Asian Inspired Home Decorating

Asian Inspired Home Decorating

Few home decorating themes capture the imagination quite like an Asian inspired theme. One reason is rich colors, fabrics, and textures that are the hallmark of Asian style decor. Asian décor inspires a simplistic elegance that is almost impossible to imitate with other decorating styles. Isn't it stunning to walk into a room or a home that has been decorated in an Asian inspired motif.

Beware, this is not a bargain style of décor. The simple, almost stark elegance comes at a rather high price for the average consumer. However, the minimalistic aspect of this home decorating style makes it possible when other styles with this sort of price tag would not be possible. Asian style décor relies heavily on color and texture.

Dining rooms are particularly stunning when decorated in an Asian flair. In this room not only can the furniture added to the room serve to improve and enhance the décor but also the placemats and linens on the table can serve as an important to
tool in establishing the theme of this elegant room. Chopsticks and dishes, particularly tea servings are other great accessories which enhance an Asian dining room.

You don't have to decorate every room in your home in the Asian theme. Due to the expense involved in many Asian themed home decorating styles, it is recommended that only one or two rooms in the home should be created based upon an Asian theme. This will keep your costs down as well as make those rooms the focal points in the home rather than having the splendor lost in excess.

Which two rooms? In addition to the dining room, the bathroom is another excellent room in which to incorporate an Asian inspired theme. The bathroom is the room in which people go to relax and wash away the worries and stress of the day. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that some of the more tranquil and relaxing design accents of an Asian décor would be appropriate. Candles, figurines, calligraphy (waterproof of course), and Asian artwork make excellent accessories for a bathroom, as do the more tranquil wall colors of some Asian inspired rooms. Fountains are another beatiful addition to the room for an added sense of relaxation. Be sure that there is plenty of storage space. Clean lines and an uncluttered surface are important for the overall peaceful affect you are hoping to achieve.

If the dining room or bath are not areas of your home in which you desire fan Asian theme you may want to take the theme into your bedroom. In the bedroom use fabrics to create a romantic atmosphere, rice paper window coverings for privacy, and candles throughout the room to finish off the creation. Furnishings in the bedroom should be sparse and uncluttered. Use Asian screens to 'section off' the room or hide the piles of laundry or cluttered areas. Fans make a lovely decoration for the walls in a bedroom as does other types of Oriental art or framed calligraphy in the words of love. Use wall sconces and indirect lighting instead of harsh, glaring overhead lights.

An Asian theme can be one of the most elegant and peaceful in the realm of home decorating if you are truly willing to invest the time and money it takes to do this theme properly. Beware! If you choose cheap and tacky decorations rather than quality accessories, it can also be one of the most gaudy . If you choose to incorporate an Asian theme into your home I hope you will keep that in mind while you are shopping.

If you are interested in more information about decorating in the Asian style, find out more about Feng Shui the art of living in the Asian style. Feng Shui incorporates the art of "placement" or how to place furnishings, artwork, and other pieces in the correct areas of the home for the proper flow of energy through the home, and much more..... This book, Home Design With Feng Shui A-Z (Hay House Lifestyles) is one of the easiest to use, and best that we have found to date. Give it a try!

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Winter Decorating Ideas

Winter Decorating Ideas

Too many people begin the winter home decorating process with a bang only to end with a whimper, while far too few people realize that Christmas is only the beginning of the winter season. Although Christmas decorations are a lovely addition, they are also a temporary decorative addition in most homes lasting no more than a month if that long. This leaves at least two more months of winter with a sparsely decorated home in many cases.

There are many things that are associated with the winter season. However, many of these things have been grouped under the category of Christmas décor and their value as simple hallmarks of winter have been forgotten or relegated to the mere distinction of yet another Christmas decoration. Winter months for much of the world are long and cold. Anything that adds a feeling of warmth and cheer to the home is usually an excellent idea as a winter home decoration.

Believe it or not, hibernating animals for many people inspire a feeling of winter. For example, try using black bears as a home decorating theme to make your home feel a little more cozy and better prepared for the long cold nights of wintertime. Flannel fabrics in warm reds and blues are a great companion to these delightful black bears and can be used in throws, bedding, and curtains in order to complete the look with style and finesse.



In fact, you might want to throw in a few flannel pillows so that you can try to hibernate along with the cuddly black bears. Bears and other animals are popular home decorations these days so you should have no problem finding a bear or two. Another very popular animal motif these days is the penguin. You can find them everywhere unless you happen to be in my neighborhood because I've probably snapped them all up already.


Do you have a fireplace? I can't say enough about the ability of a nice roaring fire to add warmth and a wintertime glow to almost any room. It really isn't winter for many people unless there is a nice fire burning in the grate. The warmth is more than merely physical; it is also soul soothing and comforting to watch a fire burning brightly before your eyes while warming your cold hands, feet, and backside after coming in from a nice afternoon of sledding. fireplace can add a touch of romance to your winter nights so be sure to keep cozy blankets and candles close by as well.



Speaking of candles. Much like a fireplace candles and oil lamps add a warm cheerfulness to the rooms they touch. There are certain fragrances that are perfect for wintertime candle burning. An appropriate fragrance in the winter months provides the soft glow and ambiance that makes the world seem so much smaller and friendlier in the process. Keep this in mind when you go shopping for your winter home decorating accessories as well as the fact that fragrances matter when creating an atmosphere so choose the fragrances appropriately to the season.

The oil lamps pictured here, are handmade, mouth blown glass vessels that may be used as oil lamps, reed diffusers (for fragrance), or vases. I love them because they are so versatile. I have several shapes and sizes that are offered by Coni Art Glass. In the dining room I use several small ones in different shapes and sizes as bud vases. In the bedroom, as reed diffusers, and in my living room as oil lamps to provide soft, beautiful lighting.


Don't forget to use pillows and blankets in your winter decorating to add layers of warmth and comfort as well as visual appeal. Isn't it amazing how these items convince the mind that you that you are warm, safe, and happy when you are surrounded by warmth. However, if blankets and pillows lining your sofas and chairs doesn't convince you there is always the option of just bundling up and letting your body convince your mind. Thereis something so soothing about the comfort and close softness of the pillows and blankets whether you are in perfect health or really feeling the chill of winter down to your bones.

Whatever you do this year, don't let the celebration of winter end when you take the Christmas tree down. Use one of these many ways to incorporate warmth into your home decorating style that only winter can accommodate. Embrace the season with affection and laughter and all that enter your home will be charmed by the charming atmosphere inside.



winter decorating ideas

Small Table Christmas Decorations

Small Table Christmas Decorations

Often we have a small area, such as a small table to decorate for the holidays. Here are some ideas for small table Christmas decorations.

If you live in an area where pine trees are abundant, don't hesitate to decorate with nature. Use small branches and pine cones to add fragrance and beauty to any area of your home. Holly is another great plant that grows in many parts of the US that can be cut and brought indoors for the holidays.

Another idea is to use small candles, small oil burning lamps, or reed diffusers in holiday colors. They will add fragrance and color to your small table area, creating a focal point for your room.

