Decorate A Romantic Master Bedroom On A Budget

Decorating a romantic master bedroom with budget-friendly, luxurious style

Good design does not have to be expensive to be beautiful. Master bedrooms are fairly easy to decorate with budget-friendly items to create a warm and inviting room with a touch of romantic elegance. By incorporating a few opulent fabrics and special elements to the design, making a special retreat for two is a project that yields a high-end look with a low-end price tag.

Instructions

1. Choose a warm color palette. To create a romantic feeling, paint the walls a warm hue, ranging from soft pink to light peach. Warm colors create an inexpensive backdrop for the project.

2. Incorporate luxurious linen pieces. Because the bed is usually the focal point of a bedroom, it is important to emphasize its design. Add a few budget-friendly decor touches, such as a velvet throw to the bottom of the bed or one or two elegantly trimmed pillows at the top.

3. Add ambient light. Soft lighting often sets a romantic mood for a space. Buy two inexpensive table lamps with three-way switches, and hot glue an elaborate beaded trim to the bottom edge of the lampshades. Finish off the romantic room with a few dollar-store votive candles set in clear holders.

4. Lay down an area rug. Whether the bedroom has hardwood floors or carpeting, an area rug adds a fresh, inexpensive touch. Select rugs with romantic motifs, such as flowers. A rug can also warm up cold hardwood floors or cover old, worn carpeting.

5. Display a fresh vase of flowers. Romantic bedrooms are no place to decorate with plastic flowers. Purchase a fresh bouquet from a big-box store or grocery chain, cut the stems, and place in an inexpensive clear vase. Fresh flowers add fragrance and a feeling of opulence to a romantic bedroom design.

6. Use accessories or special touches to amplify the romantic bedroom design. Hang two soft, white bathroom robes on wall hooks next to the bed. Put a breakfast tray on the bed, and fill it with chocolates and a bottle of champagne. Scatter rose petals on the bed linens.

Tags: bedroom design, decorate with, hardwood floors, romantic bedroom, romantic bedroom design

Decorate The Bedroom In Navy & White

Decorate your bedroom in navy blue and white for a crisp, clean look, a masculine feel, or for romantic flair depending on the occupants of the room and their personalities. You can use just the colors to plan out the entire room or incorporate something additional such as a nautical theme. Either way, keep everything simple by using only navy and white for a seamless look, or add one or two small elements of a contrasting color for "pop," such as red.

Instructions

1. Paint the walls using navy, white or a combination. Install a white chair rail around the room with the bottom half navy and the top half navy or white and navy vertical stripes. Another option is to paint three of the walls in vertical stripes, or white with one solid wall in navy like an accent wall. Navy walls with a white ceiling and white trim would also work well.

2. Arrange your furniture the way you want it. Use white furniture if possible, although a deep, dark wood will look striking against the white and navy color scheme. If you've opted for plain white walls, consider an upholstered headboard in navy velvet.

3. Make the bed before arranging anything else. Because the bed is (usually) the largest piece in the room, it generally acts as a focal point. Use that to your advantage and build on the room working from the bed. White bedding with navy blue stripes, lines or patterns will match the room's decor nicely. Add pillows with patterns to plain white bedding.

4. Place accessories in the room one at a time so you don't overwhelm the space. Start with a rug in white if you have dark floors, navy if the floors are light or a pattern such as waves, stripes or polka dots featuring both colors. Incorporate a chair in plain white, navy or upholster it to match the pillows.

5. Hang sheer white curtains with navy panels that can be pulled back during the day but closed at night. Use fabric in window coverings or create a canopy around the bed.

6. Finish the room with mirrors, artwork and candles, which will add visual interest. Lamps, simple floral arrangements, or a throw over the foot of the bed or chair would be excellent places to incorporate a single, small splash of contrasting color if you desire.

Tags: navy white, plain white, white navy, contrasting color, half navy, navy blue

Bird Bathroom Decor

Birdcages enhance bird decor.

If you love birds, bring them into your bathroom via your decor. You can turn your bathroom into a bird haven, whether your favorites are tropical parrots, ducks, parakeets or woodland birds. The key to pulling off this look is choosing a type of bird you want to showcase and working with colors related to that bird and its environment. Once you get this figured out, the rest is easy.

Birdhouses and Cages

Birdhouses and birdcages provide two of the quickest ways to add flair to your bathroom. You can find something to go along with the bird decor of your choosing, whether it's a light and airy bamboo birdcage or a more rustic birdhouse. Hang a birdcage in a corner or put a birdhouse on the wall, and if you have the space, place a birdhouse on your counter for a bright touch. Another option is a birdhouse on a stand placed out of the way but in view.

Wall Art

Wall art is one of the easiest ways to give a room a theme. In the bathroom, you may have little wall space, but this needn't prevent this approach. If you're going for a tropical look in your bathroom, hang pictures of parrots in exotic locales. If your style is more rustic, pictures of geese or ducks are more appropriate. For spring themes, go with pictures of robins and blue jays.

Bird Nests

For a natural look, you can't go wrong with bird nests. They look good nestled in corners or in a small glass bowl or jar. Another alternative for this look is placing the nest next to candles that coordinate with your decor on a bamboo tray. Place a few plastic eggs in the nest for a pleasing look.

Accessories

Accessories make a bathroom feel complete. Look for ceramic soap dishes and canisters adorned with birds. Soap dishes shaped like a bird's nest are charming and functional. Look for toothbrush holders, tissue dispensers, wastebaskets and storage boxes painted with birds, feathers or eggs. Look for accessories in colors that match your shower curtain and rugs to tie the room together.

Tags: your bathroom, bird decor, more rustic, this look, with bird, with birds

Paint & Decorate Small Bedrooms

A small bedroom can be large on style and usable space.

How you paint and decorate a small bedroom can make it seem larger and less closed in. The colors, furniture and decor that you choose are what makes the most of the space. You can have multiple purposes to the room, such as studying or reading and watching TV and gaming. Even a really little room can be made to house many uses through the use of interior tricks and proper space planning.

Instructions

Painting

1. Choose light colors for a square shaped room. For a narrow small bedroom, paint the shorter walls in a darker color and the longer walls in light hues to make if appear wider.

2. Paint the ceiling in a lighter shade in the same tones as the walls instead of an eye-stopping bright white. Paint any existing molding around the ceilings in the same colors as the walls or ceiling to avoid stopping the eye from moving upwards as well.

3. Paint a larger pattern on the walls, versus a small one, if you want a more interesting look. Only the outline of large squares or other geometric shapes, for example, allow you to bring in a favorite bright or dark color without overwhelming the space.

Decorating

4. Buy multipurpose pieces of furniture that fit in with the style of the room. Examples include a loft bed that also contains a dresser and desk area underneath for a kid's room or a Murphy bed that folds up into the wall with bookcases on either side for an adult space.

5. Buy multipurpose storage solutions when decorating a small bedroom as well. For example, a trunk in front of a futon doubles as a table for drinks, a corner armoire can house clothes as well as a small TV or a hanging shelving unit that has hooks screwed into the bottom for hats or necklaces.

6. Utilize hidden storage areas to their full capacity. For example under the bed roll away containers and custom closet built-ins can ensure that all of your clothes and accessories can be organized for easy access.

7. Hang a large framed mirror opposite a window in lieu of other artwork. Not only will this technique make the room appear larger, you can tuck photographs, clippings and other paper mementos into the frames for personal touches.

8. Install an overhead light that is on a dimmer that will give you extra light when you need it. Hang a reading lamp on the wall and install other task lighting as needed.

Tags: small bedroom

Design A Master Bathroom

Designing a master bathroom is as easy as making a few lists.

A master bathroom is your own private place that is as individualistic as you want it to be and should be designed according to your style and taste, irrespective of what is trendy or fashionable. Depending on the layout of your home, the bathroom is either accessed directly from the master bedroom or through an adjacent corridor. This will influence the design of your overall layout in relation to privacy.

Instructions

1. If you do not have an existing master bathroom, or a room that can be converted into one, decide on where and how large you want the room to be. Speak to a design professional to ensure that you have not overlooked any key issues such as access, ventilation and permits required.

