One of the biggest home decorating dilemmas is how to arrange your accessories, whether it be a bookcase, shelf, or tabletop. Here is a three step system that will transform your boring or cluttered spaces into charming vignettes! When arranging a space with accessories, one has to keep in mind that the most important thing to avoid here is boredom! This has a lot less to do with the objects you choose than how you choose to display them. To keep an arrangement from putting the neighbors down for their afternoon nap, remember to keep a balance of harmony and contrast. Perhaps you could create harmony by repeating a square shape or the color purple, and then add contrast by sitting a smooth candlestick next to a rough basket.
Make sure that the items you are using fit into their new home scale. If you have small accessories you would like to display, try grouping them on a plate or a fabric covered box. You can give them height by perching them atop stacked books or baskets as well. Once you’ve chosen your objects for the space following the design principles above, it’s time to layer and soften now. Start with a bigger, taller piece slightly off center. Keep the eye moving up and down as it purveys the arrangement from left to right for interest. Add some fabric or twisted ribbon to soften the edges of the shelf or table, to bring in color, and to highlight certain objects. Above all, keep trying new combinations of items until you find an arrangement that works for you. Use things in unusual ways. Tuck flowers or a live plant into an arrangement that seems too static. Even professional designers will occasionally be surprised by trying things in a new way!
The advice is given by a photographer who’s specialized in the art of kitchen design. In the past few years, he has formed his individual flair, especially in wedding photography. You are welcome to turn to him whenever you come across problems in photography.
Filed under Remodeling by on Jul 21st, 2010. Comment. 
One of the most enjoyable aspects of owning a home is decorating. Your creative flair for color and wallpaper makes the room personalized. The more you can customize your home the more it feels like a home. And with the cost of hiring a decorator being very high, more people are doing it themselves.
There are many home decor accents that will help accomplish the look and feel that you want. Adding a rail around a room or painting just one wall, can make the appearance quite different. Many find that the use of plants and trees will add warmth and fullness to a home. The way that you use your accessories can help you be more creative. People who have collections of books, stuffed animals or collectibles can use their imagination to create a different look and feel in a room.
The decor in a child’s room will help shape their personality. The traditional colors of pink for girls and blue for boys is no longer the norm. It is all about creating a sense of comfort and well-being. The furniture that is chosen should do the same. There are many options in cribs. A convertible crib natural pad will add comfort for your sleeping child. In the past, once a family decided on no more children, they usually sold their cribs. Now, with a convertible crib, as the child grows, so does the bed! It can be converted to a full-sized bed and many offer the option for it to become a day bed and everything in between.
Your master bedroom will be a safe haven for you and your partner, or if single, a potential game room. How you create the correct ambiance is very important. With the use of color combinations, wallpaper, lighting and the proper bedding collection, your creation can have all that you desire.
When you approach the idea of becoming your own decorator, take time to prepare. You may save a lot of money and create the best look for your home. Just remember that it is not likely that you will have too many opportunities to do a complete makeover. Be creative, but be smart. Use your talents and skills to customize any rooms or the entire house. Just be careful how over-the-top you wish to be.
If your home currently has neutral colors, this gives openings for a multitude of options. By offsetting one wall with paper or paint, it can turn a calm room into a rampage of color. So, think about what you wish to accomplish and get a variety of swatches and paper samples for each task.
Have fun with this. Take many different swatches of color and wallpaper to determine how you can create the exact feeling you wish to accomplish. Once this is done, use accents to finish up your personalized home and as Paula Abdul would say, just make it your own!!
Filed under Remodeling by on Apr 10th, 2010. Comment.
The home is always where the heart is. Everybody loves the one place they can call their own. You can go to the most beautiful places in the world abroad yet your home will always be special to you. Just like everything else you hold close to your heart you will always want your home to be the best to its capabilities. This is where home and wall décor come in. the way in witch you decorate your home says a lot about who you are and how you are perceived so the decor in your house should be as unique as you are.
When one thinks of wall décor they should not think of it as a form to exercising your home. You should picture your home as a clear canvas waiting for you to paint it with your expression. The way you decorated your home is just another extension of you. The wall décor you pick to be displayed on your wall must always be decided on cautiously. You must always have an idea of the flow the room must have before choosing any ornaments.
