Cheap Home Furnishing And Decorating Ideas

Not so long ago, home interior design was considered to be an industry of prestige. For those who could afford their services, interior designers could help them create a stunning and beautiful living space. But times have been changing, and that is also true of the home interior design field.

Today there is a demand for cost-cutting designs for the average consumer. Emphasis is placed on designing on a budget instead and cheap interior design is in style and receiving wide acceptance. Of course, there are still the designers out there who cater to the more expensive market and their price tag shows it. But for the needs of most everyday people, such high-end interior design work is just not necessary. So here are a few tips and ideas on how to make a great home interior design using cheap home furnishings and decorating ideas.

Perhaps the most important piece of advice in successful cheap interior design is to be able to make the right decisions at the right time. That means that in most rooms there will be some more expensive items where you just don't want to cut many corners. And in the same room there other smaller items and accessories where you can save a lot of money instead. The key is to know where you need to spend a little more money, and where you can get by just as well with cheaper decorating ideas.

The first question on most people's mind is where do I buy the bargain items for decoration? Actually this is pretty easy to answer. Your hunt can often begin successfully at any kind of local bargain type store. Many times there are local stores that have what are known as bargain bins where you can buy slightly damaged or used items at just a fraction of the cost you would pay for them when new. A word of caution here is that it is very easy to get carried away in these bargain bins and actually spend more money than you should. So just be sure to justify each purchase that you make and spend your money only where it counts. And keep in mind that there are usually several bargain stores that you can frequent to get good deals. So there is no need to spend all of your budget at the first store you stop at. The more you shop, and the longer you shop, the better deals you will find!

It can be a big help in bargain hunting to be a creative thinker, because you'll often encounter obstacles where you just can't seem to find the object that you are looking for. In this situation, if you think creatively, you can often come up with a very good alternative instead. So keep your mind open to different possibilities and different ways of using the items that you find. Sometimes the best home decoration ideas are those that just sort of happened rather than are planned out in detail in advance.

Some other places for finding cheap interior design ideas are yard sales, estate sales, and flea markets. Look over all the items here very carefully, and make sure that they are indeed bargains before you buy them. Sometimes larger items in these places sell for more than they should simply because of their size, where smaller items seem to be overlooked instead. So be thorough and thrifty, and only buy an item if you really think you can use it.

Actually, cheap interior design ideas are pretty easy to find these days, if you just know where to look and what you need to be looking for. The most important ingredient to getting great deals on cheaper decorating items is time though. Patience pays off in many ways, but especially in searching for cheap interior design items and ideas.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including home improvement. You can find out more about home interior decoration and bedroom interior design by visiting our Home Improvement website.

Freestyle with Metal and Format: The Milan FuoriSalone 2005 event.

This Italian lifestyle project, underlined by the aroma of espresso coffee, is divided into three thematic areas showing different ways of rendering the multifaceted personality of today's ceramic tiles, an irreplaceable part of home decor.

The setting is decidedly unusual: the space, occupied by a mechanical workshop for the rest of the year, features a barrel-vaulted gallery facing the entrance courtyard.

Natural light coming through the glass roof lights up gallery, enhancing the fascination of the colours of Pietra Forte from Florence recreated in full-bodied porcelain tile (26x13 square, from the Format collection).

The two designers had fun with the modular formats of the stone: almost as if trying to escape the classic right angles of ceramic tile layout patterns, they created a wave that rises up the back wall in a gradation of strips. Tall lights of light canvas, simple and comfortable garden furniture and fresh herbal scents complete the natural scene. The courtyard also contains a small gazebo, built in all-black Lavagna slate (26x13 square, Format collection), used to cover the floor and walls both inside and out. The whole is given an even more modern look by huge plastic plant pots and armchairs of minimal design, decorated with elegant floral prints.

The third setting is a glamorous mix. Bright red lights, designer chairs, inebriating essences and metallic surfaces(18x18 Steel, Metal Line collection) are reflected in the mirror columns so that they are infinitely multiplied as if to disorient the visitor. In the evening, artificial lighting transforms the environments: our perception of the colour of the material changes, surrounded by lights and shadows in a new perspective that enhances its multi-sensorial dimension.

