Small Bedroom Decorating Ideas

If you are looking for ways to decorate a small bedroom, I have good news for you. I am going to show you a different approach to decorate a small room or bedroom.

Many people seem to be guilty that their bedroom is small and they read every bit of information available in libraries and the Internet to make a small bedroom look bigger. Of course it is human nature to look for things that you don't possess right now.

Decorating

Some of the easy techniques of making a small bedroom look bigger are

Small Bedroom Decorating Ideas

1) Use bright colored paints so that natural light entering the small bedroom get reflected in all directions and the room looks bigger.

2) Use furniture with slim frames. This is a very obvious solution. Furniture with slim frames have less perceived volume and because of this the room looks bigger.

3) Use a platform bed in a small bedroom. What is a platform bed? A platform bed is the one with low height. The normal height of any bed is around 1foot 6 inches approximately. But a platform bed is only 1 foot high fro the ground level. This makes it's volume and the room looks bigger.

4) Arrange the furniture in your room at angles. Of course this is not always possible. But small pieces of furniture can be arranged in that fashion. This is done to distract the visual lines away from the walls.

5) using a wallpaper with horizontal pattern. This will create an illusion of horizontal expansion.

There are many more simple ideas to go for. However there is one more simple approach to go for this. Instead of spending time in making your room look bigger, why not make it a point that the same room becomes more functional and appealing in the same available space.

I am not saying that making a room look bigger is a waste of time, but it has got certain limitations of it's own. It is a strong possibility that the room, which is being used as a bedroom, was originally designed for something else and then was converted into a bedroom. Small rooms o the other hand can be extremely efficient because it is easy to design furniture in them that will help a human being efficiently to perform specific actions.

I hope this article was helpful.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Small Bedroom Decorating Ideas

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Christmas Window Box Decorating Ideas

As our favorite winter holiday approaches it is time to begin thinking about Christmas decorating ideas. If you already have ideas for your house and yard displays, you may still have questions about how to spice up the look of your window boxes. Check out some of our Christmas window box decorating ideas below to help get you started.

Natures Walk. Gather all the materials you need for this natural beauty in your backyard or nearby park. Tie clusters of spruce branches together using wire and complete the look by combing with pinecones and holly. Spray lightly with an artificial snow to give a real winter window box feel.

Decorating

White Winter. Tie clusters of twigs together to make a base and spray silver. Add faux snow flocked evergreen boughs. Accent your snow white theme with any combination of items such as white lace ribbon, reindeer moss, cream artificial berries, walnuts and even hibiscus pods. You can even soak small twigs in bleach water overnight to turn them white and use them to decorate.

Christmas Window Box Decorating Ideas

Christmas Balls. Fill your planter boxes with Christmas balls in all variety of sizes and complementary colors such as red with small amounts of gold. Glue the balls together to keep them from blowing away and help give a full look. Also incorporate some same colored strands of ribbon to provide additional flare.

Wrapped Window box. For easy decorating, try wrapping your window box with gift wrap paper. Complete the look with large ribbons, bows and even gift tags. For quilters try creating a quilt wrap for your box using leftover Christmas fabric.

Evergreen. Bring in the holiday charm by planting dwarf or small conifers such as Tsuga Canadensis. Accentuate your look with gold and deep purple berries and ribbons, pinecones, and other natural floral accents such as eucalyptus branches.

Metallic. Begin your look with a base of dusty miller combined with silver ornament, silver tinsel and silver ribbons. For holiday sparkle, incorporate some white lights, glitter and clear crystals into your design.

Fireplace Mantel. Begin this design by painting a brick pattern onto cardboard. Attach this design to the front of you box and decorate like a fireplace. Hang large stockings below the mantel, and incorporate Christmas cards affixed on top. Include large hanging garland, bows and broad pillar candles.

Hopefully these ideas will help you create a unique and beautiful Christmas window display. Although most flowers don't do well during the winter season, it does not mean that you can't be creative with your window boxes. Dressing them up with decorations, ornaments, or evergreens for Christmas is a great way to boost your curb appeal and show your neighbors you have a few tricks up your sleeve that they haven't thought of already.

Christmas Window Box Decorating Ideas

Shelby Buquoi is the general manager of Flower Window Boxes, Inc. Their no rot window boxes and planters have been featured on The Today Show as "the last window boxes you will ever have to buy." Click to see pictures of window box ideas in their gallery to help you decorate your own window boxes.

Year Round Decorating Ideas For The Front Door

The front door of your home is the first thing that visitors will see. You can make a good impression on your guests and visitors by adding some special decorative touches to this area. These decor accents do not have to be elaborate or expensive. Many times just one or two specially selected pieces will go a long way. By decorating the front doorway area you can lend a nice touch to your home, and make your guests feel especially welcomed. Here are some ideas for making the most of your decorating area with ideas to give special pizzaz to your front door.

Hang door garland. This can be in any theme and will cover a large amount of space on the front door. Make sure you choose something that will be relatively weather resistant, and will not fade easily. A garland of fall colored leaves would make a wonderful autumn design. For Christmas, holly or poinsettias could be used to make a similar garland.

Decorating

Display a large wreath or other floral display with the use of an over-the-door wreath hanger. Try making your own wreath out of natural materials like pine cones. This can be easily accomplished by using a glue gun and adding some decorative floral picks. I usually make my own Christmas wreath by using a pre-made wreath shape, and adding Christmas floral picks or handmade bows. I purchase these inexpensively from the Dollar Store.

Year Round Decorating Ideas For The Front Door

Add a door knob hanger. This could be as elaborate as a handmade, one-of-a-kind piece, or as simple as a colored ribbon with bells attached. For seasonal themes, a strand of dried corn or even small fall leaves would make a nice hanger. Snowman and poinsettias would be fun ideas for Christmas or Winter.

Seasonal door decorations are a fun way to decorate the front door. For autumn you could use a fall themed wreath with apples, fall leaves, even tiny pumpkins. Thanksgiving ideas include the cornucopia or dried corn. For the past couple of years, I have used a heavy wrapping paper to "wrap" my front door to look like a present. I usually use a bright red foil paper, then add a handmade wreath.

Year Round Decorating Ideas For The Front Door

Dee Marie is a successful freelance writer who enjoys decorating. To get more ideas for a front door decoration [http://www.dktshopping.com/gardening-decorate/Door-Decoration---Door-Knob-Hangers.html] or for more unique decor accessories [http://www.dktshopping.com/gardening-decorate/index.html], please visit [http://www.DKTShopping.com]

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Halloween

Halloween is nearly here once more, and if you're like many people, you'll be making a Halloween pumpkin lantern. Carved vegetable lanterns, or Jack O'Lanterns as they're often known, are part of an ancient tradition that originated with the Celts. However the original lanterns made by the Celts in Europe were usually made from turnips, swedes or mangelwurzels. Halloween lanterns made from pumpkins only became popular relatively recently, after the Halloween holiday started to be widely celebrated in the US, where pumpkins are plentiful. They have since gained popularity elsewhere in the world too, thanks to the relative ease with which they can be carved, and the brilliant orange glow they produce when lit up.

Pumpkins are very versatile and can be carved and decorated carved in any number of ways and it's very easy to produce a lantern that will make a beautiful addition to your Halloween decorations.

Decorating

There are two basic approaches you can take to decorating your pumpkin. The first is to carve a face or other design into the flesh, and the second is to paint the pumpkin's surface. You might then like to embellish it further. Of course, you can always combine these approaches, and produce a more ornate and unusual pumpkin!

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Halloween

Carving Your Pumpkin

Halloween pumpkins are usually carved, so they can be used as lanterns. Carving a pumpkin can be as simple as creating a couple of triangular eyes and a mouth, or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can make a more complex pumpkin lantern intricate features or other patterns, such as cats, spiders, ghosts, etc, or even non-Halloween motifs. To carve your pumpkin, cut off the top (if you're going to illuminate it with a candle) or the bottom (to provide access for an electric light cord), scrape out the flesh, draw your design onto the surface of the pumpkin, and cut around the outlines with a sharp knife or other carving tool. You might find it useful to pare the interior surface of the pumpkin back in the areas you will be cutting. Your pumpkin is then ready to be lit up.

You can either design your own pumpkin carving pattern, or you can use one of the many that are available (very often for for free) online. Pumpkincarving.com is one site that I recommend if you're looking for more ideas and inspiration.

Painting Your Pumpkin

Painted Halloween pumpkins are not as common as the carved variety, but they are becoming very popular. Painting your pumpkin gives you more flexibility than carving it, and you can create stunning painted Halloween designs that are guaranteed to get a reaction. Don't worry if you think you can't paint - you don't need to be an artist to create beautiful painted Halloween pumpkins! See my site (link in the resource box below) for details of an excellent guide to pumpkin painting, called Pumpkin Painting, Anyone Can Do It. Really! With this handy guide, you'll be producing brightly painted pumpkin masterpieces in no time! Painted pumpkins are also very popular with children, as - unlike with carved pumpkins - they can create their own pumpkin designs very safely and with minimal assistance.

