Home Decor Blog

Archive for November, 2008

You see these striped designs in bold stripes in home and garden magazines quite often, and for a good reason. Their design is always appealing and with a variety of colors can be mixed with many styles and themes.  They always look inviting and warm, without looking shabby. As an item, all slipcovers are great tools of home decorating, as they allow you to give a room a brand new look using plush fabric - at a very affordable price.

This slipcover featured here is indeed a classic with it durable fabric, that is both easy on the eyes and easy to use too being machine washable. Click to see available colors - three of them with this design - for a quick room makeover. And yes, it is part of a set, where you can get the same slipcovers for sofas and chairs as well.

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Spring is when you are going to really be using this hammock stand, but it actually makes for a nice decorative element in your garden throughout the entire year, during any season. It’s absolutely gorgeous, made out of solid wood, treated for years of use outdoors in a light oak finish. It has this natural solid look that just blends into your garden, looking just perfect.

Just imagine this huge sturdy construction draped with the hammock of your choice. You can switch designs every year or as the mood hits you and give that special corner in your backyard a brand new look every time. You can count on this stand to carry the hammock with grace and strength - it’s build to carry up to 450 lbs so can be good enough for two people.

Place it in the shade during summer time or move it to a sunny spot for cooler times - it’s entirely up to you, without depending on trees for support.

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Your living room is the entertainment and living center of your home. Chances are that you’ve had some very memorable gatherings there, and it is where you relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. Because this room tends to be such a high traffic area, and to have so much time spent in it, it is often the first room to show signs of wear and tear and to begin to look dated. Luckily there are small changes (like switching out light bulbs) and big changes (like installing a new fireplace mantel) that can give your living room a new look and won’t turn into a major DIY project, or turn your home into a construction site.

Consider painting your living room. A splash of paint can brighten things up or give your living room a different vibe altogether. You can repaint your living room the same color which will refresh the color and get rid of any scuff marks and dings. If you decide to paint the entire room, starting from the ceiling and working down is a good idea. On the other hand, if you’d like a bit of a color change without covering everything in plastic, a feature wall could be an option for you. Picking an interesting color that goes well with the room but adds a little spice can be an excellent way to transform your living room in no time at all.

The fireplace is an often neglected area of many living rooms, and this is a pity because it can be such a lovely focal point if handled properly. Installing a new fireplace mantel – either buying one for the first time or replacing an existing one – does not take as much work as you think. If you don’t have a fireplace mantel, consider getting one as it will give your fireplace a more finished, polished look. If you have a fireplace mantel, replacing it with something a little different can have a major impact on your living room. A wood fireplace mantel is easy to install so you don’t have to hire a contractor. You can paint or stain a wood mantel to match the de’cor of your room. Fireplace mantels are excellent places to display items of importance to you and your family such as heirlooms and family pictures. A fireplace mantel is also an excellent place to hang stockings and display cards around Christmas time.

Changing the lighting in your room can also make a major difference. Different lampshades can create a different atmosphere as they diffuse soft light with a hint of color about the room. If you find your living room a little dull, adding a few more lamps can brighten it up, and also add accent to certain areas. For an even simpler modification, try changing the wattage of your existing bulbs. Going from 60 to 120 watts makes a big difference; you might see things you had forgotten were there at all! Changing to a lower wattage can create a cozier, intimate feel.

A little heavy lifting can change your living room; rearranging the furniture can create a totally different feeling in the room. Create a new focal point to the room by orienting the seating around the fireplace and not the television, or perhaps put the couches and chairs so that people are more encouraged to talk to one another. And don’t just think about the seating, moving the coffee table, the end tables and bookcases can make a difference. If you need a new look without buying new furniture consider switching out the living room furniture with items from other rooms of the house

Finally, taking a look at what you have on display in your living room can give you some ideas for small changes that have a high impact. Do you have a vase of fake flowers that has been there for a decade? Perhaps now is a good time to replace it with something a little more modern. The artwork you have on your walls might also be due for some scrutiny too. Prints can be obtained fairly cheaply, and can really change the ambiance of your room. Remember that every little item and picture adds something to the room – it is up to you to decide whether or not it should be changed out for something new.

