Last Articles

Just moved into your first apartment? Recently purchased your first home? Downsizing because the kids have left the nest? Whether you’re on the lookout for affordable decor or want to breathe new life into your space without breaking the bank, we have what you need to get it done with ease! To help inspire you, here are four ideas for decorating a room with a small budget.

Reading nook

It’s always nice to have a space for curling up with a good book. It’s easy to assumethat the costs of creating a reading nook that fits your style can quickly add up.  However, there are tons of little tricks to achieve the look you want for less! Sometimes, the solution is as simple as having fun with textiles! A new cushion, cozy rug and beautiful throw will instantly elevate your decor. Another way to update your space in a flash is with a colourful chair or stylish end table. Finally, trying out different home accents can completely change the tone of your room.  A few vases here, a new framed print or an accent lamp there, and you’re set!

Bathroom

Renovating a bathroom can cost a pretty penny. So why not try to revamp your bathroom while saving yourself all that work? Yes, it’s possible, and we have everything you will need for the task! First, adding shelves, a small shelving unit or even a bath caddy will instantly transform your decor, increase your storage space and give you a place to display new accents or cute little baskets. Talk about practical and stylish! Of course, another great way to refresh a bathroom is to change up your textiles. A colourful or bright white shower curtain and soft and cushy bath mat will steal the show at an affordable price. New practical and easy-to-clean accessories can also make all the difference in your decor. From mirrors and waste cans, to soap dispensers and trays, we have options for every style and budget. Shop our affordable bathroom collections.

Dining room

A dining room on a small budget? Impossible, you say? Not at all! By carefully choosing your furnishings, you can add warmth to your home while staying on budget. A dining table, four chairs and a light fixture, plus a rug and wall decor, will give your space a new look without draining your bank account!

Balcony

We all know how nice it is to enjoy the summer outdoors. And it’s even better when you can sit back in a cheerful and colourful environment. But how to achieve that ambiance without spending an arm and a leg? The Greensboro table for two proves that style doesn’t have to come at a cost! With its low price tag and compact size, it will fit in perfectly on your balcony or porch. Pair it with some pretty outdoor cushions and strand lights for memorable summer evenings!

As is

The “As Is” section on the top floor of our store located at 4246 rue St-Denis in Montreal is an excellent solution for finding lower-cost furniture, light fixtures and decor. The products, which are either the last of a collection or previous floor models, are updatedeach week—you can find some real gems!

See how easy it is to liven up your decor without going over budget? Adding a few decorative accessories, playing with colours and textiles or changing out a few pieces of furniture will transform your space!

Your turn to give it a try!

We all know the expression “blank page syndrome.” Well, how about applying the concept to your blank walls! It’s true that decorating your walls can be a real challenge. Frames are without a doubt one great solution for dressing up your space. Big or small, and featuring photos or art, they can be displayed solo or as a triptych or group, and styled traditionally or creatively! Find out how to present your paintings, prints, canvases or posters to suit every mood.

Canvases 

A framed canvas is a minimalist way to personalize any space. Your room will instantly become more original, warm or lively to suit your desires. Frames are a natural choice in a stairway or hallway, above a desk or bed, in the entrywayor even to make a statement in the dining room. You can take inspiration from the colour palette of your room or stick to a favourite piece.

Browse our selection of wall art:

Brume / Quatuor de craie / Collage série / Vallon / Margerite

Photo collage

Take a break from the virtual walls of social media and display your favourite photos on a real wall! Multi-photo frames are ideal for presenting travel memories or family portraits in one place. They’re the perfect solution for a small space, such as a bedroom, bathroom or in the entryway.

Frames

The advantage of adorning your walls with decorative frames is that you can play with shapes and sizes, colours and materials depending on your needs, preferences and space. Framing your own artworks, your children’s drawings or gorgeous illustrations is an affordable way to personalize your surroundings. Our wide selection of photo frames in all sizes will make it easy for you to surround yourself with memories that will make you smile.

Manu 8'' x 12'' / Aesthetic 12'' x 16 1/2'' / Feuilles 15'' x 19''  / Eva 19 1/2'' x 27 1/2'' / Simplo 5'' x 7''

Inspiration wall

It’s not always easy to arrange your frames on the wall with style and personality! That’s why we’ve created a “gallery wall” Pinterest board to inspire you to make your decor unique.

Often, the fear of making a mistake results in us leaving our walls blank, cold and impersonal. However, decorating your walls adds character and warmth to your home. Whether you use a variety of frames, a photo collage or a framed canvas, our team can guide you through our selection of framing items.