A great tip to help you choose your wall décor is to look through magazines to help you choose the look you would like to portray. There are always good tips on how to get the look you want and also how to do it usefully. The wide variety of wall décor does not make things easy that is why it is easier to choose once you have an idea of how you want your wall decorated.
Choosing Wisely
It is important that you choose wisely. Everything you choose must always corresponded with each other even though you might get you wall décor in different places and stores. You choice does not have to be limited to wall décor that you buy you can even get manuals to build specific ornaments you want displayed. In creating your own wall décor you can add an extra touch that will be as unique as you are.
Your wall décor does not always have to be traditional or vintage you can even decorate with metal wall décor to get a more modern look. What ever you choose you must always have in mind that you will be decorating the house you will be living in for years to come. Always choose wall décor that is durable and that will make you happy also in the long term.
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Filed under Remodeling by on Apr 7th, 2009. Comment.
There are many different bathroom décor ideas for changing the look and style of any bathroom. Kids’ bathroom décor is especially fun because there is usually a theme to the bathroom that makes it fun and exciting for the children to be in.Depending on the age of the child, the child's bathroom décor can range from action figures to Sesame Street characters, favorite animals or favorite colors.
Choices and Styles
One of the first things to look at when deciding on kid’s bathroom décor is to observe the size of the bathroom and the current furniture and cabinetry in it.This is always the starting place for any home décor, to look at what an individual has and then build on that. The next thing to think about is the child’s tastes and how much the parent wants the bathroom to look like a child’s bathroom. Sometimes the child’s bathroom doubles as the guest bathroom and the parents may not want it to have tigers or ducks all over it. In other cases, the bathroom may be tied to the child’s room so the décor in the kid’s bathroom is not an issue when company is over.
If the bathroom is a smaller one, as is usually the case in kid’s bathroom décor, the colors that are used should be light and not too bold. This allows the bathroom space to feel larger and also allows cute accents to be used without having much of a problem matching them to the color of the room. There are many varieties of wallpaper trims that have cute designs on them that can add a fun touch to a child’s bathroom décor. Stenciling is another option in child’s bathroom décor that can be used on white cabinets or around the top of the wall to give a fun accent to the room.Â
Another fun way to add to a theme in a child’s bathroom décor is to buy towels in the colors that the child likes and to find some that have pictures or other designs that fit the child’s tastes and the theme of the room.In addition, there are toothbrush holders, soap dishes, soap dispensers, and other counter items that can be bought with certain patterns or characters on them for kid's bathroom décor. Bath mats and toilet covers are other ways to add small accents to the bathroom for a minimal price. If storage is an issue, over the toilet cabinets, corner shelving, and small floor cabinets are ways to add storage to a small bathroom space to create more options for the child.
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Filed under Bathroom Remodeling by on Apr 3rd, 2009. Comment.
One of the most popular design themes for any bathroom is that of the beach. This is only natural, as there is a lot of water splashed around in a bathroom and so beach bathroom décor can make routine tasks like taking a shower or brushing your teeth a little more fun surrounded by images of the seaside. It can be as silly or as serious as you like. It can be ultra-modern or filled with rustic bathroom décor. You are limited only by your imagination, your budget and how much your roommates will tolerate.
Color Schemes
Usually, beach bathroom décor is centered around the colors of blue and white. These are the stereotypical colors of water. But you don’t have to stay with those colors, although they probably won’t go far away. If you ever really observe the ocean, you’ll note that it’s generally shades of green and not blue. Some people also like to have sandy-colors to emphasize the beach as well as the ocean waves.
And, if you can’t afford to repaint the walls or choose a new sink, tub or toilet, you can at least center the rest of the beach bathroom décor around these seaside color schemes. You can get small fixtures or a clock or towels that help try to create the new bathroom theme you want.
Resist The Urge
There are some things you definitely don’t want to add to a beach bathroom décor, even if they are overtly related to water, the beach or the creatures that live in the ocean. Having a singing mounted fish should definitely be avoided at all costs. Putting a fishing rod up on the walls should also be avoided, because accidents can happen. Also, you don’t want a weapon handy if you get into an argument with your roommates over the beach bathroom décor.
