Decorating with Black

Friday, September 19, 2008

Black can be a tricky color to decorate with. You want to make sure not to go overboard, or you’ll end up making your home look gothic. But, using a little black can really add emphasis to certain areas of a room, and depth to others.

The color black can look very sophisticated. Black is thought to be a stabilizing and strengthening color. It is said to make people feel more authoritative and powerful.

Black works as an accent color for almost any other color. Black can really be used anywhere, it just needs to be used in moderation. Black is an easy accent color to use. Furniture that is black is an easy way to incorporate this color into your decorating. The color black makes other colors look more striking. It is not a very good wall color, even for just an accent wall.
Black looks good with almost any other color, but the safest combination is probably black and tan. This combination looks classic and it will never go out of style. The nice thing about this color scheme is you can add accent pillows and a few other accent pieces that you can easily switch out with others seasonally, or just on a whim. If you want to go with a bold look, that is very easy to achieve when decorating with black. Black and red can look very striking together, but just be sure to use another neutral color too, so that your theme doesn’t look too dark. I really like black when it is used with a light to medium green. For instance, green walls with black a chair rail and trim would look nice. You wouldn’t want to go with this color scheme in a room without much light though.

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Decorating with Brown

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Decorating with shades of brown and tan is very safe and has a classy look. It is probably easier to decorate with brown tones than with any other colors. If you don't like to take risks with your decorating, brown would be a good color to start with.

Brown is a warm color that makes people feel safe and comfortable. Brown is neutral and won't clash with other colors, which makes is very easy to use. Brown is of course a very natural color, which humans have been surrounded by in nature for ages. Brown is classic and will always look good, no matter what other trends are happening.
If you want to use brown shades, but you want your theme to have a little more interest, make sure you use varying shades of brown to offer contrast. Chocolate brown looks great with light tan for example. Make sure you don't use too much dark brown unless the room you are decorating is well lit. If there is not very good lighting in a room, try painting the walls a light tan, and use dark brown for your accent pieces.

If you want to use brown shades with other colors there are several combinations that look beautiful. Blue looks very nice with brown, it is a very classic color combination that it is hard to go wrong with. Yellow can look very natural and nice with brown. This combination looks very warm and inviting. Red looks great with brown too for a more exciting look.

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Decorating with Green

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Green is an easy color to decorate with. It is a color that most people don’t mind, which makes sense, because green is a very dominant color in nature. Green is a refreshing color. Most people associate spring and the refreshing optimistic feelings they have when thinking about spring, with the color green. This is a color that can be used almost anywhere in your home. Men and women seem to like green color schemes in the home equally well.

Temporary touches of green can easily be added to the home simply by displaying green grapes or apples. Flowers are another great temporary display of green that will look beautiful in your home.

When used with white green looks very refreshing and spring like. Purple or yellow accents can also be used with green for a fresh spring effect. Olive green and black used together can create a dramatic and elegant look that is beautiful.
Really, green can be used in any room and in almost any quantity. If you use a light colored earthy green you can easily paint all of the walls in a large room without being overwhelmed with the color.

Be careful not to use too much dark green in a space without good lighting or in a room that is too small. Green, like any dark color, can cause a room to look smaller and darker.

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Decorating with Purple

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Purple is generally a feminine color that isn’t used too frequently. Purple is a comforting and relaxing color. Purple is also known to be a spiritual color. Purple is an artistic color that has been said to spark creative ideas and feelings.

Purple is said to be both a warm and a cool color depending on the colors that are around it. Purple paired with yellow will seem cool, while purple paired with green will seem warm.

I like purple best when it is paired with green. The combination reminds me of grape vines and summer time. The combination of purple and green is commonly seen in Italian themed kitchens decorated with stenciled grape vines and bottles of wine displayed. Purple is a fairly versatile color because it can be paired with several different colors and provide a different feel with each. Purple combined with white can look fresh and romantic. Purple combined with tan and light yellows can look elegant and classy. Purple combined with pastel yellow can look child-like.

Because of its versatility purple can be fun to decorate with. However, purple seems to be a color that not everyone likes. It might not be too popular in a space that men are going to be frequenting for example. But even among women purple is not always very popular. It is best to be careful when you use purple. Make sure that the people who spend the most time in the space you are going to decorate with purple like the color.