Though practical and functional, shelves and bookcases are also a decorating goldmine! Read on to discover how to maximize storage while adding a touch of style for a guaranteed wow factor. Without further ado, let’s look at how to style our shelves!

What to put on our shelves?

Styling shelves can quickly become a real challenge for many of us. To help you decorate your shelves, here is a list of items you might want to consider:

- Art pieces Whether you’re more the ornament, vase or canvas type, art pieces are always in style when it comes to decorating shelves or a bookcase. Showcase your favourite paintings and canvases by installing small lights on your shelves.

- Books Books on a bookshelf? Who would have thought! Nevertheless, you can still add some flair by arranging books in rainbow order or alternating vertical and horizontal stacks to create an interesting visual flow!

- Plants Real or not, plants and flowers will add a touch of life and colour to your shelves. Consider choosing hanging varieties for the perfect organic look.

- Mementos Mementos shouldn’t be buried inside a box in the basement. Honour your memories by proudly displaying them on your shelves or bookcase.

- A mirror When it comes to decorating, shelves and mirrors are a dynamic duo! Mirrors with unique shapes can easily add interest to a space. Mirrors can also have a big impact in smaller spaces, such as in an entryway or at the end of a hallway, by creating the illusion of size.

How to create that wow factor ?

Now that you have an idea of what to put on your shelves, how should you arrange everything? Shelves are an extension of a room’s design. Choose items in the same hues as your decor when deciding how to style your shelves. To give your shelves character, have fun with different textures for your decor, such as wood, ceramic, glass, metal, wicker and more! To create movement and depth on your shelves, play around with different heights, shapes and sizes. You can also reproduce this effect by following the “rule of three,” meaning by grouping three different decor items to create a whole, like in the image below.

Beautiful and functional

As a professional organizer, I am always looking for new ideas for maximizing space. In my opinion, shelves can serve as both decor and storage. For example, why not try an amazing basket to conceal everyday items like remotes, cables, phone chargers and other electronic equipment? This not only makes it possible to hide less aesthetically pleasing items, but also keeps you from constantly having to track them down!

Featured items: Asco / Archive / Solis / Montage / Bellwood

Dishware and food in plain sight

Open storage and shelves are growing in popularity in kitchens. They are a great way to display beautiful dishware and fancy glasses or, conversely, to store everyday dishware for super easy access. Cookbooks are another great feature on shelves. You can also use shelves to create a cozy coffee nook with your favourite mugs, syrup bottles and coffee in a pretty container. For a “farmhouse” look, try storing your dry goods, like pastas, grains and cereals, in gorgeous glass jars. On top of adding some character to the room, it will make it much easier to manage your supplies! No matter what you decide to add to your kitchen shelves, it’s important to choose what you want to display carefully considering the oils and dust that can accumulate over time.

Last word:

To enliven your spaces, why not change up the decor on your shelves according to the  season? Simple little thematic additions will make all the difference!

Sharing a meal with loved ones is magical. Laughs and stories are shared, as warm memories are made before our eyes that will forever fill our hearts. If you are hosting friends or family for the holidays, here are some festive ideas for decorating your holiday table. Happy Holidays!

Our ideas for your holiday table

For brunch

What a joy to entertain in the morning! The little ones play in the snow while the adults chat at the table over a steaming cup of coffee in a beautiful mug. Did somebody say mimosas? Served in elegant flutes, they will taste even more delicious and are perfect for raising a glass in a toast. Enjoy, it’s the holidays!

Featured items: Decorative tree / Clear champagne flutes / White serving bowl / Paper napkins / Cream plates

Traditional Christmas dinner

The classic Christmas dinner: a moment everyone eagerly awaits! When you’re hosting, your table is always well-appointed, and you always choose accessories that add that touch of ambiance. With a carefully selected tablecloth and impeccable plates and glasses, your stunning table will give the end of the year the celebration it deserves!

Featured items: Nutcracker ornament / Gold flatware place setting / Pine and fir festive garland / White dinnerware set / Napkin set

Appetizers

Want to spend more time with your guests? We love the tapas format! Arrange a variety of gourmet appetizers on stylish serving plates and wooden planks and, voila, dinner is served! Psst! Don’t be afraid to let your guests give you a hand in the kitchen or with serving. After all, it’s the holidays for everyone!

Featured items: Alabaster plate / Black candlestick / Walnut bowl / Napkin set / Clear cocktail glass 

We wish you a wonderful holiday season. Savour the present moment, look your guests in the eyes around your beautifully set holiday table and take the time to embrace your loved ones.

Happy Holidays from the Zone Maison team!