2. Conduct research to determine any styles that you particularly prefer. Look in design magazines, bathroom showrooms and friends' houses to view features and colors that appeal to you. Also note details that are not to your taste to make sure that you avoid them when designing your own bathroom.

3. Decide on a concept and theme for your master bathroom. This theme can relate to the adjoining bedroom or be completely independent of it.

4. Determine the styles and colors of any bathroom accents, including storage space, towel rails, heating and lighting, as they make a difference to the overall functioning of the space. Select a type of shower and bath to be used in the room, and make a decision as to whether you prefer one or two sinks in the room.

5. Make a list of the essential functions that you and your partner want from the bathroom. Also make a wish list of things that you want but do not need. Once you have set your budget, you will get a clear idea of what you can afford and you can then negotiate between the two lists.

Tags: master bathroom, that your

A Moroccanstyle Bedroom

Moroccan decor has a very luxurious appearance.

If you'd like to transform your bedroom with a beautiful Moroccan theme, there are a few simple things you can do to make a big difference. As a general rule, Moroccan color themes center around rich, jewel and earthy tones such as deep purple, sand, maroon, emerald and bold blues. The dramatic color change combined with decorative fabrics, cushions, candles and other simple embellishments provide an authentic Moroccan look and offer a relaxing sanctuary in your home.

Instructions

1. Give your bedroom a new coat of interior paint in the jewel or earth tone of your choice. Moroccan decor never features plain white--even on walls--so make sure to paint your ceiling as well. If you have white window sills or shelves, you may want to paint them in a complimentary tone such as black, gold or silver.

2. Replace your comforter or quilt with a colorful cover made of silk, wool or velvet.

3. Place a mirror with an embellished frame on the wall. Frames with tile detail and hexagonal patterns will add an especially Moroccan touch.

4. Use tapestries rather than curtains to cover your windows, as Moroccan decor fabrics should be very thin and light. The tapestries can be used as curtains, wall hangings or canopies and offer an elaborate look that's very inexpensive.

5. Replace any chairs with decorative floor cushions. Floor cushions are very comfortable and will tie the Moroccan theme together.

6. Use a dresser and bed set made from dark woods such as cherry or mahogany.

7. Add small iron and brass accessories, including vases and candlesticks, to support the luxurious look.

Tags: Moroccan decor, Moroccan theme, with decorative, your bedroom

Decide On The Best Youth Bedroom Furniture

The bedroom for your kid needs to be such that it gives that modern feel as well as can be maintained as such for some years. That is where the youth bedroom furniture comes in. From kids to the teenagers the youth furniture is something which will be needed so as to be useful for some time even as your child grows up to be a teenager.

Read on for the step by step guide on deciding the youth bedroom furniture sets that you need to buy and have a bedroom set up properly for your child.

Instructions

1. Always buy the entire bedroom furniture set. This helps you to save some costs as well as get the theme correct. The set should include the bed, night stand, dresser, mirror and the chest

2. The youth signify young and trendy and modern. Select the contemporary furniture for the bedroom with neutral colors. The furniture should have well defined lines and the designs should be simple and not intricate.

3. Bunk beds and the lofts beds should be part of the youth furniture sets.

4. Make sure to check the latest mail order newsletters as major retailers send out the latest youth collection information in those newsletters. Yard sales and garden sales are not a good idea for youth furniture as then you will not get the latest trendy furniture.

5. End of season sales are a place where you can get good youth bedroom furniture however beware that if you are looking for the most recent collection then it is not the best place. The end of season sale will get you the youth collection at a discount to the regular collection.

6. Always ask for the preference of your child as far as the theme and the style of furniture is concerned. After all it is no fun buying the furniture if he is not going to enjoy living in the room.

Tags: your child, youth bedroom furniture, youth furniture, bedroom furniture, bedroom furniture

Cool Painting Ideas For A Boy'S Bedroom

Give your son the bedroom of his dreams.

When it comes to painting your son's bedroom, you want it to be parent-friendly but still cool for him. There are many ways that you could paint your son's bedroom, but one of the easiest ways to decide which to do is to determine what he likes or what his hobbies are. With those things in mind, you could make him a super cool bedroom that you'll both enjoy.

Movie Theme

Paint his room a dark blue or gray to resemble the inside of a movie theater. Purchase a red comforter or bedspread with red pillows along with one or two comfortable, red chairs-these will resemble the movie seats in a theater. Print out or purchase his favorite movie scenes or posters and have them framed. Hang these frames around the walls to decorate. If he doesn't have a headboard, print out various movie scenes or posters on 8x10 picture paper and frame them. Hang the many frames on the wall behind his bed as a cool headboard. Purchase a projection screen and projector (you can find inexpensive ones online). Set up the projection screen on one wall with the projector hooked to the ceiling. Then he can have his very own movie nights in his room.

Sports Theme

Paint your son's room in his favorite sports team's colors. Line the walls with pennants and posters of his favorite players. You can even purchase NCAA and professional sports bedsheets and bedspreads to match his room. You can also purchase the jersey of his favorite player and have it framed to hang on the wall. If you want to get really creative, paint his room like the arena of his favorite sport. For example, if his favorite sport is football, paint the room green and add the yard lines in white paint around the room.

Vinyl Wall Stickers

One cool and quick way to dress up any room is with vinyl wall stickers. Paint the room in whatever color is your son's favorite. Then, let him choose a different theme with the wall stickers. They are easy to put up and removable for when he outgrows them or wants something different. You can find anything from sports equipment and cars to animals, bugs, nautical themes and even inspirational quotes. It's an easy way to put something cool and new up on the walls without the hassle of repainting the walls when he needs a change.

Tags: your bedroom, favorite sport, movie scenes, movie scenes posters, projection screen

Rebuilding Seats For Antique Dining Room Chairs

While an antique chair may possess the classic beauty that you simply can't find in more modern pieces, often years of use have left the chair seat less plush and cozy than it once was. Fixing this problem requires rebuilding the chair seat, giving you and your guests somewhere cozy to rest their tired tushes as they take a seat in your long-loved piece of furniture.

Instructions

1. Remove the seat from the chair. Turn the chair over, placing the seat on a table or workbench top. Unscrew the seat of the chair from the base, placing the screws you removed in a safe place so you can use them to reattach the seat after you are finished.

2. Check the piece for structural integrity and replace any wood if necessary. Look for any places in which it looks like the wood frame that rests under the seat has rotted. Remove the rotted piece with the claw of your hammer. Use this piece as a template to create a new replacement piece by cutting a similar piece of wood to size. Nail the new piece in place to make the seat structurally sound.

3. Place the seat top down on the wrong side of your upholstery fabric. Using a tape measure, measure 4 inches from the edge of the seat on all four sides, creating an outline 4 inches from the seat, then clip around this outline.

4. Cut foam padding to fit the seat. Select thick or thin padding, depending upon your preference, and cut it to fit the chair seat using a razor knife.

5. Place the foam padding between the seat and the fabric. When creating this stack, your fabric should be on the bottom, wrong side up, the foam next, then the chair seat on the top with the bottom of the seat facing up.

6. Pull the edges of the fabric up to meet the bottom of the seat and staple it into place. Start by pulling the fabric tight on one side and stapling it, then repeat the process on the opposite side. Follow this by repeating the process one more time on the remaining two sides, then move around the chair pulling and stapling until you have completely attached your fabric.

7. Reattach the seat to the chair. Placing the seat face down on the edge of a table or workbench, set the chair atop it and screw the seat back onto the chair frame using the screws you retained.

Tags: chair seat, bottom seat, foam padding, inches from, seat chair, table workbench, wrong side

Kid'S Bedroom Wall Ideas

A child's bedroom is more than a place they sleep. It's their own special area where they play and live out their fantasies---surrounded by toys, books, dolls and games. Using wall decor in the kid's room adds an engaging, creative and personal touch.

Wall Stickers

Wall stickers are the easiest way to add a splash of color or a creative design to a kid's bedroom. The stickers come in a variety of colors and patterns. Tons of wall stickers are available--including polka dots, cars, butterflies, superheroes, castles, flowers, sporting equipment, trucks and outer space. Create a mural of underwater sea life, fantasy wonderland, jungle or a race track using larger wall mural stickers. Also, the stickers can be removed and repositioned.

