Unique Glass Home Decor

In pretty much every home decor magazine, you can see where the designers put their signatures on a decor. There is nothing wrong with plain furniture and walls, but they definitely don’t attract the eye. You can spice up the room with a perfectly chosen piece of furniture. A beautifully hand made and hand painted armoire would definitely catch the eye. Or try a classy club chair, a side table or this handcrafted mango wood leaf stool. It would really stand out and could be your signature piece and conversation starter.

Both men and women desire a romantic, private setting for their special Valentine’s Day. According to the survey, nearly 40 percent of respondents rated “in front of the fireplace” as the most popular place to share their love for each other.
Warm up this cold February night by starting a fire and get comfy in front of the fireplace with your sweetheart on this soft, cozy and warm sheepskin area rug from New Zealand.

What better way to start the Valentine celebrations than with a bottle of champagne to make your night sparkle.

Lighting is an important factor. Darken the space to create an intimate feeling and then add candlelight. Chocolate or vanilla scented candles are one of my favorites.

Finishing touches are like the icing on a cake. Without accessories any living space is lifeless.
So, if you think that having a sofa, chairs and a coffee table you are done decorating, think twice… you are far from it. When you are ready to invest in decorating a room make sure that you have enough of a budget to add some home decor accessory pieces such as hand blown art glass, modern decorative pillows, cotton or mohair throws, area rugs or natural sheepskin, curtains, natural or artificial flowers and original unique wall art to add the finishing touches. Search for new ideas in home decor magazines. Bring out pieces that you already own and incorporate them into your display. Learn how to group decorative items that will contribute to the overall look of your room and add that personal touch.

A decorating trick I often use is to take a digital picture of the setting that you are trying to accomplish. The picture won’t lie. You can see for yourself if something jumps out at you. Quite often I take pictures of a group of items, and by looking at the picture I can more easily see when something is not quite right. That’s when sometimes you would remove or add another item until you find a harmonious grouping.
For example if you want to decorate your coffee table, start by displaying your favorite accessories in a variety of heights and shapes. Mix textures using glass, wicker, ceramic or iron. Display books in neat stacks. Take a picture of your coffee table and you will get an honest feel of what is working and what is not.

Don’t allow magazines and newspapers to take over your coffee table. Place them in a bowl or basket for a more organized look. Remove the candles that are at the end of their lives and don’t display mismatched ones. If you love fresh flowers don’t forget to replace them with new ones when their time comes. These are a few ideas of how to make your place more inviting. Now take these ideas and try to decorate a bookshelf, a unique vignette, or a bedside table.

When decorating, show some personality by bringing in furniture and home decor items that fit with your life style. Every trip I take, I get inspired to try to implement a new idea into my home decorating. You can easily find your style either from nature, magazines articles, home shows or simply by attending your local trade fairs.

Colors play a very important role in today’s home decor. You can use the fabric colors in decorative pillows, unique throws, are rugs, window coverings and upholstery to add interest or help create a soothing mood.

Visit museums or art stores to see what particular art style attracts you enough for you to live with for a long period of time. I personally love original art but if you are unable to find or afford it, prints will do the trick too. Choose the right location for your wall art. Place a large picture on a larger wall or if you opt for smaller prints make a statement by gathering them together. For more information on how to arrange wall art please see our article entitled: “Hanging and Grouping Wall Art.”

When purchasing new furniture, try to find pieces that you will love not only because they are this year’s biggest trend but also because they have timeless lines and colors. That is what I look for when I am purchasing any new home decor item. It has to speak to me and I have to fall in love with the piece. Not long ago, I was attending a trade show, when I noticed an incredible and unique art piece that someone had brought in from Zimbabwe. I guess I went by three or four times and every time I went by, the vision I had of it in my house grew stronger until finally I said to myself “I must have that”. Now it is sitting beautifully on my coffee table and I love to see it every day. It is my favorite piece in the house and it was the best choice that I ever made. That is a good example of knowing when something belongs to you by hearing it speak to you and call your name.

So have fun and enjoy the journey of decorating.

(ARA) – If your bedroom doesn’t offer you a respite from the hustle and bustle of the day, then now is the time to transform it. The time and money you invest now will definitely pay off in big dividends in your future. Your bedroom redecorating project might just mean that you’ll find yourself a little happier, a bit more joyful and most importantly, at peace with yourself and your surroundings.

Decorating your master bedroom is probably more fun than decorating any other room in your home. Why? Because it’s the one room in your home where you can truly allow your personality to shine.

