Decorating Your House to Make It as a Home

Making a house a home - sounds like a simple concept, but it can take a great deal to accomplish just that. Everyone has their own theory about what makes a house a home, some say it's the people living in or visiting the house, some say it's the pets, and still others say it's all about the interior. Home decor can indeed help turn a simple, ordinary house into your life-long home.

What a person fills their house with reflects who they are. Some prefer traditional looks while some like the sleek edges and simple designs of contemporary or modern styles. Quite often, what kinds of decor someone has within their home is a sign of who they are, as such it is of utmost importance to find the right kind of decor to fit your individual style.

There are many different facets of home decor. Quite often when given the term people tend to revert to thinking about explicitly furniture, however there is a great deal more covered in the realm of home decor than just furniture. Patters, shapes, sizes, placement, and colors all go into creating furniture and if even one of those categories is "wrong" to an individual, they will be deterred from that piece. The same holds true for so many different types of decor as well such as pictures, plants, and other various furnishings.

Form or function? An important question asked when picking out home decor. Would you rather have something that functions, for example a very comfortable couch, or something that looks better, such as a couch that is immensely uncomfortable while being very trendy? Whichever you choose is indicative of your own personal style.

Whichever styles of home decor you personally choose; those choices undoubtedly make what was once just an ordinary, generic house into your home.

Four Tips to Liven Up a Boring Hallway

Some people find it really easy to decorate the main rooms in their home (like the dining room and the bedrooms), but when it comes to a hallway they are completely lost on what to do. If you find yourself looking at a very boring hallway day after day, there are some ways to easily liven it up.

Liven Up a Boring Hallway with a Set of Pictures

One easy way to liven up a hallway in your home is to hang a set of pictures on the wall. If it is a smaller hallway, be sure that the pictures are smaller so that they do not overpower the wall. These pictures can be photographs of the family and loved ones or they can be pieces of art. Arrange then in the order that you like that fits the style you are going for in the home.

Liven Up a Boring Hallway with a Small Table

If you have a slightly larger hallway you can always add a small end table or nightstand to the hallway. Place it flush against the wall in between a set of doors on the one side. Add some small décor item such as a vase of flowers, a coffee table book of art, or a candle. Look for an interesting table that adds some style to the hallway but does not take up too much space. You still want to be able to comfortably pass through the hallway with the table there.

Liven Up a Boring Hallway with Molding or Trim

Adding molding or decorative trim to a hallway, even one on the smaller side, can be a great way to liven it up. You can choose from things such as a chair rail that runs in the middle lower region of the wall or choose ceiling trim that is placed between the walls and the ceiling. Paint the trim or molding a complimentary color that stands out so that it is noticeable and adds some character to the space. If you decide to go with the chair rail in the hallway you can add even more style by painting the top and bottom halves of the wall different colors. For example, the top could be cream and the bottom could be a darker tan color to add some contrast.

Liven Up a Boring Hallway with an Interesting Light Fixture

You can also liven up the hallway without even using the walls of the area. Find a unique and interesting light fixture and use that for some attention in the room. A light fixture that hangs down is a wise choice if you are looking to make a statement with the fixture. There are hundreds of different light fixtures that you can choose from to add some appeal to your hallway as it all depends on your own personal style and taste.

Don't let your boring hallway drag you down anymore. Instead, decorate it with one of these simple ideas and you can have an appealing and stylish hallway that matches the rest of your home.

Two Types of Brass Stair Rods

Principally there are 2 main types of brass stair rods available. The first type is made from a cased steel tube which is available either as a round tube or a quadrant - otherwise known as a triangular tube - is a steel tube which has been rolled from a flat strip to form the tube. This tube is then covered with a sleeve, consisting of a thin layer of brass or chrome. Cased tube is an inexpensive way of making brass stair rods, running the full width of the carpet tread, the tube fits into stair eye's which are locators to secure the tube across the carpet. The stair eyes are fitted to the stairs each side of the carpet. The stair eyes have a plate on the side into which you can screw a variety of different finials.

The alternative and more prestigious form of rods are made and turned from solid brass rodding. The brass rodding is cut to the overall size required, which is then placed in a capstan lathe. As the brass rodding rotates rapidly along its horizontal axis, a specially designed cutter, or tool then shaves and cuts away the brass, shaping it to make either a ball, acorn or spun end. Fixing these brass stair rods to the stairs is a different principal than on the cased brass stair rods, again brass stair eyes are fitted to the stairwell either side of the carpet, however in this instance the eyes are "open" and have a hole to accommodate the rod.

