10 Quick Ways to Change Your Fireless Fireplace from a Black Hole to a Worthy Focal Point

Everyone loves a fireplace aglow with a roaring fire or flickering embers. But your fireplace need not be a gaping empty hole--like a picture frame without a picture?-those times you choose not to have a fire.

As you look over these ideas, you?ll recognize any that will need to be adapted if you have young children or pets with access to the fireplace.

• Ivy Basket: A lovely basket filled with a thriving ivy plant adds a touch of nature to your room. Let the ivy trail onto the hearth to keep the look informal.

• Autumn Vegetables: In the fall, create an arrangement of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and silk leaves in autumn colors. Set some of your vegetables on upturned wooden bowls to vary their heights.

• Pine Cones: An arrangement of pinecones of varying sizes, displayed in a large basket, wooden bowl, firewood basket, or even an old washtub works well for a causal country d?cor. Scatter some of the pinecones around the container, too.

• Pottery Jug & Dried Plants: For another country autumn look, display a large pottery jug in your fireplace, and around it make a loose arrangement of intertwined, dried grapevine. Mingle some other clusters of dried plants into the grapevine. Dried baby?s breath, for example, keeps the look open and airy.

• Poinsettias: Blooming poinsettias, especially ones so large they practically fill the fireplace, look stunning during the winter. Depending on your room, the white ones may be even more dramatic than the red ones. Put smaller potted poinsettias on the hearth.

• Tropical Vignette: Let your fireplace provide the frame for a tropical retreat vignette when summer rolls around. With a piece of driftwood, display large seashells and colorful glass fishing balls?some perched on the driftwood or on white candle holders to give them height.

The truly venturesome might set these goodies on a base of rippling white sand.

• Party Balloons: Party time? Inflate balloons in keeping with your party?s color scheme. Load the fireplace full of the balloons (not helium ones!), using the fireplace screen or glass doors to hold the balloons in place.

Tie the ribbons of three helium balloons to a heavy object, such as a wrapped brick wrapped as a ?present,? at either side of the fireplace.

• New Year?s Vignette: When it?s time to ring in New Year, first tape two taut strings inside your fireplace, above where they will be visible. Run each one from a front corner to the opposite back corner, so the strings form an X.

Unroll one-fourth inch wide white, silver, and black party streamers and drape them over the strings so they dangle down at varying lengths into the fireplace. Next, unroll more streamers and casually spread a deep pile onto the fireplace floor.

Now add the appropriate props: champagne bottles and glasses, party hats and horns, a large clock set at almost midnight, or metallic numerals of the New Year. To raise some object, set them on boxes hidden under the streamers.

• Fresh Flowers: There?s no time of year when a large bouquet of fresh flowers set in your fireplace won?t look great. Forget the silk ones, though. Let?s not kid ourselves that our guests will continue to assume that they are real when they?ve seen them time and again.

• Fireplace Candelabra: But, if you?re like many of us who feel that a fireplace just needs the flicker of fire to look its best, consider a fireplace candelabra, a candle holder designed specially for your fireplace. You can have a fireplace aglow with light without a single stick of firewood in sight or the expense of gas logs.

Some fireplace candelabras are slim enough to fit in front of your existing andirons and grate while others are make to fill your empty fireplace. Select candles for your fireplace candelabra in colors that accent your room or set a holiday?s or party?s color scheme.

Plus, you can even match the fireplace candles? scents to the season or event! Think, for example, pumpkin and spice for Thanksgiving, vanilla or apple spice to elicit a ?homey? feel, and lemon for a crisp summer scent.

So, your fire-less fireplace need not be a Black Hole after all! You can make your fireplace, the natural focal point of your room, worth looking at even when there are no burning logs.

About The Author

Susan Penney appreciates simple ways to make our homes renewing spaces for our families. She invites you to visit http://www.FireplaceMall.com for fireplace accessories to serve your fire-less or your fire-filled fireplace.

fireplacemall@earthlink.net

Remodel and Update Your Kitchen

Your kitchen should reflect your lifestyle. Many families gather in the kitchen and it is truly the focal point of the home. Other people only use the kitchen for cooking and want to focus improvements on function and efficiency. The first step to improving your kitchen is to determine which type of person you are and plan accordingly.