About The Author

Carol Agee is the vice president of Agee Woodworks which has been building quality custom fireplace mantels for 10 years. On the Web at http://www.ageewoodworks.com/custommantle.htm.

Living in a small home has its own special challenges. With computers being such an integral part of life these days, many people opt for a laptop, not just for its mobility, but also because it is compact and can answer your computing needs without taking up too much space.

While you can use a it on a rug, on your bed, or lounging on a couch, you sometimes need a proper work corner. So, what do you do when you don’t have enough room for a large desk? This compact mobile “desk” can be just the answer.

It’s small, at only 30″ to 47″H x 32″W x 17″D and fully adjustable, with various angles available, along with safety edges to keep your laptop and books safe. This small piece of furniture, that can be a great gift for a college student or for anyone moving into a small apartment.

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Victorian decorating is considered one of the most inticate of all the different interior decorating styles that you can choose from. The reason for this is because the colors, fabrics, furniture and decorations are all elaborate and full.

Victorian decorating is based on the period during the 19th century in jolly old England. So, the more authentic you want your Victorian room to be, you can expect that the furnishings and other decorative items can be quite expensive.

You will need to be very creative and crafty if you wish to make the most of this theme. But, it’s possible to makeover a room with a Victorian style, even if you are on a tight budget.

Following is an example of how you can use Victorian decorating to transform the look of your living room:

Step 1 - So that you know the size of the area you have to work with, the first thing you should do before beginning your Victorian decorating is to measure the space of the room.

Step 2 - Use colors such as deep green, red, dark pink, mauve, burgundy, and purple for walls, rugs, upholstery and other accessory colors. These were the most popular colors of the Victorian period.

It’s also a great idea to add crown molding and wallpaper borders around the top of walls. And don’t be afraid to use more than one color when decorating the room.

Step 3 - You can choose rich wooden furnishings such as sofas and chairs when selecting furniture for Victorian decorating. The legs, backs and arms of these furnishings are carved to stand out, while the upholstery is usually velvet, embroidered fabrics, and brocade.

Accompanying these pieces are pillows that are created with similar fabrics, and trimmed with lace, frills, beading, ribbons or bows. The other furnishings in the room for Victorian decorating are various marbletop tables or they could be made of wood such as bamboo.

Step 4 - Decorations that are placed on the tables, such as candleholders, crystal lamps, porcelain figurines, or a vase of dried flowers, should be set on embroidered doilies to add affect.

All paintings are usually in gold or wooden frames. Other exciting Victorian pieces that can be added to the living room are a grandfather clock, porcelain dolls and decorative plates.

Other Victorian decorating accessories that you can add to the room to give it authenticity include paintings of young maidens, children, a portrait of your family, or perhaps of your ancestors.

Step 5 - When Victorian decorating windows, you need to make them elaborate with draperies, swags and braided tiebacks. Popular fabrics for the window are also brocades and velvet.

Step 6 - The floors of the living room can either be hardwood floors or wall-to-wall carpeting. But, no matter which flooring type you choose, it is a good idea to add an area rug that is fashioned in an oriental style to complete the authenticity of the Victorian decorating look.

As you can see, Victorian decorating is very involved and comes with a heavy feel to it. That being the case, make sure you pick a room that can handle this de’cor. That way, you can enjoy it to its fullest.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home.

When it comes to teen decorating there is much to consider as far as their bedroom is concerned. The reason for this is because before your bundle of joy grew into a teenager, the room they occupied was primarily designed to allow for safe playing and romping.

But now those days are about gone and your child thinks that he or she “is practically a grown up”, and their bedroom is no longer a sandbox. It’s their personal sanctuary.

As you well know, teens crave privacy, and they will spend large amounts of time buried in their room. So, it’s important that you give them furnishings that will provide comfort. And they should be granted a certain degree of freedom to makeover their room as they see fit (of course, with your approval of their teen decorating choices).

The big difference between teen decorating and decorating for younger children is that teens are very self-conscious about how their bedrooms look. As such, they will want you to have as little involvement in their bedroom decorating choices as possible.

I know, I know….it’ll take you a little while to get used to this role, but it is important that you give your teen a good bit of freedom to make their own choices and grow.

Now, there’s something else you should know. Most teen decorating themes are chosen for how they make the teen feel, rather than how it looks. Strange, but true.

