Bathroom Window Treatment Ideas to Suit Your Needs

Renovating a bathroom provides a ton of opportunity to enhance the entire space. One of the more subtle yet impactful areas you should focus on has to be the bathroom window treatments.

Windows in all rooms play a crucial role in shaping the ambiance of the space. In the bathroom, this is even more pronounced. Windows are not just opportunities for you to add aesthetic flair, it offers functionality too. After all, it allows natural light to flood through and should be functional enough to offer you all of the privacy needs you need.

Finding the Best Bathroom Window Treatments

How do you go about assessing which of the many bathroom window treatment ideas are right for your home and application?

Here’s a step by step breakdown to help guide you through the process.

Step 1: Assess Your Needs

The first step is to stop and take stock of what you are looking for and what you need from your windows.

Privacy

Where is your bathroom located? Is it on the ground floor? Is it visible to neighbours or in close proximity to public spaces?

Determining how much privacy you require is a critical consideration before evaluating which treatment suits your space best.

Light Control

Windows – of course – can offer an abundance of natural light. While for many this may be ideal, some people prefer a more subdued and insular feel in an intimate space like a bathroom.

Note where your bathroom sits, how it lets the sunshine in and the direction in which natural light streams through. This will help you determine the right treatment to achieve your objective.

Moisture Resistance

Steam, moisture, water… Bathrooms are humid environments and are required to withstand a lot of moisture. 

Don’t neglect to take into account how your window treatments will affect your ability to keep the space clean and withstand the exposure to moisture and other elements.

Aesthetics

Of course, your chosen bathroom window treatments need to complement your chosen aesthetic and live up to your design preferences.

There are many different treatment ideas out there, so it’s easier to come to the table with an interior design in mind than without aesthetic direction.

Which takes us to…

Step 2: Evaluate Aesthetic Impact

Aesthetics are not just important, they can be complicated as well. Think about the different treatment options and consider how they will influence the overall feel of the room.

Which of the following bathroom window treatment ideas are you aiming to achieve?

Light and Airy

If you want a bathroom that feels and looks light and airy, consider something along the lines of sheer curtains or even light-coloured blinds. Whilst functionally softening harsh sunlight, they are also subtle enough treatments so as to maintain the spacious, airy atmosphere you’re after.

Luxurious Elegance

If you’re after a more luxurious and even indulgent vibe in your bathroom, heavier drapes and even velvety curtains can be a strong option. Deep colours and rich textures add a touch of tangible opulence even in a room like the bathroom.

Cosy and Rustic

For homes that have embraced a rustic charm vibe, wooden blinds or woven shades can help to echo and reinforce that cosy and warm feel. Bathroom window treatments are a no-hassle way to incorporate that cosy cottage feel.

Minimalistic Modern

Do you prefer sleek, modern, and minimalist styling? Simple blinds or shades in a neutral, monochromatic colour offer all the functionality you need whilst complementing a modern design aesthetic. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t hero other areas of the bathroom either with more bold or colour design elements.

Vibrant and Playful

There’s nothing wrong with a whimsically designed and vibrantly coloured bathroom, whether for the kids or not. Strongly coloured shades or patterned curtains infuse a sense of life and joy in what otherwise could be relegated to just a functional space.

Step 3: Determine the Treatment Type

Once you have a strong understanding of what you need from your bathroom window treatments and have a grasp on the aesthetic of your choosing, it’s time to find the right treatment idea.

Curtains and Drapes

Curtains and drapes are popular for adding warmth to a bathroom. You can choose the colour, fabric and thickness of material to allow as much light to filter through as you want. Additionally, curtains and drapes add another level of depth, softness and visual complexity for those wanting such an aesthetic. 

Blinds

Blinds are highly practical and make controlling light coming through easy. However, with many types of blinds out there, there’s nothing holding you back from incorporating your design preferences with this practical bathroom window treatment idea.

Shutters

Like blinds, shutters are practical and stylish. Perfect for bathrooms needing high levels of privacy and light control, you can find the right style of shutter to suit your needs and complement the existing or intended design.

Frosted Glass

Frosted glass has been a consistently popular option for window treatments. They both allow light to come through the glass and obscure transparency to provide privacy. Of course, frosted glass cannot be open and closed on a whim, though the window itself can. 

Textured glass functions similarly to frosted but adds a slightly different aesthetic.

Roman Shades

Roman shades are fabric coverings that don’t open by sliding to the side but fold neatly when raised. With a ton of variety in terms of texture, colour, pattern and material, if you’re not quite sold on shutters or regular shades, these can be quite a versatile and practical solution. 

Here at Euro Marble, we may specialise in all things natural stone, but we also boast a ton of experience helping our customers curate a personal home style that brings joy to their hearts and lives.

How to Use Onyx in Interior Design and Decor

In the world of interior design and decor, the choice of materials can be just as significant as the way in which you use them to create the right aesthetic and ambiance. 

Natural stone is a very popular choice of material in interior design and amongst the different types of stone, onyx is among the most exquisite and versatile. 

The Uniqueness of Onyx Stone in Interior Design

Onyx is visually stunning. This semi-precious stone has an iconic translucency to it which – combined with the striking veining patterns and rich variations in colour – makes it unique and highly aesthetically pleasing. In interior design, onyx can help to add a sense of elegance to a room and infuse luxury and visual sophistication. But there are advantages far and beyond just the surface level appearance.

Being stone, onyx offers a ton of durability and longevity when well maintained and taken care of. Investing in onyx stone is a long term decision that will reap aesthetic and functional rewards for many years into the future.

Additionally, as with all stone, onyx comes in slabs that are cut and hewn from quarries around the world. To this end, every single slab is unique in its own way and is not identical with any other slab in the world. If you’re looking for something truly original to add some life and art and beauty to your home, onyx is a great option.

So, how can you use onyx in your interior decor? 

10 Ways to Use Onyx in Your Home Interior Design

Onyx is an opulent-looking stone. For some, it can be tricky knowing how to deftly yet effectively utilise it to its most beneficial in your interior design.

To help inspire you, we’ve put together 10 different suggestions for how you can use this amazing material.