Small Table Christmas Decorations

Decorating with Elegant Christmas Decorations

Decorating with Elegant Christmas Decorations

Every year, millions of Americans decorate their homes for the upcoming holiday season. Are you one of those people? If so, what kind of Christmas decorations do you plan to use? While you may not think that there is a difference in Christmas decorations, there is. The difference is often in the overall quality of materials used, as well as the design. If you have not started decorating for Christmas, you may want to think about decorating your home with elegant Christmas decorations, which are very en vogue this year. You will find that there are a number of benefits when doing so.

Before we focus on those benefits, let's take a look at elegant Christmas decorations, namely what they are and from where they can be purchased. When it comes to elegant Christmas decorations, you will find that each individual will have a different view of what it is. Despite these many different views, you will usually find that elegant Christmas decorations simply look better than most other decorations. For example, instead of using cardboard to create a table centerpiece, an elegant Christmas decoration would likely include a porcelain, crystal or glass centerpiece. Likewise, handmade, mouth blown glass ball ornaments from Europe, such as the ones pictured above, look much nicer than plastic ornaments, and so on....

In addition to the refined look of elegant Christmas decorations, you will also find that their cost is different. In most cases, you will find that the more elegant Christmas decorations cost more than some of the traditional decorations. Aside from the better quality materials and design, you will find that this has to do with where you can purchase the decorations. Usually the most elegant Christmas decorations can be purchased online, from specialty retailers, or from specialty Christmas stores. Many of these retailers are priced higher than others. One of the reasons for that is because most elegant Christmas decorations are handcrafted. A large amount of time, and skill go into creating handcrafted Christmas decorations; thus the increase in costs.

Perhaps, the greatest benefit of using elegant Christmas decorations to decorate your home is the feel they will create. Elegant Christmas decorations tend to create a more formal or elegant feel or environment. If you take great pride in your home, you will also be proud of the results created when using elegant Christmas decorations. Your guests will be impressed as well.

If you are planning a Christmas party or dinner in your home, elegant Christmas decorations can help set the mood and tone, especially if your party or dinner will be more elegant or formal in nature. It is no secret that decorations are the key to any party. The decorations that you use will likely have an impact on the mood of your party; therefore, if elegant and formal is what you were going for, elegant Christmas decorations may do just the trick.

Elegant Christmas decorations can add just the right ambiance and environment that you are planning; however, you do not have to only use formal decorations. It is your home, your own personal space, so decorate with what makes you feel the most comfortable.

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Holiday Entertaining Made Easier - Find Free Recipes Fast

With the holidays just around the corner you're all probably busy decorating and shopping. There is so little time to plan a good meal and cook these days, but you may be looking forward to entertaining friends and relatives in your home.

Here is a life saver - the recipe toolbar. Just download it and you're ready to look up any recipe that you need for your holiday entertaining, or just a simple family dinner.

I've been using it for a while now, and want to share this great tool with you, too.

Give it a try, you are going to love it!

Tag: find holiday recipes

Room Colors and Feng Shui

Room Colors and Feng Shui

When it comes to Feng Shui home decorating, designers should not forget the subject of Feng Shui colors.

The entire Chinese culture is based on the metaphysical system of "I-Ching," which classifies everything in the universe into "Yin" and "Yang." This "Yin/Yang" concept further branches itself into the "5 Elements," which are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. From here comes the interesting concept of the manipulation of the various forms of these elements.

For example, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lungs are of the Metal element; the kidneys, water; the liver, wood; the heart, fire, and the stomach, earth. It's the careful balancing of these five elements in the forms of their various representations that this type of medicine, one of the finest and oldest in the world, has been founded upon.

At the same time, in Feng Shui, the directions are also classified into different elements: West is of the Metal element; North, water; East, wood; South, Fire and center, earth. Thus the whole game of Feng Shui home decorating is just how well these 5 elements are utilized according to the unique characteristics each element dictates.

In terms of Feng Shui colors, "Metal" is represented by the colors "golden, silver, and white," whereas "Water" is "blue, gray and black;" "Wood," "green and wooden-like;" "Fire," "red, orange, pink and purple" and "Earth," "brown and yellow."

Of course, the utilization of these elements can be carried out in a very general way. But one can also go very deep and be very precise in the presentation of their significance in a very detailed fashion.

For example, it is often read from many a book on the subject of Feng Shui that, in order to enhance the well-being of the Eastern part of the house, one can simply put more of what represents the Wood element over there, such as plants, green pictures, wooden furniture, etc. just because East is Wood.

But this practice is, although partially correct in theory, very misleading in actuality because that is not how Feng Shui decorating is to be done.

Ancient Feng Shui texts dictate that one is to deduce the correct choices for element employment from the further interaction of the "Yin" and "Yang," rather than just with the elements themselves.

In other words, the true Feng Shui master will order the employment of various elements based upon not just the directions themselves, but the configuration of the "Flying Star Feng Shui" which is a calculation methodology that blends together the interactions among the 5 elements in various dimensions. Namely, such methodology takes into account the time space spectrum to come up with the "Flying Star Table" which will serve as the blueprint for authentic Feng Shui tips to be applied.

To completely understand the "Flying Star Feng Shui" methodology will take a very long time of thorough study; however, to apply what it reveals can be easily done - just as one doesn't have to be an electrician to be able to use electricity by flipping a switch.

Therefore, the most correct applications of the Feng Shui colors will only be done in accordance with the configurations dictated by the "Flying Star table" itself. Hence the need to come up with the most appropriate set of numbers within the "Flying Star table" with which to reflect the various positions of these 5 elements before the right Feng Shui colors are put onto the right place.

Tags: feng shui colors

Decorative Aromatherapy Reed Diffusers

Decorative Aromatherapy Reed Diffusers

A good alternative to scented candles is the aromatherapy reed diffuser to bring an ambiance to your spaces. These lovely diffusers are not just decorative, but also are a safe choice for people with pets or children, or anyone who doesn't want to use an open flame when scenting a room. We found these at ConiArtGlass.com where glass artist Cornel Plescan offers a variety of shapes and sizes of handmade, mouth blown vessels which may be used as vases, reed diffusers or oil lamps. He provides the reeds or oil lamp hardware at your request. Prices start at $15 retail, but he also sells at discounted wholesale prices for store owners or anyone buying in larger quantities.

Tags: Decorative Aromatherapy Reed Diffusers

Christmas Home Decorating

Christmas Home Decorating

When it comes to decorating, Christmas is the one time of year that most people pull out all the stops. There is no such thing as excess and the person who gets started last is the one who often finishes last. Every year the trees, displays, lights, and sounds grow larger and more complex. Unfortunately, most people cannot keep up with the newest, latest, and greatest in Christmas decorations. However, these people should not worry. Christmas is a celebration of good will and not a competition to have the biggest or brightest display (at least that is what it should be).

Hopefully, some of the ideas below will help you enjoy decorating your home for Christmas. It is important that you choose Christmas decorations that have meaning for you rather than the decorations you feel your friends and family will like. Christmas is very personal. Different people celebrate the holiday in different ways, according to their family or cultural traditions. Therefore, not everyone that celebrates the Christmas holiday will celebrate in precisely the same way.

