Home Decor

Three-Dimensional Wall Hangings Make a Big Impact

Many people want unique art to hang on the walls inside their home. But, some simply can’t afford the high price of custom paintings or metal wall art. A great alternative to expensive paintings is to create your own wall art that not only reminds of you of precious memories, but you will be the only person in the world that has that same piece of art.

Three-Dimensional wall hangings are sort of like a scrapbook. You take items from a memorable experience, group them together in an aesthetically pleasing way, and hang it on the wall. Because you already own most of the items that will go into your three-dimensional wall hanging, it is pretty inexpensive.

To create your unique three-dimensional wall art, visit your local craft or department store and purchase a shadow box or other deep frame that is large enough to fit all the items you want to display. You may want to use decorative paper to line the back of the frame, before placing the other items in. Place the largest item into the frame first, then, by size, place the remaining items into the frame. Finish by adding the smallest of trinkets and filler accessories. Close the frame and hang it up!

These fabulous wall hangings look great in any room, depending on what the subject is. You could take an outgrown ballet slipper, a recital program, some dried flowers, and beads to create a beautiful reminder of your daughter’s lover of dance. Boys may enjoy a special baseball, sport’s jersey, and ticket stub form a memorable game, all framed together and hung on the wall. For the bathroom, create a nice collage of dried or silk flowers and soft pictures placed at different depths in the frame. For the living room or family room, use items from a family trip, like a map, ticket stubs, pictures, and anything else you’d like to create a three-dimensional wall hanging.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Dimension, Hanging, Home and Garden, Kakemono

Tips for Decorating Your Child’s Bedroom

A child’s bedroom is one of the only rooms in the house where you can really let loose with bright colors and fun fabrics. It’s a chance to create a fun space for your kid, perhaps the cool room that you wished you had as a child. Decorating your child’s bedroom doesn’t have to be expensive or a giant project. Better yet, enlist the help of your child as they will be more appreciative if you let them help you create the room of their dreams. The project will also go faster when you have a helper!

Use Bright Colors

Painting a room is an easy and inexpensive way to redecorate. Kid’s rooms should emulate a feeling of fun, but still be calm so they can sleep well. With this in mind, pick bright colors that are also a bit soothing. The hot colors right now are pink, purple and white for girls, and green and brown for boys. These are also great colors that can grow with your child.

Frame Your Child’s Artwork

One of the best ways to get artwork for your child’s room is to let them create it themselves. Use a picture they made at school, or sit down together to create some paintings or collages. Take your child, and her artwork, to a craft store and pick out a mat and frame. Not only will framing your child’s artwork make it look really nice when hung on the wall, but it will protect the art and keep it looking great for many, many years.

Personalization

A new trend in room décor, especially kid’s rooms, is personalization. Purchase some inexpensive wood letters from your local craft or department store. Paint them to match the colors in your child’s room and hang them over the bed, buy pillows with your child’s first initial on them and place on the bed or a comfy chair, or stencil a monogram on an accent wall.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Color, Paint

The Easiest Way to Change a Room

Do you ever wake up in the morning, walk into a room in your home, and just wish it could be changed right there and then? Do you feel like you need something fresh in your living room every few months, or perhaps every couple of years? The simplest way to change a room is to rearrange the furniture.

Start with the larger pieces of furniture first, usually the couch and the TV, if there is a TV in the room. You need to find an alternative locate for the couch, making sure that there is a good spot for the TV, so that people sitting on the couch can see the TV. Then, you want to put any end tables or coffee tables on the sides and in front of the couch. This is where the room will really start to pull together and the remaining furniture should be easy to place.

Now, one at a time, bring back in some accessories. You want to put one thing in a spot at a time and see how it looks. Then bring in another. You may be surprised to realize that you previously had too much in the room and will feel that not everything needs to come back in. Better yet, “shop” in other rooms of your house and bring in different accessories to make the room feel new.

Lastly, the artwork on the walls must be hung. Just like the accessories, you want to bring in one wall hanging at a time. And, just like the accessories, try switching items between different rooms in your home. A wall shelf that was in the dining room may look really nice in the living room. A painting from the hallway may look better in your living room. Then, place the artwork that will no longer hang in the living room into those other rooms to replace what was moved.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Furniture, Living room

3 Waste Recycling Ideas

Going green is not only a trend, but it is a sign that people understand the need to cut down on waste to improve the Earth’s environment. Most of the products we use and consume have containers that do not quickly break down in the landfills, causing more harm than most people know. The best way to reduce waste is to recycle. Find another way to use that plastic bottle or tin can.

Re-Use Packing Peanuts
Packing peanuts are the perfect drainage material for the bottom of plant containers and pots. They are light and airy, perfect to allow water to drain throughout the plant’s roots and prevent rotting. And what’s even better, is these are free, which makes them much better than buying rocks to use at the bottom of pots and planters.