Embellishing Your Pumpkin Further

If you really want to go to town, you can jazz up your carved or painted pumpkin even more. Try sticking on some glitter or sequins, or draping it with strings of sparkly beads. Just be sure not to use flammable materials.

Employ any or all of these pumpkin decorating ideas, and you'll soon have a beautifully scary Halloween pumpkin that will make a fantastic centrepiece for your home!

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Halloween

Melania Karel is entranced by all things supernatural and Halloween-related, and is webmaster of Halloween-o-Pedia, a treasure trove of spooky information and resources, including information about pumpkin painting and other forms of decoration.

Decorating a Room with Disney Cars Room Decor

With the popularity of the recent Disney Pixar Cars movie, chances are that your little boy is wanting Lightning McQueen, Mater, and all their friends to now grace every surface of his bedroom. Decorating a room with a Disney Cars room décor is fairly easy and inexpensive. Merchandise is available all over the web and if you are lucky, you may also find an item or two in the stores. Because of the popularity of the movie, all Cars merchandise has been extremely popular so I have learned that when you find an item you want that isn't sold out, you have to move quickly and buy it.

So what is available for decorating a Disney Cars theme room? Well first, you will have you choice of a couple of beds. A Disney Cars toddler bed is available as is a Lightning McQueen Race Car bed that comes in a twin size. You will also be able to find Disney Cars toddler bedding and twin size bedding sets.

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It doesn't stop with just beds and bedding though. The amount of Disney Cars room décor available extends to wall art, room decals, lamps featuring Lightning and Mater, and even dresser knobs featuring many of the movie's key characters. You will also be able to find Disney Cars furniture pieces including toy boxes and table and chair sets for your Disney Cars theme room.

Decorating a Room with Disney Cars Room Decor

So if your little boy has been dreaming of a Disney Cars themed bedroom, you will have no trouble coming up with enough Disney Cars room décor to create the Lightning McQueen room of his dreams!

Decorating a Room with Disney Cars Room Decor

© Copyright Rebecca Johnson, All Rights Reserved

Rebecca Johnson is the mother of a three year old son who is a Disney Cars fanatic. She owns a website about decorating rooms for babies and young children. Visit it for more information about decorating a Disney Cars theme room including the best places to find Disney Cars room décor.

Decorating Your Kitchen With A 1940's Retro Theme

These days kitchen décor comes in all colors, sizes and eras. One fun way to decorate your kitchen is with a bit of 1940's nostalgia. Painted cabinets, glass knobs, and vintage linens combined with new appliances that have a retro look can give you a unique and functional kitchen.

You can get a great 1940's look without spending a bundle and still be able to fill your kitchen with some nice collectibles. Here's some ideas on how you can get a 1940's look in your kitchen.

Decorating

Colors

Decorating Your Kitchen With A 1940's Retro Theme

Some popular colors from this era include jadeite and a red and white theme. You can find plenty of vintage accents to fill your kitchen for either one of these color schemes. Why not start a collection of jadeite that you can display in open cabinets as well as use for dishware? You can jazz the place up with vintage wooden handle gadgets that are painted jadite and cream. If you are going for the red and white theme, there are plenty of red vintage kitchen ware gadgets out there and vintage linens can really perk up the place. Another advantage of the red and white theme is you can also add in a fruit theme on top of it like apples or strawberries.

I would leave the walls a neutral color - white of off white so that it does not detract from all
your great accessories. Linoleum flooring in a checkerboard pattern would be perfect.
Some color coordinated throw rugs can add a bit of color to the floor and pull it all together.

Lighting

Simple lighting is best. You can buy vintage ceiling lights and wall sconces if you want a
really authentic look. Of course you'll want to make sure you have enough task
lighting so some modern lights will have to be worked in. I suggest you make them as subtle as possible so they don't look out of place.

Window Treatments

Use vintage curtains for your windows. You can buy them with complimentary colors and great patterns.
If you can't find curtains make some out of vintage dish towels or tablecloths - you can buy tablecloths that have stains in 1 area pretty cheaply and then just use the good area for the curtains! If you are going with a red and white 1940's kitchen decorating theme, you might want to pick either cherries or apples as a secondary theme and look for curtains with those fruits in the motif.

Furniture

Glass knobs will really jazz up your furniture and cabinets and add an authentic vintage look. If you have painted cabinets in either white or cream, try the green glass knobs. Your table and chairs should either be a chrome vintage style dinette (you can buy these new and you can still get vintage ones as well), or a vintage wooden style table with enamel top. If you can't find either of these, you can buy any type table and hide it with a vintage tablecloth.

Accessories

Accessories for 1940's style kitchens can be found in antique malls as well as bought brand new.
Soften up the room by hanging vintage tablecloths and tea towels around. Chrome appliances go well with this look as do the retro style appliances you can buy brand new these days. And don't forget the vintage
breadbox and canisters - every kitchen had them on the counter and you can choose from chrome
or enamel in cream and green, or red and white to complete your look.

Decorating Your Kitchen With A 1940's Retro Theme

Lee Dobbins is the owner of A Kitchen Decorating Idea where you can get more ideas on how to decorate your kitchen on a budget .

Office Interior Decorating

Like our home, our office or workplace is an important part of our life. There can be little denial of the fact that we spend a major portion of our lifetime in the office.

Based on this observation, you will be able to contemplate how to improve the facilities and design of the office. The concept of the home office is gaining popularity, with more and more people choosing to work from home.

Decorating

If your office is a home-based one, then you need to select the suitable area and plan the interior decorating accordingly. The main criterion for selecting a suitable place for your office is silence. The area should not be disturbed by any other event in the house. Next, choose the suitable interior-decorating scheme.

Office Interior Decorating

Whatever interior decorating scheme you choose, you need to allocate enough room for movement and accommodation of all the necessary equipment and furniture. For example, your workstation should not be too crowded or muddled up. You can use smaller objects instead of large ones. For example, you can use old trays as stacks for piling stationery and other rough documents. The chairs and computer tables should be soft but sturdy, with as many compartments as possible. This will save you the much-needed space.

You need to have separate plugs and boards so that the wires and other cords are not messed up. After all, you cannot afford to waste your precious time, struggling with those jumbled knots everyday! You have got other jobs to do.

Talking of a general or commercial office, some guiding factors for interior decorating are freedom of movement, appearance, maximum space utilization, and so on.

There should be a separate workstation for each employee, where he or she can work with ease and comfort. Also, the lighting and air-conditioning facilities should be correctly fitted to cover all sides evenly. There should be enough air circulation through windows, which of course, should be beautifully draped with curtains or blinds. Only if the surroundings are comfortable will a person's mind think freely and creatively.

For an office, starting from the entry point to the cafeteria lounge, interior-decorating ideas must be chosen carefully. Safety is also important in big offices, since a large number of employees work there. So, measures like emergency exits, automatic water sprays in case of fire accidents; fire extinguishers and alarms should be adopted in the designing stage of the building itself.

You can decorate the reception or guest room with beautiful bouquets, which will be refreshing to look at, and spread their freshness all around.

In big factories, interior-decorating ideas can be followed to reduce manual labor. You can opt for low-cost furnishings and furniture.

While framing the structure or design of your office, you can be immensely rewarded in terms of satisfaction and full value for your money, if you seek a professional's help. He will be able to suggest what you need to include and what to avoid.

Office Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating provides detailed information on Interior Decorating, Interior Decorating Ideas, Home Interior Decorating, Office Interior Decorating and more. Interior Decorating is affiliated with Home Interior Designs [http://www.i-InteriorDesign.com].

Decorating The Porch For Fall

With the fall season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to be looking for those special decorating accents to bring the fall theme into your outdoor room. Don't worry that you do not have enough room to decorate, even very small porch spaces can benefit from the addition of a few fall themed accessories. You can even just decorate your front door with a wreath made of a variety of fall leaves or dried corn to give a special seasonal touch.

When putting together a fall theme, start with a focus on color. Look for fall themed colors like shades of oranges, yellows, reds, and earth tones. Choose accessories in the pumpkin shades of orange and look for items and colors that mirror the colors of the changing leaves. Fall decorating does not have to be only Halloween themes either. Hay bales, collections of apples, gourds, dried corn or even dried twigs can make a festive fall display.