I am a fan of Christmas decorations . I love blinking lights and the beauty of the greenery mixed with bright shades of red and gold. I love how 200 different houses can be decorated for Christmas inside and out without any two looking the same. I love the fact that for one month out of the year children of all ages are looking out their windows in awe at the bright lights and the cheery characters that light up the cold wintry rooftops all around.

If you don't have any decorating ideas of your own, my best suggestion is to pick what you like most about Christmas and choose your home decorating style around that one thing. As the years go by, inspiration will strike, and you will find more things to like or dislike about Christmas. Your decorations can change accordingly. Maybe the best thing about decorating your home for Christmas is that nothing is set in stone. Be creative and decorate in your own style, and with what you love.

Some great ideas or themes for Christmas decorating in the home, office or elsewhere, include the following: snow globes, glass ball ornaments, cherubs, angels, Santa Clauses, snowmen, birds, candles, wreathes, and stockings. While this is by no means an full list of Christmas decorations it is a good place to start when ideas are needed. Favorites of my family include a nativity, gingerbread men, gingerbread houses, balls, grape clusters, and ribbons.

There are many wonderful ideas and resources when it comes to decorating your home for Christmas that it is incredibly difficult to point to one specific idea and say ‘this is it’. However, finding a theme that speaks to your heart is what Christmas is all about. That and spending time with those persons who mean the most to you in the world.

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Decorating with Art for Those on a Budget

Decorating with Art for Those on a Budget

Decorating your home can be fun, but so many people neglect to decorate their home because they are afraid that it will cost too much. Home decorating doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor. Even if the look you're hope to achieve is on the elaborate end of the spectrum, it is possible to create a change that will make you smile both when you look at your home and in your pocketbook.


Try to make small changes over time instead of one huge change. Artwork is one way to make a big difference in the look of your rooms and is a decorating idea that you can easily reverse if you don't like how it looks.

What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a home? Probably the walls, right? Walls surround the home, giving a thematic impression. If your walls are empty you've got to get to work to on them. Wall hangings can often be expensive, but that's only if you purchase something by a famous dead artist.

You can create your own artwork without having any art education whatsoever. First, consider your theme. Let's say you want add some small artwork to a bathroom. You could consider framing some beautiful sea shells. Simply arrange the shells creatively onto either a sheet of colored paper or onto fabric, and frame them.

If you have hundreds of pictures and have no idea what to do with them, you could arrange the photos into a huge wall photo collage. Examples include pictures of places you have visited, weddings, or children growing up. Although it's more fun creating your collage yourself, there are companies that will create one for you. One of my favorites is SmugMug. They'll mount your digital prints on canvas, ceramic tiles and more, to create a work of art that no one else will have but you!

Consider pressing leaves or flowers and framing your work; the best ones to use are flat. Place the leaves or flowers in a book, with papertowels on each side, to allow them to dry flat. As soon as they become crisp, they are ready to be framed. It shouldn't take longer than a week or two for them to dry.

You are only limited by your imagination when you decorate your home with artwork. Be creative. Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of art - artwork is easily reversible.

So, be imaginative and creative and design your artwork.

Tag: decorate home art budget

Brighten Up Your Home with Candles and Oil Lamps

Brighten Up Your Home with Candles and Oil Lamps

These days candles and oil lamps are available in many shapes and sizes, and in a range of scents. Round, votive, tapered or multi colored are all just a few examples. Here are some ways to use candles and oil lamps to brighten up your home decorating.

Candle light can make an attractive addition to the decorations in your home. Scented candles or oils delight the senses and bring relaxation at the same time. Use them in the bathroom to create a romantic focal point when you are with someone special, or they can help you relax with a good book. Be careful not to let the candles tip over the edge of the tub. The heavier jar candles or oil lamps won't slide off easily and can be a good choice.

Make great looking decorations on an end or coffee table using tea candles, which are inexpensive. The candles can be scented if you like. Place them inside heavy glass cups, votives, or quality stemmed glassware is a great way to make a beautiful impression.

Show your creativity when you use tealight candles to make a dramatic display on your fireplace mantle. Long tapered candles are good accents for flower arrangements on the dining room table. Use the smokeless and non drip candles for the best and most enjoyable eff, and keep the greenery in the floral arrangement away from the flame.

Another idea is to use glittered candles. Just roll the candles in glitter for a dramatic elegance.

Pillar candles tend to be large and heavy, but can be used in many places in your home for a glorious effect of light. You don't need a special holder for these candles, although you can find lovely decorated candle rings at stores like Michael's, or use a nice plate or tray filled with stones or seashells.

You can use small or large plates, trays, deep soup bowls or even large serving platters to create a fresh look. Displaying several pillar candles in different sizes together makes for an awesome display. A word of warning - keep the candles at least three inches apart to prevent them from melting into each other.

There are other types of oil lamps and candles that you can use to decorate your home. Create dramatic effects using floating candles in your pool for an outdoor party. Use your imagination and creativity.

A final word of caution: If you use candles or oil lamps in your home, always think safety first. Never leave candles or an open flame burning overnight, or in an enclosed room with no ventilation. Dangerous fumes like carbon monoxide can build up, or a stray flame can cause a fire.

Be careful to place candles so that they won't fall over, and never allow young children to have candles in their rooms withoutstrict supervision. Always be extra cautious when burning candles in your house.

Tags: oil lamps candles decorate home house

10 Ways to Give a Room an Inexpensive Facelift

10 Ways to Give a Room an Inexpensive Facelift

It does not have to be expensive or difficult to decorate a room in your home . You can often achieve fabulous design results by spending small amounts of money on items that make a big impact, or by using items you already own. (Don't forget to check out your Grandmother's attic.)

1. Paint will achieve the most dramatic difference and the most "bang for your buck" for your home. New paint automatically gives a room a fresh look for minimal cost; and, if you are able to do the work yourself, then there are even more savings.
2. Rearrange your furniture. Try different configurations to see what adds space to the area, or alternatively to make a large room more cozy. Sometimes we get so used to a room as it is that we tend to forget to try the easy fixes.
3. Bring pieces of furniture or other items in from other rooms. Or if a room is over crowded, take some pieces out. This is virtually cost-free and can make a huge difference in a room's look and comfort level. Use your imagination.
4. Adding or changing the window coverings can create a different look and pulls a room together. Use fabric or materials that fit in with the rest of the room's decor. Save up to 85% Off Curtains & Draperies at American Blinds, Wallpaper & More
   
5. Cover a sofa or chair with a beautiful throw or slipcover. It is a quick and inexpensive way to dress up old worn furniture.
6. Use linens such as tablecloths to decorate tables, or new towels to spruce up a bathroom. Linens are an inexpensive and fun way to change a room. And, you can decorate for any number of seasonal or holiday themes with linens.
7. Use different lighting effects to change the setting and bring an ambiance to your room. Often, just moving a light fixture or lamp to a different location in a room can make a big difference.
8. Use plants to decorate, if you have a green thumb. Nice plants are a great way to add a sense of newness to a space. If you do not have a green thumb, consider very nice silk trees, flowers and plant. Today, they are very life like, and easy to take care of.
9. Add art or pictures to the walls. Be creative. Make a collage of the places you've been, your kids, or grandchildren. Something as simple as a favorite photo blown up and put into an old picture frame can create a beautiful look.
10. Try an area rug to change the look of a room. If you try laying the rug at different angles, you can achieve a look that is out of the ordinary.

