Home Designs for 2009

From turning your bedroom into a cozy getaway, to basking in the glow of a homemade candle, surround yourself with warmth and comfort this season:

1. Invite Joy into Your Home
When it comes to creating a warm, welcoming home, attention to detail is far more important than budget and space. For instance, have you ever walked into an exquisitely furnished home and yet felt unwelcome? Or entered a modest apartment and never wanted to leave? It is within the walls of a calm home that joy is most easily experienced. Discover how you can create a blueprint for joy in your own home with this simple exercise by Zen Organizer Regina Leeds.

2. Turn Your Bedroom into a Cozy Sanctuary
Turn your bedroom into your ultimate escape. It doesn't take a lot of work or a lot of money, and yes, it'll be worth it. After all, what's better than snuggling in a warm bed (by yourself, or with the one you love)? So if you don't have a cozy blanket for the winter, get one now or put it on your gift list. It's the easiest way to add that "aaah" feeling to your bedroom.

3. Try an Ancient Space-Enhancing Secret
Turn your home into an inviting retreat with help from feng shui, the Chinese discipline that teaches you how to attract and enhance your life energy (chi) according to how your space is arranged. Feng shui can bring positive results to every aspect of your life, including your home.

You can create an environment that welcomes health, happiness and love just by moving some furniture and adding a few objects. Start by placing positive elements such as plants, candles, wind chimes and soothing colors around your home. Plus, get more quick tips with a simple lesson in feng shui.

4. Simple Details Make a Big Difference
You don't need a paint job or a furniture makeover to add a sense of light and laughter to your home. You can cheer up your interior with small, inexpensive touches and see big changes! Start by simply clustering candles on a plant stand or draping cozy throws over sofas and chairs. Find six more ways you can warm up your home this season from Soulful Home Maker Tracey McBride.

5. Bring the Bloom Indoors
Blooming indoor plants bring the beauty and vibrancy of an outdoor garden into your home. Whether you like lavender, jasmine or even flowering maple, Green Thumb Fran Sorin will show you five blooming beauties that are bound to brighten any room.

6. Create an Indoor Fountain
Water is soothing to the soul -- that musical trickling sound, the constant but quiet movement. So why not soothe yourself and your loved ones with an indoor fountain? You can make one in as few as four steps. What a treat for a coffee table, bedside stand or even in a front entrance (it's also great feng shui) -- perfect for greeting holiday visitors!

7. Promote Happiness with Color
One of the easiest ways to transform a room is with a new coat of paint. But which color matches your mood? Will the yellow in your kitchen soothe guests and keep family members happy? Can the colors violet, blue and green make a small room look bigger? Find out how to brighten the walls of your home and keep your spirits high with the Color Therapy Quiz.

8. Bask in the Glow
Candles are the perfect way to add a warm feeling to your home. An easy alternative to installing a dimmer switch, candles can create a friendly feeling in the living room, add sparkle to a dinner table and promote romance in the bedroom (plus, everyone looks better by candlelight!). Whether it's a cluster of tea lights, a grouping of candlesticks or a solitary three-wick giant, let the glow of candles fill your rooms -- and your heart -- with warmth and light.

9. Cleanse Your Space and Spirit
Treat your spiritual space the same way you treat your home -- keep it clean. Try this simple space-cleansing ritual -- all you need is a smudge stick (you can get one at any health food store), a bell and a few loud claps (that's right, hand claps) -- to clear your home of unwanted negative energy, and welcome in the joy.


Source article: 9 Ways to Make Your Home a Haven

Color is the most important element in decorating. The color wheel is a valuable tool that can help you decorate your home. Thousands of color combinations are possible, but you can use basic color information to create the color scheme best suited for your home and your personal taste. The steps involved in choosing colors shouldn't deter you from selecting a certain combination or layout. Always choose the colors you like best for decorating success.

The Color Wheel

The color wheel identifies color families and how they relate.

Primary Colors

All colors, with the exception of white, come from primary colors. Blue, yellow and red are the primary colors. Combinations of these three colors produce other colors. Mix all three together in equal amounts to produce brown.

Secondary Colors

Mix equal amounts of two primary colors to create secondary colors. The results are violet (red and blue), green (blue and yellow) and orange (red and yellow).

Tertiary Colors

Mix one primary color with larger amounts of another primary color to create tertiary colors. For example, mix one part blue with two parts red to make red-violet.

