Decorating? What?

A Bedroom is a Woman's Castle

2008-02-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

Every woman feels that her bedroom should be a place of romance. A place where she can share her intimacy and love with her significant other. I have some ideas to spruce up your special place, to make it a place were you can feel your most beautiful and sexual.

Your bedroom should possess colors that make you feel beautiful. If darker colors make you sentual then maybe burgundies and hunter greens are best for you. If it is pastels, then light blues and pinks. Your maybe you prefer to bring out your animalistic side so with lepard prints.

Lighting is also important in a bedroom. Add a touch of candle light to everyroom, but more so to your bedroom. Candle light makes everyone feel more beautiful. Candle light adds a sex appeal to your special space that is hard to reproduce.

Also, mirrors are a great addition. Let's face it, nearly everyone that passes a mirror looks into it. Mirrors add depth to your room causing it to appear larger and more spacious.

If you guys or gals have other suggestions for making the bedroom a place of love and sentuality, please by all means feel free to submit your comments. But please remember, this is a family site so keep it clean.

Big Decorating Ideas for Small Rooms on a Tight Budget!

2008-01-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Big Decorating Ideas for Small Rooms on a Tight Budget!

By Kathy Wilson - The Budget Decorator Budget Decorating Columnist

Decorating a small room is one of the biggest challenges many families have in their homes today. Making a small room work for your loved ones can be frustrating and confusing.
Here are some great low budget ways to simply transform your small rooms no matter what your budget!

1. First of all, determine if making your room look larger is really the way to go. After all, what's so great about large rooms? Maybe you want your living room to be comforting, and to wrap people with warmth when they enter. Or your bath to be charming, filled with personality everywhere you look! So don't be so quick to assume bigger is always better...you might just be creating a problem where there is none!

2.Make the most of a small room you wish to make cozy by using warm rich colors. Drape the windows with fabric, and add throw blankets and pillows to cozy up with. You can buy inexpensive muslin and twist and swag it over a curtain rod for a casual but stunning frame to your windows. Buy flat sheets and sew up pillow covers, and make throws from fleece fabric from the craft store. Make your room cozy deliberately, and its special style will show through, not the size of the room.

3. Reduce the clutter in a small room! This is the #1 problem within small spaces, and also the fastest to fix. Take a box and remove all clutter from the room. Move out accessories, pillows, everything! Now bring things back one at a time, and stop when it's perfect. The key here is restraint!

4.Use large scale items in a small room. Now traditional rules about scale in a room would lead you to believe a small room needs small scale furniture, but the opposite is true. Using just a few larger scale pieces reduces clutter and gives the eye a smoother trip across the room. The same goes for artwork! If you are trying to make a room look larger, go for one large print on the wall, or hang a decorative rug, instead of small collections.

5.A simple tip to make rooms look larger? Keep your windows and slick surfaces sparkling clean! Believe it or not, the reflection of clean will make a room look brighter, fresher and larger. Try it!

6.Paint just one focal wall a rich deep color to add depth to your room. Leave the other walls either white, or a much paler version of your accent wall and those walls will appear to fall away. Also keep in mind that cooler colors such as greens and blues tend to recede from the eye, while warmer colors such as reds and yellows seem to close in a room.

7.Finally, remember to use as many double duty items in the room as possible to reduce clutter. A chest of drawers can hold a tv, and store all your magazines and games, a futon sofa can double as a guest room, and a pine chest makes a great coffee table, while storing extra linens!
Remember, it’s not the size of the room, it’s the size of the heart who creates the room. Let yours show through with personality and creativity, not cash!

Photo Compliments of Flickr.com

Storage Solutions On A Budget

2007-12-30T16:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas seems to always cause new storage issues for my children's room. Every year we filter through older toys just before Christmas and give to our local help agency. It give the children a sense of good will and helps to remove clutter. However, new organzational and storage issues always arrive after the holidays. Because two share a room we have added bunk beds and I purchased 5 plastic storage boxes with slide-out draws to put just under the edge of the bottom bunk. The storage boxes hold small toys like babydoll clothes, small toy cars, toy kitchen supples etc. Each child also has their own labeled "special" box that holds small items that are dear to them personally. These boxes come in all sizes and colors with makes it a little easier to match to your decor choices with out breaking your budget. It you have any other ideas that are easily managed, fit into small spaces and are decor savy, please add your suggestions.

Feeling Overwelmed? Overwork? and Unorganized?

