Home Decorating Projects - Sprucing Up Your Kitchen On A Budget

We are all the same, as soon as we move into our nice new home we want to 'make it our own' by personalising it. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by doing home decorating projects.

You may well think as soon as you hear the phrase "home decorating projects" that you are going to have to spend masses of cash, use up all your spare time, and worse, run the risk of not being happy with the project when it is finished. This need not be the case, as there are many home decorating projects that can be done for little money, and can also easily be completed within just a few hours - and if this is the case, you haven't really lost all that much if you are unhappy with the end result.

So where do you start? Depending on the time of year and where you live, you can find many great accessories for your home from yard or car boot sales. Although this may sound a little odd, to be talking about yard or car boot sales in the same article as home decorating projects, it really is a great way to buy items that you can use to personalize your space on a tight budget.

If for example, you are trying to make the kitchen more attractive and inviting, you can almost always find items such as bright ceramic pieces, tablecloths, framed art, pitchers, etc. at a yard or boot sale. Place these carefully throughout your kitchen and you will have gone a long way towards personalising the room, and yet not spent very much money at all on this home decorating project.

Staying with the yard and boot sales, you can find many items that will set the style of your home decorating for example; clocks, photo frames, movie posters, ornaments, soft furnishings plus much more. If you keep your eyes open you can find really cool items that can be used in the decorating of your home.

One very popular style in home decorating is Retro. A Retro kitchen can be very easy to accomplish, all you need are a few vintage items, which can be found fairly easily and for great prices, and maybe some bright paint or rugs for the floor, and you are ready to go.

If you are working on your kitchen, it can be difficult to pull off some home decorating projects if you have a rather small kitchen space to work with, and in this instance, you may be forced to accomplish what you are looking for by painting the walls with a bright, spacious color, and then adding some accessories throughout the room. Although painting kitchen walls can be very time consuming, as you have to mask off and be extra careful around all the cabinets and sockets, it can be done - it may just take a little bit of patience and some hard work. If you are feeling really brave and want a much larger change, you may even want to try your home decorating skills on the cabinets as well, repainting or refinishing them as this will make a major difference in the room. You can buy treatments to put onto existing wood or laminate cabinets so that they can take paint or many of the other special finishes you can buy for kitchen cabinets.

Another area which can make a difference to your interior, is the window treatments. These can also add a lot of character in your home decorating theme, so put some thought into this area, and look for clearance items, or have a go at making your own for that truly unique touch.

The appliances in your kitchen are going to be the hardest thing to change, as other than replacing totally, you can only really repaint them, or cover them up. So when you are thinking about your home decorating, try not to spend too much time on this aspect of your kitchen, as there really is not too much you can achieve with existing appliances.

It is surprising how much change can be effected by just adding some new paint to the walls, and it can give your kitchen a whole new identity.

The Basics For Furnishing and Decorating Your New Home

Some people see a new home as a challenge, while others see it as a great project starting in the simplest of ways. If you think about it, starting with a fresh slate is a bit easier than having to remodel, so the new home is the perfect way to start your home decor experience. Starting with a new home, you will need all the basic furniture assortments and decorating basics to make your home a reflection of yourself rather than just a space that is taken up with essential furnishing. There is a lot that will go into your home, starting with your personal touch.

When you start out, you want to get the basic furniture for a new home. Though you will likely have a budget, you can still get the basic home decor without it costing an arm and a leg. There are great outlets available that offer discount furniture as well as many sites online where you can find used furniture for next to nothing. The basic furniture you will need will of course include: bed, dresser, TV stand, couch, coffee table, kitchen table and chairs. Other than that, you are purchasing extras so this can come later, after you have made your imprint on the home. Searching for these basic pieces of furniture, you should be seeking a similar look within each in order to create an overall style of the home decor. Some homeowners prefer to go in for a separate theme for each room. When looking for furniture, you will need to keep in mind the exact dimensions of each room as well as the style you are going for in that particular room.

Once you choose your larger pieces of furniture, selecting the rest of the home decor accessories is easy. This will include basic accessories that every new homeowner needs to buy such as blinds, shades, lamps, curtains, table cloths, shower curtains, etc. There are many accessories that are needed to complete a new home's basic style and impression; however these accessories don't cost much, especially when purchased at discount stores. Don't be in a hurry to buy your smaller decor items. Very often, you may chance upon something that is being sold at a throwaway price.

Spend a day browsing through a few discount shops or go to a few flea markets. You'd be amazed at the treasures you will find here. An antique lamp, a Chinese tea pot, African masks... flea markets are a treasure trove for a new homeowner. Don't forget to look for wall hangings and floor coverings. Interesting wall hangings create points of interest in the room and if you find something unique, it can be a great conversation piece at any social event. Look for something that will go with the theme of your general decor. Same with area rugs; a well chosen area rug that complements the decor theme can tie in all the elements of the room to create a look a look that truly harmonious.

Help For the Handicapped - Choosing Home Furnishings For the Physically-Mentally Challenged

Home furnishing ideas can be found everywhere to fit every taste, budget and need. This includes designing rooms for the physically or mentally challenged. Rooms to fit the physical or mental limitations of those people with unique needs can be both functional as well as pleasing to the senses. Interior decorating is making a space fit a person, in design, needs, and style. Whether the style is bold purple or the needs require grab bars is irrelevant; the right design can make any room functional and attractive. If you keep the needs of the person you are designing for in mind, you will find there are many options you can choose from.

First, when you are considering home furnishing for a person with special needs, it would be smart to to check with other people. It might not be obvious that a grab bar needs to placed in a particular place to you but it could mean a world of difference to someone with balance issues. Hospital and rehab centers are experts in making spaces safe and easy to navigate for those with special needs. Check with some of those places or with specialists who treat and care for people who are physically or mentally challenged.

The bathroom and kitchen are the site of most at-home accidents, regardless of the residents of the home. Pay special attention to these areas. Make certain everything is easily and safely accessible. Do not expect a person who cannot move as easily as you do to be able to reach the lavatory handles or to adjust the shower settings as you would. Make certain everything is either built specifically for someone in a wheelchair, for example, or is modified to accommodate any physical restrictions. Wheelchair ramps should be sturdy, grab bars securely fastened and accessories should fit the needs of the person the space is intended for.

However, never lose sight of the fact that the person the room or spaces are designed for deserves to have an attractive space as well as a safe and usable one. The overall design should be attractive; the color scheme should take into consideration the preferences of the one who will live in the area. In some areas, style may be limited because of function but overall, a space can still have an attractive style that is warm and welcoming to the one who lives there as well as any guests who may come by.

Home Furnishing Styles - A Matter of Personal Taste

Before starting to furnish your house, the very first thing you have to do is decide on an appropriate home furnishing style. In the event that you have actually decided on the style you like, it will be a lot easier to select the accessories and furnishings that will suit the style. In this article, you will be informed of the general overview of some of the styles of home furnishing that you can take into consideration before pursuing a certain style.

Mediterranean Style:

This home furnishing style is correlated with French and Italian styles. You must use:

Warm colors such as yellow and earth colors.

Simple fabric patterns that come in blue with a touch of gold.

Natural furniture that is made out of wood.

A decoration that contains images of flowers, particularly ships and sunflowers.

Cottage Style:

Every time you say or hear the word "cottage", you may imagine or picture out an old-fashioned small house, surrounded by a white painted picket fence, located beneath a lake or countryside. For this type of style, you must:

Use pastel shades in painting the house.

Display antique and traditional kinds of accessories inside the house.

Use white chairs and couches or white furniture, and floral prints for the pillows and cushions.

Use a fine textiles or gauze for the curtains. This may create a cottage atmosphere in the house.

Use patchwork quilts as throws.

Use soft lights and lamps, or use dimmers if needed.

Victorian Style:

This is the style that is used in the grand and prestigious mansions built in England throughout the Victorian period. This may be easily recognized because this style:

Uses elegant and small armchairs and couches furniture.

Uses dried flowers and porcelain as decorations.

Can be complemented with rich brocades and velvet home furnishings.

Uses cushions that are silk in fabric, stripes, and with plain floral patterns.

Traditional Style:

This is an elegant original classic style of home furnishing. If you prefer this style, you must:

Use a textile with floral patterns for cushions, sheets, curtains, couches, etc.

Use furniture like mahogany.

Have a china or crystal decoration.

Make curtains using heavy materials.

Use furniture that are checkered and damasks.

Use landscapes that are framed in decorating the walls.

Oriental Style:

This is the style that involves the use of sleek but simple Oriental patterns. Upon applying this style, you must:

Use only little furniture.

Put in mind and apply the saying "Less is more".

Use Oriental rugs furniture and silk fabric that has Oriental prints.

Use images with dragons, Japanese seascapes and cherry blossoms.

Use coffee tables and main tables that are made by tweak wood, which are beautifully polished.

Tropical Home Decor - A Relaxing Island Breeze

How would you like to give your home the aura of an island breeze and warm inviting climates that make you feel as though you are in the Bahamas? You can with tropical home decor, and it's very simple to accomplish.

There are many different items available today that fit this category, though some are not easy to define. You can find palm tree lamps and candleholders, and even picture frames adorned with tropical and island-themed accents. Coconut themed decor items you may find will also fit right in!

