Home Decor

Home Decor
Home Decor for the Real World

Friday, August 20, 2010

Fall Decorating Done Affordably: Simple Strategies to Provide Your House a Touch of the Season

We all love to see homes decorated for the changing seasons, but in today’s mad world, who on earth has the time? Fall decorating has never been so simple! Follow these simple measures to transform your house into a fun autumn season showplace in a small amount of time.


These days we are stressed at work, running on empty to taxi our little ones to and fro, and our time is very precious. Too often we compromise the ordinary seasonal pleasures because we simply cannot find the time. Well cheer up, fall decorating this season is quick and simple.
Autumn Wreaths: Almost nothing creates the tone for a fall house like a decorative wreath. Save yourself the inconvience of attempting to create your own by obtaining a pre-made wreath on the internet. These arrangements have come a long way in recent times and will bring fall beauty to your entry way immediately. If you are just going to add one piece of harvest décor, this is the one to buy for the most impact. Hanging wreaths has never been less difficult with the new inexpensive wreath hangers available at most hobby stores.
Autumn Mantle: An easy technique to add a fall touch to your home is to accent the fireplace mantle. Normally only decorated at Christmas, mantles are the ideal staging for autumn displays. Drape a harvest garland for a speedy fix or arrange harvest themed figures such as pumpkins and gourds for a colorful focal point. Just introducing a few objects will give a fall theme to any room.
Fall Entrance: A fast way to add autumn decorations to your home is to begin with the entrance. It doesn't necessarily have to be elaborate. A basic display of pumpkins flanking your porch steps, a seasonal autumn themed window box, or an uncomplicated arrangement of pumpkins and gourds next to the front door.
To get your fall decorating underway, you may do one or all of these projects. All three could easily be completed in less than one afternoon. Regardless of how on the run you are, there is no reason why you should not enjoy bringing the harvest season to your house.






Friday, August 13, 2010

Autumn Décor for 2010


Forget About Boring Pumpkins and Gourds…Autumn Décor for 2010 is Fresh and Exciting

It doesn’t matter if you revel in the season or prefer to just let it drift on by with a friendly nod; there is autumn décor that is the perfect match to your home and your personality.  We’ve checked out the hottest decorating trends for this fall season and included pictures and links so that your home can be the picture of the autumn spirit!


Autumn Colors for 2010

The colors for the fall season this year have stepped back to the basics of harvest splendor.  The colors are richer and deeper in tone than in years past.  Think of earthy gold tones, deep brown greens, and rust colored accents.  Adding a touch of these to your home will instantly put you in the mood for the crisp fall season.

Autumn Fabrics for 2010

This year the fabrics for autumn are comforting.  Soft chenille in fun fall shades, warm flannel appears in both standard bedding and decorative throws.  Green is more than just a color this year as many manufacturers make the move to organic blends.


Autumn Accessories for 2010

The accents and accessories of this autumn season have moved beyond scarcrows to more elegant ways to show your fall spirit.  While the traditional displays of gourds remain popular, autumn themed candle accessories allow you to spread your seasonal decorating throughout the house with minimal investment.  Glass and mosaic designs in rich harvest tones seem to be the must have of the fall season.

Autumn Wreaths for 2010

This year, perhaps in response to the economy, silk florals have gained popularity.  Stunning fall inspired wreaths are gracing the doors of homes across the country.  The styles range from grapevine with a hint of silk foliage to full wreath designs of silk foliage and miniature pumpkins.


Autumn Garlands for 2010

Garlands have moved away from gracing doors and windows and have now come to rest on tops of mantels.  Again, as silk florals regain popularity, garlands are being seen as a quick and easy way to add seasonal décor to a home in an inexpensive way that generates a big visual impact.


Autumn Centerpieces for 2010

Again, in a nod to the current economy, live arrangements are falling by the wayside and silks are taking their place.  The glitz and shimmer this year will be reserved for the Thanksgiving table.  Autumn centerpieces this year will be smaller and more understated with more focus on the container than on the foliage.  Designs are moving toward goblet designs, unique bowls, and one-of-a-kind vases.  When vases are out of the limelight, the arrangement follows a more traditional design of understated elegance.


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Friday, August 6, 2010

Modern Bedroom Ideas: Design a Contemporary Bedroom In 5 Quick Steps

Our bedrooms are a retreet from the rest of the world. The simplicity of modern bedroom designs creates a serenity that makes that feeling even more prevalent. The tips below will help you create a modern bedroom. Here's how you can create a contemporary bedroom in 5 easy steps.



Step 1: Paint Color. This is very important because the color of the walls is a hallmark to a modern bedroom. Neutrals are always a good choice, but think outside the box and consider neutral shades of gray and green. These create a soothing background for contemporary bedrooms that is more interesting and trendy than boring shades of beige. A popular choice is red, a brave option that works well with Asian themes. If you are not up for painting the room, you can always just keep your current wall color. Even if it is just plain white, the selections that you make for the rest of the room can make almost any color workable.


