Posts filed under 'Home Decorating Ideas on a Budget'
Following the rule of three can truly change your life forever, so beware. If you’re not ready to have a more organized life naturally then stop here. Click the blue arrow and you’ll wake up thinking this never happened. But if you take the red pill…oh wait, that’s the wrong story. Well, if you want a guaranteed, no-fail every time method of organization and penny-wise spending, follow me.
The Rule of Three is quite simple, actually. An item must serve three individual purposes in order for it to be deemed useful, and, in effect, purchase-worthy (or, if you’re doing a little spring cleaning, keepable). An attractive decorative figurine is certainly lovely, but if that’s all it is, it may not be worth your George Washingtons. For the same monetary and aesthetic value, you can get a useful item as well. I’ll give you an example. Recently, my friend wanted to repay me for some small kindness I rendered her, so she bought me a pretty ceramic box filled with my favorite candies. Now, aside from ensuring that I will do her the favor again next time I’m asked, my friend did me a favor. She gave me something that fit the rule of three. You see in addition to being aesthetic, I could use this box as a coffee table candy dish. When time started taking its toll, I could transform this thoughtful gift into a penholder. So there you have the rule of three: 1) Aesthetic 2) Candy dish 3) Writing supplies receptacle. Having passed the Rule, this beautifully decorate box adorns my countertop till today.
Using the rule of three is simple, too. Before purchasing any addition to your home, large or small, ask yourself, ‘Does this conform to the guidelines spelled out in the Rule?’ This is not in anyway to say that you can’t have pleasant and appealing aesthetics distributed throughout your home. As many of you know, I’m the trumpeter of tasteful decorating, yes, even purely for the eye appeal. What I am suggesting, though, is that your house not be a stockroom for such trinkets. Every thing in moderation, my dear, that is the key to organized and spectacular interior and exterior room design.
So use the Rule to get your life in order with a good weeding out of the unnecessary, and a well-deserved shopping spree of the new and useful (Rule-approved) furnishings.
October 7th, 2007
This month is the Jewish celebration called Sukkoth. What this means is Jews all over the world will be enjoying a few days out on their patios, eating, entertaining, and even sleeping. All this attention to porch decks sort of got me hungry for some redecorating (not to mention all the delectable smells that are wafting into my window!) What with the school year settling in, and winter on it’s way, though, I know I don’t feel like spending a whole lot of cash on my patio, of all places. Not to be beaten, the decorator inside came up with ten ways to spruce up your patio for less than $100.
So, regardless of your affiliations, join in the celebration, and give your patio a summer closing bang.
1. Chairs: Gliders are some of my favorite furniture items because they’re both functional and fun! Stress just seems to melt away in the soothing calm that emanates from a peaceful evening in a glider. The Sling collection is sleek and trendy, and the executive pieces are beautiful. Check out these stackable dinning chairs for panache and space conservation.
2. Kids count too: A curved bench is quaint and goes over great with the kids at lunchtime. If you prefer the straight and narrow, benches are available without the curve as well. And a junior Adirondack chair is only one of the cutest pieces of furniture you will ever see.
3. If you enjoy the look and feel of wood, an Adirondack ottoman brings that turn of the century sentiment into modern day terms.
4. For $27 you can throw a cozy cushion on to any seat, and increase both the comfort and style of your patio furniture. Folding chairs can also be decked out with flexible foam cushions in attractive colors that brighten up your patio.
5. Tables make excellent additions for their practical application and instant style. The English garden table is a sophisticated piece, and is wonderful for entertaining guests. If you already own wrought iron patio furniture, the Savannah dining table will fit right in. Even a simple round, square, or rectangular end table made from solid cedar wood gives a new feeling and loads of personality to the entire area.
6. Umbrellas add character and shade to a lounge area, and colors are neutral enough to match nearly any furniture set. If you have an umbrella already, consider an impressive cast iron or aluminum stand designed with intricate patterns in contemporary black powder coating (this protective coating prevents rusting, chipping, and fading, and is a must in my book).
7. A pleasant cedar birdhouse not only dresses up your deck, but also invites feathered friends to join the party. I enjoy a nice serenade even on the busiest afternoons, and my kids simply go wild at the sight of these winged wonders.
8. Planters are terrific redecorating tools because they add a new element, greenery, into any area. Whether you are at the top floor of a high riser, or down in a desert valley, planter boxes enable you to have the lush garden you’ve always dreamed of.
