Treasure Hill Cottage

When decorating small rooms, it is very important to choose the right paint since the color on your walls reflects your personality. The walls should look welcoming to your guests as well as appealing to you at the same time.

Ideas for painting small rooms include painting at least one wall a vivid color and then using softer colors in similar shades for the adjoining walls. Bright color can also be added to the room in the form of artwork and furniture.

There are so many paint colors, from different manufactures, on the market today that sometimes making a choice can be quite confusing. However, it is now possible to run a computer simulation of your painted rooms so that you can decide upon a perfect choice of color for a room.

Another way to decide on paint color is to choose from the graduated color paint strips that you will find in every paint department or paint store. Take this home and hold them up against the wall as well as the furniture in the room to get an idea of how the paint would look in the room. To go a step further, some paint stores sell a small sample of paint for you to try on your walls before making your final purchase.  Keep in mind that wall color will look different depending on the lighting in the room.

It is important to choose a paint color that is easy to maintain. It is wise to choose paint that is durable against natural wear and tear and will last for the next several years. Do not compromise on quality when looking for paint. It is ok to pay a little extra for a paint that will last for several years than choose cheap quality paint that will chip and show smudges in a few months. The paint on the walls should be easy to clean and maintain so that your house always looks beautiful.

Along with your annual spring cleaning, why not freshen up your home with decorating tips that are quick and easy.

Begin by bringing some of the colors and scents of spring indoors. A vase of fresh flowers straight from your yard is a great addition to any room. Who can resist the beauty and aroma of fresh lilacs or the bright, happy colors of fresh daffodils and tulips?
 
Add new energy to your room by rearranging furniture, wall décor and accessories. Put away the dark colored throw on the couch and add a bright or pastel colored throw. An easy spring decorating idea is to replace your small rugs as the seasons change. Lighter, neutral rugs will add a refreshing touch to any room.

Lots of natural light makes a room more cheery. Replace heavy or dark colored window coverings with sheer, light colored window treatments.  For that extra sparkle, make certain your windows and all glass surfaces in the room are clean and shining.

It is definitely time to get rid of the flannel sheets and winter blankets on the beds. It is definitely time to get rid of the flannel sheets and winter blankets on the beds. Choose lighter spring shades and textures, such as pastels or beautiful florals.  When storing tuck a couple of dryer sheets in with the flannel sheets and they will have a nice fragrance when you get them out in the fall.
  
With a little creativity and imagination, you can transition your home into spring in no time at all and thoroughly enjoy the results.

From the age of five-years-old I have dreamed of being a vampire princess and living in an ancient-style castle. Of course my parent’s home was just a simple two-story ranch home like most built in California at the time. When I started my pretending, I would turn off all the lights and imagine my bed was my coffin and light a few candles to complete the affect.

Now that I am an adult, I have tried to create an underworld affect in my own home and it has worked beautifully. No longer do I pretend my bed is a coffin, but I did buy candle wall sconces to create that ghostly lighting effect. Now I can invite my friends over to play roll playing games whenever I like.

When it comes to great home decorating ideas, it is important to remember that decorating isn’t just about the inside of your home. In fact, if you want to create a well-rounded and attractive look for your home, you need to be certain to turn your attention to the outdoors as well.

There are many things you can do to the outside of your home to help improve its look and to express your personal style. The easiest home decorating ideas that you can use outdoors include placing a flower box on your window sill or adding shutters to either side of the window. Both of these ideas are simple to install, are fairly inexpensive, and go a long way toward sprucing up the outside of your home.

Make your home more inviting to your guests, by placing a welcome mat or arrow sign outside your entryway.  Spending a little time and money getting this outside area of your home beautiful and attractive is time well spent.

Wash, scrub, or repaint the front door so that it shines. Replace the door handle if it is worn and unattractive. Clean any windows in this area until they shine. Add a topiary or planter for a touch of green. Put an attractive wreath on the door. Stand outside and look into your entry area. It will be the first thing guests see of the inside of your house. Is it friendly, spotless, organized?

Just as you might accessorize the inside of your home, you should accessorize the outside as well. Adding a perennial garden or a few landscaping elements will increase the value of your home while making it look great. If you don’t have enough time for gardening, however, you might want to consider adding statuary or other lawn ornaments to your yard. As with all home decorating ideas, however, don’t go overboard - a cluttered lawn is even more unattractive than an empty one!

Decorating small spaces requires thought and imagination in order to get the most out of them. The objective in decorating smaller places is normally to make them appear larger. There are several ways to achieve this illusion.

Keep it simple silly (KISS). The more simple the decoration is kept the fewer items you have filling the space in the room or apartment. Crowding will make you feel suffocated and lose the effect you were trying to create.

Mirrors are excellent at giving off the illusion of larger space. You have the option of several small staggered mirrors, larger panel mirrors or one large well-placed mirror. These will reflect not only the furnishings depending on where they are placed but the open space as well.
 
Colors should be subtle and not too bold; bold colors should be limited to a few pillows and maybe a throw but not the entire furniture selection.

Pictures are great for decorating. Whether they are family photos or prints of things that you find interesting, prints and photos will add to the look of the room.
 