Teenagers make a great effort to confound logic and order, and are at that stage where they are striving to be recognized as individuals. In decorating, they will do this by using what most interests them to express themselves. And they will turn to these things when they need sanctuary, and wish to hibernate.

Therefore, while you may not completely understand or agree with their teen decorating selections, it’s a good idea to just let them mature and grow in an environment that gives them solace and makes them feel comfortable.

Possible teen decorating ideas that your teen may enjoy include the following:

- Vibrant paint colours for the walls
- Fuzzy chairs
- Area rugs
- Daybeds
- Beds with Trundles
- Whacky shaped objects (lamps, clocks ect.)
- Posters
- Pictures of family and friends
- Bookshelves
- Mirrors

It’s also quite common for teen decorating to include certain themes. Some of the most popular teen decorating themes tend to be:

- Nature - wildlife, trees, plants, etc.
- Entertainment - music, movies, etc.
- Sports - baseball, football, hockey, etc.

Another thing you’ll want to take into account when considering teen decorating is that studying will play a much bigger role in their lives. That being the case, if your teen does not have a computer in his or her room, you may want to seriously consider purchasing them one, because the vast majority of teens prefer studying and doing homework in their room compared to anywhere else.

Now, I shouldn’t have to say it, but be very careful when it comes to the computer and your teen. You’ve probably heard horror stories about child predators lurking on the Internet. So, pay attention to what your teen does with their computer. Just because they think they are “practically adults”, it doesn’t mean they are mentally ready to make all adult decisions and handle the consequences.

In addition to the above, multi-function furniture such as stackable crates and bins are a great and inexpensive way for your teen to neatly store all of their items.

Although teen decorating may cause you moments of frustration and cringing, it is something that your child will enjoy, and is important to them. So, just bear with them. After all, it won’t be long before they are off to college.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of the Web site Kids-Rooms-and- Crafts. Visit http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com for lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating children’s rooms.

Are you tired of the plain, boring doors that are so common for bedrooms and bathrooms? What can be done to spruce them up without replacing them? LOTS of things! Some really, really easy ideas - some needed moderate skills, here are a few ideas for changing your door faces:

1. Rattan mats stapled to the door work for a tropical or seaside decor. (I also saw these used on ceilings to hide popcorn ceilings.)

2. Moulding mitered into rectangles, nailed or stapled to the door, and then the whole thing painted looks like doors commonly found as front doors.

3. If you do the above, you can paint a design inside the moulding box you made, or use wallies or wallpaper designs cut to fit.

4. Even if you DON’T do the above, you can paint a design on the door, or use wallies or wallpaper.

5. I want to hide some of my doors - I mean that I want them to disappear into the wall. I saw this done by removing the door moulding, then painting or wallpapering the door to match the wall it sits on.

6. You can use wood cut outs glued to the door. I saw some very nice wood scrolling at Lowes. You can also do themes cut outs - sports stuff, cats, southwestern designs, apples - ANYTHING!

7. You can nail lattice to the door, then frame it out (or do the framing first, then attach - either way).

8. You can glue any “paper” you want to the door in collage-fashion - postcards, seed packs, book pages, old advertising, photos )or copies of photos), maps, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper….anything paper.

9. You can cover the door with peel and stick mirrors.

10. Attach a curtain rod to the top of the door. Hang a curtain and gather the center with the curtain tie back style of your choice.

Ok, I am now in dire need of DOING one of these things and not just writing about it!

About The Author
Nancy, the Frugal Decorating Diva, substitutes creativity for money - and comes up with a better result. Read more about how to do that at http://www.FrugalByDesign.com or email Nancy at nancy@frugalbydesign.com.

As a parent, I know the importance of good curtains in the children’s room. They can be very important when you want to control the amount of light in the room, either in the mornings, evening time or when you want to put your children in bed for a midday nap.

Of course, when it comes to decorating the children’s room, curtains and window treatments are as essential as they are with decorating any other room. A touch of fabric can add so much to any room, and that added softness is even more important when it comes to the children’s environment.

When it comes to a boys room, blue is a classic, even if a tad cliche, of a choice.  A favorite character is always nice to have, and Thomas the Engine is always popular with young boys.

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