Step 2: Furniture. This is a very important step. Modern bedroom furniture is sleek in design and kept to a minimum in designs. It is usually darker woods or metal that is used. You can still use your current furniture by simply giving it a fresh coat of paint or stain to darken the tone. The bedroom furniture is not a focus in modern designs, so don't stress if you can't afford to buy a new bed. In modern bedrooms, it is the look and feel of the entire room that creates a successful design.


Step 3: Bedding. What we are going to do here is to select bed linens with a hint of simple luxury. Remember that the current trend is to bring all of the bed linen out into the open. It will not be just your comforter or duvet that will be seen, but also your sheets, pillowcases, and throws. Look at pictures in catalogs or check out some decorating television shows to get ideas for staging your bedding in the contemporary "unmade" fashion of today.


Step 4: Get Rid of the Clutter. To elaborate on that a bit, modern bedrooms are known for their clean simplicity. It's impossible to achieve that look and feel when it looks like a yard sale exploded in your room. Get rid of all nonessential items and put shoes and clothes back in the closet where they belong.


Step 5: Accessories. Keep the accessories to a minimum in modern bedrooms such as only a few key pieces. These pieces can have a big impact such as a large framed print or an elegant vase. The room should not be crowded with accents that draw your attention in every direction, it should be clean and clutter-free. Just a few carefully chosen pieces complete the room.


The internet is a great place to search for modern bedroom ideas! You will create the bedroom of your dreams in no time if you create and solid design plan and follow through. Happy decorating!

Create a Moroccan Inspired Bedroom

Your bedroom is your sanctuary from the world, a place where you can escape the rest of the world and retreat into your own private space. Why not make your bedroom into an exotic getaway? The answer might just be a moroccan inspired bedroom. Create your own exotic hideaway by following these steps.



Step 1: Wall Color. Bid those white walls an overdue farewell! The paint colors for this design are a vivid mix of bright jewel tones and rich earth tones. You will need to use a deep jewel tone for the walls and a deep warm tone for the trim and door. This far different from what we have all been taught about wall colors. Without making this important change, you will have a bedroom theme that appears incomplete.


Step 2: Furniture. Moroccan designs use an eclectic mix of furniture. The furniture used in moroccan designs is normally darker in tone, but light colored furniture can be given a new look with a quick coat of paint or stain.


Step 3: Moroccan Bedding. The bedding used in moroccan bedrooms is usually very luxurious. Consider layering bedding of solid colors made from lush materials like velvet or satin. Use many pillows in many shapes and sizes, add a solid throw in a lush material, and perhaps even a canopy in another rich color. It is the constant use of different colors that make up a successful moroccan design.


Step 4: Window Curtains. The drapes used in this design should be long and flowing, again mixing bright colors and luxurious fabrics. Rich jewel toned sheer curtains under velvet or satin-like drapes. For added impact add an edging of fringe to the drapes in the color of the sheers and use tassel tie backs in the same shade.


Step 5: Moroccan Accessories. A significant point to keep in mind here is variety. The moroccan theme is based in the variety of the accessories such as carved wood decor, metal wall decor, candle lanterns, pottery and vases, and bright rugs. Add decorative accessories a little at a time until you have the balance and feel just right.


By following these steps, you have created your Moroccan inspired bedroom, sit back and enjoy the benefits of your hard work. It’s like taking a vacation without ever leaving the house!

Create Your Own Princess Bedroom Theme in 4 Easy Steps

Is your daughter a little princess that is dreaming of a magical bedroom that will make all of her little friends jealous. She’s wanting something unique, that no one else has, and you’re wondering how on earth to give her what she wants without resorting to the predictable themed bedding available on the market. Well, it’s time to get crafty and create your own princess bedroom theme.



Step 1: Wall Color Try to think outside the norm when selecting a wall color for your daughter's room. Pink is an option, but with all the other options out there, why limit yourself to something so predictable? You could still do deeper shades of pinks, but also consider minty greens or pale lavenders. You can also get artistic and create stripes with each of these colors by masking off areas with painting tape.


Step 2: Bedroom Furnishings You might be able to still use the current furniture in your daughter's room depending upon her age. You can change the look of the furniture by giving it a quick coat of white paint, or if you're more brave, a shimmering coat of silver. You can design a custom headboard by printing out a clipart picture of a crown and taking it to a copy shop to have it enlarged to a workable size. Using that enlargement as your template, cut her new headboard out of plywood and attach it to the bed. For added sparkle, purchase cheap rhinestones or plastic jewels from a craft store and glue them to the furniture.