The latest energy saving appliances are a great way to remodel and update the kitchen. Not only can energy use be significantly lowered than with new appliances, but the look of stainless steel and black finishes can also be very fashionable and bring a kitchen into the twenty-first century. Only a few years ago, these finishes were the most expensive commercial appliances but are common and more affordable in today?s economy. Consider simple remodeling by replacing old, inefficient appliances. This may be the best single step to improving the look of your kitchen!

Painting the walls, back splash and cabinets can update a kitchen quite inexpensively as well. If you have a small kitchen, paint all the surfaces in one lighter color to open the room and make it appear more spacious. If you have a roomy kitchen, you can be as creative with the use of color as you wish. Keep in mind that before you go out and by kitchen paint, it is best to bring home samples and test them against the color of cabinets in your kitchen. It will save you the frustration of realizing the colors don?t go together after you start painting.

Many times older homes have wallpaper in the kitchen area, making the kitchen seem outdated. Many people don?t want to bother with remodeling the kitchen colors because they assume it will be costly or time consuming. Removing wallpaper can be as simple as getting a bucket of hot water and a cloth to remove it from the walls and spending time to make sure there is no wallpaper adhesive left by wiping it down with a wet sponge.

If your counter tops are scarred and dated, another way to update the kitchen is to install new counters. Smooth surfaces without any seams are best for kitchen counter tops because no food particles can gather in the seams, posing a serious health issue.

Flooring for the kitchen can be changed in your remodeling project as well, although this can be one of the most expensive portions of a remodeling project. While vinyl or laminate flooring used to be the typical floor choice for the kitchen, many homeowners are switching to tile or even pergo flooring for easier clean-up and durability. You should choose a flooring type that will provide easy cleaning and won't scar if kitchen utensils or pots and pans happen to be dropped. Remember to bring home samples and compare them to your kitchen appliances and cabinets before getting started.

Visit Dot Com Women 'Home & Lifestyle' channel at http://www.dotcomwomen.com/home for more articles and tips on Home Improvement, Decorating Styles, Holiday and Seasonal Decorating and Creative Homemaking Ideas.

Creating a Peaceful Home Environment

In times of stress and difficulty, home becomes more important to creating a sense of well-being. We look to our homes to provide a sensory reprieve so we can unplug from the stresses of the outside world.

However, creating a calming home isn?t as easy as it seems, because the elements of a serene space aren?t always obvious. Only certain elements create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. Below are the six elements that can create a calm, serene environment.

1. The home is visually restful.

Create views. Seeing out and beyond is restful to our eyes and spirits. Open shades and curtains to view the garden or open spaces beyond. Select artwork that offers perspective and depth, such as those in landscape paintings.

Use calming colors. Hotels and spas often use muted colors in their d?cor to create a soothing environment. They do this by painting trim, walls, and ceilings all the same color. Another technique is to choose colors that are shade or two different from one another. Select muted taupes, browns, yellows, greens, or earth-type colors, as these are calming and relaxing. Choose beneficial feng shui colors here.

Limit TV viewing. The sights and images that are constantly changing on today?s television stations can be upsetting and graphic. Avoid having a TV on unless you are watching it.

2. The environment is audibly soothing.

Get a tabletop fountain. The gurgling sound of water is extremely relaxing and enjoyable. More importantly, it creates a ?natural? sound like those heard in nature. Be sure to choose a quality fountain. These will give you greater enjoyment and better use than an inexpensive one.

Listen to soothing music. Classical or new age music is always a good choice. Listen to this when you come home, while relaxing in the house, or before bed. Or, play it on a whole house stereo system.

Turn off the TV. Avoid having the TV on as background noise. Turn it off in favor of music or silence.

3. The home allows you to physically unwind and rest. This starts in the bedroom. Many bedrooms are over-functional and over stimulating. They may have a computer, exercise equipment, desks, stacks of books, etc. to divert attention from what should really be going on in the room: rest , relaxation, and romance. Also, put the bed back into bedroom by taking the TV out of it.

4. It is mentally relaxing. A home must offer a respite from troubling world events, stress-filled work, or other difficulties.

