While it's not likely your family or friends will feel too sorry for you, sometimes finding the right d残or for your oceanside or beach home can be a bit of a challenge.

Creating a casual, laid back and beach-inspired vibe to enhance the inside of your home is possible when you focus on elements like sunlight, white spaces, splashes of color and complementary accessories.

Open and airy palette
A light and bright color scheme with crisp whites and sand-colored tones accented by bursts of colors, such as turquoise or soft blues, can mirror the coastal feel indoors.  The natural, subtle feel of the light hues offers a tranquil feel, while colors on accessories and artwork add layers of vibrant color that mimic the ocean.

Bring outside inside
Create a personalized beach feel by bringing the elements inside. Feature outdoor wood pieces and even wicker in place of traditional furniture. Use earthy items (such as logs or crates) instead of a coffee table, go for a cotton rug, and brighten up the room with naturally-growing local plants and flowers.

Add nautical accessories
Incorporate beach-inspired artwork or create your own from gathered seashells, driftwood and other trinkets. Add a personalized touch with photographs from your coastline on feature walls or above a fireplace. Accessorize with nautical antiques like beach lanterns, lobster traps and ship compasses, and create a casual vibe with organic accent pieces such as weaved baskets, clear glass lamps and glass canisters with sand and shells from your beach.

See the light
Nothing feels more like the beach than natural sunlight, and an emphasis on color and light will create a coastal feel. In kitchens, paint cabinetry white and choose window coverings that let in the maximum amount of light, such as light-colored linens. Keep floors a light and warm color, and utilize accent mirrors to reflect the natural light.  In seating rooms, feature the windows and light (instead of concealing it) and let the scenery become your artworkﾑ-arranging the room to face the widows to maximize your view.

The latest and greatest in technology isn’t limited to a gadget you can hold in your hand or the computer that operates your car. More and more, they can be embraced inside your home.

Home technology is a hot industry, and some of the latest trends and products can give you a smart-home that makes your living space technically savvy. Not only will these advances in home technology make your life easier, but they also represent top-selling features that can add value to your home.

Here’s a look at some examples of the latest in technology for your home:

Complete home integration.
The day is nearly here when you can run every subsystem in your home from a mobile app. Nearly. But today you can experience the convenience of running all of the systems – lighting, audio, video, security, HVAC, cameras, etc. – from any touchscreen for complete control of nearly everything in your home, like this product from Goodhousekeeping.com.

Make your flatscreen (almost) invisible.
Many homeowners want the latest in flatscreen television technology but don’t want to stare at the huge screens when they’re not watching. No problem. Check out this pop-up ceiling lift on HGTVremodels.com, a transparent TV (like this one designed by Michael Friebe), or even a mirror that turns into a TV.

User-friendly ovens.
You can have a kitchen like the Jetson’s with an oven that has a built-in Android tablet, allowing you to search online for restaurants, surf for recipes and control the oven from a mobile device. PCWorld.com offers a look at Dacor’s Discovery smart oven.

A magic mirror.
How about a fully functioning mirror that has a built-in display connected to the Internet so that you can browse the web, watch videos, check the weather and more — all while getting ready in the morning? Check out this version from Brit.co.

Monitor energy usage in real-time.
New sustainable energy solutions can eliminate standby power completely, shut down appliances for brief periods, and study your daily habits in real-time that affect your homes’ energy consumption. Integrating this systems combines renewable energy and energy conservation.

Toilets of the future.
Toilets continue to become more advanced, like the Numi Toilet that has a touchscreen interface, built-in speakers, motion detection and can connect via Bluetooth.  Others, like this example from PopularMechanics.com that uses less than a gallon per flush, focus on conservation.

Home theater trends.
Nearly everything is new when it comes to home theater trends, especially when it comes to the convergence of web-based mobile apps and streaming internet content.  Internet-enabled devices bring everything on the Internet to your TV, and it can all be controlled from a mobile device. Wireless media systems are continually innovative and withproducts like Apple TV you can access podcasts, internet radio and music from cloud storage.

When shopping for home décor ideas or essentials, it’s not always easy to know where to look. Sometimes, finding exactly what you need for your home – even if you don’t know you need it – can take just a little bit of help. 

Luckily, the South Bay has some locally-owned home décor and furniture stores that can fill just about every niche. Whether you’re looking to decorate, add furniture or just some inspiration, here are five local hot spots:

Curious
This locally-owned story offers an array of unique items and is known for their friendly service. You will find small furniture, vintage items, home décor and many unique items that also can make great gifts.

128 Pier Ave
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 372-8452
www.curiousworkshop.com


Maison Luxe
A sophisticated, elegant offering of beds, bedding, lighting, tables and more with a design team to help you out. If you’re creatively challenged, you’re likely to find some décor and interior design ideas here.

