Whether your old faucets are dripping or outdated, replacing them can be the easy answer you are looking for. New faucets can update a bathroom with a small amount of time and work. Learn replace bathroom faucets by following these steps.
Instructions
1. Turn off the water supply to the sink. Use the stop valves located under the sink. If the stop valves don't work, turn off the main water supply. Test the faucet to see if the water is off.
2. Remove the water lines from the back of the faucet. Remove the arm coming down from the faucet that is connected to the drain stopper arm.
3. Use a basin wrench to remove the the sink. Remove the nuts and washers from the faucet to be able to lift the faucet from the sink.
4. Install the new faucet by inserting it into the hole. Some faucets come with gaskets, and some must be sealed with caulk. Seal the faucet properly before tightening the nuts and washers. Use the basin wrench to tighten the nuts and washers.
5. Replace the drain and water lines to the new faucet. Apply plumbers putty to the drain flange before connecting it. Test the water lines by running the water for a few minutes to make sure there are no leaks before tightening them completely.
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Light streaming in through a window is extremely annoying for someone who wants to sleep in a little bit more. Bright bedroom windows also make it difficult to sleep during the day and work at night. There are ways to darken your bedroom windows if you find sunlight, or even the light from a street lamp, impeding your sleep. A trip to a home-improvement store can help you fix the problem pretty quickly.
Instructions
Black-Out Curtains
1. Install brackets and curtain rods above each window you want to darken using the appropriate tools, such as a drill and screwdriver.
2. Hang black-out curtains on the rods. These curtains have fabric backs that do not allow light to bleed through. Although it might seem like black-out curtains would be dark, heavy and thick, they are not always. Because the black-out fabric is on the back of the curtains, you can have light-colored curtains that still block the light.
3. Keep the curtains closed at night, during the day or whenever you want to block out light.
Black-Out Window Film
4. Roll out black-out window film, which sticks to your windows and blocks out light, onto a large, flat surface. Measure your windows, pane by pane, and cut out corresponding pieces of the black-out film.
5. Remove the backing from the window film and apply it to the windows, pane by pane. Smooth the film onto the windows so that you don't have any bubbles.
6. Hang curtains over the windows if you want to hide the look of the black-out window film.
Paint samples help select the appropriate room color.
Choosing a paint color for a room can be a challenge. You must take a variety of factors into consideration, such as the room's existing decor, condition of the walls, amount of lighting and purpose of the room. These considerations hold true for a small bedroom as well. The paint color you choose for a small room will have a significant impact on the look and feel of the room when it is done. The wrong choice when painting a small bedroom will make the room look dark and depressing. The right will bring a small bedroom to life and make it feel warm and cozy or cheerful and inviting.
Instructions
1. Choose a lighter shade of paint for small rooms. In most cases, homeowners want to make the room look as big as possible. An effective way to make a small bedroom look larger is to use a light color paint. The lighter the paint, the bigger the room looks. The darker the paint, the smaller the room will appear. A good rule of thumb when picking any paint color is to find the color you like and then go two shades lighter.
2. Take into consideration the purpose of the room. For example, consider a light pastel, such as a soft yellow, pale pink or very light blue if decorating a nursery. Many off-white paints will have a hint of color and can give you all the color you need. Ask your paint store for a brochure of "whites." A soft yellow or warm off white paint color will provide a warm, cozy feeling to the room. A soft blue paint will give your small bedroom a cooler look.
3. Consider the bedroom's lighting situation. Natural lighting in a small room plays a big part in paint color choice, particularly if you want to make the bedroom look bigger. A room on the south side of the house that receives plenty of sun will be naturally warm and inviting. A small room in the basement or on the north side of the house that gets little natural light will need all the help it can get from a warm paint color.
Tags: paint color, paint color, small bedroom, small room, bedroom look, bigger room
To decorate your bedroom with rustic charm, invite the sights and textures from outdoors into your home. After all, rustic style decorating---according to the Home Decorating Reviews website---is about connecting with the outdoors. If you love rustic, country style, decorate your bedroom with items from nature, natural-looking elements and outdoorsy pieces.
Instructions
1. Create a neutral blank slate. Paint bedroom walls with neutral or earth tones. Use neutral tones such as white or gray or earth tones such as olive, tan or shades of brown. Additionally, unless you have wood flooring, carpet the room in a neutral or earth tone.
2. Bring in a rustic bed. Home Decorating Reviews suggests a pole log bed. Alternatively, a wrought iron bed will add the rustic look of outdoor architecture.
3. Add pieces of rustic, texture-rich furniture. Home Decorating Reviews suggests knotted wood or log furniture and pieces with a natural, worn finish. Include items such as a distressed or antique dresser, country rocking chair, stick chair and pole log sofa.
4. Accessorize with rustic-style accents. Hang a natural grapevine or straw wreath on the closet door. Bundle a cluster of eucalyptus sprigs and tie with raffia to hang over the window. Additionally, Home Decorating rag rugs, country quilts, old advertising signs, a wash tub magazine holder and water can vases.
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As you plan your bathroom remodeling project, consider using blue subway tiles. They give home spaces an expensive looking face lift at half the cost. In fact, are the only cheap tile with an outstanding fashion edge as you go from contemporary to modern bathroom remodeling themes. In addition, blue subway tiles also cut down the project's work time enabling you to immediately see results.
Instructions
1. Prepare all your tools. Wear your safety glasses and gloves with the appropriate work shoes and work clothes.
2. If you need to work on the bathroom walls and floor, do the walls first. Prepare the area. If there is an existing ceramic tile on your bathroom wall or floor, use a chisel, mortar and hammer to tear down the tiles from the walls and floor.
3. After tearing out the old tiles, clean the concrete subfloor. Remove the dust and debris in preparation for your tiles' dry fitting.
4. The subfloor needs to be roughened, with a sander so that the thinset mortar will hold on to the concrete subfloor when you begin installing the new tile.
5. Prepare the tiles; make all the necessary measurements for precise fitting. Cut the tiles to fit into the worked area, use tile saw, tile cutter or tile nippers to smoothen out the edges. While thick, thin, plain and textured tiles require so much trouble in tile shaping and cutting to blend into the perfect tiling pattern, all subway tiles require is simple and straightforward installation.
6. Dry fit your subway blue tiles. Arrange them in the manner that you intend to install them. Use a marker or pencil to mark the placement of the new tiles. If you are only replacing and blending the blue subway tiles with the existing bathroom tiles, you may do some tilling to fit the shape of the new tiles.
7. Prepare the thinset mortar according to instructions on the bag.
8. Using a 1/8-inch notched tile trowel, spread enough thinset mortar onto the work area for two rows of tile (on each tile if only replacing single tiles) and then lay the tile into place. Use spacers between each tile in order to create an even space around the tile for grout to be spread into. Use a rubber mallet to smoothly coax tile into place.
9. Allow the tiles to settle and dry undisturbed, for about 12 hours. Then begin grouting using a rubber float to spread the grout.
10. Once done, clean up and dry the area with clean rags. One great thing about subway tiles is that they are so easy to install.
Tags: subway tiles, , bathroom remodeling, blue subway, blue subway
There are many carpet styles available and a few of them will work well for bedrooms. But there is more to consider than just the carpet style when choosing the best carpet for a bedroom. Other things to consider include color scheme, carpet performance (quality) and your budget. Putting all of these decisions together will reveal the perfect carpet for your situation-a completely customized product that your family will enjoy for years to come.
Carpet Styles
There are four carpet styles that work great for bedrooms: textured, frieze, cable, and cut and loop. These are cut pile carpets that are constructed using different techniques to come up with different end-product characteristics. Textured carpet is made of yarns that are twisted alternately to produce a two-toned façade. Textured carpets do not show footprints (traffic patterns) and vacuum cleaner marks. Frieze is another cut pile carpet in which each carpet fiber is severely twisted to the point that each strand twists over itself. This carpet style also has a somewhat textured appearance that is durable and performs well. Frieze carpet is available in a wide range of pile depths, meaning the carpet strands can be very short to very long. Cable carpet is made out of yarn that is thicker and longer than the others. It is a very soft and comfortable style that feels good underfoot. Cut and loop carpet is a blending of looped fibers and cut pile fibers that are combined to create patterns in the carpet. They are low-profile carpets, perform well and remain fashionable for a long time.