Chalkboards and Message Boards

Mounting chalkboards to a kid's bedroom wall provides a work area, giving them a space to write and draw. Girls will enjoy a fabric-covered cork board which allows them to display photos, cards and their own drawings. Mount a piece of galvanized metal to a wall in a boy's room to create a magnetic message board where he can stick photos, drawings and important papers.

Shelves

Choose brightly colored, decorative shelves for a kid's bedroom. Shelves allow children to display their favorite books, toys, family photos and collectibles on the walls of their room. Paint shelves the colors of a favorite sports team or add flowers and hearts to brighten up a plain shelf. Custom shelves come in various shapes, sizes and designs including clouds, baseball bats, cartoon characters and skateboards. Place shelves at eye level for easy access to books and toys.

Artwork and Posters

Allow kids to create their own artwork for their bedroom walls. Frame their favorite drawings and display them proudly around the room. Pictures of ballet slippers, dancers, fairy princesses, flowers and popular cartoon and television characters work well in any child's room. Kids also like artwork featuring their favorite sports teams and athletes, cars, trains, ships and airplanes. Frame and hang posters with cute animals, funny sayings, superheroes, cars, cartoon characters, music groups or movie posters on walls in a kid's room.

Artwork

Tags: their favorite, books toys, cartoon characters, favorite sports

Decorate A Princess Bedroom

Give your princess the bedroom of her dreams.

Chances are the real princesses of old didn't have the luxury of color-coordinated d cor that decorators have access to today. Your very own princess will love a princess-themed bedroom with pale pinks, sparkling gold and rich fabrics. Each carefully selected accessory will only add to the mystique. Start with a new coat of paint---an inexpensive way to completely change the look of a room. Add the other decorative elements as you go and, before you know it, you'll have transformed an ordinary room into one worthy of a palace.

Instructions

1. Paint the walls a pale shade of pink. Use masking tape to block off areas where you can paint dark pink and gold stripes on the walls after the pale pink has dried. Paint the trim a dark shade of pink, such as a dusky rose. Avoid pinks that are too bright, as they will be overwhelming, cautions the Sheffield School of Interior Design.

2. Select decorative golden curtain rods with finials that look like giant sparkling diamonds a fairy-tale princess would have in her jewelry box. Hang light, gauzy curtains that are pink, lavender or cream-colored. Overlay these curtains with a matching rich velvet or dupioni silk curtain for more privacy. Add fancy tassel tiebacks in a coordinating color.

3. Buy a thick plush comforter for the bed, along with a matching skirt. In keeping with the princess theme, these should be cream-colored or a shade of pink. Decorate the bed with several throw pillows and shams in a variety of fabrics and shades of pink, gold and cream. Touches of chocolate brown and sage green will add a bit of contrast without detracting from the overall princess theme. Add a canopy of cream-colored gauze over the bed if the room is spacious enough to not be overwhelmed by this addition.

4. Place a large area rug underneath the bed. Small fluffy throw rugs can serve as accents. Coordinate the rugs with the bedding and walls.

5. Place an armoire in a corner of the room to provide storage for media, toys or clothes. Consider purchasing one of the armoires that are painted with delicate scenes of flowers or angels. A custom-painted armoire with a picture of a crown is ideal.

6. Frame artwork in gilded wooden frames, making sure that the artwork works with the princess theme. Pictures of castles, unicorns and other princesses work well.

7. Hang a small chandelier above a writing table or other appropriate area. Choose a white one that has plenty of sparkling prisms to provide the glamor a princess craves.

8. Create storage space in a closet or on one side of the bedroom. A princess's bedroom is never cluttered. Consider building storage shelves and cubbies along one wall and covering them with fabric--perhaps even the same fabric used for the window treatments.

Tags: princess theme, shade pink, pink gold, princess bedroom, with matching

Dining Room Tables Of The Early 1800s

Dining tables in the early 1800s were produced for American tastes.

Furniture designed in early 19th century America was the first furniture made specifically for the tastes and lifestyles of American citizens. Mass production that grew out of the Industrial Revolution slowly replaced hand craftsmanship, resulting in a wide range of styles and quality. Dining room tables that have survived from this period are now classics. Combine one of many styles of dining tables from the early 1800s with either antiques or contemporary furnishings in your dining room.

Federal Style

Federal style, which celebrated the creation of the new country America, dominated the beginning of the 19th century. Also known as American Neo-classicism, it blended elements of classical Greek architectural and decorative design through styles from designers such as Thomas Sheraton. Dining tables of this period were still hand-crafted -- a notable craftsman was Duncan Phyfe -- and are therefore highly sought-after today. Details were spare but included single, double or triple pedestals with fluted tripod legs and brass foot caps.

American Empire

American Empire was a hand-crafted interpretation of Egyptian-influenced styles made popular by the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. It incorporated elements of the slightly earlier Directoire style, and it was known as Regency style in England. All three styles are closely related, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Dining tables from this period often incorporated bronze or gilt accents and animal motifs on heavy pedestals or legs with claw feet. Tops usually employed mahogany veneers in highly decorative ways.

Gothic and Elizabethan Revival

The revival of these European styles in affordable furniture for middle-class Americans was made possible by the use of machinery. Dining tables may display Gothic trefoil motifs or "Jacobean" style legs created with a spool-turned lathe. Gothic and Elizabethan Revival dining tables have a heavier appearance than the streamlined Federal tables.

Empire Revival

Empire Revival, or French Restoration (often spelled Restauration), was the second attempt at reviving styles popular during Napoleon's French Empire. This time, industrial age machinery made the creation of such designs easier, faster and more affordable. This period produced large-scale dining tables using mahogany and crotch-mahogany veneers. Joseph Meeks and Sons of New York were well-known makers during this period.

Tags: Dining tables, this period, 19th century, American Empire, dining tables, early 1800s, Elizabethan Revival

Decorate A Bathroom Tuscan

Tuscan Bathroom

Tuscan design combines elegant style with casual living. Decorating a bathroom Tuscan will make your space seem like it belongs in a high end European hotel. This design works for even the smallest of spaces. With a little bit of paint and a few hundred dollars you can turn your basic bathroom Tuscan.

Instructions

1. Try a color wash on the walls. This is different from the sponge painting that was popular a few years ago. Sponge painting had more of a country look to it and could even replicate mold if the colors weren't chosen properly. Play around with a paint glaze and a light color such as gold or taupe to give your walls an aged look and make your bathroom Tuscan.

2. Ditch the medicine cabinet. Tuscan style looks hundreds of years old. More modern medicine cabinets aren't in keeping with a Tuscan bathroom. If you have a large mirror frame it out with elaborate, dark molding to totally change the feel of your space. Install two ornately framed mirrors; these don't even have to come from the kitchen and bathroom section of the store. Look in the home décor aisle instead to save money. Make sure that you can live without the storage space that a medicine cabinet provides.

3. Use a vanity that looks like an antique. Tuscan homes are full of beautiful old furniture. Add feet, molding and wood carvings to your existing vanity. Look for curved lines instead of a more modern boxy design. Avoid straight lines at all costs. A granite or marble countertop will make the room feel more elegant and will hold up well in a Tuscan bathroom.

4. Add in drama. Tuscan design isn't for the meek or faint of heart. To turn your bathroom Tuscan you'll need a wow factor. Look for a polyester shower curtain that replicates silk. Replace basic toothbrush holders and soap dishes for oil rubbed bronzed accessories that will match the bathroom faucet. You can even have an iron chandelier installed, just make sure that it's at a height where people can still walk under it safety.

Tags: bathroom Tuscan, even have, make your, medicine cabinet, sure that, turn your, Tuscan bathroom

Red Bedroom Ideas

Red works nicely with white to create balance.

Red evokes a sense of passion, desire, sensuality and strength. Choose the shade of red you want, and coordinate it with other colors to create a sense of balance.

Red Walls

Surround the room with red, painting all four walls and the ceiling in your favorite shade. Paint the window frames white and use a white comforter on your bed. Accessorize with white throw pillows trimmed with red piping. Put a rug on the floor in the same shade of red you've put on the walls, but in a different tone.

