Exciting Room Themes for Little Boys

Looking for a fun and exciting theme for your little boy’s room?  How about doing something different for your son’s room? The trick to having a themed room is to not overdo it. Otherwise it can become overwhelming and start to look redundant. It’s not difficult to work with a theme. You can simply mix up colors and patterns for a successful design.

Sports

The most common theme that comes to mind is sports. Luckily there are plenty to chose from, which is good for creating a unique look. Pick one, two or even three! Painted words, sports balls, equipment, team names, logos, flags and more look really great on solid colored walls.

If you choose to do all of this on the walls, pick a solid color for the bedding and add sports patterned pillows. Chose painted or light stained wood furniture. The light wood can remind us of wooden baseball bats while the painted furniture is great to add a pop against the solid colored walls. For a finishing touch, try framing some pictures of your little guy playing his favorite sport!

Sailing

Maybe you want to stay away from the common sports theme room. Well, what about sailing? Little boys love blue and what theme could possibly have more blue than sailing?

Striped, dark blue bedding and decorative sailing pillows are a great place to start. Pair this with white furniture, Paint the walls a light blue. Hang up sailing prints or even mount a lifesaver on the wall. Finally, add a dark blue lamp base with a white shade, sailboat accessories and photographs of your rugrat boating with his family.

Construction

For my last suggestion, what about creating a real manly man theme such as construction? Little boys love cement trucks, dump trucks and tools, so why not bring this into their room? I recommend painting the walls a solid light color with construction images. Add construction theme bedding and pair it with solid colored decorative pillows. Finally, keep the lamps, accessories and stuffed animals of a non-construction theme to change things up a bit.

What Makes A Dining Room More Comfortable to Eat In?

What elements of design make some dining rooms more inviting than others? When having dinner with friends, the majority of your time is spent in the dining room or kitchen, so let’s talk about how to make an eating area more comfortable.

Table Shape

The dining room is often one of the first rooms your guests will see when walking into your home. For this reason alone, it is important to make a great impression. Figuring out if a round or rectangle table is right for your space is a great place to start. If your room is more of a square shape, a round table is usually the right fit while a rectangle table will obviously fit well in a rectangular room.

Furniture Size

Make sure you buy the right size table for the room that will allow for a nice walking space behind all chairs. I recommend leaving at least two feet. This gives your guests one foot to pull out the chair and one foot for those walking behind.

Upholstery or Wood?

When deciding on upholstered or non-upholstered chairs, first think about the majority of your guests. Will there be many kids? If so, you may want to go with a wooden seat for easy clean up. But upholstered chairs add an element of comfort that lasts long after dinner is served.

Keep the Eye Moving

Rooms that can accommodate buffets or china cabinets offer a stunning effect. Having items for your guests to look at while spending time in your dining room will make their eyes move throughout the space, keeping them focused and awake after a big delicious meal. I recommend placing colored glass, intricate china or vibrant accessories on top of the buffet or inside your china cabinet.

Window treatments

Window treatments can be helpful in more formal dining spaces by adding splashes of color that can be repeated in the china cabinet, buffet, artwork or rug. When walking into the space, the window treatments will soften the look against the hard wood table and give off a comfortable feeling.

Flooring and Walls

It is a smart idea to keep the walls a neutral shade with colorful artwork. Rugs always look great under dining room tables. However, if you have a beautiful floor underneath, rugs may not be necessary. A rug can make sliding chairs in and out difficult and could collect stains. On a positive note, rugs will absorb sound that may carry out of the space and disturb others in the home.

How have you created a comfortable space to dine in?

Why Shopping for Furniture in a Store is a Great Option!

Are you ready to make your next big furniture purchase? With today’s technology it can be easy to buy furniture online. While this is very convenient and quickly accomplishes your task, it may not be the best option.

Furniture is a major purchase and will most likely be in your house for 10 to 20 years. Do you really want to buy it online without seeing it in person first? Online photo quality and colors have come a long way in the last 10 years, but I must admit that more often than not the piece of furniture is going to look different in your living room than it does online. I recommend looking online first for what you like, then finding the local store that carries it. Call and make sure they have it on the floor and then make the trip to go look at it!