Furniture consisting of rattan or woven type fabrics blend nicely with tropical home decor accents, as do contemporary furnishings. This is a style that blends very easily with many other types of decor. Using light, airy colors such as tan, off-white and even a pastel seafoam green on your walls adds to the tropical atmosphere.

A few other items that are extremely popular now are decorated with pineapple accents. There are wall plaques and even footstools accented with pineapples, and these make a perfect addition to your Bahama's decor! Another idea for decorating your walls is using a Tuscan style mirror grouping with matching wall sconces. This blends a touch of elegance into your tropical decor and looks absolutely stunning.

For your windows, anything light and airy will work, you just don't want to use any heavy or dark colored curtains or drapery. Light colored sheers are perfect, and if you can find some with a faint tropical pattern such as leaves or palm trees on them, that's even better!

As you can see, it is very simple to acquire the tropical look of the Bahama's for your home. Use some of your own ideas and accents along with the hints given here, and you will soon feel the relaxing island breeze blowing through your home!

Furnishing And Decor For Your Expat European Home - Get Style And Save Money

Moving from the UK to a new home overseas is an exciting prospect but with many practical challenges and often some barriers. Purchasing or building a new home is one of the biggest challenges and as a result the question of furnishing and decor is often left as an after thought. But if you think about furniture, curtains, blinds, rugs, bedding and so on as part of your overall plan you can transform your new property into your new home.

It is true that you can wait till you are in residence before you start searching local stores for the necessary furnishings. This undoubtedly will allow you to furnish in a similar manner to other local homes, but you will be less familiar with local sources and it may take time and some style errors before you manage to complete the interior decor of your home to your satisfaction.

We'd always suggest that you should immerse yourself in the local environment and community, but when it comes to furnishing and décor you can get the style you want and save money if you source items in the UK and then export it you your new home.

Saving Money

You'll find that shopping in the UK is now often much cheaper than on the Continent. Particularly with the parlous state of the £ versus the Euro and significant VAT differentials you can find designer fabrics and home accessories considerably cheaper in the UK. If you buy in the UK and export to the EU you will pay UK VAT of 17.5% instead of local VAT which could be as much as 25.5%!

It's often worth making a dedicated trip back to the UK in order to make big savings. Some expats will fill a hired van in the UK with everything needed in their holiday rental property or their own "home from home". Since the UK is part of the EU (unlike the Channel Islands or Gibraltar) you won't have problems with import duty to another EU country. Goods can also be shipped safely with international couriers like FedEx, UPS & DHL.

If your home is outside the UK you'll benefit from VAT free exports - though you need to take care of local import taxes. But the retail price differentials between the UK and, for example, Dubai, the Algarve, the Côte d'Azur, easily outweigh the cost of transportation & importation.

Buying British

Many brands that are available in the UK are just not easily available overseas. So if you are seeking familiarity or exclusivity and an affordable solution then it makes sense to source in the UK. For example many designer curtain fabrics are 50% cheaper in the UK than in Europe.

Choice

Depending on the location of your new home, you find that you may have very limited choice when it comes to furnishings for your new home. In major cosmopolitan cities you should be spoiled for choice but otherwise you'll find that Britain offers some of the widest choice at all levels of budget. So if your new overseas home is in rural Brittany, for example, if you want the best possible choice you could go to Paris or you could source from Britain; which would be easier?

English Spoken Here

Have you tried explaining the subtleties of your favourite fabric or paint colour in the local language? Unlike ordering a meal in a restaurant, it's not a subject covered in many phrase books. Unless you are a linguist, you can avoid misunderstandings by using a British interior designer and supplier.

Peace Of Mind

You can deal with many suppliers in the UK who have experience of supplying goods and services to expats. Look for companies who have experience of making up goods to your specification (e.g. curtains) at a distance. Make sure they can project manage a whole house if you are refurbishing your home or furnishing your home for the first time. And of course check that they can arrange safe delivery. The right company will help you transform your overseas property into a stylish and desirable home whilst saving you time and money.

Get High Style in Home Decor on a Low Budget

When it comes to home decorating, it doesn't matter how much money is spent, but how wisely it's spent. In every home decorating situation, no matter what style is the goal, imagination and creativity are the most important assets.

With that in mind, here are some tips from frugal decorators on how to make the most of a tight home decorating budget.

Get It for Less: Both, skilled amateurs and gifted professionals say that the genuine satisfaction in home decorating comes from finding affordable solutions to annoying problems. Resourcefulness is the name of the game here, because few of us have unlimited funds, especially in these financially uncertain times. The objective here isn't to be Scrooge, but to make every penny count.

Begin by using inexpensive materials generously and expensive materials frugally. For example, matching sheets come in all kinds of colors and patterns, and they can be used in dozens of ways, from swag draperies to table coverings. Cotton sailcloth makes excellent slipcovers as well. Limit expensive fabrics to trims and accessories such as pillows.

When choosing between expensive materials and expensive labor, pick the labor, every time. A skilled crafts person can take those sheets we mentioned earlier and make them into curtains that look like a million dollars. The style is in the details, whether it's sewing a set of slipcovers for side chairs or painting faux finishes on the walls. Those are the touches that will make a room look fabulous.

Make the Most of It: Whatever the state of your furnishings, make the most of them, and then consider what else is needed. For example, a room can be transformed merely by rearranging the furniture. Or move those oval rugs from the bedroom into the living room, and put the square rugs in the bedroom. The result probably will improve the looks of both spaces. Do lots of experiments before going shopping.

At the same time, many contemporary homes lack the kind of architectural details found in high-end dwellings. Thanks to home improvement stores, these features can be added for a small price. Wood moldings come in a wide range of sizes and styles. They can be painted or stained and used to frame windows, doors, wallpaper panels or make a chair rail or a plate rail. Likewise, wallpaper border provides ornamental detail for the price of a few rolls. It can go at the top of walls to give a different dimension to a room. Or splurge on professional matting and framing for a large poster that captures your attention. This sophisticated addition can create a stunning focal point for any room.

Just Paint It: If nothing else, there's always paint. In fact, a good coat or two of paint is a decorator's secret weapon because paint can work such wonders in a room. What's more, paint's potential isn't limited to walls and ceilings; it works as well on floors and furniture.

Experiment with these tips, and you'll likely come up with a whole new batch of your own ideas. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but creativity is the fun of frugality!

Choose Home Decor to Suit Your Personal Style

Many homeowners plunge into decorating their domiciles without a clue as to what the end result ought to be. Too often this lack of planning leads to a hodgepodge of home furnishings, when a little thought would have created a beautiful and inviting home. When decorating your home, it is most important to consider what kind of design might best suit your home.

Urban dwellers often find that the contemporary style with its sleek, clean lines and bold colors best suits their modern apartments since they emphasize simplicity and spaciousness. On the other hand, those who dwell in buildings with some historic charm can draw inspiration from period designs.

One of the popular decor styles today is known as Steampunk, a design that mixes such Victorian features as lace doilies and fabrics in floral prints with lots of brass and artwork made with gears, cogs and keys representing the Industrial Age. In fact, many homeowners who favor Steampunk think of themselves as the "new antiquarians," straddling the present practical age with a bygone romantic era.

Another popular decor designs today that has stemmed from our increased consciousness of the environment is a trend known as Shabby Chic. This decor makes good use of the environmental movement by focusing on home furnishing elements that are re-purposed, reused and recycled. Secondhand stores are popular sources for this type of decor but the found items aren't refurbished to look new. Instead they are cherished for every nick and dent, symbols of today's effort toward home sustainability.

Some home decor styles are clearly influenced by their geography. The Pueblo style, for example, makes strong use of the adobe-brick building techniques of the American Southwest, combined with the strong geometric patterns and vivid primary colors of Native American art and fabrics. Add dashes of Spanish influence from colonial times and you have a truly distinctive decor.

These are just a few of the home decor options that you can use to turn a ho-hum home into a dazzling domicile.

African Home Decor Updates - Bamboo African Home Decor

African home decor has emerged as the premier interior design using earth friendly bamboo. I'll explore the many benefits and inroads fast growing tree continues to make in the home decor industry.

Thanks to modern processing methods, literally every room in your home can incorporate some form of decor using a bamboo theme. Whether it's bamboo wall decor, window covering, floors, or furniture, bamboo adds an exotic look to any home interior.

Bamboo home accents compliment  your decor, adding just the right touch of adventure and intrigue to any indoor or outdoor space. Like most African interior designs, bamboo is adaptable, versatile and timeless beauty. In addition, it requires a minimum of care to continue giving the indoor or outdoor area of your home that exotic look.

As an environmental asset bamboo sits at the top of the list of conservationist, ecologist and environmentalist. Why? Because it's the fastest growing tree on earth. That makes the popular plant plentiful, quickly replaceable, and highly green - environmentally. All qualities ecologists, conservationists, and environmentalists love.

Yes, with a growing demand for conservation and attention to the environment, bamboo interior related products continue to increase in popularity and demand. Bamboo continues at the forefront of the "green" building, room design, and home decor movement - including African interior accents and accessories.

To many African cultures bamboo is a symbol of adaptability, strength, and endurance, all qualities of a happy and abundant life. Bamboo furniture and other products continue to quietly replace furniture coming from trees that require decades to grow to maturity. The tree grows 10 to 20 times faster than the average hard wood trees used in today's expensive furniture and other products.