Color Scheme
Contrary to popular belief and multiple rumors, there are no hard and fast rules that govern the color selection process with carpet. Some people believe that you have to choose a carpet color that is lighter than the walls; others believe the color has to be darker than the walls. The truth of the situation is that the color should be one that you like and that goes well with the color scheme that exists currently in the room.
The best thing to do when choosing a carpet color is to pick a few colors and obtain samples so you can look at them at home. Colors that look great in a showroom may look horrible at home. On the other hand, colors that look horrible in the showroom can look great at home. Place the color samples on the floor in the bedrooms they will be used in and look at the colors at different times of day. You may like one color more in the morning than at night. When you find a carpet color in the desired style that looks good all day long, you know you have a winner.
Carpet Performance
Carpet is produced in multiple performance levels. For example, one home improvement store sells carpet in three different quality levels: Select, Deluxe, and Premium. These are also referred to as warranty levels. The better the carpet, the better the warranty coverage. Warranty coverage ranges from five to 15 years and will include a combination of wear, stain, soil and texture retention specifications.
Budget
Everyone has a budget in mind when replacing carpet or installing it for the first time. It is difficult to determine a budget when you have no idea how much carpet costs. The first thing to do is find out how much carpet you will need by taking measurements in the bedrooms where the carpet will be installed. Then go shopping. Carpet is priced by the square yard. Most other flooring types are priced by the square foot. If you would like to compare the price of carpet to other floor coverings, divide the price per square yard by nine. Shop around at various flooring stores and look for the best deals. Installation prices will vary. Look at the carpet pad options available wherever you look at carpet because you will want the best pad you can afford. Thicker, heavier carpet pad feels better underfoot and will help that carpet last longer. Add the cost of pad to the price of the carpet to get an accurate price estimate.
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When a bedroom has a moldy, musty smell, the first step is to identify the source. After you identify the source and eliminate the cause, the second step is to remove whatever smell remains in the room. While a moldy smell indicates the presence of mold, it does not necessarily mean it is a dangerous or serious mold problem. Yet some people are more sensitive to mold than other people and suffer negative reactions when exposed to mold.
Source
When water from a flood, plumbing leak, rain or other cause gets into the carpet, woodwork, walls or roof and doesn't completely dry, mold develops. If the carpeting in or near the bedroom experienced a flood and the water was not immediately removed, that is probably the source of the smell. Perhaps there is a leak in the attic, letting in rainwater and keeping the inside of the walls or ceiling damp. There may be an ongoing plumbing leak, constantly feeding a slow stream of water somewhere in or near your bedroom. Locate the source of the mold by inspecting the home and reviewing the home's history.
Solution
Fixing a plumbing leak or repairing a roof is just part of the solution. Sometimes you need to remove materials that suffered water damage and harbor mold, which includes removing and replacing the carpet and carpet pad once they are saturated from a flood and are not properly dried. After making necessary plumbing repairs or stopping potential rain leaks, remove or replace building materials suffering from water damage.
Danger
A presence of mold in the home does not always mean there is a dangerous mold problem with the house. According to an article posted by the Arizona Association of Realtors, reprinted with permission from the Arizona Department of Real Estate, epidemiologist and Office Chief of the Arizona Department of Health Services' Environmental Epidemiology Section, Will Humble states that the presence of mold is not always dangerous. According to the article, when taking samples to check for mold, the results commonly show the presence of mold, yet that is not necessarily an indication of a dangerous mold problem in the house. He recommends getting the home inspected to locate the cause of the mold and making necessary repairs.
Freshening
After making the necessary repairs and removing the water-damaged items, clean the bedroom and open the windows to ventilate the room thoroughly. Run a fan in the room to circulate the air, and run a dehumidifier in the bedroom. Mix 1 qt. of water with 2 oz. of bleach, and use the solution to clean areas of the room that won't suffer damage from the bleach. For example, keep the bleach away from fabrics, yet using the bleach on hard surfaces that show evidence of mold, such as baseboards, is fine. If the bedroom closet still has a musty smell, place a box of kitty litter in the closet to absorb the odor. Just keep the kitty out of the closet.
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Small bathrooms can seem crowded and busy if decorated with undersea murals, patterned wallpaper or paint-and-bead board decor. Tile is a decorating choice that can make a seem larger and has the advantage of being easy to clean. The type of tile used can turn an undersized bathroom into one of the most interesting and well-designed rooms in the house.
Subway Tile
Subway tile is both a look and a type of tile. The (usually) white ceramic squares were first placed in subway stations in New York City in 1904 and can be found in many high-style bathrooms. Subway tile can be used on the floor and the wall. One popular design choice uses tiles on the bottom half of walls and glossy paint to the ceiling, with tiles all the way to the ceiling in the shower stall. Another incorporates a border of slimmer, colored ceramic tiles midway up a wall covered in subway tile. Some bathrooms mimic a real subway stop with tiles that spell out Times Square or Canal Street inserted into the design.
Penny Tile
Penny tile is sold in sheets of very small symmetrical tiles, frequently round in shape but sometimes hexagonal or square. The fiberglass-backed sheets can easily be cut to any shape and are quick to install. There is enough space between the tiles for grout so you get uncomplicated application but impressive symmetry in a variety of colors and finishes. Penny tile in white is a classic look but there are metallic and cork versions and a wide choice of colors. There are solid color sheets and patterns such as chess board, graduated rainbow hues or basket weave designs. Metal penny tiles in stainless steel, copper, zinc, aluminum or silver alloy are fairly pricey but sleek and stunning in a modern bathroom. Cork, a bit more expensive than ceramic penny tile, has a warmer look and is sealed to enhance its natural water- resistance. Covering ceiling, walls and floor in the tile is one way to expand the look of the room.
Glass Tile
Glass tile has a pedigree as highly prized mosaic. Byzantine glass mosaic tile was made in large molds in which molten glass, mixed with metal oxides to form various colors, was cooled and broken into pieces. The pieces might be garnished with gold leaf and used in churches and nobles' houses. Modern glass tile is more proletarian but still light-reflective, waterproof and beautiful. It is less flexible than ceramic tile and, in buildings that tend to settle, is more prone to cracks and breakage. But it is a green product---all colors and kinds of glass tile are now made from recycled glass. One very original bathroom treatment is to use custom-printed glass tile murals---a photograph or photo-like picture is heat-applied to the back coating of the tile, creating a high-resolution design or image. Be cautious about adding this level of detail if you are attempting to visually compensate for a .
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Minor bathroom remodels are a great way to update the room and increase the value of your home. Start your remodel by replacing the bathroom vanity. After you have selected a new vanity and sink, just follow these steps to replace your bathroom vanity.
Instructions
1. Turn off the water supply to the sink and disconnect the supply lines. Remove the p-trap, which is the center part of the curved pipe.
2. Remove the countertop by loosening the caulk around the edges with a knife or screwdriver. After the seal is broken, pull the countertop away and remove it. You also need to loosen any caulk between the vanity and the wall so the vanity can be pulled away from the wall.
3. Gently rock the vanity back and forth to loosen it further. Don't get carried away--you don't want to damage the wall by rocking too vigorously.
4. Remove any screws that are holding the vanity to the wall. The vanity should be free from the wall now. Pull it away and remove it from the bathroom.
5. Bring the new vanity into the room. Position it where you would like it to be. Carefully measure and mark the area before you actually attach the vanity to the wall. Use a level to make sure everything is even. After you have made sure the positioning is right, screw the vanity into the wall. Try to anchor the screws into wall studs for added stability.
6. Use caulk to attach the countertop to the vanity.
7. Hook up the p-tap and reconnect the water supply lines. Turn the water back on. Then, apply a strip of caulk around all of the countertop edges.