9. Light up the night: An elegant lighting fixture can really transform a dark night into a glowing evening relaxing on the patio. Outdoor lighting options come in many shapes and sizes. Pendants, landscape, sconces, and posts are a few of the hundreds of lighting options that are all available for less than $100.
10. Finally, rest your weary feet on an attractive and oh so comfortable cotton rug. In a variety of colors and sizes, 100% cotton, prewashed rugs are even machine washable. So you don’t have to feel bad about leaving them outside.
These are just my humble suggestions on how to really end the patio season with a bang. Tailor them to fit your personality and needs. Regardless of style preference, patio layout and expenses, everyone deserves a little something. After all, ’tis the season to be jolly (oh, wait, I think I’ve got the wrong holiday).
September 24th, 2007
Every aspect of a room can be used to enhance an effect and create a mood. The ceiling is no exception to this rule. Even something as simple as an attractive border can dress up a boring ceiling. But if you are looking for something more unique, I’ve got your ticket. Here are a few novel ceiling design ideas that you can use to dress up that dome.
1. Turn that world upside down: Take room-themed items (ex. a pipe for a study, some utensils or a set of mugs for a kitchen), and glue them to your ceiling. Paint additional items and furniture around them (ex. a table for the pipe to sit on, a bar or countertop for the utensils). If you really want to go all out, adhere actual pieces of furniture to the ceiling. Rugs, lamps, and small tables (with their legs cut short) work great for this effect.
2. Murals are the latest craze in room décor. Create a new world on your ceiling, or open up a small space with a visually expanding ceiling mural. Starry skies and vortexes are popular, but you can paint whatever world suits your fancy. This project only takes a little bit of paint and a weekend’s worth of work. Then you can lie back, and let your imagination do the rest.
3. Lights. You would not believe the amazing things that can be done with ceiling lights. Built in ceiling fixtures (recessed lighting) are gaining popularity quickly. The naturally discreet nature of these lights adds sophistication and style to your home. But if built-in is not for you, there are so many attractive ceiling fixtures that you can use to enhance your ceiling space. Chandeliers, flush-mounted, or pendant lights are just a few examples of the trendy-to-classy variety in ceiling options.
4. Mirrored ceilings or vinyl panels: this is a great way to enjoy those furniture pieces you love even more. Mirrored or vinyl ceiling panels reflect the furnishings below, multiplying the effect of your stylish sofa or trendy tabletop. When done properly, this idea can be both beautiful and romantic. If you have a lot of crystal in a room, this will only enhance the reflective power of the mirrored panels.
5. Tin ceilings: Pressed tin panels are a modern trend with a traditional feel. Enjoy the unique style of the natural tin color, or paint them (after installation) with an oil-based paint in the color of your choice.
6. Medallions: Medallions transform an ordinary dining room into a grand ballroom, a quiet living room into a regal lounge area. If you are an antique fanatic, you can scour the vintage shops for the real deal. Otherwise, inexpensive and lightweight pieces are available. Simply apply adhesive urethane to the medallion, and fasten in place. (Tip: You can use screws or nails for extra assurance.) Medallions can be painted a number of textures and colors to fit the theme and color of your room.
7. Try this dreamy design: Sponge paint natural fluffy clouds on the ceiling, and float away into dreamland. This is along the same lines as mural painting, but easy enough for even the artistically challenged among us to attempt. Sponge painting yields beautiful and unique results that are different each time you paint. Try various shades of the same color for added effect. (Sponge painting can be done in any color or pattern, not just clouds.)
8. Choose your colors: For high ceilings, use dark colors to create a more personal, cozy atmosphere. Low ceilings, on the other hand, should be coated with light colors to expand and widen the close proximity.
9. For continuity, try wallpapering your ceiling with the same paper that is on your walls. If you are doing the entire job, walls and ceiling, do the ceiling first. Then overlap the walls’ wallpaper (appx. ½”) onto the ceiling for a seamless look.
10. Suspended ceilings: This is a great way to cover up an expensive fix up job that you just can’t afford. Panels are suspended from metal rods and tracks to conceal your original ceiling. The old ceiling is usually very accessible in case wiring or repairs need to be made in the future, and suspended ceilings come in nearly every material out there. Not a DIY project, but a nice alternative to that ugly mess of paint chips.
September 6th, 2007