1. Kitchen and bathroom countertops

The countertops in your home offer a lot of surface area to hero a particular material and what could be more beneficial to highlight than gorgeous onyx? Kitchen and bathrooms also tend to be areas of the home with highly effective lighting solutions (for practical reasons) so the onyx in your countertop will shine all the more so and the translucency of the stone can create an ethereal, stunning effect. 

2. Backlit onyx wall panels

Using onyx stone for your wall panelling is a great idea on its own. The variety of shades of this material means you can mix and match until you find the perfect slab for your home. But if you want to go the extra mile and really bring your onyx wall to life consider some backlighting. The warm and inviting glow created by the effect of LED strips behind onyx panels is as mesmerising as it is impressive. 

3. Flooring

When you need to choose a material for your floor practical considerations are really important. You need to think about foot traffic and ongoing wear and tear. While onyx is a durable material it is not ideal for high traffic areas. Instead, we recommend adding a touch of onyx-related luxury to less frequented areas where you really want to make a captivating impression on guests. Think of onyx flooring in a foyer or power room, for example.

4. Fireplace

Fireplaces are wonderful spaces in the home. They’re comfortable, inviting and ambiance-creating. With onyx cladding, you can transform your fireplace into a real work of art. Just imagine the visuals of dancing flames behind this absolutely stunning translucent semi-precious stone.

5. Sinks

Sinks are often relegated to the practical concerns and considerations. However, an onyx vessel sink is guaranteed to be a game-changing, head-turning addition to a bathroom. With complementary and stylish faucets and fixtures the complete look is a knock-out. 

6. Bathrooms

If you love onyx as much as we do, you may be looking for a way to incorporate the stone more substantially in your bathroom. Vanities, bathtubs or feature walls in a bathroom made from onyx can create a spa-like oasis feel which is exactly what you’re after in such a space.

7. Furniture

So far we’ve focused on the more structural elements of the house but there’s plenty of potential to use onyx to amazing effect elsewhere in your home decor. Onyx furniture, from coffee tables to side tables, allow you to highlight this sophisticated material in selected and contained places of the house. 

8. Lighting fixtures

Lighting fixtures offer a lot of potential. These practical additions to a home don’t require significant material investment, so an onyx pendant light or chandelier is a perfectly understated way to showcase the stone’s beauty in a refined and controlled way.

9. Wall art

As we have mentioned a few times, onyx is such a stunning stone that it’s a piece of artwork in and of itself. You can take this to its logical conclusion though as well in your interior design. Commissioned onyx art pieces or sculptures can adorn the walls or shelves of hallways, living rooms or lounge areas to add an artistic dimension (not to mention conversation starter) to your decor. 

10. Accents

Last but not least, onyx accents are budget-friendly ways to infuse the impact of this stone into your home. Coasters, trays, vases and tabletop decor are all excellent opportunities to create a bit of opulence in the home without the cost or commitment of a major structural renovation. 

Find the perfect onyx stone for your interior design at Euro Marble

The Euro Marble team aren’t just passionate experts in all things marble, we love all natural stone and onyx is among our favourites.

Kitchen Remodelling With Superwhite Dolomite

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and Superwhite Dolomite countertops.

A kitchen remodel requires more than just a monetary investment: It requires time and energy to consider everything from the layout to the aesthetic to the choice of material.

Superwhite Dolomite has been steadily increasing in popularity over recent years as a material to use in kitchen remodelling. This exquisite natural stone has a lot to offer and can be an ideal choice for many homes and kitchens. 

But what is Superwhite Dolomite and why should you consider using it in your upcoming renovation?

What is Superwhite Dolomite?

Superwhite Dolomite is a type of natural stone that is known for its creamy white and grey colour palette. Often, slabs of Superwhite Dolomite will feature subtle yet beautiful veining as well. 

Like all natural stone, it is quarried from select regions around the world – most notably Brazil and Italy – and is similar in aesthetic to the iconic milky whiteness of marble stone. Nevertheless, despite its similarities with its more well-known cousin, Superwhite Dolomite has a number of advantages that marble does not share to the same extent.

It is highly durable

Superwhite Dolomite is a very hardy and very durable stone. Being less porous than marble and other materials, it stands up better to staining, scratching and etching. In an application like a kitchen remodel, this can be essential considering the type and level of activity likely to go on in and around it.

It is beautiful

Of course the timeless and stunning aesthetic of Superwhite Dolomite makes it a popular material for use in all sorts of home applications and in all sorts of design aesthetics, whether it is traditional or modern, without going out of fashion. 

It is affordable

Superwhite Dolomite is more budget friendly than many other types of natural stone. Yet despite its relatively affordable price tag it still offers a high-end and opulent aesthetic for the perfect kitchen remodel.

How to Use Superwhite Dolomite in your Kitchen Remodelling

Getting started with your kitchen remodel

1. Set a budget

Crucially, you need to set a budget of how much you are willing and able to invest in your kitchen remodel. This will help keep you financially on target but also allow you to focus on the design and material choices that are realistic within your constraints. Remember, it’s not just about material costs either. There are labour costs to consider as well. 

2. Layout and functionality

Considering the layout of your kitchen and the functionality that it needs to have can help you focus in on the areas that need to be remodelled more extensively and the areas that just need a surface level makeover. 

3. Design style

Determining and settling on your style and aesthetic will help you not only work towards a goal in your kitchen remodel but allow you to better understand how you can incorporate Superwhite Dolomite into that design.

4. Lighting

Kitchens require adequate lighting for effective food preparation and clean up. Plan how and where you’ll be incorporating lighting so that the space is fully lit and perfect for everyday use.

5. Seek professional help

Consider hiring a professional designer or contractor to help on your kitchen remodel. While many people might feel hesitant to invest the money from the outset, the truth is that the time, energy and cost savings down the road can pay back more than the initial consultancy costs.

Practical Ideas for Kitchen Remodeling with Superwhite Dolomite

Kitchen countertops

Replacing your kitchen countertop with Superwhite Dolomite can transform the entire space. As a central feature of a kitchen, the countertop is a focal point visually and so the material you choose will have an outsized aesthetic impact.