Get organized. Order creates calm. If you are running around the house frantically searching for keys, your wallet, your purse, etc., then you are mentally agitated. Designate one space for these essentials and be vigilant about keeping them there.

Be neat. Make the bed, hang up your towels, and put the dishes in the dishwasher. Pick up for a few minutes a few times a day so the house stays tidy.

5. The space incorporates natural elements. Asian decorating is often associated with a calm environment. This is because they rely on a heavy use of natural elements. Wood, stone, and plants are all excellent additions to a space and can be used regardless of the decorating style of the home. Using these elements liberally creates a relaxing, natural and harmonious atmosphere, effectively bringing ?the outside in.?

6. It?s kept reasonably clean. Cleanliness is important for a peaceful home. Unfortunately, most cleaning is done in a large spurt of time, often taking several hours. Instead, keep cleaning items close to the location and take one minute each day to wipe off counters, or run a brush through the toilet. If that?s not possible, hire cleaning help.

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter feng shui e-zine and is dedicated to helping her readers develop successful, prosperous, and supportive environments with feng shui. To subscribe, logon to www.redlotusletter.com and receive this special report Fr*ee 16 Feng Shui Secrets for Greater Prosperity.

kweber@redlotusconsulting.com

How To Give Your Room A FaceLift Inexpensively!

Looking for ways to improve your home's appearance...without spending a fortune? Here's how I gave our old family room a burst of color - without bursting our budget!

I was tired of looking at the same old earth tones in our family room. Everything seemed so ?safe? and blah.

With winter storms blowing in every week, I wanted a fresh burst of spring! But I had to stay within a budget as we just finished up with holiday spending.

I browsed through Pier 1 Imports and with great ease I collected a few colorful and well-made items and put those together to coordinate an outstanding new look for our family room that screamed ?fresh and alive!? I began by removing the throw pillows that came with our sofas. I replaced them with bright gold pillows. I was just looking for a splash of color to brighten those sofas.

On the walls, I relocated a hanging clock and took down old tired pieces of artwork and replaced them with paintings with the same vibrant gold color to honor the new theme: new life! Pier 1 had some gorgeous silk florals on sale and I teamed them up with a handsome red hand blown glass vase for a stunning look.

Finally, I grouped a cluster of simple white glass candle holders of various sizes, inserted brand new scented yellow candles and the look was elegant, yet comfortable and new. For less than $150 I changed a tired room and gave it a clean, fresh new look.

That?s all we needed!

We didn?t need to paint, buy new furniture etc. It just needed a lift, and our spirits soared.

You don?t always have to think big when redecorating. Something as small as new throw pillows and new scattered throw rugs might be all you need.

Have fun!

Ann Bickell is the co-owner of HouseBuying-Tips.com, a site that helps first time home buyers avoid the costly mistakes that many new homebuyers make. For more tips on buying a house, getting a mortgage, finding a realtor, and getting out of debt, sign up for the free How To Avoid These 10 Costly Mistakes When Buying Your First Home email course at: http://www.HouseBuying-Tips.com ? 2006 HouseBuying-Tips.com

Interior Design Simply Means Personalizing Your Interior Environment

Interior Design today is all about customizing your built environment with conceptual planning, aesthetic sense and technical solutions applied to achieve the desired result. It goes beyond just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space, it seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the built environment will be put. Between you and me, this jargon simply means dressing up your closed spaces to make them look their best. And just as you would dress for the occasion, your interiors need to be dressed up for a specific intended purpose or use. And that is where technical expertise really helps.

Interior Designs should reflect your needs.

Each space is unique with its own dimensions, construction, design potential and, of course, - limitations. Are you going to use that space for work or leisure, entertainment or learning, worship or healing? Can you create the ambience that you wish to convey ? be it power, authority, wisdom, and achievement, a sense of security, playfulness or serenity, as required by that space?

Consider the practical aspects. Is access easy, lighting adequate, acoustics soothing, and seating comfortable? And have you worked out strategies for wise storage space without forgetting special needs ? especially health and safety? Sounds a wee-bit difficult, isn?t it? Despair not! You as user are the only one who can come up with all the right answers. Look for interior design ideas ? they are available aplenty. It?s just this small matter of putting things together judiciously. Who knows? There could well be a Le Corbusier hiding somewhere in your persona!

