Archive for June, 2009
Tropical Themed Rooms For That Warm Feeling
To help survive the longer winter nights why not have a room in your house themed from the tropics, a taste of sunshine all year around.
Obviously a single picture, maybe even from a vacation will help but why not take it a bit further.
Lighting is the key because the tropics are all about the bright rays of the sun, so if you have a windowless space then lighting will be very important.
Mirrors will help to reflect light so think about how they can be incorporated into the space.
Light colored walls will also reflect more light so consider that when planning your color scheme. After that most people will have their own interpretation of a tropical feel and look. Certain colors will mean different thing to everyone.
If you want to really go the whole way with a tropical theme then you can even buy wall sized picture murals which really bring the beach and the sea into your living room design. This might work for an occasional room but living with it on a daily basis might be hard work.
Using French Country Charm For Your Home Decor
Many homes could benefit from a bit of rustic French charm, representing relaxation and a taste of the countryside.
Anyone who has holidayed in France will be able to recreate the look in at least one of their rooms.
The natural look will not necessarily suit a living room design or formal dining room but are perfect for bedrooms.
The use of textures, via bed linen and other soft furnishings, can really make a statement, providing a relaxing haven and a calm place to sleep.
Old furniture is straightforward to paint and will add to the French theme, old picture frames and mirrors can also be distressed very easily. Mix different sizes and styles, an eclectic mismatch will work better than everything in proportion.
Chandeliers incorporated into the scheme will add some richness, and use a collection of different side lamps to create a cozy feel. When choosing color, creams and greens are good with accent touches of reds and blues.
Look out for pieces that evoke the French feel, a country landscape, pottery and metalware. The French love to use dark wood and it is very easy to stain existing items with varnish from the hardware store. Just a few things however, as dark can become too foreboding.
Office Decorating Ideas: Designing A Home Office That Motivates
More people are deciding to work from home these days than ever before, and the challenge of setting up an effective home office design can sometimes be a daunting prospect.
Some people are blessed with having a separate room to decorate for their office, but many people have to adapt another room into a dual purpose space.
Whatever your situation, these office decorating ideas will help you put together an office that you will find motivating and conducive to work.
Before you start the task of decorating your office or space, take some time to think of what you need to include. Make a list of the things you must have, like phone, computer, printer etc, and a separate list of the things you would like to be able to include.
Look at your room or the space you are going to use, and make note of critical things like power and phone connection points, the amount of natural light and the available space you have.
Your office decorating ideas might need to include an electrician to put in extra power points, the telephone company to add an extra line or phone connection point, or a handyperson to install a skylight to bring in extra natural light.
Making Best Use Of Modern Storage Systems
Years ago closets were just a deep hole absorbing a variety of clutter, no-one could ever find anything and often a good old clear out revealed all kinds of forgotten household treasures. [House cleaning tips]
Now there are a multitude of devices and shelving that can make every closet accessible and everything can have its own place.
Your shoes can be spoilt rotten and your winter/summer wardrobes can be accessed very easily. Socks can be kept in pairs and men’s ties can be hanged neatly from a rack.
The broom closet can have various hooks and shelves to keep things just where you want them. There are stands for the iron and even the dust pan and brush. In facet it is very easy to get carried away too.
In a lot of cases plastic storage boxes in different shapes and sizes will be perfect for most things. Remember to label stuff up as it can be quite annoying to have to hunt through lots to find what you are looking for.
Where Do You Go For The Best Interior Decorating Ideas?
Interior decorating ideas are all around you; you just need to be mindful of looking for them.
Have you ever gone into someone’s home and instantly liked how it looked?
Have you ever seen a fabric or wallpaper that you really loved?
Do you have a favorite color? Do you own a special piece of art or sculpture? Do you just adore antique furniture?
Your answers to these questions, and many others, will give you lots of help with interior decorating ideas.
Many people ask “Where do I start with interior decorating?” The answer is – start with something you love and want to include in your home. It may be a rug, a vase, a painting, your favorite color, a piece of fabric; in fact, it could be anything at all that is the inspiration for interior decorating ideas.
