Home Room Decor

Stenciled designs are a great way to liven up your interior decor.

They are so versatile, you can stencil nearly anything. You can stencil wool floors, hardboard, walls, ceilings, furniture, and even fabric.

To create a stencil, lay a photocopy of the pattern you wish to cut out, over the sheet of acetate, and tape it down so that it won't shift. Using a craft knife, cut through the photocopy of the design, and through the acetate backing, along the outlines of the shapes you wish to create with the stencil. Then when you lay your stencil over the surface you wish to decorate, dab the paint in the cut out area with the end of the paint brush. When you lift the stencil, you'll have a perfect design, every time!

Use this technique to make attractive borders around room ceilings, the perimeter of the floor, the backs of chairs, curtain ends, window and door frames, and anywhere you'd like a bit of excitement. Your room decor will be uniquely your own when you add this personal touch. Stenciling is fun for all ages, and there are stencil designs to fit every room in the home. Why not attempt one today?

Everyone loves pillows, whether they are arranged in a row on a couch, or heaped on the floor in a pile, whether they are used one at a time, or layered and grouped, pillows are great decorations. Pillows can be stamped with fabric paint, quilted, appliqu?d, sewn with ruffles, printed with photographs, or beaded to make them really stand out.

Pillows come in all shapes and sizes. When combined, they are an art instillation in and of themselves. The benefit of this sort of art is that it is so comfortable for everyday use.? A heap of pillows is fun to jump into, sprawl out on, build forts with, offer to guests to make them more comfortable, support aching backs with, rest your head on, elevate your feet with, and of course, have a pillow fight with.

Many modern day artists work in fabric to create unique signature pillows. These do not have to be extremely expensive, as they are often designed by the artist and then mass produced to lower costs. Some artists work with a certain style or theme that runs through their cushioned creations, so you can combine pillows that have different designs while retaining the very same look and feel.

Pillows can have tassels, fringes, fur, laces, or buttons. The possibilities are virtually endless. That means you can use different elements to create a unified look without giving up on variety. attempt a collection of pillows that share the very same shape and fabric but come in a multitude of colors; or why not a mix of different pillows in pure white, showing off different textures and trimmings?

do not think just beds and couches either. Pillows come in all sizes. Some are large enough to be used as chairs or beds, while some are tiny and have pockets for teeth that the tooth faerie will come for. Play around and adds elements of luxury and comfort in various rooms.

When it comes to teen decorating there is much to consider as far as their bedroom is concerned. The reason for this is due to before your bundle of joy grew into a teenager, the room they occupied was primarily designed to allow for safe playing and romping.

But now those days are about gone and your child thinks that he or she “is practically a grown up”, and their bedroom is no longer a sandbox. It's their personal sanctuary.

As you well know, teens crave privacy, and they will spend large amounts of time buried in their room. So, it's crucial that you give them furnishings that will provide comfort. And they should be granted a certain degree of freedom to makeover their room as they see fit (of course, with your approval of their teen decorating choices).

The big difference between teen decorating and decorating for younger kids is that teens are very self-conscious about how their bedrooms look. As such, they will want you to have as little involvement in their bedroom decorating choices as possible.

I know, I know....it'll take you a little while to get used to this role, but it is crucial that you give your teen a good bit of freedom to make their own choices and grow.

Now, there's some thing else you should know. Most teen decorating themes are chosen for how they make the teen feel, rather than how it looks. Strange, but true.

Teenagers make a great effort to confound logic and order, and are at that stage where they are striving to be recognized as individuals. In decorating, they will do this by using what most interests them to express themselves. And they will turn to these things when they need sanctuary, and wish to hibernate.

Therefore, while you may not completely understand or agree with their teen decorating selections, it's a good idea to just let them mature and grow in an environment that gives them solace and makes them feel comfortable.

Possible teen decorating ideas that your teen may enjoy include the following:

- Vibrant paint colours for the walls
- Fuzzy chairs
- Area rugs
- Daybeds
- Beds with Trundles
- Whacky shaped objects (lamps, clocks ect.)
- Posters
- Pictures of family and friends
- Bookshelves
- Mirrors

It's also quite common for teen decorating to include certain themes. Some of the most popular teen decorating themes tend to be:

- Nature – wildlife, trees, plants, etc.
- Entertainment – music, movies, etc.
- Sports – baseball, football, hockey, etc.

Another thing you'll want to take into account when considering teen decorating is that studying will play a much bigger role in their lives. That being the case, if your teen does not have a computer in his or her room, you may want to seriously consider purchasing them one, due to the vast majority of teens prefer studying and doing homework in their room compared to anywhere else.