About The Author

Mike Yeager, Publisher

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

mjy610@hotmail.com

Create the Perfect Patio: Finding Great Furniture

Of course, most importantly, you will always want to be sure that your patio d?cor is weather resistant, even though it is recommended that you bring your patio d?cor to shelter when bad weather occurs, you may want to consider that bad weather may strike at a time when you are not at home and will not be able to get home for awhile. All good patio d?cor is made to withstand harsh weather.

Benches:

There are many kinds of benches, so if you are looking for an elegant or luxurious look you can easily find benches that will give your patio some class. However, there are also plainer, more comfortable benches available that are not without great style.

Some patio benches are beautiful and perfect for seating guests comfortably. Such benches make great patio d?cor, especially when used with a table for grilling out and eating on the porch etc.

Chairs:

Just like with your indoor d?cor, patio d?cor includes reclining chairs or chairs sold with separate footrests for the ultimate relaxation. There are also folding chairs that can work well as patio d?cor. These chairs look nice, they are convenient and they are easily put away and stored when not in use.

If you have a table and a bench, folding chairs or any other kind of extra chairs may serve to assist you when there are more guests than seats on your patio benches, pull your chairs, the extra patio d?cor, up to the table so that everyone has a place to sit down.

Tables:

Tables are wonderful patio d?cor especially if you have the space to eat outdoors on your patio.

Coffee tables:

The best part about coffee tables on the patio is the comfort and familiarity of it. You almost imitate the living room while enjoying the outdoors.

You will also want to consider larger tables. As I mentioned before, tables can serve a great purpose, especially if you use your patio for cookouts and get-togethers.

And lastly, in regard to the tables for patio d?cor, you may also want to check out the taller tables available, those which are smaller, and which one could use for reading, coffee etc. But most often when just one or two people are using the patio.

Lamps and lighting:

Lighting is a very important part of patio d?cor. Especially when nightfall comes up on you quickly?and you want to stay outside!

It can be quite luxurious to have tall lamps around your patio area as part of your patio d?cor. These look like street lamps only they can be found with more unique attributes such as colors or designs along the poles that will show off your personal taste.

Another way of lighting your patio is to get some nice, bright burning candles. Just make sure that they give off enough light. Candles can actually be very elegant patio d?cor if you buy more elegant types of candles. But there are some candles that also serve practical functions such as citronella candles to help keep the bugs away.

And, of course, there is lighting patio d?cor (if you want to call it that) such as a bug zapper?which can also be very entertaining!

There are so many types and styles of patio d?cor you can use to accentuate your patio, make it more comfortable, and be of use to yourself, your family, and other visitors. Enjoy the outdoors this season with great patio d?cor.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on outdoor furniture please visit Patios and Gardens.

Kids Halloween Parties: No Tricks Just Treats And Lots Of Fun Halloween Enjoyment

Door to door trick or treating may be a thing of the past, but Kids? Halloween parties, done with imagination and creativity, can be an alternative not only every bit as much fun, but much safer than the door to door trick or treating you might have done in the past. You remember running excitedly from house to house on Halloween, yelling, Trick or Treat! and receiving goodies from everyone. A safer, more acceptable alternative is to easily and inexpensively entertain little ghouls and Goblins at your very own kids? Halloween party.

It is important to make a guest list for your child's Halloween party, and enlist the help of other parents who want a safe, but fun, alternative for their own children, to provide adequate supervision. Keep in mind that, to keep children entertained and occupied, you must provide more than treats. Games, contests, and activities are important as well.

Here are some safe, fun suggestions sure to entertain at your kids? Halloween party:

? A costume contest where each child votes for the best costume at the party, and the winner receives a prize.

? Pumpkin decorating contests. Each child is given a miniature pumpkin, and allowed to decorate the pumpkin with sequins, glitter, markers, yarn, etc. The children then vote on the best decorated pumpkin, and the winner earns a treat. Each child is allowed to take their decorated pumpkin home with them after the party.

? Musical ghosts: the children form a circle, and while spooky music plays they pass the 'ghost' (a white, plastic bag filled with goodies, tied with a rubber band, and painted to look like a ghost head) and the child holding the 'ghost' when the music stops is ?out? until only one child is left. That child is the winner, and earns the ghostly treat.

? A game sure to find approval is ?Who?s the Mummy?? where the children divide up into pairs, and each pair is given a roll of toilet paper. With one child wrapping, and the other child being the mummy, who ever wraps the whole roll fastest wins the game, and a treat.

? Another great game for your kids Halloween party, would be a quest to find the ghost who ate the candy. Small, white bags, with ghosts? faces drawn on, are filled with Halloween candy, and hidden throughout the party area. Children would be given hints and instructions, and allowed to search to find the bags filled with treats.

Though the days of children being able to go door to door yelling Trick or Treat may be a thing of the past, and your children?s memories may be different from your own, your Kids? Halloween party can create wonderful memories to cherish, and be passed down from generation to generation, while keeping your children not only happy, but safe, at their very own Kids? Halloween party.

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. Halloween Party Games, party planning tips, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

Choosing Decorations for a Baby Shower

No party is complete without decorations and a baby shower is no exception. There are many different decorations ideas you can use for a baby shower party depending on how much time you have to plan the event and what you are willing to spend.

Baby shower decorations range from simple to extravagant depending on what you are looking for. Decorations add a certain ambience to a baby shower and can turn the event into a memorable occasion for the expectant mother. There are scores of ideas and decoration items available to help you set up the baby shower party.

Deciding on the Type of Decorations

One way of deciding on the decorations is by choosing a theme for the baby shower. The decorations you use will be based on the chosen theme. For example, if you go in for a traditional theme, you should choose decorations that include silver and china.

A more modern theme for a baby shower nowadays is to use popular cartoon characters. Depending on the cartoon character you choose, the decorations should centre on this character. To help you choose something appropriate, visit the numerous specialty stores that stock a large selection of baby shower decorations.

Ideas for Decorations

By using your imagination and inventiveness, you can come up with attractive decorations that are neither cumbersome nor costly. A little resourcefulness will help you plan a great baby shower without spending tons of money.

When you begin decorating the venue, be careful not to go overboard with your decorations or you may end up with a place that looks garish. Stick to simple decorations such as seasonal flowers and party toys. They create a simple but warm ambience, conducive to a party amongst close friends.

If you want a more extravagant affair, you may need to buy decorative items other than flowers and a few toys. You can however, always keep these items once the party is over and use them during other occasions like birthday parties. Or you can gift the items to the couple as mementos or toys for the new baby.

Low-cost Decorations

Nothing is more festive than colorful balloons. These can be bunched together and hung on each table. To keep the balloons from rising up, tie small items like a feeding bottle or a soft toy to the string end of each balloon.

A baby bath tub can be turned into a punch bowl for the baby shower. Or it can be used as a container for all the gifts brought by the guests. The tub can be decorated with ribbons and balloons that reflect the theme of the party.

Upside down umbrellas hung from the ceiling make for interesting decorations. Colorful streamers can be attached to the ends.

With a bit of ingenuity and imagination, you can create simple, but attractive decorations for a baby shower without burning a hole in your pocket.

Kim Anderson is the owner of http://www.quickandeasybabyshower.com and http://www.quickandeasybabyshower.net Sites devoted to helping you make sure your baby shower is great.

Children's Easter Activities and Free Party Games

Take a little time to plan Children?s Easter activities in order to keep things running smoothly. While planning holiday dinners and special outfits for the season find the time to select story books and non-fiction literature. These can be enjoyed by older visitors who may wish to interact with children when they are around for the holiday. The children enjoy the attention but the elders may not have the energy for other kinds of activities. Quiet games, jigsaw puzzles and coloring books can provide suitable pastimes to be enjoyed by children and older guests.

Spring is a time of year when wildlife can be more easily observed so activities centering around them would be fun and educational. It is also when plants and trees are coming out of dormancy so that would be a good opportunity to encounter nature. Toys like bug collectors and children?s binoculars are gateways to science and perfectly enjoyable to older siblings. Outdoor activities would provide a good photo opportunity with those spring flowers in bloom and children engrossed in the wonders of nature.

