, mirrors can also make a room look larger as well.

Butterfly Mirror

Bubble Mirror

Circular Mirrors

Colorful Mirrors

Flying Birds Mirror

Mosaic Mirror

Interested in decorating with mirrors? Take your time, keep your eyes peeled for snazzy designs and don’t forget to reflect on it!

Unique and interesting color combinations for a room can be tricky business. If you choose wrong you could be walking into a nightmare every time you step into the room, but if you choose wisely, you may find yourself walking into a beautiful and unique dream that you wish you could stay in all day long!

Violet, Dark Purple, Yellowish Green and Gray

Deep Red, Bright Turquoise, White and Dark Chocolate Brown

Bright Yellow, Black, Gray and White

Pink, Orange and Tan

Aqua Blue, Bright Lime Green and Yellow Accents

Eggplant, Vermilion and Mossy Green

Feeling inspired? Explore your options, reflect on what colors suit you and/or your room best and then begin your color journey!

As we enter into August, the last month of summer in New Jersey, I am soaking in every second that I can be outdoors enjoying the warm sun and robust natural landscapes in full bloom.  Some of my favorite places to relax are the wonderful spots around my friend’s homes that are absolutely perfect for this summer weather. Beautiful gardens and backyards are a wonderful touch to any home décor, the exterior is just as important as the interior especially during these summer months when we love to gather with friends and family outside. Landscape is an important feature to your home garden but outdoor furniture accents can really breathe new life into a backyard as well.

Japanese Rock Garden (Zen Garden)

Lovely Garden Pond

Beautiful Flower Garden

Wooden Canopy, Lounge Chairs and Outdoor Fireplace

Outdoor Home Theater

If you missed the chance to create your own outdoor sanctuary this summer, no worries, the summer season shall return!