2007-06-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

WOW! I have found one of the most awesome sites for keeping your home organized and clean. All of which are an important part of decorating. This site offers suggestions on simple and orderly ways in which to begin organizing your home, family and life. It has work great for myself and several of my friends. We have found a new happiness and since of well-being after finding a way to make our lives easier, adding more time for our families and less time stressing about the home. They also offer suggestions about diet and exersise, budget, and menu planning. Okay here goes!!! This is GREAT! Check IT OUT TODAY!

www.flylady.com

Spring Cleaning (What does that have to do with decor?)

2007-04-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

I was sitting around looking at the mess that has seemed to accumilate during the winter. It seems for some reason that we have more stuff than ever before but not place to put it all. I then came to the conclusion that Spring Cleaning was inevible. I feel that Spring Cleaning and good organziation has everything to do with decorating. I found the following link at About.com that offers some great tips for your Spring Cleaning needs and ideas for organizing your life and your home.

Spring Cleaning A Complete Checklist
From Sarah Aguirre

A Spring Cleaning Extravaganza
The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, and our house still feels like it's stuck with winter blues. Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the hectic seasons of spring and summer. What do you need help spring cleaning?

Spring Cleaning Checklists By Room
These tutorials help with spring cleaning for any room. Each tutorial gives a list of steps, tools and supplies needed, and tips to help you get the job done.
Kitchen Spring Cleaning
Bathroom Spring Cleaning
Living Areas Spring Cleaning
Bedroom Spring Cleaning
Dining Room Spring Cleaning

Clearing Clutter and Organizing During Spring Cleaning
One of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don't need.
Beginning Organization Steps and Spring Cleaning
Spring Cleaning and the 4 Container Clutter Method
Spring Cleaning Your Medicine Cabinet
Organizing A Community Garage Sale

Getting the Family Involved in Spring Cleaning
If you need a little help in your spring cleaning endeavors, try to get your family involved. Even the most unwilling helper can make a big difference in the work load.
Tips For Organizing Family Spring Cleaning Days
Organizing a Family Spring Cleaning Garage Cleanup Day
Reasons Your Family Won't Help With Chores
5 Easy to Set-Up Chore Charts
12 Tips for Chore Chart Success

Extra Spring Cleaning Chores
There are some spring cleaning chores that need to be done seasonally. Even though these chores only need to be done once or twice a year, they will help your home run look better and run smoothly.
Storing Winter Clothes
Spring Cleaning Chores
Seasonal Cleaning List

Products to Use During Spring Cleaning
The cleaning aisles of our stores are stocked full of supplies to help you clean. Find out what supplies you need and which ones you don't.
Basic Cleaning Supplies List
Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Lemons
Homemade Window Cleaner
Homemade Furniture Polish
Homemade Surface Cleaner

Maintaining the Spring Cleaning
If you want some ideas to help you maintain the spring cleaning around your home our 15 minute cleanups can keep that spring cleaning feeling around for a long time.
15 Minute Cleanup Index
15 Minute Living Room Cleanup
15 Minute Kitchen Cleanup
15 Minute Bathroom Cleanup
15 Minute Kid's Room Cleanup
15 Minute Bedroom Cleanup
15 Minute Dorm Room or Efficiency Apartment Cleanup

Decorating For Easter

2007-04-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Since we are coming up on the Easter season I though it would be nice to post this creative idea for Easter decorating. You could use this idea for a center piece or just a simple eyecatcher for your guest. Or you could be like me and need a Easter project to keep the kids busy. I found this idea at the Martha Stewart website.

Enjoy!

Glittered, beribboned, or stenciled eggs are a beautiful alternative to the traditional solid-color variety. Whichever style you choose, an Easter egg tree offers a perfect way to display your handiwork.

Preparing the Dye
The easiest way to dye eggs is with liquid food coloring. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil and remove from heat; add 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 2 to 3 drops of food coloring, or more for a deeper color. Dye the eggs until they reach the shade you desire. Remove the eggs from the dye, blot with a paper towel and let dry completely before decorating. As an alternative to food coloring, many common pantry items can be used to dye eggs naturally.

Preparing the Eggs
You can dye hard-boiled or raw eggs. The smoother the egg, the better the dye will take. Before dyeing, rub eggs with white vinegar to remove impurities, and to aid dye absorption. For muted colors, try dyeing brown eggs. When dyeing eggs, always work with clean hands -- do not use hand cream because the oil can affect how the dye takes. If you plan to keep your decorated eggs, they should be left raw, then blown hollow after dyeing, otherwise the egg shell will float on top of the dye.