Use your imagination and some of these decorating tips. You may just be able to make it look as if you spent a fortune and put a huge amount of work into the decor. Sometimes the best designs are the simplest and least expensive.

Tags: decorating on a budget

Faux Finishes are Hot – Bare Walls are Not!

Faux Finishes are Hot – Bare Walls are Not!

Ever seen an artistic wall finish that doesn’t look like wallpaper or regular paint? It just might be a faux finish.

Faux finishes are the latest home improvement craze. A faux finish can be applied to any type of wall surface including dry wall, metal, glass, ceramic, wood, etc.; however, preparation for each type of surface varies.

Faux finishes tend to last longer than wallpaper. Because it's not paper, it will never peel off. And if you tire of it, you'll never have the tiresome chore of trying to peel it off!

A faux wall finish can be coated with polyurethane that is available in satin, matte, or semi-gloss texture for a longer lasting appeal.

There are several different techniques that can be done with faux finishing. Usually the condition of the wall surface determines the best technique to use to hide any imperfections.

With the various techniques possible with faux finishes, a small room can appear larger and more spacious, or a larger room can become cozier.

Faux Finishing Basics

Like any other paint project, the wall surface you wish to paint should be prepared to obtain a long lasting finish. With proper preparation of the wall surface, almost any type of paint can be applied to any surface and be long lasting.

How do you prepare a surface for painting? Simple, make certain that the wall is very clean. Clean interior surfaces with soap and water; however, if mold or mildew is present, use a very mild bleach solution to get rid of them. For exterior surfaces, some scrubbing with a bristle brush may be required - just make sure that the surface is well cleaned.

Once the surface is clean and dried, you can start with your project. There are no special rules to follow when doing faux finishes - do whatever you want to create the desired appearance.

There are techniques that can be applied and instructions available to help you with your first project to get the effect you desire.

First, before you start, gather together all of the necessary tools. The most common tools that you will need are the primer, glaze, coating, brushes, rollers, paint tray, water bucket, gloves, rags, soap, water, and technique-specific materials such as a sponge, feather, and wood-graining tools.

Color is one major consideration in faux finishes. Since you can be as artistic as you would like to get attain the desired effect, you may want to try color blending or other combinations. The paint stores will often have examples, too. If decide to try blending colors, be careful to use only colors within the same color group. You can probably use the same base color with different shades which will be more pleasing to the eye than trying to combine contrasting colors.

Before you start applying the finish to the surface itself - experiment first by using a small piece of the same surface that you will be placing the finish on, or if that's not possible try a small piece of wood. By experimenting, you can practice the technique and also see how it will look. Then you can decide whether to continue with that finish or try a different one.

Here are some examples of the different techniques of faux finishing:

• Color blocking – this is when there are different shades of a base color shaped as big blocks; this technique is ideal for nursery rooms.
• Smooshing – this is a simple marble effect, something like moiré wallpaper.
• Stripe – this uses different variations and shades of one color for a soft effect.
• Shadow Striping – if a striped tone-on-tone technique to make an elegant wall finish.
• Terracotta tile – a durable alternative to terracotta tiles; and only a fraction of the cost of the real thing.
• Fresco – is used for a mottled, parchment look.
• Copper patina –is ideal for kitchen surfaces because it provides a rich texture from the old country.
• Golden glaze – has a soft texture that adds a glimmering touch to a room.

Faux finishes are hot! Use your creativity and imagination to obtain your desirable effect. Don't have just plain painted walls! Try an artistic faux finish which will last for a long period of time just like a normal paint. It’s faux, it’s practical, its hot!

Tags: faux finishes

4 Easy Tips to Vamp up Your Interiors without Overspending

4 Easy Tips to Vamp up Your Interiors without Overspending

With the holidays just around the corner, you may be thinking about sprucing up your spaces; however, if you are on a tight budget you may not see any way to do so. Not a problem, there are many ways to improve your surroundings without spending a bundle.

Everybody likes to have a nice and cozy place to come home to at the end of a long grueling day, but not everyone has the talent or creativity to glamorize their home without spending excessively.

If you are on a tight budget but want your home to have an updated appearance and be more comfortable, here are four ideas for you:

1. Opt for high quality products.
   Think you're getting the best deal with cheap home products? Well, the truth is you might actually spend more by using these products rather than choosing those of good quality.


2. Use smart decorating techniques.
   Liven up a dark room with warm colored paints. Alternatively, if the room is so sunny that it always gets hot, cooler paint colors such as green or blue will give it a lighter, cooler feel. Keep in mind that paint colors should coordinate with your fixed interiors such as the furniture and curtains.
   
   Use mirrors to create the illusion of spaciousness in narrow spaces. White or lighter colored paint will make a room appear less cramped. Just must make sure all of the other furnishings' colors coordinate with the paint you choose to create this effect.
   
   One person's trash could be another's treasure. Sometimes all a bargain store or garage sale piece of furniture or other item needs is a bit of retouching, reupholstering or just a strategic spot to place it to add ambience to a room.


3. Recycle.
   Use your grandmother's old boxes, bottles, or linens. Spray painting old itmes with bronze or gold paint can turn them into instant home decor treasures. Recycle old newspaper or other paper into papier-mâché. It could be fun activity for the whole family.
   
   Make use of old decorative scarves as wall decor. Or, create a very personalized theme in your house by greatly enlarging photos to use as room dividers or have them made into mosaics.


4. Ask for nature's help.
   If you have a “green thumb”, use it when decorating your spaces. Creative use of plants will liven up any space, whether at home or at work. Just make sure they're well-maintained and put plants and flowers where they won't make a mess if they shed their leaves.
   

Tags: decorating on a budget

Spruce up your Kitchen and Tabletop

Spruce up your kitchen with the latest Le Creuset color - a beautiful Caribbean blue! This cookware is perfect for the holidays, and also makes a great gift.

It's highly functional oven or cooktop to table functionality makes it a great way to decorate your holiday table. Of course it comes in many other lovely colors including cherry red, kiwi, and chestnut.

Check Out The newest Le Creuset Color: Caribbean

Affordable Fall Decorations

Affordable fall decorations.

Celebrate autumn with affordable fall decorations. Fall is one of the best times of the year. The weather is just beginning to be more fresh and crisp, kids are back in school, and we start looking forward to holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Decorations for autumn tend to be more earthy, with shades of rust, red, brown, and gold, reflecting the changing colors on the trees. It's one of the most beautiful times of the year. Decorate with organic materials such as colorful leaves, branches, dried flowers, gourds, pumpkins and squash.

We found these gorgeous gold and copper bud vases that make lovely centerpieces for the fall tablescape, or for any time of year. Use them in groups of 3 or 5 (remember to always keep it an odd number for the best looking arrangements), or use them one at a time. These vessels may be used as oil lamps or bud vases, so they're extremely versatile. They also make great gifts. Find them at Coni Art Glass where you'll find many other high quality, mouth blown decorative glass items.