Now, I shouldn't have to say it, but be very careful when it comes to the computer and your teen. You've probably heard horror stories about child predators lurking on the Internet. So, pay attention to what your teen does with their computer. Just due to they think they are “practically adults”, it doesn't mean they are mentally ready to make all adult decisions and handle the consequences.

In addition to the above, multi-function furniture such as stackable crates and bins are a great and inexpensive way for your teen to neatly store all of their items.

Although teen decorating may cause you moments of frustration and cringing, it is some thing that your child will enjoy, and is crucial to them. So, just bear with them. After all, it won't be long before they are off to college.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of the Web site Kids-Rooms-and- Crafts. Visit http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com for lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating kids's rooms.

The art of stamping has been improving the look of people's homes for hundreds and even thousands of years. Stamping allows you to create a consistent design over a big area. Whether you use the very same colors to create an identical repeating image, or whether you use a dissimilar color each time, your pattern will look cohesive if you use a stamp.

Stamps can be made from many materials, including natural latex, wood, and potatoes.
The easiest do-it-yourself stamp is made from a potato, cut open to expose a flat surface. After drawing the design on the flat surface of the potato, use a craft knife to cut away any area you do not want to display up in your image. The remaining material should form the shape of your flat image of choice. Dab that surface in ink or paint, and you have a stamp that is reusable and biodegradable.

Now you are ready to personalize your interior decor. Stamps make good border designs on floors, along the perimeter of ceilings, the backs of chairs, the perimeter of tables, the tops of walls, and fabric for curtains, bedspreads, pillow covers, furniture slip covers, and anyplace you'd like to create beautiful designs. If you use the very same stamps on the furniture, curtains, bedspread, the tops of the walls, and the perimeter of the floor, you create harmonious room decor.

Designing your office room is always a challenge, even more so when the office isn't is a designated room and has to fit into a living room or a bedroom. While there are many styles that can be applied to the office space, the one that often dominates our vision of a study or an office is the more formal style. Heavy wooden furniture have always been the emblem of a distinguished office, along with huge leather armchairs and shelves stacked with old books.

Well, you may not be able to re-create that fancy Victorian dream office in your home. It requires both space and a hefty budget. What you can do instead, is opt for a more compact office center, encompassing your office requires in one stylish armoire, such as this one by Harwick (available on Amazon):

The elegant simple lines, the dark wood, and the stressed finish with red highlights create a look that simply calls out for you to sit down and write, doesn't it? The shelves and drawers are adjustable, so this unit is extremely functional, as well as beautiful. Add a comfortable office chair and you have the perfect work area that can be easily fit into any room in the home. It looks beautiful whether in use, or shut down to hide the modern contents.

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If you are interested in cottage style decorating for your home interior, there are many exciting ways you can design just about any area of your home to capture the perfect authenticity of such a theme.

Cottage style decorating for the home interior carries with it an extremely warm and inviting feeling. With this in mind you may already be thinking about the types of colors you will be painting your walls, the type of upholstery you will be interested in for your cushions, chairs and couches, as well as the style of furniture that would best suit this fashion.

The one aspect you will need to keep in mind if you have chosen cottage style decorating for your theme is to remember that although cottage designs are similar to country, there are some crucial differences that make these two styles separate from one another.

For instance, although cottage style decorating has the similar interior simplicity, and warmth as a basic country style, it is altogether more modern.

In order to give you more ideas to think about when using cottage style decorating as your home design, you may wish to take the following tips into consideration:

Think Wicker or Think Wood – When it comes to furniture for cottage style decorating, the most authentic looking pieces are those made of wicker or wood. The reason for this is due to these furnishings appear more natural, and rustic, and are often associated with the outdoors.

Floral Patterns and Bright Prints – When it comes to the upholstery of your furnishing pieces, the cottage style decorating theme is all about bold and vibrant colorful patterns, with the most popular patterns often being floral.

Warm Colored Walls – The walls of a room that are based on cottage style decorating should be fashioned in warm colors such as tones of yellow, and terracotta. You may also want to add a stencil or wallpaper border to the top of the wall in another color to add a nice accent to the wall.

Wood Floors and Area Rugs – Hardwood floors are the best look for a cottage themed room. If you cannot afford hardwood floors, you may be interested in using laminate, which is a good substitute in appearance for hardwood floors.

You will also find that area rugs make an excellent addition to the room. Just make sure you pick designs and patterns that will match with the upholstery in the room.

Simple and Sweet Accessories – The best type of cottage style decorating accessories are those that are personal and homemade.

Family photos are perfect for wall hangings, or for dressing up an end or coffee table.