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Many homeowners choose ceramic for its durability and style.
Remodeling a bathroom or installing a new bathroom can be a challenge. Many decisions must be made to ensure a well-designed, fully functional bathroom. One such decision is the type of flooring. Tile has become very popular over the last few years. A good, properly installed tile floor can provide many years of enjoyment.
Instructions
1. Test the floor by jumping on it. There should be no bounce in the floor. A bouncy floor must be strengthened by adding another layer of subfloor and adding additional floor joist support, before adding tile. Tile has to be installed on a floor that does not flex more than 1/16th of an inch, or the tile and grout joints could crack.
2. Measure in square feet the area to receive the tile. Divide the area of the floor by the area of the cement board, which is usually 15 or 24 square feet, and this will give you the number of cement boards needed.
3. Cut the cement boards with the circular saw so that they cover the entire floor in as few pieces as possible. Fewer joints means fewer areas that can crack. Cement boards come in two thicknesses, 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch. The 1/4 inch boards are used on floors, and the 1/2 inch boards are used on walls.
4. Mix the cement adhesive as per the bag instructions. You can also use premixed cement. Use the notched trowel to begin applying adhesive to the floor. The trowel should be held at a 45-degree angle during each pass. Make each pass as smooth as possible. Do not place adhesive on the entire floor at once. Work in an area the size of the piece of cement board being placed.
5. Place the fiber cement board on top of the adhesive. Once the entire floor is covered, place fiber cement screws through the fiber cement board with your drill. This will secure the board to the subfloor.
6. Apply some of the adhesive on top of each joint and lay fiberglass joint mesh over the adhesive. This helps reinforce the joint so that the two boards do not move. Allow the adhesive to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
7. Choose the size tile that will be used. Lay out the tiles over the fiber board using tile spacers to see how the tile will look and to see where cuts will have to be made. Use a tile cutter to make appropriate cuts.
8. Mark the center line of the floor. This will establish a reference line to keep the tile straight. Use the notched trowel to apply adhesive to the back of the tile and start setting them in position. Apply light pressure when setting. This is the same type of adhesive used to lay the cement board. Cover the entire back of the tile and use the same 45 degree application method as used with the cement board.
9. Allow the tile adhesive to dry for 24 to 48 hours. Mix the grout according to package directions and spread it over the tiles, completely filling in the spaces between the tiles. Once this is done, use a wet sponge and a bucket of water to remove the excess grout. Continue the process until all of the excess gout is gone.
10. Allow the grout to dry and then wash the tile one last time to remove the grout haze.
Tags: , entire floor, fiber cement, adhesive hours, back tile, boards used, each pass
A bedroom for a married couple should be clean, neat and sleek without any strong leaning toward frilliness or sparseness.
When decorating a bedroom for a married couple, you should factor in both practicality and romance. The room should be a place where both are completely comfortable and feel at home. It should serve as a retreat from the world outside and remind each partner of the other's love and respect. It is important not to let either a feminine or a masculine style overtake the decor, or one partner can end up feeling alienated in his own bedroom.
Instructions
1. Avoid excessive frills. In an effort to make their bedrooms more romantic, women and some men tend to lean toward canopied beds, lots of draperies and enough candles to burn the house down. While these things can be pleasant at first, they are seldom practical. The canopies end up tied in a knot so that you do not get tangled up in them while sleeping, and the candles collect large amounts of dust over time. Instead of dressing your bedroom up, make it a place that you can enjoy regardless of how amorous you are feeling. You will find that your bedroom activity levels will actually benefit when they do not require quite so much fuss.
2. Use warm, romantic colors. Avoid pinks and decidedly feminine colors that few men would voluntarily put in their bedrooms. In the same manner, unless you both really like black, dark blue or white, you should avoid these colors, as they can make a room look bare and "bachelor paddish." Use reds, browns, golds and cream colors to create a cozy environment that you both will enjoy.
3. Have some alternative seating. So that you do not always end up right on the bed when you want to enjoy your bedroom, put in a loveseat, sofa or papasan for reading and television viewing. Particularly if you have children, this will keep them off the bed, which will protect bed linens and prevent serious stains from food and feet. Alternative seating will keep your bed as a haven for the two of you at the end of the day, rather than a stand-in for a couch that is used 24-7.
4. Place the television in an armoire if possible. While watching television in bed is a comfortable evening ritual, there will be times when you both wish the game was not on but find it hard to look away once you have started watching. Having the option of shutting the television not only off but away will help improve the frequency and focus involved in bedroom recreation.
5. Keep the decorations artistic. While you may want to keep some family pictures around on the walls or a picture of the two of you on a romantic vacation by the bed, limit wall decorations to art whenever possible to avoid feeling as if you are being watched in bed or being distracted from your partner by thoughts of tomorrow's soccer practice. Limit knickknacks such as porcelain angels, fuzzy bears, other stuffed animals and little glass objects so that your room does not become a cluttered treasure trove but remains a pleasant retreat for both of you.
6. Make sure each partner has enough pillows. While you may want to sleep on only one pillow, each person will need two for sitting up in bed to read or watch television. This is a practical issue and makes everyone more comfortable.
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Creating extra storage space in a bedroom makes the room neater.
Clutter builds quickly in a bedroom, turning it from a relaxing place, to one of stress and anxiety. Adding storage space will make the room more organized and neat, improving the room's ambiance. Keep the bedroom clean by using storage bins and other storage items that help remove clutter from the room and free up space.
Instructions
1. Remove any unnecessary items from the bedroom, such as garbage and office supplies. Dispose of trash and put any items that do not belong in the bedroom in their proper place. This will free up extra room and remove clutter.
2. Add storage containers to the bedroom. Place side tables with cupboards or drawers next to the bed to use as lamp stands and to store items like extra bedding or nighttime medications.
3. Use flat rolling storage bins to keep items underneath the bed. These can be used for off-season decorations and clothing, bedding for a guest room and other items that are needed only occasionally. The flat rolling bins make the items accessible but keep them out of sight in the bedroom.
4. Hang an organizer in the closet to store items like hats, gloves, scarves and infrequently worn items of clothing. Put frequently worn clothes, like work clothes, closer to the front of the closet to keep them accessible and use the closet organizer to free up more room.
5. Hang a shoe organizer on the back of a door and hang shoes in it to keep them off of the floor and in one neat location. Shoe organizers make it easier to make sure shoes are not cluttering up a bedroom.
A mid-century modern bedroom utilizes sleek, clean lines and minimal decor.
design aesthetic developed as early as the 1930s, but is more closely associated with urban design and architecture of the 1950s and 1960s. Mid-century modern designs celebrate simplicity and minimalism by creating cohesive spaces with seamlessly integrated elements from floor to ceiling. Bedrooms designed in this style create clean, calm spaces through monochromatic color schemes, sleek architectural lines and limited embellishments on furniture or accessories.
Floors, Walls and Ceilings
The general landscape of the room as defined by floors, walls and ceilings should incorporate a muted color scheme with a limited number of patterns or textures. Though carpet is a traditional choice for most bedroom flooring, avoid highly textured or brightly colored carpet that may make the room feel dated. Very light or very dark wood floors or even solid-color tile are more appropriate choices. Keep wall colors simple and monochromatic; choose neutral as white, cream, light gray, slate or beige. To create an unexpected color contrast, paint the wall behind the bed in a bright accent color like lime or burnt orange. Match other details such as bedspreads or area rugs to the accent wall color to create cohesion. Avoid textured ceilings or harsh overhead lighting; keep ceilings simple by painting them white or light gray.
Fabrics
Bedroom fabrics can dramatically alter the design aesthetic of a room. Because most bedrooms utilize monochromatic paint schemes, choose fabrics that introduce unexpected and bold uses of color and geometric patterns. Avoid floral or pastel patterns that are more in line with traditional or colonial styles. Instead, opt for curtains in rich colors such as sapphire blue or red; incorporate repeating geometric shapes like circles into drapes and bedspreads. A bedspread that offers a stark contrast creates color dimension; for example, select a black and red bedspread for a white or gray room, or opt for a gray bedspread with neon yellow accents to add color to the space. Also consider incorporating small area rugs in bright solid colors and unexpected or asymmetrical shapes.