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Decorating with Blue

Monday, September 15, 2008

Blue is one of the easiest colors to decorate with. Blue will appeal to a wide range of people because it is a calm and relaxing color. Blue isn’t too demanding, it is soothing and refreshing. In nature a large portion of what you see is blue, because the whole sky is often blue. Water is also blue of course, and so it is a great color when you want a beach theme. The color blue probably appeals to such a wide range of people because it is seen so much in nature.
You may not want to use blue if you live in a very cold place, because blue can cool a room down. You also may not want to use blue if you are decorating a room without very much natural light, such as a basement room, because blue can feel depressing and gloomy without light to complement it. Blue has been known to suppress appetite, so it is not a great color to use in a kitchen. This could well be because in nature blue is not a food color very often, and some blue berries are dangerous to eat.

Blue and white used together will look very fresh and clean. Dark blue has a masculine feel, and can be used to decorate men’s bedrooms or studies. Blue and yellow complement each other very well are great to use together in a space.

Blue is a very common color to use in bathroom decorating, because it reminds us of water.

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Decorating with Pink

Friday, September 12, 2008

Pink is the most feminine color. Decorating with pink can be risky, because it usually only appeals to women, and there are even many women who it doesn’t appeal to. It is best to only use a lot of pink in decorating a room for someone who loves pink and who will be the only person to spend a lot of time in that room.

Pink is a warm, romantic and comfortable color. This color can actually calm a person who is angry. Pink even has been known to affect how food tastes, making things taste sweeter. Many people associate pink with flowers or childhood.
Bedrooms can look wonderful with a pink theme. Pink is a popular color for little girl’s bedrooms. Bathrooms can also look great decorated in pink. Pink actually complements most people’s skin tones. Pink can be a lot of fun to decorate with, because it is playful color, especially when using splashes of hot pink. If you want to use pink, but you want to be careful not to go overboard, consider painting an accent wall pink, or accenting a room with a cute piece of pink furniture, such as a chair.

Pink can also be used to decorate your yard. Lots of flowers come in pink and can be planted in your flower beds or in planters and pots to be displayed on your porch.

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Decorating with Yellow

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Yellow can he a challenging color to decorate with because it can be so bright and demanding. Many people aren’t sure how to use yellow. However, there are many shades of yellow that are not as bold that can be used. Also, yellow can be used in faux painting with neutral colors that will take down the brightness a few notches.

Yellow makes people feel cheerful and warm. It is an overall happy color and a color with energy. Most people think yellow when they think of a cheerful color, after all, it is the color of the sun.
It is great to use yellow and other warm colors in your home if you live in a cool climate and you want to make your house feel warmer and cozier. You might not want to use yellow if you live in a hot climate though, because your home may feel too warm. Too much yellow can make some people feel anxious.

Kitchens are probably the most popular place to use yellow. Yellow can be either a very safe color to decorate in or a risky color depending on the shade you use. The brightest yellows should be used carefully, perhaps only to paint an accent wall. However, soft yellow shades are easy to use and can be used almost anywhere in your home. Yellow combined with white is a classic color scheme that is very safe and almost fail proof. Yellow combined with dark red is a bolder scheme that can look very good.

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Decorating with Orange

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The color orange often makes people feel cheerful. Orange is a warm cozy color that is also strong and can be energizing. Orange is known to stimulate hunger and also to spark conversation.

When you think of orange in nature often fire, autumn, and pumpkins come to mind. These are all positive associations for most people. Since orange is one of the main colors used in Fall decorating, now is a great and easy time to use orange. Orange can easily be used in the fall just by displaying pumpkins and leaves around your home.

Because the color makes people feel hungry, it is a popular color for kitchens. Use orange for your plates if you want to encourage more eating. If you don't want to feel as hungry in the kitchen, you would want to steer clear of orange and red. If you live in a warm climate you would also want to limit the use of orange, because it will just make your home feel warmer. Orange can really be a wonderful color to use if you live in a cold climate, it can add a lot of warmth and coziness to a home.
Orange can be a fun color at first, but it can be hard to live with long term for some people, especially if bright shades of orange are used. You may want to think carefully before investing too much time or money in an orange color scheme. However, there are plenty of earthy orange shades that are easier to live with.