Kitchen island

If your kitchen has an island countertop or you’re considering incorporating one during the remodelling, cladding it with Superwhite Dolomite is a great way to create a sense of luxury and functionality.

The backsplash

The backsplash of your kitchen is an often-neglected area but one full of potential. This understated area can complement and reinforce the overall aesthetic of the room and Superwhite Dolomite won’t just look a treat, it’ll provide an easy-to-clean surface as well.

Flooring

Kitchen flooring is integral for creating the visual ambiance you want and for providing enough durability to be able to stand up to the exposure to high foot traffic and activity. Fortunately, Superwhite Dolomite has what it takes on both accounts and is a great option for your flooring.

Shelving

Shelving, open or otherwise, can be taken up a level with Superwhite Dolomite. The classic white look of this amazing stone can add a layer of lightness and brightness to your kitchen without threatening to become out of date in a few years. Open shelving in particular offers the opportunity to showcase dishes and glassware enhanced by the soft background of Superwhite Dolomite shading. 

Sinks

Think about all the beauty of marble but with the non-porousness of Superwhite Dolomite incorporated into your kitchen sink. Elegant, subtle and beautiful you can turn your sink from a purely functional feature of the kitchen into a decorative one as well.

Accents

Last but not least, Superwhite Dolomite accents offer a low effort and low cost way of adding some visual interest and cohesion to your kitchen remodel. A custom Superwhite Dolomite range hood for example or some decorative wall panels can make all the difference without requiring an out-sized commitment. 

Love Superwhite Dolomite?

Get kitchen remodel inspiration with Euro Marble's experts. We offer design tips and high-quality stone!

How to Decorate a Living Room

Cozy living room with a beige sofa, colorful pillows, and stylish decor.

In many ways, the living room is a central place of one’s home. Apart from the fact that it is a central location in which to relax, entertain guests and spend quality family time together, it’s also often used to incorporate intentional interior design choices that reflect your style and personality.

You don’t need to be an expert in how to decorate the living room to get started though. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process–from deciding on what mood to create to adding those finishing touches that will make your lounge room feel like a little slice of heaven.

Consider Your Needs When Decorating a Living Room

The first step in the process of living room decoration is to consider what you’re going to be using the space for.

This might seem obvious but the living room is quite a versatile area of the home. You might intend on spending time in the room hosting friends, or you might primarily use the space for movie nights. You might want to simply create the perfect reading nook. Or you might want a functional lounge that is welcoming and suitable for children and/or pets.

Knowing what your intended use of your living room is will help you make the right decorative choices stylistically and functionally.

A Guide on How to Decorate the Living Room

1. Set a budget

This might not be the most exciting step in decorating your lounge room but it is important. The living room offers a lot of creative and stylistic potential but you don’t want to waste your time and energy coming up with ideas that are not within your price range.

Having a clear and set budget from the outset will give you direction and provide a workable canvas on which to create something special and unique for your needs.

2. Settle on a colour palette

Lounge interior design has many different aspects to it. But to start off, begin with something simple: What colour palette do you want to lean into?

Bear in mind what your intended use is for this space. Do you want shades and colours that turn the living room into a calming retreat? Do you want a lounge room that is bold and energetic? Or perhaps you want to create a mature, atmospheric ambiance?

There are many different colours that are suitable for a living room, and the exact choice of shade and saturation is up to you.

3. Map out the space

When it comes to decorating a lounge room, you are understandably constricted to the size and shape of your living space. Take the time to map out and measure out your room.

A simple floor plan will help you consider different furniture arrangements and ensure that everything fits comfortably without having to invest the time, effort and money into unnecessary trial and error.

Understandably, you’ll want to jump into the actual lounge room decoration but the few moments it takes to plan and map out everything can make the entire process that much smoother.

4. Choose an anchor piece

A key component in lounge interior design specifically is the anchor piece. This component of the living room will ensure that the entire space feels centered, harmonious and balanced. 

The anchor piece could be as large as a statement sofa, as subtle as a beautiful rug or as contained as a treasured heirloom on display.

This integral piece should be the part of the living room that immediately catches one’s eye and sets the aesthetic and stylistic tone for the rest of the room.

5. Arrange your furniture

Now we are getting down to the nuts and bolts of your lounge interior design. Your choice of furniture is only one consideration, though of course, it is an important one. It goes without saying that the couch, sofa and armchairs you choose need to reflect your intended use of the space.

When it comes to arranging the furniture, consider how conversation between seating people is being supported by the seating placement. Ensure that the seating faces one another but also allows for walkways and easy flow of traffic and movement. 

6. Layer in rugs

Using rugs, even in carpeted living rooms, can achieve a lot with a little. The choice of rug can define the seating area in a distinct way and allows you to add a touch of warmth and texture.

As you know, rugs come in just about every style, shape and colour. Consider the size of your room and the aesthetic style of your lounge. You may want a subtle colour and understated pattern. Or you might want something that adds a pop of visual colour and a pattern that makes a bold statement.

Either way, rugs offer a lot of potential for effective interior design layering.

7. Choose the right lighting

Having sufficient lighting in the lounge room is important, but there’s a lot of stylistic consideration that goes along with it as well.

Overhead lighting is necessary for functionality but there are lots of options for layering other forms of lighting to achieve the mood and ambience you’re after. Accent lighting, ambient lamps and even backlit LED strips behind key artistic features can be instrumental in creating the perfect room for your living space.

8. Add art and personal accessories

Last but not least, it’s time to showcase your personality. Adding accessories and ornaments is a great way to add the cherry to the top of your living room sundae.

From artwork to photographs, sculptures to pot plants and even throw pillows, candles, coffee books and more, there’s just about no limit to what you can incorporate.

At the end of the day, how you choose to decorate the living room is up to you and your tastes. Be creative. Be bold. And be true to yourself.

Need some more guidance on how to decorate the living room?

Speak to our team today at Euro Marble, and let our experts help you create the living room of your dreams!

How to Style a Black Themed Home

Cozy reading nook with black armchair, floor lamp, and bookshelf filled with colorful books.

Styling a black themed home can be intimidating at first but done right, with the right balance of sophistication and minimalism, the effect can be both dramatic and surprisingly cozy. 

