3 Great Valentines Party Ideas

Party favors are a must at any Valentine's Day party. Guests will demand some sort of chocolate return for coming, so why not give them kisses when they arrive at the door, Chocolate Kisses of course. This little play on words will delight your guests into an instant smile and make them feel special. Plus the chemicals in chocolate will work to lighten their moods helping to ensure a good party. You can also buy red wax lips to wear when you answer the door and give people a giggle. These also work well as party favors.

Red and Pink are common colors for this holiday, but it can get overdone. Try throwing a flip-side party. Instead of red, decorate in green and instead of hearts for decoration use brains or something unusual like feet. Since chocolate is sweet make sure your menu includes the opposite, sour foods. Party candy can be sour lemon drops. When you send out invitations, make sure they are 'Don't be my Valentine' Cards rather than the traditional. Put up warning signs like, 'Stop in the name of love' or 'No love here.' Guests will get a kick out of your unique idea.

For many parties geared at adults you get play Cupid to encourage love matches between guests, subtly of course. The best way to do this is to have lots of fun games. Twister gets people together and will also get everyone laughing at how out of shape they've gotten. Maybe you'd like to flash to the past and set up a game of Spin the Bottle or Truth or Dare with pre-written questions involving Valentine's Day so that guests don't ask inappropriate questions and ruin the party. Take the time to sit down and think about what you really want at your next Valentine's Day party, so guests will enjoy a unique creation by you.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Valentines Day Fun has Free Party Games, coloring pages, word scramble, activities, recipes, menus, etc. to help complete your event.

Here's Why Interior Decorating Makes A Statement About You

Interior decorating is that medium which can make your closed spaces convey to the observer a lot about you and your lifestyle through strategic use of elements which range from the visual (color, lighting, form) to the tactile (surface, shape, texture) to the auditory (noise, echo).

The more alluring the result, the more the aesthetic, practical and technical appreciation for these elements the designer must have. He or she must understand how people use and respond to these elements, not just individually but as the elements interact with one another.

Confusing?

Not really! For at the bottom, all one needs is to know what one wants to show off to the world from the precincts of ones space. That is why home interior decorating becomes an easier task since one can identify with its needs more easily.

Original ideas can make a significant difference in your Interior Decorating plans.

Ideally, one should work from a total interior design plan. However, don't be hesitant! Try and be responsive to our own creative hunches. When decorating your home, don't just go piecemeal from room to room. Work up a plan for the entire home, including budget and timetable. As you go along, you can be on the lookout for interior decorating ideas. Believe me these make a lot of difference. For instance, pictures should be hung at eye level; accessories are noticed better in odd-numbered groups - it's just a matter of balance; paint can be used to minimize structural defects and accentuate positive features. And most important ? do not fear to experiment. After all, Home was not built in a day!

About The Author

Mike Yeager, Publisher

http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

Gift Basket Ideas for Men

I'm always on the look out for great Gift Basket Ideas & have come up with a few especially for men. I'm using Home & Garden Party products, but you can easily adapt them to your line or what you have on hand.

For the wannabe chef:

Fill our Bean Pot with Carr's crackers, smoke flavoring, packets of chili seasoning & hot sauce. Wrap with cello and a plaid (or coordinating) bow with a masculine tag. He can make great chili with very little work!

For the shower:

Take a citrus or clean-smelling set of shower gel & lotion, a small wooden handled scrub brush and a rolled wash cloth or two, put in a wire basket from the dollar store and wrap in cello... I suggest our Orange Blossom, Coconut Lime or Spearmint Eucalyptus scents.

Coffee Hound:

Fill a wire basket with shred, add packets of gourmet coffee/cocoa and our Life is Good latte cup. Maybe add a mug warmer and wrap in a coordinating napkin.

Time for our Date:

We have some beautiful clocks with dark stain. Wrap one, like our Hideaway Box Clock, in a delicate silk or chiffon scarf with a note inside saying, Meet me at (place). Set the time on the clock to the time of your rendezvous!

