And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

Does your bedroom furniture invoke the feeling of a yard sale of flea market? Do you have mismatched pieces like a pale birch nightstand and a dark mahogany dresser? If so, it may be time to unify the look in your bedroom by investing in a new bedroom set. Imagine your bed matching the nightstand, which matches the dresser, which in turn matches the chest and armoire. This complete, unified look can be yours for far less than you think.Bedroom sets or suites have become immensely popular over the past ten to twenty years. Consumers no longer have to pray one manufacturer’s cherry finish will match another’s, or put in the legwork (or web-work) of making this happen. These bedroom sets ensure an exact matching finish with another benefit—matching hardware as well. Handles and knobs are an important part of a piece of furniture’s overall look, as they work to offset the finish of the wood by adding a contrasting color and texture. With a new bedroom set, these pieces of hardware all work together so you don’t have an old copper handle clashing with a shiny silver knob.

A great thing about these bedroom sets is that no matter what style or era of furniture you’re into, you can find it. These new bedroom furniture sets are available in traditional styles like colonial, cottage, and Victorian, as well as more modern looks such as Scandinavian and Asian-inspired. Your choice of wood finish is also almost completely limitless. Everything from the palest pine to the darkest shade of espresso, and everything in between is available.

As I said in the opening paragraph, you can get a new bedroom set for far less than you think. In many cases, a set including a bed, dresser or chest, a pair of nightstands, and a mirror can be had for around $2000. Options are available for all price ranges on the Eco-Furniture website.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Bedroom Furniture, Furniture, Home Decor, Interior Decorating, Interior Design, Platform Bed, Platform Beds

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

When you designing a kitchen many people will focus purely on the efficiency and organization of their kitchen, but they should not forget to give their kitchen some personality as well as it being functional. So when looking for a way to give your kitchen some personality then why not consider having a French Country kitchen decorating theme.
A well designed French country kitchen will make anyone feel as if they have just walked into a cottage in a rural part of France. Such kitchens reflect the French people’s joy of living as well as the importance of family and friends in their lives. To produce the vibrant and romantic feel of a French country kitchen there are a number of small touches which will help you to achieve the finished result.
Firstly we will look at colour as this plays a major role in any French country kitchen and were to you walk in to a French country cottage then more often than not you would find the walls painted either in a butter or mustard yellow colour. The cupboards in such a kitchen will be painted either cornflower blue or even salmon pink to accentuate the colour of the walls. But if you find these colours a little to strong then why not paint your walls blue and use lighter shades as accents.
For any French country kitchen natural light is also very important in its design. For many you will find that they only use simple roman shades as window dressings. The fabric is usually either canvas or toile and it can be striped or just a solid block colour, but if you want to be a bit more adventurous you could use a fabric with flowers, vegetables or herbs on it instead. One thing that you will find in any French country kitchen is lavender so why not have a dried bunch hanging from a hook in the ceiling or on a wall or just place a clump of it in a wall vase. In this way you will be able to bring the scent of a traditional French country kitchen in to your own.
Any accessories that you choose for your French country kitchen must be functional. Why not look for a terracotta or copper vase in which you can store all your cooking utensils. Also look at using free standing racks made from either copper or wrought iron for holding plants etc., in. Another good accessory to include in your design is a ceramic trivet in either the shape of a rooster or with a herb design that you can place on the wall when it is not being used on your kitchen table.
The best type of table for a French country kitchen decorating scheme is a plain pine work table that can also be used for family and friends to gather round for meals and just simply to sit and socialize at. But when choosing a table ensure that it will not interrupt the traffic flow through your kitchen.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Decorating, French Country, Home Improvement, Interior Decorating, Interior Design, Kitchen