Basic Color Terms

* The hue of a color is the basic color. For example, blue is the hue in light blue and dark blue.
* Tone describes the color's density and reflective quality. Tone is important when choosing a color scheme.
* The value of a color describes the amount of white or black in the color. The value ranges from light to dark on a gray scale.
* The saturation of a color refers to its pureness and boldness.

Source Article: Choose a Color Scheme Like a Pro

A Rotating Exhibit
A wall treatment with appeal for children is chalkboard paint, which comes in black and green. This paint is exactly what you might expect: a dense, opaque liquid than can be used as a chalkboard after it dries. Bear in mind that chalk makes dust, which is the enemy of dark carpets, not to mention the allergies it can cause. An easier, and perhaps less troublesome, alternative is a magnetic white board, which could be turned into a fun, constantly changing exhibition space. Another option is to affix a large sketch pad to a wall and keep assorted paints and colored pencils nearby for easy access.

Hands-On Fun
Virtually all you need to make this simple project are a wooden switch plate, some bright paints and your child's willing hand.

Galvanized-Metal Magnet Board
Galvanized metal can be bought at a home center and mounted onto a wall or closet door to create a super-sized magnet board. Because metal edges can be sharp, make sure the panel is set into the recesses of the door or has no edges exposed to little hands. You can use assorted fanciful, decorative magnets to attach artwork, photos and ephemera.


Source article: 3 Wall Decor Ideas for Kids' Rooms

Having a small kitchen to begin with will ignite a lot of creativity and resourcefulness on your part. You have to choose every item and detail that you place in the room wisely in order to maintain a neat appearance as well as keep work as convenient as possible. You may be surprised to know that majority of people actually have small kitchens but still manage well.

Tried-and-Proven Ideas

New appliances will help create symmetry and organization in your small kitchen. Look for save-spacing and energy-efficient ones to maximize your working space and budget. Built-in appliances like ovens are very ideal in a small kitchen so you have more floor space. Compact models for microwave ovens, blenders and the like are also good which you can stock away in overhead cabinets when you’re done using them. Make sure that the refrigerator is big enough to accommodate common perishables but not too large that it overwhelms the kitchen. Wine refrigerators may come in handy too if you have extra room.

Another tried-and-proven idea for your small kitchen would be to increase countertop space. This boosts your working area so you’ll be able to avoid unwanted clutter and improve the work triangle. Try to increase the areas not covered or occupied by appliances with countertops. Try to make them deep enough so that you can work very comfortably and efficiently. Countertops may also serve as temporary holding areas for common items like pots, pans and chopping boards.

You need as much storage space as you can get in a small kitchen so add as many cabinets as you can. These will serve as containment areas for dishes, utensils and small appliances. Aim for depth to fit in more items. You can install hanging and wall cabinets depending on the layout of your kitchen. Align the cabinets with the corresponding appliances. Your goal is to minimize work or the distance from one point to another when performing tasks. Roll-out pantries, sliding shelves, built-in storage and standalone models are also good depending on your space.

Design Tips

Light is very important in a small kitchen as well as color. Letting in as much light through the windows, doors and a skylight is preferred to provide the illusion of space. It also makes it easier for you to work. When choosing paint, make sure it compliments other present tones in the room especially if you have a lot of hardwood. Aim for nice complimentary colors for the ceiling and floors as well. Pick tiles that can help make the room appear wider and avoid ceiling mold which tends to trap and limit space.

A small working area needs to stay clean all the time to avoid a cluttered appearance. Invest in a large sink where you can put in big pots and pans for washing. A large garbage bin at one corner will help keep wastes off countertops. Wire baskets will provide extra storage space for smaller items for easy location aside from the cabinets and pantries. Installing a tile back splash on walls over the sink, counters and range will clean up messes since you can easily wipe it off with a moist towel. Feel free to add accessorize to make the kitchen look more appealing. Avoid too many however or you risk getting a cramped look. Glass and stainless steel materials with tall shapes are recommended.

Source article: Small Kitchen Ideas

You really do not have to spend bigger amounts of money on living room design. Just some imagination and careful planning are all you really need. However, since you still have to dish out some money from your pocket before you can visually see those layouts and plans that you made for your living room design, it is still important to have everything organized to see their worth.

Decorate to Accumulate

Coming up with good living room designs should not be based primarily on the aesthetic value. Functions should come off as the top priority. You would not want your imported vases to be useless if you will display them in your living room and block the necessary space. Keep in mind that when creating living room design, it is best to always consider the space provided.

De-personalizing your home should be your priority if you are trying to come up with an interior design that is worth its value. Minimal clutters in the living room make it easier for the family to spend time with each other and do some ultimate bonding moments.