Publishing Guidelines:
You may publish this article with the article and resource box intact and unchanged provided any links are hyperlinked. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

Lisa is a WAHM and decorating consultant in the central Illinois area. Get deco ideas and home d?cor at Decorating with HGPgal. Submit an article and sign up for our monthly newsletter & contest and check out the DecoForum for tips and answers to your questions. http://www.HGPgal.com

Psychology of Color Decorating a Kitchen for the Subconscious

Psychologists have studied the influence of color on the mind for years. While they have not found any effects that generalize to every society, they have found that people from the same society are affected by colors in similar ways. Using these findings it is possible to tap into the subconscious of people, and use this information when decorating to create a room that will have positive emotional effects. The following are the general effects of color on the perceptions of Americans, and some tips on how to use these colors to influence the minds of the people in your kitchen positively. These colors may affect you differently, and as such it is important to pay attention to your own tastes above any advice.

The kitchen is a friendly place of taste testing, gathering, talking, and enjoying the company of friends and family. The kitchen is a family room. It is also a creative paradise, where you will design elaborate dishes and taste delights.

The color most often associated with food and ingestion is orange. This color tends to illicit hunger, and could be a great color to use strategically in the kitchen. Adobe serving trays with orange hints could wet the appetites of your guests. Orange is also a color that tends to lift peoples emotions. Strategic orange decorative patterns, or a slight orange tint to the walls, may be a positive idea to reinforce elated emotions in the kitchen. Red can also illicit hunger, but is such a hot color it should be used in small amounts. Dinnerware and utensils that are red may be a nice touch, if done in an understated manner

Blue is the opposite of those colors and it actually represses the urge to eat. There is not very much blue food in nature, and so we have developed a natural aversion to eating when we see it. For that reason you may want to try and maximize the orange and minimize the blue.

In the kitchen black is best avoided as a major theme. This color will actually absorb heat making the room even hotter. The exception is if black is used with white. White will balance the dark color as well as reflect heat making the room slightly colder.

Earth tones are great for kitchens. These colors, such as tans and browns, can create a sense of closeness and warmth. The feeling of ease and belongingness will make the kitchen a room that you can feel safe to create in. It will also ease interaction between the different parties that may gather in there occasionally.

By using colors in a planned manner you can control the undercurrents in a room and influence the nature of interactions in a positive way. Try and find out how you react to the colors. Play with different shades and gauge your reactions. A few hints lighter and a color may go from a beautiful hunger inducer to a sickly mess that will actually detract from the cuisine created.

Joey Lewitin is an author, artist, and designer of home d?cor accessories made from imported stone. Original designs from him and other artisans can be seen at Pebblez.com ? Beautiful Stone Decor

A Comfortable Sofa For Your Home!

A soft, plush sofa can be so inviting...even if you're visiting in someone else's home. Sofas can really make a home comfortable and relaxing. Sofas come in a variety of styles such as sectional sofas, leather sofas and sleeper sofas. One of the first things both you and your guests will notice, each time they come into your home, is how comfortable and relaxing the furniture looks.

Well chosen sofas will help to give your home furnishings the elegance and style you want.

Sofas are generally referred to as stuffed, padded, and spring-cushioned furniture. Sofas are also defined by the decorative materials and fabrics that cover them.

The first furniture upholstery was probably leather, stretched on without padding. Italian Renaissance chairs were cushioned with leather, velvet, or embroidery; the French made ornate chairs covered with tapestries and embroideries; England developed upholstery in Elizabethan and Jacobean reigns.

The use of springs is comparatively modern. Hair, fiber, flock, foam rubber, down, and kapok are used for padding in modern upholstery, and woven fabrics, plastics, leather, and synthetic leather serve as coverings.

There are thousands and thousands of sofas, sectional sofas and other home furnishings to choose from over the internet.

Choose from only the best sofas representatives who offer quality, elegance, quick delivery to your home and, of course, great prices!