The rod is fed through the hole, thus preventing the carpet from moving as you walk up and down the stairs. Brass stair rods look stunning against the carpet and hold the carpet in a fine and distinguished manner. They also add an additional safety factor to your stairs where carpet runners have been used. The carpet remains much more secure and the edges fixed tightly down so that trip hazards are avoided. This is particularly important when you have children who so often run up and down the stairs without being aware of any dangers!

Putting the Mirror

Many homes are reverting to the classic feel and some homeowners are taking 'home and hearth' quite literally. A fireplace is considered the focal point of a home, so what better way to accentuate it than to add a mirror. The fireplace mirror seemingly enlarges the living space and adds dimension and light. It's a great way to give your fireplace a new look.

Mirror Work on the Wall

Regardless of if your fireplace is real or just for show, having a mirror above it can do wonders. If you have a fireplace juts out of the wall and has a fireplace mantel, you can add a large mirror just above it to add dramatization and style. Another option is to add several small mirrors joined together, which provides a similar affect with a slight twist. Therefore, there are various options at decoration depending on the glamour and the economy you need. You can even add mirrors to the short walls on either side of the fireplace. Your options are endless.

If the fireplace doesn't jut out, you can mirror the portion above the mantel right up to the ceiling. This gives a visual boundary to the mirror and converts it into a stylish element, catching the eye straightaway.

Modern Look

A more modern look can be had by using six small square mirrors and arranging them in various formations, with the mirrors placed straight, or alternatively, at a tilt. Another formation would be to tilt them and place them in a 'bowling pins' format.

For a showpiece fireplace, a simple no-nonsense solution is to put a mirror on the mantelpiece which will do no more than reflect the area of the living room but not ceasing to impress.

Shopping

When shopping for mirrors, consider your budget. For example, since larger mirrors will cost more, you need to establish whether or not your budget can afford various sizes. Then consider whether you'd like to have additional mirror work on the sides of the fireplace. A mirror is almost ubiquitous with a fireplace so you can consider one for yours regardless.

Kid's Room Decoration

The most important thing to consider when decorating a child’s room is to make the child comfortable. You want to surround them with fun, playful items. The way this room is designed is going to have an effect on the psyche of the child, so allow room for imagination and freedom.
It may be helpful to let the child help you decorate. Pick out the colors, or the wallpaper together. One trick is to purchase inexpensive plain white wall paper, then when it is up, let the child paint a mural of their choice on it. You can do this once a year and continue to reinvent the room over and over again.

Big boxes and lots of shelves will help the child keep the room clean. Make labels for all of the containers with big bright words, that will help remind the child what that container is for.

Decorating in toys is another idea for a child’s room. Set up scenes on shelves, or tables, with their toys in different poses. You can have action toys attacking an enemy base, or dolls working in a kitchen. This allows the décor to be a play item itself. Every time you look at the scene you will get new ideas and more inspiration.

Mostly just let the room be imaginative. Use bright colors, and create a décor that will give the child’s mind something to think about, and room to explore. Don’t hold back, you can play too.

Makeover Your Furniture in the Cheap and Easy Way

Are you tired of the look of your furniture? Do you fancy changing the appearance of your room, but don’t want the cost and hassle of buying a whole new suite? Well, the good news is that giving your home a makeover can be as simple as adding some furniture slipcovers. If you have some pieces of furniture with mismatching upholstery or you simply want a change, then some new slipcovers could work wonders.

So, what exactly are furniture slipcovers? They are a cheaper alternative to re-upholstering your furniture. Re-upholstery can be an expensive option depending on the amount of work needed to make your furniture look as good as new. It can involve replacing the existing fabric, replacing worn out cushions and in some cases fixing the frame and springs. It depends on the value of the furniture as to whether it is worth the effort and expense. Furniture slip covers on the other hand are basically fabric covers that can easily be fitted over existing upholstery.