Smaller furniture is ideal for the smaller spaces. Exposed legs are best for small spaces as they give the illusion of more space. The furniture should be arranged so that it doesn’t interfere with where you are walking in the room.
 
Lamps should be utilized, whether it is a table lamp or a free standing lamp. Lights used in the ceiling will make the ceiling look lower. Natural light should be utilized whenever possible. Light colored curtains that allow for the light to come through will give the illusion of more space.

It’s a fact that most of us living in the city, in an apartment, or even a condominium don’t have sprawling backyards where we can plant flowers, shrubs, and vegetables.  But we should all be able to maintain a garden of some sort regardless of our living conditions.  This is where having a garden planter comes in handy.  With a garden planter, a little water, and a bit of sunshine, you can grow all kinds of flowers and plants on a small patio, porch, or even a window sill. 

When you purchase a garden planter, it’s important to be aware of how the water will drain.  Garden planters have holes in them to serve as drainage for water; if roots become too inundated with water, they can suffocate the plant.  During the spring and summer you should water your plants once a day or every other day.  In warm weather, once a day is necessary.  You should also be aware of what kinds of plants like to be in planters; those with complex root systems might not have enough room to grow.  

Wreaths - All Natural Spring, Fall and Christmas Wreaths

There are a lot of good wreaths companies on the internet offering a variety of wreaths. Some of the best values are wreaths that are made from all natural materials that have been dried and/or preserved.

Dried Wreaths
Dried Wreaths are just what the name implies; the floral has been dried ether in a controlled environment or by exposing the floral to natural sunlight. Many floral are dried in southern California or Baja Mexico because the warm weather, low humidity and exposure to the sun make perfect drying conditions.

Preserved Wreaths
Preserved Wreath florals are treated by adding a preservative agent to the floral material to give it a longer life span. Some preserving agents also enhance the color of some floral materials giving a more vibrant look that won’t fade over time as much as natural coloring will. Many floral items cannot be dried because they just crumble and cannot be used to make a durable wreath to display in your home. Adding a preservative agent lengthens the life of the wreath and with the proper care these wreaths can last for many years.

Where to find all Natural Wreaths
There are many stores on the internet to purchase wreaths, but I have found one that has a large selection of dried and preserved wreaths, as well as fresh Christmas wreaths – A Wreath 4 All Seasons.  A great resource for wreaths is at http://www.awreath4allseasons.com.  They also seem to have a wide variety of twig and feather wreaths as well or custom made wreaths available for immediate delivery within 5 - 10 business days. 

Valentine’s Day comes hot on the heels of Christmas, New Year and the Chinese New Year, occasions when decorations, plus special home décor, are at their most plentiful. While people do not generally decorate their homes extensively for Valentine’s Day, now that you are in the decoration mood, why not have a few special Valentine ornaments about the home to signify the day.

If your Valentine’s ornaments are well chosen, they may even fit into your home decor at other times too. Special Valentine ornaments can also make unusual Valentine gifts, for supplementing the roses and chocolates.

Ideas for Valentine Décor

Vases: A red vase in an attractive design may prove opportune for Valentine’s Day, but can also play a part for your summer cut flowers when your garden is in full bloom; that is, if it is not over adorned with Valentine Day graffiti.

Welcome Signs: A cheerful welcome sign to hang on or by the front door is great way to greet people who arrive at your home on and around Valentine’s Day.

Wind Chimes: Valentine wind chimes are a good choice for those who appreciate the gentle chime of these popular indoor and outside ornaments.

Candle Holders: One of the easier types of Valentine décor to find is Valentine candle holders. Jar, tea light or pillar candle holders can all come with a Valentine theme, or you can simply choose a romantic red and buy some richly scented candles to go with them.

I am sure with a bit of thought and searching you can come up with many more ideas for Valentine Day decorations, whether to buy or to use your craft skills to make your own.

If you want to make your home stand out, here are a few tips from home decorating experts.~Make use of available light. Big beautiful windows lend warmth and light to your home.  Find out where the sun rises and let your windows let the sunlight in. Dress up your windows in light and dainty lace curtains that add charm and appeal to any room, and consider a wall candleholder for those few corners where the light can’t reach. 

~Let your personality shine through. Pick out little bric a bracs that show off your hobbies or favorite activities. Find unique home décor that shows off your good taste and interests.

~Use natural materials. These are environmentally friendly and give off summer vibes even in the coldest winters.

A decorative lighting theme is a great way of showing your home. There are many light fixtures available these days, but choosing the appropriate illumination appliance is not always as easy as it seems. Depending upon what type of decorative lighting theme you want to use, light fixtures need to be installed in the ideal locations in order to accomplish the most desired result.

Not everyone is a decorative lighting expert. Good thing that lighting professionals now offers various decorative fixtures for your home. There are just so many choices, like wall sconces placed in the bedroom and bathroom. It gives your home an archaic appearance similar to lighting seen in the French Quarter. These sconces historically mimic candle sconces used back in the 18th century in many small villages. Light your indoors the old fashioned way with these charming accent fixtures.