Author: Alice Murray Page 2 of 6

Minimalist Home Ideas To Revamp Your Space

On October 1, 2020

In Home & Interiors, Home Ideas, Lifestyle

Thinking of pairing down your home interior décor? From monochromatic simplicity, to a laid-back luxury style, minimalist house décor is a great way to revamp your home and get rid of some of that clutter. In theory, it should be pretty easy to pull off. Think of neutral colors, minimal art and a few staple ornaments. But when you’re trying to achieve the “effortless” look, you might need to put in a bit more work than you think.

Looking for some minimalist home ideas to get you on your way? With our interior home décor ideas, your space will feel minimal, warm and inviting – rather than cold and clinical. Find out how to revamp your living room, bedroom or even your office space below.

How to achieve the perfect minimalist house interior

Let’s get down to the basics of minimalist home ideas. There are a few easy steps you can take to achieve modern minimalist home interior décor and, if you stick to them, you’re sure to achieve the look you’re going for.

1. Stick to neutrals.

Start off your quest to a minimalist house interior with a neutral color palette. Impartial colors are calming, fresh and classic. You can even incorporate some earthy tones, blues and greens to continue on with the natural theme.

2. Use the natural light.

Warm the space up by letting in as much natural light as possible. Pull back all your curtains, use sheer fabrics and strategically place mirrors to let the light bounce off the walls. Mirrors are also the easiest way to open a space up, making a room appear bigger than it is. Utilizing the sunlight is a great way to keep the space from feeling stark and clinical. You can also keep the space feeling cozy, without the added clutter.

3. Try out new textures.

Neutrals don’t have to be boring. Revamp your home with multiple textures and some neutral patterns to spice things up a little. That way, the feel of the room will start to warm up. From knitted throws and tasseled cushions to sheepskin rugs and velvet touches, you can add an extra element of interest with plenty of texture within the same color palette.

4. Quality over quantity.

When you’re focusing on minimalist house décor, less is always more. So if you’re working with a smaller catalogue of staple pieces, it’s important to make sure that they’re high quality. Because with minimalist house interiors, there’s less to distract the eye, meaning that every piece you buy plays an important part in the overall feel of the room. Ultimately, you want to create a space that you want to spend time in. So why you might be tempted to go with the grain and pick up the latest trending items, this isn’t the key to minimalist home décor. Instead, focus on the classics that will stand the test of time.

5. Add a touch of nature.

Upgrade your home décor with some florals and greenery—an added touch of color and style. House plants are ideal for adding lush hues, extra texture and a point of interest in even the darkest corner of a room (just make sure they’re happy with reduced sunlight first!). Create a miniature indoor garden with a variety of greenery, from succulents to cheese plants and palms.

6. Embrace the white space.

You might see a blank wall or empty shelf and think it needs a little extra cover – but minimalist home décor proves that blank spaces can have just as good an impact. So don’t worry about filling every inch of your home in paintings and ornaments, let your designs stand out by embracing the white space.

7. Clear all clutter.

Possibly one of the most important minimalist home ideas. If your surfaces are covered in clutter—like piles of mail, your keys and random decorative objects that just seem to take up space—then you’re in for a bit of a surprise. The key to minimalist house décor is a clean look and feel, so the first step you need to take is clearing it all out. And going forwards, you should continue with this attitude. That means, for every item that you buy for your home interior décor, you should let something else go in return.

One quick way to clear out the clutter is to cut down on the number of photo frames and canvasses you have dotted around. Because while some paintings are suited to minimalist house décor, a plethora of family photos is sure to interrupt the neutral color palette. The downside is, of course, losing all of your favorite memories.

Looking for a way to display your family photos, in a minimalist way? Enter the Nixplay photo frame—one, sleek device that can contain all of your snaps in one single place. That way, you can keep your home free of clutter, while still holding on to those precious family memories. And because every Nixplay customer has 10GB of free cloud storage for their photos and media, you can display so many more of your favorite photos.

And there we have it—a selection of minimalist home ideas designed to make your space feel clean, fresh and organic. Complete your space with a smart photo frame from Nixplay and you’re sure to have everything you need to revamp your home and make it feel cozy. So go ahead and put our minimalist design ideas to the test—we’d love to see the results!