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

As you page through home decorating magazines, stroll past furniture store windows, and search for decorating ideas the internet, what actually inspires you to take action? When do you say, “That’s the look I want”? What gets your attention and sticks in your mind until you must have the object of your attraction?
Product designers count on the latest introduction of colors to first catch your eye. A color you’ve never seen before or one resurrected from years ago may to your inspiration to redecorate. Colors are carefully planned to change throughout year. If this season’s colors didn’t grab you, perhaps the next array will do it. Eventually some hue in the seasonal rainbow will speak to you and you’re off to the paint or furniture store.
Just as with the inevitable changes in fashion’s hemlines and the width of men’s ties, some colors keep reappearing every few years. The avocado green of thirty years ago is back with a different descriptive name, so it’s now a fresh addition to a new color pallet for another generation.
Forms can also inspire. The alluring shape of a camelback sofa or the classic simplicity of a modern chair will set your mind to planning a whole new look for your room. May as well update those end tables and replace those tired lamps. Suddenly that lovely form that attracted you, that single impetus for change, has created a room transformation.
The shape of the beveled glass atop a dining table, the meandering curve of a sectional sofa, the off-beat lampshades on a chandelier are all examples of forms that attract and inspire a new way to see your home space.
A pattern will commonly inspire decorating action. The striking area rug festooned with a fabulous floral pattern inspires a new color scheme and becomes the centerpiece of the room. A richly colored rug with swirls cut deeply into the pile creates a pattern and flow to plan your room around.
The leopard print on a bedspread fabric may inspire you to create a bedroom jungle retreat. Spotting a drapery fabric covered with bouquets of blooming roses on chintz inspires an English cottage makeover. Patterns create pictures that inspire.
Art inspires the soul, but can also create a focus for your room’s décor. Begin with a focal point piece of art, something you love such as the picturesque Venetian scene that reminds you of your travels. The colorful gondolas and buildings reflected in the canals inspire your color choices. Naturally you are drawn to Italianate carved wood furniture, rich tapestry fabrics and Venetian glass to accessorize your artistic inspiration.
We are certainly not immune to design trends. What makes a look so trend worthy is its ability to inspire our own home decorating. Consider the Southwestern design trend of a few years ago. Did you furnish your living room with weathered wooden tables, mammoth overstuffed upholstery, and accessorize with striped Navajo blankets and dried animal bones? That popular look inspired the trend to adopt the desert lifestyle.
Inspiration for your home decorating does not just appear in the predictable publication and mediums. Music, movies, cultures and travel can get your creative juices flowing.
Be open to ideas that appear in unexpected places to liven up your home’s decor.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: decorating your home, Home D, Home Decorating, Interior Decorating

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

Getting great bedroom decorating ideas for a bedroom remake can be challenging but there are a large number of different themes around that you can choose from and the decision you make will be based largely on your own personal taste and what budget you have available.
However other than for the two criteria stated above when decorating a bedroom you also need to think about the amount of space you have available as this will help you decide on the type and amount of furniture plus other items that you will be able to include without making the rooms space feel too cramped. It is important to remember when decorating a bedroom it should be a calm and inviting space.
So the best thing you could do first before starting to decorate your bedroom is to measure the space and then design the theme or style that suits the space and that you like the best. The more popular decorating ideas that people regularly seem to use are as follows:
1. Modern
2. Mediterranean
3. Cottage
4. Southwestern
5. Victorian
6. Shabby Chic
7. Paris Chic
Once you have chosen the style then it is important that you look at decorating ideas which will help you to achieve the final result. Say you were thinking of decorating your bedroom in a Victorian style then these are some of the bedroom decoration ideas you should be considering.
Remember the Victorian style has quite a feminine feel to it and this kind of decoration will often primarily be enjoyed by women, and therefore if you are looking to decorate the master bedroom in this style it is important that you make sure that your partner or spouse also likes this particular style.
The Victorian style is also quite showy and dramatic and the bed most typically suited this style is usually a heavy four poster made from wood or cast iron, it may well have a canopy, curtains, throw pillows and blankets along with a bedspread that has been embellished with patterns, fringes, bows and ribbons.
You also may find that you have to include for a great deal of accessorizing in order to achieve the ultimate Victorian look to your room and this will include such items as large and overstated rugs, flowering plants as well as large gold/gilt frames which surround paintings and pictures of flowers, birds, children or young women (maidens).
You would follow a similar train of thought for any other style. If you wanted a modern bedroom, you would choose simple primary colors or black, tan and white. The furniture and accessories would have clean lines which are part of the modern look – nothing frilly or girly.
A southwestern look would have colors of the southwest and use accents that are Mexican or Native American in feel. Perhaps some southwestern pottery or a Native American rug?
One good place to get bedroom decorating ideas from is magazines. Flip open any decorating magazine and find a photo of a bedroom you like. Look closely at the bedding and accessories then try to model your bedroom after the photo.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Bedroom, Decor, Decorating, Home Decorating, Home Improvement, Interior Decorating, Interior Design

