Tag Archives: decorating tips

Tips On How To Warm Up Your Home Without Touching The Thermostat

Today is the first day in more than a week that the mercury rose above 10 degrees Fahrenheit. For days we have been dealing with sub zero temperatures and wind chill readings around minus 35 degrees. It is unbearably cold and according to our crack team of local meteorologists, it doesn’t look like we will be warming up anytime soon. I won’t even tell you what I have my thermostat set at (let’s just say when I look at the display window all I see are $$$$). As a result, I’m trying to find alternative ways of making our home … Continue reading →

More Toddler Room Decorating Tips

A few months ago I detailed the makeover we gave our daughter’s bedroom. The transformation from nursery to toddler’s room was made with careful planning and a lot of input from our daughter. (She may be a toddler, but she voices her opinions like a teenager.) Little did I know that our day’s worth of labor would simply be the start of what has turned into a multi-month long project that’s still a work in progress. Since my last blog my daughter has acquired a freestanding puppet theater, a plastic ball pit and another kid-size table and two matching chairs. … Continue reading →

Deck the Stalls: Holiday Touches for the Bathroom

Do you decorate your bathroom for the holidays? Some do, some don’t. If you would like some ideas for dressing up the bath a bit, here are a few that you might find useful: If you can’t find a bath rug in a holiday print or design, there is no rule that says you can’t purchase a throw rug meant for another space or even a soft welcome mat style rug for use in the bathroom. Adding a large decorative touch like a rug is a good place to start, because it will make a big impact. You can also … Continue reading →

Holiday Decorating: Quick Tips with Ribbon

When it comes to holiday decorating and adding extra festive little touches, ribbon is your friend. You can use any kind and there are great choices available from sheer, satin, and wired ribbon, to holiday themes. Try these simple tips: When Setting the Table Group silverware together, knife, fork, spoon, and tie a ribbon around them. Make a neat bow. You can also roll silverware in a linen napkin before adding ribbon. Tie gorgeous sheer or satin ribbon around the stems of glassware for an extra sparkly touch. You can also tie bows around single candy canes, and lay one … Continue reading →

Holiday Decorating—Keep It Simple

When it comes to decorating my home for the holidays there is one acronym that always pops in my mind K.I.S.S.—Keep It Simple Stupid. I’m sure you have heard it used in other contexts, but it is appropriately applied to home decorating, especially during the holiday season. Remember: The simpler you keep it, the stronger the message. It may seem like a cop out… a way to get out of stringing dozens of feet worth of lights around your property, hanging garland from the rafters, or framing your living room with hundreds of mini votive candles, but decorating experts agree, … Continue reading →

Decorating Tips For The Children’s Thanksgiving Table

Movies and TV (along with other forms of the media) tend to depict the children’s eating table as a prison of sorts. How many times have you heard of someone being “banished” to the children’s table? During the holidays, and especially Thanksgiving, many families set up a smaller table for children to eat off of. In most homes the “main” table is given top billing and where most people concentrate their decorating efforts. But just because Tom the turkey isn’t going to be carved on the children’s table doesn’t mean you should treat it like chopped liver. Here are some … Continue reading →

Natural Christmas Décor

Have you started decorating your home for the holidays yet? My 2-year-old daughter saw the mall decked out in its Christmas glory yesterday and asked why our home didn’t look as “sparkly.” Needless to say, we have about half of our decorations up now. In unpacking the boxes I’ve noticed we are lacking natural décor. Granted, natural items don’t lend themselves to be packed away and reused from year to year, but they help bring the outdoors in and help create a wonderfully fresh background to your holiday décor. Here are some easy ways you can deck your halls with … Continue reading →

Home Decorating Tips: Walls

In a previous blog I wrote about my tour of our local Builders Association’s Parade of Homes. I walked away with a several decorating ideas—some that I would seriously consider applying to my own home—others, well; let’s just say I would have a hard time duplicating. The following are some trends and ideas I learned and thought I would pass along to you. If you decide to apply any to your own home, please feel free to let me know how it turned out. In my last blog I wrote that the Home Builders Association’s spokesperson I spoke to insisted … Continue reading →

Practical Tips

Today, there are such extravagant items available for our homes, that it is easy to go into debt. From big screen TVs to imported fabrics and accents, things can add up in a hurry. While everyone wants an attractive and comfortable home, living beyond our means to acquire ostentatious furnishings or impressive electronics, is not necessary. If you can afford the finer things then by all means, you should choose whatever you like. If however, you are addicted to buying on credit, you will soon find that even the nicest furniture or equipment isn’t worth struggling with debt. Try to … Continue reading →

What is Shabby Chic?

My husband’s brother and his wife just moved into a new home. We had the chance to tour it the other night, and I must say it is beautifully decorated. The last room on the tour was my 11-year-old niece’s bedroom. It is a great place, big windows, even bigger closets, and several pieces of cozy, pastel colored furniture, accented with subtle floral prints. It worked well with the muted wall color and soft carpet. As I looked around, my sister-in-law announced that she and Cassie (my niece) chose to decorate the room in “Shabby Chic.” Shabby Chic… I had … Continue reading →