Stains

Are you looking for a wood case that would look great in your bedroom, living room or dining room? Wood stains can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. It is a smart idea to see the wood in person if you are trying to match a piece with other furniture in your room.

Finishes

Consider is the feel of the wood. Some companies offer smoother finishes than others. A smooth finish can give off an expensive yet elegant look. Distressed wood is a popular choice, but companies distress their wood at different intensities so it depends on your preference. Online photos can make it difficult to see this so seeing the wood in person is the best option.

Drawers

The way drawers are installed in dressers, end tables, cocktail tables, china cabinets, buffets and consoles can vary greatly. Some companies have them on metal slides while others use a wooden track on the base. If you buy that piece online, how are you going to be able to tell how easily the drawer pulls out and in or if it locks before falling out? If you see the piece in person, you will have your answer and be able to make the best decision.

How does it feel?

Upholstered goods are an entirely different process for purchasing. If you buy the piece online you don’t get a chance to experience what it feels like when you sit in it. Everyone’s body is different in size, shape and weight, so sofas and chairs need to be made different to accommodate everyone.

Soft or Hard?

Cushions can be hard or soft so it’s important to sit on one before you make your purchase. If sofa cushions are too soft you can sometimes actually feel the wooden frame underneath you. Does that sound comfortable?

Deep or Short?

Sofa seats can be designed deep or short. When you sit normally on the sofa, don’t you want to make sure that your feet can touch the ground or that your legs aren’t hanging off too much and causing stress on your back? Sitting down and standing up can also be a difficult task to accomplish if the sofa is too deep and soft. We wouldn’t want anyone to fall trying so please go test it out! I highly recommend sitting in the sofa or chair at the store.

Custom Options

Another great reason to go to the stores is that the sales associate can give you all of the custom options for your piece. These options might include firm or soft cushions, custom fabric, nail head trim or adding a sleep sofa. That is what they are trained to do so let’s use it to our advantage.

Do you prefer to shop online or in the store? Do you agree with me on the importance of store shopping when it comes to choosing your furniture? Have you ever bought a piece of furniture online that turned out to be just awful? Tell us your story!

What Can I Do With Left Over Fabric?

Do you have odd yards of fabric left over from miscellaneous projects such as reupholstering, window treatments, bedding or even clothing? Well, those odd pieces of fabrics might not be as hard to make use out of as you think! We all deserve to get our money’s worth out of our purchases. If you already bought the fabric, chances are that you most likely love it. Let’s find creative uses for it in your home.

Throw Pillows

A very simple project for your leftover fabric is to make throw pillows. You do not need a lot of fabric to make the pillows look great; even two different corresponding fabrics on each side can work.

Just head over to your local fabric store and buy filling or pillow forms and you will soon have a cost effective new throw pillow. In my personal opinion you can never have too many throw pillows. Sofas can hold a lot and they don’t all have to match!

Make sure the colors, patterns and sizes go well together. Nothing says relaxation more than fluffy pillows! If you are an experienced sewer, try adding a decorative trim around the edges for an added touch of elegance.

Upholstered Seats

Do you have upholstered seats on your dining room chairs? Small pieces of fabric can be utilized here as well. The seats do not have to match. The patterns just have to coordinate with the room. For example, do you have six dining room chairs? Why not try upholstering the two end chairs in one fabric pattern and the other four in another?

Reupholstering dining rooms can be an easy do-it yourself project if the chair has a square or rectangle seat. Here are some simple instructions:

1. Start by unscrewing the seat from the frame.
2. Wrap the fabric on top of the existing seat.
3. Staple gun it on the bottom
4. Screw the seat back on the frame.

Yes, it is that simple. You are sure to impress your next dinner guests!