About The Author

Mike Yeager, Publisher

http://www.a1-furniture-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

Finding Simple Country Crafts

Country crafts have been popular across the country for many years. There is a certain quality about things that fit into the country style that just connects with people. There are few things that can make a person feel quite as at home as a simple piece of artwork or a little trinket that gives a place a country atmosphere. Many such items can be purchased for relatively little money, and many times it does not take much to create the welcoming atmosphere you want. Country crafts can easily act simply as accent pieces, or become a theme unto themselves, depending entirely on how far you want to go with them.

There are a number of places in which you can find country crafts of all types and at all prices. For instance, craft supply stores will often sell some amount of pre-made crafts. These will usually do well enough as small elements, but generally are not the best of choices as a larger, focus piece, as the fact that you found them in a craft store will probably be a bit obvious in many cases if it draws too much attention. However, these are often very inexpensive and can sometimes be used as part of something larger.

Usually the more promising prospects are things such as art fairs and craft shows. Now, the price of the items available at these shows will vary greatly, usually based upon how ?prestigious? the given show is. Of course, going to a big, high-name show will often mean you will not have to wade through poorly made items in your search for high quality country crafts. You will, however, most likely pay for that convenience.

Your best bet is to work your way through as many different shows as possible, to give yourself the best chance of finding what you need. Remember also that as a rule at most craft fairs and art shows, hesitation is not a great plan. This is not to say you should not shop around at all, but if you see something you like, try not to wait. Once something sells, it is entirely possible that there are no other items of its kind, and you may never be able to find it again. While this can be a bit troublesome at times, it is one of the inherent problems of handcrafted merchandise such as the things you normally find at craft shows.

Lastly, the Internet can also be an excellent way to find the country crafts you need. The problem with the Internet, of course, is that it is difficult to tell quite what sort of quality the items you are working with are from just seeing them on a web page. This said, a little bit of careful shopping and sometimes a willingness to take a gamble on an item can lead you to some great deals on country crafts for your home. The Internet is also an excellent place to find instructions on how to make crafts of your own, if you would like to undertake that adventure.

Copyright ? Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Stop by Rustic Embrace to receive free interior design advice about everything from rustic furniture to southwestern decor.

Fun Halloween Party Themes and Ideas

Halloween is the day of the year that has the most parties thrown in its honor. Everyone loves to dress up and attend Halloween parties with their friends. Most people end up getting several invitations to different Halloween parties that are often on the same night. If you are planning to throw your own Halloween party, how can you get all your friends to head to your shindig and not someone else?s? You need to come up with some unique and fun ideas that will get everyone on your list so excited about your party they won?t even consider going anywhere else.

Not Just Any Old Theme

Many people don?t bother thinking of a theme for their Halloween party since it seems to be somewhat of a theme already. But rather than just putting up some Happy Halloween banners and fake cobwebs, why not come up with a great theme party idea? You can do anything from a haunted house or graveyard to a monster mash or horror movie bash. Once you?ve chosen your theme apply it to everything from your invitations to your party food. Guests will love some guidance on what to dress up as, especially if you do something a little different.

Your Halloween party invitations are one of the most important aspects of your party. Invitations are the best way to get your guests excited about your party. Many people don?t even send invitations anymore so even sending out simple ones will help your party stick in people?s minds. Be sure to apply your party theme to your invitations. If you can?t find any invitations at your local party store that go with your theme you can always use invitation templates that you can download for free from the Internet.

You can totally customize invitation templates and add colorful pictures as well. Guests will love to receive these fun invitations in the mail. You should send your invitations out approximately three to four weeks before your party to give everyone time to make plans to attend. If you?re running short of time sending electronic invitations is a great idea too. You can add animation and sound to e-invitations and even check guest?s responses online. Be sure to contact anyone who doesn?t respond via telephone since not everyone checks their email often.