Begin with three easy steps.

1: Start by visualizing and listing all the types of activities you’ll want to conduct in your “get-away” haven. Perhaps it’s writing in your journal, reading, knitting, watching movies or contemplating your plans for tomorrow — whatever the activity, it’s important to think through the specific things that will make you the happiest.

2: Look at your bedroom space with a critical eye. Can your bedroom accommodate all the activities you listed?

3: As with most all decorating projects, one of your first priorities is locking in a color scheme. Color sets the stage and is truly the backdrop for all your furnishings, fabrics, accessories and lighting.

Make Color Considerations

* Use color unequally for better proportion and balance. While this sounds like a complete contradiction, it truly works. Consider a deeper, more dramatic hue to create an accent wall behind your bed. Then, by coloring your adjoining walls in a lighter shade of the same color, you’ve created a more visually interesting space.

* Use lighter colors to create a feeling of spaciousness. Paler shades naturally reflect light rays instead of absorbing them. A lighter color palette would be particularly important if your bedroom isn’t quite as large as you’d like.

* Use bright, strong colors to create a warm, cozy feeling. If your bedroom is large and spacious and has very high ceilings, warmer colors will help “humanize” your space, making if feel more livable and welcoming.

* Pay attention to your room’s architectural features. If you wish to emphasize interesting architectural features, enhance them with stronger contrasting colors. And, conversely, if your desire is to camouflage architectural defects, then a more neutral paint color of the same tonal value will help blend your walls, ceiling and floors and hide those unhappy features.

Light Up Your New Room

Now that you’ve got some great color ideas for your new bedroom retreat, the amount of artificial and natural light in your room will be the defining factor in your ultimate color choice.

“Lighting plays such an important role in any redecorating project,” says Sue Pelley, national spokesperson for INTERIORS by Decorating Den. “I recommend that my clients take stock of how much natural light is entering the room, and for how long a period of time. If their room is bathed in sunny natural light, I recommend working with a cooler color scheme. And conversely, if a room doesn’t enjoy a lot of natural light, a warmer color palette will help eliminate a feeling of coldness.”

Bring in Fabulous Furnishings

Bedding ensembles come in a variety of sizes and designs. From the uniquely custom-designed, outline-quilted bedspreads, to the sophisticated and luxurious duvet covers, your bedding ensemble should definitely take center stage. No bedding ensemble is complete without multiple pillow shams and decorative accent pillows.

Incorporating a custom-designed window treatment, will help your windows take center stage. Once you’ve determined privacy and room darkening needs, the design possibilities are only limited by a decorator’s creativity.

Uncover the Possibilities

Uncovering the possibilities as you begin redecorating your master bedroom is an exciting undertaking, when you plan ahead, and focus on making wise choices along the way. Remember, you spend more time in your home than anyone else. So be sure your ultimate decorating choices reflect your personality and your unique sense of style. Sweet dreams.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Add style and ambiance to your home decor by incorporating candles. Candles are great for decoration, relaxation and for establishing a mood. They add both visual and actual warmth to any room of the home. The soft, flickering light has an appeal that electric lights cannot match. The most important aspect and finishing touch to any candle arrangement is the candle holders. If you pay attention to the details, they can be coordinated to any decor.
At homedecorbylulu.com you can find a variety of unique votive and tea light candle holders. For example one of our favorite tea light candle holders is this exquisite, acrylic chocolate brown tea light candle holder. It is perfect for accenting coffee tables or end tables, to establish the mood for a night of love and passion, to accent a dinner table or a bar when you decorate for parties. Use these candleholders in a repetition of three on a fireplace to create a focal point of a room. Please visit homedecorbylulu.com and take advantage of free shipping for all our home decor items.

(ARA) – Parents know that they rarely have the same ideas and opinions as their children. When decorating your child’s room, you might want one design while your 8-year-old daughter has a completely different concept in mind. Don’t worry parents, with a few tricks, you’ll be able to design a room that is stylish, functional and fun for your child.

“Since your child’s bedroom is the one room in the house where they get to express themselves, personalization will help them create a sense of identity for themselves,” says Jeff Nokkeo, academic director for Interior Design at The Art Institute of California — San Francisco.

Here are some decorating tips that will help keep the whole family happy:

* Talk to your child about his or her vision for the room. Then select a color palette and theme together. What are her likes and dislikes? Does he have a favorite hobby or activity he likes to do? Incorporating some of the child’s design ideas into the room will help make it feel like his or her own.
* Does she want overpowering or bright colors? “Compromise by using a neutral wall color in the room and adding punch and color with accessories and accents like bedding, lamps, wall art and other decorations,” Nokkeo suggests.
* Likewise, keep window shades neutral, but add a fun, colorful valance. The neutral base will make it easy for you to change the room when your child’s tastes change again in a couple years.