Red Rugs

Find a large, red shag or faux sheepskin rug that covers most of your bedroom floor. Paint your bed black with a low-luster acrylic paint. Find or sew a red duvet that matches the shade of your rug exactly. Cover your bed with it or fold it over at the base of your bed to expose white and off-white linens. Place two large pillows at the top of the bed covered in striped fabric that includes the color red.

Red Bookcases and Toile

Purchase unpainted bookcases and paint them in the shade of red you like best. Ikea and other retailers stock red bookcases if you don't want to paint. Place the bookcases on one side of the room, and paint all four walls white. Attach white molding all the way around the room, two feet below the ceiling. Apply a red and white toile fabric or wallpaper on the wall space above the molding, and all over the ceiling. Make a duvet out of the same red and white toile fabric, and cover your bed with it. Paint the floors white, and add a black area rug on the floor near your bed.

Complementary Colors

The color red works well with green, its opposite on the color wheel. Paint a bedroom in reds that lean more toward shades of terra-cotta and deep raspberry and finish with subtle green accents in the light fixtures, decorative pillows, art and floor rugs. Moss green would work well with reddish terra-cotta, and a deep winter green would look nice with a raspberry red.

Wallpaper and Curtains

Choose wallpaper with a red background and a small floral print of another color. Or, choose from a collection of wallpapers that resemble red faux finishes. Consider wallpapers with giant red flowers such as one of the Marimekko prints (see "Resources" below), or choose from the large, red and white abstract and geometric prints at Ikea for floor to ceiling curtains, room dividers or wall hangings. Coordinate these fabrics and wallpapers with a black bed frame covered in white linens and large, square pillows covered in red fabric.

Tags: choose from, four walls, green would, pillows covered, terra-cotta deep, toile fabric, wallpapers with

Light Mint Green Bedroom Decoration Ideas

Mint green with white creates a soothing, serene retreat.

Mint green has many moods, from deeper, earthy tones to wispy shades like sea foam. Light or pale mint is usually experienced as a cool, tranquil color due to its association with nature. Mint works well in almost any decor. Compatible colors and well-chosen furnishings and accent pieces -- new or re-purposed -- help you make any bedroom into a comfortable, restful retreat.

Compatible Colors

Choose a monochromatic palette -- forest green, leaf green, dark mint -- with darker trim and accents in the same tone. Mint green always looks refreshing when trimmed with white. Use cream trim instead to lead into a range of warm naturals, from tan to deep brown. Try compatible pastel shades in addition to white or cream. Good choices based on color-wheel relationships include pink, or pastel red, a complementary color. Lavender and peach are pastel versions of purple and orange, triadic colors.

Simple and Surprising Touches

Add big style with simple touches, such as a wall painted in a striking contrast color. For a traditional look add mint-and-cream wallpaper with 1-inch stripes on one wall instead, and use that wall to display old family photographs. Paint a bold brown contrasting horizontal strip 3 to 4 feet wide across the middle of a wall to connect the walls with dark wood floors and furniture. Add narrow vertical panels to lower walls at 6-inch to 12-inch intervals and paint them a contrasting or compatible monochromatic color to create the look of wainscoting.

Classic & Traditional

Dark brown antique furniture, various rich, yet subtle mint fabric patterns and cream lamps and other fixtures and deeper mint accents can create a relaxing, restful and classic master bedroom that both spouses will enjoy. Satin fabrics for a side chair, accent pillows and duvet cover add subtle elegance. Mint green with white and black -- first used together as an Art Deco combination, according to interior designer Laura Ingalls Gunn -- creates a crisp, cool and sophisticated feel.

Summery or Shabby Chic

Use bright white trim - even paint the floor white, if you have wood floors - on baseboards, doors, window trim and ceilings. Create a soothing summery retreat by adding a few country antiques, a cream-colored, overstuffed chair and throw rugs, white bedspread and wood-framed, cream-colored botanical prints. Try a distressed dresser, bookcase and nightstands for a shabby chic feel. Old wicker painted white is a natural with mint green. Find some old iron bed frames and paint them leaf green or dark green.

Soothing, Modern and Natural

Take an imaginary trip to the Bahamas with a dark brown headboard and picture frames, light-toned furniture, luxurious light tan bed linens and cream trim. Mint green with very contemporary oak -- from platform bed and dressers to oak floors -- looks both sharp and soothing, creating an inviting nature oasis. The contemporary look can go still lighter and blond, with glossy Danish modern furnishings and tan-gold accents.

Child's Play

In families where kids rotate through the bedrooms, mint green is a useful universal wall color. Pale mint walls can go masculine. Combine furniture, fabrics and art in browns, grays and darker greens for boys' rooms. Walls can also be quite feminine when dressed up with white, cream and shades of peach or pink. Hot pink always looks great with pale mint green. Mint and lavender is quite striking too, and somewhat out of the ordinary for a girl's room. Look for mint-lavender fabric prints and paint bookcases or other accent pieces lavender.

Tags: Mint green, with white, green with, Mint green with, white cream, accent pieces

Install Bathroom Tiles

Bathroom tiles are both functional and decorative.

Bathroom tiles are not only decorative, but they are functional as well. They make a waterproof shield between the wall and the moisture from the bath or shower. There are many styles and types of bathroom tiles, but they are all essentially installed in the exact same way.

Instructions

1. Make sure the walls and floors are clean, dry and flat before installing bathroom tiles. Remove wallpaper or existing tile if any.

2. Find the center of the bathroom wall or floor and 'dry fit' your bathroom tiles to see if the pattern ends similarly on the edges. Use a pencil to mark vertical and horizontal lines where appropriate. You want the tile size to be consistent as they approach each end point.

3. Apply the bathroom tile adhesive with the notched trowel, starting in the middle of the wall or floor. Set the bathroom tiles into the adhesive and place the spacers in-between each tile as you go. Be sure to give each tile a little twist to ensure a good bond with the adhesive. Cut the tiles with a tile cutter as needed to fit on the ends. You can also use sandpaper to smooth out the tile edges if they are sharp after you cut them.

4. Let the bathroom tiles set in the adhesive overnight before finishing them with grout or caulk.

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Is It Healthy To Have A Cat Litter Box In A Child'S Bedroom

Remember to scoop the kitty's litter every day.

Litter boxes and children don't mix, so putting one in a kid's bedroom is not a good idea. It jeopardizes the child's health and may prompt your kitty to take care of business outside the box. After all, she prefers some privacy when using the bathroom, just like you do.

Health Risks

Healthy adults rarely develop health problems from handling dirty cat litter, but children and pregnant women are much more vulnerable. Toxoplasmosis can make kids very sick and has a high chance of complicating pregnancy, increasing the chances of a miscarriage or birth defect. The organism responsible spreads into the air when you change or scoop the litter and can survive on solid surfaces for days. Cats can also excrete the eggs of digestive parasites, like roundworms, which can infest humans. If you're in good health, simply washing your hands and changing clothes should be enough to fend off litter box germs. However, kids, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems should avoid litter boxes altogether.

Proper Box Placement

Don't keep the litter box in a bedroom if possible. Place it in an adult's room if you have no other choice. Preferably, put the box in a quiet location like a closet or bathroom. The basement is also a good choice as long as there's plenty of space between it and loud appliances, like a washing machine. The noise and vibration of machinery may be enough to cause your cat to avoid the box altogether, according to Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. It's a good idea to have a box on every floor of your home and at least as many boxes as you have cats. Don't keep your kitty's litter box near her food and water dishes, because she may refuse to use the bathroom around the smell of food.

Child-Proofing

Babies and toddlers see the tub of cat litter as a miniature sandbox, so don't be surprised if a young child tries to clamber in to play with the poop. Keep the box in a room that young kids can't get to. This is for your cat's sake, too, because she surely won't appreciate being interrupted by a curious kid when she's trying to relieve herself. If you think a child has gotten in the litter box, change his clothes and give him a bath. Keep your eye out for signs of sickness and take him to the doctor right away if he appears ill.

Litter Maintenance and Hygiene

Keeping the litter box clean is the best way to prevent it from becoming a haven for germs. Scooping it once a day practically negates the risk of toxoplasmosis, because the protozoa doesn't activate for at least 24 hours after being expelled. Your kitty will surely be thankful for a clean litter box, too. Dirty litter is one of the most common reasons that cats start to eliminate outside the box. Change the litter as often as necessary depending on the substrate. A box of clay litter lasts for a week or two, but paper-based products may not take long to soil. Take the box outside before dumping it into a strong plastic bag. Clean out the box with warm water and soap before putting fresh litter in.