What About Shells?
Some people go truly overboard in their desire to mimic the beach.They not only have shell designs on the shower curtain, but a scallop shell shaped toilet lid, shell shaped guest soaps and hundreds of the real thing scattered about the room. Although it’s nice to keep a theme, don’t go to an extreme.Â
Real shells should not be in a bathroom, even one with a beach bathroom décor. When they break, they can be sharp as glass (depending on the species). Also, the corrosive chemicals in tap water steam and the water itself corrode the shells and eventually cause them to dissolve.
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Filed under Bathroom Remodeling by on Apr 1st, 2009. Comment.
Bathroom décor ideas can range as far as the imagination and the tastes of the individual can stretch.Different people have different tastes, so bathrooms will range from simple, soothing colors, to a seashore theme, to western bathroom décor. The size of the bathroom also plays into the options in bathroom décor ideas because when there is a smaller space, certain colors do not work well, whereas in larger bathrooms, there are more options in colors and furniture.
Options in Space
For smaller bathrooms, there are bathroom décor ideas that help individuals to add more space, both in storage and in the ‘feel’ of the bathroom. Smaller bathrooms, especially in older houses, often do not have much if any storage space which can be difficult from a practical perspective. If building cabinets around the sink is not an option, replacing the mirror with a medicine cabinet or adding a medicine cabinet to the side of the main mirror is a great idea for bathroom décor. In addition, there are free standing shelves that are made to go over the toilet, so that the legs of the shelves stand on either side of the toilet tank. Both of these bathroom décor ideas give individuals space to store toiletry items, hair dryers, and other necessary bathroom items.There are also small cabinets that stand on the floor that can be used to store extra towels, toilet tissue and any other extras desired. Corner shelving is another idea to add extra space for towels or other items in a small bathroom.
In order to make the bathroom seem larger, a bathroom décor idea is to add as much light possible to the bathroom. If it is possible to insert a skylight or winder into the bathroom, even if it is opaque glass blocks, it is a great way to make a small bathroom feel like there is more space. If adding a window or skylight is not an option, since it can get pricey, adding another light to the bathroom is very helpful. Small lamps can be added so that a new socket for the light does not have to be added and it can be placed on a shelf in the bathroom. If it is possible to add more lighting fixtures, recessed lighting that is attached to a dimmer switch is a great option for any bathroom because then the individual has the option to make it as bright or dim as desired.
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Filed under Bathroom Remodeling by on Apr 1st, 2009. Comment.
There are so many different fun and exciting options for changing bathroom décor. When deciding on an overhaul to a bathroom, one of the first things to look at is what type of furniture is already in the bathroom and who is going to be using it, such as looking for kids’ bathroom décor. Once those decisions and supplies are decided and looked at, then the individual is ready to start making plans for changing the bathroom décor.
Steps and Options
If the bathroom is a small space, then lighter colors should be used on the cabinetry and walls to make it feel more open. If there is a way to let in some natural light through a small window or skylight that is very helpful as well to making the bathroom feel more open. If it is not an option, it is important to have a lot of good lighting through lighting fixtures in the bathroom to help it to feel more open. Additional mirrors are another option in small bathroom décor to help the space to feel roomier.
If the bathroom does have a lot of space already, it is still a great idea to let in as much natural lighting as possible. The more light, the more options there are in furniture in bathroom décor. For instance, if a bathroom is larger and well lit, then darker cabinetry can be used such as cherry or mahogany, or similar colors of wood or stain. This adds a richer feel in bathroom décor and also provides more options in the colors that can be used. While small bathrooms will often be painted in a white, cream, yellow, or other light color, larger bathrooms can be painted in richer colors depending on the theme. Usually soothing colors such as green and blue are used in the bathroom to add to the calming effect of a bath or shower.