Furniture
Mid-century modern bedroom furniture is minimalistic and sleek; avoid ornate wooden bedframes or headboards with significant carving or inlay work. Instead, select low-sitting bedframes in painted wood for a clean, simple look; black, white, red or blue box bedframes without headboards or footboards offer a sleek yet understated look. Match simple box nightstands and bureaus to the bed frame to create cohesion. To add interest, choose small piece of accent furniture such as a chair in an unexpected material such as brushed steel or plastic. Don't add too much furniture to the space; store items in built-in closets or under-bed drawers to avoid clutter.
Additional Decor
Mid-century modern style incorporates a minimal selection of additional decor into bedroom design. Keep dressers, nightstands and desks free of clutter or miscellaneous items. Select one or two dramatic and interesting pieces of art and display them in a dominant area of the room. Wire or metal wall hangings formed into abstract trees or suns add a dramatic visual and textural contrast to a room. Reproductions of bright artwork by modern artists such as Andy Warhol or Frank Stella in simple black frames also add color, vibrancy and sophistication to your mid-century modernist bedroom.
Tags: Mid-century modern, area rugs, colors such, create cohesion, design aesthetic, light gray, mid-century modern
Although you may be asleep for much of the time, you actually spend a lot of hours in your bedroom. In order to enjoy the room as much as you can, try redecorating it to create a luxurious environment. With a can of paint, some new lamps and textured fabrics, you can enjoy your room while you're awake and spend your nights sleeping in luxury.
Instructions
Create Luxurious Bedrooms
1. Remove any excess clutter from your bedroom. Anything unnecessary will only detract from your space. Also, a messy room will appear smaller. Your bedroom should be a retreat and a place to recharge. A tidy space is conducive to rest and will make a good canvas for creating luxury.
2. Paint your walls. Don't underestimate the impact changing the color of the walls can have on your room. Your best bet for a luxurious bedroom is to paint the walls a muted neutral. It will create a balanced, calm ambiance and act as the perfect pallet for other decorations.The color you choose depends on your idea of luxury. Pale shades of buttercream or apricot will warm your room while cornflower blue and soft steel gray lend themselves to a cool sophistication.
Darker colors absorb light and can make spaces feel smaller. However, rich shades of emerald or indigo can make for a good accent wall when paired with softer hues.
3. Focus on fabric. Textured fabrics are used for creating luxurious curtains. Try pairing sheer drapes with rich, heavier curtains like many hotels do. Layer the sheer panels underneath the thicker curtains that can be pulled to the side, allowing subdued light to come through.
Wrap yourself in crisp, high-quality Egyptian cotton sheets. They are soft, with a high thread count, and will help with a good night's rest. If you prefer, try lustrous, smooth silk or satin sheets in beautiful jewel tones for a more sensuous luxury.
Lay a cozy comforter, such as one filled with down, atop the sheets. And to top off your bed, place a rich velvet or velour throw at the end of it.
4. Use all your senses when creating a luxurious bedroom. Adding scented candles in your room can smell wonderful and emit a low-lit ambiance. If you don't want to worry about having to blow out the candles, consider purchasing an aromatherapy diffuser and fill it with your favorite essential oil. Whether you prefer to inhale the scent of calming lavender or spicy cinnamon, it will add atmosphere.
5. Think of what look you want to create when selecting furniture. For example, if you want an understated, sophisticated bedroom, choose clean lines and simple woodwork, and keep the amount of furniture to a minimum. For a dramatic bedroom, select rich wood, such as mahogany, and furniture with more ornate designs. You could even choose some antiques to use. Add a gilded mirror as an accent to the room.
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Create a relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom by painting the walls a calming blue color.
According to the American Psychological Association's 2009 Stress in America Survey, more teens and tweens are citing increased levels of stress resulting in difficulty sleeping, eating disorders and headaches. Create a peaceful atmosphere for your kid's bedroom with just a few simple steps to promote a relaxing environment where your child can de-stress and unwind each and every day. Design the bedroom with your child's interests, needs and personality in mind and select calming colors, decor and linens to create a tranquil and comforting bedroom.
Instructions
1. Paint the walls in your kid's bedroom in soothing and non-flashy colors, such as blues, greens or other earth tones. Avoid bright, harsh and stimulating colors, like reds, oranges and yellows, which detract from a peaceful environment. Use complementing color tones and paint silhouettes of items, such as clouds, long blades of grass or flowers for added tranquility in the room.
2. Create a relaxing environment in the bedroom by adorning the bed with a large, soft comforter, plush pillows and a cozy throw blanket to create a comfortable place for your child to sleep. Hang long, thick curtains on any windows that you can close to block out any light, especially for younger children who still take daily naps.
3. Install a variety of lighting in your kid's bedroom to provide more choices than just a single, overhead harsh light. Use ambient or recess lighting for a peaceful effect and place a lamp on the nightstand for bedtime reading. An overhead or desktop fan is relaxing and will keep your child cooler, especially in warm summer months.
4. Promote relaxation in your kid's bedroom with peaceful noises and sounds. Place a fish tank or a small tabletop fountain in the room so the constant white noise and rhythm can calm your child's mood. Play a white noise or nature CD at night to encourage a peaceful night's sleep.
5. Organize and de-clutter your child's room to minimize stimulation and provide a clean, peaceful atmosphere. Use plastic bins, baskets and tubs to organize and sort all of your child's belongings. Place labels on the tubs so your child knows where everything belongs and can help keep the room clean. Install shelving in the room to organize books and store tubs. Place a desk in the room and use bins next to the desk to organize school items, art projects and coloring books.
6. Create a positive atmosphere in the bedroom with uplifting and pleasant decor. Decorate the walls with framed family photos and a variety of your child's artwork. Display your child's trophies, awards and other favorite items on a shelf in the room. Avoid placing a television or computer in your child's room to minimize distractions and stimulating noises.
Many families divide bedrooms to fit multiple kids, either for the simple reason that the home doesn't have enough bedrooms for each kid to have his own or because they want the kids to learn to share. In either case, divide the room to suit your boys' ages, interests, privacy needs and color preferences -- as well as your own preferences and budget.
Instructions
1. Divide your boys' bedroom in two with the use of a visual divider if the boys are young and don't care about having their "own" space or if the room is small and you don't want to make it seem smaller with a more substantial divider. Paint half the room in one boy's favorite color and the other half the other boy's favorite color. Or hang two sets of curtains from the ceiling in the middle of the room, with the curtains on each side matching that boy's interests. For example, one side of the room could have zebra-print curtains for a budding wildlife enthusiast, while the other side could feature baseball fabric for a young ballplayer.
2. Use a piece of furniture as a functional divider between the two boys' spaces if the room is small and you need every bit of space you can, or if you have duplicate furniture items that make sense as dividers. For example, set two bookcases or dressers back-to-back to have storage space specifically for each boy. Or set up a shared shelf as a divider. This solution is particularly suitable for boys close in age who share toys.
3. Separate the room into two spaces with a solid divider, such as a wall, if the boys are prone to squabbling over territory or if they are old enough to want and need privacy. Build a floating wall down the middle of the room and let each boy decorate his side. Ensure that the wall does not violate fire codes to keep your boys safe.
4. Split the room with a silly divider if you like whimsical decor or if you want the divider to inspire mutual, imaginative play. For example, if you hang curtains of silvery beads between the boys' areas, they can pretend to be jungle explorers passing beneath a roaring waterfall.
Tags: your boys, between boys, favorite color, middle room, room small
A teen's room can be a peaceful haven full of cherished possessions. It can also be the one room in the house everyone avoids. Maybe there are more clothes on the floor and under the bed than in the hamper and closet. Organizing the collection of dirty socks, athletic equipment and empty snack bags may seem like an impossible task, but with some hard work and a little creativity, it can be done. It will take some time and effort, but the results will be worth it.