Blowing Eggs
Blown eggs can be kept and enjoyed year after year. It's best to blow the eggs after the decorating is complete, except if your instructions specify otherwise. Working over a bowl, pierce one end of a raw egg with a pin. Pierce the other end, and use the pin to enlarge the hole slightly and break yolk. Blow out insides using an egg-blowing tool (available at crafts stores) or a rubber ear syringe (available at pharmacies), forcing contents of the egg out through the larger hole into a bowl. Do not let the liquid touch the shell.

Another Great Link for Dorm Room Ideas!

2007-03-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

UGA Magazine

Decorating for College Life

2007-03-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting article on tips for decorating the college dorm room. If you have any additional suggestions, tips or comments please feel free to share.

College Life: Cheap Dorm Room Decorating Ideas
by Susan Johnston

Whether you are a freshman feeling anxious and excited about college or a seasoned senior who can't wait to graduate, your dorm or apartment room will be a home away from home for a good two thirds of your year.

It should be a place where you can study effectively and provide safe sanctuary from outside stress. Your abode should be a place where you can host movie nights or curl up with a good book.

Of course, there are a few obstacles to creating the perfect oasis of collegiate bliss.
Most college students are not made of money, so finding inexpensive items at department stores like Target, Wal-Mart, Zellers or a thrift store is a plus. If you live far away from your college, you may have to pay for shipping or storage over the summer, which can also drain your resources.

Then there is your roommate. Definitely ask what s/he has in mind, but don't feel pressured to coordinate exactly or let his or her design concept prevent you from expressing yourself. You will both be happier if you respect each other's right to decorate your spaces however you want. If you both agree on a color scheme, that's great, but otherwise don't diss her Britney Spears poster or plaid comforter. You both need a space where you feel comfortable to express yourself and your personal style.

Dorm decorating can be daunting, but it can also be a lot of fun, much like the first year of college. I can't help you study for a chemistry or history mid-term, but I can offer some suggestions for making your dorm room a comfortable, stylish place.

The Basics of Bedding

One of the first things to pick out is a comforter. The bed often doubles as a coffee table, couch, or study area and is the largest piece of furniture in most dorm rooms, so it's key to choose a comforter that reflects your style and won't immediately show the dirt.

Finding a comforter you like will also help determine the color scheme for the rest of the room. Will it be romantic pastels? Classic school colors? Vibrant floral patterns? Basic black and white?
Reversible, solid colored comforters are a good choice, because they offer twice as many design options and can be dressed up with lots of fluffy throw pillows, but patterns like leopard prints, sunflowers, or stars are fun, too.

When buying bedding, keep in mind that most colleges have extra long beds, so regular twin sheets are too short. If this is the case, look for extra long twin sheets at Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, or Linens' N' Things.

Think Storage

Space is tight in most dorms, so maximizing storage is a must. Here's how:
Raise the bed with cement blocks or RackRisers to make space for extra clothes, books, laundry, luggage, or whatever else under the bed.

Stack plastic crates in your closet, under your bed, or next to your desk. They are cheap and come in a variety of colours. An alternative to plastic crates is a wire storage system, which lets you assemble your own crates and dismantle or reorganize them later. Or buy some decorative hat boxes in varying sizes for extra storage.

Buy closet organizers for shoes, skirts, accessories, or makeup to ensure that you will always be able to find those cute black sandals or that peach lip gloss when you need them.
Invest in some cheap plastic hooks. Stick them to your closet door to hold a bathrobe or jacket, or find a metal towel holder for the back of your door.

The Wall Is Your Canvas

Once you have the basics, it's time to go crazy decorating the walls. Well, not too crazy. Check your school's rules before painting, punching holes, or even using tape on the walls. Luckily, you can buy special poster adhesive at decorating stores to customize your room and avoid paying a fee for chipped paint.

Posters are the most common way to decorate, and some colleges have a poster sale at the beginning of the year where you can snag some highly unusual and inexpensive finds. But posters are not the only way to go. Here are some other ideas to adorn your walls:

Colored chalk will easily wash off most surfaces. Or use butcher paper and colored pencils. Unleash your inner artist and draw a new mural or work of art once a month or whenever you feel inspired.

Frames are essential for holding photos of home or new friends at college. Buy them almost anywhere or create your own with a cardboard matte and glitter, buttons, feathers, beads, or any other decorative knickknacks. Or you could use funky memo holders to display favorite photos on your desk or bureau.

French memo boards can hold a whole bunch of pictures, ticket stubs, or magazine cut-outs. Buy one at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Linens' N or make one out of cardboard, fabric, and ribbon.

A laundry line is a great alternative for you to string up pictures or ticket stubs on the wall or across the room us. Urban Outfitters has a laundry line with suction cups for easy use.