Recycle Plastic Plant Pots
After planting your garden, you undoubtedly have a mountain of those plastic pots. Instead of throwing them away, use them as plant markers. These are much more studier than the tiny, barely readable markers that come with most plants. To make this craft, turn the plastic pot upside down and use a wood burning tool to write the name of the plant in the side of the pot. Write as big as possible so you’re sign is easy to read. Be careful not to burn through the plastic. Then, use grout to fill in the letters. When dry, remove the access grout and bury the bottom into the ground near the plant. For extra protection from wind, place a few rocks on top.

Start a Compost Pile
Did you know about 26 percent of solid waste in America is food items? Instead of throwing out your leftovers and scraps, add them to the compost pile and you’ll have some great and nutritious dirt for your garden. It will also make your kitchen less stinky because you don’t have old food sitting in a trash bag.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Compost, Recycling

Redecorating Tips for Those on a Budget

Everyone wants a nicely decorated home that feels comfortable, is functional, and won’t blow the budget. But, with today’s economy, many find it impossible to redecorate their home because of high prices. This is where some creativity and savvy redecorating tips come in handy.

Create a Plan
First, decide how you would like the newly decorated room to look? What colors will you be using? Do you want a traditional or modern style? Get an idea in your head and then start browsing home décor magazines and websites. Find a few pictures that reflect the style you are going for and cut or print them out. Have these pictures easily accessible while shopping. You might also do well with a list of items you need to complete your redesign.

Take Stock in What You Already Own
Shop around your own home to find items that you can relocate to the newly decorated room. You will give new life to an old treasure, and you already know you like the item and that it fits your tastes in décor, because you already own it. The best thing about relocating an item you already have is that it is free decorating! It is also a good idea to take any items out of the room that won’t make the cut. This way you will see exactly what you have to determine what you need to complete your renovation.

Look For Coupon Codes and Sales
Next, get online and look around for coupon codes and sales at your favorite home decorating stores. There are many websites that are specifically geared to providing coupon codes for thousands of stores, all in one place. Most of these codes are a mixture of numbers and letters that you can jot down. These codes are entered during checkout to reap the benefits of a discounted price. Other coupons are only effective if you shop through a specific link.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Decorating, Home, Interior design

High-End Consignment Shops Are Not Like Garage Sales

Furniture and home décor can get extremely expensive, especially for those with a taste for more high-end and luxurious items. But, wanting to redecorate your home with high-end furnishings or wearing designer clothing may not be feasible. A great place to start is high-end consignment shops, which are not like garage sales or other shops where the products offered may not be in perfect condition. Many people have the incorrect perception that a consignment shop is no more than a glorified garage sale, and that is not true.

A high-end consignment shop typically deals with furniture, clothing and more expensive pieces that are in perfect to near perfect condition. Top brand name items typically fill the floors and isles, along with cases of sparkly jewels. Because most of the items are high-end with luxurious brand names, shoppers may be surprised to find the prices tags are not as low as they’d expect.

Of course, a high-end consignment shop is expected to be more expensive than the corner children’s consignment store. But sticker shock does occur to many shoppers. What you have to remember when shopping in a high-end consignment shop is that the prices are relevant to the condition of the item, the brand name of the item, and the current retail price. To put this in prospective, a Ralph Lauren couch may go for $9,000 in retail stores, but you can get the same Ralph Lauren couch, only gently used, for only $3,000. As you can see, this is a significant savings, but still a high price for the average person.

The same can be said for clothing sold at high-end consignment shops. These stores will only accept designer labels with no signs of wear. This gives a person the opportunity to own designer clothes, without the designer price. Since designer clothes are made with quality products, these items usually last a lot longer than the shirt you purchased at your local department store.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Consignment, Designer clothing, Luxury good, Shopping

5 Tips to Redecorating Your Living Room

Some people re-arrange their living room furniture with each change of the season while others keep everything exactly the same, year after year. No matter how much you like, or dislike change, it is refreshing to change things around a bit. Redecorating your living room doesn’t have to be expensive, here are 5 tips:

1. Out With The Old
The first thing you want to do is remove any décor that you do not want to keep in the re-design. This could be an old painting or your couch, but the point it get it out as quickly as possible so you can take stock of what is remaining and create a plan.

2. Online Inspiration/Print Inspiration
Browse through home décor magazines and websites to get inspiration. What colors to you like? Doing some research online to narrow down your intentions and create an action plan will ensure the rest of the project goes smoothly. Clip or print out your inspirational pictures to take to stores when purchasing new items for your living room.

3. Discount Shopping
Now that you have a plan and a certain style in mind, it’s time to shop! Visit local consignment shops and discount stores to find items that resemble your inspiration pictures.

4. Make it Yourself
If you can not find something you are looking for, be it that perfect painting or a chair cover that matches your drapes, make it yourself. You know what you want, so just make it. Buy an extra pair of curtain panels and use the material to create a chair cover or some throw pillows. Grab some paints and create a masterpiece.