Decorating

Check out your dollar store for inexpensive fall decor. You can find lots of great fall themed wreaths, hanging pots, colored planters, and fall colored silk leaves and stems. Arrange them in vases or planters for a great looking display. To get more ideas to spark your creativity, visit your local craft stores and browse their displays.

Decorating The Porch For Fall

Use natural elements from nature. Go for a walk and gather pinecones and a variety of branches to design your own wreaths and centerpieces. Try to add a variety of textures and heights to make the display more interesting. Mix and match items to create more interesting designs.

Get more mileage out of your current accessories by placing your fall items on top of them. For example, put your plants on the ground and place small pumpkins on the plant stands. Use pumpkins to line your front porch steps or even your fence.

With just a few themed items you can bring a fall theme to your decor. Have fun with your decorating!

Decorating The Porch For Fall

Dee Marie is a freelance writer who enjoys decorating. Please visit [http://www.porch32.com] for more ideas on porch swings [http://www.porch32.com] and rockers.

Preschool Classroom Decorating Ideas

The beginning of the school year is perfect to introduce preschool classroom decorating ideas. Most children at this age are not exactly sure what to expect when they start this new adventure called Preschool.

They have some idea if they have had exposure to television, movies or children's books or even older siblings but it still has room for wonder.

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My preference is to start a bulletin board or wall that is for and by the children. You will begin with an area marked off that will be the "creation center". You will use this creation center throughout the school year as their personal mural space. You can cover this with large butcher paper, an old sheet, cork squares...whatever you wish. Use this area throughout the year for different themes.

Preschool Classroom Decorating Ideas

The most important aspect of this area is that this is their personal group display for their classroom. Children enjoy having responsibility and contributions to their class.

The first week of school is ideal to show them how you need their help in thinking of preschool classroom decorating ideas. Take a photo of each child on the first day, or have them draw a self portrait if a camera is not available. You will need to label the pictures with their names. These will be used later on.

You can suggest ideas for the board at the beginning because some children may be shy or hesitant at such an undertaking. Ask if they would like the area to have a street with a large school bus on it, or if they would like to have a playground with swing sets on it? These are just to get started. Let them know that it needs to be a setting where each child's picture can be displayed. This will help them out coming up with ideas of their own.

Next, use your week to create the idea they decide upon. If, for example, you are doing a school bus scene, you can teach them about the colors and shapes needed to create a large school bus with many windows (enough windows for each child). You can create a classroom setting with large round circles for the tables and squares for student chairs. Place a photo at each chair.

You can see that this is an area that can be used year round. The only bounds are your imagination!

I have used this area for holiday displays, seasonal displays, ocean themes, gardening themes, all about me displays and so many more.

Try these preschool classroom decorating ideas this year. Use it as a starting point for any of your preschool themes or units and you will enjoy the enthusiasm of your preschoolers and their willingness to learn and participate.

Preschool Classroom Decorating Ideas

Mary Robinson has been teaching preschool for well over a decade. You can get instant access to her preschool activities, crafts, and lesson plans by visiting her website:

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com

For a limited time, all visitors to Mary's site will also get a free copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Preschool Teachers and Parents Make". Go get your free copy today!

Easy Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Decorating your bedroom can be a great way to give your self a tranquil retreat, yet so many people neglect this room. Often times people focus on the public rooms of the home - the kitchen, living room and guest bathroom but the bedroom is your own private sanctuary and you owe yourself to decorate it!

If decorating your bedroom seems like an overwhelming task, you might want to take it easy and make small changes over a period of time instead of one huge change. On way to ease yourself into decorating the bedroom is to start with the walls. Artwork can make a huge difference in the look of your bedroom and is one decorating idea that you can easily reverse if the look doesn't work.

Decorating

What is the first thing you notice when you walk into someone's home? The walls, right? Walls enclose the home, giving a thematic impression. So, if your walls are empty you've got to get to work to populate them. Wall hangings can be expensive, but that's only if you purchase something by a famous dead artist. You can create your own artwork without any art instruction whatsoever. First, you have to consider your theme. If you have a Victorian, feminine or shabby chic bedroom theme then you will want floral or feminine artwork. A modern bedroom theme will look best with prints in sleek frames. A tropical look? Then get some jungle style prints or prints of exotic animals and birds.

Easy Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Do you have hundreds of pictures and just don't know what to do with them? If the idea of a personalized bedroom picture wall appeals to you, you could arrange the photos into a huge wall photo collage. Examples include pictures of exotic places, weddings, and children growing up. If there is a teenager in your home, their bedroom is probably home to a huge collection of music CDs. They can create their own wall collage using the cover art from their CDs. Although you will have more fun creating your collage yourself, there are companies that will take care of this for you. The cost ranges from about for an 8x10 to 0 for a 20x24 wall collage.

If your bedroom contains foliage, you might want to consider pressing leaves or flowers and framing your work; the best of these are flat. You basically place the leaves or flowers in a book to allow them to dry flat. They are ready for your wall hanging when they become crisp. This shouldn't take longer than a week or two. After the items are pressed, you will just need to mount the artwork and hang it on your wall.

When you decorate your bedroom with artwork you are only limited by your imagination. Don't be afraid to experiment. As mentioned previously, artwork is easily reversible. So, be imaginative and creative and design your artwork.

Easy Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs and Decorations where you can learn more about designing your dream bedroom.

Easy Cake Decorating Ideas For Beginners

Beautiful cakes are not just for big bucks on extra-special occasions. You can learn easy cake decorating ideas that you can do yourself to make even an ordinary boxed cake mix look extraordinary. With a few simple tools and techniques and the easy cake decorating ideas in this article, you'll be able to make a beautiful cake yourself at home.

Icing The Cake

Decorating

Most of the time, you'll want to start with smooth icing all over the cake. To get a smooth surface, make sure the cake is completely cooled and your frosting is not too thick. Thinner icing will spread more easily and end up with a smoother finish.

Easy Cake Decorating Ideas For Beginners

First, put a very thin layer of frosting all over the cake. This is called the crumb coat, and it will keep crumbs from getting mixed in with the frosting that you'll see on the finished cake. At this point, you can refrigerate the cake to set the crumb coat and make it easier to apply the top coat.

Next, use an icing spatula to put on the second coat of icing. Start with a large amount of icing in the middle of the top of the cake and spread it toward the edges. When the top of the cake is completely covered, cover the sides of the cake. To smooth the sides, hold the spatula straight up and down and hold the edge against the cake as you spin the plate.

For the best look, try to get the frosting as smooth as possible all over cake. For the top of the cake, hold the spatula perfectly horizontal. For the sides, hold it perfectly upright. Try dipping the spatula in hot water and drying it before gliding across the frosting for even smoother results.

Getting smooth, even icing on your cakes is probably the hardest part of cake decorating. Practice these techniques until you can get perfectly smooth frosting, and you might find that you don't even need any other cake decorating ideas for an elegant, beautiful cake.

Simple Cake Decorating Ideas

For a simply elegant cake with a really easy technique, dust your frosted cake with powdered sugar. Try using a stencil for a themed or geometric design on the top of the cake. Remember making paper snowflakes as a kid? Make one to fit the top of your cake and use it as a stencil for a one-of-a-kind powdered sugar design.

If you want a more detailed, three-dimensional design, you can buy ready-to-use decorations and cake toppers in just about any theme you can think of. Candy flowers and letters, sprinkles in special shapes, and even small toys can be used to top your cake.

For an especially tasty look, sprinkle the cake with candy, nuts, shredded coconut, or chocolate shavings. Or use fresh fruit, like a simple ring of strawberry slices or an elaborate pattern of a few kinds of fruits. For a different style, decorate only the sides of the cake and leave the top smooth, or surround a simply frosted cake with fresh fruit or flowers.

Another option is to use a decorating comb or decorating triangle to add texture to the frosting. A decorating comb is a simple piece of plastic or metal with a variety of shaped edges. You drag the comb along the frosting to leave a textured pattern in the frosting. This is a great option if you're having trouble getting your icing as smooth as you want it to be.

Anyone Can Master These Easy Cake Decorating Ideas

These easy cake decorating ideas will help you make all your cakes more beautiful and are easy enough for anyone to learn. Master these techniques, and then consider taking cake decorating classes locally or online to learn more advanced cake decorating ideas and techniques like piping with a pastry bag and using fondant.

Easy Cake Decorating Ideas For Beginners

Want to learn more advanced cake decorating ideas and techniques? Try inexpensive and convenient cake decorating classes that you can take online.

Bathroom Decorating For A Zen Like Spa Look

Bathroom decorating can be fun and challenging but when it ends up giving you the relaxing feeling of a Zen like spa it is well worth the effort. Here are some tips on how you can get this relaxing feel in your bathroom

You should use soft colors and neutral tones colors for your Zen bathroom. Matching colors with your wall paint, towels and shower curtains is key so get paint cards that have your paint colors on them and bring them shopping with you when you buy your bathroom accessories - that way you will get a perfect match.