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Size Bathroom Vent Fans

Size Bathroom Vent Fans

Part of selecting a bathroom fan involves knowing what size of fan will work best for your particular bathroom. If your fan proves too small, it won't aerate the bathroom very well. Poorly ventilated bathrooms become humid. High humidity levels can lead to mildew or mold problems. If your fan proves too large, you will have wasted money. Knowing size a bathroom fan to your bathroom requires you to make a few calculations. After that, simply shop for the best bathroom fan you can find.

Instructions

1. Measure your bathroom's cubic volume (CV). For instance, you need to know how much air exists in your bathroom. You get this information by multiplying length (L) x width (W) x height (H). L x W x H = cubic volume (CV).

2. Determine your bathroom's cubic foot per minute rating (CFM) Manufacturers rate fans according to how much cubic feet of air they can move in one minute. CFM equals CV divided by eight. Eight equals the Home Ventillation Institute's recommended number of times per hour your air should completely circulate. Therefore, to determine the CFM of the fan you need divide CV by 8 = your bathroom's CFM. For example. 8 (L) x 7 (W) x 8 (H) = 448 (CV). 448 / 8 = 56. You need a fan with a minimum of 56 CFM.

3. Determine how much air the fan can circulate per minute. Small bathroom fans have CFM ratings of 50 to 60. Moderate-sized fans have 80 to 90 CFM. More powerful fans have 110 to 150 CFM.

4. Decide if you must calculate custom fixtures into your CFM. For instance, if you have a larger bathroom of 100 square foot or more or if you have special appliances like hottubs or jet pools, you need to consider the humidity of each water-producing appliance. For instance, in a large bathroom, a shower requires 50 CFM fan for proper ventillation. A toilet requires another 50 CFM fan. A tub requires another 50 CFM fan. If you have a jacuzzi or a jet-tub, you need a 100 CFM fan. Choosing individual fans helps circulate air for each appliance. This multi-fan solution provides the best aeration throughout a large bathroom. Alternately, you can purchase one powerful 150 CFM fan to aerate the whole bathroom. Although this strategy works, it doesn't work as efficiently as different fans.

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Gray Bathroom Ideas

Gray can drain the room of energy.

Gray, says Precision Intermedia, "is most associated with...middle-of-the-road, solid things in life." On the other hand, according to the site, "Too much gray leads to feeling mostly nothing," and can even prove depressing. If your bathroom walls and tiles, or even sinks and tub are gray, and you are not prepared to renovate, take heart. You can enliven the space with towels, shower curtains, and window and floor coverings in cherry red, green or blue.

Cherry Accessories

Cherry accessories can add life to gray decor.

Red is a stimulating color, "associated with movement and excitement," reports Precision Intermedia. Cherry red is an especially lively shade that will add vitality and energy to your gray bathroom interior. Shop home stores, discount retailers, and bed and bath establishments to find cherry-red accessories, such as bath mats, tub mats, towels, hand cloths, even soap dishes and toothbrush holders. Ideally, you will find accessories in the same shade, but minor variations in color value will work. As you place your mats and towels, you will notice the energy of the space beginning to rise. The bath might even seem to feel warmer with the simple addition of this vibrant hue.

Green Curtains and Rugs

Green instantly adds a natural feel to a space.

Green symbolizes new life, nature, and harmony, according to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Nearly any green hue, therefore, can enliven gray decor. Spring green, for example, will add lightness and freshness to your gray bath decor. Forest green, on the other hand, lends a more grounded feel, while still infusing the space with the energy of nature. Kelly green may appeal as an accent or curtain-print color to accompany either of the other shades. Fabric or vinyl curtains for the window or shower will do just fine, but consider the effect of green-tinted glass or crystal beads. Used as window coverings, they will reflect and refract light in the space. As a shower curtain, backed by a standard liner, they can lend fantasy and wonder to your gray bathroom. A green, seagrass-textured shower mat inside the tub, along with a variegated seafoam-green bath rug, can complete the look. Look for glass-bead curtains at specialty retailers or online.

Blue Scheme

Soothing blue can bring a sense of harmony to gray decor.

Blue is a cool, calming, soothing color, says Precision Intermedia. Adding varying blue shades to your gray bath decor can pick up blue undertones in the gray, if any, as well as lend a sense of harmony to the space. One way to add an element of light is to include metallic materials in your shower curtain and window coverings. Consider silver-blue metallic-finish window shades and/or a midnight-blue metallic shower curtain. The interplay of light created by these materials can add visual interest, if not fascination. If metallics are too adventuresome, or tend to overstimulate your young ones, then confine your options to hue. You might try royal blue window and shower curtains, anchored by navy blue bath rugs and towels. Or go for a monochromatic blue stripe or print curtain design and then choose colors from the print--such as royal blue, teal, or cornflower--for rugs and towels. Going even lighter, think about soft, pale blue at windows and shower entrance, with ocean-blue rugs for floors.

Tags: your gray, gray decor, Precision Intermedia, shower curtain, associated with, bath decor

Cabinet Styles For A Kid'S Bedroom

Cabinets for storage in a child's bedroom come in many shapes and sizes. You can find cabinets built into bookshelves or desks, cabinets as part of a dresser or an armoire and cabinets for toys. The cabinets come in a variety of styles and colors, so you should have no trouble finding one that works for your child's room.

Bookshelves and Desks

Good options for a child's room include stand-alone bookshelves or bookshelves that are part of a desk. The shelves provide storage space for toys and books, and the desk gives the child a place to do homework. Storage baskets placed on the shelves can hold smaller items. Look for bookshelves that have some open shelves and some with cabinet doors to minimize the clutter.

Armoires and Dressers

Clothes and other items can be stored in armoires and dressers. Armoires often have drawers like a dresser, with cabinet-type doors above that close to keep things looking neat. Inside the cabinet part, options include a hanging rod for hanging clothes, adjustable shelves and space for a TV. Look for one with a hole or grommet in the back for cables if you want to use it for a TV. An armoire with space for hanging clothes is a good solution if you have limited closet space in the child's room. Examples of kid-style dressers and armoires can be found at the KidsFurnitureMart.com website and the PBteen link, both of which are below.

Toy Cabinets and Night Stands

If you are discouraged by bin-style toy boxes that become a mess of mixed-up toys, look for cabinet-style toy storage solutions instead. Some of these have doors to hide the clutter, and others have shelves and come with smaller bins to sort various kinds of toys together. This style works well with toys with small pieces, such as Legos or K'nex. Another option is a cabinet style night stand. Besides providing a place for a bedside lamp and a cup of water, it gives extra cabinet storage underneath to keep books or other items needed at bedtime.

Style

When planning storage for a kid's bedroom, it's important to plan the overall look and style of the room as a whole. Bedroom sets are available that have several pieces that match, and you may find sets that contain cabinets that work for your purposes. If not, look for cabinets that fit with the colors and style of the rest of the furniture, whether it is pink and frilly for a girl, bright colors with a sports theme for a boy or modern and upbeat for a teen. Look for items that can grow with the child, such as a toy box that can become a blanket chest when the child is older or a desk that adjusts for height as the child grows. Items that can be painted will still be usable if you change the color scheme of the room as the child grows.

Tags: child room, bookshelves that, cabinets that, child grows, hanging clothes, other items, that become

Diy Bedroom Ideas

Serene and Minimalistic Bedroom

Personalizing your bedroom should be a personal experience. How personal can you really get when the only investment you've made in your bedroom is a monetary investment? Get personal with your space and invest your time, creativity and a little elbow grease to get a custom look that you can take credit for. With just a few dollars, a trip to your local Walmart for supplies and some elbow grease, you too can have the DIY bedroom of your dreams.

Jewelry Shadowbox

You've likely spent thousands of dollars over the years on your jewelry collection, so why not show off your favorite pieces? Create a jewelry shadowbox using a deep-set picture frame, wallpaper and small decorative hooks. Start by sticking the wallpaper to the back of the picture frame. Next, install the small decorative hooks to the wallpapered piece. Then simply put the picture frame back together, leaving out the glass and slide your jewelry onto the hook.

