Treasure Hill Cottage

To have a delightful garden, it’s important to create an atmosphere that encompasses all of the natural elements; water, wood, metal, fire, and stone. Most gardens will incorporate wood and water, but often forget the other three important elements. For metal in the garden, consider silhouette metal art. The images can be whatever you like; cats, dogs, cowboys, it all depends on your tastes, and no, the metal on your garden swing or bench doesn’t count! Fire tends to be most difficult element to include, but in general, a garden lantern, torches, or a fire bowl are excellent additions. Stonework is essential for a thriving garden, including fountains, statuettes, and stepping-stones.

Having an elemental garden will make your outdoor experience much better.  Just think of all the unique pieces you or your visitors will have to admire in addition to the standard flowers, shrubs, and trees!

There’s nothing worse than a cluttered bathroom. In a room that’s probably pretty small to begin with, clutter only compounds the problem. For this reason, make sure that one part of your bathroom decor that you don’t neglect is a high quality set of medicine cabinets. These cabinets come in many different shapes, sizes, and varieties, but the most important thing is that they have lots of shelf space for all your lotions, medicines, and knickknacks.

These shelves should also be of varying heights, so that even tall bottles fit easily. The cabinets can also contain mirrors, which will add a convenient element to the bathroom that you probably want anyway. If you are particularly concerned about the cabinets jutting into the space and diminishing the look of the room, look into the option of recessed cabinets. Just keep in mind that when it comes to cabinets, they’re only helpful if you keep them organized. If everything is cluttered within the cabinets, you still won’t be able to find anything, and the bathroom will be just as messy as it was to begin with.

When decorating a small room, 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 and your family at the same time.

When painting a small room try painting at least one wall a vibrant color and then using softer colors in similar shades for the adjoining walls. The boldness of the accent wall depends on your personality and how much color you can tolerate in the room. Bright color can also be added to the room in the form of wall decor and furniture.

My wife and I decide on paint color for a home project by choosing from the graduated color paint strips that we find in our home improvement centers’ paint department or in our local paint store. We return home and hold them up against the wall as well as the furniture in the room to get an idea if the paint would match or clash with the look we are trying to achieve 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 normal 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.

Image from http://www.ehow.com/how_5493447_choose-paint-small-room.html

Home decor and home accessories are very popular among wives and mothers. You can bet that when they go to the mall, they will, more often than not, head straight to the home improvement section. For most of them, it is the most fascinating and exciting section of the store. The reason being, women love beautifying their homes. One of the most popular items today is scented candles.

Candles come in countless designs, sizes and colors. But it is always better to showcase them in a wall candleholder. Hence, production of them has also escalated. You will find many of them available in most stores and malls. But of course what makes the difference is its uniqueness. That is where the challenge is.

If you’re looking for a few affordable home interior spring decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:

1. Rearrange the Furniture- How the furniture is arranged sets the mood of the space.  Pulling furniture away from the walls and  placing a coffee table between a sofa and two arm chairs for a more formal look.  Now try positioning the furniture at interesting angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles or shop for seasonal figurines to celebrate the spring season and to show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try different sizes and shapes.

3. Add a Throw or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and manmade fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like and complements the mood you are trying to achieve.

4. Paint a Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang attention-grabbing art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)

5. Hang Pictures or a Mirror- Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects a nice view or an interesting architectural element.  An arched doorway is a good example.

6. Add Decorative Pillows- They are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room.  Still better, they can be changed to brighten up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.  Pay attention to the colors, prints and fabrics you are coordinating.

7. Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.  If at all possible try to incorporate as much natural light as possible.  Take down those heavy insulated drapes and replace them with light shear curtains for spring.    

8. Bring in Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don’t have a green thumb or poor lighting in the room to support plant growth, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that it’s hard to distinguish them from the real thing.

9. Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room.

10. Eliminate Clutter - Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room.  Find storage spaces for papers, toys and other items that take from the personality of a room.