Simple rustic paintings or those of flowers, or vegetables and fruit also add a nice touch. You may also be interested in a coo-coo clock for cottage-like decoration.

There you have it, some great ideas for you to consider when cottage style decorating your home. Keep in mind that you don’t have to limit your cottage theme to one room; you can express this style in your living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and more. The choices truly are endless, and what’s even better is they are all yours to make.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home.

Your child will love this safari table and four matching animal chairs. High quality Russian Birch wood painted with friendly looking African animals of the savanna (zebra, elephant, lion & giraffe) are so cute and inviting, your child will want to eat, drink, create artwork,? practice writing, and assemble puzzles over here for years. This set of table and chairs? creates a fun decor theme for turning your child's room into an imaginary land of adventure. The variety of chairs creates a love of our planet earth's diversity of species. Since the four chairs are different yet harmoniously combined in a set, your child learns that differences should be celebrated, and that different types of animals are needed to make up an eco system, just as different types of people are needed to make up a team, or a society.

The set's dimensions are:
Table: 29 in. L x 19 in. W x 17 in. H
Chairs: Approx. 20 in. H

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Your living room is the entertainment and living center of your home. Chances are that you've had some very memorable gatherings there, and it is where you relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. due to this room tends to be such a high traffic area, and to have so much time spent in it, it is often the first room to display signs of wear and tear and to begin to look dated. Luckily there are small changes (like switching out light bulbs) and big changes (like installing a new fireplace mantel) that can give your living room a new look and won't turn into a major DIY project, or turn your home into a construction site.

Consider painting your living room. A splash of paint can brighten things up or give your living room a dissimilar vibe altogether. You can repaint your living room the very same color which will refresh the color and get rid of any scuff marks and dings. If you decide to paint the entire room, starting from the ceiling and working down is a good idea. On the other hand, if you'd like a bit of a color change without covering everything in plastic, a feature wall could be an option for you. Picking an interesting color that goes well with the room but adds a little spice can be an excellent way to transform your living room in no time at all.

The fireplace is an often neglected area of many living rooms, and this is a pity due to it can be such a lovely focal point if handled properly. Installing a new fireplace mantel – either buying one for the first time or replacing an existing one – does not take as much work as you think. If you do not have a fireplace mantel, consider getting one as it will give your fireplace a more finished, polished look. If you have a fireplace mantel, replacing it with some thing a little different can have a major impact on your living room. A wood fireplace mantel is easy to install so you don’t have to hire a contractor. You can paint or stain a wood mantel to match the de'cor of your room. Fireplace mantels are excellent places to display items of importance to you and your family such as heirlooms and family pictures. A fireplace mantel is also an excellent place to hang stockings and display cards around Christmas time.

Changing the lighting in your room can also make a major difference. Different lampshades can create a dissimilar atmosphere as they diffuse soft light with a hint of color about the room. If you find your living room a little dull, adding a few more lamps can brighten it up, and also add accent to certain areas. For an even simpler modification, attempt changing the wattage of your existing bulbs. Going from 60 to 120 watts makes a big difference; you might see things you had forgotten were there at all! Changing to a lower wattage can create a cozier, intimate feel.

A little heavy lifting can change your living room; rearranging the furniture can create a totally different feeling in the room. Create a new focal point to the room by orienting the seating around the fireplace and not the television, or perhaps put the couches and chairs so that people are more encouraged to talk to one another. And don’t just think about the seating, moving the coffee table, the end tables and bookcases can make a difference. If you need a new look without buying new furniture consider switching out the living room furniture with items from other rooms of the home

Finally, taking a look at what you have on display in your living room can give you some ideas for small changes that have a high impact. Do you have a vase of fake flowers that has been there for a decade? Perhaps now is a good time to replace it with some thing a little more modern. The artwork you have on your walls might also be due for some scrutiny as well. Prints can be obtained fairly cheaply, and can really change the ambiance of your room. Remember that every little item and picture adds some thing to the room – it is up to you to decide whether or not it should be made a change out for some thing new.

About The Author

Carol Agee is the vice president of Agee Woodworks which has been building quality custom fireplace mantels for 10 years. On the Web at http://www.ageewoodworks.com/custommantle.htm.

Your bed can become a volcano if you do a bit of creative decor.
Start with a bed that has a head board but no foot board. Paint the whole bed black. Upholster the head board with bright red satin in the shape of lava flowing down and out ward to spread over the base from a single spot on the top surface of the headboard. This will make a nice back rest when stuffed. The river of glowing hot lava is continued with the bedding.