138 Pier Ave
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 372-5552
www.maisonluxehome.com


Arte Finest Furniture
In business for more than 20 years, this family-owned shop specializes in custom furniture and will build custom pieces to order for your style as well. You will find hand-crafted dressers, tables, consoles, book cases and more.

1997 Artesia Blvd
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 318-0821
www.artefinest.com


Tabula Rasa Essentials
This independently-owned boutique shop in the heart of Manhattan Beach is dedicated to lifestyle trends from around the world. An excellent selection of gift wares, lighting and home décor accessories like table top items, trays, candles and more.

919 Manhattan Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 318-3385
www.tabularasamb.com


Beach N Creations
This Redondo Beach gift shop specializes in beach-themed gifts and home décor. You will find a large variety of coastal-themed kitchenware, wall art, bathroom accessories, lighting and much more in this unique shop.

1305 S Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 316-8600
www.beachncreations.com

How do you define what makes a good home environment? Do you find peace and comfort every time you walk through the front door? Do you feel inspired by each of the items in your home? Would you say that everything in your house in peaceful, calm and organized? If so, then you are already a master of Feng Shui. If not, this article will help you ensure that you can describe your home in this way.

Feng Shui, meaning "Wind and Water" in Chinese, is the ancient art of creating balance and harmony in our lives through the effective management of our environment. Because we are connected to our environment, our environment is a reflection of our lives. For example, if you change or move something in your home you will experience a corresponding change in your life. Using this principle, you can apply Feng Shui to get more of what you want and less of what you don't want. So if you want to feel less stressed or have more balance in your life, then you first need to set up a conducive environment for that to take place.

A major reason why you may not have a peaceful and organized home environment yet is clutter. It is important to free your home of anything that does not reflect the environment you want. A few good questions to ask yourself to help decide what is clutter and what is not are:

•   Do I really love this item?
•   Does it enhance my life in any significant way?
•   How often do I use it?

The answers to these questions will tell you whether or not it is truly time to let something go. So clear the clutter, and pursue a life of harmony between yourself and your environment so that the energy surrounding you work with you rather than against you.

When it comes to home décor, almost everything old can be made new again.

Sometimes vintage items that may no longer have a home can make great useful items in your home. Whether it’s an old door, a painting ladder, or reclaimed wood from a barn, there are plenty of ways to incorporate these items to make an interesting and unique piece to match your style.

If your creative juices are flowing and everyday items inspire you, the possibilities are almost endless. Here are 10 ideas for inspiration on how to use vintage items for home décor:

That old door. A reclaimed rustic door can be used for almost anything if you’re willing to be creative. Create avintage-looking mirror that leans against the wall, create aunique book shelf or use old spindles or even repurposed plumbing pieces to create a vintage table like these on Pinterest.

Vintage bottles into pendant lamps. Old glass bottles have many uses indoors, including vintage-looking pendant lamps like these examples on Pinterest.

The ladder shelf. An old painting ladder can be used almost anywhere, like this example as a wall shelf or hanging on the wall as a book shelf.

Places to hang. Try using an old rake head to hang jewelry or ties, like this example on HGTV.com. Or use old door knobs here on Pinterest or even drawer pulls to hang household items.

Wheelbarrow planters. An old vintage wheelbarrow can be repurposed as a planter, either outdoors or indoors in a sun room, like here on Pinterest.

Shutter ideas. Use old shutters in a variety of ways indoors, from decorative wall art to an entryway mail slot or even a vintage place to hang decorative items.

A piano shelf. That old piano casing can be installed on the wall to make a unique shelf, like this example on boredpanda.com.

Sliding interior doors. If you have the space, trying using reclaimed barn doors or doors with decorative stained glass like this example on Houzz.com as sliding interior doors.

Vintage industrial carts. Old carts from industrial warehouses can make great coffee tables, serving carts or even a display shelf for household items.

New uses for old books. Take your old books and add some wall supports to make shelves, like this example, stack them up to create a lamp base, or put them under glass to make a unique coffee table.

It’s no stretch to say that technology has a solution for nearly every inconvenience a homeowner can encounter.

Many homeowners are looking for ways to integrate their home systems, incorporate various appliances and security, or simply adjust settings remotely with a bit more ease. The good news is that when it comes to technologically-sophisticated living, you don’t have to be a Silicon Valley hot shot to integrate some of the newest gadgets. There are more and more options and the results are pretty impressive.

Here are five options that will make your home more high-tech without breaking the bank:

Ivee – This voice-activated, hands-free assistant, masked as a regular-looking alarm clock, obeys your commands and answers your questions. Not convinced? Ivee can tell you the weather in any city, wake you up on time, and control your Wi-Fi devices. It does all this through the sound of your voice, which will make you feel like The Jetsons.