If there are not many options in storage space in a small bathroom, the bathroom décor can be added to through the use of corner shelves, wall cabinets, and over the toilet cabinets to help with the problem. In larger bathrooms this is usually not a problem as there is plenty of room for cabinets as well as using different standing pieces such as a chest of drawers, small tables, and cabinets. Another nice addition in any bathroom décor if there is room for it is to add plants. Plants that do not need much light and enjoy humid climates should be used in smaller bathrooms that do not have much natural light.Plants that enjoy humidity and both natural and artificial light should be used in larger bathrooms to add to the bathroom décor.
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Filed under Bathroom Remodeling by on Apr 1st, 2009. Comment.
Western bathroom décor means different things to different people. When you suggest it as an interior master bathroom theme, you better be sure you and the bathroom owner are thinking of the same ideas. For example, if the bathroom owner was from Asia or was raised in an Asian family, then having a porcelain toilet and trappings could be considered western bathroom décor, because that’s what bathrooms in the western world look like.
Cowboy Kitsch
When a lot of North Americans hear the words "western bathroom décor", they think of cowboy kitsch. These include such wince-producing items as bucking bronco shower curtains, real horseshoes imbedded in the floor, a brass spittoon and a saddle-shaped toilet. But more and more interior designers and manufactures of bathroom fixtures mean a lot more than that.
Urban Cowboy
Modern western bathroom décor is far more subtle, using earth tones and emphasizing a look of wood or stone over marble or tile. The wood or stone might not even be real wood or stone, but just something that looks very much like the real thing. It depends how much you are willing to spend, and how water-resistant the material is.Â
Added decorations for western bathroom décor include images of native bird or animal life from the American West, Native American designs on the trimming or a hat rack reminiscent of those from Wild West saloons. There still is some cowboy kitsch for those who are fond of it, such as boot-shaped toothbrush holders and cactus-shaped soap dispensers.
Economic Urban Cowboy
Perhaps your bathroom is littered with beach bathroom décor and you want to change it to western theme. Maybe you don’t have the money to replace fixtures or the floor. You can do some minor changes which can shift the overall feel of the bathroom. These include getting new small fixtures like a soap dispenser or toilet paper holder. Getting rid of the plastic wastepaper basket and using an old but clean terra cotta flower pot of a wicker basket can certainly help.
You can also make major shifts in tone with just your choice of towels, shower curtain and floor rug.You might get rid of a floor rug or add a rug that looks vaguely like a Navaho blanket.You could have get rid of the moldy seashell shower curtain and get one in earth tones or even with horses or cows on it. Every little bit helps.
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Filed under Bathroom Remodeling by on Mar 31st, 2009. Comment.
Remodeling any part of your home is intimidating. The jargon used for kitchen décor may not be used for living room décor or bathroom décor. However, all of the hardware shops and interior design magazines seem to think that everyone is Martha Stewart and automatically popped out of the womb being able to decipher such phrases as “rustic bathroom décor“. And you don’t want to be an idiot and admit that you don’t know what they are prattling on about.
Think “Log Cabin”
No, not the pancake syrup but an actual log cabin that Abraham Lincoln was supposed to have built in. The type of housing that termites preach is where good termites go when they die. A home made of split and notched logs that a fireplace is then stuck inside of. Although real log cabins are passé, rustic cabins are hip and trendy.So, when someone starts going on about rustic bathroom décor, they really mean that they want to make your bathroom look like it's in a log cabin.
What About The Logical Inconsistency?
It’s not good pointing out that people who live in log cabins or “rustic cabins” do not have indoor bathrooms to be the recipient of a rustic bathroom décor design. Log cabins had to be as small as possible in order to be warmed and to not destroy all of the trees in the area. This means that indoor bathrooms were not included.Â
When you had to go, you went outside and squatted or you went to an outhouse. Outhouses were not very glamorous and about as wide as a Port-o-Potty. Considering that there was no lighting, a huge hole with human waste at the bottom which drew an amazing amount of insects, it’s not surprising that some log cabin dwellers preferred to squat outdoors in all weathers.
People who make their living of interior design really have problems with history lessons.It's not their job to be accurate or event to make sense – their job is to make you happy and have a working home. If that means inventing things like rustic bathroom décor, so be it.