Use your piece as inspiration for a color scheme, for a design style, for your furniture placement plan or for other pieces to include in your decorating scheme. To make your house into the home you love to be in, you need to have your favorite things incorporated into your décor.
Decorating In A Victorian Style For Grace And Elegance
Decorating in a Victorian style should be done with care as it is a heavy look involving lots of dark wood and elaborate textured wall coverings.
A good room that will work well with these elements is a bedroom.
Rich colours and sumptuous fabrics are the key to getting intricate look that the Victorians adored.
If you do not like clutter then avoid this look at all costs because it is all about display almost everything. Putting on a show and making people aware of your wealth is the aim of this kind of bedroom decorating.
It is quite hard to tone down or take small parts from it; essentially, it is all or nothing with a Victorian look. Having said that one feature wall with a series of small pictures and other touches could work well in a hall or dining room.
Indulgence is the way to go so look for thick patterned curtains with tasseled tie backs, swags and frills can work too. Dark wood furniture plays an important part and one decorative piece will be a great feature. Throw in plenty of stripes, lace and portrait silhouettes and you are nearly there.
Outdoor Lighting Tips For Security And Entertainment
Outdoor lighting is becoming one of the most popular strategies used by home owners to make their home secure from thieves.
It is well-proven that lighting is a deterrent to crimes around the home, and sends would-be burglars scurrying to find an easier target.
To be effective, security outdoor lighting needs to be placed near entry doors into your house and at the rear of the property.
Look at your house and yard in the dark, and locate places that could allow people to hide unseen; these need to be illuminated by security lighting as well. Carports and garages are important spots for outdoor lighting, so that criminals can’t be lying in wait for you to drive in.
The lights need to be positioned high enough to be out-of-reach and tamper-proof. To save on using excess power, install sensor lights that only come on when they are triggered by movement.
When you come home after dark, the lights will turn on so you can see to park the car, walk to the door and put your door key in the lock.
Choosing An Indoor Water Feature
Introducing water into your home other than through a faucet is becoming very popular.
Indoor waterfalls are now available as fountains and the perennial favorite fish aquariums.
Most people who have an aquarium do so because they love tropical fish, it is their hobby but fish can also be very soothing and would make a great focal point to a room.
Tanks come in very different sizes so you do not have to have one that is too big to manage easily. If you want they can even be fitted into an alcove or internal wall.
There are endless different features, beside the fish that you can add to make your aquarium even more interesting and the trickling of the water from the filter will be quite relaxing. Just be aware that fish need proper care including a home that has to be cleaned out on a regular basis.
An indoor fountain is a very different beast to what is found in public parks and shopping malls. They also have no resemblance to garden fountains constructed in people’s yards amongst the flower beds and rose bushes.
Useful Tricks With Paint Colors
Before you decide on what color to decorate your space take the time to decide what the room will be used for and the type of atmosphere you want to create.
You can not change the actual dimensions of a room without employing a builder but there are a few tricks that you can use to make a big difference.
If your ceilings are too high, a dark color will seemingly lessen the height and visa versa. A feature wall in a dark color can often provide depth in a room as well as introduce an accent into a neutral space.
Take time to know the lines and appreciate the shape of each room before deciding on the interior decoration. If the space is large, dividing it into separate areas will be more practical and can be achieved in a variety of ways.
Screens can be a great way of creating a small workspace or dining area and the careful placing of a sofa or other piece of furniture can instantly divide a room.
Have Home Security Cameras Installed For Your Family’s Safety
There is no doubt that having a home security system of any kind will give you peace-of-mind, but the installation of home security cameras has multiple uses.
A camera at each entry point into the house will enable you to see who is at the door before you open it, a camera looking into the yard will enable you to keep a watchful eye on the children as they play and visible CCTV home security cameras have been proven to be a deterrent to thieves and burglars.
Many camera systems are available as DIY systems that just plug into your own television.
There are numerous types of home security camera systems available so it is important to do some research before you decide to go ahead with installation. You need to consider what type of system will best suit your needs, and there are several considerations.
One of the basic choices is between wireless and wired home security cameras. The points to consider with this decision are the possible location of the camera or cameras, how difficult or expensive will it be to get wiring to the preferred camera position and will there be any interference to the signal.