Frame Your Bed

Many people think that their headboard is enough to frame their bed, and that may be true for some. But, if you really want to make your bed look grand, framing it with three small and inexpensive pieces of artwork will make a world of a difference. You'll need patterned wrapping paper that coordinates with your current color scheme and three photo frames in the same finish as your furniture. Cut three pieces of wrapping paper and place them inside the photo frames. Then, hang the frames side by side approximately 1 to 2 feet above your headboard; the frames should be centered above the headboard. And that's all it takes, in less than 10 minutes you've just given your bed a major face lift.

Throw Pillow

Throw pillows are an inexpensive and easy way to bring a pop of color into your bedroom, especially for renters who aren't allowed to paint. Don't spend $30 on a single throw pillow when you can make a customized throw pillow at home for much less. You'll need a pillow insert, a sewing machine and fabric. Start by cutting the fabric to fit your pillow, remember to include a seam allowance. Then fold over a ¼-inch hem on both long sides, press with an iron and sew with a single stitch. Fold fabric in half lengthwise and sew together; there should be only one opening large enough to insert the pillow when you're done sewing. Then, simply insert the pillow and place it on your bed.

Tags: picture frame, decorative hooks, elbow grease, insert pillow, photo frames, pillow when, small decorative

Medieval Bedrooms For Kids

Children love stories of castles and knights in shining armor, dreaming to be amidst such a setting. To convert a child's modern bedroom into medieval castle could be a dream come true, and make any parent the new hero.

Furniture

Place a chest of drawers, doubling up as a study table, made of oak and branded with iron instead of the regular cupboard. Upholster the chair in heavy brocades in medieval style. A castle bed with bronze leaf finish would complete the effect.

Tapestries

Having a heavy tapestry with ancient designs or flowers on a window with stained glass can keep out the draft and will also impart a grandeur to the room. They can also be hung around the bed to maintain the privacy.

Accessories

Tall candleholders made of wrought iron and rugs with ancient Gothic designs will impart a castle feel to the room, as will decorating the walls with a helmet, sword and shield. Placing a knight's statue with brass armour near the doorway will add to the statement of the room, giving it a Gothic feel.

Finishing Touches

A medieval room is incomplete without oak beams on the ceiling, which also give a warm finishing touch.

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Decorate Using Brown And Teal In The Master Bedroom

Brown and teal is a classic color combination often used in interior design. It gives off a retro look with modern flair, and is often used in a master bedroom. If you'd like to decorate your master bedroom using the brown and teal color combination, there are a few tricks you can incorporate to give the room a very organized, put together appearance. By using the proper amount of both colors, you can achieve a result worthy of any interior designing portfolio.

Instructions

1. Use a quality interior paint to color all four walls. The wall that the bed usually rests up against should be painted the opposite color of the other walls to serve as an accent wall. While you can use any color combination you choose, making the accent wall brown and the other walls teal will give the room a larger, more open appearance than if you did the opposite.

2. Hang a large mirror on one of the walls. This opens up the room further and offers a touch of reflection.

3. Choose a teal and brown accent comforter. The main color should be the opposite of the color used on the accent wall.

4. Select curtains that are similarly colored to the comforter.

5. Hang or display several silver decor pieces. This adds a shine that complements the brown and teal, while lessening the intensity of the color duo.

6. Place a few houseplants around the room to soften the room's appearance and give it a natural look.

Tags: accent wall, color combination, give room, master bedroom, often used, opposite color, other walls

Upholster Dining Chairs

Upholster your dining room chair seats for that brand new and clean look.

The dining room chairs tend to take a lot of abuse, especially if they have upholstery on them and if you have small children. You can completely change the look of your dining room by putting some new upholstery on those chairs. Normally, dining room chairs have upholstery fabric only on the seat, which makes this upholstery job quick and easy. Choosing the design and color of your new upholstery fabric may be the hardest part of the project.

Instructions

1. Remove the chair seat from your dining room chair. Flip the chair over or carefully use a flathead screwdriver to help you if necessary. Be careful not to damage the wood while using the screwdriver.

2. Remove any damaged or dirty upholstery and foam from the chair seat. Use the flathead screwdriver to help you pull up any staples that fasten the fabric to the chair. Use pliers if necessary to yank any tight spots and also to avoid getting staples in your hands when grasping the fabric.

3. Cut a piece of foam using an electric knife to the dimensions of your chair seat. Use the old foam as a template if desired.

4. Lay out your upholstery fabric on a large, flat surface with the back side up. Place the foam and then the chair seat on top of the upholstery.

5. Use the chair seat as a guide to cut the upholstery fabric. Cut the upholstery fabric around the chair seat, leaving an extra allowance of about 6 inches on all sides.

6. Start in the middle of one side of the dining room chair and pull the fabric up and over to the underside of the chair seat. Staple the fabric in place. Repeat with the other three sides of the chair seat.

7. Fasten the remainder of the fabric to the underside of your dining room chair seat, working from the middle of each side out to the corners. At the corners, fold the fabric neatly and then staple to the underside of the seat.

8. Replace and reattach the seat to the dining room chair to complete your upholstery job.

Tags: chair seat, dining room, dining room chair, room chair, upholstery fabric, your dining

Decorate A Modern Dining Room With An Antique Dining Set

Use a piece of art glass as a centerpiece.

Creating a modern dining room doesn't mean you have to use exclusively modern furniture. You can mix antique pieces into the room, or even use an entire antique dining set. The keys to making the antique pieces fit into your modern decor are making cosmetic updates to the furniture when appropriate and accessorizing even the most traditional pieces in a modern way.

Instructions

1. Paint or wallpaper your dining room walls with a bold color or modern pattern. Paint the woodwork and molding with stark black or white paint with a high-gloss finish.

2. Lay a patterned kilim or soumak rug -- antique or reproduction -- on the floor to tie old and new together. Their geometric patterns have a modern sensibility while remaining traditional enough to suit your antique dining set.

3. Paint one or two pieces of your antique dining set with glossy paint in black, white or a bold color, unless the furniture has significant financial value. For example, paint the dining chairs and buffet, but leave the table and china cabinet in the original finish.

4. Reupholster the seats of your dining chairs with new fabric in a striking pattern. You can opt for a 1960's-inspired geometric, a bold stripe or a hand-dyed ikat.

5. Line the back wall of your china cabinet with your chair-seat fabric, or with an intense solid fabric that contrasts with your dinnerware. Display a sparse selection of your dinnerware in the shelves, perhaps mixing in a few modern ceramics, candlesticks or wine glasses.

6. Hang a drum-shade chandelier, a series of pendant lights or a single light fixture with an art-glass shade above your dining table. Add coordinating wall sconces if your dining room is large. Replace your wall switches with dimmers so you can adjust the light.

7. Top your buffet or sideboard with a stark contemporary lamp or flank it with a pair of sleek, stylized candelabra. Hang an abstract painting or print above the piece. Use a large piece of art glass as a centerpiece, or arrange flowers in a contemporary vase. Complete your accessories by placing a dramatic, abstract sculpture atop a sleek, mirrored or lacquered pedestal.

Tags: your dining, antique dining, dining room, antique pieces, antique pieces into, black white

Unique Teen Bedroom Ideas

Teen rooms should reflect the child's interests.

Teens have definite ideas about what they like, and if you want to make them happy, get them involved in any room redo from the first planning stages. The key is to make the room a unique reflection of your child's interests without being so far over the top the teen gets tired of it next week. Keep furniture and linens basic, and get trendy with easily replaceable paint colors and accessories.

Animal Prints

Seventeen magazine provides decorating ideas and shopping links for teen merchandise on its web site, and one of its themes for teen bedrooms is animal prints. Buy a quilt with subtle or bold animal print designs and accessorize with animal everything and anything. There are zebra print rugs, spotted print bean bag chairs and butterfly chairs, and bold-colored fuzzy pillows in animal stripes. Mix and match for a unique look.

Camouflage

The camouflage look is in for boys. The Decorating Teen Rooms website says you can create a custom look by painting the walls in desert shades to serve as a backdrop, then use camo merchandise for bedding and window treatments. Consider an area rug in a camouflage design to pull the look together. Accessorize with military posters, pennants or other merchandise that salutes the armed forces. For girls who like the camouflage look, consider the assortment of pink camo materials on the market.