How to Start a Photography Blog

By Alice Murray

On July 3, 2020

In Photography

Every creative professional has probably been asked the same question at one point in their career: “Why don’t you start a blog?

If you’re looking to build an online presence, starting a blog is the perfect way to add a little personality to your portfolio. As a photographer, your voice, passion, and identity are revealed in your approach to the art. With a photography blog, you can showcase your favorite snapshots in a public space where you can also discuss your techniques, the gear you use, and the projects you will undertake.

The thought may seem a little daunting at first, as you begin to wonder how to approach it. But don’t worry. We’ve pulled together some top tips on how to start a photography blog to help you exhibit your talent. Find out how to start your own photography blog, how to make money with a photography blog, and more below.

How To Start A Photo Blog

We’ve outlined the most important steps on how to blog photography on your own website to help get you started.

The Build
First things first, you need to build your blog from scratch. Here is a brief overview of the steps you need to take when setting up a photography blog:

Register a domain name – this is the “address” to your new “home” on the internet.
Set up website hosting
Install the software/CMS from your chosen blog site, e.g. WordPress
Choose a theme

If you can afford it, we recommend that you host your own blog. This means that you pay for your web server and website domain (it typically costs $10-$15 a month), and though you might pay a bit more, you can rest easy knowing that you own your own content and blog website.

The Design

Before choosing a theme for your blog, think about your content. Make sure it will naturally suit your chosen theme while reflecting your personality. Opting for a customizable theme is always preferable so you can make any necessary changes.

When choosing the design of your blog, also consider sticking to one column. This view typically offers the best reader experience and makes it “mobile optimized”, so your audience can read on their phones, whenever and wherever. This is important, as most web surfers are now accessing the internet from their phones and tablets. Also, try to keep your menu bar streamlined with as little options as possible to make it easier for the user to navigate.

The Content

When you start your first photography blog, it’s important to upload regular content to keep up with demand. So on the days that you can’t make it out for a special trip, ensure you’re still using your camera around your local area. And even if you may specialize in landscape or architectural photography, make sure you also include the odd portrait or a shot of something personal so that you can humanize your blog and give your readers a glimpse of the person behind the camera.

If you want to avoid posting your personal memories online but still want a way to showcase them and share them with loved ones, a Nixplay frame is your best bet. Simply display your snaps in your own home and share them with family and friends.

But a photography blog isn’t just about achieving the perfect shot. Add value by providing top tips on lighting, effects, or your favorite equipment. You could also take a more journalistic approach by expressing your opinions on a topic, or telling a story about what you saw through the viewfinder. Find the style that works best for you.

Your photography blog offers a place for you to curate and display your favorite shots, where readers can learn more about you and your work. But you don’t just have to post your own work on your blog. Why not share some insights with your readers, and make a post about your favorite artists? Just remember to give credit where credit is due, and acknowledge the other person behind the camera.

Before creating and posting content, you should consider your audience. Who are you targeting? What message do you want to send to your readers? Nailing down your target audience is a crucial part of setting up a photography blog that is destined for success.

Top Tips For Setting Up A Photography Blog

Discover our top tips on how to start a photography blog successfully:

Choose the right equipment for the job. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s a photography kit out there for you.
Think of a catchy domain name or handle. Think of one that users will remember and relate to.
If you’re starting out with a free blog like Wix or WordPress, you may want to consider upgrading to a professional account once your blog has gained some traction.
Never take your blog too seriously. Your photography blog is your personal playground, a place for you to share your photos, ideas, links, and inspiration. With technology, there are no limits.
Don’t get too hung up on stats like page views. These figures may fluctuate often, so checking them every day may make you feel unmotivated.

Just getting your skills started? Discover our top tips on how to get started in photography, from choosing the right equipment to taking the perfect shot.

How To Make Money With A Photography Blog

Professional photography is a competitive field, but there are several ways to monetize your blog so you can earn some dollars on the side. You can run display ads or sell your artwork, and there are photography sites available that will help you connect with potential buyers.

Then, once you’ve built up your audience, consider running photography workshops. You can engage with your readers, share your skills, and gain some extra cash. These might be online workshops or they might take place in your studio.