Iris Ceramica
http://www.irisceramica.com

l+r palomba
http://www.palombaserafini.com

Iris Ceramica Spa
Fiorano modenese (MO)
Italy - EU

Decorating Tips: The Meaning of Colors

Colors have many different meanings. Have you ever been in a blue room, feeling calm and relaxed, and then walked into a red room and you began to feel chatty and excited? The change in your mood wasn't just coincidence - it was an actual psychological and physiological response to the colors of the rooms. When you are planning to decorate your home, the colors of your rooms should be one of your first considerations. You want to choose colors that you're not only comfortable with, but also colors that will create the right types of moods for both you and your guests in each room.

Let's start with some of the more common colors: Blue is a calming, relaxing color. The color is good for bedrooms but can destroy the mood in a dining room as it serves as an appetite represent. Combined with green, blue exudes a natural atmosphere in a room. For centuries, green has been representative of life and birth, but on the flip side, it has been known for jealousy and inexperience. Like blue, green is a relaxing color. The color symbolizes a certain harmony both in the world and in life.

Red on the other hand, is an appetite and conversation stimulant. Red is a fiery color that at times represents both hatred and passion. Red also represents power; thus the use of it for celebrities on the red carpet and red ties for powerful executives. Yellow is also a powerful color. Since yellow is the color of sunshine, it has a happy, uplifting aura. However, yellow can also be the color of melancholy and cowardice. Carefully pick the hue of your paint and decorations, noting the feelings you get in the presence of those colors.

Pink is a soft color often used in the decorations and room decor for little girls. Psychological studies have actually shown that this color causes physical weakness in people. Orange is a mixture of red and yellow, so it has all the warmth and comfort of those colors. Some oranges - such as the color of pumpkins and fall leaves - is a stimulant and good for use in the dining room. Purple has always been a special color, representing royalty and spirituality. Purple is known for stimulating creativity in small doses, but large amounts of purple can cause depression and moodiness.

Considering the meanings of the different colors is an important part of decorating your room. You should consider both the way the colors make you feel - for example, if you fell in a vat of yellow paint when you were little, yellow is probably not a cheerful color for you - but you should also take into account the way that it will make your guests feel. Using blue in your dining area will likely suppress your visitors' appetites, and despite how much you may love the color for your dining area, you should consider their needs and desires as well.

For more home decorating and decor tips, ideas, articles, and gorgeous decor accents and accessories for your home - visit The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network @DIYHomeDecorating.com.

? 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. This article may be freely published on any website, as long as the author, copyright, website address and link, and this notice are left intact.

Why Hardwood Flooring is a Good Investment

Hardwood flooring has a timeless air of quality

Hardwood floors have decorated some of the most exclusive mansions and estates in history and still exude a feeling of permanence and classic quality compared to manufactured floors.

Hardwood floors are natural

Hardwood floors bring the natural outdoors inside, and do not contain man-made chemicals in the wood itself. Homeowners with exclusive design tastes will tend to gravitate towards the quality and natural feel of hardwood floors - there is just something about the feel and look of them that cannot be duplicated in a factory.

Hardwood flooring adds value to your home

Installing solid hardwood flooring in your home is a true investment that will retain its value. In many cases, installing hardwood floors with generate a return on investment that exceeds the initial cost of installation.

Real hardwood colors will never go out of style

There is a timeless quality about the natural color of hardwoods that will ensure your house never becomes outdated because of its flooring. Recent advancements in laminate flooring have allowed consumers to pick from a multitude of design styles and colors - unfortunately some of these may become outdated and fall out of favor.

Hardwood flooring sounds better

If you've ever walked over a floating laminate flooring system you'll hear a muffled echo sound, which is one of the few downsides of laminate floor systems. With proper installation of solid hardwood floors, you will not have this distracting hollow noise. Hollow sounds and vibrations are not an issue with hardwood floors - and this is actually one of the good feelings people can literally sense with real hardwood floors.

