Home Decor Blog

Being at the beach is something everyone associates with relaxation, and these days, stress relief and relaxation are musts. Unfortunately, many of us do not have the luxury of living on the beach. The next best alternative is to bring a beach theme to your home. Decorating with a nautical theme brings a freshness and calm to your surroundings. Here are a few decorating ideas to bring the beach to you.There are unlimited beach theme home decor ideas you can incorporate into your home. The first thing you want to think about is color. The ocean and sky are blue, so every nautical theme seems to come with some variety of strong blue color. Mix different colors of blue and add bright white hints or touches of sandy tan for a serene color scheme.

Another idea is to mix in pastels that are found in seashells. Pink, sea foam green, and soft blues are easy and soothing additions to a beach-inspired color palette. Or try earthy tones and add splashes of colors you like to fit your own style.

After the colors are chosen, you will want to accent the beach theme with furniture or blend in the furniture you have. Whether you shop at a flea market or the finest furniture stores, there are limitless ideas in the area of furnishings.

A good rule of thumb is to have your bigger furniture pieces be more neutral and add throws, pillows and accessories for that eye-catching element. A lighthouse or bright painted shore birds would be excellent motifs for pillows.

You could also age or distress an end table and give it that worn driftwood look. Another idea is adding artwork to existing furniture such as painting on a buoy, a beach chair and umbrella or an ocean wave scene. Your coastal theme would not be complete without accessories. So many beach themes are over the top, but you want to take something striking and merge it with something subtle so you won’t change the feel of your home from your own personality or taste.

Taking a simple approach will help keep your beach theme home decor serene. A great example would be seashells. Collect a few large shells and display them in different parts of the room to give it a flavor of the beach, then accent with a shell-shaped candle, a sea-urchin vase or a rowboat to add a simple nautical touch to any room.

Sea anemones, a driftwood pub sign, a wooden wall hanging or a nautical painting are all nice additions. Adding throw rugs, lamps, or drawer pulls with an ocean theme are simple ways to further accessorize while keeping that calm atmosphere.

Once you have your home decorated in a costal manner, you might want to add the feeling to your office or even the backyard. A beach theme can go with any room if done tastefully. By following a few of these decorating tips, it can be a cinch!

Even though the weather outside is frightfully cold and wintery, doesn’t mean that you can’t start thinking about your outdoor space and having a good time in the lovely warm weather. If your space is ready to go, then awesome, but if it is in need of some new comfortable seating, wood Adirondack chairs are a wonderful way to go.Wood Adirondack chairs are a great option for placing in your outdoor space variety of reasons, the first of which is that they are extremely sturdy. They get their durability from the wood they are crafted from and the fixtures that are used to hold them together. For example, you can get one that is crafted out of lovely Southern Yellow Pine that is held together using solid stainless steel screws and bolts. Or, you can get one that is crafted from Teak wood, that’s right Teak wood, the same wood that is used to craft sailing vessels that travel the seven seas. So, you know that if it can stand up to the rigors of the ocean, you know that it will be able to handle being left outside on your deck.In addition to the teak wood, mortise and tenon joinery is then used to hold it together, creating one durable selection that will be sure to please.

In addition to being durable, wood Adirondack chairs also have a fantastic look about them that will really add to the décor of your space. The reason why they are appealing to the eye is also because of the wood that they are crafted from, plus, the different ways they are finished really add to their beauty. Like, you can have the Southern Yellow option finished with a lovely clear lacquer to bring out the beauty of the wood. Or, you can have it painted any number of colors, creating personalized selections that will be sure to please.

The places that you can put wood Adirondack chairs are many because they are so comfortable. The guise behind their comfort is their lovely design, which features a slanted backrest, spacious sloping seat, and oversized armrests. One fantastic location is in your garden area, which will offer you a great place to take it easy and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Some of the other spots where they would work well include on a patio, deck, or porch, and you could even place one in a four seasons room and on a lawn for a nice place to watch your family playing lawn games.