Both furniture manufacturers and home decor companies have special sections for children, so there are plenty of options to choose from. You’ll notice color trends as you start to shop — most major retailers will stock similar colors in any given season, making it easy to mix and match products from different stores. Here’s a look at some of the hottest trends for children’s bedrooms:

For Girls
It’s all about bright colors for girls, from purple to lime green to the ever-popular pink. Retro patterns are making a comeback, and they may look familiar to moms who had something similar when they were young. But make no mistake: these patterns are updated with a twist for a fun, funky look.

For example, Montgomery Ward (wards.com) features a personalized Sweetheart Pillow and Throw that will keep your daughter cozy while sleeping, enjoying a book, or simply lounging around her room. The set includes a throw (49 by 60 inch) that’s soft plush on one side and silky smooth on the other and a matching 15-inch square pillow. Adding items that can be personalized with a name or favorite phrase, like this blanket, is a way to make your child feel like the room truly is her special place. Choose pink with black embroidery or black with prink embroidery. The throw is machine washable, a good thing to note when choosing items for a child’s room since little hands can be messy.

For Boys
If your little guy loves sports, choose accessories that have his favorite professional logo on them, such as a bedspread or poster. If your son isn’t a sports nut, you can incorporate any interest into affordable decor that will personalize the room. For example, if your son loves to play Army, add some camouflage curtains. Does he like science? Add a wall mural of the solar system. And if you don’t have a theme to work with, just choose his favorite colors and find accessories that incorporate that color.

For Both
Functionality is important in a child’s room. Adding items like a desk or table to work on is a great idea. Montgomery Ward has a great option for younger children called the ABC Table and Chair Set that gives little ones a special place for drawing, snacking and other activities. Educational letters and images capture the imagination.

Organization is also important in a child’s room. Consider adding a decorative toy chest, closet organizers and storage bins to your child’s room to help avoid clutter. Encourage children to take out only one or two toys at a time so their rooms remain stylish and clean. Once they have a system to follow and know that their favorite teddy bear is in the chest at the end of the bed, they’ll be more likely to put it away when they’re done using it for easy access later.

Please visit homedecorbylulu.com for unique stuffed animal pillows and kids decorative pillows. They are very huggable and cuddly and they make a perfect buddy that will come along for a car ride.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is enough to leave anyone exhausted. But, even though today’s holiday schedule can be overwhelming at times, there are several simple “dos and don’ts” that can help you streamline at least one area of your holiday activities — home decorating.

The following holiday decorating tips from Pratt & Lambert Paints are designed to help you create lasting memories for your holiday guests, without leaving you struggling and stressed.

Plan ahead
DON’T wait until the last minute to start decorating.
DO start early and have a plan.

Begin by making a list of all the decorating items you currently have and those you’d like to purchase. This will help you avoid overspending when you go to the store. Once you have all the decorations you need, lay all of them out before you begin placing them around your home, then sort them into groups, by room. Place all the decorations for your living room together in one area, those for your kitchen in another, and so on. This will allow you to take inventory of what you have and possibly inspire you to mix and match some decorations into areas of your home that you might not otherwise have thought of before.

Create a colorful focal point
DON’T let your design sense get scattered.
DO take the time to create a memorable focal point in your home.

Rather than trying to decorate each and every one of your rooms with a few items that are scattered about, focus first on making a lasting impression in one specific area of your home.

“One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is to punch up the wall color in the room that will serve as the main gathering place for your guests,” says Pratt & Lambert color marketing specialist, Peggy Van Allen. “If you’ll be entertaining in the living room, consider painting just one accent wall, perhaps the one that may serve as a backdrop to your holiday tree. You’ll find that a small punch of dramatic wall color will go a long way in making a lasting impression on your guests.”

Retire the green and red
DON’T think everything has to be red or green to be considered festive.
DO incorporate colors that aren’t typically associated with the holiday season.

Why limit yourself to using “traditional” holiday season colors? Some of the most stunning holiday designs can be created when you look to your current decor for color inspiration. Doing so allows you to choose items that complement your tastes and creates a cohesive look and feel throughout your home. Another popular decorating technique that creates a sophisticated look is to add metallics and glass for additional shimmer and sparkle.