The Goji Smart Lock – With Goji, it’s like having your own personal door man. Securely send access to your home to anyone (such as house guests or home service professionals) via text or email that allows unlimited entry or specific time/date parameters. It also takes pictures of who is at your door and automatically sends pictures in real-time to your mobile device. Heck, what door man does that?

Iris Home Management System – This system allows you to wirelessly control and monitor your home, and do it from just about anywhere. Along with safety features like alarming your security system or locking your doors, you can set Iris to adjust lights and control the temperature, which saves you money when you’re not home. If that wasn’t easy enough, the Iris app has a voice control feature to take care of everything verbally.

Nest Thermostat – This next generation thermostat learns your schedule, programs itself according to adjust the temperature and can be operated from your mobile device. Get monthly email reports, and an estimated 20 percent energy savings, with very little effort.

RCA Wallplate Charger – From the “so simple, it’s brilliant” category, RCA has created wallplates with USB ports for charging. If you’re cool with a little electrical work, you can swap out your standard outlet for versions with up to four USB ports and a power switch. Imagine never needing a power adapter again.

Figuring out what to do with the inside of your home can sometimes be difficult, because there are not always obvious choices or solutions. 

But, fear not frustrated homeowners. With a little dedicated space planning you can live in a more organized and comfortable space, one that best utilizes what you already have. Whether you’re trying to break-up and segment a larger space, or figure out how to make the most of a small space, a few helpful guidelines can get you started.  

Flex Rooms
A recent trend is rooms that are flexible. Create rooms that serve multiple purposes, such as dining room that is also a library with large bookshelves. An office nook can transform into a play area for kids, while an extra room with a day bed can be a guest room or an office. Flexible is always best. In a larger room, flexible furniture like ottomans can help define a space but also can be moved easily. 

Traffic Patterns
Make the most of traffic patterns to segment areas and break up spaces. In narrow spaces, face furniture away from pass-through areas to establish a seating or entertainment zone. Keeping an open space to one side of any room will effectively create a natural hallway with the living area on the opposite side. In smaller spaces, place seating and furniture in corner arrangements facing each other, with the pass-through area to the side. Also, circular dining tables and coffee tables that serve as the focal point for seating establish their own area in a long room while pushing traffic to the outside.

Create a Zone

Creating different “zones” in a space can help define and segment your space. A simple way is area rugs, which can pull together a group of furniture or segment a portion of a larger room. Break up a large space by using furnishings to create a zone at one end. Turn the seating toward each other, or place a long sofa perpendicular to the rest of the room to create clearly defined space.

Utilize Bookcases or Dividers

If your problem is an overly large or narrow room, use bookcases and other dividers to visually divide large or linear rooms into smaller, more usable spaces. Place the bookcase off the wall, perpendicular to the long room or next to a sofa to create a private seating area or media section that feels separate from the larger area. Other room divider ideas – for rooms big or small – could include sliding screens, oversized frames hanging from the ceiling, folding panels or even wine storage racks.

Whether you are limited on space in your bathroom or elbow room is in abundance, there are plenty of clever tricks to make the most out of what you do have.

Some of us spend a lot of time in our bathroom, and there’s no reason it can’t be functional, comfortable and still match your style. There is no shortage of ideas, from storage to seating to technology,
so here are 10 ideas to start:


Cabinet ideas
Utilize extra wall space without much effort by installing an extra medicine cabinet or custom shelving unit in the wall between studs to boost storage. Add molding to match the character of your bathroom.

Door space
Make the most of the space behind cabinet doors by installing a towel rack or small storage shelves.  Or cut one shoe organizer in half and hang one on each side door, like this Pinterest example.

Rack it up
Repurpose a coat rack in your bathroom as a towel rack. A vertical solution that can hold many towels at once.

Take a seat
If space isn’t an issue, create a comfy seating area with an ottoman or padded stool and side table, or build a custom vanity between storage units for a defined space.

Slide and pull
Install custom pullout shelves in vertical cabinets or sliding drawers within cabinets under the counter to keep your accessories orderly and accessible while not taking up much space.

Music, please
Hang boxed wall art or custom boxes with hinged doors to hide blue tooth-enabled wireless speakers on your walls to add some music to your day.

Borrow ideas
Make use of the space above your toilet with traditional kitchen solutions. Install horizontal rods and hang baskets or small containers for your extra necessities like this Pinterest example.

Go vertical
Think upwards! If you have a pedestal sink, place tall, slender cabinets on each side to maximize your space. Build a shelf over your door for items you don’t use all that often, or mount a flatscreen TV bracket on the wall near the ceiling to conserve counter space.

Flexible light
If your bathroom has light sconces, replace them with movable arm lamps that will give you light exactly where you need it.