How To Start A Photography Instagram

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business on Instagram, you should approach it in a way similar to approaching a photography blog. However, followers often expect an Instagram feed to maintain a cohesive style or subject matter. Users typically decide whether to follow an account based on their latest nine images, so make sure that the top of your feed represents you and your style. Also use plenty of relevant, popular hashtags, follow similar accounts, and link out to your blog from your profile bio to gain more traffic.

And that’s how to start a photography blog! Hopefully, we’ve encouraged you to get started on setting up a photography blog to showcase your favorite snaps. If you’re looking for the best place to store your photos off the internet, perhaps you have some more private, personal photos that you don’t wish to share online, a digital frame is your best bet. For a completely personal solution, Nixplay digital photo frames come with ample storage, so you can share your favorite private memories with those who are closest to you, making it the perfect device for a professional photographer. Browse the collection online today.

Top Tips For Starting Out In Photography

How To Get Started In Photography: Top Tips

By Alice Murray

On June 11, 2020

In Photography

There’s never been a better time to pick up a new hobby. Whether it’s cooking, arts and crafts, learning a new language, or writing your own book, enhancing your personal skills in something you love is never a waste of time. And if what you love involves capturing memories, seeing the art in natural landscapes, or working with cool new gadgets, studying photography should be at the top of your to-do list.

Want to know how to get started in photography? Read our guide on photography tips for beginners, how to start a photography blog and which photography equipment you’ll need to make the most of your new favorite pastime.

someone using photography equipment for beginners

Basic Photography Tips For Beginners

While we mostly just use our phones to embrace our inner photographers, in reality, it takes a little more than that to go from a snap-happy amateur to a fully-fledged photography expert. And as they say, if it were easy, everyone would quit their day job and live off their hobby!

Just like any art, photography has to be learned and practiced—a lot. It is a trial and error process; we all start at the bottom and build our way up.

1. Choose The Right Photography Equipment

Before even starting to focus on what’s in front of you, you need to think more about what you’re using. Which photography equipment should you invest in when you’re doing photography as a hobby?

When you’re just getting started, you’ll want to choose user-friendly, simple photography equipment that is high-quality, but also easy to use. That doesn’t mean you need to go all out and instantly buy lighting, backdrops, and a whole bunch of props. At the very least, you will need a decent camera, a camera strap, an SD memory card with lots of storage space, a camera cleaning kit, and a photography bag. If you’re feeling really adventurous, a tripod is also a great purchase to make for achieving a smooth, still camera shot—especially when outdoors.

The tricky part of course, is deciding which camera to buy. As a beginner—or if you’re just doing photography as a hobby – a bridge camera is a great compromise to more expensive DSLRs and lenses. This will allow you to get an impressive zoom range but at a fraction of the cost of a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens. Most bridge cameras also have a variety of features, including full manual controls, shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, color balance, and metering. You can pick one up for as little as $100, which is a fair price to pay when you’re investing in your skillset.

2. Don’t Limit Yourself To One Style Of Photography

When thinking about how to get started in photography, you’ll likely be tempted to just focus on one type of photography that appeals to you. Of course, if you like portrait photography, then you should do that, but you should always keep your mind open to exploring other possibilities. This means working your way up and trying your hand at a variety of different styles, such as landscape, wildlife, still life, architecture, or even fashion.

A good place to start is by thinking about what you enjoy, or what brings out the emotional side of you. The more personal the photography is to you, the more likely you are to find your true muse.

3. Don’t Underestimate Photo Editing

While you’re learning how to take the perfect shot, how to master the art of angles, and how to capture the best lighting, you also need to know how to edit a photo once you’ve taken it. This is where post-processing comes in.

When you’re doing photography as a hobby or even just trying to grasp the most basic photography tips, you might underestimate the power of post-processing and editing—something that can truly make or break an image. Once you learn how to master software like Lightroom and Photoshop, your photography will become more like a start-to-end process, because you will automatically think about post-production.

If you want to get started using Photoshop, the best way to learn is to just play around, watch tutorials, and understand all the different tools at your disposal. Having the ability to edit and enhance your pictures can spell the difference between a great shot and a masterpiece.

4. Start A Photography Blog

What good is taking hundreds of mesmerizing and awe-inspiring photos if you’ve got nowhere to put them? By creating a blog, you can do much more than just upload your pictures. You can include captions and write descriptions that discuss the processes and techniques you used. Aside from being a great way to document your progress, it also gives like-minded people the boost to try it themselves.