Incorporating black room decor can offer a wonderful canvas for anything and everything from other vibrant feature colours or for simply living spaces that are both bold and personal.

To help you style your home, whether it’s a black living room or bedroom, here’s our guide to get started.

How to Style Black Rooms of Your Home

Embrace the Power of Black

Yes, black interior design is bold but it is also beautiful. The key to executing black room decor is embracing the power of the colour scheme.

Don’t be afraid of it! Black feature walls can make a powerful statement whilst also creating an ambiance of intimacy. Of course, the way in which you infuse black colour schemes into your home is going to depend on the size, shape and natural light of your chosen room.

For example, if you are concerned that the space will feel too dark and overwhelming, you can limit the incorporation of black to an accent wall or vary shades with a dark charcoal colour or even black stone infused with gold veining.

Use Lighting To Your Advantage

Black room decor is a balance between the glorious beauty of this dark colour scheme and ensuring sufficient lighting to make the room both usable and comfortable. Lighting is crucial in all rooms of the house but for this reason it is even more critical in a black space.

Consider layering your overheard lighting by using fixtures that are strategically placed and carefully chosen to spread the light evenly. Sconces and other sources of lighting that are not arranged properly can create the cave-like vibes that make people worried about opting for black rooms.

However, with either natural or artificial lighting, you can ensure that the room feels sufficiently spacious and well-lit without having to sacrifice the mood that this amazing colour scheme brings to the table.

Quick tip: Consider using uplight artwork or architectural features (where possible) to help add depth and dimension. Both of these options are great for subtly and yet effectively incorporating significant amounts of light into your room without making it feel unusual.

Play With Different Textures

Another concern that some interior designers and homeowners have when it comes to black styling is the feeling of visual monotony. There is no reason why black needs to feel or look flat. Remember: Textures are your friends.

Introduce a little bit of visual interest and aesthetic depth by changing up the type of textures in your black living room. Of course, this can be achieved with exposed brick walls or feature walls of a distinct material. But even velvet sofas, a woven rug or wood furniture can help make the space pop visually.

This is also a good opportunity for those wishing to add a bit of colour to the space to do so. Feature walls or furniture made of a different material and of a different shade can look wonderful in an otherwise black-styled room. Which brings us to our next point…

Include a Pop of Colour

You can absolutely tailor this design suggestion to suit your preferences. Black, as you probably know, pairs beautifully with a wide variety of colours.

This ensures you have the freedom to include a pop of colour that really suits the space. Whether it’s artwork, throw pillows, statement furniture pieces, vibrant rugs, or even accents and ornaments, the size, style and placement of your colour choices is up to you.

If you’re after a touch of luxury, consider jewel tones. These include emerald green or sapphire blue.

If you’d like to create a warm and inviting feeling, consider a more white mustard yellow or ochre.

If you’d like something more industrial and stylish, consider metallic accents such as gold or brass. For more inspiration with this last idea, keep reading!

Throw in Some Metallic Accents

Metallic accents don’t just add an element of glamour, they also help to infuse a bit of contained and yet effective life into an otherwise all-back design. Depending on your preference, you can choose a luxury metallic like gold or silver, or opt for something more industrial along the lines of copper and brass.

The way in which you infuse metallic accents in your black room decor is also versatile and customisable. Hardware, door handles, picture frames, and lighting fixtures are all great candidates for using this unique material to elevate your space.

Include Some Statement Greenery

Plants and other greenery is used in interior design to bring a touch of life and a splash of nature into the home. There’s no reason why the exact same refreshing effect can’t be brought into your black living room.

There’s no need to tell you that the choice of greenery and indoor plants available is immense. So you can find the perfect plant with the right green colouring, level of ‘lushness’ and shape and size to bring the right vibrant contrast to your space.

Beautiful Artwork

Few things can make as big an aesthetic impact as artwork. A black feature wall, bedroom or living room, provides the perfect backdrop for including some bold and colourtful art.

Playing with scale with your artwork statement piece can help achieve a subtle layering effect and introduce a bit of visual interest. Alternatively, consider a gallery wall in your black living room using a variety of smaller pieces. This way you can also play with levels and non-symmetry to create a provoking and stunning display. 

Opt for Black and White Magic

Timeless, elegant and classy, using a black and white colour scheme offers plenty of aesthetic potential and ability to cater to personal preferences. You don’t have to sacrifice the general style of your black room decor either. 

Subtle yet powerful incorporation of a white feature wall, white tiling, or even white accents can help to lighten the dark living space. Black and white design styles have been and remain popular for good reason: It’s sophisticated and offers a truly striking aesthetic.

Play with Accessories

Accessories are great opportunities for incorporating some different colours, textures or styles into your space. Sculptures of interesting shapes or throw pillows with interesting patterns can make an out-sized difference to the overall visual impact of your black living room or bedroom. Even a collection of black and white photographs can add some important personality and depth.

The important point here is that you should give yourself the space to play and trial different accessories. Black offers a neutral canvas, so it’s up to you to personalise your space with as many accessories as suits your style.

For More Black Room Decor Ideas, Call Euro Marble Today

Embrace the drama, unleash your inner stylist, and blend fashion with function in your home.

14 Inspiring Backyard Makeovers

Modern backyard with outdoor seating area and upper deck with lounge chairs and umbrella.

Are you looking for some inspirational backyard makeover ideas?

Your backyard should be a dream oasis that you, your loved ones and your guests will never want to leave! But it also has to be a space that works functionally and stylistically for you. From budget-friendly tweaks to luxurious upgrades, we’ve pulled together some of the best backyard renovation ideas to help you revolutionise your outside space.

14 Backyard Makeover Ideas

1. The Cozy Conversation Nook

You don’t need a lot of space or a big budget for this backyard hack. String up some fairy lights and invest in a bit of comfortable outdoor seating and you’ll have prepared the perfectly comfortable and cozy conversational nook. You can always customise the space with some colourful pillows or potted plants, depending on your aesthetic.

2. The Budget-Friendly Fire Pit

A fire pit is a great way to improve the backyard of all shapes, sizes and types. Budget-friendly, customisable to suit your lifestyle and endlessly enjoyable, there are plenty of pre-made fire pit kits and handy instructions for do-it-yourself versions. Either way, there’s nothing better than a warm evening beside a fire with your family and friends.