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

There are many home decorating styles that people adopt. Much of it is determined by personal preference, but some of it is adopted because people want to sell their property. Some home decorating is completely modern with plain wood or laminate flooring throughout and perhaps a fully tiled bathroom and of course a fully fitted kitchen. This decorating style is often adopted by, or appeals to the young professional who wants their home to be functional yet stylish.
Some people’s home decorating styles tend towards the country cottage with lots of chintzy curtains and big soft cushions. Large kitchens are a favorite for this style because people can eat in a warm, bright room that is hung with pots and brightened by plants. Many people long to come home to a warm and welcoming kitchen and a comfortable sitting room, they are more interested in comfort than style. This type of home decorating style usually suits a family who want their home to fit around their lifestyle and accommodate their hobbies and projects.
Home decorating styles may vary, depending on what kind of life you lead and where you live. In some areas there is a tendency for residents to adopt similar styles of decoration rather than having an eclectic mix.
There are plenty of television programs around that show you how to decorate your home with style – a lot depends on whether your idea of style is the same as the designer’s idea of style. Mirrors and plush fabrics seem to be a prominent feature of this style of home decoration. Feature walls are also a must. With this style three walls may be painted and a fourth wall is made into a feature with some (usually expensive) wallpaper that tones with the paint.
You can still see home decorating styles that hark back to the days of hippies and often mean that the home owner has an artistic turn. Here you will see tiffany lamps, floor cushions and bright colors. Homes decorated in this way can have a warm and welcoming feel or they can be over bright with furniture, fittings and carpets all screaming for the visitor’s attention.
Home decorating styles are largely a result of people’s vision of the type of life they would like to live. Some like a neutral background where they can add possessions and brighten the style with accessories. Still others like a home to be bright and bustling and their decorating style will reflect this. Whatever you choose in home decorating styles, you should make sure that it is something you will be happy to live with for an extended period of time.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Decorating, Decorating Style, Home Improvement, Interior Decorating, Interior Design, Remodeling

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

More people decorate their homes during the fall and winter months than at any other time of the year, and with good reason! We spend more time indoors, we owe it to ourselves and our families to create a comfortable place to be! Here are the best ways to save BIG bucks on your home decorating
Start with plan. I know you’ve heard this before, but having a plan doesn’t necessarily mean you know exactly everything you want to do in your rooms ahead of time. What it does mean is having a starting point to keep you in the ballpark, and that will save you A LOT of money in mistakes in the long run. So start with the three things you need…Color, Style, and Formality. Color is easy…if you don’t already have a color scheme you love, find one in a book or magazine, and borrow it! Still unsure? Pick your favorite color, plus white, never fail combo. Style? Maybe you know you love Country Farmhouse. Or maybe you like a little of everything! That’s ok, just make sure you give the room style a name that includes the feeling you want in the room, and that will keep you on track. For instance, I have a Fresh and Sunny Cottage Room for my family room. (I use sunny as a feeling as well as a visual clue!) Keep the feeling in the name, and you will pick the right style every time! Finally, formality. Know if you like a more formal room, where things on both sides of the room match, or a more informal feel. So my family room description would go something like this…I want an informal Fresh Sunny Cottage style full of soft blue, green yellow and white. So every time I buy something, I know if it doesn’t fit in that description, it doesn’t fit period!
Look for alternatives to everything!!! Flat sheets on sale are a great buy…I can get one at my discount store for $2.89. A flat sheet is generally 66×96 inches…that’s over 3 yards of fabric for less than 97 cents a yard! Can’t beat that, and flat sheets come in so many colors. When in doubt, buy white! Use them for tablecovers, curtain panels, making comforter covers, throw pillow covers, or even casual slipcovers! If you find a great color, stock up during a white sale…you will always find uses for fabric that fits into your color scheme.
Look for furniture at yard sales and in the classifeds. You can get quality furniture this way for a fraction of what it would cost you new. Learn to make do with the furniture you have with the art of disguise. Slipcovers, paint and floor length tablecloths go a long way towards dressing up an otherwise forgettable piece of furniture. By the way, you can paint ANYTHING these days! The trick is to use a specialty blocking primer before painting…I recommend KILZ Original. Yes, you can even paint that ugly laminate bookcase or computer desk! All your furniture mismatched in style and form? Paint it all one color, and it will help marry and unify your furniture grouping. (I love white or black for furniture, depending on the style of your room.)
Finally, look for good resources to help you learn to create your own accessories, custom paint finishes, and inspirational ideas such as TheBudgetDecorator.com.
With a little advanced thinking and a bit of creativity, anyone can have a well decorated home!