Optimizing space  An often small but always essential space, the bathroom is the place where optimizing space matters most! As a multi-purpose room, it needs to be practical without sacrificing aesthetics, not to mention pared down and calm to create a relaxing environment. In this blog post, we share our must-have accessories with you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service team if you have a special request or questions about our bathroom products. We are always happy to guide you in your new projects. 

Small details, big impact!  This is particularly true of our range of bath mats. We have minimalist items to suit every taste. We’ll start by showing you a few mats that are both beautiful and functional and will fit perfectly into your decor.

Refresh your bathroom for less  Simple, tidy, organized… the expectations for bathrooms are as big as the space can be small. Shop our ladders, hooks, toilet paper holders and shower curtains—we’re happy to show you our wide selection of practical items you can add to your bathroom to increase your comfort every day. While style sometimes leads us to go for a minimalist look, there’s no reason we can’t choose an attractive waste can, soap dish, mirror and toilet brush. 

Smart shower organization  Explore our wide range of practical and understated storage accessories to make your space more comfortable, functional and easy to clean. The simple and streamlined design of the Flex collection is ideal for instantly refreshing your bathroom’s appearance. This collection of wall-storage accessories will help you free up space on your shower floor. These practical accessories come with suction cups to keep them in place, shower after shower. 

Hardware collections  Add the finishing touch to your bathroom with our hardware collections: towel bars, toilet paper holders, and simple hooks and rings for your hand towels.

Bathroom collections  It’s also important to choose countertop accessories that are both stylish and timeless. We spend more time in this small room than we might think, so it makes sense to choose accessories that are both eye-pleasing and easy to clean.

Dressing up the counters  One of the first places we want to decorate when we move into a new space is the bathroom, in order to make it our own. We clean it, change the shower curtain and bath mat, and dress it up with some beautiful accessories!  

Let’s talk rugs  We often use runners in the entryway, the kitchen or simply alongside a wall to make our space more comfortable. But have you ever thought of using a runner in your bathroom? We don’t all have heated floors! So it can be nice, in winter and summer alike, to add a bit of warmth to the floor between the shower and toilet. Your feet will thank you for it! 

As July 1 approaches, many people have already begun preparing for their move…. As this process can quickly become a source of stress, we’ve laid out the basic steps for a stressfree move and the essentials to add to your shopping list! 

The first step of a successful move: sorting

Before you start packing your things into boxes, it is essential to sort through them to save yourself from moving items, furniture or accessories that are no longer your style or that no longer serve you. To quickly and effectively sort through your belongings, ask yourself the following three questions:    - Do I still use this?

- Do I still like this?

- Does it work well or is it broken/damaged?    If the answer is “no,” then simple: you can throw away, recycle or donate the item. Make a list of items that are broken or damaged to make it easier to shop for your new home. Now that everything is sorted, it’s about time to box everything up! 

Decor and furniture: big impact at a small price 

With a new home comes new decor! And what could be more fun than a shopping trip to pick out some new accessories? Don’t forget about decorative cushions, throws and rugs, which add comfort and warmth to any space! They’re also easy to coordinate with the furniture you already have. 

  Changing the light fixtures and lamps in your new home helps to modernize and refresh the space. Similarly, updating your seating options makes a big difference without having to replace all your furniture! Stylish new chairs are sure to create that wow factor without breaking the bank! For green thumbs, why not give your plants a new start with fresh planters? This simple change will have a large impact on the final look of a room. Speaking of the final look, new frames and posters will be sure to add interest to the walls of your new place! 

Gabrielle’s tip  If you are downsizing to a smaller house or apartment, here’s one way to maximize the space: use vertical space. This mirror with integrated hooks is a simple, effective and stylish storage solution for coats, handbags or dog leashes in the entryway! 

A fresh start 

Some rooms, like the bathroom, really need a fresh start. Over time, bacteria and mildew can take over your favourite accessories and be impossible to remove. Not to worry: say farewell and make room for a fresh start! In terms of bathroom accessories, don’t hesitate to invest in a new shower curtain, bathmat or waste can! The bathroom section is overflowing with high-quality items at very reasonable prices! Bathrooms, which are often small spaces, are easy to personalize. Add a touch of greenery, a pretty frame and some beautiful countertop accessories, and you’re all set! 

In closing, one of the easiest ways to make a new space your own is through scent! What better than a candle to add your personal flair and eliminate odours from previous residents? A beautiful vase and your favorite bouquet of flowers are also a great way to make your new space your own.

  When you’re packing your boxes, make a clear and detailed label of what’s inside. This will make unpacking much easier. As a matter of fact, all it takes for a successful move is to be well organized!    Happy moving! 