There are many benefits of using fitted slipcovers over re-upholstery, not least the lower costs. Sofa slipcovers are an excellent way to disguise unattractive upholstery on your existing sofa as well as transforming the look and color scheme of a whole room. You can use sofa slipcovers to create a completely different feel. For example, careful choice of the right slipcover patterns can help add a welcoming atmosphere of warmth to a room. Or maybe you want to create the illusion of space in a small room by adding some lighter colored sofa slip covers.

Another advantage of furniture slipcovers is that they can protect your existing fabric from becoming dirty or worn, prolonging the life of your furniture. Whether you have pets or small children or just want to prevent damage caused by accidental spills, slipcovers are an ideal solution. Slipcovers are made from durable, hardwearing materials. Cotton fabrics are common, but all sorts of other fabrics are popular too such as leather, suede, corduroy and velvet. They are designed to be easy to remove and clean, which means they can be changed as often as you like. Many are fully machine washable.

These days furniture slipcovers come in a huge variety of designs and colors. Many people like the ease with which slipcovers allow them to change their décor with the seasons or just whenever they fancy a change. And slipcovers can be found for furniture of all shapes and sizes. There are slipcovers for sofas, wing chairs, recliner chairs and ottomans. In addition, you can find fitted slipcovers for kitchen and dining room chairs, futons and loveseats. So, when home decorating, rather than rushing out to buy brand new furniture, consider slipcovers as an effective and inexpensive way to give your room a facelift.

Influence the Mood of a Room by Using Psychology of Color

The living room is the setting which will blend the people in your life into the occasions of your home. It is the hardest room to decorate because it has to be versatile, comfortable, and entertaining. Guests, relatives, friends; this room will be the showcase of your home for all of them. This makes the decoration of the living room especially important. The colors and designs you choose will have subtle effects on the psychology of the occupants in the setting, resulting in slight changes to the interactions held there. In a social center such as this, you do not want that influence to be a negative one. A way to help control this is to understand the psychological effects of color on the people in a room.

Color is what surrounds us, it makes up our environment. Everywhere we look there is color, and this affects our minds. Certain colors have positive effects. Yellow is a happy color, while grey is considered dismal. These effects change as the shading changes, and of course other factors can alter them as well. Too much yellow is actually an eye irritant. Color and its effects have been studied by psychologists for many years and they have found many generalities that affect most Americans in a similar manner. However, it is important to note that these ideas are not universal, and you should always follow your own taste when designing a room.

Before you begin you should decide what you want to evoke. Are you looking to make this a quiet peaceful room or a place for wild parties? Would you like the room to feel elated or are you looking for a place of serenity. Once you know what you want, you can simply paint by the numbers, being careful to always pick the shade that evokes the desired effect most in you.

The most popular color in America is blue. This color produces a sense of calm, and is often associated with the ocean. The color blue can make a room look larger, and it stimulates elated emotional responses. Lighter blue is more popular and will make a room seem more open then darker navies.

The next most popular color in America is Green. This is the color of nature, and is almost always associated with growth. Using green is slightly more invigorating then blue, but still produces a sense of mental calm. Green is the easiest color on the eye, and is actually good for eyesight. Avoid sickly greens and use nature as your guide to mix and match colors into a green themed room.

Earth tones give a room a close grounded feeling, and can promote a sense of intimacy. They are rustic natural colors that seam simple and warm. Soft tans and browns are the colors of family, and will give your living room that feeling of home. Besides, they don’t show dirt. Greens can be matched in with browns, to create a feeling of nature and the outdoors in.

Colors to avoid in large doses are reds and yellows. Too much yellow can cause eye irritation and uncomfortable feelings. Red, while highly invigorating, is also a very aggressive color. Use of too much red could easily lead to fighting. To avoid conflict, use reds and yellows only as accessories, and only when they match the room’s main color.

It is almost impossible to get angry in a pink room. In light tones and small doses this color gentles people’s personalities. However if you paint the whole room a wild pink you may find yourself irritated by the brightness. Instead use pink in an understated manner. Throw in pink accessories, or a few pink decorations. If you want to theme a room pink, then choose a light color that will match earth tones. However you should be cautious; the more pink that gets used the more people tend to get lazy and unmotivated.

Make a decision about what kind of setting you want to invoke, and then decide on the colors that will help get you there. Make sure the colors you use will match one another. Maintain balance between different extremes, and refer to yourself often. Only you know if the harmony of the room is helping to bring balance into your home. You are your own best resource.