Decorating

In the bathroom, consider accessorizing with artwork on the walls, as well as toiletry and toothbrush holders, towel racks, towels and decorative soaps. You want to end up with a minimalist look so don't put too much in. Consider sleek designs for the hamper and wastebasket.

Bathroom Decorating For A Zen Like Spa Look

If your bathroom is big enough it could include shoji screens, plants and furniture with simple lines as well as a table water fountain and some bamboo. Window treatments for the Zen bathroom decorating theme should be simple and plain. Try updating your windows with bamboo blinds. After you get the ideal look on your windows, you might realize the walls are drab by comparison. To overcome this, try hanging watercolors or oriental silks in frames around the room.

While you may not think about it much, flooring plays a vital role in your interior design style so putting in bath mats to compliment your Zen decorating theme can really improve it's style. The best type of flooring for the peaceful and serene style is organic woven mats which you will want to purchase in neutral tones.

For some decorative touches which will help tie together your Zen decor think about a lotus bowl with 1 flower, rice paper lamps, and Asian pottery to accent your room design. You could also add towels that match your wall colors rolled up and stacked in a bamboo basket just like you might find at the spa.

Your Zen bathroom decorating theme can be a snap if you take the time to plan it out adequately. Simply buy the pieces on your plan and put them in place - your room with have the feeling of a peaceful spa before you know it.

Bathroom Decorating For A Zen Like Spa Look

Visit http://bathroomdecoratingguide.com for more great tips on decorating your bathroom in a variety of popular bathroom decorating styles.

Decorating A Large Wall - Ideas For Decorating A Large Wall

Large wall in interior present a big challenge of decorating with the right style. However unique ideas for large walls can greatly improve the interior mood of the space in a very short time because of the visual attention it gets easily. However at the same time a large wall can easily spoil the whole mood in a matter of minutes if done with improper planning.

There are many ways of decorating a large wall. Firstly what you can do is choose a wall decor style that will have a repetitive patter with large patterns. This will break down the wall into small compartments so that each individual unit is obviously smaller than the total size of the wall. This can be achieved by using a chosen wallpaper design.

Decorating

Another way to achieve this is by creating a mural on the wall with your selected theme. The mural must match with the overall theme of the room interiors. If you have chosen a contemporary design theme for interiors then the wall-decorating theme must match the entire theme for the purpose of continuing the visual connection.

Decorating A Large Wall - Ideas For Decorating A Large Wall

You can also use curtains to break down the large volume of the wall. Simply divide the length of the wall into 3 or 4 sets and use curtains as a way to sooth the heavy volume of the wall. While selecting the curtains keep in mind the overall decorating theme.

I am going to show you another twist to this idea. It is not always necessary to decorate a wall with external elements such as wallpaper, picture frames, cladding tiles etc. What you can do is create openings in wall if possible. Of course this won't work with every wall. But if the wall is only a divider between two interior spaces just as divider and if privacy of either of the space is not an issue, then this technique can be use very effectively used.

Creating openings in the wall will immediately break down its volume and also add visual connection between the two spaces. The newly opening can be decorated using curtains too.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Decorating A Large Wall - Ideas For Decorating A Large Wall

Want more amazing modern wall decor ideas? visit my website http://www.ModernWallDecor.net to explore some great wall decor themes that can transform your home into a stunning interior masterpiece.

Decorating Outside Your Home For Halloween (A Spooky Theme)

For many people the best part of Halloween is being able to decorate the outside of their home. This doesn't have to be limited to just the front yard. Decorating the backyard can create a very spooky atmosphere. You can even design a detour that will take each of your guests on a long walk that circles the backyard before leading them to the entrance. This way they get to enjoy the full benefits of your decorating efforts.

The traditional pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns make great additions when you decorate the outside of your home for Halloween. The light that these decorations give off will help your guest to see their way around and add the perfect lighting to create scary shadows that surround the other decorations. Ghost and goblins are an old favorite that can still make your guest look over their shoulder twice. Don't be afraid to get very creative with these items. Some of the newer designs are now being made inflatable to help give them an even more lifelike appearance.

Decorating

The use of a fog machine can create an illusion that can make your yard the spookiest of all. This is especially true when you litter the lawn with fake body parts and fake blood splattered all about the area. The fog just intensifies the whole spooky theme. Don't forget about a special door bell ring that alerts you of the incoming guest with screams, howling or some other unique Halloween greeting. You can even have a host that is decked out in one of the scariest costumes around to stand outside your door to personally welcome each and every one of you Halloween guest.

Decorating Outside Your Home For Halloween (A Spooky Theme)

Add special sound effects that will begin whenever your guest walks past a certain area. You can also use props that are programmed on a timer to go off at specific intervals. Spider webs are also a great decorating idea that will help you to create a spooky outdoor theme. Make sure that you don't forget the customary black cat and maybe a witch or two sitting in the trees watching the guest wondering by. It's just not Halloween without a few traditional items.

Decorating Outside Your Home For Halloween (A Spooky Theme)

Nicola always enjoys Halloween parties with her family. Visit her Halloween site for tips and information about Halloween Outdoor Decorations at http://Halloween-Decorations.Best-Halloween.com

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Best-Halloween.com

8 Ideas for Decorating a Victorian Bedroom

For many a Victorian style bedroom has an antique but typically feminine feel to. The Victorian era started in the 1830's and was around until 1900 (when Queen Victoria died) and there are many variations to be had relating to the style of a Victorian bedroom but hopefully the points provided below will help you when decorating a Victorian bedroom for yourself.

1. Bed

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A Victorian bed should be showy wooden affair or made from either cast-iron, brass or a combination of both these metals. You may be able to get a skilled carpenter to produce or adapt a full bed to queen size or merging twin beds together to produce a king size. But if you really do not have the money to spend on such a luxury there are many modern reproduction beds available at a fraction of the cost.

8 Ideas for Decorating a Victorian Bedroom

2. Dressing the Bed

The bed should be elaborately dressed with canopies and drapes, lots of pillows, flounces, ribbons and other trims. If you can search out your local fabric store and see if they have period type quilts etc., available.

3. Tables

It is important that you include either a marble topped table or cabinet in your room design as well as a wicker, bamboo or faux bamboo table, round or skirted table as a nightstand. Why not visit your local junk or antique shop to see what turned and carved wooden tables they may have for inclusion in your design from that era.

4. Lighting

It is vital that you get the lighting right in decorating a Victorian bedroom and this should include the classic ginger-jar style, or those that are made from porcelain, crystal or brass. You may even decide to use candlestick holders which have been transformed to be used as a light. Under each lamp you should place a crocheted doily for obtaining the authentic period look.

5. Dressers & Chest of Drawers

These should be typically made from either dark stained oak, mahogany or walnut and be embellished with carvings, pediments and have either ornate brass or carved wooden drawer pulls. You may be lucky to find ones that also have a candle stand, tilting mirror and marble top to them.

6. Flooring

To provide that authentic Victorian look to your bedroom use Oriental area rugs or straw type mats. You may if you wish us hooked or machine loomed rugs that have a floral or a swirly abstract pattern on them.

7. Accessories

Such accessories you should include in your room are period pictures (include subjects such as botanicals, children, maidens (young women) and animals in these pictures). Also include an elaborate golden or stained wood framed mirror in to your design. If you can also place fresh flowers in period style vases in the room and visit your local junk or antique shop to find some Victorian style collectibles for inclusion in your design such as china dishes and figurines.

8. Windows

These should be dressed with full curtains or drapes which have ruffles, valances, braid, lace, bows and tassels on them (but you don't need to have every just one or two will suffice). The materials your should be using to dress your windows should be either velvet, brocade, delicate florals and then layered with lace sheers.

So decorating a Victorian bedroom can be quite easy all you need to do is just carry out a little research and hopefully you will be able to design and decorate the bedroom of your dreams.

8 Ideas for Decorating a Victorian Bedroom

Lee Dobbins writes about bedroom decorating. Visit http://www.bedroom-designs-and-decorations.com/ for more great bedroom decorating ideas.

Interior Decorating For Men

It is difficult to really pin down what man decor is. Guys are a diverse bunch with a wide range of traits and attributes. Labeling an entire gender with a certain personality is a dangerous habit.

However there are certain things which in our society are stylistically male. Not a firm scientific decoration, these are more a philosophy, a set of intrinsic notions which give us a common artistic playground upon which to work. Some things just seem girly, and some things seem male. It is as obvious as the difference between pink and blue.

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Defining male decorating preferences is really a matter of understanding the psychology that we expect from this gender. Male décor is, by its very definition, not female décor, and therefore its essence is going to be comprised of the difference between the minds of the two.