Instructions
1. Turn on some loud, upbeat music for inspiration.
2. Start with one corner of the room and move along the wall to the next corner, sorting through everything as you move along. This structured way of methodically moving through the room helps you focus on the task and allows you to see your progress as you work. The idea is to sort everything, even things hidden away on top shelves, under the bed and behind the dresser.
Put related things together in laundry baskets or piles on the floor or on the bed. Make a misfit pile for the things that don't seem belong with any others. Keep a large plastic trash bag within arm's reach and toss things you don't want as you move along.
Place things you intend to donate to charity just outside the bedroom, on one side of the door; you can pack these things up later. Put things that will go to storage in the basement or attic outside the bedroom door, on the other side of the door; again, you can store these things later. Don't spend too much time on any one item, even if it is a long-lost treasure. Try to move as quickly as possible.
3. Clean or wax the empty shelves, dresser tops, etc., with a clean rag or paper towels. Spray air freshener.
4. Put away everything left in the room, keeping in mind that things used most often need to be more accessible. Except for the misfit pile, each pile now holds related things that belong together and should be stored together. Put books on the bookshelf. Hang all the belts together in the closet. Keep collections of key chains, video games, etc. in clear bins with lids. Clear bins can be stacked to safe space, and allow your teen to see exactly what's inside.
5. Sort through the misfit pile and find a home for each of item.
6. Pack up the things outside the bedroom door for donation or storage.
Tags: misfit pile, move along, outside bedroom, things that,
Lavender is a classy accent color for a black and white bedroom.
Black and white are classic colors that never go out of style. Decorating a girl's bedroom in these colors provides simple versatility as she grows. Accent colors in bedding, curtains, rugs and wall hangings can be changed regularly as your daughter tires of the old hues. Whether your girl is attracted to clean lines or crazy prints, a black and white room can fit her style perfectly.
Instructions
1. Paint the bedroom. Paint all the walls white and rely on bedding, curtains and other decor to introduce black into the room. Other options include painting one wall black, painting the bottom half of a wall black and using a chair rail along the black and white seam, or dividing a wall into thirds, either vertically or horizontally, and painting the center section black. For a more lively room, thick or thin stripes, polka-dots in various sizes or other patterns can be applied to the walls.
2. Choose new matching furniture or repaint existing furniture in black or white. Dressers, end tables and the bed's frame can be sanded down and painted white or black. Think about how the furniture will be positioned in the room. If the bed is black, try a white dresser, desk or end tables to balance the colors.
3. Purchase bedding and curtains. If your girl has chosen simple designs for the walls, she may want to pick fabrics with graphic prints, zebra texture or a cow pattern. Intricately patterned walls can be balanced with solid black or white bedding and curtains.
4. Assist in choosing accessories in an accent color. A hot pink throw blanket and accent pillows add an exciting burst of color. A lavender rug and lamp creates a classic style. A painting of an orange or yellow flower adds a colorful, feminine touch. A red chair is a bold statement for a black and white bedroom.
Tags: black white, bedding curtains, accent color, black white, black white bedroom, wall black, white bedroom
Depending on the activity, an important factor in the comfortable use of a table is the height of the table top. Dining tables and their respective heights have evolved over time, from formal seating at a standard height table to more casual counter and bar dining.
Standard Dining Table
The standard height of a dining table is between 28" to 30" above the floor.
Counter-height Table
A counter-height table or kitchen island counter top is typically 36" above the floor. While kitchen counter tops are a comfortable height to stand and work at, it is also popular to sit at the counter for casual dining and interaction with activities in the kitchen.
Bar-height Table
Bar height tables are between 40" and 42" above the floor. This height of table is often seen in informal cafe dining or bars.
Outdoor Dining Table
The height for outdoor dining tables are the same as for standard dining tables, between 28" and 30" above the floor.
Chair Heights
The comfortable height for a dining chair seat is 10" to 12" below the height of the dining table. A typical dining chair is 18" to 20" high at the seat. A bar-height stool or chair is between 30" and 32" high at the seat.
Tags: above floor, between above, between above floor, height table, comfortable height
Do you crave the warmth, romance and sophistication of Italian design? Do you want to bring back fond memories of a semester in Tuscany, conjure sweet dreams of sun-drenched villas or just capture a little bit of the elegance of "Roman Holiday" for yourself? Italian style is hard to pin down, unapologetically borrowing all the best elements of its European and Mediterranean neighbors, but two things are a given: warm, vibrant colors and impeccable attention to craftsmanship. Keep those things in mind, and you'll be well on your way to creating the Italian bedroom of your dreams.
Instructions
1. Lay the groundwork. Italians are not fond of wall-to-wall carpeting. Marble, parquet or especially terracotta tiles are the flooring of choice. Most home improvement stores offer these or look-alike reproductions for a variety of budgets.
2. Color your world. Italian design is based on warm, earthy tones. Choose burnt reds, vibrant yellows and delicious eggplant shades for your bedding. Hang rich tapestry drapes around your windows. Banish white walls and try ragging them to replicate the look of old plaster---roll on a warm hue, then apply a deeper shade over the top to give the illusion of texture.
3. Mix and match your furniture. Italian rooms are allowed to evolve over time. Try pairing an ultra-modern bed with a shabby leather armchair, an eighteenth-century reproduction vanity with art-deco lamps. Whatever you do don't buy a matched set; if you already own one, move some of the pieces into a different room.
4. Accessorize artfully. Italians pride themselves on their quality artisans, and their decorating features everyday items that have been crafted with excruciating care. Hang majolica plates on the wall above the dresser. Place a copper pot full of fragrant rosemary on the table next to the bed. Display silver candle sticks in front of a scarred thrift-store mirror with a wrought-iron frame.
5. Set the mood. Create a warm, romantic atmosphere with pink-tinged light bulbs and flickering candles. Drape a cushy mohair throw over a supple leather chair. Put on an Andrea Boccelli CD, pour yourself a glass of wine, and relax in your new .
Purple curtains add a chic sophistication to any bedroom.
Chic bedroom colors are available for everyone, no matter their favorite colors or decor style. From traditional to trendy, use these colors as the main focus of your bedroom or as accents in small but noticeable accessories and bed coverings. Make each color scheme your own by adding your own twist with an unexpected pop of color.
Traditional
Traditional chic brings images of glamor and sophistication. Deep jewel-like colors, such as amethyst, claret and indigo, set the scene for elegant accessories in soft colors. Shades of brown and creams offer a more natural-looking chic, especially when paired with natural materials, such as bamboo or dark wood furniture. Introduce interesting patterns in similar colors but with different amounts of shine, perhaps using a semi-gloss paint, a glass vase and a matte bedspread.
Trendy
For up-to-the-minute chic, choose one of the colors selected by large paint companies as their color of the year. For 2011, Benjamin Moore has chosen Vintage Wine, which has a deep brown base with an undertone of smokey violet. A light, airy citrus yellow is the 2011 choice of ICI Dulux. As a major influence in color in fashion and home decor, Pantone's choice is honeysuckle, which is a bright shade of pink-red that replaces their 2010 choice of turquoise. These are all strong, vibrant colors that you could use as accents in your bedroom or as dramatic color statements on the walls.
Textured
Although not a color, a monochromatic bedroom color scheme relies on a variety of textures to add interest. This scheme is successful if you choose variations of a sophisticated neutral tone. Soft grays, with either cool or warm undertones, provide a background against which textures will stand out. Coffee and taupe shades, such as mocha and bone, develop a natural look as well as reflect light softly. While shades of white may not be practical in a bedroom, choose creams such as buttermilk and papyrus.
With a Twist
Add your own twist to these color schemes to make your bedroom decor truly your own. Add purple accessories and cushions for a chic, sophisticated touch or perhaps a splash of acid lime for a funky chic. Tie your decor into the Mediterranean with bright blue pillows, and evoke an urban feeling with shiny metallic surfaces. Use colors that contrast, or even clash, to develop your own chic touch.