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Home Decorating, Home Decorating Ideas, Interior Decorating

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

When it comes to home decorating, there is a nearly infinite variety of styles to choose from. Decorating styles such as modern and traditional are influenced by the defining aesthetic sensibilities of different historical periods, whereas country, coastal, and cottage styles have been shaped by the topography and lifestyles associated with certain regions.

Other decorating styles, such as Tuscan and Southwestern, have been influenced by unique ethnic groups and their cultural and artistic traditions. These styles represent only a few of the hundreds of choices that are available to you.

No matter which interior decorating style appeals to you, you should not feel obligated to adhere rigidly to the “rules” of that approach in the process of making design and decor decisions. Indeed, one of the most notable trends that have impacted interior decorating over the course of the last several decades is the growing popularity of a more relaxed, personal interpretation of existing decor styles.

The emerging philosophy of interior decorating is less concerned with creating exact replicas of established decor styles, emphasizing instead a more individualized version that reflects the unique style and sensibility of the people who will be living in and using a space.

Taking this into consideration, it may help to look over design and decorating books and magazines to develop a stronger sense of the options that exist and how different interior decorating styles relate to your own tastes and needs.

When you finally select an interior decorating style, use it more as a broad theme to help guide your decisions, rather than as a strict rule that must be followed without deviation. Remember, this is your space, and as such, it should manifest and reflect your experiences, preferences, and requirements, rather than the arbitrary whims of an outside designer.

Keep your stylistic theme in mind when selecting colors, furniture, and accents, but don’t harbor a sense of obligation to it. This will help you achieve the focus and unity of purpose that a specific interior decorating style can bring to a space while preserving a sense of your own unique style.

Here’s a quick recap of some of the most popular decorating styles:

*Contemporary – Bold and sleek look. Low tables and beds are standard elements

*Traditional – Rich and sumptuous. Luxurious furniture and accessories.

*Transitional – A cross between Contemporary and Traditional.

*Country – Natural wood tones and barn reds. Does not have to have farm animals in every nook and cranny. )

*Coastal – Bring the beach home. Seafoam greens and aqua blues are the main colors in this style.

*Modern – Very similar to the contemporary style. Sleek and clean with a monotone color scheme.

*Cottage – Light, sunwashed colors are used here. White furniture with a mix of pale floral patterns.

*Southwestern – Think New Mexico and Santa Fe. Include terra cotta reds and paintings, pottery, and sculptures featuring Hispanic or Native American themes.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Country Decorating, Decor, Furniture, Interior Decorating, Interior Design

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

There are three keys to successfully furnishing a Cottage-style room: white paint, slipcovers and creativity. White paint breathes new life into mismatched, old and discolored furniture and creates a unifying theme that lets all sorts of style blend well into a room. Some furniture on the market today, especially children’s furniture, already comes with white paint, distressed edges and a Cottage-inspired design, conveying the popularity of this relatively new style. The result of a few coats of paint is an airy, bright and cheerful mood within the home.

Slip covers perform the same function for upholstered furniture as paint does for wooden furniture. Worn out flea market finds and hand-me-downs will perk up under a pale (think white or cream) slip cover that may or may not have prints that match your braided rugs and accents. Don’t worry if the slipcovers show a wrinkle or two—you want to look as though a guest can have a seat without disrupting the room. You want the room to look lived in, but avoid crossing the line to unkempt.

Lastly, tap into your creative side as you plan your furniture layout. Consider using items for something other than their obvious function. Turn a favorite chair into a console table that holds a favorite hatbox or a collection of teddy bears. Old cupboards can be used as shelving to hold your collection of teacups and saucers. With Cottage-style rooms, you’re truly limited only by your imagination.