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Decorating with Red

Monday, September 08, 2008

Red is a very bold color. Often people aren’t sure how to use red in decorating and are afraid that the result will look strange.

Red is known for being a passionate color. Red evokes feelings of warmth and coziness. Red is an exciting color that can make you feel empowered. Red is dramatic and demanding.

You should add shades of red to a room that you want to feel warm and comfortable. You can even get away with painting an entire room red as long as every other element of the room is a neutral color. Often, people opt to paint just one wall of a room red, and scatter small accent pieces throughout the rest of the room.

Using too much red in a room where you don’t want the occupant to feel excited is not a good idea. For example, if your child had an excess of energy, decorating their room in red wouldn’t be a good idea. Red has even been shown to raise blood pressure and heart rate, so if the room’s main occupant has problems with these being too high already, cool colors might be a better option.

Often, red is used in restaurants and kitchens. This is because red is supposed to make people feel hungry, and it is theorized that it can even make food taste better.
Red is considered a fall color, so now would be a good time to add a few red fall themed pieces to you home. A simple basket with red apples displayed on your counter or kitchen table will look nice and be a tasty treat too.

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Meanings of Colors

Friday, September 05, 2008

In theory the colors in a room have the power to affect your mood. Colors can make you feel warm and comfortable, or anxious and excited. Some colors even make you feel hungry. Colors can become associated with events or people in our brains. The meanings of different color vary amount cultures, and in this blog I’ll focus on the meanings of colors in the U.S. Many studies have been done on how colors affect the mood and meanings of colors.

It is good to know the color’s meanings for decorating purposes. Most colors can be associated with a personality, and using colors that match your personality will make your house truly feel like home. Warm colors can make people feel cozy, warm, cheerful, energetic, or soothed. Decorating with warm colors can be great if you live in a cool climate and want to make your house feel warmer all year long. Cool colors can make people feel cool, calm, relaxed, comforted, creative, balanced or fresh. Cool colors can work great when decorating a home in a hot climate. Neutral colors are stabilizing, comfortable, unifying, and strengthening. Some colors are too bright to be anything but accent colors. Some colors can be paired with other colors to look striking. Some colors can be used to help other colors stand out more.
I thought it would be worthwhile to blog about each color and its possibilities for decorating separately. Check back soon for blogs about each color.

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Inexpensive Wall Decorating

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Buying art to hang on your walls can be expensive. But, there are plenty of crafty ideas for making your own wall art that can look just as good, and mean more because they are unique and personalized.

Taking your own pictures to frame on your walls can work out very well for many people. You don’t have to be a professional to get great shots, and this way, you choose what is most interesting to you. If you love animals take a trip to the zoo and have fun capturing artistic photos of the animals. Series of photos often look nice, and you can usually get a good deal on standard sized frames if you shop around. You can also take pictures of artwork in large books and blow them up to frame.

Hanging interesting items directly on the wall with no frame sometimes looks great. You can hang typical items like plates, flags, or blankets. Or, you can hang more unique items like toys or musical instruments. Puzzles can look good hung on a wall; they look especially good in a game room or a kid’s room where the puzzle matches the theme of the room.

Another idea for a game room or a child’s room is framing a game board with the game pieces glued in place. This will make a colorful fun wall hanging.

If you are artistically inclined you can hang needlework, drawings, or paintings.

Pressed flowers and leaves can be glued onto a piece of construction paper in a collage and framed. If you want to do a series this way, you can glue a few of each type of flower or leaf onto each piece of construction paper, and in fancy writing label the flower or leaf on the bottom of each piece.

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Easy Bathroom Improvement Ideas – Part Three

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

If you have a little money in your budget, you can get a new shower curtain, curtains, towels, and rug. These are items that you can buy in bright colors if it fits with your theme.

Adding new hardware to your cabinet doors can make the bathroom look nicer, and it is very easy to do.

If your bathroom mirror is just a big mirror glued to the wall and not a cabinet, you can easily add decorative molding around the edge to frame it and make it look much more stylish.

Accessorizing your bathroom is probably the most fun thing you can do to add life to the room. First, look around your house for items that you aren’t using that would look good with your theme. For example, you could use a decorative mug for your q-tips. Candle holders and colored candles always look nice in bathrooms. Small plants can also make nice accessories.

