Home Improvement

We expect a lot from closets. We want them to not only hold the items we use, but they also must hold the things we rarely need and even some things we just don’t want to see. And we want our closets to do both of these jobs at the same time. Is it any wonder that many of us have closets that don’t look perfectly neat and tidy?

Our poor closets are caught in a catch-22: we need for them to be neat and efficient because of everything we put in them, but because of everything we put in them, they cannot remain neat and efficient.

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April 19th, 2008 | Tags: advice, closet, decor, decorating, design, home, ideas, interior, organizing, storage, style, tips | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Home is where the heart is. Home is where you hang your hat. Home sweet home. There are a thousand sentiments about homes that we’ve all heard many times. But most focus on a simple concept: that your home is a special and even sacred place. It is the place where you begin and end your day, where you rest, love, laugh, cry, and do much of the living that life is all about. Given the incredible importance of this place, making it suit your taste and your lifestyle is important, don’t you think?

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April 18th, 2008 | Tags: advice, apartments, decor, decorating, home, ideas, small spaces, tips | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Buying a sofa, couch, or furniture suite is a major investment, so take more than just looks into account. Give size, comfort, construction, and the type of covering careful consideration, too.

The discomfort of sitting on a worn or badly made sofa or armchair is all too familiar. A sofa with broken springs or seat cushions that have so little padding you feel as if you are sitting directly on the base is uncomfortable and, if you sit in it for any length of time, can lead to troublesome aches and pains.

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April 4th, 2008 | Tags: advice, couch, decor, decorating, furnishings, furniture, home, ideas, sofa, tips | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

In part two of our two part series, we look at some specific decorating tips and ideas for apartment bedrooms…

Style Pointers

WALLS AND CEILING

Fresh white walls and ceiling reflect the light and create a spacious atmosphere as well as a neutral backdrop for colorful furnishings and accessories.

ACCESSORIES

Framed posters reinforce the blue and white color theme and break up the wall space. A few well-chosen accessories - vases of flowers, bedside candlelamps, and simple knickknacks - add a personal stamp.

SOFT FURNISHINGS

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March 16th, 2008 | Tags: advice, apartment, bedroom, decor, decorating, design, home, ideas, style, tips | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Decorating mistakes can be very expensive and reflect heavily in the final result of your project and your overall happiness. When decorating on a budget it is important to remember some important design concepts to save you time and money by doing it right the first time.

Choosing style, space planning, color schemes, the use of focal point and visual weight objects, and lighting are all key elements in all good design. Familiarity with materials and furnishings is also important to ensure your chosen look will not be outdated tomorrow and that it will flow with other areas of your home.

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February 29th, 2008 | Tags: budget, decorate, decorating, diy, home decor, interior design | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Even if you’re working to a tight budget, these five bathroom decorating ideas will work for you. They’ll make your bathroom seem bigger and more relaxing and won’t break the bank. Plus, they’re simple. No re-plumbing involved! And a redecorated bathroom is a great way to add value to your house when you come to sell it.

1. Smarten up the walls

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February 8th, 2008 | Tags: bathroom, bathroom decorating ideas, decorating | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Red is traditionally used in dining rooms - the Victorians believed it aided the digestion. It makes a wonderful backdrop for sparkling silver and glass, sets off the rich tones of dark wood furniture, and casts a romantic glow in candlelight. This is a room used generally in the evenings and for short periods so it avoids the danger of becoming oppressive, and you can afford to be lavish with color.

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February 6th, 2008 | Tags: advice, decor, decorating, home, home decor, home decorating, ideas, style, tips | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

In part two of this two part series, we look at specific tips and ideas for decorating apartment halways…

Furnishings

Floors: Smooth, hard floors are the elegant, practical choice for the apartment-style hall. Pale and modern woodstrip flooring is light and space-defining, and looks good on its own or with a vibrant abstract design rug or two. A smooth sweep of plain floor acts as a foil for light and bold areas of color, and acts as a flattering background for the clean lines of streamlined furniture and furnishings. Alternatively, a boldly colored floor - tiles or a customized linoleum design - can work equally well as a focal point in a low-key setting.

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February 1st, 2008 | Tags: advice, apartments, decor, decorating, entry, hallway, home, ideas, tips | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

I’m all about improving my living room. I get so tired of the same layout in my apartment everyday that I constantly shuffle things around to make it seem different. This weekend I did a few simple things to give my living room a whole new look. These 5 seriously easy ideas can help gain a brand new feel to a stale living room for very little money in almost no time.

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January 4th, 2008 | Tags: apartment, couch, decorating, furniture, home, living room, moving, rearranging, redecorating, walls | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment