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Should I Become an Interior Designer?

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Should I Become an Interior Designer?

Are you always looking for an opportunity to take on a home decor project? If you have a knack for challenging yourself when designing spaces, you might want to consider turning your passion into a source of income. Yes, a career in interior design may be for you.

While you may have great taste when decorating spaces and arranging furniture, how can you be sure that such a career is best for you? Before you make a big decision it’s important to know what you are getting yourself into.

What is an Interior Designer?
Interior designers are more than just decorators. In fact, what differentiates designers and decorators is education. Anyone great at mixing colors and playing with patterns can become a professional decorator by simply marketing themselves.

On the other hand, an interior designer has been trained by an accredited school in this field. interior designers hold either a Bachelor or Associate degree. A degree is necessary to be considered an interior designer. If you’re interested in pursuing this career, you’ll have to consider whether you are interested in acquiring educational training.

Are you skilled at decorating spaces?
An individual must have a genuine knack in decor. Getting compliments on your home’s decor is a good sign but that doesn’t mean that this is the appropriate career choice. Decide whether this is just a hobby or a true passion that you want to pursue.

Not all fun….
Interior design doesn’t just consist of picking out furniture and putting together colors. There is a technical aspect to the field. Designers must be knowledgeable in structural integrity, building codes, working with computer aided drawings, and so much more.

Having a broad range of skills is essential for designers because they not only work with residential property owners, but they work along with government agencies, architects, and other organizations. Therefore, being well rounded and highly skilled is important to be a successful interior designer.

Finally, the money should not be a motivating factor. The average salary of your typical designer is under $50,000 a year.

So, what do you think? Is this the right career path for you?

Floor Covering Weekly Top 50 US Flooring Retailers

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Your design project matters to us and you deserve a company that invests their time and energy into your ideas. With ICC Floors, you will be treated like family as soon as you step foot in the door. Our knowledgeable staff is ready to answer all of your questions and help you find the perfect product within your budget. Plus, with financing options available, your dream project can begin now! 

 

Here at ICC Floors, we promise convenience and ease while you shop with us. You are guaranteed a personal experience at an affordable price. Our customers’ satisfaction will and always has been our top priority. In fact, we were recently rated one of the top U.S. Speciality Flooring Retailers of 2017. We appreciate your dedication to our business and we want to let you know that we are thankful for customers like you who trust small businesses to get the job done. 

 

With ICC Floors, you can expect that: 

 

    • We will put you and your valuable time first by offering convenient and fun ways to shop and browse flooring options. We offer a “shop at home” feature as well as an online catalog for your convenience.
    • We will deliver the best service possible with high-quality products.
    • We have a knowledgeable and friendly staff ready to assist you with all of your flooring and cabinetry needs. 

 

Do not take just our word for it. Be sure to check out our feature in Floor Covering Weekly and come see why we’re rated one of the Top 50 Retailers in the country!

Tips for Picking Your Carpet Color

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Carpet can be a fantastic flooring option for families. If you are having difficulties choosing the color, we are here to help! Here are our top four tips for picking your carpet color. 

 

Tips for Picking Your Carpet Color: 

  1. First Things First. 

Before you choose your carpet color, you will need to determine the colors for other areas within the room. Depending on your room, you may choose to start in a different area. In your living room, we recommend choosing your sofa color first whereas, in your bedroom, we recommend choosing your floor first. Ideally, you want to choose the color of the largest item within the room. This is recommended because it is easier and less expensive to change the colors of smaller items. Lastly, choose paint. Paint is always last. We recommend choosing paint last because there is an infinite color selection to match your floors and furnishings. 

  1. Why Neutrals?

Neutral colors are the top-selling color choice for carpet. Homeowners choose neutrals because they are timeless and work well with every other color.  Bolder choices may need to be changed within a couple of years due to trend changes. If you do not want to be “boring” by choosing a neutral carpet, you can shake things up with patterns and textures. 