To read more of the benefits and advantages of hardwood flooring visit: http://www.laminateflooringzone.com/hardwood-flooring.htm

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Laminate Flooring Zone resource site,and can be reached at http://www.laminateflooringzone.com

How To Antique Your Kitchen Cabinets

If you need new cabinets but can?t afford them, you might try some do it yourself antiquing. Antiquing your kitchen cabinets can revitalize old tired cabinetry and add warmth and character to the room. Antiqued cabinets go with a wide range of decorating styles, from country, to Victorian to Tuscan to French.

Antiqued cabinets will give your kitchen a warm lived in look as well as make the room feel more relaxed and comfortable. There are 2 basic methods you can use to antique your kitchen cabinets - staining and distressing. You can use them alone, or combine them for some old world charm in your kitchen

Antiquing Your Cabinets With Stain

This method of antiquing kitchen cabinets works best on cabinets that are painted a light color or have a light stain. You will need some dark stain, a brush or sponge and lots of paper towels. Achieving an antique look is easy but you might want to try it in an area that isn?t so noticeable or practice on something else until you get the hang of it and develop a technique.

To antique stain your cabinets, simply apply a light layer of the stain on one section of the cabinet and wipe off to the desired level of antiqueness. Repeat all along the cabinet until you are done! You'll want to make it look natural, so concentrate more stain on the areas that would get the most wear like around the edges and handles.

Distressing Your Kitchen Cabinest

This method of antiquing kitchen cabinets works only on painted cabinets. It is called distressing because it simulates the wear that an old piece of cabinetry would endure after hundreds of years of use. Some people use chains and hammers when distressing furniture, but I think a little bit of sandpaper is enough for cabinets.

The object is to sand off the finish on the edges and worn areas. Therefore, you would take a medium grit paper and sand at the door and drawer edges to reveal just a thin layer of the wood underneath. It looks best when the color underneath is a bit darker or if the cabinets are dark then it looks best if the color revealed is lighter. Personally, I prefer to stick to the edges, but you can sand a bit off in the middle if you want an overall worn look.

Some other methods of antiquing kitchen cabinets include crackle painting and faux painting.

Crackle painting is done with 2 types of paint - the bottom layer is painted on and the crackle medium is brushed on top which causes the layer underneath to crackle. I have tried this method many times and have never been really satisfied with the results. If you really like this look, I suggest you practice, practice, practice on something else before you attempt to crackle your cabinets.

Faux painting can be a very nice way of antiquing your cabinets. You can probably find a local artist that will do this for a reasonable price - they can add depth to the cabinet as well as some nice artistry!

Other ways to add interest to your cabinets include changing the knobs and hardware and adding molding, legs and trimwork.

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.

1950's Home Decor Redesign

The styles of the 1950's are coming back and there are many products now available to capture the past in your home decorating. To get you started, here is a partial list of reproduced products inspired from the 1950's.

1. Fabric by the yard including barkcloth for curtains, pillows and furniture upholstery.

2. 50's style kitchen table and chair sets complete with chrome legs, formica table tops and vinyl covered seats in many colors.

3. Small retro style kitchen appliances including, toasters and soda shop drink mixers.

4. Classic pedal cars inspired from the 1940's and 50's.

5. Stoves and refrigerators reproduced with today's technology, but with the original appearance in many original colors. These are not cheap... be prepared to pay top dollar for the large kitchen appliances.

6. Replica diner jukeboxes, turntables, pay phones and radios.

7. Reproduced metal 6-pack picnic coolers, double bubble clocks and Coke machines.

8. Tin diner, car hop and motor oil signs.

9. Reproduction enamelware canister sets, soap dishes and bread boxes.

10. Metal laundry soap bins and glass laundry sprinklers for a bit of laundry room nostalgia.

Your local second hand stores are a good source if you are in the market for original furniture that can be revitalized with some reproduced 50's fabric.

Barbara Wangelid along with her husband Tobbe are the owners of JackandFriends.com where you can purchase vintage and retro reproduction signs, enamelware, antique labels, 1950's retro kitchen, and classic pedal cars.

Interior Decorating Themes

There are a variety of decorating themes from formal to informal and everything in between. Which one best describes your decorating style?

Formal Traditional

Furnishings and designs from the Renaissance, Baroque, Early and Late Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival and Victorian eras. This style is shown with fine furnishings, elegant, refined and exquisite wall coverings, elaborate moldings, formal window treatments and Oriental rugs.