Have the children gather together for an Easter egg run. Make sure the eggs you use are boiled. You don?t want dropped eggs splattering on the lawn. All the runners get a spoon and one egg. When the race starts they have to balance their egg on the spoon as they ?run? or maybe just walk fast to the finish line.

For some a cook out or pool party can be planned in order to optimize the unique attributes of very warm regions. It may be hard to relate traditional Easter notions of nature waking up in these hotter areas as it would be in very cold climates in which snow falls are still substantial at Easter. It may be best not to confuse small children with these ideas. Temporal matters are still very challenging to the very young and it may be best to concentrate on other festivities.

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. Free Party Games to match your holiday party.

Landscaping With Railway Ties!

Using wood railway ties that have been impregnated with creosote in your landscaping project may give you the appearance that you are looking for, but it is important to understand the problems that you may encounter.

Wood railway ties are manufactured by saturating raw lumber with a product generally referred to as creosote. Creosote is the generic name used for a variety of wood preservatives: wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles all fall under the general category of creosote. These products are created by mixing numerous chemicals that are created by the high-temperature treatment of beech and other woods, coal, or from the resin of the creosote bush.

Creosote does not dry, as with most tar like substances it remains in a semi-liquid state. Hence, if you touch a creosote impregnated railway tie, you will transfer some of the creosote to your hands and the hotter it is, the more the creosote will liquefy. If there are children who will be in contact with the railway ties their clothes and any exposed areas will be covered in creosote. Because creosote is a tar product, it does not wash out of clothing easily. Coupled with the problem associated with transfer is that creosote can and does produce a tar odor, which most individuals find distasteful.

Creosote will also leach into garden soil and ground water. Vegetables should not be grown in areas where creosote may have or may be contaminating the soil as vegetables grown in that soil will absorb the creosote chemicals.

Creosote impregnated lumber cannot be sealed, stained or painted.

Is creosote harmful? Diagnosticians have determined that irritation of the respiratory tract has been caused by breathing the vapors of any of the creosotes listed above. Skin damage, such as blistering and peeling, can be caused by long-term (year) exposure to creosote by contact with the skin or inhaling the vapors. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the EPA have has determined that creosote is most likely a carcinogenic to humans.

You now have the information necessary to determine if wood railway ties are the best product for your next landscaping project.

For additional information on landacaping your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Decorate Your Living Room With Contemporary Style

No matter what you budget is, you can get the sleek and clean look of a contemporary interior design in your living room. Changing out just a few things like wall art and accessories as well as a little paint can do wonders to your room and these changes do not have to cost a lot!

A vital element when decorating your living room with a contemporary theme is your wall treatments. For this design style the colors can make or break the look - consider adding shades of browns and black or a sharp black and white look to the room. Try using a neutral color paint on the walls, or if you want something different go with a leather or suede wall covering.

Decorative accessories are another important piece in pulling your contemporary look together. Concentrate on getting wall art and pillows that match your contemporary design style. For accent pieces you want the lines to be clean and avoid a lot of clutter. Be certain to add in loads of plain bowls with fruit as well as simple linear floral arrangements and you might even try some black and white photography to get a professional look for your living room. Additional touches such as vintage art d?co accessories can help setup your room with a polished decorative appeal, but don?t go overboard because with the contemporary look less is better.

What's on your floor can add to the decorating style, but if you can not afford new floors in your living room then you can mask your current floors with small rugs with a contemporary design - either a geometric print or a plain sisal rug. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford new floors, check out bamboo floors or slate or clay tile. Sleek lined furniture with chrome accents goes nicely with this look and you might try shopping at consignment stores if you are short on cash.

Lighting is vital in any room and the living room is no exception. To match your contemporary design style, you need to look at light fixtures in terms of both style and type. The majority of living rooms can work with a table lamp combined with recessed lighting. When you will be incorporating a contemporary style, take a look at a chrome ceiling fixture with recessed lighting but steer clear of anything which is scrolly or fancy.