If you’re interested in wood Adirondack chairs, a great way to check out all the options is just by jumping online and doing some shopping. You can look at products and compare products just by the click of the mouse. When you do make a purchase, it will even be shipped right to your home so you don’t have to worry about how you might haul it from here to there.

So, if you want to be comfortable this year in the summer weather, make sure you have some nice seating in place and wood Adirondack chairs are a great choice. Get some today so you will be sitting pretty when the weather thaws.

Here’s a novel idea! For those who can’t make it to the wilds of Africa and experience a safari first hand, how about bringing the safari right to your home.

African Safari Decor - 8 Ways To Turn A Room Into An African Jungle by Dean Caporella

The popularity of African safari decor has been literally exploding in the past few years and has become a very popular form of decoration for children’s rooms. Parents are going online in droves looking for ideas to decorate their kid’s rooms but the truth is, you don’t need to spend a fortune doing it.

African Safari Decor Ideas

Yes, you could head to the nearest exotic shop and buy African safari decor but if you are on a budget, then this cost could become rather prohibitive.

Let’s take a look a few ideas to turn your son’s or daughter’s room into a safari setting. Remember, this can be an ongoing project so it doesn’t need to be done in a hurry.

- For the effect of vines, material such as braided twine is relatively inexpensive and by heading down to your nearest dollar store, you can pick up either green paper or garland and create a leafy look. Simply hang your vines from the ceiling.

- Also to create an effect of growing vines, wrap some of the twine along your curtain rods and around the outside of the door frame.

- For animal effect, head down to your nearest charity store and pick up toys which would match an African setting. Lions, monkeys giraffes - as long as they are native to Africa. There is no limit to the number of toys you could find. Yard sales are another great place to pick up old toys on the cheap.

- For greater effect, painting a mural on one or two of the walls with a jungle theme will add a real touch of the exotics to a room.

- Bamboo and palm plants are excellent for creating a more realistic jungle effect.

- Transform a layer of netting into a hummock and put it in a corner of the room.

- African ornaments such as drums, spears and shields may take a little finding at the right price but can only give the room more Africa-style flavor. This is true African safari decor and worth looking for.

- Cut out animal pictures from books and paste them around the room. Use animal covered wrapping paper to decorate further and use a safari hat and a pair of binoculars for further effect.

Love it country style? Rustic cabin decor may be just the thing for you. Here’s an interesting piece written by Tess Tackett on this very topic -

Cabin Decor for the Outdoor Lover in You

If you are the woodsy type, cabin decor is perfect for you! The colors of nature along with wildlife and rustic accents make cabin decor a look any outdoor lover will want in their own cabin or home.

This look can easily be achieved by using accents associated with hunting and fishing. Many people use bear skin rugs on the floor, along with mounted deer and buffalo heads on the wall. These are the perfect touch for the cabin decor look.

Along with wood floors, you may also have exposed rough wood ceiling beams and rustic walls. The addition of shadowboxes containg fishing items such as lures is also an excellent addition. Anything associated with the forest, lakes and mountains will add to the relaxed feeling of cabin decor.

Wildlife pictures containing elk or wolves are beautifully colored and will add to the look. Fishing oars are also an interesting touch for the walls, as are fishing nets. Cabin decor is an easy look to achieve with the use of some accents you wouldn’t ordinarily think of as decorating items.

I have even seen wooden fishing boats used as shelves, with the addition of a couple of extra boards placed inside. With cabin decor, you can place a few hunting caps and camouflage items along with wildlife figurines, and this makes for a very unique conversation piece!

When it comes to the furniture, use big husky looking sofas and chairs in a leather or leather-look material. Rustic color plaid fabrics work well also. Natural wood tables add to the woodsy look.

As you can see, there are endless options when it comes to decorating your home or home away from home with the unique cabin decor style. Think of what types of hunting or fishing you like, and use some of those items to decorate your home or cabin. This is relaxation at it’s best!