Tags: your bedroom, color scheme, colors that, your twist
Enhance a teen's bed with a graphic zebra-patterned comforter.
Decorating with a zebra theme will give a teen's room a bold, exotic look. Keep the style playful by incorporating vibrant hues into the black and white color scheme. As a personal touch, choose a hue that reflects the teen's personality. Use zebra-themed accessories and textiles to create a coordinated look.
Zebra-Print Bedding
A bed is often the focal point of a bedroom, so make a daring statement using a zebra-patterned comforter or bedspread. If you're decorating on a budget, simply updating the teen's bedding will make a big style impact. For a classic look, choose a comforter featuring a black and white zebra print with wide stripes. For a whimsical style, choose bedding displaying black and bright pink or turquoise stripes. If the teen prefers a plain-colored comforter, update the look with a throw blanket and decorative pillows. Enhance an all red or black comforter with red and black zebra-striped pillows, and fold a matching blanket at the foot of the bed. Pick plain-colored sheets for a bed featuring a zebra-patterned comforter and zebra-printed sheets for a bed featuring a plain comforter to avoid a busy look.
Wild Textiles
Add a wild touch to an otherwise boring bedroom using zebra-print textiles. The textiles will complement a bedroom featuring everything from plain white to bright pink walls. A large black and white zebra-striped rug will become the center of attention in a room featuring wood or tile floors. Hang gauzy zebra-printed curtains to add a touch of glamour to the space. Create a reading nook with a comfortable black and white zebra-patterned chaise lounge or butterfly chair and a tall black wrought iron lamp.
Animal Accessories
Animal print accessories will put the finishing touches on a zebra-themed teen bedroom. Accent a plain black or white comforter by placing a lamp featuring a zebra-patterned shade on a nightstand. Display a piece of the teen's artwork, such as a painting or photograph, in a zebra-striped frame for an eclectic look. A zebra-striped wallpaper border will liven up neutral-hued walls; hang the border directly under the ceiling or around the middle of the walls. Other themed bedroom accessories include mirrors with zebra-striped frames, bean bag chairs, wall sconces, vases and trinket and jewelry boxes.
Turn a messy boys room to a sports themed tween retreat.
When it's time to transition your tween's bedroom from superhero to sports star, create his athletic dream world, but don't bet everything on this room design. Children 10 to 12 years old are notoriously fickle and this week's fascination with skateboarding can change overnight to Japanese animation. Keep the basics neutral and build your sports themed tween bedroom around accessories and repurposed sporting goods.
Instructions
Preparing the Room
1. Sit down with your son and determine what you want to keep and what you want to change in the bedroom. Decide what you can alter slightly to save money.
2. Choose a theme for the bedroom. You can pick your child's favorite sport or you can choose to combine several different sports so that if your child's interests change, you don't have to change his bedroom.
3. Purchase neutral bedding and wall color so that the room can continue to transition as your son grows up, with minimal cost to you.
4. Go through the garage, visit thrift stores and garage sales for old sports equipment that goes along with the theme. Look for objects that are decorative but can also work as seating or storage.
Creating the Room
5. Create a neutral background for the bedroom. Paint the room in a color that will go along with the theme, such as a rich green or warm brown rather than a color that will seem childish or garish in a few years, like vivid purple or bright orange.
6. Re-purpose existing room accessories to go the theme. Disassemble lamps and recreate them as sports accessories. Drill through a stack of tennis or baseballs and stack them as the base of a table lamp. Update existing bulletin boards by attaching tennis rackets or hockey sticks to it. Transform the posts of the headboard and footboard by replacing finials with sports balls.
7. Create an accent wall by assembling your old equipment in a design on the wall. If you do not have enough authentic sports equipment, use wallpaper border or wallpaper cutouts to add to your design. Make your own wallpaper cutouts by cutting shapes from wallpaper or borders.
8. Create new accessories for the bedroom with stencils. Transform plain laundry baskets and garbage pails with a stencil and acrylic paint. Update an old dresser by painting it and changing out the knobs for miniature sports-themed pulls and stenciling a design on the front.
9. Finish the room by turning sports jerseys and T-shirts that do not fit anymore into pillowcases. Turn the sleeves inside out and sew them shut then pull over a pillow. Stretch sports jerseys and T-shirts over a plain canvas purchased at the craft store.
Tags: along with, along with theme, color that, with theme, change bedroom
Bathroom exhaust fans pull humidity out of the room and disperse it into the outside air. The fan helps prevent mold and mildew development. If you're having problems with the exhaust fan, it could be several different issues, but luckily you can open up the fan fairly easily to assess the situation.
Instructions
1. Turn off the power to the bathroom by flipping the breaker switch. Test the fan switch to make sure that it's no longer powered. If the fan wasn't working to begin with, then try the light switch instead.
2. Remove the exhaust fan's cover. It should pop off when it's pulled.
3. Remove the motor from the housing by taking out the screws that hold it in place. Look behind the motor to see if it's plugged in. If not, plug it in and reattach it to the housing. Have someone flip the breaker and turn the fan on to see if it runs. If not, continue troubleshooting. If it works, put the cover back in place.
4. Take the motor out again and unplug it. Use the screwdriver to remove the electrical plate to get to the wiring connections. Inspect the wires to see if any are disconnected or loosely connected. Twist the wires back together and secure them with electrical tape and wire nuts. Plug the motor in and attach it again to see if it now works. If so, put everything back as it was. If not, remove the motor again to look for other issues.
5. Push the housing to one side. It is held in place above by brackets that are secured to the ceiling joists. They are sliding brackets that allow you to shift the housing in and out of place. Look up into the ceiling to see if the vent tube has become detached. If it has, reattach it to the vent slot with foil duct tape.
Convert a boring bathroom into a fun Winnie the Pooh-themed bathroom.
For a fun and colorful child's bathroom, choose a Winnie the Pooh theme and feature the huggable bear and his charming forest friends. With a few simple Winnie the Pooh bathroom decorations, you can bring the look to life with ease.
Wall D cor
For a small bathroom, use a the Pooh wallpaper for a punch of color. For a large bathroom, opt for painted walls with a Winnie the Pooh border that runs along the top of the wall. As an alternative, skip the wallpaper altogether and hang wall art featuring the lovable character and his friends. Also try Winnie the Pooh light switch covers.
Shower D cor
Brighten up the bathroom instantly with a colorful Winnie the Pooh shower curtain. Vinyl curtains are available in bright blue and features many of the Winnie the Pooh characters. For a more subdued look, cream-colored fabric curtains feature a silhouette of Winnie the Pooh among falling leaves.
Sink D cor
With a bit of searching, you should be able to find a variety of Winnie the Pooh bathroom necessities. For example, decorate with a Pooh toothbrush holder and tumbler. If you cannot find character pieces, choose simple pieces in Winnie the Pooh's traditional colors of red, yellow and orange.
Although they are only just learning to speak, toddlers have already developed strong, individual personalities. A toddler's bedroom should reflect his personality and give him a comfortable place to sleep and play. Designing a room to reflect your toddler boy's outlook will help him feel like the room is his and encourage him to develop and explore his own interests.
Instructions
1. Choose a theme that corresponds to your toddler's interests. Toddler boys may like cars and trucks, airplanes, sports, the beach, medieval knights or even traditionally "girlish" themes like dolls and tea parties. Speak to your toddler and find out how he wants his room decorated.
2. Paint or wallpaper the walls to reflect the theme you choose. If your toddler likes sports, paint the walls with the colors of a favorite sports team. If he's more interested in different vehicles, use cars and trucks or airplane wallpaper. You can also paint the walls blue to reflect the sky. If you feel ambitious, paint a mural that reflects your toddler's particular theme.
3. Hang decorations with the chosen theme. Once you have painted or wallpapered, select a few posters that reflect your toddler's interest. You might also build models together and hang them from the ceiling to create a more elaborate decorative scheme.