3. The Entertaining Patio

Installing a deck or patio space is a popular choice of backyard transformation. The practicality and functionality of the space allows you to conduct whatever outdoor activities suit you and your family. Plus it provides a clear separation between the rest of your yard and your home. Of course, there’s nearly no limit on the different types, sizes and styles of deck available–depending on your budget.

4. The Water Feature Aesthetic

If you’re looking to turn your backyard into a Zen oasis or just want to infuse some beautiful and natural sound and imagery to the outdoor space, a water feature is a great option. From the sound of trickling water adding a sense of tranquility to the bold and beautiful aesthetic of a water feature, consider installing a small fountain, pond, or even just a simple birdbath.

5. The Hammock Haven

This backyard makeover idea is another fantastic budget-friendly option. If you have two strong trees in your backyard, consider stringing up a nicely patterned hammock. Not only does it infuse a bit of colour into the space but also adds some functionality by offering the ultimate relation spot. Hammocks are wonderful for afternoon naps or enjoying a good book in the gentle breeze…

6. Atmospheric Lighting

When it comes to designing a backyard makeover, do not underestimate the effect lights have on ambiance. String lights, fairy lights, festoon lights and globe lights are all great options for adding a magical touch to your outdoor space. Your choice of lighting can help create the perfect venue for entertaining guests or create an intimate, romantic atmosphere for you and your special someone.

7. The Vertical Garden

This backyard makeover idea is ideal for small outdoor spaces. A vertical garden is a very practical way of adding greenery, visual interest and a bit of nature to your wall or fence. Of course, you can customise every aspect of the vertical garden as well to suit your preferences.

8. The Outdoor Cinema

Are you a movie lover? It’s not nearly as hard or expensive to create a wonderful outdoor cinema as you might think. Simply put up a taut sheet or invest in a proper screen and project the movie straight onto it. With some comfy seating and a bowl of popcorn, your transformed backyard will be ready for family movie night in no time.

9. The Kids Zone

There are a lot of different options when it comes to creating a play zone for your kids. Swing sets, monkey bars, slides, playhouses, and sandboxes are easy to source and surprisingly affordable. But the hours and hours of fun in store for your kids is priceless!

10. The Outdoor Kitchen

If you love hosting or cooking up a storm, investing in an outdoor kitchen could be the backyard makeover of your dreams! Consider an outdoor pizza oven for delicious homemade dinners under the stars. Or upgrade your barbeque with a built-in grilling station and smoker. Even a simple custom-designed bar area will turn your next dinner party into one to remember!

11. Water Fun

If your budget allows for it, consider installing a swimming pool. Few things deliver backyard luxury as a pool–perfect for hot, lazy days and resort-style living. However, if you are operating on a tighter budget or within more confined outdoor space, consider a splash pad for the kids. There’s plenty of options out there for beating the heat and infusing fun and excitement into your backyard for your children.

12. The Japanese Garden

If you’re interested in taking your Zen garden up a level, consider a Japanese-inspired space complete with rocks, sands and minimalist greenery. Transforming your backyard into the ultimate meditation space will infuse a sense of peacefulness and calm into not just your home but your life.

13. The Games Garden

For those active families, an outdoor games area could be the backyard makeover idea that meets all your needs. There’s a limitless supply of options out there, such as giant Jenga or chess sets, a horseshoe pit or even cornhole boards. With an assortment of carefully chosen and arrayed games, you and your family will simply love being out in the fresh air and sunlight.

14. The Herb Garden

Transform your backyard into the culinarian’s best friend with a herb garden. A dedicated spot for your fresh flavours and herbs offers not just a rewarding and enjoyable hobby to engage in but will give you access to the freshest ingredients for your next dinner.

Let’s Talk More Backyard Transformation Today

Get inspired by these backyard makeovers and let your creativity transform your outdoor space to suit your lifestyle.

Viva Magenta – Pantone Colour of the Year 2023 Design Tips

pantone viva magenta 2023

In December 2022, the Pantone Colour of the Year was announced for 2023 and the winning shade was Viva Magenta. Since then the Viva Magenta colour scheme has gone on to inspire countless artists, designers and home design experts.

If you’ve similarly fallen in love with this amazing colour and are wondering how to incorporate this bold look in your home, we have got you covered.

What is Viva Magenta?

According to the Pantone website, the choice of Viva Magenta 18-750 as the colour of the year represents bravery and fearlessness. This pulsating colour descends from the family of reds and brings with it an aesthetic of joyousness and optimism, inspiring one to write a new narrative and blaze new trails. 

This vibrating and vigorous new shade was chosen due to its powerful visuals and empowering energy. As such the new animated magenta red welcomes anyone who feels like a bit of a rebel at heart whilst still being inclusive of everyone. 

Introduction to Pantone

Pantone is both a colour matching system and an independent organisation. Their role is to provide colour standards for a use across a variety of industries.

Within the Pantone Matching System, sometimes referred to as PMS, there are a series of standardised colours. Each colour, such as Viva Magenta, has its own name and unique number. This allows artists and designers to more easily and accurately communicate their colour use regardless of media and material context. 

Thanks to the Pantone standards and systems, graphic designers, interior designers, fashion designers, printers and product designers can all work with clear consistency and specificity.

At the end of each calendar year, Pantone announces their choice of the Colour of the Year for the following year. This announcement has become an anticipated event across the design and artistic world. 

“Pantone Color Institute provides trusted color leadership. We can develop a comprehensive set of solutions that leverages the power of color, increasing color confidence and achieving brand goals.”Pantone Color Institute

10 Tips for Using Viva Magenta in Design

Using Viva Magenta in interior design can be an exciting and effective way to inject a bit of flair and flavour into your home. However, being the bold and striking colour that it is, we’ve put together 10 handy tips for helping you use the Viva Magenta colour to maximum effectiveness.

Balance the Colour Scheme

Balance in interior design is always important and when incorporating Viva Magenta it’s all the more so. 