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Affordable Fall Decorations

Christmas Ornament and Wedding Favor

Christmas Ornament and Wedding Favor
If you are looking for Christmas ornaments for wedding or party favors , look no futher. Coni Art Glass offers beautiful, handmade and mouth blown colored glass balls that make lovely wedding favors, party favors or holiday gifts.

These Christmas ornaments are available in many colors. Hand blown by artisans in Europe, each one is a work of art. Whether you are looking for wedding favors, bridal attendant gifts, gifts for clients or co-workers, or just ornaments for your own tree, you'll find all the colors that you want.

If you use them as wedding or party favors, they can double as decorations. Use one at each place setting. Tie on a ribbon with a card with the person's name as place card. What a beautiful way to decorate your tables, and thank your guests as well.

Go to http://www.coniartglass.com/ornaments.php today to browse the colorful selection of hand made glass ball ornaments.

Tags: Christmas Ornament and Wedding Favor

What Color is Aqua?

What Color is Aqua?

As with most colors, there is a great range of color when we talk about aqua. It can range from turquoise, from almost green and teal, to a very pale aqua color, as in light aquamarine gemstones. The color aqua can range between a very green hue to a darker blue hue. On the color wheel you'll find aqua between the true green and true blue segments.

The color turquoise, one hue of aqua, is soothing, purifying, and calming and many believe that wearing the stones can help to buildup the immune system and fight off inflammatory diseases. Aqua has long been associated with emotional healing and protection, and is, therefore, a calming influence on your spaces.

Aqua is a great color to use in a bedroom or bathroom. In addition, for those of you who are decorating a seaside home, aqua is a color that imitates the sea. Using aqua as a wall color, or as an accent color ties in the color of the ocean.

The current trend is to combine aqua with espresso brown and beige, but take a look at the color wheel. There are lots of other interesting color combinations. Try mixing greens and blues, with crisp, clean white walls. Paint wainscotting white or beige with aqua colored walls, and aqua, green and blue accents.

There is no right or wrong when decorating with color. If you are on a budget, just add aqua colored pillows or linens to a room, and you will dramatically change the look of the room for just a small amount of money.

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What Color is Aqua

Decorative Resin Pedestals

Decorative Resin Pedestals

I found a great source for decorative resin pedestals! Several people have asked me for a good source, and here it is.

Design Toscano is a wonderful source for decorative home and garden accessories, including: historical replicas, antique replicas, sculptures, wall art, furniture, architectural artifacts, imported French tapestries, suits of armor, swords, French art posters, and much more.

Decorative resin pedestals are another of their specialties. You'll find Corinthian, French provincial, and neo-classical style pedestals that may be used in the interior of the house, or outside in the garden.

Browsing through their online catalog is an amazing experience. You can find so many interesting items for the house, including Celtic inspired home accessories.

Best yet - Save up to 80% off original catalog prices on first-quality Design Toscano overstock merchandise!

Tags: Decorative Resin Pedestals

How to Decorate Wedding Reception Tables Lavender and Other Colors

How to Decorate Wedding Reception Tables Lavender and Other Colors

Choosing the colors and decorations for a wedding is one of the many decisions a bride must make. And these are decisions that must be made as early as possible, because so many other aspects of the wedding depend on what colors and types of decorations have been chosen. For example, the flowers and bridesmaid and mother's dresses are usually coordinated with the general color scheme of the wedding.

How to decorate wedding reception tables? Lavender and many other colors may be used to turn even the most boring room into a wedding show place. Use whatever flowers are in season to brighten up your tables. Talk to your florist to get ideas that will stay within your budget. Colorful vases in various shapes and sizes can do double duty as table decorations, and as wedding favors.

You can find some great wholesale hand blown colored glass balls, small vases, candleholders and more at ConiArtGlass.com. Each piece is a work of art - but it won't strain your budget.

Tablecoths can be plain white to set off the colors of your decorations, or contrasting colors to highlight your color scheme. Take a look at the color wheel to get ideas.

The color wheel shows the relationship between colors. There are three primary colors (red, blue, yellow), three secondary colors which are the result of mixing primary colors (purple, orange, green) and the tertiary colors which are a primary color mixed with a secondary color such as red-orange, yellow-green and blue-violet. Mixing colors with pure colors white or black it creates numerous different tints and shades.

Choose anologous colors, those colors that are next to each other on the wheel for a softer look. For a bold contemporary look, chooHow to Decorate Wedding Reception Tables Lavenderse complementary colors that are across from each other, for example red and green, or dark lavender and yellow.

Be creative and choose what you like, and what you always dreamed of for your wedding.

Tags: How to Decorate Wedding Reception Tables Lavender

Organize Your Clothes Closet in Nine Easy Steps

If you are like many of us, you are afraid to open your closet door! Finding the right outfit can be a chore when things are not in order. Here are nine easy steps to organize your clothes closet.

1. Make space - most of us don't have huge closets. Do you have things in your clothes closet that should be stored elsewhere? Make more space by moving out the tennis rackets, and anything else that you are storing in your closet that doesn't belong there.
2. Be realistic - if you haven't used it or worn it in the past year, get rid of it! Throw it away, or donate it to charity - and be ruthless. Do you really need that old prom dress anymore?
3. Try it on - Try on everything that you plan to keep, and be honest with yourself. Does it really look good on you? If not, get rid of it too.
4. Arrange - establish categories, grouping like items. Hang shirts together with shirts, dresses with dresses, etc.
5. Sort - sort and arrange each category by color, length, season, etc.
6. Save time - store socks and under garments in the closet in plastic or acrylic boxes you can see through. You'll save a lot of time and effort when you can select the right socks and underwear without having to go into another area of the room.
7. Sweater Protection - Store sweaters folded rather than on hangers.
8. Shoes - if you can, fit in a shoe rack or two to organize your footwear into neatly paired shoes.
9. Accesories - get some of those inexpensive hangers designed especially for ties, belts, or scarves. Then hang the ties near the shirts, belts nexxt to the pants, etc.

Don't wait, take the time to organize your closet and you'll be much happier.

Tag: orgaize clothes closet

Gift Ideas - Crystal and Glassware

Gift Ideas - Crystal and Glassware

Whether for weddings, new homes, new babies, birthdays, or anniversaries, crystal and glassware are the perfect gift choice. They are not the sort of item that one routinely purchases for them self, making it the ideal gift.

From crystal vases or stemware to colorful hand blown art glass pieces, there is a gift for everyone and every occasion. SPCrystal.com has a beautiful selection of Murano vases and sculptures, as well as crystal vases and contemporary glass art pieces that are sure to please. Be sure to take a look at the Murano Glass Animals - we love them for anniversary and baby gifts especially.

ConiArtGlass.com is another Web site that we love for finding gift and home decorating items. Many of thier lovely mouth blown glass items make great wedding or party favors as well, such as the hand blown colored glass balls, or the small colorful vases and oil lamps.

Whatever the occasion and whatever you choose, you'll always be welcome at any event with a gift of crystal or glassware.

