Modern Home Decorating

Pink and Red in Decorating

Pink and Red are HOT colors for decorating again this year, from the palest peachy-pink to brightest scarlet. This excites me because pink is one of my favorite colors! I love pink and have pink in various shades and intensities throughout my home. What I like about pink is that, depending on the shade, it can be soft and delicate or bold and bright. Pink can be soothing or energizing. It is a color that is quite versatile and mixes well with many other colors.

I’m not one to encourage being overly concerned about decorating trends, as they are fickle and could be quite costly to keep up with. I do, however, believe we should be aware of what they are from season to season and how we can interject some bits and pieces of current trends into our decor without going overboard or over budget. I believe our homes should be a reflection of our own personalities and styles. A home that evolves over time and is filled with furnishings and accessories that we love is a home that will nurture us and fit our lifestyle. When we continue that process of evolution by adding a few accessories seasonally that reflect a touch of the current trend we keep our homes fresh and interesting.

How do you interject pink and red into your home, especially if those aren’t “your colors”?

There are a few easy options:*A piece of artwork that incorporates your primary color scheme with a few touches of pink and/or red is a great way to current décor with a trend color.

*Pillows are another great way to add pops of color. If selecting a pillow in a solid pink or red is too daring for you, find pillows that have touches of those colors mixed with other colors that you already have in your room.

* A large vase or urn on a bookshelf or mantel is another great option.

*Don’t overlook the impact that flowers can have in bringing a fresh look to your rooms, real or permanent.

* Decorative plates displayed on a shelf or mantel can be functional and trendy.

Look around and keep an open mind, you’ll be surprised at what you can find that will bring a fresh look into your rooms for the new season. Pick up a few home magazines, check out a few websites, think outside the box and before you know it you’ll find a few unique ways to “freshen up” without changing everything or breaking the bank.

By the way…my newly painted pink dining room is a hit with….if can you believe it….men….I’m not kidding….almost every man, of varying ages, that has visited us since the room was painted, including a cable repair guy and the furnace service guy (both young enough to be my sons) have commented (unsolicited) that they love the dining room! Who knew? So, which is it for you? Pink? Red? or both?

Copyright 2009 Kathleen Ellis

For more romantic and elegant lifestyle ideas I’d like to invite you to sign up for my free bi-weekly newsletter at www.kathleenellis.blogspot.com. Twice a month you’ll receive easy, elegant and romantic ideas for decorating, entertaining and living the romantic life.

Kathleen Ellis
http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/colors-of-romance-735941.html

When it comes to creating a simple, stylish and oriental look to the home, many people often turn to oriental rugs. They come in a variety of delicate, intricate patterns and they range in price so that everyone can have a chance of owning one. However, if you do choose to have an oriental rug to help give your home a Japanese Interior Decorating look, bear in mind that you will have to keep it maintained if you want it to last!

Cleaning Your Oriental rug

The most obvious type of cleaning you really need to do on a daily basis is vacuuming the rug. As with many other types of rugs, oriental rugs can look dirty quite quickly and some may even need to be vacuumed more than once a day. However, you do need to ensure that you have the vacuum on a setting which will not damage the rug. Usually it is better to have a setting which does not allow the vacuum to go into all of the fibers deep down in the rug; you only need to go over the top of it to keep the surface looking clean and tidy.

Keeping it vacuumed is usually sufficient enough to keep the rug clean, but what about if you spill something on it? Well in that case you really need to treat the spillage as soon as possible. As with anything, once a stain has had a chance to settle it is a lot harder to remove it. In case you are worried about ruining your rug, you may want to think of taking it to a specialist cleaner who knows all about your type of rug and who will know exactly how to clean it. Your local advertiser paper will allow you to find one close to your area. Failing that, you may be able to find out how to clean it on the rugs label if it has one. Some rugs do and that would make your life a lot easier!

Generally oriental rugs need specialist cleaners in order to remove the stains without harming the rug. It is possible to give it a wipe with water but overall it needs to be specially cleaned to fully remove all stains. If you do attempt to clean the rug yourself without knowing what you are doing, it is possible that the colors will run and that you will end up with a dull looking carpet.

So, overall treat your rug well by vacuuming it daily and try to avoid washing it yourself. Treat all spills as quickly as possible and you should end up with an oriental rug which lasts for years to come.