Author: Gabrielle Breton

The art of outdoor living 

With the beautiful weather ahead and everything in full bloom, it’s hard not to jump for joy thinking about returning to our patios. New cushions, new decorations, why not some new furniture? Anything goes! We wanted to share a few items that will give your outdoor spaces that special something so you can enjoy them to the fullest.

Oh, what a beautiful table!

If you enjoy entertaining and spending quality time with friends and family around the table, what better accompaniment than colourful and stylish embellishments? From the tablecloth, to the flatware and water pitcher, consider every detail for that guaranteed WOW factor! 

Garden furniture makes all the difference!

Is your outdoor furniture tired (or are you tired of looking at it!) and in need of a change? Have you been thinking about revamping your living area with a new living room set for lounging in the yard? We have a selection of practical, comfortable and 100% elegant pieces to make your summer even better! 

Are you ready for those long summer nights?

We have curated a selection of charming accessories that marry form and function for your summer evenings. Like outdoor cushions, rattan mirrors, doormats, throws or our collection of outdoor lamps.

Author: Les radieuses magazine

Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough storage space? Even after several decluttering sessions in each room, you still struggle to keep your home organized. Your worries are over: I have the solution for you! Today, in collaboration with Zone Maison, I am sharing my five favourite storage accessories for a more spacious and, most importantly, less cluttered home!

For the shoe fanatics

Running out of space for your many pairs of shoes? If so, you absolutely must get your hands on this shoe shelf that can hold not just one, but two pairs of shoes. It’s the perfect storage solution for small spaces that can’t accommodate a traditional shoe rack.

Its minimalist look and small profile make this shelf a must for small entryways or closets. Use it to hold your everyday shoes or boots and free up hall space. No more stumbling over a mountain of shoes every time you come through your door! It’s also small enough to fit on top of your closet to store the rest of your shoe collection!

Gabrielle’s tip:

One of the simplest ways to limit clutter and create the illusion of space is to choose storage solutions that make use of vertical space, like this shelf. By taking advantage of height, you reduce the amount of floor and counter space that is occupied!

Even though this shelf is designed to hold shoes, you could also use it in the kitchen to store your dishes, pans or bowls.

No more paper towels taking up counter space

Link: 

https://www.zonemaison.com/en/products/cuisine/rangement/squire/20675-NOIR/multi-use-paper-towel-holder-black 

The paper towel holder is a key storage accessory if you’re looking to save space on your countertop. I love using this kind of storage because it’s affordable and doesn’t require any tools to install. This makes it a great solution for apartments and condos and for those who aren’t the handy type! However, you also have the option of mounting it on the backsplash for a custom look.

The paper towel holder is also available in white. In short, no matter which colour you prefer, this accessory will add some style to your kitchen.

Hooks for everyone in the family

Link: https://www.zonemaison.com/en/products/rangement/entree-et-dressing/flip/12696-NATUREL/wall-hooks-natural

Whether you choose to hang them in an empty corner of your entryway or on the back of a door, these flip-down wall hooks are the perfect storage solution for spaces where the closets are too small, too full or simply nonexistent! In the entryway, use them to hang the most frequently worn coats, handbags and backpacks or the reusable grocery bags that are so easy to forget on your way out!

In the bedroom, why not hang tomorrow’s outfits for all your kids? This small step will save you precious minutes in the morning chaos and encourage their learning.

These wall hooks are definitely one of my favourite picks when it comes to maximizing storage space. They are compact and match every decor with their sleek, modern design. They are also very durable, and each hook can support up to 5 lbs. A dark wood version is also available.

One basket, so many possibilities

When it comes to organization and storage, wicker baskets are a real gold mine! Both trendy and functional, there are so many ways to incorporate them into your decor to keep things tidy. One idea is to use them to store accessories in the entryway. You can put 2 or 3 baskets under a console or small table to stow your outdoor accessories, slippers, bags and more! In addition to reducing visual clutter by keeping your objects out of sight, they add a touch of style to any space.

These baskets are also perfect for storing blankets in the living room! Simply roll up your throws, and in the basket they go! Easy, accessible and visually pleasing—what more could you ask for?

The “5 minute” basket

What’s a “5 minute” basket, you ask? It’s a basket where you gather everything that needs to go to another room. For example, when it comes time to tidy up the house at the end of the day, go around with your “5 minute” basket. What do you do with it? As you go from room to room, put any items that belong somewhere else in your basket and, once you’ve gathered everything, go put it all away! The basket will keep you from having to go back and forth between rooms. Once you’re all done, put the empty basket away and you’re good to go!

In short, even if you have limited space, there are so many affordable, simple and beautiful accessories to free up space and keep things organized. Do you plan to try one of these solutions soon?

Gabrielle Breton

Professional Organizer and Founder of OBI