Interior Decorating For Men

One of the things society thinks of men, is that they are more functional than women. While females appreciate beauty, guys like things that work. In fact common conceptions state that men are actually annoyed by useless decorative touches.

This means that one of the key elements of guy decorating would be to choose function over form. A delicate coffee tables made from flowing strips of stainless steal will lose out to a sturdy work table made of oak.

Another manifestation of this trait is the male trend to decorate using their hobbies and interests. Sports accessories, toys, models, these are the favorite accessories of a manly room. Meanwhile flowers and incense stands, candles and lace, objects which create atmosphere and little else, those are generally considered more feminine in their nature.

Another aspect of male décor is that guys are generally larger than women. This means they need more room to be comfortable. They need to be able to stretch out, and feel like the world around them is proportionate to their size.

One of the most stereotypical pieces of guy décor is the recliner. Often this is the only furnishing which is big enough to fit a man's body comfortably. Able to lean back and stretch out, they can generally support the majority of a tall guy's size, in a comfortable and relaxing way.

Size and function trends collide in other aspects of guy decorating. Men tend to like big dressers, big beds, big shelves, and big drawers. This is both because the imposing size matches them, and because these objects tend to do their jobs better. Bigger containers hold more. Bigger beds comfort more. Bigger dressers are generally stronger and more durable.

Men also tend to like different colors than women. Guys tend to be drawn to darker and more earthen colors. Red, brown, black, and green are traditionally masculine, and in some shades have a distinctly male feel.

While these trends may hold true for some males, every guy is different. What is important when creating a space is that you take the desires and preferences of everyone that inhabits it, male and female, and find out where your tastes overlap. Compromise in decorating is the art of creating a symphony from many different visions.

Interior Decorating For Men

This article was provided courtesy of http://PebbleZ.com where you can find rustic, powerful, natural stone vases, lamps, and home decor

Decorating Your Teens Bedroom

When your kid gets to be a teenager, that little kids furniture and bedroom décor just won't do. Your teen wants a cool new look, and here's how you can get it.

First of all, don't toss out that old bedroom furniture yet. Unless the furniture is totally banged up and broken, you may be able to give it a cool new look with some paint and new knobs. Before you start on that, however, you need to figure out the theme of your teen bedroom design.

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Todays hot new looks are centered around retro, modern or "cool" designs. Teens actually have pretty good design sense (probably from watching so much TV!) and you can design a really neat room just by adding some new accents. Of course, your teen may need a new desk to do their home work at if the old one no longer works but you can give the old furniture a new look as mentioned above.

Decorating Your Teens Bedroom

Luckily, you don't have to spend a lot on accents for your teenagers room. Most of the discount department stores like Target offer hip furnishings and accents at discount prices. You can buy inexpensive shelves, or build them yourself, and use it for them to put all their stuff that might normally be thrown on the floor. This will help the room look neat and reduce the clutter.

You can give your teens bedroom a fun but sophisticated look by painting the room in a "cool" color like chocolate, sage or purple and using accents to as focal points. A flokati or rag rug will lend a sophisticated air and you can even put the down as area rugs on top of wall to wall carpeting to give the floor a whole new look. Replace the kids ruffled or theme curtains with tab topped curtains in a denim or canvas for a more adult look.

Bedding for you teen can be plain, or funky - whatever goes with the room. Depending on your teens taste, a neutral colored bed set with nicely textured fabrics like silks or a velvet duvet can add interest with out being too flashy. Or if you want to make the bed a focal point, how about an animal print set or something in bright colors like hot pink and orange?

Accents are where you add interest and give the room personality. Some fun accents include chairs shaped like a giant shoe, faux fur covered lamps in wild colors, bean bag chairs of all types, phones in all shapes and sizes, funky accent pillows, rugs and wall art.

Decorating Your Teens Bedroom

Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs where you can learn more about bedroom design themes.

8 Tips For Decorating A Small Bedroom

When decorating a small bedroom then it makes sense wherever possible to conserve the floor space you have in order to make a cramped room feel larger than it really is. Below are some small bedroom decorating ideas which should help you to achieve the right result for such a small space.

1. If you do not have enough space in the room for small bedside table then why not place a wall mounted shelf next to the bed. It will have enough space on it to place an alarm clock, books, photos and other items which will personalize the space for you.

Decorating

2. If you do not have the room for a bureau or closet then use under bed storage instead. They can either be made from inexpensive plastic or if you wish you can have some made to order from wood. But it is important that you have enough space beside the bed so that you can pull them out when you need access to them.

8 Tips For Decorating A Small Bedroom

3. For those of you who want to watch a little TV before going to sleep then fit either a wall or ceiling mounted TV stand. You will be able to purchase one in any good DIY store or store that specializes in storage products.

4. The colours that you use on your walls in a small bedroom should be neutral tones and only 2 or 3 hues of this colour should be used in the room. It is important that you paint the moldings and doors in the room in the same colours as the walls by using contrasting colours you will be making the room feel smaller than it is. The ceilings should be painted white as they will provide a sense of height to the room.

5. The furniture for such a room should be clean lined and have small delicate patterns on it which will help to foster the illusion of space.

6. Open up the room by maximizing any views that it may have of the outdoors by using light fabrics or blinds at the windows.

7. Ensure that the room is well illuminated as this will also provide a sense of space in such a small room.

8. If you are able to add a mirror in a position opposite a natural form of light as this will help to provide further light into a room and therefore create the illusion of space.

Hopefully the small bedroom decorating ideas that have been provided above will help to create the haven of peace and tranquility that you are looking for in such a confined space.

8 Tips For Decorating A Small Bedroom

Lee Dobbins writes on many topics including bedroom decorating. Please visit Bedroom-Designs-And-Decorations.com to get more tips on decorating your bedroom.

Small Basement, Big Style - How To Decorate Your Small Basement

When it comes to family entertainment there's no substitute for your basement so it's no wonder you want it to have terrific decorating style. But it can be difficult to make small areas look big on style. Here are some tips for decorating a small basement to have a big impact.

You need to make sure to decorate in keeping with the size of your space. If your basement is cluttered, this will tend to make it seem smaller so you ought to stay away from styles that have a lot of knick knacks.

Decorating

Another consideration for decorating a small basement is to be mindful of where the furniture is going to be in the room. If you want a design which looks inviting plus enhances your life, think about employing the ideas of Feng Shui when decorating your basement. Making certain doorways are clear of furniture should help make it seem more spacious. Plus, if you can focus the eye on the larger pieces like a big TV or entertainment unit, it may help the room seem more spacious.

Small Basement, Big Style - How To Decorate Your Small Basement

Think of furniture and accessories you may include in your room design which will help to maximize space in the basement. A sharp modern or Zen like interior design style can work good since it will be less cluttered hence making the room appear more spacious. No matter what you go with, don't forget to be positive you like it, this is a great space for family games and entertainment.

Try to keep your accessories and furniture in the small size range. One means to maximize space is to have a couch with chair, as opposed to big sectional which will give the illusion of more space but still allow plenty of seating. However you don't have to stick with all small items in your basement, selecting some larger pieces will add unique charm to the room, so in combination with the minimal seating, match it with a big screen TV- this can add interest and also make the room appear larger also.

Pick out the color palette for the basement carefully for certain colors can help make it look more open. You've possibly heard that light colors make a room look less small and dark colors make it appear smaller, but it's really a bit more involved than that. You can dispense with that boring white and make use of a monochromatic color palette, or stick to colors which have the same intensity and this will not make the room appear cramped. You can try a moss green decorating theme, or if you want more color choose purple, blue and green that all have the same intensity and tone. Painting one wall a deep color will make it appear further away, therefore, adding depth and unique appeal. A gray-blue hue is wonderful for decorative appeal and for also making the walls appear to recede, Therefore making the room appear larger. If you think gray will be too bland, you can essentially apply any cool color like green or purple to produce the same feeling.

Given you use certain well known approaches decorating a small basement can be easy. Providing a little bit of elbow grease combined with creativity can help change even the tiniest room into a designer showplace.

Small Basement, Big Style - How To Decorate Your Small Basement

Lee Dobbins writes for Decorating Tips where you can make decorating easy with our great interior decorating tips.

Design Ideas For Decorating A Small Dining Room

Your dining room is a space for family meals therefore you are looking for it to have a great interior design. But how can you make a small dining room look big on style? But if you practice these suggestions, you will realize that there are numerous methods for decorating a small dining room.

One thing you might want to do is be sure to decide on a room design that makes the most out of small spaces. One principle feature to avoid with small dining rooms is clutter due to the fact that it tends to make the room seem a great deal smaller.

Decorating

By applying a particular decorating style, you can insert furniture and accessories which will make good use of the space in your dining room. Keep in mind design themes which allow for a variety of baskets and shelving since these can be used as extra storage. Deciding on a design you really can live with, however, is imperative as this is where you will be eating lots of meals.

Design Ideas For Decorating A Small Dining Room

Another core aspect of making your dining room look sizeable is the color palette. If you always believed that you were supposed to keep your spacially challenged rooms white, then here is some wonderful news for you. If you don't want drab paint that is boring, think about having a monochromatic interior design in a muted color, or combine different colors which all produce the same intensity. For a scheme that is more colorful consider blues and greens that all have an equal intensity or if you prefer a soothing ambiance think about a monochromatic color scheme of pale blues. To add drama and depth, work on painting one wall a deep, intense tone - this gives it the impression of being further away along with adding an unusual charm. Pale colors will recede, therefore making the room seem larger and blueish gray is a great decorative paint color for a small room. But then if that sounds too colorless, don't despair cool colors like blues, greens and purples also recede so you can use your beautiful shades without making the room appear small sized.

When it comes to loading the room with furniture, keep to small-to-medium sized fittings. One means to maximize space is to use a table with leaves, in lieu of a huge dining table which will free up some room while allowing additional seating when necessary. You can also fix any monotony in the decorating approach of your dining room by mixing large with small, so though you might decide to try the small table, add into your design a large mirror or server, which not only gives some style, but also gives you the feeling that the room is more spacious than it really is.

Thinking about where you place the furniture in the room is an additional tip for decorating a small dining room. Even your dining room might add to your well being when designed with Feng Shui in mind. Easy access into a room will make it seem more spacious, so place your furniture away from the doors. If you can, steer the eye from the open door to a bigger piece like a server or mirror can help divert the eye and give the illusion of space.

Provided you decorate with some industry known suggestions decorating a small dining room is a breeze. Practicing a bit of elbow grease combined with imagination can help make even the tiniest room appear like a designer showplace.

Design Ideas For Decorating A Small Dining Room

Lee Dobbins writes for Decorate EZ where you can make decorating easy with our great home decorating tips.

How You Can Get The Nostalgic Look Of 1930's Decorating In Your Home

Accessories are the highlights of any interior design and could help pull your 1930's style decorating theme together. Using nostalgic style accessories will help accentuate the nostalgic and interesting allure of your room décor, making it have the appeal of nostalgic style. Your 1930's décor will really pop when you add specific coordinating knick-knacks, pillows and wall art.

Wall art is vital in any design, but if you don't situate it properly it is sure to spoil the whole effect. Many people arrange paintings and prints so that the bottom or top edges line up, but it's important to arrange them so that the middle of the pieces line up. If you have numerous piece to use on one wall, try arranging them on the floor initially to locate the perfect arrangement. You can bring interesting panache into your 1930's style decorating theme design with 1930's travel or movie posters that you should hang simple black frames.

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Finding the appropriate knick knacks to go with your decor can be fun and also help pull the room together. To compliment your vintage decor, buy knick knacks with a nostalgic and interesting feeling. Adding art deco or art nouveau clocks, lamps and vases on shelves, mantles and tables can give you a terrific look and so can geometric shaped knick knacks on shelves. When looking for pieces try to acquire ones that mirror your unique tastes. If you have minimal funds, try shopping at garage sales and flea markets for excellent interesting decorative items.

How You Can Get The Nostalgic Look Of 1930's Decorating In Your Home

Decorative pillows are another accessory you can make use of to spruce up your room design. If you were under the impression that pillows were purely for the bedroom, think again, they can provide a fascinating touch to any room including the dining room, kitchen, bathroom and living room. Pillows are smart for those with a budget because displaying them with your existing living room furniture can help give it a vintage decor allure without having to acquire new items. You can decorate with pillows in the bath or kitchen by putting them on chairs, shelving and any corner or any interesting spot. Putting decorative pillows stacked at the head of your bed can add a great professional appeal. Add a comfortable appeal to your decor with pillows that are made from vintage fabrics.

Some accessories that can help add interest to the feeling of nostalgic style include vintage signs, vintage linens, and jadite items. To better add appeal to your decorating theme, you should select accessories that not only go with each other, but also the decorating theme. Don't stray to far from your theme or you could end up with a non definitive room design.

Adding art deco style furniture and accessories to your 1930's style decorating theme will completely help the room have a unique touch. Make sure you have a plan for what styles of pieces to purchase and stick to that plan. Also, think about the sizes you are looking for that will help add to the room decor. Buying items which look great together will help ensure your design theme really pops!

How You Can Get The Nostalgic Look Of 1930's Decorating In Your Home

Lee Dobbins writes for Decor How To where you can learn more about decorating your home and find out more about 1930's style decorating.

Tips For The Italian Country Decorating Theme

Choosing the proper decorative items for your Italian country decorating theme will give it a professional interior design. Try to use simple, country items that enhance the informal and elegant allure of the Tuscan countryside. Buy coordinating accessories such as pillows, knick-knacks and artwork that suit your Italian country look to finish the decor.

Putting up your prints and paintings correctly is crucial for the desired effect. When hanging art pieces, have the middle of the artwork at eye level as the focal point. If you are making a grouping of paintings or photos, then work out the design on the floor beforehand to decide how they look most pleasing. Making use of country prints in simple frames will work to add interest to the Italian country decorating theme.

Decorating

Consider adding ironstone china, dried flowers, or wrought iron candleholders for more of a feeling of the Tuscan countryside. You would be smart to go with pieces which match with your overall decor. Deploy on theme accessories only in order to be successful in the look and feel you are trying for.

Tips For The Italian Country Decorating Theme

When looking for knick knacks for your interior decorating scheme be sure to go with ones which balance your design and also show your personal style. To compliment your Italian home decorating, stick with accessories that have an informal and elegant ambiance. Using a string of peppers hanging on the wall or placing simple pottery in decorative corners. You can infuse your own distinct style to the room decor by looking for knick knacks that reflect your unique style. If you are on a fixed budget, you might want to try scouting out the local flea markets and yard sales where you ought to come across very interesting knick knacks for little money.

Another item you can use to add charm to your design theme is decorative pillows. If you had the notion that pillows were strictly for the bedroom, think again, they can instill an appealing touch to any room including the living room, dining room, bathroom and kitchen. Pillows are smart for those who don't have a lot to spend because putting them with your existing living room furniture will help give it an Italian home decorating feel without having to invest in new furniture. In the bedroom, pile them at your headboard. In the kitchen or bathroom, a pillow insterted strategically on a chair or hamper can provide an interesting touch. Pillows which have fringes will help coordinate with your room style.

Improving your Italian country decorating theme with old pottery, chippy painted items can help add appeal. It's essential, however, that you have a vision of the styles of pieces you need so you can stick to selecting only those that suit. Size matters, so go around the room and judge the size of lamps, rugs, wall art and accessories you want and shop accordingly. Buy your accessories carefully and your décor is certain to look fabulous!

Tips For The Italian Country Decorating Theme

Lee Dobbins writes for Home Decorating - DIY where you can learn more about different decorating styles and get more information on Italian Country Decorating.

Small Office Decorating Ideas

If you have an office at home or a small office anywhere else, small office decorating ideas may be foremost on your mind. You office should be tastefully decorated, making it a great place to work. Here are some small office decorating ideas:

Walls: Don't choose dark colors for the walls because this will make your room look smaller than it really is. Go in for light shades like beige, pale blue, bluish grey, pale green etc. Decorate the walls with paintings, photographs or murals. Don't overdo it and make the wall appear crowded. Getting a wall mural painted is also a good idea. Use one section of the wall to hang up framed certificates, licenses and so on.

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Furniture: Stay way from large desks and humongous book shelves that look better in an executive office. Choose desks with shelves and cubbies. This will give you a good deal of additional storage space. A moderate sized shelf in one side of the room can be used to stack reference books and even books you simply enjoy. Make sure the furniture you choose match each other and the decor of the room. Randomly selected furniture looks unprofessional. Keep furniture far way from the door. This will give an impression of space.

Small Office Decorating Ideas

Lamps and lighting: Dim lighting is a no-no in small office spaces. Use fluorescent lights or simple chandeliers. Don't go in for floor lamps or lamp stands as it demands more space. Choose a room with a big window which permits plenty of sunlight to flood room. Choose seating positions such that glare from the windows does not reflect n the computer screen.

Other accessories: A small office gives you the liberty of displaying your family photos on the wall or on your desk. You can set a bulletin board and pin up pictures of your family or your own attempts at art and photography. Shop around for some inexpensive trinkets that you can display in your home office. A small potted plant or a vase of flowers add appeal to a small office space.

The small office decorating ideas should help you decorate your office in the best possible way. Remember, the environment you work in affects your concentration and the quality of your work.

Small Office Decorating Ideas

First and foremost, in small office decorating ideas [http://www.office-decorating-ideas.com/small-office-decorating-ideas/] never plan for anything clumsy. It will only make your room look all the more small. Please visit Office Decorating Ideas [http://www.office-decorating-ideas.com] for more office decorating resource.

Decorating a Small Porch

Small porch decorating is fun and challenging. Most homes today have small porches for a variety of reasons.Although they do not have a lot of decorating space you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you can do to create a huge visual impact, add storage, and even a few amenities.

Start with hardware

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  • Update your door knob, hinge plates, and door knocker.
  • Try to match the style and color to create a cohesive look.
  • If you do not have a door knocker; now is the time to consider one. They come in all styles and finishes and add a sophisticated touch to any front door.
  • Replace your door knob and hinge plates if they are worn or severely tarnished. Often times, a good cleaning will restore the original finish.

Decorating a Small Porch

Another small porch decorating idea is replacing your door bell. Most need to be replaced periodically. They are easy to replace because they are low voltage; no need to turn off the power in most cases. Consider replacing it with one that lights at night.

Look up. Replace your porch ceiling fixture with one that fits your decorating style. You have so many options for lighting. If your porch ceiling is high enough you might choose a hanging light. As a minimum clean your light fixtures; most go untouched for years. The same goes for wall sconce lights if your porch has them.

Color selection is extremely important for small porch decorating. Make a dramatic impact by painting the front door a contrasting color. It's easy to do and can create immediate curb appeal. You may want to get sample paint colors from your local building supply store so you can try a few different colors to find just the right look. We recommend you also invest in a very good paint brush to give your door a professional look.

Select a wreath that complements your door's new color. A beautiful wreath adds warmth to your front entrance and can easily be changed for the season or holiday.

Add outdoor art for small porch decorating. This can be in the form of a wall sculpture or outdoor painting. This will give your porch a focal point, another great decorating feature. If you want to really show your decorating skills, select art that contains the color of your newly painted front door to create a cohesive look. Attach it firmly so that it will not blow in the wind. Hanging it on a hook like an indoor picture will not work.

Another way to create a focal point is to add a decorative flower container or sculpture. Select a piece that is proportional in size to your overall porch. It needs to be large enough to be a visual focal point but not too large as to overpower the porch or take up too much space.

Add a shelf. Not only does it provide a place to put packages while opening the door it can be painted to match you color scheme. No room for a shelf? Then perhaps a small bench will serve the same purpose.

Small porch decorating includes your porch columns. Often times, people overlook porch columns. Make sure they are in good repair and freshly painted. Consider changing the color or style. Column wraps are available to turn square or rectangular columns into round ones for a different look. You can also add stone bases to give your porch a craftsman-style look.

Replace or purchase a new door mat. Because they come in all sizes, colors, textures, materials, and styles, you can use them as a decorative piece as well as being functional. Like your wreaths, you can change them out to suit the season or holiday.

We cannot forget the porch flooring. Consider using interlocking deck tiles to change the look of your porch floor. This is an easy do-it-yourself project and one that can add both appeal and potential value to your home. They also come in a variety of styles so you can create your own special look. They work on almost any existing surface, wood, concrete, stone, and composites. However, they are not recommended for steps.

Remember, your porch is the first space a person sees when visiting your home. Use it to create a lasting impression. Small porch decorating can be fun, inexpensive, and will create great curb appeal.

Decorating a Small Porch

Dave R. Morris is a co-creator and co-founder of http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com, your portal for front porch ideas and designs.

To learn much more about small porch decorating and to be inspired by many small porch pictures, please visit http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/small-porch.html.

Dave is a retired Air Force officer, teacher, logistics analyst, woodworker, remodeler, and niche e-business developer. A grandfather and lover of the outdoors, Dave lives in Nashville, TN. Take a break and enjoy your porch!

Decorating Small Apartments - Small Spaces Can Have Big Style

Your apartment is your haven, so it's not a surprise you want it to have fantastic decorating style. But how can you make a small apartment look big on style? Luckily, there are various methods you can deploy to make decorating a small apartment a huge success!

There are numerous interior designs that you can employ in cozy spaces, however you would be smart to be careful to go with the ones which work with the elements of smaller spaces. If your apartment is cluttered, this will likely make it seem smaller therefore you would be smart to stay away from interior decorating designs which have a lot of accessories.

Decorating

One central characteristic of making your apartment feel sizeable is the color palette. If you had always believed that you were supposed to keep your spacially challenged rooms white, then here is some great news for you. You can have color and still make the apartment appear more spacious by painting it with colors which have equal brightness, or sticking to a monochromatic palette. You may even try a cocoa decorating theme, or if you desire more color go with green, purple and blue that all give off the same tone and intensity. Add ambiance to the room by painting an opposing wall an intense, deep hue which will give it the appearance of being further away, therefore, adding depth. One trick for making your room feel bigger is to paint the walls a shade which tend to make them recede - grayish or blue gray paints are often used for this. If you think gray will be too oppressing, you can essentially apply any cool hue such as blue or green to get the same illusion.

Decorating Small Apartments - Small Spaces Can Have Big Style

Think of features you might include in your room design which will help to make good use of space in the apartment. Look for decorating schemes that allow for lots of baskets and shelving because these can be used as additional storage. Seeing as this is where you come to wind down you will need to be sure to select a decorating approach you can live with.

Use furniture sparingly and select smaller items. Rather than using no shelving, think about using floor to ceiling shelves which will make the room look bigger while still allowing for extra storage. It makes sense to add unique appeal to your apartment by mixing in selected larger scaled items, so even though you could decide to go for the small settee, include a large potted plant- this can add atmosphere and also make the room appear more spacious also.

Thinking about where you arrange the furniture and accessories in the room is an additional tip for decorating a small apartment. Even your apartment could be enhanced when created with Feng Shui in mind. Easy access into a room should make it appear bigger, so arrange your furniture away from the doors. Additionally, if you can focus the eye on the bigger pieces like an overstuffed chair or console, it can help the room seem bigger.

These ideas allow decorating a small apartment to be simple as well as effortless. So let out your unique creativity and go make your small apartment look big on charm.

Decorating Small Apartments - Small Spaces Can Have Big Style

Lee Dobbins writes for Home Decorating Ideas where you can get more interior decorating ideas and learn more about decorating a small apartment.

10 Simple Secrets Of Five-Star Luxury Decorating

What is it about a hotel room that is so appealing when you first open the door and step inside? The "initial impact" a hotel room has upon its customers is one of the most vitally important factors in the hotel business. Hotel decorators realize the psychological importance of "first impressions." People know what standards to expect when they enter a room or suite of an established brand-name hotel. If a customer's expectations are met in a positive manner, the customer will be back. If a customer's expectations are not satisfactorily met, the hotel will lose business. People talk. It's a fact of life in any business.

Five-star establishments set the standards for "first impressions." Their success depends on providing their guests a very pleasurable, if not awestruck, first impression, stimulating patrons' senses by sheer opulence and beauty. Lavish décor and architecture resonate within each and every suite.

Decorating

The modus operandi of hotel decorating is incredibly simple. You can incorporate the basic elements of their systems of creating five-star luxury in your own home with little, if any, cost at all. Luxurious living is not necessarily reserved exclusively for the wealthy.

10 Simple Secrets Of Five-Star Luxury Decorating

1.) Upon entering a five-star hotel room, the first thing you consciously notice is that the room is well balanced. If there is one bed, it is centered on one wall. If there are two beds, they are distanced appropriately apart on the same wall while the armoire, dresser and television are generally located on the opposite wall, directly opposite the beds, creating a balance within the main area of the room. A sitting area, usually consisting of a small table and two chairs, is likewise centered in front of the window area.

2.) The next thing you will consciously note as you enter your hotel room, is that the area is clean. Spotless. The sinks, tub, bathroom tile and fixtures literally shine and you subconsciously ask yourself, "How do they do that?" One important fact to remember is that hotel rooms are sanitized virtually every day. By getting into a habit of wiping out your own tub or shower unit with a damp towel after each bath or shower every day, you, too, can achieve the same effect.

3.) The secret to glistening fixtures depends largely on the cleaning products that are used and how often they are applied. As for the actual cleaning products employed, a housekeeper's cart contains relatively few actual cleaning supplies. A high-quality all-purpose spray cleaner, furniture polish, window cleaner and an effective carpet and upholstery stain remover are the basic essentials.

It's only a guess, but it appears that one good all-purpose cleaner is used to do most of the work on the fixtures and tile floors, generally amounting to nothing more than spraying it on and wiping it off. If this is done consistently, day after day, a room can't help but be clean. Lower-priced hotels may use something as basic as "Janitor In A Drum." The higher-priced places may use a much costlier variation, perhaps something like, "Jean e'Tour en la drumme."

Hotel rooms are also "spring cleaned" every few weeks. Curtains are removed, cleaned and replaced, lampshades and picture frames are dusted, mattresses are flipped and carpets are cleaned on a regular basis.

4.) Probably the biggest secret of all to the cleanliness factor of a hotel room is that vacuuming is the final step of the hotel housekeeping operation. A hotel housekeeper will begin vacuuming at the far end of the room and make her way to the door as she completes her project, leaving an illusion that the area she leaves behind has never before been trodden. A freshly vacuumed area provides a psychologically inviting feeling. This is equally true on the home front.

5.) The next thing you will notice in your freshly appointed hotel room is that the draperies are always open and natural sunlight floods the area. Lighting is an important factor of any room and natural sunlight gleaming into a sparkling clean area makes the shining mirrors, glass and lighting fixtures glisten that much brighter. If your initial entrance to the room is after dark, the streetlights, lights of the surrounding city or the outdoor lighting of the hotel courtyard likewise leave an important impact on your first impression of the room.

6.) You will also notice that hotel rooms are always devoid of clutter. There is no unnecessary debris taking up the surface space on the dresser, table or bathroom vanity. Simple, yet elegant displays of fresh, white fluffy towels and washcloths add just the right touch to the dressing area.

7.) Basic hotel decorating begins with a neutral color scheme because neutral colors have a natural appeal to most everyone. When they stray from neutral tones in private rooms, decorators are quick to realize, they are venturing into unknown personal preference areas that simply do not appeal to everyone. Neutral colors are psychologically relaxing, non-hostile, soothing and comforting.

8.) The color of a hotel room is provided in the bedspreads and either matching or coordinating curtains, which are generally always in earth-tone colors. The pictures on the wall likewise carry the color-scheme of the earth tone colors of green, brown and yellow with perhaps a splash of orange for effect.

9.) Hotel rooms all share another common element of having quality, commercial grade furnishings and carpet, quality room-darkening draperies and bedspreads and the finest linens. Hotel towels and washcloths are consistently white and clean and are never stained or frayed.

Buying quality products for your own home is often less costly in the long run because quality products are more durable and last much longer than sub-standard merchandise. For example, cheap towels often fray after their very first encounter with a washing machine. After 3-4 washings, they look tattered and unsightly. High quality towels often continue to look fluffy and new even after 40-50 washings. Buying one quality towel instead of two or three cheap towels actually costs less in the long run because you don't have to replace them nearly as often.

Having a few exceptionally high quality items instead of lots of low-quality goods takes up less space and makes you feel luxurious. Quality products go on sale, too.

10.) The outstanding characteristic that sets a five star hotel above the rest, is the freshly cut flower and greenery arrangement that adds the final decorative touch to the area. Without much cost, you can grow your own garden and add this special affect whenever you feel a need to truly indulge.

By using these simple techniques, you, too can experience five-star luxury in your own home. It's the little things that make a very big difference.

10 Simple Secrets Of Five-Star Luxury Decorating

Terri Emmett has three online courses: BIBLE PROPHECY: 100 STEPS TO ETERNITY, [http://www.prophecyguide.net]; THE ORGANIZER'S CLUB, [http://www.organizersclub.com]; and THE ORGANIZED HOUSEKEEPER’S SIX-WEEK CHARM COURSE, http://www.charmcourse.com; in addition to many other informational sites focusing on Home and Family.

4 Tips For Decorating a Large Living Room

If you have a large living room in your house, you may be finding it hard to decorate the massive space properly. Just like small spaces, large spaces can also present some decorating troubles. If you have a large living room and you are having trouble decorating the space, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Use Dark Colors to Decorate

Decorating

If you want to make a space appear smaller, then try using dark colors when decorating. Paint the walls of the living room a few shades darker than you normally would and you will notice that the room will look smaller.

4 Tips For Decorating a Large Living Room

If you don't want the whole room to appear smaller, you can use darker colors to accessorize the room to give it less of a large feeling. Use dark colored furniture or even carpet in a large living room to make the room feel slightly smaller and not so big and open.

Use the Space in the Living Room Accordingly

If you have a large room, then you need to use the space accordingly to how big the room is. This means that all the seating should not be right on top of each other. Space the furniture out so that it looks evenly distributed across the room.

You should have plenty of space between the couch and the coffee table so that people can walk in between the two. When you utilize the space properly in a large room you can prevent it from looking too cold and open and make it feel more comfortable and quaint.

Use Large Pieces of Art to Decorate the Walls

The pieces of art that you use to decorate the walls should also be planned according to the area of blank space that you have. If you have a very large blank wall in your living room, you don't want to hang a 5x7 picture.

Instead hang a portrait that takes up most of the upper half of the wall. If you can't afford a large piece of art, then try using several pieces of smaller artwork to make a pattern or collage for the wall. Be sure to space the artwork out so that it covers a majority of the wall.

Buy a Large Piece of Furniture for the Living Room

If you don't already have a large piece of furniture for your large living room, then you may want to consider purchasing one. Such items can include an entertainment center, a bookshelf, a large couch, and even things like a piano or pool table.

Having that large piece of furniture in the room can make the large room appear smaller and more properly portioned to the items in the room. This furniture piece can also act as the focal point of the room as well.

When it comes to decorating a large living room, properly utilizing the space in the room is the most important task. If you only use a small area of the room, then the room is going to look massive and not so appealing. If you use the space, including the walls as much as possible, you can make your large living room more appealing and even give it a quaint and comfortable feeling.

4 Tips For Decorating a Large Living Room

Leon Tuberman has four decades of experience in the furniture and interior decorating industry. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. Whether you're looking for a wood TV stand for your family room or a oak end tables for your living room then they carry everything you need.

Luau Party Ideas: Invitations, Decorating, Games, Activities, Food

Need ideas for a Luau Party? In this article you will find ideas for the invitations, decorations, games & activities, and food suggestions for your luau theme party. This is a fun party for any age adult or even a child. The Luau is the most popular summer theme party. You can make yours as simple or elaborate as you like. Luau is a fun party for the pool or beach.

The Invitations
Start off with fun invitations. Place a homemade invitation in a small bottle along with a little sand. Hand deliver the invitations about two weeks in advance of the party. Request your guest to wear colorful casual clothing suitable for a luau. Greet your guest at the door with colorful leis.

Decorating

Decorating Ideas
Decorating for a luau party is easy! Most luau parties are held outside, but if you are having yours inside, just apply these same ideas. One of the most important decorations is tiki lanterns. These can be in the form of a garland or lights, depending if the party is in the day or at night. Other decorations can include: scene setters, ceiling danglers, inflatable palm trees (or lots of large potted plants), silk flowers, sea shells, pinata, luau theme balloons, and lots of colorful balloons. Always have Hawaiian music playing softly in the background to set the mood.

Luau Party Ideas: Invitations, Decorating, Games, Activities, Food

Decorate each table with a tiki candle and a few sea shells. The food table will look really cool with a raffia table skirt. Your paper tableware in a luau theme, matched with solids, can make a striking decoration on its own. A fun idea is to wrap cutlery in a napkin and use a cheap pair of sunglasses as the napkin ring.

Party Games & Activities
Luau party games & activities should always include a limbo contest! What's a luau without one? If you have the resources, provide a couple of hula skirts for a hula contest. If your guests like to dance, play beach music and have a shag dance! Another fun idea is a hula hoop contest. How long has it been since you played with a hula hoop? These are usually easy to find in any discount store early in the summer season, so you will need to get yours early.

Food Suggestions
What to eat? Keep it simple. Prepare shish kabobs on the grill, a fruit and cheese tray, crackers, chips, and other simple foods. If money is tight, have a pot luck luau! Don't forget the cute little drink picks and pina coladas in coconut cups!

Summary
To sum it up, decorate with tiki lanterns and/or garlands, balloons, candles, and other luau theme decorations. Use a raffia table skirt, tiki candle, sea shells, and luau theme tableware to decorate your table. After a simple meal and a pina colada, enjoy activities such as limbo and hula hoops. Find out who can dance the best hula to Blue Hawaii! A luau should be a fun party with plenty of time to relax and socialize. I hope these ideas will help you have the perfect luau party!

Luau Party Ideas: Invitations, Decorating, Games, Activities, Food

Visit http://www.partypantry.com for party supplies and decorations for birthdays and all occasions. There you will find fun Luau Party Supplies including decorations, tableware, inflatables, balloons, tiki candles, hula skirts, leis, and more.