Tag: Gift Ideas Crystal and Glassware

Shabby Chic French Decor for Home

Shabby Chic French Decor for Home

You have most likely heard of the shabby chic decorating trend. It can be done in many styles, but one of the most interesting is the shabby chic French decorating style. While you may call it by other names, no matter what you call it, this style of decorating can be affordable, comfortable, livable, and downright gorgeous.
Characterized by colors such as muted green, pastel pink or blue and faded gray, shabby chic decorating celebrates the less-than-perfect, even once-discarded furniture and accessories. Vintage bedspreads, well-worn rugs, tables with peeling paint -- they all have a place in the shabby chic home. Even sofas and chairs that may seem ready for the trash can be easily revived with inexpensive slipcovers and paint.
So how do you go about introducing the French shabby chic look into your own home? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Look around your attic or basement (or better yet your Mother or Grandmother's attic or basement.) Carefully examine discarded or unused items and determine if they may be usable. Remember this: "If it has good bones, you can use it."
• Go to your local flea markets and yard sales. Try to imagine how pieces that you find will look with a fresh coat of paint.
• Forget about the traditional purpose of objects that you find. Old trunks can make great coffee tables. You may use quilts as sofa throws, and large, newly painted baskets can hold everything from toys to fresh linens.
• Shabby chic is all about comfort. Put extra pillows on your sofa or bed - make everything cozy.
• Shabby chic French decor for home design means lots of blue and yellow, white painted furniture, or pickled pine. Mix it up.

If you're willing to invest some time hunting for treasures, you'll be surprised at the amazing bargains you can find. Wherever you travel, or right in your backyard there are some amazing finds.

Shabby chic French decor is an easy style to achieve because it can include almost anything you love. Have fun, be creative, and enjoy the shabby chic lifestyle!

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Feng Shui

Feng Shui

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement; literally translated, Feng Shui means "wind and water". The philosophy is that often energy is blocked in a space or moves too quickly through a space.

Use the principles of Feng Shui to adjust the energy or the flow of "Chi" in your spaces, and change the way your home or business looks and feels. Follow the nine areas of the "bagua" to understand how to adjust and enhance the areas of your home or office. Using the elements, sounds, colors, movement and more can change the flow of energy in your home and other spaces. Just removing clutter can open up new opportunities to the home or business owner, or painting a door red can add spark to a home and invite more money into the home. Who doesn't want that??

In Feng Shui you will find that it is important to use your front door often and have everything in the house in good working order. Using Feng Shui can bring in a life partner, more money, new career, happier family relationships, better health and more. Feng Shui is for everyone.

It is an art, and a way of life. Learn more about Feng Shui:

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Retro Kitchen Appliances and Decor

Retro Kitchen Appliances and Decor

The latest trend in kitchen design is the retro look. Remember your grandmother's kitchen decorated in the 1950's or 1960's style? It is a comforting feel, and what better spot than the kitchen where everyone seems to want to be. Our family and friends always seem to congragate in the kitchen, no matter how hard I try to move them into other areas of the house!

The retro feel of an AGA range or a Northstar Retro Refridgerator are exactly what the cook ordered up. And it's not just for the retro feel, they are wonderful appliances to use. Another one is the Diva de Provence range - they are as beautiful as they are functional.

Take a look at the collection of retro kitchen appliances at HomeClick.com

We've seen these in red, yellow or bright blue to complete the retro feel, with a black and white checkerboard tile floor. Also, take a look at Anthropologie.com for retro accessories for your kitchen.

Tags: Retro Kitchen Appliances and Decor

Hand Blown Colored Glass Balls

Hand Blown Colored Glass Balls

Hand blown colored glass balls are an amazing and inexpensive decorating accessory that bring light and happiness to your home décor. Often used in Feng Shui design, the colors in the balls promote creative energy in the home. Outside in the garden, you can float them in ponds to protect fish from predators. When the sun shines on the colored glass balls, the light scares the predators away.


Used year round in many different ways, these glass spheres also make beautiful Christmas ornaments. The colorful hand blown glass balls, spheres and hearts are a versatile and affordable decorative accessory (used in homes, hotels, restaurants, and offices), party favor, or gift. They come in many beautiful colors and patterns.

We especially like them in centerpiece displays, such as this lovely bowl. It is light and airy, the colors are lovely, and the display creative. The bowl itself, also hand blown colored glass, is a piece of art that will enhance many types of decor, from modern to contemporary, or even rustic country - depending on the color combinations that you choose.

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10 Home Decorating Tips

10 Home Decorating Tips

If you don't know where to start, but you want to make some changes in your spaces, don’t worry. Whether you’ve just moved into a new apartment or want to change a look you’ve been living with for years, these ten simple decorating tips are sure to boost your confidence and get you on your way to creating an environment you’re sure to be proud of.

1. Do your research! Take advantage of all the great resources available for ideas, even if you have a basic idea of what you want to do. Magazines, decorating books and T.V. shows, the Internet, home furnishing stores, paint and project stores and even other people’s homes are indispensable sources.
2. Choose a focal point or inspiration piece. Pick something in the room that you really like, whether it’s a sofa, an oil painting, an Oriental rug, a fireplace, or a bed with a canopy, and try to draw from it ideas to focus on in the rest of room. Is there a specific color from the painting that you want to enhance? Do you want to use the same gauzy material from your bed canopy for the window treatments? Do you want to duplicate the design of your Oriental rug elsewhere? Do you want the entire room to pivot towards the fireplace? There are many ideas sitting right in front of you in the items you have already selected for your home to get you started.
3. Make a wish list. List in different sections what you want. In one area, list all of the items you definitely know you want, or basically need, such as a dining room table or a bed frame. If you’ve already seen what you want, note where it was and the price. In another area, list the items that you feel you have a variety of options to choose from, as in book cases or shelves, carpeting or area rugs, or types of window treatments. In a third area, list the areas that you have absolutely no idea of what you want to do and are completely open to suggestion, such as wall art or storage options. Use this as a checklist throughout your shopping and decorating.
4. Good Measurements. Measure everything thoroughly - every room, every wall, every window, every corner, every piece of furniture you are keeping - everything. Note them clearly, even if you have to make crude sketch drawings for clarification. These measurements will be essential when you are shopping, so always take them with you, as well as the measuring tape itself. This will be important when choosing new items.
5. Create a Decorating Organizer. Find an "organizer" that you feel comfortable walking around with, such as a planner with pockets or a bag with compartments. Place in it all of the measurements you have taken, measuring tape, your wish list, paint and stain chips in the colors you are considering or have already decided on, fabric and carpet swatches, pictures from magazines that you have liked, a note pad, pencils and so on. These items will be crucial when you finally stumble upon the blue cushioned bar stool you’ve been looking for and aren’t sure if the blue is the right shade or the stool is the right height, for example.
6. Be true to your style. You don’t have to fall into a specific category, such as classic or country. In fact, most decorating styles are slightly eclectic, combining more than one style in furniture, color and accents. Just be aware of what you find yourself drawn to when shopping, and this will give you a better understanding of what you like to be surrounded with. If you planned on decorating your living room in metallics and monochrome colors for an industrial look, but continually find yourself attracted to the red and white gingham sofa, take a step back and reassess your original plans. Try to incorporate what you know you like into an overall style with some special touches.
7. Patience is key! Don’t buy impulsively or make rash decorating decisions out of frustration. You’ll find yourself bringing home something that doesn’t work in the room and cost too much, or you’ll end up finding something better the very next day and have to do twice the work. Thoroughly comparison shop, even if it gets tedious. And remember that there is a difference between settling for something and compromising. If you settle for something, you’ll never end up liking it.
8. Small, simple changes go a long way. Even if you don’t consider yourself "handy", there are probably many small things you can do yourself to fix, enhance or change something, while saving money. Can you sew a slipcover for your couch? Can you do an easy faux finish on your walls? Can you stencil a border around your doorways? Can you cut down a carpet and create a new area rug? Can you change the hardware on your kitchen cabinets? You don’t need to be an expert (or wealthy) to create style and show your personality in any room.
9. Recycle from other rooms. Before you purchase new pieces of furniture and decorative accents, look around and see if there’s anything throughout your house that can be used elsewhere. Maybe a desk that doesn’t get used often can be placed in the bedroom as a vanity. Or maybe you could swap out light fixtures from one room to another. Perhaps you can gather photographs from around the house and place them together as a collage. Even a small plastic garbage pail can be converted into a lovely planter or be the vessel for a silk floral arrangement. Look around carefully for fun ideas before spending a dime!
10. Tricks of the trade. Small rooms and low ceilings can be easily enhanced with optical illusions. Hanging window treatments close to the ceiling, as opposed to the top of the window, gives the impression of a long wall and high ceiling. Adding crown molding creates a break between the wall and ceiling and draws the eye upward. Mirrors do a great job of opening up walls and creating the sense of depth to any room. Strategically placed, they can make a room seem much larger and reflect light throughout when placed across from a light source.