Bamboo trees conveniently grow near, around or next to areas of the world with some of the largest populations. This makes it a natural material for building and other home accessory uses, because of its fast growing ability.

Because of its timeless elements, bamboo home furnishings is economical. Why? Because the style last for years. So, you don't have to replace bamboo home decor as often as other home decor. In fact, many types of bamboo furniture and other home decor accessories beautify more with age, like a fine wine.

Interior designers continue to integrate more bamboo in African home decor projects from the front door to the backyard Why? Because of its functionality, value, and lasting style.

African interior design ideas can stretch to your windows. Interior temperature control, in addition to an African influenced theme can come from using bamboo window covering. For example, a bamboo shade can add a soothing texture and visual interest to your windows.

Including bamboo in your African room interior design plans can help you save money, add interest to any space in your home, and help the environment all at the same time. With today's technology and processing methods and techniques, bamboo continues to appear in more home decor products.

Do yourself, your wallet and the environment a favor and investigate the latest home decor accessories involving earth friendly bamboo for your African home decor needs.

Cottage Style Home Decorating: What's Your Favorite Cottage Style?

Cottage Style decorating can have many variations depending on personal taste, but one thing is certain--comfort, ease of living, and a welcoming feel take priority. The style lends itself well to small spaces, whether you live in a home, condo, or an apartment. My husband and I have decorated all 11 of our dwellings during our 25 years of marriage in several variations of Cottage Style and we have found it to be a flexible and affordable way to create a comforting and welcoming home.

What's your favorite Cottage Style?

Romantic: Think lots of colorful flowers on everything from upholstery to pictures, plates, and linens. Colors are often soft pastels of pink, peach, green, and rose, but can be more vibrant hues of gold and burgundy and deep green. Antique wooden furniture with soft curves is often mixed in with curvy wrought iron gates and beds. Furniture finishes can be original dark wood, or painted white or a favorite color.

Eclectic: Think artfully arranged collections of the owners, both in furniture and accessories. Treasured items purchased while on vacation, or at flea markets and art fairs are proudly displayed. Favorite colors of the owner are also used. Upon entering this home, it has a sense of "personal style."

Beachy: Easy-breezy! This one might include lots of white and blue, and maybe a touch of yellow or red. Furniture lines are often simple and a tad rustic in keeping with the casual lifestyle at the beach. Think white slipcovered sofas, blue striped pillows, painted wood floors with sisal rugs, Adirondack chairs, and of course, shells displayed in interesting containers.

Garden: Cottages often blend both indoors and outdoors for a comfortable "garden-y" look. Just do inside what your garden's doing outside! Think cabbage rose prints on linens, vines and leaves stenciled on a wall, birdhouses and trellis. Textures found in nature include furnishings in wicker, rattan, or twigs.

English: This cottage style is aristocratic--the result of the landed gentry scaling down after changing economic circumstances--a blend of the grand with the inviting. Think large armoires, floral camelback sofas with rolled arms, leather-bound books, and generational family photos. A faded look of age which includes Oriental rugs and tapestry footstools and chair seats is typical.

Shabby Chic: This style was started by Rachel Ashwell. It usually includes lots of white walls with pale pink, green, and robin's egg blue linens and accessories, quirky old chandeliers with crystals, white loose-fitting slipcovers, distressed painted furniture, with a touch of Old-World French style tossed in for charm.

Modern: Forget the cozy clutter. This one has furniture with modern simple lines but perhaps accented with a touch of softness and favorite colors in the throw pillows or textured throws on the sofa. A few carefully chosen and favorite accessories and art are present, but not overpowering.

Cabin/Camp: If a cozy retreat in the woods is your passion, then this is the Cottage Style for you. Knotty-pine walls and bookcases, berry red and forest green plaid blankets, twig furniture, and Native American artifacts like arrowheads are the hallmark of the camp cottage look.

Vintage: Generational family photos in black and white, lace curtains and tablecloths, family heirloom antique furniture, and aged floral draperies used for upholstery fabric make this Cottage Style. Collections might include old figurines, pottery, handkerchiefs, and jewelry.

French: This style blends tradition with a twist. Graceful curves on some furniture combines with other durable farmhouse furniture for a refined yet rustic look. Colors often include mustard and royal blue. Toile prints on fabrics and wallpaper are popular.

No matter which variation of Cottage Style is your favorite, by artfully arranging your personal things, you'll be on your way to your very own cozy, comfy Cottage Style home.

c2005 Kathryn Bechen. All rights reserved worldwide.

Home Decorating Trends and Colors for the Spring Season and Beyond

Spring is a beautiful time of year and a time for renewal. Let in the fresh air with this change of the season and the newest home decorating trends and colors.

The fashion industry has certainly been an inspiration and influence over the color and trends of home furnishings, but any color is fashionable with the personal self expression and confidence to make it work.

Besides, color boosts your mood and can create favorable first impressions!

Current home decorating trends this year of 2008 are reusable luxury with recyclable items giving new uses for vintage articles. The mixing of classic traditional styling with the newer contemporary and even the inclusion of some Lucite furniture pieces.

Incorporating these home decorating trends into your living spaces adds the uniqueness of your personal stamp to your decor.

Anything that is hand made, environment friendly and authentic, representing the earth using natural organic materials.

Start expecting to see less of the over scaled furniture which has been with us for a while to be replaced with a more streamlined silhouette and a "normal" scale.

What will be over scale? The fabrics will have large repeats on the upholstery and a dominance of graphic prints plus the use of natural materials like linen. Also, expect to see more outdoor fabric choices introduced.

Wallpaper is making a comeback and the use of metallic in paint color for the walls.

Look for accents and the use of silver finishes, mercury glass, mirrors, pottery and crystal.

A big color this year is pink and not just for little girls! Use pink in the darker raspberry tones and the pinky reds moving toward the coral shades.

Tone the raspberry with a rich neutral like chocolate brown, looks awesome.

Actually anything in the chocolate brown and espresso family but especially with a red-violet undertone, and in addition to the natural browns, earthy colors include the blues and greens.

Neutral grey in the quiet and clean tones of chalk, slate, charcoal and gray flannel will be evident. Grey is a great neutral back drop to the brighter accent color combinations used this year ( pair it with orange ) and is a softer approach to the black and white that is still quite strong.

Very dramatic and sophisticated, black and white rooms are quite stylish when one of the two colors dominates, and the black and white color palette successfully uses the bold patterns that are popular. An accent with red or pink will give it some punch or keep it subtle with taupe.

With an increasing awareness of important environmental causes, home decorating trends reflect eco-consciousness with the color green becoming the "new" refreshing neutral. Green is a natural and earthy color that definitely says spring, bringing the outdoors inside.

The peaceful green of ferns, palms, pine and sage blends well with any other color you choose, is very versatile and can be used in any part of the home with great success.

For femininity work it in with pinks, for a modern mix use it successfully with gray, or go earthy with chocolate brown.

Watch for many tones of water blues and sky blues with respect to home decorating trends that enhances the environmental movement. Metallic and denim blue and even lavender will all have a presence.

Home Decorating - What You Wish You Knew

Home decorating is an easy task but it requires careful planning. You need to consider a lot of factors so that the furnishings you put together will complement your room size, wall color, and shape. Here are few tips to enable you to get the most form your decorating efforts.

The first task is to determine your focal point. This place is considered the center of your decoration. It is the principal piece of furniture, object, or furnishing around which your decoration will revolve. Examples of focal points include fireplaces, room dividers and book shelves.

Once this point is located, the rest of the furnishings can come as you will now know what attracts the attention most in your room. The next activity is to choose a theme. What impression do you want your guests to have as they enter your living room? Do you want them to feel like they are in the countryside, in the home of a pop music celebrity, or that of a retro lover? The answer to this question will enable you select traditional, elegant, classic decor. You will accordingly choose rugs, lamps, colors and furniture that match your intended impression. You must note that the theme must be kept consistently throughout the room.

Flowers add special effects to the home. Live plants freshen up the atmosphere and artificial ones can make the place look lively. Choose tall vases with decorations at the base to make an elegant decor when placed at corners. Single sleek petalled flowers on the fireplace or bookshelf exude a fantastic appearance.

Rugs can add special glamour to rooms. You should choose the shape of your rug according to the shape of the room. Oval, circular or rectangular rugs will help in this way. Again, look at the pattern in the rug. If they are located at one point, then that part should be close to your focal point. If they are evenly distributed, then they can be spread across the room in any way. Also select your rug according to colors that will match your existing wall tones.

These decorating tips will enable you keep your home furnishings looking trendy and elegant. You can combine all or some of the suggestions in this guide depending on the effects you would like to create.

A Spark of Inspiration in Home Decor

It's easy to forget that decorating is an art form. As you go about filling your home with possessions, making compromises between beauty and function, and bowing to the limitations inherent in the space, it can be easy to let decorative considerations drop in favor of more direct pursuits.

However its important to remember that your entire life is a creative endeavor. Every move you make is precipitated by the fact that you are a unique individual. Your choices come from within you. This is as true of actions, as it is of movements and designs. When creating the atmosphere in your home, you are really setting the stage for the play of your life.

Part of being inspired to decorate, is finding something in life that really moves you. Once the spark of creativity is kindled, you can use the energy for just about any pursuit you desire.