Step 1. A little inspiration is in order You can begin by choosing an inspiration piece to help you get started. From this inspirational piece, you can choose your color palette, determining your primary and secondary (accent) colors. This is an insider trick that professional interior designers and decorators use, and it works! By using a “Tuscan look” painting or photograph, pottery, or textiles (such as an area rug or tapestry) you will have a starting point upon which to build your room. This “trick” will give you a personal Tuscan color palette.

Step 2. Declutter - clear the way

To set the stage and prepare your home for your new Tuscan style, consider a good purge of clutter. Clutter is the antithesis of Tuscan design. Pack away, sell, or give away anything that does not meet the simplicity and functionality test!

Step 3. Consider your options

Remember that the goal is to layer your home with welcoming Tuscan decor elements. Your plan should be to create a feeling of warmth, charm, and simplicity in every room of your home. Your “tool kit” will contain your vision of your Tuscan home, those lovely Tuscan colors, some well-chosen Tuscan furnishings and accessories, and determination and perspiration (which might mean a paint brush and a trowel!).

Step 4. Choosing where to begin

If your family/living room and kitchen are “open concept” and/or connected, this offers the perfect opportunity to instantly recreate your home in the Tuscan style. Beginning with a smaller, less visible room, though, provides an opportunity to “experiment” with wall treatments and furnishings, and a bedroom can be less expensive to redecorate than a family room or kitchen.

Step 5. What furniture, lighting and accessories will you need?

Functionality is key, as is rustic style to Tuscan decor. Think of wood, wrought iron, ceramics… “simple and sturdy” rather than “fine and ornate”. It is not necessary (and indeed is not desirable) to fill your room(s) with items that “match”. They must, however, be functional pieces, and may even serve more than one purpose. A bench, for instance, may open up for storage. Quality and durability are key.

Step 6. Taking a Tuscan style inventory

Consider what Tuscan design elements you already have, which ones you want to keep and which ones you would want to replace (for instance, you may already have stone or wood flooring, which you adore, but a Victorian kitchen table which could “find a new home!”).

Step 7. Choosing your colors

Select your favorite colors from your Tuscan inspiration piece or from a Tuscan color palette. Start with decisions about walls - which can transform a room faster than anything else - whether a paint treatment, a texturizing treatment, or a wall covering. If you want a plaster-like finish on a “plain” wall (very Tuscan!) you might choose a texturizing treatment (e.g. faux finish) or use some of the new textured wall coverings. Some of these finishing techniques require either a professional painter/wall hanger or a determined zeal!

And before finalizing your color palette, look at the function and mood of the room and the exposure you have (your natural light sources) before choosing the “warm” or “cool” colors of your Tuscan color palette.

Step 8. Creating a plan

Advance planning will provide you with the opportunity to determine how much you will spend on the project (establishing a budget) that is vital for avoiding the stress that is sometimes associated with redecorating projects.

Decide on the scope and timeline for the project, and whether it will be done incrementally or all at once. Will you be going it alone, using professional contractors & designers, the help of friends, or a combination?

Be realistic - It will likely cost more than you think, so also be conservative. Set out a budget and fit things into it. You can always add elements later as your finances and inclination allow.

Step 9. Roll up your sleeves and get started!

Maximum impact, right away, will be achieved by beginning with walls so consider a paint treatment, a texturizing treatment, or a wall covering. Alternately, flooring (if this is part of your overall plan) will also create tremendous instant impact. If budget is a consideration, remember that Tuscan design allows (in fact encourages) that we use and elevate humble materials. Antiques and pieces of salvaged ironwork become decorative art; well-worn wooden chairs are cherished for their rustic simplicity. Look at furniture with a new “old” eye.

You’re now ready to move forward and start transforming your home into a little bit of Tuscany!

Copyright 2008. Excerpt from Decorating in the Tuscan Style, the 162-page eBook packed with tips and techniques (and lots of photos) to help you transform your home and garden into the heart and soul of Tuscany. To learn more about Tuscan décor, visit http://www.intheTuscanstyle.com.