Cover the bed in matching red satin sheets, pillow cases, comforter cover, and bead spread to look like the continuation of the lava flow coming from the volcano's vent, and add a few black throw pillows to look like chunks of cooled hardened lava that broke off. The bed skirt could be either red or black, depending on how old you want the lower lava flow to look. A red satin skirt over a black frame would give the impression of layered stratigraphy and help to create the lava falls spilling onto the floor.

A red curvy area rug at the side or foot of the bed would continue that lava theme, making it appear to pool. Surround the rug with black bean bag chairs to look like cooled hardened lava rock formations.

For added effect, paint the wall over the top of the head board to look like a rising plume of smoke and ash.

If your volcano is underwater, add lots of bubbles to the painting of rising ash plumes. If you are really ambitious, you can attach a shelf to the back of the headboard and sit a bubble machine on it, hidden under the top surface, just behind the place you've made to look like the vent point. The bubble machine should always be operated with an adult present.

The lava bed is one of the easier theme beds to design and create.

This folding chair is simply perfect. It combines an interesting design, with nice round shapes repeated in the seat, steel legs that are both attractive and durable, and a bold color statement that can fit in marvelously in any designed room.

This about this chair in your study, for example, inviting you or your guest to make yourselves comfortable with a good book under a reading lamp. Or maybe in the kids's room, round and playful and themed into a lively color scheme of base colors. Or, how about the patio? a set of these chairs, folded neatly in your shed for easy storage, then pulled out to offer seating in comfort and style. The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination and creativity.

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They thought of everything! HABA brings you the indoor swinging tent.

Kids like to hide and feel like they have their own space; they also like to swing, and to feel soothing motion when they rest. over here they have that all in one creative decor item. Lift the flap to crawl inside, and let the make believe begin! The soft fabric tent attaches to the ceiling with included hardware so that it can swing freely. Your child's friends will all want to come over to play when they see this whimsical masterpiece.

The colors are beautiful and the designs lovely. Flower vines and butterflies adorn the tent in applique, and the green and blue back ground brings the grandeur of the natural universe into your little tykes room.

The tent swing can support up to 80 pounds safely. It is recommended that parental supervision be used for kids under age three, but from three on up, this will keep them busy and out of your hair.

For a complete and cohesive decor theme, add other items by Haba, like the bean bag chairs that match the design on the tent swing, or the fabric shelves, or the blossom and butterfly mobile.

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Wow, what a perfect home theatre set! No wonder it's a best-seller, this magnificent set of three extra-comfortable arm chairs, turns your home cinema equipment into real top-league premium movie watching experience. And hey, it would be the perfect item in your living room, even if all you have is a TV set.

The three seats can be individually adjusted for each person, with different reclining angles. It looks majestic enough to pass for leather, but it's actually durable vinyl, very easy to clean if you spill anything on it. And let's face it, you're going to pamper yourself and your guests with treats, when using these chairs, making good use of the cup holder in every arm.

Get all the specs about this product right over here:
Matinee Collection Black Theater Seating

over here is a lovely and complete dinette set of simple elegance and durable and very strong construction. The lightweight lines offer a lightness to the overall look that allows the home's other features to stand out. The gorgeous wood finishing of the top and of the seats themselves provide a natural look which is always somewhat appealing in dinettes and offer extremely easy cleaning and maintaining. The durable iron base of both chairs and table make for an incredibly sturdy set, destined for a long and enduring future.

The set comes quickly in packaging and is easily assembled, offering a nearly immediately-available and comfortable-looking setting especially effective on wood floors. The “Dirty Oak” finish, so called owing to the coloration of the lacquer, is finely grained like all Oak wood and is perhaps the most durable material imaginable for an item in this price range. Gorgeous, light and airy, this beautiful dinette set makes a splendid eating and entertaining area, casual yet yet pretty.

For details and pricing, click over here.

Victorian decorating is considered one of the most inticate of all the different interior decorating styles that you can choose from. The reason for this is due to the colors, fabrics, furniture and decorations are all elaborate and full.

Victorian decorating is based on the period during the 19th century in jolly old England. So, the more authentic you want your Victorian room to be, you can expect that the furnishings and other decorative items can be quite expensive.

You will need to be very creative and crafty if you wish to make the most of this theme. But, it's possible to makeover a room with a Victorian style, even if you are on a tight budget.

Following is an example of how you can use Victorian decorating to transform the look of your living room:

Step 1 - So that you know the size of the area you must work with, the first thing you should do before beginning your Victorian decorating is to measure the space of the room.

Step 2 - Use colors such as deep green, red, dark pink, mauve, burgundy, and purple for walls, rugs, upholstery and other accessory colors. These were the most popular colors of the Victorian period.