Spooky Decorations

Everyone will expect to see your house decorated to the nines on Halloween so be sure not to disappoint. Your decorations should match your theme, so give them plenty of thought. For instance, a haunted house theme should be complete with low lighting, smoke, a spooky soundtrack, and even live ghouls to jump out and scare the guests as they arrive. A horror movie bash might include retro horror B-movie posters stuck on the walls which you can find on the Internet and print off at home.

Decorations can be found just about anywhere in the months leading up to Halloween. Even grocery stores carry a wide selection. Start shopping early so you can get the best selection possible and take advantage of any sales. If you can?t find just what you?re looking for you can always rent decorations from a local party supply shop or even purchase decorations from the Internet. The Internet has an almost endless selection and you can find just about any party supplies or decorations you?ll need.

Music is an important aspect of any party as well. While some spooky tunes are fun at first, you?ll want to switch over to some more upbeat music once the party gets going. People love to dance so have plenty of high energy songs ready to go. If you are inviting a variety of different people have several different types of music so no ones gets bored.

Tasty Halloween Treats

Food is an important part of any party. While you don?t need to provide a full meal, some creative and tasty snacks and treats will help keep your guests fueled for the night?s festivities. Turning simple party food into ghoulish culinary delights will surprise and please your guests. Try making some bewitching cupcakes, and put out snacks such as gummy worms and other Halloween candy treats.

Costumes are a given, since this is Halloween after all. If you are having a Halloween theme of some sort, let your guests know on your invitations that they should dress to fit the theme. For instance, if you?re throwing a horror movie bash, you can simply say, ?come as your favorite horror movie star?. Don?t expect all your guests to comply with your request. Some people have been thinking up their Halloween costume since last year!

Don?t forget about the party favors! Depending on how many people you?re inviting and how much you?re willing to spend, the possibilities are endless when it comes to party favors. A simple idea is candy bags full of traditional treats such as candy corn. Something more substantial might be a pumpkin carving kit that comes with cutouts and tools. Your guests will love having a little something to take home with them.

Endless Costume Possibilities

If you really aren?t into the scary aspect of Halloween, you can always break with tradition and hold a different type of Halloween party. Have a famous couples party or a crazy hat party instead. Guests can still dress up but might be more creative then a white sheet with holes cut out of it. Dressing up for Halloween is something that both adults and kids can enjoy so great creative and have fun with it!

Having games at your party isn?t a necessity, but can be a great deal of fun for your guests. Games act as an excellent icebreaker if everyone doesn?t know each other. Any games where you can break people off into teams will help to get everyone talking. Pumpkin carving contests are a good idea, as is bobbing for apples. Be sure to give a prize to the best costume as well.

Your Halloween party is sure to be a success if you take the time to plan. Leave yourself plenty of time and don?t forget it?s all the little details that help to make a fabulous party. Enlist the help of family and friends if you?re feeling overwhelmed, and remember, planning is half the fun!

John Lenaghan writes about party planning and other tips for the Party Ideas 4u website, where he provides valuable tips and advice about Halloween party ideas, birthday party ideas and other party planning topics.

Party Favors: From Glow Sticks to Sweet Treats

There are a wide variety of party favors for any children?s party. It is easiest to decide what party favors to give if they are functional in a party activity or go with a party theme.

Functional party favors would include craft projects which combine a fun activity (the crafting) with creating something they can take with them when the party is over. Another option is party favors that combine an activity or game with an item they can take home.

One fun item that you can use to play a game with, and take home when they are through are glow sticks. These are a perfect dark room or safe, roped off outdoor area, night-time party activity, and even hard to please teens will like it! Simply give each person a glow stick. Then they can play keep away, or glow stick tag, but trying to prevent anyone from tagging them, while they try to tag someone else. When someone gets tagged, they have to sit the rest of the game out. One suggestion is to put a time limit on these games, because when it gets down to one or two players, it can take a long time to get tagged. Another option would be that each player must touch each four, corner bases every couple of minutes, or they will be called out by default.