Besides, if you are planning to sell your house in the future, incorporating good living room designs will not only make your place attractive but will also increase its selling value. Nobody would want to live in a place that they do not see themselves living there.

Here are seven ways to make living room designs your main attraction or your main elements in making potential buyers feel at home:

1. Living sanctuary

Living rooms provide safe haven from the outside world and the living room design should reflect this. Opt for a soothing color scheme and avoid colors and busy patterns on walls. They will not be to everyone's taste and can make a room seem small and cluttered.

2. Accessorize with color

Invest in a new sofa, curtains, rugs, and some fresh, coordinating flowers, add the final touches such as potpourri, scented candles, and pretty packaged figurines for a luxurious, elegant feel. These things are almost available in any shade, but do not overdo it.

3. Keep the style neutral

If you are fitting a new living room from scratch, choose a design that is sympathetic to the architecture of the house. Be wary of designs with period details. Avoid indulging your personal taste. You should be choosing fixtures and fittings that will appeal to the broadest possible audience. After all, your living room will serve as your front liner when receiving guests in your house. So why not make your living room impressive with living room designs?

4. Reflect the light

If you have a small living room, create the illusion of space by keeping the décor light. Pale-colored wood or painted furniture work best for this, while glazed cabinets and shiny, tables reflect light. This kind of living room design will surely create the kind of lighting you need in your living room.

5. Sofa magic

The most frequently used and most expensive piece of furniture in your home is probably the sofa, so it is important to choose one that is well constructed.

Also, try to incorporate bright, colored fabrics for your sofa. This will create an impression of bigger living room.

To achieve a casual look that provides easy-care style, cushions with a foam core that is wrapped with thick layers of polyester fiber feel soft and are practically maintenance-free.

Indeed, living room designs like these will surely make a hit in your neighborhood. You can never be too sure if you can handle many praises regarding your interior design. Keep in mind that your living room serves as your front line element in making a good impression of your house as well as your personality. So be wary of choosing living room designs.

Source article: Living Room Design

We all love spending time in our patios, whether it be an afternoon barbecuing, having cocktails, or relaxing and reading a good book. Patios are a wonderful place to enjoy good meals, read a good book, converse, and spend time with loved ones in your own home. Even at night, the choice of lighting make a difference in the overall atmosphere and affect the functionality of the patio.

There are a variety of designs and themes you can choose from, depending on the size of patio that you want to build, and the mood you want it to have. Whether you choose to have a small or large patio, these simple patio design ideas are sure to help you make your patio the perfect place for entertaining or spending some quality alone time.

Some things that you might need to consider before planning out your patio design ideas are: the existing view that your patio has, the weather, and where the winter and summer sun hits. Work around those, and maximize the view that you already have.

1. If you already have a pool to work with, you can easily build a relaxing resort feel right in your own home. Use umbrellas that can serve as a great design to your patio in any color you’d like, dark green is a favorite, and that can serve as a temporary cover to your area. When it is sunny you can close the umbrellas and soak up the sun, while on less sunny days you can just as easily open them up to use.

Also, if you have a swimming pool, you can work around the pool as the focal point while having walkways built to and from the house, and working around the pool for your patio design idea. You can use beautiful landscaping to shape the theme and feel of the area around the pool.

2. Decide on a focal point for your patio. The focal point will draw the eye to it; it will be the highlight of your patio. If you have any odd edges in your patio, a focal point such as a statue, fountain, or flower bed is a great way to disguise it.

3. Lighting is an important factor in making your patio livable during the nighttime. Not only do they add beauty to your patio, but also make the entire area safer to walk in at night. There are several options you can choose for lighting, torches add a great natural feel and are a great patio design idea. Hanging lights from trees, ceilings, covers or gazebos also add a soft, romantic feel to the atmosphere in your patio. When selecting a lighting choice for your patio design idea, also remember strategic areas that you will need to add lighting for safety. These are walkways, steps, or any level changes.

4. There are many choices and materials available for selecting a patio cover. When selecting one, the most important factor to take into consideration is the weather. If you live in an area that is mostly sunny throughout the year, you might want a patio cover that is temporary, such as awnings, and umbrellas. For those who live in colder areas with less sun and more possibility of rain during the year, a permanent cover such as gazebos, corrugated metal roofs, and pergolas are a great idea.

Great patios are extensions of the home that are both functional and appealing to the eye. In selecting designs, remember to do designs that are reflective of your personality, so you can have maximum enjoyment of your personal space.


Source article: Patio Design Ideas