Informal Traditional

The same eras as above but this style has less refined versions of furnishings. There are more touchable elements, more earthy colors, and some urban archaeology without restoration is common. This style is comfortable and inviting.

American Country

This style holds furnishings from the 17th century through the present, all simple with the appearance of hand-crafted work. Two versions are popular today: Upscale Country with the use of more tactile, comfortable elements and very close to Informal Traditional but with a clearly country theme in all the furnishings; and Rustic Country, which sports a reused, recycled quality. The wall coverings and window treatments set the theme and the furnishings have a just-found-it-at-the-antique-market feel.

Country French

This style is exhibited in Classic Rococo, Neoclassic or Empire-inspired country furnishings. Wall coverings include florals, ticking, toile, and moir?s depending on the level of formality.

Arts & Crafts

This simple style is also known as Early Modern or Organic Modern. The era focuses on hard, stained oak furniture with simple, straight lines.

International Modern

This is a look of ultra simplicity, hard lines, and smooth surfaces contrasted with abstract patterns and unusual textures.

Environmental

Designs in this theme contain colors, textures and very subtle patterns of the earth.

Romantic Victorian

This style still is a favored theme for rooms with lots of pattern featuring English garden florals in dreamy colors. Both fabric and wall coverings can be patterned, and clutter decorating ? especially with accessories ? is part of this look.

Ethnic and Primitive

This masculine approach has many faces from African to the American Southwest, from the lodge-look to the South Seas. Heavy or tactile textures coupled with patterns that are charming because of their lack of sophistication fit here.

Fabric and Wall Covering Themes

This is a wonderful way to decorate ? by selecting a great fabric or wall covering that inherently features a theme. Some examples include sea and shore, sports, outdoor recreation, kitchen or domestic elements, juvenile elements, feminine floral themes, exotic designs from far away lands, and more.

About the Author
Kathy Iven, Columbus, OH
kathy@fabricfarms.com

Kathy Iven is the owner of Fabric Farms Interiors, located in Hilliard, OH. Fabric Farms Interiors specializes in home d?cor fabrics and trims. They also offer custom drapery, bedding and upholstery services. The company was founded in 1971 and is the largest home d?cor fabric store in Central Ohio. To learn more, visit http://www.fabricfarms.com

Copyright - All rights reserved.

Bandana: New Uses for an Old Favorite

Once found only in the pockets of farmers and workers, in classic red or blue bandana print, bandanas are now available in a wide variety of colors, fabrics, and patterns, and they are no longer only found in pockets! From cute outfits for little girls, to home decor, these simple squares are only limited by the imagination.

To make a cute outfit for girls, you will need the following:

? 4 bandanas (normally matching, but different colors of coordinating prints can be cute too)

? Matching thread

? ? inch elastic for the waist

Simply put the bandanas together, wrong sides out. The first, you will measure an appropriately large opening for the neck and arms of the garment, and pin accordingly. Since the edges are finished already, simply sew the shoulders and sides, and you have a bandana shirt. Put two more bandanas together, wrong sides out, turn down 3/4 inch all around the top, stitch together, leaving the last inch open. Measure elastic to fit your child?s waist, being sure to make it fit snugly, but not too tight, cut ? inch longer than your measurement, fasten a large safety pin to one end of the elastic, thread it through the opening, sew the ends of the elastic together, and finish closing the opening you left to thread the elastic through, and you have a cute bandana skirt to go with your bandana top!

For a great accessory to the bandana outfit, you will need:

? Fabric tennis shoes (usually white, but whatever color goes with your outfit will be fine.)

? Ok to wash it glue

? Fabric paint pens

? Bandana

From the bandana cut hearts, triangles, squares, or cut pieces to fit certain areas of the shoes. Thinly cover the back of the bandana with fabric glue, apply to whatever space looks good to you (you can even overlap them) and allow the glue to dry. Once the glue has dried, traces any raw, unfinished edges with the fabric paint. These will hold up for a long time, as long as you don?t dry them in your dryer.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://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. A huge variety of inexpensive costume

Adding Christmas Spirit to the Outdoors

People love looking at a yard full of outdoor Christmas decorations. Christmas is a time of celebrating around the world and many families see it as a time of extensive decorating, both inside the home and outside the home. Some towns and cities even have contests that are centered around lighting and decorating the outside of your home. You can find almost any type of outdoor Christmas decoration that you can imagine.