Window Valance

How about utilizing the odd fabric pieces for a window valance? Small, simple windows in bedrooms, hallways or laundry rooms sometimes need just a touch of color. This doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Here are another set of simple instructions:

1. Measure down from the top of the frame so that approximately the top third of the window is covered by the valance.
2. Tuck the sides of the fabric over.
3. Attach a white muslin fabric on the back
4. Sew on a rod pocket.

The valance rod that the fabric slips over is typically inexpensive and easy to install. For an added touch of elegance, try a decorative rod to accent the window.

What do you do with your leftover fabric? Any other suggestions?

Can You Find Inspiration For Your Home in Your Summer Cocktail?

Looking for inspiration to transform your bedroom this summer? Well, look no further than your favorite summer cocktail!

That’s right many of the fresh colors we find in our cocktails are trendy today! Consider my personal favorite summer cocktail – the margarita. It comes in many different flavors and colors: golden, strawberry, lime, blue, etc. If you love the color in your drink, don’t you think you might love the color in your home? Beware – the bright pink cosmopolitan may not have the same effect on your walls.

The Walls

These fresh summer colors can be brought into all areas of the home. The bedroom is always a great place to use a refreshing color palette. After all, this is where we go to relax, refresh and recoup after a long day. For starters, I suggest painting the walls in your favorite cocktail color. Want to go the extra mile? Try painting one wall a couple shades darker than the main color for a stunning accent!

The Furniture

You will notice that you have a ton of the same color in the room once the walls are painted, so be careful not to use too much of just one color. I recommend using maple, white or ebony colored wood furniture. This will offset nicely off the fresh colored walls and bring a nice balance to your room.

The Accessories

Try pairing a white duvet cover with accent pillows that repeat different shades of the color on the walls. Keep the artwork of a similar nature. Flowers, seascapes and sunsets always speak well of a summer feeling and will most likely have corresponding colors.

Lamps on the nightstands should be kept light. Try a skinny silver base with a round white shade or perhaps a white or glass round base if you would like more of a weighted lamp.

Accessories that work well with these fresh colored themes are seashells, simple photo frames, candles and books. Don’t forget to buy some corresponding coasters. We wouldn’t want that glass of water to ruin your brand new nightstand!

The Flooring

Finally, keep the flooring a neutral color. Beige carpeting, hardwood or tile are great for creating a summer feel. If you are using a hard surface, try a simple solid colored area rug for under your bed to keep your feet warm when you get out of bed on those cool summer nights.

How do you create a light, summery feel in your home?

Creating a Home Library You’ll Want to Visit: 5 Inspirations

If you’re lucky enough to have an in-home library, you may find it difficult to create a space that maximizes storage without sacrificing appeal. Celebrate your home library by creating an inspiring space.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Go classic museum. Give your space an art-museum feel by adding classic pieces. This museum bench is an awesome piece that would nicely complement stone flooring. As seen in the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) 2005 Biennial Exhibition, the Case Study Museum Bench was designed and developed at the Modernica Studio in Los Angeles. The Museum Bench is extremely substantial and appropriate for high traffic and commercial use.
2. Bring the world home. Brainstorm creative ways to bring your world travels home. Use your library as a place to display collected art pieces or a push-pinned map. Consider adding to that cultured feel by including a trunk for extra storage. It’s perfect for a small throw blanket or two.
3. Decorate with light. Warm overhead lighting will provide a comforting feel. Lights directed toward shelves or artwork draw the eye to the most inspiring elements of the room. Don’t forget to highlight your favorite hanging art pieces or statues. It’s generally pretty easy to find lights that can be fixed to the top of the shelves, angling over to display shelf contents. Consider LEDs for a bright, targeted, energy-friendly solution. Visit your local library to see how they lit their shelves.
4. Don’t skip art.
   Paintings don’t have to be confined to walls. You can mount these pieces right onto bookshelves. This is a great way to break up the continuous pattern the shelves provide. I suggest using contrasting colors to give it an extra “pop.”
   That look can also be achieved by placing art on the shelves themselves. This is a great way to mix up your collection. My favorite way to place art is in accordance to the way books are organized. For example, the popular “A” and “Z” shelf ends can indicate where author last names begin and end. For a fun option, consider choosing art pieces that describe the content of the books (such as: business, art, fun, reference, etc). If you have kids, consider using their pictures to indicate their growing collection on the shelf. Make it fun for them to interact with reading! Bottom line: Be creative in a way that makes sense for you and your family.
5. Stay alive with plants. Libraries are notorious for feeling dusty, their shelves stacked with titles from countless authors. Add a little life with plants. Large, leafy plants are good options. Of course, ensure the plant you choose has sufficient lighting.
   Unless you’re seriously disadvantaged at keeping plants alive, opt for live plants over their fake counterparts. This will side step the dust and provide a much more vibrant feel.

