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A few more decorating ideas.

April 1, 2010 By

I had so much fun coming up with 100 Decorating Ideas last week that I decided to go ahead and make it 110.  So…here we go:

101: Don’t be afraid of faux Roman decor.  It can really make your room!

102: Honor your favorite film by adorning your bed with an appropriate bedspread. To really shake things up, paint your walls are an outrageous color!

103: Make sure all the furniture in your room is covered in plastic.  You don’t want to ruin those couches!

104: Think outside the box (or bag) when it comes to curb appeal.

105: Don’t be afraid of color. Or curtains. Or velvet.

106: Like I said. Velvet is your friend.

107: Make sure to have AT LEAST one faux plant in every room.

108: If you have a game room, be sure to include lots of game.

109: Murals can be magical!

110: Make sure everything in your room matches.

Happy April First!

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Day 10!!!!

March 24, 2010 By

Well folks, I’ve done it…100 decorating tips in celebration of my first 100 blog posts!  Tomorrow, we’ll be back to your regularly scheduled blogging :) .

91. You can make curtains out of just about anything.  If you can’t find exactly the curtains you’re looking for in your favorite home store, try looking in the bedroom or kitchen section.  Flat sheets, table clothes, and even just look pieces of fabric all make great curtains. And with these little curtain clips, you don’t even need to sew!  If you have a piece of unfinished fabric you’d like to use and you don’t know how to use a sewing machine, try safety pins or hem tape!

92. Don’t be afraid of color.  I love this photo from The Little Things.  She has a pretty neutral kitchen, but really made a statement by adding this teal island.  Try something out of the box.  If you don’t like it, you can always change it.  Your room is NEVER permanent!

93. If you share your home with someone (husband, kids, roommates) remember that even if they aren’t super opinionated, they still appreciate being thought about when you decorate a room.  Your hubby may not care what sort of pictures you hang on your wall or couch you pick out (as long as it’s comfy), but he probably will appreciate it if you don’t paint the walls hot pink, or pick out that overly floral fabric for your curtains.  And your kids will probably appreciate it if there are areas of each room that are specially designed for them (places to put their toys, showcase their artwork, etc.).

94. When you are considering paint colors for you home, remember that people will see your house as a whole not as a group of individual rooms…so make sure paint colors flow from one room to the next.  They don’t need be the same color, but make sure the coordinate!

95. Do you have kids? Want a fun way to display books or pictures in your house?  Take a look at this.  You can learn how to make and install these yourself over at Frugal Home Designs!

96. Put things in unexpected places…we have a tree in our guest bathroom…seriously. It seemed so odd at first, but I really like it there now!  You never know where something will work, so play around!  Remember nothing is permanent!

97. In the same vain, try putting something unexpected on the wall.  Walls of picture frames can sometimes become boring, even if the frames and their contents are interesting.  So try something three dimensional:  a wall sculpture, a old tennis racquet of your mothers, an egg beater.  No joke.  I recently saw a home magazine with an old egg beater hanging on the wall, and it looked so neat! You never know what’s going to work for you.

98. Don’t ignore your laundry room!  Whether you have a whole room dedicated to your washer and dryer, or just a closet, don’t ignore this space!  I saw the CUTEST laundry room on HGTV the other day…the walls were a light blue and they had bead board cabinets. Which made me think, “How many of us are neglecting our laundry rooms?!?” Your laundry room doesn’t have to be quite this nice (picture courtesy of Lemon Annie), but don’t ignore it! At the very least, spice it up with a sassy paint color!

99. Invest in galvanized steel buckets.  Lots of them.  They can hold flowers, Coronas on ice, sand and candles, art supplies, or one of my favorite uses…toys in a playroom.  This photo is comes from Nesting Place:

100. Sometimes it’s easy to focus on all the things you want to “fix” in your house.  Right now, take a moment, a night, a weekend, heck even a month to appreciate all the things you LIKE about your house.  Focus on the positive!

Thanks for hanging with me through all 100 tips!  See you back here tomorrow for more This American Wife!

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Day 9.

March 22, 2010 By

It’s 9:35pm and I am hitting the hay.  I’m so tired!  Apparently my relaxing weekend didn’t quite do it for me.  Hopefully, after a good night’s sleep, I’ll be nice and refreshed and ready to finish off my list of 100 Decorating tips tomorrow night!  But for now, here are 81-90…enjoy!