If you’re wondering how to start a photography blog, you could first opt for creating a free blog on Wix or WordPress to initially build up your following and map out your blog style. Once you’ve noticed some traction on your blog, you might want to consider upgrading to a professional account. Starting a blog is an effective way to expand your network, gain followers, and work on your online presence. When you eventually upgrade to a paid offering, you can ditch the standard website handle and develop your very own website.

If you’re looking for a more powerful and unique way to display your photos around your own home, or if you’re looking for a way to share your photos with friends and family, you can’t go wrong with a Nixplay Frame. Not only will it allow you to show off your hard work in HD quality, but you’ll also be able to share it on several social media platforms. With Nixplay, you can arrange and organize your pictures in specific themed playlists, and you can even connect it to Google Home and Alexa devices so you can easily browse through your photos using just your voice! Displaying and sharing photos has never been more special.

5. Don’t Ignore Instagram

Speaking of social media, Instagram is one of the most obvious tools to utilize when you’re getting started in photography. If you’re wondering how to start a photography Instagram, or how to make the most of it, it’s not overly complicated. Once you’ve created your photography profile with a catchy handle, you can simply start uploading your photos. To gain more followers, try using popular hashtags, following lots of other relevant profiles, and linking out to your blog from your profile bio.

The higher the quality of your photos, the higher your engagement will be. And the more work you put into improving your Instagram presence, the better the outcome. That means spending a lot of your spare time liking, commenting, and reaching out to other Instagram users, posting at the busiest times of the day, creating effective captions, and most importantly, using the best filters and effects for your photos.

Hopefully our photography tips for beginners have encouraged you to get started. So, what are you waiting for? The camera is ready and the world is waiting! And if you’re looking for the best place to store your photos once you’ve switched the camera off, a Nixplay Frame is the way to go. Browse our collection today.

How To Create Family Connections With Nixplay

By Alice Murray

On June 4, 2020

In Lifestyle

Although we live in a world where we’re further apart than ever before, there are still ways to stay close. With more of us traveling to different places every year, working away from our hometowns, or moving further afield for college, it’s easy to become distant from the people we love. But what if we told you that there is a new, unique way to make and maintain family connections? Check out our guide on how to connect with family and how to stay in touch with long-distance family all over the globe.

How to Connect with Family

The go-to solution when we want to connect with family is to pick up the phone or send a quick text message. But sometimes even this simple action can slip through the net, making it difficult to touch base with everyone we care about regularly. It can be hard to check-in if you have a busy life or if you live on the other side of the country away from your family, especially if you have to factor in time differences and work commitments. It might be that you only have a five or ten-minute window each day to catch up with your mom or reach out to a friend. So, what can you do to let your loved ones know you’re always thinking of them?

A digital photo frame is the fresh new way to create family connections, and gives you the opportunity to make someone’s day, every day.

How to stay in touch with long-distance family

Building a family social network sounds great, but how does it work?

Meet the Bakers. After using Nixplay to create family connections, they can share special moments that go far beyond a phone call.

Creating a Private Social Network for Families

With Nixplay, you can send, receive, share and display photos and videos from anyone, no matter where they are in the world. You can link your frame up with Alexa, create personalized playlists with your favorite music and even connect your frame to Spotify, Instagram, Facebook and many more social channels. So, what does this mean for you? Put simply, you’ll be able to build your very own family social network, meaning you can wake up to a video message from gramps, or send a funny photo of your puppy to your mom. The perks of this? They can show off these priceless moments in their home, on a personal picture frame with a twist.

Gifts for Long Distance Family

Now you’ve discovered more about how to connect with family, why not get started on building your own family social network with Nixplay?
Whether you’re looking for a gift for long-distance family, or you want to try it for yourself, a Nixplay frame can revamp your home in more ways than one. Check out our collection of Wi-Fi frames, and learn more about the smart ways a digital photo frame can enhance your lifestyle.

7 Cool Tech Gadgets For Mom

By Alice Murray

On April 30, 2020

In Gifting Guides

Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat mom and shower her with gifts to show her just how much you care. Flowers and candy are always a crowd-pleaser, but why not make it a little extra special this year with our selection of Mother’s Day digital gifts? There’s no time like the present to get hunting for that perfect gift!