An important decorating area that you must work on when decorating your room are your walls. You can make even the plainest walls look nice by incorporating great wall art and decorative accessories. Try adding simple, plain artwork, tribal masks or abstract art to your living room walls to highlight the modern feel of your contemporary theme.

Putting together a successful contemporary look in your living room can be as minor as just buying new decorative accessories or as involved as replacing everything. So no matter what your budget, you can get a sleek contemporary look that will thrill the whole family!

Lee Dobbins writes for Decorating How To where you can learn more about decorating styles and your home.

Lawrence Bedding Collections and Ensembles

Lawrence bedding is a well known name in the bedding industry. Based in Montreal Canada, Lawrence bedding has been offering quality bedding since 1948. Lawrence has developed a reputation for providing exceptional value and cutting edge designs. Their unique modern luxury collections are generally designed to be themed around a specific line of patterns. Some of their current collections are detailed in this article.

Maison de Vie collection is a group of chic, contemporary patterns that are quietly sophisticated and casually elegant. This collection ranges from minimalist, zen inspired patterns like Evolution and Silence to bright funky geometrics such as Crossroads and Verve.

Sky Collection This bedding collection inspired by the beauty of the sky includes the aptly named haze, sunset, and twilight collections.

Suite Couture is Lawrence?s most luxurious collection. Featuring rich brocades and fine silks this collection will satisfy even the most discriminating individuals. The Bourbon street ensemble has a comforter made with a wide ruby red and bronze damask stripe which is accented by a woven diamond design in the bed skirt and shams. Dharma is an Eastern inspired red and plum jacquard pattern. Finally the Grandeur Collection is a magnificent aqua and cream damask pattern.

Bretton Manor is an affordable grouping of fashionable bedding. Here you will find classic plaids, patchwork quilt designs, southwestern patterns, and floral collections.

The New York Market collection is a new line of bedding which made its debut at the spring 2006 Market Week in New York City. This promising line includes an exciting new pattern called Cachet, which is an Asian inspired asymmetrical patchwork design in lavish shades of goldenrod and charcoal.

Whether you want luxurious, affordable, or elegant designs you will always find the perfect Lawrence bedding ensemble at http://www.ajmoss.com. You can call us toll free at 877-862-1270 Our experienced staff will help design the perfect look for your home.

How To Decorate A Christmas Tree: Seven Simple Tips For Your Elegant Evergreen

There's nothing quite like decorating the Christmas tree to mark the start of the festive season. Whether you've decided to have a real tree or an artificial one, everyone can enjoy the ritual of hanging the lights, draping the garlands and swags and trimming the tree with your favorite Christmas ornaments.

So as the moment approaches to bring out your favorite ornaments from their year-long storage, it's time to decide what sort of tree decoration you want. For some people, trimming the tree involves a carefully thought out design. Perhaps your theme will be a single color this year -- maybe all white, silver or gold. On the other hand, your decorations and ornaments may represent an eclectic mixture of shapes, patterns and styles to create an effect that's uniquely you.

One rule about choosing Christmas tree decorations is that there are no rules! Don't let the style police dictate the way you deck your holiday evergreen: this is one time, at least, when you're free to let your personal taste and style reign supreme.

Whatever your choice, there are some basic principles to help you decorate your tree with pizzazz. Once it's safely set up on its stand, have your ornaments, lights and accessories ready to one side. Here's an order of steps to make the task easier:

Put the lights on first. Don't try to wrap a cord of lights around a tree that already has ornaments hanging on it. Placing some of the lights further back on the branches will emphasize depth and leave more room for other items.

Make sure you have enough lights to create the effect you want. You can go with all one color or have a contrasting multicolored effect. Your other decorations will reflect the lights to create a dazzling display.

Try to distribute the lights evenly across the tree to avoid a 'bunching' effect. You can find lighting sets that are arranged as a net that can be draped over the tree. These can produce a very regular distribution, although this kind of wiring can be harder to disguise within the branches.

If you like to use garlands, beads or tinsel, work from the top of the tree downwards. Once again, try to space them evenly and avoid a 'layered' effect.

Hang your ornaments last. That way, you'll be less likely to knock delicate items from their branches.

Think about the effect that different arrangements would create: for example, you could distribute your larger pieces evenly across the tree and then fill the spaces in between with smaller items -- or perhaps create clusters of shapes and sizes in areas that will be more prominent.