  1. Specks of Color.

Berber flecks are a great way to add color to your space without settling on a color for your entire floor. Berber flecks are found within neutral-tone carpets and bring a pop of color through their “specks.” They can be appealing to parents because they help to hide stains and mishaps. 

  1. Consider Your Lifestyle. 

Your lifestyle may be one of the single most important things to consider when choosing your carpet. If you are a parent or a pet owner, you may realize that stains are inevitable and white carpet is out of the question for you. Designers tend to recommend choosing a middle shade carpet instead of dark or light. Dark carpets do help to hide stains, but they can show lint whereas light carpets hide lint, but show stains. 

  1. Ask for Recommendations. 

You want to make sure that you are getting the best type of carpet for yourself. The color is only one aspect of choosing the perfect carpet. To help make sure that you are getting the best deal, we would love to assist you in your search. With great prices, quality products, and financing options available, we hope to help you find the perfect carpet for your home. Call us or visit today! 


Adding Value to Your Home Through Bathroom Flooring

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If your floors are outdated and worn out, it may be time to consider getting new floors. The flooring you have in your home can ultimately add value and worth to your home’s value. If you are considering putting your home on the market, remember that a buyer’s focus will be your kitchen and bathroom. Unfortunately for the owner, those are the most expensive rooms to remodel, but fortunately, they are also the most expensive rooms for the buyer to remodel. 

 

When a buyer is looking at your home, they will take into consideration the condition, design, and flow of your kitchen and bathrooms. They understand that a living room and the bedrooms are easy fixes and that is why they focus so highly on your kitchen and bath. Today, let us focus on adding value to your bathroom. To help you add value to your bathroom, you will want to take a good look at your floors. Flooring is an investment for buyers and homeowners alike. Most buyers want to purchase a home that has been an investment in the seller. 

 

How to Add Value to Your Home through Your Bathroom Floors: 

  1. Durable + Water Resistant. 

We all know that bathrooms come into contact with a lot of water. That is why it is imperative to buy water-resistant and durable floors. The last mistake you want to make is choosing an improper flooring type for your bathroom. If you need help with the choice, one of our knowledgeable sales staff would love to assist you in your search. 

  1. MarketTrends.

Heated floors are a popular trend currently on the market. Buyers love having the option of heated floors because their bathroom becomes a place of luxury. Imagine stepping out of the bath onto a warmed floor. There is nothing quite like this experience. If you are interested in learning more about heated floors, be sure to contact one of our expert sales staff for more information.

  1. Planning 101.

A bath remodel can fall apart easily if you do not go in with a game plan. Planning out the design for your bathroom is ESSENTIAL. Many homeowners will make the mistake of not game planning their design and they end up with a messy-looking project. We know that the design process can be fun and exciting, but before you get started, explore all of your options and learn more about all of the choices. You want to have everything mapped out before the workers get started. 

 

Flooring Ideas: 

No matter what your budget, there is an incredible flooring choice out there for you. 

    • Budget-Friendly Option: A consumer favorite for bathrooms is vinyl. Not only is vinyl budget-friendly, but it is also durable and available in a wide selection of styles and colors. 
    • Medium-Price Flooring Option: The next level up for bathrooms is ceramic tile. This adds a classic, high-quality look to bathrooms. This option can be an instant favorite for buyers. 
    • High-End Option: The high-end option is natural stone. For this type of flooring, you need to have a set design for your bathroom. This flooring style is extremely trendy and needs to be paired with a grand design. 
      • Pro-Tip: Stone tile can get cold. You may want to consider adding a floor-heating system.

 

Interested in learning more? Stop by or visit one of our locations for pricing and expert assistance. We look forward to working with you.

Bathroom Flooring – What’s Best for the Elderly

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Bathroom Flooring – What’s Best for the Elderly

When it comes to selecting new flooring for the bathroom, it’s essential to give thought to safety. If you’re living in a home with elderly adults than you’ll want to select a flooring material that can aid in preventing slips and that is durable enough to support impact. The ideal type of flooring will also have a simple maintenance process, and complement the bathroom’s interior.

Before you purchase flooring for your bathroom, be aware of the safety ranking of popular flooring choices on the market:

Ceramic Tile
While ceramic tile flooring is low maintenance, it has a safety ranking of only five out of ten. Small tiled ceramic has enough texture to provide some support and aid in preventing slips and falls. However, ceramic is cold and hard which makes it unforgiving under impact. Also, when the ceramic floor gets wet it becomes even more slippery.

Carpet
Who doesn’t love carpet flooring? Carpet is soft, warm and is the most comfortable flooring option. Carpet flooring especially when combined with underpadding will provide a soft cushion in the event of a fall. Carpet also decreases the risk of falls. The safety ranking of carpet flooring is seven out of ten.

However, let’s be real! Maintaining carpet in the bathroom will be challenging to say the least! Since the bathroom is susceptible to moisture you’ll have to figure out a way to prevent molding and keep the carpet clean and free from other contaminants that carpet attracts, yet still keep it clean.

Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring isn’t the most aesthetically appealing type of flooring. Surprisingly, it’s also very expensive which you’ll need to take into consideration if you are on a tight budget. However, rubber flooring is the safest choice of flooring for homes with elderly adults. It has a very forgiving surface and it’s not slippery when wet. The safety rank of rubber flooring is ten out of ten.

Natural Stone
Natural stone flooring in the bathroom is simply beautiful. You’ll find that there are a large variety of colors and designs on the market. However, natural stone flooring has a super-hard surface that can possibly cause more damage upon impact. Natural stone flooring has a safety rank of four out of ten.

Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank
This new growing product category provides a good combination of being easy to clean, softer than tile and stone, and if you choose the right type, more slip resistant than other surfaces. This flooring type is becoming the bathroom surface of choice for homes with elderly residents.

Color Schemes for Small Bedrooms

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We would like to address the misconception that white is the only color that you can use in your small space. Honestly, we believe that any color can be incorporated into any type, size, and style of bedroom. If you are ready to fully embrace your small space, we have three genius color scheme ideas for you! These color schemes will work in any small bedroom and they will instantly transform your bedroom into a perfect sanctuary. 

  

Color Schemes for Small Bedrooms: 

  1. Deep Dreams. Surprisingly, dark colors work well in smaller bedrooms. The darker shades tend to hide the fact the room is smaller in size instead of accentuating it. These deeper shades can be projected on your walls and furnishings to create a comfortable space. If you are looking for a cozy, den look, we recommend veering more towards warm-toned colors (Reds, burgundies, browns, beiges, and deep oranges). 
  2. Natural Vibes. If you love the more earthy tones found in nature, we recommend trying to incorporate darker blues and greens with neutral colors to accent. These colors that are distinctly pulled from nature can help to create a more serene space. You can even try to incorporate darker neutral tones like taupe or charcoal to help define the space. 
  3. Nice Neutrals. Do not get us wrong, white can still be a great color for your small space. We only recommend that you veer away from stark white. Stark white tends to make rooms feel lifeless and unwelcoming. Instead, you will want to incorporate softer neutral tones like tans, off-white, light grays, etc. Plus, white will compliment every other color. You can utilize white as your complementary color. 

 

    • Pro-Tip # 1: We recommend buying high-gloss paint colors to help reflect the natural light throughout your space. This will help when you are using darker, deeper paint colors inside of your small room. 
    • Pro-Tip # 2: Use lighter shades on your ceiling. The light colors will help to make your room feel more open. If you do not want to use white, you can incorporate a lighter shade of a specific color. For example, you can use a light tan or light purple to incorporate color without being overbearing.

 

If you need help deciding on your color scheme, be sure to stop by our showroom!