81. Play with lighting.  Lighting can sometimes make (or break) a room.  Make sure your room has ample light for the activities you do there, but don’t overdo it.  Do you have an amazing piece of art? Highlight it with track lighting.  Do you have a comfy chair that you never sit in?  Put a floor lamp next to it and see how it becomes a favorite reading spot!  Be sure not to forget about this important room element.

82. Try holding a decor swamp with friends or family!  One girls trash is another girls treasure!

83. If your couch/ easy chair/ dining room chairs have seen better days, try a slip cover. Many of the covers out there now aren’t your momma’s slipcovers.  They are extremely fitted without the big ties on the front that scream “SLIPCOVER!” and will sometimes help you fall in love with that old sofa all over again. Yes, this is a slipcover:

84. Create a decorating toolbox.  Things to include: a pencil, a hammer, hanging hardware, level, twist ties, painters tape, a book of ideas, paint chips, those Sharpie wood touch up markers I told you about the other day, furniture sliders, glue gun, GOOD scissors, a staple gun and staples, philips and flathead screwdrivers, and of course, a tape measure.

85. If you have a very large room, break it down into several smaller “areas” just by rearranging the furniture.

86. Don’t buy all your upholstered furniture in solid colors.  Buy something in a print to spice things up.

87. Invest in seasonal decor.  I’m not talking anything tacky OR expensive.  Have a few seashells, blue and white throw pillows, and a few american flags for summer; buy a few pumpkins and gourds, mums, and a bowl of acorns for fall; and a bowl of scented pinecones, a few fuzzy white throw pillows, and white candles everywhere for winter.  These little touches can cost as little as $20 per season (to start…of course there are ALWAYS more fun things to invest in), but can really help usher in the seasons.

88. Spring for a whole lotta inexpensive vases at the dollar store.  The collection each with one flower will make a statement…all for around $20!

89. Right now, while you’re thinking about it.  Measure your rooms, your windows, and major pieces of furniture.  Save these measurements in a notebook, your day planner, your iPhone or whatever you always carry with you.  That way, next time you’re out and about a see a piece you really like, you’ll know right then and there whether it will work in your house.

90. Incorporate antiques.  Even if you’re not into the whole vintage or shabby chic look…a few well -placed antiques can really make a room.  And of course garage sales are great places to score neat old pieces.  I have a friend who has an old typewriter in a little nook in her house…I can’t even begin to describe to you how incredible it looks surrounded by season decor! A cool old advertisement, a piece of metal work, or even old dishes are always neat finds to hang on your wall.  These items are often cheaper than what you’d pay for knock-offs at a home decor store and they have CHARACTER!

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Day 8.

March 21, 2010 By

Wow…what a nice weekend!  I attended my first ever tennis match, ran in my first ever 5K with my friend Hallie (finished in 31 minutes…not bad for barely being able to run a mile three weeks ago!), watched Kansas lose to Northern Iowa (wow!), watched Wake Forest lose to Kentucky (sorry Deacs!), got a pedicure with my aunt before she headed back, spent tonight watching Public Enemies here at home with the hubby, and slept. A LOT.  I think I’ve finally recovered from my CRAZY week! So here are tips 71-80…only 20 to go:

71. Do you have hardwood floors?  Then an area rug is a must!  An area not only provides your footsies with a soft place to walk, but it will create visual interest and cohesion in your room.

72. Another way to create interest in a room? Create a stack! Use coffee table books, old suitcases, hatboxes, you name it!

73. When you see a small framed mirror, buy it.  Then paint all the frames a similar color (I love a classic black or a festive yellow) and hang them in one arrangment. Here’s an example from Martha:

74. Can’t find a bedskirt (or don’t want to pay $50 for one?  Use an extra flat sheet in a coordinating color!

75. Don’t want a bedskirt at all?  Don’t you dare leave that box spring bare!  Use a coordinating fitted or flat sheet to cover it (this is what we do in our master bedroom).

76.  Spruce up your kitchen window and save money at the grocery store.  Plant herbs in matching terra cotta pots for a Tuscan feel, or use old florists vases wrapped in heavy paper and tied with twine (courtesy of Real Simple):

77. Do you have a boring lamp?  Spice it up by painting the lampshade a bold color with acrylic paints.

78. If you have a room that is small or dark (or both) try positioning a mirror across the room from a window, this will bring more light into the room and make it feel larger.

79. Use multiple table runners across the table as placemats for two (thanks again Martha!):

80. Today’s living rooms are often centered toward the tv with all furniture facing our flatscreens.  While I understand that tv watching is a nightly activity for many families (including mine), try to make sure your furniture is also set up to facilitate other activities, like conversation, too!

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