A good party favor for teenaged girls is to have different, funky fabrics cut in shapes appropriate for totes, small purses, or makeup bags. Be sure to cut some fabric for the handle, or have a selection of beads that can be strung to form the handles. The fabrics can be cut with pinking shears, so the edges won?t ravel out. Have glittery yarn in coordinating colors and large yarn needles, so they can use a simple loop stitch on the outside of the fabric to create their own bag to take home as a party favor!

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Tons of Free Party Games (Party-Games-etc.com) for every occasion, birthday, holiday and party theme including free printable games and activities. Plus, over 1,000 free baby shower games, bridal shower games, birthday party games and printable party games for kids parties. All the games have easy instructions. Also, printable activities for kids parties, baby showers, holiday celebrations and bridal showers.

Halloween Decorations Anyone Can Do

Halloween decorations can be a lot of fun to create on your own without spending a lot of money. Here are a few suggestions:

Turn your home windows into a spooky display by creating silhouettes of haunted houses, skeletons, black cats and more out of black construction paper or dark colored garbage bags. Carefully cut the silhouettes out and tape up to the windows to give an eerie holiday feel to the window. Of course, they look especially spooky after dark with the light from inside shining through. Have fun!

Rolls of Danger and Caution Tape can be used to outline porches or door ways. Add an official looking sign printed on a computer (and maybe laminated) that says ?This house is guarded by an attack ghost? or something else clever for a few extra laughs.

Lighting effects can be made by exchanging regular light bulbs for colored bulbs, blue, orange, yellow, red, or even using black lights can make for mood setting party fun. Replacing your porch light or garage bulb with a black light can be very spooky, especially if you place some small glow in the dark items just within the range of the black light.

Take last year?s rubber mask (or a scary one from this year) and stick it into a large jar that is full of water. Add a few drops of red food coloring to the water and it looks really gruesome!

If the severed head specimen isn?t your style, consider a ghost centerpiece. Find a large clean squash (butternut, pumpkin or other funky shape), wash it, dry it good and paint it with white acrylic paint. Then, after the white paint is completely dry, use a black marker to draw the ghostly features on it. Make more than one ? like 3 or 5 of different shapes and sizes and display them in a bunch ? they look great!

With little effort and minimal cost, your house can be a spooky showcase that all the trick-or-treaters will be anxious to stop by.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Halloween Party Games (http://halloween-party-fun.com), party planning tips, decorations, costume ideas, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

Decorate for Thanksgiving

Years of having to make do have turned me into a?There must be someway I can do this cheaper type person.

My old new house needs total make over. We are thinking about moving into my MIL's house. So I am walking around looking and thinking, my goodness, this will be way too much to do and then the old, There must be someway I can do this cheaper type person kicks in and I think, yah, there must.

First curtains need to be put up on the windows. I will check all of Grandma's fabric?and she has tons, and see if some of it can be salvaged for window treatments. Gee, today all you really need is a nice wooden Venetian blind and a swag or scarf.

I am thinking about sticking with the umbers I see outside this time of year (November). I already bought my border for the kitchen at a B&B we went to a couple of weeks ago, and it kind of has a sultry tone to it. You can do the same thing with fabric. Just take a quick trip to Wal-mart's fabric Dept. They are always getting rid of material at bargain prices. If you are doing a dining room for Thanksgiving, do swags/scarf for the windows and a table cloth, placemats and napkins.

It really wouldn't take as long as you think. Put up some lace curtains and make a scarf from the fabric you use for your table cloth..or maybe you have a plain white table cloth already available. Just make a runner that matches your window scarves,napkins and placemats.

Now what about the centerpiece? I like this idea on about.com Just has some greens and Fall leaves, candles?well, take a look: The Centerpiece, It's one where you can just remove the fall leaves and replace with berries for Christmas. Saving time is what it's all about. Put up some wreaths on the doors and over the mantle. A simple grape vine with dried flowers in fall tones is nice. Use some wire ribbon to make a bow.