Sports

A sports theme plays well with teen girls and boys. Decorating Teen Rooms says it's easy to achieve a sporting look by seeking equipment from thrift shops and auctions. Use an old locker for a bedside bookshelf. Turn team T-shirts into throw pillows. Make a collage out of sports trading cards or ticket stubs. The Decorating Teen Rooms website even suggests using tennis balls or baseballs as the filials on curtain rods in the room. Personalize the room even more with framed team photos or make a display area for sports trophies and awards.

Favorite Color

If you daughter's in love with a certain color, that can be the basis for a unique room décor, too. Decorating Teen Rooms says you can start by painting the walls in that favorite color, then decorate with a coordinating border. Use a variety of patterns and textures in the favorite color to give the room a cohesive look. Create interest by seeking out lamps, throw pillows or other accessories in contrasting colors.

Tags: Decorating Teen, Decorating Teen Rooms, Teen Rooms, boys Decorating, boys Decorating Teen

Paint Bedroom Art

Whether you are painting a small room for a child or sprucing up your own, bedroom art is an exciting and creative idea that goes beyond just typical wall paint. You have endless themes to choose from. Each theme can be as inviting, fun, humorous or abstract as you want it to be.

Instructions

1. Decide on the type of picture you would like to paint. If you have a picture or a photograph that you particularly like, it would be helpful if you purchase a small projector from any craft store and use it to project and trace the picture onto your wall.

2. Clean your walls of any smudges, tape or holes. If you have substantial holes on your walls due to pictures, posters or shelves, you may need to patch up those holes before you begin to paint your bedroom wall.

3. Pick the ideal spot for your picture. For an interesting position, consider painting in the corners of your wall and then expanding the picture onto two walls, rather than just one. Once you have picked your spot, use the projector to display your image. Move it back to make the image larger on the wall, or move it closer to make the image smaller.

4. Begin tracing the image with your paintbrush when you have the projector and image set. It would be easier if you used a smaller brush for tracing, as this will leave thinner lines for your outline. Once you have the overall outline traced, begin filling in the image with larger brushes and different colors.

5. Paint the walls freehand, if you wish to do so. In this case, you do not need to use a projector. Just pick the place for your image on the wall and paint a rough outline of your image. How abstract or non-conventional your image is depends on the type of art you enjoy.

Tags: your image, image with, make image, Once have, paint have, picture onto

Remodel A Kitchen & Dining Room

Enjoy your newly remodeled kitchen.

When you think of remodeling, you may immediately feel stressed and overwhelmed. Although remodeling can be costly, performing some tasks yourself drastically cuts expenses and changes the look of your kitchen and dining room. Make a list of what you want to achieve. Gather your supplies, and then begin a little at a time. You can achieve a new look that fits your budget by simply changing a few details. Paint your walls a new, fresh color. Paint your cabinets, doors and appliances also. Dress your dining room windows with new treatments.

Instructions

1. Remove all unnecessary items off the countertops and tables. Declutter the kitchen and dining room. Neatly tuck the extra items under the cabinet or some other area. This step on its own adds depth and space to your kitchen and dining area.

2. Clean the whole area before you begin to do any remodeling work, including cabinets and fronts of doors, to prepare the wood for a nice paint finish.

3. Remove all knobs and handles from your kitchen cabinets and drawers. If you have dark wood, prime all the cabinets, window frames and doors in the kitchen and dining room with a high-quality latex primer. After you complete one coat of primer, lightly sand with a medium-grade sandpaper. Prime the cabinets and doors twice. Also prime your appliances if you wish to change the color or refresh the paint. Lightly sand any rusty spots on your appliances.

4. Caulk up all seams and cracks, including around the window frames. Wipe away any excess caulk with a damp cloth. Fill all nail holes with wood putty. Wipe away any excess putty as you go to ensure a smooth paint surface.

5. Edge carefully around all lines of the cabinets, window frames and doors with your paintbrush. When you have completed this, apply the first coat of your chosen paint with a small foam roller. Clean your paintbrush with paint thinner. Allow the paint to dry according to the directions on the label. When it has dried completely, apply a second coat. Wipe up any paint spills with the paint thinner.

6. Apply the first coat of metal paint to your appliances with a small foam roller. Allow to dry for 24 hours. When the paint is dry, apply a second coat.

7. Install new knobs and door handles on your drawers and cabinet doors after the paint is completely dry. Choose a few items to display on the counter, but don't clutter the area.

8. Edge the borders of the dining room walls with a paintbrush. Apply the first coat of paint to the dining room walls. Allow the paint to dry for a minimum of four hours before applying a second coat.

9. Remove old curtains or blinds from the dining room windows, and replace them with new window treatments. Add new pads that match your window treatments to the dining room chairs, and place a throw rug in the dining room.

Tags: dining room, first coat, kitchen dining, second coat, window frames, your appliances, your kitchen

Cottage Bedroom Ideas

Think cozy and think comfortable when decorating your bedroom in a cottage theme. Intimate and personal are also characteristics of this decorating theme. If that is how you see your bedroom, then the cottage theme is for you. Visualizing your bedroom one way and actually having it that way are not always one and the same. With a little imagination, you can have the cottage bedroom you see in your mind's eye.

Flowers

Add flowers to your cottage bedroom. Place vases and bouquets of both fresh and silk flowers on your furniture. Dried flower bouquets also work well. Cover your window valance with silk flowers. Create shadow boxes filled with pressed flowers. Wallpaper the inside of your bookcases with floral designs, arranging the books so the wallpaper can easily be seen. Decoupage pictures of flowers on your wood furniture such as your headboard, bureau and night stands.

Weathered Look

Give your cottage bedroom a weathered look. Carefully sand the corners of your furniture to remove the paint or stain so the bare wood can show through. Do this with your wooden shadow boxes, shelves and window ledges. Prominently place worn books on your nightstand and bookcases. Soak white doilies, gloves and other cloth or lace accessories in weak tea to make them look aged and worn.

Textures

Add textures to your room. Place wicker chairs, hampers and chests in your cottage bedroom. Use different types of fabrics such as cotton, linen and taffeta for your bedding, upholstery and window treatments. Use faux painting techniques such as crinkling, ragging and antiquing on your walls and furniture. Not only will this add texture, but it will also add depth and dimension to your cottage bedroom.

Prints

Add fabrics with prints to you cottage bedroom. Floral prints on throw pillows and dust ruffles look wonderful against a solid or striped comforter. Use fabric with wide stripes for your window treatments. Mix both floral prints, stripes and (a few checked) fabrics when you upholster your chairs, benches and ottomans. Remember to add toile de Jouy fabrics to your cottage bedroom. These fabrics can even be framed to create wall art.

Tags: cottage bedroom, your cottage, your cottage bedroom, flowers your, your bedroom

Change The Cushions On A Dining Room Set

Transform the look of your chairs with new cushions in your choice of fabrics.

If your dining room cushions have seen better days, give them a face lift with some DIY upholstering techniques. You can change the cushions on a dining room set with a few tools, a little time and your favorite new fabric. You'll be surprised at how easily you can transform the look of your dining room with something as simple as replacing the chair cushions.

Instructions

1. Turn the chair upside down and use a screwdriver to remove the screws under the seat; these screws hold the chair cushion in place. Set the screws aside for later.

2. Pull the cushion off the seat and turn it upside down. Use a flat head screwdriver to remove the staples from the underside of the cushion.

3. Remove the existing fabric from the cushion. Inspect the padding; if it needs to be replaced, use it as a template to cut foam core padding or cotton batting in the same dimensions and put the new padding onto the chair cushion base.

4. Use the old fabric from the seat as a template; cut new fabric to match these dimensions, then discard the old fabric.

5. Place the new chair fabric upside down on a flat surface. Center the chair cushion batting and the base upside down on top of the fabric.

6. Use your nondominant hand to hold the cushion in place on the fabric. Go around the sides of the cushion, lifting the fabric up and over the cushion to the bottom of the cushion base. Use the staple gun to attach the fabric to the cushion base, pulling the fabric taut as you go.

7. Turn the cushion right side up, then replace it in its position on the chair. Use the screws and screwdriver to reattach the cushion to the chair.