Don't forget to crown your tree with your favorite topper - an angel, a star or some other special ornament. Then stand back and admire your handiwork!

Whether you're young in years or simply young at heart, the magic of dressing a Christmas tree never ceases to bring joy and wonder to mark the start of the holiday season.

What sort of Christmas decorations will you have this year? Are you looking for a real Christmas tree or an artificial one?

Visit All-Your.Info/Christmas-Trees for trees, Christmas tree ornaments sets and accessories.

A Valentine?s Day Wedding: Finding Valentine Decorations

Valentine?s Day is one of the most romantic days to get married, but when it comes to the reception, it can sometimes be difficult to find Valentine decorations. It isn?t so much that there are none available, but rather, the selection of decorations that are appropriate for a wedding are sparse due to the popularity of the date.

As with any kind of celebration, the easiest way to avoid being disappointed is to plan ahead of time. With Valentine?s Day being such a popular day for weddings, it is not something that you want to decide on the spur of the moment, or even two or three months beforehand. Some people plan their Valentine?s Day wedding a year or more in advance and still have trouble finding everything that they want, including the location.

One thing that may not be a problem is the paper bells in white; these are always plentiful in wedding supply stores. It may be more difficult to find them in the red of Valentine?s Day. In fact, the traditional Valentine?s Day colors are usually quite easy to find, but with so many weddings being scheduled on that day, it becomes more difficult. It may take a little searching, but streamers should be pretty easy to find since both red and white are popular colors during all times of the year. Again, this will depend because of the popularity of the day for both weddings and dances.

One place one can usually always find decorations in abundance for every occasion is on the Internet. With the number of online party and wedding supply stores, it?s quite likely that you can find everything you need. Do keep in mind, however, that you will still need advance planning. A Valentine?s Day wedding is not something you can decide quickly and expect to find everything you need for a reception. However, with advance planning, your Valentine?s Day wedding can be both beautiful and memorable.

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. Lot of cute Valentines Decorations, free party games, party planning tips, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

Ideas For Patio Garden Decor

The outdoor patio is a popular place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Many people like to entertain on their patio and want a place that will help their guests feel comfortable. There are many decorating elements available to make your patio a special place for relaxing and entertaining. Even if you have a small patio area, you can still add some items of garden decor to make it a place of relaxation and beauty. Here are some ideas for you to consider when decorating your patio.

The patio furniture usually takes center stage when it comes to garden decor. You will need to take a measurement of the area where you plan to place the furniture so you will have an idea of how much furniture to purchase. Be sure to allow extra space for patio furniture that moves such as a patio glider or swing. Popular furniture decorating themes now for patios are wicker, iron, and teak. Make sure you will have room to move around the patio once you have placed the furniture in it. If you plan on entertaining on your patio you will need to have lots of room for people to move around freely. Choose patio items that will take the weather elements well depending on the climate where you live. Decorative patio cushions can help bring color and style to your patio furniture and is an easy (and affordable) way to update older patio furniture.

Every patio garden needs some plants. These can be either in large pots or the hanging type. Make the plants take center stage on your patio by placing them in decorative pots, on plant stands, or in wall hangers. Try to achieve a balance on the patio by putting plants at different heights. When purchasing your plants be sure to take into account how much sun they will receive on the patio. Some plants do well with a lot of sun, and others will need more shady conditions to thrive. If you enjoy gardening, then a patio is the perfect place to try your hand at container gardening. I?ve grown an assortment of herbs on my back patio, and have been very satisfied with the results.

Other elements of garden decor to consider for your patio include wind chimes, garden gnomes, and gazing balls. These items can help to personalize any patio even if you do not have a large amount of patio space. Stepping stones or pavers can add visual interest to the garden decor, and you can attract birds by hanging a bird feeder or bird house. You might even consider adding some plants that will attract butterflies and enjoy watching the different varieties that will come by.

There are many options available now for patio garden decor. Choose which ones will make your patio a special place to enjoy the outdoors.

Dee Marie is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time outdoors. You can get more info on patio garden decor at http://Zax-Garden-Decor.com.