Homemade decorations are just one type of outdoor Christmas decoration. They are usually very sentimental and are typically created when family gets together to make these outdoor decorations. They are usually less expensive than buying decorations at a store and can be much more interesting and fun. You can create outdoor Christmas decorations from almost anything, including wire coat hangers. Wire coat hangers can be shaped into almost any shape that you can imagine and then you can wrap outdoor lights around them to help give them pop and interest. You can use strips of wood to create a figure, like Santa, and then place lights around it to give it visual interest.

A string of lights is another wonderful way to decorate your yard. They are the most popular Christmas decoration available and come in all different shapes and colors to help you create the look that you desire. They even have lights that you can hang on your home that look like icicles or you can use a simple strand of lights. White lights or colored lights will look great on any home, whether you want flashing lights or not.

Another type of outdoor Christmas decoration is a pre-made figure or statue that has lights on it or around it. You can find almost any kind of character that you would like from religious ones to Santa to cartoon characters. The air inflated decorations are becoming more popular every year. They stay inflated with a constant flow of air and are lit inside for added visibility. They are quite inexpensive and easy to set up and operate.

Adding outdoor Christmas decorations can be an important part of your holiday decor. By choosing the right decorations for you, you will be sure to enjoy adding that extra dose of Christmas spirit to the outside of your home.

Andrew Caxton is a journalist who has written more articles and newsletters on the subject for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com. A focused website that offers the best articles on xmas ornaments and gifts , read more about how to add your personal touch of interior Christmas decorating to your home.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

With the Christmas season fast upon us, it is time to start decorating our homes in the festive spirit. Many families use the same decorations year after year. Others go all out and try to change their design style with every passing season. As the holidays tend to be a time when people do a lot of entertaining in their homes, why not consider adding something extra to your holiday d?cor?

In years past, we have approached our holiday decorations with a certain theme in mind. One year, we decorated our home to look like Santa?s workshop. Another time, we dressed our living room like a life-sized nativity scene. Last year was my favorite, by far! We transformed our home into a beach complete with sand and palm trees, and had Christmas in Hawaii. The opportunities are endless. If you are planning to have guests over during this holiday season, consider trying something new.

This year we are decorating our home in a winter wonderland theme. The idea is to transform our living room into?.you guessed it?.a winter wonderland. We are planning to use a lot of blues, whites, and silver. This will be great fun for the kids and me, as we get to spend an afternoon making paper snowflakes. You remember those don?t you? You know the ones we all used to make in elementary school, where you fold up a round piece of paper and take little snippets out of it with scissors to make unique snowflake patterns. So much fun! We will also use lots of those silver icicles, and snowmen of various shapes and sizes.

Decorating your home really helps get your family and friends into the Christmas spirit. We usually invite our extended families over to help. This gives all the children an opportunity to share in what has become a wonderful family tradition. It also gives the adults a chance to enjoy some good company and maybe even some spiced-up egg nog! Later in the day we will likely all gather around the television and watch our favorite Christmas movie. We like to watch A Christmas Story every year as a family. This year, I want a Red Rider BB gun. On second thought, I?ll probably shoot my eye out!

Catherine Spelling absolutely loves spending Christmas with family and friends. When she is not counting down the days until Christmas, she writes for christmaslightsanddecorations.com ? an online resources for all things relating to Christmas and decorations, with information about indoor Christmas lights, Christmas stockings, decorations and more.

Home Decorating Makes A House Your Home

Home Decorating and even holiday decorating are more a testament to our continuing affluence than anything. Back in

years gone by, our homes were considered places to stay and live, not as an extension of our own personalities. Back

then, homes were also built all as custom homes, that is, the age of the tract housing boom had not yet taken root. Therefore, even if the older homes were not as lavishly decorated, they still maintained a level of distinction due to the custom building of that era.