Step 3: Princess Inspired Bedding Bedding for a princess bedroom theme can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like. Of course satin-like fabrics and lace fit right in, but for small little girls this may not be a practical choice. Remember, simple solid bedding can be transformed with a few tassels or fancy edging. Unless you really like to sew, use heat tape to save yourself some time and trouble. Also, an inexpensive tulle canopy adds an instant royal touch that can be improved upon further with a few more of the jewels that you used on the furniture. Hint1: Use a bejeweled window scarf to surround the doorway for a royal entrance.. Hint 2: Add a few more jewels or window tassels to a plain bed skirt for more sparkle.


Step 4: Decorative Accessories Get creative with the accessories for this theme! For example, take a pair of worn out high heels and give them a quick spray of silver glitter paint. To carry the idea further, embellish the shoes a bit more by adding a small piece of florist foam and insert gift bows and ribbons attached to floral picks and you have a very unique accent piece (preferably placed out of reach). A fuzzy rug and accent pillow and you’re done!


Follow these steps to create a princess bedroom theme for your daughter that no one else will have. Remember to let her help with the project, while it may take you more time to create her beautiful bedroom, but it will be worth it for the beautiful memories with your little princess.

Create an Understated and Elegant Safari Themed Bedroom in 5 Easy Steps

I love animal prints and safari decor, but was unsure about decorating my small bedroom in this theme. I worried that it would be too overpowering and intense for my small bedroom. I wanted something elegant and understated, it took me a while, but I came up with a solution. Here are the same steps that I followed to create an understated and elegant safari themed bedroom



Step 1: Paint Colors. Good news! Hopefully, you still have those off-white or beige walls. If not, grab your paint brush. These warm neutrals make the best backdrop for a safari theme.


Step 2: Bedroom Furniture. This design works best with dark colored furniture ranging from a dark oak to black. Don't worry if you have white or light colored furniture, you can give it a quick coat of paint or stain to deepen the color.


Step 3: Bedding for a Safari Theme. The bedding that you select will set the tone and intensity of your room. You can opt for actual safari themed bedding, but often that is too overpowering for smaller rooms. If you are worried about that happening, try using cream colored bedding instead like a simple comforter set that includes the bed skirt. To bring out the theme, use heat tape to attach sheer window scarves in your favorite animal print as an overlay to the bed skirt. To finish off the bed, add a few accent pillows and a throw in the same print.


Step 4: Curtains and Drapes. We can use the same idea we used on the bed skirt for the windows. To add a custom touch, place a sheer boarder at the top or bottom of a pair of plain cream colored drapes. This understated touch brings the room together.


Step 5: Decorative Accessories. Since we have kept things understated up to this point, you can really go wild with your bedroom accessories. Don't be afraid to use animal figurines such as elephants, tigers, and giraffes. Remember not to underestimate pillar candles in fun animal prints for added impact.


By following these steps, you will create an elegant safari themed bedroom while keeping within your decorating budget. So get going on your new project and let out your wild side!

Express Your Creativity with a Whimsical Bedroom

There are so many bedroom themes and styles out there that one would think that the possibilities are endless, but after a while, don’t they all seem too predictable and copied too many times? Why copy what someone else has already done? Express yourself by designing your own whimsical bedroom!



The good thing with this design style is that there are no rules. You have free reign to let your own tastes and creativity shine without being confined to the principles of a particular style or trend. So how do you create this expressions of freedom without the final result looking like a garage sale exploded in what was once your bedroom? The answer will suprise you, but it is a whole new way to think about decorating and how to plan a room.


The simplest way to begin is to search for bedroom photos on the computer and for pictures in magazines that catch your eye. Sort these photos by selecting what it is that you like about that picture. Is it the overall color scheme? Did the bedding really wow you? What about the decorative accessories? Keep doing this until you have about five pictures in groups of color ideas, bedding ideas, and accessory ideas.


This is where it gets fun. Pick out your very favorite from each group. Don't think about how they go together, that’s not the point. All you want to do is pick out your very favorite picture from each group. Once you do this, you have your whimsical bedroom.


Did that make it sound too easy? It shouldn't. Since you are not distracted by how these selections will work together, you are free to decorate in a truly impulsive (i.e. whimsical) style.


Take a good look at the picture that you chose out of the color group. Why did you pick it as you favorite for the color group? Is it the actual color or is it the way that the color works with the bedding? If it is the actual color, then you need to find a version of your bedding photo choice that will work with that color. If it is how the color compliments the bedding, then you need to select your colors based on your bedding photo choice. Use this same method with the accessories and you're all finished!


By removing the rules of decorating and designing a room this way, you can create a truly unique room that shows your personality in a way that theme decorating never could. A whimsical bedroom is the perfect way to discover your own decorating style. So get to work and let the real you shine through!