4. Buy sheets and blankets with the chosen theme. There are blankets available for kids with almost any conceivable toddler theme. You can also diverge from the room's main theme and choose sheets or blankets featuring superheroes or another alternate theme.
5. Decorate the furniture. Boysthemebedrooms.com recommends placing palm thatch awnings over the windows then decorating the bedroom and furniture following a surfer theme. You might also find lamps and nightlights with the chosen theme and paint the furniture to highlight the lighting fixtures.
6. Add play spaces for your toddler. Build forts, airplanes, houses or race cars out of cardboard boxes for your child to play make believe games in his new room.
Tags: your toddler, chosen theme, with chosen, with chosen theme, your toddler, bedroom should, cars trucks
Let ride the waves into slumber when you create a surfing beach bedroom for them. Get creative with an ocean theme, bringing rolling surf and sand colors into the room. Carry the surf-theme throughout for a bedroom your kids will love.
Instructions
1. Paint the room. Use a soft tan paint for the bottom half of the room, reminiscent of the sand and shells found at the beach, and use a deep royal blue or a sea-foam pastel on the upper half. Divide the two colors with a border of shells, an ocean motif or one containing surf boards, palm trees and surf shacks. Add a wall mural of surfers to one wall.
2. Create a headboard. Attach an old, child-size surfboard to the wall for use as a headboard for a bed. Or use stencils to paint surfers on an existing headboard.
3. Choose a sheet set in solid colors to match the ocean motif. Add a surf- or ocean-themed bedspread and bed skirt. Use a few accent pillows to complete the bed.
4. Select accessories with an ocean or surf theme. Place a lamp shade with an ocean scene or shells over a lamp. Change a light switch cover to a surf-themed one. Consider adding a surfboard ceiling fan to the room.
5. Have photos of your children surfing blown-up into poster size and frame them to hang on the wall. Or use framed photos of famous surfers cut out from magazines. Add shelves to hold any surfing trophies and certificates.
The ceiling of the smallest room in the house makes the perfect canvas for creative decorating ideas. You can afford to use more expensive materials here, because you won't need as many of them. And what might be overkill in a large room can be the perfect touch in the bathroom.
Paint
Paint is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to transform a room. For a bathroom, select good quality ceiling or enamel paint. A bright, contrasting color works well in a bathroom's small space, drawing the eye upward. Or paint the ceiling one color, then tape off a border and paint a second contrasting color. Let your inner Michelangelo shine and paint a mural on your ceiling.
Create a sky with pale blue paint, dappled with white clouds. Or go for a nighttime look with dark blue or black paint and twinkle-light stars.
Wood
Cover your ceiling with old barn wood or rough cedar for a rustic look. Or use tongue-and-groove cedar to invoke the feel of a European sauna.
If your ceiling has imperfections you need to hide, use a staple gun to attach lattice panels or bamboo reed fencing to disguise the flaws and give your bathroom a new look.
Tiles
Ceiling tiles are an easy way to add a custom look to any bathroom. Attach mirror tiles, either all the same or in a checkerboard of clear and frosted tiles.
For an antique look, use embossed tin or copper tiles. Or choose teak wood tiles.
Attach cork tiles, and you can tack a rotating gallery of art and posters to your ceiling.
Art
Speaking of art, your bathroom ceiling is a great place to add interest with paintings, posters or vintage advertisements. Protect artwork from moisture by sealing it in clear plastic or framing it behind glass. And keep the valuable masterpieces in a drier, more prominent place.
Are you a collector? Display your collection on shelves lining the bathroom wall next to the ceiling or suspended from the ceiling. Tack postcards or even license plates to the ceiling. Feel free to be whimsical.
Lighting
Don't forget to finish your ceiling with the right lighting. Whether you choose a retro globe or modern sunken canister lights, lighting is part of your ceiling's décor. For an unexpected touch of elegance, hang a small crystal chandelier.
Tags: your ceiling, ceiling with, contrasting color, your bathroom, your ceiling with
A cute bedroom design leaves your little girl grinning.
If you are decorating a bedroom for a little girl, many options are open to you when you would like to create a cute look. A cute bedroom for a little girl does take some planning and some work, but the end result is a room that will make your little girl feel like a princess.
Mosquito Netting Canopy
A mosquito netting canopy covers the little girl's bed with gauzy swags of cloth that give it an elegant draping look. Hang the mosquito netting from one point above the center of the bed, and drape it over the edges of the bed to raise the visual look of the room and create a central nest for your little girl to sleep in.
Skirting
To create a colorful, feminine look to your little girl's room, add skirting to the bed, the desk and any chairs that are in the room. You can purchase or sew fabric skirting and add it to furniture with the simple application of hot glue. The fabric softens the look of the room, and purchasing matching fabric gives the room a more cohesive look.
Bunk Beds
Even if the girl is not sharing the room, bunk beds can give you more storage options and more ways to configure the room. For example, arrange all of a girl's stuffed animals on the top bunk, peering down. The girl can also sleep on the top bunk and use the bottom bunk for socialization by throwing matching pillows on it.
Murals
Paint a mural on the girl's wall. You can paint over it later when her tastes change. Paint flowers, unicorns or anything else that catches your little girl's fancy. If you are not interested in painting the mural yourself, use stencils purchased from the craft store to create the look that you are interested in.
Large Dry Erase Boards
Purchase a large dry erase board, and mount it at a level where can reach it. Cover the metal frame with ribbons or glue fabric over it to help it blend in with the rest of the room. Give the girl dry erase markers, and allow her to draw on the dry erase board as she pleases. This is one type of decoration that allows her to exercise her own creativity while not damaging the room.
Tags: little girl, your little, your little girl, bedroom little,
A master bedroom with personality is more cozy for couples at the end of the day.
Whether it's a romantic room for young couples or a retreat from the kids, the master bedroom should have decor that provides an emotional getaway for its inhabitants. Decorators can draw from ideas from their personalities to find a style that's comfortable. A few style ideas--for example, photos from home design magazines--may be all decorators need to get started designing their ideal master bedrooms.
Cozy Rustic Retreat
A chandelier is a unique twist for a rustic bedroom.
A rustic bedroom features rich, earthy colors and Old World antiques, and its gender neutral style makes it perfect for a master bedroom. According to Angelo Surmelis at HGTV, rustic decor incorporates natural materials, such as stone and wood. Decorators can give wooden furniture a distressed look by roughing it up with hand tools and staining it. A stone fireplace adds rustic charm, and an antique-looking chandelier can complete the look, as it does in one of HGTV designer Candice Olson's master bedrooms.
Romantic Island Getaway
Light colors and sheer curtains can give a an airy, tropical feel. For instance, Good Housekeeping features a room with white and pale blue striped wallpaper. Devoid of extraneous furniture, its showcase is a four-poster bed with gauzy curtains. A small, antique love seat can complete the room. Olson makes a master bedroom feel like a spa by adding a bath tub. Decorators who want more color can incorporate bright, tropical colors or casual blues for an island-style retreat. A ceiling fan and open windows keep the room breezy.
Gender-Neutral Bedroom
A simple, gender-neutral design makes the best of masculine and feminine elements.
A master bedroom for two often needs to bring together masculine and feminine styles so both parties can enjoy the space. Olson recommends gender-neutral colors, such as creams, browns and greens. Earthy colors and natural elements, such as a stone fireplace or bamboo blinds, also suit both men and women. Olson keeps gender-specific touches light--for example, keeping paisley wallpaper a cream color so it does not overwhelm the room. A brown leather chair and ottoman can be toned down with a pretty green throw pillow, while a fireplace keeps the room cozy for the couple.
Contemporary Asian Space
A contemporary Asian theme can give couples a calm place to retreat after long days of work. Hanging paper lantern lights provide a calm glow in the room. HGTV host Joan Steffend and designer Todd Kukral create a meditation area in a corner of an Asian-themed master bedroom, using a cushion, a bamboo trunk and a globe lamp. Meanwhile, HGTV designer David Bromstad creates a richly colored Asian bedroom by painting a focal wall deep purple. He includes bamboo light fixtures, discreet Buddha statues and a small stone waterfall to complete the Asian look.