What have you done to make your home library – of office – more inspiring? Feel free to link to photos to share your space and inspire others!

Transforming Your Room to Include a Home Office

Today’s employees are more mobile than ever, often working from home. When you consider master’s classes, children’s homework, social media networking, and keeping current with changes in business, a home office is a necessity in today’s households. You may wonder how to fit a small office into your home, when space is at a premium.

Nowadays desks come smaller, suitable for our laptops and wireless networks. Your printer doesn’t have to be on the desk anymore. It can be in a centralized location for the entire family to use. Manufacturers are beginning to offer 40 to 48 inch desk work surfaces that are only 24 to 30 inches deep. This is the perfect size for a laptop user!

There are many places suitable for a small desk, aside from a home office. How about your bedroom? Do you have extra room in front of a window so you can look outside while you work? Pair the desk with a nice upholstered chair that corresponds with your bedding and the space can look amazing.

Find a spot in the laundry room. Or perhaps you have a small loft space upstairs? A desk might work perfectly there. A dead end hallway can allow for even more opportunities. Try fitting a small desk there and it will accommodate the entire family.

How about your family or living room? What a great way to keep an eye on your kids while they are surfing the Web or doing their homework. It can also be great way for you to work while watching your favorite television program.

Speaking of the television, did you know that your computer can hook up to your set and allow for larger viewing during conference calls or Webinars? Now that’s what I call functionality!

Whatever fits in your home, you can’t go wrong with a small home office. How have you turned your room into a work space?

Headboard Makeover: Fun While Saving Money

Just because you are looking for ways to save money doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a new look in your bedroom this spring. If you have a little creativity and some extra time you can make some exciting and inexpensive changes in the bedroom. By making a few dramatic changes to your headboard, you change the focus of your bedroom to the bed. Add a personal touch by doing it yourself.

Here are two ideas to get you inspired – start here and let your imagination run wild.

Door to Door
This is a great way to make use of that extra door, or 3 narrow closet doors, that have been cluttering your garage, basement, attic or storage. The idea here is to create a work of art that is a practical piece of furniture. This is why, for this particular project, I prefer three narrow panel-style closet doors. Measure  your bed to decide what is going to work best for you.

• Look around your bedroom and choose one color that will complement what you already have. This color is your center. From here, you will also choose a tone and a shade.
• Tape off unequal horizontal blocks then feel free to start painting. Paint all the stripes of one color before moving on to the next tone or shade.
• Once they are painted and dried, attach the doors to each other with brackets and secure to your bed frame and/or wall.

Satin Lattice
This is a very simple yet elegant do-it-yourself project.

• Begin by measuring the width and height of your bed.
• Add about 3’ to the height measurement – it may seem like a lot now but we are going for drama.
• Select a sturdy wood about 1” thick that fits the dimensions that you measured earlier.
• Lay your board on a secure surface. Use a mild adhesive on the board and apply ample stuffing to the board.
• Completely cover the board with satin.
• Fold a small hem on the back of the board then use a staple gun on the hem ensuring that the slack is taken out.
• Turn the board over and with satin ribbon create a lattice pattern over the front securing the ribbon to the back with your trusty staple gun.
• Where the ribbon crosses on the front, place a fabric-covered button or pin.
• Once completed, secure to your bed frame or wall.

And there you have it – a new focus in a new space for a low cost. Enjoy!