Shelving can be convenient and decorative in a bathroom. If you have plenty of space you can even put a small bookshelf or tea cart in your bathroom. If you already have enough storage, adding some shelving for displaying cute decorative items can make your bathroom look more stylish.

Many people don’t make use of free wall space in their bathrooms. If you have free wall space, hanging a framed picture can look very nice. If you are a little bit crafty, you can frame something sentimental, a photograph you took, or a few postcards, shells, or leaves from a vacation.

Finally, tuck the trash can out of sight if you can. Under the sink is a great place for it.

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Easy Bathroom Improvement Ideas – Part Two

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Put all of your cleaning supplies in a container. Containers with tote handles are convenient for cleaning supplies. If you have your supplies confined to a plastic leak proof container, you can use the rest of the space under your sink for other things without worrying that they’ll get contaminated by the cleaning supplies. You can even get another plastic tote for toilet paper, or anything really, that you’d like to keep clean under your sink.

Repainting the bathroom is something that can be done in a weekend of hard work. If you’re sticking with the same fabrics, make sure to choose a color that matches. If you’re getting new fabrics, you can be creative and recreate the whole style. Wallpaper on one or more walls is an option too, on that I discussed in my last blog. If you paint is in good shape, you can add more interest to you bathroom walls by painting stenciled designs around the mirror, ceiling, or a window. You could also add border wallpaper for a more interesting look.

Lighting can make a big difference in a bathroom, brighter is usually better in this room. The easiest thing you can do is place a lamp on your bathroom counter, if you have the space. Make sure to place the lamp in a safe place away from water. A cute lamp that goes with your theme can add warmth to your bathroom. Another easy thing to do is to replace the light fixture you already have. If you are up for a little more work, adding wall sconces on each side of your mirror can make your bathroom look more elegant.
Check back soon for part three of this blog.

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Easy Bathroom Improvement Ideas – Part One

Friday, August 29, 2008

Most of us don’t have a whole lot of spare time to spend decorating the home. But, there are several simple and cheap things you can do in just one weekend to greatly improve the look of your bathroom.

Getting rid of any extra junk is a good first step. Clear out all of your cabinets, and take everything off of the counters. Look through all of the items and throw away or pack away anything that you don’t use regularly. Only put back things that you need, and be careful to organize those items when you are putting them back.

Replace your towel bars if they are outdated with something fresh that goes along with your style. If you have towel bars that you like already, think about adding a couple more if you have the space. Extra towel bars usually don’t look bad, and it is nice to have the extra towel space, especially if you have several family members. If you don’t have space for another towel bar, you can always add decorative hooks instead.

If you have lots of extra space in your bathroom, consider adding a piece of furniture. A decorative cupboard or a small chair can make a bathroom look more stylish.
If you’re not happy with the bathroom floor you can add a rug that matches your décor. If your bathroom floor is so bad that you want to cover up the whole thing, you can try peel and stick tiles, which can be installed by almost anyone, and can look like a real tile floor with careful installation.

Check back soon for part two of this blog.

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Wallpaper is Making a Comeback

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Surprisingly enough, wallpaper is making a comeback. Not the wallpaper you seen in outdated homes from the seventies, but really cool designs that often look best used as an accent wall. Many wallpapers are even made to look like faux painting, which would be something to consider before attempting painting yourself if you are unsure of the outcome your attempt will have or just want to save the time. I admit, I haven’t put up wallpaper for a long time, but from what I read, it is much easier to do than it used to be. Instead of having to sand and prime walls before applying wallpaper, now you only have to clean your walls. Also, removal is said to be much easier. The wallpaper adhesive is supposed to be able to withstand humid environments like bathrooms, no now there is no where modern wallpaper can't go!

I like a lot of the wallpapers made my Ferm Living, and if wall paper is too permanent from you, they even sell wall stickers. Wall stickers are more easily removed. Actually, just now I went and reviewed the wall stickers that are on the Ferm Living website, and I must say, I find myself thinking about where I can put these in my house! I especially like these bird stickers. I think they would look really cool on a bright colored wall. Here is one of Ferm Living's wallpaper prints that I especially like: This blog is brought to you by dialysis nursing jobs.