Put up plain candlesticks with fall colored candles and don't forget the whole theme of Thanksgiving is giving thanks for our bounty. Use displays of fruit and gourds, pumpkins and mums. Get out an old watering can and fill it with leaves to place on the porch, any old galvanized buckets? Put wheat or tall dried grass display in your bucket. Don't forget the grapes. Take a nice glass pedestal compote and cascade different varieties.

If you have a garden, pile the day's garden harvest into a wheel barrow at the back door.

Just remember ?you don't have to use all these ideas. You don't want to have to take all this down to prepare for Christmas that's just around the corner.

Complete Thanksgiving Menu and Recipes by Lorrie Ann Danner Copyright 2004 Caroline Shaw

Caroline Shaw holds a B.S. degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA in Secondary Education, English. She is a mom to six children. She is Editor and Publisher of the Online Magazine,A Mom's Love. Each issue contains informative articles for WAHMs, their children, single moms, working moms, and more. She lives with her husband, three still at home children, a collie, an australian shepherd and two kitties in Western Pennsylvania. Her hobbies are writing, cooking, gardening, decorating and crafts. Visit AMomsLove.com

Great Ideas For Baby Shower Decorations

Being a party consultant can be a busy career. People who want help for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, Christmas, and other holiday parties call me every time. A few of them even need help for baby shower decorations. Only a few people have enough experience for this type of party because baby showers are not celebrated as often as the annual occasions like Christmas or birthdays. Most people only go to one or two baby showers in their lifetime and some people never even get to attend one at all. This means that baby shower decorations would often require more planning than other kinds of parties.

Because baby showers are few and far between, people who need assistance for baby shower decorations have few expectations. People would also not expect to have an extravagant baby shower as oppose to what they would expect to have on more significant occasions like a graduation or a wedding. This gives you the freedom to come up with ideas on how elaborate you want a party to be, how much attention you need to devote to decorations, and the general theme for the baby shower. Light and tasteful baby shower decorations in my experience, work most of the time.

Other people on the other hand might consider this as an opportunity to explore innovative and creative ideas for baby shower decorations. Out of these world table settings elaborate ribbons, and custom made banners can make a baby shower special and memorable. If you want an extraordinary baby shower, seek advice from a party consultant such as myself are willing to serve you.

If your experience with decorations are limited only to standard decorations like ribbons and bows, napkins with cute prints of puppies, or cakes, and you feel the need to supplement your decorations don?t hesitate to seek help. If you are having doubts with your baby shower decorations or if you want to make sure that your baby shower will be one f a kind, try consulting a party consultant. Perfect baby shower decorations are the key to hosting an exceptional baby shower.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning baby. Learn more at Baby Shower Decorations

Picking The Right Paint For Your Bedroom

Painting Your Bedroom is an inexpensive way to get a whole new look, however some people find it to be an overwhelming task to choose a color or type of paint. Many simply stare at the thousands of color swatches in the store and then walk away confused without ever picking out a color!

If you want to paint your bedroom, the first step is to select a range of colors or color theme. That way, when you go into the store you can narrow down your selection of color swatches to those in that general color shade.

If you want your bedroom to evoke a certain mood, some colors have shown to be better at evoking certain emotions or moods. Calming colors are soft colors - blues, greens, and lavenders in a muted shade. Anything too vivid or bright will not be calming. If you are decorating to have a calming effect these colors go quite well together. You could punch it up a bit with some brighter accents in the same colors but with a different tone. I like a sage green for the walls with some light sky blues and lavenders sprinkled around the rooms Bedding, wall coverings and flooring can be a solid color to keep the calm mood going. Accent with candles and perhaps a table top waterfall.

On the other hand, you might want to paint your bedroom so that it energizes. Maybe you want to wake up in the morning ready to go! Then you might want to try bright colors like reds and yellows with maybe a bit of orange thrown in. I love the look of deep red walls even if it may take several coats to cover! Yellow and orange make a nice color combination - maybe a bit 70's so you could do a nice retro design with these colors. Tone it down a bit by using brown as an accent. Of course, you can always use red with black and white for a classically contemporary look. And there?s always a white room (bedding, walls, and floors) with bright red, yellow, blue and orange accents for a mid century feel that will liven up the place.