Tags: 10 Home Decorating Tips

What Can I Do with Used Greeting Cards?

What Can I Do with Used Greeting Cards?


I used to send my used greeting cards to St. Judes Ranch for Children. They would take the used cards and recycle them into new ones to sell as fund raisers for the Ranch. However, they recently stopped accepting the used cards.


If you have some vintage greeting cards from your grandmother's attic, you may want to think about selling them on e-bay - there's a large market for them there. Or you could frame them for a nice wall grouping. Another idea, tried and true, is to decoupage them onto a tray, table or other decorative element. Be creative and, as always, have some fun with them.

But if you just have everyday used cards that you would like to recycle, here is a great idea - make decorative boxes and gift boxes from recycled greeting cards.


Recycled Greeting Card Box
Craft supplies you will need:
greeting cards
ruler
scissors
pencil
white glue (optional)
glitter, ribbon, rick-rack or other embellishments (optional)
Printed template
Greeting Card Box InstructionsNote: This project is more difficult to explain than it is to do; once you have made one box, the next ones will go together more quickly and easily.
First print out the full size pattern You can use the pattern many times as you don't need to cut it.
The smaller pattern is the bottom of the box, using the back page of the greeting card. Don't worry about a verse or two, or any other small amount of printing; usually it's invisible when the box is folded up.
The larger pattern makes the box top. There are fold lines indicated, and two cut lines - you will assemble both the top and the bottom of the box in exactly the same way.
Begin by placing the pattern on the back of your card. For the top of the box, try to position it so that the most colorful or interesting scene of the card front will be centered in the middle of the pattern.
Working on the back, transfer 12 dots, as shown on the pattern, to your card. Place 4 dots at each corner of the square, and two more on each side, where indicated.
Now join the dots, copying the pattern. It isn't necessary to draw coloured lines; the colours are only to help with the instructions for the box -- you'll find, when you're done, that it sounds much more complicated than it is!
Next, cut into your card template where indicated on the pattern by the green lines.
It's time to start folding. Work from the blank side of the card, which will be the inside of your box. Begin by folding the four corner triangles outwards, so you're folding toward the printed side of the card.
Figure 1Now take a box side and fold it in half to crease it so the green corner line will meet the red line of the inside square, as shown on the paper template. Repeat with the other sides. See Figure 1.








Figure 2 On the two longer sections, you will need to fold in the ends, as shown in Figure 2.
These form two flaps which hold the box together in the last step.
Figure 3 Fold up the sides to form your box.
















Figure 4
Last step is to fold the straight sides over the flaps that were made in Figure 2.
Push all the triangular ends into place at the bottom of the box. Usually no glue is required to keep the box together, however if you find the folds coming open, use a small dab of glue to fasten in place.






Use the same method to make the box bottom and the box top. You will find the top fits over the bottom fairly snugly, so the box when assembled does not fall apart.

Now you have made a tiny treasure box from a recycled greeting card. These are suitable in size to hold small treats, a few coins, candy, earrings or other small gifts.

For Halloween, add treat gifts or a small assortment of stickers, an eraser, pencil sharpener etc.

And for Christmas, embellish with thin ribbon and hang from your Christmas tree as ornaments to be opened on Christmas Day. They can also be added to wreaths, table settings etc. as a colourful little addition that holds a nice surprise.

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How to Decorate a Seaside Home

How to Decorate a Seaside Home

Whether you live at the beach, have a second home on the shore, or want to pretend that you do - have fun and be creative to decorate for coastal living.

Think of the things you find at the beach - seashells, sea glass, sand, sun...and incorporate them in your decor. For example, the colors of the sea on the walls in varying shades of blue, blue green, etc. Flooring in light wood, or ceramic tiles the color of sand. Let the sun in with sheer window coverings - keep it light and airy. Use seashells and sea glass as focal points in the room in large containers, or larger pieces on their own.

Alternatively, find nice art prints of seashells, coral, palm trees, or fish to hang in groupings on the walls. Seashells and coral wall decorations are very much the trend for 2007. Here's an example of a nice fish print that would be great in a seaside home or even in a child's room.

50% Off Framed Art!

Keep the furniture light in color and density. Wicker and rattan are popular picks, as well as glass top tables or white washed woods. A monochromatic scheme of white furniture, and white walls with splashes of bright colors can be stunning.

Be creative, have fun, and enjoy the seaside!

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Heart Shaped Bridesmaid Gifts

Heart Shaped Bridesmaid Gifts


Ok, ok, I know I'm getting off the subject of home decor, but with June weddings just around the corner I wanted to share this idea.


Gifts for the wedding party are always a tough decision. What to get for your bridesmaids and groomsmen? You want something that they can keep forever, and always remember you and your big day, right?



Heart shaped bridesmaid gifts are the latest wedding trend for 2007. These heart shaped glass pieces may be used as sun catchers, paper weights, hung by a ribbon from the rear view mirror, etc. Be creative - use the colors of your wedding and they will love it. Your girl friends will be delighted with this gift, which by the way also makes nice wedding favors.......

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Ideas for Home Decorating with Color

Ideas for Home Decorating with Color

Choosing color combinations can be one of the most intimidating tasks for beginning decorators.

To make choosing colors easier, you can rely on the interior designer's most important color tool: the color wheel.