Decorating your Dorm Room – Part Two

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Closet organizers can help you make the best use of the limited space you will have. Every college student needs a small filing box too with hanging folders.

A mini fridge and a microwave are great to have in a dorm room so if you don’t have time to go to the cafeteria for a meal, you don’t have to miss it.

Wall hangings are important to make the dorm room feel like home. Hang artwork or posters, or even pictures on your walls. A mirror is nice to hang on the wall so you can evaluate your outfits.
Good lighting is another thing that dorm rooms usually lack. Bring a large stand up lamp, you can get them for a decent price and it will make a big difference. You will also probably need a good lamp for your desk. Fun lighting like lava lamps can dress up the room.

Many dorm rooms have the option to put the beds up on tall legs. These kits are normally available, and you just need to find someone to help you set it up. Having your bed up high is awesome, because you can make use of the space underneath. One great item that can go underneath a bed is a recliner along with a little end table. I had these items in my dorm room when I went to college, and I can’t stress enough how much it did to make my room feel like home. Lots of very cheap recliners can be found on craigslist.com, and if you can’t find a decent one, you could always just buy a recliner cover. Bean bag chairs are a popular dorm room item that would fit under a bed too, and they come in lots of colors.
Photo courtesy of www.collegebedlofts.com.

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Decorating your Dorm Room – Part One

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Leaving home is exciting, but also a little scary. It can help to decorate your dorm room comfortably so it feels like home. This can help a lot if you start to feel home sick.

The first thing you should do before deciding on which items to decorate your room with is to choose a theme or color. Many of the items listed in this blog come in different colors, and it is nice to have a unified theme in a room. Bright colors are popular right now for dorm rooms, but an advantage to choosing more subtle colors is that you might find use for the items you buy later when you move into an apartment or a house. If you don’t want to choose one or two colors to decorate with, you could choose a theme instead to tie it all together. Rugs can add a lot to your dorm room. A colorful rug can set the tone for your room design. You can often find soft rugs that will make your room feel cozy.

A foam or feather mattress topper can help you to be comfortable at night. Dorm mattresses are normally not the most quality, and a fluffy mattress makes a big difference.

A big lounge chair pillow for your bed can be awesome to lean on while you’re studying. Body pillows are great too, and can be found in lots of different colors. Especially if you study with someone else, it is nice to have another comfortable seating option.

Check back soon for part two of this blog.

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Tuscan Faux Painting

Monday, August 25, 2008

Before you start faux painting you should have your walls painted with a base coat of the overall color that you desire. Make sure you cover carpet and furniture with a dropcloth. Then, tape off your molding and your light switches.

Keep a dry rag handy through the whole process so you can wipe up any runs on the wall before they dry. At any painting store, Lowes, or Home Depot you can buy faux paint. Ask the employees to help you pick the colors you want. Some faux paint comes in concentrated mixtures. You will need to mix about 1/3 paint with 2/3 water. When you are just getting started it is best to use a more watered down version. You can always mix it with less water later. You can also buy premixed faux paint. It looks best to use a couple of different colors that are similar to your base coat color.

You will need a damp rag and a bucket of water to use throughout the process. As the rag gets dirty and the water gets dirty, it will actually be easier to paint. If your painting takes you longer than one day, you can even leave your rag in the bucket and reuse it for a few days. Your rag is what you will do most of your painting with. Your paintbrush is mostly just to apply the paint to the wall. When you put the paint on your wall with the brush, make sure not to use straight lines. Apply the paint randomly, then smear it around with your rag and let it dry. The goal of this style of painting is to make the walls look like they are old.
When you finish going over all of the areas you want to paint, it is important to step back and take a look from a distance. Any areas that look lighter than you want you can go over more now.

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Tuscan Style Decorating

Friday, August 22, 2008

A home decorated with a Tuscan theme will feel very peaceful to most. This style is simple and natural looking, inspired by the country, stone walls, wrought iron accessories, marble flooring, and sturdy wooden furniture.