However sometimes inspiration is elusive. Unfortunately, it can't be forced, and you shouldn't try, or you'll just end up having a negative experience, which will make it even harder to get excited about your decorating project. Instead take it easy, relax, and try to do things you enjoy which are related to home decorating.

One popular past time is to flip through catalogs from manufacturers of furnishings. You can also browse home décor websites to see what kinds of items are available. Browsing through pictures of others, decorated homes, is also a great way to spark some creativity in your own mind.

Ultimately any spark of creativity will come from within you. It's already there, waiting, you just have to find it and coax it out. It's a matter of understanding who you are, and what makes you passionate. This is not only the way to decorate your home, it's also really the best way to live your life.

Handyman Services for Home Repair and Renovation

The process of searching for the services of skilled experts in the handyman field may initially seem like a trivial undertaking when everything within your home functions properly. It should be known that the total range of tasks that a handyman can perform is boundless. Although some people consider the initial costs to be high, they will understand that they pay off in the long run, especially since they help you save precious time.

Listed below are some tasks and services that a handyman generally offers, but there are a lot of other jobs that these professionals can actually work on around a home or commercial space. The listed items are however the basic services that can help any person in making their life less stressful and much easier, especially in terms of home decorating and renovation with a professional approach.

Carpentry

The most basic of tasks that a handyman is known to work on involves simple carpentry. This service involves other numerous jobs that fall directly under this classification. This can stretch from something as simple as setting up shelves to installing framing and moldings. So far, carpentry is known to be the service that is most sought after in handyman services. This is specifically needed by individuals who have little to no skill and knowledge in any form of carpentry work.

Even though the carpentry field can sometimes necessitate the need for wood carvings in products like tables, chairs, etc. this is not to be considered as part of the services provided by handyman. Such kind of carvings and furniture creations are often left to craftsmen who specialize in this industry. The services being offered by a handyman will include the repair of furnishings and parts of the house that are made of wood.

Plumbing and Electrical Jobs

Another common residential or commercial service that is provided by a handyman involves plumbing and electrical jobs. Many provide these services on an ongoing basis. This could entail monthly checkups on electrical wiring, pipes lines, sewage etc. These tasks are essential since working on the electrical and plumbing system is not something that anyone can do. The DIY approach is not wise in this scenario, compared to attempting a carpentry project. Repairing and replacing wires, water lines and light fittings are just some of the tasks that a handyman could do.

Decorative Projects

Decorating is probably the least known type of service that anyone would consider a handyman to render. Beautifying the space through the installation of wallpaper or through the application of paint is a part of this category. Finishing touches on various areas of the home or in furnishings can as well be completed by many handyman in an efficient and professional manner.

Log Home Contemporary and Modern Design Style

Modern and contemporary interior design styles for Log Homes are defined by clean lines accentuated by sculptural furnishings, art, and bold contrast. Some find contemporary style stark and unwelcoming while others find the underlying simplicity refreshing. Almost everyone can enjoy the uncluttered, relaxing vibe of modern style.

Colors used in contemporary and modern design for Log Home range from neutrals to bright colors, though it is the use of black that defines the contemporary palette. Muted colors and monochromatic color schemes are also popular in modern interior design including hues of white, cream, brown, and taupe. Pops of color are often added with accessories and accent furniture pieces.

Through the use of negative space, each element in contemporary design has the appearance of independence while still contributing to the overall design of the room. Architectural and functional elements enhance textural interest and line.

Contemporary Decor
The underlying simplicity of line, shape, and form in contemporary design requires only a few well placed accessories. Contemporary art is simple, dramatic, and large in scale. Art pieces are set off from other elements in the room by lighting or solo placement on a pedestal. Textures such as brushed metal, chrome, and glass are popular in modern kitchen and bathroom designs.
Woods like birch, ash, and maple are commonly seen in contemporary flooring and cabinetry. Plush or shag rugs add comfort and texture to wood or tile floors and help to round out the color palette. Lighting is an exceptionally important element in contemporary design. Recessed lights are used to wash walls and highlight art, while unique accent light fixtures serve as art statements.

Contemporary Furniture
During the early twentieth century, innovative materials started a revolution in furniture design. As a result, contemporary and modern furniture designers developed pieces from materials like acrylic, steel, plastic, and molded plywood. Influential design movements for modern furnishings include Scandinavian style, Bauhaus, and Art Deco. New materials are still being pioneered by contemporary designers who often seek out green design solutions.

Contemporary and modern furniture is often created in unconventional shapes with clean, smooth lines and no frills, ruffles, or carved details. Fabrics used on upholstered furnishings are often cotton or linen in solid neutrals, black, or bold colors. Sofa and chair skirts are flat or box pleated while exposed legs are thick and solid. Pillows, in clean geometric shapes, can be used to add a shot of color.

Since all contemporary and modern furniture is cleanly shaped, the upholstery is really what defines the casualness or formality of the room. Furniture upholstery in modern design tends to be low maintenance fabrics like cotton, microfiber, and leather. Upholstery colors range from bold primary colors to neutral hues of putty, cream, and black.

Simple Home Decorating Ideas

Simple home decorating ideas could be used to bring in simplicity in home decor with readily available accessories and objects to spruce up your home. But simplicity should not be mistaken for drab or a dull look as simple home decorations can be very practical and visually appealing. It refreshes your home and soothes your eyes.

Color variations can change the look and mood of the interior. Usually mundane decors rely on a single color. You could try more than one color to make the rooms look great and aesthetic as well. Combination of different colors can add vitality and life to an otherwise plain looking room.

Instead of using colors that clash with one another try color combination that blend easily. You could break the color combination in another room as modern home interiors are used to doing. Or else, try and maintain a certain pattern from room to room. Adjoining rooms could have complementary colors to maintain a balance if you like it tat way.

Natural light is always welcome in al homes and mirrors help reflect ad light up rooms that remain dark despite the presence of natural light. Instead of spending a lot of money buying new mirrors you could do with those at your home to bring in the sunny environment that was lacking.

Plants can bring in the much needed natural look straightaway. In case you are allergic to too many plants in your home you could always get dry flowers or artificial ones to get the greenery into your home interior. It is a very simple home decorating idea that you could use without much of a fuss. If you like real plants, then, with a bit of imagination you could bring over the garden to your living room.

Use rugs wherever possible like under the coffee table or in the bedroom to make the mood and tone of the room soft. Curtains add to the artistic touch and you could choose simple yet attractive prints or use blinds. Upholstery is usually blended with the curtain ad choices for color and print would be impacted by the other furnishing materials in the room. Curtain color ideas for simple home decoration follow the shades of walls and windows.

Americana Home Decor Ideas

A niche decorating style that seems to be gaining popularity at the moment is the Americana style. This is very popular among Americans who want to display their heritage, and also among non-Americans that want to have a themed room in their house. It is popular because of its obvious association with America and also with its versatile colour scheme.

The main colours are the same as on the American flag; red, white and blue, and these are used together in a variety of ways to create your Americana room. If you want a more subdued American feel then you can go for less contrasting colours, maybe cream, pale blue and dark red for example. Although you could use all three in equal amounts to create a striking room, most people choose to use one colour as the base and work the other two around it.

Once the room is decorated, it's time to accessorise! The first step is to buy furniture that goes with the design, this usually consists of fairly simple, white furnishings, perhaps a really plump sofa, and a storage box painted with an American flag, or the same design on a coffee table. The same goes for plant pots, which can be painted with a flag and used instead of end tables. Try going for something like a cactus to fit in with the theme.

After the core furniture is chosen, you will want to liven up the room with a few small American additions, like a license plate, road sign, Uncle Sam birdhouse, flag, and the list goes on. There are so many things you could put in this room it is unbelievable, so just look around, in books, shops and online. You will eventually find everything that you want to truly give you an American shrine.

It is very easy to overbuy, as there is so much stuff out there. If you find yourself in this situation then store some of your stuff away and rotate your accessories to always keep your room new. This way, you will never get bored with something that took a lot of effort to create, and you can effectively redecorate every few months without the need to fully reshape the room.

Creating a Well Furnished Home

The art of furnishing your home with the perfect furniture that blends with the surrounding really counts as this is the area of your home that you spend most your time. So you should take special care and put in a lot of effort to decorate and furnish your home.

This way you can create your ideal living space and it is important that you furnish your home by infusing your unique personality and efforts in decorating your home. Most people enjoy furnishing their home as it is a creative challenge and gives people the chance to decorate and furnish their home according to their likes and dislikes. Most people think that buying expensive furnishings and decorations will enhance their home decor but this is where people get the wrong idea as a perfect decor doesn't need to be expensive as any inexpensive item can also turn your home into an attractive and well decorated one.

Getting your home decorated and furnished by hiring an interior decorate will cost you money and though your house may turn out to be the perfectly decorated and furnished one but all this will also cost you money so its better that you stick to your own personal choice and instincts so that you don't waste money by hiring a professional if you have a low budget.

The best way to get your home decorated is by opting for a theme and considering your taste and preferences you can choose the one that suits your home. You can decorate your home any way you want by choosing from the American, French or traditional styles.

People who like to decorate their home with an Oriental touch can buy Paper lanterns and Oriental screens because all etches are part of the Oriental culture and will give your home an Oriental look.

Traditional people like to decorate their homes with a classical touch and prefer the Victorian designed furnishings to decorate and furnish their homes. The Victorian rugs and couches add elegance to the home and really help to make your home look like a Classical one.