Aside from being a functional room, a bathroom can be a good room to explore exotic expressions of your personality through decor. Bathrooms in many places, such as Japan, are excellent examples of creative use of very limited space. Creating a one-of-a-kind, visually interesting space does not have to be expensive. Often simple decor can create a fascinating, intimate space.
Overall Style
The first thing to think about when considering bathroom decor is the overall style of the room. Do you want a simple Japanese Zen style? What about a more ornate Chinese style? Other options include French Provincial or an English floral style. Your budget may define the style. Japanese Zen motifs are simple and require fewer accents, and often can be better for tight budgets.
Paint Options
Once you have decided on a style, you may want to paint the walls a color appropriate to the style on which you have settled. Very interesting visual spaces can be created by using unusual colors. For example, in a Japanese Zen style bathroom, painting one or two walls black with the remaining walls white can create an unusual sense of space. Black and white are yin-yang symbols in Japanese art. If you are considering a Chinese motif, red is considered an auspicious color and one, some or all of the walls could be painted red. If you are going for a softer European feel to the bathroom, the walls can be painted softer pastels. Something to consider is using sponge-painting techniques to add texture to the wall. Sponge-painting techniques work well for any paint color.
Easy Decor Options
Decor options often should start with the shower curtain and window dressings. In a small space, these two items have the highest visual impact. If you are working toward a Japanese-style bathroom, using a simple, but striking, and window dressing will work best. Bamboo designs are good, as are items with strong, but simple, angular shapes in the pattern. Chinese-style bathrooms might use a brocade pattern. If you have decided on something like an English garden theme, shower curtains with strong, large floral patterns will be beautiful. Make sure these items don't clash with the paint scheme.
Appropriate accent items will depend on the space available. For example, a long counter with multiple sinks offers more options for adding accents than a single basin mounted on the wall. Accents should complement the color scheme of the walls and shower curtain. If possible, having similar geometric shapes also helps hold a bathroom together visually.
Aside from functional accents, such as soap dishes and toothbrush holders, other accents that can work beautifully in a bathroom are fresh or faux flowers and candles.
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When you are faced with a small space for an office or a bedroom, it can be difficult to create a design that meets your storage and functionality needs. As you plan, consider ways that you can maximize the while maintaining your design scheme and keeping a comfortable feeling in the room.
Multi-Purpose Furniture
The easiest way to make the most of limited space in an office or a bedroom is by using furniture that serves multiple functions. Instead of a bulky desk, for example, you can attach a wooden panel to the wall with hinges and a chain. On the bottom side, put a piece of artwork and on the top, make a desk space. When not in use, flip the board up to turn into an art display. Look for hollow ottomans that can double as seating and storage or find an antique trunk that can be used as a bench and placed at the end of a bed with your extra pillows and blankets inside.
Wall Storage
In a small space, you can maximize storage by making use of the walls. Use canvas shoe organizers as lightweight, hanging shelves for small office items, clothing or accessories. Run a single row of shelves around the top of the room to create extra storage; in addition to increasing shelf space, this draws the eye upward, creating the impression of a higher ceiling. Use a peg board painted in a bright color to act as the basis for custom storage: hang small containers on it to hold office supplies or cosmetics or use nails to hold scissors or hanging jewelry.
Artistic Shelving
For storage that doubles as art, look for unusual shelving units that contribute to the design of the room. You might choose a shelf made out of repurposed books, a wooden model that spells out a word, or a set of shelves that forms a geometric pattern. If you want to make your own shelves with a story, look for items that would otherwise be thrown out, like a card catalog or antique wooden crates, and nail them to the wall.
Open Space
In a small bedroom or office, you can avoid a cluttered feeling by making the room appear more open. Use mirrors to create the illusion of additional room space and use a pale paint to reflect light and make the room feel larger. Keep furniture and decorations simple and use low-contrast colors so the line of sight is not disrupted. If you must use standing shelf units, choose tall, narrow versions to emphasize the height of the room.
Get Rid of Gnat-Like Bugs Coming out of the of a Bathroom Sink
Finding a swarm of small, gnat-like creatures flying out of your sink overflow hole can be unsettling. Commonly known as drain flies, these pesky creatures lay their eggs in the gunk that builds up in the pipes. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the pipe sludge and dine on any available organic matter (grease, hair, toothpaste) until they morph into adults and fly out of the drain. It's not enough to kill the flies you see. To rid yourself of drain flies, you must also kill the eggs and the larvae that are hiding in the pipes.
Instructions
1. Spray any visible adults with a commercial pesticide formulated specifically for flying insects.
2. Cover the overflow hole and any open drains with strips of masking tape. Check the tape daily to determine which drains are infested. If drain flies are present in the pipes below, adults will be stuck to the tape.
3. Pull any visible debris from any affected drains with a pair of needle-nose pliers or large tweezers. Insert the bristle end of a drain stick into infested overflow holes. Slowly pull the drain stick from the hole while twisting to collect sticky residue.
4. Combine 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of standard table salt. Insert a funnel into the overflow hole. Spoon the baking soda blend into the funnel, shaking it gently to move the powder into the pipe. Follow this mixture with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Wait five minutes, and then add 1 qt. of boiling water. This will kill any eggs or larvae while dissolving greasy build-up and clearing the pipe.
5. Pour 2 tbsp. of washing soda into 1 qt. of hot water and mix well. Funnel this solution down the overflow hole to remove any stubborn residue. Wait 10 minutes, and then flush the pipe with hot water. Repeat this process to clear any affected drains.
A granite countertop with matching granite backsplash.
The beauty of granite is that you can match it with other materials to use for backsplashes and still keep the elegant and rich focus on the granite. Backsplashes are an important design element in any size bathroom. Explore your options for backsplash ideas and find a material that suits your preferences and budget.
Granite
Continuing your granite counter tops into the same material backsplash will look amazing. If your bathroom is very small and you have a dark color granite, the same dark backsplashes may make your bathroom look smaller. Light colors work the best in a small bathroom. Another option is to have a mirror that extends along the entire wall, over your bathroom cabinet, and have the mirror extend all the way to the ceiling. Use a very short backsplash, maybe 2 inches, that goes up from the counter top and butts directly to the full wall mirror. This will give a small bathroom the appearance of it being large.
Granite is a little more expensive than other material options for backsplashes but may be worth it if you are looking for uniform colors and a finished look.
Solid Surface
Solid surface, such as Corian brand, comes in many colors. Choosing a color that compliments your granite color, either in the same or accenting tones, can look great as a backsplash. Another idea is to use the solid surface material to extend partially up the wall several inches to meet a large bathroom mirror. You can use the solid surface to encase the mirror on all sides for an impressive look that enhances the backsplash and the granite counter top.
Solid surface is also a bit expensive, but not as much as granite. If you have a small bathroom and are not using a lot of this material, it may be the next best option to the granite backsplash.
Mirrors
A few ideas using mirrors have been mentioned, however, another idea is to eliminate a backsplash and only have a mirror come down to the edge of the granite counter top. Use a decorative strip of plastic or other waterproof molding to fill in the gap between the counter and the mirror. Mirrors work great at opening up a small room, however, they would also show lots of water marks if used close to the sink.
Mirrors are not very expensive unless you get them custom sized. Some glass companies will cut them inexpensively, and the material itself is far cheaper than granite or solid surface.
Tile
Tile also looks good with granite. The nice thing about tile is that you can find so many varieties, sizes and colors that it works well almost anywhere. The tile can extend up the wall just a few inches or as far as you like. Adding a few squares of a matching color of your granite in with neutral or white color tiles will emphasis the granite counter top all the more. Extending the tiles in a 4 inch strip not only above the vanity, but around the entire bathroom wall may make a small bathroom look bigger.
Tile is moderately priced and depends greatly on the variety you choose. Some tiles can cost as much as granite by the time you add up all your materials, so estimate quantities and cost before you start the project.
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