Moving into the late 20th century, WW-2 had just ended and dropped a lot of young men and women back into the country with new found abilities to afford their own homes via the GI bill. This huge demand caused the housing booms that resulted all cross the country. The good thing was that these homes were inexpensive but the negative was that the tract home was born. thousands of cookie cutter sameness soon dotted the land almost everywhere people were interested in living. This in turn drove the need for some type of distinction to make the new homes somehow different and a statement of their new owners. The age of home decorating had finally come to the working class.

A home is cozier and more comfortable than any other place. We build our homes with the utmost care and sincerity. After all, it is a place where we spend most of our lives. Home decorating means a lot to the owner. It also demands hard work and devotion, as it is not an easy task. Decorating includes both the interior as well as exterior aspects.

Initially, home decorating started off simply as changing the paint or wallpaper but has led to a boom in furnishings, artwork, collectibles and even flooring materials. Just the range of available flooring options is incredible. You can choose from marble, granite tiles, bricks, slates, concrete, or steel. To add more color, suitable carpets can be spread. Rugs can be used to complement them. So before, basic flooring was acceptable, in our quest for making our home truly ours, we have needed to remodel, rebuild, rework and otherwise redesign almost everything in our homes.

Walls, pillars, and other standouts can be decorated using artifacts, paintings or wall hangings. Modern art is becoming a common choice. And it's not just the living room, but every part of the home now gets the star treatment. This includes, new rooms for babies, teens, young adults, toddlers and children.

In the end, what we really want is to open the door after a hard days work and say....Home at Last!

Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects that affect families today. For more nformation on decorating your home visit http://www.decorating.homedecoratingideas.org

The Truth About Futon Mattresses

Have small living quarters and trying to figure out where to sleep at night? If so, you aren't alone. There are many people who are living in cramped quarters, whether they are college students, have too many roommates, or just have more belongings than space available.

For these people, choosing a Futon bed is often a wise choice. The Futon has its origin in Japan, however the western style of Futons varies from the original version. In Japan, the mattress rests upon a Tatami mat and isn't set upon a bed frame, as is the norm in the west. The Futon mattress also is folded and stored away during the day in Japan.

In the western countries, a Futon bed mattress is typically set upon a bed frame and the futon is used as both a bed and a couch. This makes the Futon a suitable choice for those who have very little living space and can act as a couch and a bed.

The Futon Mattress: Springless Beauty

The Japanese Futons use environmentally friendly mattresses that are comprised of cotton batting. They air out their mattresses by placing them in direct sunlight then beating them with a bamboo stick or tool. This is actually a very healthy practice as science is just now releasing facts regarding how many germs and bacteria thrive on mattresses and pillows.

In Western countries, the Futon and its mattress are often inseparable. The mattress is not taken outside for daily airings nor stored away in closets. Like any other bed, the futon mattress remains on the bed frame, however, one thing is similar, and that is that most Western Futon mattresses are eco-friendly as well and are made with foam style batting. Though thicker than their Japanese counterparts, they are often springless mattresses. If you absolutely prefer a mattress made with springs, you can purchase a spring-filled mattress.

There are many benefits for choosing a Futon. Besides the ability to save space, you can also substitute a Futon in a small guest room and have a wonderfully decorated room making the most out of your limited space. You can purchase a Futon in a number of different patterns and styles, making the Futon suitable for any guest room's d?cor.

Understanding the importance of health, most people prefer to choose the all natural 100% cotton Futon mattresses, for these are deemed to be much healthier and environmentally friendly then the other synthetic and spring based mattresses.

For every home, whether large or small, there is a corner of a room that would be perfect for a Futon. Whether by necessity (limited space) or by design (home d?cor options), an investment in a Futon mattress will pay off and likely be one of the most comfortable places to relax, or get a healthy good nights sleep.

Beds, futons, & mattresses. It's not surprising that those who get a better sleep live more active lives. What is surprising are the number of people who continue to needlessly sleep in uncomfortable beds. Find out how to get better sleep!

http://www.getabettersleep.com

Christmas Decorating for Dummies

The first day of December is my favorite day of the year. Decorating for Christmas is my favorite thing to do and I look forward to it every single year. I make myself wait until December 1st, but once that day comes, then I start my official Christmas decoration siege. Christmas time was always a time of great decorating when I was growing up and everything always looked great and like it was right out of a magazine. My family decorated the home inside and out and we all loved doing it. That is probably why I love the Christmas season and Christmas decorating so much.