One of the few styles in which stains are a good thing, tea stained textiles in Cottage designed rooms fit the antique and charming image built by eclectic furniture and distressed wood. Tea-staining makes new fabric look well-loved and dulls the sharpness a fresh, white textile can have. Additionally, keep window treatments relatively uncomplicated and airy to let natural sunshine and warmth filter into your room. Complement this natural lighting with bunches of flowers in vases. For extra detail and interest, use trunks, particularly beautiful or quaint plates, mirrors, frames, and lace linens. Don’t be limited by this list; you can find other items to populate your room when browsing attics, vintage stores, flea markets and more.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Cottage Style Decorating, Furniture, Home Decor, Interior Decorating, Interior Design

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

The cottage style is a style where everything old is new again! If you’re a champion bargain hunter who loves to navigate flea markets and Grandma’s attic for that perfectly charming wagon, hat box or antique plate, and you want a style to match your passion for quaint decor and your casual lifestyle, then the cottage look may be perfect for you. Almost anything goes when putting this look together, and that’s just how you like it.

As far colors go, perish any thoughts about electric pink and neon green. Modern, overly bold colors need not apply for the cottage look. However, the rest of the color world is left to plunder to your liking. For a picturesque, English-style Cottage, go with rosy pinks and ivy greens. Or, go coastal with blues, beige and other calming neutrals. And for rustic, go forest green and tawny brown. And don’t forget your whites, off-whites and grays. Because it’s easy to make a mistake mixing prints and colors, make the foundation an easy to match neutral (like ivory or cream) and use one unifying color per item or textile accent (lilac, for example).

You want your room to look like it’s always been lived in and loved. Consequently, now is not the time to refurbish your wood floors, but count your good fortune in every distressed detail of older planks. If warmth and comfort are you main concerns, throw a plushy braided throw for a homey, inviting look. When picking rugs, choose softer, faded-looking colors and consider the patterns on your walls and fabrics to ensure a good match.

Vintage-looking lighting fixtures are your friend. Lights that lack that shiny new feel are appropriate for your decor, as are ones that appear to have jugs, vases or some other charming component as a base. Crystal chandeliers or wrought iron fixtures work well too!

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Cottage Style, Home Decor, Interior Decorating, Interior Design

And now it is time for another great cottage decorating idea…

If you are interested in cottage style decorating for your home interior, there are many exciting ways you can design just about any area of your home to capture the perfect authenticity of such a theme.
Cottage style decorating for the home interior carries with it a very warm and inviting feeling. With this in mind you may already be thinking about the types of colors you will be painting your walls, the type of upholstery you will be interested in for your cushions, chairs and couches, as well as the style of furniture that would best suit this fashion.
The one aspect you will need to keep in mind if you have chosen cottage style decorating for your theme is to remember that although cottage designs are similar to country, there are some important differences that make these two styles separate from one another.
For instance, although cottage style decorating has the similar interior simplicity, and warmth as a basic country style, it is altogether more modern.
In order to give you more ideas to think about when using cottage style decorating as your home design, you may wish to take the following tips into consideration:
Think Wicker or Think Wood – When it comes to furniture for cottage style decorating, the most authentic looking pieces are those made of wicker or wood. The reason for this is because these furnishings appear more natural, and rustic, and are often associated with the outdoors.
Floral Patterns and Bright Prints – When it comes to the upholstery of your furnishing pieces, the cottage style decorating theme is all about bold and vibrant colorful patterns, with the most popular patterns often being floral.
Warm Colored Walls – The walls of a room that are based on cottage style decorating should be fashioned in warm colors such as tones of yellow, and terracotta. You may also want to add a stencil or wallpaper border to the top of the wall in another color to add a nice accent to the wall.
Wood Floors and Area Rugs – Hardwood floors are the best look for a cottage themed room. If you cannot afford hardwood floors, you may be interested in using laminate, which is a good substitute in appearance for hardwood floors.
You will also find that area rugs make an excellent addition to the room. Just make sure you pick designs and patterns that will match with the upholstery in the room.
Simple and Sweet Accessories – The best type of cottage style decorating accessories are those that are personal and homemade.
Family photos are perfect for wall hangings, or for dressing up an end or coffee table.
Simple rustic paintings or those of flowers, or vegetables and fruit also add a nice touch. You may also be interested in a coo-coo clock for cottage-like decoration.
There you have it, some great ideas for you to consider when cottage style decorating your home. Keep in mind that you don’t have to limit your cottage theme to one room; you can express this style in your living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and more. The choices truly are endless, and what’s even better is they are all yours to make.

Hope you enjoyed that! Don\’t forget to subscribe to the RSS!

Technorati Tags: Bathroom, Bedroom, Decorating Kids Rooms, Home Decorating, Interior Decorating, Kids Rooms, Kitchen