A.Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/use-oriental-rugs-in-your-home-with-japanese-interior-decorating-88924.html

When budgets are getting tighter, decorating or updating your home may get put on the back burner. Luckily, there are lots of contests, sweepstakes, and giveaways out there that feature fabulous items to keep your home looking fresh and running strong. Though our tastes tend to be a bit too discerning for most of the décor items available in giveaways, there are plenty of gadgets that we’d welcome in our home (and some chic items if you look hard enough). And with entry forms now conveniently on the internet, a click of the mouse gives you a chance to win, making it easy to enter multiple contests without spending much time or money. But just because a product is free doesn’t mean it’s right for your home. Read on and see how to find the items you can really use.

GO FOR NO-FAIL PRIZES
Home Appliances
While you might have to be a little picky about décor, newer technology is always welcome—especially when it’s free of cost. Unlike a particular accent rug that might not be right for every house and every person, appliances, which are chosen for function rather than form, are a great option. Floor care items such as vacuum cleaners and carpet steamers, outdoor goods like lawn mowers and grills, and bigger items like washers and dryers are all spectacular wins. When looking for prizes, try to enter sweepstakes for the items that you actually need. Many of these products cost hundreds of dollars if not more—not having to buy them may free up some cash for you to splurge a little on décor that might not have been in your budget before.

Kitchen Goods
Keep an eye out for any items for the kitchen. Smaller items like cutting boards, pots and pans, and handheld utensils may have fewer sweepstakes entries because they have a lower total value, which could increase your chances of winning. Or, look out for fun items you might not buy for yourself, like a margarita mixer, a cappuccino machine, or an ice cream maker. While they aren’t necessities, goods like these can be a great addition to the kitchen and make entertaining more fun—just make sure you have ample counter or cabinet space.

Electronics
A flat-screen TV, DVD player, high-quality sound system, or a new computer will fit right in, no matter what your style. Again, snagging these big-ticket items for free may allow you to spend more money elsewhere, maybe even on a beautiful armoire!

THE TIME TO BE PICKY
Consider your existing décor
When moving onto more stylized items like furnishings, pillows, rugs, draperies, or home accents, do a little editing. If your dining room is modern and contemporary, a sweepstakes for a chintzy floral tablecloth might not be your best bet. If you have a bedroom dominated in soft neutrals and warm earth tones, consider that color scheme when entering sweepstakes. An exception? Linens. Items like towels and sheets are going to come in handy when hosting guests even if they don’t match perfectly.

Select brands you know
With home décor, always consider quality. If it seems like there’s a lot to navigate, look for names you know and retailers you trust. It’s hard to learn much from a small picture online or a short description, but if you’ve always been happy with Lenox tableware or Ralph Lauren bedding, it’s likely that you will continue to be impressed. Similarly, look for smaller items from trustworthy brands rather than large pieces from ones you don’t know. These are the things that will last and continue to make you happy for years, instead of ending up shoved in the back of a closet or taking up space in the attic.

Look where you read
Many home design magazines and web sites sponsor their own giveaways and sweepstakes. These items are often from the same brands that are featured on the pages of these magazines or on their web sites, and reflect the design sensibility of the publication. So if you don’t know where to start, think of the decorating sites you love the best, and go there. It’s likely that their sweepstakes will be right on target with your personal style. Click on the link below for a list of our editorial giveaways.

DARE TO DREAM
There are dream house makeovers that offer winners the funds to redo their entire home or create their ideal haven. Sure it’s a long shot, but in this economy, it can’t hurt to try. And even if you don’t win, just thinking about your perfect house could inspire a few ideas, and a lot of creativity, so when you do have the funds to do a little decorating, you’ll know exactly where to start.

mandy
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/home-sweepstakes-how-to-decorate-for-free-698315.html

Other than the kitchen, the bathroom is the most used room in the house. But unlike the kitchen, a well-designed, decorated, and accessorized bathroom is more than just a place for personal hygiene. With creative bathroom decorating ideas you can turn your bathroom into your own personal spa-like retreat where you can escape from the world, relax and rejuvenate yourself.

There are two main considerations for decorating a bathroom. First, if you’re in an older home remodeling bathroom ideas are more challenging because older homes typically have much smaller bathrooms then homes built over the last 20 years. Still, decorating a small bathroom can often be easier because small subtle changes can have a much larger visual impact. The second consideration is the amount of money you’re willing to spend.

The Details in the Budget

Whether your bathroom is large or small one thing is certain, you’re going to have to spend money if you want an updated bathroom. How much money you need to spend depends to a certain extent on the size of your bathroom and how much updating you feel you need to do to give the look and feel you desire.