Magnets are useful and decorative on any metal surface. Customize that Micro-fridge and display your praiseworthy papers with magnets of flowers, superheroes, butterflies, or Magnetic

Poetry (also a fun distraction from studying).

Dry erase boards on your door or in your room are handy for communicating with friends and roommates and making notes to yourself. Or get a dry erase calendar at an office supply store and keep track of your busy schedule.

Sheer fabric draped across the window or over a bed creates a soft, romantic look. Or if you have an open closet, put up a colorful shower curtain to individualize your space or hide dirty laundry.

Lights are fashionable and functional. A desk lamp for late-night studying is a necessity, but adding mini-lights strung across the room can create a more personal atmosphere. White lights will complement any décor, or choose colored lights in funky shapes like stars, cactuses, or hearts.

So you get the idea. There are oodles of ways to transform your plain Jane dorm room into a vibrant reflection of your style and personality. All it takes is a few dollars and a little creativity. If only Chemistry were that simple.

Crazy Patterns

2007-03-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

I borrowed this post from HGTV. I give all the credit to the author that created it. Awesome suggestions!

Crazy, Mixed-Up Patterns

by Shari Hiller

Home and Garden Television
It took several years of working with my colleague, Matt Fox, on color, pattern and texture before he felt comfortable giving up those terrible plaid pants and striped shirts.

Actually, since Matt's background wasn't interior design, it did take a while before he felt comfortable selecting fabrics and wall textures to be used in the same room. So, if you are looking to go beyond stripes with plaids, or even just plain solids, here are a few tips that will help you jump with confidence into the art of pattern mixing.

1. Always use at least three different patterns. There's something about an
odd number that makes things more visually interesting.
2. Keep the background color of your patterns the same. Don't try mixing
white with off-white backgrounds. To stay consistent, a light neutral
color needs to carry through each pattern.
3. It is best if all the patterns share the same collection of colors, but not
necessarily the same number of colors. For instance, you can combine a
floral of six colors with a check that incorporates three of those colors,
and a woven jacquard fabric that's just a single color.
4. Make sure to vary the scale of the patterns. A large floral or fruit pattern
with a medium-sized plaid and a solid color woven would be a perfect
example.
5. The mood and weight of fabrics is important too. Even though the colors
and pattern size may be appropriate, lightweight plaid cotton chintz
might not be the best coordinate with a heavy floral tapestry.
6. Vary the amounts of each pattern you use in a room. For instance, use a
large floral for the sofa, loveseat and valances. Then try a medium-check
pattern on a couple of side chairs and as draperies, then finish with a
small print on accent pillows.
7. Once you've made all your pattern choices, take a look around, and
make sure to balance the distribution of the patterns throughout the
room. Don't put all the floral on one side and all the check on another.
8. Don't forget that there are other patterns that may already exist in the
room. Pattern can be found on a marble tabletop or hearth, an area rug
or artwork. Even blinds on the windows or books in a bookcase can
create pattern.

So where do you begin? Start by selecting an inspiration piece, like a patterned fabric for your sofa or bed coverings. This will set the tone for the room. Find one of the palest shades in the pattern, and use it on the walls. It can be in a lightly patterned wall covering, a soft painting technique, or just straight painted color. Go back to your inspiration pattern, and select from some of the medium hues for your carpet, draperies and other upholstery items. Last, the deepest hues make great accents for accessories, pillows, or even a lamp.

If you still feel uncomfortable with pattern mixing, remember that many experts have already done the work for you. Check out wall-covering books and fabric stores for suggested pattern combinations; even magazine photos can give you a good start.

Mirrors, Mirrors, Mirrors

2007-02-25T19:08:00.000-08:00

I have been told it is a good idea to have a mirror in every room. They say it adds depth to the room and gives your room a larger feel and appearance. Then there is always the plus that you can be sure your hair looks fine at all times.

New Table Top?

2007-02-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

Stack old suitcases on top of each other to create an instant lamp table or a small coffee table. Drape a scarf over them or set books on top of them. I have a decorative storage box sitting on top of an old suitcase in one of my rooms.

Bathroom Blues

2007-02-25T18:58:00.000-08:00

Want to help a small bathroom seem larger? Here's a tip for your shower. Instead of a standard shower curtain use an 84 inch window curtain panel. And the curtain from standard shower curtain rod, but here's the trick, hang the curtain closer to the ceiling. The longer curtain adds a softer appearance allowing your bathroom to take on a larger look.

Painting Tip

2007-02-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

If you want a smaller room to appear larger then darker colors are a big no no. The use of darker shades in a room cause the room to appear smaller. If using lighter colors your room with appear to open up. Good luck selecting your colors.