8. Repeat these instructions with the remaining chairs in the dining room set.

Tags: upside down, chair cushion, cushion base, dining room, cushion place, dining room with, down flat

Fouryearold Girl Bedroom Decor Ideas

Decorate a girl's bedroom in a style that she likes.

By the time a little girl is 4-years-old, she has likely developed her own personality, along with some specific likes and dislikes. Therefore, you can decorate her room in a way that reflects her, rather than in simply a generic style. Talk to her about the kinds of things that she likes and might like to see in her bedroom before getting started on the design.

Movies or Television

Take inspiration from the young girl's favorite television show or movie characters. For example, if she loves princesses, go all out by painting the room pink and decorating with tiaras and princess pictures. Another young girl might enjoy a classic cartoon character such as Minnie Mouse. Whatever she likes, use those colors and images to decorate the room.

Garden

Transform her room into a garden space if she likes flowers and playing outdoors. Paint the walls pale green and stencil flowers and leaves all over the walls. Paint her furniture white and detail them with grass, flowers and butterflies. Choose accessories with butterflies, bumble bees, caterpillars and other elements that might be present in a garden.

Tomboy

Some girls might not be so into girly things. If your 4-year-old girl is more of a tomboy, embrace that side of her when you decorate her room. Select a beach theme, decorate her room in blues and tans and paint fish all over her walls. Another option is a sports-themed room, decorated with aspects of her favorite sport, whether she likes soccer, baseball or something else.

Classroom

Many little girls enjoy playing teacher with their friends. Transform your 4-year-old girl's bedroom into a classroom. Paint the room in primary colors and add a stencil or a border with letters and numbers on the walls. Place a chalkboard on the wall, or paint one wall with chalkboard paint so that she can pretend to teach lessons. Add a child-size table with chairs so that her "students" can do their work.

Tags: decorate room, your 4-year-old girl, 4-year-old girl, over walls, that likes

Make Use Of A Small Bedroom Space

To make good use of a small bedroom, all available space must be put to work, from the walls to the closet to the space under the bed. Organization becomes paramount in a small space, because clutter will only make the room seem more cramped. From the colors you use to the type of furniture you choose, your decorating decisions can make a big difference.

Instructions

1. Empty the bedroom of all furniture, decor and other items so that the new layout is easy to plan and visualize. Keep only basic and necessary furniture to save space in the small room.

2. Choose a new paint color for the bedroom. Bright colors like yellow and light blue make the room feel larger than it is by making the space feel lighter.

3. Organize new furniture for the bedroom. Choose a bed that allows storage underneath or has built-in drawers or shelves.

4. Hang shelving or small cabinets on the wall to use the room's vertical space for storing books, knickknacks or other items.

5. Store offseason clothing in plastic bins underneath the bed. This may eliminate the need for a dresser in the room.

6. Use a closet organizer to make the most of the space and add an over-the-door rack for shoes to keep them organized and off the closet floor, which can then be used to store other items.

Tags: other items, make room

Decorate A Bedroom With Brown And Orange

Using brown and orange in a bedroom can create a warm effect.

A brown-and-orange color scheme can add depth and richness to any room. Brown and orange are warm colors, which makes using the combination a good choice for the bedroom.

Instructions

1. Hang pictures or decorations that contain accents of brown and orange on your walls. Painting a wall brown or orange can be a bit drastic; therefore, if you want to go with a subtle approach, accessorize with the colors. Hang the pictures and decorations in patterns on your wall, such as in diamond or square shapes, for a stylish touch.

2. Add brown wainscoting to your walls. Wainscoting is wood that is applied to the bottom-third of the wall. The brown wainscoting will not only add a bit of style to the room but will also showcase the brown.

3. Choose wooden furniture. Wooden beds, dressers, vanities and nightstands can be beautiful when stained in a rich, brown hue. Add orange accessories to the furniture in the form of pillows, quilts, blankets and lampshades.

4. Place a brown and orange accent rug on the floor. Rugs come in a variety of patterns, and one that includes orange and brown will add a bit of drama. Even carpeted floors can benefit from the addition of accent rugs.

5. Accessorize your room by adding bursts of orange and brown. For instance, tie brown and orange raffia around the top of tan lampshades to add hints of the color combination. Choose light switch plates that are brown or orange or are decorated with the color.

Tags: brown orange, brown wainscoting, Hang pictures, Hang pictures decorations, orange brown

Ideas For A 5x8 Bathroom

A monochromatic color scheme can make a small bathroom feel more open.

In a small bathroom, it can be difficult to combine functionality and design without overwhelming the space. As you plan the room's design, consider how you can maximize the space, making it beautiful without sacrificing your maneuverability.

Monochromatic Design

When you're decorating a small bathroom, use a monochromatic color scheme to make the space look more open. Choose a single color and use different shades in all of the elements in your bathroom: paint color, appliances and even decorations. For a bright, open look, use pale colors to make the most of the natural light. If you go with a white or cream palette, for example, you might use mirrors with white frames, seashells and driftwood for a beach-themed bathroom.

Reduce Clutter

Clutter can overwhelm a small space, making it look crowded and hiding the design. To keep your small bathroom looking clean and organized, eliminate unnecessary objects and create hidden storage for the rest. Instead of storing toiletries on the sink or shelf, install a small cabinet under the mirror with sliding doors to hide the array of makeup and supplies. Also consider the visual clutter that package designs and colors can create: pour your soap into a refillable container instead of using the original bottle; find towels in the same color; and use tissue box covers.

Color

If you want to use color in your bathroom, choose one or two to avoid creating a chaotic, overwhelming look. Start with a solid-colored base and add color judiciously; in a small space, a little goes a long way. You might paint a single wall in an accent color, for example, or use colored towels, bath mats and shower curtains. Keep in mind that color choice can have a big impact on a room's feeling. Use cherry red accents for a bold, energetic look, blue for a calm feeling, or citrus shades for a bright, cheerful atmosphere.

Increase Visibility

In a small bathroom, visibility can be limited. To extend the line of sight, eliminate objects that block your view. Replace a shower curtain or frosted door with a clear version that lets you see through to the wall beyond. Use sheer curtains that provide privacy but allow you to see beyond them. You can also hang mirrors to reflect the space and create the illusion of a larger room.

Tags: small bathroom, color scheme, color scheme make, monochromatic color, monochromatic color scheme, more open

Restore & Restyle A Bedroom Collection

Update bedroom furniture by restaining the nightstand and reupholstering the headboard.

Old furniture can be boring, it can go out of style, and it can collect a lot of nicks, but old furniture is usually built with sturdy and durable materials. If you're not ready to get rid of your old bedroom furniture, spice it up with a few techniques such as repainting, adding customized details, and replacing old hardware.

Instructions

Restoring and Restyling Bedroom Furniture Collection

1. Clean the bedroom furniture by wiping it down with a damp rag immediately following with a dry rag. Use a sandpaper with a fine grit to lightly sand the bedroom furniture. After sanding, wipe the furniture with a microfiber rag to remove dust.

2. Paint or stain the furniture depending on the look that you want. Paint the furniture with white paint for a casual chic style, stain it darker for a modern style, use light to medium brown shades for traditional style, or go with bright green or blue for country style.

3. Nail decorative wood molding to a wooden headboard to give it a distinctive look. Write a romantic quotation or paint some simple twirls and designs on the headboard using a stencil for a personalized design. If you have a padded headboard, remove the old fabric and wrap a luxurious new fabric tightly around the headboard, attaching the fabric on the back using a staple gun. Use a textile with lots of texture and bold colors for an eye-catching headboard or use browns and beiges for a neutral look.

4. Install curtain rods between the posts of a poster bed and hang soft cotton curtains, or drape and tie some gauze netting around the posts for a romantic and exotic look. Matching bed coverings and accessories such as a mosquito net can instantly transform an old bedroom furniture collection.

5. Replace the old hardware on armoires, chests, and dressers with new hardware. For a modern style, select sleek stainless knobs. For children's furniture, use colorful knobs with their favorite characters. A traditional style can have knobs with intricate designs. Most hardware stores have a wide assortment of knobs and other hardware.

Tags: bedroom furniture, furniture with, knobs with, modern style, traditional style