Make high traffic areas a priority
DON’T spend too much time and effort decorating areas that your holiday guests aren’t likely to see.
DO concentrate your decorating efforts in high-traffic areas.

Although you may want to add holiday cheer to rooms in your home that won’t be seen by your holiday guests, first focus on those areas that will. For example, add tasteful holiday accents to the half-bath or powder room downstairs by incorporating colorful soaps, towels and holiday scents.

Use what you have on hand
DON’T think you need to spend a bundle to create a cozy, holiday atmosphere.
DO get creative and use items you already have around the house as inexpensive decorations.

Gather all of your candles into one vignette and place them in a central area, such as on a mantel in your living room or family room. Rather than using standard holiday table top pieces, use fruit to create an interesting and colorful centerpiece. If you really want to wow your guests, gather branches from outside, spray paint them with sparkling colors and arrange them in a vase you already have on hand. To top off the look, tie a beautiful bow around the top or base of the vase.

Relax, sit back and enjoy
DON’T get so caught up in decorating that you forget to enjoy the holidays.
DO take time to sit back and relax.

It’s easy to let holiday activities overwhelm you during this busy season, but don’t forget the best and most important part of the holidays, spending time with your family and friends.

Are you in search for new home decor products? at homedecorbylulu.com you can find our unique collection of decorative pillows and modern throws to add warmth and a personal touch to the place that you live in and adore.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – Holiday entertaining can feel overwhelming to even the most seasoned host. Between shopping, cooking, cleaning and decorating, it can feel like there’s no time left to enjoy the festivities. But with a little time management and some creativity, having friends and family over to celebrate can be fun again.

A holiday hostess is always looking for ways to sweeten her holiday entertaining. “Make the season a success by reinventing holiday traditions,” says entertaining expert Cathy Riva, founder of Manhattan-based Riva Events and host of Discovery Home Channel’s Party Girl. “If you normally provide all the food for friends and family, try having everyone bring a favorite dish this year. It will cut down on preparation time while allowing guests to show off their cooking and baking skills.”

Riva offers more advice on how to put the fun back into hosting during the holidays.

To make everyone at a holiday party feel special without blowing the budget on personalized goodies, add creative touches on items such as seating cards. Using a holiday gift card or tag can be a festive, easy and inexpensive way to designate seating.

When it comes to meal planning, entertaining for family and friends can often mean catering to a variety of individual tastes and preferences. Plan to provide a meatless entree alternative for vegetarian guests — a hearty pasta dish is a good standby. Always provide a few interesting, non-alcoholic drink options beyond soda and lastly, create a more healthful take on some of those favorite holiday recipes by substituting Splenda No Calorie Sweetener for sugar in your cooking and baking.

Now that entertaining and meal planning are more manageable, Riva recommends using SplendidLife.com as a one-stop-shop for gifts, kitchen supplies and hosting materials. “SplendidLife.com is a great help!” says Riva. “In one place I can find all my entertaining items — from bakeware to beverage accessories to traditional and modern serving pieces, as well as a wide array of unique items for holiday gift-giving made easy.”

Too often the hosts forget about the ambiance of a party. Riva suggests simple items around the house that can help make the atmosphere of any gathering warm and merry:

* Heat up some apple cider with some cinnamon, clove and oranges for a delicious drink and get your guests in the holiday spirit right when they walk in the door. Nothing says holidays like a home that smells warm and inviting.

* Dim the lights to provide a friendly, cozy atmosphere. If dimmers are unavailable, try other options such as changing the direction of the light source or using ambient lighting such as candles.

* Keep a few of your favorite recipes and Splenda sweetener products on hand when you need to whip up a quick and delicious dip, appetizer or dessert for unexpected guests.

Looking for the perfect gift? homedecorbylulu.com has fabulous ideas for unique home decor items and holiday gifts for everyone in your family.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – More and more Americans today are looking at their homes as a place of refuge in a stressful world of challenges and economic instability. Instead of going out to dinner or social events, they’re cocooning with their families. Now, more than ever, their homes need to be restful and soothing, yet stylish at the same time.

Interior designers and industry experts across the country have noted this trend as well, along with an increased focus on cost-consciousness as homeowners become more selective about how their money is spent.

Here are their top 10 home decor trends for 2009:

1. Color Your World
Colors will literally be across the spectrum next year. On their Web site, the Pantone Color Institute forecasts lively colors and sophisticated, grounded hues with Fuchsia Red, Salmon Rose, Palace Blue, Lavender, Rose Dust and Vibrant Green predicted to be popular.