Some people also prefer to mix match their themes and use the ultra modern furnishing and decor along with ultra sophisticated styles.

But before starting to decorate your home you should consider on the amount of budget you can spare as you need to plan a budget so that things work in an organized way and you don't get stuck up being short of money. When all these things are cleared up then you can start spending money and buy the furnishings for your lovely home with care.

You can easily avail the different home furnishing items from a furniture store near you or get connected to online stores that offer discounted rates and deliver the furnishing items to your home in fast forward way.

You can also buy at consignment store as they sell used home decor and furnishing at a cheaper rate and you can get good furnishing deals at bargained prices plus there are also many warehouses that also put up discount sloes that can be easily availed if you have a limited budget.

Modern Furniture - The Contemporary Way of Home Furnishing

We know how incomplete a home can be without furniture. Whether your home is old or new, furnishing it with elegant and modern furniture can be very pleasing to you as well those who come to your home. The right kind of furniture not only makes a house look beautiful but also reflects on great sense of aesthetics on your part. Whenever we visit someone else's house that has been tastefully adorned with well furnished modern furniture, we often feel that even we could have decorated our house in a better way. The whole idea of decorating the house can be quite enjoyable and there are many people who consider home furnishing as their hobby.

It is ideal to go for the furniture that will gel with the interior of your home. Nowadays, there is a very high demand for modern furniture because you get a broad variety of style to choose from. Modern furniture does not come for cheap and hence one must buy them from a good home décor shop. You should look for a convenient website that offers you to shop for some amazing home furniture online, at reasonable prices. Buying modern furniture online can be a good experience because you can get quality modern furniture at cost-effective rates.

Decorating your bedroom can be very interesting. Pamper it with modern bedroom furniture because this is a room that you will look for, if you want to relax or get cozy. Modern bedroom furniture also expresses the mindset of the person who uses the bedroom. When it comes to choosing furniture for your bedroom, you should look for beds that are well-designed and comfortable enough to relax. Bedroom furniture can include a wide range of furniture such as nightstands, dressing tables, cupboards, book shelf, etc. Compared to the other rooms of your home, this room can be lit with dim lights to create a pleasant ambiance.

Living room is a place where family members gather together and spend time together watching television or dining at the dining table. If you have children and love to keep pets, then you should have sturdy and modern living room furniture. Sofa-sets, coffee tables, TV stand, recliners, dinette area tables, decorative lightings, etc, are the furniture that increases the aesthetic appeal of your living room. Mix and match is the key for decorating your living room with modern furniture.

Every room reflects different mood. Hence, according home lighting work should be done. To maintain the coziness of your bedroom, dim lights are good option. The area where you study should be brightly lit. Your living room should be well illuminated so that it may be inviting and appealing to the guests who come to meet you. Area rugs are given a miss by many but many interior decorators suggests that every home should have area rugs. It is a very nice way to decorate your home and most of the contemporary area rugs are suitable for any type of room.

Beginning Your Seasonal Home Decor in Summer is a Brilliant Idea

Start your summer right, by adding seasonal home décor to your to-do list.

Utilizing seasonal home décor is a great way to add spice to your surroundings and a surefire way to garnish compliments from your regular houseguests. In fact, one of the most popular home decorating trends currently is seasonal decorating, as it takes a dedicated creative person to come up with enough home decorating ideas four times a year on an average of every three months.

If you are considering seasonal decorating, the summer is a wonderful time to start brainstorming home decorating ideas as summer signifies a break for your children who old or young can help you create perfect summer home decoration ambience within your house. Summer is bright, cheerful and a time for guilty free pleasure, so how some fun with your home as well! Summer colors that will brighten your house to match the summer sun The sun always seems to glow brighter in the sun, and your house should also. Therefore, you need to look at your current interior decoration and use it develop summer home decoration ideas. Bright colors are easy to come by, so when trying to create color scheme ideas for your home think bright and natural. Baby colors are a great place to start as they are traditionally light airy colors, but not so obnoxiously bright as too clash with your current furniture and home accessories as well as your current interior decoration. Summer lightness has no bounds, so you just need to pick colors that do not clash with each, and from there go wild with the colors you choose to use.

Adding your summer attitude to the interior decoration of your home Of course, you probably cannot afford to replace your furniture and home accessories every three months as the seasons change, but in keeping with the attitude of seasonal home décor, it may be possible to add a few pieces to your home's interior decoration. As the season changes, you can take these simple changes and store them for next summer either in your attic or if you are lucky enough to have one, your storage closet. For example, if your living room is white, you may consider replacing the traditional wooden mirror with a mirror encircled by the sun. This way you can bring the sun of summer right into your summer home decoration.

Another easy way to spruce up the place is by adding summer flowers into all the flower vases around the home. Take out the fake plants, and add flowers picked from your home's landscaping such as daisies, lilacs, and roses. Although it will require more maintenance to keep up with real flowers than the fake ones, this is a great touch to add to your seasonal decorating efforts because you bring the pleasant smells of summer inside creating a wonderful ambiance to your home. Seasonal decorating should spark your house's physical needs As you change your seasonal home décor [://www.reflectionarticles.com/page_12.html] each season, this should remind you another three months have passed and that it may be time to address a few of your house's maintenance needs.

Beginning your summer home decoration should remind you that it is time to have window treatments completed on your windows, as they are an energy saving technique. With the bright, shiny colors and sunshine of your seasonal decorating, the real sun and hot temperatures is going to come meaning your air conditioner is going to start. Seal your windows and make sure you are locking not only the bright cheery summer in, but the cool air you are producing as well.

Antique Rugs - The Perfect Home Furnishing

When you are decorating your home and considering furnishings you need to think about more than just the way it looks. Although we all love a home that looks fantastic we have to consider the functionality of rooms and how they are going to be used. Of course the room you are looking at will make a big difference to the decor that you choose and the furnishings that you need. There are loads of decisions that need to be made so it is a matter of shopping around and making sure that what you buy is perfect for you.

We don't always have time or the budget to be able to redecorate a room completely which means we have to look at different options and ways to refresh a room without spending a fortune. One of the most popular ways of doing this is to introduce rugs to your room. If you are looking for something a little special then you can even look at antique rugs which can add something really fantastic to a room.

When you look at antique rugs you will see that they come in a whole range of different styles and colours which means that whatever you are looking for there will be something to suit you. Of course traditional antique rugs go on the floor to add something to the flooring in a room but actually they can be used to throw over different pieces of furniture and in different areas of a room to give everything a brand new look - and without having to spend a fortune redecorating the whole room!

If you are really looking for something special then you can even go to a dealer for their range of antique rugs. These sometimes look so different and fantastic then you can opt to have then framed and displayed on a wall which can create a really fantastic and unique centre point to your room - something which you won't see in many places.

If you do decide to buy antique rugs then it is essential that you look at how to maintain these and look after them properly. At the end of the day if you have spent your hard earned money on these then it stands to reason you will want to get the best value for money out of them and you can do this by looking after them and making sure that they last. Thankfully there are loads of places you can turn to for help and advice with this, so finding the best way to look after your antique rugs should not be too much of a struggle.

Affordable Home Decorating Begins With Good Design

Affordable home decorating allows for a creative mix of old with the new. Staying with the basics and a little imagination and you can have a stylish home on a budget.

Work Your Plan

Classic furniture and accessories are often copied because good design will always stay current. Mix in well designed but inexpensive copies of an expensive item with antiques and better quality pieces for effective and affordable home decorating.

Wicker furniture is an excellent example of good design, that is actually borrowed from the past, giving a new home character.

Wicker and rattan are stylish, lightweight and practical and can be mixed in any room. A wicker trunk can be a coffee table, an end table, at the foot of a bed or in the mud room. And the best part? Hidden storage.

If you don't have a lot of furniture, move what you do have away from the walls. This will create a more intimate room arrangement.
One large and impressive piece is better than several small pieces, and will make the room appear larger and less crowded.

Affordable home decorating allows for negative space in the design of an interior, so edit your belongings if your room is crowded.

The 3 R's: Recondition, Reuse, and Recycle

Recycle older pieces and use in a new and different manner than the way it was originally intended.

Reuse furniture. The drawers and doors of a piece can be outfitted for modern application, like turning a dining room buffet into a media center.

If a piece of furniture has nice lines and good bones, but is badly scratched or the finish is bad, it can be stripped and reconditioned, or altered with paint or even fabric, and it saves the piece from the landfill.

Visit estate auctions, yard sales and flea markets for undiscovered treasures.
Thrift stores and consignment shops are becoming more stylish and fun to peruse. You never know what you might find. Keep it in the community by visiting the stores in the neighborhood.

Color Your World

Changing the color of your rooms with paint is the most affordable home decorating "secret" and cost effective way to achieve a dramatic difference in the look of any space.

Consider doing the painting yourself with paint that is low in volatile organic compounds. (VOC's)

If your room is sparsely furnished, color will add visual interest.
Divide a wall horizontally with two colors to give the illusion of a chair rail.

Painting doesn't have to end with the walls. Paint the floor either solid or in a pattern to create drama to the room.

Do you like the look of wall paper but not ready for the expense or commitment? Stencils are an affordable home decorating detail of an ornate wall covering.

Black used as an accent will ground a room and bring out the best in other colors.

Cover Up

Rather, than re upholstering or buying new, replace tired upholstery with custom or ready-made slipcovers in an updated fabric.