5. Shop In Your Own House
Look around the other rooms of your home to find items you already own that would look nice in your living room. You should already like the pieces, which is a big plus, as well as the fact that you are not buying anything new.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Interior design, Living room

Keep it clean and save your health and some money

Money spent on furnishing your home will go further if you take care of what you own. Keeping your furniture and home clean is one way to ensure they will last longer. In addition, cleaning serves a purpose that goes beyond keeping up appearances.

It is good for your physical and mental health to look good. The same goes for your home. Germs, mustiness, and dust are bad for your health and bad for the life of your furnishings and surfaces in the home.

Now is as good a time as any, to schedule a de-cluttering party. Involve all of your family members in de-cluttering their own spaces. Use boxes or bags and designate them for throwing away, giving away, and keeping. Organize your home by de-cluttering, and it will make caring for your home a lot easier.

If you have allergies or any respiratory ailments, dust will agitate the problems. Using a feather duster and a vacuum daily will do wonders.

Even in winter, opening alternating windows will help keep stale or musty air, which may contain fumes or smoke, from lingering inside the home. Throw on a warm sweater and let fresh air permeate throughout your home. You will be ridding the home of airborne germs as well.

Opening a window now and again is also good for wood floors and furnishings. With heat on all winter long, wood may dry out. This is true especially for heavy traffic areas. These places also need special attention now and then, to keep the wood healthy, such as floor treatments.

Regular cleaning in your home will do one more thing that benefits everyone in your home. It will make you feel better when you are finished. Now only will you feel better for a job well done, the exercise involved in cleaning will keep you physically fit, which in turn, will keep you emotionally fit.

Keeping it cleans saves you money and keeps you healthy.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Cleanliness, Health

Five uses for open storage

When you hear the word storage, you most likely think about items you want to keep but do not want to have out in the open for visitors to see. Examples of this are seasonal clothing, outdoor equipment, and lawn and garden supplies.

Other items you accumulate are those that you want or need to have handy. These are things you use regularly, or items you want to display.

Choosing the type of storage is a matter of personal taste and style. If you want to show off these items, open storage is the perfect way to do so. You can use bookshelves, cabinets, individual shelving, or fancy bureaus for many objects, including the following:

1. Books

Buy bookshelves large enough to fit all the books you currently own, with an extra shelf for books you will acquire.
2. Trophies and awards

If you have children, individual shelving is ideal for displaying your children’s individual awards, trophies, or framed certificates. Children could have their own shelf to display their accomplishments. Adults can display their certificates and diplomas.
3. Collectibles

Whether it is dolls, clowns, or animal figurines, almost everyone has a collection. Perhaps you picked up unusual seashells on your last trip to the beach, or you collect interesting looking gems or stones. You can purchase inexpensive boxes or trays to hold the small items. The large items can sit on the shelf alone.

4. Knickknacks

Decorative knickknacks, vases, or unusually shaped bottles are perfect for the top of a china cabinet or bureau filled with linens.

5. Artwork and Photos

Artists and photographers can display their work on open shelves. Sculpted pieces, photos, and finished artwork will look amazing on shelves that are visible from any angle of a room.

Storing items in this manner is space saving and decorative. It also gives your home a personal touch, one that gives your guests a sense of welcoming, and you a sense of hominess.

The potentials of open storage are endless.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Cupboard, Furniture, Storage and Shelving

Turn one large room into two living Spaces

Dividing a large room into two small rooms is ideal for those who work at home, or for those who bring their work home with them.

If you want to divide a room without major renovations, there are easy and economical ways to separate a workplace from a place for relaxation.

1. Make use of the furniture in the room

Shelves, especially open shelves you can access from both sides of the room, are great because they will not block the lighting in the room. Screens, which come in a variety of styles to fit your need and budget, are an easy solution for breaking up space in a large area.

Arrange the furniture you already have in the room. Marking off areas for work and play with furniture, is an easy and fun way to separate areas for day and night activities. Creating two diminutive rooms requires only your imagination.

2. Think color

Another innovative way to separate a tranquil space from a workspace is to use a coloring system. Depending on individual tastes, use either subtle changes or bold contrasts in tone, to highlight the two spaces.

3. Floor Coverings

Covering one side of a room with carpeting and the other side with hardwood, laminate, or linoleum, makes a more obvious division. Use a durable floor covering for the play area, and a large carpet or several area rugs in the space where you work.

4. Window Treatments

You can hang items normally placed on windows, such as shades, curtains, or blinds, from the ceiling to partition off areas in a room.

5. Light it up

You need proper lighting in a workspace, especially if you write, paint, or read. Softer lighting in the space designated for watching television or listening to music, and bright lighting for the workspace will help to delineate the separate spaces.

Even if you are design-challenged, turning one large room into two living spaces is child’s play if you simply use your imagination.

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Floors, Furniture, Space