I start by decorating the outside of the house. No haphazard decorating for me. I carefully place my lights so that they look organized and beautiful. I take great pride in my decorating and my house looks it. I want my entire home to look exactly like my mom's used to - welcoming and elegant. I have chosen to only use white twinkling lights in my decorating and I start by putting them on my bushes, trees, and the front porch. Then I move inside to decorate the stair case banister. We take the whole family with us when we choose our Christmas tree and this has made it into a family tradition that we enjoy and look forward to.

Last year we decided to cut our own tree, but it was not something that I care to do again. It was a very cold, snowy day and we argued and froze for hours trying to find that perfect tree. We found a tree that was perfect for us, but the time that it took and the misery that it entailed was not something that I care to repeat. I think that this year we will just go visit the local tree lot and bring it home with no trouble. The most important part of Christmas decorating is the tree. We put the tree up and then string the lights on it. After all of the lights are on the tree, then we each pick out our favorite ornaments to place on the tree. Christmas carols softly playing in the background is essential. I just love the holiday season!

Christmas decoration time is not only something I look forward to, but it is also a time that my entire family looks forward to. It also helps to bring us closer together during the most wonderful time of the year.

Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like the above article at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com. For additional information about Christmas decorating ideas and ornaments for the next holidays, just visit his website.

Do You Live in a House or a Home?

Do you live in a House or a Home? This probably sounds like a silly question, but it really is a question that we should sit back and ask ourselves. If you are anything like me, I?m often so caught up with the everyday stresses of life that my house often becomes a nothing more than an after thought. On the flip side, for some, your house may be so showplace perfect that it truly is not a home. What is the difference between a house and a home, and does it really matter?

A house is simply a structure that provides a roof over your head. It offers water, heat, appliances needed to store and prepare your food, space for belongings and valuables, a bed for rest, and most likely a TV for entertainment; basically all of the necessary conveniences for a comfortable life. Living in a house maybe okay for some, but I think we all deserve a place to call home.

A home is so much more than a house. A home is a reflection of you. A keeper and creator of memories; It is a place that you are thankful to come home to; where you can laugh, relax, cry and share special times with friends and family. A home provides a place to play and another for quiet contemplation. A home is for lively gatherings and private conversations. It?s a place where guests feel welcome and one that you can?t wait to get back to. A home says, this is who I am and what I love.

The good news is that creating a home is something that all of us can do. Terence Conran says this; Home is the heart of life?Home is where we feel at ease, where we belong, where we can create surroundings that reflect our tastes and pleasures?Making a home is a form of creativity open to everyone. After all, it?s your special touch that uniquely makes your house a home. Think back to homes that you have visited and what you liked about them. What made them special and what do you remember about them? Homes that I remember best are those that reflect the personality of those who lived in them. My childhood home had bold and happy colors; purple, red and gold. There are lots of family pictures, exotic items from travel adventures, and a few special pieces from my parent?s childhood homes. It?s a home that reflects their personality, heart and passions. My home (which is always a work in progress) is done in welcoming warm tones of yellow and gold; you?ll find a painted quote on a wall by Mark Twain about following your dream, candles in every room, and kids are always in and out. It can be a lively energetic place or a cozy place to curl up and read.

One home I remember visiting years ago was an old farm house. The owners had numerous treasured farmhouse antiques, but what I remember most about this home, is that almost everything had a story. A quilt on the wall was made by a great grandmother. The walls of a guest room featured a very old christening gown and several outfits that were handed down from generation to generation. Hung next to the garments were pictures of children from several generations, each of them wearing the same special garments that were handed down throughout the years. What a great way to share history, create conversation and re-live memories.

Yes, a house provides you with a roof over your head and a place to sleep at night, but a home is so much more. It tells amazing stories, embracing both laughter and tears; it provides a place to unwind, breathe a little easier and energize for what tomorrow may bring. As Dorothy once said, ?there is no place like home?. Don?t we all deserve a home?

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