Top Ten Favorite Decorating Things

Top Ten Favorite Decorating Things
by Charlotte Siems



Décor in our first home: a plaid couch, a lone poster tacked to the wall (really) and an aquarium with a green grass snake. Not to mention dirty clothes and papers strewn about, but we won’t go there.

It took me a few years to find my decorating style, let alone figure out how to clean the place.

In some ways, learning about my taste in decorating was a process of self-discovery. I finally realized that it was okay to like lace and roses in my bedroom, even if someone else didn’t (unless that person was my husband, and fortunately, he didn’t mind).

A feminine bedroom is a nice contrast to masculinity, and can even create an atmosphere of feeling pampered, but I digress.

After many years of decorating on a slim budget, here are my Top Ten favorite decorating things at This Lovely Place:


1. Plates – There are plates on the wall and on plate holders in my bedroom, my office corner, kitchen, bathroom and living room. Mostly antique, but not all.

2. Clocks – Big ones, small ones. Some that don’t work but look cool.

3. Books – Not only do we have numerous bookshelves throughout the house, but books come in handy for tabletop arrangements and making lamps taller. Double points for using titles that fit the season.

4. Fabric – Curtains, pillow covers, table runners, tablecloths and more. New pillow covers can change the look of the couch!

5. Garland – Not just for Christmas, seasonal garlands add a nice touch for holidays. Hearts for Valentine’s, clover for St. Patrick’s Day, eggs for Easter. Use on the kitchen chandelier, fireplace mantel and surface displays, like the top of the TV armoire.

6. Plants – Okay, I don’t have a green thumb, but I like a pretty geranium in the kitchen window, especially in the winter.




7. Glass Jars – Especially large, decorative ones with lids. Fill with fake fruit or berries in the summer, cotton and a snowman in the winter, speckled bird eggs and a nest in the spring, and leaves and acorns in the fall.

8. Candles – Great for bringing in the comforting sense of smell. Match the scents (and colors) to the season.

9. Closed Storage – This isn’t exactly a decorating item, it’s more of a way to keep clutter at bay so the decorating shows up.


10. Dishes – Platters, cups and saucers, bowls, teapots, pitchers and more become part of a shelf or table arrangement.


These everyday items are handy for use-what-you-have decorating. Most can be found at discount stores like Ross or TJ Maxx, garage sales or thrift stores. Look at your stuff with new eyes: could you repurpose something or move it to a new room?

Whatever you do, make sure you use Your Favorite Things in your decorating. Let your home be an expression of your personality and what you like!


Do you have a favorite thing to decorate with? Leave a comment below!

**************
Charlotte Siems is a home-maker, home manager, T-Tapp Trainer, teacher, speaker and author. Her story of losing over 100 pounds with T-Tapp has encouraged thousands of people all over the world. She specializes in making home management and T-Tapp "doable" for real people and real life. She is happy to be a wife and mother of twelve children whom she has successfully taught at home for 25 years.

This article was first published by This Lovely Place with Charlotte Siems. To receive Charlotte's free guide "Secrets for Keeping Your Home Together When You Feel Like Your Life is Falling Apart," go to ThisLovelyPlace.com.

Small Space Tip: Store vertically

Small space living, such as in a condo or apartment, requires a wise use of space. You don't have much square footage for free standing shelves and cupboards, but what you do have is a lot of wall space. The key is to make use of this wall space by utilizing it with storage facilities. Installing a floating shelf is a good way to maximize your wall space while solving your storage dilemma. You can install floating shelves to keep books, store boxes, and even as a decorating aid. Here are some wise yet design-savvy uses of shelving and other vertical storage, all of which maximize ample wall space.

Source

Add caption

Source

5 easy ways to add character to your home

5 easy ways to add character to your home

From Diana Fox and Pat McNulty at Premiere Photographer's Decorating Articles

Source

We greet the New Year with anticipation, promise and excitement. Our hopes and wishes often center on change. A better job, weight loss, quitting smoking. In the next 365 days you’ll have numerous possibilities to explore, fresh ideas to consider and personal resolutions to keep!