One simple design technique for balancing colour schemes is to use a base, neutral colour in conjunction with Viva Magenta. Think of your whites, greys, and even blacks. There is still plenty of opportunity to customise which sort of neutral colour you’re opting for and how you actually apply both shades to the space is up to you.

Hero the Magenta

With the right balance of colours so that the animated red of the Colour of the Year isn’t overwhelming, you can be free to truly hero the Viva Magenta.

Using it as an accent colour can create a real pop of visual flair to a space. Incorporate the Viva Magenta colour centrally (not physically but aesthetically) so that–without dominating the space–it draws one’s eyes and creates visual interest.

Match with Warm Colours

Once you’ve determined how you’re going to both balance and hero the Magenta, it’s time to start considering complementing the bold look with some other accessories, decorations, or even fixtures and tapware.

When you’re choosing the colour of these items we recommend opting for something warm without being too striking. Gold, for example, can wonderfully match the Viva Magenta and contribute positively to the overall atmosphere without stealing aesthetic attention.

Try It If Unsure

Viva Magenta is a gorgeous colour but it might not be for everyone. When you’re considering how to use it in your home, if you’re feeling a bit unsure then try it out first.

Opting for magenta curtains or pillows or even a rug can be a cost-effective and non-permanent way of trialling this bold colour before you commit to something more extravagant or difficult to reverse.

Use with High Ceilings

Rooms with high ceilings and/or natural light offer a lot of interior design opportunities. With the Viva Magenta colour it allows you to incorporate this vibrant aesthetic in larger and grander ways without becoming overwhelming.

Whether you opt for magenta furniture, a feature wall or some other incorporation is up to you and your design style preferences.

Create an Earthy Feel

Bearing in mind Tip #1, you can effectively create a grounded, Earthy feel while maintaining sophistication in design by combining magenta with muted tones like beige, brown or olive green.

Whether you use wood, Earthy-looking stone such as limestone, or some other material, Viva Magenta can be used to great effect bringing such an interior style to life.

Play with Texture

So far our tips have focused mostly on colour use and choice. But texture is a very important consideration in interior design. Using different types of material adds a layer of visual depth to any room.

When it comes to using Viva Magenta, it’s even more effective as it combines the richness of the colouring with the aesthetic complexity of varying textures. To get you started, think about how you could use velvet or silk.

Use Magenta Shades

Whether your magenta is being incorporated on a wall or in your furniture, there is a lot of scope to mix and match different shades of magenta along with the chosen Pantone Colour of 2023. 

Don’t be afraid to play around a little bit as you try to balance the playful, vibrant look with the rest of the room’s design and aesthetic.

Use Artwork

A gallery wall of artwork and/or photography can be an effective and easier way to use Viva Magenta in interior design.

You can feature the colour as heavily or subtly as you so choose and opt for the exact size, shape, style and placement of the artwork as suits your interior space best. As with Tip #4, using artwork to showcase magenta gives you plenty of scope to chop and change the styling later on.

Use the Colour in Unexpected Ways

Interior design is about being creative and one way to do that is to use Viva Magenta in unexpected ways and unexpected places.

Think about areas of the space that one wouldn’t usually apply a feature colour, such as the ceiling or even a bookshelf. Are there decorative pieces or items of furniture that would be striking yet appealing if coloured magenta? Playing around and trying out different ideas can help you stumble across some wonderful and creative new ways to incorporate this amazing colour. 

Find the Right Colour for Your Space Today

Did you know that Euro Marble is the premier supplier of not just classic-looking stone like marble and granite, but a wide range of different coloured natural stones too?

We love helping our customers explore and create wonderful new spaces in their home and we’d love to help you too! So, if you’d like to brainstorm more ways of using Viva Magenta or want to find out more about our products, make sure to contact our team today on (02) 8585 2999.

Exotic Marble Walls with Luxurious Floors in the Bathroom

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There are many ways in which you can achieve a truly exotic and luxurious aesthetic in your bathroom, but none–in our opinion–work or look better than a stunning marble wall.

Combined with equally luxurious flooring, a marble walled bathroom adds a level of visual sophistication and design elegance to a space in the home that you frequent each and every day. 

Exotic Marble Wall

Marble stone is a highly valued material for use in both internal and external construction. Thanks to its iconic and luxurious appearance, as well as its unique physical properties, marble is both practical and popular.

Marble stone itself is formed through a metamorphosis caused by intense heat and pressure under the Earth’s crust. This process causes the (once) limestone to crystallise and change into the beautifully patterned and textured marble that the world has been in love with for generations.

Installing a Marble Floor and Wall Bathroom

When it comes to using marble in the home, especially in a bathroom’s flooring or walls, the tiles are chiselled from a larger slab of marble stone. These slabs are quarried from the natural sources of marble in various spots around the globe. Some of the most popular and classic exotic marble quarries can be found in Italy, Greece and Brazil, among others.

Using specialised and heavy machinery, the blocks of stone are removed from the ground and transported to a processing plant where they are further cut into slabs of stone, polished, and transported to premier suppliers around the world, including to us here at Euro Marble. 

Why a Marble Wall is Perfect for Your Bathroom

Aesthetic Appeal

Perhaps the main reason that marble walls in a bathroom (and flooring) is so popular is because nothing quite matches the glamour of this natural stone. 

Marble itself actually comes in a surprisingly wide range of colours and the subtle veining and clouding pattern can vary significantly in slab to slab. This gives you the perfect opportunity to find the perfect shade of stone to suit your personal taste. It also means that an exotic marble wall and floor can be found to suit any design style, from classic to modern and from rustic to contemporary. 

Durability

Marble is not just an amazing-looking stone, but it’s also highly durable and hardy. This long lasting material is a smart choice for areas of the house that are exposed to high levels of traffic and activity, not to mention water, moisture and heat. With the right level of care and maintenance, marble floors and walls can last for many years without looking dated in style or due to wear and tear.

Bathroom Suitable

A marble floor and wall bathroom offers additional practical benefits. In addition to the inherent durability of the stone, the unique properties of marble mean that it’s quite heat-resistant and waterproof. The walls and floors of your bathroom are likely to be surrounding showers, bathtubs, vanities and sinks, so it’s important to choose the right material for long-term functionality. 