The Best Tech Gifts For Mother’s Day

Looking for a fun tech gift to give to mom this Mother’s Day? From indoor gardens to jewelry, we’ve pulled together a list of 7 cool tech gadgets for mom that are suitable for even the less tech-savvy parents out there. With a mix of thoughtful, practical, and humorous goodies, you can’t go wrong!

Hydroponic Garden Kit

With hydroponic gardening, your plants grow faster without the need for messy dirt. Minerals and nutrients are added to the water so that the plants begin to produce delicious fruits and vegetables, including lettuce, spinach, herbs, and even strawberries. So you can grow your own food at home without the need for digging and weeding!

It’s a fun and quirky way to harvest your own greens, herbs, and vegetables at home that comes with all the benefits of growing your own mini garden – without all the hard work. Ideal for those looking to add a spot of color to their kitchen décor, or for apartment moms with no access to a backyard.

Smart Jewelry

A fun tech twist on the classic gift for mom. Combine fashion and functionality to create the perfect Mother’s Day tech gift. From watches and bracelets, to necklaces, rings and even sunglasses, there are a range of smart jewelry pieces available on the market. Smart jewelry devices offer several tech uses, from tracking your breathing, sleep, activity and monthly cycles, to smart alarms that gently wake you in the morning. Although not every piece of smart jewelry has the same capabilities, so doing your research and finding something to suit mom is your best bet.

Smart Baby Monitor

Whether she’s a new mom or has a little one on the way, a smart baby monitor is the perfect gift. It connects to an app over WiFi, meaning you can easily monitor your baby from your mobile or tablet and unlike traditional designs, a smart monitor allows you to connect to multiple devices. Some smart baby monitors can also be paired to a home device like Alexa, so you can control the monitor with ease using your own voice.

You can monitor several children on one device by connecting to multiple cameras at the same time, which is ideal for moms who are juggling a busy household. A smart baby monitor is also the perfect gift if you’re working away from home and are missing your little ones – giving you a real-time view of what they’re up to.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

If you live in a busy household, this gift may also be a great way to give mom a break! Available in a range of sizes and styles, there’s a pair of noise cancelling headphones to suit every activity. As one of the best tech gifts for Mother’s Day, wireless headphones are ideal for night feeds, housework, exercise and much more. They’re also great when working from home, to block out the noise and focus on the task at hand. Choose this Mother’s Day tech gift and allow mom to sit back and relax.

Looking for an extra personal touch? Put together her very own personalized playlist with some of her favorite tunes to get her feeling motivated throughout the day.

Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Most of us have a love/hate relationship with household chores, so anything that can help us along the way is a bonus. Although a smart vacuum cleaner won’t take the place of your regular model, it can make your life a little easier throughout the week. A robot vacuum can also get into those niggly places that your upright vacuum can’t – like under the sofa or below the bed! Plus, prices range from $50 dollars to $2,000, so there’s something for every budget.

Virtual Home Assistant

Available at a range of price points, home assistants are perfect Mother’s Day tech gifts. As well as playing music and answering questions, a virtual assistant comes with several uses that are great for the whole family:

Telling your children a bedtime story: Turning bedtime into a slightly more enjoyable activity for the little ones.
Creating a household intercom system: Making shouting the kids down for dinner that little bit easier.
Playing games: A range of games are available to download, including quizzes, mysteries and some of the classics.
Managing finances: From checking your balance to making bank transfers.

Home assistants are also compatible with a range of home appliances and devices, including smart photo frames – the next choice in our selection of cool tech gadgets for mom.

Smart Frame

What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with a smart digital frame full of her favorite memories? The perfect way to share memories and make your mom feel extra special. Create a playlist full of your best family photos from over the years and get it set up ready for the morning. Better yet, why not pull together a selection of Mother’s Day photos from over the years to reminisce?

Available in a range of classic designs, there’s a Nixplay digital photo frame to suit every home décor and style. This Mother’s Day we’re also offering up to 30% off on selected frames until May 10th – find out more about how to treat your mom to the best tech gifts for Mother’s Day with Nixplay.

And that’s our list of 7 cool tech gadgets for mom! Now you’re all set to pick up the perfect Mother’s Day digital gifts to celebrate with the family. And don’t forget to share and display your Mother’s Day memories on your Nixplay digital photo frame. With the Nixplay app, using your frame has never been easier.