For a more elegant type of bedroom, you may opt for tans of off whites. These can match very well with some darker, rich colors like maroon, gold, or even black. Use some deep jewel tones to create a romantic but calming feeling. Gray and brown can be a nice modern color palette ? use deep colors not light and you will be surprised how this can give the room a cozy feel that is a bit more modern.

Another choice you may have to make is if you want to use traditional paints or get an effect on your walls with special effect paints. You can add texture to your walls with paints that have texture build in, or use special paint to get the look of marble or old world plaster. Some of these use solvent based glazes and others have specially made paint just for that particular look you want. A trip to your local Home Depot will find these paints as well as free classes on how to apply them.

Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs And Decoratins where you can find out more about bedroom decorating themes selecting paint for your bedroom.

The 5 Biggest Decorating Trends of 2006

Staying on top of the latest trends for all you ?do-it-yourselfers? can be fun but, it can also be time consuming. So, to keep you on top of the latest interior design trends we scoured the net to come up with the 5 biggest trends of 2006.

Hot Colors Are In

Yes, the reds and oranges are going to rule in 2006. While these colors started to be in vogue last year, this year everything will seem to be drenched in these colors. Along with all your reds and bold oranges, it is recommended you throw in a little kiwi green accent for a well rounded room.

Keep It Simple

Clutter is never a good interior design idea, especially this year. The trick here is to look like you didn't spend an entire week arranging everything just right. Keep it light and casual but not erratic. You don't want the messy look here.

Mix It Up

Good news, you can stop trying to match everything! Plan on seeing a lot of mix and match decor this year. Show off an Asian painting or wall screen with a Kathy Ireland Home occasional table.

All Things French

Country French design is making a fresh appearance in homes this year, especially in the kitchen. Replace the barns and roosters for a more rustic look this season.

Trade In The Coffee Table

Give your old coffee table to Goodwill and buy yourself an over-sized ottoman. Just this one accessory can change the entire look of a room. If you prefer a more traditional coffee table, go with a long and narrow rectangular shape.

Great Priced Furniture.com has been keeping up with the trends for over six years. You can find all your bedroom, living room, kitchen, and dining room furniture and accessories at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com.

Christmas Decorations ideas

Christmas decorations are one inseparable part of the Christmas holidays, without which Christmas would lose all its color, spirit, warmth and charm. And it?s also great to get together with all in the family or the whole gang of friends for the Christmas decorations. Isn?t it a joy untold to watch the hand-crafted stars or bells hung up on the Christmas tree or on the wreaths ? Don?t you feel the festive tickle to see Christmas-themed table-spreads, curtains, napkin-holders, or carpets ? Ideas for Christmas decorations are plenty to satiate the festive craving of all and sundry. And the stores dish out a huge array of Christmas decorations too. You can either buy them home or decorate your home yourself with your own ideas and designs. Here?s enlisted a few for you to get started with your Christmas decorations and Christmas planning.