Valuable Investment

Due to both the long-lasting nature and inherent value of marble, using a marble wall or marble flooring in a bathroom is likely to increase the value of your home if you sell. Exotic marble surfaces can form a deeply positive impression on potential buyers and can add significant value to a property. 

Complementary Walls and Floors

Marble is a unique material for use in the bathroom because you can use as much or as little of it as you want to great effect. An exotic marble wall looks stunning next to natural stone tiled floors but is also equally complementary with hardwood floors. Balancing the right texture, aesthetic and warmth of your bathroom is a matter of personal taste, and a marble wall provides the perfect canvas to achieve that balance. 

Tips for Using a Marble Floor and Wall in Your Bathroom

Choose the right type of marble

As mentioned above, there is actually a wide range of types of marble and colours/shades. Finding the right marble stone for you is a matter of both personal preference but also practicality. Our team at Euro Marble are experts in this regard and happy to help you find the perfect slab for your application. 

Whether you’re after a black floor of marble with a grey marble wall or colourful walls with milky white marble flooring, we’ve got all the options you need to achieve the look you want. 

Take care of your marble

Marble is an extraordinary material and to ensure it shines as brightly as possible in your bathroom, be careful about damaging the stone. Keep your bathroom floor and wall clean and avoid using harsh or acidic cleaning solutions. Wipe up spills immediately and avoid hard bristled brushes. 

With just a little bit of tender love and care you’ll love the way your marble stands the test of time in your bathroom. 

Seal and reseal

When a marble wall or floor tiles are installed they are sealed to ensure extra protection from moisture, water and other elements. However, every few years it’s best practice to reseal your marble. This relatively small investment in the longevity of your stone will pay dividends down the line and make sure that your bathroom looks as stunning many years down the track as it did on Day One. 

Consider lighting and style

Exotic marble walls and floors look a treat in just about any bathroom. But there are some tips and tactics for ensuring your particular application looks as amazing as possible. Choose lighting and fixtures that enhance the beauty of the marble without creating shadows ro harsh glares. Keep your interior design style consistent and choose colours (of both stone and other accessories/decor) that balance without clashing or overwhelming the space.

Allowing your exotic marble to breathe and visually stand out will make the most of this precious stone and add to the overall luxurious aesthetic of your bathroom. 

Use professionals

From sourcing marble slabs to installing and repairs to resealing, make sure you choose a reputable and professional provider for your bathroom’s stone. Hiring the right professional will ensure the job is done meticulously and correctly, and give you the peace of mind that your bathroom will look and function as amazingly as it should and could.

Let’s explore the marble floor and wall options for your bathroom!

If you’re sold on installing a marble wall and/or floor in your bathroom, but aren’t sure how or where to begin, don’t worry! We’re here to help. 

Just get in touch with us today and we’ll help you every step of the way to finding the perfect exotic marble for your home.

Using Decorative Accents Around the Home

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Decorative accents can be used to amazing aesthetic effect around the home. When it comes to interior design, it’s often the little things that can make an outsized impact. 

Carefully chosen and thoughtfully considered, small elements can play a crucial role in infusing warmth, style and personality into a space.

What are Decorative Accents?

The term “decorative accents” can refer to a number of different things but usually refers to the small details and/or finishing touches in a room. Normally used to add a bit of charm or inject a bit of character, decorative accents can come in the form of pillows, sculptures, artwork, rugs or even indoor plants.

In addition to adding a visual element to a room, decorative accents can also add texture, a sense of depth, and important style anchors to a space. Even accent flooring and walls can be used to great effect in transforming a room from zero to hero.

Why consider using Decorative Accents?

Decorative accents can play an important role in your interior design for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s a cost-effective and non-permanent way of incorporating a bit of personality and style to a room. If you have a space that’s feeling a little lacklustre or bare, brightly coloured decorative accents can bring life to your home.

Secondly, decorative accents can be used to highlight other aspects of your home. If you want to draw attention to specific areas, such as a fireplace or a piece of furniture, a considerately placed and chosen accent can achieve exactly that.

Thirdly, decorative accents allow you to play around with textures, colours and styles without having to commit–financially or mentally–to a permanent or house-altering design. You can refresh the styling whenever you so choose and play around with different accents until you find the version that works best for you.

How to Use Decorative Accents

Embrace Bright Colours in Accent Home Decor

Bright colours and bold shading can seem a bit much for some people, which is why your decorative accents offer the perfect opportunity to play around and experiment a little.

Of course, while accent walls and flooring are always an option you can just focus on some vibrant throw pillows, a bit of bold artwork, or a simple yet colourful rug to add a bit of energy to the room.

If you do decide to embrace bright colours in your home accent decor, make sure to balance the boldness with neutral colours elsewhere.

Use Accent Flooring

Accent flooring is an often overlooked way to create a truly impressive style in a home. Rugs, carpets, and mats along your floors can really raise the roof in the overall aesthetic impact.

There’s simply no limit on what can be achieved visually with the sheer range of patterns, textures, colours and styles of flooring available. Whether you choose to incorporate accent flooring that complements the rest of the home or choose something that stands out loudly and proudly, that’s up to you!

Opt for Accent Walls

Every room has walls and every wall offers a blank canvas for you to utilise to great decorative effect. One way of creating an accent wall is to paint a feature wall with a bold colour or use an eye-catching wallpaper design. Both options can really bring a room to life.

If you’re not sure whether you want to go the more permanent route, you can always create a gallery wall of photographs, framed pieces or art or other visually captivating decorations. 

Mix and Match the Small Stuff

Small decorative accents, such as sculptures and pillows, give you plenty of scope to mix and match different colours, textures, patterns, and materials without having to commit to any one choice. 

Try a floral pattern against a geometric background, or opt for some natural stone juxtaposed against man-made materials. With decorative accents you can play around until you create an original, fantastic style you’ll love!

Size Does Matter

When you’re looking into which decorative accents to include in your home and considering how to include them, consider scale and proportion.

Accents should complement and improve the overall aesthetic of the room and not dominate everything overwhelmingly. Ensure the size and height of any chosen accent piece is appropriate for the space around it.