What It Looks Like
Rustic bathroom décor involves dark earth tones and patterns of things like pine cones, tree leaves and bear tracks. The medicine cabinet could look as if it was carved out of a solid piece of wood.The knobs on your sink might look like acorns. Your wallpaper might perfectly mimic Lincoln Logs. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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Filed under Bathroom Remodeling by on Mar 31st, 2009. Comment.
During the holidays decorating kicks up to a frenzied pace and sometimes getting the house decorated takes up all your energy. All you can be bothered to do is string some lights outside and call it a day. If you want to do more than put up a few lights for your outdoor décor this year then you need some new ideas.
If putting up lots of holiday themed lawn ornaments is not your thing then you might have some trouble even thinking of any décor for your garden. Some fairly simple ideas will help you to make your home look tastefully decorated for the season.
Wreaths
Wreaths might seem like obvious décor for the holidays but many people forget how a beautiful wreath can instantly add festive cheer to a house. If you’d like you could make your own or buy one. There are plenty to choose from around the holidays. Wreaths have evolved from very simple to elaborate and cool modern constructions of plain twigs. Take your pick and brighten up your door.
Welcoming Porch
If you have a porch then you have a great canvas for holiday décor. You can do any number of things with your porch during the holidays. Start with lights; you don’t have to go with the usual string of lights. Instead why not choose holiday themed lanterns. Lanterns don’t have to be restricted to Halloween. Find lanterns in white, silver, or gold and string them around your porch to add warmth.
At Christmas using holly (you can use plastic if your climate is not conducive to the real thing) and berries is a good idea. Wrap all the winter greenery around porch railings or any furniture that might be on your porch. Or you could start putting poinsettias on your porch; again these don’t have to be the real deal to look good. Â
Windows
Windows are another great place for décor. You can do a lot with windows around the holidays. Taping cutouts of snowflakes and other appropriate holiday themes decorations to your windows is one fun idea. Soft glowing lights make excellent décor for windows. You can use outdoor lights disguised as candles on window sills to create a soft glow at all your windows.
Critter Cheer
Give the birds in your area a helping hand and create some décor outside at the same time. Cover pine cones in peanut butter and hang them from festive ribbons on trees and your porch, instant bird feeder.
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Filed under Remodeling by on Mar 27th, 2009. Comment.
Using innovative ideas to make your home more beautiful. While some creative home remodeling ideas are economical, remodeling is not always a money saving option. Cost efficiency is something you learn from years of experience, rather than luck. What are the most common creative home remodeling ideas:
* Granite counter tops- elegant kitchens of today display exquisite granite counter and table tops. Using granite tiles instead of larger slabs of granite will give the same effect but at a much more affordable price. The smaller size of tiles would give exactly the same overall look; however it will cost less because the tiles are made out of the broken granite and will look better, and you can replace any damaged piece without any worry.
* Finishing with stone tile backsplash – while this is what the usual pre-requisite in a modern home is, creative home remodeling will give you the same effect (if not better) when the tiles are turned to form a diamond instead of square. Arranging the tiles in this fashion will save you money and add a new dimension to the wall.
* Varied sizes of cabinets- often kitchens have modular style cabinets which are expensive even though they look nice. For those who want to get the same look at a cost-effective price, you can get the same impact if you customize the finishing of the cabinets in the kitchen taking care that you make them of different heights. This interesting look adds character and dimension to your kitchen.
* Flooring – the best way to create a rich feeling inside the house is with the help of wood flooring. However, this option comes at a very high cost. An affordable option is to get the same effect while using laminated wood flooring. Almost no one can tell the difference between the two, and you spend much less money.
* The impact of molding in creative home remodeling-create elegant ambiance in your home by adding molding. Make no bones about it, this is expensive. However, as with all the above, here, too, we have a suggestion with which you can have your elegance and the cash too. One idea is to purchase pieces of molding that are smaller that you can combine to create the look you want.
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Filed under Remodeling by on Mar 2nd, 2009. Comment.
There are many aspects of home decorating which you may decide to have a go at in the name of giving your home a new look. Maybe you want to change the flooring of your home or you would like to freshen up the decor of the walls. However, getting started might stump you a little bit and some helpful tips might be just the thing that you need. Armed with the right advice, you can get your home decorating projects done and have a bit of fun at the same time. If you’re looking into doing some DIY home decorating but do not have a clue where you should begin, take a look at the following home decorating ideas.