If you only have a couple hundred dollars to spend then generally you’ll be limited to mostly cosmetic changes such as paint, hardware and accessories. Though this may not be much money to spend, don’t discount the effect that a new coat of paint, some new hardware on the doors and drawers, and some additional accessories such as an inexpensive prints or new towel racks may have on your bathroom. Often that is all that is necessary to give your bathroom a very fresh and updated look.

If you’re willing to spend a little more money, say $300-$600, then your budget could also include things such as shower curtains, rugs, upgraded towels, additional storage units and/or mirrors, and perhaps even additional or upgraded lighting. Throwing a beautiful rug on your bathroom floor, and adding storage units and unique mirrors can definitely change the look and feel of your bathroom. And since we all judge the quality of a hotel by the quality of their bath towels, having those plush bath towels in your own bathroom certainly goes a long way to making your bathroom feel more luxurious. Updated light fixtures can also add that additional touch of elegance that can really set your bathroom off.

Beyond this point, ideas for bathroom remodeling tend to include the more costly aspects of decorating including changing out fixtures, sinks, toilets and bathtubs, and adding additional furniture. If you’re somewhat handy you may be able to replace the sink and tub faucets on your own, perhaps to the more currently popular darker oil rubbed looks or polished nickel. Beyond that, replacing sinks, vanities and bathtubs will generally require a contractor and/or plumber. You must be very careful when using a contractor since this is typically where the cost of bathroom remodeling can quickly jump by thousands and thousands of dollars.

A couple of other options available that can offer some bathroom remodeling help include simply resurfacing your bathtub instead of replacing it. Resurfacing is only a one to two day process and can generally be done for around $500 or less. Re-grouting or re-tiling walls is another option that can easily brighten the bathroom for minimal cost.

Finally, one of the newer methods of giving your bathroom an updated look is the installation of acrylic liners over your old bathtub. Your bathtub is measured to ensure a perfect fit, and an acrylic liner is molded and inserted over the old bathtub. This method can even be extended to the shower and walls and can this give your bathtub, shower and walls a totally updated and new look. Acrylic liners can cost anywhere from $700 to well up into the thousands depending how much you want to have done.

Our bathrooms, unlike many other rooms in the home, tend to be very personal to us. It’s the first place we go in the morning and the last place we leave at night. We spend a lot of time in our bathrooms, and we want to come away feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Great bathroom decorating ideas don’t necessarily have to be expensive, they just need to provide a bathroom that is warm, inviting and comfortable to be in. A well designed bathroom helps us prepare for the day ahead. Update and Enjoy!

Cindi Collins
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/bathroom-decorating-ideas-ideas-for-everyones-budget-132923.html

I am looking for websites that post to UK or shops in the UK where I can buy Scandanvian type christmas decorations, most importantly , wooden tomte ?

IKEA has a huge Christmas decorations department with all kings of wooden / straw ornaments. We were at our local one yesterday (Nth London) and they had 50-70% off all Christmas stuff.

I want to celebrate christmas with my family, but with us, holidays are just another day. I need decorations, fun things to do as a family…What do you do for Christmas?

15 and 19 year old teens, 53 and 67 year old parents, 2 year old dog.

WOW! What a fun time of year. Some of our family traditions include a well rounded agenda for religion, nationality, baking and decorating cookies, and making a family letter and write a paragraph about each person and what they have done this past year to go in with Christmas cards sent to family & friends.
On Christmas eve we make a meal of unleavened bread (no yeast or ingredient to make the bread dough rise) which comes in packages at the store (with the flour and other bread maker packages) and you just add any liquid ingredients, 2 or 3 different fresh fish (mild in taste and smell, ask the person behind the butcher counter for his recommendations) baked with or without seasoning and herbs. Even getting boxes of frozen fish sticks works. Buy fish dips like tartar sauce, shrimp sauce, etc. and olive oil to break the bread apart by hand and dip it in saucer size plates of the olive oil. This was the meal Jesus provided for all those who came to the sermon on the mount. We buy bottles of non alcoholic wine but, that is our choice of drink. Other ideas for or with family is bake a pan of doggie biscuits, buy and play board games, card games, some board games now come on DVD, make tree decorations out of light weight foods like popcorn, fruit loops, etc and string them in a pattern using yarn, fish line or thread. Look on line for a recipe for Wassail (an apple cider base hot drink with seasonings). HAVE FUN AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. oh one last idea for each person or just you to make small decorative notes of your gift to Jesus (as it is his birthday we are celebrating) and clip or hang them on the tree with any type of hanger or clip.

i wanna go does anybody know when

Tomorrow, Dec. 2.