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Thursday, August 22, 2013

Design Trends for 2013

2013's top interior design trends emphasize boldness and color. Minimalism is out. People are embracing styles that might have seemed tacky just a few years ago. There is an artfulness to this aesthetic, which could be described as a mature version of hipster chic. Big, antiqued brass accents, which give any room a lived-in feel, are all the rage. The shinier something is, the better. Furniture and decorations should draw a lot of attention to themselves.

While empty spaces and sharp angles have been fashionable until very recently, now people are seizing every opportunity to fill space with different colors and patterns. Artwork is key. Prints of famous paintings are acceptable, but it is better to have original pieces on display. If this is not possible, photos or prints of lesser-known works will suffice. The idea is to create a space that is completely unique. The judicious use of antique pieces will help to achieve this goal. Most antique furniture is one-of-a-kind, especially if it has been painted or stained an interesting color. A good way to tie a room together is to paint wooden furniture a color that is minimally featured in the fabric on the couch or another prominent piece of furniture in the room. Everything should be complementary, not monochromatic.

A major trend in fabric is digital printing. It started with clothing. A designer would have a photograph or drawing reproduced in a large scale on a garment like a structured skirt. There are many ways to translate this into home decor. Curtains could feature singular images instead of repeating patterns. A simple picture could be sketched right on a blank wall in black or dark brown paint. Any flat surface that has not been decorated in some fashion is a wasted opportunity. There is a huge variety of fabrics available at stores such as Fabric Studio and Unique Fabrics. Check out Fabric Studio’s range of upholstery fabric here.

Lace motifs are another trend that has been lifted from fashion runways. Fabric furniture could be covered in a swirling or lattice pattern. Transparent lace overlays or valences could be draped over plain curtains. Swirling patterns could be stenciled onto walls. Lace trim might be tacked around doorways or placed around a whole room at the point where the walls meet the ceiling. When using lace, one has to be careful not to go too far and create too much clutter or stuffiness. Lace should be balanced by bright, young colors like green and orange to keep everything from looking too sweet and feminine.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Tips on Small Business Marketing Services

Small business marketing services over the internet are essential in order to make or gain profit. Marketing services over the internet are now being utilized as one of the channels to help small businesses grow. To learn some tips on small business online marketing tips, read on below.

Help your Small Business Grow

1. Use free directories. Take a look at the local directory of your area; some allow businesses to get listed for free. Utilize this strategy and more people will be able to avail or inquire of your services because you are listed down.

2. Get tips from competitors' small business marketing services. You can always take a look at how your competitor is marketing their business. By checking them out, you can get an idea of new strategies you can use and get updated on any current trends if any.

3. Focus on some channels to use for your marketing strategy. You shouldn't get online and sign up for all social networking sites or companies where you can promote your brand. Conduct your own research of what is available and choose the one that best suits you. Focusing on a few compared to all will give you results faster.

4. Use search engine optimization for your small business marketing services.. Write keyword-focused articles so that it will be easy for people to search for your articles. Write articles with good content and that is consistent with the other articles posted on your website that is created by your business.

5. Post your contact information. Those who stop by your page and like what they see should be able to find a way to reach you personally should they need to. Post your phone number, address, email-address, and other vital information that could help them reach you in a convenient way.

6. Create a variety of material that people can use to find you. There are so many ways to become known over the internet. You can create blogs or put your small business over Facebook. You can send out e-mails and use other strategies.

7. Improve your website. All websites could be better no matter how great you think your website already is. Stay tuned on the most current ways of advertising or creating a catchy website which will capture the interests and eyes of viewers.

8. Update your website regularly. It's important that the information you post is current to your brand.

9. Create a blog for small business marketing services. Even if you have a business website, you can help create more traffic to it by starting a blog. You can write on a variety of topics that relate to your product or service. Blogging can also be used as a venue to create back links which can help direct viewers to your website.

10. Put videos online. There is something always different about videos. Videos are one of the strategies that can easily capture the interest of others. There are simple and cost-effective ways of creating a video which can be posted online.