Bring the heat
Towels take up a lot of space. Get them out of your cabinets and make better use of your space with a hydrotherm heated towel rack that doesn't require any power.

For many homeowners, the front porch has become an extension of your living space. No longer just an afterthought when it comes to the character, design and style of your home, the front porch is the welcome sign and first impression for visitors.

There are few better places to relax than the front porch, especially when you bring many of the indoor comforts to the outside.  With just a few guidelines and a little bit of inspiration, you can make your front porch the perfect place to unwind.

Seating

Regardless of your style, seating is all about comfort and creating a sense of unplugging. That could mean a classic porch swing, rocking chairs, Adirondack chairs or even a more modern outdoor daybed. Many offer a high-end look and there are options that swing if you have the room. There are many styles of wicker furniture that are designed for outdoor use.

Flooring

Many porches still feature the original base flooring, but that doesn't have to be the case. Tile, pavers and composite deck material are all options, while a dark colored high-gloss enamel will spruce up your original look. Even if you stick with wood, there are plenty of designs using paint or stencils to create a one-of-a-kind unique feel. If some of the flooring ideas aren't an option, go for area rugs to bring an indoor feel and some more color.

Splash Some Color

Cool and natural colors are best for creating a serene environment, but don’t be afraid to splash some more color. Paint your front door (try brick red, bright yellow or light blue) and add complimentary colors with large flower pots or flower boxes. Another option to infuse some color, texture and design in the seating cushions and pillows as well as table decorations.

Lighting and Shade
Different options for lighting and shade can provide function and style. Protect your porch from the sun with easy-to-install drapes or roll-up shades (or both) made of canvas, cotton or bamboo that also add a touch of elegance and character. Strategic lighting also adds style, whether it’s new sconces on the side of the door, hanging light boxes, a classic stand-up lamp next to furniture or strands of outdoor lighting bulbs that bring an old fashioned feel.
Extras
Don’t forget about the added (and sometimes small) elements that can make your porch unique. It could be a ceiling fan for hot days, wheeled serving carts to host guests, a built-in barbecue area, antique wall art, a reclaimed coffee table or high-end custom folding doors that bring your porch those custom, unique comforts.

For many, shabby chic is the style and design of choice inside your home. But did you know you can find your look without the expense, and support the environment while you’re at it?

You don’t need to pay high-end retail prices for a shabby chic look. In fact, you can create a great shabby chic look for basically no cost at all. When you repurpose older items, utilize items made from reclaimed wood, use sustainable products like bamboo or cork, or finding a new home for older fabrics or eco-friendly fabrics (like linen, wool, hemp or cashmere) you’re really reducing the eco footprint of your home.

Shabby chic can be a perfect t blend of old and new, and you can create the ultimate home décor that stays true to its shabby roots while also staying true to the spirit of eco-friendly living.

Here are seven ideas for creating an eco-friendly Shabby Chic look inside your home:

Old fabrics, new home – There are many uses for older fabrics you can find on eBay, Etsy, or even by reusing thrift store sweaters. You can reupholster dining room chairs like this example from Wholeliving.com, make decorative pillows and throws like these examples on Pinterest or take old scarves or sweaters to make a quilt.

Glass vases – There are many uses for old glass bottles, jars and bowls around the home to create a Shabby Chic look. Use repurposed glass as vases or create a unique centerpiece with a collection of mixed glass like this example.

Repurposed glass lighting – Old wine bottles, mason jars and even glass vases can be repurposed in various forms as pendant lighting, even by using an old glass bowl. Wine bottles are popular for chandeliers and pendant lights.

Wall decorations – Nothing says Shabby Chic like repurposing frames, shutters, or even old doors as art on windowless walls. Shutters can help frame other art or occupy big spaces, while there are limitless uses for old window frames.

New-ish Napkins – Get rid of paper products in your home and instead use old handkerchiefs or vintage cloth napkins. Try reusing old button-down cotton shirts by cutting them into dishcloths or napkins. Vinegar can be used along with a natural detergent to get rid of germs and also acts as a natural fabric softener.

Shabby chandelier – Get creative by repurposing items to create unique chandelier lighting. Repurposing vintage silverware is popular for chandeliers, but many other items can be reused, like clothes pins, mason jars and even plastics, like coffee stirrers.

Ideas for reclaimed wood – Using sustainable materials (like bamboo or cork) or reclaimed wood is a great way to be eco-friendly inside the home, whether you buy it or create it yourself. Simply repurposing older items in new ways is an option. But two of the more simple DIY projects to utilize reclaimed wood are to create side tables by attaching any type of base, or using individual pieces of reclaimed wood to create wall shelves. Take it an eco-step further by reusing metal piping or scrap metal as the shelf support.