The Basics – Home Decorating Made Easy
Your home decorating attempts are more or less assured of success as long as you familiarize yourself with the essentials of the job in hand. No matter what you want to redecorate or what your budget happens to be; you need to first come up with a plan for your project. Making a plan is important so that you keep yourself on the right track.
The plan, of course, has to take your allotted budget into consideration. If you rent the property that you live in you also have to make sure that any proposed changes are allowed in your rental agreement. You need to bear in mind the purpose of the room or rooms that you are planning to change, any limitations on space, and restrictions as far as color schemes are concerned because of existing fittings which cannot be changed easily.
It is a simple fact that a change of color can give any area of the home a completely new look. It is, therefore, important to remember exactly what the room in question will be used for before deciding on the new color scheme. This will allow the ambiance of the room to come through and create the overall feeling that you desire. For example, light blue or turquoise gives off a tranquil, peaceful feeling.
The Importance Of Effective Planning
Sketching your plans on paper is a great way to get started with your project. Firstly, you’ll need a floor plan (this can be basic; you needn’t be an architect to get this down properly) which includes the colors you plan to use in your new scheme, as well as the placement of any new furniture and other design elements within the room. Make sure that your design elements do not clash. Everything must go together with the overall theme of the room – from the furniture to your floor & decor.
If you need additional ideas for your home decor project, it can be a good idea to invest in interior design software.
There are numerous excellent home design software packages available that will help you immensely with your home decor plans. This can be a big help, especially if you encounter unforeseen circumstances.
These tips should be useful as you begin to plan the changes to your home decor. In fact, using these tips can mean the difference between an end result that you’re happy with and one that never quite meets its goal. Remember, getting everything perfect the first time is what you should be aiming for, but it is important to keep in mind that paint and wallpaper can always be changed if you find yourself dissatisfied with them; it’s not the end of the world if these don’t turn out quite the way you had planned. Happy redecorating!
Filed under Remodeling by on Jan 4th, 2009. Comment.
If you don’t have any experience doing home decor, you can still make changes to the way your home looks if you know what materials you need and what to do. Firstly, you’ll need to come up with a basic plan for your home decor. If you do this, you’ll have an easier time deciding what you want to change and you’ll know just where you want to make those changes before you begin jotting down your interior decorating ideas. Careful preparation will make the end result of your home decorating experience much more satisfying.
Next, you’ll need to work out your redecorating budget. Setting aside a certain amount of money to carry out your home decorating and sticking to your budget is very important, and this will be easy to do as long as you have made the proper plan in the first place. Compare the prices of the items that you need from different stores – this will help you to get the look you desire at the price you can afford.
You will also have to educate yourself about the sources available to you for the items you’ll need. Shop around – check out a few of the local retailers to see what each one has to offer. You will most likely, for example, not be able to purchase both shelving and furniture at the same place so you will have to visit several outlets to find out what you can buy from where, and at the best possible prices.
Home Decorating Software Can Be A Big Help
There are many options open to you when planning your new decor design, such as interior design software. This can be a big help. You can input your living space’s floor plan and then use the software’s capabilities to sketch in where things are going to go and what changes are going to be made to your plans for your floor & decor. There are many options available but you’ll need to consult your budget before you purchase one of these software programs. In some cases, the software can be pretty pricey.
Get Professional Help
Quite often home owners take the easier option of allowing the professional to carry out the work needed to redecorate their homes. For the home owner who has never done any redecorating before, this is a good choice; a professional can be very helpful with suggestions and implementing the homeowner’s ideas.
Some people will indeed naturally possess the skills that they need to redecorate their home. Others will not even know how to begin. If you are of the latter type and are totally clueless regard to home decorating, it’s probably best to seek a professional to help you out. While you will generally have to pay these decorators by the hour, it requires only a day or two in most cases to get you started on your way to a great new look for your home.
Filed under Remodeling by on Dec 3rd, 2008. Comment.