Here's a look at four basic color schemes built using the color wheel:

Primary Colors
For rooms that in which you want a strong and solid feeling, primary colors can provide that strong foundation -- red, blue, and yellow -- is an ideal choice.
Each, red, blue, and yellow, is a pure color that can't be created by mixing other hues. You may use them in pairs or combine all three; they work equally well in country, traditional, and modern rooms.

Purple is an example of a secondary color,made from red and blue.
Secondary colors -- green, orange, and purple -- are created by mixing two primary colors in equal amounts. Like all other colors, each secondary hue can be tinted with white or shaded with black for interesting variations.

While you may not be able to stomach a bold orange and green room, think about pairing up their paler tints of peach and sage. The primary and secondary colors illustrate that you can make a compatible triadic scheme by choosing any three colors equidistant on the color wheel.

Intermediate Hues: Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are an equal mix of a primary and its closest secondary color: blue-green, yellow-green, red-orange, red-purple, and blue-purple.
Combine these colors for a sophisticated look in your spaces.

Single-Shot Color: Monochromatic Schemes
A monochromatic color scheme pairs one color with only white or another neutral.

Use variations of a single color's intensity to prevent a monochromatic scheme from being too bland. For instance, pale blue, sky blue, and navy offer variety within the same color family.

Some interesting examples of ways to bring color into a room other than by painting your walls is with decorative accessories, framed artwork (check out BestArt.com) or with colorful rugs. Be creative and have fun with color - you can always change it!

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Ideas for Home Decorating with Color

Celtic Decor and Home Furnishings

Celtic Decor and Home Furnishings

If you have an interest in Celtic decor, or perhaps a Celtic heritage, I found an amazing Web site with so many wonderful Celtic items! Design Toscano offers unusual and interesting historical reproductions for the home and garden.

Celtic decor and home furnishings, furniture, accessories, interior statuary, garden statuary, and even jewelry and apparel - you'll find everything you are looking for at Design Toscano.

I was quite taken with this reproduction Celtic Rosewood Tara Harp (about $125) which would make a good conversation piece, or you can also purchase the accompanying book to learn to play the harp.

The "Three Faces of Man" wall sculpture (about $24.95) was cast from a gravestone in Scotland. It depicts the ancient Celtic belief in the sanctity of the number three, with the three-layered nature of the human soul. It is a stunning home or garden wall piece, finished to replicate the pitted stone of the original.

These are only two of many wonderful Celtic inspired home decor furnishings available at Design Toscano.

If Celtic decor and home furnishings are what you are looking for, take a look at the collection at Design Toscano - you'll be amazed at the number and quality of the items they offer.

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Centerpieces and Table Decorations for Weddings

Centerpieces and Table Decorations for Weddings

Choosing the centerpieces and table decorations for your wedding is one of the many details that a bride must take care of well in advance of the wedding. We have found some lovely ideas not only for centerpieces and decorations, but items that we have also used as party favors for many different types of parties and receptions.

Here are a couple of ideas:

A beautiful centerpiece bowl filled with glass balls in the colors you have chosen for your big day. The mouth blown glass balls make lovely favors to give to your guests too. Use a contrasting color ribbon to tie on a note thanking each guest for attending.

Or you could tie place cards to each ball with beautiful ribbon, and put them in the middle of each place setting. This is a favor that is sure to please.

Don't be afraid to use color on your tables! Often we think that we can only use clear glass for table and flower decorations; however, colored glass is one of the best and most economical ways to brighten up a table.

Use your creativity and imagination, and then enjoy one of the biggest events of your life!

Tags: centerpieces and table decorations for weddings

Do-it-Yourself Toolkit

Do-it-Yourself Toolkit

Here's a handy list of items that you should have on hand if you plan to do any do-it-yourself projects around your home. These are the basics:

1. Measuring tape, 16-foot metal
2. Picture hangers and wall anchors - for hanging heavy items
3. Glue gun - good for craft projects and repairs
4. All-purpose glue and super glue - for quick repairs
5. Pencil and eraser - for marking measurements, etc.
6. Putty-knife and hole-filling compound
7. Sand sponges - for small sanding jobs they are helpful and re-usable
8. Miscellaneous screws, washers, bolts, and nails
9. Two-foot level - great for making sure you are hanging pictures and mirrors straight
10. Pair of C-clamps - for holding items together that you are glueing
11. Card of thumbtacks - good for temporarily hanging things, etc.
12. Duct and masking tape - repairs and masking trim around walls that you are painting

Other tools to have on hand:

1. Hammer
2. Pliers
3. Adjustable wrench
4. Screwdrivers
5. Electric Drill

With the items on this list you can fix, repair, or create many decorative projects in your home.

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Decorative Concrete Gives Homeowners Unique Options for Creating the Perfect Outdoor Living Room

Decorative Concrete Gives Homeowners Unique Options for Creating the Perfect Outdoor Living Room
Most homeowners not only have indoor spaces to decorate, but outdoor areas, as well. More and more homes have outdoor kitchens and other family areas in which they spend quality family time.
"The Concrete Network offers design tips for creating the perfect outdoor room using decorative concrete. From concrete countertops to elaborate pizza ovens, homeowners are discovering how useful, durable and versatile concrete has become.
Yucaipa, CA (PRWEB) March 22, 2007 -- According to The Concrete Network, the largest and most comprehensive source for concrete information online, outdoor living rooms are quickly becoming one of the most popular amenities featured in today's back yard. As temperatures rise around the country, Americans are taking inside entertaining outdoors, and are using concrete as their medium for creating beautiful barbeques, custom countertops, elaborative pizza ovens, and decorative concrete patios.

Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.concretenetwork.com/" alt="Link to website">We've come a long way from the charcoal grill by including gas ranges, sinks, faucets and countertop prep areas along with pizza ovens, fireplaces and even concrete seating Because of the versatility and durability of concrete, many homeowners are choosing concrete for a variety of applications in their outdoor rooms, especially for their outdoor kitchen space. Through methods of stamping or staining, there are hundreds of color choices, patterns and designs that can be used to create any shape you can imagine."We've come a long way from the charcoal grill by including gas ranges, sinks, faucets and countertop prep areas along with pizza ovens, fireplaces and even concrete seating," said Jim Peterson, CEO of The Concrete Network. "Long gone are the days of drab, grey concrete."
The Concrete Network offers a few key factors to consider when designing an outdoor room, including selecting kitchen materials, creating the dining area, furnishing the outdoor room, and incorporating an outdoor fireplace. One key feature regarding concrete is to remember is that it has the ability to handle a large range of temperatures - it will stay the same through the dead of winter to the height of summer.
Visit the site's outdoor living photo gallery for a multitude of design ideas and examples of furnished outdoor rooms, pizza ovens, concrete countertops, concrete fireplaces, and more.
Established in 1999, The Concrete Network's purpose is to educate consumers, builders, and contractors on popular decorative techniques and applications including stamped concrete, stained concrete floors, concrete countertops, polished concrete, and much more. Over 872,000 visitors researched The Concrete Network Web site in June, 2006.
The site excels at connecting buyers with local contractors in their area through its Find-A-Contractor service. The service provides visitors with a list of decorative concrete contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada, and is fully searchable by 23 types of decorative concrete work and 200 metropolitan areas throughout North America."

Tags: decorative concrete