It's also a great idea to add crown molding and wallpaper borders around the top of walls. And don’t be afraid to use more than one color when decorating the room.

Step 3 - You can choose rich wooden furnishings such as sofas and chairs when selecting furniture for Victorian decorating. The legs, backs and arms of these furnishings are carved to stand out, while the upholstery is usually velvet, embroidered fabrics, and brocade.

Accompanying these pieces are pillows that are created with similar fabrics, and trimmed with lace, frills, beading, ribbons or bows. The other furnishings in the room for Victorian decorating are various marbletop tables or they could be made of wood such as bamboo.

Step 4 - Decorations that are placed on the tables, such as candleholders, crystal lamps, porcelain figurines, or a vase of dried flowers, should be set on embroidered doilies to add affect.

All paintings are usually in gold or wooden frames. Other exciting Victorian pieces that can be added to the living room are a grandfather clock, porcelain dolls and decorative plates.

Other Victorian decorating accessories that you can add to the room to give it authenticity include paintings of young maidens, kids, a portrait of your family, or perhaps of your ancestors.

Step 5 - When Victorian decorating windows, you need to make them elaborate with draperies, swags and braided tiebacks. Popular fabrics for the window are also brocades and velvet.

Step 6 - The floors of the living room can either be hardwood floors or wall-to-wall carpeting. But, no matter which flooring type you choose, it is a good idea to add an area rug that is fashioned in an oriental style to complete the authenticity of the Victorian decorating look.

As you can see, Victorian decorating is very involved and comes with a heavy feel to it. That being the case, make sure you pick a room that can handle this de'cor. That way, you can enjoy it to its fullest.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home.

Are you going bankrupt trying to buy a matching dining room set? There's no need! By mixing and adapting disparate designs, we can create a cohesive and attractive dining room decor scheme that you adore. It just requires a bit of thought and a few tools.

Four different chairs can feel like a set if painted the very same color, and stenciled with the very same designs. Use the very same stencil to ring the edge of the table with a border design, and viola! You have a matching set of chairs and table (even if you got each piece at a separate garage sale). This can also be done with rubber stamp art. Painting the furniture all the very same color and then using ink or paint in a contrasting color to stamp the very same design on each piece of furniture will unify the decor theme.

Using the very same fabric to cover or upholster the chairs, and then using that fabric as a border on the table cloth and runners for the china cabinet will create a consistent theme as well. The eye will be drawn to the commonality of the color and texture, rather than the difference in the shape of each chair.

Remember that your dining room is where you eat and converse with friends and family, so dining room decor should not impede easy access, cleaning, or comfort. It is more crucial to have each chair be user friendly, than to have them match perfectly.

When you have a small space to work with, simple is often better. This dining area set, with a 29.5 x 47.5 inch table and four chairs is a perfect example. Classic modern design, solid wood with a wonderful light maple color finish and light-colored simple cushion seats. It's elegant, simple, and comfortable.

This model is actually quite popular, for this very reason. It fits in nicely in a smaller dining area, and is perfect for a small home. It will gladly take on some fabric, a table runner, or tablecloth, some decorative item on top, and even some decorative cushions for the chairs. Or it can stay as it is, clean, aesthetic and functional.

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Simple in design, durable and extremely comfortable, the Key West Aluminum Outdoor Premium Deep Seating Patio Set is a hugely popular answer to outdoor deck and patio seating. The simple elegance of the design matches with nearly any exterior finish, presenting a soothing sense to the eye. Reversible cushions allow you to change the appearance in a trice and the cushions tie onto the frame as well, meaning they will stay in place in the event of high winds. The reversible colors are slate blue and grey on one side and slate blue with grey swirls on the other, giving an added dimension to the overall decor. The grey charcoal finish is superbly durable and weather proof and will maintain its appearance for long years to come.

Two club chairs, a Love Seat and the coffee table pictured over here comprise the set itself. Elegant and informal, this set can bring a relaxed and comfortable ambiance to any outdoor setting, yet yet possess the added benefit of extreme durability over the years. The grey structural color of the metal is an aluminum-based structure whose lifetime would be in decades and not just years. Flat arm rests are wide enough for comfort, yet yet simple and minimalist in design. This is a truly gorgeous set of patio and deck furnishings.

For details and pricing, click over here.

Subdued elegance is the term that comes to mind when looking at this particular piece of furniture.

Produced by Pasons, this is a high quality dining chair, with all the comfort one requires for sitting by the table. The microfiber cover is both functional and extremely pleasant to the touch. The colors are neutral and easy to fit in with any color scheme. They are there, elegant and peaceful, grateful to form a beautiful quiet background to your colorful focal points in the room.

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