Create a mixed fabric cottage look by recovering just the seats or change the look by replacing the separate cushions with one bench seat.

Look for upholstery grade fabric that has been discontinued or on the remnant tables.

Certain fabrics that are inexpensive never go out of style. Classic examples include muslin, white cotton duck, mattress ticking, and (some) chenille, which can be used as draperies, a bed canopy, slipcovers, or a covering for a skirted table.

Sisal as an alternative to expensive floor covering is a natural fiber and provides a neutral background to everything else in the room.

Express Yourself For Art's Sake

Personal expression doesn't need to be expensive to be beautiful.

• A vase with fresh flowers of the same color is more impressive than a table filled with small nick knacks.
• Group a collection of like items together on one table, like framed photographs.
• Stack coffee table books on a small chair, table or the floor and use as an accent table.
• All white china looks good no matter how inexpensive it is. Mix in mismatched china from the flea markets for interest and color, or it looks terrific displayed alone.
• Borrow from your closet and use a shawl as a throw or purchase fabric in a chenille to make your own that you casually place on the arm or the back of a sofa.
• One large poster on a wall can pack more punch than a group of little prints.
• Frame a beautiful piece of fabric into wall art, a section of vintage wallpaper, greeting cards, pages from an illustrated art book or calendar.
• Simple black frames used on different styles of art and photographs will unify the arrangements.
• Display old chess and other game boards as an alternative to art for the walls, as well as architectural fragments from the salvage yards.
• Hang trays, plates and platters with wire wall hangars purchased in hardware stores.
• Hang a quilt above the bed for a headboard.
• Search flea markets for inexpensive mirrors and frames for an intriguing arrangement on a wall. Vary the size and shape of the frames and paint in the same color for a uniform presentation.
• Have particularly lovely and ornate frames? Hang just the frames by themselves.

Affordable home decorating is fun. You will be rewarded with your effort and gain a real sense of accomplishment when your home is styling and you did it on the cheap!

Green Your Home With Sustainable Home Decor Online Products

Due to energy usage for temperature control purposes and the materials used in home furnishings, households can have considerable negative environmental impact. With the severity of global warming's effect on weather conditions, there is an urgent need for all to reduce their home's carbon footprint. It takes both dedication and awareness to create a green home, however, environmentally responsible consumers have only to visit home decor online stores to find the support they need with a wide selection of home decor items produced from sustainable natural materials.

Tips for sustainable home decoration

1. Salvaging, reusing, reclaiming and repurposing: Waste reduction is a green initiative to support a healthier environment and results in a decreased demand for goods which, in turn, reduces the amount of natural resources and energy manufacturers need to produce new items. Instead of being discarded in the trash bin, many old household items can be freshened up with a new coat of paint or find other uses after being repurposed. When items made from recycled materials are produced and purchased it also keeps trash out of landfills and reduces the consumer's carbon footprint.

2. Choose renewable and natural materials: Rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo, cork and wheat are the best resources for use in the home. With a daily growth rate of as much as 100 cm, once harvested, bamboo in particular has the ability to renew itself in less than a year. Although bamboo can last a very long time it can completely biodegrade once thrown away, unlike non-biodegradable plastics and other materials.

3. Materials produced and harvested locally: You can purchase locally crafted home decor products at many home decor online shops. Since these products that are cultivated and/or created nearby they require less fossil fuel usage and transportation to make it to consumers' homes.

4. Nontoxic materials: Although paint's mainly used to attractively finish many home decor items, it can be detrimental to the environment. Oil based types are particularly bad with the ability of their VOC and other chemical content to evaporate at room temperature. Other harmful substances used in the production of home accents are plasticisers used for soften plastic and adhesives. It's best to bypass plastic goods and purchase bamboo products and other natural materials instead.

5. Minimalist theme: A soothing, calm home is usually a clutter free home. Limit the range of items in a room to a few furnishings and unique accents such as boldly printed cushions and elegant bamboo bowls. Dark wood, bamboo and similar natural materials are often used in this design concept. Bamboo lends an especially relaxing vibe as a simple but exotic luxury when used in the creation of accents and furnishings.

An eco-friendly home doesn't need to be bland, give it a stylish air by decorating its spaces with items produced from sustainable natural materials. Bamboo bowls can be used for display or as attractive fruit or salad bowls. Black or white bamboo trays can be used for serving tea and sandwiches, these and more items are available at Pitaya House decor online store.

Home Decor Lighting - Looking to Transform Your Homes Decor?

Choosing the right home decor lighting can go a long way toward determining whether your home conveys the atmosphere of a warm, inviting place for guests, or a dank, desolate dungeon-like abode to which nobody would make a return visit.

You can probably think of many homes you have been in where the lighting does little or nothing to accent the furnishings, or clashes with the decor package of a particular room. With just a little planning and creativity, the proper selection of lighting can enhance the appearance of a room in a big way.

One way to improve your home decor lighting is through the use of table lamps. For rooms that don't have much in the way of overhead lighting, a strategically-placed table lamp can brighten those dark corners of the room that normally would escape the notice of your visitor. And with so many decorative lampshades available these days, you can be sure to find one that fits the decor of your room.

You also need to take into account the brightness and type of light bulb you put in the lamps. If they are too bright, they can make the room seem less cozy, and too dim can make your guests wonder if you are trying to hide something, or if you haven't taken the time to clean lately.

Proper home decor lighting can also go a long way when it comes to bringing out certain features in a room. If you have a prized display that you want to show off, such as a photo collection or trophy case, the right amount of lighting can make it stand out without being too ostentatious.

When done correctly, the lighting will draw the attention of your guests to the display without them even being consciously aware of it. The placing of recesses lighting is an excellent choice for this purpose.

And when considering home decor lighting, you can't neglect the outdoor area of your home. This is especially true if you have an outdoor swimming pool, or if you frequently have friends over during the summer barbecue season.

This is important not only for decorating purposes, but also for the nighttime safety of your guests. Decorative outdoor lighting can also go a long way towards making your property stand out from the neighbors, which can be a big help if the time ever comes to sell . . .

Find out more by reading the full article which explains what you need to know about home decor lighting.

Staging Homes for Sale: Professional Advice for Home-Stagers and Agents

Because the real-estate market has slowed, real-estate agents and the sellers they represent are using every tool at their disposal to sell houses quickly and for top dollar. One of the tried-and-true tools used for selling is "staging," the process of removing or rearranging your belongings to get the best effect when showing your home.

"Home staging helps your home sell faster and for more money whether it is a slow or hot real estate market," says Cheryl Ward, President of Ivy Home Staging in California. "When a home is staged to appeal to a broader range of buyers, then you have a hot property which could incite a bidding war-imagine."

Who doesn't want that? Having the right furniture in a house can create a buzz for the listing and make for a faster sale. A cohesive look helps potential buyers imagine the possibilities of any given space.

Often sellers try to stage the house themselves, thinking it will save them money. The Wall Street Journal reports that "in a recent HomeGain survey of 500 real-estate agents, cleaning and de-cluttering, lightening and brightening rooms, and staging were among the top five low-cost, do-it-yourself home improvements suggested for people getting their homes ready to sell." Home sellers might clean out clutter and paint the walls a nice cream color, but often the attention of an expert in the field can bring the whole look together and help close the deal.

It's hard for a seller to turn an objective eye on his or her own living space. An experienced stager or realtor will know which furniture pieces need to be moved out and which wall decorations should come down. The space should offer buyers the chance to picture their own belongings in the house or apartment. Instead of focusing a negative eye on an ancient watercolor painting, it is better if a buyer sees a wall and thinks, I know just what I'll hang there.

Find the Best Pieces and Keep Them

Real-estate agents and professional home stagers provide furniture and artwork that is clean, attractive, and neutral so it appeals to many people. Their experience helps them match certain styles with any number of spaces.

To keep the costs of staging in check, real-estate agents and professional stagers need to have clean and attractive furniture at the ready. But where can a busy professional keep enough furniture to stage three, four, or five houses? That's a lot of furniture! Some professional stagers rent furniture and pass the costs along to the seller. The risk in this practice is that rental furniture isn't always in the best condition. More savvy professionals make an investment in reliable, appealing furniture, and keep it on hand in a local storage unit for staging opportunities.

The professionals at all-about-home-staging.com note that "no one can afford to waste money in this type of economy." When renting furniture for staging, they "have found furnishings that are in 'okay' shape to 'excellent' condition." However, there's no way to know in advance if the pieces you need are available or in the condition you want for home staging. Knowing what pieces you have to work with-and what conditions those pieces are in-will save time and money.

Keeping a reserve of furniture makes sense if you are professional who needs to stage houses and apartments every month. Debra Gould of Six Elements Inc., a home-staging company, says, "We are not real-estate agents, and we are not interior designers. As home stagers, we do not believe in buying things for the sake of having what's 'in' this year."

If you can justify the expense, storing a timeless leather sofa and an appealing chest of drawers in a storage facility will keep the pieces clean and in good condition. And they will always be readily available so that agents will have more control over when and how often they can use the furniture.