Andrea Vollf, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), believes strongly in “transforming an ordinary home into a living oasis” using neutrals, especially warm and cool grays, along with bold accent pieces. Deep shades of blue are in demand by customers of Jan Hubbard, ASID, and Candice Mathers, Allied Member of ASID, with Hubbard also noting a draw to spice, bisque, toast and green/gold tones to create a warm ambiance. On a brighter note, both Mathers and Susan Pantaleo, ASID, see yellow emerging as a very versatile color. Popping up in every shade from Sunlight to Dijon Mustard, Pantaleo lauds yellow’s attention-getting appeal and ability to add life to any room.

2. Light up Your Life
Because residential interiors are incorporating more intense paint colors — not only as accent walls, but throughout an entire room — more light is needed to properly illuminate a room. According to Jeff Dross, senior product manager of Kichler Lighting, lighting manufacturers will introduce chandeliers with more arms or multiple lights per arm, as well as pendants and wall-mounted fixtures that accept higher-wattage bulbs.

3. We’ve Got You Covered
Wall murals will continue to be in high demand in 2009, according to Todd Imholte, president of www.MuralsYourWay.com a leader in the production of decorative wall murals for more than 35 years. “Wall murals are a very cost-effective way to completely transform the look of a room,” says Imholte. “We recently introduced 90 new mural designs including bold graphic patterns, contemporary designs and murals inspired by nature such as birch trees and bamboo.” Murals Your Way offers a gallery of more than 5,000 images, as well as the ability to personalize an existing gallery image or create a custom mural from a personal photo or artwork.

4. Establishing a Pattern
In a press release distributed earlier this year, Michelle Lamb — co-founder and chairman of Marketing Directions, Inc. and senior editor of “The Trend Curve” — stated that patterns are being constantly updated and reinvented. Some ways to keep them fresh include combining classic and contemporary styles in one piece; utilizing tiny, country patterns that include calico or patchwork; and trying distinctive materials, like foil, or embellishments that cluster and layer upon each other.

5. Comfort is Key
Vollf sees 2009 as being the year of comfort, with furniture that is comfortable and functional, yet still elegant. More and more people are interested in creating a personal refuge that is chic, peaceful, inviting and easy to maintain so that they can relax and unwind at the end of a busy day in an aesthetically pleasing environment.

6. Wood is Good
According to Kathy Peterson — celebrity design expert and co-host of Lifetime TV’s “The Balancing Act” — wood flooring is blending into an eclectic mix of wood tones. She also forecasts hardwood wall coverings (wood, resin, metals) with seamless panels of custom designs becoming focal points of a room. Dross echoes the popularity of wood throughout the home, seeing floors, walls, ceilings (bead board) and furniture incorporating wood at their center.

7. Shining Stars
Metals will continue to shine next year, according to Lamb. She envisions them being translated into modern metallic finishes and textures that create a sense of visual excitement and high energy. Particularly noteworthy are platinum, dark silver, rose golds and copper, and colorful metallics.

8. Hooray for Hollywood
Carmen Natschke — editor of “The Decorating Diva” — sees a revival of “Hollywood Regency.” According to her Web site, this style is “glamorous, classy and elegant; composed of an eclectic mix of styles like Neo-Classic, Asian, Baroque and Art Deco; sumptuous and luxury fabrics, shimmering finishes, mirrored furniture, chinoiserie, bamboo and lacquered furniture; bold color; clean lines and beautiful symmetry.”

9. Embrace the Outdoors
Seamless transitions from indoor to outdoor space are envisioned by Pantaleo, who says the most successful outdoor spaces will be an extension of the home’s interior style and color scheme. Using nature as a backdrop, she suggests pulling colors from adjacent rooms to maintain a visual connection. She also recommends accessorizing gourmet cook centers and plasma televisions with weather-resistant chandeliers, rugs and artwork to create a cozy, appealing and relaxed ambiance.

10. Go Green
Eco-friendly products will continue to be in demand by today’s energy-conscious and environmentally-aware consumers. McKinley Adams, Allied member of ASID, predicts consumers will be interested in sustainable building materials that may cost a bit more up front, but will save money in the long run. He also sees a surge of interest in vintage furnishings for inside the home, while Mathers anticipates increased use of grass cloth and natural Sisal finishes.

Please visit homedecorbylulu.com for great ideas in home decor items such as modern decorative pillows, mohair and cotton throws, a variety of Romanian handblown art glass products and much more.

Courtesy of ARAcontent