Don’t Be Afraid of Negative Space

Sometimes, the power of a decorative accent is the space between decorative accents! Embracing the negative space intentionally left empty between your chosen accents can be immensely impactful.

Negative space, also called empty or white space, refers to deliberately left unoccupied areas of a room. Instead of going crazy and simply filling up every square inch of the space with decorative accents, show some restraint and allow your chosen pieces truly shine by highlighting them with surrounding negative space.

Call Euro Marble today for more decorative ideas!

Decorative accents truly are an interior designer’s secret weapon. If you’re struggling to create the ambience or achieve the style you’re looking for in your home, it may be time to consider a bit of accent detailing.
Whether you opt for wall-to-wall accent flooring or subtle decorative accessories to adorn your walls, accents can really take the feel and look of your home up a notch or two. But if you need some assistance or more inspiration, make sure to reach out to the Euro Marble team today. We’d be more than glad to help!

12 Home Decor Ideas in Pantone’s Viva Magenta

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The Pantone Color Institute–the organisation dedicated to standardising colour across various industries and the people behind the Pantone Matching System–announced that Viva Magenta 18-740 was the Colour of the Year of 2023.

Viva Magenta, Pantone has explained, represents joy, boldness and vibrancy. For those of us working or involved in interior design, we might be wondering how Viva Magenta can inspire and be utilised in our home decor. 

To that end, we’ve assembled 12 tips and ideas to help you make the most of this exciting Colour of the Year.

12 Viva Magenta Interior Design Ideas

  1. Use Viva Magenta as a Focal Point

Viva Magenta is as bold and striking a colour as you could hope for. This gorgeous red can be used to great effect as a design statement piece anywhere in your home. By highlighting your use of Viva Magenta, for example on a feature wall or a central piece of furniture, you can elevate the entire space, create a visual wonder and still manage to balance the overall design aesthetic of the room.

Pair Magenta with Neutral Colours

It can take great skill and subtlety to use a colour like Viva Magenta without overwhelming a space. To avoid the complexity, you can strike the perfect visual balance by pairing the Colour of the Year with light, neutral colours. Think about whites, greys and beiges here. The bold and neutral pairing will ensure nothing overly dominates and the overall aesthetic is nice and even. Consider grey natural stone surrounding a magenta feature wall or a white bedroom with red accents. There’s near infinite options!

Use It As An Accent Colour

Accent colours can be used in small and contained applications that are still highly considered and highly visually spectacular. If you’re not 100% sure how to approach a full on colour scheme using Viva Magenta, play around with small decorative items in this wonderful shade like throw pillows, some artwork, a rug or even curtains. 

Commit to Boldness

On the other hand, you might want your room to look as bold and adventurous as you feel. Black and red accents, for example, can really make a space pop. Combining Viva Magenta with other bold colours can create a striking and unique palette for your interior design that will undoubtedly impress visitors. If you’re not sure you want to go for the darker tones, you can still achieve aesthetic boldness by pairing magenta with turquoise, mustard yellow and even emerald green.

Use Glamorous Finishes

For those of us looking for an inspired Viva Magenta interior design style that’s glamorous and elegant, consider using metallic finishes. Gold and silver finishings can pair beautifully with Viva Magenta to achieve a sophisticated look in just about any room of the house. If glamour and opulence is your aesthetic preference, this is a fantastic option.

Create a Soothing Palette

Bold colours, glamorous finishes, neutral palettes… There are a lot of options when it comes to the versatile Viva Magenta. But for your bedroom or living room you might want to consider something both soothing and bright. Using soft, muted tones in conjunction with magenta can work a treat. Blush pink, for example, or even olive green can help you find the fine balance between colourful and soothing.

Gallery Walls

Gallery walls are becoming increasingly popular and in interior design they offer a lot of unique opportunities to inject a bit of colour and personality. Viva Magenta is perfect for helping to tie together such a feature wall and bring a pop of vibrant colour to the space. Using magenta accents in a gallery wall also gives you the flexibility to lean as much as you want into the colour scheme or keep it paired back and low-key.

Magenta in the Kitchen

The kitchen offers a wonderful space to add some bold colour that will be sure to excite you and anyone who visits. Depending on your preferences and overall style, you can opt for anything from a kitchen benchtop painted Viva Magenta to simply incorporating magenta kitchenware or utensils. Kitchens tend to be more neutral in colour anyway, so using Viva Magenta can truly help the space come alive in all the right ways.

Incorporate Patterns

This Viva Magenta-inspired interior design style offers a playful and rather eclectic look. Incorporating patterns alongside Pantone’s Colour of the Year is a great way to mix aesthetics and create a level of visual depth and complexity. Viva Magenta can work wonderfully with most patterns, including polka dots, stripes, conventional dots and floral designs. We particularly love this approach for rooms of heightened activity and energy, such as children’s bedrooms or playrooms. 

Create a Cozy Nook

While Viva Magenta is certainly bold and impressive a colour, you can easily use it to make a little work or reading nook cozy and warm as well. Magenta blankets, armchairs or decorative pillows can take an otherwise rather stale area of the house and inject a bit of energy and passion into it. 

Spruce Up The Bathroom

If you’re looking for ways to really elevate your bathroom, consider adding some Viva Magenta. You can go bold and include magenta walls or ceiling, or you can keep it all subtle and low-key with coloured towels, mats and the like. It’s really up to you when it comes to the extent to which you use it. 

Mix Materials

Timber, natural stone and even–delicately applied–metallic materials can look wonderful paired with Viva Magenta. The nuanced shade of magenta lends itself beautifully to complement an interior design aesthetic of multiple textures and mixing materials is an elegant way to incorporate a visual complexity to a space that is otherwise lacking. 

Contact Euro Marble for More Ideas!

Viva Magenta, Pantone’s 2023 Colour of the Year, is a wonderful colour. It can be used to truly stunning effect in your interior design, but if you’re not yet sure how it can be best applied in your home (with or without stone) have a chat with our team here at Euro Marble.

From white bedrooms with red accents to cozy living rooms with magenta feature walls, there’s plenty of opportunity for customisation, beauty and glorious design! Viva La Via Magenta!