"Finding the right staging supplies and furnishings is not easy and can be very time consuming," advises all-about-home-staging.com. "Select good furniture pieces that are at home in many different rooms, and you won't have wasted one dime." When home stagers are considering spending time and money to find good pieces, they should make sure they can use them again and again. The right chest of drawers has the potential to look custom-made for any bedroom, foyer, hallway, or den, depending on the space. The same goes for the right table, chair, or sofa; there is no reason these pieces shouldn't be repurposed for another project. When the pieces are not being used, a storage unit offers the ideal solution. Storage allows for security, flexibility, and long-term affordability.

Offering staging services to your clients can result in a better overall sale price and repeat, long term, business relationships. It may also give you an edge in securing new business when clients realize they can get a faster sale or higher price when taking advantage of your home staging service option.

Compliments of Uncle Bob's Self Storage.

Bathroom Furnishing and Decoration Tips

The bathroom is a place where you and your family members will spend a lot of time in. Many homeowners are starting to place a lot of emphasis on bathroom design. After all, they want to come home to a comfortable looking bathroom after a hard day at work. Besides, a home with a well designed bathroom is always worth more. Here are some furnishing and decoration tips to achieve your ideal bathroom design.

Tip 1: Getting measurements right.

Don't start off by browsing catalogs. There are tons of options to choose from. Always have your measurements ready so that you know, at the back of your mind, what designs can be fitted into your bathroom, and what can't.

Tip 2: Individual preferences matter.

If you are making decisions jointly with your spouse, try to spend some time browsing through existing designs to get a feel of what each other is looking for. For example, do you prefer a more traditional look? Does your partner prefer a more modern look? If both of you have got differing tastes, then you need to sit down with your spouse to come to some kind of middle ground. If you proceed without ironing out your differences, the process will surely be hindered by disagreements.

Tip 3: Settling on a preferred style.

Settling on a preferred style makes your decision much easier. For instance, if you have already decided on a traditional look, then you can start looking a traditional vanities such as the Carrara marble top or the granite top. Traditional designs are usually preferred by more mature homeowners.

However, if you prefer modern bathroom vanities, the wall mounted vanities may be just what you are looking for. Such vanities give the illusion that you have a bigger bathroom. That is because there are no supporting legs for the vanities and they seem to be floating in mid air! The designs are sleek and simple, and you can be sure that younger home owners will love the modern looks.

Glass vanities look extremely elegant and posh. They give a look of luxury and the designs are usually rather different. The entire look and feel of the bathroom will be different from the other vanity designs. Glass vanities can be ideal if you are looking for a resort look.

Sometimes, during the morning rush, everybody wants to use the bathroom. You can speed things up by having a double vanity in the bathroom. For instance, if you have two children both going to school at the same time, they can brush their teeth side by side instead of having to wait for one to finish. In other words, besides the looks, double vanities also serve a very practical purpose.

If there is a lady in the house, having a matching mirror is a must. Vanity mirrors are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Finally, you have to spend some time choosing matching floor and wall tiles. There are Travertine Tiles and Marble Tiles for flooring, and there are Marble Mosaics, Travertine Mosaics, and Glass Mosaics for the walls.

A Contemporary Style of Home Furnishing

If you want to change your brick and mortar house into a home then it all depends in the way you try to decorate and furnish your home. Following the latest trends you can set your room furnishing in a contemporary style. The contemporary type of home decor tries to add space and balance your rooms. This means that if you need to get a new sofa for your living rooms then you have to buy the sofa that will blend in with the room decor and will be convenient and suited according to the available space.

A contemporary setting will make it easy for you to add small accessories and furniture in bold colors. Contemporary room furnishing is neutral in color and easily blends and fits in your room decor.

People who can afford to use the service of a professional interior decorator get their contemporary room furniture while others prefer to browse around and look for simple but creative ideas that also help to enhance the beauty of your home and save you money.

The latest trend in bedrooms sets nowadays is that they are much lower to the ground and this is because people are inspired by the Asian theme and style of furnishing result of the Asian themes. And you can easily get contemporary low height bed frames made from good quality mahogany and oak wood. The new look of free standing lamps give of a tranquil look to your bedroom and makes your relax in the peaceful atmosphere.

Your bathroom is also part of your home and it should also be furnished using contemporary styles and for this you need to keep minimum amount of toiletries in the wall cabinets as it is the contemporary way of life.

You cans shop around the different shops that have contemporary furnishings that are updated with a classical feel. When you plan to furnish your home you go for the furniture that will turn out to be a good investment in the long run. You can buy furniture styles that are flexible and can give you years of pleasure.

When you set out to buy furniture you should always try to be practical and chose your room furniture according to the requirements and buy the furniture that is essential.Your family room furniture will not look good in your living room so you need to set your mind and then plan on buying. Always start of by planning a budget and then search around for the bets furnishing option that meets your style and your budget too.

Surf around the internet for creative ideas to furnish your home as through it you can be inspired to furnish your home in the best way plus this way you can get a chance to see the different styles and trends of home decor.

Western Home Decor, Your Home on the Range

Western home decor has always been a popular style, and recently seems to be growing even more popular! The down home appeal of western decor is attracting more and more people to use this style of furniture and accents. Part of this growth certainly comes from television, decorating books and magazines.

This type of decor is not only popular in the western area of the United States, it has become popular all over the country. The charm and inviting atmosphere of this decor is hard for anyone to resist, and the comfortable, relaxed feeling is very inviting to visitors and guests.

There are several different styles to choose from when using this type of decor. Some people prefer the rough and rugged western look such as a wall adorned with an old wagon wheel, exposed wooden ceiling beams and rough textured walls. Others like just a few more modern accents such as a western style mirror or cowboy figurine. The rustic look can be acquired in different ways, according to your taste.

Western home decor can be found in furnishings, mirrors, candle holders, pictures, rugs, figurines, throw pillows - you get the picture. The colors frequently used for this style come from the colors in nature - reds, golds, browns, anything rustic looking. The colors used are rich, warm and absolutely beautiful.

Southwestern decor is a variation on this theme, using color a bit more boldly and textured patterns. For example, in southwestern decor you will see many striped accents, decor items adorned with leather, native American figurines, feathers, and very bold patterns. This style is extremely popular as well. If you love color, texture and bold patterns this style would suit you very well.

Many people love an old fashioned western look. Horse and cowboy figurines, pictures featuring old time Roy Rogers themes and ponderosa pines are perfect for those who like the look of yesteryear. Rustic wooden framed mirrors, a horse lamp and a couple of old black iron candle holders shaped like horses will complete the look.

Whatever western home decor style is your favorite, you are in good company. No matter what your budget, you will find furnishings, accents and decor in every price range to suit your needs. So get started, lasso up a few western pieces here and there, and say "howdy" when everyone comes to visit your Home on the Range!

Home Decor Furniture - Converting Your House To Home

A family converts a house to a loving and beautiful home. Everyone feels their home is the world's most relaxing and comfortable place and wants to make it more beautiful by creating the elegant interior and exterior. The well-decor and furnished interior attracts every eyeball and the matter of pride for the homemaker. Furniture is the main component of the home interior which creates the magical effect on its overall appearance. Now, the market is flooding with number of beautiful Home Décor Furniture having so many creative designs and colors with different manufacturing materials. Interior decoration is the latest trend which also gives the new and innovative definition to the furniture.

There was a time when only wooden furniture would use in the drawing room, but with the change of time trend gets changed. Now, you will find metal furniture like made-up of iron, copper and number of alloys, spongy and pulpy furniture, rubber furniture etc. Even, tyres and tubes are used to make beautiful furniture which gives an aesthetic look to your home interior. Elegant designs present the new expression to interior decoration and extend your zone of creativity. You can choose from the available wide variety of Home Décor Furniture which perfectly matches with your home interior. Different shades from tinted to dark one knocking at your door and fill the colors in your life. If you have light orange paint on the room walls than royal dark blue and black creates the so happening atmosphere or you can choose any of contrast shade of color.

For daily use furniture rough & tough and light weight material is used like the garden chairs, guest room side chairs etc. Heavy furniture is difficult to move, so if you generally don't change the looks of interior than heavy one is good choice for you. And, if you are love to decorate your home from different style after every certain period of time than light weight furniture is your need. As modern flats are less spacious consequently having large furniture is quite unfeasible. But the vast variety of Home Décor Furniture allows you to choose the perfect size of furniture for your home. Commercial furniture has its own wide range of furniture as well which provides the complete professional look to your office or its corridor.

Purchasing the Home Decor Furniture is very much an investment therefore before thinking to go for it,finalized with your need of size, material, color, design and of course the quality brand within your budget.

The Fireplace and Home Decor

This article will provide some useful advice on the fireplace and home decor. Before designing the fireplace, the decor of the room where it is to be placed should be considered. This ensures that the style fit in harmoniously with the overall look. All color, materials and shapes must be totally integrated into the whole. It is advisable to ensure good visibility for the flames in order to fully enjoy the light and heat of the fire. Lastly the placement of the fireplace with respect to the surrounding elements and the distribution of the furniture around it must also be taken into account. Key focus is on the seating.

If the room is designed solely for the use of the fireplace, the placement of the furniture is simple, as the fireplace takes center stage. A single functional area around the fireplace is the key to this type of distribution. On the other hand, if the fireplace is part of a room that's divided into several areas, a balance needs to be struck so that the fireplace is the focal point when the fire is lit but merges into the setting when not in use.