The New Year’s celebration is symbolized with the familiar slogan “Out with the old, in with the new.” If updating your home’s appearance is on this year’s wish list, create instant change by implementing a few of the following ideas. Mix imagination with inspiration to results by designing stylish rooms that are comfortable, attractive and welcoming.

Add color. Color determines the mood of any room. Go beyond the typical neutral tones and develop a color palette that makes you feel good. Designers often select three to four colors and mix, match and coordinate between rooms. Paint is one of the easiest ways to change the look and feel of a space, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Introducing color quickly achieves a dramatic new look while adding warmth and dimension.

Attention to detail. Accessories give a home personality, reflecting the tastes and interests of its occupants, but unless they are chosen and displayed properly they can make an attractive room uninteresting, awkward or cluttered. Your home is a personal reflection, so select items with character and mirror your tastes. Cluster accessories in odd numbers and try to arrange objects in a pyramid fashion, so the eye is led from a high to low point, creating a natural flow from one object to the next.

Update cabinets. A simple method of updating is to highlight your kitchen or bathroom cabinets with new hardware. Replace shiny brass or chrome knobs, pulls and hinges with the refined look of brushed metal, hammered copper or antique brass. Resurfacing or refinishing cabinets is another popular option and provides an inspiring facelift for a fraction of the cost. This is less expensive than new cabinets and offers the same great impact, significantly improving the presentation and value of your home.

Rearrange furniture. The key to any room is placement. The positioning of furniture and accessories set the room’s mood and function. Break away from setting everything against the walls. Try floating a sofa in the middle of the room, 2 loveseats facing each other or angle a couple of upholstery pieces in a V, on either side of an end table. Adding an area rug not only anchors a room group, but also complements any decorating scheme and creates a cozy setting for conversation.

Frame your walls. Applying crown molding adds a decorative, classic detail and enhances the architectural features of your home. It’s a finishing touch that defines the beauty of your rooms with style and elegance. For exceptional visual appeal, consider a chair rail or wainscot. Plain walls become spectacular as they soon reflect an appealing warmth, character and balance. It adds a rich feeling and is a perfect selection for an office, game room or any area you’d like to define.

These easy updates are perfect for any budget and will brighten your home for the New Year. Change your home by designing spaces with charm, character and comfort. Get inspired, get started and get ready for the compliments.

5 Home Improvement Resolutions You Should Make in the New Year

Source

A new year means new things for both you and your home this 2012. If you've not thought about improving your home the past year, this year, you should. From making sure your home is well-protected to improving the decorations in certain areas, your new year home resolutions should focus on making your home a better place to live in. Make time this year for these five important home-improvement resolutions:

1. Make sure your home has improved security. Do everything you can to keep trespassers and intruders from your home. You can begin by first trimming the bushes and hedges around your property so that thieves and intruders have no place to hide. Make sure to replace your door locks with new ones, and consider investing in better outdoor lighting so you have lights on overnight. You can go further by installing locks on your gates and window grills, and installing a fire-proof safe in your storage area for keeping your important documents. If you can afford it, install a security alarm or exterior and interior closed-circuit cameras in your home.

2. Reduce, reuse and recycle. When making home improvements, consider using salvaged building materials. These second-hand materials cost far less, and if they are in excellent condition, you can save on your home improvements. Reuse leftover lumber, metal windows, wooden doors, scrap metal, decorative hardware, floorboards, and even masonry materials and plumbing fixtures.

3. Install home efficiency aids. Perhaps you can install a water heater in your bathroom or a filtration system in your kitchen. Things like these can help make your household more efficient.

4. Add rain-proof features. Weather experts predict Philippine rains to run into the summer of 2012, so take some precautions to make sure your home stays dry during the stormy monsoon season. Start by inspecting your roof and ceilings for leaks in the roof; plug them up right away. Also, begin trimming branches that are too close to your windows. Check your gutters to make sure they're free from debris, and have a plumber clean out your outdoor drain.

5. Redecorate a room. A full home interior decorating project may be too heavy for you to handle, but making small improvements to a room can help improve your home and give it new life. It can be as simple as getting new, coordinated beddings for your room, painting an accent wall in your living area, or buying new covers for your throw pillows.