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.