Tuscan decorating uses comfortable, worn pieces. This style uses materials that will stand the test of time, so if you choose to decorate this way, you shouldn’t have to redecorate for a long time. Even if some of your elements start to look worn, this only helps the style to look more authentic. This style isn’t overly fancy and this is why many people will feel comfortable with this style.
The outdoor spaces of a home decorated this way are important to complete the theme. Having a patio is important, and if you can build a simple trellis over it for vines to grow on, that really helps to create the right look. Having a marble statue or a water feature looks beautiful. Other outdoor features that will look very Tuscan are paths or driveways set in stone or brick. If grass grows up between the stones or bricks it will look even better.

Colors to use when decorating your interior are earth tones such as terracotta, brick, ochre, greens, and golden yellows. Include touches of blue and green to contrast with the warm colors. Walls can be painted with soft white or grey for a more subtle look. Stenciled grape vines can look very good in Tuscan style kitchens. There are faux painting techniques that can provide a worn stucco look, I will get into those in the next blog.

Check back for the next blog about Tuscan style faux painting.

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Fall Decorating - Part Two

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Buy mini pumpkins and use them to line up across your mantle. Leave a few inches between each pumpkin. You can do this on bookshelves too. Mini pumpkins look great displayed randomly almost anywhere in your house, including your coffee table, end tables, bathroom counters, nightstands, or dining room table. Candles look good displayed with mini pumpkins and the display looked better with a few variations. You can even try setting some of the pumpkins on top of candle holders for a different look.
Cinnamon scented pine cones can be placed in a decorative basket and placed on a table or next to your fireplace. You can sprinkle a few fall leaves into the mix too.

A basket or bowl of green or red apples with a few fall leaves or mini pumpkins thrown in can look cute displayed on a mantle or as a centerpiece on a table.

Autumn colored candles look and smell nice, and as a bonus they don’t look out of place if you decide to use them all year long. You can usually find candlesticks of varying heights at a thrift store.

Fall placemats and plates are an investment that you can reuse every year. Placemats in green, orange, red, tan, and yellow all have a fall look to them.

Clear candy jars can be used to display fall colored candy. Candy corn always looks good for fall decorating, and M&Ms also come in fall colors.


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Fall Decorating - Part One

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Fall is on the way, so I thought I'd put together a list of a few inexpensive fall decorations and crafts you could display in your home.

Although you may not have much time to display the crafts you would make out of them until next year, it can be fun to collect fall leaves and press them in books. After they dry out completely, you can spray them with a clear fixative to help preserve them.

You can glue them randomly onto a piece of construction paper and frame it for a beautiful fall collage. Another option is to use the leaves as a border to a cute saying or list and frame the whole thing.

Another thing you can do with the leaves is make a mobile. To do this, first find two sticks and tying them together in an X by holding the sticks together and then winding fishing line around the intersection at all angles until they feel like they are connected well. Next, Tie different lengths of fishing line to the sticks. Then, use contact paper to laminate each leaf you want to use. Trim off most the excess around the shape of the leaf, but leave a little extra at the end of the stems. Then, punch holes in the stem ends. Finally, Tie the end of each piece of fishing line to the stems of each of your fall leaves. You could also just tie the leaves to a branch that is a couple of feet long, and hang the branch on a wall when you're done.
Check back soon for part two of Fall Decorating!

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Feng Shui – The Five Elements

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Learning the use of the five elements is important to Feng Shui because the use of the elements is thought to keep the chi in rooms in the correct amounts. The five elements are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Each element has a shape and a few colors tied to it.

Fire is considered to be the yang of the elements. Fire should be used be used in the Northeast, South and Southwest areas of a space. It provides you with energy and helps you to achieve your goals. It is linked to summer and to heat. It can be represented with a candle or the color red, orange, pink, strong yellow, or purple.
Metal can be used to tie the other elements together in creative ways because metal is found in many colors. Metal helps you to be efficient and to have clarity. Metal elements in a room should be rounded and pleasing, not pointed. This element is represented by white, silver, bronze, copper, or gold. Metal is supposed to be used in the North, West, or Northwest of your home.

Water represents life and is a very useful element. Water should be used in the North, Southeast and East areas of your space. Water provides a space with calm, purity, and freshness. A fishbowl or aquarium or a small metal fountain can be used to represent water. The earth element, found in ceramic materials, is said to block the positive effect of the water, so fountains shouldn't be made of these materials. The colors that go with this element are blue or black.

