Scents and essences might linger in the mind long after they’ve disappeared from the air. Such is the case with a perfume or cologne that takes you back to a distant place and time. Our minds associate memories with the senses in order to help us remember them. I’ve been collecting glass perfume bottles for years, and a quick whiff from any given bottle transports me to the moment I purchased it.
Of course part of a perfume bottle’s appeal is the artistry and craftsmanship that went into its design and production. These aren’t mere containers or vestibules that are produced, filled with liquid and shipped out. The most distinct, attractive bottles have an artistic sensibility – the shape of the bottle is either pleasantly round or strikingly squared off. In any case, perfume bottles are as decorative as they are functional.
If your sofa is starting to look boring and you feel that it needs an immediate makeover, why not give it an instant fabulous look using a bright colored throw blanket? Just imagine the amount of money that you can save compared to opting for an upholstery job—saves you the waiting time too.
With many choices in colors and designs on throws these days, you can even change the look of your sofa everyday of the week. Besides, throw blankets can easily be mixed and matched with whatever current furniture or accent pieces that you have in your home, it’s just a matter of choosing throws that will best compliment and accentuate them.
In its original use, a votive could be understood as any object left in a sacred or important place as a kind of ritual. In an ancient context, this act was usually done to somehow appease or gain favor with the gods or other supernatural forces. A more modern and secularized version of this would be throwing pennies or tokens into a fountain for good luck or the granting of wishes. Because the votive offering was often done with a candle, the name “votive” has since become synonymous with the candle itself.
In this way, votives can be understood as small candles, which are most often white. Alternately known as prayer candles, these votives are commonly burned in a votive offering. They can either be burnt in order for your prayer to be acknowledged, or they can be burned in honor of someone who has passed. But these votives are perhaps even more known in a non-religious sense. To that end, they have become a common home décor additive and are housed in a variety of ornate votive candle holders.
My husband was due home from a six-month tour in Afghanistan, and my kids and I were so excited. In fact, we had planned a party for the night of his return. We invited more than 35 guests. It was going to be a grand blow out.
At first we had thought of decorating using a camouflage motif, but we soon changed our minds and decided to go with some traditional patriotic home decor. I started getting the house ready by hanging a huge American flag on the front door. Next, I hung a ton of red, white and blue streamers around the house and in the yard. I put out a few glass vases of beautiful red roses on the entry way table. And I asked all of the guests to wear the colors of the flag and even to dress as patriotic figures if they liked. My husband was so surprised when he got home. He loved it!
A living room is the first room inside your home that guests will see. Hence, this room must look inviting and welcoming. When designing your living room, make sure you pay attention to the little accents that add a touch of your personality. It could be a simple painting on the wall or an area rug to accent the floor.
The floor is usually the most neglected part of the room. Adding area rugs with a contemporary design can do wonders to the floor and to the complete look of a room. An area rug can also be the focal point, especially if its color complements the palettes used for the walls and the furniture. Rugs can be hand woven or machine braided. There are so many designs to choose from. There is surely one that will be perfect for your living room
When I started collecting pewter figurines a few years ago, I recognized it as a sound investment. I like the fact that they are always sitting in their accustomed spot on the mantel, just waiting to be admired. Unfortunately, as with any collectibles, they seem to attract dust like a magnet. While dusting and cleaning aren’t my favorite parts of the day, they are chores that must be done in this case.
Bear in mind that washing the figurines should be your last resort. Stick to dusting them or blowing over them with a hair dryer to eliminate dust and debris. Fairy figurines have delicate butterfly wings attached, and it’s best to avoid handling these fragile parts wherever possible. Caring for your collectibles is simple, and it will make them that much more attractive to the eyes of your guests.
I’ve always thought that the gift-giving process associated with weddings is inherently flawed. We’ve all been there: the guests arrive at the wedding venue and are ushered quickly to their seats. The bride and groom are understandably busy glad-handing distant relatives and vaguely remembered acquaintances. They don’t have time to open their gifts until much later – sometimes not until after the honeymoon.
My wife and I agreed that when our friend Marvin got married we would put plenty of thought into his wedding gift. Drawing from our own experience, we wanted to stay away from kitchen appliances, as he would be getting plenty of those anyway. In order to lend a personal touch, we chose hand painted wine glasses and martini glasses. When they aren’t being used, these fine glasses can be displayed as art.
My grandmother has always been a dedicated collector of knick-knacks. Even though the ground floor of her home is kept spotlessly clean and presentable for company, I’ve seen the upstairs – where she squirrels away albums of stamps, books of rare coins and even boxes and boxes of old baseball cards. One day I came over to mow the lawn and remarked on the abundance of pewter fairy figurines she had on display over the hearth.
As it turned out, there was a perfectly practical reason why those collectibles were made of such a solid material. On Thanksgiving some years ago, when I was still a small child, I finished eating before anyone else and snuck into the living room to have a peak at the crystal figurines that were carefully arranged on a coffee table. I got a bit too daring in my curiosity and sent all of the figures toppling to the floor where a few of them shattered. In retrospect, it’s no wonder that the fragile collectibles were replaced with sturdy, durable pewter.
Flowers represent the true embodiment of a multipurpose gift. They might be sent as a token of thanks, a message of love or a sign of condolence. Florists stay in business thanks to the preponderance of people who come back to them time and again for specific floral arrangements. But what happens just a few days or weeks after the flowers are received? A vase full of wilted, decrepit blossoms is a pathetic sight indeed.
Artificial flowers of old carried an unwarranted stigma – that they didn’t look realistic enough. The style and craftsmanship in today’s selection of artificial blooms makes the old stuff pale in comparison. They’re lifelike and colorful, and cleaning them is as simple as bringing out a feather duster or a dry rag. There’s no reason to settle for flowers whose construction and color are fleeting when you could give a gift that lasts a lifetime instead.
When a chill hits the air and the leaves start changing colors, you can be sure that fall has arrived. Enjoy the beauty of fall while staying warm and cozy by bringing those gorgeous colors into your living room.
1. Place a fall-themed table runner on your coffee table. These can be found wherever home goods are sold, usually at a fairly low price.
2. Place miniature pumpkins and gourds in a ceramic bowl on your coffee table.
3. Place medium pumpkins on end tables or shelves.
4. Drape a cozy mohair throw blanket on the back of a chair or sofa. Look for throws in fall colors such as rust, brown, yellow or red. Choose a color that will complement your current color scheme.
5. Choose throw pillows that carry the same color scheme as the throw blanket, and place them at the ends of your couch. The combination of the two will seem inviting to sink down and cozy up in comfort.
6. Place candles with fall colors throughout your living room. For an added touch, choose scents that are reminiscent of fall, such as apple, pumpkin and spice. Burning candles will give off a warm glow and gorgeous scent.
7. Hang a fall foliage wreath on a wall or door.
These are a few ideas of how to decorate your living area this fall.