Exciting Room Themes for Little Girls

Looking for a fun and imaginative room theme for your daughter? Little girls are our princesses. Aren’t some of the themes getting old, redundant and boring? How about trying something different for your little girl, something she will love and be excited to show her friends? The trick to having a themed room? Don’t overdo the theme. It’s actually very simple – just mix up the theme with corresponding patterns and colors.

Butterflies

Does your little girl love visiting butterfly gardens? If so, why not give her a butterfly room of her dreams? Try finding butterfly patterns in “girly” colors such as purple, green and even light blue. If you choose to reflect the theme in the bedding, I recommend adding pillows in solid colors or simple prints.

To select a color for the walls, pick your little girl’s favorite color from the pattern on the bedding and hang a couple of corresponding prints on the walls. Try painting the furniture in the room white or use purple, green or blue shades found in the bedding. Painted wood furniture is always a great look for little girls. This is an opportunity for you to refinish some old furniture you might have laying around.

Finally, keep the lamps, accessories and stuff animals away from the butterfly theme. This will actually help add emphasis on what pieces in the bedroom are displaying the theme.

Flowers

How about flowers? If your little girl loves shades of pink, purple, yellow or green, this just might be the perfect theme! The best thing about flowers is that they come in different colors. Try to keep the color scheme to three colors and utilizing them in different shades.

Finding flower print bedding is usually quite easy so you may want to start there. Chose one color from the bedding and paint the walls the same color. Did you choose a dark color? If so, outline a couple of flowers in white. They will stand out nicely against the dark walls. If you chose a lighter color for the walls, I suggest a dark color from the bedding for the outlined flowers. This is a great and inexpensive way to carry out the theme throughout the room.

Hawaii

If you are looking for less of a “girly” theme, consider a Hawaiian look. A Hawaiian theme leaves plenty of room for creativity!

Start by choosing bright pink, blue and yellow for your color scheme. Paint the walls a light color and choose one wall for a bright, bold accent color! Try mounting a surf board to the wall to add an unique touch. Bring in the grass skirt, bamboo shades and chair for a fun addition to the space. Choose a Hawaiian flower pattern for the bedding. Pair this with solid colored pillows and use light stained wood furniture throughout the space.

Do you have another creative theme for your daughter’s room? Share your ideas and pictures!

Revitalizing Your Home with Antiques

There are many ways to revitalize your home’s look without spending the time or money on a major renovation project. Consider complementing, or even contrasting your current motif with some well chosen antiques. Adding antiques and collectibles to your decor offers stylish, interesting, and practical ways to liven up a space. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when adding antiques to your home.

Remember to group like objects together. Whether you’ve amassed a striking collection of pottery or an eclectic mix of antique clocks, grouping like objects together on a shelf, table or mantle can often make more of an impact than scattering them about a room.

Vary the size and shape of objects in your collectible groupings to make them more interesting. This also works well with holiday collectibles. This is often referred to as making a “statement”. By creating a deliberate and cohesive idea with antiques you can make a beautiful statement.

Try using common items in an unexpected way. Consider using vintage aprons as a window valance. Try finding an old pull-down schoolhouse map and using it as a window shade in a study or in a child’s bedroom. Your imagination is your limit when it comes to finding a way to use common items in unusual ways. Don’t turn your nose up at what your might find at thrift store or a flea market. In a new light, it can save you lots of money as well.

Let’s get back to that cohesiveness. When planning a room, try to be realistic with what you can accomplish. And try to recreate an era. Recreating an era through decorating can be visually stimulating as well as an interesting challenge. Consider how an art deco bathroom or Victorian guest room might look in your home.

 

Look at old home and garden magazines or decorating books for authentic ideas before setting out on a quest to fill that space with stylish collectibles reflecting your favorite decade.

Be bold and don’t be afraid to mix old with new. Adding interesting antiques and collectibles to modern décor provides an opportunity to embellish a room with a conversation piece that stands out. Architectural antiques and oversized advertising pieces are great options for this purpose, but anything old and unusual will do. Again, be bold not reckless and liven up your home with a few pieces from an era gone by.

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