• The easiest and simplest of all Christmas decorations?get empty boxes or cartons and wrap them up in red, green, blue colored papers or colorful Christmas wrappers. Tie ribbons around some and leave them sporadically around the base of your Christmas evergreen or on the mantle.
• Hanging cute Christmas stockings make good decorations too for your Christmas d?cor. You can cut out papers or fabrics in shapes of stockings or candy canes, have them colored by the kids and stick them all around the room to add that festive touch on Christmas.
• Umpteen stores sell battery-operated candles especially for this holiday and these look radiant in and around your home as also on your Christmas tree. Anyone would like to go for these hassle-free Christmas decorations and give their interiors a total face-lift for the occasion.
• A fetching idea for your Christmas decorations would be to deck up your house plants with little stars and bells and to place them on window sills.
• Get holly boughs and mistletoes home. Hang them around and watch the magic of Christmas unfold before you. These Christmas decorations are traditionally passed down through ages and never fall out of the hall of fame
• How about this ? Take a pin-up board and pin Christmas-related images or messages on them. You can also fix Christmas cards that you get for the year. This Christmas decoration would be best for your office cubicle or room. So bring your colleagues in the spirit of the holidays instantly as they step into your holiday ?den?.
• Now here?s another to rev up your Christmas decorations?take a white table-spread and stick little paper or fabric pieces in shapes of stars, bells, candy canes, gift-boxes, Santa hats and more.
• Deck up your halls in Christmas streamers (bought or homemade) or in Christmas wreaths. You can hang a bunch of bells on the doorway too. Won?t it be sweet to hear the jingles every time anyone enters during the Christmas season ?
• Decorate white slender candles with red and green ribbons. Tie them into a bow or just spiral it around. They would swell for sure if placed in a cluster on your Christmas dinner table or over the mantle. Don?t forget to leave a bell carelessly at the base. Your friends, folks or sweetie pie would surely love the shine and shimmer of the bell in the candlelight and you may collect few kudos for such thoughtful Christmas decorations.
• For outside decorations, get some Christmas lights home. Glowing bulbs or lighted candles that run on battery would just suit fine outdoors. You can place a big cutout of Santa to welcome your dear ones too. Or you can let loose your own festive ideas.
• Play Christmas numbers for the background scores to complement the tree, table and hall decorations. Well chosen Christmas songs are just the right fill for the holiday ambience.
• Create cute bows for the special day and have them stitched to curtains or tied to door-knobs or around the glasses on the Christmas table. These Christmas decorations won?t take much time and would be fun to do too. So get on with these.
• Well then, welcome the season of joy and brace up to make merry with friends and family?it?s Christmastime folks ! The merriest time of the year is here. So leave your worries behind, deck the halls with wonderful Christmas decorations and share the warmth and joy of the season with all far and near.

Sean Carter writes on holidays, events and celebrations around the world. He also writes on family, relationships,womens issues inspiration, love and friendship. He is a writer with special interest in ecard publishing industry. He writes for 123greetings.com.

Designer Look On A Budget 10 Tips To Decorating On A Budget

The first step in decorating your home and giving it personality is to know yourself your likes and dislikes. Know your lifestyle,habits and desires.If you don't know yourself take a look in your closet. Your clothes will tell you a lot about your individual style,fabric choices and color pallet.

1. Start by making a wish list then take the time to really see the room finished and what you want the room to look like.

2. Collect home decor magazine pictures and put them in a idea folder.

3. Collect swathes and samples of fabric,paint chips and photos of the rooms you like and staple them to a sheet of paper for your idea folder.

4. Take important measurements of the room. Draw a simple floor plan include windows,doorways and bookcases.This will help to avoid purchasing mistakes like an oversized sofa that swallows up the room.

5.With your folder in hand shop discount stores, super centers,garage sales and thrift stores for items that look like those in your idea folder. Look for furniture pieces that have the similar line and shape. Remember the fabric can be reupholstered. An Old lamp base can be new again with a new shade, old art re-framed think of way to revamp used items.

6.Try color washing the walls.Mix 1 part paint 3 parts water and just wash the walls with the mixture in a circular motion.A quart of paint goes a long way.

7. Mix two bed in a bag sets a solid and a print for a designer look.

8. Replace old outlet covers with wall paper border, fabric, tissue paper and anything that can be hot glued on.

9. Repaint an old coffee table or recover a chair pad with the same fabric as the window treatment fabric.

10. No sew window treatments will add drama to your decor. Achieve this by wrapping yards of fabric over a pole, play with it to create a unique look. Add tassels and trim with a hot glue gun for the WOW factor.

Celeste Alexander
decoratingsista@yahoo.com
Serving Metro Atlanta