In this case, the placement of the furniture is multidirectional, even though this may cause interference between the different functional areas. The aim here is that the field of vision from the seating is diversified when the fire is not lit and goes beyond the simple dark hollow of the hearth. So, the seating serves primarily as functional living room furniture, and only secondarily as vantage points for contemplating the fireplace. In both cases, however, it is advisable to make the visibility of the flames and the warmth as similar as possible for all the seating. The furnishing around a fireplace can be characterized by a radial, transversal or frontal distribution.

Bear in mind that when the fireplace is not in use for extended period of time e.g. summer, it can become a sterile void. By adding decorative elements, it can be transformed into an interesting space. Some suggestions of decorative elements are plants, candles, stones or unusually shaped logs. All these make good substitutes for the focus of attention provided by a blazing fire.

Home Decoration is an Art and Science

Home decoration is an art and a science, and a well decorated home emits positive vibes and makes a home a fun place to be at. When deciding on your home decor, do not be afraid to mix and match different items of decor. The home decor you want will be exclusive to your ideas of what you want your home yard, and garden to look like. Home Decorations & Gardening artfully balances selection and selectivity. Home decoration ideas can cater to tastes and whims of all ages and for all budgets.

Items

Make your home, truly your castle, when you add those extra decorative or unusual home furnishing items. Harmonizing all decorative items in a room is a matter not only of taste, but also of artistic vision, so make sure you take all possible aspects into consideration before purchasing a Persian Home Decor Floor Rug. When you are planning your home decoration ideas, think about which items you use often and which ones are seldom used. Home decor items are in demand and there is a lot to select from in order to give your home a revamped look with the right kind of accessories.

Accessories

Give your home and yourself a lift with new home accessories. Home Accessories make a personal statement in any room Distinctive Home Decorations. Proper planning and good use of space are the keys to selecting attractive items and accessories that will work for you, whatever the size of your home. We understand the high costs of home decoration accessories offered by some shops or not always being able to find what you are looking for easily. As accessories, paired lamps bring balance to a setting, equally so when it happens to be matching nightstands sentried on either side of the bed.

Price

Checking out online is a good start, because you will be able to quickly browse around and get a good idea of what is out there without having to leave home. Whether you're decorating your home and garden, or looking for a great gift idea for that special someone, you'll find something here at a price that simply can't be beat. Our online store offers home decor products and unique garden decoration gifts at bargain prices. Here we offer various home decoration items and all at wholesale prices.

Furnishing a New Home: Choosing Home Furnishings and Furniture

When furnishing a new home, it is essential to plan ahead before purchasing any home furnishings, and even more importantly, your home furniture. These items can be expensive, and it is too late to find you have made a mistake once you have paid for them. So plan out each room, one at a time, and decide on the fundamentals first.

Home Decorative Style and Color

You may have a decorative stye in mind for your entire home, or even just for one room. Themed rooms are eternally popular, while other might prefer a more contemporary style for their home or even a retro look. Whatever you decide, your decision must be made before you buy one single tin of paint, because that tin could easily determine the style and finish of your home furniture.

You must keep in mind the type of furniture you generally like, however, and bright reds and oranges tend not to go well with dark leather upholstery. If you like traditional home decor, then decorate traditionally, but if you prefer something bright and modern, there is plenty white, red and blue leather going around, not to mention the massive range of fabrics suitable for upholstered chairs and sofas.

Whether you have a certain style to which you want to conform when choosing home furnishings, or you have nothing particular in mind, you should at least have a preferred color scheme. You may want your living room in matching shades of ochre, cream and brown, or a vivid creation of oranges and lemons.

Home Furnishings Come First

Wall coverings, carpets, drapes and furniture upholstery all come under the umbrella of home furnishings. Your furniture is functional, but what people see when they first enter a room is your furnishings and decorative style. Your theme, if you have one, and your primary color scheme, must be reflected in these softer aspects of home décor.

When furnishing a new home you are advised to decide on a primary theme color before even looking at home furnishings. Of course, if you see a fabulous rug, carpet or even a wallcovering that you love at first site, you can match everything else around that. You can normally continue the color theme into your choice of furniture which should therefore be the last item on your agenda

Variations of your main color (white, red, yellow, blue, browns) can be used in the various components of the room. The carpet, wall coverings and drapes should match or even contrast as discussed below. Ochres and creams go well with traditional stained oak furniture, if that is what you are considering. The upshot is, once you have chosen your color scheme and the way you want a particular room to look, you can then choose your furniture to match that look.

Contrasts Work

If you prefer contrasts to subtle matches, then white or black leather furniture can go with anything in fact and some find black and white an interesting contrast for a room. If you prefer a fabric, then these are available in almost every color you think of - vivid primaries and subtle pastels and tints. You can easily amaze yourself with your artistic talents, because many people that think they have no talents can often come up with some breathtaking color contrasts in their dining room or bedroom.

Many people tend to stay conventional with a living room for their own reasons, but try something different elsewhere in their home. It is not the purpose here to change your mind, and because of the time and costs involved, it is probably best to follow your head with the main rooms and your heart with the spare bedroom or even the dining room and try to let your talents express themselves.

Choosing Your Home Furniture

Once you have decided on your main theme and colors, it is time to select your furniture. Since upholstered furniture can be selected to match or contrast with your décor, we shall focus on solid wood furniture for now.

Items such as solid wood wall cabinets, entertainment consoles and hutches, dining room furniture, accent tables and occasional furniture are difficult to get wrong. For a light and airy room, light oak, satinwood and spruce or pine are good, and you can also have solid woods such as oak and beech finished in light shades or even painted white, yellow or any other color. Veneers are also excellent ways of topping off solid oak or maple with an attractive lighter shade of wood.

Black rugs with white furniture look very modern, but think of the cleaning! If you have pets and a young family you will likely want to be practical, so patterns are best for these households. Nevertheless, the choice of home furniture is yours. The fundamental aspects of the advice being offered when furnishing a new home are to choose your style and colors first, then select the home furnishings and finally your furniture.

Home Furnishings - A Guide to Going Shopping

Sitting at home and planning how to decorate a room can be a very enjoyable experience. You are able to use your imagination to see what might be possible, turning a blank room into your perfect living room, dining room or bedroom.

Unfortunately, turning that dream into reality can often be a very difficult and stressful task. Once you have visited every furniture store in Manchester, London, Leeds and all the big cities and still not found what you are looking for. Or, even worse, bought a piece of furniture and once it was at home realized it did not match the colour scheme, it is very easy to just give up.

Thankfully there are better ways of doing it. Some people are happy to gradually add to rooms over a long period of time. This allows you to only buy items which you know are perfect for your room when you stumble across them. For most of us this simply is not possible. If you have just moved into a house then you will need to quickly get each room into a livable state.

The quickest, easiest, and most effective way of doing this is to visit a shop which stocks all types of home furnishings and furniture. This way you are able to not only able to compare many different types of different furnishing but also check that each piece that you buy matches your other furnishings. Another reason to visit a shop like this is the level of service that you will receive. Rather than specializing in a particular type of home furnishing or furniture, the staff in these shops understand that you want everything in the room to look right. They specialize in finding combinations that work well together rather than only worrying about single items.

Different people choose to decorate their homes in different ways. Some people have enough of the basics already to add to buy their furnishings gradually. For most people however, they need to buy a large proportion of their home furnishings in a short space of time. When this is the case, going to a shop which can serve all your needs will make the experience of fitting out a room a lot more enjoyable than it might otherwise have been. It is also likely that you will achieve far better results this way. Due to all your home furnishings being bought from the same shop, the colours and styles are far more likely to match. What this means is that when you take the furnishings home they are guaranteed to look right.

For a wide of home furnishings and stunning home furniture visit Housing Units furniture store in Manchester.

Celebrate The Yuletide Season With Music and Christmas Decor

During Christmas, we are fond of creating wonderful decorations inside and outside our home. There are numerous ways to make the Yuletide season memorable and exciting. One option is by combining music wall art with Christmas decor. We all know that music is widely used during Christmas. This is a perfect opportunity for music enthusiasts to revolutionize the the old way of celebrating Christmas.

Music and Christmas are two ideas which are closely related to each other. Creating a design concept that involves music and Christmas decor is ingenious. It can add a striking expression of music, love and Yuletide spirit to everyone visiting your home.

Jazz wall art is a perfect example of a music accessory which can give additional interest to our Christmas decoration concept. Jazz wall art and music wall decor can complement winter wreaths, holiday ribbons, Christmas trees and colorful lights. If you are a music lover and you have a vast collection of jazz wall art and music wall decor of your favorite band, you can actually include them all in your decoration. Furthermore, there are Christmas songs which are rendered using jazz music. You can play them during gatherings, special dinners and reunions to give a whole new expression of the Yuletide season.

Other music wall decor like music note art is also an ideal decoration to create a fabulous theme to your wall. Music note art are commonly used to furnish music or multimedia rooms. You can also add music instruments like piano and guitar together with Christmas wreaths and other holiday accessories. Music note art offers an illustrated way to celebrate the winter holiday while enjoying the beauty of other Christmas decors and lightings at the same time.

Lastly, encourage the whole family to work together to decorate the house. Take this opportunity to make the family bonds even stronger or rekindle broken ties if there are any. Also, the spirit of Christmas is best felt and remembered when the family is complete. Relatives and loved ones from far places should be invited for a festive gathering or reunion to celebrate the Yuletide season. Merry Christmas everyone!