Wood is the beginning of new life and can bring life to a home if it is used when the wood is alive. Health and growth can be brought into your home using this element. Plants are considered to be wood. Plants are good tools for Feng Shui decorating because they recycle air. A staircase leading to a doorway is considered a Feng Shui problem, because the chi can flow right out. Placing a plant on the landing can help retain the chi. Wood is represented by the color green. Wood is represented with the color green or teal. Wood should be used in the East, Southeast, and South of your home.

Earth is represented by stone, pottery, or sculptures. Earth is supposed to be used in the center of your home and also in the Northeast and Southwest sides. Earth is represented by the colors light yellow, beige, or brown. Elements of earth help create stability, and a nourishing environment for relationships.

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Feng Shui Basics

Monday, August 18, 2008

The purpose of Feng Shui is to arrange your surroundings so that they are in balance with nature. The words Feng Shui actually mean "wind and water".

Chi is energy and is believed to be the reason why we feel good or bad in certain locations. The idea of Feng Shui is to keep the chi in a happy balance in your living space by preventing it from stagnating, or from flowing out of your living space too quickly.
There are a couple of easy ways to get started with the basics without knowing a lot about the details.

Clearing out clutter is a good first step. Anything that you do not love should go. Getting rid of the extra junk will feel good and help you see what you really like in your home more clearly.

Make sure the air and light quality in your home are good. The air quality can be improved just by opening your windows often, decorating with plants, or using an air purifier. The light quality can be improved by letting as much natural light into your home as you can, and by using full spectrum lights.

Next, it can help to learn about the five elements of Feng Shui: fire, metal, earth, water and wood. Check back soon because the next blog will be about these elements.

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Kitchen Cabinets – Plan Before you Buy - Part Two

Friday, August 15, 2008

This is part two of Kitchen Cabinets - Plan Before you Buy

Quality is a big consideration when buying cabinets. If you are only planning to live in the home in the short term, you might be willing to skimp on quality. But, if you are trying to build a kitchen to enjoy in years to come, you may want to pay the extra to get more quality cabinets. Quality drawers will open and close more easily, and more silently. Quality cabinet frames will be sturdy and last for a long time to come.
There are a few ways that you can save money on cabinets if you are willing to put in some extra work. You can find cabinet makers who sell unfinished cabinets. These are cheaper, and just require you to spray a finish of your choice on the cabinets. The advantage to this is that you can choose any finish you want. You can even get creative and spray on two coats of contrasting colors, and sand the edges lightly to reveal the undercoat around the edges. An even cheaper option is to refinish the cabinet doors that you have using creative methods like this. Another way to save money is to buy just the cabinet doors, and leave the original cabinet boxes in place. The doors are seen more than the rest of the cabinets, so you can often get away with this. If you are going to buy the doors only, and the doors you have chosen are not the same color as your cabinet frames, you can paint the frames a color that will contrast nicely with the new cabinet doors.

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Kitchen Cabinets – Plan Before you Buy – Part One

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Before you buy cabinets, it is best to decide what your goal is. Are you just going to replace the cabinets and call it good? Or, are you planning a full kitchen remodel? If you are planning a remodel, setting your budget before you start is helpful. Cabinets are a vital part of any kitchen, and they often account for 40% or more of the total cost for a kitchen or bathroom remodel. Your budget can help you narrow your choices down.

Before you talk to a salesman about buying new cabinets, measure your kitchen and measure the existing cabinets. Decide whether you are going to want additional cabinets, or an island, and if so, where you want them to fit. Draw a sketch of your kitchen layout and include the measurements you have taken. If you bring this sketch and your measurements, you will be able to get a better price estimate when you meet with a sales person.
There are three types of cabinets: stock, semi-custom, or custom. Stock cabinets are the cheapest, because they are limited to standard sizes and are usually only made in a few types of wood and styles. Stock cabinets usually only offer cabinets and drawers. Semi-custom cabinets are just what you would imagine from the name, they are cabinets that come in an expanded variety of wood types and styles. Semi-custom cabinets offer more in the way of storage options, such as lazy susans, pullout bins, and pantry closets. Custom cabinets are the most expensive, offering anything you can imagine that can be built.

Check back soon for part two of this blog.

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